SUMMARY
Fernanda Bellolio, M.D., M.S., focuses on research methodology, patient-centered care, clinical research, geriatric research and implementation through national clinical guidelines development. She has mentored more than 100 individuals, including medical students, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, master's degree and Ph.D. candidates, and Ph.D. scientists. Dr. Bellolio has federal and industry funding for research in acute medical conditions and geriatrics.
Focus areas
- Geriatric emergency medicine. Dr. Bellolio's passion is to improve the care seniors receive in the emergency room, as well as to increase their healthy days at home. She is involved in several projects aimed at improving the care for seniors including promoting independence, prevention and detection of delirium, and eliciting goals of care.
- Systematic reviews, meta-analysis and clinical guidelines. Dr. Bellolio conducted multiple systematic reviews that are used for developing clinical guidelines. Her expertise in evidence synthesis and national clinical guidelines development helps translate research findings into clinical practice. These research findings incorporate inclusion of the patient voice and shared decision-making in clinical practice.
- Clinical trials in the acute setting. Dr. Bellolio leads a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists striving to translate knowledge into patient care. She has conducted clinical trials in the emergency room for more than 10 years. Dr. Bellolio's current funding leverages pragmatic clinical trial methods and implementation of research in practice.
- Outcomes prediction. Through her postgraduate training, Dr. Bellolio gained experience working with routinely collected healthcare information from various sources. These sources include electronic health records, claims and billing data. Emergency medicine is at the front line of patient care. The variety within the practice combined with her passion for research methodology led Dr. Bellolio to develop research investigations in a variety of topics including prediction of deterioration, diagnostic errors and rapid response systems.
Significance to patient care
Emergency rooms offer speedy, lifesaving care for critical conditions. Healthcare professionals triage, assess, diagnose and determine risks for patients with undifferentiated symptoms. Additionally, the emergency room is an important access point for patients who may not have other means of getting timely medical attention. The thorough and immediate care in this setting helps stabilize patients, prevent complications and eventually, save lives.
By performing clinical trials in acute settings and combining evidence-based practices through systematic reviews and clinical guidelines, Dr. Bellolio's betters patient care by improving the care seniors receive in the emergency room. These efforts together lead to more-successful treatments, better health results and a more patient-centered approach in emergency medicine.
Professional highlights
- Director, Clinical Applications Theme, Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, 2023-present.
- Member, Research Finance Subcommittee, Mayo Foundation, Mayo Clinic, 2020-2024.
- Member, Operations Coordination Group, Mayo Clinic, 2020-2021.
- Councilor, Officers and Councilors of the Staff, Mayo Clinic, 2020-2021.
- Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, 2013-2016.