October 2002 • Volume 8 • Number 10 |
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The Robert Graham Center, a health policy research entity separate from AAFP's research initiative, was established in Washington in 1999. At that time, the AAFP Board of Directors determined the center would have the editorial independence it needs to be considered a viable, credible source of research.
The center aims to bring a primary care and family practice perspective to health policy deliberations at a federal and state level.
How does the center pull that off?
Its staff members plan forums; make presentations; and develop manuscripts, one-page analyses, posters and Web-based reports. About the manuscripts: Publication in peer-reviewed journals takes time. This year, the center's work has appeared in a steady stream of publications, including Academic Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Three studies on health care workforce issues were published late this spring. Their first or second authors were interns -- family medicine residents or new family physicians conducting research at the center with guidance from staff. Another workforce paper -- on the interface between physicians and nurse practitioners -- was published this fall.
Two studies published this summer traced the specialty's growth since its founding in 1969 and described hurdles now confronting family practice.
Two other recent studies from the center, as noted in the September FP Report, used physicians' reports about medical errors in their practices. One patient safety study was done in partnership with the researchers and clinicians in the AAFP National Network for Family Practice and Primary Care Research. The second study used data from AAFP's network; from a new network based at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond; and from FPs and GPs in five other countries.
For abstracts of Graham Center articles and citations, go to http://www.graham-center.org/library.xml and scroll down to "Articles." Then in a month or two, try the site again. More Graham Center studies are due to be published this fall and winter.
FP Report is published by the
AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2002 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.