# Optimizing the Value of PROMs in Improving Care Delivery through Health Information Technology

> **NIH AHRQ R18** · HEALTHPARTNERS INSTITUTE · 2021 · $368,969

## Abstract

Project Summary
Systematically collecting patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and using them in both the care of
individual patients and as aggregate data for quality improvement of care processes has been a healthcare
dream for the past 15 years. However, few organizations make even partial use of such a complete outcomes
system. Furthermore, the evidence of impact on those outcomes is of poor quality, and the results are mixed.
By partnering with operational leaders in a large medical group that has prioritized building a health information
technology (HIT)-based PROMs system as well as obtaining input from both clinicians and patients, we
propose to enhance the information collected, improve survey response rates from patients, and facilitate the
likelihood of using the information in both the care of individual patients and for quality improvement. The
medical group has already begun this initiative, focused initially on patients undergoing knee or hip
replacements or spine surgery. We propose to supplement the initiative and to provide a much more complete
and thorough scientific evaluation of its use and impacts than would otherwise be possible. Specifically, we
propose to:
 1. Interview and survey patients to learn what outcomes are important to them (Patient Preferred
 Outcomes [PPOs]) and what contextual information (Patient Contextual Information [PCI]) would be
 helpful to their clinicians in planning care
 2. Test the impact of adding this information to the PROMs survey and HIT outreach on item and survey
 response rates in collecting outcomes information
 3. Test the impact on outcomes and experience (satisfaction and shared decision-making) from making
 individual outcome scores available via the electronic medical record and Internet access during care
 4. Test the impact on outcomes and costs over time from providing surgeons with both their aggregate
 PROM/PPO scores and the associated care costs in comparison with their peers
The results of this research will be used by the medical group as it spreads an advanced PROMs system to
other conditions and specialties while also serving as a real-life model system that will be disseminated widely
through its strong links to other care systems regionally and nationally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10212454
- **Project number:** 5R18HS025618-05
- **Recipient organization:** HEALTHPARTNERS INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** LEIF I SOLBERG
- **Activity code:** R18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $368,969
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-30 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10212454

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10212454, Optimizing the Value of PROMs in Improving Care Delivery through Health Information Technology (5R18HS025618-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10212454. Licensed CC0.

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