Health Care Research Initiative
The Health Care Research Initiative (HCRI) at Gies College of Business advances understanding of major health care issues affecting Illinois and the broader United States. Our interdisciplinary faculty and partnerships drive rigorous, actionable research that informs decision-making by business leaders and policymakers. This approach leads to evidence-based health care policies and solutions that tangibly improve lives.
Health Research Areas
Research Spotlight
COVID-19 test-to-stay program for K-12 schools: Opt-in versus opt-out consent model
Anton Ivanov, Ujjal Mukherjee, Subhonmesh Bose, Sridhar Seshadri, Ronald Watkins, Albert England, Jacqueline Suriano, Mehmet Eren Ahsen, Sebastian Souyris
Published in iScience | FULL TEXT
The CDC's Test-to-Stay (TTS) program delineates guidelines for schools to regularly test students and staff to minimize risks of infection transmission. TTS enrollment can be implemented via opt-in, in which students do not test regularly by default, and the opposite, opt-out model. We study the impacts of the two enrollment approaches on testing and positivity rates with data from 259 schools in Illinois. Our results indicate that after controlling for other covariates, schools following the opt-out model are associated with 84% higher testing rate and 30% lower positivity rate. If all schools adopted the opt-out model, 20% of the total lost school days could have been saved. The lower positivity rate among the opt-out group is largely explained by the higher testing rate in these schools, a manifestation of status quo bias.
Airing the Facts - New report highlights air pollution trends in Illinois
Study coauthored by finance professor and HCRI scholar Julian Reif reveals that Chicago has seen a 25% reduction in air pollutant levels over the past 20 years, which could lead to significant increases in life expectancy and quality of life. READ MORE
Midwest Healthcare Management Conference showcases AI and technology-driven healthcare innovation
Technology-driven early detection for dementia and health kiosks for rural communities were among the breakthrough ideas shared at the fourth Midwest Healthcare Management Conference, organized by Gies College of Business and Carle Illinois College of Medicine. READ MORE
