Development of a research program in a community teaching hospital

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Services Research
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Affiliations between community hospitals and university medical centers are increasingly common.
• Developing academic programs within community hospitals presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the strategies employed by St. Mary's Hospital, a community hospital, in developing an academic program.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a research program in a community hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• Defined specialist needs based on patient population.
• Established subspecialty units to foster research.
• Analyzed costs for faculty salaries and laboratory development.
• Designed flexible research spaces and utilized shared equipment with clinical services.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed an academic program within a 298-bed community hospital over five years.
• Secured diverse funding sources including reimbursement, departmental funds, gifts, and grants.
• Demonstrated a viable model for community hospital research initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Community hospitals can successfully develop academic and research programs through strategic planning and resource management.
• The affiliation model supports the growth of investigative programs in non-university settings.
• This approach is achievable despite challenges in investigative support.