The mission of the Vanderbilt CERT is Encouraging Optimal Therapeutics in Medicaid and VHA Populations. Our focus on therapeutics as it occurs in the “real world” is crucial to assuring that basic science advances are actually translated into patient-centered care. Our theme of Medicaid and VHA populations seeks to improve therapeutics in some of the highest-risk populations in the country that may be under-served by other approaches. We seek to realize our mission by conducting four specific types of projects:

• studies of drug effects to assure that providers have an adequate knowledge base for clinical decision-making
• studies of suboptimal therapeutic practices which are necessary to identify targets for both educational programs and policy changes
• educational programs to improve therapeutics
• evaluation of policies that may adversely affect therapeutics