SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Capacity for Learning Health System Pragmatic Clinical Trials Across Hospital Medicine Programs

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This cross-sectional national survey assessed the ability of academic hospital medicine programs to support learning health system (LHS) research, especially pragmatic clinical trials. Researchers surveyed 57 programs in the Hospital Medicine Reengineering Network (HOMERuN); 41 programs responded (72%), representing varied regions, hospital types, and bed sizes.<br /><br />The survey examined four capacity domains: faculty research experience, research staff resources, electronic health record (EHR)-based tools, and institutional review board (IRB) policies. An overall composite score reflected the percentage of available resources across domains.<br /><br />Key findings showed that many programs had meaningful foundational infrastructure for pragmatic research. Research staff were available or accessible in 78% to 95% of programs. EHR tools for research were available or accessible in 44% to 100% of programs, with physician builders and IT analysts being the most common resources. IRB policies were supportive of pragmatic research in about 70% of programs, including support for single-IRB arrangements, large-scale EHR-based screening, and waiver or alternative consent approaches.<br /><br />Faculty research experience was strongest in qualitative research (93%), observational research (85%), and implementation research (68%). Fewer programs had experience leading randomized trials, multicenter RCTs, or R01-funded research, suggesting a gap in advanced trial leadership capacity.<br /><br />Overall composite capacity scores ranged from 49% to 87% across domains. The study concludes that many hospitalist programs already possess the basic infrastructure needed to engage in pragmatic clinical trials and related LHS research. However, maximizing this potential will require better use of institutional resources, stronger collaborations, and sustained financial support from internal and external sources.

Asset Subtitle

Sunil Kripalani

Meta Tag

Author List Andrew D. Auerbach, Isaac Schlotterbeck, Jeffrey L. Schnipper, Robyn Tamboli, Sunil Kripalani

Category Research

Concept Learning Health System

Concept Pragmatic Trial

Concept Hospitalist Program

Concept Research Capacity

Concept Hospital Medicine Research Infrastructure

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Presenting Author Sunil Kripalani

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

learning health system

pragmatic clinical trials

hospital medicine

academic hospital programs

research infrastructure

electronic health record

institutional review board

implementation research

observational research

research capacity

Learning Health System

Pragmatic Trial

Hospitalist Program

Research Capacity

Hospital Medicine Research Infrastructure