Project MUSE - Qualitative Perspective on the Learning Health System: How the Community Health Applied Research Network Paved the Way for Research in Safety-Net Settings

Project MUSE - Qualitative Perspective on the Learning Health System: How the Community Health Applied Research Network Paved the Way for Research in Safety-Net Settings

HRSA Study Explores How Health Centers Can Conduct Research to Address Underserved Patient Needs

Researchers conducted a qualitative study of the Community Health Applied Research Network (CHARN), established in 2010 by the Health Resources and Services Administration. CHARN’s mission is to support research led by health centers that would address the needs of safety-net populations, populations not typically represented in research, across the United States. The study identified barriers and facilitators to health centers engaging in research, and revealed three lessons when including safety-net populations in research: (1) linking research studies to health centers’ core clinical mission is essential for building their research capacity; (2) encouraging formal and informal mentorship between experienced researchers and health center providers can promote a culture of learning for both providers and researchers; and (3) sharing resources and knowledge across health centers enables them to collect data and enhance their translational research capacity.  Read the journal abstract and how HRSA’s health centers are making a difference for safety-net populations.