The Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Palmira Santos

Scientist

Palmira Santos's photo

Contact

Email: psantos@brandeis.edu
Office: Heller-Brown Building 225
Phone: 781-736-3967
Brandeis Directory

Expertise

Evaluation & Research Scientist

Degrees

  • Brandeis University
    Ph.D.
  • Lesley University
    M.A.
  • Lesley University
    B.S.

Palmira Santos

Scientist

Profile

Palmira Santos, Ph.D. is a research and evaluation scientist specializing in healthcare delivery system transformation. She leads her team in delivery system population health analysis, performance measurement, and continual quality improvement evaluation. Dr. Santos has over three decades of experience in devising, testing, and evaluating a full range of healthcare initiatives, including optimizing the use of HIT, using data to drive continuous quality improvement, and determining strategic use of resources. She works with delivery systems to access and analyze their EMR, administrative, and claims data to develop, test, and report quality, outcome, process, and patient experience measures. In addition, she evaluates care pathways and strategies to increase access and continuity, devises initiatives that ensure clinical and community comprehensive care coordination, and creates and implements complex care management processes. In addition, as a primary investigator, she has evaluated and tested a full range of health and human service initiatives such as: Medicare and Medicaid programs e.g. developing and testing outcome and process measurement, evaluating care pathways, complex case management; commercial and safety net health system initiatives e.g. re-engineering workflow, evaluating safety and quality improvement; and national chronic disease prevention and management programs: e.g. developing practice guidelines and outcome and process measurement, studying disparate outcomes in cancer treatment, and evaluating interventions for the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses.

Dr Santos has over 35 years of experience as an evaluation and implementation researcher and clinician who has dedicated her life’s work to vulnerable populations. She has worked with a wide range of groups, including people with mental illness or substance use disorders and individuals/families facing socioeconomic inequities such as homelessness, violence, abuse, and incarceration. She has extensive experience conducting effective outreach and interviews with vulnerable and marginalized groups and those who work with them. Dr. Santos also brings expertise in sustainable care transformation47 and lived experience as a member of a marginalized population experiencing racism and systemic inequities.She is considered the founder mother of an Alaska Native Health Corporation.

Awards and Honors

  • 2019 Author of Excellence Award: American Society for Health Care Risk Management (2019)

Scholarship

  • Santos, P., Joglekar, G., Faughnan, K., Darden, J., & Hendrich, A. (2020).. "Disproportionate preterm delivery among black women: a state-level analysis.." Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 7(2):. https://doi.org/10.1007 (2020): 290-297.
  • Santos, Palmira. Faughnan, Kristen, Report presented to the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission regarding awardee programs designed to coordinate care and services for complex marginalized and vulnerable population. Targeted Cost Challenge Investment (TCCI): Program evaluation. 2020.
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan. "Resonance and Relevance in Care Coordination: Final report.." Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (2020).
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan.. "Increasing Hospice Enrollment: OCM Sites with the Greatest Improvement:." Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. (2020):OCM Learning System Case Study. (2020).
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan. "Assessing and Addressing Health-Related Social Needs: OCM Learning System, Case Study." Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. 11. (2019).
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan. "Building and Sustaining High-Value Patient and Family Advisory Councils: Oncology Care Model Learning System, Resource Guide." Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. 2. (2019).
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan. "Decreasing ED Utilization: OCM-2 High Performers: OCM Learning System Case Study.." Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. (2019).
  • Santos, Palmira. Kristen Faughnan. "End-of-Life Care Planning: Barriers and Approaches: Oncology Care Model Learning System, Case Study." Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation 8 (2019).
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. Caring for the whole patient: Oncology Care Model Learning System, resource guide # 1. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation: 2018.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. Engaging oncologists and care teams in OCM transformation: Learning System case study. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation: 2018.
  • Santos, P., Hefele, J. G., Ritter, G., Darden, J., Firneno, C., & Hendrich, A. "Population-based risk factors for shoulder dystocia." Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.11.011. (2018): 32-42.
  • Santos, Palmira, Joglekar, A., Faughnan, K., Darden, J., Masters, L., Hendrich, A., & McCoy, C. K.. "Sustaining and spreading quality improvement: Decreasing intrapartum malpractice risk. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management." Journal of Healthcare Risk Management. (2018).
  • Santos, Palmira; Faughnan Kristen. Engaging oncologists and care teams in OCM transformation: Learning System case study.. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. CMS: 2018.
  • Santos, Palmira; Kristen Faughnan. Caring for the whole patient: Oncology Care Model Learning System, resource guide # 1. 2018.
  • Santos, Palmira; Kristen Faughnan. Survivorship care planning: Oncology Care Model Learning System, case study # 6. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation.: 2018.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. CPC+ practice spotlight 3: Timely communication and home visits after hospitalizations improves readmission rates. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: 2017.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. CPC+ practice spotlight 6: Improving quality through eCQM checklists and patient outreach. Center for Medicare and Medicaid: 2017.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. CPC+ practice spotlight 7: Implementing behavioral health integration: Care management model. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: 2017.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. OCM case study: Reducing potentially avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department utilization. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation: 2017.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. Patient and family engagement & shared decision-making: Learning System case study. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation: 2017.
  • Santos, P. Faughnan, K.. Supporting oral chemotherapy adherence: Learning System case study. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation: 2017.
  • William Cusick, R. L. Cox, R. A. Welch, C. Firneno, P. Santos. "Shoulder Dystocia Response: Improving Neonatal Outcomes." Fetal & Maternal Health. New York. 1-19-17.
  • P. Burstein, D. M. Zalenski, J. L. Edward, I. Z. Rafi, P. Santos, C. Firneno,. "Changing Labor and Delivery Practice: Focus on Achieving Practice and Documentation Standardization with the Goal of Improving Neonatal Outcomes." Health Services Research DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12589. (2016).
  • P Santos, GA Ritter, JL Hefele, A Hendrich, and C Kocot McCoy. "Decreasing intrapartum malpractice: Targeting the most injurious neonatal adverse events." Journal of Healthcare Risk Management 34. 4 (2015): 20-27.
  • P. Santos, B. Mohr, N. Moresco, G. Ritter, C.Firneno. "Patient and Loved One Hospital Acquired Conditon Cost Estimator." 2015 <http://heller.brandeis.edu/healthcare-intelligence/estimators/family-estimator.html>.
  • P. Santos, B. Mohr, N. Moresco, G. Ritter, C.Firneno. "Provider & Payer Hospital Acquired Condition Cost Differential Estimator." 2015 <http://heller.brandeis.edu/healthcare-intelligence/estimators/payer-estimator.html>.
  • Hacker, Karen; Santos, Palmira; Thompson, Douglas; Stout, Somava S.; Bearse, Adriana; and Mechanic, Robert E.. "Early Experience of a Safety-Net Provider Reorganizing into an Accountable Care Organization." Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 39. 4 (2014): TBD.
  • Hendrich, Ann; McCoy, Christine Kocot; Gale,Jane; Sparkman, Lora; and Santos, Palmira. "Ascension Health's Demonstration Of Full Disclosure Protocol For Unexpected Events During Labor And Delivery Shows Promise." Health Affairs 33. no. 1 (2014): 39-45.
  • K.Hacker, P.Santos, D. Thompson, S. Stout, A. Bearse, R. Mechanic. "Report on Health Reform Implementation Early Experience of a Safety-Net Provider Reorganizing into an Accountable Care Organization." Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law (2014).
  • Robert Henkel, John Paul Slosar, Ziad Haydar, Ann Hendrich, and Palmira Santos, Health Affairs Blog - http://healthaffairs.org/blog. The Moral Imperative To Disclose Medical Error: Doing The Right Thing. 01/07/2014. Health Affairs. <http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/01/07/the-moral-imperative-to-disclosemedical- error-doing-the-right-thing/ URLs>.
  • Santos, Palmira. Molecular Diagnostics and Companion Therapies: Partnerships, Payment and Evidence Development. Proc. of Health Industry Forum. Washington DC: 2013.
  • Santos, Palmira. States’ Role in Health Care Reform: Possibilities to Improve Access and Quality. Proc. of 19th Princeton Conference May 23-25, 2012. Princeton, NJ: 2013.
  • Mechanic R., Santos P., Landon B.E., et al.,. "Medical Group Responses to Global Payment: Early Lessons from the 'Alternative Quality Contract' in Massachusetts." Health Affairs 30. 9 (2011): 1734-42.
  • Santos, Palmira. Accountable Care Organizations: Implications for Consumers Conference Report.. Washington, D.C.: The Health Industry Forum, 2011.
  • Santos, Palmira. The Evolution of State Health Insurance Exchanges. Proc. of The Evolution of State Health Insurance Exchanges. Washington DC: The Health Industry Forum, 2011.
  • Santos, Palmira. Establishing a National Health Insurance Exchange Conference Report. Proc. of Establishing a National Health Insurance Exchange. Washington, D.C.: The Health Industry Forum Brandeis University, 2010.
  • Santos, Palmira. Federal Strategies for Promoting Affordable Biologics: Follow-On Biologic Competition Conference Report. Proc. of Federal Strategies for Promoting Affordable Biologics: Follow-On Biologic Competition. Washington D.C.: The Health Industry Forum, 2010.
  • Santos, Palmira. Establishing a National System of Health Insurance Exchanges Policy Brief. The Health Industry Forum. Waltham, MA: 2010.
  • Sussman J., Santos P., Altman S.. Examining End of Life Care: Creating Sensible Public Policies for Patients, Providers, and Payers: Policy Brief. Council on Health Care Economics and Policy/ The Health Industry Forum 2010. Proc. of 17th Princeton Conference. Princeton University: Council on Health Care Economics and Policy/ The Health Industry Forum, 2010.