Physicians Entering Clinical Research: Overcoming Barriers and Embracing Opportunities
In a recent video on my Youtube Channel we delved into the challenges and opportunities for physicians entering the realm of clinical research. Joined by Jeremy, an inquisitive guest, we explored why many doctors hesitate to participate in clinical trials and how they can overcome these obstacles.
Primary Barriers to Physician Participation in Clinical Research
Dr. Joe Eleid, one of my Investigators, highlighted several key factors that deter physicians from engaging in clinical research:
Strategies to Encourage Physician Participation
To overcome these barriers, several strategies can be implemented:
The Role of Financial Incentives and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Dr. Joe emphasized that financial incentives and entrepreneurial mindset play crucial roles in motivating physicians to pursue research. In private practice, physicians often see research as an additional revenue stream and an alternative treatment option for patients. However, it's essential to balance financial interests with patient welfare.
Challenges in Private Practice
In private practice, physicians face unique challenges:
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Many sites fail because the site owners are unprepared or unrealistic about the realities of running a research site. In my experience, I've seen this play out countless times. Site owners often believe they can just pay doctors a fee for service, treating their participation as just another job. However, doctors don't need more hours or more patients in their waiting rooms; they need scalable opportunities. They need a model where an hour of their time yields a significantly higher return than what they get from their private practice.
This misunderstanding often stems from the site owners' approach to splitting revenue. If you, as the site owner, are not greedy and offer a fair split, the economic payoff can be substantial for the doctors involved. It's not uncommon for site owners to think, "How can I pay them less?" But this mindset is flawed. Doctors, like Dr. Aluri (from my video below), are already overwhelmed with patients. They don’t need more work; they need more value for their time.
Additionally, there's a common complaint in our industry that sites aren't getting paid enough. While this may be true for sites that don’t know how to negotiate, those who understand the intricacies of negotiation can secure more than fair compensation. This is where our SOS Save Our Sites conference and consulting services come in. The money is there, especially in underserved areas. Sponsors are willing to pay more for sites in these regions because they provide the diversity needed for FDA approval.
In areas like Yuma, the first-mover advantage is crucial. Being the first to set up a research site in an underserved area can lead to significant success. The value of diverse patient populations cannot be overstated, and sponsors are willing to pay a premium for access to these groups. This is why entrepreneurs need to look at maps and identify similar opportunities. Whether it’s African Americans in Arkansas like Brad Hightower is doing, or Hispanic populations in Arizona, the need for diversity in clinical research is driving new site development in these areas.
The next few years could be fascinating as we see more consolidation and corporate involvement in clinical research. While a lot can go wrong, there's potential for a balanced approach where corporate oversight and operator autonomy coexist, leading to successful site operations. Entrepreneurs need to be prepared, realistic, and ready to adapt to the evolving landscape of clinical research.
Conclusion
Encouraging physicians to participate in clinical research requires addressing the barriers they face and providing the necessary support and incentives. By fostering a research-friendly environment, offering mentorship, balancing workload, and promoting networking opportunities, more physicians can be motivated to engage in research. Ultimately, integrating research into clinical practice can lead to better patient outcomes, innovative treatments, and advancements in medical science.
To watch the full video that inspired this article please watch and share below:
SVP at Advarra. Passionate about collaboration, change management, and improving processes in Clinical Research to improve our industry! ACRP Fellow & 2023 Chair of the Board.
7 个月All of these are excellent points. The fact is there is no Culture around physicians or psychologists participating in clinical research except for in academic institutions and (historically, but it's dwindling) in oncology. Separately, the issue around balancing workload is that, truth be told, budgets do not cover the true cost of an Investigator's time. For example, a Site may get paid for a visit, but the time accounted for doesn't include reviewing a chart, signing off in the eSource or later in the EDC, doesn't cover the time in a SIV, etc. On the surface, a research patient visit pays better than a typical Medicare rate -- but anyone who has advanced business acumen will soon see that seeing non-research patients pays better once they account for all the unpaid work.
Jeffrey B Rosen MD Consulting
7 个月You are 100% accurate in your evaluation of the barriers for physicians to start a research site. One of the biggest ones is understanding the business side of research and how to make it work. It does take an investment of capital and time to do it correctly. I would suggest being careful when bringing in venture capital to finance your site. It sounds great to use someone else's money to fund the start up, but be careful of what percent of the profits you have to give up and who has control of the company. I suggest speaking with experienced sites for advice.