The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has released for public comment a first draft of its national priorities for research and research agenda. The research requires the use of electronic health records, much in the way accountable care organizations use health data to improve care. The outcomes are conveyed to physicians electronically.

The agenda, released Monday, will be used to guide funding announcements for comparative clinical effectiveness research. PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization created by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions.

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“We want to hear from patients, caregivers, providers and the wider healthcare community on whether our draft priorities and initial research agenda capture the broad areas where more evidence-based information is needed to make better decisions,” said PCORI Board Chair Eugene Washington, MD. “This is a major milestone in our work as we continue to collaborate with all stakeholders and to build on the work of others for what we  expect will be the most patient-centered research agenda yet.”

The draft National Priorities for Research identifies five areas where comparative effectiveness research is needed to support decision-making, including:

• assessment of options for prevention, diagnosis and treatment;

• improving health care systems;

• communication and dissemination research;

• addressing disparities and

• accelerating patient-centered outcomes research and methodological research.

These areas encompass the patient-centered research that PCORI intends to fund and are inclusive of all diseases and health conditions, leaders of the group said.

[See also: NEHI outlines national plan for comparative effectiveness research.]

“These priorities and agenda give a framework to and identify the broad questions that must be addressed so that patients can make better and more personalized decisions in partnership with their clinicians across all areas of health,” said PCORI executive director Joe Selby, MD. “This initial agenda does not limit which conditions or treatments will be studied. It is a starting point.”

“We will be asking the community to think boldly about research projects across all five priority areas,” he said. The public comment period will remain open until 11:59 p.m. EST on March 15.

PCORI will hold a national forum on February 27 in Washington, D.C. The forum will be webcast, and individuals will be able to participate remotely through a teleconference.

PCORI encourages individuals to comment on its agenda online here. 

Follow Diana Manos on Twitter @DManos_IT_News.