UofL selected as a national research site to help solve health care challenges

University of Louisville researchers will help lead health care innovation as the newest member of the Center for Health Organization Transformation (CHOT), a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center program.

UofL’s selection as a CHOT site includes a three-year agreement of up to $500,000 per-year in funding from the NSF and industry partners to support the implementation of evidence-based strategies within health care organizations. UofL joins Florida Atlantic University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Penn State University, Texas A&M University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Nottingham and University of Washington as a university site.

“UofL adds access to a new geographic region and relevant population segments, such as elderly and minority populations,” said Bita A. Kash, Ph.D., M.B.A., FACHE, director of CHOT, the eight-university consortium based at Texas A&M University. “The new UofL CHOT site also will strengthen the center in the following areas of capabilities: patient-centered health information technologies; transitions in health care; and population/value-based health care.” 

“CHOT members are working to solve health care challenges three to five years ahead of the rest of the industry – we are trying to project into the future the direction of health care. Interdisciplinary applied research will be the catalyst for solving problems and making changes,” said Christopher E. Johnson, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences, UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Johnson will serve as the UofL CHOT site director, along with J’Aime Jennings, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences. UofL co-principal investigators include Antonio Badia, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science and computer engineering; Anna Faul, Ph.D., professor of social work; and Brad Sutton, M.D., M.B.A., associate professor of medicine.

UofL CHOT is working to secure local industry partners and organizations to join the center through a $50,000 yearly commitment for three years. Potential projects include interventions for those facing opioid addictions and the role of behavioral health in helping individuals secure employment; analyzing readmission in the long-term care population; using health information technology to improve access to services; and evaluating use of artificial intelligence as a diagnostic tool.

Nationally, the multi-site center is involved in 13 projects with 23 industry members from diverse settings such as health systems/providers, retail, technology companies, associations, government agencies and insurers.