JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Learning Networks are distributed learning health systems that enable collaboration, at scale, to improve health and healthcare. A key requirement for such networks is having a way to create and share information and knowledge in furtherance of the work of the community.

Objective:

We describe a Learning Exchange - a bespoke, scalable knowledge management and exchange platform initially built and tested for improving pediatric inflammatory bowel disease outcomes in the ImproveCareNow (ICN) Network - and assess evidence of its acceptability, feasibility, and utility in facilitating creation and sharing of information in furtherance of the work of the community and as a model for other communities.

Methods:

Acceptability was assessed via growth in active users and activity. Feasibility was measured in terms of the percent of users with a log-in who became active users, as well as user surveys and a case study. Utility was measured in terms of the type of work that the Learning Exchange facilitated for the community.

Results:

The Learn Exchange has over 1000 users and supported sharing of resources across all care centers in ICN. Users reported that the Learning Exchange has facilitated their work and resulted in increased ability to find resources relevant to local information needs.

Conclusions:

The Learning Exchange is acceptable, feasible and useful as a knowledge management and exchange platform in service of the work of ICN. Experience with the ICN Learning Exchange suggests that the design principles are extensible to other chronic care Learning Networks.