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Investigator Ellis C. Dillon, Ph.D.

Ellis C. Dillon, Ph.D.

Assistant Scientist

 

Ellis C. Dillon, Ph.D., is Assistant Scientist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute (PAMFRI). She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, San Diego. She has led a variety of mixed methods projects incorporating electronic health record (EHR) data and qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, and observations of current care practices.

Her current research focuses on improving the delivery of and patient experience of care for individuals with serious illnesses, palliative care, mental health care, and physician and staff well-being. Dr. Dillon is currently leading the Physician Well-Being research project, which is conducting an ongoing evaluation of physician well-being and burnout across PAMF and Sutter and working with PAFMG leadership to develop strategies to improve joy in work. She is Co-Investigator on PAMF’s Adolescent Behavioral Health project, and is leading the research team’s evaluation of a care redesign which connects adolescents with behavioral health needs to community behavioral health specialists. She is the Sutter Health representative to the HCSRN (Health Care System Research Network) Mental Health Research Network and works with a cohort of other researchers embedded in health systems working to improve mental health care. 

Dr. Dillon is also Principal Investigator for a project focused on improving shared decision making for individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer. This mixed methods project will evaluate the current state of goals of care discussions between patients and oncologists, and referral to palliative care, using EHR data, chart reviews, and interviews with patients, caregivers, and care team members.  


Sutter Health Research Enterprise
795 El Camino Real
Ames building
Palo Alto, CA, 94301-2302
(650) 625-3876  
dillone@sutterhealth.org

Primary Research Interests

  • Aging and Longevity
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Child and Adolescent Health
  • Dementia
  • Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome
  • Disease Management
  • Health Disparities
  • Health Services
  • Lung Diseases
  • Medical Informatics
  • Mental Health
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Pain
  • Prevention and Health Maintenance
  • Women's Health

Publications

Physicians’ well-being linked to in-basket messages generated by algorithms In EHRs.

Meaningful redesign of EHR in-basket workflow and a wellness-enhancing work environment are necessary to effectively improve physicians’ well-being.

Physicians’ well-being linked to in-basket messages generated by algorithms In electronic health records.

Meaningful redesign of EHR in-basket workflow and a wellness-enhancing work environment are necessary to effectively improve physicians’ well-being.

Primary care provider utilization and satisfaction with a health system navigation program for adolescents with behavioral health needs.

We studied PCP adoption of behavioral health navigation services over a 4-year period (July 2014 to June 2018) in a large ambulatory health system.

Advance care planning in older adults with multiple chronic conditions undergoing high-risk surgery.

We determined the prevalence and patient characteristics associated with advance care planning documentation among seniors prior to high-risk surgery.

Measuring the impact of patient-engaged research: how a methods workshop identified Critical Outcomes of Research Engagement.

Article describes a workshop and process used to identify and develop Critical Outcomes of Research Engagement. Group will conduct study to validate measures.

Community-based palliative care and advance care planning documentation: evidence from a multispecialty group.

Only a small percentage of individuals with serious illnesses had ACP documentation in the EHR. Palliative care service use was assoc with higher rates of ACP.

Cost estimates for designing and implementing a novel team care model for chronically ill patients.

We estimate the human resource cost of implementing a novel team-based chronic care model "Champion," at a large multispecialty group practice.

An evaluation of two interventions to enhance patient-physician communication using the observer OPTION5 measure of shared decision making.

Results suggest targeting patient and physician behaviors promotes SDM better than patient activation only. Improving SDM for less educated patients is crucial.

Provider perspectives on advance care planning documentation in the electronic health record.

Results suggest that providers desire standardized workflows for advance care planning discussion and documentation.

Evolving goals of care discussions as described in interviews with individuals with advanced cancer and oncology and palliative care teams.

Frequency, quality, and content of care conversations were shaped by pt receptivity, stage of illness, clinician attitudes, predispositions to palliative care.

Primary care nurse practitioner management of adolescent behavioral health.

A primary care NP could be a cost-saving and pt-centered way to reduce the burden on PCPs while meeting teen behavioral health needs.

How, when, and why individuals with stage IV cancer seen in an outpatient setting are referred to palliative care: a mixed methods study.

We found high rates of referral for palliative care in stage 4 ovarian cancer. Referrals vary in timing, reason, usefulness to pts, families, & clinical teams.

The relationship between primary care physician burnout and patient-reported care experiences: a cross-sectional study.

Physician burnout adversely affects patient-provider communication in primary care visits. Improving MD work environments could have an impact on pt experience.

Frontline perspectives on physician burnout and strategies to improve well-being: interviews with physicians and health system leaders.

Changes to improve physician well-being: increasing support staff, reducing EHR workload, changing revenue generation, compensation approaches, and org culture.

How home hospice care facilitates patient and family engagement.

Structural factors (e.g., home setting, ample time, personal relationships), hospice worker strategies (e.g., patient education and presenting choices), and family member support facilitated engagement.

Sharing experiences and expertise: the Health Care Systems Research Network workshop on patient engagement in research.

Engaging co-equal patient partners in research requires skills not normally used or valued in scientific research methods and requires longer timelines.

Enhancing shared decision making through carefully designed interventions that target patient and provider behavior.

Designed novel, multidimensional intervention to nudge patients and primary care providers to communicate more openly.

Using unlicensed health coaches to improve care for insured patients with diabetes and hypertension: patient and physician perspectives on recruitment and uptake.

Although the health coach program did not change patients' biometrics, physicians and patients reported improved care processes and reduced physician workload.

Research Studies

Advance Care Planning in Older Adults With Multiple Medical Conditions Undergoing High-Risk Surgery

Goal is to determine the prevalence of preop documentation of ACP among older, high-risk surgical pts with multiple conditions.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, External PI Principal Investigator

Advance Care Planning Practices in Caring for Vulnerable Elders with Multiple Chronic Conditions

To examine the impact of the palliative care program on the patterns of ACP documentation in EHR of patients with multiple chronic conditions.

Investigator: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist

Enhancing Physician, Clinician, and Staff Joy of Work Through Well-being Research

Goal is to improve clinician and staff well-being by understanding predictors of well-being and impact of system changes on burnout.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Dominick L. Frosch Ph.D., Director, PAMFRI

Evaluation of Chronic Care Transformation at PAMF

Evaluate the Champion program, tiered team care targeting patients with poorly managed diabetes or hypertension, in two PAMF clinics versus two comparison clinics.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Cheryl Stults Ph.D., Assistant Scientist

HCSRN Mental Health Research Network

Consortium focuses on improving individual and population mental health through research, under auspices of Health Care Systems Research Network.

Investigator: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist

Improving Cancer Care

Project will provide information about referrals to palliative care and way to enhance goals of care discussions for patients diagnosed with stage IV cancer.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Su-Ying Liang Ph.D., Research Economist, Harold (Hal) Luft Ph.D., Senior Scientist

Improving the Outcomes of Older Adults with Psychosocial Vulnerability Undergoing Major Surgery.

Dr. Dillon will lead the qualitative research--data collection and analysis.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, External PI Principal Investigator

Pilot Program to Expand Behavioral Health Care for Adolescents Within Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Mills-Peninsula Health Services

This is a 5-year program to implement and evaluate integration of behavioral health into PAMF primary care settings, focusing on adolescents.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, External PI Principal Investigator

Stupski Serious Illness Program Evaluation

Evaluate palliative care projects at seven healthcare organizations in the SF Bay Area.

Investigators: Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Sylvia Sudat PhD

Suicidality and Major Depressive Disorder: Examining Screening, Detection and Follow-up Care Within a Large Multispecialty Healthcare System

To examine suicidality screening and its impact on suicide attempts and patient care, including implementation of standardized inpatient suicidality screening.

Investigators: Kristen M.J. Azar R.N., BSN, MSN/MPH, Investigator, Ellis C. Dillon Ph.D., Assistant Scientist

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