CHEAR is dedicated to examining essential aspects of child health and well-being that includes vaccinations, newborn screening, obesity, asthma, and costs of care.
Findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals with CHEAR research supported through a strong portfolio funded by governments, foundations, and private donors. Our investigators prioritize research that is directly relevant to current health care policy to inform decisions made by state and federal policymakers.
Data Science
CHEAR researchers are exploring health care data using innovative data science methods to find answers to challenging research questions. CHEAR investigators partner with collaborators to develop new methods to aggregate, integrate, and analyze pre-existing datasets to explore high-priority pediatric health issues not possible previously. These research questions require a fresh approach to how to acquire data and evaluate information exchanges that include electronic health record (EHR) systems, population health registries and novel linkages among secondary data sources. Our work to develop innovative data science methods is firmly rooted in the principles of health informatics, public health, and clinical practice. These capabilities enable our ability to partner with public health agencies, health plans, and health services providers to improve pediatric population health.
Policy and Communications Research
CHEAR investigators draw on the Center’s long history of research in survey design and development to assess public perceptions regarding clinical and policy issues important to child health utilizing well-established survey methods and relationships.
Outcomes Research
Studies evaluating and defining health outcomes have critical clinical and policy implications. Projects include decision-making in vaccination policy, newborn screening programs, surgical care, the impact of hospital transfers on family dynamics, parental stress and family, and financial impacts.
Learning Health Systems
Learning health systems are intentionally designed to integrate research and translate evidence-based findings seamlessly at the point of care. Investigators are leveraging MiChart – the patient-centric, Epic-based electronic health record system at Michigan Medicine used by clinicians for documentation. Faculty from the CHEAR Center and the Division of General Pediatrics are partnering to design the tools used by clinicians at the point of care to provide clinical decision support and to collect processes of care and outcome data for improvement and for research. Furthermore, they are convening stakeholders (clinicians, families, and researchers) to collaborate and develop new approaches to clinical care and new research questions for improving child health.