Linda S. Williams, MD, FAHA, FAAN

Contact : linda.williams6@va.gov

When researchers, clinicians, administrators, and patients all work together, learning from the available data, we can truly make health care systems better for all of us.

Initiatives

Care Delivery

Research Scientist, William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute
Core Investigator, VA Health Services Research and Development Center for Health Information and Communication
Professor of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Co-Prinicipal Investigator, VA HSR&D Precision Monitoring to Transform Care Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (EXTEND QUERI)

Linda S. Williams, M.D. is the Co-PI of the VA HSR&D EXTEND Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, a senior investigator of the VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication and the Regenstrief Institute, and Professor of Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine. She is nationally and internationally recognized as a neurology health services researcher working to implement evidence to improve stroke and neurological care quality and outcomes. Her work has focused on development of a stroke-specific quality of life scale, assessment and treatment of post-stroke depression, and on measuring and improving the quality of stroke care from a system perspective. Most recently, with the EXTEND QUERI, she is implementing and investigating telehealth technologies to improve access and quality of outpatient neurology care, and is leading the national evaluation of the VA Teleneurology Program.

Dr. Williams has been instrumental in leading a portfolio of research and operational projects and partnerships that have led to significant nationwide improvements in VA stroke organization and care. This work includes the development of a VA national quality measurement system for stroke care and the evaluation of the VA National TeleStroke Program and National TeleNeurology Programs.

Featured Projects

Expanding Telehealth through e-health Network Development (EXTEND) QUERI

(VA HSR&D)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

This program grant supports three projects related to telehealth implementation in the VHA. The project Dr. Williams directs is examining the impact of e-consultation on telehealth use and patient outcomes among Veterans with stroke and TIA.

VA TeleNeurology Program Evaluation

(VA HSR&D)

Role: Principal Investigator

This national program evaluation uses the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the implementation and impact of the VA TeleNeurology program, which in Fiscal Year 2023 provided outpatient neurology telehealth care to more than 5,500 Veterans at 17 primarily rural VA facilities.

Highlighted Publications

Jul 1, 1999

Development of a stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) scale.

Publication: Stroke

doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.30.7.1362

Authors: Williams LS, Weinberger M, Harris LE, Clark DO, Biller J

Nov 2003

Prevalence and impact of pain and depression in neurology outpatients

Publication: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry

doi: 10.1136/jnnp.74.11.1587

Authors: Williams LS, Jones WJ, Shen J, Robinson R, Weinberger M, Kroenke K

Jan 27, 2005

Performance of the PHQ-9 as a Screening Tool for Depression After Stroke

Publication: Stroke

DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.0000155688.18207.33

Authors: Williams LS, Brizendine EJ, Plue L, Bakas T, Tu W, Hendrie H, Kroenke K

Feb 15, 2007

Care-management of post-stroke depression: a randomized controlled trial

Publication: Stroke

doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000257319.14023.61

Authors: Williams LS, Kroenke K, Bakas T, Plue LD, Brizendine E, Tu W, Hendrie H

Aug 2011

Pre-post evaluation of automated reminders may improve detection and management of post-stroke depression

Publication: Journal of General Internal Medicine

DOI: 10.1007/s11606-011-1709-6

Authors: Williams LS, Ofner S, Yu Z, Beyth R, Plue L, Damush TM

Dec 2014

National implementation of acute stroke care centers in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA): Formative evaluation of the field’s response

Publication: Journal of General Internal Medicine

DOI: 10.1007/s11606-014-3036-1

Authors: Damush TM, Miller KK, Plue L, Schmid A, Myers L, Graham G, Williams LS

Aug 24, 2015

A cluster-randomized quality improvement study to improve two inpatient stroke quality indicators

Publication: BMJ Quality & Safety

DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004188

Authors: Williams LS, Dagget V, Slaven J, Yu Z, Plue L, Sager D, Woodward-Hagg H, Damush T

Oct 26, 2015

The effect of a locally adapted, secondary stroke risk factor self-management program on medication adherence among Veterans with Stroke/TIA

Publication: Translational Behavioral Medicine

doi: 10.1007/s13142-015-0348-6

Authors: Damush TM, Myers L, Anderson JA, Yu Z, Ofner S, Nicholas G, Kimmel B, Schmid A, Kent T, Williams LS

Mar 7, 2016

Validation of Stroke Meaningful Use Measures in a National Electronic Health Record System

Publication: Journal of General Internal Medicine

doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3562-5

Authors: Phipps M, Fahner F, Sager D, Coffing J, Maryfield B, Williams LS

Jan 2021

Provider Communication and Telepresence Enhance Patient Satisfaction with Telestroke Consultations

Publication: Stroke

doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029993

Authors: Lyerly MJ, Selch G, Martin H, LaPradd M, Ofner S, Graham G, Martini S. Anderson J, Williams LS

Feb 6, 2021

Building cohesion in distributed telemedicine teams: findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Telestroke Program

Publication: BMC Health Services Research

doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06123-x

Authors: Patel H, Damush TM, Miech EJ, Rattray NA, Martin HA, Savoy A, Plue L, Anderson J, Martini S, Graham GD, Williams LS

Jun 23, 2021

The Indiana Learning Health System Initiative: Early Experience Developing a Collaborative, Regional Learning Health System

Publication: Learning Health Systems

doi: 10.1002/lrh2.10281

Authors: Schleyer T, Williams L, Gottleib J, Weaver C, Saysana M, Azar J, Sadowski J, Fredrick C, Hui S, Kara A, Ruppert L, Zappone S, Bushey M, Grout R, Embi P

Apr 19, 2022

Impact of Telestroke implementation on Emergency Department Transfer Rate

Publication: Neurology

doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200143

Authors: Lyerly M, Daggy J, LaPradd M, Martin H, Edwards B, Graham G, Martini S. Anderson J, Williams LS

Mar 25, 2022

One-year costs associated with the VA National Telestroke Program (NTSP)

Publication: Value in Health

doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.02.010

Authors: Wagner TH, Schoemaker L, Gehlert E Nelson RE, Murphy K, Martini S, Graham GD, Govindarajan P, Williams LS

Jun 20, 2023

The VA National Teleneurology Program (NTNP): Implementing Teleneurology to improve equitable access to outpatient neurology care

Publication: Journal of General Internal Medicine

doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08121-7

Authors: Wilkinson J, Myers L, Daggy J, Martin H, Bastin G, Yang Z, Damush TD, Narechania A, Schreiber S, Williams LS

Aug 24, 2023

The VA National TeleNeurology Program (NTNP) Implementation: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Guided by RE-AIM Framework

Publication: Frontiers in Health Services

doi: 10.3389/frhs.2023.1210197

Authors: Damush TM, Wilkinson JR, Martin H, Miech EJ, Tang Q, Taylor S, Daggy JK, Bastin G, Islam R, Myers LJ, Penney LS, Narechania A, Schreiber SS, Williams LS

Oct 9, 2023

Patient Acceptance of Teleneurology Across Neurologic Conditions

Publication: Journal of Neurology

doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12200-y

Authors: Seigal C, Myers L, Martin H, Bastin G, Pike F, Taylor S, Wilkinson J, Schreiber S, Damush T, Williams LS

In The News

Influence

Featured Fellowship

People

InfluenceIs the Multitarget Stool DNA Test Just a Better “FIT” for Colorectal Cancer Screening?

NewsCaring for the emotional and spiritual needs of family members of ICU patients

NewsInformaticians apply tools and techniques to eliminate ambiguity and better implement guidelines and policies in pediatric care

NewsVeterans Social Isolation Study Earns Honorable Mention for Prestigious Research Award

VideoDr. Dixon: Nationwide data shows COVID vaccines highly effective during pregnancy

Caring for the emotional and spiritual needs...

Linda S. Williams, MD, FAHA, FAAN

Featured Projects

Highlighted Publications