Primary Care Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center: PRaCTICe

PRaCTICe logo image

What is PRaCTICe?

PRaCTICe is a Network Research Hub engaging rural health care partners in research. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CARE for HealthTM Initiative, PRaCTICe aims to strengthen partnerships with rural and frontier primary care clinics in the northwest United States to identify community-driven health priorities, implement research studies relevant to primary care, and expand primary care's role in clinical research.

We collaborate with regional clinical sites in the northwest United States to address health priorities meaningful to their communities. We are using the model of the continuum of community engagement to work on two main activities:

  • Engage with rural and frontier primary care clinics to identify research priorities and co-design future research
  • Partner with rural primary care clinics to implement research studies
Image of PRaCTICe Model of Community Engagement Continuum

Want to Get Involved with PRaCTICe?

Practice-based evidence is important to create health care innovations that work in rural primary care settings. Our partner clinics have a chance to be involved with new opportunities from NIH and shape future opportunities by co-designing research with our research team. We currently have rural partner clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

Affiliate Clinics and Priority Clinical Site Partners

  • 6 US States: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska
  • 28 PRaCTICe Priority Clinical Site Partners for Year 1 and 2
  • 154 WPRN affiliate clinics
  • 168 ORPRN affiliate clinics

Here’s what you should know about in the PRaCTICe Research Hub. Participation centers around engagement activities, such as learning what is important to you and your community, identifying which community organizations and members are critical in the region, and supporting opportunities to host listening sessions or get involved in future research trials. 

PRaCTICe Team Engagement and Support Clinical Partner Activities
Match each partner clinic with a Regional Engagement Specialist Participate in quarterly meetings with a Regional Engagement Specialist
Invite partners to share ideas for future PRaCTICe research opportunities Review and assist in the prioritization of research activities developed by PRaCTICe
Provide opportunities to join existing NIH-funded studies Consider engaging in selected NIH studies (i.e., be matched with a clinical trial)
Provide on-the-ground research support and expertise to clinics that participate in PRaCTICe-matched studies Endorse studies within the local community, as needed
Provide opportunities to design new research studies collaboratively Participate in the “co-design” of new research with the academic research team and provide input on new CARE for HealthTM initiatives
Help identify patient and community advisors for PRaCTICe
Provide recruitment support for regional listening sessions, if needed

New opportunities coming this Spring!

Sign up here if you want to hear about research studies when they are launched
Photo of Clearwater River in Orofino, Idaho
Clearwater River, Orofino Idaho

Recent PRaCTICe News

You talked, we listened!

We’ve hosted six listening sessions with rural communities, leaders from rural primary care clinics and health systems, community-based organizations, state agencies, and people who receive care.

Here’s what we heard about how to make research more accessible for rural partners:

  • Conduct practical, action-oriented research that leads to meaningful change
  • Focus on “doing what works” and align research with existing programs or services
  • Support upstream solutions with the findings, such as policy change, resource allocation, and improvements to housing and behavioral health systems
  • Involve the community and listen to local voices
  • Build local capacity through training and support
  • Integrate research into existing planning efforts or service delivery
  • Make research relevant

Read more about the listening sessions here:  

  • Insert Link to Listening Sessions one-pager PDF (after we confirm it's accessible)
  • Insert LINK to the newsletter with listening sessions article  

Past PRaCTICe Newsletters

Insert Link to a page with prior newsletters 

PRaCTICe News and Interviews

Insert Links to other webpages and news stories