The following blog post was written by Jia Pu, one of AcademyHealth's 2013 Delivery System Science Fellows; it is a testimonial about her experience with the Delivery System Science Fellowship (DSSF) and her host site, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute (PAMFRI).
I was thrilled to be selected as an AcademyHealth DSSF Fellow. I know this fellowship will provide the best opportunity for me to continue my research in health care disparities at prestigious health care organizations and to receive unique training in health care system-embedded research. At the end of this very productive fellowship year, I have gained more than I expected, in large part due to the commitment, encouragement, and support of the AcademyHealth DSSF program and my host site, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute (PAMFRI). Everyone involved in the program is committed to helping Fellows become the next successful generation of scientists in health services research.
My research at PAMFRI focuses on insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases, including population health outcomes and health care disparities. Working at a health care organization allows me to explore and address my research questions from multiple dimensions.
First, I have access to over 10 years of de-identified electronic health records (EHRs). With this information, I am able to put together the pieces of a disease management puzzle and identify potential opportunities to improve health care and health outcomes. For example, in my recent study of hypertension progression, we examined hypertension and its risk factors based on lab test results from tens of thousands of patients, assessed its association with longitudinal cardiovascular outcomes using diagnosis information from the EHRs, and explored hypertension treatment and medication utilization at ambulatory care settings. This study provides essential information for hypertension management. Without the rich EHR data at PAMFRI, this research would be much harder, if not infeasible, to conduct.
Second, I am excited about the opportunity to work together with patients to explore opportunities to better meet their needs. I have been involved in several patient-centered outcomes studies during my time at PAMFRI. Currently, we are conducting focus groups with patients from different cultural backgrounds in order to better understand their expectations of and experiences with receiving care at PAMF, the large delivery system of which PAMFRI is a part. We are also working together with minority patients to design a website to provide culturally-tailored health information, in particular, those related to lifestyle choices and medication utilization, such as diet and herbal medication. Health care system-embedded research enables and greatly facilitates these patient-centered outcomes research studies with mutual benefits for both patients and health care organizations.
Finally, I am fascinated by the opportunity to learn how health care organizations and local communities can team up to promote community health. For instance, our study team at PAMFRI offered free blood pressure checks at the Asian Indian Community Center during Diwali, a Hindu festival in honor of an ancient Indian holiday. In another instance, free health assessments were provided to taxi drivers along with further health counseling, nutritional advice, and culturally-sensitive recommendations. The concrete influence on our local community well justifies and motivates my day-to-day hard work as a health outcomes researcher, making my career extraordinarily exciting and satisfying.
Besides hands-on experience, I am exposed to the network of all DSSF Fellows. Although we have different skills and expertise, we share the passion to improve the health care delivery system. In addition, I was able to develop my leadership skills by meeting with program leaders, gaining advice from external mentors, and attending and presenting at national conferences. I am very much honored to serve as an AcademyHealth Interest Group Engagement Leader for the Disparities Interest Group, through which I exchange ongoing studies and conduct informal conversations with group members. These social connections inspire and encourage all DSSF Fellows, including me, to overcome challenges in our professional lives.
I believe it is very important for health services researchers to gain additional training and hands-on experience in health care organizations, and the AcademyHealth DSSF offers young scientists a unique opportunity to advance their skills to conduct timely research in a health care delivery system setting. I am very proud to be part of this program and I hope my experience can help shape this program for future Fellows.
Are you interested in working with one of the nation's leading delivery systems? The 2015 Delivery System Science Fellowship call for applications is now open. Learn more and apply here.