Contracts

Lifestyle Redesign^® for Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Rural Veterans with SCI

Project Director: Florence Clark
Funding Source: Intergovernmental Personnel Act — VA Long Beach Health Care System (Long Beach, California)
Project Period: 08/16/2012 – 8/15/2013
Award Number: VALBHS/IPA/2012
Total Award: $180,511
Collaborators: Erna Blanche, Michael Carlson, and Brent Liu (Viterbi School of Engineering)
Abstract: The Long Beach VA Health Care System is collaborating with the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy on a demonstration project to develop a sustainable Lifestyle Redesign^® program tailored for pressure ulcer prevention in rural veterans with spinal cord injuries to be delivered via telehealth systems. USC collaborators will first conduct a needs assessment in which rural veterans, through a series of interviews, will provide input that will guide researchers in customizing the intervention to address the specific lifestyle needs and circumstances that present challenges to pressure ulcer prevention. After USC researchers develop a tailored manual, they will train and supervise VA occupational therapists in delivering the intervention and collect treatment outcome data.

Measurement and Outcomes Post Severe Brain Injury

Project Director: Trudy Mallinson
Funding Source: Intergovernmental Personnel Act — Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (Hines, Illinois)
Project Period: 08/01/2012 – 07/31/2013
Award Number: 578/151
Total Award: $9,891
Abstract: The aims are to provide health services research expertise in rehabilitation outcomes and psychometrics for research being conducted on the measurement and outcomes of traumatic brain injury.

MetaNet: A Multilingual Metaphor Extraction, Representation, and Validation System

Project Director: Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
Funding Source: International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA (S. Narayanan, PI)
Project Period: 1/1/2012 – 12/31/2017
Award Number: 804USC
Total Award: $293,273
Abstract: The scope of the USC-led experiment is to conduct a fMRI study on metaphorical language processing and emotion processing to approximately 20 subjects.

Improving Adherence in Type 1 Diabetes by Peer Mentoring: A Feasibility Study

Subcontract Principal Investigator: Beth Pyatak
Funding Source: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Project Period: 2011 – 2013
Award Number: 8029-RGF007016-00
Abstract: Treatment regimen non-adherence is prevalent among adolescent and young adult patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) which directly contributes to poor glycemic control, faster progression to secondary complications, higher healthcare costs, and shorter survivals. This R03 study will provide preliminary data on the feasibility of peer mentoring to improve adherence in T1D patients. Peer mentorship, while novel to T1D disease management, has been proven effective in other fields such as alcohol abuse reduction where individuals also need to constantly monitor their behaviors. The study will recruit 70 potential mentee patients and 30 potential mentor patients from two pediatric endocrinology clinics in Los Angeles and the ongoing Helmsley T1D Transition “Let’s Empower and Prepare” (LEAP) Program (2010PG-T1D011; PI: A Peters). Investigators will develop surveys to gather information from potential T1D mentees and mentors in order to assess and evaluate the feasibility of peer mentoring for T1D patients in adolescence and young adulthood, with the goal to improve self-management and glycemic control, and to delay and ameliorate T1D-related complications. This feasibility study will lay the groundwork for a future randomized clinical trial in T1D adherence improvement.

Medicare Payment Reform Demonstration and CARE Tool Development Initiatives

Project Director: Trudy Mallinson
Funding Source: RTI International
Project Period: 2010 – 2013
Award Number: 21-312-0209853 Task Orders 4 and 5
Total Award: $44,352
Abstract: The demonstration will provide standardized information on patient health and functional status, independent of site of care, and will examine resources and outcomes associated with treatment in each type of setting. This will allow Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine the extent to which similar patients are treated in different settings. Similarly, good information on resource use within each setting is needed to understand differences in patient treatment, outcomes, and current costs of care in order to create appropriate payment reform recommendations. As a part of the Post Acute Care Payment Payment Reform Demonstration (PAC-PRD), a standardized patient assessment tool was developed for use at acute hospital discharge and at PAC admission and discharge. This tool was named the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) tool. Data collected using the CARE tool will serve as a major source of information in the demonstration. CARE will measure the health and functional status of Medicare acute discharges and measure changes in severity and other outcomes for Medicare PAC patients. CMS has contracted with RTI International to carry out the demonstration and instrument development projects. RTI International has subcontracted work to multiple clinical and research experts to contribute to the completion of the projects. Previously at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and currently at USC, Dr. Mallinson collaborates on these initiatives in the areas of instrument development, training, and measurement psychometrics.

Developing Outpatient Therapy Payment Alternatives

Project Director: Trudy Mallinson
Funding Source: RTI International
Project Period: 2010 – 2013
Award Number: 21-312-0209853 Task Order 12
Total Award: $31,298
Abstract: The purpose of this project is to identify, collect, and analyze therapy-related information tied to beneficiary need. This five-year project was conceived to address that lack of therapy-related information tied to beneficiary need and the effectiveness of outpatient therapy services. The Developing Outpatient Therapy Payment Alternatives (DOTPA) initiative is collecting standardized patient assessment information in institutional (e.g., nursing facilities) and community settings across the country and using these data to guide the development of recommendations for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider as payment method alternatives. The project will provide standardized information on patient health and functional status, independent of site of care, and will examine outcomes associated with treatment in each type of setting. The ultimate goal is to develop payment method alternatives to the current financial cap on outpatient therapy services. CMS has contracted with RTI International to carry out the demonstration and instrument development projects. RTI International has subcontracted work to multiple clinical and research experts to contribute to the completion of the projects. Previously at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and currently at USC, Dr. Mallinson collaborates on these initiatives in the areas of instrument development and measurement psychometrics.

Development of Teaching Material in Support of SIPT

Project Director: Florence Clark
Funding Source: Western Psychological Services
Project Period: 06/01/98 – 6/30/13
Awarded to Date: $1,025,924
Abstract: Under this contract, the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy provides updates to the teaching materials used in Western Psychological Services’ continuing education program and provides administrative services as related to the program.