Category 3: Using Innovation, Data, and Breaking Down Organizational Barriers
COLLEEN MCQUOWN
2025 VHA IE Senior Innovation Fellow and Supporting Community, Outpatient, Urgent care, and Telehealth Services (SCOUTS) Medical Director
VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellowships and VHA Office of Primary Care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Colleen McQuown is being recognized in Category 3: Using Innovation, Data, and Breaking Down Organizational Barriers for spearheading the national expansion of SCOUTS, a groundbreaking program that enhances care transitions for high-risk and aging Veterans through telehealth and in-home support.
As a 2025 VHA Innovation Fellow and Medical Director of SCOUTS, Dr. McQuown advanced the program from a local pilot at the Cleveland VA to 12 VA Medical Centers nationwide, with 6 more in progress. SCOUTS leverages Intermediate Care Technicians (ICTs), often former military medics, to deliver timely, in-home care within 48–72 hours of emergency department discharge, with particular impact for rural Veterans.
The program has reached nearly 3,000 Veterans, provided 1,100+ medical devices, addressed critical social determinants of health, and saved the VA over $9 million, all while achieving a 99.6% satisfaction rate. Through her innovative, data-driven leadership, Dr. McQuown is breaking down silos across VA offices and transforming how Veterans receive whole-person care at home.