Veterans Administration Databases

Description

The Veterans Administration Information Resource Center (VIReC) is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Resource Center. The VIReC provides database and informatics experts, customer service, expert advice, information products, and Web technology to VA researchers and others. Data available upon request includes datasets for both in-patient and out-patient treatment, death files including cause of death, datasets for lab results, pharmacy (including prescription, unit dose, and IV pharmacy detail), and radiological procedures (in-patient and out-patient). National Data Extracts and summary reports including Costs by Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs), Readmissions with Certain Numbers of Days, Average Patient Costs, and Cost Details for Selected Clinic Stops are available. The Veterans Health Administration also has a Decision Support System, which is a national automated management information system integrating data from clinical and financial systems for both inpatient and outpatient care.

Selected References

Utilization

Jazieh AR, Kopp M, Foraida M, Ghouse M, Khalil M, Savidge M, Sethuraman G. The use of dietary supplements by veterans with cancerExternal Web Site Policy. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Jun;10(3):560-4.

Etiology

Blumentals WA, Foulis PR, Schwartz SW, Mason TJ. Analgesic therapy and the prevention of bladder cancerExternal Web Site Policy. Urol Oncol. 2004 Jan-Feb;22(1):11-5.

Blumentals WA, Foulis PR, Schwartz SW, Mason TJ. Does warfarin therapy influence the risk of bladder cancer?External Web Site Policy Thromb Haemost. 2004 Apr;91(4):801-5.

Shannon J, Tewoderos S, Garzotto M, Beer TM, Derenick R, Palma A, Farris PE. Statins and prostate cancer risk: a case-control studyExternal Web Site Policy. Am J Epidemiol. 2005 Aug 15;162(4):318-25.

Cost/Cost Effectiveness

Piette JD, Heisler M. Problems due to medication costs among VA and non-VA patients with chronic illnessesExternal Web Site Policy. Am J Manag Care. 2004 Nov;10(11 Pt 2):861-8.

Treatment/Survivorship

Grossmann EM, Longo WE, Virgo KS, Johnson FE, Oprian CA, Henderson W, Daley J, Khuri SF. Morbidity and mortality of gastrectomy for cancer in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CentersExternal Web Site Policy. Surgery. 2002 May;131(5):484-90.

Last Updated: 03 Feb 2012

Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences National Cancer Institute Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov