Discover High-Impact VA Data Sources
What are VA data sources?
A large, national data ecosystem with decades of electronic health record (EHR) data and rich linkages that power large-scale veteran health research and innovation, including data reports, data sets, data files, databases, data warehouses, and data repositories.
Why VA data matters
- 9+ million veterans served each year across 1,200+ facilities
- Decades of EHR data including 25+ years for over 26 million patients
- Timely information-some data available in near real time
- Ideal for veteran-focused, CHB mission-aligned research
What VA data is available?
- Clinical data, administrative records, patient demographics, laboratory results, pharmacy transactions, and more
- Linked data (e.g., Medicare/Medicaid, DoD, Census)
How CHB affiliates can use VA data
- Partner with a VA investigator to access VA data
- Talk with VA Data Team Lead, Jacob Scharer, PhD, about project ideas and feasibility
- Co-develop a proposal with a VA Principal Investigator and secure required approvals (e.g., IRB)
Learn more (public resources)
- VA Information Resource Center (VIReC) overview: www.virec.research.va.gov
- Sample journal article using VA data: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40082333/
Primary contact for CHB-affiliated investigators interested
in VA data collaborations: Jacob Scharer, PhD, jacob.scharer@va.gov