|
Post by puntkicker on Sept 9, 2016 23:20:33 GMT -5
I'm about to screen there, and was curious if anyone could give me any idea what their experience was like? It doesnt need to be within the last year, although that might be preferable. I've read every thread in this subforum, and nothing about the actual place(other than a ban on bringing blankets and pillows) was mentioned.
For instance, how did you find the facilities, food, other participants, staff, etc?
If you have any hotels you give a thumbs up or down to, that could be helpful as well, but not as necessary. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by ac on Sept 10, 2016 6:08:43 GMT -5
Madison Covance is my preferred clinic and i've been there multiple times in the last year. The staff is almost all very friendly and high quality, just a couple exceptions. The food is reasonable. The food is sometimes(often) not warm when it should be or room temp when it should be cold. You get plenty of food and it's almost never mandatory to eat anything. That's a big plus to me. I hate the clinics that require you to eat everything. The facility is reasonably good. There are 2 tv rooms, lots of books, movies, and board games. The wifi is usually good. The BIG negative about Madison is they do radio label studies. Those studies have urine and stool collection and anytime there is a study like that in house they lock all the bathroom 24 hrs a day. That means every time you have to go to the bathroom you have to find a staff member to let you in. From around 4pm to 6am the staff office often is empty and you have to track down someone to let you in a bathroom. This could be a big problem if the drug or food gives you digestive problems. This is really the only thing I would consider a big negative for this clinic bit it is really BIG. The other participant vary greatly. The bigger the study the more out of state people it attracts and they are usually more rowdy and inconsiderate than the local people. I would say the participants overall are better than most other clinics but it only takes one bad roommate to ruin a study. The room have 4 people each and two room share a bathroom so that's 8 people sharing one bathroom and one shower. Hope this helps. Oh yeah, hotels. There are several hotels about a mile away including a Howard Johnson and Motel 6 which are very affordable. Madison is a much safer and cleaner city than a lot of other cities that clinics are in but it get very cold in the winter so be prepared for that.
|
|
|
Post by idoitforthepong on Sept 10, 2016 7:04:41 GMT -5
I will agree with everything AC had to say, but I feel obligated to mention they have a ping pong (and pool) table so rec wise it is better then most clinics. Madison is a fun town to explore and consider staying at the hostel downtown if you want to save on cash and your a light sleeper.
|
|
|
Post by puntkicker on Sept 11, 2016 23:46:25 GMT -5
Thanks folks, posts like that are what make me really enjoy this board. I think in the span of an hour, you 2 covered more about the inner workings of this place than the subforum did for the entire existence of the board, and I am VERY grateful for that! (Although if anyone else wants to add anything, that would be cool as well).
That locked door thing does sound like it could be a big issue, if digestive problems happen like you mentioned. I took the "virtual tour" online, and it looks quite different than Covance Dallas. I guess ground floor instead of being in a high rise makes a big difference. That patio looks cool for getting air and some sun on longer studies.
I booked a hotel for my screening already, and even for the night before the study(it was one with free cancellation), but I was curious why you recommended hostels for light sleepers, idoitforthepong? I am one, but figured a crowded dormitory-style hostel room would be less inviting for a light sleeper?
Thanks for the room and bathroom information, ac. One for 8 people seems like it could be somewhat problematic around shower time, but I imagine I'll get by. Do they also have maybe a random bathroom in the hallway somewhere in case of emergencies when the other one is in use? Yeah, the mention of digestive issues is making me want to ask these things ahead of time. The food sounds like good news. Im screening for a longer study, so Im guessing I'll be with a decent amount of out of towners, but I shouldnt complain being I am one of them.
AC, if I make the study, I will have a few days before a singular follow up, and plan to stay in town. When you mentioned Madison was fun to explore, if you have any specific recommendations, I'd welcome them. Thanks again to both of you, now I'm back to just hoping I get in. When I was younger I used to love ping pong, so that might be fun!
|
|
|
Post by puntkicker on Sept 12, 2016 0:04:10 GMT -5
The one downside I've noticed before making it there, was the long time until the screening, and then the long time from the screening until the study. I think between the two, it came out to about 5 weeks from the day I called in. Is that soing fairly common at this location?
Ive read about Labcorp on here, and was wondering if it is (im)possible to screen for soing at Spaulding while I'm in town? I'm guessing it would be, being they aren't going to screen more than 30 days before a study. For the length of my trip, I really would like to maximize it, if it makes sense. Although my observations in my relatively short time on here make it seem like Spaulding doesnt quite have the lengthy studies Covance does, in general?
|
|
|
Post by ac on Sept 12, 2016 9:27:19 GMT -5
Yes it is normal/typical for Covance to have a long time between screening and check-in, 3 weeks is common. I don't think it's unreasonable to have an appointment to screen at two different places. You may find when you screen at one place that you don't like soing in the informed consent or you may fail your vitals or soing like that so it's nice to have a back up. However, I would recommend canceling the second screening if the first one goes well. If you screen for both and pass both screenings then you have to cancel one and clinics don't like if people cancel AFTER the screening. It costs them hundreds of dollars to screen each person. is one clinic that I know of for sure that will penalize you for doing such. I know someone who got suspended for 6 months after he cancelled a third time. I'd be surprised if they are the only ones who do soing like that.
|
|
|
Post by vark on Sept 15, 2016 13:35:30 GMT -5
you are right that several places get pissed if you cancel after a screening and may penalize you in some way. pharmamedica and biopharma are examples. but this is a violation of the principle of informed consent. they should not be putting pressure onto anyone to be in their studies.
in madison, go to state street,and do stay at the hostel, it's fun and a little cheaper.
|
|
|
Post by ac on Sept 15, 2016 16:52:35 GMT -5
you are right that several places get pissed if you cancel after a screening and may penalize you in some way. pharmamedica and biopharma are examples. but this is a violation of the principle of informed consent. they should not be putting pressure onto anyone to be in their studies. in madison, go to state street,and do stay at the hostel, it's fun and a little cheaper. I disagree with you on this one. Once you sign that consent you are signing a contract to complete that job. Failure to do so should result in a punishment up to and including being banned from their clinic. Some leeway should be given depending on circumstances such as death in family.
|
|
FloridaGirl
Full Member
I am new to Phase 1 clinical trials so I am trying to learn as much as I can .
Posts: 160
Location: Florida
I mainly do: Healthy Studies
# of studies I have done: 3
A little about me: I am just getting started in clinical trials . Became unemployed and was doing small outpatient studies until someone told me about Covance and it has ed up a new world of making money.
So I am trying to do more inpatient studies and am hoping to do even more next year.
|
Post by FloridaGirl on Sept 15, 2016 20:13:51 GMT -5
Yes it is normal/typical for Covance to have a long time between screening and check-in, 3 weeks is common. I don't think it's unreasonable to have an appointment to screen at two different places. You may find when you screen at one place that you don't like soing in the informed consent or you may fail your vitals or soing like that so it's nice to have a back up. However, I would recommend canceling the second screening if the first one goes well. If you screen for both and pass both screenings then you have to cancel one and clinics don't like if people cancel AFTER the screening. It costs them hundreds of dollars to screen each person. is one clinic that I know of for sure that will penalize you for doing such. I know someone who got suspended for 6 months after he cancelled a third time. I'd be surprised if they are the only ones who do soing like that. Yes, the wait in between Covance studies is long. You have to wait I think 20 days out before u can schedule a screening which is usually a couple of weeks out and then the study doesn't usually start until another 3 weeks. I am going to try and start screening at other clinics in between otherwise u end up with a 2 month gap( by only doing Covance studies) i am really enjoying everyone's input on this site. i am learning a lot.
|
|