SUMMARY
Robert W. Kirchoff, M.D., is double board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine with additional training in clinical informatics. He co-founded the Clinical Practice Machine Learning and Informatics Laboratory at Mayo Clinic with Thomas C. Kingsley, M.D., M.P.H., and Rahul Chaudhary, M.B.B.S.
Dr. Kirchoff's research interests include translational informatics as it applies to patients with substance use disorders. He is also focused on predictive analytics for optimization of hospital resources and identification of patients at risk of chemical dependency and relapse.
Focus areas
- Chemical dependency. Dr. Kirchoff is working to improve and enhance the care of patients admitted with substance use disorders, with a focus on early initiation of medication-assisted treatment and increased availability of resources to connect patients with chemical dependency treatment.
Predictive analytics. Dr. Kirchoff and colleagues in the Clinical Practice Machine Learning and Informatics Lab are developing predictive analytics dashboards. Projects include the development of a census prediction tool that will optimize resource utilization by predicting the number of patients in the hospital (hospital census) up to 24 hours in advance.
Specifically, the research team is looking at census data from both campuses of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, with initial focus on those admitted for services in the Division of Hospital Internal Medicine.
- Support for collaborative research. Dr. Kirchoff co-founded the Clinical Translational Research Informatics Group (CTRIG), the collaborative research arm of the Clinical Practice Machine Learning and Informatics Lab. The CTRIG is a writing and research group created to help support conception, design, data acquisition and manuscript creation for researchers across all specialties and disciplines at Mayo Clinic. The group also assists researchers with data abstraction and big data projects.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Kirchoff aims to improve the outcomes of patients with addictions by enhancing their care through increased availability of resources, early initiation of treatment and use of predictive analytics to identify those most at risk.
Professional highlights
- Visiting professor, Addiction Certificate Program, University of Michigan School of Social Work, 2019-present
- Medical director, Foundations Detroit, Foundations Recovery Network, 2016-2019
- "Top Doc" in addiction medicine, Hour Detroit Magazine, 2018