|
Post by antecubital on Sept 13, 2012 17:29:14 GMT -5
I know of a clinic in the east that lets out-of-towners in only for long straight-through studies, but they seem to do more in-and-out stuff-- which would be great for me. I like my studies broken up with partial payments throughout. Over two weeks straight, and I start going crazy. And the place I'm thinking of has a hostel. I had to turn one down there last month that paid great. It just didn't pay soon enough.
|
|
|
Post by carmel on Sept 14, 2012 3:15:50 GMT -5
I like my studies broken up with partial payments throughout. Over two weeks straight, and I start going crazy. And the place I'm thinking of has a hostel. That's an interesting anecdote. I never thought of the idea that a "broken up" study is actually a good thing. I keep looking at those and saying "forget it." But what do you do in these hostels? How do you spend all your time? Do you get your own room? I've been in hostels before, but that was in Europe. I stayed in bunk beds with anywhere from just a couple of bunks to as many as 6.
|
|
|
Post by travelingrat on Sept 14, 2012 11:56:06 GMT -5
(duplicate post)
|
|
|
Post by travelingrat on Sept 14, 2012 11:57:19 GMT -5
the main problem the clinics have with out of staters is we don't always show up for exit physicals, etc. a person could live in mexico right across the b from az and be pretty close, and maybe they've had a good track record of people showing up (because it's good money, in pesos.) still, if this is soing that's bothering you, you could complain to the IRB or the FDA. I personally have found IRB's to be a rubber stamp for whatever big pharma (c_v___) wants, but it lets you move your complaint up a notch. no-out-of-staters policies have costs me a lot of money over the years. right now i'm in a study 500 miles from home, living out of a hostel, took a little convincing for them to let me in.
|
|
|
Post by travelingrat on Sept 14, 2012 12:02:31 GMT -5
i seem to be having some technical difficulties replying to the post i wanted to! sorry about that! anyway thanks vark for the suggestion re complaining to the IRB. i am a bit hesitant as when i have seen volunteers complaining about clinic problems, it has not always turned out so well for them FDA: what section of the FDA would i write to? does anyone know? //// hostels: i have not stayed in a hostel but i have had great success in renting temp rooms through craigslist for studies that have dragged on and one. i will say that celerion NJ has been extremely generous to me and others i know, with "courtesy stays." it never hurts to ask!
|
|
|
Post by antecubital on Sept 14, 2012 16:35:16 GMT -5
I've stayed in hostels in Madison, Philly, Baltimore, Washington... and some other places I've forgotten about.
Every one of them has dorm rooms with 4 to 10 beds ($20-$35 per night) and private rooms ($50 and up/shared bathrooms). Most hostels are all day, and you can hang out in your room or in the kitchen or common areas. The kitchen is there for use of guests. You can store and cook food. Utensils, refrigerator, stove, pots, plates and all that are there for guests to use.
Hostels are typicaly (though with some exceptions) located downtown, on public transit lines. Parking varies. (I don't drive, so I'm not the person to ask.)
I kind of use doing studies in far-off places as an excuse to travel and take a "vacation" from my other work. So for me it's kind of a treat to be able to stay in a hostel, cook my own food, meet people from all over. It's fun.
|
|
|
Post by carmel on Sept 15, 2012 19:52:35 GMT -5
I've stayed in hostels in Madison, Philly, Baltimore, Washington... and some other places I've forgotten about. Every one of them has dorm rooms with 4 to 10 beds ($20-$35 per night) and private rooms ($50 and up/shared bathrooms). Most hostels are all day, and you can hang out in your room or in the kitchen or common areas. The kitchen is there for use of guests. You can store and cook food. Utensils, refrigerator, stove, pots, plates and all that are there for guests to use. Hostels are typicaly (though with some exceptions) located downtown, on public transit lines. Parking varies. (I don't drive, so I'm not the person to ask.) I kind of use doing studies in far-off places as an excuse to travel and take a "vacation" from my other work. So for me it's kind of a treat to be able to stay in a hostel, cook my own food, meet people from all over. It's fun. That's interesting, antecubital. I think if I do get into this soon, I would definitely take advantage of traveling. Although, my main purpose would be to make money so I can go to school. I can't lose sight of that. Otherwise I'll be forever trying to save cash. I can see how these youth hostels can add up, though. So if we average it out to be $27 per night.... that adds up to $189 a week. I imagine your down time is lower than a week, right? So you probably not spending that much. I agree about the "meeting of people" and "fun." When I was in Europe it was very easy meeting people when I stayed in hostels. I'm not even an extrovert. I'm very laid back. For whatever reason it just happens. You talk to people and then you even go out to eat at restaurants with them. In Europe, people were from all over the world. Australians, Kiwis, Argentinians, etc. Very few fellow Americans.
|
|
|
Post by antecubital on Sept 16, 2012 5:58:39 GMT -5
I basically look at how much the study pays, how much I'll have to spend total (screening, check-in/check-out trips, outpatient visits) and calculate how much I'll clear at the end of the study.
If the hostel or hotel costs were to go over a certain amount, I'd think about going home and coming back.
Just remember that there are no guarantees about getting into a study. You could screen and not get accepted, and there goes your screening money. Or you could screen, get accepted, check in, but only stay one night and get sent home for whatever reason (you were an alternate and they didn't need you, soing was off in your labs), and they might pay you $100-$200 (in the mail a few weeks later, I might add), so there goes whatever money you spent above that couple hundred.
You mention : Last I heard, they pay $125 for screening, even if they don't take you into the study. Just show up and complete the screening and don't test positive for drugs.
|
|
|
Post by vark on Sept 19, 2012 10:37:50 GMT -5
"Just out of curiosity, what did you say to the clinic to convince them to let you stay? Asking in case I ever find myself in this situation. Look forward to hearing your reply."
well, it's odd, if you are from out of town they won't talk to you on the phone, so it took a few emails back and forth, but i just assured them i'd be able to find a place to stay and i was eager to do the study. they hadn't said i couldn't, just suggested it might not be a good one for me. review to follow shortly.
I ended up spending one night at a fleabag motel, 5 nights at the hostel (6 counting when i stayed there at screening,and they have a tough 5 night maximum rule) two nights at a couchsurf. (couchsurfing.com). my experiences with hostels and couchsurfing have been positive. (well, i can't always find a couchsurf when i want one, but when i find one they are good.)
|
|
|
Post by carmel on Sept 19, 2012 23:24:19 GMT -5
I ended up spending one night at a fleabag motel, 5 nights at the hostel (6 counting when i stayed there at screening,and they have a tough 5 night maximum rule) two nights at a couchsurf. (couchsurfing.com). my experiences with hostels and couchsurfing have been positive. (well, i can't always find a couchsurf when i want one, but when i find one they are good.) Thanks for sharing, vark. Just out of curiosity how are you and others finding out about all the available hostels? When I went backpacking I bought a "Let's Go" book. The people who owned the Lonely Planet books were always asking me if they could look at my Let's Go book because it was much better with youth hostel information. So if you've never taken a look at one of those Let's Go books be sure to take a look at one at a major bookstore in the future. That's too bad about the "5 night maximum." Or just check this out: hostels.letsgo.com/
|
|
|
Post by antecubital on Sept 20, 2012 12:42:37 GMT -5
I found out about hostelling through the Let's Go USA books, back in 1995. Now, I use the internet, and there are a number of hostelling sites, if you search for them.
|
|
|
Post by lincnebr on Sept 20, 2012 18:39:33 GMT -5
Newbie here. I have a done a lot of studies in Lincoln, going back to when Celerion was called Harris Labs and then MDS Pharma Services. At times as a participant I worried that I might say soing negative that would cause the recruiters to tell me there wasn't a study for me. I don't have much to complain about though so I've not had a problem. The studies are just some extra money for me, not a job, like it seems it is for some people. I guess that's why it's easier for me to do them.... I don't see the inconveniences as all that major. It beats having a second job and I am helping others out. The studies I have done that had returns to them were pretty easy. None of my returns, on multiple studies ever lasted 4 hours. Maybe about an hour though. If they did I wouldn't have taken the study. My big thing in finding a study that works for me is to tell the recruiter what I want. It's not always the biggest paying study, but sometimes the one that fits my work schedule. I ask how many they need on my group of the study and if they have already screened others for it. I use to check every week on new studies so that I got the best choices. The people that work in Lincoln seemed pretty nice. It seems like they are under lots of guidelines from the government and the people paying for the studies. I don't take meds to stay alive but I suppose, for the sake of those not so healthy, it's a good thing that they are fussy on some parts. I do know that most people that do the studies are decent people although you will get some that can't Shedding some light on Celerion in Lincoln. I am writing about my expereinces as well as sharing suspicions of "hand picking" study participants. I live in the area and have participated in several studies, know several people who do studies, and some of the employees who have worked at Celerion. COMPENSATION Celerion is paying less then it used to. I did a 16 day study a year ago and it paid 5500. Now 4 4nights with 28 returns is 5200. They also pay, on average, a few hundred less than other clinics. RETURNS The returns at Celerion on average are about 4 hours. and you are required to stay regardless if you are the first or last number. FOOD Their food regiment is also very strict and it is not very good. This is relative, I know, but you will understand when you have to eat a high-fat meal or some of their dinners. WIFI The wifi at Celerion in Lincoln is very bad. It is almost non-existent. They have recognized that their wifi is a problem for years, but have not addressed it. I can check my email and use messenger, but watching episodes does happen. PHONE SERVICE Phone service is an issue as well. Sprint has almost NO reception, T-mobile is not supported in Lincoln, and Verizon and AT&T also have signal issues. FACILITES The Celerion facility can be very smelly. There was one area that smelled like a toilet or sewage drain. Stay in that all weekend. If the place smell like a turd, I do not care how many big screens they have. SUSPICIONS Over the past 6 – 7 years, I have become suspicious of Celerion for a number of things. Tom, the guy who goes over the lab packet, says that the you call in is your study number , but I know people and I myself have called in less than a minute after the results call started and ended up an alternative. Tom also says that the impression you give during you screening appointment can affect whether or not you will be on a study. He slips this in when he talks about using you cell phone during the screening appointment. If how you use your cell phone affects your eligibility, what else does? The study managers at Celerion also try to “select” or “weed” out people who they think will not make it through the study. For example they have a randomized high-fat breakfast for a study that is 4 weekends. You would be surprised in this so called randomness when you see who has to eat the breakfast for the 1st week. It is better for study manager to get rid of someone early on rather than at the end of the study. Remember you can be dismissed from the study at any time for a number of made up reasons. The smoother the trials go and the better the results of the trial, the happier the client is. It is politics. Then, to become a study participant at Celerion you have to go to their screening. Then you have to pass the results call. This is where everyone calls in at the same time, which is supposed to provide randomness to the study. Imagine 50+ people calling at the same time. If your call gets through, you are then told whether or not your lab work is ok. (If you pass your lab work) Who gets in as well as who is an alternative is very suspicious. They say it is all random, but I am beginning to think otherwise. I also called Celerion to sign up for a study and they told me I did not qualify and could not give me a reason. Then the phone call was disconnected. When I tried to call back again, somehow I was disconnected again. I tried this another time and the same thing happened. Weird right?
|
|
|
Post by vark on Sept 22, 2012 18:17:55 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity how are you and others finding out about all the available hostels?
I just googled hostel (name of town). I had had fun hosteling around england with my girlfriend back when i was younger. edit: oh the hostel info was right on the jalr page about buffalo, if i'd noticed. = i screen in october for a $3500 study at celerion lincoln. anyone in lincoln i can crash with? otherwise i'll just get right back on the bus.
= update: i screened. i had trouble finding the place, so i was late, and they were ok about that, but i think that's why my blood pressure was high and i didn't get to finish the screening.
Tom's a trip; I like him.
what i learned, if true: they screen about 3 times as many as they need. assume some of those drop out or have bad labs, so you are competing with about twice as many people as they need, and the next step is a phone call where first to get through gets the spot. (i was 6 minutes late on my callback to springfield earlier this month which is why i didn't get in there.)
but there's a catch. people who have screened before and didnt get in, get a free pass and don't have to do the call-in thing. some studies fill this way and nobody who calls in gets in. so you should plan on likely having to screen twice to get in once. this favors the locals who have low costs to screen; it cost my around $300. but i got to see the place and get my foot in the door, and i might go back. i guess the best strategy is to screen for any old study the first time, get your free pass, and then wait for a high pay study. i had a free pass from their jersey location, but i didn't bring that up, because they apparently only let you screen at one of their three locations, not all three. they wouldn't let my roommate screen in lincoln because he is registered at jersey; i had re-registered at lincoln. the bus station is in the middle of nowhere, and the prices back were different from what greyhound had said they would be.
|
|
|
Post by labrat1 on Oct 27, 2012 19:24:17 GMT -5
CELERION'S IRB HAS DISBANDED A BIG CONTROVERSY IS BREWING.
|
|
|
Post by vark on Feb 25, 2013 17:32:35 GMT -5
I will be there for 20 days in march, unless i don't pass the dr's exam or they make me an alternate. Any tips on what to bring or what not to bring? earplugs mentioned above sounds like a good idea. i'll bring a laptop, two books, a thermometer. not sure yet about pillow, blanket.
latest update: didn't get in at the second screening, ekg slightly off. i'm annoyed because when you sign up they tell you they do the procedures on the first visit and the the second visit is just a doctors appointment, but actually they don't do the ekg till the second visit. when i dont get into studies it's because of the ekg. so i'm out $400 and a couple weeks time and a lot of hiking around nebraska in february. i had cancelled my vince screening to go to this one. = the next time i screened at celerion i got in, but was an alternate, so i still lost a little money. I am down $1000 total in trying to get in at this place. i screened there recently (2015) but got in somewhere else so i didnt end up calling in to see if i got in.
|
|