Clinical Trials at St. Joseph Hospital

St. Joseph Hospital is more than just a treatment facility. We are an entire community of care, driven by the most advanced technologies and the heartfelt dedication of an expert team of specialists. We have been conducting state-of-the-art clinical trials for over two decades.

Clinical trials are studies to test new drugs or devices, or to test FDA-approved drugs for other purposes. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment is safer and more effective than the currently approved treatment. Patient rights and safety are strictly regulated. Often, a clinical trial is used to learn if a new treatment is more effective than the standard treatment.

Your Clinical Trial Questions Answered

Do clinical trial participants receive placebo medications?

No, clinical trial participants do not receive placebo medications at St. Joseph Hospital.

At St. Joseph Hospital, we conduce Phase II and Phase III trials. Phase II addresses efficacy of the new medication. Phase III trials examine the benefit of the new drug over the current standard of care. A patient of St. Joseph Hospital will always receive the standard of care medications while those in the study of the clinical trial will receive standard of care plus a study medication.

Who covers the cost of a clinical trial?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers, including Medicare, are prohibited from limiting coverage for a patient participating in a trial. In many studies, the medical costs that are not paid for by insurance will be covered by the study.

Once a patient signs informed consent, are they committed to participate until the trial ends?

No, once a patient signs informed consent, they are not committed to participate until the trial ends. They have the right to leave a clinical trial at any time for any reason. The patient will continue to receive the highest standard of care available.

No, once a patient signs informed consent, they have the right to leave a clinical trial at any time for any reason. The patient will continue to receive the highest standard of care available.

Are clinical trials a last resort for patients when all other treatment options have failed?

No, clinical trials are not a last resort for patients when all other treatments have failed. A patient may participate in a clinical trial during any phase of their disease. This includes before surgery, after surgery, treatment, recurrence, and survivorship. Patients who have a high risk due to family history are also eligible for trials.

What benefit is there to joining a clinical trial?

Medical treatments are constantly evolving. patients who join a clinical trial may gain access to a new treatment that is not normally available to patients outside of the trail. All of our current standard of care therapies were once a part of a clinical trial. Trial participants benefit future patients by helping to find better ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat disease.