The medical industry is far from stagnant and is constantly evolving. However, the healthcare experts do not bring about any change, introduce a treatment or declare anything until they have done thorough research and are particular about the results. Clinical research coordinator is often referred to as clinical trials, including all types of studies conducted on human beings. The objective is to improve knowledge regarding emerging diseases, different treatment methods, and technical, medical devices to ensure patient safety and improve outcomes.
Clinical Research Coordinator:
Clinical research coordinators have a crucial role in medical studies. They possess effective analytical skills, demonstrate perseverance, and are keenly observant. Generally, they work under the supervision of the principal investigator, PI. These individuals often manage administrative tasks, including budgeting, compliance, devising policies, and reporting. Clinical research coordinators, CRC, develop strategies to meet clinical trials objectives and support and organize day-to-day research activities. Their job includes delegating clinical tasks and overseeing their execution.
Several medical enthusiasts want to make a career in the healthcare industry. Still, they do not want to deal with patients directly. Numerous of them opt for clinical research and consider it an appropriate field. It involves medical studies but does not require them to handle sick people. Moreover, many people think about the financial prospects of the career fields before zeroing down on a major for higher studies. Since entry level clinical research coordinator salary is relatively higher than other professionals, many people find it a viable field. The field also offers growth and enables professionals to climb the ladder of success. However, the clinical research coordinator job is far from easy. They have to put in the earnest effort and demonstrate vigilance to meet their objectives.
Different Types of Clinical Research:
CRC participation in clinical trials is of extreme significance, and they hold a crucial position in the medical industry. Let’s learn about the steps to becoming a clinical research coordinator:
Complete Graduation from High School:
Completing high school is the basic requirement for making a career in clinical research. Ideally, students must choose their career path during high school and choose subjects accordingly. They must graduate from high school for clinical trials with physics, communication, biology, and chemistry. These subject helps build a solid foundation that paves the way for a career in clinical research. Another option is to acquire GED and score strong marks in science and math coursework.
Acquire a Bachelor’s:
For bachelor’s students should enroll in a bachelor of science in health in clinical research administration. To work as a clinical research coordinator, students need to dedicate four years of education to the field. The programs are designed to assist students in acquiring the tools and skills required to carry on medical trials on drugs.
Traditional bachelor of science degrees in health sciences teaches students bioethics, healthcare informatics, medical law, healthcare in literature, health promotion concepts, fundamentals of clinical trials, health science management, and disease prevention.
With a bachelor’s degree in clinical research, students can acquire an entry-level position in clinical institutions and work their way up towards higher designations.
Gain On-field Experience:
Like other medical fields, clinical research also involves fieldwork and requires students to gain experience. Students can get an entry-level job and work alongside seniors to learn more from their experiences. Besides, putting theory into practice opens new doors of learning and enhances students’ exposure. Getting at least a year or up to three years’ work experience as a clinical research associate is also a condition for certification. Students with a bachelor’s in clinical research can get jobs in hospitals, governmental agencies, pharmaceutical companies, clinics, universities, and clinical research institutes.
Obtain Certification:
Once students have acquired a bachelor’s in the field and earned experience, they can obtain a certificate. Timelines may vary in issuing certificates from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA)or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals(ACRP). Most institutes allow students to transfer certificate credits into a master’s program.
Earn a Master’s Degree:
Earning a master’s degree in clinical research is not required to work as a clinical research coordinator. However, it raises the chances of securing a job and dramatically increases salary prospects. The master’s degree courses include the basics of regulatory affairs and clinical research monitoring. Aside from being a clinical research coordinator with a master’s degree in clinical research, students can serve as clinical data managers, lab technicians, and social research assistants.
Skills Required to work as a Clinical Research Coordinator
CRCs require an amalgamation of skills to work effectively in their spheres. They must possess:
Management skills:
Their day-to-day responsivities include looking after multiple tasks, and effective organization skills help them manage efficiently.
Coordination:
Most CRCs do not work independently, and coordination skills help them organize data to derive conclusions.
Willingness to learn:
Clinical trials are not a one-time job, and CRCs constantly have to update their knowledge. They must have an urge to learn more and acquire the latest skills to carry on with their research.
Patience:
Trials can be exhausting and frustrating. CRCs often conduct experiments, hoping to see a certain outcome, but fail to do so. Patience is the key to work as a researcher.
Critical Thinking:
CRC must possess a strong presence of mind and should not look at things superficially. They must dive in-depth to derive confidential information out and critically analyze it before concluding.
Communication:
CRC should have excellent written, oral, and technical communication skills. They must be eloquent and precise. In addition, and they need to ensure that they convey complete messages to the related people and should not leave any important information out.
Clinical Research Coordinators’ Responsibilities
CRCs are responsible for supervising a wide range of activities while working under PI. Their possibilities include:
- Gathering data
- Ensure that trials happen as per the laws
- Design and administer questionnaires
- Collect responses
- Devise project budgets
- Purchase study supplies material
- Categorize study material
- Respond to audits
- Manage project and ensure that it meets deadlines
- Prepare study material
- Finalize the report of findings
- Close the project upon completion.
Conclusion
Not all fields in healthcare require experts to deal with wounds and diseases. Aside from hospitals, laboratories, and healthcare management, clinical research is another medical field where research coordinators run clinical trials before approving medicines. CRCs work involves various tasks as they manage research and its data. The modern world constantly sees a surge in medical issues, compelling CRCs to research and cure new diseases. Clinical research is a lucrative field, and people possessing research skills can make a career in this dynamic area.
