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VISN 1 Bedford/Boston

HSR&D and QUERI Centers, projects, Career Development Awards, and highlighted publications in 

Bedford/Boston include:

COIN (Center of Innovation): 

Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR)

Directors: Dan Berlowitz, MD, MPH (Bedford) and Martin Charns, DBA (Boston)

CHOIR's mission is to improve Veterans' health outcomes by developing, studying, and applying 

evidence-based practices that will be widely implemented and sustained.

CREATE (Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence): 

Promoting Value & Access in VA's Substance Use Disorder Services (housed in Palo Alto)

A project funded under this CREATE is housed in Boston: 

• SUD Treatment Staffing and Handbook Implementation: Impact on Patient Outcomes – Steven 

Pizer, PhD

QUERI (Quality Enhancement Research Initiative): 

eHealth QUERI Center

Director: Thomas Houston, MD, MPH (Bedford)

eHealth-QUERI’s strategic goals are to augment access to and meaningful use of eHealth tools, 

and to enhance Veteran self-management and participation in collaborative care through the 

design, evaluation, and implementation of appropriate eHealth tools.

Resource Center: 

Center for Information Dissemination and Education Resources (CIDER)

Director: Geraldine McGlynn, MEd (Boston)

CIDER provides a critical conduit for the national dissemination of health services research and 

provides HSR&D with dissemination support through a variety of channels. By distributing 

important HSR&D findings to policy makers, clinicians, researchers, managers, and the general 

public, CIDER plays a pivotal role in supporting implementation of evidence-based research 

throughout VA.

Currently Funded Projects at Bedford

• Veterans' Adherence to Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C – Jack Clark, PhD

• Progressing Towards Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening in the VHA – Renda Wiener, MD, 

MPH

• Improving Anticoagulation Control in VISN 1 – Adam Rose, MD, MSc

• Employment as a Peer Support Technician: Impact on Mental Health Recovery – Susan Eisen, PhD

• Relation of Mortality to Structure of Primary Care in Outpatients with Diabetes – Alfredo Selim, 

MD, MPH

• Identifying Heart Failure Patients at Highest Risk for Readmission – Ann Borzecki, MD, MPH

• Understanding the Roles of Informal Caregivers of Veterans with Hepatitis-C – Donald McInnes, 

ScD, MS

• Implementing My HealtheVet Among Patient Aligned Care Team Members – Timothy Hogan, PhD, 

MS

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• Using Proactive Secure Messaging to Enhance Patient-Centeredness and Outcomes – Thomas

Houston, MD, MPH

• Veteran and Staff Perceptions of VHA Large Scale Adverse Event Communications – Anashua Elwy, 

PhD, MSc

• Using Stories to Address Disparities in Hypertension – Thomas Houston, MD, MPH

• MISSION-Vet HUD-VASH Implementation Study – David Smelson, PsyD

• Improving Outcomes for Homeless Veterans with Peer Support – Marsha Ellison, PhD, MSW

• Developing and Implementing a Toolkit for Measuring CLC Cultural Transformation – Christine 

Hartmann, PhD

Currently Funded Projects at Boston

• Evaluating Implementation of Project Re-Engineered Discharge in VA – Jennifer Sullivan, PhD, MS

• Prioritizing and Piloting Veterans' MHV Meaningful Use Measures – Steven Simon, MD, MPH

• Validating and Classifying VA Readmissions for Quality Assessment and Improvement – Amy 

Rosen, PhD

• Spatiotemporal Spread of Newer Antipsychotics for Bipolar Disorder and PTSD – Mark Bauer, MD

• An RCT of Telemedicine Interventions for OSA – David Sparrow, DSc

• Improving Dental Decision Making for Root Canal Therapy – Nancy Kressin, PhD

• Organizational and Patient Factors Related to Polytrauma/TBI Patient Outcomes – Terri Pogoda,

PhD 

• Examining the Relationship of Culture Change, Adverse Events, and Costs in CLCs – Jennifer

Sullivan, PhD, MS

• Identifying mTBI Subtypes and their Implications for Recovery and Reintegration – Mark Meterko, 

PhD

• A Telemedicine Intervention to Improve Physical Function in Patients with PD – David Sparrow, 

DSc

• Comparative Effectiveness and Cost of Surgical Prophylaxis Regimens – Kalpana Gupta, MD, MPH

Current Career Development Awardees (Bedford)

• Christine Hartmann, PhD – Investigating Safety Climate and Outcomes in VA Nursing Homes 

• Donald McInnes, ScD, MS – Understanding Health Information and Informatics Needs of Veterans

• Stephanie Shimada, PhD – Optimizing Veterans Use of eHealth Technologies 

• Eric Smith, MD, MPH – Assessing Medications as Interventions to Prevent Suicide in the VHA 

Current Career Development Awardees (Boston)

• Katherine Iverson, PhD, MA – Intimate Partner Violence, Health, and Health Care among Female 

Veterans 

Research Career Scientists (Boston)

• Nancy Kressin, PhD

• Amy Rosen, PhD

Highlighted Publications

• Study Finds VA’s Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Process is Inclusive and Effective in Referral 

for Further Services

Hendricks A, Amara J, Baker E, Charns M, et al. Screening for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in OEF/OIF Deployed U.S. 

Military: An Empirical Assessment of VHA’s Experience. Brain Injury February 2013;27(2):125-34.

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

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2/21/2014
• Study Suggests Psychiatrists’ Workplace Satisfaction Improved Despite Significant Changes in VA 

Mental Healthcare Services

Mohr D, Bauer M, and Penfold R. Changes in Veterans Affairs Psychiatrists’ Work Environment Perceptions, Satisfaction 

and Turnover during Resource Enhancement. Psychiatric Services June 2013;64(6):563-69.

• Study Assesses Home Safety Intervention to Improve Caregiver Competence for Individuals with 

Alzheimer’s Disease

Horvath K, Trudeau S, Rudolph J, Trudeau P, Duffy M, and Berlowitz D. Clinical Trial of a Home Safety Toolkit for 

Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2013. 

• Study Suggests Improvement in VA Patient Outcomes Related to Pay-for-Performance Remains 

after Removal of Incentives 

Benzer J, Young G, Burgess J, Baker E, Mohr D, Charns M, and Kaboli P. Sustainability of Quality Improvement Following 

Removal of Performance-Based Incentives. Journal of General Internal Medicine January 2014;29(1):127-32. 

Search the full list of citations from the Bedford/Boston Center at

www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations/coe_generator.cfm

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2/21/2014
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VISN 1 Providence

HSR&D and QUERI Centers, projects, Career Development Awards, and highlighted publications in 

Providence include:

COIN (Center of Innovation): 

Center of Innovation in Long-Term Services and Supports for Vulnerable Veterans

Director: Peter Friedmann, MD, MPH

This Center will stimulate and develop research that will enhance the implementation of programs 

to support the mission of VA's Geriatrics and Extended Care Service (GEC) in maximizing Veterans' 

social participation and quality of life in the least restrictive setting possible. 

CREATE (Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence): 

Long-Term Care

Director: Vincent Mor, PhD

The goal of this CREATE is to conduct research that will provide the tools, evidence, and evaluation 

information necessary for VHA Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) policymakers and staff to 

transform the spectrum of LTC services. Currently funded CREATE projects include:

• Increasing Veterans' Use of Community-based LTC via Timely Discharge from VA CLCs – Susan 

Allen, PhD

• Medical Foster Homes: A Safe, Cost Effective Substitute for Nursing Homes? – Cari Levy, MD, PhD

(housed in Denver)

• Implementing and Evaluating INTERACT in VA CLCs – Vincent Mor, PhD

Currently Funded Projects at Providence

• Engaging Homeless Veterans in Primary Care – Thomas O’Toole, MD

• Video-Conference Shared Medical Appointments to Improve Rural Diabetes Care – Wen-Chih Wu, MD

• Health Policy Implication of Dual Enrollment in the VA and Medicare Advantage – Amal Trivedi, MD, 

MPH

• Aligning Resources to Care for Homeless Veterans (ARCH) – Thomas O’Toole, MD

• Can Concurrent Hospice Care and Cancer Treatment Achieve Superior Outcomes? – Vincent Mor, PhD

• Training and Coaching to Promote High Performance in VA Community Living Centers – Denise Tyler, 

PhD

• Veterans Coping Long-Term with Suicide – Jennifer Primack, PhD

Highlighted Publications

• Use of Inappropriate Medications in VA Nursing Homes Markedly Improved

Dosa D, Cai S, Gidmark S, Thomas K, Intrator O. Potentially inappropriate medication use in veterans residing in 

community living centers: have we gotten better? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2013 Nov 1; 61(11):1994-9. 

• Limited Acceptance of Injection Drug Might Reduce its Effectiveness among Homeless, AlcoholDependent Veterans

Friedmann PD, Mello D, Lonergan S, Bourgault C, O'Toole TP. Aversion to injection limits acceptability of extendedrelease naltrexone among homeless, alcohol-dependent patients. Substance Abuse. 2013; 34(2):94-6. 

Search the full list of citations from the Providence Center at

www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations/coe_generator.cfm

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VISN 1 West Haven

HSR&D and QUERI Centers, projects, Career Development Awards, and highlighted publications in West 

Haven include:

COIN (Center of Innovation): 

Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center

Director: Robert Kerns, PhD

PRIME's mission is to study the interactions between pain and associated chronic conditions and 

behavioral health factors. 

CREATE (Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence): 

Pain Management and Patient-Aligned Care

Director: Robert Kerns, PhD

This CREATE program has three specific goals: enhance Veterans' access to empirically validated and 

guideline-concordant pain care; leverage health information technology to promote better pain 

care for Veterans; and build sustainable improvements in pain care that are applicable beyond the 

life of the CREATE. Currently funded CREATE projects include:

• Musculoskeletal Diagnoses Cohort: Examining Pain and Pain Care in the VA – Robert Kerns, PhD

• Effective Screening for Pain – Karl Lorenz, MD (housed in Los Angeles)

To be funded: 

• Comprehensive Opioid Management in Patient Aligned Care Teams (COMPACT) – Alicia Heapy, 

PhD

Women Veterans Healthcare (housed in Los Angeles)

A project funded under this CREATE is housed in West Haven: 

• Evaluation of Quality and Coordination of Outsourced Care for Women Veterans – Lori 

Bastian, MD, MPH

Currently Funded Projects at West Haven

• IVR-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Chronic Low Back – Alicia Heapy, PhD

• Preparing for New Antivirals: Preferences for Treatment of Hepatitis C – Liana Fraenkel, MD, MPH

• Understanding Advance Care Planning as a Dyadic Process – Terri Fried, MD

• Evaluation and Treatment of Substance Use in Veterans with PTSD Disability Claims – Marc Rosen, MD

• Discontinuing NSAIDs in Veterans with Knee Osteoarthritis – Liana Fraenkel, MD, MPH

Current Career Development Awardees

• William Becker, MD – Identifying Indications for Opioid Reassessment in Primary Care

• Jack Tsai, PhD – Evaluation of VA's Supported Housing Program for Homeless Veterans

Highlighted Publications

• Journal Issue Highlights Women Veterans’ Health Issues

Bastian L. (Guest Editor) Women Veterans’ Health and Health Care Supplement. Journal of General Internal Medicine 

July 2013 

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

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2/21/2014
• Study Suggests Affordable Care Act May Have Significant Implications for Veterans and the VA 

Healthcare System

Tsai J and Rosenheck R. Uninsured Veterans Who Will Need to Obtain Insurance Coverage Under the Affordable Care 

Act. American Journal of Public Health January 16, 2014;e-pub ahead of print.

• Study Shows Strong Association between Substance Abuse and Homelessness among Veterans

Tsai J, Kasprow W, and Rosenheck R. Alcohol and Drug Use among Homeless Veterans: Prevalence and Association with 

Supported Housing Outcomes. Addictive Behaviors February 2014;39(2):455-60.

Search the full list of citations from the West Haven Center at

www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations/coe_generator.cfm

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

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2/21/2014