STONY BROOK, N.Y., April 11, 2006—Stony Brook University and Suffolk County today announced a collaboration that will provide the county with policy research analysis from the University’s Center for Public Health and Healthy Policy Research. The partnership will provide the county’s Department of Health Services with expert, unbiased research analysis and result in efficiencies in the county’s assessment of its healthcare needs.
“The Center will provide analytical expertise to this partnership and will assist with the development and design of public health research projects and public policy analysis in areas such as increasing access to medical care; improving opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle; reducing environmental risks; and establishing programs to improve child health,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. “It is our expectation and our hope that this collaboration between the county and the center will invigorate the substantial efforts of both organizations to improve the health of the residents of Suffolk County.”
“I have always said, to be a great national university, you must also be a great local university,” said Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny. “Stony Brook is proud to be the leading resource for education, research, and healthcare in the region and this collaboration is an example of the extraordinary role we play.”
The University’s Center for Health Policy and Health Policy Research in the School of Medicine is led by Raymond Goldsteen, Dr. P.H.. He also is Director of the Master in Public Health Program and Director of the Evaluative Sciences Division, which focuses on evaluating specific areas of the healthcare system and studying a variety of health issues, including healthcare quality management and patient decision-making. He has written on topics dealing with questions relating to the fairness and effectiveness of the allocation of healthcare resources.
“We will be able to provide to the Department of Health Services with expertise in analyzing large data sets, including examining such issues as healthcare patterns, quality of care, and identifying fraud,” Goldsteen said. “We can examine referral patterns of clinics to hospitals, monitor the health status of the population on a continual basis, and explore issues of health disparities.”
“This is a joint venture that seeks to stabilize, maintain and improve the health of all populations in a cost-effective manner through evaluation, monitoring, and feedback about what works and what does not work”, said Dr. Brian Harper, Suffolk County Health Commissioner.
Stony Brook has the only academic medical center on Long Island, comprised on a nationally renowned School of Medicine, which conducts leading research, and Stony Brook University Hospital, the only hospital in Suffolk County providing advanced care.
