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VirtuSense has reached an important milestone in its work with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA Office of Information and Technology (OIT) completed a formal Enterprise Risk Analysis of VirtuSense's fall prevention system. It rated the networked configuration of VSTSentry Low Risk, with standard mitigations in place.
For VA medical centers, this is more than a checkbox. The biggest hurdle for new patient safety technology at the VA is rarely clinical interest. It's the security review. That hurdle is now cleared for VSTSentry, so VA nursing leaders can move from "we'd like to try this" to "let's get it on the unit."
What is an Enterprise Risk Analysis? An Enterprise Risk Analysis (ERA) is the VA's formal review of how a technology could affect the security of VA systems and data. VA OIT evaluates the product's architecture, connectivity, and safeguards, then assigns a risk rating. A Low Risk rating means the system can operate on VA networks with standard mitigations.
Key Takeaway: VA OIT has rated VirtuSense's networked VSTSentry configuration Low Risk. VA medical centers now have a security-reviewed path to predictive, AI-powered fall prevention. VSTSentry predicts bed and chair exits before a patient is up and reaches staff wherever they are on the unit. It's available through a procurement path VA contracting offices already know.
Why a Low Risk Rating Matters for VA Medical Centers
A Low Risk rating removes the biggest barrier between VA nursing teams and new fall prevention technology. Security reviews can stall promising tools for months, sometimes indefinitely. VSTSentry has already been through that process and came out the other side.
This matters for everyone involved in the decision:
- Chief Nurse Executives can pursue fall prevention improvements without waiting on a lengthy security review.
- Facility IT and ISSOs have a completed VA risk review to reference, rather than starting from scratch.
- Contracting officers can use an established vehicle instead of a new, unfamiliar process.
We're proud of this result. It reflects years of building VSTSentry with security, privacy, and clinical reality in mind from day one.
How VSTSentry Helps Prevent Falls Before They Happen
VSTSentry predicts when a patient is about to get out of a bed or chair unassisted, before they're on their feet. That early warning gives staff time to respond before a fall, not after.
Traditional approaches like bed alarms react after a patient is already moving. By the time the alarm sounds, the patient is often already standing. VSTSentry uses AI to recognize the movement patterns that come before an exit attempt. Staff get a head start instead of a race.
For Veterans, this means safer stays and fewer injuries. For nursing teams, it means:
- Earlier warnings that come before a patient is up.
- Less reliance on dedicated sitters for fall prevention.
- Less alert fatigue, since alerts focus on real exit attempts.
- A simple bedside interface. Staff can adjust sensitivity and alerts without a heavy training burden.
Two Deployment Options: Standalone or Networked
VirtuSense gives VA facilities two ways to deploy VSTSentry, so every site can start where it's comfortable.
- Standalone VSTSentry. This option runs locally with no internet connection and no network involvement. It needs no IT lift, which makes it a fast way to get started.
- Networked VSTSentry. This is the configuration VA OIT rated Low Risk. For facilities with a secured VLAN in place, it extends notifications beyond the room. Alerts reach the nursing station and handheld devices anywhere on the unit.
Many facilities start standalone to prove value on a unit, then expand to the networked configuration. Both options deliver the same predictive fall prevention at the bedside.
Why VA Medical Centers Should Choose VirtuSense
VirtuSense brings together the three things VA facilities need most: predictive clinical technology, a completed VA security review, and a straightforward way to buy.
- Security-reviewed for the VA. VSTSentry's networked configuration carries a Low Risk rating from VA OIT's Enterprise Risk Analysis.
- Predictive, not reactive. VSTSentry warns staff before a patient is up, rather than alarming after they've already moved.
- Flexible deployment. Facilities can start standalone with no IT lift, or go networked for unit-wide alerts.
- Built for VA workflows. VirtuSense already supports VA hospitals, and VA customers have chosen to continue with us.
- Easy procurement. VSTSentry is available through Iron Bow Technologies on NASA SEWP, a contract vehicle VA contracting offices already use.
Veterans deserve the safest possible care, and the nurses who care for them deserve tools that make their jobs easier. VirtuSense is ready to deliver both. Learn more about our approach in AI Fall Prevention for Veterans Affairs Hospitals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What risk rating did the VA give VirtuSense?
VA OIT completed a formal Enterprise Risk Analysis of VirtuSense's fall prevention system. It rated the networked configuration of VSTSentry Low Risk, with standard mitigations in place. This gives VA medical centers a security-reviewed path to deploy VSTSentry on VA networks.
What is VSTSentry?
VSTSentry is VirtuSense's AI-powered fall prevention system for VA facilities. It predicts unassisted bed and chair exits before a patient is up, so staff can respond before a fall happens. It's available as a standalone unit or in a networked configuration.
Does VSTSentry require a network connection?
No. The standalone version runs locally with no internet connection and no IT involvement. Facilities with a secured VLAN can choose the networked configuration, which sends alerts to the nursing station and handheld devices across the unit.
How can VA facilities purchase VSTSentry?
VA facilities can purchase VSTSentry through Iron Bow Technologies on NASA SEWP. It's an established contract vehicle, so procurement follows a path most VA contracting offices already know.
Ready to Bring Predictive Fall Prevention to Your VA Facility?
The Low Risk rating is a big moment for VirtuSense, and a bigger opportunity for VA medical centers. The security review is done and the procurement path is familiar. The technology is ready to help keep Veterans safe.
See VSTSentry in action → Request a demo
Or explore our VA solutions page to learn more.