Garcia Amanda P, Huang Grant D, Arnheim Louise, Ramoni Rachel B, Clancy Carolyn M
Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
Office of Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
Fed Pract. 2023 Nov;40(11 Suppl 5):S12-S17. doi: 10.12788/fp.0425. Epub 2023 Nov 1.
Within a year of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was managing about 300 COVID-19-related research projects across roughly 100 facilities, which has since grown to more than 900 projects. This robust set of activities arose from an existing enterprise strategy and aimed at identifying needs for supporting the clinical care mission, more rapidly leveraging resources, and coordinating research across the VA. The VA's efforts to implement an enterprise strategy before March 2020 positioned its research community to dynamically partner with other federal agencies, academic institutions, and industry in addressing a national public health emergency.
The VA research enterprise involves a broad range of functions, scientific and clinical leaders, and organizational resources to enhance the health and care of veterans and the nation. The scope of research activities enables it to support its priorities while also partnering with others who share in mutual commitments to veteran health. Moving toward being the nation's learning health care system, the VA's leadership support, staff, patient volunteers, and partners were key contributors to a national response to COVID-19. Swift action and consistent communication helped address the complexities of the pandemic and strengthened the VA's ability to prepare and mobilize for emergencies and other potential disease outbreaks. Documenting strategies and practices can enhance future opportunities aimed at addressing the most challenging health care needs while also focusing on the primary mission to serve veterans.
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to critical knowledge and lessons that enabled the VA to advance enterprise goals, particularly in the context of its health care system. Sharing these unique processes and experiences will inform current and future partnerships among research, clinical, and public health communities oriented to serve veterans and the nation through scientific innovation.
在新冠疫情开始后的一年内，美国退伍军人事务部（VA）在约100个设施中管理着约300个与新冠相关的研究项目，此后已发展到900多个项目。这一系列丰富的活动源自现有的企业战略，旨在确定支持临床护理任务的需求，更快地利用资源，并在退伍军人事务部内协调研究。退伍军人事务部在2020年3月之前实施企业战略的努力，使其研究团队能够与其他联邦机构、学术机构和行业动态合作，以应对国家公共卫生紧急情况。
退伍军人事务部的研究企业涉及广泛的职能、科学和临床领导者以及组织资源，以改善退伍军人和国家的健康与护理。研究活动的范围使其能够支持其优先事项，同时也与其他同样致力于退伍军人健康的机构合作。朝着成为国家学习型医疗系统的方向发展，退伍军人事务部的领导层支持、工作人员、患者志愿者和合作伙伴是国家应对新冠疫情的关键贡献者。迅速行动和持续沟通有助于应对疫情的复杂性，并加强了退伍军人事务部为应对紧急情况和其他潜在疾病爆发做准备和动员的能力。记录战略和实践可以增加未来应对最具挑战性的医疗需求的机会，同时也专注于为退伍军人服务的首要任务。
新冠疫情促成了关键的知识和经验教训，使退伍军人事务部能够推进企业目标，特别是在其医疗系统的背景下。分享这些独特的过程和经验将为当前和未来研究、临床和公共卫生社区之间的伙伴关系提供信息，这些伙伴关系旨在通过科学创新为退伍军人和国家服务。
