At CORE, our work is about health transformation – and few things have been more transformative to U.S. healthcare than the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, we’re partnering with researchers within and outside of Providence on a range of COVID-19 research projects. This work aims to provide immediate improvements in COVID-19 care, as well as help advance understanding of the pandemic’s long-term impacts on healthcare.

As of February 2021, CORE is engaged in a variety of COVID-19 projects, including:

Disparities in COVID-19 Testing & Infection Rates

Numerous reports have pointed to persistent disparities in the impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) compared to white populations. This project, funded by the Providence St. Joseph Foundation (PRSJ Foundation) and conducted in partnership with the Coalition of Communities of Color and Stanford University, is analyzing data from across the Providence system to better understand racial, ethnic, and language disparities in COVID-19 impacts among patients. Results will help inform recommendations on how health systems can reduce or eliminate disparate impacts of the pandemic.

Evaluation of COVID-19 Telehealth Home Monitoring 

COVID-19 has led to a rapid expansion in telehealth services, creating new opportunities for patient care during and after the pandemic. This study, funded by the PRSJ Foundation, evaluated rapid response telehealth interventions, which provide monitoring and support for patients with COVID-19 who are managing the illness at home. The project analyzed data from medical records and other sources to assess effectiveness. Our findings will be used to inform current and future telehealth interventions and support for patients with COVID-19.

Impacts of Shifting Utilization & Deferred Care Due to COVID-19

Since the pandemic’s onset, healthcare providers have seen substantive shifts in how people engage in care, including reductions in outpatient, ED, and inpatient services. This study, funded by Providence Foundations of Oregon, aims to understand how patterns of care have shifted for BIPOC and white populations, and how those changes compare to pre-pandemic racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access and use. It also seeks to understand how the limitations of available data sources may mask disparities in access to healthcare, both before and during the pandemic. 

Investigating Long-term Health Impacts of COVID-19 

This research aims to better understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19. The study, funded by the Housman Foundation, will create a cohort of Providence patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and a similar group of patients who tested negative. Beginning in 2021, CORE will follow the patients for one year to measure subsequent health issues and healthcare use. 

My COVID Diary: Understanding Patient Experiences

With funding from the PRSJ Foundation, CORE is partnering with Providence’s Clinical Analytics Team on their My COVID Diary clinical research project. The project uses digital technology to collect and analyze first-person accounts of COVID-19 from thousands of individuals in order to understand symptoms, disease progression, subsequent medical challenges, and social implications and experiences. This data will be used to better prepare medical and social service systems to meet the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 and steer the nation toward recovery.