Optum Labs: building a novel node in the learning health care system

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Health Services Research
• Translational Science

Background:

• The US healthcare system is undergoing significant transformation driven by health information technology adoption.
• National investments are fostering multi-institution research networks that integrate academic centers, healthcare delivery systems, and other components.
• Optum Labs exemplifies this shift, acting as a novel research network node.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the early progress and operational model of Optum Labs.
• To highlight the integration of diverse partners, data sources, and analytic techniques for research implementation.
• To demonstrate how collaborative research networks can accelerate the translation of findings into clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Founded in 2013 by Mayo Clinic and Optum, Optum Labs unites eleven collaborators.
• Leverages a HIPAA-compliant database of deidentified health information for over 150 million individuals.
• Combines diverse collaborator perspectives with rich patient and provider data.

Main Results:

• The network facilitates the generation of new insights into diseases, treatments, and patient behaviors.
• Practitioner involvement in research agenda-setting and translation accelerates the implementation of findings.
• Feedback loops from clinical practice inform network expansion and address emerging challenges.

Conclusions:

• Optum Labs demonstrates a successful model for a collaborative research network in healthcare.
• The integration of diverse expertise and comprehensive data drives practical innovations in care delivery.
• This approach accelerates the application of research evidence to improve patient outcomes and healthcare practices.