The Center for Health Innovation (CHI), founded in 2013 and directed by José A. Pagán, PhD, brings the perspective of behavioral economics to the implementation of health reform and to organizations interested in designing and developing innovative solutions to public health challenges that operate at the intersection between health care and other key determinants of health, and health care delivery systems that recognize the multiple behavioral, social, and economic determinants of health. At the heart of these efforts is the CHI’s ongoing commitment to the elimination of health disparities that persist in marginalized communities throughout the U.S.

Improving Postpartum Care for High-Risk Women

CHI researchers are also working with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Medicaid managed care insurer Healthfirst to develop a new payment and delivery system to improve postpartum care for high-risk women. The project is one of only three projects selected for funding in 2014 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of a national initiative to reduce health care disparities through payment and delivery system reform.

Project ECHO Evaluation

In collaboration with the Center for Evaluation and Applied Research, the CHI is conducting an external evaluation to assess improvements in quality of care, patient outcomes and cost of care for the implementation of Project ECHO® GEMH (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes in Geriatric Mental Health) at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The program aims to improve primary care for patients in need of geriatric mental health services by providing web-based videoconferences designed to deliver specialty training in the treatment of geriatric mental health to providers in primary care practices. The project is funded by the New York State Health Foundation and the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.

Improving Transitonal Care and Reducing Hospital Readmissions

CHI researchers continue to collaborate with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Brookdale Senior Living and other partners on a Health Care Innovation Award from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation to improve transitional care and reduce hospital readmissions in skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living communities. CHI also continues to work with the Center for Evaluation and Applied Research to assess the economic burden of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema in 41 countries. Partners on this project include the International Federation of Aging, the International Diabetes Federation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

Cardiovascular Health Simulation Model

Population health management is becoming increasingly important to organizations providing health care due to shifting financial incentives to improve health care quality and reduce costs. During 2014, the CHI collaborated with researchers at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University to develop an agent-based simulation model (The New York Academy of Medicine Cardiovascular Health Simulation Model) that can be used to analyze cardiovascular disease progression and other health outcomes. A study published in the October 2014 issue of the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health showed how this systems science modeling approach could be used to evaluate diet and exercise lifestyle programs that could be implemented in primary care practice settings for Medicare beneficiaries.

Li Y, Kong N, Lawley MA, Pagán JA. Using systems science for population health management in primary care. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2014 Oct;5(4):242-6.