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Research Overview
Richard H. Fortinsky is Professor of Medicine at the Center on Aging and Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center School of Medicine, where he holds the Physicians Health Services Endowed Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology. Dr. Fortinsky conducts clinical, behavioral science, and health services research with the major goal of improving health status and health care delivery systems for older adults and their families. His major areas of investigation are: physician and family care for persons with dementia living at home; health-related outcomes and resource use among older adults receiving home health care; evidence-based community interventions to help prevent falls in the older population; and transportation alternatives for older adults who have stopped or curtailed driving. Dr. Fortinsky received a 2006-2007 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award to lecture and conduct research at the School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, England, on comparisons between the United States and the United Kingdom in the response of primary care practitioners to persons and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Dr. Fortinsky received his doctoral degree in Sociology in 1984 from Brown University, specializing in medical sociology and gerontology.
Education
Ph.D., Brown University, 1984 (medical sociology and gerontology)
M.A., Brown University, 1977 (sociology)
B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 1975 (sociology)
Featured Publications
Fortinsky RH, Iannuzzi-Sucich M, Baker DI, Gottschalk M, King MB, Brown CJ, Tinetti ME. Fall risk assessment and management in clinical practice: Views from health care providers. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:1522-1526.
Madigan EA, Fortinsky RH. Inter-rater reliability of the Outcomes and Assessment Information Set: Results from the field. Gerontologist 2004;44:689-692.
Fortinsky RH, Madigan EA. Data, information, and quality indicators for home health care: Rapid implementation, what’s next? J Healthcare Quality 2004;26:44-51.
Fortinsky RH, Fenster JR, Judge JO. Medicare and Medicaid home health and Medicaid waiver services for dually eligible older adults: Risk factors for use and correlates of expenditures. Gerontologist 2004;44:739-749.
Brown CJ, Gottschalk M, Van Ness PH, Fortinsky RH, Tinetti ME. A multicomponent behavioral change strategy and its impact on fall prevention practices of physical therapists. Physical Therapy 2005;85:394-403.
Baker DI, King MB, Fortinsky RH, Graff LG, Gottschalk M, Acampora D, Preston J, Brown CJ, Tinetti ME. Dissemination of an evidence-based multi-component fall risk assessment and management strategy throughout a geographic area. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005; 53:675-680.
Unson CG, Fortinsky RH, Prestwood K, Reisine, S. Osteoporosis medications used by African-American women: Effects of socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors. J Comm Health 2005; 30:281-297.
Chou WC, Tinetti ME, King MB, Irwin K, Fortinsky RH. Perceptions of physicians on barriers and facilitators to integrating fall risk evaluation and management into practice. J Gen Intern Med 2006;21:117-122.
Fortinsky, RH, Madigan EA, Sheehan TJ, Tullai-McGuinness S, Fenster JR. Risk factors for hospitalization among Medicare home care patients. West J Nurs Res 2006; 28:902-917.
Fortinsky RH, Tennen H, Frank N, Affleck G. Health and psychological consequences of caregiving. In: Aldwin C, Park C, Spiro R. (Eds). Handbook of Health Psychology and Aging. New York: Guilford Publications, Inc, 2007, pp. 227-249.
Bellantonio S, Kenny AM, Fortinsky RH, Kleppinger A, Robison J, Gruman C, Kulldorff M, Trella PM. Efficacy of a Geriatrics Team Intervention for Residents in Dementia-Specific Assisted Living Facilities: Impact on Unanticipated Transitions. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008; 56:523-528.
Fortinsky RH, Baker, DI, Gottschalk M, King M, Trella PM, Tinetti, ME. Extent of implementation of evidence-based fall prevention practices for older patients in home health care. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008; 56:737-743.
Tremont G, Davis JD, Bishop DS, Fortinsky RH. Telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention reduces burden in dementia caregivers. Dementia: International Journal of Social Research and Practice (in press).
Fortinsky RH. Diagnosis and early support. In: Downs M and Bowers B (Eds). Excellence in Dementia Care: Principles and Practices. Maidenhead, Berkshire, England: Open University Press (in press).
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