|
Clinical Trials Help Guide
the Future of Health Care
As an academic medical center
and teaching hospital, Jersey
Shore University Medical
Center is committed to research that
will help patients and have an effect
on how health care is delivered in the
future. One way they stay on the
forefront of medicine is through
conducting clinical trials. But
how can these trials benefit you?
"Clinical trials provide patients
in our community with an opportunity
to receive the most current
therapies," says David S. Kountz,
M.D., senior vice president of
Medical and Academic Affairs at
Jersey Shore. "The outcomes of the
research not only help patients and
their physicians learn about the
most effective treatments for them,
but it will benefit other patients."
Global Benefits in a Local Setting
At Jersey Shore, patients have
opportunities to participate in
clinical trials in cardiology, oncology,
and medicine. Clinical trials that are
under way include studies for finding
better ways of treating cancer, testing
new antibiotics for infectious diseases,
and comparing cardiac devices, such
as stents, to determine which may be
better for patients.
In many cases, trials are free of charge
or patients receive compensation for
their participation and transportation.
"Participating in research is a great
way to learn about your own condition
and be part of advancing medicine. Patients can be involved in national or
international trials right in their own
community. It is very convenient."
Patient Safety Come s First
Patients may be apprehensive about
joining a clinical trial. Dr. Kountz, who
is board certified in Internal Medicine,
explains that before the hospital agrees
to offer a trial to patients, it conducts
its own review. "We have a strong
patient-protection program," he says.
"We do a rigorous review to ensure it
is being conducted by trained investigators. The most important thing to us
is to ensure the safety of our patients
— it's always our first priority."
He adds that there are fewer and
fewer research studies in which study
participants are given a placebo — most
often the treatments being studied
are compared against standard
treatments. However, placebo
studies remain important, he
notes, because with many conditions
there is no standard treatment
that has proven effective, or a
condition may be mild and can be
watched safely without treatment
for a period of time.
The research office at Jersey
Shore also monitors how patients
are faring in a study. If they determine
that one treatment is better
or worse than another, the study
may be stopped to ensure the
patient receives the best care.
To be selected for a clinical
trial, a patient is usually identified
through his or her doctor and one
of the hospital's research office staff.
"When we approach a patient about
a trial, we always involve the patient's
physician," adds Dr. Kountz. "We keep
both the physician and the patient
informed about ongoing results once a
patient enrolls. Our staff is always willing
to spend as much time as a patient
would like answering questions.
"Clinical trials are an important
part of our mission. We expect to
increase the number of trials available
to patients in order to stay on the
cutting edge of medicine."
|
