Training Manual & Job Aid: Immune Effector Cell Therapies
In my role as a research coordinator at a cancer institute, I created a department-specific training manual for new clinical research coordinators. This department specifically focuses on immune effector cell therapies for Multiple Myeloma, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Solid Tumors. As the department was still relatively new when I joined, I set out to create a succinct manual and job aid as we did not have a pre-existing coordinator-specific guide. I used informal interviews to gather information on many of our nuanced workflows and compiled everything into one document that summarizes different processes and lists helpful resources.
Project Kickoff and Communication Plan
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Business Case: The training manual will assist new hires and support current CRCs who may have questions.
Project Goals & Deliverables:
1. Comprehensive manual that includes diagrams, examples and images of different workflows
2. Supportive job aid that lists out daily tasks and reminders
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Constraints: Time & Availability. The department is understaffed and there isn’t a lot of extra time to work on this manual.
Risks: CRCs may leave before the project is completed. The manual may become lengthy and cluttered due to the vast amount of information and skills needed to perform tasks.
Benefits:
Information is easily accessible & stored in one location
The manual can be easily updated as workflows change
Will reduce the amount of uncertainty & questions asked
Will increase collaboration within the department
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Budget: The training manual will be created digitally as well as the job aid. The sponsor already has all of the digital resources in place.
Communication Plan:
Updates to Sponsors & Stakeholders: CRCs have weekly 1-1s with our manager. We can discuss the progress of the training manual and any concerns/questions with our manager at those meetings.
Source of “Truth”: Sharepoint and/or a live document that is stored in a shared folder drive
Outcome & Future Updates
The training manual was reviewed by my manager/the leadership team and it was subsequently then shared with new coordinators this past May 2023. I hope the manual continues to serve the department well and that it will be updated as workflows change. In terms of future updates, I think it would benefit the department to create a dynamic, live training manual or multiple mini visual job aids as both items would allow newer research coordinators to visualize different processes such as specimen shipment, inventory, etc.