Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Studdert, David

Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
Grant Title: Improving Dispute Resolution in Health Care
Grant Number: K02 HS011285
Duration: 4 years (2000-2004)
Total Award: $391,400

Project Description: The purpose of this project was to improve understanding of how disputes arise in health care settings, how they are resolved, and who brings them. The research involved three issues:

1. An analysis of coverage decisionmaking by managed care organizations, begun in October 1999.
2. An analysis external review of coverage decisions by California's Department of Managed Health Care.
3. The Malpractice Insurers' Medical Error Prevention Study (MIMEPS), an investigation of ways in which malpractice claims data can shed light on the causes of medical injury.

Career Goals: Dr. Studdert is trained as a lawyer and has a doctorate in health policy with a concentration in epidemiology and economics. He has worked as an attorney in Australia and as a health policy analyst/researcher in the US. His research interests include patient safety, quality of care, and dispute resolution. Dr. Studdert used the Award to facilitate a transition into full-time research in health policy. He undertook some additional formal study in fields relevant to health law. He also developed skills in grant-writing; analysis of large datasets, and study design.

Progress to Date: This project has been completed.

Future Plans: Ongoing manuscript preparation and publication on the MIMEPS project.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Professional Associations:
  • Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria (Australia).
  • Public Health Association of Australia.
  • National Health Lawyers Association.
  • AcademyHealth.
• Professional Positions:
  • Consultant, RAND.
  • Assistant Professor of Law and Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health.
• Awards: Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award from AcademyHealth (2004).

K-Generated Publications:

• Studdert DM, Brennan TA. Toward a workable model of "no-fault" compensation for medical injury in the United States. American Journal of Law & Medicine 2001;27:225-52.
• Gresenz CR, Studdert DM, Campbell N, Hensler DR. Patients in conflict with managed care: A profile of appeals in two HMOs. Health Affairs 2002;21(4):189-96.
• Studdert DM, Brennan TA. No-fault compensation for medical injuries: the prospect for error prevention. JAMA 2001;286:217-23.
• Fitzjohn J, Studdert DM. A compensation perspective on error prevention: Is the ACC medical misadventure scheme compensating the right sort of injury? New Zealand Medical Journal 2001;114:432-4.
• Studdert DM. Charges of HIV discrimination in the workplace: The Americans With Disabilities Act in action. American Journal of Epidemiology 2002;156:219-29.
• Studdert DM, Gresenz CR. Consumer protection in managed care: enrollee appeals of pre-service coverage denials at two HMOs. JAMA 2003;289:864-70.
• Lamb RM, Studdert DM, Bohmer RMJ, et al. Hospital disclosure practices: results of a national survey. Health Affairs 2003(2):73-83.
• Stevenson DG, Studdert DM. The rise of nursing home litigation: findings from a national survey of attorneys. Health Affairs 2003(2):219-29.
• Ransom, SB, Studdert DM, Dombrowski MP, et al. Reduced medical-legal risk by optimal obstetrical clinical pathway implementation: a case-control study. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2003;101:751-55.
• Gawande AA, Zinner MJ, Studdert DM, Brennan TA. Analysis of errors reported by surgeons at three teaching hospitals. Surgery 2003;133:614-21.
• Gawande AA, Studdert DM, Orav EJ, et al. A case-control study of the retention of instruments and sponges after surgery. New England Journal of Medicine 2003;348:229-35.
• Studdert DM, Mello MM, Burns JP, et al. Conflict in the care of patients with prolonged stay in the ICU: types, sources, and predictors. Intensive Care Medicine 2003;29:1489-97.
• Studdert DM, Burns JP, Mello MM, et al. Nature of conflict in the care of pediatric intensive care patients with prolonged stay. Pediatrics 2003;112:553-8.
• Kapur K, Grezenz CR, Studdert DM. Managing care: utilization review in action at two capitated medical groups. Health Affairs 2003 (Jan-June);W3-275-82.
• Mello MM, Rimm EB, Studdert DM. The McLawsuit: the fast food industry and legal accountability for obesity. Health Affairs 2003;22:207-16.
• Grezenz CR, Studdert DM. Disputes between over coverage of emergency department services: a study of two HMOs. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2004;43:155-62.
• Bloche MG, Studdert DM. A quiet revolution: law as an agent of health systems change. Health Affairs 2004;23(2):29-42.
• Studdert DM, Yang YT, Mello MM. Are damages caps regressive? A study of jury verdicts. Health Affairs 2004;23:54-67.
• Mello MM, Studdert DM, DesRoches CM, et al. Caring for patients in a malpractice crisis: physician satisfaction, the physician-patient relationship, and quality of care. Health Affairs 2004;23:42-53.
• Studdert DM, Stevenson DG. Nursing home litigation and tort reform: a case for "exceptionalism." Gerontologist 2004;44:588-95.
• Gresenz CR, Studdert DM. External review of coverage denials in managed care. Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (in press).
• Studdert DM. On selling "no-fault" In: Sharpe VA (ed.) Accountability Patient Safety and Policy Reform. Georgetown University Press, 2004.

AHRQ Research Portfolio: Socio-economics of Health Care; Quality and Patient Safety; Training.
AHRQ Goals: Efficiency

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