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Advanced Tablet-Based Application Recruits 5,000 Patients to Clinical Research Network

Health in Our Hands, a patient network and an initiative of REACHnet (formerly known as the Louisiana Clinical Data Research Network (LaCDRN)),reached a milestone in August 2016 by recruiting more than 5,000 patients using an innovative tablet-based application presented to patients in their physician’s examination room. The electronic process obtains patients’ consent to participate in a network that integrates patient perspectives into research and connects them to research projects supported by their health system.

Health in Our Hands’ impressive enrollment rate is due to the deployment of 258 tablets in 20 clinics at Ochsner Health System, EXCELth Family Health Center, Access Health Louisiana, and Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children in the Greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.

The state-of-the-art application, including mobile and web-based versions, collects patient-reported health information, provides an avenue for patients to inform and partner in the research process, recruits patients into pragmatic clinical trials, and facilitates ongoing trial participation and management. Patients consenting into Health in Our Hands agree to be contacted outside of clinical settings to learn about these diverse-communityopportunities, including participation in research trials. The ability to expand engagement and recruitment efforts outside of the clinical setting through email and text message makes it possible to connect to the existing 5,000 network patients without waiting for their next clinic visit.

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