Research & QI
The Hospitalist Division at VA Greater Los Angeles advances hospital medicine through rigorous research, innovation, and quality improvement that directly benefits Veterans.
Key Areas of Focus
- Health services research and health equity
- Quality improvement and patient safety
- Medical education research
- Innovations in care delivery
Recognition and Impact
Our faculty are nationally recognized leaders in research and quality improvement. Division members have secured major research grants, including NIH R01 awards, and have received honors such as the National Minority Quality Forum's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health. In addition, our faculty regularly disseminate their work through posters, publications, oral presentations, and invited talks at regional and national conferences as well as grand rounds and institutional lectures at UCLA, the VA, and peer institutions.
Featured Publications
Use of Structured Handoff Protocols for Within-Hospital Unit Transitions: A Systemic Review from Making Healthcare Safer IV
McCarthy S, Motala A, Lawson E, Shekelle PG. Use of structured handoff protocols for within-hospital unit transitions: a systematic review from Making Healthcare Safer IV. BMJ Qual Saf. 2025 Sep 18;34(10):680-690. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2024-018385. PMID: 40306923; PMCID: PMC12232517.
No Immunity From Having to Choose: An Exercise in Clinical Reasoning
Yi G, Brown P, Larsen T, Chuang K, Parsons AS, Saini I, Patel S. No Immunity From Having to Choose: An Exercise in Clinical Reasoning. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Sep 12. doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09799-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40938455.
Reframing Micronutrient Deficiencies for Modern times: A Review
Lankarani-Fard A, Romanova M, Li Z. Reframing Micronutrient Deficiencies for Modern times: A Review. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Jun;40(8):1735-1741. doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09481-y. Epub 2025 Mar 31. PMID: 40164931; PMCID: PMC12119400.
Tophaceous Gout
Larsen TB, Lazarus ME. Tophaceous gout. J Hosp Med. 2025 Jul;20(7):809-810. doi: 10.1002/jhm.70032. Epub 2025 Mar 18. PMID: 40102691; PMCID: PMC12217406.
Targeting insulin stacking to address overnight hypoglycaemia in hospitalised patients with diabetes
Moolchandani P, Patel S, Larsen T, Moriates C, Weinreb J, Everett E. Targeting insulin stacking to address overnight hypoglycaemia in hospitalised patients with diabetes. BMJ Open Qual. 2025 Mar 12;14(1):e003178. doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-003178. PMID: 40074249; PMCID: PMC11907008.
Moxibustion
Larsen T, Moolchandani P, Lazarus ME. Moxibustion. Am J Med. 2025 May;138(5):e83-e84. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.11.033. Epub 2024 Dec 11. PMID: 39672527.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Low-Value Care Among Older Adults in a Large Statewide Health System
Oronce CIA, Pablo R, Shapiro SR, Willis P, Ponce N, Mafi JN, Sarkisian C. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Low-Value Care Among Older Adults in a Large Statewide Health System. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2025 Mar;73(3):900-909. doi: 10.1111/jgs.19369. Epub 2025 Feb 3. PMID: 39898412; PMCID: PMC11907755.
Association between governmental spending on social services and health care use among low-income older adults
Oronce CIA, Ponce NA, Sarkisian CA, Zimmerman FJ, Tsugawa Y. Association between governmental spending on social services and health care use among low-income older adults. Health Aff Sch. 2025 Jan 10;3(1):qxae181. doi: 10.1093/haschl/qxae181. PMID: 39872514; PMCID: PMC11770339.
Variation in Emergency Department Physician Admitting Practices and Subsequent Mortality
Coussens S, Ly DP. Variation in Emergency Department Physician Admitting Practices and Subsequent Mortality. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 Feb 1;185(2):153-160. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.6925. PMID: 39714798; PMCID: PMC11791704.
Asian American Representation in Medicine by Career Stage and Residency Specialty
Santos PMG, Oronce CIA, Shah K, Chino F, Torres MA, Jagsi R, Deville C Jr, Vapiwala N. Asian American Representation in Medicine by Career Stage and Residency Specialty. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Nov 4;7(11):e2444478. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.44478. PMID: 39560945; PMCID: PMC11577148.