Health Services Research at the VA: A Qualitative Sociologist's Perspective

• In Event: 1523 - Practice Symposium Roundtables
  In Informal Discussion Roundtable: Table 9: Working in Social Services

Abstract

This presentation will focus on my own experiences making a transition from being a qualitatively trained and theoretically-inclined sociologist to becoming an applied researcher conducting health services research for the Veterans Health Administration. Health services research is an interdisciplinary field that explores the organization, delivery, and outcomes of healthcare. Currently, a major focus in the field is on how to implement change in the delivery and provision of healthcare services. This body of research is referred to as implementation science. Sociologists are uniquely positioned to provide insights into answering the questions facing the field of implementation science. In this presentation, I will outline some of the ways that sociologists are currently contributing to implementation science and health services research more broadly and suggest some opportunities for further contributions.

Author

• Caroline P. Gray, Veterans Health Administration