Fostering high-quality, policy-relevant economic research
The Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics within the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM), Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, helps foster high-quality, policy-relevant economic research and disseminate it widely to decision-makers in the public and private sectors.
Our vision is to serve as a leading hub for health policy and economics research, with a commitment to fostering innovation, driving positive change, and contributing to the betterment of public health on a global scale. Through collaboration, education, and outreach, we aim to empower decision-makers with the knowledge and tools necessary to build a healthier, more equitable world for all.
What We Do
The OD Pulse
The OD Pulse is a drug overdose deaths dashboard tracking how the overdose crisis is changing across time, place and drug type (e.g., opioids, stimulants). The dashboard helps public health agencies, clinicians, policymakers and communities respond more quickly and precisely to a constantly evolving crisis. OD Pulse models drug overdose death rates to identify emerging inflection points and the underlying dynamics of drug epidemics before they occur.
IVDRS
The Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IVDRS) links us to the who, what, when, where, how, and why violent deaths occur. IVDRS is a part of The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), the only state-based surveillance (reporting) system that pools unique data elements from multiple sources into a usable, anonymous database. IVDRS covers all types of violent deaths — including homicides and suicides — in all settings for all age groups.
SUDORS
The Statewide Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) helps us understand emerging trends and factors leading up to the overdose and can be used to develop prevention approaches. SUDORS is a part of Illinois Enhanced State Surveillance of Opioid-Involved Morbidity and Mortality (ESOOS) in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital (acting as a bona fide agent of IDPH).
Research Updates
BREAKING NEWS: Overdose Deaths Rise in the West as National Decline Rapidly Loses Momentum
The United States has logged 24 consecutive months of deceleration in drug overdose deaths, the longest sustained decline in more than four decades!
Illinois Veteran Suicide PSA
This release pairs a concise data fact sheet with a short PSA intended for educational and awareness use. The focus is on key patterns in veteran suicide deaths in Illinois, including method, age distribution, and documented mental health history, framed to support prevention and resource-oriented conversations.
Latest News
Newsletter
Learn the latest about the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics through our newsletter. Find information on member awards and successes, new members and upcoming events.
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Ask an Economist
Have a question? The Buehler Center can help! Ask an Economist is a research clinic sponsored by the Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics, designed to assist faculty in developing research studies. Our talented faculty and their networks can answer questions on a variety of economic topics to help you make more informed choices about your research plans.
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