Several years ago, AHCA/NCAL joined the Learning Health Systems Rehabilitation Research Network (
LeaRRn) to help facilitate front-line rehabilitation outcomes research member skilled nursing and assisted living communities. We are proud to announce that one researcher,
Chiung-ju Liu, PhD, OTR/L, FGSA, has been awarded as a new LeaRRn scholar for 2024-2025, while another researcher,
Chih-Ying (Cynthia) Li, PhD, OTR/L, who has been a LeaRRn scholar since 2022, has received additional funding to continue her SNF outcomes research. The researcher funding is obtained through external grants and there is no cost for AHCA/NCAL member participation beyond the time member personnel meet with the researchers and mentors throughout the projects.
Dr. Liu is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida, and will work with an AHCA/NCAL member, the Brooks Rehabilitation Skilled Nursing Facility, under the mentorship of Dr. Linda Resnik. Her LHS Scholar project will focus on optimizing functional outcomes for short-stay residents in the Skilled Nursing Facility. Dr. Li is an Associate Professor & Clinician-Researcher, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Texas Medical Branch, and will continue to work closely with AHCA/NCAL and the Ensign Group, Inc., and her mentor Dr. Janet Freburger to identify optimal care pathways as SNF short-stay Medicare residents transition to the community.
A third AHCA/NCAL affiliated researcher,
Rick Black, PT, DPT, MS, who was a prior LeaRRn scholar is currently in the late stages of concluding a LeaRRn Pilot Award project with data from a not-for profit SNF organization with co-investigator, Rachel Prusynski, DPT, PhD, NCS who are investigating the ability of SNF quality reporting program (QRP) functional measures to predict discharge to the community and related factors.
Background
LeaRRn’s overarching objective is to establish a national resource network to advance stakeholder-partnered, rehabilitation learning health system (LHS) research to improve quality of care, demonstrate value, and enhance patient and system outcomes. The Network supports research innovation by convening health system stakeholders to first identify priority topics to improve the quality and value of rehabilitation care. Through mentored collaborations (i.e., LHS Scholar opportunities) and mentored pilot studies, health systems and researchers collaborated to address these topics.
- Improving efficiency in improving rate to achieve functional outcomes for SNF short-stay residents
- Workforce issues impacting care delivery in nursing centers and/or assisted living communities
- Effectiveness of technology improvements (e.g., EHR, telehealth, remote patient monitoring) in nursing centers and/or assisted living communities
- Effective follow-up programs after discharge home or back to the community from a SNF short-stay to improve likelihood of successful discharges (reduce 30-day readmission rates)