Rehab Learning Health System Innovation Hub Adds Members
A research network focused on improving rehabilitative care has added two rehab networks to its growing Learning Health Systems (LHS) Innovation Hub.
The Learning Health Systems Research and Rehabilitation Research Network (LeaRRn) was formed to improve rehabilitative care by implementing evidence-based practice and de-implementing sub-optimal practice. LeaRRn will serve as hub for LHS research collaboration in rehabilitation.
LeaRRn trains rehabilitation researchers in LHS research competencies with the ultimate goal of transforming rehabilitation care to improve quality, value, and outcomes. LeaRRn funds LHS Scholars and pilot awardees to work with LHS Hub partners under the guidance of experienced research mentors. These embedded researchers work to address rehabilitation research priorities identified by the health system, transforming health systems data into knowledge that can be implemented to improve practice.
In a statement on the LeaRRn website at Brown University, Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, Ph.D., O.T.R., a professor and director of the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch, said the network “brings together Brown University, the University of Pittsburgh and Boston University as evidence that rehabilitation is an essential partner in the creation of learning health systems able to move practice toward value-based care and stakeholder centered outcomes. The pilot grants, visiting scholar program, and other resources will establish partnerships with healthcare systems and transform rehabilitation education, practice and science.”
The new members of the network are Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and Ivy Rehab Network.
Spaulding has two free-standing inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, a long-term acute care hospital, a skilled nursing facility and outpatient centers throughout Eastern Massachusetts (including several satellites throughout Eastern Massachusetts). It is affiliated with Harvard Medical School’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Ivy Rehab is the nation’s largest pediatric outpatient rehabilitation provider, serving local communities throughout 14 states.
The eight other LHS Innovation Hub Partners include ACHA/NCAL (American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living), Bayada, Boston Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, Intermountain Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, naviHealth and UPMC.
The researchers’ idea is that the knowledge repository, investigative experience, collaborations and evidence generated by LeaRRn will train the next generation of LHS rehabilitation researchers and transform the delivery, quality and outcomes across the broad field of rehabilitation care.
Spaulding and Ivy Rehab offer new opportunities for LeaRRn’s embedded LHS researchers to focus on pediatric rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burns and outcome measurement development. Ivy Rehab serves a large pediatric population and will address a gap LeaRRn identified when reviewing the work of its LHS scholars. Spaulding Rehabilitation Network provides post-acute care to a variety of patient populations and will increase opportunities for its scholar and pilot programs.
