VA Health Care: Efforts to Prioritize and Translate Research into Clinical Practice
Abstract
In addition to providing health care services, VA funds research on veterans' health conditions, including chronic conditions (such as diabetes) as well as illnesses and injuries resulting from military service (such as TBI). VAs ORD manages the agencys research program, including its intramural research. In fiscal year 2018, VA resources for its intramural research program included an appropriation of $722 million. GAO was asked to review aspects of VA's research program. In this report, which focuses on VAs intramural research, GAO describes 1) how VA sets priorities for funding research, 2) VA efforts to facilitate translation of research into clinical practice, and 3) coordination between VA's research program and other VA entities. To perform this work, GAO reviewed VA policies, reports, and other documents about VA research efforts. GAO also interviewed officials from ORD, three VA national clinical program offices, and two VA offices that focus on implementing evidence-based practices. In addition, GAO conducted site visits with four VA medical centers. GAO selected those locations because they house VA-funded research centers that focus on a range of topics and ORD programs that focus on disseminating and translating research. At each location, GAO interviewed medical center officials and VA researchers. GAO also reviewed VA summary data on research projects and funding for fiscal year 2018. VA provided technical comments on a draft of this report, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1168069
Entities
People
- Jessica Farb
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office