History and structure
Originally formed in 1994 within the research arm of the Veterans Health Administration (VA), VATAP formally aligned with VA clinical services within the Office of Patient Care Services in 2000.  As a small program, VATAP views its membership to INAHTA since 1995 as a central resource for HTA products, expertise and critical review to support VA evidence-based policy.

Mission
VATAP's charge is to enhance the health of veterans and the nation by providing and fostering HTA for evidence-based health care.

How VATAP works
VATAP's clients are VA senior managers in Central Office and in the field.  Clients may request VATAP services through the Chief Officer of Patient Care Services. 

VATAP applies Cochrane Collaboration methods and standards to generate qualitative systematic reviews of the medical literature.  VATAP commissions or conducts descriptive research or meta-analyses, as needed. All VATAP systematic reviews are peer-reviewed by content and methods experts. 

Focusing on the needs of a wide range of clients, VATAP produces a variety of products and services for VA clinicians, managers and patients to meet their information needs. Products range from synthses (called brief overviews) of existing high quality reviews and primary research, to quality filtered bibliographies of evidence-based resources, to comprehensive systematic reviews produced over several months that may include primary data collection. Executive summaries, one-page summaries, and patient-focused pieces presented in a question and answer format are available for most reports.

VATAP is recognized as a first-line knowledge management and evidence resource within its direct organizational placement area.

Dissemination activities
Oral presentations and electronic media are VATAP's primary methods of dissemination. VATAP targets scientific venues and VA forums to promote its services. VATAP's web pages on the Internet (www.va.gov/vatap) and VA Intranet (vaww.va.gov/vatap) provide easy access to all program products, activities and related HTA links. Electronic mail is used for targeted dissemination to internal and external audiences. 

Current Projects

• Screening for oral cancer
• Assisted reproduction for anejaculatory infertility in spinal cord injury
• Effectiveness of mandated training in learning organization
• Lasik surgery for refractive errors
• Footcare interventions
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury
• Complementary and alternative medicine for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Future plans

1. To build on VA's reputation as a national leader in health care
2. To increase awareness and understanding of HTA as a valuable resource to VA
3. To effectively integrate an evidence-based philosophy into VA policy making
4. To provide excellence in service to VA clients
5. To maintain VA's international reputation for excellence in HTA
6. To effectively disseminate program information in VA and worldwide
7. To monitor the impact of HTA on VA policy.