Public Health and Primary Care Practice Based Research Networks: Exploring shared values, shared needs, and shared opportunities

Background: The rich history of Practice Based Research Networks (PBRN) research in Primary Care will be examined, with parallels established to developing PBRN research in Public Health. Dialogue about shared values and needs between Local Health Departments (LHDs) and Primary Care practice will lead to discussion of shared opportunities and methodologies for PBRN collaboration. Though there have been attempts to join the efforts of Public Health and Primary Care, no solutions have produced a robust, widely-used, and sustainable model. Data will be stressed as the link that can provide organic, effective opportunities for LHD-Primary Care partnership. Through practice based screening and electronic health records, Primary Care has abundant data, but limited capacity to utilize this information for community health improvement. LHDs recognize the imperative for community surveillance, but data sources may be both limited and costly. Methods and Results: Research that demonstrates connections and contrasts between Primary Care and Public Health PBRN research will be presented. Methods successful in Primary Care (direct observation, card studies, mixed methods, comparative case studies) and Public Health PBRNs (natural experiments, cross-sectional surveys, GIS research, large database analysis) will be considered. Analysis will be discussed in the context of study design. Conclusion: PBRN collaborations between LHDs and Primary Care may generate solutions to deeply ingrained health systems problems, enhancing recognition of and intervention with health and illness patterns within medical practices and the community. Shared methodologies may create efficiencies both in research and practice, building substantial bridges through connecting Public Health and Primary Care PBRNs.