Overview
For more than 150 years, Mayo Clinic has relentlessly pursued solutions to problems in healthcare, seeking continuous improvements in health and healthcare delivery. Our ability to meet this goal stems from the research we conduct — in close alignment with our medical practice — to address patients' unmet needs.
As the only research center fully embedded in the medical practice, the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery is uniquely positioned to advance Mayo Clinic's history of taking a scientific approach to healthcare delivery. In the center, we create and evaluate data-driven solutions that transform the healthcare experience. Our research drives the continuous improvement essential for a learning health system to safely and reliably provide evidence-based, high-quality care.
From discovery to implementation
In the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, every project is inspired by real-world challenges experienced by Mayo's patients and healthcare professionals. And every solution is designed and tested with an eye to future value.
Our experts work with multidisciplinary teams across Mayo Clinic's medical practice to identify today's most pressing concerns and those predicted to be priorities tomorrow. As our research uncovers new insights and pinpoints areas for improvement, we turn our attention to implementation. Often called "translation to practice," this is the pinnacle of healthcare delivery science and represents the center's core strength.
Capabilities of unique depth and breadth
Bound by a shared dedication to transforming healthcare, the Kern Center's faculty and staff bring unparalleled expertise to every challenge. Our team science approach — a hallmark of Mayo Clinic research — leads to higher value care for Mayo's patients and communities everywhere.
In the Kern Center, our specialized skills range across disciplines, including:
- Artificial intelligence, information technology and human-computer interaction.
- Clinical outcomes evaluation and comparative effectiveness research.
- Economics, cost analysis and healthcare policy.
- Ergonomics, human factors and human-centered design.
- Health services research.
- Industrial, systems and management engineering.
- Knowledge synthesis.
- Qualitative research.
- Statistical modeling, machine learning and data analysis.
- Study design and pragmatic trials.
- Social and behavioral sciences.
Clinical areas that work with the Kern Center leverage our deep knowledge and singular focus to expedite discovery and enhance implementation. Our team supports and leads investigations across Mayo Clinic. For example:
- Some of our team members spend time designing ways to analyze and present vast amounts of de-identified clinical and administrative data to help clinicians and nurses provide up-to-date, individualized care.
- Other center researchers analyze mental and physical workloads, ergonomics, and potential interventions to ensure that surgeons and surgical team members are safe and healthy. This allows the teams to continue to provide the high-quality surgical care expected at Mayo Clinic.
- We also collaborate to develop, assess and implement new methods of care delivery — such as telehealth specialty care for children with sickle cell disease and virtual nurse care team members — to reduce healthcare disparities and lead to better patient outcomes.
Center faculty and staff share an unwavering commitment to supporting Mayo Clinic's medical practice. We aim to create and sustain a high-quality, affordable, seamless patient experience, provided by a healthy and happy workforce.