Who is a clinical research coordinator?
A clinical research coordinator is a healthcare professional who monitors and organizes the daily activities of healthcare facilities. This involves administrative duties as well as some level of patient care.
Clinical Research Coordinators Have the Following Soft Skills and Characteristics
Time Management
It is the clinical research coordinator's responsibility to ensure that the healthcare facility treats patients in a timely and efficient manner.
Written and Verbal Communication
Clinical Research coordinators work closely with several members of the medical staff, such as doctors, health information technicians and nurses. - They need to communicate accurate details about patient care and activity in the facility.
Integrity
It's important for clinical research coordinators to exercise compassion when addressing the needs of patients and uphold ethical standards to maintain the confidentiality of medical records.
They also Exhibit the Following Technical Abilities
Information Technology
Clinical Research coordinators manage the patient documentation in healthcare databases, so they must know how to navigate the systems and report inaccurate information.
Medical Terminologies
To work with physicians and communicate with patients, clinical research coordinators need to have a working knowledge of health conditions, diagnostic tests and treatment plans.
What Does a Clinical Research Coordinator Do?
A clinical research coordinator performs responsibilities related to patient care, including:
- Documenting patient visits
- Informing patients of their medical results
- Sterilizing medical instruments, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and computerized tomography (CT) scanners
They also perform administrative duties for the healthcare facility, such as:
- Designing budgets
- Attending and contributing to departmental meetings
- Screening and evaluating personnel in the facility
- Implementing procedures across the facility
- Participating in the recruitment and enrollment process of new medical staff members
Where does a Clinical Research coordinator work?
Clinical Research coordinators are full-time employees who work in a variety of settings that specialize in patient care, including
- Hospitals: Each hospital department, such as the surgical ward, may have a clinical Research coordinator to manage activities and patient visits.
- Medical Facilities: Clinical Research coordinators can work in specialized physician offices, such as orthodontists or dermatologists. They may also provide care to seniors in nursing facilities.
- Community Health Clinics: Urgent care facilities and other smaller clinics employ clinical coordinators to analyze the quality of patient care.
- Research Centers: Clinical coordinators can specialize in research, where they direct clinical experiments to develop new medications and medical tools.
- Educational Institutions: At universities or teaching hospitals, clinical coordinators oversee student learning and ensure the students fulfill graduation requirements.
What is the average salary for a clinical Research coordinator?
The average salary for a clinical research coordinator is over $63,000 per year. However, the industry and region you work in may influence your income. For example, clinical coordinators who work in research facilities may earn higher salaries than clinical coordinators who work in nursing homes. Also, hospitals in major cities may offer higher salaries to reflect the higher costs of living.
What is the job outlook for a clinical Research coordinator?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 32% between 2019 and 2039, which is much higher than the average for other occupations. Since clinical research coordinators have similar responsibilities, they are likely to see the same growth in the coming years. This increase in demand may be due to the large, aging population of baby boomers, who will need more medical attention as they get older.
What are the benefits of becoming a clinical Research coordinator?
The benefits of being a clinical research coordinator include:
- Working in any industry: Several different types of healthcare facilities need clinical coordinators, which means you can work with different kinds of patients throughout your career. For example, if you enjoy treating dental patients, you can work at a dentist's office, and if you like working with children, you can manage the pediatric ward at a hospital.
- Helping people directly: As a clinical coordinator, you can see how your hard work positively impacts patients. You can help ease patients' anxiety while receiving care, and you can track their progress and see how their health improves.
- Improving patients' experience in healthcare: Staying organized and implementing helpful procedures can ensure that patients receive quality care at the facility. For example, you can train new personnel to uphold ethical, compassionate ideals, and you can allocate financial resources to make patient visits more comfortable