Jere R. Behrman
Penn LDI Small Grants Program 2023 awarded research associates Hanming Fang and Iliana Kohler pilot grants for research projects in "ACA Insurance Expansion and the Disparity in Health Care Access" and "Learning From Covid-19 to Prepare for the Future: Understanding Vaccine Uptake in a Low-Income Sub-Saharan African Context" respectively.
Citations:
"Penn LDI Small Grants Program 2023 Projects" Penn LDI.
Wealth Professional highlights a new research that will be published in the Financial Planning Review co-authored by research associate Olivia S. Mitchell which examines the relationship between debt issues and retirement preparation. It found that one in three American individuals felt confined by their debt both before and after the pandemic.
Citations:
"Debt constraints closely related to retirement readiness - report," Jean Dondo , WP, March 23, 2023.
Penn today highlights a new research being conducted by research associate Pilar Gonalons-Pons which focuses on the pandemic’s impact on paid and unpaid child care workers. “It might seem like the gender disparity has washed out and, in many areas, we have rebounded to pre-COVID levels. But the care economy has not yet recovered,” says Gonalons-Pons, who studies the intersection of gender, work, families, and public policy.
Citations:
"How have women in the workforce fared, three years into the pandemic?," Michele W. Berger, Penn Today, March 20, 2023.
The latest PSC Newsletter features podcasts and events featuring our Researchers, info on our students' PAA Practice Talks, and more!
Penn Today highlights a new study published in the journal Plos One co-authored by research associate Samuel H. Preston which performs a state-level analysis and examines the associations between mortality from COVID-19 and other causes.
Citations:
"States with high COVID-19 death rates also saw high mortality from other causes," Michele W. Berger, Penn Today, January 4, 2023.
Preston SH, Luck AN, et al. "Associations between mortality from COVID-19 and other causes: A state-level analysis" PLOS ONE 18(3): e0281683, March 6, 2023.
Penn LDI highlights a new research study published in the American Journal of Transplantation co-authored by research associate Therese Bittermann which examines the racial and ethnic disparities in psychosocial evaluation and liver transplant waitlisting.
Citations:
"What Drives Transplant Waitlisting Disparities?" Penn LDI, M Weiss, March 7, 2023.
Deutsch-Link S, Bittermann T, et al. 2023. "Racial and ethnic disparities in psychosocial evaluation and liver transplant waitlisting" American Journal of Transplantation.
The Seattle Times and Penn LDI highlights a research study published in National Library of Medicine co-authored by research associate Linda H. Aiken which determines the association between the patient-to-nurse ratio and patient mortality. They also highlight a prospective study in a panel of hospitals co-authored by Aiken which examines the effects of nurse-to-patient ratio legislation on nurse staffing and patient mortality, readmissions, and length of stay.
Citations:
"Debate over WA nurse staffing ratios heads toward compromise," Elise Takahama, Seattle Times, March 4, 2023.
"How Inadequate Hospital Staffing Continues to Burn Out Nurses and Threaten Patients" Hoag Levins, Penn LDI, January 9, 2023.
Aiken LH, Clarke SP et al. "Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction" JAMA. 23-30;288(16):1987-93, October, 2002.
Aiken LH, McHugh MD, et al. "Effects of nurse-to-patient ratio legislation on nurse staffing and patient mortality, readmissions, and length of stay: a prospective study in a panel of hospitals" May 11, 2021
Penn LDI highlights a new research released as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research co-authored by research associate Atul Gupta which reveals that while privatization substantially improves hospital profitability, enabling them to become financially sustainable even without government subsidy, patient volume decreases by 8.4%, with Medicaid patients experiencing the largest decline in care.
Citations:
"Hospital Privatization Increases Profits, at What Cost?," Jen Fisher Wilson, Penn LDI, March 2, 2023.
Duggan M, Gupta A, et al. "The Impact of Privatization: Evidence from the Hospital Sector" National Bureau of Economic Research, January, 2023.
Penn Today highlights a new study published in the journal Cell co-authored by research associate Sarah Tishkoff which sequenced the genomes of 180 individuals from 12 African indigenous groups and performed a rigorous whole-genome analysis of such a genetically diverse mix of African populations. The results shed light on the origin of modern humans, African population history, and local adaptation.
Citations:
Image: Tishkoff Laboratory
"Genomic study of indigenous Africans paints complex picture of human origins and local adaptation," Katherine Unger Baillie, Penn Today, March 2, 2023.
Spence JA, Tishkoff SA, et al. "Whole-genome sequencing reveals a complex African population demographic history and signatures of local adaptation" Cell, Volume 186, Issue 5, 8 March 2023,.
Read up on forthcoming events, our Researchers' recent publications, the Quartet Pilot Research Competition, and more, in the PSC Newsletter!
Penn LDI highlights the study and recommendations made by Courtney Boen, on how policymakers can improve the health of Latin American immigrants.
Citations:
"States are Increasingly Powerful in Shaping the Lives of Immigrants," Penn LDI, Karl Stark, February 15, 2023.
R A Schutt, C Boen, 2022. "State Immigration Policy Contexts and Racialized Legal Status Disparities in Health Care Utilization Among U.S. Agricultural Workers," Duke University Press.
Linda H. Aikens was recently quoted by KUOW in a report about Washington legislators considering the implementation of mandated Nurse-to-Patient ratios in hospitals.
Citations:
"WA legislators weigh mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals," KUOW, Kate Walters, February 15, 2023.
An article in Penn Today reported about a Conference on the Future of Health Research in Malawi, co-organized by Illiana Kohler.
Citation:
"The future of health research in Malawi," Penn Today, Michele W. Berger, February 10, 2023.
Quartz highlights Rachel M. Werner's thoughts, on how more than 50% of the US nursing homes are unprofitable, and how it is about to get a lot worse.
Citations:
"More than half of US nursing homes are unprofitable—and it's about to get a lot worse," Quartz, Nate DiCamillo, Annalisa Merelli, February 8, 2023.
Penn LDI highlights that Rachel M. Werner is a part of the Health Affairs Council of Experts, who has discussed recommendations on Health Care spending and value.
Citations:
"Health Care Cost Control Requires More Monitoring and Standardized Data," Penn LDI, Hoag Levins, February 6, 2023.
As Social Security continues to march toward insolvency, Penn Today highlights Olivia S. Mitchell's discussion on current policy debates and the role of financial literacy in achieving reform.
Citations:
"What is the future of Social Security?" Penn Today, Brandon Baker, February 1, 2023.
Theodore G. Schurr has been elected as one of the eight faculty members from four schools of the University of Pennsylvania, to be named as 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows, as reported by Penn Today.
Citations:
"Eight Penn professors elected 2022 AAAS Fellows," Penn Today, Michele W. Berger, January 31, 2023.
Pew quotes research associate Matthew D. McHugh in an article about the scope of practice of non-physician medical providers. it highlights that non-physician medical providers in some states are gaining more independence from doctors.
Citations:
"Some States May Allow Nurses to Do More Without Doctors" Michael Ollove, Pew, January 26, 2023.
CNN highlights an op-ed authored by research associate Kevin G. Volpp about the lessons he learned from his recent experience of a cardiac arrest. He talks about the importance of training people in CPR and advocating for greater defibrillator access.
Citations:
"My near-death experience teaches a lesson" K G. Volpp, CNN, January 26, 2023.
Penn Today highlights a new research study published in PNAS co-authored by research associate Theodore G. Schurr which investigated the lives of thirty-six 18th-century individuals from Charleston, South Carolina, using bioarchaeological and genomic methods.
Citations:
"Whole-genome analysis offers clarity about remains of 36 enslaved Africans in 18th-century Charleston" Michele W. Berger, Penn Today, January 24, 2023.
R E Fleskes, G S Cabana, J K Gilmore and T G Schurr. 2023. "Community-engaged ancient DNA project reveals diverse origins of 18th-century African descendants in Charleston, South Carolina" PNAS.
AP News highlights a recent study co-authored by Olivia S. Mitchell on the first state-based plan of its kind, OregonSaves, which auto-enrolled workers whose firms did not have retirement savings plans.
Citations:
"Spending bill aids retirees, and boosts financial industry," AP News, Fatima Hussein, December 25, 2022.
Mitchell OS, Chalmers J, Reuter J, Zhong M. "Auto-Enrollment Retirement Plans for the People: Choices and Outcomes in OregonSaves"
Penn Today highlights a new book co-authored by Research Associate Jason Schnittker which dissects the inherent contradiction between a prison's dual obligations of "denying freedom and providing care."
Citations:
"The ‘paradox’ of receiving health care in prison," Penn Today, January 6, 2023.
Schnittker J, Massoglia M, Uggen C. "Prisons and Health in the Age of Mass Incarceration" Oxford University Press, 2022
Penn Today highlights a recent research article published in Medical Care co-authored by Research Associates Rachel M. Werner and Norma B. Coe which examines racial and ethnic disparities in Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions hospitalizations among Medicare Advantage enrollees overall and by star rating.
Citations:
"Racial Differences in Access to Medicare Plans Have Health Consequences," Penn Today, January 4, 2023.
Park S, Werner RM, Coe NB. "Association of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings With Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions" Medical Care 60(12):p 872-879, December 2022.
Stat highlights a recent essay published in the New England Journal of Medicine co-authored by Research Associate Atheendar Venkataramani analysing the role of Heath Systems in America to address Stuctural Racism and thereby reduce Racial Wealth Disparities.
Citations:
"How health systems can truly value Black lives: help close the racial wealth gap," STAT, September 29, 2022.
South E, Venkataramani A, Dalembert G. "Building Black Wealth — The Role of Health Systems in Closing the Gap" N Engl J Med 2022; 387:844-849.
In the first PSC Newsletter of 2023, find the latest news, our spring Colloquium schedule, and more.
Penn Nursing highlights a new repeated cross-sectional study published in Nursing Outlook co-authored by Research Associates Linda H. Aiken, Matthew D. McHugh and Karen Lasater which determines that hospital nurse understaffing and poor hospital work environments that predated the Covid-19 pandemic largely explain the disruptions in nursing care seen during the pandemic and continuing today.
Citations:
"Better Staffed Hospitals Before Pandemic Had Better Outcomes During It," Penn Nursing.
Aiken LH, Sloane DM, McHugh MD, Pogue CA, Lasater KB "A repeated cross-sectional study of nurses immediately before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: Implications for action" Nursing Outlook, December 07, 2022.
NBC News highlights a research study published in Health Affairs co-authored by research associate Linda H. Aiken which examined nurse work environments at 535 hospitals in four large states at two points in time between 2005 and 2016 to determine the extent to which their work environments improved, and whether positive changes were associated with greater progress in patient safety.
Citations:
"Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Hospitalized Patients Experience Harmful Events, Study Finds" Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, January 11, 2023.
L H Aiken, D M Sloane, et al. 2018. "Nurses’ And Patients’ Appraisals Show Patient Safety In Hospitals Remains A Concern" Health Affairs.
Market Watch highlights an op-ed co-authored by research associate Olivia S. Mitchell which discusses the decline in life expectancy in the US and it's impact on retirement planning.
Citations:
"Life expectancy in the U.S. has declined. What does that mean for your retirement?" Mitchell OS & Milevsky M, Market Watch, January 10, 2023.