1. Veterans Aging Cohort Study Site Evaluations
Overview of Site Visits
& Future Evaluation Criteria
Deborah. V. Gibson, MA
Kristin Mattocks, PhD, MPH

2. General Overview of Site Visit
The intent was to:
Evaluate progress made to date
Highlight areas that are working well
Identify areas that could be improved and add to the continued success of the site.

3. General Overview of Site Visit
Areas of evaluation:
Proper storage of patient data (to ensure confidentiality):
Assessment of management, documentation, and storage of consents, surveys, and payment receipts
Interaction with the site over the past year, including:
Participation in conference calls
Timeliness of information submitted to the CC
Site performance in FU Surveys, DNA/Blood Study, regulatory matters (IRB) & other substantive areas

4. Confidentiality of Patient Data

5. Analysis of 10 Randomly Selected Files

6. Site Participation & Communication (ID & GM included separately where needed)

7. Follow Up #3 Survey Performance

8. DNA / Blood Study Performance

9. Regulatory Performance

10. Summary of Findings
Most sites performing very well with regard to enrollment, retention, shipment of paperwork to CC & Palo Alto, and regulatory (IRB) matters.
Improvement in attention to details on Follow Up & DNA/Blood study paperwork would help reduce Coordinator & CC workload.

11. Future Evaluation Criteria
Some evaluation metrics will remain the same, others will evolve as study evolves:
Proper storage of patient documents
Adherence to blood/DNA study protocols (including enrollment and documentation regarding refusal to participate in blood/DNA substudy)
Enrollment protocols/standards (Fall 2007)
Proper use of Cause of Death and HAART Naïve documentation
Adherence to VA electronic security standards

12. Acknowledgements PI and Co-PI: AC Justice, DA Fiellin
Participating VA Medical Centers: Atlanta (D. Rimland, C Jones-Taylor), Baltimore (KA Oursler, R Titanji), Bronx (S Brown, S Garrison), Houston (M Rodriguez-Barradas, N Masozera), Los Angeles (M Goetz, D Leaf), Manhattan-Brooklyn (M Simberkoff, D Blumenthal, J Leung), Pittsburgh (A Butt, E Hoffman), and Washington DC (C Gibert, R Peck)
Core Faculty: S Braithwaite, C Brandt, K Bryant, R Cook, J Conigliaro, K Crothers, J Chang, S Crystal, N Day, J Erdos, M Freiberg, M Kozal, M Gaziano, M Gerschenson, B Good, A Gordon, J Goulet, M Hernan, K Kraemer, J Lim, S Maisto, K Mattocks, P Miller, L Mole, P O’Connor, R Papas, H Paek, J Robins, C Rinaldo, M Roberts, J Samet, B Tierney, J Whittle
Staff: D Cohen, A Consorte, D Gibson, K Gordon, F Kidwai, F Levin, K McGinnis, M Rambo, J Rogers, M Skanderson, F Whitsett
Major Collaborators: Immunology Case Registry, Pharmacy Benefits Management, Framingham Heart Study, Women’s Interagency HIV Study, Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC), Health Economics Research Center (HERC), Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP)
Funded by: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2U10 AA 13566); National Institute on Aging (K23 G00826); Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Faculty Scholar Award; an Inter-Agency Agreement between National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, and the Veterans Health Administration; the VHA Office of Research and Development; and, VHA Public Health Strategic Health Care Group.