Understanding and reducing burnout in community health centers using systems thinking
Official title: Understanding and Addressing Community Health Center Burden, Resiliency, and Burnout - Systems Engineering Analyses and Approaches
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11425324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Northeastern University aims to help doctors and nurses in community health centers feel less overwhelmed by improving workflows and resilience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS030271-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Clinics and healthcare workers in community health centers serving disadvantaged populations may benefit, with an emphasis on physicians, nurses, and support staff.
✕Less likely to help
Patients or staff in settings not facing high burnout or not using asynchronous care tools may see minimal direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines burnout and workload in clinics serving disadvantaged populations and tests systems-engineering approaches to streamline care delivery. It focuses on how technology use (like patient portals and messaging) can both help and hinder staff, and how to redesign processes for better resilience. The study will analyze current workflows, identify bottlenecks, and pilot changes that reduce time burdens while maintaining or improving patient care. Results could guide clinics in adopting smarter tech-enabled workflows that support staff well-being and patient experience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinics could experience less burnout and better patient care through more efficient, resilient workflows.
How similar studies have gone: Previous system-engineering efforts show promise in improving care processes, with growing interest in applying these methods to burnout reduction.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benneyan, James C — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Benneyan, James C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.