Decentralized Clinical Trials Represent The Decentralization Of Care: What That Means For Patients

Nothing has accelerated the adoption of decentralized care like the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, it seemed everyone was using video calls in place of in-person appointments — and liking it. In fact, use of telehealth skyrocketed by 50 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and it now accounts for 17 percent of all outpatient visits. In a January 2021 survey, about 40 percent of people said they expect to continue using telehealth after the pandemic ends.

This transformation of service delivery didn’t occur just in direct patient care, however. At the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of clinical trials were suspended for the safety of investigators and participants alike. Soon, however, the FDA issued guidance for conducting trials virtually, and the industry enthusiastically embraced them as their benefits became immediately apparent.