James Ralston MD, MPH, is an internal medicine physician and senior investigator in health services and health informatics. His research mission is improving the health and care of patients living with common ongoing illnesses. His current areas of emphasis include understanding and honoring the priorities of patients living with multiple chronic conditions.
Dr. Ralston’s research focuses on developing and evaluating communication technologies that foster continuous care and a closer connection between patients and primary care teams. His commitment to finding effective ways to redesign care spans all stages of research, from project development to complete translation of results into clinical practice.
Examples of Dr. Ralston’s research projects include:
Dr. Ralston is also a University of Washington affiliate professor in health services and biomedical informatics, where he serves on the committees of PhD and master’s degree students.
eHealth; hypertension; diabetes
Health informatics; hypertension; diabetes; health behaviors; multiple chronic conditions
Self-management support
Health care disparities
Harris LT, Haneuse SJ, Martin DP, Ralston JD. Diabetes quality of care and outpatient utilization associated with electronic patient-provider messaging: a cross-sectional analysis. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(7):1182-7. Epub 2009 Apr 14. PubMed
McCarrier KP, Ralston JD, Hirsch IB, Lewis G, Martin DP, Zimmerman FJ, Goldberg HI. Web-based collaborative care for type 1 diabetes: a pilot randomized trial. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2009;11(4):211-7. PubMed
Moreno MA, Ralston JD, Grossman DC. Adolescent access to online health services: perils and promise. J Adolesc Health. 2009;44(3):244-51. Epub 2008 Nov 11. PubMed
Ralston JD, Rutter CM, Carrell D, Hecht J, Rubanowice D, Simon GE. Patient use of secure electronic messaging within a shared medical record: a cross-sectional study. J Gen Intern Med. 2009;24(3):349-55. Epub 2009 Jan 10. PubMed
Ralston JD, Hirsch IB, Hoath J, Mullen M, Allen C, Goldberg HI. Web-based collaborative care for type 2 diabetes: a pilot randomized trial. Diabetes Care. 2009 Feb;32(2):234-9. Epub 2008 Nov 18. PubMed
Grembowski D, Anderson ML, Conrad DA, Fishman PA, Larson EB, Martin DP, Ralston JD, Carrell D, Hecht J. Evaluation of the Group Health Cooperative Access Initiative: study design challenges in estimating the impact of a large-scale organizational transformation. Qual Manag Health Care. 2008;17(4):292-303. PubMed
Tufano JT, Ralston JD, Martin DP. Providers' experience with an organizational redesign initiative to promote patient-centered access: a qualitative study. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(11):1778-83. Epub 2008 Sep 4. PubMed
Conrad D, Fishman P, Grembowski D, Ralston J, Reid R, Martin D, Larson E, Anderson M. Access intervention in an integrated, prepaid group practice: effects on primary care physician productivity. Health Serv Res. 2008;43(5 Pt 2):1888-905. Epub 2008 Jul 25. PubMed
Green BB, Cook AJ, Ralston JD, Fishman PA, Catz SL, Carlson J, Carrell D, Tyll L, Larson EB, Thompson RS. Effectiveness of home blood pressure monitoring, Web communication, and pharmacist care on hypertension control: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008;299(24):2857-67. PubMed
Arsand E, Tufano JT, Ralston JD, Hjortdahl P. Designing mobile dietary management support technologies for people with diabetes. J Telemed Telecare. 2008;14(7):329-32. PubMed
Kaiser Permanente researchers develop predictive model to help adults with multiple health conditions.
Newly funded center will elevate equity and community in learning health system research.
Community circulation of ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli increased after 6-year reduction in antibiotic prescriptions
A new study aims to understand trends in digital care communication among teens.
A new federal rule requiring physicians to give patients access to their notes may be easier to follow than physicians expected.