The case for interdepartmental research in primary care

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Primary care research faces challenges due to fragmented efforts within disciplines like internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine.
• Despite shared goals in comprehensive care, collaboration among these primary care specialties is infrequent, limiting research impact.
• Research enterprises in primary care departments are often small, lacking the necessary critical mass for significant advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the benefits of interdepartmental collaboration in primary care research.
• To present a successful model of an interdepartmental primary care research unit.
• To identify key elements for fostering successful research collaborations in primary care.

Main Methods:

• The study describes the development and structure of an interdepartmental primary care research unit at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Medicine.
• Key collaborative elements include joint fellowship training, faculty development, and a dedicated research unit.
• The unit supports secondary database analysis, practice-based research networks, and interdisciplinary projects.

Main Results:

• The University of Colorado's model demonstrates successful interdepartmental collaboration in primary care research.
• Shared resources, including space, staff, and faculty, along with joint projects, are crucial for success.
• This collaborative approach enhances research perspectives and provides infrastructure for sustained research endeavors.

Conclusions:

• Interdepartmental research units are essential for building a vibrant and sustainable primary care research enterprise.
• Collaboration among primary care disciplines offers a breadth of perspectives to tackle complex health care issues.
• Successful models require proactive resource negotiation and shared infrastructure to support research careers and themes.