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State of the Art (SOTA) Conferences
State of the Art Conferences
(SOTAs) bring together an invited multidisciplinary group
of VA and non-VA experts to:
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Synthesize what we know and what we need
to know about topics critical to the health and
well-being of veterans;
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Promote implementation of findings that improve quality of care; and
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Contribute to more effective management and more relevant research
Papers are commissioned prior to the conference and are provided to the
conference participants, who work to move the knowledge base forward.
A variety of post-conference products are developed to disseminate the
conference findings and recommendations throughout the VA system, and
often to the non-VA health care community. See details of past conferences.
Contact
Karen Bossi, MA
Portfolio and Special Projects Coordinator
E-mail: Karen.Bossi@va.gov
Telephone: 857-364-5690
April 30 - May 2, 2008
Goals: to identify what we know and what we need to know about:
- The basic science of TBI
- Comorbidities and Pain Issues in TBI
- Care Management from Department of Defense through VA
- Rehabilitation and Community Reintegration
- Sensory Deficits in TBI
- Neuro-imaging for TBI
Additionally, participants were charged to develop a research agenda to address knowledge gaps, methods, models of care, and vehicles for translation.
Materials:
Outcomes:
ORD has taken several actions in response to the SOTA, including:
- ORD already has released a new RFA that includes many of the research recommendations generated through the SOTA.
- ORD’s Rehabilitation Research and Development Service has released a solicitation for Centers of Excellence on topics of TBI, regenerative medicine and social re-integration/vocational rehabilitation.
- A clinical fellowship in collaboration with the VA Office of Academic Affairs has been established that provides for 75% protected research time.
- VA representation on the Federal Interagency Brain Injury Research Group which will coordinate research activities in TBI and disseminate information.
- Papers commissioned for the SOTA are being submitted for peer review and will be will be published as a special supplement to the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.
Other actions are in planning. All of these efforts will yield important insights and results aimed at moving VA and the greater health care community forward toward a better understanding of mild to severe traumatic brain injury and how to provide the best care to those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
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 SOTA VIII: Managing Complexity in Chronic Care
September 13-15, 2006
Goals: To identify current knowledge and knowledge gaps about improving the care and management of patients with complex chronic care needs.
Key Discussion Topics:
- The spectrum of complexity in caring for patients with complex, challenging, and chronic illnesses and managing complex care
- Defining best practices
- Resources, relationships, infrastructures, and policies that are needed to ensure quality care and successful care management for complex patients
Products: Published a special issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine in December 2007 (Vol 22, Supplement 3). In addition, a research agenda for CCC was submitted to Central Office.
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 SOTA VII: Implementing the Evidence: Transforming Practices, Systems, and Organizations
August 30 - September 1, 2004
Goals: To identify current knowledge and knowledge gaps about best strategies for implementing evidence into practice to make recommendations for further research, processes, or policies that will help fill the gaps and advance knowledge in this area.
Key Discussion Topics:
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Attributes of an Ideal Integrated Informatics System That Supports Implementation of Evidence
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How Does Evidence Inform What an Organization and Its Providers Do?
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Incentives for Implementation and Organizational Change
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How Does the Research Infrastructure Need to Change to Make Implementation Easier?
Products: Publication of special issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, February 2006
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 SOTA VI: Leading the Way to Quality Long-Term Care: Lessons from the Past, Strategies for the Future
September 15-17, 2003
Goals:
1.) Identify what is currenly known and what we need to know regarding long-term care demand, coordination, outcomes, cost-effectiveness, quality, and satisfaction, as well as long-term care resources, relationships, and infrastructures needed to ensure the highest quality long-term care.
2.) Develop recommendations and a research agenda that will assist VA and the larger health care community in providing the highest quality, most cost-effective long-term care.
Key Discussion Topics:
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Projecting Long-Term Care Demand and Planning Resources
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Improving Long-Term Care Structures for Patient-Focused Care
- Improving Processes to Ensure Coordination of Care
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Innovations and Models in Long-Term Care
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Measuring the Quality of Long-Term Care
Products: Policy recommendations sent to Under Secretary for Health, planned publication of several conference papers in a special section of The Gerontologist.
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 SOTA V: Making Informed Consent Meaningful
March 7-9, 2001
Goals:
To identify existing knowledge about informed consent in both theory and practice; to identify what the VA and others can do to improve the practice of informed consent; and to outline a research agenda identifying and filling in the most important gaps in our current knowledge.
Key Discussion Topics:
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Informing Subjects (content)
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Informing Subjects (process)
- Decision-Making Capacity
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Voluntariness of Consent
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Decision-Making Dynamics
- Impact of Existing and Emerging Technology on Informed Consent
- Informed Consent Issues Across the Health Care Continuum
Products:
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SOTA IV: Leading Organizational Transformation
April 8-10, 1996
Goals:
To determine the state of the art of integrated delivery systems and its relevance to VA's organizational vision; to identify the following: tools and resources for change, information dissemination vehicles, high priority topics for research, and to provide a forum for discussion.
Key Discussion Topics:
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Integrated Delivery Systems
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Designing Strategic Alliances
- Changing Organizational Culture and Managing the Human Side of Change
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Recruiting, Nurturing, and Rewarding Desired Leadership Competencies
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Forging New Relationships within the Community
Products:
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Special Supplement Issue:The Journal of the Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives Vol 42, No 3, Fall 1997
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Organizational Change: A Primer (253 KB, PDF)
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SOTA III: Technology Assessment: A Tool for Technology Management and Improved Patient Outcomes
January 23-25, 1995
Goals:
Assess the current state of health care technology assessment, identify gaps in current knowledge, identify and prioritize recommendations, identify stategies for implementation.
Key Discussion Topics:
- Developing an Organization's Approach to Technology Assessment
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Methodological Aspects of Conducting Technology Assessment
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Dissemination and Implementation of Technology Assessment Recommendations
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Monitoring and Evaluating the Dissemination of Technology Assessment Recommendations
Products: Health Care Technology Assessment in VA: A Primer (491 KB, PDF)
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SOTA II: Databases: A Resource for Research and Decisionmaking
November 8-10, 1993
Goals: To improve the delivery of health care through recommendations for advancements in the design and use of data and information systems supporting policy, management and clinical decisionmaking and health services research.
Key Discussion Topics:
- Needs and Demand
- Access and Utilization
- Outcomes and Effectiveness
- Quality Assessment and Improvement
- Costs
- Resource Allocation
- Ambulatory Care Services
- Geriatric and Extended Care Services
Products:
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Databases: A Resource for Research and Decisionmaking (Annotated bibliography)
- Databases: A Resource for Research and Decisionmaking (Recommendations)
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SOTA I: Community-Based Long Term Care: What We Know and Need to Know
September 23-25, 1992
Goals: Improve the delivery of community-based long term care services to the veteran population by disseminating what is known from the research literature and best practices to managers, clinicians, and policymakers.
Key Discussion Topics:
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Current and future needs and demands for VA community-based long term care services
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Outcomes from the provision of community-based long term care services
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Delivery coordination of community-based long term care services (VA-wide, VAMC, individual patients)
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Characteristics of specific programs and services made available as part of VA community-based long term care
Products:
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Community-Based Long Term Care Resource Guide,
Community-Based Long Term Care Executive Summary
- Community-Based Long Term Care, VA Programs and Services
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SOTA IX: Traumatic Brain Injury Research