Collaborative opportunities for trainees and staff in research, systems improvement and educational innovation at CHA
The Center for Professional and Academic Development seeks to nurture a learning community at CHA and works to link opportunities for personal and professional growth with institutional aims. We keep an ongoing list (below) of projects that trainees and staff can potentially be involved in.
Advancing Immigrant and Refugee Health through the Leah Zallman Center
Project Leader: Jessica Santos, Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research
Project: New Project
At the Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research, we conduct participatory, applied research and have an ongoing portfolio of funded, mixed-method studies investigating immigrant health and well-being to the social determinants of health. See our FY22 annual report for a description of the Center, our research pathways, and specific projects: https://immigranthealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LZC-FY22-Annual-Report.pdf
Opportunities for collaboration: We are interested in supporting learners with excellent methodological (quant and/or qual) skills as well as writing skills to either join one of our ongoing studies or pursue independent research on immigrant health with supervision from Dr. Jessica Santos. We offer specific expertise in community-engaged and participatory research methods, mixed methods social science study design, and applied policy studies. We also prioritize educational, public-facing deliverables in addition to producing publications and presentations in academic settings. We seek to support learners with lived experience in immigrant families and/or communities to build a strong network of future immigrant scholars.
How likely is it that the project will offer trainees and staff opportunities for publication and/or presentation external to CHA?: Highly Likely
Outcomes for Patients with Health Safety Net (HSN) Insurance and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Project Leader: Alexander White, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Project: New Project
Determine outcomes for CHA patients with Health Safety Net (HSN) Insurance who have been diagnosed with OSA by sleep study at CHA. These patients often do not have insurance coverage for CPAP devices.
Opportunities for collaboration: Design a research project to study CHA patients diagnosed with OSA who have HSN insurance and no CPAP coverage. Opportunities to collect and analyze data and track patients longitudinally.
How likely is it that the project will offer trainees and staff opportunities for publication and/or presentation external to CHA?: Likely
Debunking erroneous penicillin allergy documentation in the ambulatory setting
Project leader: Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha, Medicine, Division of ID
Project: New Project
Most patients who report allergy to penicillin are in fact, not allergic and can safely receive a beta-lactam antibiotic. A very small minority have an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction leading to anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, or urticaria. Even rarer are the non-IgE mediated reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnsons, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), interstitial nephritis, hemolytic anemia). Incorrectly labeling a patient as penicillin allergic often results in suboptimal alternative therapy. Nausea, vomiting, headache and other non-specific symptoms are often mistaken by patients as allergic reactions. These patients are often incorrectly labeled as penicillin-allergic ("just in case mentality") in the electronic medical record. Unverified penicillin allergy has been shown to increase the risk of treatment failure (suboptimal alternative prescribed), healthcare-associated infections (C. difficile and surgical site infections), and adverse events from alternatives that pose more side effects. An objective approach for evaluating penicillin allergy is an important step in optimizing antimicrobial stewardship.
Opportunities for collaboration: The purpose of this pilot project (one primary care clinic pilot) is to develop educational materials for clinic staff to obtain a careful history and an algorithm for ascertaining whether a patient meets criteria to document and/or revise existing erroneous penicillin allergy documentation in Epic.
Expected time frame: 6-12 mo for completion of pilot at one site with potential to expand
Specific skills: Collaborate with Antimicrobial Stewardship Co-Directors (Drs. Amanda Barner and Lou Ann Bruno-Murtha) and multidisciplinary clinic staff (site of your choice) to provide education to improve knowledge, optimize history taking skills, and modify existing erroneous documentation related to pen allergy in Epic. Develop an algorithm for patients who may benefit from referral to Allergy Clinic for formal penicillin skin testing.
If interested, please see Evaluation and Management of Penicillin Allergy: A Review in JAMA 2019;;321:188-199. If this excites, please let me know!
How likely is it that the project will offer trainees and staff opportunities for publication and/or presentation external to CHA? Uncertain
