Random Musings From The Clinical Trials Guru

A specialty procedure your site cannot perform can be the start of a much bigger opportunity. On the road from Yuma to Phoenix, Dan Sfera explains how meeting physicians and specialty vendors can lead to patient referrals, new investigators, satellite locations, and access to additional therapeutic areas. He shares what to look for in a vendor beyond the procedure itself, including staff capacity, sponsor systems, data queries, and the logistics of getting patients to appointments.Dan also breaks down the costs that can disappear inside a single budget line: initial consultations, safety follow-ups, transportation, training, and ongoing coordination. He discusses negotiating required assessments into study budgets, deciding when to buy equipment, and building trust with physicians before proposing a research partnership. A lesson from an earlier site expansion highlights why ownership, acquisition plans, and control of your location deserve careful due diligence.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/4No7HmAq82QMy Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

Small research sites are leaving money on the table when the work they do never makes it into their study budgets. Dan Sfera breaks down how to turn real site activities into documented policies and defensible budget requests, from annual investigational product storage and lab kit management to protocol reviews, monitoring, audits, and archiving.Using examples from Yuma Clinical Trials, Dan discusses FibroScan screenings, complementary study portfolios, and community podcasts that introduce local businesses and build trust. He explains why outreach needs study-specific enrollment data behind it, how smaller sites can learn from academic medical centers, and why sponsors will not approve every fee. The conversation also covers prescreening consent, legal review, and keeping community screenings distinct from diagnosis or treatment.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/V7JUb9W9SccMy Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

Dan Sfera breaks down why a study coordinator's time and attention are among the most limited resources in clinical research. From keeping investigators on track to managing queries, vendor portals, training logs, and lab shipments, coordinators handle work that rarely fits neatly into a job description. Dan explains why more dashboards and electronic signatures do not automatically remove the bottlenecks, where automation can genuinely save time, and how rising study complexity can quickly absorb those gains. He also shares his perspective on small sites versus large site networks, the value of physicians who treat their own patients, and why stronger CRA relationships and training more coordinators matter.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/pFIFKmi0ElIMy Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

Dan Sfera sits down with CRA and industry veteran Damien Hall to discuss the relationship between monitors and study coordinators, and what gets lost when trackers and turnaround metrics take priority over working together. They share examples of resolving queries during database lock, supporting overloaded coordinators, and navigating staff turnover. The conversation also explores how AI is changing clinical research workflows, why experienced people still need to review its output, and whether saved time will improve site support or simply lead to heavier workloads. Damien and Dan discuss mentorship, career development, and why relationships remain essential as the industry adopts new technology.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Qu1405qGDK8Damien's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damien-hall-5a661310/My Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

A feasibility survey can determine whether your site gets a chance at a study. Dan Sfera walks through a real survey from a site owner’s perspective, explaining how to assess investigator experience, staffing, facilities, and recruitment capacity. He discusses realistic enrollment and screen-failure estimates, questions about advertising, and why the PI should help identify protocol barriers. Along the way, he spots answers his own team could improve and explains how to keep survey responses consistent with what the monitor hears at the site selection visit.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/IWYg6FHXc_AMy Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

Getting a physician interested in research is only the beginning. Dan Sfera explains why new clinical research sites struggle to win their first studies and build the infrastructure to deliver reliable data. Drawing on his experience in Yuma, he discusses starting with observational and specimen-collection studies, developing and retaining coordinators, and building study-specific workflows before trying to automate them. He also covers the challenges of finding specialty vendors in underserved communities and why he sees these gaps as opportunities for resourceful site owners.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/B2E-W5y1cOsMy Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

Dan Sfera joins Kelsey Powell for a conversation about Native American representation in clinical research and the evidence behind medication safety for Native communities.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/cClXMPS5-FUKelsey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-powell-tribalaffairs/My Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

AI can give clinical research teams better dashboards, faster data review, and more patient leads. So why are sites still overloaded? Dan Sfera breaks down the bottlenecks he sees as a site owner, from screening visits and coordinator schedules to on-site monitoring, study startup, and getting PI signatures. He explains where automation helps, why greater visibility does not automatically reduce the workload, and why he believes better technology will increase the need for coordinators and CRAs.Watch the video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tqRN6rLCq0My free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/My Substack (FREE): https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profileInato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.ioMy PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.comText Me: (949) 415-6256Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7aGET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorrText "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list!My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.comMy CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.comMy TikTok: DanSfera

My Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/ Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/ My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile Inato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6 CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.io My PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/ Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.com Text Me: (949) 415-6256 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7a GET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorr Text "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list! My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.com My CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.com My TikTok: DanSfera

My Free tools for sites and researchers: https://coordinare.co/ Free EDC Tool: https://crc-edc-sandbox.netlify.app/ My substack FREE: https://substack.com/@dansfera1?r=27gh4e&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile Inato: https://go.inato.com/3VnSro6 CRIO: http://www.clinicalresearch.io My PatientACE recruitment company: https://patientace.com/ Join me at my conference! http://www.saveoursites.com Text Me: (949) 415-6256 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JF6FNvoLnBpfIrLNCcg7a GET THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Clinical-Research-Practical/dp/1090349521/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dan+Sfera&qid=1691974540&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorr Text "guru" to 855-942-5288 to join VIP list! My blog: http://www.TheClinicalTrialsGuru.com My CRC Academy: http://www.TheCRCacademy.com My TikTok: DanSfera