WReN is the Wisconsin Research Network, a group of family physicians and others interested in conducting practice-based research. Practice-based research is vital for growth of the knowledge base in primary care to improve physicians' ability to meet the health care needs of their communities. Research at the front line of health care delivery will improve knowledge and skills used in daily practice and provide a much needed complement to the tertiary care studies that currently dominate medical research. Primary care research capability is essential for the advancement of modern health care in general, as well as for the full development of family medicine as a specialty. Multiple site studies provide large numbers of ambulatory patients, the opportunities to compare differences in health care between practices, and the opportunity to study the effects of different interventions on physician and patient health care behavior.
Membership provides specific benefits.
There is no cost to join WReN. WReN has been designed to provide individualized research assistance to its members, and the opportunity for multi-practice studies. Members are requested to respond periodically to membership surveys about individual research needs and the demography of their practices. Members and others may propose studies to be considered by the network. Projects will be reviewed by the WAFP Research Committee, which acts as the WReN Steering Committee. Participation in a multi-practice site study would entail specific responsibilities for that study.