Challenge
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) research programs pursue all aspects of health to support cost-effective and high-quality healthcare, identify innovations, and diffuse best practices. The programs support education and career development, and address VA priorities to ultimately improve healthcare delivery and services for Veterans.
HSR&D’s Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence (CREATE) Program funds specialty, collaborative research projects that focus on high-priority areas in the VA, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), women’s health, pain management, and long-term care. To ensure a beneficial and efficient program, and to inform future funding decisions, HSR&D requires a comprehensive and theory-based evaluation of the CREATE program.
Solution
VA HSR&D contracted Atlas Research to conduct a CREATE program evaluation. Atlas is working with HSR&D staff to develop research protocols and materials, recruit interview participants, and conduct in-depth interviews to gather data on program challenges, accomplishments, and recommendations for improvements. Atlas investigators, using an approved analysis plan, will code data, analyze findings, and develop a final report, presentation, and potential journal article.
Result
Atlas is working with HSR&D to conduct a CREATE program evaluation, and equip VA with data, recommendations, and analyses to make informed decisions about future program funding or programmatic changes.
Current funded CREATEs include:
- Advancing MRSA Infection Prevention
- Evidence-Based Therapies for PTSD
- Improving Quality and Safety Through Better Communication in Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACTs)
- Improving Rural Veterans’ Access/Engagement in Evidence-Based Mental Healthcare
- Improving Therapeutic Decision-Making Through Veteran-Centered Population Analytics
- Long-Term Care
- Pain Management and Patient Aligned Care
- Promoting Value and Access in VA’s Substance Use Disorder Services
- Transforming Prevention into Action
- Women Veterans Healthcare