Monitoring and Registration Committee update

The Monitoring and Registration Committee (MaRC), previously known as the Monitoring and Registration Group, held its most  recent meeting in Helsinki in June. We attended at the invitation  of Jos Verbeek, a Field representative on the MaRC and  Convenor of the Occupational Health Field, which is located at  the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. We extend our thanks to Jos for his wonderful hospitality during our stay,  including an evening in a log cabin with sauna on the shores of the Baltic Sea!

We said goodbye in person to Rob Scholten and Zbys Fedorowicz, although they offi cially stay on until October 2010 at which time they step down from the MaRC and  Steering Group as representatives of Centres and CRGs  respectively. We extend our heartfelt thanks to both for their six years of enormous contributions. All other representatives will continue on the MaRC at least until 2011. David Tovey joined the meeting by teleconference. He provided an update  on the activities of the Cochrane Editorial Unit (CEU) and  discussion took place about how best to avoid duplication between the CEU and the MaRC.

As well as conducting our core business of reviewing the  sustainability and progress of each of the entities due for  monitoring this year (Fields, Methods Groups and Centres), we discussed in detail the future direction and membership of  the Committee; processes involving entity Executives in the monitoring process, including who should define the data to be monitored; and moving towards an electronic system of monitoring.

A major area of discussion was the implementation of Key  Performance Indicators (KPIs). Centres and Methods Groups  have developed KPIs and Fields are in the process of reviewing their core functions to identify KPIs that can be measured and reported on. It is anticipated that KPIs for  CRGs will be developed by David Tovey and the CRG  Executives in consultation with the MaRC.

This year saw the fi rst of Cochrane groups (the Methods  Groups) reporting on their elected, as well as mandatory, core functions. Moving in this direction has involved an enormous  amount of work and we particularly thank Ian Shemilt, the Methods’ Executive and the members of Methods Groups for  engaging in this process. It is building on the work of the  Strategic Review and is an important move forward for the Collaboration.

Finally, thank you to all who contribute to and participate in the  monitoring process; whilst at times it can be onerous, it is essential.

Your MaRC representatives are: Zbys Fedorowicz (CRG at large – until October 2010); Karen New (author and  Co-Convenor); Joy Oliver (Centres); Ian Shemilt (Methods  Groups); Rob Scholten (Centres – until October 2010); Marian Showell (TSCs); Nicole Skoetz (MEs); Jos Verbeek (Fields); Jason Wasiak (Fields); Liz Whamond (Consumers)  and Hans van der Wouden (CRG at large). Any of these  people would be pleased to answer your questions about the MaRC (please email Claire Allen at callen@cochrane.org).

Karen New and Hans van der Wouden
Monitoring and Registration Committee
karennew@optusnet.com.au