Health Services Research and Implementation Science
Christie Bartels, MD, MS, is a rheumatologist health services researcher and implementation scientist. Her research aims to improve cardiovascular health and longevity and reduce health disparities among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other conditions.
Her work is cited in the 2018 U.S. cholesterol guidelines and has led to over 85 peer-reviewed publications.
Population Health Approaches to Improve Cardiovascular, Rheumatic Disease Outcomes and Reduce Disparities
In addition to a number of epidemiologic studies, Dr. Bartels has developed innovative electronic health record-supported blood pressure (BP) and Quit Connect protocols for rheumatology clinic staff that reduced rates of high blood pressures across 28,000 visits. The successful implementation of these protocols achieved population-level blood pressure improvement with a significant reduction in racial disparities, as well as 20-fold higher smoking cessation referrals.
These population health approaches aim to improve both rheumatic disease and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Dissemination research based on the BP and Quit Connect Interventions has been successful in academic and community settings, including Atlanta’s Grady public hospital rheumatology clinic and other centers.
Bartels’ team also investigates Care Continuum pathways and interventions to reduce disparities in systemic lupus care and outcomes. Dr. Bartels co-chaired the American College of Rheumatology-CDC efforts to define lupus care quality measures.
Research Team
Research Lab Manager
Alexa Figueroa Baiges
Research Intern
MD/MPH Candidate, Class of 2026
Dr. Bartels’ lab has opportunities for graduate students and postdocs interested in rheumatology, health disparities, and health services research, epidemiology and data analysis. Interested individuals can send their CV and a summary of their research experience and interests to Dr. Bartels.
Active Projects
- Advancing Health Equity for Lupus Patients in Wisconsin: How a Care Continuum and Community Stakeholders Can Inform Interventions to Close Disparities Gaps
Adaptation of an HIV model and novel data analysis methods to study the five key steps for lupus care to identify the step with the largest impact on patient health. Results will provide a foundation for a future study to improve damage-free survival and health equity in lupus with stakeholders from five statewide rheumatology groups, public health, foundations, and ACR.
- The Role of Care Retention in Lupus Disease Outcomes
Measuring care retention and hospitalization- and nephritis-free survival in young adults with lupus and their predictors, including evaluating care as a mediator of disease outcomes. Care retention and disease complication-free survival and predictors will also be evaluated in pediatric and adolescent patients with lupus.
- Connect Health Implementation Research and Interventions
- Improving Lupus Care by Addressing Safe Hydroxychloroquine Use through Virtual Visual Screenings in Rheumatology Clinics
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the first steroid sparing medication approved to treat lupus in 1955, is still recommended for all patients to reduce lupus flares, damage, and mortality, yet rare HCQ eye toxicity causes patient worry and burden. Using proven technologies and successful telehealth workflows from diabetes and glaucoma, we can offer virtual visual screening in rheumatology clinics for safe hydroxychloroquine use. These screenings have great potential to transform care quality, improve quality of life, and to reduce equity gaps because they do not require added travel, time off work, or navigating healthcare systems to find an optometric provider to complete testing.
Funding Support
Dr. Bartels has had funding from the the United States Department of Defense (DOD), the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the NIH/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Rheumatology Research Foundation, the Wisconsin Partnership Program and other foundations.
