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IDEA Core: Driving healthcare decisions with data

Implementation, Dissemination, Evaluation, and Analysis

Are you interested in developing programs to improve patient outcomes? Do you want to support data-driven decision-making in health care?

IDEA Core, a new initiative from URMC Department of Psychiatry, can help you achieve these goals. We aim to advise, encourage, and evaluate evidence-based practices in behavioral health services.

Submit a Proposal

STEM learning process graphic
 
 

Our Mission

The mission of the IDEA Core is to partner with researchers and practitioners across the medical center and affiliates to develop, implement, and evaluate behavioral health services to improve patient care.

 

IDEA Core Services

Consultation

We offer consultation to faculty and clinical staff to evaluate new initiatives or ongoing clinical services that align with their career development plan. We help you plan to gather evidence and support evaluation for your programs and practices in the Department of Psychiatry.

Partnership

We partner with faculty on projects that study the impact of behavioral health services on patient care, provider practices and cost-effectiveness. These projects can help us improve clinical services, and by providing evidence of the success of your program, we can help you generate grant proposals and manuscripts that may help you get more funding for your project.

Submit a Proposal
 

IDEA Team

Wendi Cross, Ph.D.

Wendi Cross, Ph.D.

Program Director
Dr. Cross is a Clinical Psychologist and researcher with training in implementation science. She oversees IDEA Core activities and provides input on methodology, implementation, and evaluation.

Hochang Benjamin (Ben) Lee, M.D.

Hochang Benjamin (Ben) Lee, M.D.

John Romano Professor & Chair of the Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Lee founded IDEA Core to study innovative models for the delivery of behavioral health services for patients across a variety of clinical services.

Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.

Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.

Statistician
Dr. Chapman provides expertise in statistics and “big data” in behavioral and health sciences, and his work focuses on psychosocial and socioeconomic factors shaping health.

Daniel Maeng, Ph.D.

Daniel Maeng, Ph.D.

Health Economist
Dr. Maeng is a health services researcher with a focus on health economics and quantitative evaluation of healthcare innovations. He's particularly interested in assessing and demonstrating economic value of innovations using observational data via application of advanced econometric techniques.

Patrick Walsh, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Patrick Walsh, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Data and Project Manager
Dr. Walsh has expertise in health services research, data management, and analysis. He also supports IDEA Core activities as the Project Manager.

Current Collaborators & Projects

Proactive Integration of Mental Health Care in Medicine (PRIME Medicine)

Led by Mark Oldham, M.D.

Mark Oldham, M.D.

This project aims to identify psychiatric and behavioral concerns proactively among hospital patients, to manage psychiatric comorbidity in collaboration with medical and nursing providers, to optimize patient health and healthcare delivery and to arrange prompt disposition and aftercare planning. Outcomes include provider perceptions and satisfaction with PRIME Medicine as well as the patient’s length of stay.

Evaluation of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT) Training for Clinicians

Led by Ellen Poleshuck, Ph.D.

Ellen Poleshuck, Ph.D.

This project aims to assess the proximal and distal outcomes of a training program (CPT) in the Department of Psychiatry’s Adult Outpatient Clinics. Metrics include feasibility, implementation factors, learning outcomes, clinician satisfaction, and use of CPT in practice.

Medicine in Psychiatry Post-hospitalization Improvements in Transition (PHIT)

Led by Marsha Wittink, M.D., M.B.E.

Marsha Wittink, M.D., M.B.E.

Dr. Wittink and her team aim to develop and evaluate an intensive, patient-centered approach to transitioning care on the Inpatient Medicine in Psychiatry (IMIP) unit. Evaluation of the project includes assessing: 1) The feasibility and acceptability of two PHIT components; patient prioritization assessment and planning, and a post-discharge clinic 2) The PHIT project effects on early readmission rates and patient-centered outcomes.

Evaluation of ECHO Case Management Training

Led by George Nasra, MD, MBA , and Catherine Tredwell, DNP, RN

George S. Nasra, M.D., M.B.A.Catherine Tredwell, DNP, RN
 

This project aims to evaluate proximal outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, self-assessed competencies) of behavioral health training using ECHO® for care managers and other clinicians in AHP and PCN primary care practices.

Mobile Crisis Telemedicine Program

Led by Yilmaz Yildirim, MD, PhD

Yilmaz Yildirim, M.D., Ph.D.

The aim of this project is to assess the use, acceptability and cost effectiveness of telemedicine consultations with Mobile Crisis patients.

 

Psycho-Oncology Service

Led by Jennifer Richman, MD, and Tziporah Rosenberg, PhD LMFT

Jennifer Hope Richman, M.D.Tziporah E. Rosenberg, Ph.D. LMFT

This project focuses on identifying and responding to underserved mental health needs of oncology inpatients. It is a prospective cohort quality improvement project to evaluate proactive use of a psychiatric oncology social worker to screen inpatients for mental health issues on admission and then provide intervention as indicated.

 
 
 
 
 

Have an Idea? Contact Us

To submit a proposal:
If you have a project that you would like to propose for consideration, please complete the one-page proposal.

Submit a Proposal

For questions or to request consultation:
Contact Dr. Wendi Cross or Dr. Patrick Walsh.