Quantifying Facilitators and Barriers of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation
Site Co-Principal Investigator, Jennifer P. Stevens
Studies have shown that low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) is one of the most effective therapies for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but its use remains low. This multi-site project, led by Dr. Curtis Weiss of NorthShore University HealthSystem, sought to identify the facilitators and barriers to LTVV adoption and the differences that exist between academic and community settings. The goal of the study was to advance implementation science by providing a model for how data science and network science can be applied to understand the adoption of complex interventions. This project was conducted across an international consortium of medical centers and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
A New Approach to Patient Safety
Principal Investigator, Jennifer P. Stevens
Hospitalized patients experience a wide range of preventable harms despite significant efforts to provide safe and effective healthcare. This project seeks to identify and predict stressed clinical environments – or “risky states” that predispose patients to preventable harms– initially in the intensive care unit, and then in the emergency department. This approach goes beyond the clinical specifics of any individual patient and any category of harm. It represents a departure from the historical “silo” approach of hospitals addressing specific harm categories, such as falls or infections. This project was funded as a Career Development Award by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
A Multistakeholder Examination of the Drivers and Value of Inpatient Consultation
Principal Investigator, Jennifer P. Stevens
Inpatient consultation is the primary mechanism by which specialists provide care to hospitalized patients. For example, more than 90% of Medicare patients have at least one consultation during an inpatient admission. Previous research has demonstrated that the scope of variation in inpatient consultation use across U.S. hospitals is substantial. This project sought to advance knowledge of inpatient consultation in three ways: by defining the characteristics of beneficial consultations from multiple perspectives, including those of patients and families; by investigating novel non-clinical factors that drive consultation for reasons other than patient or family need; and by quantifying the relationship between inpatient consultations and patient outcomes and costs. This project was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This work was preceded by research focused on consult quality in the critical care setting, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.