The Health Equity Advancing through Learning Health Systems Research (HEALeR) Collaborative is dedicated to bringing equity research to healthcare delivery to promote fair and accessible health outcomes for all communities.
HEALeR is a partnership between IU School of Medicine, IU Health’s Office of Health Equity Research and Engagement (HERE), the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), the Regenstrief Institute and the Irsay Institute at Indiana University Bloomington.
HEALeR aims to achieve our mission by focusing on four key pillars.
Funding data-informed and patient-engaged health equity focused research that will lead to optimal health outcomes for all Hoosiers.
Supporting and nurturing health equity investigators by providing infrastructure for professional development, education, mentorship and execution of research.
Bridging the gap between equity research and clinical practice.
Expanding our impact by seeking external funding opportunities that align with our mission and research priorities.
Associate Professor
Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington
Green recently received funding from HEALeR for a two-year equity research grant proposal entitled "Person to Person (P2P) Indiana Public Health Challenges & State Interventions Coding Project."
The project aims to provide a broad, representative health survey specifically for the state residents of Indiana and identify key critical issues to spark needed areas for positive transformation.
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
A recent study by Kara investigated discharges against medical advice (DAMA) within a large health system, analyzing data from five hospitals between 2016 and 2021, with a detailed review of DAMA cases at an academic site. The results indicated an increase in DAMA at the onset of the pandemic, with patients discharging AMA multiple times constituting a significant portion. Black patients were overrepresented among DAMA cases, and those with multiple AMA discharges were younger, more likely to be unmarried, or have substance use disorders. The study suggests the need for multi-level strategies to address DAMA, considering both patient-level characteristics and systemic factors contributing to premature discharges.
