31 Jul 5 reasons physicians should integrate clinical trials into their practice

Using IROs can offer the opportunity for doctors to incorporate clinical research as a care option in their practices.

By Don Lazas, Applied Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is one of the most essential steps in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology research and development process, yet one of the biggest stumbling blocks historically has been finding and retaining patients to participate in studies. The answer to that problem could lie in helping more physicians integrate clinical trials into their private community practices to make it a natural extension of the routine care they provide their patients.

For doctors, participating in potentially groundbreaking medical research certainly has its appeal. Unfortunately, only a small percentage take part in clinical trials. In my experience as a physician, their hesitancy often centers on unfounded anxiety about how the logistics of incorporating the trial into their practice could result in them having less time to devote to patients and potential administrative and regulatory ‘red tape’.

There are models that offer the opportunity for doctors to incorporate clinical research as a care option in their practices. By partnering with a separate team of dedicated clinical trial experts who reside in the practice and handle all of the logistics related to ongoing trials, doctors can keep their level of involvement at a manageable level that doesn’t interfere with their clinical duties.

As a physician specializing in the care of digestive diseases, I’ve seen the value of clinical research both for my own patients as well as for my practice. These observations led me to co-found an integrated research and technology platform company, ObjectiveHealth. And in our collaborations with doctors around the country, we have also seen clear benefits for physicians and their patients when clinical trials are integrated into a process of comprehensive patient care. Read more …