Featured Research Program
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Interprofessional Improvement Research, Education, and Clinical Center (IIRECC)
Our team partners with local and national researchers to design and execute mixed methods evaluation and implementation studies focused on improving VA programs and services. We specialize in using qualitative methods to provide an on-the-ground look at end-user and participant experiences with the implementation of programs, initiatives, interventions, and medical devices. Our stakeholder engagement methods provide a voice to Veterans, clinicians, administrators, support staff, and leadership. The products we generate give context to enhance interpretation of quantitative data and provide data-driven insights to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of VA programs, services, and interventions.
Our data collection and analysis methods include:
- Interviews and focus groups;
- field observations;
- site visits;
- rapid matrix and rapid cycle analysis; and
- in-depth content and thematic analysis.
Our team is led by Sherry Ball, PhD who serves as co-Director of VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Interprofessional Improvement Research, Education, and Clinical Center (IIRECC) along with Mamta (Mimi) Singh, MD and Mary Dolansky, PhD. IIRECC’s aim is to build teams that bridge research, education, and clinical operations to inform local and national policy to reimagine the VA health care system.
Please contact Dr. Sherry Ball, sherry.ball@va.gov, if you’d like more information or you’re interested in working with us.
Research Forums
Research forums will be held monthly at the VA in Room K119. Our spring schedule for forums is listed below. We encourage you to attend in person if you can. If you are unavailable to attend in person, you will have the option to view the presentation via Teams.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 @1:00PM
VA Million Veterans Program (MVP) - Accessing the Data:
presented by Neal Peachey, Ph.D., Associate Chief of Staff/Research
Microsoft Teams meeting; Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Meeting ID: 281 877 286 274 Passcode: cCtUEH
Or call in (audio only)
+1 872-701-0185,,823825704#
Click here to join the meeting
Tuesday, June 20th @ 1:00pm
Flagging Process in CPRS: presented by Larry Foote, Health Systems Specialist
Tuesday, July 18 @ 1:00pm
Privacy Q & A: presented by Joe Picklo and Tomica Jefferson, Privacy Specialists
Office Hours (Research Compliance & Education)
We are pleased to announce office hours with the Research Compliance Office & Research Service (Education). Candice, Jennifer, and Heba will have an open forum via teams the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month from 12:30pm-1:00pm
During the office hours you can come and ask any questions that you may have about Research Compliance/Research Education. If you have a topics that you would like for us to discuss in future office hours, please feel free to send an email to candice.toney@va.gov
Please use the link below to join us Friday, May 12 at 12:30pm
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 272 015 014 191 Passcode: kDx3KT
Study Initiation Visits
What is a Study Initiation Visit?
The study initiation visit encompasses a review of regulatory requirements as they apply to your specific study, good clinical practice guidelines, the informed consent and HIPAA documents as well as a review of how to maintain study records (regulatory binder and subject files).
The Research Compliance Office is required to perform a triennial regulatory audit of studies (human subjects' research, animal protocols, and basic science studies) and informed consent and HIPAA audits if applicable. The intent of a study initiation visit is to help the researcher avoid the most common audit findings before they occur.
Did you know that you can schedule a Study Initiation Visit with the Research Service?
The study initiation visit is available to all research staff. If you are new to research or need a refresher, you can schedule a study initiation visit today.
For scheduling or questions contact Candice Toney at Candice.Toney@va.gov or 216-791-3800 x66785
Redcap Survey
The Research Service aims to improve the training and resources offered to research staff. Research staff should have received a Redcap survey link to complete a voluntary survey about training interests and needs. This survey is being conducted by a local research team led by Dr. Sherry Ball and is not part of any performance measure. The results are intended to improve the educational programming and resources offered by the Research Service Line. Individual responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. The deadline to complete the survey is May 19th.
Please reach out to Soumya Subramaniam (Soumya.Subramaniam@va.gov) if you have any questions about the survey.
IRB Open Position
We have an open position for an IRB Coordinator. Applications must be submitted through USA jobs.
This link will take you to the announcement USAJOBS - Job Announcement. This job announcement is open through 05/08/23.
Please share widely.
Checklist and Tools for Submission of Informed Consent Documents to ORD-Approved Commercial IRBs
ORPP&E held a webinar on April 19, 2023, to review revised and new ORD tools and processes to facilitate informed consent submissions to ORD-approved commercial IRBs. The slides and recording are available on ORPP&E’s webinar archive page here: ORPP&E Webinar Archive (va.gov)
Summary of Key Information
- A new checklist has been created to help facilitate ICD submissions to ORD-approved commercial IRBs for inclusion of VA specific elements and select 2018 Common Rule ICD elements; these checklists are not required to be submitted to the commercial IRBs.
- VA participating sites are requested to include the 2018 Common Rule requirements in the ICDs for industry-sponsored studies if the elements are not already present. The one 2018 Common Rule element that VA sites need to target is inclusion of key information present up front.
- The IRB is responsible for the review and approval of ICDs, including ensuring that applicable VA and federal regulatory requirements are met.
Tools have been revised and a new checklist developed to assist VA Facilities and their study teams:
These documents have also been added to our local VAIRRS library “VANEOHS Research Administration, Cleveland, OH - Documents for Researchers,” which can be found on the Forms & Templates page in VAIRRS/IRBNet.
The new checklist was developed for use by study teams submitting studies to ORD-approved Commercial IRBs, but is useful for any study team. It is a tool/worksheet; it is not a regulatory document. It is not required to be submitted to the Commercial IRBs.
ORPP&E’s webpage for use of Commercial IRBs: https://www.research.va.gov/programs/orppe/irb_relationships.cfm
Upcoming VA Research Funding Deadlines
VA RR&D and HSR&D funding applications are submitted in June and December. For June 2023, the last day to submit is June 8.
All submissions must be reviewed and approved by the R&D Committee prior to submitting. if you are planning to submit a grant application this upcoming Winter cycle. Please contact Christine Hendricks (Christine.hendricks@va.gov).
Office of Research & Development
Upcoming Webinars: Office of Research Protections, Policy, and Education Webinars (va.gov)
5/9/2023 VA Institutional Biosafety Committee Administration
5/11/2023 TRM Tagging and the ORD IT Service Catalog Webinar
Archived webinars can be found at: ORPP&E Webinar Archive (va.gov)
Stay Connected
VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Cleveland Research Website
Office of Research & Development
|
