Research Briefs V.2, N...VA Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service 1 2004 HSR&D Research Briefs Continued on page 3 Translating Research

VA Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service 1

HSR&D Research Briefs2004

Continued on page 3

T r a n s l a t i n gR e s e a r c hi n t o P r a c t i c e

Vol. 2, No. 2 January 2004

HSR&D National MeetingHSR&D’s 2004 National Meetingis scheduled for March 9–11,2004. This year’s meeting themeis “Meeting the Changing Needsof Veterans: The Quality/CostEquation.”

For meeting details, visit the HSR&Dweb at www.hsrd.research.va.gov/2004mtg

I n T h i s I s s u e

VA Targets Implementation ofEvidence-Based Findings IntoPractice Page 1

VA Medicare Data MergeInitiative Page 2

New ResearchSolicitations Page 4

Research EnhancementAward Program Page 6

Targeted ResearchEnhancement Program Page 7

Newly Funded ResearchProjects Page 8

New Career DevelopmentAwardees Page 10

New Research CareerScientist Awardees Page 11

New Merit Review EntryProgram Awardees Page 12

VA Targets Implementation ofEvidence-Based Findings Into PracticeA clinical research study is conducted with the intention that whatis learned will be put into clinical practice to improve patient care.In theory, this seems simple and clear-cut. However, over the yearsit has become apparent that translating research evidence or newknowledge into a healthcare system to improve practice is anythingbut simple and clear-cut. In its 2001 publication “Crossing theQuality Chasm,” the Institute of Medicine reported that it takes anaverage of 17 years to incorporate knowledge discovered in clinicaltrials into practice. VA’s Office of Research and Development(ORD) is working hard to substantially shorten that timeframe byplacing a high priority on implementation research by augmentingexisting programs and releasing a series of new solicitations thatwill be managed by HSR&D.

The Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), overseenby HSR&D, applies an evidence-based framework to identify anddiagnose quality and performance gaps in eight specific diseaseareas. Once gaps are identified, QUERI designs and implementsprograms to facilitate systematic, continuous improvements inquality and outcomes, thereby generating new knowledge andpractical advice regarding strategies for implementing evidence-based clinical practices in routine health care delivery settings.Eight disease-specific QUERI Coordinating Centers continue tomake great strides and much has been learned about the realworld requirements of implementing evidence into practice,allowing for successful regional interventions that will soon berolled out nationwide.

Complementing QUERI, a new Research Implementation Program hasbeen established within HSR&D. This Program will be charged with

HSR&D Research Briefs JANUARY

2 VA Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service

VA Medicare Data MergeInitiativeIn July 2002, a Memorandum of Understandingbetween the Department of Veterans Affairs and theDepartment of Health and Human Services, Centersfor Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wassigned allowing CMS to share Medicare claims datawith VA for program administration and operationalpurposes. This also allows VA to share Medicaredata with VA researchers and planners.

HSR&D’s VA Information Resource Center (VIReC)has developed an infrastructure and mechanisms tosupport VA researchers’ requests for Medicare datathrough funding provided by HSR&D and VA’sUnder Secretary for Health. VIReC has identified andis working with field experts to continue to refine thisprocess. A Technical Advisory Board has beenestablished to provide technical expertise. A DataRequest Review Board will review the requests forthe use of Medicare data submitted to VIReC.

VA HSR&D Research Briefs is a biannual publication ofthe Office of Research and Development’s HealthServices Research and Development Service. Each issuewill provide summary information about recentlycompleted research projects and publications, as wellas descriptions of new initiatives, solicitations, newlyfunded studies and other items of interest to a broad VAaudience. For more information or to provide us withyour questions or suggestions, please contact:

Geraldine McGlynn, EditorInformation Dissemination ProgramManagement Decision and Research Center (152-M)VA Boston Healthcare System150 So. Huntington AvenueBoston, MA 02130-4893Phone: (617) 278-4433Fax: (617) 278-4438Email: [email protected]

VA HSR&D Research Briefs is available on the Internetat www.hsrd.research.va.gov or Intranet atvaww.hsrd.research.va.gov

VIReC’s specific aims are:• Acquiring, merging, and warehousing VA and

Medicare data at VIReC.• Establishing a data request and review policy,

while safeguarding patient privacy and datasecurity.

• Creating linked VA-Medicare summary files toenable efficient data processing for research.

• Documenting and disseminating informationon merged VA and Medicare data sets on anongoing basis.

• Coordinating annual Medicare data requestswith VHA’s Office of Policy and Planning.

• Coordinating education and training effortswith the CMS Research Data AssistanceCenter (ResDAC).

What Data are AvailableResearchers with approved projects may requestveterans’ Medicare enrollment and claims data fromVIReC. Currently, VIReC has Medicare data for 1999through 2001. Medicare data for future years will beavailable from VIReC as it is released by CMS.VIReC has created SAS datasets and developedlinkages between the Medicare claims data and theVA healthcare utilization data in order to streamlineand standardize the process of requesting, receiving,processing, and linking Medicare data, making itpossible for more VA researchers to use Medicaredata more efficiently.

The 1999 – 2001 Medicare data files that arecurrently available from VIReC include:

Enrollment Data• Patient Information

- Denominator- Vital Status (1999 only)

• Provider Information- Group Health File (1999 & 2000 only)- Provider of Service (2001 only)



Claims Data• Summary File

- MEDPAR (Inpatient, Longstay, SNF)• Standard Analytic Files

- Skilled Nursing Facilities- Outpatient- Hospice- Home Health Agency- Physician/Supplier (Carrier)- Durable Medical Equipment

Researchers needing Medicare claims data prior to1999 should direct their requests to VIReC forconsultation.

How to Request the DataVA researchers wishing to request the Medicare datashould complete the “Request for Patient Level Data”form available from VIReC at (708) 202-2413 andsoon on the VIReC website. Requestors should submita copy of the research proposal or protocol and aclear definition of the required data. A copy of the IRBapproval letter must also be submitted to VIReC beforeany data can be released to the researcher.

What It Can Do For YouMaintaining resources at VIReC will assist VAresearchers in utilizing Medicare data in their researchby centralizing and streamlining the CMS data reviewprocess, centralizing the technical resources for largedataset management, and enriching the professionalresources available across the country forunderstanding the best research uses of Medicare data.

Together these efforts will serve to enhance andimprove the research tools available to evaluate, andultimately improve, the quality of health careprovided to our nation’s veterans.

Key StaffPrincipal Investigator: Denise M. Hynes, PhD, RN, MPH,

VIReC DirectorCo-Principal Investigator: Min-Woong Sohn, PhD,

VIReC Associate Director

coordinating with field-based researchers, clinicians, andadministrative leadership, particularly around nationalrollouts. In addition, there are several new HSR&Dsolicitations. One solicitation will fund up to three newCenters of Excellence focusing on implementationresearch, and another will provide planning awards tofund partnerships between VISNs and investigators thatencourage proposals to implement and evaluateevidence-based interventions. To facilitate these efforts,ORD will expand its implementation science capacityby recruiting and training investigators in this excitingnew field, and will fund a solicitation for collaborationswith academic partners that have expertise inimplementation research.

To help identify further gaps in our knowledge aboutimplementing research evidence into practice, HSR&Dwill conduct a state-of-the-art (SOTA) conference thissummer entitled “Implementing the Evidence:Transforming Practices, Systems, and Organizations.”This issue of HSR&D Research Briefs provides moreinformation about the SOTA (see box on page 4), as wellas these new programs and solicitations. For moredetails, please visit the ORD web site atwww.va.gov/resdev and the HSR&D web site atwww.hsrd.research.va.gov.

Technical Director: Linda Kok, MA

Project Manager: Carolyn O’Leary, RN, BS

Questions related to requests for Medicare claimsdata can be directed to:[email protected]

VA Targets Implementation ofEvidence-Based Findings Into PracticeContinued from page 1



New Research SolicitationsSince July, HSR&D has announced five new researchsolicitations. Investigators who hold a paid VAappointment of at least 5/8 time are eligible to apply.Following is a brief description of the newsolicitations. A complete listing of HSR&Dsolicitations and instructions for submitting aproposal may be found on the HSR&D web site atwww.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/funding/solicitations. For information on R&D-widesolicitations, visit the Research and Developmentweb site at: www.va.gov/resdev/fr/frrfp/solicitations.cfm.

Supplements to Support CollaborationBetween VA and Academic Experts inImplementation Research

This solicitation invites applications from currentlyfunded HSR&D Centers (Centers of Excellence,Resource Centers, QUERI Coordinating Centers,REAPs, and TREPs) for supplemental funding todevelop and enhance relationships with non-VAresearchers who have expertise in the implementationof evidence-based clinical practice and the study ofimplementation processes. The supplements aredesigned to enhance collaboration of scientific leadersin implementation research and the broad array ofrelated disciplines (at local universities and otherresearch organizations) with VA researchers. Proposalsshould indicate an ability to strengthen capacity tostudy and improve implementation research methodsand processes through planned activities such asconsulting to develop and/or conduct VA research orimplementation projects, mentoring/educating,participating in scientific review activities, and/orsuggesting important new research emphases.

HSR&D/VISN Implementation Collaborative:Innovations to Implement Evidence-BasedClinical Practice

This solicitation invites collaboration between healthservices researchers and VISN directors or seniornetwork officers. Collaborations are intended to helpimprove clinical services locally within participatingVISNs and provide templates for expanding successfulchanges nationwide. Applications will focus onimplementing and evaluating an evidence-basedintervention or undergoing and evaluating anorganizational or structural change to transform theVISN into a “learning organization” that canefficiently implement evidence-based practices. Eachapplicant team will be responsible for ensuring thatprogress or findings in its network can be generalizedand transformed into useful guidance for other VISNs.

Implementing the Evidence: TransformingPractices, Systems, and Organizations

— A State of the Art Conference —

Planning is underway for a state of the art (SOTA)conference focusing on implementing evidence-based care into routine clinical practice. Thisinvitation-only conference will identify what weknow and what we need to know aboutsuccessful implementation strategies, lessonslearned about implementation, and resources,relationships, infrastructures, and policiesneeded to ensure successful implementation.Conference outcomes will assist VA and thelarger health care community in transforminginto organizations that systematically andcontinuously implement the evidence. The SOTAPlanning Committee, chaired by Catarina Kiefe,MD, PhD, and Anne Sales, PhD, met onDecember 9 and 10, with the conference itselfscheduled for 2004.



Two phases of funding will be awarded. In Phase 1,successful planning proposals will be awardedfunding for up to six months of planning andapplication writing activities. In Phase 2, finalproposals will be submitted, reviewed, and fundedaccording to standard merit review guidelines.

Implementation of Research into Practice

This special solicitation for service-directed projects(SDP) is co-sponsored by HSR&D and the Office ofQuality and Performance (OQP). It seeks to enhancethe rapid and systematic implementation of clinicalresearch findings and recommendations into routinepractice by expanding the knowledge of qualityenhancement and research implementationprocesses, barriers, and facilitators. Proposalsresponsive to this solicitation will address any of thefollowing:

• Implement and evaluate specific programsand strategies to enhance VHA health carequality and outcomes through implementationof research findings and guidelines intoroutine practice.

• Develop evidence and insights regardingquality enhancement and practiceimprovement processes, barriers, andfacilitators within VHA.

• Facilitate development of infrastructure andmechanisms within VHA health care facilities,VISNs, and Central Office to support ongoingimprovement in health care practices, quality,and outcomes.

Investigators responding to this solicitation areencouraged to integrate their work with theestablished goals of the Quality EnhancementResearch Initiative (QUERI) and to coordinate projectswith ongoing QUERI initiatives and strategic plans.

Applications for Health Services Research andDevelopment Centers of Excellence

HSR&D Centers of Excellence (COEs) conduct researchin selected priority area(s) and support the integration ofresearch and practice, linking the clinical aspects ofpatient care and organizational/management needs.With this solicitation for new COEs, applications areencouraged to advance the science in areas such asenhancing organization, management, and leadership;integration of evidence-based practices into routineclinical and administrative operations; and/or thedevelopment, implementation, and evaluation ofprocesses and structures designed to improve patientand provider decisions.

Sensory Disorders and Loss

This solicitation will support research focused onimproving the capacity of the VHA to addresssensory loss common in veterans. Proposed studieswill produce new knowledge for improving theeffectiveness and cost-effectiveness of care deliveryfor patients with sensory disorders, such as hearingand vision loss, and disorders of taste and smell.Studies will address both system and patient-leveloutcomes of sensory disorders services. System-leveltopics include studies that will help explain andguide improvements in the design, administration,and/or management of sensory impairment services,examining outcomes such as quality of care, cost,access, and efficient provision of aids for sensoryimpairment. Patient-level topics include studies thatwill help explain outcomes that most directlyconcern patients and their families, such asfunctional status, independence, health status,symptoms and symptom management strategies,prognosis, quality of life, and satisfaction with care.



Research EnhancementAward ProgramThe goal of the Research Enhancement AwardProgram (REAP) is to increase HSR&D capacity byassisting VA sites that already show promise, asdemonstrated by a history of HSR&D peer reviewedresearch and career development funding. Groups ofinvestigators who are eligible for funding are thoselocated at VA medical centers that do not containand are not affiliated with an HSR&D Center ofExcellence. HSR&D currently funds REAPs in Tampa,Cleveland, Iowa City, Indianapolis, San Diego, andSan Francisco.

Following is a description of the newest sites toreceive HSR&D REAP funding. For more informationon this program, visit the HSR&D web site atwww.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/professional_development/center_development/.

Center for Healthcare KnowledgeManagement ResearchLeonard Pogach, MD, MBAEast Orange VAMC

The research focus of this REAP will examine threephases of knowledge management: KnowledgeProduction – developing innovative methods forinputting and extracting information from largehealth information databases; Knowledge Validation– using established health services methodology toensure the validity and reliability of the information;

and Knowledge Integration – translating thatinformation into relevant and actionable knowledgebased upon informatics, decision support, and riskcommunication methodologies. Researchers willstrengthen existing expertise in large data sets andCPRS, and develop health services methodologicalcapacity in the theory and application of decision-making and risk communication, including humanfactors, numeracy, and psychosocial evaluation.

White River Junction REAPWilliam B. Weeks, MD, MBAWhite River Junction VAM&ROC

This REAP will work to address a problem familiar tophysicians but not yet widely understood by others –namely, that there can be harm from too muchmedical care. Researchers will focus on overuse inthose clinical domains most relevant to veterans:heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental health,using a two-pronged approach. First, researchersmust better understand the effects of the assumptionthat more testing and treatment is always good, andsecond, develop and test mechanisms to providebalanced and understandable information aboutmedicine.

Tools Ensuring Consumer Healthcare Safety(TECHS)Marta L. Render, MDCincinnati VAMC

Improving patient safety is a critical research focus inhealthcare today. This REAP proposes to integratepatient safety research using human factorsmethodology along with more traditional healthservices research methods to develop and evaluatethe effectiveness of new safety tools in improvinghealthcare outcomes and facilitating the transition toa safety culture. The primary research focus of theTECHS REAP is the evaluation and development oftools to promote patient safety, with a secondary

Please take a moment to tell us what you think aboutVA HSR&D Research Briefs by sending an email tous at [email protected] comments and suggestions will guide us in ourefforts to provide you with important HSR&Dinformation in future issues.



focus on intensive care unit (ICU) safety. Specificprojects will examine the response of hospitals to amandated change (resident hours) to understandsafety culture, use a human factors framework forunderstanding communication across caregivers in ateaching ICU, and evaluate the usability of acomputerized decision support tool developed at theUniversity of Cincinnati for anticoagulation decisionsin patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Targeted ResearchEnhancement ProgramThe primary goal of the Targeted ResearchEnhancement Program (TREP) is the development ofVA HSR capacity, by building on the success of VA’suniversity affiliates. The program assists VA sitesaffiliated with an academic institution havingsignificant non-VA federal health services researchfunding (e.g. NIH, AHRQ), but which do notcurrently have significant VA HSR&D activity. Fundsare provided for the creation of a core program ofinvestigators, statisticians, economists, and othersocial scientists to support and facilitate thedevelopment of HSR&D projects and careerdevelopment. HSR&D currently funds TREPs inBirmingham, Bronx, and Denver. For moreinformation about TREP, contact Susan Schiffner, RN,BSM, CCM, at [email protected].

Following is a description of the newest sites toreceive TREP funding.

Center for Patient Healthcare BehaviorTheodore Speroff, PhDNashville VAMC

The goals of this site are to characterize thecontribution that patient behavior has in shaping theorganizational dynamics of care and the self-

management of chronic illness and to develop theoriesand frameworks for deployment of system-widestrategies that improve patients’ healthcare behavioralpatterns and bring about quality improvement in theorganization. Initial areas of research will includepatient behaviors contributing to chronic diseaserelapse, influence of perceived costs and benefits onself-care, and patient factors that contribute to theoccurrence of adverse events as well as influencereporting of medical errors and adverse events.

Improving Therapeutic Outcomes and SafetyNeil Ampel, MDTucson VAMC

Understanding how to improve therapeuticoutcomes and reduce adverse events will help tooptimize clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness forveterans in VA care. The effect of social factors,health delivery models, processes and technologies,personal behaviors, utilization, and quality will beinvestigated, as will associations with economic,clinical, quality of life, and functional statusoutcomes of veterans in VA care. Three initialresearch areas at this site include: 1) Occurrence ofPreventable Errors in NSAID Therapy; 2) IdentifyingDrug Interactions and Toxicities Involving HIVAntiretroviral Therapy; and 3) Androgen AblationInduced Fractures in Men with Prostate Cancer.

Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, andSurveillance (IDEAS) CenterMatthew Samore, MDSalt Lake City VAMC

The focus of this program is on the interface andconnection between decision support and surveillance,which are viewed as complementary strategies toaccomplish a variety of goals, includingimproved patient outcomes, enhanced public health,and increased efficiency of care. This TREP encompassesresearch in patient safety as well as other patient caredomains, with a mission to build a preeminent



community of researchers who develop, implement, andevaluate tools and interventions that integratesurveillance and decision support. Using these tools andmethodologies, researchers will add new knowledge andadvance clinical care within the medical disciplines andorganizational structures served.

Newly Funded ResearchProjectsFor more detail about these and other HSR&Dresearch projects, please visit the HSR&D web site at:www.hsrd.research.va.gov/research/studies/

AHRQ/VA COLLABORATION

Improving Antibiotic Use in Acute Care SettingsJosh Metlay, MD, PhDPhiladelphia VAMC

INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH

Evaluating a Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Campaignfor VeteransJohn Fotiades, MD, MPHBronx VAMC

Effect of Increased Co-Payments on Pharmacy Usein the VAKevin T. Stroupe, PhDHines VAMC

Improving the Management of Chronic StableAnginaStephan D. Fihn, MDVA Puget Sound Health Care System

Quality Evaluation in Stroke and TIA (QUEST)ProjectDawn Bravata, MDWest Haven VAMC

Clinical Reminders in Test Reports to ImproveGuideline CompliancePaul A. Heidenreich, MD, MPHVA Palo Alto Health Care System

Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Veterans with SpinalCord Injury (SCI)Susan L. Garber, MA, OTRHouston VAMC

Causes and Consequences of Aggressive Behavior inPatients with DementiaMark Kunik, MDHouston VAMC

VA Eligibility Reform and the Demand for VAServices by Elderly VeteransYvonne C. M. Jonk, PhDMinneapolis VAMC

Evidence-Based Approaches to Primary CareStaffing: Job AnalysisDaniel J. Muraida, PhDSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System

Does PTSD Service Connection Affect DiseaseCourse and Functioning?Maureen Murdoch, MD, MPHMinneapolis VAMC

Improving Care for Veterans Through the Use ofConsumers as Mental Health ProvidersMatthew J. Chinman, PhDVA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

The Impact of Health Literacy on Racial Differencesin Cancer Stage at PresentationAhsan Arozullah, MD, MPHHines VAMC

Evaluation of Preventable Diabetes Hospitalizationsin the VHALeonard Pogach, MD, MBAEast Orange VAMC

Use of VA Pharmacy Services by Medicare EnrolledVeteransRobert O. Morgan, PhDHouston VAMC

Impact of Diastolic Heart Failure on HealthcareUtilization and OutcomesAnita Deswal, MDHouston VAMC



Development of Survival Prediction Models forAdvanced Cancer PatientsShirley S. Hwang, MS, RNEast Orange VAMC

Risk-Adjusted Mortality Rates as an Indicator forOutpatient QualityAlfredo Selim, MD, MPHVA New England Health Care System

Aging Veterans Health Policy ModelBruce Kinosian, MDPhiladelphia VAMC

End of Life Care: Medical Treatments and Costs byAge, Race, and RegionWei Yu, PhDVA Palo Alto Health Care System

Health Related Quality of Life in VA Patients withIntestinal StomasRobert S. Krouse, MDTucson VAMC

Improving the Quality of Communication forPatients with COPDDavid H. Au, MD, MSVA Puget Sound Health Care System

Outcomes of Veterans with Dual HCV-HIV InfectionHashem El-Serag, MD, MPHHouston VAMC

Psychiatric Advance Directives for Improved MentalHealth CareMarian I. Butterfield, MD, MPHDurham VAMC

Honoring Treatment Preferences at the End of LifeTerri Fried, MDWest Haven VAMC

Telephone Care as a Substitute for RoutinePsychiatric Medication ManagementWilliam B. Weeks, MD, MBAWhite River Junction VAM&ROC

Internet-Based Diabetes Education and CaseManagementPaul R. Conlin, MDVA Boston Healthcare System

Do Practice Guidelines Improve EconomicEfficiency Within the VA System?John D. Schneider, PhDIowa City VAMC

Telephone Disease Management At-Risk Drinking(TDM II)David W. Oslin, MDPhiladelphia VAMC

Addressing Barriers to Translation for Treatment ofHypertensionEve Kerr, MDVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

Addressing Practice Variation in Long Term CareReferralsSusan C. Hedrick, PhDVA Puget Sound Health Care System

Quality and Cost of VA and Medicare Covered Carefor Veterans with ESRDKevin T. Stroupe, PhDHines VAMC

Risk Factor Trajectory and Variability: Predictors ofVascular Disease?Dawn Colleen Schwenke, PhD, MSPhoenix VAMC

Assessing Mental Outcomes in the VHASusan V. Eisen, PhDVA New England Healthcare System

Prospective Study of Functional Status in Veteransat Risk for Unexplained IllnessKaren S. Quigley, PhDVA New Jersey Health Care System

Patient Preferences for Treatment of Hepatitis CLiana Fraenkel, MD, MPHVA Connecticut Health Care System

VA Prescription Drug Copayments and Veteranswith Diabetes or HypertensionMatthew L. Maciejewski, PhDVA Puget Sound Health Care System



MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION

VA Nursing Quality Indicator DatabaseAnne Sales, MSN, PhDVA Puget Sound Health Care System

Best Precedents in Human Subjects Protection forHealth Services ResearchJulie C. Lowery, PhD, MHSAVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

SERVICE-DIRECTED PROJECTS

Translation of Colorectal Cancer GuidelinesMark Helfand, MDPortland VAMC

Value and Cost of Translating Collaborative CareModels for DepressionJoAnn Kirchner, MDCentral Arkansas Veterans Health Care System

A Study of Strategies to Improve SchizophreniaTreatmentRichard Owen, MDCentral Arkansas Veterans Health Care System

Translating Depression Guidelines into SubstanceAbuse TreatmentGeoffrey Curran, PhDCentral Arkansas Veterans Health Care System

Group Visits to Improve Hypertension ManagementMary Goldstein, MDVA Palo Alto Health Care System

Systematic Review and Tracking Database for CPGImplementation ResearchValerie A. Lawrence, MDSouth Texas Veterans Health Care System

Human Factors and the Effectiveness ofComputerized Clinical RemindersEmily S. Patterson, PhDVA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System

An Evaluation of a Coordinated Proactive DiabetesEye Care ProgramSteve Bernstein, MD, MPHVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

SERVICE-DIRECTED RESEARCH

VA Cancer Care Research and Surveillance(CanCORS)Dawn Provenzale, MDDurham VAMC

Veterans’ Views of Privacy Protection and HealthServices ResearchRodney Hayward, MDVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

VA MI-Plus: Web-Enhanced GuidelineImplementation for Post MI CBOC PatientsJohn I. Kennedy, Jr., MDBirmingham VAMC

VA-NDI Mortality Data Merge ProjectMin-Woong Sohn, PhDHines VAMC

Validating MDS Data from VA Nursing Home CareUnitsSteven D. Pizer, PhDVA New England Healthcare System

New Career DevelopmentAwardeesHSR&D Career Development Awards provide VAclinician researchers with full salary support toenable them to pursue health services researchtraining and experience, with minimal clinicalresponsibilities, under the guidance of anexperienced mentor. Following are the most recentawardees, their locations, and areas of researchinterest to be pursued through their award. For moreinformation on this program, visit the HSR&D website at www.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/professional_development/.



RESEARCH CAREERDEVELOPMENT AWARDEES

Kenneth Boockvar, MD, MSBronx VAMCInter-Facility Communication and Adverse EventsDuring Patient Transfer

Ursula Braun, MDHouston VAMCImproving Decision-Making for End of Life Care

Vincent Fan, MD, MPHVA Puget Sound Health Care SystemAssessing Quality of Care for Patients with COPD

Steven Fu, MD, MSCEMinneapolis VAMCImproving Tobacco Treatment and Outcomes forMinority Veterans

Michele Heisler, MD, MPAVA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemUnderstanding and Strengthening Patient-HealthcareProvider Partnerships to Enhance Patients’ ChronicDisease Management

William Jones, MDIndianapolis VAMCDevelopment and Clinical Implementation of aRecurrent Stroke Risk Prediction Model

David Litaker, MD, PhDCleveland VAMCImproving Cardiovascular Prevention in ClinicalEncounters

Jonathan Nebeker, MD, MSSalt Lake City VAMCRisk Stratification for Adverse Drug Events

Ann O’Hare, MD, MASan Francisco VAMCSurgical Management of Peripheral Vascular Diseasein Veterans with Renal Insufficiency

Kevin Volpp, MD, PhDPhiladelphia VAMCUsing Economic Tools to Understand and ImproveHealth Among Veterans

William Yancy, MD, MHSDurham VAMCImprovement of Healthcare and Treatment of ObesePersons

ADVANCED RESEARCH CAREERDEVELOPMENT AWARDEE

Rebecca Beyth, MD, MScHouston VAMCImproving Decision-Making for Stroke Prevention

New Research CareerScientist AwardeesHSR&D Research Career Scientist awards are forestablished, non-clinician, independent investigatorsand initially provide up to five years of funding.Career Scientists at this level must have a minimumof six years of independent research support (VA orother), and must have current VA/HSR&D projectsupport. Following are the most recent awardees,their locations, and areas of research interest. Formore information on this program, visit the HSR&Dweb site at www.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/professional_development/.

Colleen McHorney, PhDIndianapolis VAMCKey research areas: outcomes measurement,developing a patient-centered health outcomes tool

John Piette, PhDVA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemKey research areas: quality and accessibility of carefor patients with chronic illnesses

Frances Weaver, PhDHines VAMCKey research areas: management and care of chronicdiseases, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease



New Merit Review EntryProgram AwardeesHSR&D Merit Review Entry Program awards areintended to provide beginning doctoral-level non-clinicians (no more than 5 years beyond receipt oftheir PhD or last research training or fellowship)interested in health services research with anopportunity for a period of concentrated mentoringand research activities. The awards provide three yearsof research support designed to prepare awardees toenter the more competitive VA HSR&D Merit ReviewProgram. Following are the most recent awardees,their locations, and areas of research interest to bepursued through their award. For more information onthis program, visit the HSR&D web site atwww.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/professional_development/

Jessica Davila, PhDHouston VAMCScreening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma AmongVeterans

Joan Griffin, PhDMinneapolis VAMCHealth Literacy: Its Effect on Health Behaviors andOutcomes

Christopher Johnson, PhDNorth Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System,GainesvilleStroke Rehabilitation Outcomes Variation forVeterans in Community Nursing Homes

Michael Johnson, PhDHouston VAMCEpidemiology and Economics of Pharmaceutical Usein the VA

Amy Kilbourne, PhD, MPHVA Pittsburgh Healthcare SystemReducing the Burden of Bipolar Disorder AmongVeterans

Megan Matoka, PhDVA Pittsburgh Healthcare SystemUnderstanding Problems of Quality and Equity inPain Management: The Provider Role

Emily Patterson, PhDCincinnati VAMCHuman Factors and Effectiveness of ComputerizedClinical Reminders

John Schneider, PhDIowa City VAMCIntegrating Cost Analysis and VA OrganizationalResearch

Karen Steinhauser, PhDDurham VAMCLongitudinally Validating Measurement of Quality ofLife of Seriously Ill Patients

Carl Stepnowsky, Jr., PhDVA San Diego Healthcare SystemAdherence with CPAP in Veterans with Sleep Apnea

Jodie Trafton, PhDVA Palo Alto Health Care SystemModified Methadone Treatment for OpioidDependent Patients

Susan Zickmund, PhDIowa City VAMCCommunication and Barriers to Care in Veteranswith Hepatitis C

Recent PublicationsDue to space constraints, we were unable to includea listing of recent publications. For a regularlyupdated list of new publications, visit the web atwww.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations.

Documents

Research Briefs V.2, N...VA Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service 1 2004 HSR&D Research Briefs Continued on page 3 Translating Research