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FORUM - Translating research into quality health care for Veterans


In This Issue

Director's Letter

Director's Letter
by David Atkins, M.D., M.P.H., Director, HSR&D

In today's VA, where the average patient has long medication lists, sees multiple providers in multiple clinics, and receives inpatient care from hospitalists, active coordination is needed to ensure treatments are aligned and handoffs are not missed...

Commentary

Care Coordination: A PACT Core Concept
by Joanne M. Shear M.S., F.N.P.-B.C., and Kathryn C. Corrigan, M.D., both with VA Central Office

Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) implementation in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has focused on improving care coordination and transitions of care for Veterans ...

Response to Commentary

Care Coordination and PACT: Progress, Promise, and Work To Be Done
by Kristina M. Cordasco, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.H.S., and Lisa V. Rubenstein, M.D., M.S.P.H., both with HSR&D's Center for Implementation Practice and Research Support, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California

Care coordination is nearly always listed as a key feature in descriptions of new patient-centered primary care models...

Research Highlights

Opportunities for Improved Care Coordination in VA's Medical Neighborhoods
by Danielle E. Rose, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Melissa M. Farmer, Ph.D.; and Elizabeth M. Yano, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.; all with HSR&D's Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, Sepulveda, California

Since undergoing a transformation of primary care into patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) via Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT), VA has been increasing efforts to address care coordination challenges ...


Improving Care Coordination When Referring Patients to Subspecialists: Can Electronic Health Records Help?
by Sylvia J. Hysong, Ph.D., HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas

As VHA moves to a team-based model of care, care coordination becomes ever more important. Coordinating care is not a new task in the delivery system...


Facilitating Care Transitions among Patients with Substance Use Disorders
by Christine Timko, Ph.D., HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California; Michael Cucciare, Ph.D. HSR&D Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas; Mark Ilgen, Ph.D., HSR&D Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Substance misuse is a common health condition among Veterans receiving care from VHA. The harmful health effects of substance misuse are well documented and include loss of relationships and employment, legal problems, medical and mental health comorbidities, and premature death...



Care Coordination and Transitions in Heart Failure Care
by Paul Heidenreich, M.D., M.S., Chronic Heart Failure Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) and HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California

Heart failure is one of the medical conditions most likely to benefit from care coordination through times of patient transition. As a chronic condition characterized by periodic hospitalizations, heart failure involves frequent care site transitions accompanied by important changes ...



Announcements

JGIM Supplement Highlights VA's Patient Aligned Care Teams

Amy Kilbourne, Ph.D., M.P.H., Named QUERI Director



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