Thirteen services in four disciplines.

Public Health and Health Insurance Statistics

Producing and interpreting population and health plan data, from surveillance, vital statistics and surveys to enrollment, claims and quality measures, with sound biostatistical methods.

For: Public health agencies, health plans and Medicaid agencies, health centers and hospitals, researchers.

• Surveillance and epidemiologic indicators: incidence, prevalence, age-adjusted rates
• Analysis of vital statistics and weighted population surveys
• Enrollment, utilization and claims analysis (per member per month, rates per 1,000)
• HEDIS, CAHPS and Medicaid quality measure calculation and validation
• Independent statistical review of analyses prepared by others

Research and Evaluation

Systematic study of a health question or program, with quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods, that produces credible findings to guide decisions and demonstrate results.

For: Nonprofits and grantees, public health agencies, health centers and hospitals, life sciences.

• Study protocols and evaluation plans with logic models and indicators
• Survey design, sampling plans and questionnaires
• Data collection and statistical analysis
• Process and outcome evaluations of funded programs
• Technical reports, briefs and manuscripts

Thesis Advising in Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Methods advising for master's and doctoral candidates, from the research question and the design to the analysis, the interpretation and the defense, in quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. The candidate does the research and the writing, within the university's rules on outside help; the advisor makes sure the methods hold up.

For: Master's and doctoral candidates in public health, the health sciences, nursing, the social sciences and education, in English or Spanish.

• Research questions, hypotheses and a study design that fits them
• Sample size and power calculations, sampling plans and instrument validation
• Statistical analysis plans, choice of models and review of results
• Qualitative design: interview and focus group guides, coding frameworks and thematic analysis
• Review of the methods chapter and the ethics board (IRB) submission, and preparation for the proposal and final defense

Analytics Capability and Data Maturity Assessments

A structured assessment of an organization's data, systems, people and governance against a recognized maturity model, ending in a prioritized roadmap for using data better.

For: Health departments, hospitals and health systems, health plans, ministries of health.

• Current-state review of data sources, infrastructure, governance and workforce
• Maturity scoring against HIMSS AMAM, CDC Data Modernization or PAHO IS4H
• Data quality and data flow review, for example EHR to UDS to state reports
• Workforce skills inventory and training plan
• Prioritized roadmap with milestones and costs

Technical Assistance in Public Health

Targeted, sustained support that helps a health agency or grantee solve a specific program, data or operational problem and build the capacity to keep solving it.

For: State, territorial and local health departments; CDC and HRSA grantees; health centers and primary care associations; ministries of health.

• Needs and capacity assessment with a written technical assistance plan
• Consultation and small-group coaching for program staff
• Tools, templates and standard operating procedures
• Training and peer-learning sessions
• Progress measures that show what changed

Health Policy Analysis

Defining a health problem, identifying the policy options, and comparing them on health impact, feasibility, and economic and budgetary impact to support a decision.

For: Public health agencies, Medicaid agencies and health plans, nonprofits and advocates, ministries of health.

• Problem statement and evidence review
• Options analysis using CDC's policy analytical framework
• Policy briefs and decision memos
• Impact analysis of proposed bills and rules, and public comment letters
• Stakeholder analysis and adoption strategy

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Building the plans, partnerships and tested capabilities that let health agencies and providers anticipate, respond to and recover from emergencies while keeping essential services running.

For: Public health agencies, hospitals and health care coalitions, health centers and other CMS-certified providers, ministries of health.

• Hazard vulnerability and risk assessments
• Emergency operations and continuity of operations plans
• CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule compliance for providers
• Exercise design, after-action reports and improvement plans (HSEEP)
• Gap analysis against CDC's 15 public health preparedness capabilities

Payer Strategy and Market Access

Securing coverage, reimbursement and contracts with public and private payers, so a product or service reaches the right patients at a price payers accept.

For: Diagnostic laboratories and pharmaceutical and device firms, providers and health centers contracting with plans, health plans, social security institutes.

• Payer landscape analysis: commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care
• Coverage and reimbursement analysis: coding, fee schedules, medical policies
• Evidence and value materials for payer review
• Contract strategy and negotiation support with health plans
• Medicaid managed care contract and rate analysis

Clinical Pathways

Developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based plans that set the sequence of care for a defined patient group, and measuring adherence and outcomes.

For: Health plans, hospitals and oncology practices, health centers, ministries of health.

• Pathway development from clinical guidelines with clinician input
• Pathway documents with decision points and expected outcomes
• EHR integration through order sets and decision support
• Adherence, variance and outcome reporting
• Pathway use in value-based contracts and prior authorization

Regulatory Compliance

Mapping the laws and program requirements that apply to an organization, building the compliance program to meet them, and documenting that it does. This work complements legal counsel; it does not replace it.

For: Health centers, hospitals, health plans, life sciences.

• Requirement crosswalks and gap assessments: HRSA Health Center Program, CMS Conditions of Participation, 42 CFR Parts 2 and 438
• Compliance program review against OIG's seven elements
• HIPAA privacy and security assessments and policies
• HRSA Operational Site Visit readiness and corrective action plans
• Policy manuals and staff training

Strategic Planning and Program Development

Setting priorities for an organization or community from evidence of need, then designing the programs, logic models and funding proposals that carry them out.

For: Nonprofit hospitals, health departments, health centers, nonprofits and grantees.

• Strategic plans with goals, objectives and performance measures
• Community health needs assessments (IRS 501(r)) and CHA/CHIP for health departments
• Program design with logic models
• Grant applications with budgets and evaluation plans
• Implementation strategies and work plans

Project Management

Applying project management knowledge, tools and techniques to plan, run and close health projects and grant-funded programs within scope, schedule, budget and funder terms.

For: Health centers and networks, public health agencies with cooperative agreements, hospitals, nonprofits and grantees.

• Project charter, work plan and schedule
• Risk, issue and change logs
• Budget tracking and federal reporting, including HRSA progress reports and closeout
• Coordination of partners, vendors and subrecipients
• Close-out report and lessons learned

Health Information Technology and Interoperability

Planning, selecting, optimizing and connecting the electronic systems that capture and exchange health data, so information follows the patient and supports care, reporting and analysis.

For: Health centers and networks, hospitals, public health agencies, ministries pursuing digital health.

• EHR optimization and workflow redesign
• Interoperability roadmaps and health information exchange onboarding (HL7 FHIR, USCDI, TEFCA)
• UDS+ and electronic clinical quality measure readiness
• Health IT governance, vendor selection and contracting
• HIPAA security risk analysis, telehealth and remote patient monitoring