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Post by ac on Dec 11, 2014 20:29:31 GMT -5
Yeah, I'll second that. Noise (TVs, loud conversations, video games) kills it for me, too. Earbuds/headphones aren't really an option. The TVs there hang on a wall across the room from the beds. At least, in the large dorm-style rooms they do. Smaller rooms have four beds/one TV. But still, if you just want to lay in bed and chill/sleep/read and somebody else wants to watch TV, then too bad, you get to suffer. Goes with the territory, I guess. I always remind myself what I'm there for and how much I'm getting paid for it. The bedroom is supposed to be a quiet area. If it's during the day I won't say anything unless it's really extreme but if it's at night then it will be quiet. I have no more tolerance for inconsiderate people. If it's quiet hours/lights out time, I will ask them nicely one time to stop with the noise and then i'll go to the staff. I had to do that just last week when my roommate woke me up talking on the phone at 1:15am. I don't understand how that could possibly be considered acceptable. You have to stand up to those people or they'll just keep doing it. I've had to confront a fellow labrat about their noise at least once in over half the studies i've done and have gone to staff twice so far this year.
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Post by ac on Dec 11, 2014 18:07:02 GMT -5
Labrats turn their tv volume up, blocking out others from hearing their tv and not letting people sleep. It's always been like that. Four TVs in one room, on four different stations at once = volume war. I think most people don't know or don't care about the nasty effects that noise pollution has on mental health and stress levels. Excessive noise is the most stressful part of staying in a clinic for me. Worse than any needle pokes or other procedures. I've never been to Paraxel so I don't know the setup but can people plug earbuds into the tvs with an extender? It always amazes me how many people don't use earbuds with their phones or laptops but maybe it's not an option with the tvs.
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Post by ac on Dec 6, 2014 22:29:44 GMT -5
Anyone been here? Do they have a lot of studies? How much do they pay per day/night? Do they have reliable wi-fi? Are food and beverages mandatory? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by ac on Nov 12, 2014 17:11:37 GMT -5
Same here. Why do $215/night at Spaulding or $200/night at if you can do $250/night at Covance? I've never heard of paying only $200 per night. They're usually somewhere between $220 and $240. Occasionally a short study will pay much more. That $215/night rate at Spaulding is particularly outrageous because it's a month-long study that requires you to be in-house over Thanksgiving. Not surprised they're having trouble filling it. I've done 3 studies at and they all payed $200/day if you include check-out as a day. The only ones i've seen pay higher are the short ones and the ones with multiple periods but even then it's usually around $220/day.
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Post by ac on Nov 11, 2014 22:46:07 GMT -5
Yeah that pay rate is below the standard rate of 250 a night. Tis why I'm skipping it and heading to Covance. Same here. Why do $215/night at Spaulding or $200/night at if you can do $250/night at Covance?
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Post by ac on Nov 5, 2014 15:13:45 GMT -5
I was just there yesterday and I noticed this news made front page of the local paper. One staffer said they will keep the Covance name, but that they are concerned about their pay/benefits changing against their favor. My hope is that they don't start using VCT or start enforcing a 'must eat everything rule.' Covance Madison has always been my favorite clinic. I hope they stay just the same. Do you know anything about WHEN this change of ownership will take place? It's expected to close in the first quarter of 2015. Here's an article about it: www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/11/03/labcorp-covance/18401139/Covance is my first choice clinic. If they go to a 'must eat everything rule' they would be far less desirable to me. Even adding VCT or slightly reduced pay would be better than the food rule for me.
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Post by ac on Oct 9, 2014 17:29:01 GMT -5
Highly unlikely but if that was enough to make you really sore then it's possible. You should be fine.
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Post by ac on Sept 28, 2014 14:45:58 GMT -5
I've heard from multiple people that PPD strip searches people now. But I guess you can leave your underwear on. Can someone confirm if this is true? As of March '14 they do make you strip down to your boxers. Some of the workers will also make you pull out on the elastic band or turn it inside out to show you're not hiding anything. Haven't been there since late March so this is as of that time.
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Post by ac on Sept 28, 2014 14:33:35 GMT -5
may only fine you for not eating everything if it's a pk day but they enter in their system anytime they see that you didn't eat soing. They entered it in the system for me even though it wasn't a pk day or even a dosing day.
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Post by ac on Sept 27, 2014 18:30:57 GMT -5
Let's make a current list of clinics that do and don't require you to finish all food and drinks.
Covance and PPD do not require it except the occasional high fat breakfast which does need to be finished.
Spaulding and do require you to eat everything.
Spaulding will fine you for anything not eaten. lightened up a little but still hassel you if you don't eat everything. It goes in your record and they're starting to be very picky who they let into studies. If it's in your record that you don't eat everything, that could cost you a spot.
Please add eating requirements for clinics you've been to this year. Thanks
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Post by ac on Sept 15, 2014 20:14:19 GMT -5
I agree the phone screening process could be better. In addition to asking questions they should already know the answer to(assuming you've done studies there before) the recruiters i've gotten the last 2 times I called could barely speak English. It was difficult to understand what they were saying and just made the whole process more difficult and time consuming.
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Post by ac on Aug 4, 2014 17:31:19 GMT -5
Sounds good.
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Post by ac on Jul 31, 2014 10:06:38 GMT -5
There is way too much ego at . Just one example is the dude that's now in charge on the floor. Looks like Mr. Clean and acts like he's Hitler. I have never been so diespected in a professional environment before in my LIFE. I can't believe he's still working there. His name is Andreas. He's a hard worker and generally good guy however he shows a different side when he gets stressed and it's pretty ugly. There was one time where he was very rude to the "subjects" and also to the staff. He made one of the female techs cry for no good reason. The last time I went there, just a few months ago, he seemed better but still has an edge to him.
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Post by ac on Jul 31, 2014 7:49:43 GMT -5
I'm not sure if there's a short-term fix. You may want to try losing weight and lifting weights when you're between studies. May take months but should help.
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Post by ac on Jul 30, 2014 16:47:38 GMT -5
What's your BMI? People on the higher end often have trouble with blood draws because the techs can't see the vein very well. Can't hit what you can't see. If you're not on the high BMI range you may just need to drink more water. The more water you drink, the more "plump" your veins gets.
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