Teletrials expand the model of care in clinical trials in order to provide patients with resources closer to their home and social supports. Patients can access optimal treatment in their local community rather than regularly having to travel long distances, especially if unwell or frail.
This emerging specialty offers a new professional development opportunity for clinical trial nurses and coordinators. In practice, long term, sustained logistical and project management is required by a dedicated teletrial manager to maintain connections between sites. They are also able to provide advice on the modifications required in the processes of feasibility, site initiation, maintenance and close out of a study.
The role of the teletrial manager is broad and varied depending on the nature of the sites, protocols, patients and jurisdictional requirements.
Common key roles and responsibilities include:
- Engage and maintain relationships with partner sites through regular meetings and information sharing about current and future trials.
- Understanding sites’ capabilities in order to recommend trials that are appropriately matched.
- Co-ordinate feasibility, start-up processes and supervision plan negotiations with site partners and sponsors.
- Act as a main contact for sites to provide guidance and advice on how to conduct a teletrial.
- Navigating research governance authorisation processes across separate legal entities including legal agreements, supervision plans and site-specific authorisation.
- Advocate for the incorporation of telehealth technology in clinical trials to provide more access for participants.
- Facilitate regular operations meetings between sites to provide an ongoing framework and method for identifying problems and solutions encountered during the course of a trial.
- Develop workflows, processes and standard operating procedures to address the complex logistical aspects of operating between geographically distant sites
This poster will showcase the key roles and responsibilities that would inform a national teletrial coordinator position description.