The Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life New Scientist Fund supports research scientist's groundbreaking work
People who have complex chronic disease remain the most poorly understood population in health care, even though they tend to use (or need) the most resources. They are often the most expensive patients and the most at risk of decline. As governments and healthcare providers look to contain costs and deliver patient-centered care, it is critical to better understand this population so that best practices and benchmarks for complex chronic disease can be determined.
The Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation is filling this knowledge gap with the Bridgepoint Study. The study is led by Dr. Kerry Kuluski, a Research Scientist in the Bridgepoint Collaboratory.
The Bridgepoint Study will yield a greater understanding of what it’s like to have more than one chronic condition, particularly when it’s coupled with other functional, cognitive, mental health, social, and lifestyle challenges.
“Contributing to the design of this study has been incredibly exciting because it has enormous implications for future patient care and health policy,” says Dr. Kuluski.
The Bridgepoint Study has elicited interest among the broader policy community, including the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), and other care settings that serve complex chronic disease patients, including St. Michael’s Hospital, West Park Health Care Centre, Toronto Grace Health Centre, Toronto Rehab and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Dr. Kuluski’s work on the Bridgepoint Study is generously supported by the Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life New Scientist Fund, which was created to fund research that gains further insight into complex chronic disease, patient experience and care.