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Showing posts from April, 2015

D2d Study in the News Again!

Earlier this month we shared a few links to news stories covering MHRI's D2d study in honor of Diabetes Alert Day. The nationwide diabetes study evaluates if Vitamin D can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. MHRI currently has sites at our Hyattsville (MCCRC) MedStar Community Clinical Research Center and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. 

Last Thursday, a news story ran on WUSA9 that included an interview with a MCCRC D2d patient and featured MHRI Physician Investigator, Vanita Aroda, MD.

See the news clip, here: 

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/2015/04/23/vitamin-d-insulin-type-2-diabetes/26258671/




The Future of Informed Consent

Guest Blogger, Shannon Coveney, Clinical Research Coordinator, MedStar Health Research Institute 

Technology. This one word can make many thoughts come to mind. Some might think of their smartphone or laptop, while others might be focused on the high-speed connection and bandwidth of their products. Whatever the thought may be, if we truly think about the root and core of the word technology we think of research. Technology’s sole existence is due to and attributed to research. Research is why the telephone has evolved from a land-line to mobile or even why the “selfie” now has its own stick. What I’m trying to get at is research needs an overdue big THANK YOU from our good ole pal Mr. Technology. How can Mr. Technology make up for this, you might ask? I think I found a way...

On March 9th of this year, Apple announced its newest app for the iPhone called "Research Kit". This is an open source software framework that is specifically designed for the research field. Not sure what an open source software framework is? Well it’s a computer software with its own specific code that is made available to independent sources or corporations. Therefore Research Kit is essentially the framework for various, free to download, research apps.  Apple then reached out to some of the top universities and research organizations to see what they could do with this Research Kit software.

Here are the five conditions the apps focused on:


Each app differs in its contents and measures but what they all have in common are the fact that they are promoting/recruiting for research studies. Individuals are able to read consent forms, educate themselves on medical conditions as well as physically provide their signature for participation on their iPhone. 


University of Stanford had 11,000 potential participants sign up for there cardiovascular study in less than 24 hours! 

Now can you see it?? Technology is supporting and promoting research versus the other way around! That’s the big THANK YOU I was looking for.

I hope this blog opened your mind to how far the research field has come and the potential it has to develop even further. I leave this final question to you all: What are some successes and challenges you see for this mobile app in the research field today?


Don't Miss This - Please See Me Now!

Too many of you have told me you saw my last post 'Please See Me' but have not yet had a chance to look at the video.  Don't miss this - it is a fabulous video that really embodies our vision as trusted leaders, as caring for people and for advancing health.  It is only 3 minutes so click on the link now if you haven't already.


To view the video above...visit the link here: https://youtu.be/380MiMDoddI

Please See Me

As we continue our journey to maintain High Reliability at MedStar Health, it is important to recognize one very important relationship-- one between a care provider and the patient. When we learn to partner together and appreciate each other for who we are-imperfect, multifaceted human beings-we move closer to becoming a true High Reliability Organization (HRO), and we can deliver on our commitment to provide the highest levels of quality and safety to our patients and our research participants.

In the video below, "Please See Me" highlights the perspectives of the most important communication dynamic in healthcare. I encourage all of you to watch this 3 minute video, and to keep the questions and comments posed both in mind, and add to the discussion on MedStar's YouTube page. Through patience, understanding and diligence, we can avoid missed opportunities and potential errors or issues that often are overlooked. We can take advantage of our humanity to aid each other in ways computer-based clinical decision tools and algorithms cannot. 

"Please See Me" also reflects on our promise to patients and research participants as care providers to engage in meaningful conversations so we better understand and honor their needs, values, preferences and goals. It showcases what we need to do, as caregivers and investigators, to achieve high reliability and deliver the highest levels of quality and safety throughout all aspects of healthcare.  


"Please See Me" embodies our vision as the trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health.



To view the video above...visit the link here: https://youtu.be/380MiMDoddI

An Exciting Week for MHRIs D2d Diabetes Study!

In recognition of Diabetes Alert Day, on Tuesday, MHRI had a chance to help bring awareness to diabetes by showcasing our D2d study on local news outlets. The D2d study is a nationwide diabetes study which evaluates if Vitamin D can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. MHRI currently has sites at our Hyattsville (MCCRC) MedStar Community Clinical Research Center and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. 

On Monday evening, Dr. Adline Ghazi, director of the diabetes program at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital participated in a live in-studio interview at the ABC-TV studios in Baltimore. 

On Wednesday, an Emmy-winning journalist from ABC-TV in Washington, visited our MCCRC site to do a story with one of our D2d participants and with Twan Lindsay, PA, a sub-investigator on the study.

To learn more about the D2d study visit: http://www.d2dstudy.org/ and to see the news clips from this week, click the links below: