Even More Patient-Centered: PCORI Revises Framework For Setting Priorities
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The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has tweaked its proposed framework for reviewing national research priorities, continuing its effort to ensure that PCORI activities are "patient-centered" in every detail. PCORI is devising the framework as a method to review topics that it might recommend as priorities for comparative effectiveness research. Down the line, projects that fit those priorities could receive research funding from the organization. Speaking Oct. 13 at the National Comparative Effectiveness Summit in Washington D.C., PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby outlined the changes. In the first version of the framework, PCORI identified 10 topical groupings. Issues for possible research would first be assessed to see if they fit into these groups, and then also compared to other criteria, including some requirements defined by the statute (Also see "PCORI Should Consider Health IT In Setting Research Priorities – Board’s Weisman" - Pink Sheet, 26 Sep, 2011.). Those 10 categories included topics such as prevention and screening, acute care, patient engagement, safety and the impact of new technology. They have been reconfigured as six categories that are broader and redefined. The new subject areas are clinical effectiveness; measuring patient-centered outcomes; improving health care systems; communication; equity and addressing disparities; and accelerating patient-centered outcomes research. Asked about the revision after his conference presentation, Selby said the transition from the 10 original candidate priorities to the current six was the result of the PCORI board examining them and considering “whether they seemed like a patient-centered set or whether they can be improved upon. I think the six represent our initial attempt at improving” the candidate priorities to make them “look more patient-centered.” PCORI's board will solicit public input on the framework over the next two to three months using a variety of methods, including posting the framework on PCORI's website; meeting with patients, providers and other stakeholders through focus groups and larger meetings; targeted surveys and other methods. Selby emphasized the feedback is part of PCORI’s ongoing emphasis on pursuing and maintaining active stakeholder involvement and it will be seriously considered. And depending on that input, he said, "it's not at all predictable that at the end of our engagement process that we’ll have those same six" priorities. PCORI previously set a target date of March 2012 for finalizing the national priorities. |