As a cutting-edge research hub, Sentara pioneers ways to improve patient care
This post is part of our Improving Health Leadership Blog, which explores Sentara’s leadership on issues affecting the health and well-being of our consumers and how we’re pioneering new ways to make health care simple, seamless, personal, and more affordable
Research makes us better because health care is a knowledge business. In practice, as healthcare professionals, we apply medical knowledge to care for our patients. Research demands that we be curious, creative, innovative, confident, and highly competent. Research is also a competitive business, and succeeding requires that we bring our A-game.
Our patients understand that research makes us better. Several years ago, we surveyed nearly 800 healthcare consumers in the communities we serve. Eighty-six percent said that physicians who participated in research were more likely to be aware of the latest medical advancements in their specialty area. Most respondents also felt that health systems that conducted research were more likely to offer higher quality care. At the same time, 62% were not aware that Sentara was involved in research.
In fact, Sentara is a cutting-edge research hub. We currently manage about 200 clinical trials in various phases. We oversee approximately $7 million in grant funding. More than 80 Sentara Medical Group physicians are involved in conducting research, and in the last two years, we have enrolled more than 1,800 patients in our trials. We have a dedicated research staff of over 50 people who strive every day to earn the trust and confidence of individuals who participate in these trials.
The scope of our research activities
Sentara’s active involvement in research means we partner with industry leaders for pioneering trials in areas like cancer, neurology, cardiology, and vascular surgery. For example, we recently began recruiting participants for the Vanguard Study, a national study of a new type of blood test that screens for multiple kinds of cancer. The study will evaluate whether this innovative test can find cancers early, when they are easier to treat. Sentara is partnering with Virginia Commonwealth University, and Inova Health to serve as one of only nine national hubs for the study.
To take another example, Sentara is one of only 30 sites around the country performing a life-saving heart procedure as part of a national clinical trial. In February of 2024, Jim Gibson, 81, became one of the first patients in Virginia to receive a new transcatheter heart valve designed for patients with aortic regurgitation. The new device fills a treatment gap, giving Sentara patients early access to one of the most innovative treatment options available.
Jim Gibson, center, became one of the first patients in Virginia to receive a life-saving heart valve system as part of a clinical trial.
Our research activities also translate to better community partnerships. Sentara works closely with Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University to support their efforts to advance medical knowledge. A strong research program is critical for a medical school, helping ensure a pipeline of future physicians in the communities we serve.
We have also partnered with other community organizations for research. Sentara is currently working with 11 Black churches in Hampton Roads to study the best way to control hypertension, which disproportionally impacts Black communities. As part of the study, Sentara is collaborating with premier research institutions such as Yale University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital.
Margaret Collins gets her blood pressure checked after signing up for Sentara's hypertension study.
Sentara’s ability to participate in research is aided by our early adoption of the electronic medical record, which enables us to analyze an extensive collection of anonymous patient data. In a recent publication, we used that data to show a strong association between neighborhood-level social vulnerability and hypertension complications. In other words, we found that, when it comes to health, neighborhoods matter. Our findings could lead to targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes, making us better at achieving our mission, which is to improve health every day.
Why research matters to us
Research offers hope to many who are dealing with devastating illness. It also has clear benefits for health outcomes. Patients want the latest and best treatments, and when Sentara participates in a clinical trial, we can offer access to promising new options. At the same time, we become proficient in procedures and aware of treatments that are still in the pre-market phase. When a medical product is approved by the FDA, we are positioned to provide that novel treatment to all our patients without delay.Research also positions us at the forefront of medical knowledge, which helps us recruit the best and brightest physicians. Sentara is constantly competing in a nationwide marketplace to hire top candidates. Future clinical leaders decide to join Sentara because of our robust research activities and our commitment to staying at the cutting-edge of medicine. They recognize that research makes us better.
Research at Sentara has a long and distinguished history, and we will continue to broaden our capabilities, expand into new clinical areas, and seek out new collaborations. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we remain steadfastly committed to finding new and better ways to improve health every day.