Research Priorities

• Assess disparities in access, quality, and outcomes of rehabilitation
• Understand frequency of care plans for acute PT and OT by Service/Diagnosis, determine opportunities
• Study ambulatory scheduling practices across all patients/payers, determine efficiency opportunities to provide care for patients within our ACO/system
• Team-based models of care, care coordination improvement for patients with disabilities

Please note that this health system will not be hosting a LHS Scientist in 2024

• Standardize cognitive assessment in the acute care hospital

• Addressing social determinants of health within a PACE population
• Fall reduction
• End-of-life and advance care planning
• Medication safety and deprescribing
• Vaccinations and infection prevention
• Improving participant/patient engagement
• ER diversion/avoidance

• Transitions of care across the continuum
• Value-based care pathways
• Effectiveness of rehabilitation for high-need / high-cost patients
• Team-based models of care, care coordination

• Implementation of systematic approaches to improve mobility of patients in the acute care setting, particularly those at high risk (e.g., individuals’ chronic conditions such as CHF)
• Precision Rehabilitation: Using high information content measurement to personalize rehabilitation interventions across the healthcare continuum for individuals with disability and/or chronic conditions
• Effectiveness of innovative care delivery models prior to surgery especially for geriatric populations with multiple chronic conditions
• Development of rehabilitation models of care to reduce skilled nursing facility utilization

• Reducing disability and poor clinical outcomes among elderly patients by early mobilization in the emergency department, inpatient and critical care areas and avoiding the need for prolonged post-acute care.
• Early identification and reduction in the risk of delirium among vulnerable adults to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, prolonged hospitalization, and need for long-term care.
• Expanding the role of patient and family engagement in reducing iatrogenic injury and diagnostic delay among vulnerable patients with functional limitations.
• Using information technology to identify and prevent clinical deterioration in ambulatory patients with chronic conditions.

• Innovative care models for individuals with chronic disability
• Unmet needs and disparities impacting individuals with chronic disability after traumatic injury

• Evaluation and development of a novel coverage policy for complex rehab technology in an accountable care environment (i.e. CAT and UPMC Health Plan)
• Implementation of a streamlined data collection process (on assistive technology) in clinical practice
• Implementation of a new wheelchair assessment and documentation protocol that supports standardization and uniform data 

• Effectiveness of a mobility program in acute care
• Hospital outcomes of patients receiving acute care PT during the pandemic
• Using outcome measures in acute care to identify at risk patients post-acutely
• Transitions of care across the continuum
• Effectiveness of rehabilitation for high-need / high-cost patients
• Adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations and associated clinical outcomes