CAS3
11-12-03, 11:01 AM
First VA Medical Centers Earn Research Accreditation
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2003) -- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
centers in eight cities are the first to earn accreditation for their
research programs under revised standards of the National Committee for
Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). The
independent accreditation system ensures research programs meet all federal
regulations protecting human research participants.
"We are making the safety of human research participants a top priority,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "This NCQA
accreditation is more evidence of VA's commitment to excellence."
The accredited research centers are in Charleston, S.C.; Hampton, Va.; Los
Angeles; Minneapolis; Mountain Home, Tenn.; Pittsburgh; Providence, R.I.;
and Syracuse, N.Y.
VA is the first organization to require all its research sites to undergo
the NCQA accreditation process. All VA medical centers conducting human
research will complete the process by September 2005.
"Accreditation has strengthened VA's ongoing efforts to protect volunteers
whose contributions to medical advances benefit us all," said Dr. Nelda
Wray, VA's chief research and development officer.
NCQA's accreditation program establishes standards of performance and
evaluates medical centers through independent, external review. The
accreditation program provides an objective framework for ensuring that
processes are in place to inform and protect the thousands of people who
volunteer to participate in VA research activities every year.
Under the program, VA medical centers are required to meet standards
addressing institutional responsibilities, institutional review board
structure and operations, consideration of risks and benefits, and informed
consent. NCQA standards are intended to help the medical centers achieve the
highest level of performance possible and create an environment of
continuous improvement.
"Accreditation demonstrates these medical centers' commitment to
safeguarding the interests of human research participants," said Jessica
Briefer French, NCQA's assistant vice president for human research
protection.
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2003) -- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
centers in eight cities are the first to earn accreditation for their
research programs under revised standards of the National Committee for
Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). The
independent accreditation system ensures research programs meet all federal
regulations protecting human research participants.
"We are making the safety of human research participants a top priority,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "This NCQA
accreditation is more evidence of VA's commitment to excellence."
The accredited research centers are in Charleston, S.C.; Hampton, Va.; Los
Angeles; Minneapolis; Mountain Home, Tenn.; Pittsburgh; Providence, R.I.;
and Syracuse, N.Y.
VA is the first organization to require all its research sites to undergo
the NCQA accreditation process. All VA medical centers conducting human
research will complete the process by September 2005.
"Accreditation has strengthened VA's ongoing efforts to protect volunteers
whose contributions to medical advances benefit us all," said Dr. Nelda
Wray, VA's chief research and development officer.
NCQA's accreditation program establishes standards of performance and
evaluates medical centers through independent, external review. The
accreditation program provides an objective framework for ensuring that
processes are in place to inform and protect the thousands of people who
volunteer to participate in VA research activities every year.
Under the program, VA medical centers are required to meet standards
addressing institutional responsibilities, institutional review board
structure and operations, consideration of risks and benefits, and informed
consent. NCQA standards are intended to help the medical centers achieve the
highest level of performance possible and create an environment of
continuous improvement.
"Accreditation demonstrates these medical centers' commitment to
safeguarding the interests of human research participants," said Jessica
Briefer French, NCQA's assistant vice president for human research
protection.