Call for VA Equity Quality Improvement Projects, FY 2022
The VHA Office of Health Equity (OHE) invites VA staff from program offices, VISNs, and facilities to submit descriptions of quality improvement projects that include the implementation and evaluation of interventions to achieve health equity and reduce health disparities. Selected applications will be awarded FY 2022 funds to plan and pilot test interventions and will be eligible to submit full proposals for funding of interventions in FY 2023. Note that FY 2022 funds must be spent or encumbered by 9/30/2022.
This call for quality improvement projects is intended to support promising strategies to reduce specific disparities that affect significant numbers of Veterans and that are ready for pilot testing. Specific disparities in health care processes or outcomes and appropriate interventions should be identified. Projects may be at the national, VISN, or VAMC levels.
Populations in which OHE has observed health disparities include Veterans defined by age, sex, race/ethnicity, rurality, sexual orientation/gender identity, disability, mental health conditions, homelessness, food insecurity, and other health-related social risks. Quality measures for which OHE has observed disparities include cancer screening and immunizations, management and control of metabolic syndrome, suicide prevention, Veteran-centered communication and care, and care coordination. However, projects are not restricted to these groups and topics and staff are free to propose other disparities to address.
Descriptions of projects should not exceed 2 pages and include these elements:
- Quality measure to be improved and its importance for Veteran health
- Population experiencing disparity and estimated size
- Data source for identifying and/or tracking disparity
- Proposed intervention and rationale
- Expected effect of intervention
- Team members to include expertise with disparities analytics and quality improvement
- Tools that will be developed to support project
A budget for the pilot project and brief justification not to exceed 1 page should also be included. Note that FY 2022 funds must be spent or encumbered by 9/30/2022. It is expected that budgets for pilot projects will not exceed $50,000.
OHE will answer questions about this solicitation on Thursday, February 17, at 12:30 ET (Click here to join the meeting) during its Equity Community of Practice meeting and again on Wednesday, February 23, at 3:00 ET (Click here to join the meeting). Questions should be sent to Ernest.Moy@va.gov
Applications are due Monday, February 28, COB and awards will be made in March.