Modernization of a Large Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders Registry: The Veterans Administration Experience

Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2022.100237 · Published: January 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has maintained a registry of Veterans with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/Ds) since the 1990s. The registry's initial data collection methods required significant time, cost, and staffing. A new computer algorithm was developed to create a comprehensive registry of Veterans with SCI/D using electronic medical records.

Study Duration

10/1/2012 through 9/30/2017 for initial validation, ongoing data collection

Participants

Initial cohort of 28,202 Veterans, modernized registry includes 38,022 Veterans

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The modernized VHA SCI/D Registry (VSR) includes data on diagnoses, qualifying fiscal year, recent utilization, demographics, injury, and impairment.
2
The VSR includes data for 38,022 Veterans as of 11/2/2022.
3
The VSR algorithm had a false-positive rate of 1.59% for all diagnostic categories.

Research Summary

The VHA has modernized its Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) Registry by developing and validating a computer algorithm to identify cases from electronic medical records. The modernized VSR includes data on diagnoses, utilization, demographics, injury, and impairment for over 38,000 Veterans. The VSR serves as a valuable resource for clinical care, research, and population health management.

Practical Implications

Improved Clinical Care

The VSR provides clinicians with a valid and accessible resource to guide clinical care for Veterans living with SCI/Ds.

Advancement of Knowledge

The VSR facilitates research on SCI/Ds, including non-traumatic cases, and enables collaboration with other SCI/D databases.

Informed Resource Allocation

Analysis of VSR data reveals trends in patient demographics and utilization, which can inform resource allocation and service planning.

Study Limitations

1
The VSR focuses exclusively on Veterans, limiting the generalizability of the data to the broader U.S. population.
2
Over 90% of Veterans in the VSR are men, which may affect the robustness of statistical analyses.
3
The VSR only identifies Veterans who have received VHA SCI/D System of Care services.

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