Research Associates Program at St. Vincent’s

Frank Illuzzi, MD, FACEPKeith Bradley, MDPatrick Eiben, BSErika Gardner, BS

Michael Haydu, BSWilliam Keefe, BA

Research Associates (RAs)

RA’s are pre-health professional students

who volunteer in the emergency department (ED)

as participant identifiers and data collectors in

clinical research.

Clinical Research in the EDIs Different

Emergency Department experience …

Clinical Research in the EDIs Different

Emergency Department experience …

vs.

Research Lab experience …

RAs: An Answer to Some of the Obstacles to Research

bright, motivated individuals primary responsibility = research focused experts on the details of the research on-site, 24/7, in the ED available in large numbers "free“

= paid in a commodity other than money

RAs: An Answer to Some of the Obstacles to Research

bright, motivated individuals primary responsibility = research focused experts on the details of the research on-site, 24/7, in the ED available in large numbers "free“

= paid in a commodity other than moneyTraditionally, whom did they get for the job?

RAs: An Answer to Some of the Obstacles to Research

bright, motivated individuals primary responsibility = research focused experts on the details of the research on-site, 24/7, in the ED available in large numbers “free”

= paid in a commodity other than moneyMedical Students!!!

Difference between MS1 and Pre-Med?

Difference between MS1 and Pre-Med? 1st year of medical school:

– anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience– real clinical skills?

Difference between MS1 and Pre-Med? 1st year of medical school:

– anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience– real clinical skills? Not so much until MS 3,4

Difference between MS1 and Pre-Med? 1st year of medical school:

– anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience– real clinical skills? Not so much until MS 3,4

So … why not ? – health professional school applicants / college Seniors

Difference between MS1 and Pre-Med? 1st year of medical school:

– anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience– clinical skills? Not so much until MS 3,4

So … why not ? – health professional school applicants / college Seniors – Juniors, Sophomores and 2nd semester First Years

We’re Looking for a Lot of Good Pre-Health Professional Students

We’re Looking for a Lot of Good Pre-Health Professional Students

Who want: a significant clinical exposure

a significant research experience

a specific role in the ED (vs. just shadowing)

to work with a diverse patient population

an evaluated patient-care experience

Research AssociatesFunctions

enroll participants in clinical research

obtain demographic and historical information

measure physical parameters

read informed consent

facilitate the research

Research AssociatesResponsibilities

participate in training and orientation

volunteer one 4-hour shift / week / semester

receive evaluations by RA Program staff on

– patient interaction skills

– ability to follow research protocol

– accurate data collection

Do RA Programs Work?

Do RA Programs Work?Since 1994, ≈ 40,000 participants enrolled in studies

Do RA Programs Work?

Since 1994, ≈ 40,000 participants enrolled ≈ 1000 RAs

Do RA Programs Work?Since 1994, ≈ 35,000 participants enrolled 900 RAs in 22 clinical research studies

Do RA Programs Work?Since 1994, ≈ 35,000 participants enrolled 900 RAs in 22 clinical research studies

– traditional, e.g., ankle injuries, trauma, CQI

Do RA Programs Work?Since 1994, ≈ 35,000 participants enrolled 900 RAs in 22 clinical research studies

– traditional, e.g., ankle injuries, trauma, CQI– screening, e.g., domestic violence, firearms risk,

Do RA Programs Work?Since 1994, ≈ 35,000 participants enrolled 900 RAs in 22 clinical research studies

– traditional, e.g., ankle injuries, trauma, CQI– screening, e.g., domestic violence, firearms risk, Pap, mammogram, PSA, colon-rectal

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

54% of participants smoked at some time

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

54% of participants smoked at some time – 22% within the preceding 30 days

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

54% of participants smoked at some time – 22% within the preceding 30 days

18% of smokers accepted CT Quitline referral

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

54% of participants smoked at some time – 22% within the preceding 30 days

18% of smokers accepted CT Quitline referral– 38% of those who smoked within preceding 30 days

Tobacco Cessation Pilot Study 3125 participants enrolled in 21 weeks by 63 RAs

54% of participants smoked at some time – 22% within the preceding 30 days

18% of smokers accepted CT Quitline referral– 38% of those who smoked within preceding 30 days

≈ 50% of all CT Quitline referrals in the state during those weeks came from the St. V’s ED!

Study for 2012Tobacco Cessation Study

national, multicenter based on the pilot work at St. Vincent’s 14 hospitals around the country, hundreds of RAs in less than 40 weeks projected to enroll 50 – 75,000 participants potentially the largest prospective,

interventional clinical trial

Study for 2012Tobacco Cessation Study

national, multicenter based on the pilot work at St. Vincent’s 15 hospitals around the country, hundreds of RAs in less than 40 weeks projected to enroll 50 – 75,000 participants potentially the largest prospective,

interventional clinical trial ever done

Study for 2012Tobacco Cessation Study

national, multicenter based on the pilot work at St. Vincent’s 15 hospitals around the country, hundreds of RAs in less than 40 weeks projected to enroll 50 – 75,000 participants potentially the largest prospective,

interventional clinical trial ever done

Nice topic at health professional school interview?

Think of These Numbers

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

– more than half the U.S. population goes to ED every year as a patient or visitor

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

– more than half the U.S. population goes to ED every year as a patient or visitor

4

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

– more than half the U.S. population goes to ED every year as a patient or visitor

4- average number of hours for an ED visit

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

– more than half the U.S. population goes to ED every year as a patient or visitor

4- average number of hours for an ED visit

500,000

Think of These Numbers > 1/2

– more than half the U.S. population goes to ED every year as a patient or visitor

4- average number of hours for an ED visit

500,000– college students and post-bacs interested in medical

school

National Alliance of Research Associates Programs

(NARAP) RA programs in multiple hospitals around the U.S.

clinical research consortium on the ED as a site to facilitate primary care screening

tens of thousands of participants enrolled in clinical studies over short time periods

A Research JUGGERNAUT!!!

NARAP Member InstitutionsCT Hartford Hospital/UConn Lawrence & Memorial St. Vincent’s. BridgeportDC GeorgetownMA UMassMO St. Louis UniversityNE Creighton UniversityNJ Hackensack U. Med

CenterNY University of Rochester NV University of NevadaPA Jefferson

TN Delta Med Center, Memphis

TX Seton / U Texas, AustinVT UVMWA Pullman Regional

Research Associates ProgramProcess

recruit - local colleges during the school year- nationally for the summer semester

orientation sessions (8 hrs. / weekend day x 2)– basics of clinical research– ethical issues– safety– specifics on data collection for each study

RA Program at St. Vincent’s Medical Center

85,000 patient visit ED

largest ED in largest city in CT

diverse patient population

Level 2 Trauma Center

the major teaching affiliate of Quinnipiac University School of Medicine

RA ProgramsBenefits

Research is done effectively, efficiently,

while minimizing impact on clinical care RAs get clinical exposure and research experience Advisers have a guaranteed evaluated clinical

experience for their students Study participants and future patients benefit most

Win-Win-Win-Win

Research Associates at St. V’sBecoming a RA

Application: www.RAProgram.org Application fee: $200 non-refundable!

– Criminal Background Check– drug testing– health clearance (varicella/chickepox, hepatitis B, TB)– uniform shirts x 2– administrative fee

HPA letter of endorsement (Cut/Paste from website)

Research Associates at St. V’s Shifts chosen according to time application and

payment received !

Summer semesters, 2012 mandatory orientationSaturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 June

orSaturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 June

at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport

Chief RAsResponsibilities

post-bacs in the application cycle

Program Director's assistants

develop their RA Program’s – recruiting, personnel management, scheduling, website, database management

“first port of call” for line-RAs' on-shift issues

So, If You See the Potential …

RA Program at St. Vincent’s

www.RAProgram.org

Chief RA in NARAP hospital www.theNARAP.org

Watch “ER” on TVand guess what it’s like;

Be a Research Associate in the Emergency Department

and know.

?