Research and Clinical Interests 2008 Publications 2007 Publications 2006 Publications 2005 and earlier publications:

Denys T. Lau, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and the Section Director of Health Services and Policy Research at the Buehler Center on Aging, Health & Society. As a health services and outcomes researcher, Dr. Lau applies quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to study the safety of health services use in the older adult population. His current research interests include patient safety, medication management and errors, and safety in the home and community. He is the Principal Investigator of a five-year K-01 grant from the National Institute on Aging that examines medication management among home hospice patients. His previous research has been supported by the United Way. Prior to joining Northwestern University, Dr. Lau was an outcomes research fellow working jointly at the University of Michigan and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Inc. He also worked as an analyst at two federal health agencies: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA). His career in healthcare started when he was a research associate at Covance Health Economics and Outcomes Research Inc., a healthcare consulting firm providing drug development services. Dr. Lau earned a B.A. with distinction from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in health services research from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. He received recognitions from various organizations, including AHRQ (2004 Director Citation for Outstanding Performance), American Public Health Association (2003 Jay Drotman Memorial Award and 2001 Laurence Branch Research Award), AcademyHealth (2002 Outstanding Dissertation Award), Delta Omega Honor Society (2000 Endowment Scholarship), and Covance (1998 Covance Consulting Check). He is an editorial advisory board member of Clinical Therapeutics.

• Patient Safety
• Medication Management and Errors
• Safety in the Home and Community

Chang C H, Gonzalez CM, Lau DT, Sier HC. Urinary incontinence and self-reported health among the U.S. Medicare managed care beneficiaries. J Aging Health. 2008;20(4):405-419.

Emanuel LL, Walton M, Hatlie M, Lau DT, Shaw T, Shalowitz J, Combes J.  The Patient Safety Education Project: An International Collaboration.  Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches.  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. in press

Lau D T, Briesacher B, Mercaldo ND, et al. Older patients' perceptions of medication importance and worth: an exploratory study. Drugs & Aging. in press.

Bennett CL, Nebeker JR, Yarnold PR, Dorr DA, McKoy JM, Edwards BJ, Hurdle JF, West DP, Lau DT, Angelotta C, Weitzman SA, Belknap SM, Djulbegovic B, Evens A, Trifilio SM, Courtney DM, Raisch DW. Evaluation of serious adverse drug reactions: A proactive pharmacovigilance program (RADAR) vs. safety activities conducted by the food and drug administration and pharmaceutical manufacturers.  Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007; 167(10):1041-9.

Chang C H, Boni-Saenz A A, Durazo-Arvizu R A, Desharnais S, Lau D T, Emanuel L L. A system for interactive assessment and management in palliative care. J Pain Symptom Manage. Jun 2007;33(6):745-755.

Lau D T. LGBT Asian and Pacific Islander elders face distinct issues in midife, old age. American Society on Aging OutWorld Newsletter; Fall 2007.

Lau D T, Banaszak-Holl J, Nigam A. Perception and use of guidelines and inter-professional dynamics: assessing their roles in guideline adherence in delivering medications in nursing homes. Qual Manage Health Care. 2007;16(2):135-145.

Lau D T, Glasser-Scandrett K, Jarzebowski M, Holman K, Emanuel L. Health-related safety: a framework to address barriers to aging in place. Gerontologist. 2007 Dec;47(6):830-837.

Rhee Y J, Taitel MS, Walker D R, Lau D T. Narcotic drug use among lower back pain patients in employer health plans: a retrospective analysis of risk factors and health care services  Clin Ther. 2007;29(suppl):2603-2612.

Lau D T, Morlock R J, Hill C D. Psychometric evaluation of the medical outcomes study-sleep scale in persons with overactive bladder. Clin Ther. Dec 2006;28(12):2119-2132.

Conviser R, Murray M, Lau D T. Medicaid managed care reimbursement for HIV and its implications for access to care. Am J Manag Care. 2000;6(9):990-999.

Lau D T, Chin K, Banaszak-Holl J. Factors influencing how medications are provided in nursing homes: implications on how medication use can be improved; 2005.

Lau D T, Kasper J D, Potter D EB, Lyles A, Bennett R. Hospitalization and death associated with potentially inappropriate medication prescriptions among elderly nursing home residents. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(1):68-74.

Lau D T, Kasper JD, Potter DE, Lyles A. Potentially inappropriate medication prescriptions among elderly nursing home residents: their scope and associated resident and facility characteristics. Health Serv Res. 2004;39(5):1257-1276.

Lau D T CK, Feinberg J,. Medicare Par D: a primer. Smart Aging Matters; 2005.

Lau DT, Nau DP. Oral antihyperglycemic medication nonadherence and subsequent hospitalization among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(9):2149-2153.

Potter DEB, Lau D T, Dominici F. Characteristics of nursing home residents with item nonresponse in their prescribed medicine data: analyzing the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel survey nursing home component, 2002.

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