If you interested in primary care research and want to be a member of the NorTex Primary Care Practice Based Research Network, simply print
out the Membership Enrollment
Form and return it to the address on the form. You can also fax the form to 817-735-0398 or email
the completed form to NorTex@hsc.unt.edu |
The Importance of Joining NorTex
Historically, primary care research has taken a back stage position in the medical research industry primarily by tertiary medical centers (hospitals, sub/specialty clinics, etc) due to greater monetary gain without contributing practice-based knowledge that might improve longevity and quality of life. While PBRNs have been around since the 1970s, it wasn't until the mid and late 1990s that our country realized the importance and vital need for primary care research. This is because the medical community has come to realize the importance and vital need for primary care research. NorTex was developed to foster quality evidence-based patient-oriented primary care research locally and nationally. Every clinician that joins the network will have the opportunity to have an integral and active role in furthering the health status of the North Texas community and contribute knowledge to how to better address our country's health care needs. Since primary care practitioners provide the majority of this country's health care, it is without question that there should be research that focuses on primary care.
Your Role in NorTex
One of the most important objectives for NorTex is to NOT disrupt your busy daily practice. You dictate how active you want to be within the network. We will look forward to any research ideas or proposals that you present and then help you to conduct your research project by using our resources. All we ask from you and your clinic is cooperation in conducting primary care research. Any research project that finds your clinic to be a good match to conduct a specific project will first be presented to you (medical group if appropriate) and the clinic manager to ensure unobstructed clinical flow and to discuss the details of the project. You will always have the option to have your clinic opt out of any project.
Benefits of a NorTex PBRN Member
* Have opportunities to receive CME credits for network research activities
* Have the opportunity to conduct primary care research
* Have the resources to design, analyze, publish, and present your own research projects
* Have the resources to apply for grants
* Increase your scholarly activity and develop the skills for long term learning
* Make a difference in the health care status of your patients, the North Texas community, and the country
* Be involved in primary care academia (an important, yet unmet, need in our country)
* Need not to commit much to be an integral and important part of the research network
* Receive electronic newsletters and have the opportunity to attend regular meetings to see and hear up-coming network plans and accomplishments
* "Meet" and "network" with new colleagues from all over North Texas who also share the interest of conducting primary care research.
What is required and how much time does it take?
* All NorTex practitioners (including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well as physicians) are asked to complete a questionnaire to provide data to document their training, demographic characteristics, and experience.
* One member of the practice must be identified as the contact practitioner, and that contact must fill out a second questionnaire describing characteristics of the practice.
* Participation in NorTex studies effects practice routines in varying degrees. Studies may ask for completion of brief data collection forms (only part of which need to be filled out by the practitioner). Some studies require informed consent from parents and/or patients. However, minimal disruption to your busy clinic is one of our highest priority.
* NorTex practices are not required to participate in all studies, but they are expected to remain active in the network by participating on a regular basis.
What to do next?
If you are a researcher or a primary care provider in the North Texas area and are interested in primary care research and want to be member for the NorTex Primary Care Practice Based Research Network, simply fill out the Enrollment Form and return it to the address on the form or email it to: NorTex@hsc.unt.edu.
Sitemanager:
Lee Ann Cunningham, DEAR/NorTex, email: NorTex@hsc.unt.edu
For Technical Issues: webmaster@hsc.unt.edu
Copyright University of North
Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Page last updated:
April 29, 2008 1:04 PM