The core function and mission of The Colorado Health Outcomes Program (COHO) is to conduct and evaluate interventions which improve population health and the overall quality of health care. COHO is committed to expanding partnerships not just with academic researchers at national universities, but also within community organizations that deliver health care, public and private payers that finance it, and the many organizations dedicated to developing innovative health care technologies, services, and delivery systems.
COHO was formed in 1998 by Dean Richard Krugman of the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado. COHO has since become known for its lines of research and dedication to educational initiatives. David R. West, PhD, has been the Director of COHO since 2009.
Health services research is a multidisciplinary field that examines the costs, quality, accessibility, delivery, and outcomes of health care services. The intention of the research is to find the most effective ways to manage, finance, and deliver high quality care, reduce medical errors and improve patient safety. In the United States health care system, there are many challenges to improve population health and quality of care. These challenges shape the mission and values of COHO staff and their research goals.
COHO was formed as a center for health care professionals, researchers and analysts to pool skills and talents to pursue of health outcomes research and education. COHO also has a partner organization dedicated to health services research related to children: the Children's Outcomes Research Program (COR), led by Allison Kempe, MD, MPH. COR and COHO share faculty, staff, and offices on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Some COHO investigators are also affiliated with the School of Pharmacy and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI).