About

Danielle Babbel, MD, is an Associate Professor (Clinical) in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She is bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Anthropology with minors in Spanish and Chemistry from Utah State University, a B.A. from Utah State University, and an M.D. from Oregon Health and Science University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine and served as Resident Chief Resident in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the University of Utah School of Medicine and George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center. Her clinical focus is in General Internal Medicine, and she is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Her research interests include posthospitalization care transitions for patients with substance use disorders and quality improvement initiatives related to insulin management in hospitalized patients with well-controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. She has contributed to scholarly articles on these topics, emphasizing her engagement in improving patient care and safety.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Intensive care medicine
• Anesthesia
• Nursing
• Emergency medicine

Selected publications

• “They Don’t Just Need a Handshake or a Handoff, They Need a Hug”: A Qualitative Assessment of the Care Transition Experience of Patients with Substance Use Disorders After Hospital Discharge

  Journal of General Internal Medicine · 2025-05-20 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Hospitalists' Attitudes and Experiences With Posthospitalization Care Transitions for Patients With Substance Use Disorders: A Cross-sectional Analysis

  Journal of Addiction Medicine · 2024-03-15 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Medical hospitalizations are relatively common among individuals who have substance use disorders (SUDs) and represent opportunities for patient engagement and treatment. Posthospitalization transitions of care are an important element of providing full-spectrum inpatient SUD care; however, little is known about clinicians' experiences with postdischarge care transitions. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study surveying hospital-based medical clinicians (ie, "hospitalists") across 2 large health systems in the state of Utah to assess current practices, barriers, facilitators, and perceptions toward posthospitalization care transitions for patients with SUDs. We used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to identify the most impactful barriers and facilitators among all respondents. We used logistic regression models to explore the influence of hospitalists' attitudes toward providing SUD care on perceived barriers and facilitators. RESULTS: The survey was distributed to 429 individuals across 15 hospitals. Eighty-two hospitalists responded to the survey (response rate, 21.4%). Most respondents frequently cared for hospitalized patients with SUDs (n = 63, 77%) and prescribed medications for SUDs (n = 44, 56%). Four respondents (5%) felt that patients received adequate support during care transitions. Lack of social support ( P < 0.001) and social factors such as lack of transportation ( P < 0.001) were perceived as the largest barriers to successful care transitions. Conversely, a partnering outpatient clinic/clinician ( P < 0.001) and outpatient-based care coordination ( P < 0.001) were perceived as the strongest facilitators. Respondents' attitudes toward people with SUDs had a modest effect on perceived barriers and facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalists perceived increased outpatient SUD treatment infrastructure and transitional care supports as most important in facilitating posthospitalization care transitions for patients with SUDs.

  PublisherDOI

• Inpatient opioid withdrawal: a qualitative study of the patient perspective

  Internal and Emergency Medicine · 2024 · 5 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Anesthesia
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Inpatient Opioid Withdrawal: A Qualitative Study of the Patient Perspective

  Research Square (Research Square) · 2023

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Intensive care medicine

  <title>Abstract</title> Background and Objectives Opioid withdrawal is common among hospitalized patients. Those with substance use disorders exhibit higher rates of patient-directed discharge. The literature lacks information regarding the patient perspective on opioid withdrawal in the hospital setting. In this study, we aimed to capture the patient-reported experience of opioid withdrawal during hospitalization, and its impact on the desire to continue treatment for opioid use disorder after discharge. Methods We performed a single-center qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews of hospitalized patients with OUD experiencing opioid withdrawal. Investigators conducted in-person interviews utilizing a combination of open-ended and dichotomous questions. Interview transcripts were then analyzed with open-coding for emergent themes. Results Nineteen interviews were performed. All participants were linked to either buprenorphine (79%) or methadone (21%) at discharge. Eight of nineteen patients (42%) reported a patient-directed discharge during prior hospitalizations. Themes identified from the interviews included: 1) opioid withdrawal was well-managed in the hospital; 2) participants appreciated the receipt of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for withdrawal symptoms; 3) they valued and felt cared for by healthcare providers; and 4) most participants had plans to follow-up for opioid use disorder treatment after hospitalization. Conclusions In this population historically reporting high rates of patient-directed discharge, participants reported having a positive experience with opioid withdrawal management during hospitalization. Several individualized MOUD induction strategies were observed. All participants were offered MOUD at discharge and most planned to follow-up for further treatment.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Perspectives on the Interpreting Program at Logan Regional Hospital and Access to Health Care throughout the Spanish-Speaking Community of Cache Valley

  Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · 2021-10-08

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Language barriers can greatly affect patient-physician interactions, and thus have implications for individual health outcomes. This study uses surveys distributed to Spanish speakers throughout Cache Valley to solicit their views on the interpreting program at Logan Regional Hospital. The surveys reveal whether or not language related issues prevent individuals from seeking medical attention as a part of a routine check up as well as for illness care. Survey results indicate how well known the existence of the interpreting program is throughout the target community, and if the availability of a qualified interpreter increases the likelihood that individuals will seek medical attention when needed.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 2218. Feasibility of Automated Prediction of Drug Resistance in Pneumonia in the Veteran Population.

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2019-10-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background To enhance antimicrobial decision-making in community-onset pneumonia, several manually calculable clinical scores have been proposed to predict drug-resistant organisms (DRPs), most commonly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Drug Resistance in Pneumonia (DRIP) score includes 10 features that can be calculated by providers at the bedside but is potentially automatically extractable from an electronic health record (EHR). We aimed to explore the feasibility of calculating an automated “eDRIP” score from the EHR in the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) population. Methods We extracted patient characteristics, features relevant to the DRIP score, and detection of DRPs among all inpatient admissions for pneumonia between August 29, 2010 and July 31, 2013 at VA hospitals nationwide using EHR data from the VA corporate data warehouse. We calculated an eDRIP score for each admission. We compared the prevalence of each electronically extracted feature to that reported in a separate study of manually extracted factors performed at the Salt Lake City VA by Babbel et al, and to the original DRIP score validation cohort from Webb et al. Results Among 101,462 pneumonia admissions across 114 VA hospitals, 4% had a DRP detected on culture, 25% had an eDRIP ≥ 4, and 50% received broad-spectrum antibiotics. The Salt Lake City VA demonstrated slightly lower prevalence of eDRIP factors than the national population (table). Within the Salt Lake City VA, the EHR cohort and manually extracted Babbel cohort demonstrated similar prevalence of detected DRP’s, DRIP ≥ 4, and 8 of 10 features involved in the DRIP score (table). The eDRIP identified fewer hospitalizations with poor functional status and residence in long-term facilities. Conclusion In a large population of veterans admitted for community-onset pneumonia, automated extraction of an eDRIP score from the EHR was promising, though in need of revision. While some extracted features had similar prevalence to manual review, others differed by a factor of 10 or more, which may reflect issues with data extraction. Further work is needed to optimize feature extraction and compare electronic to manual DRIP scores to determine its utility within the VA population. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Application of the DRIP Score at a Veterans Affairs Hospital

  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy · 2018-02-22 · 10 citations

  letterOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Home particulate concentration reduction during high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter use

  2018-09-15 · 2 citations

  article

  <b>Background:</b> Periods of high particulate air pollution have been associated with increased respiratory symptoms. Whether a stand-alone in home high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter reduces the air pollution burden in the home is unknown. <b>Methods:</b> A randomized, blinded, cross-over, controlled trial enrolling former smokers age 40 and older with respiratory symptoms during periods of high air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah is still enrolling. Patients had a HEPA filter in their sleeping zone for 6 weeks and a low-efficiency air filter for 6 weeks. Symptom scores, spirometry, labs, activity and sleep data, and filter weights were collected during the study period. Each participant had two low-cost air quality monitors (purpleair.com) installed in their home during the study period - one outside the home and one inside the home. Differences between the indoor and outdoor air monitor during the 12-week study period were collected and compared. <b>Results:</b> Here we report the first season data for the paired indoor-outdoor monitors of this study. 24 patients were enrolled and completed the study with adequate air monitor data during the study period. Figure 1 shows the median particulate concentration for the difference between the indoor and outdoor air monitors during the HEPA filter and low efficiency filter periods for the study participants. Median particulate concentration was reduced for all particulate sizes, PM_1.0, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀, during the period of HEPA filter vs. low-efficiency filter (P = 0.027, 0.022, and 0.006, respectively). <b>Conclusion:</b> HEPA filters significantly reduce the particulate concentration in the sleeping zone during periods of air pollution.

  PublisherDOI

• Geographic variation in air quality

  2017-09-01

  article

  <b>Background:</b> The small particulates most responsible for adverse health effects (PM2.5) vary geographically. Here, we report the variation in particulate air pollution exposure for three different subjects. <b>Methods:</b> We collected paired measurements of indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure using inexpensive laser counter particle monitors. We mapped these measurements for three subjects who were in different geographic areas and compared their indoor, outdoor and Salt Lake Valley (Hawthorne) particulate exposure. <b>Results:</b> The indoor (blue), outdoor (green), and Salt Lake Valley (Hawthorne – red) particulate levels are shown (Figure 1. Panel A, B, and C). As expected, the outdoor air pollution is generally higher than the indoor air pollution, except for isolated spikes in indoor particulates. The outdoor air pollution in all three subjects shows increases over time that correspond to the increases in the official measurement. However, there is variation among the subjects in the particulates level recorded at their homes. A map of subjects shows their geographic variation, which may account, in part, for their air pollution variation. <b>Conclusion:</b> Although outdoor air pollution is reported across a large area given the limitations of expensive monitoring equipment, variation in personal air pollution exposure is present. Indoor air tends to have lower particulate counts than outdoor air, as expected, though variation in indoor air particulate levels is also large.

  PublisherDOI

• Potential Impact of the DRIP Score on Antibiotic Use: a Retrospective Single-Center Study

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2017-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The Drug Resistance in Pneumonia score (DRIP) is a recently developed prediction tool to identify patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) at increased risk for drug resistant pathogens (DRP). The DRIP score has better performance characteristics than other available prediction tools which have been associated with increased broad-spectrum antibiotic use. We evaluated the potential impact of the DRIP score on CAP management at the Salt Lake City VA, a 106 bed facility with a Hospitalist service staffed by Internal Medicine residents and Department of Medicine faculty and an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). We performed a retrospective chart review of adult inpatients with pneumonia present on admission based on ICD9/10 coding between February 2016 and April 2017. Both DRIP and HCAP scores were calculated for each patient and antibiotic selection was collected by manual chart review. We compared actual antibiotic selection with potential changes in broad-spectrum antibiotic use in all patients and patients with a DRIP score ≥4, the cutoff where broad-spectrum antibiotic use is suggested. Microbiology results, mortality, and 30-day readmission were also collected. We identified 184 patients during the study period. Respiratory cultures were obtained in 27% (50/184) of participants with 2% (3/184) positive for a CAP-DRp. 7% (12/169) were positive for MRSA colonization upon admission. 24% (45/184) had DRIP ≥4 as compared with 47% (87/184) meeting HCAP criteria. 158 were treated for bacterial pneumonia of which 85% (134/158) received CAP antibiotics. Strict DRIP adherence upon admission would have led to 13% (21/158) more patients on broad-spectrum antibiotics. In the subset of patients with a DRIP score ≥4, DRIP adherence would have led to 65% (26/40) more patients on broad-spectrum antibiotics. 30-day mortality (9%) and readmission (15%) rates were comparable with Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) statistics. In the setting of robust ASP efforts and low rates of DRPs, the DRIP score may lead to increased use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The impact of the DRIP score on antibiotic use and clinical outcomes warrants further large-scale evaluation in a variety of settings. All authors: No reported disclosures.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Stacy A. Johnson

  University of Utah

  3 shared

• Emily S Spivak

  University of Utah

  3 shared

• Susan Zickmund

  3 shared

• Richard Rose

  Lake City VA Medical Center

  2 shared

• Jesse Sutton

  Minneapolis VA Health Care System

  2 shared

• Benjamin D. Horne

  Intermountain Medical Center

  2 shared

• Patricia Liu

  2 shared

• Daniel Mendoza

  2 shared