A hallmark of quality training at global contract research organization PPD is its long-standing Clinical Foundation Program (CFP) for clinical research associates (CRAs). CFP is a six-day, comprehensive program focusing on theoretical knowledge and practical application skills for monitoring clinical trials.
CFP provides a firm foundation for all newly hired CRAs with little or no previous industry experience. Each module builds upon the last, with each day loaded with hands-on activities simulating on the job tasks required for the role. As part of the program, participants complete a performance-based assessment that appraises various levels of learning, from knowledge and comprehension to application and evaluation.
The program has become a springboard for additional trainings within PPD, such as the Pre-CFP and See One Do One.
Pre-CFP
A program for new CRAs at PPD with two or more years of previous monitoring experience, Pre-CFP utilizes all of the CFP materials and tools via a confidential, secure Website. These experienced CRAs review the CFP materials as self-study, then take a post-assessment similar to the CFP Assessment. Upon successful completion, the CRAs move directly to clinical project teams. In 2012, approximately 70 percent of the Pre-CFP learners tested out of the full CFP program; the others were prescribed additional training or coaching based on the results. This has resulted in cost savings of approximately $1 million, since these CRAs moved to billable projects immediately.
See One Do One
See One Do One is a more advanced version of CFP geared toward more experienced CRAs or less experienced CRAs who desire a challenge. This three-day course simulates a real-life investigator site visit and builds on the protocol and case studies presented in CFP. New levels of complexity are incorporated as the clock has moved forward six months for the mock study, with more data to review and errors to detect as in real life.
The See One Do One course is an alternative to the See One Do One field visits requiring travel to and from investigator sites. This helps eliminate travel costs, while at the same time increasing the monitoring efficiency of PPD CRAs by demonstrating techniques for better planning, conducting, and reporting of monitoring visits. Early Level 3 feedback from managers is positive. As one example, of managers who responded about their direct reports, 33 percent considered site management tasks to be ineffectively completed before the course vs. 88 percent after they completed the course.
Additional Results
CFP often is sought after by external clients, and PPD provides an abbreviated version of the program to other contract research organizations or sponsor clients upon request. Utilizing these same CFP training materials for development of other staff in this industry leads to increased revenue and positive recognition for PPD. External recognition has been achieved through recent awards from CenterWatch, Microsoft, and InformationWeek 500 for the company’s use of PPD®3D, of which CFP was the inaugural program delivered by this platform.
