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AMDA Foundation

Home arrow Vol XXIX, Dec `06
Fall Research Conference Focuses on Patient Safety PDF Print E-mail
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Vol XXIX, Dec 06
The 2006 AMDA Foundation Research Network Fall Conference brought together novice and veteran researchers, summarized recently completed studies and addressed ongoing and future ones, offered tools for conducting successful studies, and provided numerous networking opportunities.

The enthusiasm of participants, as well as the results of their activities to date and potential for groundbreaking future studies, makes one wonder why long term care research isn't more popular among physicians and other disciplines. Members of the AMDA Research Network don't have an answer to this question. They are too busy conducting studies and making plans for future research.

Over 55 Research Network members gathered in Tampa, FL, October 27-29. The theme of the conference was "Developing a Long Term Care Patient Safety Research Agenda," and this theme reverberated through many of the sessions. Participants also heard updates from workgroups on assent/consent, centralized database, and anemia.

After general sessions addressing patient safety research issues, participants spent Saturday afternoon in study groups addressing research activities and potential projects relating to a linked database warehouse, anemia, VeriMed microchips, and consent/assent. The VeriMed group, chaired by Foundation Chair Jonathan Musher, MD, CMD, is new and involves an identification chip that can be implanted in patients and used to access health information in the emergency room and other urgent situations.

The group spent Sunday in workshops designed to sharpen their research skills. An "Introduction to Research Reviews" offered a primer on interpreting studies, distinguishing among the different types of research reviews, and understanding the principles of systematic reviews and meta analyses. "Advanced Topics in Research Review" provided a hands-on opportunity for more experienced participants.

Interim Research Network Director Jurgis Karuza, PhD, discussed the organization's many new and exciting projects. He talked about grant opportunities being pursued by the group and the establishment of new Research Network committees including:

  • Membership
  • Physician Inquiry Network
  • Education and Dissemination
  • ACTION
  • Scientific Review Panel

"We continue to make progress and move forward with our research activities, and these conferences are an important part of our progress. The discussions, the questions, and the comments make it clear that our members have a true vision of what long term care research can be and where we need to go as an organization," said Karuza.

The Research Network Spring Conference is set for Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at the AMDA 2007 Annual Symposium in Hollywood, FL.

 
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