Clinical research protocol mapping: a description of a pilot

Clinical and research activities are focused around protocols. A protocol map is a descriptive visual tool that outlines all the care events that occur during multiple encounters for a patient over the life of a protocol. The map, which is similar to a clinical pathway, also defines specific interdisciplinary standards of practice and key interventions that are required to facilitate research and patient outcomes. The inability to aggregate data, retrieve information or generate reports prompted the need to computerize the mapping process. The objectives of the protocol-mapping project were: (1) to test the concept of whether research protocol information mapped to a pathway could be automated using pilot software, and (2) to determine if an automated protocol map could be used to generate information to project resource utilization volumes. The project was divided into two phases. The implementation of the latter phase of the pilot study incorporated the activities of software development, the definition and mapping of pathways for research, the collection of clinical data and the generation of reports. Evaluation of the pilot software was based on the accomplishment of the project goals and objectives. The protocol map pilot software was successful in developing a robust tool for capturing protocol information and generating resource utilization data. The findings from this pilot software be used in developing requirements for a new clinical research information system that integrates clinical and research information needs.