Areas of Expertise : Health
Chronic Disease Management
AIR believes information is the most potent weapon in chronic disease management, since chronic diseases cannot be prevented by vaccines or medicine, and do not simply disappear with time. Behaviors that damage one’s health – such as tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor eating habits - are major contributors to leading chronic diseases. Using tools like surveys to assess patient attitudes, databases where providers and consumers can search for the latest answers, and informatic models that provide quick and accurate calculations to answer clinical questions, AIR is working to help manage chronic diseases by controlling tobacco use, substance abuse, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS.
Recent Projects
Conference Planning/Management
AIR has supported more than 100 meetings and conferences annually for more than 23 years. Our conference staff are skilled in planning and managing many types of meetings with a variety of purposes. We have proven expertise in all aspects of workshop, meeting, and conference management including: program planning and management, registration services with online registration and meeting Web sites, exhibit services, logistics support, meeting material preparation, technical writing in support of meetings and conferences, onsite management, and post-conference support. Please contact Ezra Bourne for more information.
Data Analysis
Recent Reports
- The Project Talent Twin and Sibling Study
- Examining NAEP Achievement in Relation to School Testing Conditions in the 2010 Assessments
- Alternative Approaches to Setting Performance Standards for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
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Recent Projects
- Center for Survey Methods
- National Household Education Survey (NHES)
- Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS)
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Recent Products
Database Management
AIR provides our clients with databases and data-driven tools, including Web applications, business intelligence, data warehousing, and project performance reporting solutions. We utilize a proven methodology to develop, design, build, and maintain databases that are reliable and scalable and provide the highest levels of data integrity and security. For more information on how our databases can enhance your project, contact us at webdev@air.org, or call 301.592.2108.
Recent Projects
Recent Products
Disease Prevention
To prevent disease, it is necessary to understand the ideas and attitudes that underlie destructive health behaviors and convert them into positive actions. Our disease prevention efforts aim to take individuals and communities beyond knowledge and empower them to motivate change. AIR has expertise in developing content, materials, and programs that resonate with the target audience and lead to behavior change. We provide disease prevention expertise to clients to mobilize policymakers, health professionals, consumers, organizations at the national and community levels, the media, and others into a community ready for action. AIR uses audience-driven research to develop public health campaigns and design award-winning disease prevention/health promotion materials and Web sites.
Recent Reports
- On the Road to Well-Being: The Development of a Communication Framework for Sexual Health
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Recent Projects
- Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Population Monitoring Surveys
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Recent Products
Health Policy/Affairs
Health public policy analysis touches on a broad range of health issues, from financing of health care to cost containment to improving quality and outcomes. AIR’s work in this area often involves original research as well as surveying the landscape and pulling together materials created by others. We also work to inform the public on key issues. AIR’s efforts extend from reforms of Medicare and Medicaid to developing communication plans in case of terrorist biohazards or an influenza pandemic.
Recent Reports
- Performance Management: Improving State Systems through Information-Based Decisionmaking
- Prospects for the Social Safety Net for Future Low Income Seniors
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Recent Projects
- Helping States Improve Their Medicare Services
- Medicare Part D Consumer Research
- Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Population Monitoring Surveys
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Recent Products
Healthcare Financing
The web of private and public healthcare financing schemes ultimately determines who is covered by insurance and what kind of care they receive. At AIR, a key focus is to evaluate the impact of policy reform efforts on the medical marketplace. AIR Health Program Director Marilyn Moon, a renowned Medicare scholar, continues her research and analysis of the new drug benefit that will profoundly impact some 45 million people in this pivotal social insurance program.
Recent Reports
- Performance Management: Improving State Systems through Information-Based Decisionmaking
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Recent Projects
- The Communication Toolkit: Using Information to Get High Quality Care
- Evaluation of the Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program and the Building Research Infrastructure and Capacity Program
- Medicare’s Future
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Recent Products
HIV/AIDS
AIR’s work in HIV/AIDS involves the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Through CDC, we oversee the development and implementation of the Act Against AIDS Campaign, the first national HIV prevention campaign focused on the domestic epidemic in over 20 years that leverages efforts in the public and private sectors. Additionally, AIR provides a comprehensive media relations program for the Office of Communications at CDC’s National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). Through NIAID, AIR provides HIV/AIDS communication strategies and support to the Office of Communications and Government Relations.
Recent Reports
- On the Road to Well-Being: The Development of a Communication Framework for Sexual Health
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Recent Products
Minority Health
Under the management of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AIR Health, the National Diabetes Education Program includes a major outreach effort to minority communities. Leveraging communications through community-based organizations, AIR is delivering prevention messages to African Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans. Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AIR is implementing a program to help family physicians and nurses communicate more effectively with diverse patient populations.
Nutrition
Since 1999, AIR has implemented a number of national and state programs aimed at improving the nutritional status of many groups including children, women, and minorities. Working with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Health Resources & Services Administration; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AIR has developed a variety of consumer, provider, and community-based products to prevent and manage obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. AIR’s in-house nutrition experts ensure that content complies with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Healthy People 2010 Goals.
Patient-centered Care
Patient-centered care is based on establishing an effective continuous partnership between clinicians and patients and between health care organizations and consumers.
Recent Reports
- Team Training in Health Care: A Review of Team Training and a Look Toward The Future
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Recent Projects
Public Health Education
AIR develops public education campaigns and materials on a variety of public health issues, ranging from H1N1 flu, to syphilis and diabetes. AIR education efforts are informed by research, audience-tailored, and culturally-appropriate. Depending on the goals of the client, these efforts may aim to inform targeted audiences, raise general awareness of issues, enlist support from a wider public audience, mobilize communities, and/or change behavior. These efforts are led by staff with advanced degrees in public health or communication and considerable experience in applying the best and latest health communication methodologies and practices to achieve measurable and lasting results.
Recent Reports
- On the Road to Well-Being: The Development of a Communication Framework for Sexual Health
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Recent Projects
- Take the Lead: Working Together to Prepare Now
- Health Information Networks, Clearinghouses, Online Information Systems, Web Sites, Online Product Catalog and Publishing
- Communicating About Pandemic Flu
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Recent Products
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Clear and accurate communication - communication that motivates people to prepare in advance of a crisis and then take appropriate actions when a public health emergency occurs - is critical to reducing illness and suffering and ultimately saving lives. AIR works with state and federal clients to develop educational materials, messages, training programs, and crisis communication plans. Based on risk communication principles and audience research, AIR’s award-winning work spans a variety of public health emergency topics, including H1N1 flu, pandemic influenza, bioterrorism, and chemical and radiological threats.
Recent Reports
Recent Projects
Publication and Materials Development
AIR designs and produces materials targeted to a wide range of audiences. Publications and materials are developed with client and audience input at every step, taking into account communication goals, literacy issues, and plain language principles to ensure access, comprehension and usage.
Materials designed, produced, and tested with target audiences include print and collateral materials; television, radio, print, and outdoor advertising; exhibits and conference materials; media kits; video documentaries; original music; interactive CDs; and Websites.
Recent Projects
Stakeholder Development in Health
AIR has special expertise in strategically identifying and cultivating third-party stakeholders for the purpose of supporting a specific public health goal. In many cases, this is as simple as determining other parties who will be affected by the issue at hand.
On a more sophisticated level, our stakeholder development initiatives bring together seemingly disparate interests around a specific desired outcome. This allows many individual interests to be served by a single action—often in different ways. Our communication and outreach efforts with Supporters of the Physical Activity Guidelines and stakeholder efforts related to Healthy People 2020 goals and the Center for Disease Control’s Act Against AIDS Campaign are good examples of AIR’s recent work in this area.
Substance Abuse
AIR is deeply involved in public and private efforts to prevent and treat substance abuse. Through the BEST Foundation, AIR conducted an assessment of treatment providers’ organizational strengths, challenges, and priorities, leading to the development of a self-guided process to enhance and improve performance. At the state level, we have provided technical assistance to federal block grantees to enhance program performance and outcomes, and to implement expanded access to care and choices of treatment. AIR has also supported federal substance abuse agencies in the development of clinical guidelines and management information systems.
Recent Reports
- NIDA Notes: Behavior Game Reduces Later Drug-Related Problems
- Performance Management: Improving State Systems through Information-Based Decisionmaking
- Integrating State Administrative Records To Manage Substance Abuse Treatment System Performance
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Recent Projects
Web Accessibility
AIR is a leading developer of Web and electronic products compliant with both the spirit and the letter of the Section 508 guidelines for the accessibility of Web and other electronic information products. We have been developing accessible technology for our Federal clients since the Rehabilitation Act was passed in 1998.
AIR’s Web and electronic document development personnel have received training and certification from Usability.gov, and remain current on all new Section 508 Web Compliance and Remediation Framework goals and standards by attending the Department of Health and Human Services Web Council meetings, and monitoring other sources.
Our brochure provides additional information on the accessibility services we provide for Web, multimedia and other electronic products. For more information contact us at webdev@air.org, or call 301.592.2108.
Web Application Development
AIR provides clients with an effective and dynamic on-line presence through the development of interactive, feature-rich, and accessible Web sites and applications, and the strategic use of Web 2.0 and social networking technologies. Many of the Web applications we develop are hosted in our state-of-the-art, secure Web hosting environment, and maintained by a dedicated team of network engineers. The Web and electronic information assets we develop are compliant with both the spirit and the letter of the accessibility guidelines in section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
