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Pharmacy data in the VA health care system
Mark W Smith1, George J Joseph
1VA HSR&D Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, USA.
Medical Care Research and Review : MCRR
|April 21, 2004
Summary
This guide details Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pharmacy data sources, enhancing research access. It covers data elements and access policies for comprehensive health care insights.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Pharmaceutical Data Management
- Veterans Health Administration Research
Background:
- Advancements in VA health care data systems have improved access to operational pharmacy information.
- Understanding available data sources is crucial for leveraging this information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive guide to VA pharmacy data sources.
- To outline available data elements and access policies for researchers.
Main Methods:
- Identification and description of key VA pharmacy data repositories.
- Explanation of data elements including patient demographics, clinical information, medication details, prescriber information, and costs.
- Detailing access policies for both VA and non-VA researchers.
Main Results:
- Multiple VA pharmacy data sources are available, including VHA files, PBM database, DSS extracts, and Fee Basis files.
- Data elements encompass a wide range of patient, clinical, and financial information.
- Clear access policies are established for researchers.
Conclusions:
- Linking diverse VA pharmacy data sources with other VA databases provides a holistic view of patient care.
- This integrated approach facilitates comprehensive health care analysis for key VA populations.
- Enables deeper insights into the health of veterans, including elderly and disabled individuals.