Medical Minute: OhioHealth Makes Clinical Trial Opportunities Easier to Access Through MyChart
Key Takeaways:
- OhioHealth patients can now use MyChart to discover clinical research opportunities and indicate interest in participating in studies.
- Patients can manage their research preferences, including opting in or out of being contacted about eligible studies.
- Upcoming enhancements will allow patients to search for specific studies and connect directly with research teams through MyChart.
OhioHealth is making it easier than ever for patients to learn about and participate in clinical research.
Through OhioHealth MyChart, patients can now explore research opportunities, indicate their interests and choose whether they would like to be contacted about studies for which they may qualify. The new functionality helps connect patients with innovative research while making participation more accessible and convenient.
Clinical research plays a critical role in advancing medicine, improving treatments and bringing new care options to patients. At OhioHealth, research spans a wide range of specialties, including cancer, heart and vascular care, neuroscience, neurology, surgery and trauma.
"We do a lot of research here at OhioHealth," said Jennifer Sexton, director of research operations for the OhioHealth Research Institute. "We have a lot of research in our cancer space, our surgical and trauma space, heart and vascular neuroscience, neurology research. Our teams are really the support staff that go along with all of the physicians and help them make sure that the patients are going along on their research journey as they should."
Expanding access to research has been a priority as OhioHealth continues to grow its research capabilities across the state.
"Bringing all kinds of treatment options to our patients is really important," Sexton said. "We want to make sure that we can provide treatment opportunities not only on and off research, but close to where people live. As we grow, we expand those opportunities and give patients additional treatment therapies."
The integration of research tools into MyChart reflects that commitment to patient access. Through the platform, patients can learn more about ongoing studies, manage research preferences and, soon, browse studies and express interest directly through the app.
"For a number of reasons, it allows patients to more easily see the research studies that they're participating in at OhioHealth and how to reach the study team for those studies," Sexton said. "It also gives patients the opportunity to participate in some of our studies that may not have to do with treatment and may be more observational research studies that don't require coming into the clinic but still provide really important data to advancing our medicine and our care."
Patients can access research information in MyChart by selecting the Research Studies section from the menu. There, they can choose whether they would like to be contacted about future research opportunities. Patients who opt out can still discuss clinical trials and research studies with their physicians.
OhioHealth is also introducing additional features that will allow patients to personalize their research interests and connect more directly with study opportunities.
"There are a few different ways that they can find this information on MyChart," Sexton said. "In the Research Studies section, they can either opt in to be contacted about research or opt out. There's also an information card on the main screen where patients can fill out their profile, indicate what kind of research they might be interested in and whether they want to opt in or out."
Sexton said future enhancements will make participation even more seamless.
"Soon there will be some studies that patients can actually search and select to be interested in," she said.
The new MyChart features represent another step forward in OhioHealth's mission to bring innovative care and cutting-edge research closer to patients, giving more people the opportunity to contribute to discoveries that may shape the future of healthcare.
To learn more about research opportunities at OhioHealth and how to update your research preferences in MyChart, visit the OhioHealth Research Institute webpage or log in to your OhioHealth MyChart account.
