Standardized Patient Assessment across Post-Acute Care: Opportunities and Challenges - SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Candidate: I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Texas
Medical Branch. My long-term career goal is to establish a funded research program based on standardized
functional assessment and outcomes used in post-acute care. To accomplish this goal, I will develop skills to
become the leader of an interdisciplinary team. I will complete the following training: 1) Learn how standardized
functional data are defined, developed and used in post-acute care; 2) Learn new data science methods and
analytical skills; and 3) Engage in scientific and grant writing to advance my career and scientific skills.
Mentoring Team: The mentoring team includes Kenneth Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR, (primary mentor) and Yong-
Fang Kuo, PhD, (co-mentor). The advisory team includes Anne Deutsch, RN, PhD, CRRN, Trudy Mallinson,
PhD, OTR, and Brian Downer, PhD. Dr. Ottenbacher is an occupational therapist, Director of the Division of
Rehabilitation Sciences, and an expert in rehabilitation outcomes research. Dr. Kuo is a Professor in the
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and the Director of Office of Biostatistics with
expertise in large data and quantitative methods. Dr. Deutsch is a nurse scientist with expertise in rehabilitation
health policy. Dr. Mallinson is an expert in methods related to crosswalk development. Dr. Downer (peer
mentor) is PI for a K01 award from the NIA. The mentoring team will guide career development activities and
participate in the K01 research.
Research Strategy: The goal of the K01 project is to compare standardized functional assessment items (self-
care, mobility and cognition) mandated by the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act, to
items currently used in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF). Aim 1: Examine response patterns between
current IRF functional items and the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADE) functional
items. Aim 2. Develop a crosswalk between current IRF and SPADE functional items. Aim 3: Using the
crosswalk identified in Aim 2, conduct comparative analyses using post-acute care Quality Measures included
in the IMPACT Act. Findings from the K01 research will influence service delivery and functional outcomes
across post-acute providers. The crosswalk developed in Aim 2 will support longitudinal studies to compare
functional outcomes pre- and post- use of SPADE items. The study findings will facilitate the use of
standardized outcome measures across post-acute care.
