Virtual Care Consortium of Research (VC CORE) - COR-20-199

Va Medical Center, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Background: Virtual care, now a mainstay in the Veterans Health Administration (VA), facilitates access to critical clinical and social services for millions of Veterans. The term “virtual care” encompasses a suite of technologies that include VA’s video visit platform, the MyHealtheVet patient portal, mobile apps, remote monitoring devices and tools to collect patient-generated health data. Collectively, these technologies have potential to enhance Veteran care and improve the workflow and workload of VA clinical teams. Yet for many clinical scenarios, evidence regarding the effectiveness, quality, safety and cost implications of virtual care is still in early stages. Understanding factors associated with access to and engagement with virtual care are important for this to be an effective, equitable mode of care delivery within VA. Significance: The Virtual Care Consortium of Research (VC CORE) was established in 2020 to address pressing needs for virtual care evidence within VA. In close partnership with VA’s Office of Connected Care and Digital Health Office, the VC CORE has grown to a diverse network of >380 investigators, clinicians and staff. The VC CORE addresses VA Health Systems Research priority areas for 2026 and is responsive to national legislation pertaining to VA virtual care, including the Cleland-Dole Act of 2022. Foundational VC CORE accomplishments include an extensive portfolio review of VA virtual care projects, an online research and implementation resource library, establishment of a cyberseminar series and monthly newsletter, a State- of-the-Art conference to identify virtual care research priorities and facilitation of > 50 OCC-funded quality improvement and evaluation projects. Innovation and Impact: The VA has been an early innovator in virtual care, with routine use of video visit capabilities, remote patient monitoring platforms, a web-based patient portal, and other technologies for several decades. VC CORE innovations that support virtual care implementation and evaluation include development of a comprehensive database of VA virtual care research, creation of a novel program to support operations-funded virtual care evaluations, and contributions to two Congressionally-mandated reports. Specific Aims: In the proposed VC CORE renewal, we will pursue four Impact Goals (IGs): In IG1, we will strengthen the VC CORE network through targeted growth, enhanced collaboration and partnerships. In IG2, we will foster rapid, rigorous and innovative research and QI activities focused on virtual care. In IG3, we will support VA in its efforts to implement and disseminate virtual care across the enterprise. In IG4, we will generate and synthesize evidence to advance VA practice and policy. Methodology: In IG1, we will grow our network and build more connections between network members and clinical operations partners, support requests for subject matter expertise from Office of Research and Development (ORD) and other VA leaders and support the next generation of investigators through early- career development opportunities. In IG2, we will foster virtual care research by updating VC CORE’s portfolio review, working with existing ORD entities to develop and disseminate data measures relevant to virtual care research and establishing a Veteran Engagement Panel. In IG3, we will identify innovative programs through communication with the VC CORE network and support the dissemination of implementation resources using a SharePoint repository. In IG4, we will track requests from operational and ORD partners (e.g., literature or reporting requests), continue to orchestrate requests for applications for projects funded by OCC and other partners, and synthesize evidence about the value and impact of project findings. Next Steps/Implementation: The VC CORE has emerged as a critical supportive structure that facilitates high- impact virtual care research and evaluation activities within VA. Renewal of the VC CORE will help sustain these achievements and further enhance the impact of virtual care research to support VA as a learning health system.