Tech partners to fund new Pediatric Center

The Health Systems Institute (HSI) of Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have partnered in the formation of the Center for Pediatric Outcomes and Quality (CPOQ), whose objective is to apply science and technology to enhance healthcare for children by prevention and treatment.

The HSI is a relatively recent institute that was co-created by both Tech and Emory University. HSI works with regional and national healthcare organizations to research and develop technologies that will enhance healthcare by incorporating various information, decision support, communication and biomedical technologies.

According to HSI director and Health Systems professor Francois Sainfort, the CPOQ is representative of an interdisciplinary effort on Tech's part and involves many academic departments on campus such as College of Engineering, College of Computing, College of Sciences, Management, Architecture and the Ivan Allen College.

"We wanted to develop a strong partnership with a top healthcare delivery organization," Sainfort said. "This is the most successful partnership to date."

The partnership of Tech and Children's to create CPOQ is the result of a brainstorming session that was held in March 2005, where Tech and Emory faculty were present along with Children's clinicians and executives.

The three-hour session generated 132 common-interested ideas. According to Sainfort, these indicated the need for collaboration.

The CPOQ, which is the product of that collaboration, studies the entire spectra of healthcare including: prevention, diagnosis, delivery, therapeutics, organization of healthcare delivery and user-friendly medical technologies. The CPOQ will be tackling eight projects, which were selected out of 32 total projects that were submitted by Tech, Emory and Children's Healthcare.

These eight high-risk research projects received small grants (named "seed grants") that allow room for error and give researchers the opportunity to produce some preliminary results. The total annual seed grant budget is roughly $400 000 to $500 000. Sainfort said that the center aimed to become self-sustaining within three years.

"We believe we can make a difference," Sainfort said, speaking of CPOQ.

While a large portfolio of research projects is maintained, researchers are also exploring ways to impact healthcare in the state of Georgia.

"We're in discussion with the state of Georgia to drive improvement and modernization of the Medicaid system. We want to increase the health of children on Medicaid and reduce cost," Sainfort said.

According to Sainfort, such efforts would be started with the implementation of a demo project in a single area like metro Atlanta. That project would then be scaled up to the state and eventually, the rest of the country. Paula Edwards, who works in HSI, was named director of the CPOQ. According to Sainfort, Edwards bridges the gap between Tech and Children's.

While the CPOQ is the recipient of the eight seed grants, a number of individuals and organizations have contributed to the growth and success of the HSI as well as CPOQ.

William W. George, past CEO of Medtronic, endowed the position of Health Systems professor in the Biomedical Engineering department and was, according to Sainfort, one of the very first big donors. George is a Tech alumnus.

Mel Hall, who owns a company in Washington D.C., is another major contributor. Hall owns a company that focuses on prevention, wellness and primary care programs.

Joseph Mello established a professorship within the HSI. The first major contributor to CPOQ was Larry Gellerstedt III, who has endowed the directorship of CPOQ. Other organizations that are involved in donations and support include: Children's Healthcare, Comprehensive Healthcare Services, Merck, Ernst and Young and Atlanta hospitals that are providing internships for graduate students.

"I think it's good. It provides opportunities for pre-meds like me to engage in relevant undergraduate research," said Jason Conger, a first-year biology major who is also pursuiting medical school.