PCORnet® Playbook

Using PCORnet® to Conduct Patient-Centered Health Research

The PCORnet® Playbook is your guide to using PCORnet. Whether you're a researcher, patient or community partner, clinician, caregiver, or part of a research team, this resource is here to help you understand how to use PCORnet to support patient-centered health research.

Through this resource, you will learn:

Icon with magnifying glass representing patient insights.How to use PCORnet resources to find fast, trustworthy answers to patient-centered health research questions.

Icon for study feasibility reviewHow to design high-quality, large-scale research projects using PCORnet services, including engagement, data, and outreach support.

icon showing collaboration across phases of researchWhat to expect when collaborating with PCORnet® Network Partners.

Last Updated: October 1, 2025

1

Introduction
to PCORnet 

  • Introduction
  • What Kind of Research Can the PCORnet Infrastructure Support?
  • Frequently Asked Questions

2

Getting Started with
PCORnet

  • Knocking on the PCORnet® Front Door
  • What is a PCORnet® Study?

3

Using PCORnet to
Power Your Research

  • What to Expect
  • Administrative Simplicity
  • Pricing Guidance

4

Sharing Your
Research Results

  • Dissemination for PCORnet® Studies
  • Strategies and Methods
  • Resources

What's Inside

The PCORnet® Playbook is organized into easy-to-navigate sections, covering the basics of PCORnet and how to use its tools. You can explore this resource in full or jump to specific topics that interest you. Each section includes answers to common questions, step-by-step guidance, and real-life examples of how researchers have used PCORnet to deliver impactful, patient-centered health studies.

We will continue to add new resources, insights, and best practices to ensure the content stays accurate and helpful for researchers at all levels.

Your Input Matters

Complete the feedback form to share your thoughts or suggestions to help us improve the PCORnet® Playbook.

Start exploring the PCORnet® Playbook today and unlock the full potential of PCORnet for your research.

A Collaborative Effort

The PCORnet® Playbook is built with input from PCORnet users to meet the needs of both new and experienced researchers.

Russell Rothman Headshot

“Innovating in clinical research means we need to embrace new technologies, new ways of contacting and following participants... and working together to push the envelope to do research in new ways.”

Russell Rothman
Principal Investigator at STAR, a PCORnet® Clinical Research Network

Acknowledgements

We want to thank the many individuals who have contributed their time and valuable input to developing the PCORnet® Playbook.

PCORnet® Playbook Principal Investigator

Emily O'Brien

PCORnet® Playbook Review Panel Members

William Troy Donahoo
Alex Fiks
Clair Kronk
Josh Petrie
Jennifer Rymer
Anna Steeves-Reece
Catherine Taylor

PCORnet® Steering Committee

The Coordinating Center for PCORnet® Contributors

Lauren Cohen
Eden Gebre
Pishoy Gouda
Adrian Hernandez
Leanne Jones
Lisa Kepler
Alexis McCloskey
Keith Marsolo
Jodi Snare
Kerry Stenke
Gina Uhlenbrauck