The Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA) was formed in 1973 as a collaborative effort between the departments of Industrial Engineering and Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At CHSRA, researchers seek to improve long-term care and health systems by creating performance measures and developing information and decision support systems. CHSRA research and development projects serve a variety of audiences.

What is CHSRA?

CHSRA researchers are known for the development of the original Quality Indicator (QI) reporting system which the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released to states in July 1999. This QI reporting system was developed by CHSRA under a subcontract that was part of a general contract with CMS. The QIs developed by CHSRA researchers are markers that indicate either the presence or absence of potentially poor nursing home care practices or outcomes. QIs represent the first known systematic attempt to longitudinally record the clinical and psychosocial profile of nursing home residents in a standardized, relatively inexpensive and regular manner requiring the expertise of only in-house staff. In 2005 CMS extended the state reporting system to make use of a new set of Quality Indicators/Quality Measures (QI/QMs). The new QI/QMs are based on the original CHSRA QIs with a new numbering system, a new way of adjusting for risk factors for 3 of the QI/QMs and the inclusion of a pain measure and 3 new Post Acute Care (PAC) QI/QMs.

CHSRA has a significant research interest in the development of indicator/measurement systems which can target problem areas in need of improvement for long term care providers including nursing homes, home health agencies, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and assisted living facilities. In addition to indicator/measurement system development, CHSRA is also strongly committed to identifying, developing and testing techniques and methods for long term care providers to improve care delivery to their residents/patients.

Numerous initiatives are underway in both the public and private sector to use technology and other media to increase the availability of consumer health information. CHSRA staff is involved in a variety of projects that involve providing health care information to consumers, studying ways to help consumers make health care decisions, and evaluating the effectiveness of consumer information and decision support efforts.

In addition to health care quality research, for which it is best known, CHSRA is also involved in analyses of health reimbursement and payment systems within both the public and private sectors. Staff expertise ranges from actuarial modeling of the financial aspects of these systems to research assessing beneficiary understanding of health care financing options.

Researchers at CHRSA conduct analyses of injury data to improve safety and injury-control decision making. And, finally, researchers have developed the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS)-a computer-based health resource designed to educate and equip people facing a health crisis.