About the Lab
The Collaboratory for Health Informatics & Policy Research (CHIPR) is based in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. We investigate how health information systems are shaped by policy, and how those systems in turn affect the quality and safety of care delivery.
Our work sits at the intersection of health informatics, health policy, and quantitative social science. We are committed to rigorous, transparent research that can inform both clinical practice and federal, state, and local policy.
Approach
We combine quasi-experimental methods with novel data sources to answer questions that matter for real-world care delivery.
Causal Inference & Study Design
We use difference-in-differences, interrupted time series, regression discontinuity, and related designs to arrive at credible estimates of the effects of health IT interventions and policies.
Novel Data Sources
We specialize in EHR audit log data — fine-grained records of every clinician interaction with the medical record — to measure constructs like teamwork, workload, and workflow that are otherwise unobservable at scale.
Policy Analysis
We study how incentive programs, regulations, and standards shape the adoption and configuration of health IT systems, and trace the consequences for care quality and clinician experience.
Open Science
We share code, data dictionaries, and analytic protocols whenever possible. Reproducibility and transparency are core values of the lab.
Partners & Collaborators
We collaborate with health systems, federal agencies, and researchers across disciplines including public health, computer science, and public policy. Partner organizations and funding sources will be listed here as projects develop.