Northwell Health, Siemens partner for population health effectiveness research
Northwell Health and Siemens Healthineers have joined in a research partnership aimed at gauging clinical effectiveness and performing research using analytics-based population health evidence.
Siemens will offer funding and research support over the next four years to Northwell's Imaging Clinical Effectiveness and Outcomes Research Program, or iCEOR. It will also commit full-time employees to work with Northwell Health on its population health management initiatives.
This partnership is first-of-its-kind for both Siemens and Northwell Health, said August Calhoun, senior vice president of services, Siemens Healthineers North America. The goal, he said, is to collaborate on research that could "potentially define care pathways for various populations in the future."
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The first study to emerge from the collaboration is titled, "Value of Advanced Imaging in Improving Health Outcomes and Healthcare Spending in Acute Stroke." Its findings suggest that advanced imaging is preferred in acute stroke care leading to improved long-term health outcomes, researchers say.
Pina Sanelli, MD, vice chair for research at Northwell Health, noted one takeaway, which found that choice between CT scans or MRIs varies by patient's specific characteristics – indicating the value of a "patient-centered" approach to imaging. Early findings, however, show that further investigation is needed to better appreciate long-term benefits, harms and costs for different imaging approaches in acute stroke care that incorporate personal characteristics.
"The iCEOR Program at Northwell Health is dedicated to performing the highest quality health services research in order to improve patient care as well as to inform health policy decisions affecting population health," said Jason Naidich, MD, senior vice president of imaging at Northwell. "Our joint research initiative with Siemens Healthineers builds upon our organizations' long-term relationship and will help us advance this critical mission."
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