Research Experience
Researcher Profile
My experience as an independent and site investigator and my expertise in health literacy leaves me well-positioned to serve health literacy content expert and consultant.
I have over a decade of extensive expertise, knowledge, and a track record in clinical research (including serving as a site PI in PECARN projects) and quality improvement. I developed a research agenda investigating health literacy and implementing education and system change to improve organizational health literacy to affect health outcomes. I am most interested in how health literacy affects safety and healthcare use and interventions to improve safety and healthcare use. I worked to improve communication between ED staff and parents, finding strategies to improve satisfaction. I designed and implemented an improvement program in health literacy-focused communication in primary care clinics to improve knowledge, behavior, and confidence. Over the past ten years, I have been the Children's Wisconsin Health Literacy Task Force's co-director. I led the group to develop a quality improvement strategy seven years ago and conducted a practice assessment identifying the needs across our system. I developed a position and was appointed as the first Medical Director for Health Literacy at Children's Wisconsin to plan and implement future health literacy improvements focused on improving the quality of care in all domains. In addition, I have served as site investigator on several PECARN and PERN projects (e.g.; ED SAMS, PERN pneumonia).
Clear Communication and Health Literacy
Research Experience
1. Led efforts to create a health literacy-focused asthma education curriculum and conducted clinical trials of an educational intervention to improve parent health literacy contributing to a greater understanding of health-literacy related interventions in the ED.
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Morrison AK, Nimmer M, Ferguson CC. (2020). Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Increase Distribution of Low Literacy Asthma Education in the ED. Academic Pediatrics,S1876-2859, 2020.
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Lepley B, Brousseau DC, May M, Morrison AK. (2019). Randomized Controlled Trial of Acute Illness Educational Intervention in the Pediatric ED: Written vs. App-Based Information. Pediatric Emergency Care, 36(4), 2020.
3. As a primary investigator, I investigated the effect of parent health literacy on child ED utilization, finding that low parent health literacy is related to higher ED use and lack of pain medication administration skills, solidifying health literacy's critical role on health outcomes beyond sociodemographic characteristics.
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Morrison AK, Schapira MM, Gorelick MH, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau DC. (2014). Low caregiver health literacy is associated with higher use of the emergency department for non-urgent visits. Academic Pediatrics, 14 (3): 309-14.
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May M, Brousseau DC, Nelson DA, Flynn KE, Wolf MS, Lepley B, Morrison AK. (2018). Why parents seek care for acute illness in the clinic or the ED: The role of health literacy. Academic Pediatrics, 18(3):289-296.
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Drent AM, Brousseau DC, Morrison AK. (2018). Current media access and future educational preferences for child health information in parents in a pediatric emergency department. Clinical Pediatrics, 57(5):519-527.
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Morrison AK, Myrvik MP, Brousseau DC, Scott JP, Drendel A, Visotcky A, Panepinto J. (2018). Parents’ Pain Medication Underdosing is Associated with Greater ED Visits in Sickle Cell Disease. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 65(4).
4. I co-authored an invited review article in Pediatrics in Review providing a comprehensive overview of health literacy's impact on child health, and validated use of health literacy screening tool to integrate health literacy assessments into patient care.
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Morrison AK, Glick A, Yin HS. (2019). Health Literacy: Implications for Child Health. Pediatrics in Review, 40(6): 263-277.
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Morrison AK, Schapira, MM, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau, DC. (2014). Measuring health literacy in caregivers of children: a comparison of the newest vital sign and s-tofhla. Clinical Pediatrics, 53(13): 1264-70
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Morrison AK, Brousseau DC, Brazauskas R, Levas, MN. (2015). Health Literacy affects likelihood of radiology testing in the pediatric emergency department. The Journal of Pediatrics, 166 (4): 1037-1041.
Bibliography
1. Pankratz M, Morrison A, Plante E. Difference in standard scores of adults on the peabody picture vocabulary test (revised and third edition). Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 47(3); 714-718, 2004. PMID: 15212579
2. Morrison AK, Myrvik MP, Brousseau DC, Hoffmann R, Stanley R. The relationship between parent health literacy and pediatric ED utilization: A systematic review. Academic Pediatrics, 13 (5): 421-9, 2013. PMID: 23680294
3. Gray MP, Keeney GE, Morrison AK, Levas MN, Kessler EA, Hill GD, Gorelick MH, Jackson JL. Dexamethasone for acute asthma exacerbations in children: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 133 (3): 493-9, 2014. PMID: 24515516
4. Glamann JA, Morrison AK, Mychaliska KP. On target: a case of acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy. Hospital Pediatrics, 4 (2): 106-8, 2014. PMID: 24584981
5. Morrison AK, Schapira MM, Gorelick MH, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau DC. Low caregiver health literacy is associated with higher use of the emergency department for non-urgent visits. Academic Pediatrics, 14 (3): 309-14, 2014. PMID: 24767784
6. Morrison AK, Chanmugathas R, Schapira MM, Gorelick MH, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau DC. Caregiver low health literacy and non-urgent use of the pediatric emergency department for febrile illness. Academic Pediatrics, 14 (5):505-9, 2014. PMID: 24942934
7. Morrison AK, Schapira, MM, Hoffmann RG, Brousseau, DC. Measuring health literacy in caregivers of children: a comparison of the newest vital sign and s-tofhla. Clinical Pediatrics,
53 (13): 1264-70, 2014. PMID: 25006116
8. Morrison AK, Brousseau DC, Brazauskas R, Levas, MN. Health Literacy affects likelihood of radiology testing in the pediatric emergency department. The Journal of Pediatrics, 166 (4): 1037-1041, 2015. PMID: 25596100
9. May M,* Brousseau DC, Nelson DA, Flynn KE, Wolf MS, Lepley B, Morrison AK. Why parents seek care for acute illness in the clinic or the ED: The role of health literacy. Academic Pediatrics, 18(3):289-296, 2018. PMID: 2862577
10. Drent AM,* Brousseau DC, Morrison AK. Current media access and future educational preferences for child health information in parents in a pediatric emergency department. Clinical Pediatrics, 57(5):519-527, 2018. PMID: 28901159
11. Morrison AK, Myrvik MP, Brousseau DC, Scott JP, Drendel A, Visotcky A, Panepinto J. Parents’ Pain Medication Underdosing is Associated with Greater ED Visits in Sickle Cell Disease. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 65(4), 2018. PMID:29230919
12. Rogers A, Lye P, Ciener D, Kuhn E, Morrison AK. Using Quality Improvement to Change Testing Practices for Community Acquired Pneumonia. Pediatric Quality and Safety. epub ahead of print, 2018 Sep 20; 3(4):e105. PMID: 30584632
13. Morrison AK, Brousseau DC. Seeking Care for Pediatric Illness: Health System Perspective. Academic Pediatrics, 19(4), 2019: 355-356. PMID: 30904583 More information on visibility settings
14. Morrison AK, Glick A, Yin HS. Health Literacy: Implications for Child Health. Pediatrics in Review, 40(6), 2019: 263-277. PMID: 31152099
15. Kuehnel NA,* Morrison AK, Ferguson C. Rapid Cycle Testing Drives Improved Communication and Satisfaction Using In-Person Survey. BMJ Quality Open, 2019; 8:e000504. PMID: 31799442
16. Lepley B,* Brousseau DC, May M, Morrison AK. Randomized Controlled Trial of Acute Illness Educational Intervention in the Pediatric ED: Written vs. App Based Information. Pediatric Emergency Care, 36(4), 2020. PMID: 30624425
17. Morrison AK, Gibson C, Gutzeit MF. Health Literacy-Related Safety Events: One Children’s Hospital’s Experience. Pediatric Quality and Safety, 5, Supplement 2:Solutions for Patient Safety Learning Sessions, 2020, e262. PMCID: PMC7217607
18. Morrison AK, Nimmer M, Ferguson CC. Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Increase Distribution of Low Literacy Asthma Education in the ED. Academic Pediatrics, 21(5), 2021: 868-876. PMID: 33221494
19. Funk A, Florin T, Salziel SR, et al. (Morrison AK as PERN-COVID-19 study team). Prospective Cohort Study of Children Potentially Infected by SARS-CoV-2. BMJ Open, 11(1), 2021: e042121. PMID 33452195
20. Florin TA, Tancredi DJ, Ambroggio L, Babl FE, Dalziel SR, Eckerle M, Mintegi S, Neuman MI, Plint AC, Kuppermann N on behalf of the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN) Pneumonia Investigators (Morrison AK as PERN Investigator). Predicting Severe Pneumonia in the Emergency Department: A Global Study of the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN): A Study Protocol. BMJ Open, 10(12), 2020: e041093. PMID: 33268423
21. Morrison AK, Gibson C, Higgins C, Gutzeit MF. Health Literacy-Related Safety Events: Describing Communication Failures in Patient Safety Events. Pediatric Quality and Safety, 6(4), 2021: e425. PMID: 34235353
22. Gerald LB, Gerald JK, VanBuren JM, Lowe A, Guthrie CC, Klein EJ, Morrison AK, Startup E, Denninghoff K. Randomized Trial of the Feasibility of ED-Initiated School-Based Asthma Medication Supervision (ED-SAMS). Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 2021: 179.
23. Funk AL, Florin TA, Tancredi DJ…Morrison AK… et al. Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infected Children Tested in Emergency Departments: the Global Pediatric Emergency Research Network-COVID-19 Study. JAMA Network Open, 2022; 5(2):e2142322. PMID: 35015063
24. Gibson C, Smith D, Morrison AK. Improving Health Literacy Knowledge, Behaviors, and Confidence with Interactive Training. Health Literacy Research and Practice, 2022; 6(2):e113-120. PMID: 35522855
25. Freedman SB, Kuppermann N, Funk AL…Morrison AK…et. al. Treatments Administered to Children Tested for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pediatric Emergency Departments: The PERN-COVID-19 Study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, in press.
26. Funk AL, Kuppermann N, Florin TA, Tancredi DJ, Xie J, Kim K,…Morrison AK…et. al. Post-COVID Condition Among Children 90 Days after SARS CoV-2 Testing in Pediatric Emergency Departments: the Global PERN-COVID-19 Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Network Open, 2022; 5(7): e2223253. PMID: 35867061
27. Pham, T*, Morrison, AK, Menard, MS, Martinez, D, Thomas, D. Using Comic-Based Discharge Instructions to Address Caregiver Health Literacy in the Emergency Department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 2023; S0099-1767(22)00346-4.
28. Freedman SB, Kuppermann N, Funk A, … Morrison A… et al. on behalf of the Pediatric Emergency Research Network-COVID-19 Study Team. Corticosteroids and Other Treatments Administered to Children Tested for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Emergency Departments. Academic Pediatrics, in press.
29. Sumner, MW, Xie J, Florin TA, Kuppermann N, Tancredi DJ, Freedman SB on behalf of the Pediatric Emergency Research Network (PERN) (Morrison AK as Network Site PI) and Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) – COVID-19 Study Teams. Viral Infections and Liver Transaminase Elevations in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clinical Biochemistry, in press.
30. Xie, J, Kuppermann, N, Florin TA… Morrison AK…et al. Association Between Laboratory Test Results and Severe Outcome Among Hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 Infected Children. Emerging Infectious Diseases, under review.
31. Ritter, T*, Morrison AK, Dave M, Armellani M, Casellani, L, Gibson, C, Soung, P. Reducing Asthma Rehospitalizations through Implementation of Standardized Low-Literacy Education during Hospitalization. Hospital Pediatrics, under review.
32. Florin, TA, Freedman, SB, … Morrison, AK, et al. Features Associated with Radiographic Pneumonia in Children with COVID-19: A Multinational Prospective Cohort Study. Pediatrics, under review.
Research Grants / Projects / Consultancy
Health Literacy-Related Projects:
Title: Use of education videos to complement the education of newly type 1 diabetes mellitus patients
Source: Improving Health in Kids Recognition Fund
Role: Health Literacy Consultant
Dates: 01/2022-12/2022
Title: Understanding the impacts of health literacy on caregiver decision making for children in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.
Source: Partnership (Strategic Alliance) Women’s and Children’s Research Alliance, University of Alberta
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 05/2023-04/2025
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Title: Virtual reality to improve understanding of medication dosing
Source: Children’s Research Institute
Role: Site Investigator
Dates: 07/2020-12/2021
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Title: Improving Education for Families of Children with Asthma: A Health Literacy Approach
Source: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Improving Health in Kids Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 01/2018-12/2018
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Title: Established Status Epilepticus Treatment Trial (ESETT)
Source: NIH-NINDS
Role: Health Literacy Consultant-Develop public announcements for emergency exception for informed consent.
Dates: 09/2014-08/2019
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Title: Addressing Non-Urgent ED Utilization Through Health Literacy
Source: NIH-Loan repayment program
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 07/2014 - 06/2016
Title: Prehospital Tranexamic Acid for Traumatic Brain Injury (TXA)
Source: NIH-NHLBI 5U01HL077863-10
Role: Health Literacy Consultant
Dates: 01/2014 – 12/2015
Title: Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Regional Clinical Centers
Source: NIH-HLBI
Role: Health Literacy Consultant
Dates: 9/2004- 12/2015
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Title: Caregiver Health Literacy as a Barrier to Adequate Pain Treatment for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Source: Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund
Role: Co-Investigator
Dates: 07/2014-06/2015
Title: Addressing Non-urgent ED Use Utilizing a Health Literacy Perspective
Source: Jon E. Vice Innovation Research Award
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 04/2013-10/2014
Title: Caregiver Health Literacy and Non-urgent Emergency Department Utilization
Source: NIH-Loan repayment program
Role: Principal Investigator
Dates: 07/2011-06/2013
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Other Projects:
Title: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children potentially infected by SARS-CoV-2 presenting to pediatric emergency departments - A study arm within: Predicting Severe Pneumonia in the Emergency Department - A Global Study of the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN)
Source: University of Calgary
Role: Site Investigator
Dates: 04/2020-06/2022
Direct Funds: In kind
Title: Predicting Severe Pneumonia in the Emergency Department: A Global Study of the Pediatric Emergency Research Networks
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
Role: Site Investigator
Dates: 01/2018-12/2021
Direct Funds: In kind
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Title: ED-Initiated School-based Asthma Medication Supervision (ED-SAMS)
Source: NIH-NHLBI 1R34HL137851-01A1
Role: Site PI
Dates: 08/15/2018-07/30/2021
Direct Funds: 5% Salary support
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