Neurosurgical Outcomes

We provide evidence-based data on effectiveness, benefits and harmful effects of treatments options. Our research aims to inform healthcare decision-makers in developing processes or actions that directly improve patient care.

Researchers use a variety of data in our research, including:

• Comparison of drugs
• Use of medical devices
• Tests
• Surgeries
• Healthcare delivery

With this data we prepare complex predictive models to identify which elements of treatment impacts patients positively or negatively. Ongoing neurosurgical outcomes projects include investigating readmission rates of brain tumor patients and benefits of radiotherapy to treat gliomas in elderly patients.

Using hospital data, researchers investigate readmission rates and how readmissions impact patients' overall outcomes. Our data identifies drivers of readmissions among brain tumor patients and dispel inaccurate beliefs, such as readmissions do no impact long-term survival of brain tumor patients. Our research shows that hospital readmissions shorten survival and, in some instances, prevent recovery. We hope our results will lead to processes or actions to directly improve patient care.

• Principal Investigators: Chirag Patil, MD

Researchers investigate effectiveness of radiotherapy in elderly patients with anaplastic gliomas and its effects on overall survival. Results show radiation therapy in patients ages 70 and older improves survival. In addition, researchers show utilization of radiotherapy with tumor resection improves overall survival.

• Principal Investigators: Chirag Patil, MD