Practice-based research network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A practice-based research network (PBRN) is a group of health care providers or medical clinics that are typically practicing in non-university based community environments that are networked for the purpose of examining and evauluating the health care processes that occur in real world practices. PBRNs are characterized by an organizational framework that transcends a single practice or study. They provide a "laboratory" for studying populations of patients and care providers in community-based settings.

The majority of PBRNs are composed of primary care clinician such as family medicine, pediatrics, general internal medicine. There are 54 member PBRNs from the Federation of Practice-Based Research Networks, FPBRN which is the largest organization representing PBRNs.

FPBRN membership

Total Providers:10,912 Total Practices:3,593 Total Patients served:11,654,256

Percentage of providers per specialty group:

Total providers 10,912

Family Medicine Doctors 71.7%, Pediatricians 8.2%, Internal Medicine 8.3%, OB/GYN 1%, Other MD 2%, Nurse Practitioners 6%, Physician’s Assistants 2.4%, Dentists 0.4%