(94) Enhancing Clinical Research Practices Utilizing eQUIP-CR at Baylor College of Medicine

Thursday, November 3, 2022

12:00 PM – 12:40 PM ET

Presenting Author(s)

Katie L. Howe, MS, CCRC

Lead, Clinical Research
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

OL

Omalee Lopez

Clinical Research Coordinator
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
RH

Rogelio Hernandez Gutierrez

Clinical Research Coordinator
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
TM

Tracy Mosely, MSHA, CCRC

Senior Manager, Business Operations
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
FR

Fadel Ruiz, MD

Cystic Fibrosis Center Director
Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, United States
PH

Peter Hiatt

Chief of Pulmonary Medicine
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
JF

Jessica Farrell

Nurse Practitioner
Baylor College of Medicine, United States
TB

Tara Barto

United States
Sunjay R. Devarajan, MD

Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
MM

Michelle C. Mann, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, United States

Background: Various factors affect the success of clinical research programs. Rapid turnover of research coordinators due to the lack of upward mobility is a continuous issue across the country and has affected the productivity and team dynamics of our research team. Moreover, the complexity of clinical trial start-up in our large institution has led to unwanted delays as well as postponed and poor clinical trial enrollment.

Methods: Utilizing the CFF and TDN eQUIP-CR resources, the Baylor College of Medicine’s CF Research Team completed self-assessments in Spring 2021. Team members identified three key areas of growth and development to better our overall clinical research practices. Our eQUIP-CR team is comprised of research coordinators, primary investigators, as well as research management, and meets monthly to discuss action items for the key areas identified. These areas include Research Coordinator Turnover, Clinical Trial Start-up, and Team Dynamics.

Results: We have implemented the following through work on three subcommittees.

Research Coordinator Turnover:

Revamped the clinical research coordinator job description to include professional growth and development provided by the CFF/TDN to highlight national involvement.

Created and implemented new RC interview questions and an interview rubric for standardization of applicant evaluation.

Clinical Trial Start-Up:

Created a clinical trial start-up tracker to ensure timeliness of institutional and industry submission

Created an Industry vs. Non-Industry start-up algorithm.

Identified key departmental contacts involved in clinical trial start-up to have a better understanding of institutional standards for greater efficiency in areas such as contracts and budgets.

Team Dynamics:

Implemented weekly huddle times with PIs and RCs for better team communication.

Created a shared clinical research team mission statement.

Conclusions: Improvement in the above areas requires continuous efforts and readjustment in practices. Metrics for these interventions are expected to be measured as follows: Spring 2022 complete follow-up self-assessments, Fall 2022 reevaluate team satisfaction and employee turnover, and Winter 2022 reassess clinical trial start-up time using TDN metrics. Further, our team will continue to meet in the upcoming year to identify additional action items and deliverables that will not only make our team more cohesive, but also better our clinical research practices for our patients.

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