Clinical studies provide money for outcomes
Clinical studies provide money for outcomes
If money for staff time is your primary barrier to an outcomes program, consider the example of the Tucson (AZ) Orthopaedic Institute. The 20-physician practice created a research foundation with a director and one part-time and two full-time employees, which is funded through income from clinical studies, such as those for pharmaceutical firms or device manufacturers.
"There are always ways of compensating for the money you lay out," says Chris Arslanian, PhD, RN, the institute’s director of research. "Even if they do one clinical study a year, they could support one full-time person to do outcomes [work]."
By subscribing to directories, such as the Clinical Investigators Directory ($275 to $375/year), practices receive a listing with background information of firms looking for new study sites. One study can pay as much as $43,000 a year, says Arslanian.
Even if practices don’t find outside funds, "they have to recognize the importance of doing the outcomes studies," Arslanian says.
Cost must be balanced against the benefits. Having clinical and customer service data gives you a potential edge in negotiations with payers. It makes you more appealing to health care purchasers, and even to patients, who may appreciate your quality improvement efforts.
Arslanian has shared outcomes information with the hospital where her physicians perform much of their surgery, which enables them to work together to improve cost effectiveness. Each time the institute engages in managed care negotiations, health plan officials ask if the practice is measuring outcomes.
Meanwhile, you may find that some less expensive treatments or drugs are equally effective, or that diabetics can be adequately managed with one fewer visit a year. If you have capitated contracts, that means more money in your pocket.
[Editor’s note: the directory can be ordered by calling Research Investigator’s Source at (800) 535-6365. Or www.clinicalinvestigators.com.]
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