Causes: Health, Medical Research

Mission: 1) development & validation of new measures 2) translation & adaption of tools for use in international research 3) technical assistance in support of patient -based tools in a variety of specific applications 4) education & training in patient reported outcomes.

Programs: Health assessment lab (hal) is a research center that works with a network of u. S. And international researchers. Hal's activities focus on the worldwide advancement of patient-based health status assessment through: (1) development of highly efficient survey methods for assessing health outcomes from the patient's point of veiw; (2) translation and validation of health status questionnaires; (3) provision of technical assistance to users of the questionnaires; and (4) educational outreach. In particular, hal is well-known for its work with sf-36r and sf-12r health surveys, which are the most widely-used patient-based health status questionnaires in the world. The product of hal's research are used in clinical research, clinical practice and population monitoring. In june 2010, the organization's board of directors announced the establishment of the alvin r. Tarlov and john e. Ware, jr. (tarlov/ware) doctoral dissertation award in patient report outcomes. In 2011, the organization's board established the tarlov/ware post doctoral award program in patient reported outcomes. The purpose of these awards is to encourage doctoral dissertations and post doctoral studies on patient reported outcomes. In 2014, the board established the tarlov/ware career achievement program, which will be awarded annually during the plenary session of the international society in healthcare (isqua) annual meeting. The organization awarded educational/research grants totaling $82,500 and $421,656 for the years ended december 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

in february, 2014, health assessment lab (hal) was awarded a grant from consumers union foundation to develop and test consumer-oriented data visualizations aimed to improve communication and comprehension about the benefits, harms and uncertainties of prescription drugs. The goal was to refine and test one or more different visual approaches for eventual publication by consumer reports. The total grant for the project was $120,000 and was successfully completed in july, 2014. Hal awarded a grant of $105,000 to informulary, inc. To assist with the project.

on september 1, 2014, hal entered into an apgreement with the insititute for healthcare improvement ("ihi") to provide faculty services for the ihi leadership alliance. Project goals include development of a new set of measurement framework for patient-reported outcomes; the strategy, design and deployment of alliance activities, and evaluation of the alliance impact. The total contract for the project is $76,800, to be paid in incremental monthly payments of $6,400 to hal and continuing through august, 2015. During 2014, the total hal received under completed provisions of the agreement was $25,600.