Research at THRIVE COIN

THRIVE's primary mission is to conduct comprehensive research on VA long-term services and support (LTSS), with a focus on measurement, implementation, and quality. This research aims to enhance Veterans' access to LTSS programs, improve the quality of care provided, and increase the overall value of these services. By developing and applying this knowledge, THRIVE seeks to make VA LTSS programs more effective, efficient, and beneficial for the Veterans they serve.

Research at this Center focuses on:

• Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Home and Community Based Services
• High Risk Veteran Populations (Palliative Care, Dialysis, and Cognitive Impairment)
• Policy and Economic Analysis of Long-Term Care Programs
• Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Long-Term Care Community
• Mental Health and Homelessness
• End of Life Care
• Discharge from Hospital to Community
• HEDIS mediation dispensation
• Food Insecurity

Through innovative research, we aim to:

THRIVE’S research goals involve guiding LTSS development to improve the quintuple aim.

Additional research, innovation, and emerging areas include:

• Research Area: Our VA investigators and partners lead mental health and suicide prevention research focused on older Veterans/LTSS. This focus is critically needed in moving the needle on VA suicide prevention efforts, while building collaborations with HSR researchers from multiple disciplines.
• Innovation Area: VA medical centers that nurture young investigators are essential to rebuild the LTSS workforce that cares for older Veterans. THRIVE will serve as a critical partner in rebuilding the LTSS scientific workforce, investing in young investigators to improve workforce practitioner experience, well-being, and retention.
• Emerging Area: Pharmacologic Intervention in Later Life (PILL). PILL will address drug efficacy and improve care affected by rapidly changing medications, indications, guidelines and vaccines.

By conducting this work, we strive to support our team in their career and research development and better serve Veterans who require long-term services and support within the VA healthcare system.

THRIVE COIN Research Projects

Cornell, P. Y., Halladay, C. W., Ader, J., Halaszynski, J., Hogue, M., McClain, C. E., Silva, J. W., Taylor, L. D., & Rudolph, J. L. (2020). Embedding social workers in veterans health administration primary care teams reduces emergency department visits. Health Affairs, 39(4), 603-612. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01589

Cornell, P. Y., Hua, C. L., Buchalksi, Z. M., Chmelka, G. R., Cohen, A. J., Daus, M. M., Halladay, C. W., Harmon, A., Silva, J. W., & Rudolph, J. L. (2024). Using social risks to predict unplanned hospital readmission and emergency care among hospitalized Veterans. Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14353

Jutkowitz, E., Halladay, C., Tsai, J., Hooshyar, D., Quach, L., O'Toole, T., & Rudolph, J. L. (2021). Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among veterans experiencing housing insecurity. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 18(7), 1306-1313. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12476

Jutkowitz E, Rieke K, Caputo E, et al. Radiation Therapy for Benign Conditions: A Systematic Review. Washington, DC: Evidence Synthesis Program, Health Systems Research, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. VA ESP Project #22-116; 2024.

Mai HJ, Jutkowitz E, Kanaan G, et al. In-Hospital Sodium Intake for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Systematic Review. Washington, DC: Evidence Synthesis Program, Health Services Research and Development Service, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. VA ESP Project #22-116; 2023.

Quinn, M., Jutkowitz, E., Primack, J., Lenger, K., Rudolph, J., Trikalinos, T., Rickard, T., Mai, H. J., Balk, E., & Konnyu, K. (2024). Protocols to reduce seclusion in inpatient mental health units. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 33(3), 600-615. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13277

Savitz, D. A., Woskie, S. R., Bello, A., Gaither, R., Gasper, J., Jiang, L., Rennix, C., Wellenius, G. A., & Trivedi, A. N. (2024). Deployment to military bases with open burn pits and respiratory and cardiovascular disease. JAMA Network Open, 7(4), e247629. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.7629

Sullivan JL, Shin MH, Chan J, Shwartz M, Miech EJ, Borzecki AM, Yackel E, Yende S, Rosen AK. Quality Improvement Lessons Learned from National Implementation of the “Patient Safety Events in Community Care: Reporting, Investigation, and Improvement Guidebook.” Health Services Research. May 8, 2024. Published online.

Woskie, S. R., Bello, A., Rennix, C., Jiang, L., Trivedi, A. N., & Savitz, D. A. (2023). Burn pit exposure assessment to support a cohort study of US veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 65(6), 449-457. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000002788

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