New Research Infrastructure Now Available

by Courtney Balentine, M.D., and Timothy Hogan, Ph.D.

The Surgical Center for Outcomes, Implementation, and Novel Interventions (S-COIN)
The Surgical Center for Outcomes, Implementation, and Novel Interventions (S-COIN)

Surgical care continues to advance at a rapid pace, offering new interventions for clinical teams to leverage, and the potential for improved outcomes among patients. Understanding the effect of these advancements on processes of care and outcomes requires rigorous research informed by state-of-the-art study designs, methods, and analytic approaches. Additionally, there is increasing recognition that many existing evidence-based interventions that could enhance the quality, safety, and outcomes of surgical care are used variably in practice or are not used at all. Our department of surgery has a unique opportunity to develop the research infrastructure to address gaps in the implementation of evidence-based practice while simultaneously accelerating the process of innovation and the generation of new approaches to surgical care. To more robustly pursue this mission and to further establish itself as a leader in surgical outcomes and implementation research, the department has created a new research core: the Surgical Center for Outcomes, Implementation, and Novel Interventions (S-COIN).

Vision

The purpose of S-COIN is to create new infrastructure to promote education, training, and research endeavors for Department of Surgery faculty, trainees (e.g., residents, medical students, and fellows), and allied health personnel, and to advance a health services and implementation research agenda focused on the most pressing problems facing contemporary surgical care. S-COIN will provide a foundation for ongoing and future studies that will not only enrich the evidence base, but will also lead to real improvements in surgical practice that enhance care experiences and outcomes for patients.

Mission

The primary mission of S-COIN is to augment the Department of Surgery’s capacity to further establish itself as a renowned leader in surgical outcomes and implementation research.

S-COIN will realize this mission through pursuit of the following goals:

  1. Building a sustainable and recognized group of interdisciplinary experts to support health services and implementation research in the context of surgical care
  1. Offering expertise to stakeholders in the Department of Surgery who are committed to pursuing funded health services and implementation research
  1. Fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary, team-based research initiatives within the Department of Surgery and between the department and other units on the UTSW campus
  1. Training the next generation of surgical care researchers with first-rate expertise in the principles and approaches of health services and implementation research
  1. Improving the delivery of surgical care in measurable, sustainable ways and the experiences and outcomes of patients who receive that care

Process

S-COIN will be developed through a stepped process, beginning in FY 2019. Early development work will leverage fiscal support from Department of Surgery leadership and relationships with complementary units across the UTSW campus to acquire necessary expertise, with the intent that S-COIN will become self-sustaining over a period of 5-10 years.

S-COIN will begin providing research consultation services this year. Interested faculty can request meetings to review research design to optimize the chances of completing a successful project. S-COIN will provide assistance with sampling strategies, statistical methodology, estimating power, and techniques for prospectively recruiting patients. S-COIN can also assist those interested in adding qualitative or mixed methods and surveys to their projects.

For more information about S-COIN, please contact Courtney Balentine, M.D., or Timothy Hogan, Ph.D.