The CIRT Steering Committee works with Southern California Permanente Medical Group leaders to select and fund a handful of projects based on their potential to yield findings that will improve care and outcomes for our patients. Project teams bring together researchers, clinicians, and operational leaders to contribute varied expertise in solving real-world clinical problems.

The following CIRT projects were initiated or continued during 2025.

These were newly funded projects for 2025:

Comparative outcomes of heart failure patients following acute care hospitalization and advanced medical care at home

Leads: Cheng-Wei (Charlie) Huang, MD, FACP; Huong Nguyen, PhD, RN; Bing Han, PhD; Mingsum Lee MD, PhD

Atrial fibrillation care pathway in KPSC (VTAC: Virtual Total Arrhythmia Care)

Leads: Nigel Gupta, MD; Teresa N. Harrison, SM; Mercedes Munis, MPH; Kevin Stiles, MD; Timothy Ho, MD, MPH; Ray Nanda, MD; Kim-Huong Tran, MD; William Woo, DO; Ronald Loo, MD; Jonathan Finkelstein, MD, MPH; Columbus Batiste, MD; Mingsum Lee, MD, PhD

Pancreas cancer early detection for surgical oncology referral program

Leads: Bechien Wu, MD, MPH; Victoria O’Connor, MD; Dan Zisook, MD; Douglas Murad, MD

Effectiveness of a systematic approach to care for patients with Lynch syndrome

Leads: Bechien Wu, MD, MPH; Monica Alvarado, MS, LCGC; Trevor Hoffman, MD, PhD

Collaborative planning to support postpartum mental health at KPSC

Leads: Laurel Sarfan, PhD; Corinna Koebnick, PhD; Sonya Negriff, PhD; Elizabeth Hamilton, LCSW, MPH; Khadijah Bhutto Ramirez, PsyD, LMFT; Gloria Martinez, LMFT, RPT-S; Leigh Miller, LSCW

Impact of sedation practice on patient safety and access for cataract surgery: Experience from Antelope Valley

Leads: Bechien Wu, MD MPH; Christopher Yo, MD; Ravi Gutta, MD; Rey Pangilinan, MD; Kristina Kurbanyan, MD; Khodam Rostomian, MD

These were the continuing projects for 2025:

Cardiac rehabilitation disparities, challenges, and opportunities in Kaiser Permanente Southern California

Leads: Matthew Mefford, PhD; Columbus Batiste, MD; Debora Lahti, MSN; Tadashi Funahasi, MD; Rachid Elkoustaf, MD, MPH; Chileshe Price, MD

Mental health at Kaiser Permanente Southern California: outcomes of feedback informed care

Leads: Laurel Sarfan, PhD; Elizabeth Hamilton, LCSW, MPH; Khadijah Bhutto Ramirez, PsyD, LMFT; Nicole Corey, LMFT; Ryan Nguyen, MPH

E-surveillance of outpatient safety risk (SureNet)
Leads: Tracy Imley, MD; Karen J. Coleman, PhD

Advanced practice providers in urgent care
Leads: Jarlath Ryan, MD; Amy Wolf, MD; Thearis Osuji, MPH; Bechien Wu, MD

Evaluation of Abridge implementation
Leads: Eugene Chu, MD; Karen J. Coleman, PhD

Evaluating continuous glucose monitoring uptake and impact at KPSC
Leads: John Martin, MD; Taynara Formagini, PhD; Karen J. Coleman, PhD; Bechien Wu, MD

Individuals experiencing or at risk for homelessness
Leads: Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medi-Cal Team; Claudia Nau, PhD

Asthma home remediation
Leads: Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medi-Cal Team; Corinna Koebnick, PhD