
Alicia Arbaje, MD, MPH, PhD
Geriatric Medicine
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Alicia Arbaje
Professional Titles
- Director of Transitional Care Research
Primary Academic Title
Associate Professor of Medicine
Background
Dr. Alicia Arbaje is Associate Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her areas of clinical expertise include general internal medicine and geriatric medicine, with a particular interest in helping older adults stay at home as they age and working with a team to coordinate care for her older patients.
Dr. Arbaje serves as the Director of Transitional Care Research at Johns Hopkins.
After receiving her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and a masters degree in public health from Harvard University, Dr. Arbaje completed her residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She performed fellowships in health care research and geriatric medicine and gerontology at Johns Hopkins.
Her research interests include designing health care systems to enhance safety and improve outcomes for older adults.
Dr. Arbaje is a member of the American Geriatrics Society, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the Gerontological Society of America. At Johns Hopkins, she was a founding member of the Hopkins Organization for Latino Awareness (HOLA) and is a member of the Department of Medicine Diversity Council. Dr. Arbaje is active in speaking to the media about issues relevant to older adults (see her YouTube channel). She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Top 10 Doctors Under 40 by the Baltimore Sun Magazine and the American Geriatrics Society New Investigator Award.
Centers and Institutes
Videos
Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
- What If Your Patient Refuses to Take Off Their Clothes?, Medscape.com (12/2/2021)
- Dementia and Latino populations, Radio America (Spanish language) (6/11/2021)
- Staying energized as an older adult, Renew Magazine (5/24/21)
- Staying connected with elders during COVID-19, Richmond Times (2/25/2021)
- 9 Ways to Extend the Time You Spend Living Independently, NextAvenue (AARP) (2/12/2021)
- Insomnia and COVID-19, CNN Español (10/30/2020)
- Physical and mental consequences of isolation, CNN Español (9/30/2020)
- Physical and mental consequences of isolation, CNN interview (9/30/2020)
- Physical and mental consequences of isolation, CNN Español (9/30/2020)
- Respecting older adult autonomy during COVID-19, France24, El Debate, Digital news program (6/11/2020)
- 100 year olds surviving COVID, The New York Post (5/4/2020)
- COVID-19 concerns for older adults, Marisol, Spanish language magazine Diario Libre (Rep Dom) (3/27/2020)
- Cuidar cuerpo y mente para tener una vejez más digna, Listín Diario Newspaper (9/10/2018)
- El secreto para una vejez sana, Listín Diario Newspaper. (9/9/2018)
- Johns Hopkins promueve intercambio con galenos, Hoy Digital (9/8/2018)
- Johns Hopkins promueve el intercambio de conocimientos con galenos del país, DiarioHispaniola.com (9/8/2018)
- La edad no determina referimientos de pacientes al geriatra, DiarioSalud.com (9/4/2018)
- Bridging the Gaps in Care The importance of older adults' transitions across health care settings, National Press Foundation (11/10/2016)
- Scientists’ New Goal: Growing Old Without Disease, The Wall Street Journal (03/16/2015)
- Dr. Arbaje on CNN en Espanol (Spanish), CNN (12/8/2011)
- Staying Safe in Hot Weather, Good Morning Maryland (06/08/2011)
- Protecting Yourself from Outdoor Falls, Good Morning Maryland, (05/11/2011)
- Talking to Your Doctor about Five Embarrasing Symptoms, Good Morning Maryland, (05/11/2011)
- Understanding Home Health Care, ABC2News, (03/01/2011)
- Older Adults and Heart Disease, Good Morning Maryland, (02/17/2011)
- Comments Regarding Reporter Serene Branson's On-Air Symptoms, Good Morning Maryland, (02/16/2011)
- Winterizing Yourself, Good Morning Maryland, (02/16/2011)
- Healthy Aging: Strategies to Prevent Common Problems as You Get Older, Health Seminar, Johns Hopkins Medicine (12/13/2011)
- Preparing for Elective Surgery, Good Morning Maryland, (11/01/2010)
- Getting Enough Vitamin D, Good Morning Maryland (11/11/2010)
- Tips for Older Adults Considering Visits to Retail Medical Clinics, Good Morning Maryland (08/10/2010)
- Older adults and staying safe in the heat, Good Morning Maryland (07/06/2010)
- Navigating older adults' care transitions from the hospital to home, Good Morning Maryland (06/22/2010)
- Tips for Taking Care of An Elderly Parent, Good Morning Maryland (05/03/2010)
- Health Care Reform Provisions affecting Older Adults, Good Morning Maryland (04/07/2010)
- Symptoms with Stigma, Good Morning Maryland (03/02/2010)
- Elder Care Winter Safety, Good Morning Maryland (02/02/2010)
- Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Older Adults, Good Morning Maryland (01/05/2010)
- Avoiding Unpleasant Holiday Health Care Surprises in Older Adults, Good Morning Maryland (12/08/2009)
- Giving From the Soul, Good For the Body, Good Morning Maryland(11/09/2009)
- Elder Care: Dealing With Low & High Blood Pressure, Good Morning Maryland (10/06/2009)
- Elder Care--Planning Ahead: Advanced Directives, Good Morning Maryland (11/02/2009)
- Elder Care: What to Take on a Trip, Good Morning Maryland(08/04/2009)
- Getting Rid of Joint Pain, Good Morning Maryland (07/07/2009)
- Seniors and the Price of Drugs, Good Morning Maryland (06/13/2009)
- Geriatric Medicine: When to Go to a Geriatric Doctor, Good Morning Maryland (Jun 12, 2009)
- Staying Safe with Your Medications, Good Morning Maryland (06/12/2009)
- Flu and Winter Concerns, Good Morning Maryland (06/12/2009)
- Elderly Care: Preventing Falls, Good Morning Maryland (06/12/2009)
- Elder Care: Understanding the H1N1 Virus, Good Morning Maryland (06/12/2009)
- Elder Care: Insomnia--Get More Sleep!, Good Morning Maryland (06/12/2009)
Research Interests
Designing healthcare systems to enhance safety and help older adults heal and thrive after hospitalization. Dr. Arbaje focuses on using human factors engineering approaches and novel methods to identify factors that place people at risk of experiencing suboptimal care during transitions across healthcare settings, identify care processes related to successful transitions, and develop clinical interventions to improve care transitions and reduce rehospitalization.
Lab Website
Alicia Arbaje Lab - Lab Website
- Research in the Alicia Arbaje Lab aims to help older adults maintain dignity and quality of life as they age. We are particularly interested in creating health care systems to improve safety and outcomes for older adults.
Research Summary
Dr. Arbaje's research interests include designing health care systems to enhance safety and improve outcomes for older adults.
Selected Publications
Arbaje AI, Hughes A, Werner N, Carl K, Hohl D, Jones K, Bowles KH, Chan K, Leff B, Gurses AP. Information management goals and process failures during home visits for middle-aged and older adults receiving skilled home healthcare services after hospital discharge: a multi-site, qualitative study. BMJ Qual Saf. 2018 Jul 17 PMID: 30018114
Arbaje AI, Kansagara DL, Salanitro AH, Englander HL, Kripalani S, Jencks SF, Lindquist LA. Regardless of age: Incorporating principles from geriatric medicine to improve care transitions for patients with complex needs. J Gen Intern Med. 2014 Jun;29(6):932-9. PMID: 24557511 PMCID: PMC4026496.
Arbaje AI, Werner NE, Kasda EM, Wu AW, Locke CFS, Aboumatar H, Paine LA, Leff B, Davis RO, Boonyasai RT. Learning from Lawsuits: Using Malpractice Claims Data to Develop Care Transitions Planning Tools. J Patient Saf 2020 Mar;16(1):52-57. PMID: 27294592
Arbaje AI, Yu Q, Wang J, Leff B. Senior services in US hospitals and readmission risk in the Medicare population. Int J Qual Health Care. 2017 Oct 1;29(6):845-852. PMID: 29025049.
Werner NE, Malkana S, Gurses AP, Leff BA, Arbaje AI. Toward a process-level view of distributed healthcare tasks: Medication management as a case study. Applied Ergonomics. 2017 Nov;65:255-268. PMID: 28802446.
Honors
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University, 7/1/16
- Provost Diversity Recognition Award, Diversity Leadership Council, Johns Hopkins University, 7/1/16
- Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service, Public Education Committee, American Geriatrics Society, 5/15/15
- Nursing Nurse Competence in Aging Writer's Award, MEDSURG, 1/1/12
- Armstrong Scholar in Patient Safety, 1/1/12
- Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation, 1/1/12
- Alumni Honorary Medal, University of Kansas Honors Program, 1/1/12
- Emerging Women's Leadership Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Office of Women in Science and Medicine, 1/1/11
- Catch a Shining Star Award, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1/1/10
- Top 10 Doctors Under 40, Baltimore Region, Baltimore Sun Magazine, 1/1/10
- New Investigator Award for Outstanding Research in Geriatrics, American Geriatrics Society, 1/1/08
- Fellow Grantmakers in Aging Fellow, 1/1/05
- Yale Johnson & Johnson Physician Scholar in International Health, 1/1/03
- Alpha Omega Alpha Yale, University School of Medicine, 1/1/00
- Rhodes Scholar National Finalist, University of Kansas, 1/1/96
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of Kansas, 1/1/94
- Fellow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development, Kansas Health Foundation, 1/1/94
Lectures & Presentations
- Approaches to improving care transitions of older adults in the United States, Presentation, Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin, Victorian Department of Health, Melbourne, Australia, 8/1/13
- Bridging the Gaps: Understanding and Improving Older Adults' Care Transitions across Healthcare Settings and after Surgery, Presentation, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 2/1/19
- Care Transitions Programs in the United States: Common themes, lessons learned, and broader approaches for improving care, Presentation, Transitions Programs: Perspectives from Three Continents, 20th International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics World Congress, Seoul, Korea, 6/1/13
- Community Perspectives on Dementia, Presentation, Seminar, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Impact on Diverse Communities, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, 11/1/21
- Identification and management of common geriatric syndromes, Presentation, Universidad de la Tercera Edad, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 10/1/09
- Identifying Information Management Challenges during Older Adults' Transitions from Hospital to Home Care, Presentation, Chinese Congress on Gerontology and Health, Suzhou, China, 9/1/14
- Identifying Information Management Challenges faced by Home Healthcare Nurses Managing Older Adults' Transitions from Hospital to Home Care, Presentation, Second International Home Care Nurses Organization Conference, Singapore, Singapore, 9/1/14
- Improving Care Transitions for Older Adults, Presentation, Yanling International Health Summit, China National Economic Planning Center, Henan Province, China, 4/1/19
- Improving care transitions of older adults: Common approaches, lessons learned, and broader applications, Presentation, 9th Annual Conference of the Australian Disease Management Association, Sydney, Australia, 8/1/13
- Learning from Lawsuits: Application of a Human Factors Engineering Approach to Investigate Hospital-to-Home Transitions using Malpractice Data, Presentation, Chinese Congress on Gerontology and Health, Suzhou, China, 9/1/14
- Management of medications in older adults and Falls in older adults, Presentation, International Symposium of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico, 8/1/11
- Strategies for Healthy Aging and Obtaining the Best Healthcare Possible, Presentation, Museo Memorial de la Resistencia Dominicana (Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1/1/16
- Strategies for promoting healthy aging, Presentation, Live Longer and Better Symposium, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia, 8/1/11
- The Role of Geriatrics in Promoting Healthy Aging among Older Adults, Presentation, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 9/1/18
- Transitional Care in the United States: Implementation and Lessons Learned, Presentation, BAYADA International Home Health Care Committee, Webinar, South Korea, 12/1/21
- Transitional Care: Implementation and Lessons Learned, Presentation, Care New England Geriatrics and Palliative Care Grand Rounds, Brown University, Providence, RI, 12/1/21
Memberships
- Academy Health
- American Geriatrics Society
- American Geriatrics Society Public Education Committee, Member
- Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine
- Diversity Council, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Member
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology Mosaic Initiative to Enhance Diversity, Member
- Gerontological Society of America
- Hopkins Organization for Latino Awareness (HOLA), Founding Member
- Society of General Internal Medicine
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
Technical Expert Panels on Care Transitions and Care Coordination
- The Gerontologist,
Journal reviewer
- Work Group on Care Transitions, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
Member
- Annual World Health Care Congress Leadership Summit on Hospital Re-Admissions,
Chairperson
- Physicians and Providers Advancing Care Transitions Initiative, American College of Physicians,
Section author
- International Journal for Quality in Health Care,
Journal Reviewer
- Public Education Committee, American Geriatrics Society,
Member
- Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety,
Journal Reviewer
- Society for General Internal Medicine Work Group on Creating Best-Practices for Older Adults Transitioning from Skilled Nursing Facilities to Outpatient Primary Care,
Member
- Healthcare Research and Training Study Section, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
Standing Member
- American Geriatrics Society,
Chair, Public Education Committee
- American College of Physicians,
Vice Chair, Council of Subspecialty Societies
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI),
Chair, Advisory Panel, Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research,
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
- phone: 410-550-0100
- fax: 410-550-0101
Expertise
Education
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Graduate School, PhD, 2017Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Fellowship, Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, 2007Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Fellowship, Medicine, 2005Yale New Haven Health
Residency, Internal Medicine, 2003Yale School of Medicine
Medical Education, MD, 2000Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health
Graduate School, MPH, 1999Board Certifications
Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2015Geriatric Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2008Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)