Health policy research encompasses a wide range of topics, including the organization and financing of health care, health system change, access to care, and quality, outcomes, and appropriateness of care.
Kevin J. Bozic, M.D., M.B.A., Associate Professor in Residence, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has been leading an investigation of the relationship between economics, health policy, and the practice of orthopaedic surgery. The results show there is much to be gained when orthopaedic surgeons bring their knowledge and clinical experience to bear on the policy-making process.
Dr. Bozic received the 2006 OREF Clinical Research Award for his work entitled "Using Clinical and Economic Outcome Data to Influence Health Policy in the United States: The Case of Total Joint Replacement." Dr. Bozic and his multi-center research group used patient–specific outcomes data from total joint replacement procedures to influence health policy. Additional diagnosis and procedure codes for joint replacement were developed based on Dr. Bozic′s research and by creating more detailed, accurate, and descriptive codes they were able to assist public health efforts, such as the American Joint Replacement Registry Project (AJRR), and pay–for–performance initiatives that are intended to improve the overall quality of care for joint replacement patients.