Linking Implementation Science and Policy: Tools and Processes for Congressionally Mandated Implementation, Evaluation, and Reporting

Background and Purpose. Throughout its 25-year history, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) program has been a forerunner in partnering and collaborating with organizational leaders to improve health care. The Foundations of Evidence-based Policymaking Act of 2018 provided new opportunities for QUERI and other implementation scientists to support federal agency leaders in improving or implementing, evaluating, and reporting on congressionally mandated programs. Although implementation scientists have the skills to support partnered implementation and evaluation, these skills must be adapted for congressionally mandated projects, as many scientists have limited experience in policy analysis and the intersection of data informing organizational policy, programs, and practices (also known as evidence-based policy). Lessons we learned conducting four congressionally mandated projects may benefit other scientists partnering in VA, or other federal agencies, to support evidence-based policy implementation and evaluation. Therefore, the aim of this presentation is to describe a process model for assisting partners in addressing requirements of legislation, and to review helpful policy analysis, planning, and evaluation design tools and processes.

Methods. During the conduct of four congressionally mandated projects, our QUERI team developed tools and processes to achieve the goals and aims of our VHA partners. Our process model, program planning, and analysis tools were informed by an iterative process of refining and adapting the tools over a period of six years.

Results. Knowledge of a process model and how to use policy analysis, planning, and evaluation design tools in congressionally mandated implementation, evaluation, and reporting projects in VHA has been critical to one QUERI center’s success in this area.

Conclusions and Implications. Lessons we learned may help other implementation scientists, as well as other federal agencies, to plan, conduct and report on congressionally mandated projects.