VIReC Activities

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The VIReC Web site is itself a major activity of VIReC, providing an avenue for researchers to reach many of our services and products. Many VIReC activities involve production of publications. In general, VIReC activities reflect the Center's three strategic goals:

• Database and Data Quality Knowledge: Create a growing knowledge base of factual and evaluative information about VA and select non-VA data for VA researchers using databases and information systems.
  • Toolkit for New Users of VA Data
  • Web-based information about using VA data
  • Web-based information about Data Sources by Name, including information about VA-Medicare merged data that is centrally warehoused in VIReC
  • Web-based information about Data Topics by Category
  • Research User Guides for selected data sources
  • Technical Reports for selected data topics
  • Frequencies of selected variables in VHA Medical SAS Datasets and VHA Decision Support System (DSS) Clinical National Data Extracts (NDE)
  • Proc Contents of VHA Medical SAS Datasets and the VHA ADUSH Enrollment File
  • FAQs

• Customer Service and Dissemination: Effectively share knowledge about databases and information systems with researchers.
  • Help Desk to answer questions, make referrals to experts, and arrange for consultation or training
  • HSRData-L listserv for discussion of data issues
  • QUERInfo Listserv
  • Data Issues Briefs
  • Cyber Seminars and Selected Slide Presentations
  • Exhibit booth with staff available at major VA and health services research meetings.

• Liaison and Development: Represent the interests of VA researchers using databases and information systems.
  • HSR&D Center of Excellence (COE) Directors
  • VHA Data Consortium
  • VA Central Office
  • VHA Office of Information
  • Office of the VHA Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health
  • Office of Quality & Performance
  • Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group
  • DHHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Research review and advisory committees in VA, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality.