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When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Job Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Job Summary

The BIDMC Institute for Lung Health is seeking a clinical research assistant (CRA) to serve as the principal recruiter for an NIH-funded clinical trial related to environmental exposures and respiratory health. The trial involves placement of real or sham air purifiers in the homes of 200 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As the lead recruiter of the study, the CRA will be responsible for (1) implementing a well-established system to identify and contact potential participants from the medical record, (2) expanding recruitment to BILH network hospital sites who are participating in the trial, (3) obtaining participant consent, (4) managing a REDCap database for recruitment tracking, (5) managing a small team of college student researchers who assist with recruitment efforts, and (6) conducting home visits together with other team members to collect pollution exposure data and health measures (e.g. lung function, questionnaires) from trial participants. The CRA will also maintain active IRB approvals at BIDMC, including any updates for the participating sites. The ideal candidate enjoys working in teams, has excellent organizational and communication skills, and has prior research or clinical trial experience. Applicants pursuing a career in medicine are encouraged to apply. A two year commitment is expected.

Department Description

The BIDMC Institute for Lung Health is a growing research team of physician scientists and epidemiologists led by Dr. Mary Rice, a pulmonologist within the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine. The core mission of the Institute for Lung Health is to identify preventable causes of chronic lung disease, and to translate research findings into patient care and health policies that improve lung health. The research team works closely with collaborators at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and other Harvard Medical School institutions. Members of the Institute attend regular conferences at BIDMC and affiliated institutions, including twice monthly pulmonary research meetings hosted by the Institute for Lung Health at BIDMC.

Responsible for screening research subjects for participation in clinical research projects, enrolling research subjects onto these studies, monitoring protocol implementation, completing required forms and reporting results. Works closely with other clinical research staff.

Job Description:

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Independently or in conjunction with other clinical research staff and/or research nurse, recruits and enrolls research subjects onto clinical research projects according to study protocols. May assess research subjects' eligibility for inclusion in a particular protocol based on contracts with physicians and nurses and knowledge of the protocol. (essential)

2. Checks all eligibility and ineligibility criteria with the research subjects' medical record. Verifies information with clinical research nurse and/or principal investigator. (essential)

3. Discusses informed consent with research subjects. Interacts with research subjects prior to entering the study and throughout the entire treatment. Assists with scheduling appointments and follow up tests. (essential)

4. Learns protocol and monitors strict adherence to protocols by physicians, nurses and research subjects. Reviews protocol requirements with physicians, nurses and fellows. Identifies any problems with protocol compliance and notifies principal investigator and/or research nurse. Begins to learn how to independently resolve problems with protocol. (essential)

5. Extracts data on protocol subjects from hospital records, outpatient charts and private physician office records in order to complete case report forms required by specific protocols. Enters data into computerized system. (essential)

6. Assists clinic staff in obtaining insurance approval for subject protocol participation and scheduling tests and arranging admissions or outpatient visits for subjects. (essential)

7. Assists investigator with correspondence with IRB. (essential)

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree required.

2. 0-1 years related work experience required.

3. Working knowledge of computerized data (word processing, spreadsheets, and database).

4. Medical terminology.

5. Experience with computer systems required, including web based applications and some Microsoft Office applications which may include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Access.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Previous clinical research project experience.

Competencies:

1. Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are based on specific instructions, standard practices and established procedures which generally require little or no supervision.

2. Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are routine, somewhat repetitive and generally solved by following clear directions and procedures and by identifying opportunities for process improvements.

3. Independence of Action: Ability to follow general instructions and procedures as provided. Work is monitored by supervisor/manager.

4. Written Communications: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English with internal and external customers.

5. Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and converse in English to communicate effectively with medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.

6. Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate full working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures and policies with the ability to use them in varied situations.

7. Team Work: Ability to work collaboratively in small teams to improve the operations of immediate work group by offering ideas, identifying issues, and respecting team members.

8. Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service to patients, visitors, staff and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Social/Environmental Requirements:

1. Work requires close attention to task for work to be accurately completed. Intermittent breaks during the work day do not compromise the work.

2. Work routine is fairly consistent, but employee needs to be able to use judgment to respond to events several times a week.

3. Potential exposure to adverse environmental conditions

o Daily: Exposure to dust,gas,fumes,steam,chemicals, Protective equipment required(Respirator,earplugs,mask,gloves,eyewear etc), Potential exposure to infectious diseases and/or airborne pathogens, Potential exposure to infectious diseases and/or bloodborne pathogens.

o Several times a month: Radiation-irradiator possible.

1. Health Care Status: HCW 2: Regular, day-to-day contact; face-to-face only. Examples: Front desk receptionist, info desk receptionist, resource specialists, interpreters, transporters, etc.- Health Care Worker Status may vary by department

Sensory Requirements:

Close work (paperwork, visual examination), Color vision/perception, Visual clarity <3 feet, Hot/Cold, Sharp/Dull, Smell, Conversation, Monitoring Equipment, Telephone, Background Noise.

Physical Requirements:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Some elements of the job are sedentary, but the employee will be required to stand for periods of time or move through out the hospital campus

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) and COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Learn more (https://www.bilh.org/newsroom/bilh-to-require-covid-19-influenza-vaccines-for-all-clinicians-staff-by-oct-31) about this requirement.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled