Abstract
Summary: Research plays an important role in supporting integrated care. By building on evidence, care providers can better understand patient needs, identify promising interventions, and quickly learn and adapt as new models of care are implemented. This enables a learning health system in which data is quickly mobilized to inform and improve care delivery.
However, health organizations may lack the capacity to conduct research and often struggle to identify and implement relevant research in a timely fashion. One way to overcome this gap is to embed researchers into integrated care networks, where they can directly support evaluation and learning. Embedded research models are relatively new and raise unique opportunities and challenges.
This workshop will provide an overview of embedded research models and describe one program that is being piloted in Ontario, Canada. After sharing experiences and early learnings, delegates will participate in an interactive discussion and explore whether this approach is suitable for their local context.
Background:
•Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) are a new way of organizing care in a more integrated way.
•The OHT Impact Fellows program places skilled researchers directly within OHTs for one year, during which time they support the implementation and evaluation of local projects and contribute to rapid learning across organizations.
Aims: The aims of this workshop are to:
1.Provide an overview of embedded research training models;
2.Share early experiences from embedded research fellows and their mentors;
3.Explore opportunities and challenges for embedding researchers in different integrated care networks.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be familiar with embedded research training models and have explored how these models could be adapted to their local context.
Audience: This workshop is aimed at researchers, policymakers, health system and organizational leaders, and funders who are interested in closing the gap between research and practice, and in supporting the use of data and evidence in integrated care systems.
Facilitators and Format:
•Ross Baker and Patrick Feng will introduce the workshop and provide an overview of embedded research models. (15m)
•Reham Abdelhalim, Élizabeth Côté-Boileau, and Natalie Montgomery will speak to their experiences as embedded researchers in the OHT Impact Fellows program. Topics to cover include engaging with patients and providers, working in complex organizations, and being a catalyst for change. (15m)
•Catherine Donnelley and Meghan McMahon will discuss the role of mentors and host organizations, integrated care challenges, and how embedded researchers can add value to health systems. (10m)
•Ross Baker will lead an interactive discussion with panelists and the audience. (15m)
•Audience members will be guided through a group activity to explore how embedded researchers might add value to their local contexts. They will also work with panelists to identify opportunities and challenges for utilizing research more effectively within their organizations. (30m)
•Panelists will provide final reflections to wrap up. (5m)
Takeaways: Delegates will be familiar with embedded research models, how these can support integrated care, and opportunities and challenges for adopting these models.