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Detailed Needs and Requirements: Clinical Studies Unit
In addition to ambulant patients, there may be non-ambulant, acute
patients on a clinical studies unit. These patients require the complete
range of diagnostic, therapeutic and supportive care normally accorded
acute patients.
It is likely that many of the patients on the clinical studies unit will not
understand the nature of the tests being conducted or the importance
of precise control and measurement. Others may lack sufficient
motivation to assure complete cooperation.
For these reasons, the patients may require considerable instruction
and supervision.
Many patients may also be apprehensive about the results of the test,
their chance for recovery, and their future activities, etc. and will need
to discuss these concerns with interested and qualified personnel.
2. Physicians
The clinical studies unit is generally under the direction of an internist.
The physician or physicians responsible for the clinical studies unit will,
with the help of residents, determine and evaluate study programs for
specific patients, check on the progress of various studies being
conducted, and analyzed the study results. They may also conduct
teaching rounds and conferences on the unit for interns and medical
students.
In addition to theses activities, the physicians may also be available for
consultation on other cases in the hospital and may assume direct
responsibility for the care of certain patients on general medical units.
They may also work in the outpatient clinics.
Depending on their interests, physicians or residents may be involved
in doing some laboratory analysis in the unit.
Patients from other sub-specialty units may come to the unit on a
consultative basis or to visit their patients who have been assigned to
the unit.
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