VAIRRS Ambassador Program

In each issue of the VAIRRS Newsletter (every other month), a leading site utilizing the VAIRRS program is selected as a VAIRRS Ambassador. Facilities are evaluated based on participation, enthusiasm and commitment to improving the system and contributing to the benefits the VAIRRS enterprise has to offer. The selected VAIRRS ambassador serves as a great role model to other sites across the country, who want to learn more about VAIRRS and how the program can make their job more efficient and effective.

VAIRRS MARCH AMBASSADOR: WASHINGTON DC VAMC

VAIRRS Experience:

The DC VAMC gradually began their transition to the VAIRRS platform in July 2020 with a 12-month plan to convert all active, pre-existing protocols into IRBNet. DC VAMC generated and published protocol history reports as board documents into the first IRBNet package. Additionally, DC VAMC generated note-to-files to link all paper-based administrative research regulatory files.

DC VAMC's research program initiated an extensive educational campaign two months prior to going live. The staff developed local instructional guides for all users and conducted bi-monthly trainings titled “The ABCs of IRBNet,” for the research community on the fundamentals of the IRBNet platform. DC VAMC offered re-education and constant reminders with supplementary webinars to inform researchers about utilizing added features in IRBNet and how to avoid common pitfalls (e.g., “New Package” vs. “New Protocol”).

Three years since the launch, DC VAMC's research community has embraced IRBNet. Administrators recognize IRBNet's complexity and education on use optimization is an ongoing endeavor. DC VAMC successfully utilized the reviewer comments section in submission details to effectively document and track training compliance. DC VAMC's goal is to take advantage of IRBNet's capabilities like insight reports to better inform administrative quality control efforts.