Year II Work Group

ARC Year II Work Group

> Michael Gropper MD (Chair)
University of California San Francisco
Michael.Gropper@ucsf.edu

Transforming patient-centered outcomes research in anesthesiology

Workgroup Charge: Multicenter clinical trials and prospective cohort studies focusing on patient-centered outcomes after surgery and other common procedures have potential to increase the value of anesthesia care and transform the scope and impact of anesthesiology as a specialty. To support the ability of anesthesiologists to improve patient outcomes and contribute to public health through collaborative multicenter trials and prospective cohort studies, this working group will:

Summarize the current state and future prospects of collaborative patient-centered outcomes research in anesthesiology in the United States by:
- Reviewing past and current efforts to establish multicenter anesthesiology research networks in the US.
- Benchmarking Anesthesiology against comparable medical specialties to better define the scope of the problem.
- Characterizing opportunities for collaborative networks to aid the progress of patient-centered anesthesiology research in the US, including consideration of topical areas of opportunity.
Identify facilitators and barriers to establishing one or more collaborative, US-based patient-centered outcomes research networks in anesthesiology by:
- Characterizing factors contributing to the success or failure of past or current efforts to establish anesthesiology research networks in the US.
- Identifying successful examples from other disciplines or other countries that may inform future efforts in the US.
- Assessing the extent to which prior efforts have succeeded or failed in engaging representative groups of US anesthesiology practices in research, including smaller academic practices and private anesthesia groups.
- Assessing the extent to which prior efforts have succeeded or failed in engaging patients as research partners, particularly those from historically under-represented communities.
- Assessing the extent to which prior efforts have succeeded or failed in achieving goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Recommend 4-5 specific actions that key stakeholders, including but not limited to ASA, FAER, IARS, and academic and private groups, should undertake to transform the landscape of patient-centered outcomes research in anesthesiology in the US over the next 5-10 years. Types of recommendations that the workgroup could consider may include (but not be limited to):
- Investment by anesthesiology organizations in infrastructure or staff to support network creation and maintenance.
- Investment by anesthesiology organizations in infrastructure or staff to support engagement of patients as partners in anesthesiology studies.
- Advocacy efforts to expand relevant federal funding opportunities.
- Development of new grant mechanisms for collaborative projects by anesthesia foundations.
- New training or career development offerings for anesthesia investigators
- Capacity-building initiatives to expand the pool of anesthesiology departments capable of leading or participating in collaborative research
- Development of web-based or other resources to support the development of successful collaborations