​​​​​

Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR)

CAHR supports investigator-initiated research to generate applied health knowledge across our health care system.

Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR) is a collaborative, multidisciplinary system level research center within the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.

CAHR's research programs include:

  • Development and testing of innovative care models within health care and community settings
  • Impact of care delivery on the health and well-being of individuals and families
  • The larger impact of health programs on population health

Our target populations include older adults, persons living with dementia and their caregivers, individuals with multiple chronic conditions, vulnerable populations and veterans.

About Us

The Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR) was formed under the guidance of Dr. Alejandro Arroliga, Chairman, Chief Medical Office, Baylor Scott & White Health. We are located in Temple and Dallas, Texas. Our diverse research programs demonstrate collaborative efforts with various organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas A&M Health Science Center, national foundations and numerous health oriented community-based organizations across Texas.

CAHR brings together clinicians, educators and researchers with expertise in areas such as health services research, administrative data extraction and reduction, derivation of care and outcome measures from archival medical records, community-based health research, statistical analysis, research mentoring, patient-centered safety, patient activation research and academic development of clinicians. Mentoring of post-doctoral fellows and early career clinical researchers has been a focus of CAHR since its creation in 2010.

Research Focus

The center has diverse research programs, demonstrating collaborative efforts on advanced applied health research with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas A&M Health Science Center, national foundations and numerous health-oriented, community-based organizations across Texas.

Our target populations include older adults, persons living with dementia and their caregivers, individuals with multiple chronic conditions, vulnerable populations and veterans.

The center’s ongoing research projects fall into areas such as:

  • Implementation and evaluation of evidence-based programs
  • Patient-directed end of life care
  • Developing community and family support programs
  • The impact of mental healthcare delivery on outcomes
  • Pharmacoepidemiology
  • The economic impact of chronic disease on patients, healthcare systems, and communities

Research Themes and Projects

The implementation and evaluation of evidence-based programs leading to innovative models of care delivery

Homefront: Implementation and Evaluation of a Post-deployment Family Health Program. (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)
Intervention Mapping to Develop Multi-level Implementation Strategies With Stakeholders: Firearms Means Restriction For Suicide Prevention in Pediatric Primary Care. (PI: Zeber, John, PhD)
UW Live Well Initiative Evaluation (Cho, Jinmyoung)
UW Model for Alzheimer's Services Evaluation (Cho, Jinmyoung)
Engagement in Heart Failure Care (EHFC) (Abraham, Sitara)
Supporting, Unifying and Streamlining in Texas through Active Integrated Networks (SUSTAIN) (Abraham, Sitara)
Meals on Wheels and Social Innovation (SI) Partnership
Evaluation of the Care Transitions Intervention in Measuring EHR-based Outcomes and Healthcare Spending. (Basu, Rashmita)
Evidencetoprograms.com: Toolkit for Identifying, Selecting and Implementing Evidence-Based Program

The development of community and family support programs for persons living with dementia and their caregivers

UW Model for Alzheimer's Services Evaluation (Cho, Jinmyoung)
Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) (Stevens, Alan B., PhD)

The impact of mental healthcare delivery on outcomes in vulnerable populations and veterans

Homefront: Implementation and Evaluation of a Post-deployment Family Health Program. (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)
Assessment of Psychiatric Disorders, Treatment Modalities, and Outcomes including Psychiatric Admission and Suicidality in Central Texas. (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)
Mental Health Research Network II (Sub to Group Health). (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)
Prescription Opioid Analgesics and Risk of Major Depression. (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)

The promotion of advanced care planning leading to improved quality of life and patient-directed end of life care

The Change Leaders for Health Aging Communities-Partnering for Choice (PfC): A Systems Approach to Advance Care Planning (Abraham, Sitara)

The study of older adults and those individuals with multiple chronic conditions, with emphasis on their unique care needs, pharmacoepidemiology, and the economic impact of chronic disease on patients, healthcare systems, and communities

Impact of Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs)-"Diabetes, Dementia, and Multiple Chronic Conditions in Males with Hip Fracture: The HMORN-OAICs AGING Initiative. (PI: Copeland, Laurel Anne, PhD)
UW Healthy Aging and Independent Living Initiative Evaluation (Cho, Jinmyoung)
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Multimorbidity Patterns and Healthcare Utilization among Oldest-Old Patients. (Cho, Jinmyoung)
Engagement in Heart Failure Care (EHFC) (Abraham, Sitara)
Supporting, Unifying and Streamlining in Texas through Active Integrated Networks (SUSTAIN) (Abraham, Sitara)
Evaluation of the Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) in Measuring EHR-based Outcomes and Healthcare Spending. (Basu, Rashmita)

Our Staff

Alan B. Stevens, PhD

Director, Center for Applied Health Research

Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW

Associate Investigator

JC

Jinmyoung Cho, PhD

Assistant Investigator

Collaborating Organizations

CAHR works with various groups, including Texas A&M Health Science Center, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and numerous community-based organizations, to impact population health management.

Researchers from CAHR are involved in meaningful collaborative projects beyond the borders of Texas, with such groups as the Health Care Services Research Network (HCSRN) and the High Value Healthcare Collaborative formed by the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy, among other institutions.

Contact Us

Jason Ettlinger
Research Operation Manager
Phone: 254.215.9886
Jason.Ettlinger@BSWHealth.org
Fax: 254.771.0821

Center for Applied Health Research
4236 Lowes Drive
Temple, TX  76502