The Role and Impact of Advanced Medical Technology in Transforming Healthcare Delivery Systems

Proposal Due Date:  April 30, 2010
Award Date: July 1, 2010
Period of Performance:  September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011

Click here to view a PDF version of the full RFP. 

Research Project Statement

While information about the costs of medical diagnostics and devices is readily available, there is less information about their value and overall impact on the U.S. economy.  In particular, InHealth hypothesizes that innovation in medical technology has already profoundly changed how healthcare is delivered to patients, and that this trend is likely to continue.  The open questions involve how such changes have affected the costs of delivering advanced care and may impact the economy through changes in health outcomes, functional status, and overall well-being (broadly defined).

This particular request is for proposals that investigate and identify, first and foremost, the economic consequences of advances in diagnostics and medical devices for the delivery system specifically, and the resulting changes in costs and benefits to society.  Investigators should plan to explore a variety of questions related to the economic consequences of new technology, and should not be limited to these suggestions.  Over the past 20 to 30 years: 

• How has health system design changed as a result of changes in medical diagnostics and devices, and are there related shifts in costs and benefits?
• Have there been changes in the locus of care and with what effect?
• What changes have occurred in physical plant requirements?
• Have there been meaningful changes or trends in hospital, physician or insurance company profitability as a result of technology adoption?
• How have employment needs and employee mixes  shifted as a result of medical technology innovation?
• What has happened to labor costs?
• Has investment in acquisition of medical technology and utilization changed?
• How have lengths of hospital stay changed?
• Are there measure relationships between medical technology innovation, healthcare delivery system design, and GDP?
• What are the costs and benefits incurred, and the net value gained or lost, of changes driven by technological change?

While InHealth recognizes that attention will need to be paid to changes in patient outcomes over the past two or three decades, these are not its primary interest.  Investigators may need to document trends so as to validate comparisons and isolate effects, but InHealth’s primary call is for evidence of the economic impact of new technology on hospital and physician healthcare delivery models.

Research Deliverables

Proposals should include how investigators will sequence a flow of deliverables over the course of the project.  For example, InHealth minimally expects to receive quarterly progress reports and interim reports as agreed to.

Final reports should provide a compendium of the original research, synthesize the findings and significance of the study, and analyze implications for patients, providers, health policy decision-makers, and future research.

A.  The completed studies and final report will include the following sections:

1.  Executive Summary.  A high level overview of the takeaway messages that works as a stand-alone document for both lay and informed audiences

2.  Introduction/Background.  A description of the relevance and importance of the research

3.  Methodology.  An outline of the study methodology that includes: 

•  A brief literature review of relevant material describing past efforts to address the study question
• The data sources and data mining methodologies
• The analytical tools and processes, including descriptions of their validity and applicability to the problem 

4. Findings.  A summary of the research findings in clear, concise language. Investigators are encouraged to include charts, graphs, and tables that illustrate the findings.

5. Discussion.  Authors are not limited in their discussions but are encouraged to be prepared to comment on the significance of their findings and their implications for such areas as:

• Health policy
• Overall health costs and impact on GDP
• Comments about future expectations, including additional research possibilities

B.  Final deliverables, will include the following: 

• Articles suitable for submission to appropriate peer-reviewed journals
• Both PDF files and unlocked Word files
• Two (2) hard copies of the full, written report
• Power Point presentation(s) summarizing the full report

Presentations by investigator(s), if needed and as schedules permit, at additional cost to InHealth to cover appropriate out of pocket expenses, will be negotiated separately.

Research Grant Contractual Requirements

• Contract Period.  Three awards will be made for one-year grants.  The grant agreement will be from September 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011.
• Research Grants.  Original research proposals should fall in the range of $200,000 to $250,000.  Price will be a consideration in evaluations. The grant would be paid in semi-annual installments contingent upon demonstrated achievement of the proposal’s benchmarks.
• Budget.  We will recognize up to 10 percent (10%) of the cost for this proposal to cover the bidder’s indirect expenses. These expenses should be projected within the proposal’s estimated costs, not as an additional amount.
• Notification of Award.  Bidders will receive InHealth’s decision via email.   InHealth will also publicize the grants it will fund via other media, including Webcasts.
• Basis for Award.  Grants will be awarded to investigators that present the best analytic framework coupled with the most credible methodology, leading to a set of products most likely to be of peer-review quality and to have impact. 
• Costs of Proposal Preparation.  All costs will be borne by proposers.
• Pre-commitment.  While InHealth expects to receive appropriate interim reports and to have productive and collegial discussions about the progress of this study, it leaves to authors the responsibility for study design; for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; for the writing of the report; and for decisions about where to submit the report for publication.

Proposal Formatting 

Proposals should be double-spaced and include CVs and other addenda, prepared according to the following outline:

1. Table of contents
2. Understanding of the Study
3. Study significance and potential impact
4. NIH-style bio-sketches are preferred for qualifications and credentials
5. Prior work in proposed area
6. Analytic framework
7. Proposed methodology
8. Proposed products
9. Dissemination strategy
10. Timeline and work plan
11. Budget

The proposal should not exceed 30 pages

Proposal Submission

Research proposals should be submitted by close of business on April 30, 2010:

• Via email with PDF and unlocked Microsoft Word attachments
• Via two (2) hard copies delivered via overnight mail to:

Steve Halasey
VP Programs
InHealth
1319 F Street NW, Suite 400
Washington DC 20004
202-783-0940

Click here to view a PDF version of the full RFP.  Direct any questions to InHealth via email.