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Our Research Portfolio
The research agenda of the Foundation includes a broad spectrum of work including health services research, applied clinical research, clinical trials, and basic science. Concentrations of research activities include: diabetes, dental, women’s health, geriatrics, memory disorders, ophthalmology, trauma/emergency medicine, pulmonary, health behaviors, behavioral/mental health, preventive health, pediatric, cardiology, ethics, surgery, population and behavioral health.
Types of Research Conducted in the Foundation:
Behavioral Intervention Research
HealthPartners Research Foundation has had considerable experience and success in behavioral intervention studies, most notably in studies involving:
- physical activity
- weight loss and maintenance
- tobacco cessation
The relationship between HealthPartners Research Foundation and HealthPartners Health Behavior Group increases our capacity to conduct behavioral intervention research and to use the results of that research to inform real-world practice. The Health Behavior Group focuses on promoting healthy behaviors and the prevention and management of disease through high-impact, market-leading, evidence-based, person-centered programs offering convenient, award-winning phone-based courses to provide individuals with the tools and support they need to make permanent lifestyle changes.
Survey-Based Research
HealthPartners Research Foundation features a Data Collection Center (DCC) on the premises, dedicated to gathering data from survey-based observational studies. It was established to meet the needs of investigators, HealthPartners, and the community.
The DCC offers the following services and technologies:
• Questionnaire development (question order and wording; response categories)
• Pre-testing (sample; questionnaire; population, process, cover letters, and response rate)
• Data collection (chart abstraction, mail, telephone, in-person, and mix mode)
• Coding open ended questions
• Monitoring, management, and quality control
• Tracking and data base management
• EPIC
• CATI programming (computer assisted telephone interviewing)
• Scanning
• Data entry
• High speed printer, folding machine.
• Programming ability to generate mailing labels and telephone numbers for potential research participants.
The DCC is a full-service data collection center that specializes in survey research and interviewing with an on-site telephone call center that conducts telephone interviews, either as a complete survey, or as follow-up to a mailed survey, using both paper and pencil and Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing Technology (CATI).
Clinical Trials
HealthPartners Research Foundation is ideally set up for clinical trials and clinical research. The connection to HealthPartners allows access to a large and diverse population of patients. In addition to the ready availability of clinics for clinical trials, all of our clinics feature electronic medical record systems. Patients have online access to innovative ‘e-visits’ as well as test results, appointment scheduling, immunization records and medication history. The electronic medical record system, Epic, allows the programmers at the HealthPartners Research Foundation to easily complete chart audits by using codes associated with diagnosis, medications, and vaccinations. As new patients come into the system, medical histories are entered directly into Epic by clinic nurses. Copies of records are made and scanned and into the system to allow for quality assessment.
Medical Records Research
Medical records research involves the examination of information in medical records to improve medical practice. Research using medical records plays a crucial role in supporting medical progress. Using information in medical records on medical histories, trends, and documented healthcare outcomes, investigators at HealthPartners Research Foundation contribute to an evidence base for improving health and medical care.
Important discoveries in medical records research have improved healthcare and medical practice leading to higher quality care for patients. Medical records research has identified risk factors and effective treatments for life-threatening diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. HealthPartners’ adoption of an electronic medical record system (EPIC) has generated innovative opportunities for conducting medical records research to improve patient care and health.
Basic Science Research
Basic science research conducted at HPRF involves investigations to increase knowledge and understanding of disease and treatment processes to inform clinical practice. The evidence generated from basic science research is essential to applied efforts to improve patient care. While, the results of basic research may not have immediate relevance for clinical practice, the knowledge gained provides an evidence base for translational efforts in health and healthcare.
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