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The DARTNet Institute: Seeking a Sustainable Support Mechanism for Electronic Data Enabled Research Networks
Wilson D Pace1, Chester H Fox2, Turner White3
1University of Colorado School of Medicine.
EGEMS (Washington, DC)
|April 8, 2015
Summary
The DARTNet Institute offers a sustainable business model for clinical data research infrastructure. This not-for-profit entity leverages diverse revenue streams to support practice-based research networks and facilitate data sharing for studies.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Data Management
Background:
- Clinical data research networks require significant investment in infrastructure for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) from diverse sources.
- Expanding electronic data sources and fostering learning communities are crucial for network sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a sustainable business model for ongoing infrastructure support of clinical data research activities.
- To describe the DARTNet Institute's approach as a not-for-profit support entity for practice-based research networks.
Main Methods:
- The DARTNet Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established to support multiple practice-based research networks.
- It operates through a business structure that allows for advocacy, shared resources via service contracts, and procurement of low-cost software.
Main Results:
- DARTNet's revenue is generated from licensing proprietary ETL software with clinical decision support, operating a quality improvement registry, providing data access for research grants, and offering datasets for observational studies.
- This multi-faceted revenue model supports the infrastructure for clinical data research.
Conclusions:
- The DARTNet model effectively utilizes grant funding through purchased services to sustain the enterprise.
- Its flexible business structure navigates complex financial and governance challenges common in academic and professional settings.