VISN 5 MIRECC - Clinical
Clinical Core
The Clinical Core is the operational arm of the VISN 5 MIRECC for all activities that involve clinical services and programs. Amy Drapalski, PhD is Associate Director for the Clinical Core and Anjana Muralidharan, PhD is the Assistant Director for the Clinical Core. Much of its activity involves linkage with the Education Core and Research Program in order to generate ideas and targets, and to enable their operations.
At the national level, we are a major hub site for the VA National Social Skills Training (SST) program. SST is a recovery-oriented, evidence-based practice for individuals with serious mental illness, and we have trained hundreds of VA providers all over the country in this important intervention.
In addition, we now have the capacity to provide one-time clinical seminars remotely to VA clinical teams across the country. Click HERE for more information and a list of seminars we offer.
At the local level, our Clinical Core partners with clinical programs and staff at the VAMHCS and in VISN 5 to support recovery-oriented and evidence-based clinical services for Veterans with mental illness. We are committed to fostering collaborative and mutually-beneficial relationships among researchers, clinicians, Veterans, and others who share this important mission.
Are you a VA clinician, staff, or administrator interested in partnering with our Clinical Core? See below for some examples of what we can do together – then contact us to get started!
Clinical and Operational Services
Click on each service below to learn more about what we do!
Direct Clinical Service and Supervision
Within VISN 5, MIRECC investigators also provide and/or supervise direct clinical services to Veterans with mental illness.
EXAMPLE: Peer Specialists facilitate Whole Health Groups several times a year at the request of the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation (OPCCCT).
Clinical Consultation
MIRECC investigators can provide education, consultation, and support to staff who want to improve the care and services they offer to Veterans.
EXAMPLE: We provide consultation on the management of complex psychopharmacology cases through our ongoing Monthly Psychopharmacology Case Conference.
Small Grants Program for Recovery
The VISN 5 MIRECC Small Grants Program for Recovery can catalyze, through one-year grants up to $5000, VISN 5 clinical innovations and educational projects that foster recovery.
EXAMPLE: Veterans and staff at the Martinsburg VAMC created recovery stories and photographic portraits focused on the personal meanings of Veterans’ tattoos. Funding from the Small Grants Program for Recovery was combined with in-kind contributions from Martinsburg to create this powerful exhibit and booklet.
Training and Educational Materials in Evidence-Based, Recovery-Oriented Interventions
We provide training and ongoing consultation to staff in a variety of evidence-based and recovery-oriented treatments.
EXAMPLE: We recently developed educational materials regarding Veterans with SMI in Community Living Centers in collaboration with VA Central Office.
Clinical Demonstration Projects and Field Trials of Innovative Clinical Services
The Clinical Core partners with clinical programs to pilot test innovative clinical tools and services.
EXAMPLE: We partnered with the inpatient unit at the Baltimore VA Medical Center to pilot the Shared Decision Making for Family Involvement in Treatment (SDM-FIT) Protocol.
Needs Assessment
The Clinical Core can assist programs in identifying service gaps or needs and generating ideas for new clinical and educational programs.
EXAMPLE: We partnered with VISN 5 mental health leadership to conduct a needs assessment regarding completion of suicide risk assessment and safety planning.
Program Evaluation
The MIRECC responds to requests to conduct a program evaluation of an existing or newly implemented clinic program or service and can assist in developing tools and plans for evaluating program outcomes.
EXAMPLE: We conducted a program evaluation of a holistic wellness program offered at the Perry Point VA Medical Center.
Operational Consultation
Using administrative data, we can help you better understand big-picture clinical needs at both local and VISN-wide levels (within VISN 5).
EXAMPLE: VISN 5 leadership worked with the Administrative Data Sub-Unit to examine prevalence and predictors of suicide in the VISN.
