Jennifer Portz, PhD

Professional Titles

• Assistant Professor

Recognitions

• Award for Excellence in Psychosocial Research, Social Work Palliative Care and Hospice Network (2019)
• Women's Leadership Trainee, Women in Medicine and Science, University of Colorado (2019)
• Clinical Trial Intensive Trainee, Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group (2019)
• Academic Leadership Program Invited Trainee, American Heart Association (2018)

Research Interests

My mission is to advance social work research in palliative care by developing digital health interventions that can be used by patients with serious illnesses, their caregivers, and family to effectively improve patient-family centered outcomes. Digital health, including tele-heath, wearable devices, and mobile applications (mHealth), provides modern opportunities for patients and their convoy to assess and advocate for basic palliative care needs and resources. Over the next few years, my career development award (CDA) funded research will focus on addressing two major digital health knowledge gaps: 1) applying digital health to palliative care, and 2) determining how to design digital tools for older patients, their caregivers, and family (multiple, simultaneous, age-diverse users).

Publications

• Portz JD, Elsbernd K, Plys E, Ford KL, Zhang X, Gore MO, Moore SL, Zhou S, Bull S. Elements of Social Convoy Theory in Mobile Health for Palliative Care: Scoping Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Jan 6;8(1):e16060. PubMed PMID: 31904581
• Portz JD, Ford K, Bekelman DB, Boxer RS, Kutner JS, Czaja S, Elsbernd K, Bull S. "We're Taking Something So Human and Trying to Digitize": Provider Recommendations for mHealth in Palliative Care. J Palliat Med. 2019 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31526220
• Portz JD, Fruhauf C, Bull S, Boxer RS, Bekelman DB, Casillas A, Gleason K, Bayliss EA. "Call a Teenager… That's What I Do!" - Grandchildren Help Older Adults Use New Technologies: Qualitative Study. JMIR Aging. 2019 Jun 6;2(1):e13713. PubMed PMID: 31518274
• Schmid AA, Fruhauf CA, Sharp JL, Van Puymbroeck M, Bair MJ, Portz JD. Yoga for People With Chronic Pain in a Community-Based Setting: A Feasibility and Pilot RCT. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019 Jan-Dec;24:2515690X19863763. PubMed PMID: 31394910
• Schmid AA, Van Puymbroeck M, Fruhauf CA, Bair MJ, Portz JD. Yoga improves occupational performance, depression, and daily activities for people with chronic pain. Work. 2019;63(2):181-189. PubMed PMID: 31156199
• Portz JD, Bayliss EA, Bull S, Boxer RS, Bekelman DB, Gleason K, Czaja S. Using the Technology Acceptance Model to Explore User Experience, Intent to Use, and Use Behavior of a Patient Portal Among Older Adults With Multiple Chronic Conditions: Descriptive Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Apr 8;21(4):e11604. PubMed PMID: 30958272
• Portz JD, LaMendola WF. Participation, Retention, and Utilization of a Web-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Intervention Among Older Adults. Telemed J E Health. 2019 Feb;25(2):126-131. PubMed PMID: 29782228
• Schmid, A.A., Van Puymbroeck, M., Fruhauf, C.A, Swink, L.A., & Portz, J.D. Balance and Fall Rates are Associated with Chronic Pain, and Improve with Yoga. OBM Geriatrics 2019 3(4): 14. doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904087
• Portz JD, Powers JD, Baldwin M, Bekelman DB, Casillas A, Kutner JS, Bayliss E. Patient Portal Use Near the End-of-Life. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33506403
• Portz JD, Ford KL, Elsbernd K, Knoepke CE, Flint K, Bekelman DB, Boxer RS, Bull S. "I Like the Idea of It…But Probably Wouldn't Use It" - Health Care Provider Perspectives on Heart Failure mHealth: Qualitative Study. JMIR Cardio. 2020 Sep 4;4(1):e18101. PubMed PMID: 32885785
• Portz JD, Brungardt A, Shanbhag P, Staton EW, Bose-Brill S, Lin CT, Kutner JS, Lum HD. Advance Care Planning Among Users of a Patient Portal During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Observational Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Aug 11;22(8):e21385. PubMed PMID: 32716900
• Casillas A, Cemballi AG, Abhat A, Lemberg M, Portz JD, Sadasivaiah S, Ratanawongsa N, Semere W, Brown A, Lyles CR. An Untapped Potential in Primary Care: Semi-Structured Interviews with Clinicians on How Patient Portals Will Work for Caregivers in the Safety Net. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Jul 20;22(7):e18466. PubMed PMID: 32706709
• Ford, K.L., Moore, S.L., Zhang, X., Portz, J.D., Gore, M., Moore, S.L., Zhou, S., Bull, S. Advancing Evidence-Based Digital Health Through an Innovative Research Environment: An Academic-Industry Partnership Case Report. mHealth. 2019 5:37. doi: 10.21037/mhealth.2019.08.08.
• Zhou S, Levinson AH, Zhang X, Portz JD, Moore SL, Gore MO, Ford KL, Li Q, Bull S. A Pilot Study and Ecological Model of Smoking Cues to Inform Mobile Health Strategies for Quitting Among Low-Income Smokers. Health Promot Pract. 2020 Jul 23;:1524839920942214. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32698702
• Portz JD, Ford KL, Doyon K, Bekelman DB, Boxer RS, Kutner JS, Czaja S, Bull S. Using Grounded Theory to Inform the Human-Centered Design of Digital Health in Geriatric Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Dec;60(6):1181-1192.e1. PubMed PMID: 32615298
• Moore SL, Portz JD, Santodomingo M, Elsbernd K, McHale M, Massone J. Using Telehealth for Hospice Reauthorization Visits: Results of a Quality Improvement Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Sep;60(3):e22-e27. PubMed PMID: 32525082
• Portz JD, Lum HD, Bull S, Boxer RS, Bekelman DB, Ford KL, Gleason K, Casillas A, Bayliss EA. Perceptions of Patient Portal Use for Advance Directive Documentation among Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions. J Soc Work End Life Palliat Care. 2020 Jul-Sep;16(3):238-249. PubMed PMID: 32482160
• Portz JD, Elsbernd K, Plys E, Ford KL, Zhang X, Gore MO, Moore SL, Zhou S, Bull S. Elements of Social Convoy Theory in Mobile Health for Palliative Care: Scoping Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Jan 6;8(1):e16060. PubMed PMID: 31904581
• Andrews, A.P., Atler, K.E., Portz, J.D., Van Puymbroeck, M., Rose, C.M., & Schmid, A.A. Occupational therapist's use of yoga in post-stroke care: A descriptive qualitative study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022620910371
• Casillas A, Abhat A, Vassar SD, Huang DY, Mahajan AP, Simmons S, Lyles C, Portz J, Moreno G, Brown AF. Not Speaking the Same Language-Lower Portal Use for Limited English Proficient Patients in the Los Angeles Safety Net. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2021;32(4):2055-2070. PubMed PMID: 34803059
• Ford KL, Portz JD, Zhou S, Gornail S, Moore SL, Zhang X, Bull S. Benefits, Facilitators, and Recommendations for Digital Health Academic-Industry Collaboration: A Mini Review. Front Digit Health. 2021;3:616278. PubMed PMID: 34713094
• Ingle MP, Valdovinos C, Ford KL, Zhou S, Bull S, Gornail S, Zhang X, Moore S, Portz J. Patient Portals to Support Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Sep 16;23(9):e28797. PubMed PMID: 34528888
• Plys E, Morrow CD, Portz JD, Jones CD, Piper C, Boxer RS. Psychological interventions with older adults during inpatient postacute rehabilitation: A systematic review. Rehabil Psychol. 2021 Aug;66(3):233-247. PubMed PMID: 34472922
• Portz JD, Graney BA, Bekelman DB. " Made Me Realize That Life Is Worth Living ": A Qualitative Study of Patient Perceptions of a Primary Palliative Care Intervention. J Palliat Med. 2022 Jan;25(1):28-38. PubMed PMID: 34264752
• Plys E, Beam R, Boxer RS, Portz JD. Behavioral Health Services with Short-Stay Residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Qualitative Study of Clinicians and Administrators. Clin Gerontol. 2021 Jun 15;:1-12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34128773
• Portz JD, Powers JD, Baldwin M, Bekelman DB, Casillas A, Kutner JS, Bayliss E. Patient Portal Use Near the End-of-Life. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33506403
• Zhou S, Levinson AH, Zhang X, Portz JD, Moore SL, Gore MO, Ford KL, Li Q, Bull S. A Pilot Study and Ecological Model of Smoking Cues to Inform Mobile Health Strategies for Quitting Among Low-Income Smokers. Health Promot Pract. 2021 Nov;22(6):850-862. PubMed PMID: 32698702
• Dickman Portz J, Powers JD, Casillas A, Baldwin M, Bekelman DB, Palen TE, Bull S, Kutner JS, Bayliss E. Characteristics of Patients and Proxy Caregivers Using Patient Portals in the Setting of Serious Illness and End of Life. J Palliat Med. 2021 Nov;24(11):1697-1704. PubMed PMID: 34061675
• Gibson BA, Puymbroeck MV, Fruhauf CA, Schmid AA, Portz JD. Yoga for caregiving dyads experiencing chronic pain: Protocol development for merging yoga and self-management to develop skills intervention. International Journal of Yoga; 2021, 14:256-60.
• Rose, C. M., Atler, K. E., Dickman Portz, J., Andrews, A. P., & Schmid, A. A. Participant-perceived occupational outcomes after two years of yoga for chronic pain. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021, 0308022620985779.
• Fox AL, Swink LA, Prabhu N, Fruhauf CA, Portz JD, Van Puymbroeck M, Sharp JL, Leach HJ, Schmid AA. Manual development for a multi-modal, dyadic intervention for persistent pain: A Qualitative Study. Br J Pain. 2022 Oct;16(5):481-489. PubMed PMID: 36389010
• Boxer RS, Daddato AE, Jessen A, Portz JD, Shetterly S. Hospitalizations of Caregivers Increases Risk of Hospitalization for Patients Living with Dementia. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Nov 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36376629
• Villalobos JP, Bull SS, Portz JD. Usability and Acceptability of a Palliative Care Mobile Intervention for Older Adults With Heart Failure and Caregivers: Observational Study. JMIR Aging. 2022 Oct 6;5(4):e35592. PubMed PMID: 36201402
• Casillas A, Valdovinos C, Wang E, Abhat A, Mendez C, Gutierrez G, Portz J, Brown A, Lyles CR. Perspectives from leadership and frontline staff on telehealth transitions in the Los Angeles safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Front Digit Health. 2022;4:944860. PubMed PMID: 36016601
• Leach HJ, Hidde MC, Portz JD, Van Puymbroeck M, Sharp JL, Fox AL, Schmid AA, Fruhauf CA. Matching Exercise Volume in Active Control Groups for Yoga Interventions. Altern Ther Health Med. 2022 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35687710
• Jones CD, Moss A, Sevick C, Roczen M, Sterling MR, Portz J, Lum HD, Yu A, Urban JA, Khazanie P. Factors Associated with Mortality and Hospice Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Heart Failure Who Received Home Health Services. J Card Fail. 2023 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 38142043
• Portz JD, Schmid A, Fruhauf C, Fox A, Van Puymbroeck M, Sharp J, Leach H. Acceptability of Online Yoga Among Individuals With Chronic Conditions and Their Caregivers: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res. 2023 May 24;7:e39158. PubMed PMID: 37223971
• McCarthy V, Portz J, Fischer SM, Greenway E, Johnson RL, Knoepke CE, Matlock DD, Omeragic F, Peterson RA, Ranney ML, Betz ME. A Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia With Firearm Access (Safe at Home Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2023 Jan 31;12:e43702. PubMed PMID: 36719721
• Portz JD, Powers JD, Baldwin M, Gleason K, Casillas A, Bekelman DB, Boxer R, Bayliss E, Palen TE. How can patient portals support caregivers of older adults near the end-of-life? A mixed-methods study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 Aug;70(8):2431-2435. PubMed PMID: 35488465
• Boxer RS, Daddato AE, Jessen A, Portz JD, Shetterly S. Hospitalizations of Caregivers Increases Risk of Hospitalization for Patients Living with Dementia. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Feb;38(2):502-507. PubMed PMID: 36376629
• Plys E, Smith R, Portz JD. "You Lose Some Good Friends": Death and Grief in Assisted Living. J Soc Work End Life Palliat Care. 2022 Apr-Jun;18(2):160-176. PubMed PMID: 35317703
• Portz JD, Graney BA, Bekelman DB. "Made Me Realize That Life Is Worth Living": A Qualitative Study of Patient Perceptions of a Primary Palliative Care Intervention. J Palliat Med. 2022 Jan;25(1):28-38. PubMed PMID: 34264752
• Plys E, Beam R, Boxer RS, Portz JD. Behavioral Health Services with Short-Stay Residents in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Qualitative Study of Clinicians and Administrators. Clin Gerontol. 2022 Oct-Dec;45(5):1189-1200. PubMed PMID: 34128773
• Leach HJ, Hidde MC, Portz JD, Van Puymbroeck M, Sharp JL, Fox AL, Schmid AA, Fruhauf CA. Matching Exercise Volume in Active Control Groups for Yoga Interventions. Altern Ther Health Med. 2023 Sep;29(6):237-241. PubMed PMID: 35687710

Practice Locations

UCHealth Internal Medicine - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
5th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2300