Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Chien, Alyna

Institution: University of Chicago
Grant Title: Do Performance Incentives Improve Healthcare Quality for Vulnerable Populations?
Grant Number:  K08 HS17146
Duration: 5 years (2007-2012)
Total Award: $623,800

Project Description: This research hypothesizes that performance incentives can significantly improve incentivized components of care and have a null or negative effect on unincentivized components of care.  There are two aims:

1. Determine whether incentivized components of care for chronic conditions improve after the introduction of bonus and penalty performance incentives at Access Community Health Network (ACCESS).
2. Determine whether unincentivized components of care for related and unrelated conditions improve after the introduction of bonus and penalty performance incentives at ACCESS.

Career Goals: Dr. Chien is an physician at Children's Hospital Boston. Prior to this appointment, she was an Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago and an Attending Physician in the Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She received her M.D. from the University of Chicago and also served her Pediatric Residency there. Dr. Chien serves as Course Director "Research in Residency" for the Pediatric Residency Program. Her career goal is to become a nationally respected health services researcher who examines policy-relevant issues related to the use of incentives in healthcare, particularly as it pertains to the care of vulnerable populations—the medically complex, minorities, and the socially disadvantaged.

Progress to Date: Dr. Chien is in the process of obtaining the administrative information to perform the quantitative aspects of the pediatric study arm at Hudson Health Plan. The survey related to the qualitative aspect of this study has been fielded. The adult study arm at ACCESS Community Health Network is underway.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities Scholar, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2005-2007.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) Clinical Scholars program, 2004-2006.
• Founder, Clinic Volunteer, Steering Committee Member; University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine Washington Park Free Pediatric Clinic.

K-Generated Publications: None thus far.

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