Healthcare-focused data analytics company Glassbeam has signed an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) program to enhance VA real-time data and predictive analytics capabilities.

HTM and Glassbeam engineers will work together utilizing Glassbeam's Service Analytics offering to connect systems, gather log data and create predictive signatures. 

The teams will leverage the Simulation Learning, Education and Research Network (SimLEARN) National Simulation Center, the VHA's program for simulation in healthcare training, which provides curricula and best practices around improving healthcare for Veterans. 

They will also work to expand the number of medical systems that Glassbeam's tech can monitor.

"This partnership supports our efforts to provide superior support to the Veterans we serve and aligns with our pursuit to provide a high technology training environment in support of VA medical centers across the country," Connor Walsh, director of the VHA Medical Device Networking and Cybersecurity Division, said in a statement. "The ability to monitor systems in real-time to anticipate service needs and leverage analytics to reduce downtime enables our mission of providing patient-focused technology."

THE LARGER TREND

This year, the Veterans Administration has been working to address a $3 billion budget shortfall, which VA officials warned lawmakers about in July. 

The VA said it faced a shortfall due to issuing more benefits to more veterans than expected under the PACT Act, which expands and extends eligibility for VA healthcare and benefits for Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits and other toxic substances.

Last month, the House passed an emergency bill to address the $3 billion budget shortfall, and shortly after, the Senate unanimously passed the supplemental funding bill. 

The bill averts any potential delays in compensation and pension benefit payments for 7 million veterans and their survivors. 

It will now head to President Biden's desk to be signed into law, avoiding what would have been a $3 billion budget shortfall by the end of fiscal 2024.