The continuous improvement for veterans in care: Mood Disorders (civic-md) Study, a VA-academic partnership.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides an ideal opportunity to conduct mental health services research among vulnerable populations, given its extensive data sources, disproportionate number of vulnerable patients (older, often with comorbidities), and quality improvement mission. Although VA facilities are often affiliated with universities, successful VA-academic research partnerships are sometimes elusive. The Continuous Improvement for Veterans in Care: Mood Disorders (CIVIC-MD) study was a partnership with a VA facility that had not been engaged in mood disorders research. This column describes how the partnership formed, key elements of its success, and challenges and opportunities to inform future research partnerships.
Kilbourne
Amy M
AM
Department of Veterans Affairs National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (VA SMITREC), Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA. amykilbo@umich.edu
Lasky
Elaine
E
Pincus
Harold Alan
HA
Good
C Bernie
CB
Cooley
Susan
S
Basavaraju
Anu
A
Greenwald
Devra
D
Fine
Michael J
MJ
Bauer
Mark S
MS
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*