A LONG TRADITION OF DEDICATION TO IMPROVING HEALTH OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES

To achieve this goal, DHMC and MMC will leverage its large catchment area in rural NNE to recruit patients into CTSN trials. DHMC’s extensive academic research infrastructure and documented success in clinical trials makes this approach highly feasible. To assess implementation of research findings, DHMC will utilize its unique role as the data coordinating center for the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group (NNECDSG) which houses 90% of the cardiac surgery outcomes data in NNE. Additionally, as the largest non-federal repository of Medicare claims data in the US, DHMC will utilize the Dartmouth Atlas rate generator to study geographic variation. DHMC will also work closely with experts at TDI to integrate implementation science research within the CTSN through use of hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial designs. Using this approach, qualitative process evaluation will be conducted prospectively in coordination with future CTSN studies.

utilizing our network of affiliates

DHMC has numerous affiliate and regional outreach clinics located through NH and VT. These clinics all refer to DHMC for cardiac catherization and cardiac surgery, which represents a major pathway we have used to recruit rural patients to clinical trials.

Strategies to recruit and retain rural patients

CTSN Recruitment strategies