Our Accomplishments

Thank you for visiting the NIH Clinical Center Department of Clinical Research Informatics website. We are the driving force behind cutting-edge clinical research informatics and technology solutions, powering the world's largest hospital dedicated solely to clinical research.

At DCRI, our mission is clear: to advance human health through innovation in health IT and information management. We provide the Clinical Center research community with the tools, systems, and education they need to excel in their vital work.

What We Do

• Supporting Our Staff: With around 4,600 staff members and 5,000 computer devices, we ensure seamless operations that enable our clinical researchers to focus on what matters most—making groundbreaking discoveries.
• CRIS Management: We oversee the Clinical Research Information System (CRIS), the backbone of our electronic health records. CRIS touches the lives of every patient and employee at the Clinical Center.

Our dedication to excellence drives us to continually enhance CRIS's functionality and user-friendliness. Our goal is to establish a state-of-the-art Electronic Patient Record, continually updated to meet the latest industry standards.

Our Values

• Security: We prioritize patient safety and data security above all else.
• Innovation: We're committed to pushing boundaries and staying at the forefront of technological advancements.
• Efficiency: We streamline workflows to make life easier for our staff and researchers.
• Responsiveness: Our team is always ready to assist and adapt to changing needs.
• Caring: We understand the importance of compassionate care in every aspect of our work.
• Team-Centered: Collaboration is the key to our success.

As we work toward a brighter future for clinical research, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Explore our website to learn more about our projects, initiatives, and how you can be part of our mission to improve global human health.

Thank you for being part of our community and contributing to our vision. Together, we embody the House of Hope.

Highlighted Accomplishments

Healthcare IT Solutions and Patient Engagement

• CRIS (Clinical Research Informatics System, the Clinical Centers electronic health record) Sunrise Implementation at NIDDK, Phoenix Site: Collaborated with multiple departments to facilitate comprehensive patient care processes including registration, scheduling, and electronic consenting. Successfully backloaded thousands of patient records into the CRIS system.
• FollowMyHealth® Patient Portal: Addressed the rising trend of consumer health informatics by enabling patients to promptly access their records and establish secure communication channels with NIH clinicians.
• OpenNotes Initiative: NIH Clinical Center set a benchmark in the US by giving patients real-time access to their clinical documentation.
• COVID-19 Response: Pivoted swiftly to telehealth, offering virtual rounding and facilitating family involvement in care. Additionally, provided digital platforms for streamlined COVID testing, vaccinations, and record management.
• Provider Accuracy Solution: Enhanced patient care by ensuring real-time accuracy in service team and care provider communication.
• iMedConsent™: Digitalized the patient consent process for operations, admissions, and various medical protocols.
• Fall Risk Assessment Scoring System (FRASS) Implementation: In collaboration with the Clinical Center Nursing Department, transitioned to a superior, industry-standard falls risk assessment tool.
• Health Information Management Software Suite: Integrated advanced tools like Hyland OnBase®, Dolbey, and 3M™ 360 Encompass™ to bolster health data management, driving efficiency and accuracy.
• Perioperative Information System (POIS) Upgrade: Enhanced the system with new features like improved lab result sorting, better room view capabilities, and streamlined patient data documentation.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorder AudBase Interface: Implemented a critical interface for audiologists, ensuring smooth data extraction and report creation.
• IT Solutions at National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Hope Center: Spearheaded the IT backbone for the center, encompassing network configurations, equipment deployment, and vital sign flow sheet setups.

IT Infrastructure and Software Upgrades

• Internet Explorer Transition: Recognizing the obsolescence of Internet Explorer, led a transition to modern browsers ensuring continued web application support.

Operational Enhancements

• RFID for CC Asset Management: Leveraged Radio-Frequency Identification to track medical devices in real-time, setting a standard in asset management.
• SecureLink Enterprise Implementation: Addressing the growing need for secure remote access, integrated SecureLink to manage third-party IT vendor interactions efficiently.
• Phlebotomy Operational Enhancements: Undertook multiple initiatives like tracking patient walk-ins and creating alert systems to streamline phlebotomy services, ensuring minimal wait times.
• 7th CC Health Innovation Technologies Open House: Hosted an interactive event, shedding light on advanced tools and IT solutions like MATLAB (MATrix LABoratory, a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment developed by MathWorks), mobile device configurations, and data security insights.

Information Security

• Annual Penetration Testing: Conducted rigorous tests on the CC network to identify vulnerabilities, ensuring patient data security.
• BOD (Binding Operational Directive) 22-01 Vulnerability Management: Collaborated across teams to eliminate high-priority vulnerabilities, fortifying the CC network against potential threats.
• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) Dashboard Compliance: Demonstrated commitment to security by achieving 100% HTTPS compliance for all public-facing websites.
• NIH-Wireless Transition: Transitioned to a superior wireless solution offering enhanced bandwidth and browsing security.
• Security Control Assessments: Regularly conducted security assessments to validate NIST 800-53 controls, ensuring the safeguarding of CC systems.
• CRIS Contingency Plan Test: Performed full-scale functional tests to assure system resilience and continuity in emergencies.
• EOL Remediation: Proactively tackled vulnerabilities arising from End-of-Life applications and OS.
• CC Cybersecurity Consultants Team (facilitated alongside Guidehouse, Inc.): Significantly enhanced the center's cybersecurity posture in 2023. Key projects undertaken include Cloud Adoption Strategy, Data Loss Prevention, E-mail Encryption Training, Phishing Awareness, and Zero Trust Strategy, among others. Their strategic initiatives, combined with operational expertise, played a pivotal role in strengthening the overall information security landscape of the center.

Human Resources Enhancements (facilitated alongside WayToGo! Inc.)

• Stress Relief/Relaxation Sessions: These sessions were a cornerstone in DCRI's strategy to combat burnout, reaching a vast audience within the NIH Clinical Center.
• Monthly Newsletter - Resiliency Tips: Initiated in 2023, these tips, curated by experts, provide actionable strategies for staving off burnout and bolstering staff welfare.
• Find Your Why Initiative: This yearlong endeavor culminated in pinpointing DCRI's core ethos, empowering members to align their roles with the organization's mission and envision future aspirations.
• Targeted Group Learning for Managers: This program, tailor-made for managers, furnishes them with vital leadership tools and knowledge, enhancing both individual leadership and overall organizational health.
• DCRI-Wide Climate Survey and ROI Analysis: These tools underscore DCRI's unwavering commitment to continual introspection, refinement, and growth.

Awards

• AHIMA Grace Award (2017, 2020) & Honorable Mention (2017)
• HHS Green Award (2019)