Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. It describes how PCORnet’s standardized data network and governance framework enable efficient, large‑scale clinical research by linking data across health systems and supporting diverse studies that address real‑world health questions.

This article, published in Medical Care, was authored in part by REACHnet, LPHI’s clinical research network. REACHnet serves as LPHI’s clinical research network within PCORnet®, enabling efficient, large‑scale studies that integrate patient engagement and real‑world health data to address critical health questions.

Lindsey Rudov, MS, Analyst III on the Health Services Research team at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. The study describes how a targeted recruitment methodology that combined PCORnet® infrastructure with patient engagement strategies increased participant diversity in the Congenital Heart Initiative registry compared with traditional self‑enrollment approaches, demonstrating the value of combining data‑driven recruitment tools with meaningful patient partnership in research.

Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. The study uses PCORnet® data to describe outpatient antiviral prescribing patterns and highlights differences in treatment across patient groups that may be preventable.

Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. The study summarizes a decade of achievements by PCORnet®, the national patient‑centered clinical research network, highlighting its growth, expanded patient reach, and contributions to large‑scale, real‑world health research.

Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. The study examines patterns of telehealth use during pregnancy and the postpartum period using aggregated electronic health record data from PCORnet®, highlighting changes in care utilization and differences by hypertension status among pregnant women.

Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer, and Bridget Simon-Friedt, PhD, MS, Population Health Scientist, both at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), are researchers on this article, published in Medical Care. The study leveraged PCORnet® data from over 1.6 million adults to examine racial and ethnic differences in COVID‑19 disease severity.

Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, Chief Data and Strategy Officer, and Beth Nauman, PhD, MPH, Senior Director of Health Services Research, both at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), are researchers on this article, published in Medical Care. The study highlights how linking electronic health record and claims data strengthens research capacity within PCORnet® and supports more comprehensive, patient-centered research.

Beth Nauman, PhD, MPH, Senior Director of Health Services Research at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is a researcher on this article, published in Medical Care. The study analyzes more than 1.1 million pregnancy outcomes across 72 health systems to better understand patterns of pregnancy-related health events nationwide.

Shelina Davis, MPH, MSW, CEO of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, emphasizes that cancer prevention, early detection, and equitable access to care are essential to building a healthier Louisiana, highlighting the importance of routine screenings, vaccination, and community-based solutions to ensure no one is left behind.

The report identifies obstacles to care including financial barriers, perceived cost of care, transportation challenges, and provider shortages, and offered recommendations such as strengthening insurance literacy, expanding access models, increasing telehealth capacity, and building workforce pipeline programs.

Hosted on World AIDS Day, this webinar highlights the impact of HIV and tobacco use on health equity in Louisiana. Featuring perspectives from public health and community experts, the discussion outlines key challenges and actionable solutions.

In 2024, with support from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, the Supporting Pregnant People with Opioid Use Disorder in Louisiana (SUPPORT LA) project was launched by the Louisiana Public Health Institute. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, identify opportunities, and highlight effective approaches to supporting pregnant people with opioid use disorder across Louisiana. Early insights were gathered through key informant interviews, and this report summarizes findings that will guide SUPPORT LA’s next steps.

Chief Program Officer Taslim Van Hattum, MPH, LCSW, shares her personal story, highlighting the importance of early lung cancer detection and robust tobacco prevention efforts to improve health outcomes across Louisiana.

This report highlights the key strategies, activities, and outcomes of the Primary Care Capacity Project (PCCP), one of four integrated Gulf Region Health Outreach Program (GRHOP) projects created and funded as part of the Deepwater Horizon Medical Benefits Class Action Settlement.

Through the Research Ready project, LPHI developed resources to facilitate improved staff engagement in clinic-based research studies.

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Northwest Regional Manager, Jennifer Haneline, wrote an insightful article that speaks to the mental health related challenges that cause youth to turn to vaping.  Please read the full article using the link below.

Senior Program Manager Stephanie Kennedy, MPS, TTS, shares her thoughts on how integrating doulas into Louisiana’s healthcare system can significantly improve maternal and infant health outcomes, reduce medical interventions, and strengthen family well-being.

Chief Data & Strategy Officer Thomas Carton, PhD, MS, shares insights into how LPHI is helping lead a groundbreaking effort to connect health data, cultural context, and migration patterns to strengthen public health across the Gulf Coast region and is advancing a shared vision for a healthier, more connected region.

A comprehensive look at Louisiana-based research on tobacco prevention and control, published in 2024.