Clinical research is an incredibly satisfying field of healthcare. Not only will this land you at the cutting-edge of treatment potential, but it also provides the opportunity to influence medical advancement and enjoy the professional prestige that comes with that.
But the world of clinical trials is also a space of hypotheticals. To be successful, you’ll need to step outside the realms of what’s been done, and consider what could be possible. This involves a high level of risk. Putting solid industry best practices in place is the only real way to offset that.
Best practices ensure the integrity, financial viability, and overall success of a clinic research site. The question is, what are the most important best practices to consider?
Operational Excellence
Clinical research sites must leverage the respect of the larger healthcare community, and operational excellence is the best tool to help you do that. Without this, you’re simply a kooky company trying to drive difference. But, with operational must-haves like standard operating procedures (SOPs), GCP compliance, and quality assurance standards like ICH E6 (R3), you can position yourself as a major industry player.
You’ll especially want to employ an experienced, well-trained team, but you should also be at the helm, ensuring the consistency and ethics that must underline every trial you undertake. As well as ensuring viable, fair trial conditions, this underlying operational focus can provide the legitimacy you need to ensure your trial findings stick.
Trusting Sponsor Relationships
Dreamy as it may seem, the world of clinical trials is a business like any other, and, as with all businesses, your success relies on funding. Often, that money will come from sponsors and stakeholders who are willing to source your ideas. These sponsors are effectively your secret weapon for success, and that’s why you should also focus on building trusting relationships here.
To some extent, your operational efforts will help with this. After all, standards like ICH E6 (R3) are as much for sponsors as much as they are for you. Equally, SOPs increase the performance consistency that all sponsors look for. But, it’s also important to remember that sponsors shouldn’t simply sit outside of your operations. Clear communication, complete transparency surrounding trial progress, and effective presentation of your findings are all essential for ensuring the ongoing funding you need to thrive.
Prioritizing Clinical Participants
Clinical participants play a huge role in what you do. Treat them poorly, and you may face mid-trial walkouts or generally poor well-being, which could cost all-important findings.
Hence, our last tip is to prioritize your participants. Rather than simply seeing them as expendable assets, remember that these are people. Ensuring their health and happiness throughout each trial requires a holistic, wellness-centric approach to their care. This should especially take the form of regular support sessions, reliable updates, and clear orientations before and after trial periods.
Clinical research sites are some of the most exciting businesses in the world of healthcare. These best practices ensure that your exciting business proposition is also a financially viable, long-lasting venture.
