OCHIN participates with state governments, universities, medical schools, and research entities such as the State of Oregon, Kaiser Center for Health Research and Oregon Health and Sciences University. Our unique consolidated database on the uninsured and underinsured provides transformational information in the areas of translational and interventional research, data-only studies, and a vast array of QI opportunities.

In all research studies and grant funded projects, OCHIN follows HIPAA legal requirements and works closely with its member organizations under the guidance of its Board of Directors’ Data Stewardship Sub-committee that ensures data protection and preservation.

Safety Net West Research Network

OCHIN is a founding member and administrative home to the Safety Net West (SNW) Practice-based Research Network (PBRN). OCHIN is unique among PBRNs because we have no formal affiliation with a particular academic health center, and are made up exclusively of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health centers. Safety Net West is an AHRQ-registered primary care research network consisting of the FQHCs and “look-alikes” that are members of OCHIN. The mission of Safety Net West is to improve the health of underserved populations, enhance their quality of care, and inform health policy through research.

SNW is especially interested in collaborating on studies that examine effective interventions and delivery systems improvements that meet the following priorities:

• Understand and address health conditions common in safety net populations with known health disparities;
• Have potential for improving health outcomes in these populations;
• Evaluate interventions that have the potential to improve safety net practice;
• Test health IT interventions to improve population health;
• Are consistent with evidence-based practices.