Clinical Operations

Our “triple aim” research simultaneously pursues three goals: improving health care and health outcomes while lowering costs.

Clinical research pillars include:

  1. patient-centered health care in a value-based reimbursement system
  2. academic partnerships in the Family Medicine practice, including Pharmacy, Social Work, and Medical Student Education
  3. academic partnerships in the provision of care for patients with substance-use disorder, including Pharmacy and Social Work
  4. provider education in refining diagnoses of chronic medical conditions
  5. provider education in advancing appropriate coding and documentation in the best interest of patient care

By translating research into practice, the Primary Care Research Institute (PCRI) seeks to:

  • facilitate systemic support for patient self-management
  • improve the usability of electronic health records
  • bolster communication as patients move across healthcare systems
  • improve the integration between behavioral and medical health teams
  • limit unintended harms due to over- or under-treatment, such as infections or addiction to prescription opioids

PCRI evaluates programs designed to assess and incorporate patient satisfaction into clinical operations using relevant metrics. Our research also focuses on evaluating the impact of partnerships between different systems of care on patient health outcomes. We collaborate with translational researchers across UB, encourage interprofessional education, and convert findings into practice.

Current Research Projects

  • Advancing Geriatrics Infrastructure & Network Growth (AGING) Initiative
    9/27/23
    Using novel analytic methods with systemwide Health Information Exchange (HIE) data, we will explore new risk factors relevant to Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs) in older adults. This pilot study is also using a participatory patient-care partner approach to gain insight on MCC patient experiences and ensure the relevance of risk factors developed for future patient-provider interactions.  
  • Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP)
    9/27/23
    With the overall goal of expanding and enhancing both the existing and upcoming public health workforce, this project has several aims. First, we will offer specialized training with newly-developed or enhanced existing curriculums to increase the skills and competencies of community health workers (CHWs) and health support workers, while offering financial support to offset expenses that would impede success in training. Second, we will improve CHW employment readiness and opportunities by facilitating apprenticeships within a network of partnerships. Third, this project will advance health equity and support for underserved communities by increasing the number of CHWs and health support workers that are employed in integrated care teams that use their expanded skills to reduce health disparities. PCRI will be involved in curriculum development for CHWs and the evaluation of the program.
  • Community-Based Participatory Research for Reducing Medication Harm Among Retirees
    9/27/23
    This project works to translate known medication safety evidence into practice for frail elders through system-based interventions that address fragmentation through a variety of innovative strategies for providers to initiate deprescribing of inappropriate medications. Such a focus on patient- or caregiver-initiated deprescribing conversations with their doctors has never before been funded or attempted in the United States.

Associated Faculty

  • Manyon, Andrea

    Andrea Manyon, MD

    Clinical Professor and Chair; President and CEO, UBMD Family Medicine

    UBMD Family Medicine at Sheridan 2465 Sheridan Drive (between Parker and Colvin) Tonawanda, NY 14150

    Phone: (716) 835-9800; Fax: (716) 835-9888

    Email: manyon@buffalo.edu

  • Singh, Ranjit

    Ranjit Singh, MB BChir, MBA

    Associate Professor; Vice Chair for Research, Director, Primary Care Research Institute

    UB Gateway Building Department of Family Medicine 77 Goodell Street, Suite 220L Buffalo, NY 14203

    Phone: (716) 816-7275; Fax: (716) 845-6899

    Email: rs10@buffalo.edu

  • Tumiel Berhalter, Laurene

    Laurene Tumiel Berhalter, PhD

    Director of Community Translational Research

    UB Downtown Gateway Department of Family Medicine 77 Goodell Street, Suite 220N Buffalo, NY 14203

    Phone: 716-816-7278; Fax: 716-845-6899

    Email: tumiel@buffalo.edu

  • Vest, Bonnie

    Bonnie Vest, Ph,D.

    Research Associate Professor

    77 Goodell Street Suite 220 Buffalo, NY 14203

    Phone: 17168167287

    Email: bvest@buffalo.edu