Kosali Simon, PhD, M.A., a renowned professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a Regenstrief Institute research scientist, along with Katherine Baicker, PhD, the provost at the University of Chicago, will jointly lead a significant $16 million National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Aging (NIA) project. This initiative aims to delve deep into the critical aspects of healthcare delivery for individuals dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Over the course of five years, this research endeavor seeks to identify and overcome the barriers hindering equitable and effective healthcare for this expanding patient group. It will involve collaboration with the National Bureau of Economic Research, the IU School of Medicine, and Regenstrief's IU Center for Aging Research.

Unraveling Healthcare Barriers for Alzheimer's Patients

Project Lead's Research Focus

Dr. Simon will take on the role of the project lead for "Provider-Patient/Caregiver Racial Concordance and Equity in Health Care Systems: Their Influence on Health and Healthcare Outcomes for Populations with ADRD." This research examines how the matching between healthcare providers and patients affects healthcare utilization and health outcomes. By utilizing decades of Medicare data from both rural and urban areas, the project explores the prevalence, drivers, and effects. It compares ambulatory care settings where patients have the choice of providers with emergency departments where assignments are more random. This comparison helps in understanding how provider-patient racial matching influences trust and health outcomes.Regenstrief research scientists Nicole Fowler, PhD, MHSA, and Jennifer Carnahan, M.D., MPH, M.A., will collaborate with Dr. Simon as co-investigators on this research project. Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH, the founding director of the Sandra Eskenazi Center for Brain Care Innovation and the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science and a research scientist at the IU Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief, will also serve as a core leader for the project.In addition to her work as a research scientist in the William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research at Regenstrief Institute, Kosali Simon, PhD, M.A., holds the distinguished positions of a Herman B. Wells Professor and Paul O’Neill Chair at Indiana University, Bloomington, in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is also the associate vice provost of health sciences for the IU Bloomington campus. Her research primarily focuses on the impacts of state and federal healthcare policies on health and related outcomes, particularly among at-risk populations.

Collaboration and Impact

This NIH project is not just about conducting research; it holds the potential to bring about significant changes in healthcare delivery for ADRD patients. The collaboration with various institutions and researchers will allow for a comprehensive exploration of the issues at hand. By understanding the influence of provider-patient racial concordance and equity, healthcare systems can work towards providing more personalized and effective care. The decades of Medicare data used in the study will provide valuable insights into the patterns and trends related to healthcare use and outcomes. This knowledge can be used to develop targeted interventions and policies to improve the healthcare experience for ADRD patients. It is a crucial step towards achieving equitable and high-quality healthcare for this vulnerable population.The work of Dr. Simon and her team is of great significance in the field of healthcare research. Their efforts will contribute to the development of evidence-based practices and policies that can have a lasting impact on the lives of ADRD patients and their families. Through this project, they are paving the way for a more inclusive and patient-centered healthcare system.