Quality Improvement and Practice Based Research in Neurology Using the EMR

August 19, 2025 updated by: Steven Meyers, Endeavor Health

Quality Improvement and Practice Based Research in Neurology Using the Electronic Medical Record

The investigators will conduct at NorthShore University HealthSystem pragmatic trials using the EMR for 10 common neurological disorders. They will demonstrate the feasibility of subgroup based adaptive assignment of treatments, electronic consenting, and outcomes data capture at the point of care using the EMR. They will identify the most effective treatments for common neurological disorders and seek replication by the NPBRN.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The goals of the proposed research are to advance quality improvement and practice based research in Neurology using the electronic medical record (EMR). The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has published evidence-based guidelines, quality improvement measures, and resources for several neurological disorders. However, the AAN guidelines and measures have not been implemented routinely and benchmark data are lacking. There are few EMR tools available to standardize neurology office visits according to Best Practices, to provide alerts when neurological care is deviating from AAN guidelines, to capture data regarding adherence to AAN or other quality parameters, to measure the effects of compliance with guidelines on outcomes, or to share longitudinal data and to compare effectiveness of care across neurological practices. The Department of Neurology at NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) has built into its commercial EMR "Epic" structured clinical documentation support (SCDS) and clinical decision support (CDS) tools that standardize care, write progress notes, and capture up to 1,000 discrete and cascading fields of neurological data per office visit. However, these EMR tools have not been disseminated for use by other Neurology practices or for data sharing, and presently do not support clinical trials. Pragmatic trials using EMRs would enable comparisons of treatments at the point of care. To address gaps in quality improvement and practice based research in Neurology, the investigators are proposing to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) a project with the specific aims: 1) To create a Neurology Practice Based Research Network (NPBRN). The NorthShore site will share SCDS and CDS tools for 10 common neurological disorders (brain tumors, epilepsy, migraine, mild cognitive impairment, mild traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome, and stroke) with seven other Department of Neurology that also use the Epic EMR platform (eight sites total). 2) To conduct at NorthShore pragmatic trials using the EMR for 10 common neurological disorders. The investigators will demonstrate the feasibility of subgroup based adaptive assignment of treatments, electronic consenting, and outcomes data capture at the point of care using the EMR. They will identify the most effective treatments for common neurological disorders and seek replication by the NPBRN. The aims are innovative because the investigators will use the EMR to hardwire quality and outcomes research in Neurology. They will individualize medicine at the point of care by conducting pragmatic trials using subgroup based adaptive designs, comparing the effectiveness of available treatments for common neurological disorders. The aims are significant because they are studying several neurological disorders, a leading cause of healthcare burden worldwide. They will create a national practice based network to improve health care quality by accelerating implementation of patient-centered outcomes research in Neurology using the EMR, and evidence to make health care safer and to improve health care efficiency. NOTE: This ClinicalTrials.gov registration relates to Aim 2 of the project (pragmatic trials using the EMR). Aim 1 is an observational study only (quality improvement, comparative effectiveness research).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
3300

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Evanston, Illinois, United States, 60201
        • Northshore University Healthsystem

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of brain tumors, epilepsy, migraine, mild cognitive impairment (concussion), mild traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome, and stroke.
  • Eligible to receive any of the three compared treatments according to FDA approval for the indication or off label use according to standard of care.

Exclusion Criteria:

-- None

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Treatment A (see interventions description)
The investigators will conduct 11 pragmatic trials using the EMR: brain tumors (prevent seizures), epilepsy (prevent other seizure types), mild cognitive impairment (improve memory), migraine (prevention), migraine (abortive), mild traumatic brain injury (prevent post concussion syndrome), multiple sclerosis (attenuate relapses), neuropathy (pain management), Parkinson's (treat motor symptoms), restless legs syndrome (treat sensory symptoms), stroke (secondary prevention). For each trial they will compare up to three medications or treatments either FDA approved for the indication, or commonly employed. The pragmatic trials will be small and primarily to demonstrate the feasibility of subgroup based adaptive assignment of treatments, electronic consenting, and data capture at the point of care using the EMR. The focus is on the development of the study design and methodology and not on the treatments per se.
Drug: Listed for each disorder below, up to three drugs per disorder (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)
brain tumors (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), epilepsy (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), mild cognitive impairment (donepezil, rivastigmine, memantine), migraine (amitriptyline, propranolol, topiramate), migraine (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan), mild traumatic brain injury (omega-3 fatty acids, education only), multiple sclerosis (ACTH, methylprednisolone), neuropathy (duloxetine, pregabalin, amitryptiline), Parkinson's disease (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), restless legs syndrome (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), stroke (aspirin, clopidogrel).
Other Names:
  • (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)
Active Comparator: Treatment B (see interventions description)
The investigators will conduct 11 pragmatic trials using the EMR: brain tumors (prevent seizures), epilepsy (prevent other seizure types), mild cognitive impairment (improve memory), migraine (prevention), migraine (abortive), mild traumatic brain injury (prevent post concussion syndrome), multiple sclerosis (attenuate relapses), neuropathy (pain management), Parkinson's (treat motor symptoms), restless legs syndrome (treat sensory symptoms), stroke (secondary prevention). For each trial they will compare up to three medications or treatments either FDA approved for the indication, or commonly employed. The pragmatic trials will be small and primarily to demonstrate the feasibility of subgroup based adaptive assignment of treatments, electronic consenting, and data capture at the point of care using the EMR. The focus is on the development of the study design and methodology and not on the treatments per se.
Drug: Listed for each disorder below, up to three drugs per disorder (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)
brain tumors (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), epilepsy (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), mild cognitive impairment (donepezil, rivastigmine, memantine), migraine (amitriptyline, propranolol, topiramate), migraine (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan), mild traumatic brain injury (omega-3 fatty acids, education only), multiple sclerosis (ACTH, methylprednisolone), neuropathy (duloxetine, pregabalin, amitryptiline), Parkinson's disease (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), restless legs syndrome (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), stroke (aspirin, clopidogrel).
Other Names:
  • (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)
Active Comparator: Treatment C (see interventions description)
The investigators will conduct 11 pragmatic trials using the EMR: brain tumors (prevent seizures), epilepsy (prevent other seizure types), mild cognitive impairment (improve memory), migraine (prevention), migraine (abortive), mild traumatic brain injury (prevent post concussion syndrome), multiple sclerosis (attenuate relapses), neuropathy (pain management), Parkinson's (treat motor symptoms), restless legs syndrome (treat sensory symptoms), stroke (secondary prevention). For each trial they will compare up to three medications or treatments either FDA approved for the indication, or commonly employed. The pragmatic trials will be small and primarily to demonstrate the feasibility of subgroup based adaptive assignment of treatments, electronic consenting, and data capture at the point of care using the EMR. The focus is on the development of the study design and methodology and not on the treatments per se.
Drug: Listed for each disorder below, up to three drugs per disorder (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)
brain tumors (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), epilepsy (lamotrigine, levetiracetam, valproic acid), mild cognitive impairment (donepezil, rivastigmine, memantine), migraine (amitriptyline, propranolol, topiramate), migraine (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan), mild traumatic brain injury (omega-3 fatty acids, education only), multiple sclerosis (ACTH, methylprednisolone), neuropathy (duloxetine, pregabalin, amitryptiline), Parkinson's disease (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), restless legs syndrome (pramipexole, ropinerole, rotigotine), stroke (aspirin, clopidogrel).
Other Names:
  • (too many characters to list in this field; see Intervention Description)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
survival free of discontinuation or alternative prevention drug (migraine trial)
Time Frame: six months
six months
survival free of disability measured by FAQ score 9+ (memory trial)
Time Frame: one year
one year
survival free of discontinuation or alternative anti epileptic drug (epilepsy trial)
Time Frame: one year
one year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Endeavor Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 23, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 29, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 1, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 24, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 19, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • EH14-355
  • 1R01HS024057-01 (U.S. AHRQ Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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