Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research

Implementation and Dissemination Core

Because the fields of implementation science and dissemination overlap, we merged our Implementation Core and Communications Committee into the Implementation and Dissemination Core (IDC). The IDC enhances CCDOR knowledge and expertise in implementation science and dissemination and contributes to HSR’s goal to increase the impact of VA research on VA practice.

Implementation Science. The IDC draws on the implementation science expertise of its Director Dr. Ackland, CCDOR investigators Drs. Hagedorn (recipient of the 2020 HSR&D Health System Impact Award), Kehle-Forbes, Meis, Gustavson, Pestka and DeRonne, and consultant Dr. Wisdom who is an external expert in qualitative methodology. Combined, IDC members have 20+ years of implementation science expertise, with particular experience in 1) implementation strategies such as implementation facilitation (e.g., Dr. Ackland is Co-Lead for the VA Implementation Facilitation Learning Collaborative and Dr. Hagedorn is a member of its leadership team) and engagement strategies (e.g., Dr. Meis is Director of CCDOR’s Veteran Engagement Workgroup) and 2) relevant methods including rapid qualitative analysis and mixed-methods (e.g., Dr. Ackland serves on VA Qualitative Methods Collaborative Board). The main functions of the IDC are consultation, collaboration, mentorship and education. The IDC helps investigators plan for implementation during intervention and grant development including designing and executing process and summative evaluations for hybrid effectiveness-implementation trials. IDC expertise is shared beyond CCDOR through collaborations with the Minneapolis VA, University of Minnesota and other ORD centers (e.g., several IDC members are also investigators for RECOVER, the new RR&D Center). IDC members serve as mentors to HSR&D and RR&D fellows and CDA awardees both within CCDOR and from other COINs. Education is provided through a monthly Implementation Science Journal Club available to investigators and fellows across VHA and outside the VHA.

Dissemination. IDC now includes dissemination capacity through its Dissemination Team (formerly the Triple C)—Dr. Ackland, Malloree Argust (DEI Liaison), Ann Bangerter, Dr. Danan, Dr. Fu (CCDOR Director), Dr. Gustavson, Emily Hagel Campbell, Marie Kenny, Robert Orazem, and Kristen Ullman. Since 2016, the Dissemination Team has been responsible for disseminating CCDOR’s critical study findings, health system and patient impacts, and accomplishments. The Team works to increase CCDOR’s visibility within and outside of VA and improve awareness of CCDOR research within the center through newsletters, CCDOR’s website and social media. The Dissemination Team also works periodically with Minneapolis VA Public Affairs Office to develop press releases. In combination, these channels allow us to communicate to a variety of beneficiaries of CCDOR’s work including Veterans, clinicians, and local, regional and national policymakers. In addition, Dr. Gustavson is developing a Dissemination Special Interest Group through the University of Minnesota Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation.

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