The National Alliance of  Research Associates Programs (NARAP)

NARAP is a symbiotic consortium of emergency departments and colleges joined to generate research and quality improvement projects utilizing Research Associates (RAs) to enroll large numbers of participants over short time frames with minimal impact on clinical operations and at extremely low cost. 

RAs are pre-health professional college and post-baccalaureate students who volunteer in the emergency department for one 4-hour shift per week over the course of academic semesters enrolling participants in clinical research and providing service based on that research. 

From the model developed by the Research Associates Program at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT, NARAP looks to:

• develop RA programs in a diverse network of
  • academic medical centers and community hospital
  • serving urban, suburban and rural populations
  • in the ten regions of the U.S
    • New England, Middle Atlantic, Atlantic South, Gulf South, Mideast, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Far West and Northwest.
      
• enroll large numbers of participants in emergency medicine clinical studies and quality improvement projects over short time frames at minimal cost
• offer innovative and sustainable public health screening and prevention efforts to patients and visitors in the emergency department at minimal cost
• provide evaluated clinical experiences for large numbers of pre-health professional students
  • direct contact with many patients and their visitors
  • within the structure of clinical research, mirror the clinical model of assessment, synthesis and treatment plan
  • offer opportunities for discernment, qualification and personal development toward a health care career

NARAP charter member institutions

Connecticut       Hartford Hospital (Hartford, CT)                   

                       Lawrence and Memorial Hospital (New London, CT) 

                       St. Vincent's Medical Center (Bridgeport, CT)

DC                   Georgetown U Hospital/Washington Hospital Center (Washington, DC)

Massachusetts   U. of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, MA)

Missouri             St. Louis University (St. Louis, MO)

Nevada             University of Nevada (Las Vegas, NV)                              

New Jersey        Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack, NJ)

Pennsylvania      Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Texas               Seton/University of Texas (Austin, TX)

Vermont            University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington, VT)

Washington        Pullman Regional Hospital (Pullman, WA)

History of NARAP        RA Programs Presentation

Where is NARAP going and how is NARAP getting there?        NARAP Précis

Considering joining NARAP as a member institution?    Potential NARAP Institutions
 

Get the "Big Picture"

• The Potential: Examine the opportunity NARAP represents

• The Plan:  See how NARAP looks to maximize this potential opportunity 

• The Process:  Learn how your institution can benefit from joining as a NARAP member
  

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