Collaborative Research Projects
Childhood Cancer Survivors
Meriel Jenney, Les Robison, Todd Rockwood
Develop a health-related quality of life measure for the survivors of cancer looking at the long-term effects of cancer as well as the iatrogenic effects of treatment (psychological and physical).
Efforts to Standardize the Reporting of Pain
Robert Kane, Boris Bershadsky, Daryll Dykes, Jeremy Holtzman, Todd Rockwood, Khaled Saleh
Develop a standardized pain measure in two steps: 1) Adult volunteers will be surveyed to generate a list of common pain experiences of various intensities experienced in the general population; 2) The 10-15 most prevalent pain descriptions from step one will be studied in a similar population to generate a set of consistently rated pain standards. In subsequent studies this set of pain standards will be tested in various clinical scenarios.
Evaluation of Best Practices and Provider Satisfaction
Todd Rockwood (American Chiropractic Association)
1) Evaluate satisfaction of providers with a managed care organization that provides claims administration and case management services. 2) Using administrative data and provider satisfaction survey evaluate provider performance and patient outcomes to identify optimal models of care delivery.
Facilitating Shared Decision Making about Prostate Cancer Screening
David Radosevich, Jeremy Holtzman (VA)
Proposal submitted through the VA for a study to examine the effects of a pamphlet versus a video for educating patients about prostate cancer screening.
Health Related Quality of Life in the Elderly Renal Transplant Recipient
Mark Rosenberg
Analyze an existing database (part of renal transplant database) to look at outcomes of transplantation in the elderly; examine predictors of quality of life following transplant surgery.
Hip Replacement—MCCAP Studies
Roby Thompson
Examine factors associated with appropriate use of hip prostheses and outcomes of surgery.
Multimedia Program for Improving Hypertension Care
Jeremy Holtzman, Seamus McMillan
Design computer program to be integrated into the care of the patient with hypertension. Two facets: education for patient to help with compliance and collection of information from patient to give feedback to caregiver.
Operative vs. Non-Operative Treatment of Neurological Intact Thoracolumbar Burst Fx Kirkham Wood
A randomized clinical trial being conducted at Regions Hospital.
Patient Safety and Quality of Care: An Examination of Economic and Structural characteristics, Working Conditions, and Technological Advances
Robert Kane
To determine how much of the differences in negative events in nursing homes, such as pressure sores, falls, hip fractures, use of physical restraints, and use of urinary catheters, can be explained by the clinical and administrative practices in these nursing homes.
Peripheral Vascular Surgery Outcomes: Retrospective
Mike Caldwell
Examine outcomes of angioplasty, amputation, and limb salvage surgery as treatment for peripheral vascular disease using extant data and follow-up interviews; analyzing predictors of how people do .
Quality of Life of Women with Ovarian Carcinoma
Luis Padilla
Studying the effect the response to salvage chemotherapy for ovarian cancer has on quality of life; determine the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Ovarian (FACT-O) and SIP in patients with recurrent/persistent ovarian cancer .
Return to Sport for Athletes with Non-Op Shoulder Dislocation—Prospective Trial Dan Buss
Studying treatment of shoulder dislocation in high school athletes; using conservative management (structured monitored therapy) can the individual return to sport in same position and play through the season without surgery.
The Accuracy of the Pelvic Examination in Detecting Adnexal Masses
Luis Padilla
Study conducted while at Northwestern looking at properties of the pelvic exam and how accurate it is.
National Externally Funded Research Projects
AAPCC Rate Cell Calculation
Robert Kane
Exploring impact of new AAPCC rate cell calculation.
Alcohol Abuse Treatment Outcomes in Managed Care
Robert Kane
NIAAA project to collect follow-up data on alcohol and substance abuse cases to determine outcomes and related costs.
Colorectal Screening Guidelines
Mike Shaw
Assess the impact of implementing the ICSI guidelines for colorectal cancer screening on utilization and outcomes.
Design of an Integrated Post Acute Care System
Robert Kane
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid project; three major design tasks—outcomes measures; case management measures; discharge questionnaire to determine who is at risk of PAC.
Dyspepsia Outcomes Measure
Mike Shaw
Develop and test a dyspepsia specific health status measure to assess the impact of dyspepsia on patients; computerized instrument effect on clinical encounter.
Evaluation of the EverCare Demonstration Program
Robert Kane
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid project; Evaluation of a program of managed care for nursing home patients.
Feasibility of Short Form Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA)
Marc Swiontkowski
Test use of questionnaire in managing an individual patient; evaluating the perception of impact on patients, physicians, and office staff; five sites.
Over the Counter (OTC) Drug Use in Dyspepsia
Mike Shaw
Study of the impact of OTC transition on dyspepsia self care and identifying predictors of presentation to physicians.
Multi-State Evaluation of Dual Eligible Demonstrations
Robert Kane
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid project; evaluation of four programs that provide managed care for services covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Reliability of SMFA
Marc Swiontkowski
Voice interactive technology; patients directly enter data.
Second Generation Social/Health Maintenance Organization: Site Development and Technical
Robert Kane
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid contract to provide technical assistance to various sites in implementing the SHMO project.
Understanding Clinical and Administrative Outcomes
Jeremy Holtzman
Examine the relationship between clinical outcomes and those available in administrative databases for hip replacement and cholecystectomy.