Kara Gavin
Research and Policy Media Relations Manager
Gavin draws on more than 25 years of experience in communicating about science, medicine and health policy. She focuses mainly on the health services research done by members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, who work to understand and improve the safety, quality, equity and affordability of health care. As part of the Michigan Medicine communication team, she has lead responsibility for primary care and mental health topics. Contact: [email protected]; Twitter: @Karag
Health Lab
An Experiment in Expansion: How U-M Turned Vacant into Vibrant
How the U-M turned a former pharmaceutical research campus into a thriving hub of innovation.
Health Lab
How a State’s Surgeons Cut Down on Opioids Without Putting Patients in More Pain
A Michigan-wide effort cut prescription size by nearly a third without increasing patients’ pain or decreasing their satisfaction.
Health Lab
Accountable Care Organizations: Study Evaluates a Key Medicare Cost & Quality Program
A new study finds Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) taking part in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) may not be as effective as originally hoped.
Medicine at Michigan
Pets Can Bring Health Benefits, or Concerns
A recent poll found that pets play a major role in older adults’ lives
Health Lab
How Little We Know: Experts Document Lack of Research on Youth Firearm Injury
Hard data from researchers shows more youth firearm injury research must be done.
Health Lab
1 in 75 New Moms Go on to Long-Term Opioid Painkiller Use
A new study on post-birth pain care patterns finds a decline in opioid prescribing, but also identifies opportunities for more non-opioid-based care.
Health Lab
Health Insurance Rule Change Could Help Millions of Chronic Disease Sufferers Spend Less for the Care They Need Most
New federal health insurance rule could save on out-of-pocket costs for patients managing chronic conditions.
Health Lab
Taking Opioids for Chronic Pain May Make It Harder to Find Primary Care
“Secret shopper” study reveals 40 percent of primary care clinics will not accept a new patient who takes opioids on an ongoing basis, reducing their access to needed care
Health Lab
Pneumonia Patients Get Too Many Antibiotics – Especially as They Leave the Hospital
Pneumonia Patients Get Too Many Antibiotics – Especially as They Leave the Hospital
Health Lab
Effort to Stop Revolving Door for Hospital Patients May Be Spinning Its Wheels
Hospital readmissions for hip and knee replacement patients aren’t dropping any faster since penalties went into effect, suggesting the program may have hit its “floor” and casting doubt on expansion.
Health Lab
Many Grandparents’ Medicines Aren’t Secure Enough Around Grandchildren
Many grandparents’ medicines aren’t secure enough around grandchildren, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Health Lab
Efforts to Improve Health Care Value Should Focus on Doing the Right Thing
As health care providers push to reduce low-value care, they should put more emphasis on assessing unintended consequences, listening to patients and providers, and measuring outcomes, a U-M-led review finds.
Health Lab
Living with One Disease Is Hard Enough; Living with Many Can Be Far Worse
A new tool “scores” patients based on the impact of their multiple chronic conditions. The tool reveals that those with higher scores have faster memory loss, a higher suicide risk and a higher overall risk of death.
Health Lab
Lower Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Vaccinated Against ‘Stomach Flu’ Virus
A U-M study found that type 1 diabetes rates were one-third lower in children who received all doses of the rotavirus vaccine.
Health Lab
To Protect Kids and Teens from Firearm Harm, Answer These Research Questions First
As interest grows in addressing pediatric firearm injuries — the second-leading cause of death for young people, researchers list the most urgent priorities for study.
