Pharmacy Benefits Management Services
VA Center For Medication Safety (VA MedSAFE)
About Us
MISSION
The mission of the VA Center for Medication Safety (VAMedSAFE) is to identify, track and address preventable adverse drug events (ADEs). The aim of VAMedSAFE is to improve the safety of drug prescribing practices and medication administration for veterans receiving treatment in the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
BACKGROUND
VAMedSAFE is a comprehensive pharmacovigilance program that is funded by the VA National Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (PBM). VAMedSAFE evaluates preventable ADEs via conducting and promoting medication safety projects at the regional and national levels; providing interventions to decrease preventable ADEs; and educating the field on safe and best practices to minimize ADEs. The Center provides feedback and guidance regarding ADE data unique to each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), while translating research and published evidence into national policy through its oversight of, and cooperative arrangements with, VISN Formulary Committees and Pharmacy leaders, the Medical Advisory Panel as well as other departments within VA.
VA MEDSAFE STAFF
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Francesca Cunningham, Pharm. D. | Director |
| Peter A. Glassman, MBBS, MSc, FACP | Co-Director |
| Chester B. Good, M.D., MPH | Co-Director |
| Tom Frankowicz | Administrative Officer |
| Nikia Griffith, MBA, BS | Research Associate |
| Sherrie Aspinall, Pharm. D., MSc. | Residency Director, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist |
| Muriel Burk, Pharm. D. | Clinical Pharmacist Specialist |
| Mariscelle Sales, Pharm. D. | Clinical Pharmacist Specialist |
| Cedric L. Salone, Pharm. D., MPH | Clinical Pharmacist Specialist |
| Von Moore, Pharm. D. | Lead Program Specialist VA ADERS |
| Anthony Au, Pharm. D. | Program Specialist VA ADERS |
| TC Leadholm, MS | Senior IT Analyst, OI&T VA ADERS |
| Kwan Hur, Ph. D. | Lead Biostatistician |
| Madeline McCarren, Ph.D., MPH | Statistician |
| Diane Dong, RN, MS, MPH | Lead Management and Program Analyst |
| Ken Bukowski, BS MIS, BBA Business | Management and Program Analyst |
| Nikolh Smith-Nemard, BS | Program Specialist |
| Michelle Eskridge | Program Specialist |
| Rong Jiang, MS | Management and Program Analyst |
| Lucy Pandey, MS | Management and Program Analyst |
| Bharat Thakkar | Management and Program Analyst |
| Yu Wang, MS | Management and Program Analyst |
| XiangMing Wei, MS | Management and Program Analyst |
| Rongping Zhang, MS | Management and Program Analyst |
| Bharat Thakkar | Management and Program Analyst |
| Paul Fina, Pharm. D. | PGY2 Resident |
| Ronald Carico, Pharm. D., MPH | Fellow-Medication Safety |
| Sydney Springer, Pharm. D. | Fellow-Medication Safety |
PATIENT SAFETY GOALS
i. Identify and Verify Adverse Drug Events (ADEs)
ii. Address Preventable Adverse Drug Events
iii. Track Adverse Drug Events and Effects of Interventions
iv. Educate and Communicate
v. Promote Medication Safety Research in VA
vi. Disseminate Safety Findings
