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Humana Integrated Health Systems Sciences Institute

Scholarly Works

 

Overview

On this page you will find information about our datasets, current research projects and research highlights. Scroll down or click the links below to jump to a specific section. 

 

Datasets

The Humana Institute offers various health datasets, containing medical, pharmacy laboratory, and demographic variables. Access requires specific training and regulatory approval.

Partnership with Greater Houston HealthConnect (GHH) 

Humana Institute faculty are able to request data from the largest health information exchange (HIE) in the region. The GHH network includes over 2,500 venues of care and includes 16+ million unique (i.e. unduplicated) patients who are tracked using a master-file process that links encounters across disparate systems. This process also allows GHH to link HIE records to existing, a priori samples if there are sufficient identifiers available and given appropriate regulatory approvals. A cost is typically associated with completing research data requests.

Humana: Diabetes Claims Dataset

This data is a subset of Medicare Advantage enrollees with Type 2 diabetes and includes over 300 variables detailing demographic, calculated probabilities of health behaviors (diet habits, ability to lose weight, abusing alcohol, etc.) medical data, medical claims, prescription claims, and laboratory testing for each client from 2016-2020. Codebook can be provided upon request. Access is through a secure SAS server so expertise in SAS is required to use this dataset, after all applicable research regulatory processes are completed.

National Inpatient Sample + Cost to Charge Files

Obtained from the Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project, this data is a stratified sample of hospital discharges in US (excluding rehabilitation and long-term acute care hospitals). Variables include ICD-10 codes, patient demographics, hospital characteristics, total charges and payment sources, severity and comorbidity measures, length of stay and discharge status. Each year contains approximately 7 million individual observations.

Emergency Department Sample + Cost to Charge Files

Obtained from the Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project, this is a stratified sample of emergency department visits in US hospitals. Variables include ICD-10 codes, discharge status, total charges and payment sources, patient demographics, and hospital characteristics. The full description of included data elements can be found here. Each year contains 20-30 million individual observations (unweighted).

Healthcare Cost Institute Data (HCCI)

HCCI holds data on over 25 million commercially insured individuals per year (2018–2022). It contains information on costs and utilization pattens, and trends over time. This data primarily comes from major health insurers, offering a comprehensive view of healthcare costs across various sectors, including hospital services, prescription drugs, and physician care. Analysis of this data helps policymakers, researchers, and the public better understand the drivers of healthcare costs and informs strategies to control spending while maintaining access to quality care. There is a cost associated with using this dataset.

Texas Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data

This dataset contains information on patients discharged from hospitals in the state of Texas. This dataset typically includes detailed information about each hospital stay, such as patient demographics, diagnoses, procedures performed, length of stay, hospital charges, and payer information.

Please email humana-institute@uh.edu with questions about using any of these resources.
 

Current Research Projects

Implementation of Target: BP Hypertension guidelines in a Patient Population Experiencing Homelessness

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among individuals experiencing homelessness, who face profound inequities in access to healthcare, chronic disease management, and preventive services. Hypertension—often undiagnosed or poorly controlled—accounts for a significant proportion of premature deaths in this population. The American Heart Association’s Target:BP™ program provides evidence-based tools to improve blood pressure control, yet has not been implemented in Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) settings. This study addresses that gap by adapting and testing the feasibility of Target:BP™ in partnership with Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston, a large federally qualified health center network.

  

Research Highlights

Assessment of Unmet Health-Related Needs Among Patients With Mental Illness Enrolled in Medicare Advantage

By: Omolola E. Adepoju, Ph.D., M.P.H.1,2; Winston Liaw, M.D., M.P.H.1; Nick C. Patel, Pharm.D., Ph.D.3; Jeremiah Rastegar, M.P.A.3; Matthew Ruble, M.D.3; Stephanie Franklin, M.P.H.3; Andrew Renda, M.D., M.P.H.3; Ezemenari Obasi, Ph.D.4,5; LeChauncy Woodard, M.D., M.P.H.1,2

This study identified significant, and, in some cases, large incremental increases in the odds of having Health Related Needs among older adults with mental illness highlighting the need for more upstream targeted interventions to address basic social needs, such as safe housing and food security, for older adults with mental illness.

A Qualitative Analysis of a Primary Care Medical-Legal Partnership: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators

By: Winston Liaw, Christine Bakos-Block, Thomas F. Northrup, Angela L. Stotts, Abigail Hernandez, Lisandra Finzetto, *Pelumi Oloyede, *Bruno Moscoso Rodriguez, *Skye Johnson, Lauren Gilbert, Jessica Dobbins, LeChauncy Woodard, and Thomas Murphy
*Student Author

Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) have the potential to significantly ease the burden on patients, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes. They are especially beneficial for populations who struggle to access legal assistance. By offering  support directly within healthcare settings, MLPs ensure that patients receive the necessary help. Additionally, since MLPs can address legal issues early in the process, they can prevent these issues from worsening and causing more serious health complications, ultimately helping to reduce health care costs.

Access to Technology, Internet Usage, and Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors in a Lower-Income Population

By: Omolola E Adepoju, *Maya Singh, Mary Tipton, Gerard Peperone, Marlen Trujillo, and Chinedum Ojinnaka
*Student author

This study highlights the detrimental impact of the digital divide on lower-income communities that are not fully benefiting from digital health resources. The limited health information-seeking behaviors (HISB) observed in these populations may be attributed to gaps in digital health literacy, distrust in online health resources, and unfamiliarity with using technology for health purposes, likely due to insufficient integration of digital tools in health care visits and a lack of proper guidance.

Perspective of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professionals on Changes in Resources, Cardiac Arrest Care and Burnout in Texas During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Summer Chavez, Remle Crowe, Ryan Huebinger, Hei Kit Chan, Joseph Gill, Normandy Villa, Micah Pancyzk, Jeff Jarvis, and Bentley Bobrow

The challenges faced by health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the need for better resource management and preparedness within health care systems during unprecedented crises. These issues not only affect health care workers but also the patients they care for. Without the necessary resources and mental health support, health care providers cannot deliver effective care, leading to harmful consequences for both the providers and their patients. Policymakers must prioritize the development of a resilient health care system that can withstand public health emergencies without compromising the well-bring of health care workers or the quality of patient care.

Innovation in Health Care Education: Using “Shark Tank” Approaches to Educate Teams of Interprofessional Students in Health Care Research

By: Omolola E Adepoju, Mary E Tipton, and Lauren R Gilbert

This article highlights the importance of exposing health care students to innovation early in their training. By integrating interdisciplinary and project-based learning into medical curriculums, future health care professionals can develop the essential skills required to effectively address real-world challenges. This approach accelerates the adoption of new ideas and services in health care, ultimately leading to improved patient health outcomes. Furthermore, encouraging collaboration between health care students and other fields allows them to develop holistic and comprehensive perspectives, enhancing their ability to address public health issues and provide quality care. This early exposure results in a well-prepared workforce, equipped to handle public health crises and commited to continuously improve the health care system.

Addressing Housing Issues Among People with Kidney Disease: Importance, Challenges and Recommendations

By: Tessa K. Novick, Ben King

Addressing housing instability is crucial for improving health outcomes in individuals with kidney disease. These individuals are already at higher risk for health issues, and unstable housing makes it harder to manage their health effectively. Integrating housing stability into patient care plans, increasing screening for housing-related issues, and advocating for policy changes to expand access to housing are essential. By tackling housing instability, we can improve chronic disease management and decrease health care costs by preventing conditions from exacerbating due to unstable living conditions.

Harris County Homelessness Mortality Reports

By: Ben King, Sarina Attri, Renae Nichols, Shriya Swamy, Shaya Khorsandi

Given that overdose deaths make up a significant portion of mortality, it’s essential to implement substance abuse prevention and treatment programs for the homeless population. The concentration of deaths in specific areas of Harris County indicates the need for tailored public health strategies to address these local issues. Additionally, policies must be enforced to improve access to health care and affordable housing, which are critical in addressing the root causes of homelessness and reducing overall mortality.

Transition to Telemedicine and its Impact on Missed Appointments in Community-Based Clinics

By: Omolola E Adepoju, *Minji Chae, Winston Liaw, Tracy Angelocci, Paul Millard, and Omar Matuk-Villazon
*Student author

Telemedicine offers a promising approach for reducing missed appointments and improving patient health by ensuring continuity of care. It has the potential to improve access to health care, improve clinic efficiency, and reduce costs associated with missed appointments by addressing barriers like transportation challenges and geographical limitations that some individuals often face. However, telemedicine should be integrated as part of a broader strategy rather than relied on as a stand-alone solution, as it does not fully eliminate these challenges across different demographic groups.