Projects
US Policy Evaluations
Our team uses large datasets to produce analyses that can be leveraged by providers, hospital executives, and policymakers alike to improve efficiency and value in healthcare, both in the U.S. and around the world.
Individual-Level Factors
Part of our research examines how diverse patient characteristics—such as sociodemographic factors and specific diseases–may be associated with differences in quality and spending. A portion of our portfolio is focused on vulnerable populations in the U.S., analyzing disparities in quality of care. as well as high-need, high-cost populations: patients who account for a disproportionate level of healthcare spending and tend to experience worse outcomes. Additionally, we produce studies focused on specific conditions and comorbidities, investigating how the presence of these conditions might influence patient interactions with the healthcare system.
Featured Publications:
Do Academic Medical Centers Disproportionately Benefit the Sickest Patients?
Provider-Level Factors
Our next topic of interest is provider-level factors, aiming to understanding how structures and incentives influence the care provided. We analyze the impact of differing reimbursement structures and alternative payment models, such as pay-for-performance models. We are also interested in whether physician specialty, physician training, or differences in practice volume and size affect patient outcomes and spending.
Featured Publications:
Age and sex of surgeons and mortality of older surgical patients: observational study.
Facility-Level Factors
At the facility level, our work focuses on understanding the characteristics that differentiate the highest performers from the lower performers. We examine factors such as hospital teaching status, integration of services, and use of health information technology to understand how institutions can best improve care while managing costs.
Featured Publications:
Association between patient outcomes and accreditation in US hospitals: observational study.
Association Between Teaching Status and Mortality in US Hospitals
Health system-level factors
Policymakers and healthcare leaders have implemented numerous programs and structures aimed at improving value. Our research evaluates the effectiveness of these system-level initiatives, such as the Hospital Quality Alliance Program, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. We also examine the role of public reporting, transparency, and appropriate metrics in improving health system quality. A portion of our work extends beyond the U.S. to compare health systems internationally with the goal of better understanding characteristics of high performers.
Featured Publications:
Health Care Spending in the United States and Other High-Income Countries