About Harbin Clinic's Clinical Research Department
You may have heard about clinical trials- studies of possible new treatments or medications but wonder what exactly they are and if one might be right for you. Whether or not to participate in a clinical trial can be a complex decision. In order to make that decision, it may help you to know more about what exactly clinical trials are and how new treatments are studied and approved for wider use.
Since 1997, Harbin Clinic's team of research doctors and nurses have been providing a wide range of clinical trials services in support of researchers in the pharmaceutical and device industries.
If you are seeking to enroll in a clinical trial, you are not alone. The Harbin Clinic enrolls hundreds of patients in clinical trials across a broad range of diagnoses including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiology, heart catheterization trials, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, hypertension, cancer and many others.
Participants in these studies help answer important questions about the best ways to diagnose and treat various medical conditions.
What are clinical trials?
A clinical trial is a study of a medical treatment in human subjects. The medical treatment can be a drug, a surgical device such as an artificial hip, a medical device such as an insulin pump, or a surgical technique.
Why are clinical trials important?
Clinical trials are essential to the development of new and potentially life-saving medications and treatments. The purpose of a clinical trial is to answer questions about safety and effectiveness. We use them to determine whether we are using the best treatments or to help the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determine whether or not to approve a treatment for general use.
Should you participate?
Participating in a clinical trial is a great way to play an active role in your own healthcare. You will receive education about the latest medical management for your condition and may have access to medications and treatments years before they become accessible to the public. Patients considering participating in clinical research should talk about it with their physicians and medical caregivers.
What are your rights and safety issues?
The same ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to clinical trials. Participants are protected by federal regulations and every clinical trial must be approved and monitored by an independent Institutional Review Board to ensure that the risks are as low as possible. The Institutional Review Board is charged with examining the study's protocol to ensure that the patient's rights are protected, and that the study does not present an undue or unnecessary risk to the patient. In addition, anyone participating in a clinical trial in the United States is required to sign an informed consent form. This form details the nature of the study, the risks involved, and what may happen to a patient in the study. The informed consent tells patients that they have the right to leave the study at any time.
How can I learn more about participating in a clinical trial?
While not every one who volunteers is accepted into a clinical trial, researchers choose participants based on the criteria for the study and the number of subjects needed to collect enough information about the treatment.
If you have an interest in participating in a clinical trial, you may wish to speak to your doctor about it. Please call the Clinical Research Department at 706-232-1437 for more information.
The ultimate goal of the Harbin Clinic is to provide the highest standard of patient care. Our participation in clinical research trials allows us to offer many of the latest state-of-the-art treatments to our patients sooner than if we do not participate. Our main concern in clinical trials is the same as in our practice- to provide the highest quality of care for our patients.
Office Location & Hours
Harbin Clinic Clinical Research
1825 Martha Berry Blvd.
Rome, GA 30165
(706) 232-1437
8:00-5:00 (M-F)
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