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AMDA Foundation

Home arrow Vol XI, Jan `05
Research Network to Join FPIN PDF Print E-mail
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Vol XI, Jan `05
The AMDA Foundation Long Term Care Research Network is planning a partnership that will provide members with opportunities to submit and evaluate research questions and access a broad base of colleagues nationwide. By joining the Family Practice Inquiries Network (FPIN), the Research Network will expand its reach and credibility and make thousands of practitioners aware of long term care research questions. A national, non-profit consortium, FPIN involves academic family physicians, family medicine residency programs, and others committed to using information technology to improve health care. Through a dedicated Web site, FPIN members submit questions about specific aspects of patient care. They also have the opportunity to vote on which questions are the most important. Staff librarians and researchers then conduct literature searchers on the issues, compile this information, and write a statement about their findings.

"FPIN gets a lot of questions about issues in the geriatric continuum, but most of their members are primary care practitioners, so long term care questions generally are not high on the list," said Research Network Director Larry Lawhorne, MD, CMD. "Our participation can help give some weight to and encourage more interest on these topics," he added. Participation in FPIN also will provide the Network with a broader array of sites and practitioners to involve in studies.

The Research Network is still working on the logistics of its FPIN participation. The first step involves a pilot project, in which the Network will identify about 100 individuals--mostly active members--and ask them to submit questions. Other members will be trained to write responses to questions. The Network plans to kick-off recruitment for this pilot at AMDA's Annual Symposium this March. Network members who want to learn more should plan to participate in the group's meeting, set for 8:00-8:45 a.m. on March 16.

Watch this newsletter and the AMDA Foundation Web site for updates on this important program as they develop.
 
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