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Read about the ESP's most recent impacts
Since 2007, the VA Evidence Synthesis Program (ESP) has helped VA function as a continuously learning health care system. We provide timely, rigorous, independent syntheses of published evidence for the VA to translate into evidence-based clinical practice, policy, and research. We adapt traditional systematic review approaches to meet our operational partners’ specific evidence needs and timelines. Whenever possible, our reports maintain an emphasis on the Veteran population to ensure our reviews are relevant to VA decision-makers. ESP reports are available in the public domain and many are published in top medical journals, extending their reach beyond the VA and even the US. ESP evidence syntheses have informed the clinical guidelines of large professional organizations.
The program receives funding from HSR and consists of four ESP Centers across the US, each with an active University affiliation, and a Coordinating Center, located in Portland, Oregon, which oversees national program operations, ensures methodological consistency and quality of products, and engages with stakeholders. Center Directors are recognized leaders in the field of evidence synthesis, often with close ties to the AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Centers and roles as practicing clinicians in the VA. This unique expertise enables ESP to produce comprehensive reports that answer a wide range of research questions in a variety of clinical and health system settings.
Mak SS, Allen JE, Begashaw MM, Beroes-Severin JM, Miake-Lye IM, Shekelle PG. Use of Massage Therapy for Non-Painful Health Conditions: An Evidence Map of Systematic Reviews. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-026-05525-w.
Mak SS, Allen JE, Begashaw MM, Beroes-Severin JM, Miake-Lye IM, Shekelle PG. An Evidence Map of Tai Chi and Qigong, 2014–2024: A Systematic Review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2026; 0(0). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/27683605261476938.
Shekelle PG, Burke RE, Apaydin EA, Begashaw MM, Wray CM. Quality of Hospital Medicine Care in Veterans Affairs Hospitals versus Non-Veterans Affairs Hospitals: A Systematic Review of Comparative Studies. Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2026; 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jhm.70351.
Howe RJ, Rieke K, Mai HJ, et al. Age-Friendly Health System Implementation in Outpatient Settings: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2026; 1–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70346.
Raman SR, Gierisch JM, Kirshner MA, et al. Structuring Collaboration Between Researchers and Operational Innovators: Diffusing New Practices Across the Veteran's Administration Healthcare System. Learning Health Systems. 2026; 10(1):e70048. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.70048.
Magnante AT, Nugent SM, Bourassa KJ, et al. Psychiatric Conditions and Symptoms After Toxic Environmental Exposures During Military Service: An Evidence Map. Medical Care. 2026; 64(2S). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000002149.
Miake-Lye IM, Schlak AE, Thies J, Higgins P, Couig MP. A Landscape of Evidence on RN Transition to Practice Programs: A Systematic Review of Reviews. Medical Care. 2026; 64(1S). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000002230.
Landsteiner A, Zerzan N, Ullman KE, et al. Shared Decision-Making for Lung Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review. CHEST Pulmonary. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chpulm.2025.100222.
Miake-Lye IM, Mak S, Begashaw MM, et al. Using Google to Search for Evidence: How Much Is Enough? One Center’s Experience. Systematic Reviews. 2025; 14(92). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02836-w.
Available on the intranet only. See vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov
ESP reports are externally peer-reviewed by clinical and policy experts. If you're interested in serving as a peer reviewer for the program, please register here.
