Improving Care for Older Adults

University of Pennsylvania Teams Up with CenterWell to Help Advance Primary Care Excellence and Access for Seniors

New Program Launches Research Initiatives Focused on Improving Primary Care for Older Adults

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The University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI) has announced a new major research effort that—in collaboration with Humana’s health services brand CenterWell—will focus on expanding access to care and improving health outcomes for seniors. The Penn LDI Research Initiative on Improving Primary Care for Older Adults program will evaluate primary care for older adults with a concentration on value-based care models.

Future of Primary Care

“By generating rigorous evidence that focuses on improving access to and delivery of care for older adults, this initiative will help shape the future of primary care delivery,” said Rachel M. Werner, MD, PhD, Executive Director of Penn LDI. “Working with CenterWell on this program will allow Penn LDI to build on our longstanding commitment to improving health care access and equity.”

LDI is the University of Pennsylvania’s hub for health policy research, supporting more than 500 fellows across the university’s schools and affiliated health systems. Its researchers advance evidence-based solutions to improve health care access, delivery, and equity. CenterWell, a part of Humana, is the largest provider of senior-focused primary care, one of the leading providers of home health care, and a leading integrated home delivery, specialty, and retail pharmacy, focused on whole health and addressing the physical, emotional, and social wellness of patients.

Coordination, Quality, Value

Penn LDI former Director of Research Partnerships Mark E. Neuman, MD, MSc, said the new initiative will prioritize examining how value-based payment and delivery models affect care coordination, quality, and value for older adults with complex needs, and how these outcomes vary across social determinants of health. In addition to supporting new research, the program will include a national Research Summit and a virtual seminar series to translate findings into real-world practice and policy.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Penn LDI to expand the research base for senior-focused primary care, which helps us advance and improve the ways we support healthy aging,” said Kate Goodrich, MD, MHS, Chief Medical Officer of Humana. “Primary care is especially important for older adults who often face complex health challenges and greatly benefit from support and guidance for managing chronic conditions.”

Two Research Projects

This new initiative will competitively fund two research projects in its first year. Applications will open on Wednesday, September 17, for LDI Senior Fellows. See further information here.

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