Below is my monthly message for the April 2021 edition of the MHRI newsletter, Focus. You can view Focus online at MedStarResearch.org/FOCUS.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As I was walking my new puppy early Friday morning, in a blistery 29-degrees with my parker and wool hat, a jogger went by in shorts and a sweatshirt. I raised an eyebrow and pointed to his shorts. He shrugged and replied, "I thought it was spring!"
Spring may have started but that has not kept the freezing temperatures away. Similarly, vaccinations are ramping up, leading to thoughts of a carefree post-pandemic world while we experience another surge of cases across the country. At times, it feels as if someone is teasing us with the allure of the 'new' while simultaneously subjecting us to the harsh realities of the 'old'.
The need to remain flexible, nimble, and resilient has never been greater. While we all want to have certainty in our future, we are taught day after day that change is inevitable and often unpredictable. When will this pandemic be over? Will we revert to 'business as usual' or will we be living a different life? If different, what will it look like? We all want answers so we can plan accordingly!
The reality is that it's NOT going to be an either/or future…it's going to be an 'AND' future – taking some aspects from the old and others from the new to create an entirely new, different future. It's not a 'return to normal' or even a 'new normal' but an entirely different normal which will likely continue to evolve further with time. We will experience an evolving normal which will be an aggregate of some old AND many new things mixed together. What is great is that this combination of new and old will propel us to an even better place.
At MHRI, we have embraced the 'new' throughout our organization.
De-centralized clinical research studies are sweeping the nation with e-consents, telehealth research visits, remote study monitoring, and the use of apps or web-based patient interfaces. Our CDC-funded COVID-19 surveillance study "Join the Fight" has now surpassed 13,000 participants enrolled in under 6 months. A study this size would never have been possible if we tried to apply 'old' ways of conducting research with a face-to-face interaction for each participant. And while the study is de-centralized and web-based, it remains highly connected with more than 300 participants attending a virtual town hall last week for updates on the study, answers to some of their frequently asked questions, and a chance to virtually meet the research team. The engagement was palpable.
As you celebrate the spring holiday season with your family and friends (virtually or in-person), pause for a moment and reflect on what aspects of the 'old' in your holiday celebrations you relish and will preserve and what aspects of the 'new' you want to keep for your own 'evolving normal'?
Thank you for your contributions to advancing health and happy holidays, everyone.
Neil
Read Focus online at MedStarResearch.org/FOCUS.
