Improving safety and efficiency in primary care diagnostics
Official title: A New Combination of Evidence Based Interventions to Improve Primary Care Diagnostic Safety and Efficiency: a Stepped Wedge Cluster RCT
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-10928800 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to make sure you get the right diagnosis in your doctor's office, and it’s for patients like you who want safer and more accurate care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $449,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS028779-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928800 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients receiving care in primary care settings who may be affected by diagnostic errors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving care in primary care settings or those with conditions that are not addressed by the interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates new ways to enhance the safety and efficiency of diagnostic processes in primary care settings. It employs a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial design, which means that different groups of healthcare providers will implement the new interventions at different times, allowing for a comparison of outcomes. Patients may experience improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced errors in their care as a result of these interventions. The study aims to gather evidence on the effectiveness of these combined approaches in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more efficient diagnostic practices in primary care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific combination of interventions may be novel, similar approaches in improving diagnostic safety and efficiency have shown promise in other healthcare settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Eric J — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Eric J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Primary Care HEART-NET: boosting access to research in the Deep South
A collaboration across three universities will build primary care research networks in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to improve access to care and help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
-
Primary Care Bridge: Building Research in Diverse Geographic Settings
A national network hub in New Mexico will connect rural clinics and communities to faster, more usable primary care research so patients in underserved areas can benefit from new evidence.
-
WREN: Expanding Research Capacity in Rural Primary Care Clinics
A nationwide network in Wisconsin will strengthen rural primary care clinics to participate in real-world research and bring more clinical trials to communities.
-
Primary care research network in Oklahoma to boost rural patient trials
A nationwide NIH-supported effort to strengthen Oklahoma’s primary care research network so doctors can run big clinical trials and real‑world studies in rural communities.
-
PRaCTICe: A Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center
A nationwide network is creating easier, community-led clinical trials in rural and frontier areas to bring more trials to patients where they live.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.