Rachel M. Burns

Senior Quantitative Analyst

Pittsburgh Office

Education

M.P.H., University of Michigan; B.S., Ohio State University

One Page Bio

Overview

Rachel M. Burns is a senior quantitative analyst at the RAND Corporation. During her tenure at RAND, she has worked on projects focused on disaster response and recovery operations, neighborhood influences on health, substance abuse and drug policy, unmanned aerial vehicles, the mental health and well-being of military personnel and their families, software acquisition for the Navy, suicide epidemiology and prevention, adolescent health behaviors, occupational health and safety, access to and utilization of health care services, vaccinations, cancer survivorship, maternal and child health, and patient safety and quality of care in hospitals. Burns is a professional cost analyst, proficient SAS and R programmer, and experienced in qualitative and quantitative data management, collection, and analysis. Burns earned her M.P.H. degree in epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Burns, R. M., Pacula, R. L., Bauhoff, S., Gordon, A. J., Hendrikson, H., Leslie, D. L., & Stein, B. D., "Policies related to opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorders: The evolution of state policies from 2004 to 2013," Substance Abuse, 37(1), 2016

Burns, R.M.; Caulkins, J.P.; Everingham, S.S.; Kilmer, B., "Statistics on Cannabis Users Skew Perceptions of Cannabis Use," Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4, 2013

Burns, R.M.; Chandra, A.; Lara-Cinisomo S., The Experience of Outdoor Education at Operation Purple Camp: Findings from a Sample of Youth Participants, The RAND Corporation (WR-815), 2011

Tanielian, Terri, Carrie M. Farmer, Rachel M. Burns, Erin Lindsey Duffy, and Claude Messan Setodji, Ready or Not? Assessing the Capacity of New York State Health Care Providers to Meet the Needs of Veterans, RAND Corporation (RR-2298-NYSHF), 2018

Breslau, Joshua.; Han, Bing.; Stein, Bradley D.; Burns, Rachel M.; Yu, Hao., "Did the Affordable Care Act's Dependent Coverage Expansion Affect Race/Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage?" Health Services Research, 2017

Dick, A.W.; Pacula, R.L.; Gordon, A.J.; Sorbero, M.J.; Burns, R.M.; Leslie, D.L.; Stein, B.D., "Growth in buprenorphine waivers for physicians increased potential access to opioid agonist treatment, 2002-11," Health Affairs, 34(6), 2015

Ramchand, Rajeev, Joie D. Acosta, Rachel M. Burns, Lisa H. Jaycox, and Christopher G. Pernin, The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military, RAND Corporation (MG-953-OSD), 2011

Burnam, M.A.; Meredith, L.S.; Helmus, T.C.; Burns, R.M.; Cox, R.A.; D’Amico, E.; Martin, L.T.; Vaiana, M.E., Williams, K.M.; Yochelson, M.R. "Systems of Care: Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Access to High-Quality Care," in The RAND Corporation, Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery, RAND Corporation (MG-720-CCF), 2008

Publications

Journal Article
Police Bias and Low Relatability and Diet Quality: Examining the Importance of Psychosocial Factors in Predominantly Black Communities
Police bias and low relatability may play a role in community connection, social status, and ultimately dietary disparities for Black Americans. Addressing police bias and low relatability is a continuing and pressing public health issue.
Nov 6, 2023
Report
Characterizing the Performance of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
Analysts leveraged available data on performance of uncrewed aircraft system platforms to develop an approach to characterizing spray coverage as a function of payload, speed, endurance, and delivery and presenting performance parameters of interest.
Feb 6, 2023
Journal Article
Associations Between Depression Subtype and Functional Impairment and Treatment Utilization in a National Sample of Adolescents
Prior studies have characterized distinct major depressive episode (MDE) subtypes among adults, yet limited evidence exists regarding variation in MDE during adolescence.
May 1, 2021
Report
Measures and Methodology for International Comparisons of Health Care System Performance: Final Report
RAND researchers worked with 15 experts in quality measurement, clinical care, and health economics to generate potential measure constructs that could improve the U.S. ability to learn from international comparisons of health system performance.
Feb 24, 2021
Report
Small Unmanned Aerial System Adversary Capabilities
To support the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in prioritizing capability investments, this report examines trends in small unmanned aerial system development, features that could aid nefarious users, and how such actors could use these systems.
Mar 12, 2020
Report
Naval Aviation Maintenance System: Analysis of Alternatives
This report presents the results of an analysis of alternatives for fielding the Naval Aviation Maintenance System, which is intended to help modernize the U.S. Navy's afloat and ashore maintenance capabilities.
Mar 9, 2020
Report
A Survey System to Assess Abuse and Misconduct Toward Air Force Students in Occupational Specialty Training
This report provides recommendations for how the Air Force's survey system for monitoring abuse and misconduct in Basic Military Training can best be adapted for use in technical training and flying training environments.
Mar 5, 2019
Report
Naval Operational Supply System: Analysis of Alternatives
The Department of the Navy asked the RAND Corporation to assist with the Analysis of Alternatives for modernization of its future operational supply, food service, and retail operations capability, the Naval Operational Supply System.
Oct 11, 2018
Journal Article
Impacts of the Dependent Care Expansion on the Allocation of Mental Health Care
The dependent care expansion increased use of mental health care among a patients with significant mental health needs without lowering quality of care or increasing racial or ethnic disparities in access.
Sep 21, 2018
Journal Article
A Population-Based Examination of Trends and Disparities in Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders Among Medicaid Enrollees
The number of Medicaid recipients receiving medication to treat opioid abuse increased sharply in the years after approval of a new drug, but the increase was smaller in poorer counties and areas with larger populations of black and Hispanic residents.
Jun 27, 2018
Research Brief
Are Private Health Care Providers Ready to Treat Veterans? Evidence from New York State
This brief highlights key findings of a RAND survey of providers in New York State regarding the preparedness of community providers (i.e., not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs) to treat veterans.
Mar 1, 2018
Report
Ready or Not? Assessing the Capacity of New York State Health Care Providers to Meet the Needs of Veterans
This report assessed whether private-sector providers in New York are equipped to offer timely access to high-quality care that addresses veterans' unique needs.
Mar 1, 2018
Journal Article
Did the Dependent Coverage Expansion Increase Risky Substance Use Among Young Adults?
This analysis of the dependent coverage expansion under the ACA suggests that historical trends rather than the insurance expansion itself account for increases in substance use among people ages 19-25 since 2010.
Sep 1, 2017
Journal Article
Did the Affordable Care Act's Dependent Coverage Expansion Affect Race/Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage?
While the ACA's Dependent Coverage Expansion has increased insurance coverage, it has also widened race/ethnic disparities because it benefits only those young adults whose parents have private coverage.
Aug 1, 2017
Journal Article
Physician Capacity to Treat Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine-Assisted Treatment
Many physicians who prescribe buprenorphine are prescribing below the patient limits historically allowed under U.S. law.
Sep 28, 2016
Journal Article
Opioid Analgesic and Benzodiazepine Prescribing Among Medicaid-enrollees with Opioid Use Disorders: The Influence of Provider Communities
A substantial number of Medicaid enrollees were able to fill prescriptions for opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, or both in the year following diagnosis for an opioid use disorder.
Aug 23, 2016
Report
Resources and Capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to Provide Timely and Accessible Care to Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, with broad resources and capabilities, provides timely and high-quality care to most, but not all, patients. Meeting veterans' needs over the next five years will require additional capacity.
Dec 31, 2015
Report
The Urban Child Institute CANDLE Study: Methodological Overview and Baseline Sample Description
This report describes the study design and summary data from the first year of data collection for the Urban Child Institute Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood Study.
Dec 21, 2015
Research Brief
Policies to Support a Better Treatment for Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse: Unlike Methadone, Buprenorphine Can Be Taken at Home, but Greater Access is Key
Increasing the number of physicians who can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid abuse and supporting their ability to treat more patients may be the fastest approach to enhancing capacity for treatment, particularly in less populated counties.
Dec 17, 2015
Journal Article
Access and Quality of Care in Direct-To-Consumer Telemedicine
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine serves millions of patients; however, there is limited research on the care provided.
Nov 20, 2015
Journal Article
Policies Related to Opioid Agonist Therapy for Opioid Use Disorders: The Evolution of State Policies from 2004 to 2013
This study examines the evolution of states' coverage and policies with respect to opioid agonist therapy and present an overview of the Medicaid policy environment from 2004 to 2013.
Nov 18, 2015
Journal Article
Psychosocial Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: Clinician Knowledge, Common Approaches, and Barriers to Effective Treatment
Non-physician mental health clinicians were surveyed to understand their knowledge about bipolar disorder, treatment approaches, and perceived barriers to optimal treatment.
Sep 14, 2015
Journal Article
Where Is Buprenorphine Dispensed to Treat Opioid Use Disorders? The Role of Private Offices, Opioid Treatment Programs, and Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in Urban and Rural Counties
Opioid use disorders are a significant public health problem.
Sep 10, 2015
Journal Article
Growth in Buprenorphine Waivers for Physicians Increased Potential Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment, 2002-11
Policy makers should focus their efforts on further increasing the number and geographical distribution of physicians, particularly in more rural counties, where prescription opioid misuse is rapidly growing.
Jun 10, 2015
Journal Article
Implementing a Web-Based Intervention to Train Community Clinicians in an Evidence-Based Psychotherapy: A Pilot Study
The authors conducted a feasibility assessment of online training plus an online learning collaborative to support implementation of an evidence-based psychosocial treatment in a community mental health system.
May 6, 2015
Journal Article
Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Infections in Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Visits
Patterns of antibiotic prescribing behavior show that both telemedicine and office-based clinicians over-prescribed antibiotics to treat acute respiratory infections, but telemedicine clinicians tended to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics.
2015
Journal Article
Supply of Buprenorphine Waivered Physicians: The Influence of State Policies
The authors calculated the number of buprenorphine-waivered physicians and used multivariate regression models to predict number of buprenorphine-waivered physicians/100,000 residents as a function of county characteristics, state policies and efforts to promote buprenorphine use.
2015
Infographic
Out of the Shadows: What We Know About the Well-Being and Experiences of Private Contractors Working in Conflict Environments
Private contractors deployed in conflict zones experience stressors known to have negative physical and mental health implications for military personnel. We examine how this
May 21, 2014
Research Brief
How Big Is the U.S. Market for Illegal Drugs?
Using data from 2000 to 2010, RAND researchers estimated the number of users, expenditures, and consumption for four illicit drugs: cocaine (including crack), heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine (meth).
Mar 10, 2014
Report
What America's Users Spend on Illegal Drugs: 2000–2010
RAND researchers generated national estimates of the total number of users, total expenditures, and total consumption for four illicit drugs from 2000 to 2010: cocaine (including crack), heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine.
Mar 7, 2014
Report
Out of the Shadows: The Health and Well-Being of Private Contractors Working in Conflict Environments
Deployed contractors may be exposed to the same stressors as military personnel. A RAND survey examined the mental and physical health of contractors, their deployment experiences, and their access to and use of health care resources.
Dec 10, 2013
Journal Article
Using OSHA Inspection Data to Analyze Respirator Protection Program Compliance
This article uses the OSHA inspection data base to examine all inspections in manufacturing in 47 states from 1999 through 2006 and identifies all inspections and all establishments at which respiratory protection (RP) violations were cited, and it compares the prevalence of violations by industry with the prevalence reported in a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of respirator use.
Dec 1, 2013
Journal Article
Statistics on Cannabis Users Skew Perceptions of Cannabis Use
Collecting information about the prevalence of cannabis use is necessary but not sufficient for understanding the size, dynamics, and outcomes associated with cannabis markets.
Nov 1, 2013
Report
Improving the Deployment of Army Health Care Professionals: An Evaluation of PROFIS
Describes the functionality of the Army Medical Department's Professional Filler System (PROFIS) in the current operating environment of ongoing deployments and assesses potential modifications and improvements to the system.
May 29, 2013
Journal Article
States with Low Non-Fatal Injury Rates Have High Fatality Rates and Vice-Versa
This paper uses a measure of severe injuries (fatalities) and of less severe injuries (non-fatal injuries with days away from work, restricted work, or job transfer–DART) to examine that issue.
May 1, 2013
Journal Article
Using a Hospital Quality Improvement Toolkit to Improve Performance on the AHRQ Quality Indicators
A team from RAND and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) developed a toolkit to help hospitals enhance their quality improvement efforts using quality indicators from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Apr 1, 2013
Report
Assessing Operation Purple: A Program Evaluation of a Summer Camp for Military Youth
To help fill the gap in the research on the effectiveness of military family support programs, a RAND study explored the curriculum, themes, and outcomes of Operation Purple, a free weeklong summer camp program for youth with a deployed parent.
Jul 25, 2012
Journal Article
Growth of Retail Clinics in Vaccination Delivery in the U.S.
Retail clinics play a growing role in delivering vaccinations to Americans, and vaccinations constitute a substantial share of retail clinic business.
Jul 1, 2012
Research Brief
Helping Hospitals Deliver Better Care: A New Toolkit for Quality Improvement
A team from RAND and the University HealthSystem Consortium developed a toolkit to help hospitals enhance their quality improvement efforts using quality indicators from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
May 25, 2012
Journal Article
Mixed-method Approach to Understanding the Experiences of Non-Deployed Military Caregivers
Caregivers affiliated with the National Guard and those with more months of deployment report significantly poorer emotional well-being, and more household and relationship hassles.
2012
Journal Article
A New Estimate of the Impact of OSHA Inspections on Manufacturing Injury Rates, 1998-2005
A prior study indicated that the effect of OSHA inspections on lost workday injuries had declined from 1979 through 1998. This study provides an updated estimate for 1998–2005.
2012
Research Brief
Pittsburgh Community Perspectives on the Design of the New Environmental Center at Frick Park
Many Pittsburgh residents in the communities around Frick Park are interested in environmental issues and education, and some use the park. However, awareness of the park and its Environmental Center could be improved, and barriers to use addressed.
Dec 5, 2011
Research Brief
Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families: A New Approach
Describes a new survey design framework that is centered on what service members and their families believe are their greatest needs.
Nov 21, 2011
Report
A New Approach for Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families
Describes the development and testing of a survey tool that the Department of Defense and local military commanders can use to gauge the problems and problem-related needs of service members and their families and how well those needs are being met.
Nov 21, 2011
Research Brief
Assessment of Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI) Courseware Can Enhance Army Training
Develops and tests an approach to program-level assessment of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) courses that identifies strengths and deficiencies in technical, production quality, and pedagogical aspects of IMI courseware.
Nov 17, 2011
Report
Community Engagement as Input to the Design of the Environmental Center at Frick Park and Beyond
We obtained community group and resident input into the design of the new environmental center building at Frick Park (in Pittsburgh, Pa.) and acquired information about residents' attitudes toward and use of Frick Park more generally.
Nov 8, 2011
Research Brief
The War Within: Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Military
The increasing number of suicides is causing concern in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Suicide-prevention programs in DoD and across the services have some (but not all) of the characteristics of comprehensive programs.
Feb 17, 2011
Report
The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military
The increase in suicides among military personnel has raised concern. This book reviews suicide epidemiology in the military, catalogs military suicide-prevention activities, and recommends relevant best practices.
Feb 17, 2011
Research Brief
Views from the Homefront: How Military Youth and Spouses Are Coping with Deployment
Reports the results of a longitudinal study of youth from military families and their caregivers concerning their emotional well-being and how well they are coping with servicemembers' extended deployments.
Jan 19, 2011
Draft
The Experience of Outdoor Education at Operation Purple® Camp: Findings from a Sample of Youth Participants
Examine the benefits of outdoor education activities in Operation Purple® camps, which are free camps for youth from military families.
Jan 19, 2011
Report
Views from the Homefront: The Experiences of Youth and Spouses from Military Families
Examines the behavioral and emotional well-being of a sample of military families over a year as they cope with the stress of war and deployment, using surveys and in-depth interviews with youth and their nondeployed caregivers.
Jan 19, 2011
Research Brief
Studies' Estimates of PTSD Prevalence Rates for Returning Service Members Vary Widely
Summarizes analyses of existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies for war zone veterans, finding that the prevalence estimates vary widely and are linked to the use of different PTSD diagnostic definitions and divergent study samples.
Feb 11, 2010
Journal Article
Children on the Homefront: The Experience of Children from Military Families
Although studies have begun to explore the impact of the current wars on child well-being, none have examined how children are doing across social, emotional, and academic domains.
2010
Journal Article
Disparate Prevalence Estimates of PTSD Among Service Members Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Possible Explanations
Combat exposure is the only correlate consistently associated with PTSD.
2010
Journal Article
Many Emergency Department Visits Could Be Managed at Urgent Care Centers and Retail Clinics
About 14-27 percent of all emergency department visits could take place at retail clinics and urgent care centers, with a potential cost savings of approximately $4.4 billion annually.
2010
Journal Article
Mental Disorders Among Gifted and Nongifted Youth: A Selected Review of the Epidemiologic Literature
Given the ongoing debate over whether giftedness is associated with mental health disorders, there is a great need to highlight and compare results from the most methodologically rigorous studies.
2010
Journal Article
The Pennsylvania Certified Safety Committee Program: An Evaluation of Participation and Effects on Work Injury Rates
Since 1994, Pennsylvania, has provided a 5% discount on workers' compensation premiums for firms with a certified joint labor-management safety committee. This study found that injury rates at participating firms with good compliance records dropped more than at other firms.
2010
Report
Improving the Army's Assessment of Interactive Multimedia Instruction Courseware
Develops and tests an approach to program-level assessment of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) courses that identifies strengths and deficiencies in technical, production quality, and pedagogical aspects of IMI courseware.
Jul 7, 2009
Journal Article
Alternative Vaccination Locations: Who Uses Them and Can They Increase Flu Vaccination Rates?
Considers the role that alternative vaccination locations (e.g., workplaces and retail clinics) could play in increasing influenza vaccination coverage.
2009
Journal Article
A National View of Workplace Injuries in Nursing Homes
Data from a large sample of nursing homes were used to examine the cross-sectional association between workplace injuries and organizational factors, caregiver staffing levels, and quality.
2009
Draft
What Kinds of Injuries Do OSHA Inspections Prevent?
This study finds that OSHA inspections reduce both injuries that are related to OSHA standards and those that are not. Citations of the general personal protection equipment standard are most likely to be followed by reductions in injuries.
Sep 23, 2008
Draft
The Pennsylvania Certified Safety Committee Program: An Evaluation of Participation and Effects on Work Injury Rates
This evaluation of the voluntary Pennsylvania Certified Safety Committee program found that although compliance did reduce injuries, most participants did not comply and injury rates did not decline more at participating firms.
Sep 18, 2008
Draft
Understanding the Impact of Deployment on Children and Families: Findings from a Pilot Study of Operation Purple Camp Participants
Reports the results of a survey of families attending a summer camp program that children with a deployed parent attend, to learn more about the functioning and well-being of children of deployed military personnel.
May 2, 2008
Draft
Invisible Wounds: Predicting the Immediate and Long-Term Consequences of Mental Health Problems in Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
Reviews literature on post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury and discusses the likely effects of these conditions for veterans that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families.
Apr 18, 2008
Report
Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery
A comprehensive study of the post-deployment health-related needs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury among servicemembers returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Mar 26, 2008