Abstract:
|
The detailed health care delivery data housed in the electronic medical records system of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides extensive opportunities for partnerships between researchers, clinicians, and administrators in support of planning for resource utilization, improving the quality and consistency of health care delivery, and establishing metrics and guidelines for care. We provide examples of simple statistical and epidemiologic operationalizations of questions important to VHA as a learning healthcare system, within the contexts of projects in the areas of (a) quality of colorectal cancer treatment and (b) consistency of care provided to Gulf War I era Veterans. These examples illustrate the value offered by simple and intuitive approaches that are easily structured within rapid-cycle quality improvement processes and multidisciplinary team activities.
|