Federally Qualified Health Centers’ Capacity and Readiness for Research Collaborations: Implications for Clinical‐Academic‐Community Partnerships

Abstract

Background Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) provide a health care safety net for underserved populations and contribute unique expertise to research that could further enhance quality of patient care. The purpose of this research was to assess interest in, readiness to, and capacity for conducting research in FQHCs in South Carolina (SC). Methods A web-based survey was administered to 20 FQHCs across SC. Fourteen representatives of FQHCs completed the 39-item survey that assessed research experience and interest, partnerships and funding, barriers and benefits to research participation, training and technical assistance needs, and research capacity. Results FQHCs are interested in conducting research. FQHCs reported that health center leadership, organizational benefit, active engagement of staff, and clear roles for partners were important factors for successful partnerships. Inequity of budget and resources were the greatest challenges encountered. Improved patient outcomes, additional resources for the center, reduction in disparities, and academic partnerships were considered benefits for participation. FQHCs were interested in training and technical assistance opportunities for research funding and best practices for the use of research to inform programs and services. Conclusions FQHCs are willing to collaborate on research. For successful research partnerships, collaborators should understand FQHCs’ challenges and barriers to participation.

Is Availability of Mammography Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers Associated with Breast Cancer Mortality-to-Incidence Ratios? An Ecological Analysis

“…Coming together in this way also may serve to improve methods of data collection. 41,42 This work has several limitations and strengths. Ecological studies, while allowing for analyses of cancer incidence and mortality trends in relation to FQHC availability, do not allow to control for individual-level factors, such as obesity, behavioral factors, socioeconomic characteristics, etc., which are necessary for estimating effect modification or controlling confounding.…”

Strategies to improve the quality of reference networks for rare diseases

“…Choosing the best ways to improve healthcare's quality, clinicians' expertise, hospitals' collaborations and financing remains a big challenge, especially for highly-qualified institutions, which already face budgetary shortfalls [11,12].…”

“…Awareness campaigns should therefore be performed and adequate tools and data storage platforms developed at the national or international levels for genetic data. The study also enabled to highlight the imbalance between physicians' clinical and research activities that affects their contribution to scientific knowledge [5,11,21].…”

“…[ 21,27,28,30] Clinicians' training Easier access to medico-scientific databases/guidelines/tools [1,3,30,34,35] More information about the research activities of the hospital [11,27] Trainings about specific diagnostic guidelines [5,7,29,30,35,36] Financing of the participation to international scientific conferences [3,21] Establishment of healthcare algorithms [5,30,35] Existing legal framework for the reimbursement of cross-country care within the ERN [7] Existing legal framework for the recognition of expertise in Europe [8] Financial support for ERN's activities and missions [ A short description and/or definition of highly specific or complex activities has been mentioned in the third column. The fourth column contains the bibliographic sources that support the relevance of each strategy/aspect investigated and provide practical examples of the use of these strategy.…”

¡Viva Maryvale!: A Multilevel, Multisector Model to Community-Based Diabetes Prevention

“…FQHCs often use an integrated care model to serve families within the same facility; thus, they are well positioned to implement family-based prevention programming. 48 IRPPs can facilitate the translation of evidence-based interventions into clinical settings as they engage providers and researchers, ensuring that a particular intervention fits within the resources, mission, and priorities of the clinic. 49 FQHCs are required by law to have an advisory board composed of providers and clinic users.…”