Harkness Project Title: Chronic Disease Self-Management – A Systematic Review of Proactive Telephone Applications
Mentors: Dean Schillinger, M.D., and Andrew Bindman, M.D.
Placement: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Biography at time of Harkness Fellowship: Carly Muller, a 2006–07 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy, is a senior policy adviser for the Primary Health Branch of the Victorian Department of Human Services and a health program evaluator for Whitehorse Community Health Service. Muller initially graduated as a podiatrist and through her work as a community health podiatrist, she developed a strong interest in reducing health inequalities and subsequently moved to a broader primary health care focus covering health promotion, health program evaluation, primary medical care liaison, intergovernmental relations and health call centers. Most recently she has been driving the Victorian health call center policy and implementation plans as well as advising on national health call center developments. Her research interests lie broadly in evidence-based practice and the practical application of research methodologies and knowledge utilization through health program evaluations. Muller graduated as a podiatrist in 1997 through LaTrobe University before completing a post graduate diploma in public health in 2000 at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia, and subsequently a master of public health in 2003 at the University of Melbourne—both with distinctions.
Project: Muller’s project aimed to develop a conceptual model of telephone-based proactive models of chronic care, and examine the effectiveness and reach of telephone interventions currently in place. She conducted a systematic review of articles on telephone-based chronic care programs, their impact, and the degree to which they reach different populations.