About Us

HPRN

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Most health research located in urban academic specialty settings. The High Plains Research Network (HPRN) is a rural practice-and community-based research network that strives to conduct health research and programs that are relevant to the people and primary care practices in eastern Colorado.

The HPRN works to ensure that the rural experience is included in the primary care research happening in Colorado and nationally. HPRN offers a venue for eastern Colorado to contribute to new health care innovations and evidence-based guidelines that can improve the health and well-being of people in eastern Colorado –and beyond.

Where We Work

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HPRN Region Facts

  • 16 rural and frontier counties.
  • 150,000 people (approximately 28% Hispanic).
  • 30,000 square miles.
  • 51 primary care practices (26 hospital-affiliates,16 Federally Qualified Health Center sites, 7 private practices,1 University-affiliate, and 1 community mental health center).
  • 16 hospitals (11 critical access hospitals).
  • 8 local public health departments.

Practice-Based Research

Since 1997, HPRN has employed a variety of research methods and study designs to conduct a wide range of research projects on a health issues such as patient safety, mental and emotional health, diabetes, asthma diagnosis and treatment, colon cancer prevention, patient underinsurance, integrated behavioral health, and treatment for opioid use disorder. 

HPRN has led or collaborated on projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Cancer Institute, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, The Colorado Health Foundation, Caring for Colorado Foundation, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Partnering With Communities

The partnerships with the 50+ primary care practices as well as local hospitals, public health departments, community organizations, and community members are essential to HPRN’s success. Guided by the principles of community-based participatory research, our team strives to develop and maintain relationships and work with people who live in eastern Colorado.

Over the years, the HPRN has become known as a leader in community-engaged health research. The HPRN Community Advisory Council (C.A.C.) was established in 2003 and works closely with the academic-based research team on all phases of projects and programs. The Boot Camp Translation process was developed by the HPRN C.A.C. and has become a major contributor to the methods available to engage community partners in health research.

Practice Innovation and Transformation Services and Research

For over a decade, HPRN has served eastern Colorado as a certified practice transformation organization. HPRN is home to trained practice facilitators who live in northeast and southeast Colorado, providing onsite, tailored support for a variety of practice transformation initiatives.

Other partners include those within the local community. The HPRN works to:

  • Provide valuable resources to practices and communities through research, including evidence-based education materials, training, equipment, and practice facilitation
  • Demonstrate whether treatments are truly effective and sustainable in the real-world setting of ambulatory care
  • Identify and reduce gaps between recommended care and actual care
  • Maximize the number of patients who benefit from medical discovery.