Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research

Penn Nursing Celebrates CHOPR Director at the Claire M. Fagin Distinguished Researcher Award Program.

The biennial award pays homage to the exceptional scholarly qualities embodied by Dr. Fagin, the esteemed third Dean of the School. It is bestowed upon a distinguished member of the Penn Nursing faculty or a graduate from the School’s doctoral program who has demonstrated remarkable contributions to nursing scholarship. Among the notable recipients is CHOPR Director, Matthew D. McHugh, PhD, JD, MPH, RN, CRNP, FAAN, The Independence Chair for Nursing Education, Professor of Nursing, and Director of the School’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research. With national and international recognition, McHugh stands as a stellar nurse scientist, leaving a significant impact in the field. His influential research program addresses critical issues affecting the nursing profession while enhancing the overall quality of healthcare systems. His dedication to advancing the nursing profession and improving health outcomes has earned him well-deserved renown and respect in the field. More

Dr. Margo Brooks Carthon is the recipient of a Hillman Foundation Grant to further expand THRIVE.

THRIVE is a novel, equity-centered approach that provides whole-person care to Medicaid patients transitioning from hospital to home. A $300,000 Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation Catalyst Award will provide the funds to advance the promising intervention and brainchild of Dr. Brooks Carthon. The additional funding will serve to establish THRIVE as a standard for delivering transitional care to Medicaid patients, allowing it to expand its reach to underserved communities and become a model for other healthcare institutions to adopt. Dr. Carthon and her team are enthusiastic about the potential impact of THRIVE in reducing healthcare disparities and improving patient outcomes, and they plan to collaborate with local community organizations and healthcare providers to ensure its successful implementation. With this significant investment, THRIVE is poised to make a transformative difference in the lives of Medicaid patients, promoting better health outcomes and fostering a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all. More

Dr. Karen Lasater Takes the Lead of a Groundbreaking Study, Garnering Coveted Funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Dr. Lasater’s new study, “Learning from Hospital Preparedness during COVID: Chronically Under-Resourced Nurses and Patient Safety,” leverages the unique data CHOPR has collected from NY and IL to understand how hospitals and the nurses and patients in them fared through the COVID-19 pandemic. This groundbreaking research aims to shed light on the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients during the pandemic, ultimately paving the way for improved hospital preparedness and enhanced patient safety in the face of future healthcare crises. Co-investigators include: Drs. Matthew McHugh, Linda Aiken, and Herbert Smith.

Dr. Rebecca Clark joins Betty Irene Moore Fellowship Program at UC Davis Nursing School.

The fellowship program is made possible by Betty Irene Moore’s passion to advance nursing with the goal of better outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Rebecca Clark is the Assistant Professor of Perinatal Nursing, Midwifery, and Women’s Health at Penn Nursing, as well as a Nurse Scientist at Pennsylvania Hospital, has been chosen as one of 16 nurse scientists for the fourth cohort of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators. Dr. Clark is the first nurse scientist from Penn to receive this distinction. More 

CHOPR Study Links Inadequate Nurse Staffing to Higher COVID-19 Death Rates

The new study led by CHOPR Founding Director, Dr. Linda Aiken, shows hospitals with a history of inadequate nurse staffing or nurse support had more negative patient outcomes, including deaths, from COVID-19. The study has garnered 83 news mentions, including the Washington Post. Furthermore, the study holds a significant presence within the esteemed Economic Report of the President, transmitted to Congress in March.