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Medical Research
Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research
Goals/Objectives/ Fous Areas   |  Research Guidelines  |  Internal Services  |  Other Services  |  Staff  |  Directions

The Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research (CHSOR) is located within the Research Division of the Charleston Area Medical Center Health Education and Research Institute (CAMC Institute).

The Centers of Excellence within the Research Division are: Clinical Research, which includes clinical trials and cancer research (multi-center trials); Research and Grants Administration, which includes the Institutional Review Board; and the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research.

CHSOR employees include senior researchers, biostatiticians and research support staff.


ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE 

Employees within the CHSOR are members of one or more the four teams that translate the foci into real projects and outcomes.
The CHSOR has four main foci –

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

Improving performance can occur using multiple methods from simple committee meetings to investigator-initiated research. The CHSOR is engaged with many individuals through committee work and processes that translates into improvement. Some of the efforts are listed on the next page. Staff participate in improvement work share by sharing clinical knowledge, management knowledge, research expertise, database expertise, data management knowledge and process improvement knowledge. Engagement in quality improvement often leads to investigator initiated research or quality improvement research for the betterment of patient care.

PATIENT CENTERED CARE

  • Inpatient Satisfaction
  • Outpatient Satisfaction
  • Emergency and ICU Patient Satisfaction
  • Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (HCAHPS)
  • Short Form 8 (SF-8) – Joint Camp

EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH

The initiation, development and dissemination of research is a central function within the CHSOR. Research is evidence-based in that the studies involve the use of patient data to understand how the structure, process and outcomes of care are being provided and how those can improve. At times the research takes the form of trying different interventions with the intent of improving patient care locally and nationally.

Investigators of all disciplines use the research and biostatistical expertise of staff in the CHSOR in the conduct of their studies. Staff works with the investigator from the beginning of his/her study until its completion, which is dissemination of the knowledge through a peer-reviewed publication. The CHSOR maintains an active research database. At any time, we can identify the investigator, subject of his/her research and the stage of development. When a study is closed, at the time of publication, a copy of the published article is maintained in the Center.

Finally, research involves education of residents and others with regard to the research process, research methods and application of statistics. A curriculum has been developed for use in the education of residents.

PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

The mission of the CHSOR includes improving the health of people as they live and work in their communities. Thus public health improvement is a critical area that translates into a core area within the Center. Several initiatives are outlined on the next page. Each has its own history and story, but all efforts are focused on improving health care through the public health system.

 

Contact Information:
CAMC Institute
Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research

3211 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV.
Phone: (304) 388-9910
FAX: (304)-388-9829
email: suzanne.kemper@camc.org

 
 
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