Study Coordinator

Job Description Summary

Under general supervision of the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) and Assistant Director of Community Site Research within the Hollings Cancer Center, this position coordinates, establishes, and supervises complex research protocols MUSC Lancaster to efficiently and effectively integrate the National Cancer Institute (NCI), investigator initiated and industry sponsored oncology trials at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Actively promotes and increases awareness of the clinical trial program within MUSC’s community sites and exercises judgment regarding proper study participant management.

This position will be based in Lancaster, South Carolina, and will not be located on the MUSC campus in downtown Charleston. Some regional travel may be required.

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Research Grant

Cost Center

CC001332 HCC CTO Administration

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

University-GEN08

Pay Range

46,206.00 - 62,322.00 - 78,540.000

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Summary:

Under general supervision of the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) and Assistant Director of Community Site Research within the Hollings Cancer Center, this position coordinates, establishes, and supervises complex research protocols MUSC Lancaster to efficiently and effectively integrate the National Cancer Institute (NCI), investigator initiated and industry sponsored oncology trials at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Actively promotes and increases awareness of the clinical trial program within MUSC’s community sites and exercises judgment regarding proper study participant management.

Responsibilities:

35% Coordinates patient research related activities to accurately meet protocol requirements.  

Ensure protocol compliance for study participants. Ensures database updates to reflect accurate patient status. Utilizes office tools including Sharepoint, Clinical Data Center (CDC), and clinical trial management system (CTMS). Provides protocol specific information to physicians, primary nurses, and patients. Coordinates the clinical work-up to determine patient eligibility. Coordinates treatment plan and required follow-up with study participant, medical staff, nursing staff and ancillary hospital personnel. Ensures that follow-up requirements per protocol are carried out in order to assess for response to treatment. Works closely with clinical nurse staff to coordinate patient care to meet protocol standards. Consults with the investigator to assess study participant for response to protocol therapy including toxicity assessment and disease status. Coordinates and conducts activities associated with the preparation and shipment of protocol related samples within specified parameters. Prepares, transports, and handles bloodborne pathogens and other human specimens following OSHA guidelines. Enter and maintain both current and new study participant information into the clinical trials database. New patient enrollments and status updates are to be entered into the CTMS within 24 hours of the enrollment or status change. This includes Screening, Screen Failures, Consenting, Enrolling, Active on Treatment, Follow up, and Off study status. New patient enrollments and status updates are to be entered/confirmed in EPIC within 24 hours of the enrollment and or status change. This includes Consented- in screening, Enrolled-Receiving treatment and/or intervention, Enrolled-follow up only, lost to follow up, Screen failure and completed. Research participant protocol-related visits must be linked in EPIC prior to the encounter. 

20% Assists investigators to identify, consent, screen, register/ enroll eligible patients to oncology studies at MUSC Lancaster on behalf of Hollings Cancer Center.  

Screens all patients at MUSC Lancaster that are being screened for cancer, have been newly diagnosed, have progressed, or experienced a recurrence to potentially be included into a clinical trial. Attends and actively participates in regularly scheduled multidisciplinary tumor boards, clinics, conferences, and any other forum where patients may be discussed. Documents and tracks all screening efforts per departmental guidelines. Establishes communication with physician investigators and care team regarding potential study participants. Effective screening of HCC patient medical records requires knowledge of oncology terminology, medical terminology, disease specific staging and each clinical trial protocol eligibility criterion. Meets regularly with their community site research team to discuss potential trial participants and plan for the upcoming week for all clinic coverage needs. Under guidance of the team lead coordinator(s) and program manager, will support research activities at any of the MUSC main campus and HCC satellite locations and make necessary coverage plans in advance, to avoid interruption of quality CTO services. Participates in and supports the informed consent process per departmental and institutional policy. 

20% Timely and accurately collects and submits data to established research bases including the National Cancer Institute, industry sponsors, and MUSC.  

Ensures data quality and timely completion and submission of case report forms (CRFs) and queries. Develops and implements an effective daily routine which minimally includes retrieval of ongoing data from local or outside medical records, completion of appropriate case report forms and any data query received. Ensures data is submitted according to sponsor mandated time frames and in a manner that affords maximum accuracy. Ensures source documentation is present in-patient chart for case report form completion. Visit-specific CRFs are to be completed per sponsor requirements. Case report submission may include patient reported outcome questionnaires, radiologic scans, reports and staging tests. Proactively plan, prioritize and manage responsibilities to ensure timely and accurate data submission to specified research bases. Data submission is timely and accurate per the protocol, patient calendar, and source documents.  Collaborates with Data Coordinators as needed with patient protocol visits including adverse event logs, patient questionnaires, picking up specimens, and transporting study supplies.  Maintains established workflows to identify data needs of numerous trials within multiple disease groups and communicates data entry needs to study team. 

15%  Timely and accurately submits Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Events, and other reportable events to the NCI, sponsors, IRB and DSMC per federal guidelines and institutional policies.  

Prepares and submits CTO-required and sponsor specific initial and follow up reports. Adheres to the reporting requirements within the Clinical Trials Office, MUSC and various study sponsors. Proactively plans to ensure reports are comprehensive and that reporting requirements are met within the allowable timeframe and in a manner that affords maximum accuracy. Submits regulatory documents upon receipt to the Manager of Regulatory Compliance to ensure timely reporting by the regulatory unit of CTO. This includes Adverse Event reports and protocol deviation reporting as well as any new protocol documents which may include but are not limited to protocol amendments, correspondence from sponsor, or any other documents requiring review and/or submission to IRB. Additional non-regulatory reporting requirements would include submission of screening logs and database updates.  Protocol deviations will be reported to the clinical trials office regulatory unit per departmental processes. Items that are outstanding per sponsor monitoring visit letters will be addressed and closed within 4 weeks of receiving the monitoring letter, or by the date of the monitor’s next site visit, whichever is earlier. 

10% Maintain working knowledge of region-specific trial portfolio and participate in disease focus group meetings to support trial start up process for new studies and maintenance of protocol amendments.  

Presents pertinent research related data to the research focus group and individual investigators. Maintains up to date protocol information, communication and education of study and clinic personnel. Assists in planning, implementing, and evaluation of program expansion and new projects. Positively and professionally contributes to working groups and meetings. Initiates and organizes meetings and prepares meeting agendas. Discusses high-priority trials. Presents protocols to programs and clearly assesses patient population and feasibility of trial. During the “In Approval Process-Step 1” reviews new protocols, completes the initial roadmap submission by designated timeline and obtains study specific credentialing per protocol requirements. Collaborates with the CTO nurse managers in development of initial roadmap and amended roadmaps as applicable. As protocol amendments are received amended roadmaps are completed by the assigned date to ensure patient safety. Completes the Initial roadmap submission by assigned due date. Roadmap submission forms are comprehensive and include all study assessments required per the protocol and study calendar. Roadmap submission forms are accurate including treatment arms, hold and call parameters and dosing modifications per the protocol guidelines.  

Additional Job Description

Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree and two years of relevant program experience.

Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Infrequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Infrequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Infrequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Frequent) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 36 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Frequent) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Frequent) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Frequent) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Frequent)

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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