IHS probes key questions facing today's health systems on topics ranging from healthcare financing, provider interactions, workforce trends, and more. Below, find a selection of recent and ongoing work from our researchers.
Research
Older Adults
Supporting Practices in Respecting Elders (SPIRE) Comparative Effectiveness Trial
An evaluation of two models of primary care for older adults with complex health needs.
Our Team: Jennifer Perloff (Dual Principal Investigator), Karen Donelan (Co-Investigator), Mike Vetter (Project Director), Carie Michael (Project Manager), Kathy Cook (Program Administrator), Benjamin Koethe (Research Assistant)
Colleagues: Christine Ritchie (Dual Principal Investigator), Steve Bartels (Co-Investigator), Jocelyn Carter (Co-Investigator), Kathryn Corelli (Co-Investigator), and team.
Partners: Massachusetts General Brigham, AtriumHealth Wake Forest Baptist, BaylorScott & White, Griffin Health, Indiana University, Vanderbilt University
Contract awarded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
Evaluating Novel Healthcare Approaches to Nurturing and Caring for Hospitalized Elders (ENHANCE) Comparative Effectiveness Trial
A stepped wedge comparison of delirium prevention protocols among hospitalized older adults.
Our Team: Karen Donelan (Stakeholder Engagement Core Leader), Carie Michael (Project Director), Bella Cameron (Research Assistant)
Colleagues: Sharon Inouye (Dual Principal Investigator), Phil Vlisides (Dual Principal Investigator), Eva Schmitt (Overall Project Director), and team.
Partners: Hebrew SeniorLife Marcus Institute For Aging Research, Allegheny General Hospital, Maine Medical Center, Saddleback Memorial Hospital, Meriter Hospital, University of Michigan Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pensylvania, University of Utah Hospital
Contract Awarded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
Advancing Gender and Income Equity in Long-Term Services and Supports
An examination of gendered barriers to healthy aging in the US.
Related events include the Brandeis Forum on Long Term Services and Supports: Personal Crises, Private Payments, Social Policy.
Our Team: Christine Bishop, Karen Donelan, Jennifer Perloff, Melissa Brown
Grant awarded by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
Social Drivers of Healthcare Outcomes
US and Massachusetts Social and Health Policy Datasets
Our Team: Rajan Sonik (Principal Investigator), Kimberley Nicholson (Research Associate), Bianca Porneala (Senior Statistical Programmer), Natalie Moresco (Senior Statistical Programmer), Bella Cameron (Research Assistant), Onyx Allen (Graduate Research Assistant), Maya Stantchev (Undergraduate Research Assistant), Sydney Duncan (Atkins Fellow).
Partners: Cambridge Health Alliance, AltaMed Health Services.
Grants awarded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Growth and Decline in SNAP Generosity: Outcome and Equity Implications
Our Team: Rajan Sonik (Principal Investigator).
Partners: Altamed Health Services Corporation.
Grant awarded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Effects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program On Racial/Ethnic and Disability Based Healthcare Disparities
Our Team: Rajan Sonik (Principal Investigator).
Partners: Altamed Health Services Corporation.
Grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health.
Eliciting Patient Past Experiences of Healthcare Discrimination as a Potential Pathway to Reduce Health Disparities: A Qualitative Study of Primary Care Staff
Our Team: Rajan Sonik
Colleagues: Dharma Cortes, Ana Progovac, Frederick Lu, Esther Lee and team.
Partners: Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance Health Equity Lab, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, and team.
Contract awarded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Published in Health Services Research.
Legal Aid Is Essential to Effective Social Care Integration
An analysis of the role of legal aid organizations in identifying health-related social needs.
Our Team: Rajan Sonik
Colleagues: Breena Taira, Sorto Gerson.
Partners: UCLA Medical Center; Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County.
Grants awarded by California Health Care Foundation, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and National Institute of Nursing Research.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Workforce
Reducing NP Barriers to Value-Based Care
A pilot of risk readiness tools in primary care offices owned by nurse practitioners.
Transitions Out Of Health Sector Employment For Low-Preparation Workers, 2017–2022
Survey research offering insight into employee turnover in roles requiring minimal formal education.
Relational Coordination Collaborative (RCC)
A research community promoting relationship-based task integration. RCC programs include Relating Across Difference, a coaching protocol for clinical units.
Changes in Mental Health Services Use Under the ACA in One State: Role of Mental Health Provider Shortages
A study examining how mental health care use changed under Affordable Care Act provisions in the state of California.
How Can We Grow The Nurse Supply?
An assessment of a federal incentive program addressing healthcare professional shortage areas.
Burnout to Balance
A comparative effectiveness study of two models to reduce turnover and enhance resilience in the group home workforce.
Key-Informant Perspectives On Pharmacy-Based Methadone Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder In The US
Our Team: Cynthia Tschampl (Dual PI), Traci Green (Dual PI, IBH).
Colleagues: Maureen Stewart, Sage Feltus, Jeffrey Bratberg.
Partners: Boston University, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy.
Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts, Brandeis-Harvard Center to Improve System Performance of Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
Published in Health Affairs.
Uncovering Household Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Care Patterns Using a Novel Bioinformatics Linkage Strategy
An examination of TB testing and treatment pathways in households with sentinel patients.
Our Team: Cynthia Tschampl
Colleagues: Jeffrey Campbell, Meredith Brooks, Jessica Haberer, Rachel Epstein, and team.
Partners: Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School.
Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Economic Evaluations
Cost-Effectiveness of Case Management and Financial Incentives to Increase Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation
A comparison of approaches to increasing utilization of cost-effective cardiac care.
Our Team: Donald Shapard, Jiaye Shen.
Colleagues: Blair Yant, Deborah Denkmann, Patrick Savage, Robin Collier, Bryan Katz, Philip Ades, Diann Gaalema.
Primary Partner: University of Vermont
Additional Partner: University of Texas Medical Branch
Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health.
Published in Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention
Economic Evaluation of Wolbachia Deployment in Colombia: A Modeling Study
A cost-effectiveness study of dengue fever prevention in 11 target cities in Colombia.
Our Team: Donald Shepard (Principal Investigator), Yara A. Halasa-Rappel, Samantha R. Lee.
Colleagues: Carlos William Rincon Perez, Arturo Harker Roa.
Partners: University of the Andes.
Funded by Wellcome Trust via Monash University's World Mosquito Program; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Published in PLos One.
Cost-Effectiveness of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adolescent Girls in Moscow, Russia
Our Team: Daria Nefedova, Shiji Valsan, Donald Shepard.
Published in Public Health Challenges.
Finance and Payment
Hospital–Skilled Nursing Facility Integration and Participation in a Bundled Payment Initiative
An original investigation into whether hospitals integrated with skilled nursing facilities are more likely to adopt Medicare bundled payment initiatives.