Integrating research into clinical practice: development of an echocardiography research unit.
Introducing a research program into an echocardiography clinical practice can pose many challenges. Some initial factors to consider are the possible effects on the current clinical schedule and the equipment and personnel resources required to support the research projects. More importantly, how can an organization successfully complete reliable and accurate research projects? Here, we describe our experience with establishing an echocardiography research center within our clinical echocardiography practice. In addition, we identify key staff roles, highlight our current research practice methods, and suggest essential components that may prove advantageous when incorporating echocardiography research into a clinical practice.
Green
Tammy M
TM
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Barnes
Marion E
ME
Belohlavek
Marek
M
Gilman
Gregory
G
Carlson
Laurel A
LA
Hagen
Mary E
ME
Pellikka
Patricia A
PA
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018511:Systems Integration; D018581:Technology Transfer