Current Research at the Institute for Family Health
Funded ResearchIn addition to the research projects listed below that have received funding from other organizations, the Institute supports numerous additional studies initiated by staff, faculty, residents, and students. For further information about any of the studies described below, please contact Diane Hauser: dhauser@institute2000.org or 212-633-0800 x1290.
For completed studies and commentaries, please see the Institute Publication List.
Electronic Health Records: Improving Quality and Reducing Disparities
Preliminary analysis of data obtained through the Institute’s electronic health record system has indicated the existence of disparity in diabetic control between black, white, and Latino patients, as well as differences among practice sites and individual practitioners. With support from the Commonwealth Fund, Institute investigators are examining these differences and identifying best practices for achieving the highest quality care and the best health outcomes for all our patients with diabetes. Clinical practices found to be associated with better patient outcomes will be replicated at Institute practices, and the impact of these interventions on patient outcomes will be assessed.
Bronx Faith-based Initiative to Eliminate Racial Disparities in Health
This study builds on Bronx Health REACH, the CDC-funded project led by the Institute to address racial and ethnic health disparities. Learn more about Bronx Health REACH.
The success of Bronx Health REACH’s faith-based initiative related to disparities led to development of this community-based research project, which is funded by the NIH’s Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. The initiative involves fourteen faith-based institutions in the South Bronx that educate clergy and parishioners about health promotion, disease prevention, navigating the health care system, and overcoming the racial disparities they face in the health care they receive. While many faith-based health initiatives have been successfully engaged in health promotion activities, there is little understanding of which programs are most successful and best practices in this area have yet to be identified. The goal of the Institute’s project is to assess the impact of this faith-based initiative, improve and refine the model, pilot it among other faith-based institutions, and, ultimately, to develop a toolkit that can be shared with others.
The Center for Health and Public Service Research (CHPSR) at New York University serves as the project’s academic partner.
Preventing Low Birth Weight Babies: The Role of Primary Prevention
This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of primary care interventions in preventing low birth-weight, including interventions related to bacterial vaginosis, asymptomatic bacteruria, depression, smoking cessation, and increasing inter-pregnancy intervals. Researchers at 15 family medicine residency programs, including the Beth Israel Residency in Urban Family Practice at the Institute for Family Health, are conducting retrospective medical record reviews measuring practice processes and outcomes for prenatal care related to low birth weight and ongoing record audit after initiating five interventions related to low birth weight. This study is funded, in part, by the March of Dimes.
Patient’s Experience of Distress and Symptoms
This study examines the conceptual models of depression among patients diagnosed with depression, the relationship of these models to several cultural and socioeconomic variables, and to the attitudes and experiences regarding seeking treatment. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, this research will lead to a greater understanding of how depression is treated in primary care settings.
A Model Electronic Health Record for Public Health
The Institute is collaborating with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to incorporate public health priorities into its electronic health record system. Through this partnership, the Institute is developing and implementing electronic clinical decision supports related to New York City’s Take Care New York (TCNY) program, and is systematically assessing their impact on patient health. TCNY focuses on ten actionable health indicators, including: having a regular doctor/provider; cigarette smoking; heart health; HIV screening; depression screening; problem drinking; cancer screening; immunizations; childhood lead poisoning; and reproductive health. This project also involves the development of electronic health information exchange to improve public health surveillance of antibiotic resistance and other emerging health issues.
Evaluation of Electronic Health Information Exchange
The Institute is pilot testing the use of an electronic health information exchange (EHIE), in collaboration with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, which creates a framework and set of tools for an interoperable health information infrastructure to be used by visiting nurses and physicians providing care for homebound patients. The United Hospital Fund has funded a qualitative evaluation of the EHIE that will use pre-and post-EHIE implementation interviews with system users to explore clinicians’ expectations, experiences, satisfaction with, and recommendations regarding the system and its ability to improve data access, information exchange, and integration of patient records.
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