A practice-based research network (PBRN) is a group of health care providers or medical clinics that are typically practicing in non-university based community environments that are networked for the purpose of examining and evaluating the health care processes that occur in real world practices. PBRNs are characterized by an organizational framework that transcends a single practice or study. They provide a "laboratory" for studying populations of patients and care providers in community-based settings.

The majority of PBRNs are composed of primary care clinician such as family medicine

Family medicine

Family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...

, pediatrics

Pediatrics

Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...

, general internal medicine. There are 54 member PBRNs from the Federation of Practice-Based Research Networks, FPBRN which is the largest organization representing PBRNs.

FPBRN membership

Total Providers:10,912 Total Practices:3,593
Total Patients served:11,654,256

Percentage of providers per specialty group:

Total providers 10,912

Family Medicine Doctors 71.7%,
Pediatricians 8.2%,
Internal Medicine 8.3%,
OB/GYN 1%,
Other MD 2%,
Nurse Practitioners 6%,
Physician’s Assistants 2.4%,
Dentists 0.4%