When Our Work Improves and Saves Lives 

It starts with something small; a text message. It’s a reminder that a screening kit has arrived. A nudge to complete a simple test. A few carefully chosen words that make the difference between putting it off and taking action. 

For the Department of Veterans Affairs, increasing participation in at-home colon cancer screening is a critical priority. Colon cancer is one of the most common and most treatable forms of cancer when detected early. And yet, too often, it isn’t caught in time. 

Working with the VA, RGP helped rethink how those reminders reach veterans. Instead of standard notifications, the team applied behavioral science to redesign the messaging, shifting from generic prompts to language that emphasizes positive outcomes, peace of mind, and the real benefits of early detection. 

The results were immediate and significant. Participation rates nearly doubled, far exceeding national averages. Behind that increase are thousands of veterans who are now more likely to catch a life-threatening disease early; when it can still be treated. 

For Mandy Bradbury, who leads human-centered design work on the program, the significance of that shift is deeply personal.

At its core, RGP’s partnership with the VA is about closing the gap between complex systems and human needs. The VA is the largest healthcare provider in the country, serving 9.2 million veterans across an expansive and often fragmented network. Within that scale, even minor inefficiencies can create real barriers to care. RGP’s role has been to make those complexities invisible, to build systems that work seamlessly so that veterans experience care as connected, consistent, and reliable. 

A defining element of this work is how it’s done. RGP teams don’t design in isolation; they work directly with veterans and providers, gathering feedback, observing real-world interactions, and refining solutions based on lived experience. This approach ensures that every improvement is grounded in reality. It also reinforces a simple but powerful idea: the best solutions are built in partnership with the people they serve. 

Building Systems That Work When It Matters Most  

Through initiatives like VA Profile, RGP helped create a unified data foundation that ensures veterans’ information is accurate and accessible across every touchpoint. Something as simple as updating a phone number now carries across systems instantly, helping providers stay connected to the people they serve. That consistency changes the experience of care. 

As Patrick Brown, who has worked on the VA account for over 8 years, describes it, the goal is simple, “We make sure the record of you is consistent across every application that you touch.”  

RGP has also worked closely with the VA’s Office of Connected Care to improve how care is delivered.  

For many veterans, particularly those in rural areas, accessing healthcare has traditionally required significant time and travel. By helping modernize telehealth platforms, RGP has made it easier for veterans to connect with providers from wherever they are. What once required a long drive and hours on the road can now happen through a secure, intuitive digital experience. 

Working with the VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, RGP helped accelerate access to critical data used to identify veterans at risk of suicide. Early warning signals such as two missed appointments or unopened messages, alert the VA immediately to intervene when it matters most.  

At the same time, RGP’s work has focused on improving the experience for providers. With tools like AI Scribe, which transcribes real time patient interactions and makes the notes that once kept clinicians constantly standing in front of a computer, it reduces all the time spent on documentation and allows doctors to focus more fully on their patients. 

That shift is meaningful. It allows providers to be present during appointments; to listen, observe, and engage without distraction. It also gives them something equally important: time. Time to leave work at a reasonable hour, to be with their families, and to sustain the energy required to care for others. 

For veterans, that translates into more attentive, more human interactions. 

From a single text message to systems that surface risk in seconds, the work RGP has done with the VA is about better data, clearer communication, faster access, and more time between a provider and a patient. And the impact is real. It shows up in earlier diagnoses, in moments of connection, and in the possibility that someone gets critical help when they need it most. And that’s what makes this work so rewarding. 

“It’s really wonderful to think that our work helps people,” said Mandy.