Practice Based Research Network - FAQ's
What is a PBRN?
A Practice-Based Research Network...
- is a cutting edge approach to conducting research that will inform and support Family Medicine as a discipline.
- shifts the process of discovery out of the academic medical center "into" the real world laboratory of physician practices.
- involves the practitioner more directly in the formulation of the research questions and methodology.
- conducts studies that are relevant to regional patients and physicians.
Who qualifies to be a member of STARNet?
- Primary care physicians and clinical staff currently licensed and practicing in south Texas and/or medical students and residents.
- Believe in evidence-based medicine
- Solid reputation
- Respected in the community
- Available to provide adequate time to Network (participate in at least one study per year
Why should I join a PBRN?
- Nobody, except our patients, knows what Family Medicine physicians do.
- Managed Care loves us, but for the WRONG reasons.
- It is hard to improve practice without understanding it.
- We need to know how to take care of the "problems that most people have most of the time."
- Practice should be based on science.
- BECAUSE IT'S FUN!
What are the responsibilities of STARNet members?
- Annually update a practice registration form and a clinician registration form for every licensed clinician in their practice
- Provide age/sex and diagnosis data of all patients visiting the practice during the previous 2 years, if required by the Board
- Designate a clinician contact within the practice
- Designate a staff coordinator within the practice
- Conduct and carefully complete Network studies, including 1 to 2 simple, descriptive card studies annually
- Conform to IRB and HIPAA regulations
- Contribute to the development of research questions and protocols
- Attend Annual meeting
What are the benefits of STARNet membership?
- Distinguishes the practice from other practices, acting as a practice promoter or practice builder.
- Increases the practice’s visibility and stature among primary care patients.
- Enhances communication with patients by showing that the practitioner-investigator cares about the scientific basis of daily clinical practice.
- Expands the vision for patient care by including a formalized research and quality improvement component.
- Provides a focus for clinical excellence by devoting increased short-term attention to one particular area of clinical practice at a time.
- Can improve the logistics of daily clinical operations, serve as a team builder for practice staff, and engage the entire staff in the excitement of discovery and quality improvement.
- Projects can improve the quality of primary care by contributing to the scientific basis for procedures that are their focus.
- Provides venues for collegial interactions and exchange of ideas with fellow practitioner investigators, thereby becoming part of a community of learning and camaraderie.
- Provides financial remuneration for the time spent doing research.
- Allows practitioner-investigators to see what is effective in their practices in comparison to other practices, using results that are presented anonymously.
- Practitioner-investigators, not third parties, decide what studies are done and what treatment is done.
- Potential to present at local, state, national and international family practice meetings and research conferences.
- Provides continuing education credit for attendance at bi-annual meetings and participating in training and certification activities for specific STARNet studies.
- Provides framed certificates to display in the office.
Modified from: Gilbert G, Willams D, Rindal B, et al. The Creation and development of the Dental Practice-Based Research Network. JADA. 2008; 139: 74-81.