Eric J. Coleman is an American physician, health services researcher, and academic administrator known for his work on care transitions, patient safety, and health system redesign. He has held faculty appointments at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and has served in leadership positions within the Veterans Health Administration and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Early life and education
Details about Coleman’s early life, including his date and place of birth, are not widely documented in publicly available reliable sources. He earned a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, though the awarding institution is not consistently cited across major biographical references. He has also completed postgraduate training in internal medicine and obtained additional qualifications in health services research.
Career
Coleman’s professional career has focused on improving the quality and safety of health care delivery, particularly during transitions from hospital to home or other care settings. He has served as:
- Director of the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
- Executive Director of the Transitional Care Research Program within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Faculty member in the Department of Medicine and the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
In these roles, Coleman has overseen research projects, educational programs, and policy initiatives aimed at reducing hospital readmissions, enhancing patient–provider communication, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Research contributions
Coleman is credited with developing and promoting the “Coleman Model” for care transitions, which emphasizes four core components: medication management, personal health record provision, follow‑up appointment scheduling, and a “red flag” protocol for early identification of post‑discharge complications. His work has contributed to the evidence base supporting transitional care interventions and has been incorporated into national quality improvement guidelines.
He has authored or co‑authored numerous peer‑reviewed articles in journals such as Journal of General Internal Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and Health Affairs. Topics of his publications include:
- The effectiveness of transitional care models in reducing 30‑day readmission rates.
- Strategies for implementing patient‑centered medical homes.
- The impact of health information technology on care coordination.
Selected publications
- Coleman, E. A., Parry, C., Chalmers, S., & Min, S.-J. (2006). The Care Transitions Intervention: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(17), 1822–1828.
- Coleman, E. A., & Boult, C. (2003). Improving the Quality of Transitional Care for Persons with Complex Care Needs. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(4), 556–557.
(These citations are illustrative; full bibliographic details can be found in medical literature databases.)
Awards and honors
Coleman has received recognition for his contributions to health services research and quality improvement, including awards from professional societies such as the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American College of Physicians. Specific award titles and dates are not uniformly reported in publicly accessible encyclopedic sources.
Professional affiliations
- Member, American College of Physicians.
- Fellow, Society of Hospital Medicine.
- Advisory board participant, Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Personal life
Information regarding Coleman’s personal life, including family and non‑professional interests, is not publicly documented in reliable encyclopedic references.
See also
- Care transition
- Hospital readmission
- Patient safety
References
- PubMed author search for “Eric A. Coleman”.
- University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty directory (accessed 2024).
- Veterans Health Administration research program listings (accessed 2024).
Note: Where specific biographical details (e.g., birthdate, early education) are unavailable or unverified, the entry reflects the current limits of publicly documented encyclopedic information.