Welcome to the VA’s Newest App: Annie

Our nation’s Veterans are becoming more tech savvy by the day, as evidenced by the success of programs like the VA’s VetText and the eBenefits portal. But these same Veterans still need a little extra help staying focused on their own self-care.

Enter: Annie. She’s not a person. She’s an app. Annie supports Veteran self-care by sending automated messages that include reminders, health related notifications, and even motivational messages, all the in form of a text. Annie further empowers Vets to play an active role in their own care by helping track important health data like weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol readings.

Annie Text Protocols

On the other end of the Annie App is a VA health care team committed to helping Veterans meet their health and wellness goals. Based on each individual’s goal, he or she can subscribe to any of the following protocols available through the Annie program.

Body: Aids veterans in living a more active lifestyle by promoting health and wellness, along with education.

Medication Reminders: Daily medication reminders help establish improved compliance with prescription instructions.

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Provides helpful info regarding the COVID vaccines, including side effects, links to CDC resources, and reminders for second doses (and boosters when the time comes).

Flu Vaccines: Similar to the COVID vaccine protocol, above, but geared towards influenza, instead.

Tobacco Cessation: Sends motivational messages to Vets thinking of quitting, helps create a “quit” plan, and sets a start date.

Weight Management: Provides daily healthy living reminders for tasks such as exercising or logging food as well as educational messages about weight management.

Oncology Symptom Reporting: Allows Veterans with Cancer to rate their symptoms, which Annie tracks. Participants will receive advice based on symptoms.

Stress: Sends encouraging messages and simple strategies to manage stress, as well as shares information about the ways in which stress impacts our bodies and minds.

Additional Protocols: There are plenty of other protocols that focus on specific health conditions.