Overview

I am an Academic General Practitioner, with a commitment to research on patient centred care that is relevant for decision making in clinical practice and health policy. I led the Health Services & Policy Research Group at the University of Exeter Medical School (2013-2021) and was the lead for Education and Training at the Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx), NIHR School  for Primary Care Research. I am presnetly Honorary Professor at the University, with main appointments as Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, and Head of the Department of Family Medicine and Director of the Centre for Research in Health Systems Performance (CRiHSP) at the National University Health System, Singapore.

My research interests focus on the use of patient reports on their own health for decision making in clinical practice and health policy, and the improvement of processes of care (quality and safety), with a particular interest in patients with multiple conditions (multimorbidity). I have participated in over 50 research projects and have authored over 200 publications, including papers, books and book chapters, editorials, letters, and scientific communications and provided expert policy advice to the World Health Organization, Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development, and NHS England, among others. I serve as Field Chief Editor for Frontiers in Health Services and Chairman of World organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) Working Party in Quality & Safety and was elected President of the International Society for Quality of Life Research (2017-2019).

Since completing my training as a General Practitioner I have maintained active clinical practice in different countries and in a variety of environments, including developing countries for very brief periods. I am also devoted to postgraduate teaching, particularly in areas where research meets clinical practice (Applied Health Services Research, Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence Based Practice).

Broad Research Specialisms

My main areas of expertise are in patient centred care, with a particular focus on the use of measures of Patient Reported Outcomes and Experiences (development, adaptation, application, interpretation and clinical applications of PROMs, qualitative methods for content generation, psychometrics and quantitative analyses (classical test theory and Item Response Theory Models), and appraisal of instruments), multi- and co-morbidity, and quality and safety in Primary Care.

Qualifications

• BMBS (University of Barcelona, Spain)
• General Practitioner (Department of Education, Spain)
• MPH (Pompeu Fabra University, Spain)
• PhD (Pompeu Fabra University, Spain)
 

Career

After combining my PhD (IMIM-Hospital del Mar and Pompeu Fabra University) and my training as a General Practitioner in Barcelona, Spain, I started my post-doctoral research at the Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health under the supervision of the late Prof. Barbara Starfield. I then joined the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester led by Prof. Martin Roland, and in 2010 arrived at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford to set up and lead the Health Services and Policy Research Group. In September 2013, I was appointed Chair in Health Services and Policy Research at the University of Exeter Medical School. In January 2022 I took up the role of Head of Department of Family Medicine at the National University Health System in Singapore.

For a list of publications with citations, please see here

Research group links

• Institute of Health Research
• Health services research

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Research

Research interests

Jose's main interest is in the further development of models of care that ensure that care is truly centred around the patients. To that aim his current interests are in Patient Reported Outcomes and Experiences Measurement (with a particular focus on the combined use of individualised and standardized measures), models of care for chronic conditions (with a focus on multi- and co-morbidity), and quality and safety in Primary Care.

Research projects

Improving the management of long term conditions with the clinical use of patient reported outcome measures in Primary Care
National Institute for Health Research, £996,226.00; 1 March 2011-28 February 2016
Role: Principal Investigator (PI)

Functionality and feedback: A realist synthesis of the collation, intepretation and utilisation of PROMs data to improve patient care
NIHR Service Delivery and Organization Programme, £202,881.6, Sart Date 1/1/2014-1/7/2015.
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Prof. J Greenhalgh, University of Leeds, UK)

Information and value-based commissioning
NIHR Service Delivery and Organization Programme, £518,247, Support period: 2012-2014
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Barry MacCormick, University of Oxford, UK)

Introducing standardised and evidence based thresholds for hip and knee replacement surgery - the arthroplasty candidacy help engine (the ACHE tool).
National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment Programme, UK. £799,189 Support period: 1 September 2013-31 August 2016
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Prof. Andrew Price, University of Oxford, UK)

Systems of care and outcomes in TIA and minor stroke in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales
National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia APP1027794; AU$ 1,173,380 (ap. £750K)
Period: 1 January 2012-31 December 2015
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Christopher Levi, University of Newcastle, Australia)

Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network
Carlos III Research Institute, Spain: €3,022,478.53
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Bolivar B, IDIAP Primary Care Research Institute)

Quality and Outcomes of Care for Chronic Conditions in Older Patients Diagnosed with Breast, Colorectal, or Prostate Cancer Compared to Non-Cancer Controls: An Observational Study Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).
Funder: Cancer Research UK (£296,000.0)
Support period: 1 July 2013-31 December 2015
Role: PI

Prioritising and optimising multiple medications in elderly multi-morbid patients in general practice (PRIMUM). - A pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial.
BundesMinisterium fuer Bildung und Forschung, €500,860.00
Period: 1 March 2010-28 February 2012
Role: Scientific Advisory Board (PI: Dr C Muth, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
Web: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01171339

Developing, testing and implementing the NSPCR Patient Safety Toolkit in general practices in England.
NIHR School for Primary Care Research, England; £569,740.0; 1 October 2011-31 Dec. 2013
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Prof. Tony Avery, University of Nottingham, UK)

Patients’ perspectives and understanding of high-performing, safety conscious general practice: an exploratory study
Support period: 2012-2013, £139,959
NIHR School for Primary Care Research
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Stephen Campbell, University of Manchester, UK)

An investigation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) using the General Practice Research Database (GPRD)
Support period: 2012-2014, £55,523.0
NIHR School for Primary Care Research
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Evan Kontopantelis, University of Manchester, UK)

Grants/Funding

Patterns of co-morbidity and poly-pharmacy in Primary Care in Catalonia, Spain
Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (PI12/00427): €48,400.00
Period: 1 October 2011-31 December 2012.
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr. Quinti Foguet, IDIAP Jordi Gol, Barcelona, Spain

BiblioPRO: virtual library of patient reported outcomes
RecerCaixa, €99,732.25; 1 January 2011-31 December 2012
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Prof. J Alonso, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain)
Web: http://bibliopro.imim.es

Safety netting to improve early cancer diagnosis in primary care: development of consensus guidelines.
Department of Health, £19,990.00
Period: 1 January 2011-1 June 2011
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr. C Bankhead, University of Oxford, UK)

Attribution of Patient Reported Outcomes to the effects of care providers
Medical Research Council, £337,675.00; 1 April 2010-31 March 2013
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Prof. M Sutton, University of Manchester, UK)

Patient and professional experience of managing co-morbid long-term conditions in primary care
NIHR School of Primary Care Research, £200,206.00.
Support period: 2010-2013
Role: Co-applicant (PI: Prof C Salisbury, University of Bristol, UK)
Web: http://www.nspcr.ac.uk/rP3.43

Health status evaluation of the general Spanish population using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Spain (PI 061579 and PI 051542)
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr. Montse Ferrer, IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Spain)
Web: http://www.imim.es/programesrecerca/epidemiologia/en_cifrecerca.html

Trajectories of perceived health and use of health care services in a Spanish population sample of children and adolescents 8 to 18 years old.
Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (Red IRYSS G03/202) and Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (PI042504 y PI042315)
Role: Co- Applicant (Co-PI: Prof. Jordi J Alonso, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain; Dr. Luis Rajmil, Agència d’Avaluació de Tecnologia Mèdica, Spain)

Development, application, and validation of a new tool for the standardized evaluation of patient reported outcome measures (EMPRO)
Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (Red de Investigación Cooperativa IRYSS, G03/202 and CM 300118), PI06/90483 and ETE06/450104884), CIBERESP – MET010)
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr. Montse Ferrer, IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Spain)

RED IRYSS (Health and Health Services Outcomes Research Network)
Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (G03/202)
Support period: 2002-2006
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr JMV Pons, Agència d’Avaluació de Tecnologia Mèdica, Spain)

Developing priority criteria for patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery and hip and knee arthroplasty in Catalonia, Spain
Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Spain (01/0921)
Period: 1999-2002
Role: Co-Applicant (PI: Dr. M Espallargues, Agència d’Avaluació de Tecnologia Mèdica, Spain).

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards

• 2011
  Clinician Scientist Award. National Institute for Health Research, Department of Health, UK. Period: 01/3/2011-01/3/2016
  Research fellowship. Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. Period: 01/10/2011-01/10/2015
• 2010
  Academic Clinical Lectureship. National Institute for Health Research, UK. Period: 10/3/2010-9/3/2014
• 2008
  International Primary Care Research Leadership Programme. The Brisbane Initiative. University of Oxford, UK. Support period 1/9/2008-2010.
• 2003
  Clinical Research Fellowship. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (Orden SCO/1620/2003. Exp. CM0300118). Support period: 1/12/2003-30/11/2006.
• 2000
  Research Training Fellowship. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (Exp. 98/4471). Support period: 1/8/1998–21/7/2000.
• 1998
  Pre-doctoral Research Fellowship Institut Municipal d’ Investigació Mèdica, Spain ‘Controlled assessment of the use of self-perceived health in clinical practice’. Support period: 2/3/1998–31/7/1998.

Committee/panel activities

• National Institute for Health Research, Research for Patient Benefit Programme: Member of the NW Regional Funding Committee, 2009-2010, Member of the SW Regional Funding Committee, 2010-2012
• Health Research Board, Republic of Ireland: Joint Selection Committee for the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG)/HRB Joint Funding Scheme (2011): Board Member
• Department of Education, Universities and Research, Italy: Projects of National Interest (PRIN) and Future in Research for Younger Investigators (FIRB) (2012)
• International Society for Quality of Life Research. International. Board of Directors. October 2012-October 2015.
  Technische Krankenkasse, Germany. Scientific Advisory Board. Since 2013
  Research Network on Health Services for Chronic Conditions (14 research groups, 140 researchers), Carlos III Health Institute, Spain. External Scientific Advisory Board. Since 2013
• IDIAP Jordi Gol Primary Care Research institute, Spain. Scientific Advisory Board. Since 2009.
  BAP Health Outcomes Ltd, Scientific Advisory Committee, since February 2009.
• Doctopolis, IT Solutions in Health Care, Member of the Expert Advisory Committee, since July 2011
  Health Talk Online, University of Oxford, UK. Clinical Advisory Board. Since 2010.
• Biblio-PRO Spanish initiative for the construction, maintenance, and development of a database of Patient Reported Outcome Measures suitable for use in Spain. CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain. Scientific Advisory Board. Since 2008
• Cochrane Patient Reported Outcomes Methods Group, International. Member. Since 2008.

Editorial responsibilities

• European Journal of General Practice (IF 2012: 1.1): Associate Editor (since January 2009)
• Journal of Comorbidity. Member of the editorial board, since September 2011
• Quality of Life Research (ISI Impact factor (IF) 2012: 2.4): Member of Editorial Board (ongoing) and Associate Editor (January 2009-January 2013, responsible for 89 manuscripts)
• Encyclopaedia of Quality of Life Research. Member of the Editorial Board 2009-2010.

Invited lectures

• Care for chronic conditions: an international perspective. Introduction to Health Policy (HPOL5000), Graduate Programme in Health Policy. University of Sydney, Australia.
• Patient reported outcomes for the assessment of affective disorders. PhD Programme in Psychiatry. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
   

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Teaching

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Office Hours:

Presnetly working remotely, as based in Singapore

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