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
Death vs. Readmission: Should Medicare Hospital Payments Weigh Them Equally?
The Medicare penalty for patient readmission is higher than patient death. See how Medicare can better balance hospital mortality and hospital readmission rates.
Health Lab
8 Things to Know About Affordable Care Act Enrollment
Affordable care act enrollment starts in November. Get more information on enrolling in the affordable care act and helpful tips for the ACA enrollment process.
Health Lab
Why Doctors Order Scans for Lower Back Pain When They Probably Won’t Help
Even when clinicians agree an MRI or CT isn’t needed, referral and patient factors get in the way, a new survey shows.
Health Lab
Stopped Hearts Need More Cardiac Arrest Research to Start
Cardiac arrest research is needed, specifically for post cardiac arrest care and cardiac arrest treatment. See the study that details cardiac arrest statistics.
Health Lab
Can Opioid Overdose Prevention Take a Lesson from Stroke Prevention?
Buprenorphine could help with preventing opioid overdose & opioid addiction, but it requires heavy doctor oversight. Discover U-M's idea to treat opioid abuse.
Health Lab
To Achieve Diversity Among Doctors, Start in Pre-Med Years
U-M program HSSP seeks to help URiM students while they are still in pre-med programs. Learn more about diversity in medicine and medical school demographics.
Health Lab
Costly Care: Patient Complications and Bills Vary Widely by Hospital
U-M study shows hospitals with higher rates of surgical complications tend to charge more. See the cost of medical complications like postoperative complications.
Health Lab
A New Theory on What’s Really Happening in PTSD Brains
A new post-traumatic stress disorder study at U-M is researching PTSD and the brain. See how this PTSD study is matching PTSD symptoms with parts of the brain.
Health Lab
Out-of-Pocket Health Costs: One Size Should Not Fit All
Value-Based Insurance Design seeks to lower financial barriers to essential clinical services. See how VBID hopes to change HDHPs, diagnostic testing & Medicaid.
Health Lab
Saying Thanks for the Ultimate Gift to Medical Education
U-M holds ceremony thanking anatomical donors & their families for donating their body to science. Here's why you should consider donating your body to science.
Health Lab
How Big Data Brings Big Gains in Surgical Quality
Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative uses healthcare big data to improve infection prevention. See big data being used to improve surgical patient safety.
Health Lab
To Rio and Back: A Golden Reason to Take Time Off from Grad School
Meet Amanda: Graduate student at U-M performing colon cancer research and a 2016 gold medalist in rowing. See her journey from cancer studies to the Olympics.
Health Lab
Study: Physicians Don’t Report or Treat Their Own Mental Illness Due to Stigma
Doctors with mental health symptoms are going untreated out of fear of losing their licenses. See one study's suggestions on addressing physician depression.
Health Lab
Health Coverage on the Rise for Those in the Justice System
Prisoner health care coverage rates have increased with the Affordable Care Act. Learn more about ACA's impact on inmates and others in the justice system.
Health Lab
Shortages of Technetium, Used in Stress Tests, May Harm Heart Patients
Nuclear stress tests use Tc-99m to help diagnose heart problems in patients. See what other heart stress tests doctors are using during the Tc-99m shortage.
