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 Regenstrief researchers aim to improve decision-making and efficiency by understanding how healthcare professionals seek, use and share information. More |
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People
> McKinnis links system expertise with healthcare environments. More
Projects
> Researchers aim to improve healthcare professionals' timely access to resources. More
> Regenstrief faculty and VA physicians explore application of systems engineering concepts. More
Partners
> Partnership with Indiana State Department of Health focuses on prevention, integration, preparedness. More
Progress
> Karen Davis of Commonwealth Fund confirmed as conference speaker. More
> Discovery Park centers present to top White House adviser. More
Publicity
> Purdue president provides update on University's strategic plan. More
> Harrison wins cancer research collaboration award. More
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McKinnis links system expertise with healthcare environments
Dave McKinnis insists that all faculty and students involved in Purdue’s Healthcare Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) have a thorough understanding of the unique culture of healthcare before starting a new project.
As the program’s director, McKinnis believes this awareness is a fundamental component of his program’s success in applying engineering methods through short-term projects for Indiana hospitals and health systems. “The Healthcare Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) brings together Purdue expertise from engineering, management, technology and other areas to catalyze short-term, immediate improvements to healthcare delivery throughout Indiana,” says McKinnis, who earned a master’s degree in management and a doctorate in industrial engineering at Purdue. “From day one, our success has hinged on our partnerships with healthcare professionals to appreciate the needs and challenges specific to the healthcare environment.”
HTAP faculty discuss
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HTAP adopts the short-term project model of Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which provides assistance to Indiana businesses in the areas of advanced manufacturing and logistics, business management, information technology, product development, quality, manufacturing processes, human resource issues and interpersonal skill development.
As TAP director, McKinnis worked with the Regenstrief Center and the Indiana Hospital&Health Association to extend this model to the healthcare industry, launching HTAP on May 1, 2005. Since then, HTAP has developed into a strategic program helping the Regenstrief Center connect with healthcare organizations and providing healthcare experience to researchers who have non-healthcare backgrounds.
Prior to joining TAP as associate director in 1986, McKinnis spent 13 years in industry, responsible for manufacturing and material control systems. He assumed the position of TAP director in 2000, and became Associate Vice Provost for Engagement in 2002.
McKinnis points to a recent project at St. Francis Hospital in Beechgrove, Ind., as an example of HTAP’s capacity to catalyze change. The team redesigned the medical-surgical unit, using process engineering tools to improve productivity, eliminate extra time spent looking for supplies, and make it easier to protect patient confidentiality. St. Francis completed the remodel in September 2006, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. “The partnership between industrial engineering and nursing faculty was essential to design a safe, efficient, and patient-centered environment,” McKinnis said. “HTAP took the best of both disciplines to balance process improvement with the care needs of patients and providers.”
For more information on Purdue's Healthcare Technical Assistance Program, visit www.purdue.edu/rche/tap or view the HTAP video at http://video.e-enterprise.purdue.edu/regenstrief/Media/Healthcare_TAP.wmv.
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Researchers aim to improve healthcare professionals’ timely access to resources
Nurses spend up to 30 percent of their time "hunting and gathering” for information, equipment and materials during their workday, according to recent research. But there may be ways that enhanced technologies and new processes can improve healthcare professionals' abilities to find the resources they need more efficiently, allowing more time for direct patient care.
Barrett Caldwell, Purdue professor of industrial engineering, and doctoral student Sandra Garrett are using foraging theory with a human factors perspective to describe the specific strategies used by healthcare professionals to find and use information. These findings can be used to develop technology and processes that will increase access and reduce wasted time, risk and cost.
“Foraging theory provides a new way to think about how people acquire, integrate, interpret, use and share information. But it is not without limitations,” Garrett said. “Current applications look at isolated individuals foraging without specific tasks or deadlines. Yet tasks in the team-oriented healthcare environment are often driven by specific event triggers with time limitations. If your patient walks out the door before necessary information and resources are acquired, the system has failed. We are working to develop a more accurate picture of foraging challenges in healthcare.”
In the current task analysis study, Garrett has collected initial observational data by shadowing providers at clinics in Indianapolis and Munster, recording the providers’ activities and task coordination using a new taxonomy structure.
“Previous studies have collected very general data about providers’ care delivery activities, but they haven't recorded the context of the activity or the resources necessary to complete tasks,” said Garrett. “Our new taxonomy provides a more accurate picture of how providers’ search for and find information. This precise data can then be used to model processes and technology that optimize efficient, coordinated patient care.”
Initial data analysis has resulted in two journal articles under review, four conference papers, four conference posters, a plenary talk to the U.S. Department of Defense, and participation in the National Science Foundation Healthcare Systems Engineering Workshop in June 2006. An invited paper on quality assurance in medical systems is scheduled for February 2007. Follow-on projects are being developed with local healthcare organizations.
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Regenstrief faculty and VA physicians explore application of systems engineering concepts
More than one-quarter of 65-74 year olds in the United States have been diagnosed with three or more chronic conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, or asthma, according to the 2006 National Health Interview Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Physicians at the recent Veterans Affairs State of the Art (SOTA) Conference acknowledged that they typically treat for one condition, even though they recognize that integrating care across conditions could significantly improve patient health. Unfortunately, logistics within the current healthcare system make such collaboration very difficult.
This year, the SOTA conference focused on the challenges of providing care for complex patients, defined as those with more than one chronic condition. Mark Lawley, Regenstrief Center faculty, was invited to present the paper, “Applying Systems Engineering Concepts in the Care of Complex Patients,” written with Joe Pekny, founding director of the Regenstrief Center, and Dr. Brad Doebbeling, Regenstrief Center collaborator and director of the VA’s Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research. The paper discussed the potential for systems engineering tools, such as statistical modeling, process flow and discrete event simulation, to address logistical challenges and improve delivery coordination for complex patients.
Lawley was pleased with the paper’s reception among discussion group members, which included top VA administrators and physicians. “The response was tremendous. They had read the paper before the conference, and were anxious to discuss how to move forward.” The group was then challenged to develop an action plan to be sent to VA leadership. The paper also is under review for publication in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Doebbeling and Lawley have plans to model the sequence of care of complex patients (i.e., clinical visits, diagnoses, treatments) using data from the VA in Indianapolis. The goal is to identify similarities and variations among patient care for similar conditions, and determine whether consistent care sequences could improve access, quality and cost-effectiveness for complex patients.
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Partnership with Indiana State Department of Health focuses on prevention, integration, preparedness
Under the leadership of Dr. Judith A. Monroe, State Health Commissioner, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has established a partnership with the Regenstrief Center to integrate the center’s broad range of expertise with a number of ISDH initiatives, including prevention, data analysis, integration of medical care with public health and preparedness.
“Our Center is positioned to contribute significant analytical resources to complement ISDH’s public health efforts,” said Steven M. Witz, director of the Regenstrief Center. “Our partnership with ISDH also gives us an important opportunity to advance healthcare statewide, consistent with our mission. ISDH is made up of strategic thinkers with potential operating funds. That is a great combination for our Center.”
Through the ISDH partnership, the Regenstrief Center has access to federal funding and a wealth of data that would otherwise be unavailable. Recent and current collaborative projects have connected Regenstrief Center researchers with public health professionals at the local and state level.
“The expertise and talent at the Regenstrief Center is a valuable asset for the state of Indiana,” said Monroe. “We place great value on our partnership and look forward to the positive impact this relationship will have on both the Department of Health and the state of Indiana.”
This summer, ISDH selected the Regenstrief Center’s Healthcare Technical Assistance Program and Purdue Homeland Security Institute to work with representatives from all 94 Indiana health districts and analyze gaps in pandemic planning throughout the state. This project spawned additional opportunities, including conducting table-top exercises and assisting with alternative care site planning.
ISDH also funded field tests of a system that can detect the presence of viruses and other infectious agents within four hours of contact, faster than any system currently on the market. The rapid detection system, developed by Regenstrief Center technical director James McGlothlin and his research team, collects air samples and real-time data, alerting ISDH personnel to the presence of the monitored virus and indicating the time, location and carrier. Rapid analysis allows for more accurate isolation and quarantine measures, diminishing the spread of the virus.
Most recently, ISDH is working with Pamela Whitten, Regenstrief Center faculty, and Purdue communication researchers to understand how healthcare providers and administrators perceive the impact of the new adverse events state regulation. As of Jan. 1, 2006, hospitals are required to report serious adverse events to the ISDH for analysis and annual publication to the public. Researchers are conducting focus groups with Indiana nurses, physicians, hospital leaders, quality professionals and public relations staff to identify motivators and barriers to accurate reporting and explore ways to communicate errors that will result in positive overall health outcomes for the state.
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Karen Davis of Commonwealth Fund confirmed as conference speaker
The Regenstrief Center will to host Karen Davis, Ph.D., president of the Commonwealth Fund, as one of two Discovery Lecture Series speakers on the first day of the Center’s annual conference. Her talk, titled “Achieving the Best: The road to improving national performance of healthcare delivery,” will take place at 3 p.m., Monday, April 23, at Purdue University.
Davis is a nationally recognized economist, with a distinguished career in public policy and research. She assumed her position as president in 1995, having previously served as deputy assistant secretary for health policy in the Department of Health and Human Services from 1977-1980, making her the first woman to head a U.S. public health service agency. Elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1975, she has served two terms on its governing council (1986-90 and 1997-2000). She also has been a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., a visiting lecturer at Harvard University, and an assistant professor of economics at Rice University.
Davis’ lecture will follow an address by Stephen Shortell, Ph.D., dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, titled “Marriage of Medicine and Management: Sustaining Improvements in Delivery, Quality, Cost and Outcomes.” Shortell is an expert on organized health delivery systems in the United States and has done extensive research on institutional incentives for improving quality of care and health outcomes. Shortell’s talk will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 23. Both lectures are part of the Discovery Lecture Series, made possible by the Lilly Endowment.
The Regenstrief Center Annual Conference will continue on Tuesday, April 24. Sessions will feature healthcare experts from industry and academia, exploring the following topics:
- Advancing solutions for equitable access.
- Expanding models for health consumer education.
- Evaluating new provider models.
Events on April 23-24 are free and open to the public; registration will be available in January at www.purdue.edu/rche. For more information about Purdue’s Discovery Lecture Series, visit www.purdue.edu/dp/dls. back to top
Regenstrief Center, other Discovery Park centers present to top White House adviser
On Oct. 27, the Regenstrief Center was selected as one of five Discovery Park centers to highlight its research initiatives during a presentation to John H. Marburger, III, Ph.D., director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Marburger was on campus as part of the fall 2006 Discovery Lecture Series.
The Regenstrief Center presented a nine-minute video covering four campus-wide healthcare initiatives, including proteomics, surgical robotics, cancer care engineering and open-access scheduling. The video is available for viewing at http://video.e-enterprise.purdue.edu/dls/regenstrief.wmv.
Marburger’s lecture titled, “The American Competitive Initiative: Leading the World in Innovation,” can be viewed at http://video.e-enterprise.purdue.edu/dls/marburger.wmv.
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Purdue president provides update on University's strategic plan
Remarks from Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke's speech to the Purdue University Board of Trustees (November 10).
“The three primary goals of our strategic plans are first, attaining and preserving excellence in learning through programs of superior quality and value in every academic discipline; second, achieving and sustaining preeminence in discovery; and third, effectively addressing the needs of society through engagement.
“Our goal in discovery is to achieve and sustain pre-eminence, and we are moving forward rapidly. Major research highlights continue to reflect the growing strength in research and visionary initiatives at Purdue, many of which are interdisciplinary or collaborative.
“Discovery Park is transforming the research mission of this university. One thousand faculty have been involved in interdisciplinary research at Discovery Park, about half of the total faculty.
“Now open in Discovery Park are the $58 million Birck Nanotechnology Center, the $15 million Bindley Bioscience Center, the $25 million Biomedical Engineering building and the $7 million Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. Our Mann Center for e-Enterprise will open next year.
“In six years, Discovery Park has grown from an idea to a $330 million interdisciplinary research and teaching complex with some of the most advanced facilities in the world.
“Discovery Park is becoming a crown jewel of research with expanding interdisciplinary research centers, increasing external sponsorships, faculty collaborations, and business and industrial partnerships.
“Since it was launched in February 2005, Discovery Park's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering has garnered more than $20 million worth of research. Projects with strategic partners focus on applying engineering principles to the U.S. healthcare system. These projects are designed to help the industry improve service, reduce inefficiencies and minimize costs.”
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Harrison wins cancer research collaboration award
Marietta Harrison, associate director of the Purdue Cancer Center and interim director of the Oncological Sciences Center in Discovery Park, was selected to receive the $10,000 Collaborator of the Year Award from the Walther Cancer Institute in Indianapolis. Harrison was chosen for her leadership in fostering cancer research collaboration between Indiana University and Purdue University. This collaboration is a cornerstone of the Cancer Care Engineering project, an initiative that includes the Regenstrief Center and other Discovery Park centers.
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