VHA has a long-standing commitment to research and innovation in home and community health care that improves the care we deliver to our clients. We’re continuing to strengthen this commitment with the creation of two new Homecare Scientist roles on our Research team. These two Scientists are the first professionals to hold this title at VHA. Both possess extensive experience and expertise in study design, data collection, analysis and scientific communication.

VHA’s two new Homecare Scientists are Dr. Madison Brydges and Dr. Katherine Zagrodney.

Brydges is a social sciences researcher with a focus on health and aging who most recently worked as a health policy researcher at the National Institute on Aging.

Zagrodney is a health economist specializing in the homecare PSW workforce who has been working at VHA for the past 5 years, most recently as a Senior Research Associate.

What is a Homecare Scientist?

A Homecare Scientist is an academically trained homecare expert who applies scientific approaches to create evidence to inform improvements in the quality, efficiency, and safety of home-based care.

These experts use real-world data to understand and predict client and health care system-wide trends, evaluate the impact of emerging technologies and create improved care strategies. By studying and translating the data we collect, our Homecare Scientists help colleagues, partners, and care providers to make smarter, client-centred decisions rooted in evidence to improve patient care outcomes.

The expansion of VHA’s Research team to include Homecare Scientists deepens VHA’s position as a leader in homecare science and enhances our ability to shape care that is both client-centred and scientifically grounded.