Gandhali Bhole, Executive Director, Business Development
Karim Abdelrazek, Director, Business Development
For clinical research organizations (CROs) to stay ahead in this increasingly technology-driven industry, it is essential to work with technology platforms to become more efficient, data-driven, and patient-centric. eCOA/ePRO is an effective way to achieve this, as it allows for rapid data collection directly from patients. By leveraging this technology, CROs can improve the overall patient experience and streamline their studies.
While it may feel simpler – and cheaper – to stick with old-fashioned paper forms, the right eCOA solution can give you real-time insight into the health of your studies and your participants.
Points to consider
As you explore your options, you’ll no doubt compare the features and functionality of various eCOA/ePRO platforms. We suggest you go a step further, evaluating each prospective partner on their end-to-end service, including:
A singular focus on the patient.
Does the solution improve the patient experience? Consider if the technology offers a consumer-grade experience – something so interesting that the participant is motivated to log in daily to complete instruments.
Ease of sales.
Consider how the eCOA/ePRO partner’s size aligns with the size of your organization. Will you have a dedicated resource, or will you be one of many customers vying for support? Seek a partner with pre-sales resources to support you, with the ability to generate and revise pricing quickly… or, most importantly, a partner with simple, transparent pricing.
Speed of deployment.
Probe how long it will take to get the eCOA/ePRO platform up and running. Some companies may propose a months-long deployment process. Instead, look for an option that can be up and running in a matter of weeks. To drive faster deployment, choose a solution with out-of-the-box features to support the patient journey. You should also look for an option that makes it easy to design and modify your study in hours, not weeks.
Value.
For any study, you need to address two key goals. First, the eCOA/ePRO partner should make it simple and sustainable to integrate their solution (and associated costs) into your larger offering. Second, the partner’s platform should offer unique features that strengthen your CRO’s differentiation in a crowded marketplace.
Quality and Transparency of Data Reporting.
Real-time insight is crucial to the success of your trial. Likewise, partnering with a provider that enables real-time analysis is essential. This will allow you to take immediate action to seize opportunities or address any challenges that arise.
Ask these hard questions, even more so as you evaluate your options and decide. A prospective partner’s willingness to engage around these criteria—and their ability to provide tangible answers—will guide you to the best possible choice.
Datacubed Health offers an innovative approach to clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes data; see how we do it in this five-minute demo! After all, your success is our success!