Design and implementation of an emergency medicine research associates program.
Authors: Vilnaff RL, Mrklas K, Yeun GWH, Bromely M, Yarema MC, Bradley K
CJEM 2009 May; 11 (3), 299-300 (abstract)
Introduction: The emergency department is a desirable clinical arena to conduct research. However, the ability of emergency nurses and physicians to identify and enroll potential research participants is difficult as patient care and departmental flow take priority. To improve research productivity in Calgary’s Emergency Departments, we designed the Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program.
Methods: The program will recruit volunteer students in medical, nursing, or allied health programs from accredited postsecondary institutions in Calgary, Alberta. These students will be research associates” and they will be responsible for identifying potential research participants for studies involving emergency department patients. In addition, associates will receive biweekly lectures on research methodology and clinical emergency medicine during their 13-week participation. Prior to implementing the program, representatives from Calgary Health Research, Legal Services, the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board, the Alberta Privacy Commissioner’s Office, and the Regional Department of Emergency Medicine were consulted to ensure all legal, ethical, and privacy issues of the program design were addressed. The program will first be implemented at the Foothills Medical Centre and expanded to all Calgary Emergency Departments over the following year.
Results: The design of the program was approved by all key stakeholders in 2008. The first group of Associates will begin in the spring of 2009.
Conclusion: We have successfully designed and implemented an Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program. It is expected that this program will increase research productivity in Calgary’s Emergency Departments as well as improve collaborative research efforts with other clinical departments.
