title: Creating the Evidence through Comparative Effectiveness Research for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice by Deploying a National Intervention Network and a National Data Repository.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently a resurgence of interest in interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) and its potential to positively impact health outcomes at both the patient level and population level, healthcare delivery, and health professions education. This resurgence of interest led to the creation of the National Center on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Education in October 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper describes three intertwined knowledge generation strategies of the National Center on Interprofessional Practice and Education: (1) the development of a Nexus Incubator Network, (2) the undertaking of comparative effectiveness research, and (3) the creation of a National Center Data Repository.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As these strategies are implemented over time they will result in the production of empirically grounded knowledge regarding the direction and scope of the impact, if any, of IPECP on well-defined health and healthcare outcomes including the possible improvement of the patient experience of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the motivating factors for the National Center and the three strategies adopted and addressed herein is the need for rigorously produced, scientifically sound evidence regarding IPECP and whether or not it has the capacity to positively affect the patient experience of care, the health of populations, and the per capita cost of healthcare.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. pech0004@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pechacek
authors.affiliation: National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. cerra001@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cerra
authors.affiliation: National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. brandt@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. nlutfiyy@umn.edu.
authors.forename: May Nawal
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lutfiyya
authors.affiliation: National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. delaney@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delaney
keywords: NCDR; National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education; Nexus incubator network; Nexus of Inquiry; collaborative practice; comparative effectiveness research; interprofessional education; intervention research