MediciGlobal

From the outside, the importance of patient recruitment ‘pull through’ (the critical period when pre-screened patients wait for site follow up and an in office screening visit) is often underestimated. Many believe the common formula for successful recruitment is to focus on finding patients through targeted effective recruitment advertising. Yet this overlooks the importance of pulling prospective patients through the referral pipeline and into the study center after passing an initial pre-screen that matches them to the study’s inclusion/exclusion criteria.

To streamline the recruitment pull-through process and help study sites, MediciGlobal welcomes Pat Patterson, RN, CCRC, a highly experienced certified clinical research nurse with nearly 20 years of clinical research experience at academic, hospital and community based clinical research settings. Pat Patterson has seen first-hand that study sites often need a central resource to turn to for all aspects patient recruitment support, especially services that save time on processing patient referrals. Under the direction and leadership of Pat Patterson, Medici is pleased to announce the establishment of the Study Resource Center™. 

Specifically the Resource Center supports sites with services that enhance recruitment efficiency including prescreening potential study subjects, maximizing local media budgets, managing patient referrals, and sustaining the interest of patients until study sites can schedule in-site screening visits. In today’s clinical research environment, trial sites must successfully execute more complex clinical protocols despite fewer resources, less time, smaller budgets, and a shifting recruitment environment; from offline advertising to online-eMarketing. Establishing the Study Resource Center responds to growing requests from study coordinators and site marketing managers to directly provide services that support them in finding patients and pulling those most likely to randomize through the referral pipeline.
The Resource Center is a place for sites to go when they need recruitment-retention support. Pat Patterson contends that study coordinators like to know they are dealing with someone who has ‘walked in their shoes’ and understands their issues. MediciGlobal has supported sites indirectly through study sponsors, now these services can be accessed directly by sites, and include:
1. Education—webinars to assist sites with patient recruitment using the internet and social media.
2. Efficient pre-screening-online/offline patient pre-screening questionnaires that track responses and data instantly.
3. Logistical support—appointment scheduling, follow up with patient referrals (when sites are unable to do so promptly)
4. Problem solving- when sites need help with tackling recruitment challenges.
5. Advertising support—design of customized ads (for the Web, print and broadcast)
6. eMarketing support – design, development of internet advertising campaigns, highly targeted to support study sites individually.

The Study Resource Center integrates under one roof MediciGlobal’s Site Support team with the services of ProtoCall® the company’s in-house patient contact center. Centralizing these functions enhances the coordination of services to study sites. As Pat Patterson explains, “The Study Resource Center provides expert help and services to help study sites succeed with patient recruitment-retention and the long term retention of patients well after the active treatment period has concluded.”

Pat’s expertise spans two decades and includes many accolades, such as being among one of the first to undergo the Association of Clinical Research Professionals’ (ACRP’s) qualification process for a certified clinical research coordinator (CCRC), and multiple sponsor awards. Recognized as a consistent top performer for studies conducted for major biopharmaceutical sponsors, Pat has earned a reputation for excellence by participating on national and international study advisory boards.

We at MediciGlobal are excited with the increased level of service and support to research sites. We are eager for sites to take advantage of our eMarketing expertise, our recruitment portal, our patient contact management systems and our ability to enhance their overall recruitment-retention success. 

Posting on PharmaLive.com