Development of Rapid-Learning Networks in Primary Care
Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) are groups of primary care clinicians and practices working together to answer community-based health care questions and translate research findings into practice.
From 2012 to 2015, Abt Associates, in partnership with the Group Health Research Institute and the NIATx Foundation, supported the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Practice-based Research Network Resource Center (PBRN RC).
This project supported AHRQ’s primary care PBRNs through improvement of formal learning networks and provided AHRQ with a report of initiatives, strategies, and approaches to accelerate learning and improvement activities within these PBRNs.
The PBRN RC affords researchers access to an interactive PBRN listserv, a PBRN Research Bibliography, an archive of webinars accredited for American Academy of Family Physicians continuing education credits, including some also accredited for American Association of Nurse Practitioners continuing education credits, and additional tools and resources. In 2015, the PBRN RC published three research documents that may be of particular interest:
- Practice-based Research Network Business Opportunities with ACOs and Other Health Care Systems: Training and Technical Assistance, a publication which discusses the expansion of business relationships between PBRNs and outside organizations including accountable care organizations (ACOs), public health departments, and other health-related entities;
- Opportunities for Integrating MOC Part IV Requirements into PBRN Practices, a resource to help PBRNs align their infrastructure and activities to support physicians in meeting Maintenance of Certification Part IV (quality/practice improvement) requirements; and
- Using Rapid-Cycle Research to Reach Goals: Awareness, Assessment, Adaptation, Acceleration, a step-by-step methodology for identifying problems that need to be solved, solutions that work in real world settings and study methods that can accelerate the research cycle.