For Practices

For Primary Care Practices we pre-screen research studies for possible burden to practices and potential benefit to patients and practices. Member practices can say “yes” or “no” to any project, based on practice needs and priorities. We are building capacity to increase physician involvement in generating relevant research questions and championing improved integration of practice-based research and quality improvement.

1. Identify a liaison to the GR-PBRN, usually a clinician.
2. Fill out a Practice-Enrollment Form, so that we have an idea of some basic demographics of your practice, and your research interest areas.
3. The liaison will receive occasional emails, describing research studies that have been reviewed and endorsed by the GR-PBRN.
4. Clinicians in the practice decide whether or not to participate. It may be that some clinicians participate and others do not. Practices can say "yes" or "no" to any project.
5. Occasionally, practices may receive information about a study that is pending funding, and looking for interested partners.

How Research Typically Happens in Rochester

Clinicians in Rochester rarely directly recruit or consent participants for research. Usually, practices do one or more of the following:

1. Allow research flyers in the waiting area or exam rooms
2. Send letters to potentially eligible patients, telling them of the opportunity to participate in a study.
3. Refer patients to studies that may be of interest

All of these strategies depend on the practice's needs and preferences. Studies receive review and approval from an Institutional Review Board before being implemented in practices.

Practice-Based Research

There are also research studies that focus on primary care delivery and health services. These may be quality improvement projects or clinician learning collaboratives, and sometimes qualify clinicians for maintenance of certification. These tend to be higher burden to practice clinicians and staff but are also more likely to answer questions that are directly relevant to primary care practice and everyday care. These kinds of studies get a higher level of review by our Steering Committee of community clinicians. Again, practices decide whether or not to participate, on a case-by-case basis, based on their own needs and priorities.