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Lori Uscher-Pines

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Senior Policy Researcher
Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. in health policy and management, Johns Hopkins University; M.Sc. in international relations/security studies, London School of Economics; B.A. in international relations, University of Pennsylvania

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Lori Uscher-Pines is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research interests include innovations in healthcare delivery including telehealth, maternal and child health, and emergency preparedness. Her current projects include assessing the impact of telehealth on healthcare utilization and quality of care, evaluating the impact of virtual breastfeeding support on breastfeeding outcomes, exploring the feasibility of school practices to promote social distancing in an influenza pandemic, and exploring the use of citizen science for disaster preparedness and response. She is a mixed methods researcher who has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications.

Prior to obtaining her doctoral degree, she attended the London School of Economics and received an M.Sc. in international relations/security studies. Before coming to RAND, Uscher-Pines completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, National Center for Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in public health at Temple University. While pursuing her doctoral degree, she worked at the Philadelphia and New Jersey Departments of Public Health.

Uscher-Pines earned her Ph.D. in health policy and management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and her master's in international relations from the London School of Economics.

Research Focus

Commentary

  • Mother breastfeeding at home

    Parental Leave Would Cause a Boom in Breastfeeding

    Doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. This provides health benefits to both mother and child and saves health care costs. Paid maternity leave can boost breastfeeding rates, but few U.S. firms offer it.

    Apr 17, 2017 The Hill

  • A doctor and a patient holding a telehealth session involving x-ray results and a blood pressure reading

    Telehealth Alone Won't Increase Health Care Access for the Underserved

    Telehealth can bring care into communities that have limited access to providers or facilities. But it must be integrated into a well-functioning system that can address the added needs that telehealth generates.

    Dec 16, 2016 Health Affairs Blog

  • doctor wearing mask with baby patient

    Are County Masking Requirements the Future of Influenza Prevention?

    If it doesn't seem that state laws as currently written can help increase the number of health care workers vaccinated against influenza, then what can? There is evidence that imposing consequences for vaccination refusal, including the requirement to wear a surgical mask, can help.

    Nov 20, 2013 The RAND Blog

  • emergency sign

    Applying What Works to Reduce Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use

    It is likely that communities with low rates of non-urgent ED use not only have better access to primary care, but patients who are educated about appropriate care seeking and convenient alternatives for acute care, writes Lori Uscher-Pines.

    May 22, 2013 The RAND Blog

  • Emergency preparedness checklist and supplies

    Why Aren't Americans Listening to Disaster Preparedness Messages?

    Given the recent spate of highly publicized disasters, why don't more Americans pay attention to the advice of public health officials? The messages they are getting are largely based on unverified assumptions, not hard evidence. Equally concerning, these assumptions may inadvertently hinder preparedness.

    Jun 29, 2012 The RAND Blog

Publications