As the New Year starts we want to thank all of our patient volunteers for your participation and interest in clinical research.  Without you we could not perform our vital work: collaborating with the pharmaceutical/biotech industry to develop new medications and devices to help treat a myriad of illnesses.  With your time and commitment we hope the discoveries that are made will find cures, reduce pain, educate about new possibilities and ultimately save lives.

We know that there are many reasons to participate in a clinical research study.  For some of you the economy has affected your lives in such a way that you cannot afford the medical care and medicines that you require.  We are thankful that we have studies that can assist you during these difficult times.  For others it is trying a new treatment that may be better than those that already exist.  For others it may be to help future generations with the disease and its side effects.  Whatever the reason, without patient volunteers in clinical research studies, medicine and medical care would not advance and new drugs and devices to help us feel better and live longer would not exist. 

As you may already know, participating in a study does not guarantee that you will receive medication; it does guarantee, however, that you will receive the time and attention of our medical staff - MDs, nurses, registered dietitian and coordinators - who are trained to provide you with the latest information relative to your condition.  We pride ourselves on ensuring that you receive the time, education and information that you need about your medical condition.  It is important to know that the medicine and care you receive during your participation in the study is free of any charges to you or your insurance company and that you also receive compensation for your participation in a study.

Please also know that we continue to provide free and low cost testing as a service to our community.  We hope that if you or someone you know does not have access to these services that you will call and make an appointment with us; we know that information is the key to good medical care and if you are in need of this medical information and have no way of obtaining it we are pleased to provide the service.  We offer free and low cost testing for: blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, blood pressure, heel scans for bone health and full bone density testing for bone health.  Please call or "Share the Health" with someone else - we want to be sure that everyone has access to these important tests.

We hope to see you here in our clinic during 2011 but most of all we hope that this year is a healthy and prosperous one for each of you.

To your health,

Emily Galdes

VP & COO