Clinical Research Assistant

About the Role

Serves as a health promotion advocate in the Emergency Department’s PH2S/HealthNow Program, a population health-focused program addressing health needs proactively, with a focus on patients living with HIV, Hepatitis C, substance use, etc.

Key Responsibilities

• Participates in identifying and intervening with at-risk populations.
• Helps connect patients with community resources to improve health outcomes.
• Performs clinical-support and administrative functions to support the program.
• Interviews patients to elicit health needs history.
• Administers questionnaires in a courteous, professional, and empathetic manner.
• Coordinates point-of-care testing as applicable.
• Refers patients to appropriate HealthNow Program team members for community resource referrals.
• Maintains patient records ensuring strict confidentiality.
• Maintains appropriate tracking and reporting systems.
• Collects, analyzes, and compiles data for progress reports.
• Supports various community-based clinical research studies.
• Assists with the organization and maintenance of study files and documents.
• Assists with timely and accurate data entry of study-specific data.
• Carries out successful screening of patients presenting to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center facilities (East and Main campus) for various health-related services such as OUD/SUD, HIV testing, HCV education, harm reduction education, naloxone distribution.
• Addresses non-clinical barriers preventing engagement with the health system.
• Utilizes inclusion and exclusion criteria for participation in clinical services and research studies.
• Provides education and services for health promotion and education.
• May work in a variety of settings as approved by medical director, relevant stakeholders, and administrators.

Essential Functions

• Screen patients and receive referrals for patients potentially eligible for HealthNow program activities.
• Approach patients and explain HealthNow program processes/services.
• Consent and enroll participants in eligible research studies.
• Complete system-approved point-of-care clinical and confirmatory tests (e.g., rapid HIV test, risk screening) and discuss test results with the patient.
• Refer the patient to the next level of care or linkage services as indicated.

Research Role

• Provides assistance in support of clinical research studies in the Department of Emergency Medicine.
• Participates in the recruitment of study participants.
• Collects and provides relevant data to assess eligibility of patients for participation in protocols.
• Assists with administration of the informed consent process.
• Assists with cognitive testing (clinically and for research visits).
• Assists the principal investigator (PI) and sub-investigator with continuity of care for study patients.
• Assists with collection, entering, maintenance, and reporting of clinical research data.
• Assists with analysis and interpretation of research data.
• Enters protocol, medical history, and demographic information from patient charts into appropriate data capturing systems.
• Enters patient clinical data into the electronic medical record system.
• Reviews data and progress notes with research specialists, CRCs, principal investigator, and sponsor agencies.
• Composes and responds to correspondence from principal investigators.
• Prepares appropriate protocol files for data audits.
• Assists with development of data collection plan and forms for new research protocols.
• Prepares summaries of research results for protocol evaluation, abstract, and manuscripts.

Clinical Role

• Addresses patient concerns through active listening and escalates as needed to the care team.
• Researches and stays up-to-date on available services/programs within and outside the OSU network to benefit patients.
• Completes other related duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
• Works closely with appropriate clinical services and linkage to care teams to ensure referrals are completed and patients' needs are assessed.
• Employs motivational interviewing (MI), open-ended questions, and client-centered counseling to collect patient information.
• Ensures information is promptly passed on to the linkage coordinator or the care team.
• This role involves multi-disciplinary teams and collaboration.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, Health Sciences, or medical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 0 years of relevant experience required.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience preferred.

Note: Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with the online application. For assistance, please contact [email protected].

Note: Background check, drug screen, or physical may be required during the post-offer process.