Coastal Carolina Research Center (CCRC) utilizes systematic recruitment and enrollment strategies that are based on experience, historical enrollment metrics, local community needs and interests, current health and medical trends, referral trends, and multi-media effectiveness.

CCRC recruitment strategies take flight during study feasibility, long before we are awarded a study. CCRC has weekly business meetings every Tuesday to address any needs or concerns with ongoing clinical studies. In attendance are Dr. Strout (Medical Director), Nancy (President), Nathan (Director of Business), Jennifer and Mary Ellen (Site Managers), Mary or Ali (Recruitment Coordinators) and a rotation of our other study coordinators. At the end of these meetings we discuss new potential studies and we brainstorm to gradually implement potential recruitment strategies. Ideally we utilize the time from study feasibility to site initiation to maximize recruitment success.

After the recruitment strategy has been developed, it is executed in combination by our dedicated Recruitment & Education Coordinators and Director of Business Development. Ultimately, however, it is a “team approach” in which everyone contributes. CCRC recognizes that recruitment is potentially the most dynamic and unpredictable element in conducting clinical research. Our ongoing pre-study efforts and multi-strategic approach we think minimizes this unpredictability and provides value to Sponsors and CROs.

CCRC Recruitment Tools include:

• CCRC Research Database – approximately 7,600 active volunteers, which may be queried by medical diagnosis, age, gender, BMI, location, etc.. CCRC currently used Clinasyst and it is managed by our Database Manager.
  
  
• Professional Referrals: Clinical Research Site + Community Private Practices - working with CCRC gives Sponsors/CROs the best of both worlds. As a dedicated research site we are clinical specialists with a large database plus our local sub-investigators have their own private practices in which they may refer potential research volunteers. **Note CCRC does not reimburse physicians for referrals
  
  
• RESEARCH MATTERS newsletter – this bi-monthly newsletter is sent to our entire volunteer database and other Lowcountry citizens. You are welcome to check out our most recent release by clicking here.
  
  
• Volunteer Referrals – CCRC encourages “word of mouth” referrals from our existing volunteers. If volunteers bring a family member or friend with them it can enhance the entire experience.
  
  
• Health Screening / Health Fairs – CCRC will offer annual no cost health screening to any Lowcountry resident to check their cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels.
  
  
• Doctor to Patient Letters
  
  
• Email Blasts
  
  
• Telephone Blasts
  
  
• Volunteer Packets – every person who qualifies volunteers for a CCRC clinical study receives a “Volunteer Packet” which includes the following promotional items: T-Shirt (Dri-release cotton), Beverage Tumbler, Brass ballpoint pen, Key Chain with beverage opener, Collapsible Coozie, Memo pads, Jar opener, Refrigerator magnet, and Volunteer folder
  
  
• As needed CCRC Outreach efforts include local non-profit community centers, churches, support groups and businesses.
  
  
• Multi-media expertise. CCRC works with Advertising Service Agency (ASA) to identify the most effective media venues to use given the specific target audience and recruitment budget available. We have used various media strategies including, but not limited to:
  1. Print media – in main metro newspaper and also in more focused publications
  2. Radio media
  3. TV media
  4. Direct Mail
  5. Internet Advertising including CenterWatch, Clinical Connection, Website Banners
  6. Web Optimization
  7. Flyers and Posters
  8. Billboards
  
  
  
• CCRC has worked with numerous Centralized Advertising Vendors including: Acurian, Healthcare Communications Group (HCG), MMG, Praxis, Iris, BBK Healthcare

Click on our list of clinical studies, in which we have experience. For several of these indications, CCRC considers ourselves to be “experts” in the field and highly efficient. These “Expert” areas include:

• Obesity
• Obesity with co-morbid conditions
• Flu Vaccines
• Contraceptives
• GERD
• Erosive Esophagitis
• Heartburn
• Migraines
• Onychomycosis (Toenail Fungus)
• Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis)
• Migraines
• Smoking Cessation
• Insomnia
• Dyslipidemia
• Hyperlipidemia
• Osteoarthritis
• Hypertension with ABPM
• Diabetes type II