Choosing the right Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) takes careful evaluation requiring a substantial time investment as well as extensive research. When choosing a CTMS, you should feel confident that you are making the right decision, as the wrong decision can be very costly to your organization in the short-term, resulting in long-term consequences.
The Depth of CTMS
When it comes to conducting clinical research, there are so many layers and processes that are required to make a successful research site run. Your entire organization relies on efficient processes and procedures that span multiple departments, tight adherence to regulations, and strict quality controls. Today’s CTMS includes much more than typical study management. Systems now provide researchers and staff with the ability to manage regulatory files, data collection, and communication and financial management tools all electronically.
Switching is a Nightmare
Imagine trying to change CTMS vendors with all your research data spanning all of your critical departments and processes floating in limbo. Considering the amount of complex and confidential information like study documents, patient data, study visits, financial tracking and so much more that essentially make up the backbone of your organization, the decision to change is huge and, quite honestly, most sites simply stick with that they have to avoid the headache of switching. Feeling stuck in a system that doesn’t meet your needs and limits your site’s ability to grow is a bad place to be. But if you have made the tough decision that it is time to make a change, make sure to ask potential vendors about the transition process, their experience with accomplishing these tedious transfers, and the expected outcomes of the data transfer. All the above helps to emphasize one key point… it is very important to choose the right CTMS the first time!
Evaluate and Compare Systems
When shopping for a new CTMS, here are some things you should examine:
- Look at the longevity of the company
- Compare real customer reviews and ratings on review websites such as Capterra
- Compare pricing options
- Look at the company’s values and mission
- Look at their customer support options
- Compare add-on software options that align with your site’s needs such as eSOURCE, eDOCS, automated stipend management, recruitment modules, system integrations, text messaging and more.
There are plenty of clinical trial management systems on the market and they will all have a good pitch, so you must take a close look at the depth and usability of the software. It is also a good idea to talk to references of similar organizations utilizing the products that you are most interested in. A BIG question to ask is, “how well do they support you and your staff?”
Your Success Depends on it!
Standing out from other sites, consistently succeeding on your studies and providing quality and compliant data to your sponsors is the key to success. Your CTMS is the information system that will greatly influence your organization’s ability to reach its highest goals, so it’s fairly safe to say that your organization’s success depends on choosing the right CTMS!
We hope that you give RealTime the opportunity to show you the systems that have built a global footprint of highly evolved and sophisticated sites and site networks utilizing proven CTMS that continue to advance year-after-year. We will take you on a full tour of the RealTime-SOMS (Site Operations Management System) with our highly research-knowledgeable team. We think you will find that no other CTMS compares!
Schedule a FREE demo today by calling (210) 852-4310 or click the button below!
