Career Center

Clinical Trials Associate II - Center for Quality Aging

Center and Project Description:
The Vanderbilt Center for Quality Aging was established in August 2006 as part of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Institute for Medicine and Public Health. The mission of the Center for Quality Aging (CQA) is to develop innovative interventions to improve quality of care and quality of life for older adults in a variety of care settings including hospital care, assisted-living, post-acute care and long-term care.

This position will provide research and project management support for three ongoing research projects. First is a hospital-based research study that aims to build a simulation model to determine optimal staffing model for hospital units in order to provide safe and high quality of care for patients. Secondly, the position supports the pilot grant awardees for the US Deprescribing Network. Finally, this position will support the local implementation team for the Synapse Medicine trial. This role offers the potential of contributing to multiple types of research studies with opportunities for growth.

JOB SUMMARY

Supports the activities of the Principal Investigator in accordance with the protocols and regulations. Involved in the collection, interpretation and documentation of data in support of observational research studies and clinical trials. Initiates and develops process improvements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Contribute to Research Team

• Communicate regularly and effectively with the interdisciplinary research team
• Participate in weekly team meetings and provide feedback on study efforts, problems, and protocols
• Work directly with older adults, patient families, and staff in the hospital

• Complete required Institutional Review Board (IRB) training related to research with human subjects.
• Abide by rules of confidentiality for data management of sensitive medical information for study participants.
• Complete additional tasks as assigned by supervisor (project manager/coordinator or principal investigator)

IRB and Protocols

• Assist in preparation of sponsor, IRB, and DSMB reports

Study Participant Eligibility Screening and Recruitment

• Coordinate protocol and patient consent form process.
• Identify and recruit clinical research subjects; monitor enrollment goals and modify recruitment strategies as necessary

Data Collection

• Conduct standardized protocols for data collection. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Perform standardized observations in the hospital and nursing home setting to monitor and record ADL care provision
• Conduct patient and hospital staff interviews using standardized tools
• Set up timeline of interviews and required procedures.
• Abstract and record all patient data essential to the study onto required case report forms or into the electronic data collection system.
• Document, collect and report adverse events accordingly to relevant bodies according to protocol

• Coordinate with research staff to ensure data collection is completed on the study timeline
• Accommodate variable work hours that may change weekly based on data collection but not exceed 40 total hours per week. Hours may be distributed across both day and evenings, week days and weekends for observational data collection.

Data Management & Analysis

• Enter all pertinent data into electronic databases and data collection software (e.g., Excel, REDCap and SPSS statistical software) accurately and in a timely manner
• Update and maintain database after participant contacts and data collection
• Conduct basic descriptive data analyses
• Be comfortable with large data sets

Process Improvement, Training, and Professional Development

• Pursue professional development and participate on committees, as requested by management

Department Summary:

The Division of Geriatric Medicine at Vanderbilt is dedicated to promoting healthy aging through patient care, medical education, and research. As your body ages, your health care needs change. It's important to work with a physician who has special training in keeping older adults healthy. However, Geriatric Medicine is not just for the frail and elderly. In fact, our doctors specialize in helping active "middle-aged adults" transition gracefully into their 60's and keeping you healthy throughout your senior years.

View how Vanderbilt Health employees celebrate the difference they make every day:

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded and your abilities challenged. It is a place where your diversity -- of culture, thinking, learning and leading -- is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

VUMC Recent Accomplishments

Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

* US News & World Report: #1 Adult Hospital in Tennessee and metropolitan Nashville, named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll of the top 20 adult hospitals, 10 nationally ranked adult specialty programs, with 3 specialties rated in the top 10 nationally, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named as one of the Best Children's Hospital in the nation, with 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties nationally ranked.

* Healthcare's Most Wired: Among the nation's 100 "most-wired" hospitals and health systems for its efforts in innovative medical technology.

* Becker's Hospital Review: named as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America", in the roster of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs and to its list of the 100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.

* The Leapfrog Group: One of only 10 children's hospitals in the to be named at Leapfrog Top Hospital.

* American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows

* Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.

* National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement

* Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

Associate's Degree (or equivalent experience) and 1 year experience

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration (LCR):

• Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:
  
  Movement
  
  • Occasional: Sitting: Remaining in seated position
  • Occasional: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving.
  • Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.
  • Occasional: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another
  • Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.
  • Occasional: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles
  • Occasional: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.
  • Occasional: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.
  
  
  Sensory
  
  • Occasional: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.
  • Frequent: Noise: May include exposure to occupational noise levels which equal or exceed an 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Hearing Conservation Program which includes training, use of hearing protection, and periodic audiometry.
  • Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.