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We are currently accepting applications for the LHS STAR NJ Scholars Training Program and Research Project Award Program. Click “here” to learn more.
What is a Learning Health System?
A Learning Health System (LHS) systematically integrates internal data, experience, and external evidence to improve healthcare practice, delivery, and equity. The LHS continuously improves the care and outcomes of their patients and organizational structures, processes, and culture by: 1) gathering and applying best evidence in real-time to guide care; 2) employing information technology and behavior change methods to implement best practices; and 3) generating new knowledge about innovative ways to deliver care through experimentation and iteration.
Mission
Our Learning Health System Scientist Training and Research Program (LHS STAR NJ) will train future scholars and health professionals and equip them with skills to evaluate and improve the patient-centeredness, quality, and outcomes of care. Through mentoring, hands-on learning, and research resources, we will empower our LHS Scholars to design and implement projects focused on improving health and promoting equity. Our program leverages the combined teaching and research capabilities of Rutgers Health, comprising seven health professions schools in collaboration with health system partners (RWJBarnabas Health, University Hospital Newark, among others), insurers, and government agencies.
The Need
Health systems struggle to consistently deliver care that is safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered. Pragmatically leveraging science to provide quality health care efficiently and equitably can improve population health. To support the development of a Learning Health System (LHS), we will build platforms and integrate Cores to enable investigators to perform cutting-edge Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER), Dissemination and Implementation Science (D&I), and Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) to improve healthcare delivery, health, and health equity. These foundational resources and services will also provide a nurturing environment to train the next generation of LHS Scholars.
Specific Aims
- Train and develop the next generation of LHS Scholars.
- Conduct rigorous, impactful CER, D&I Science, and PCOR to identify best practices and foster innovations to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, equity & outcomes of care.
- Model the value of LHS science in driving continuous learning, improvement & dissemination of successful projects into real-world practice.
- Improve the health and health equity of the patients, populations & communities we serve.