Past Research Projects
Primary Care and Public Health - A Study of Local Collaboration
The Institute of Medicine makes a compelling case that increased collaboration between primary care and public health is crucial to population health, and the Affordable Care Act provides new incentives and expectations for such partnerships. Yet currently there is no consensus on terminology, definitions or measures of collaboration between these two largely separate systems of care. In the face of new incentives and pressures to increase quality, contain costs and improve outcomes, action is needed to advance a common understanding of primary care and public health collaboration among practitioners and researchers in both fields.
The purpose of this study is three-fold: develop measures and use them to identify differences in primary care-public health collaboration, identify factors that facilitate or inhibit collaboration, examine the relationship between the extent of collaboration and services and outcomes in select areas (immunizations, tobacco use, and physical activity). This project is being run by the Public Health Practice-based Research Network PBRN in Minnesota and involves Public Health and Primary Care PBRNs from 4 states: Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Washington.
> Presentation from the 2014 Engaging Communities in Education and Research Conference
- Support for this project is provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from September 2013 - September 2016.
The Institute of Medicine makes a compelling case that increased collaboration between primary care and public health is crucial to population health, and the Affordable Care Act provides new incentives and expectations for such partnerships. Yet currently there is no consensus on terminology, definitions or measures of collaboration between these two largely separate systems of care. In the face of new incentives and pressures to increase quality, contain costs and improve outcomes, action is needed to advance a common understanding of primary care and public health collaboration among practitioners and researchers in both fields.
The purpose of this study is three-fold: develop measures and use them to identify differences in primary care-public health collaboration, identify factors that facilitate or inhibit collaboration, examine the relationship between the extent of collaboration and services and outcomes in select areas (immunizations, tobacco use, and physical activity). This project is being run by the Public Health Practice-based Research Network PBRN in Minnesota and involves Public Health and Primary Care PBRNs from 4 states: Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Washington.
> Presentation from the 2014 Engaging Communities in Education and Research Conference
Colorado Dissemination and Implementation Research to Improve Value (DIRECTIVE):
A Comparison of State Dissemination and Implementation Strategies on Local Health Department Accreditation Readiness and Quality Improvement Maturity
This project seeks to examine and compare the interactions and differences in local health department measures of Accreditation Readiness and Quality Improvement in three states (Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska), based on system-level initiatives (such as the Multi-State Learning Collaborative and Gaining Ground Initiative) and the resulting state and local social networks.
> Read the Project Summary.
A Comparison of State Dissemination and Implementation Strategies on Local Health Department Accreditation Readiness and Quality Improvement Maturity
- Support for this project is provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from August 2014 - August 2016.
This project seeks to examine and compare the interactions and differences in local health department measures of Accreditation Readiness and Quality Improvement in three states (Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska), based on system-level initiatives (such as the Multi-State Learning Collaborative and Gaining Ground Initiative) and the resulting state and local social networks.
> Read the Project Summary.
Determining the Cost of Select Core Services Across Colorado Public Health Agencies
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from August 2013 - January 2015
This project studies the cost of delivery of Communicable Disease Surveillance, one of Colorado’s designated core services. In October 2011 core public health services, which were called for in the Public Health Act of 2008, were promulgated into rule. This research project will measure the variable and fixed estimated costs of delivering a select number of these core public health services in Colorado and to identify services and delivery characteristics with economies of scale and scope.
> Read the project summary
The Influence of Public Health Structure and Governance on the Adoption of Core Services and Outcomes in Local Public Health Agencies in Colorado
This project studies the impact of the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008 (SB08-194) specifically in the area of core service delivery. In October 2011 core public health services, which were called for in the Public Health Act of 2008, were promulgated into rule. The research takes advantage of this natural experiment to measure change over time in service delivery, systems structures and start to explore changes in health outcomes related to the core services.
> Read the project summary
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from December 2011 - November 2013
This project studies the impact of the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008 (SB08-194) specifically in the area of core service delivery. In October 2011 core public health services, which were called for in the Public Health Act of 2008, were promulgated into rule. The research takes advantage of this natural experiment to measure change over time in service delivery, systems structures and start to explore changes in health outcomes related to the core services.
> Read the project summary
Multi-network Practice and Outcome Variation Examination (MPROVE) Study
This project is coordinated out of the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Practice-Based Research Networks at the University of Kentucky. This project will use expertise across multiple state partners to gather information on how to adequately collect data on service delivery, service measures, service quality measures and system performance. This project will be closely aligned with the Public Health Systems and Services Research project "The influence of public health structure and governance on the adoption of core services and outcomes in local public health agencies in Colorado."
> Read more about MPROVE
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from April 2012 - October 2013
This project is coordinated out of the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Practice-Based Research Networks at the University of Kentucky. This project will use expertise across multiple state partners to gather information on how to adequately collect data on service delivery, service measures, service quality measures and system performance. This project will be closely aligned with the Public Health Systems and Services Research project "The influence of public health structure and governance on the adoption of core services and outcomes in local public health agencies in Colorado."
> Read more about MPROVE
The Use of Law and Policy in Regional Approaches to Local Public Health Service Delivery
This project looked at how the Public Health Act of 2008 encourages or discourages the use of regional approaches across local public health jurisdictions. Additionally, through the use of a survey tool and key informant interviews, the project provides additional information on what regional approaches are currently used within Colorado, how they were formed, what legal instruments were used in the development and maintenance of the approaches and what additional resources are needed to maintain the work.
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from May 2009 - May 2011
This project looked at how the Public Health Act of 2008 encourages or discourages the use of regional approaches across local public health jurisdictions. Additionally, through the use of a survey tool and key informant interviews, the project provides additional information on what regional approaches are currently used within Colorado, how they were formed, what legal instruments were used in the development and maintenance of the approaches and what additional resources are needed to maintain the work.
An Examination of State Laws & Policies Regarding Public Health Agency Accreditation Prerequisites
This project creates a searchable inventory of laws and policies for the three accreditation prerequisites, community health assessments (CHAs), community health improvement plans (CHIPs) and strategic plans, in 50 states; an inventory of state laws directly related to public health agency accreditation (complementing current RWJF-funded work); and in-depth information about the use of laws and policies, details about the policies, and enforcement.
- Support for this project was provided by a contract from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from February 2011 - September 2011
This project creates a searchable inventory of laws and policies for the three accreditation prerequisites, community health assessments (CHAs), community health improvement plans (CHIPs) and strategic plans, in 50 states; an inventory of state laws directly related to public health agency accreditation (complementing current RWJF-funded work); and in-depth information about the use of laws and policies, details about the policies, and enforcement.
Equity in Competitive Grantmaking for Safe Routes to School Projects
This study examines how communities’ demographic characteristics and organizational resources influence their ability to apply for and obtain competitive Safe Routes To School (SRTS) grants. The project will explore potential correlates between capacity in a local public health system, including the availability of local data and organizational partnerships, and the development of successful SRTS grant proposals.
> Read the project summary
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from August 2010 - December 2010
This study examines how communities’ demographic characteristics and organizational resources influence their ability to apply for and obtain competitive Safe Routes To School (SRTS) grants. The project will explore potential correlates between capacity in a local public health system, including the availability of local data and organizational partnerships, and the development of successful SRTS grant proposals.
> Read the project summary
Collaborative Approaches in Chronic Disease Prevention: Factors Affecting Implementation of Evidence-based Practices in Local Public Health Coalitions
This project combines two important topics in public health – evidence-based practice (EBP) and coalition/partnership work. The research examines how coalitions find, select and use evidence-based chronic disease and related risk factor prevention activities. In addition, it studies the role of local public health agencies in coalitions, and their influence on EBP use and adoption.
> Read the project summary
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from February 2010 - February 2012
This project combines two important topics in public health – evidence-based practice (EBP) and coalition/partnership work. The research examines how coalitions find, select and use evidence-based chronic disease and related risk factor prevention activities. In addition, it studies the role of local public health agencies in coalitions, and their influence on EBP use and adoption.
> Read the project summary
Tracking Changes in Local Public Health Infrastructure After the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008
This study describes the impact of the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008 (SB08-194) on a variety of agency and system infrastructure measures including agency jurisdiction, workforce, director qualifications, local board of health structure and funding. It uses data from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Profile of Local Public Health Departments from 2005, 2008 and 2010 as well as annual reporting to the state health department.
- Support for this project was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from December 2008 - December 2010
This study describes the impact of the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008 (SB08-194) on a variety of agency and system infrastructure measures including agency jurisdiction, workforce, director qualifications, local board of health structure and funding. It uses data from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Profile of Local Public Health Departments from 2005, 2008 and 2010 as well as annual reporting to the state health department.