VIReC Database and Methods Seminar

An Introduction to VA Pharmacy Data: Sources and Uses for Medication Information

by Timothy Anderson, MD, MAS ; Bonnie Paris, PhD
Seminar date: 5/2/2022

Description: This session will explore the content and structure of pharmacy datasets in the VA and applied uses of pharmacy data for research. Dr. Paris will provide an overview of pharmacy data in the Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW), Managerial Cost Accounting National Data Extracts (MCA NDE), Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM), Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP), and the Medicare & Medicaid Part D data set. Dr. Anderson will provide an overview of methods for using PBM data to identify cross-sectional medication use and changes in medication use following clinical events and discuss how his team has used PBM datasets to examine the clinical outcomes of changes to older Veteran's chronic medications made during acute hospitalization. In addition, presenters will provide information on resources for using VA pharmacy data in research.

Objectives:
After this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand basic content and organization of key VA pharmacy data
• Appreciate the value of non-VA data sources to measure pharmacy use
• Know where to find resources about VA pharmacy data

View archived session video:

DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript

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