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Item Real world performance of the 21st Century Cures Act population-level application programming interface(Oxford University Press, 2024) Jones, James R.; Gottlieb, Daniel; McMurry, Andrew J.; Atreja, Ashish; Desai, Pankaja M.; Dixon, Brian E.; Payne, Philip R. O.; Saldanha, Anil J.; Shankar, Prabhu; Solad, Yauheni; Wilcox, Adam B.; Ali, Momeena S.; Kang, Eugene; Martin, Andrew M.; Sprouse, Elizabeth; Taylor, David E.; Terry, Michael; Ignatov, Vladimir; Mandl, Kenneth D.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: To evaluate the real-world performance of the SMART/HL7 Bulk Fast Health Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Access Application Programming Interface (API), developed to enable push button access to electronic health record data on large populations, and required under the 21st Century Cures Act Rule. Materials and methods: We used an open-source Bulk FHIR Testing Suite at 5 healthcare sites from April to September 2023, including 4 hospitals using electronic health records (EHRs) certified for interoperability, and 1 Health Information Exchange (HIE) using a custom, standards-compliant API build. We measured export speeds, data sizes, and completeness across 6 types of FHIR. Results: Among the certified platforms, Oracle Cerner led in speed, managing 5-16 million resources at over 8000 resources/min. Three Epic sites exported a FHIR data subset, achieving 1-12 million resources at 1555-2500 resources/min. Notably, the HIE's custom API outperformed, generating over 141 million resources at 12 000 resources/min. Discussion: The HIE's custom API showcased superior performance, endorsing the effectiveness of SMART/HL7 Bulk FHIR in enabling large-scale data exchange while underlining the need for optimization in existing EHR platforms. Agility and scalability are essential for diverse health, research, and public health use cases. Conclusion: To fully realize the interoperability goals of the 21st Century Cures Act, addressing the performance limitations of Bulk FHIR API is critical. It would be beneficial to include performance metrics in both certification and reporting processes.Item Availability of behavioral health crisis care and associated changes in emergency department utilization(Wiley, 2025) Burns, Ashlyn; Vest, Joshua R.; Menachemi, Nir; Mazurenko, Olena; Musey, Paul I., Jr.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Yeager, Valerie A.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: To determine whether availability of behavioral health crisis care services is associated with changes in emergency department (ED) utilization. Data sources and study setting: We used longitudinal panel data (2016-2021) on ED utilization from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State ED Databases and a novel dataset on crisis care services compiled using information from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Directories of Mental Health Treatment Facilities. A total of 1002 unique zip codes from Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and Wisconsin were included in our analyses. Study design: To estimate the effect of crisis care availability on ED utilization, we used a linear regression model with zip code and year fixed effects and standard errors accounting for clustering at the zip code-level. ED utilization related to mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental (MBD) disorders served as our primary outcome. We also examined pregnancy-related ED utilization as a nonequivalent dependent variable to assess residual bias in effect estimates. Data collection/extraction methods: We extracted data on crisis care services offered by mental health treatment facilities (n = 14,726 facility-years) from the National Directories. MBD-related ED utilization was assessed by applying the Clinical Classification Software Refined from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to the primary ICD-10-CM diagnosis code on each ED encounter (n = 101,360,483). All data were aggregated to the zip code-level (n = 6012 zip-years). Principal findings: The overall rate of MBD-related ED visits between 2016 and 2021 was 1610 annual visits per 100,000 population. Walk-in crisis stabilization services were associated with reduced MBD-related ED utilization (coefficient = -0.028, p = 0.009), but were not significantly associated with changes in pregnancy-related ED utilization. Conclusions: Walk-in crisis stabilization services were associated with reductions in MBD-related ED utilization. Decision-makers looking to reduce MBD-related ED utilization should consider increasing access to this promising alternative model.Item Informatics Interventions for Maternal Morbidity: Scoping Review(JMIR Publications, 2025-03-25) Inderstrodt, Jill; Stumpff, Julia C.; Smollen, Rebecca; Sridhar, Shreya; El-Azab, Sarah; Ojo, Opeyemi; Bowns, Brendan; Haggstrom, David A.Background: Women have been entering pregnancy less healthy than previous generations, placing them at increased risk for pregnancy complications. One approach to ensuring effective monitoring and treatment of at-risk women is designing technology-based interventions that prevent maternal morbidities and treat perinatal conditions. Objective: This scoping review evaluates what informatics interventions have been designed and tested to prevent and treat maternal morbidity. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria were studies that tested a medical or clinical informatics intervention; enrolled adult women; and addressed preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined severe maternal morbidity, or perinatal mental health conditions. Demographic, population, and intervention data were extracted to characterize the technologies, conditions, and populations addressed. Results: A total of 80 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Many of the studies tested for multiple conditions. Of these, 73% (60/82) of the technologies were tested for either GDM or perinatal mental health conditions, and 15% (12/82) were tested for preeclampsia. For technologies, 32% (28/87) of the technologies tested were smartphone or tablet applications, 26% (23/87) were telehealth interventions, and 14% (12/87) were remote monitoring technologies. Of the many outcomes measured by the studies, almost half (69/140, 49%) were patient physical or mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Per this scoping review, most informatics interventions address three conditions: GDM, preeclampsia, and mental health. There may be opportunities to treat other potentially lethal conditions like postpartum hemorrhage using proven technologies such as mobile apps. Ample gaps in the literature exist concerning the use of informatics technologies aimed at maternal morbidity. There may be opportunities to use informatics for lesser-targeted conditions and populations.Item An Electronic Tool to Support Patient-Centered Broad Consent: A Multi-Arm Randomized Clinical Trial in Family Medicine(Annals of Family Medicine, Inc., 2021) Golembiewski, Elizabeth H.; Mainous, Arch G., III; Rahmanian, Kiarash P.; Brumback, Babette; Rooks, Benjamin J.; Krieger, Janice L.; Goodman, Kenneth W.; Moseley, Ray E.; Harle, Christopher A.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthPurpose: Patients are frequently asked to share their personal health information. The objective of this study was to compare the effects on patient experiences of 3 electronic consent (e-consent) versions asking patients to share their health records for research. Methods: A multi-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted from November 2017 through November 2018. Adult patients (n = 734) were recruited from 4 family medicine clinics in Florida. Using a tablet computer, participants were randomized to (1) a standard e-consent (standard), (2) an e-consent containing standard information plus hyperlinks to additional interactive details (interactive), or (3) an e-consent containing standard information, interactive hyperlinks, and factual messages about data protections and researcher training (trust-enhanced). Satisfaction (1 to 5), subjective understanding (0 to 100), and other outcomes were measured immediately, at 1 week, and at 6 months. Results: A majority of participants (94%) consented to future uses of their health record information for research. No differences in study outcomes between versions were observed at immediate or 1-week follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, compared with the standard e-consent, participants who used the interactive e-consent reported greater satisfaction (B = 0.43; SE = 0.09; P <.001) and subjective understanding (B = 18.04; SE = 2.58; P <.001). At 6-month follow-up, compared with the interactive e-consent, participants who used the trust-enhanced e-consent reported greater satisfaction (B = 0.9; SE = 1.0; P <.001) and subjective understanding (B = 32.2; SE = 2.6, P <.001). Conclusions: Patients who used e-consents with interactive research details and trust-enhancing messages reported higher satisfaction and understanding at 6-month follow-up. Research institutions should consider developing and further validating e-consents that interactively deliver information beyond that required by federal regulations, including facts that may enhance patient trust in research.Item Secure Messaging and COVID-19: A Content Analysis of Patient–Clinician Communication During the Pandemic(Mary Ann Liebert, 2022) Alpert, Jordan M.; Campbell-Salome, Gemme; Gao, Cayle; Markham, Merry Jennifer; Murphy, Martina; Harle, Christopher A.; Paige, Samantha R.; Krenz, Till; Bylund, Carma L.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immediately impacted patient–clinician communication, particularly in the oncology setting. Relatedly, secure messaging (SM) usage greatly increased, yet it is unknown what was discussed and whether the technology was utilized to disseminate information. Aims: This study aimed at identifying the most frequently discussed topics using SM as well as at understanding how the communication process transpired during the early stages of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A mixed-methods design was utilized, consisting of a content analysis of more than 4,200 secure messages, aggregated into 1,454 patient–clinician discussions. Data were collected from February 2020 to May 2020. Discussions were from various oncology departments and included physicians, physician assistants, and nurses. Based on the identified categories, a thematic analysis was conducted to understand the nuances occurring within discussions. Results: Out of the 1,454 discussions, 26% (n = 373) related to COVID-19. Of the COVID-19 discussion, the most frequently coded category was “changes, adjustments, and re-arranging care” (65%, n = 241), followed by “risk for COVID-19” (24%, n = 90), “precautions inside the hospital” (18%, n = 66), and “precautions outside the hospital” (14%, n = 52). Natural language processing techniques were used to confirm the validity of the results. Thematic analysis revealed that patients were proactive in rescheduling appointments, expressed anxiety about being immunocompromised, and clinicians were uncertain about providing recommendations related to COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVID-19 outbreak revealed the need for responsive and effective public health communication. The SM can disseminate information from trusted sources, clinicians, but can be better utilized to deliver tailored information for specific patient populations.Item Use of Acute Mental Health Care in U.S. Children’s Hospitals Before and After Statewide COVID-19 School Closure Orders(American Psychiatric Association, 2022) Zima, Bonnie T.; Edgcomb, Juliet Beni; Rodean, Jonathan; Cochran, Susan D.; Harle, Christopher A.; Pathak, Jyotishman; Tseng, Chi-hong; Bussing, Regina; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: This study aimed to examine changes in child emergency department (ED) discharges and hospitalizations for primary general medical (GM) and primary psychiatric disorders; prevalence of psychiatric disorders among acute care encounters; and change in acute mental health (MH) care encounters by disorder type and, within these categories, by child sociodemographic characteristics before and after statewide COVID-19–related school closure orders. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database to assess percent changes in ED discharges and hospitalizations (N=2,658,474 total encounters) among children ages 3–17 years in 44 U.S. children’s hospitals in 2020 compared with 2019, by using matched data for 36- and 12-calendar-week intervals. Results: Decline in MH ED discharges accounted for about half of the decline in ED discharges and hospitalizations for primary GM disorders (−24.8% vs. −49.1%), and MH hospitalizations declined 3.4 times less (−8.0% vs. −26.8%) in 2020. Suicide attempt or self-injury and depressive disorders accounted for >50% of acute MH care encounters before and after the statewide school closures. The increase in both ED discharges and hospitalizations for suicide attempt or self-injury was 5.1 percentage points (p<0.001). By fall 2020, MH hospitalizations for suicide attempt or self-injury rose by 41.7%, with a 43.8% and 49.2% rise among adolescents and girls, respectively. Conclusions: Suicide or self-injury and depressive disorders drove acute MH care encounters in 44 U.S. children’s hospitals after COVID-19–related school closures. Research is needed to identify continuing risk indicators (e.g., sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric disorder types, and social determinants of health) of acute child MH care.Item Mental Health‐Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children During The Early COVID‐19 Pandemic(American Psychiatric Association, 2022-02-23) Edgcomb, Juliet Beni; Benson, Nicole M.; Tseng, Chi‐hong; Thiruvalluru, Rohith; Pathak, Jyotishman; Bussing, Regina; Harle, Christopher A.; Zima, Bonnie T.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: To measure univariate and covariate-adjusted trends in children's mental health-related emergency department (MH-ED) use across geographically diverse areas of the U.S. during the first wave of the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Method: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional cohort study using electronic health records from four academic health systems, comparing percent volume change and adjusted risk of child MH-ED visits among children aged 3-17 years, matched on 36-week (3/18/19-11/25/19 vs. 3/16/20-11/22/20) and 12-week seasonal time intervals. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated using multivariate Poisson regression. Results: Visits declined during spring-fall 2020 (n = 3892 vs. n = 5228, -25.5%) and during spring (n = 1051 vs. n = 1839, -42.8%), summer (n = 1430 vs. n = 1469, -2.6%), and fall (n = 1411 vs. n = 1920, -26.5%), compared with 2019. There were greater declines among males (28.2% vs. females -22.9%), children 6-12-year (-28.6% vs. -25.9% for 3-5 years and -22.9% for 13-17 years), and Black children (-34.8% vs. -17.7% to -24.9%). Visits also declined for developmental disorders (-17.0%) and childhood-onset disorders (e.g., attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders; -18.0%). During summer-fall 2020, suicide-related visits rose (summer +29.8%, fall +20.4%), but were not significantly elevated from 2019 when controlling for demographic shifts. In contrast, MH-ED use during spring-fall 2020 was significantly reduced for intellectual disabilities (IRR 0.62 [95% CI 0.47-0.86]), developmental disorders (IRR 0.71 [0.54-0.92]), and childhood-onset disorders (IRR 0.74 [0.56-0.97]). Conclusions: The early pandemic brought overall declines in child MH-ED use alongside co-occurring demographic and diagnostic shifts. Children vulnerable to missed detection during instructional disruptions experienced disproportionate declines, suggesting need for future longitudinal research in this population.Item Cancer patients’ satisfaction with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic(Public Library of Science, 2022-06-03) Paige, Samantha R.; Campbell-Salome, Gemme; Alpert, Jordan; Markham, Merry Jennifer; Murphy, Martina; Heffron, Eve; Harle, Chris; Yue, Sijia; Xue, Wei; Bylund, Carma L.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: To examine factors associated with cancer patients' satisfaction using telehealth during COVID-19, including video conferencing platforms and secure messaging systems. Method: Patients with cancer participated in a cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted with patients with cancer. The survey included questions about satisfaction with video-conferencing and secure messaging platforms to interact with clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of satisfaction for each telehealth platform. Results: Participants generally reported positive satisfaction with each telehealth platform. Both platforms were commonly used to review medical results and discuss symptoms or treatment. Participants identifying as a man were most satisfied with their video-conferencing session, especially if they had a comfortable place to sit. Patients were more satisfied with secure messaging because they could ask a question without scheduling an appointment. Discussion: When strategically used together, video-conferencing platforms and secure messaging may increase patient satisfaction in cancer care during the remainder of the pandemic and beyond. Attention must be paid to optimizing factors that promote satisfaction for each telehealth platform.Item Perceived mental illness stigma, intimate relationships and sexual risk behavior in youth with mental illness(Sage, 2013) Elkington, Katherine S.; Hackler, Dusty; Walsh, Tracy A.; Latack, Jessica A.; McKinnon, Karen; Borges, Cristiane; Wright, Eric R.; Wainberg, Milton L.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthThe current study examines the role of mental illness-related stigma on romantic or sexual relationships and sexual behavior among youth with mental illness (MI), including youths' experiences of stigma, the internalization of these experiences, and the behavior associated with managing stigma within romantic and sexual relationships. We conducted in-depth interviews with N=20 youth with mental illness (MI) (55% male, 16-24 years, 75% Latino) from 4 psychiatric outpatient clinics in New York City. We conducted a thematic analysis to investigate shared experiences of MI stigma and its impact on youth's sexual or romantic relationships and associated behaviors. Our analysis revealed four main themes: 1) societal perceptions of those with MI as partners (societal stigma); 2) individual experiences of stigma within relationships (individual level); 3) internalized stigma of self as a partner (social-psychological processes); and 4) managing a stigmatized identity, of which some of the behaviors directly placed them at increased risk for HIV. We found that just under half of the sample (n=9/20) endorsed all themes, including engaging in HIV/STI sexual risk behaviors as a method to manage a stigmatize identity, which suggests that MI stigma and sexual risk may be linked. We discuss differences by gender and diagnosis. Findings provide new information for providers and researchers to address on the role of stigma experiences in the romantic and sexual behavior of youth in psychiatric treatment. Implications for stigma and HIV/STI prevention interventions are discussed.Item A novel method for evaluating physician communication: A pilot study testing the feasibility of parent-assisted audio recordings via Zoom(Elsevier, 2022) Staras, Stephanie A. S.; Bylund, Carma L.; Desai, Shivani; Harle, Christopher A.; Richardson, Eric; Khalil, Georges E.; Thompson, Lindsay A.; Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthObjective: Quality of physician consultations are best assessed via direct observation, but require intensive in-clinic research staffing. To evaluate physician consultation quality remotely, we pilot tested the feasibility of parents using their personal mobile phones to facilitate audio recordings of pediatric visits. Methods: Across four academic pediatric primary care clinics, we invited all physicians with a patient panel (n=20). For participating physicians, we identified scheduled patients from medical records. We invited parents to participate via text message and phone calls. During their adolescent's appointment, parents used their mobile phone to connect to Zoom for remote research staff to audio record. Results: In Spring 2021, five of 20 (25%) physicians participated. During a nine-week period, we invited parents of all 54 patients seen by participating physicians of which 15 (28%) completed adult consent and adolescent assent and 10 (19%) participated. For 9 recordings, at least 45% of the conversation was audible. Conclusions: It was feasible and acceptable to directly observe physician consultations virtually with Zoom, although participation rates and potentially audio quality were lower. Innovation: Patients used their cellular phone calling features to connect to Zoom where research staff audio-recorded their physician consultation to evaluate communication quality.