ABOUT
Research
Meritus Health Research Institute
The expert team at Meritus Health is advancing the science of medicine by performing cutting edge research right here in Washington County. We are committed to improving medical care and outcomes through research innovation. Participating in research can help benefit future medical treatments and Meritus Health values the commitment made by our patients who choose to participate. Our clinical research department provides support by carefully selecting clinical research trials addressing the needs in our community for expert care close to home.
Research addresses health issues worldwide. Over the decades research has successfully eradicated various diseases such as Polio, Measles, Mumps & Rubella, and Smallpox to name a few. Scientists are still working on eradicating Malaria, Trachoma, and COVID-19 among others. To learn more about how research has affected health issues over the years click here.
Research has made great advances in treatments for various health issues such as breast cancer like radiotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted chemotherapy with hopes to possibly help patients and minimizing side effects. Here at Meritus we continuously strive to offer these advanced treatments. If you need help in locating a clinical trial please complete this form and we will be glad to assist you in your search. Please send completed forms to Angie Angstadt at Angela.Angstadt@MeritusHealth.com.
Deciding whether to be a part of a clinical trial may be a very tough and worrisome questions. The answer will not be the same for everyone.
Most people are concerned about taking part in a clinical trial because they're not sure what it will mean for them. Get as much information as you need to make the choice that's right for you. Each clinical trial has benefits and risks. Before deciding to be in one, you need to have all your questions answered. Make a list of questions, take notes, or even have a family member or friend with you to help remember the answers and think of other questions. Some questions may not have clear answers as each person's situation is different.
HERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER, BUT THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY QUESTIONS TO ASK.
- Why do I want to take part in a clinical trial?
- What are my goals, and how realistic are they?
- Do I have all the information I need to make an informed decision?
- Have I weighed the benefits against the risks?
- Who will have my personal and medical information?
- How much will this cost me?
- What is my doctor's opinion about my future if I decide to take part (or not) in this clinical trial?
- Have I looked at my other options?
If you are interested in learning about the types and phases of clinical trials click here.
Meritus not only provides these opportunities close to home but Meritus is also committed to protecting the people in our community who are participating clinical trials by having an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The main responsibility of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of the participants and their privacy. To better understand the IRB click here.
For researcher/physician use only
Institutional Review Board Information
Meritus Medical Center and the John R Marsh Cancer Center are committed to providing the best comprehensive care for our community, including research. Meritus is dedicated to protect the rights and welfare of all individuals who participate as subjects in research. It is the responsibility of every physician, nurse, and student to ensure that formal IRB approval is obtained before initiating contact with human subjects in any research project.
If you have any questions or would like assistance, contact the Office of Human Subjects Protection at 301-790-8825 or email Christine.Fornwalt@meritushealth.com.
Hours of Operation and important information:
- Tues., Wed. & Thurs 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
- IRB meetings held first Wednesday of the month.
- Located in Robinwood Professional Center, suite 229, room 2224
Below are links for forms needed to start the IRB process. If you have questions or need assistance call the Office for Human Subject Protection at 301-790-8825.
- IRB Application (must be completed first)
- Research Plan
- Instructions for CITI Training
- Consent Form
- Consent Form Instructions
- HIPAA Authorization Form
- Waiver of Consent & HIPAA Auth Request
- Waiver of Documented Consent Application
-
Progress Report
- Amendment Form
- Deviation Form
- Study Closure Form
- Submitting a Progress Report
Additional helpful links:
- Office for Human Research Protections
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Clinical Trials.gov
- HIPAA and Research
Active Clinical Studies
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A Prospective Blood Sample Collection Study to Develop and Validate a Panel of Protein-based Biomarkers in Patients with Pulmonary Nodules Principal Investigator: Victoria Giffi, MD |
Enrolling |
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A Prospective Blood Sample Collection to Evaluate a Panel of Protein-Based Biomarkers Principal Investigator: Victoria Giffi, MD |
Closed |
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A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Larazotide for Relief of Persistent Symptoms in Patients with Celiac Disease on a Gluten Free Diet Principal Investigator: Chintamaneni Choudari, MD |
Enrolling |
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Diabetic Retinopathy Screening using Smartphone-Based Fundus Photography and Artificial Intelligence. A Proof of Concept Study in a Community Based Clinic Principal Investigator: John Wroblewski, MD Co-Investigator: Jay Berdia, MD |
Enrolling |
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A Phase 3, Multicenter. Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Induction and Maintenance Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of CC-93538 in Adult and Adolescent Subjects with Eosinophilic Esophagitis Principal Investigator: Chintamaneni Choudari, MD |
Enrolling |
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Detecting Cancers Earlier Through Elective Plasma-based CancerSEEK Testing - Ascertaining Serial Cancer Patients to Enable New Diagnostic II (DETECT -ASCEND 2) Principal Investigator: Victoria Giffi, MD |
Enrolling |
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Correct-MRD II: Seconds Colorectal Cancer Clinical Validation Study to Predict Recurrence Using A Circulating Tumor DNA Assay To Detect Minimal Residual Disease Principal Investigator: Victoria Giffi, MD |
Enrolling |
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A Phase 3, Multicenter, Multinational, Open-Label Extension Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Safety of CC-93538 in Adult and adolescent Subjects with Eosinophilic Esophagitis Principal Investigator: Chintamaneni Choudari, MD |
Enrolling |
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Translational Medicine: Discovery and Evaluation of Biomarkers/Pharmacogenomics for the Diagnosis and Personalized Management of Patients Principal Investigator: Victoria Giffi, MD |
Enrolling |
Observational Clinical Research Studies
Principal Investigator |
Name of study |
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Allison, Crystal |
Comparing Outcomes in Diabetic Stroke Patients |
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Andrews, Katelyn |
Correlation Between the Utilization of an Emergency Room Sepsis Order Set and Antibiotic Administration Times in the Emergency Room |
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Bahsali, Muna |
Using Square Breathing to Decrease the Subjective Experience of Stress in Nurses Working in an Outpatient Chemotherapy Treatment Center |
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Bert, Kristine |
Implementing an Evidenced-Based Practice Change in Outpatient Medical Oncology |
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Bream, Karen |
Compassion Fatigue in Maternal Child Nursing Staff Caring for the Substance Abuse Population |
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Buckley, Brooke |
Virtual Triage Beta Test |
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Baxter, Brandy |
Eat, Live, Excel Effect on Self Efficacy |
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Bejarano-Garcia, Cesar |
Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy as a Significant Risk Factor for Community-Associated Clostridium Difficile in Adults and its Impact in a Community Hospital |
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Blyler, Crystal |
Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric (services) Demonstration (MEPD) Evaluation |
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Bonatti, Hugo & Gona, Sridhar |
Accessibility and Impact of Minimal Invasive General Surgery in the Rural Setting |
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Bonatti, Hugo, George, Aaron, Gona, Sridhar & Feaga, Catherine |
Significance of Multidrug Resistant, Rare and Unusual Pathogens in a Rural Hospital |
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Bonatti, Hugo, George, Aaron, Gona, Sridhar & Feaga, Catherine |
Significance of Multi-Vitamin Deficiences in a Rural Hospital |
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Bowser, Zachary |
Comparing Activated Partial Thrombin Time (aPTT) to Anti-Factor Xa Assay for Monitoring the Anticoagulation Effects of Heparin |
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Burleson, Melissa |
Will the resource for Meritus Medical Center of the use of art therapy, which provides scholarly evidence for the support of this therapy for compassion fatigue, have an outcome that provides new graduate nurses with improved knowledge and treatment of compassion fatigue? |
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Chaudhry, Nimra |
Clinical Outcomes Associated with Pharmacist Reviews on Identified Sepsis Patients |
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Costantino, Caitlynn |
Routine Stethoscope Cleaning and Inquiry into Impact for Practice |
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Dean, Jeanette & Gona, Sridhar |
Effectiveness of monoclonal antibody treatment for prevention of hospital admissions for severe COVID 19 from early strain to Omicron variant |
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DelTufo, Dana |
Efficacy and Safety of Utilizing Vancomycin AUC/MIC Monitoring for Pneumonia, Neutropenic Fever, Bacteremia, Endocarditis, osteomyelitis, or Meningitis Cause by Staphylococcus Aureus in a Community Hospital |
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Domatova, Marina |
Bilirubin Management in Newborns |
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Fernandsa, Bronessa |
Retrospective Analysis of the Appropriate Use of Acid Suppressive Therapy at Meritus Medical |
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Gona, Sridhar & Money, Mary
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Association of Digoxin Toxicity and Initiation of New Medication(s). |
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Gona, Sridhar & Cimino-Fiallos, Nicole |
Expansion of the Emergency Department Drug Surveillance (EDDS) System |
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Gona, Sridhar & Money, Mary |
Incidence of Clostridium Difficile Hospitalization Associated with Prior Antibiotic Therapy |
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Goodrich, Caleb |
Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Who Received a Loading Dose of Vancomycin While on Concomitant Piperacillin-Tazobactam and Vancomycin |
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Greenlee, April |
Attitudes Physicians and Nurses Have Regarding Workplace Collaboration and the Subsequent Effect on Patient Outcomes |
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Hanif, Rashid |
The Diagnostic Utility of Video Capsule Endoscope in Community Practice a retrospective study and Various GI Symptoms with Small Intestinal Bacteria Over Growth and Response to Antibiotic |
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Hanif, Rashid |
Response to antibiotics in small intestine bacterial overgrowth in a community gastroenterology experience |
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Hanif, Rashid |
Chart review of Video Capsule Endoscope om a Community Practice: Indications, Results, Complications and Outcomes |
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Harne-Britner, Sarah |
Project to Publication - A Writing Mentorship Program |
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Harne-Britner, Sarah |
Evaluating the Business Case of nurse Residency and Transition Programs |
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Harne-Britner, Sarah |
A Multi-site Quasi-Experimental Pew/Post Test Design Study Studying Knowledge and End-User Gaming Experience a Ramified Nursing Orientation Teaching Method |
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Hebdersin, Laura |
2014 Washington County Public Health Needs Assessment |
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Heuston, Melanie |
Insights Into Differences Between Perceptions of Leadership Practices: Nurse Managers, Day Shift, and Night Shift Nurses."= |
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Higgins, Tracey |
Increasing Palliative Care Referral for Heart Failure Patients Through Aggregate Data Evaluation of the Current Palliative Care Referral Process |
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Hill, Robin |
Timing of Variables in the Reduction of Hypoglycemia |
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Holsinger, Jane |
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Mobile Phone Disinfection |
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Jackson, Stephanie & Katelyn Andrews |
Evaluation of melatonin versus standards of care in the prevention of ICU delirium in critical care patients of in a community hospital |
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Jorgenson, Danielle |
Procalcitonin Protocol Utilization in Pneumonia Patients: A prospective Cohort |
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Keen, Padric |
Implementation of a Pharmacist Involved Code Blue Response at a Large Community Hospital |
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Kirkpatrick, Rebecca |
The Implementation of an Evidence-Based Patient Education Stoplight Tool to Reduce Cancer Treatment-induced Diarrhea |
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Kirby, Jordan Shaw, Courtney Schultheis, Kelly |
Does Educating Labor and Delivery Nurses on the Use of Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Labor Influence Their Perception of Use in Their Practice |
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Matsushita, Kunihiro |
Washington County Health Initiative |
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Joshi, Maulik |
Eradicating the Loneliness Epidemic |
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Larrimore, Christopher |
A retrospective study investigating occurrence of COVID-19 reinfection and possible correlation to new onset Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CF). |
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Leaver, Cynthia |
YRBS 2013: Surveillance of Mental Health Services in Eastern Region Middle and High Schools |
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Lewis, Christel |
An Action Research Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Professional Advancement Program Redesign on Nurse Perception, Retention, and Professional Practice |
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Long, Karen |
Quiet Time |
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Mardeli, Rhiannon |
Self-Reported Penicillin Allergies and Their Effects on Adverse Reactions in a Community Hospital |
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Matsushita, Kunihiro |
Washington County Health Initiative (moved from expedited) |
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Mbamalu, Genevieve |
Implementation of an Observation Unit at a Regional Medical Center to Improve Patient Outcomes and Efficiency of Care Delivery |
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McCormack, Michael |
A4061083 - Real World Chart Review Study of Management of Adverse Events of Special Interest in Patients Taking Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to Treat Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma |
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McMahon, Janet |
Improving Administration Safety in the Clinical Environment |
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Money, Mary & Gona, Sridhar |
Evaluation of appropriate ordering of Urine Analysis and subsequent diagnosis and use of antibiotic therapy for presumed urinary tract infections in Meritus Medical Center ER and Urgent Care facilities |
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Morgan, Damara |
Implementation of a Skin Care Bundle to Prevent Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries. |
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Over, Brooke |
The Benefit of a Parenteral Nutrition Support Team Consulting on Patients Receiving TPN during a n Inpatient Stay and the Typical Characteristics of These Patients |
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Patel, Gina |
Evaluation of Continuous Sedation Therapy in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit |
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Patel, Shefali |
Evaluating Relationship Between the Use of Proton-Pump Inhibitors and Clostridium Infection and Determining Efficacy of Probiotics in such Patients |
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Pennington, Melissa |
Sleep Quality Among Nurses: A Descriptive Study |
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Platz, Elizabeth |
Request for Use of Tissue Block and Slides from Decedent ARIC and CLUE Participants |
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Ribovich, Alayna |
Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Transitioning from a Fixed-Dose Protocol to a Weight-Based Protocol for Heparin Infusion and Titration |
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Ribovich, Alayna |
Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use in Patients of High Body Weight - an 8 Month Review |
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Rodriguez, Angel |
Pharmacist Driven Implementation of a Controlled Substance Prescribing Protocol in a Family Medicine Clinic |
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Rosendale, Roxann |
A Pilot Study Exploring Barriers to Early Mobility: Implementing a Mobility Protocol |
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Rosendale, Roxann |
Is Taking Vital Signs Every Four Hours the Best Nursing Practice for the Stable Medical Surgical Patient |
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Schiro, James |
Analysis of Stages Billed for Mohs Surgery in the United States Using 2014 Medicare Claims Data |
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Schnebly, Katherine |
10, 000 Step Challenge for Beside Nurses Working 12 Hour Shifts |
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Schultheis, Kelly |
“Improving Pain Management in Opioid Dependent Laboring Women at Meritus Medical Center” |
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Scott, Kaitlin |
Evaluation of Sedation Therapy in the ICU |
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Smith, Sara |
Mental Health Patients' and Case Managers Perception of Patient Needs and Reasons for Patient Disengagement |
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Sprecher, Lori |
An Innovative Approach to Care for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome |
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Wagoner, Melissa |
Routine Cleaning of Nylon Blood Pressure Cuffs in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit |
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Ware, Tamara |
Best Practice for Pressure Injury Prevention: Bi-weekly Nursing Skin Rounds |
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Welty, Megan |
Improving Glucose Control through the Use of a Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus Education Packet: A Quality Improvement Initiative |
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Williams, James & Gona, Sridhar |
Bamlanivimab and Reduction of Hospitalization and Death in COVID-19 Patients |
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Williams, James & Gona, Sridhar |
Comparison of characteristics and outcomes of bleeding patients treated with Andexanet alfa and 4 factor PCC (4 FPCC): A feasibility study |
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Zimmerman, Wendy |
The Impact of COVID-19 on Faith Community Nurses’ Practice Strategies and Interventions. |
Research Articles, Publications & Scholarly Works
FEATURED IN: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health
AUTHORS: Singer, Adam J., Concha, Mauricio and Williams, JamesPUBLICATION DATE: August 22, 2023