About Us

Staffing model

Managers and leads within the scientific divisions work with research scientists and clinician researchers to assign staff to projects based on prior experience and desired skillsets. This model allows for more agile staffing of projects, promotes collaboration and cross-training among staff, and offers greater opportunities for professional development.

Project management

Experienced project managers provide overall study coordination support, make sure studies comply with Institutional Review Board and HIPAA requirements, manage resources and budgets, and ensure timely completion of deliverables. Our master’s and doctoral-level project managers have extensive experience managing different types of research projects.

Medical record review

Our research associates routinely review medical records using Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, our electronic health record system. They can efficiently search across encounters, accessing information from outpatient and inpatient visits as well as laboratory, pathology, pharmacy, and radiology services. Our staff have experience managing case review and adjudication processes, including assembly of committees of physician specialists.

Participant recruitment

Working with our programmers, project staff can leverage Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect information to screen for study eligibility, significantly accelerating the recruitment process. They manage outreach to recruit participants and can communicate with the participants’ physicians. Trained staff handle the consenting process, ensuring compliance with research regulations. They also have experience with retention of participants for long-term follow up.

Clinical assessment and specimen collection

Staff perform a variety of non-invasive clinical assessments, including measurements (such as blood pressure, height, weight, waist), neuro-cognitive tests, neuropathy screening, retinal photography, frailty assessments, and body composition testing. They conduct assessments in our Clinical Research Center, at Kaiser Permanente medical centers and offices around the region, and at participants’ homes.

Staff collect, process, and track research-related biological specimens, including blood and urine samples, and instruct participants on collecting stool samples. They can also initiate orders for research-related labs and imaging exams, such as MRIs or CT scans, at Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities.

Phase II through Phase IV studies

Our Division of Clinical Trials staff have significant experience with Phase II through Phase IV studies. Staff provide a wide range of support and services, including pre-study support, site management, regulatory support and consultation, project management, and project support.

Staff in our other scientific divisions also have experience with managing Phase IV post-marketing surveillance studies for vaccines, drugs, and devices.

Survey research

Using our HIPAA-compliant web-based survey tool, support staff can develop surveys and send links via email. The tool provides real-time tracking of participants’ online responses. Staff can automate reminders to streamline and accelerate collection efforts. They also have experience with paper surveys and can coordinate mass mailings and handle data entry for paper questionnaires.

Staff also conduct interviews over the phone or in person. They can travel to Kaiser Permanente Southern California medical centers and other facilities to meet study participants. Some of our staff are bilingual and can interview participants in their first language. Staff also have experience using interactive voice response systems.

Qualitative research

Our experienced staff can design and construct semi-structured interview guides with appropriate questions and probes, assist in recruiting and facilitating focus groups, record and transcribe individual and group interviews, and code and analyze responses using qualitative analysis software. They have experience with interviewing a variety of stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, and operational leaders, and can quickly and effectively build rapport with study participants.