David Northrop Hager, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Hager’s primary research focus is Intermediate Care, a hospital level of care for patients not sick enough to require intensive care, but whose care needs exceed what can be provided on a general medical ward.  Though highly prevalent, the benefit of intermediate care in terms of improved patient outcomes and reduced cost is unknown.  Interpretation of the few published studies of intermediate care is limited by very sparse descriptions of how IMCUs are organized and staffed, and what services and monitoring are permitted.  Dr. Hager has published the only detailed report of IMCU patient outcomes paired to an in-depth description of the IMCU’s staffing model, admission criteria, services, and monitoring ability.  However, due to variation in regional needs, institutional missions, clinical expertise, and limitations of physical resources, it is assumed that there is significant heterogeneity in the delivery of intermediate care in the US.  The optimization of this level of care is Dr. Hager’s primary independent research interest.