The nice thing about all clinicians is that we have a laboratory. I’m sure that most of us encounter issues every day that deserve scholarly inquiry. My own career has benefited substantially from these events, and my participation in practice-based research networks has been defined by these opportunities.

Recently, a physician colleague of mine came into my office after precepting a resident physician and asked if I knew how many women of childbearing potential in our practice were receiving ACE inhibitors. I didn’t know off the top of my head, but a quick search of our electronic health record generated a worrisome answer: quite a few young women in our practice with hypertension and diabetes were receiving these medications. If they were to become pregnant, their babies might be at risk for congenital malformations. Because our practice belongs to a practice-based research network, we were able to engage others in answering questions related to this therapeutic issue. In relatively short order, seven practices in the Pacific Northwest were evaluating the effectiveness of a quality improvement intervention designed to improve the documentation of consent and use of appropriate contraception in women of childbearing potential who were receiving ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or statins.

Working together on research teams enhances our ability to answer clinically relevant questions. Multicenter studies enhance the external validity of results and achieve power not available from smaller sample sizes. In addition, when we work together to address a research question, we are more likely to produce quality work; the more brains working on an issue, the better the solutions. Research teams realize efficiencies that are not possible when working alone.

It is our job as clinical pharmacists to move our profession forward. I would encourage everyone to consider joining the ACCP Practice-Based Research Network. This network offers all of us a larger laboratory in which to ask questions, generate answers, and ultimately improve the care we provide our patients.