Mark receives grant to help nurse researchers improve health-care quality, patient outcomes
| November 23, 2004 | |
| CHAPEL HILL — Dr. Barbara Mark, Sarah Frances Russell distinguished professor of nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, has been awarded approximately $1.5 million over the next five years as part of an Institutional National Research Service Award to prepare nurse researchers to improve the quality of health care and contribute to patient outcomes.The award, funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, is titled “Research Training: Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes” and is one of only 28 such research grants in the nation. UNC is one of only six other universities nationwide currently to have more than one of these grants funded at the same time. Dr. Merle Mishel, Kenan professor of nursing, received a similar award for her current study “Interventions for Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness.”
Responding to a 2000 Institute of Medicine report that indicated approximately 44,000 deaths result annually due to medical errors, the program will use the IOM’s criteria for quality health care – safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and equity – as its organizational framework. “This program is exceptional because it is multidisciplinary in focus,” said Mark. “Improving the quality of health care depends upon active and ongoing collaboration among the health professions. This is true in both research and in working together to develop strategies that can be used successfully in health system change.” Partners and co-investigators in the program are Dr. Peggy Leatt, chair and research professor in the School of Public Health’s department of health policy and administration, and Dr. Timothy Carey, Sarah Graham Kenan professor of internal medicine and social medicine and director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Pre- and postdoctoral students are being recruited to participate. Selected students will receive monthly stipends, allowances for research related expenses, health insurance and opportunities to practice with nationally renowned nurse and health services researchers. The award supports 10 predoctoral and six post-doctoral trainees. Participating nursing school faculty include: Dr. Linda Beeber, Dr. Michael Belyea, Dr. DeeDee Boyington, school Dean Linda Cronenwett, Dr. Molly Dougherty, Dr. Noreen Esposito, Dr. Barbara Jo Foley, Dr. Sandy Funk, Dr. Barbara Germino, Dr. Jean Goeppinger, Dr. Ed Halloran, Dr. Joanne Harrell, Dr. Diane Holditch-Davis, Dr. Cheryl Jones, Dr. Jean Kincade, Dr. Diane Kjervik, Dr. Mary Lynn, Dr. Chris McQuiston, Dr. Merle Mishel, Dr. Dick Redman, Margarete Sandelowski, Dr. Anne Skelly, Dr. Sue Thoyre and Dr. Marcia Van Riper. Participating faculty from other disciplines include: Drs. Giselle Corbie-Smith, Don Pathman and Mike Pignone from the School of Medicine; Drs. Laurel Files, Bruce Fried, Shoou-Yih Lee, Kathleen Lohr, Edward Norton, George Pink, Tom Ricketts, Lucy Savitz and Bruce Weiner from the School of Public Health; Drs. Thomas Konrad and Joe Morrissey from the Sheps Center; Dr. Betsy Sleathe from the School of Pharmacy; and Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman from the School of Social Work. – 30 – UNC School of Nursing contact: Amanda Dindino (919) 966-1412 For further information please contact Emily Smith either by phone at 919.966.8498 or by email at emily_smith@unc.edu |
