In the evolving world of clinical research, one reality remains unchanged: running a successful clinical trial is hard. Recruitment lags, retention falters, sites are stretched thin, and access remains unequal. At the heart of these challenges is a tension between the operational demands of running a trial and the everyday realities of patients’ lives.
As VP of Clinical Nursing at WEP, I’ve seen firsthand how rethinking the delivery model can shift this dynamic entirely. By bringing clinical trial procedures directly into patients’ homes, mobile research nursing is addressing some of the most persistent pain points in our industry and transforming the patient experience in the process.
Below I outline some of the main challenges we help Sponsors overcome.
Breaking Down Barriers to Participation
Recruiting and retaining patients is one of the biggest roadblocks in clinical development. The reasons patients drop out, or never enroll in the first place, are often logistical: travel time or cost, mobility limitations, work or childcare responsibilities, or the simple strain of regular site visits.
Mobile research nursing helps eliminate these barriers. When a trained research nurse can come to a patient’s home, or another convenient location, it reduces the burden and opens the door to more people who want to participate, but couldn’t otherwise. This is especially powerful in rare disease trials, pediatric studies, and research involving elderly or immunocompromised populations.
Enhancing Protocol Adherence and Data Quality
Unfortunately, finding and retaining patients is only part of the challenge. What about patients that want to participate, but can’t consistently make it to the study site? A missed visit doesn’t just impact a timeline, it can impact data integrity.
By providing flexible, in-home visits, we can work around the patients, helping them to stay on schedule and compliant with study protocols. Our nurses are rigorously trained in study-specific procedures and documentation standards, so Sponsors and CROs can trust that data collected remotely meets the same standards as at the site.
Expanding Reach, Improving Equity
Another persistent challenge in clinical trials is the lack of geographic and demographic diversity. Traditional trial sites tend to cluster in urban centers, which means rural and underserved populations are routinely excluded from participation.
Mobile nursing extends the reach of a study beyond the footprint of the research site. We can bring the trial to the patient, whether they’re in a remote village, a care facility, or simply too far from the nearest trial center. This model promotes equity and inclusivity, which not only improves access, but also enhances the generalizability and regulatory strength of trial data.
Supporting Overburdened Sites
Clinical research sites are often operating at (or beyond) capacity, especially in the current environment of staff shortages and increasing protocol complexity. This can affect site operations, potentially leading to a less-than-ideal experience for both site staff and patients.
Our mobile nurses act as an extension of the site team, handling protocol-specific activities such as sample collection, vital signs, or study drug administration outside the clinic walls. This support helps free up valuable site resources while keeping the study on track and on time. Sites can focus on more complex procedures, while we ensure patients continue to receive high-quality, protocol-compliant care at home.
Building Trust with Patients
Perhaps the most important value of mobile nursing is the human connection. In the clinical research landscape, where the focus is on data collection and advancing new medicines, patients can often feel like just another number, with their needs and experiences overlooked.
As part of our global operating model at WEP, we ensure that every aspect of patient participation is as comfortable, compassionate, and personable as possible. We strive to provide the same named nurse at every visit to a patients home, and have a dedicated Patient Coordinator team streamlining input from all study stakeholders, so that patients feel seen, heard and supported. This approach allows us to fosters trust, improve communication, and support better compliance.
Let’s Continue the Conversation
At WEP, we believe that mobile research nursing can help bridge the gap between innovation and reality, pairing flexibility with the human touch that patients deserve. Every home visit we make is a step toward more inclusive, patient-centered research and ultimately, better outcomes for Sponsors, CROs and all study stakeholders.
If you would like to connect with us to learn more about our mobile nursing solution, please contact us!
