Introduction
RCIOR, the Reemtsma Center for Innovation and Outcomes Research, is the only U.S. center to exclusively study surgical outcomes and related issues. RCIOR conducts research on how clinical programs and hospital research programs affect patients. Based on research results, RCIOR then develops quality improvement programs that ensure continual improvement of all areas of the medical center, including clinical practices and development of medical technology.
RCIOR's mission is threefold. The first is clinical outcomes research. In addition to traditional clinical end points, such as mortality, we focus on patient preferences, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Our second mission is to devise quality improvement programs on the basis of the data, and the third is to develop policy analysis of issues surrounding the development, introduction and use of medical technology.
Our staff numbers 15, and includes economists, health policy analysts, epidemiologists, computer programmers, auditors, statisticians and decision analysts. To do our research, RCIOR conducts clinical trials as well as other risk-adjusted studies of outcomes.
Our clinical trials and other studies stem from interaction with the Department's faculty. We may suggest inquiries based on current clinical work, or the surgeons may raise issues. RCIOR is currently involved in nearly 25 projects embracing cardiac, thoracic, vascular and orthopedic surgery, as well as health policy analyses.
RCIOR to coordinate quality of care data
RCIOR is to be the data coordinating center for a large-scale research project funded by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. The goal is to establish a hospital-wide event-reporting system at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and ten affiliated network hospitals. Information collected will be used to establish policies that promote patient safety.
