Doing More With Less

As we all know, we are living in difficult times. Those of us in the human research protections field are faced with the challenge of maintaining an appropriate level of protection with diminishing resources. Here are some ways that institutions can "do more with less":

Increase Efficiency

• Review policies and procedures to evaluate efficiency
• Track the "life of a protocol" to look for bottle-necks and unnecessary steps that can be eliminated without compromising the quality of IRB review
• Automate processes to save steps and time

Reduce Waste, Save Time

• Make full use of the flexibiltiy available in the regulations. No need to take up IRB time for research that is exempt or eligible for expedited review
• Poorly prepared protocols waste staff, IRB and investigator time
  
• Improve forms to ensure that IRB receives all the necessary information
• Improve investigator education and guidance to obtain better protocols

Cope with Staff Reductions

• Computerized IRB System
• Equivalent of at least .5 FTE
• Outsource IRB functions
• Quality Assurance
• Education and Training
• Webinars
  
• Full IRB Administration
• Use an external IRB