OCHIN, Inc. Research Team Approved for Funding Award from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to Become Integral Part of New National Clinical Research Network

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A team led by OCHIN Research Director Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DPhil, has been approved for a funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to develop and expand a health data network that will be part of PCORnet: the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network. The OCHIN, Inc. data network is one of 29 that were approved for a total of $93.5 million from PCORI on December 17 to form this new national resource that aims to boost the efficiency of health research.

"It's an honor to be the lead organization on the Accelerating Data Value Across a National Community Health Center Network (ADVANCE) Clinical Data Research Network (CDRN), but more importantly, by partnering with Health Choice Network and Fenway Health, we will be aggregating both in-patient and out-patient data of our country's most vulnerable individuals," said Abby Sears, OCHIN's CEO.

PCORI envisions PCORnet to be a secure, national data network that improves the speed, efficiency, and use of patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER). By integrating data available in the 29 individual networks, PCORnet aims to provide access to a large amount of diverse, nationally representative health information that can support a range of study designs. It will reduce the time and effort needed to launch new studies and focus research on questions and outcomes especially useful to patients and those who care for them.

Moreover, PCORnet will join together networks operated by both patient communities and health systems and will require patients' and other stakeholders' involvement in all aspects of the collection and use of the data. By enabling researchers and patients, clinicians, and other end-users of study results to interact directly and jointly determine research priorities, such as the selection specific studies to support, PCORnet aims to advance the shift in clinical research from investigator-driven to patient-centered studies.

During the next 18 months, the OCHIN-led team will use the PCORI funds to expand and improve its systems, work to standardize its data, and be part of the process to develop policies governing data sharing and security and protection of patient privacy. It also will refine its network's capacity to engage and recruit patients and other stakeholders interested in participating in research.

During the next 18 months, the OCHIN-led team will use the PCORI funds to expand and improve its systems, work to standardize its data, and be part of the process to develop policies governing data sharing and security and protection of patient privacy. It also will refine its network's capacity to engage and recruit patients and other stakeholders interested in participating in research.

Principal investigator Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DPhil, OCHIN research director and associate professor of family medicine at Oregon Health and Sciences University, will lead the team. The team includes key partner organizations Health Choice Network and Fenway Health. Additional organizations that are supporting the effort and providing critically important data are, Legacy Health, Wallowa Memorial Health, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Memorial Hospital, Larkin Community Hospital, Prestige Health Choice and CareOregon. Dr. DeVoe stated, "By collaborating across the nation, we hope to provide results that will inform policy and improve patient and population health outcomes. This opportunity with PCORI comes at a time when our nation is working to transform healthcare and needs the best evidence possible to ensure that care is more patient centered. I'm so proud to be serving on this team." 

"We are pleased that OCHIN will be part of this exciting initiative to build the data structures needed to significantly enhance the speed and efficiency of patient-centered comparative effectiveness research," said PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby. "The process to select the awardees was very competitive and OCHIN demonstrated it has the expertise, resources, and commitment to engaging patients and other stakeholders to be an excellent fit in PCORnet."

OCHIN was selected through a review process in which patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders joined scientists to evaluate the proposals. Applications were assessed for the capacity of their network to collect complete, comprehensive clinical data, how well they will engage patients and other stakeholders, and their ability to maintain data security and patient privacy among other criteria.

All awards are approved pending completion of a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and issuance of a formal award contract.

PCORI has awarded a total of $464.4 million since it began funding CER in 2012. For more information about PCORI funding, visit http://pcori.org/funding-opportunities.

About PCORI

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. More information is available at www.pcori.org.

About OCHIN, Inc.

Established in 2000 through a partnership with CareOregon, the Oregon Primary Care Association, Multnomah County Health Department, Clackamas County Health Department, and Virginia Garcia Health Clinics, OCHIN became an independent nonprofit in 2002. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, OCHIN is one of the nation's largest Health Information Networks and is recognized for its innovative use of Health IT to improve the integration and delivery of health care services across a wide variety of practices. With an historical emphasis on safety net clinics and small practices, OCHIN has expanded to include private practice providers and specialists. To date, OCHIN operates in 17 states and supports 75 health center networks and over 4,500 medical providers who serve over 2.5 million patients. For more information, visit www.ochin.org.

Media Contact:
OCHIN, Inc.
Ruby Haughton-Pitts
Vice President, External Affairs
503.784.2284
[email protected]

SOURCE OCHIN