Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Steven M. Handler, MD, PhD, CMD

Geriatrics

Associate Professor of Geriatric Medicine (Primary Appointment)

Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics

Associate Professor of Clinical and Translational Research

Associate Professor of RAND-University of Pittsburgh Health Institute (RUPHI)

Core Faculty, Center for Critical Care Nephrology

Director of Geriatric Telemedicine Programs

Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO), UPMC Community Provider Services

Email: handler@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-864-1878
Contact
Office: Forbes Tower, Suite 1064
3600 Forbes Ave. @ Meyran
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-864-1878
Fax: 888-647-3820
E-mail: handler@pitt.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Michelle Ardolino
Address: 3471 Fifth Ave, Suite 500
Kaufmann Medical Bldg
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: ardolinom@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-692-2361
Fax: 412-692-2370
Education and Training
Education
BS in Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 1993
MD, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 1997
MS in Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, 2004
PhD in Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, 2010
Training
Internship in Family Medicine, Family Practice Residency Program, Tufts University, 1998
Residency in Family Medicine, Family Practice Residency Program, Tufts University, 2000
Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 2002
Research Interest
An Associate Professor of Geriatrics, Dr Handler also holds appointments in Biomedical Informatics and in Clinical and Translational Research. In addition to his role as Director of Geriatric Telemedicine Programs, he serves as Chief Medical Informatics Officer for UPMC Community Provider Services, and as Medical Director for Telemedicine and Health Information for the RAVEN (Reduce AVoidable hospitalization using Evidence-based interventions for Nursing facilities in Western Pennsylvania) CMS Innovation Award. A practicing geriatrician with medical director responsibilities, Dr. Handler’s primary research focuses on medication and patient safety for older adults in a variety of settings. He is also developing a new care model focusing on the use of telemedicine to improve access to high-quality medical care in the nursing home. His goal is to develop this into a successful commercial entity.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
McKibbon, K. A., Lokker, C., Handler, S. M., Holbrook, A. M., Dolovich, L.R., O'Reilly, D., Tamblyn, R., Hemens, B. J., Basu, R., Toyan, S., Roshanov, P., Norman, A. Systematic review: The effectiveness of integrated health information technologies across the phases of medication management [Review]. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2012; 19(!): 22-30.
Handler, S. M., Altman, R. L., Perera, S., Hanlon, J. T., Studenski, S. A., Saul, M. I., Fridsma, D. B. A systematic review of the performance characteristics of Clinical Event Monitor signals used to detect adverse drug events in the hospital setting. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2007; 14(4): 451-458.
Handler, S. M., Shirts, B. H., Perera, S., Studenski, S. A., Becich, M. J., Castle, N. G., Hanlon, J. T. Frequency of laboratory monitoring of chronic medications administered to nursing home residents: Results of a national Internet-based study. The Consultant Pharmacist. 2008; 23(5): 387-95.
Bain, K. T., Holmes, H. M., Beers, M. H., Maio, V., Handler, S. M., Pauker, S. G. Discontinuing medications: A novel approach for revising the prescribing stage of the medication-use process. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2008; 56 (10): 1946-52.
Shirts, B. H., Perera, S., Hanlon, J. T., Roumani, Y. F., Studenski, S. A., Nace, D. A., Becich, M. J., Handler, S. M. Provider management of and satisfaction with laboratory testing in the nursing home setting: Results of a national study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2009; 10(3): 161-166.
Wong, A. K., Stephens, S. B., Aspinall, M. B., Visweswaran, S., Hanlon, J. T., Handler, S. M. Assessing the quality of prescribing and monitoring erythropoiesis stimulating agents in the nursing home setting. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2009; 10(6): 436-39.
Handler, S. M., Hanlon, J.T. Detecting adverse drug events using a nursing home specific trigger tool. Annals of Long-Term Care Clinical Care and Aging. 2010; 18(5): 17-22.
Marcum, Z. A., Handler, S. M., Wright, R. M., Hanlon, J. T. Interventions to improve suboptimal prescribing in nursing homes: A narrative review. American Journal Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. 2010; 8(3): 1-18.
Kane-Gill, S. L., Viswesvaran, S., Saul, M. I., Shah, J., Wong, I., Forsberg, E. A., Penrod, L., Handler, S. M. Computerized detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the medical Intensive Care Unit. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2011; 80(8): 570-578.
Steinman, M. A., Handler, S. M., Gurwitz, J. H., Schiff, G. D., Covinsky, K. E. Beyond the prescription: medication monitoring and adverse drug events in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2011; 59(8): 13-20.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Developing and Testing an Evidence-Based Toolkit for Nursing Home Care of Residents with Obesity
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Magee Womens Research Institute and Foundation/ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Grant Number: R01 HS026943
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: Reducing High-Risk Geriatric Polypharmacy via HER Nudges
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: RAND
Grant Number: R21 AG057396
Start Year: 2017
End Year: 2022
Title: Sustaining Skeletal Health in Frail Elderly
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R01 AG052123
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center RC1
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: P30 AG024827
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Title: Transforming the Medication Regimen Review Process of High-Risk Drugs Using a Patient-Centered Telemedicine-Based Approach to Prevent Adverse Drug Events in the Nursing Home
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Grant Number: R18 HS024208
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2018
Title: Post-Hospital Discharge Adverse Events in the Nursing Setting
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Massachusetts
Grant Number: R01 HS024433
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2018
Title: Fall Risk Reduction for Short and Long-Term Nursing Home Residents (Fall Sentinel)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Aging Institute of UPMC
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2016

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
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