The Division of Outcomes Research and Quality supports the Department of Surgery through administration of grants and IRB applications, industry sponsored clinical trials, quality improvement initiatives, statistical analysis, and observational research.
Grant, IRB and Manuscript Submissions
DORQ staff will facilitate the electronic submission of grants, including NIH, foundation and industry applications. Our goal is to take on the administrative tasks and allow investigators to focus on writing the analysis plan. We will take care of formatting, signatures and electronic submission. Please contact us at DORQ@pennstatehealth.psu.edu at least two weeks (earlier, if possible) prior to the grant submission date so that we have enough time to do our part.
Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trials
DORQ staff can support industry-sponsored clinical trials. We can facilitate a Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA), develop a research budget, collaborate with ORA for contract execution, oversee IRB submission, manage subject enrollment and ensure research billing compliance. If you identify a clinical trial opportunity that you would like to participate in, please contact us at DORQ@pennstatehealth.psu.edu as early as possible.
Quality Improvement
The DORQ is the home for the Department of Surgery’s participation in the adult and pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Programs (NSQIP). NSQIP data and reports area available for research and performance improvement efforts. For local NSQIP data please contact our office. National data from the Participant Use File (PUF) is available to member institutions through an online request
Statistical Analysis
The DORQ has statisticians who provide all kinds of data analysis. They are experts in power and sample size calculations, study design and univariate and multivariate modeling.
Outcomes Research
DORQ faculty are actively engaged in and collaborate on outcomes, quality improvement, health services and economic studies. In addition, we are a repository for large observational data sets, including the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) data, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and SEER-Medicare data.