Development of a Central Research Infrastructure that Supports Interdisciplinary Clinical Research and the Adoption of Evidence-Based Practices in the Healthcare Settings

Healthcare professionals in non-academic settings, at all levels of training and experience, have the ability to identify gaps in knowledge, develop novel research ideas, and adapt known protocols to meet patient needs. However, acting upon these ideas is often daunting, involving hours of discretionary time and effort. To address this, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare invested in the development of a centralized research infrastructure–The Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation. The Milne Institute supports Gaylord's healthcare professionals in conducting clinical research, evidence-based projects (EBPs), and quality initiatives (QIs) to improve patient care and outcomes. To offset the extraclinical nature of research, the Milne Institute's fulltime research staff not only mentor, educate, and guide Gaylord's healthcare professionals, but they also assist them through all project phases, including: idea development; study design; IRB application preparation; participant enrollment; data collection and analysis; and preparation and submission of conference abstracts and manuscripts. Since 2020, this emphasis has increased Gaylord's annual average number of IRB-approved research projects (from 7-to-24), accepted conference submissions (from 4-to-10), and accepted manuscripts (from 0-to-3). Further, this investment has resulted in a broader culture of innovation, with 52 healthcare professionals, representing 14 different departments, currently acting as a co-investigator on one or more IRB-approved research studies, with even more staff supporting research, QIs, and EBPs in other ways. By adopting a centralized research infrastructure, a culture of research and innovation can be created. This allows healthcare professionals to further engage in meaningful initiatives and improve patient outcomes through the development of new EBPs.