AMDA Foundation - Strategic Guidance and Planning Are Focus of Spring RN Meeting

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Vol XXXI, May `07

Strategic Guidance and Planning Are Focus of Spring RN Meeting

Vol XXXI, May `07

At this year's Spring Research Network (RN) meeting, members had a unique opportunity to share in depth their thoughts, hopes, and vision for the future direction of the organization.

RN leaders talked about the group's many triumphs in its brief history to date—dozens of studies funded, numerous articles published in JAMDA and other publications, appointment of a centralized IRB, and a role as the long term care arm of the Physicians Inquiries Network (PIN). They then urged meeting attendees to take part in planning for the organization's future.

"It is a huge challenge to determine what our studies should be, how they will be funded, and how they are started and organized"

"It is a huge challenge to determine what our studies should be, how they will be funded, and how they are started and organized," said former Research Network Director Larry Lawhorne, MD. "We need to start thinking about our long-term future now." RN member Paul Katz, MD, CMD, added, "We need to develop a viable research agenda now. Quality issues can be a part of this. We think that what we do makes a difference. We'd like to prove it."

In addition to discussing the organization's future, RN members heard about authorship and publication policies from Dr. Lawhorne and Patricia Parmelee, PhD. Dates and location for future RN meetings have yet to be determined. Watch future issues of this e-newsletter and the AMDA Foundation Web site for details.

Working in small groups, RN members came up with several issues they would like to see as part of the organization's focus:

Greater collaboration among researchers, including utilization of electronic collaboration tools for workgroups
Training opportunities at the AMDA Symposium on topics such as how to conduct community research projects, working with IRBs, and research training and specialized mentorships
Engaging RN members year-round and not just at the Spring and Fall meetings
Variety of communication venues through which members can share ideas, questions, and information
Developing greater collaboration with administrators and owners on research projects
Gaining and sustaining commitment from a broader base of members
Utilizing AMDA state chapters to benefit the AMDA Foundation and its Research Network

...the groups generally agreed that the organization should develop and implement a research agenda.

Asked what the RN's research plan should be, the groups generally agreed that the organization should develop and implement a research agenda. They also suggested implementing a fundamental research theme to guide the choice and implementation of studies. RN members also recommended that the organization strengthen relationships with government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to focus on areas such as patient safety, translating research into practice, and nursing home specific outcomes related to inappropriate hospital transfers.

If you have thoughts about the future direction of the Research Network, contact Erin Blume at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .