What is the Improvement Science Research Network?

The Improvement Science Research Network (ISRN) is the only National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported improvement research network. The ISRN’s primary mission is to accelerate interprofessional improvement science in a systems context across multiple hospital sites. The uniqueness of the ISRN is that its focus on organizational systems makes it possible to scientifically explore the system effect(s) on the delivery of healthcare in the acute care setting.

The launch of the development phase of this National Institute of Nursing Research project was announced October 2009 by NIH. Read the story, "New $3 Million Grant Will Fuel Quality Improvement Research."

The ISRN fills a national gap in improvement science, creating a central structure upon which to build a sustainable, comprehensive network for testing which improvement approaches work in acute care settings.

Who We Are

The Improvement Science Research Network is a network of national and international healthcare professionals and organizations, the Network Coordinating Center and a Steering Council. A unique technology infrastructure connects the Network and supports the conduct and dissemination of improvement research studies.

• Network members collaborate to advance improvement science through the development of theories, methods, and research designs, and the conduct of improvement studies. The Network establishes standards for scientific rigor and capacity building thereby assuring relevant and robust scientific evidence to improve the delivery of healthcare.
• The ISRN is guided by a Steering Council comprised of visionary healthcare experts across disciplines, representing both private and public organizations. The aggregate expertise of the group reflects advanced research knowledge in healthcare improvement and patient safety research.
• The Coordinating Center Based in the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA), the Coordinating Center is the nerve center of activity for all activities of the ISRN. The ISRN is linked to The UTHSCSA Clinical and Translational Science Award housed in the Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science (IIMS). The ISRN is founded on a longstanding commitment to clinical and translational research and leverages IIMS resources to strengthen improvement science and translational science.

What We Do

The Coordinating Center provides a dynamic technology and personnel rich infrastructure that allows members and other researchers to conduct collaborative research, exchange information, and network with others through the ISRN Web site. Through the multiple resources available within the Coordinating Center and on the ISRN website, professionals can expand their capacity with regard to research methods and tools, access a comprehensive database of improvement science projects, share resources, and submit comparative data online for analysis.

The ISRN creates an environment in which members come together to conduct rigorous studies and receive guidance from topic experts in improvement research. By linking healthcare professionals and providing a pioneering, novel infrastructure, the ISRN accelerates the testing and translation of clinical and healthcare delivery research into broad practice. Improvement research conducted through the ISRN will determine effective improvement strategies for acute care settings and improve patient outcomes.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
The project described was supported by Award Number RC2NR011946 from the National Institute of Nursing Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute Of Nursing Research or the National Institutes of Health.