Faculty

Department of Health Services Program Affiliations:
  -  Master of Health Administration Program
  -  PhD program in Health Services

Douglas Conrad's fields of specialization in economics are industrial organization and corporate finance. Dr. Conrad's teaching focuses on risk and insurance principles and managerial finance in health services and managed care, primarily in the MHA and PhD programs of the Department of Health Services. His current research examines the effects of financial incentives on health care quality, physician compensation models in physician group practices, conceptual development and performance of integrated health systems, and the outcomes of community care networks in the United States.

(office)  H660C, Health Sciences Building
University of Washington
1959 NE Pacific
Box:  357660
Seattle, WA 98195-7660
(voice)  206-616-2923     (fax)  206-543-3964
dconrad@u.washington.edu
risk and insurance, managerial finance, industrial organization, and health economics

• HSMGMT 500
  Risk and Insurance Seminar
• HSMGMT 513   (Executive MHA Program)
  Seminar in Health Care Finance
• HSMGMT 513
  Seminar in Health Care Finance

vertical integration in health services, integrated health systems, impact of financial incentives on physician behavior

• Community of Science profile

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
PI:   Lafferty           Dates:    09/2005 - 05/2009
This study will measure the extent to which the legislation requiring coverage of every category of healthcare provider has increased the integration of CAM use for specific conditions for which CAM use has proven efficacy.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    10/2007 - 03/2009
This project on quality-based financial incentives for physician group practices takes advantage of a regional natural experiment in paying for quality in Washington State during a 5-year period.

Health Resources Services Administration
PI:   Milgrom           Dates:    09/2005 - 08/2008
Using a analysis of Medicaid claims, this research will assess the progress of dentists towards a "paradigm shift" in adopting a medical model of care where oral diseases are prevented in contrast to the traditional surgical treatment model.

WA State Department of Health
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    08/2006 - 02/2008
To assess the care supported by the Washington State Diabetes Collaborative by comparing the healthcare costs, utilization, and selected outcomes for patients in the Collaborative clinics with patients in non-Collaborative clinics.

Health Research and Educational Trust
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    04/2007 - 12/2007
The UW-based Center for Health Management Research was integrated into the HRET in 2006. The purpose of this contract is to facilitate the transfer of leadership and management of CHMR to HRET.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Grembowski           Dates:    01/2007 - 06/2008
The primary objective is to establish whether incremental changes in the expenditures of local health departments are associated with changes in the health disparities of the populations in which they serve.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Grembowski           Dates:    11/2004 - 10/2006
The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect on quality of Group Health Cooperative's Access initiative plan.

National Science Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    08/2001 - 07/2006
To fund the Center for Health Management Research which coordinates research projects for a consortium of universities and private research groups in health services areas.

WA State Department of Health
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    12/2004 - 06/2005
This research study will compare selected health outcomes and costs for patients with diabetes who receive care from collaborative and non-collaborative primary care clinics.

Center for Health Management Research
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    01/2003 - 09/2004
This research is designed to address (1) the effects of financial incentives on the development and implementation of care management practices in medical groups and (2) the effects of financial incentives on individual physician's adoption of specific care management practices related to the quality of medical care for their patients.

Network for Healthcare Management
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    08/2003 - 07/2004
This contract will provide for focused effort relating to the recruitment of new corporate and academic members and the retention of current members in the Center for Health Management Research.

Leapfrog Group
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    01/2004 - 04/2004
The purpose of this project is to update and refine the savings/cost estimates of the Leapfrog Group's three recommended patient safety practices previously detailed in John Birkmeyer's 2001 report, 'Economic Implications'.

AHRQ - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    05/2002 - 02/2004
The major goal of the proposed conference is to evaluate the impact of financial incentives, clinical-managerial-organizational arrangements, and market environments on the quality and cost of health services.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    11/2001 - 10/2003
The major goal of the proposed conference is to evaluate the impact of financial incentives, clinical-managerial-organizational arrangements, and market environments on the quality and cost of health services.

Network for Healthcare Management
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    02/2003 - 07/2003
This contract will provide for focused effort relating to the recruitment of new corporate and academic members and the retention of current members in the Center for Health Management Research.

California HealthCare Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    04/2002 - 04/2003
The major goal of the proposed conference is to evaluate the impact of financial incentives, clinical-managerial-organizational arrangements, and market environments on the quality and cost of health services.

Network for Healthcare Management
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    05/2002 - 10/2002
The primary goal of this project is to build on efforts relating to the recruitment of new corporate and academic members and the retention of current members in the Center for Health Management Research.

Medical Group Management Association
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    02/2001 - 12/2001
The major goal of this project is to enhance the processes of survey content, design, implementation, and follow-up for two major MGMA surveys.

Kaiser Permanente
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    03/2001 - 05/2001
To design and interpret analyses of the effects on health services utilization and cost and patient satisfaction.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    02/2000 - 06/2000
To assess impact of compensation methods on physician productivity and reaction of local markets providing physician services.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
PI:   Conrad           Dates:    09/1997 - 11/1999
To estimate the impact of different physician compensation and risk-bearing arrangements on physician practice productivity and assess qualitatively the anticipated future changes in those compensation and risk-bearing arrangements.

AHRQ - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
PI:   Deyo           Dates:    08/1994 - 08/1998
Compare long-term functional and work-related outcomes of alternative surgical and non-surgical treatments and to assess the impact of back pain guidelines and health reform efforts on regional and national trends in back surgery rates, re-operation rates, spinal fusion rates, and non-surgical hospitalization rates.

Conrad, D.A., Sales, A.M., Chaudhuri, A., Liang, S., Maynard, C., Pieper, L., Weinstein, L., Gans, D., Piland, N. The Impact of Financial Incentives on Physician Productivity in Medical Groups. Health Services Research, Vol. 37, August 2002.

Conrad D. Ambulatory Care Efficiency: A Conceptual Essay and Empirical Assessment. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, Vol. 25 (1), January 2002.

Conrad, Douglas A., Koos, Shaun, Haase, Martin, Harney, Alan. "Physician Practice Management Companies: Prospects and Performance." Medical Care Research and Review, September 1999.

Conrad, Douglas A. "Risk-Bearing Arrangements and Capital Financing Strategies for Integrated Health Systems." Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Vol. 39 (4): September 1999.

Conrad, Douglas A., Maynard, Charles, Cheadle, Allen, et al. "Primary Care Physician Compensation Method in Medical Groups: Does It Influence the Use and Cost of Health Services for Enrollees of Managed Care Organizations?" JAMA. (March 18, 1998)

Shortell S., Zukoslei A., Alexander J., Bazzoli G., Conrad D., Hasuai U., Wynia R., Sofaes S., Chan B., Casey E., Margolin F. Evaluating Partnerships for Community Health Improvement: Tracking the Footprints. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law, Vol. 27(1) 49-95, February 2002.

Tufano, James, Conrad, Douglas A., Sales, Anne, Maynard, Charles, Noren, J., Kezirian, E., Schellhase, K., Liang Su-Ying. "Effects of Compensation Method on Physician Behaviors." American Journal of Managed Care. Volume 7 (4), April 2001: pp. 363-373.

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