The 12-Steps of Profiling Medical Centers of Excellence For Pharma

Profiling medical centers of excellence for pharmaceutical companies involves a systematic approach to identify and assess institutions that are at the forefront of research, patient care, and expertise in specific therapeutic areas. Here are the steps to profile medical centers of excellence (COEs) for pharma. 

Step 1— Define Therapeutic Areas of Interest

First, you need to clearly define the therapeutic areas or disease areas that are relevant to your pharmaceutical company's products or pipeline. This will help narrow down the focus and identify medical centers that specialize in those specific fields.

Step 2— Gather Information

Next, conduct thorough research to identify potential medical centers of excellence. You can utilize various sources such as academic publications, clinical trial databases, medical conferences, and industry reports to find institutions with a strong track record of research and expertise in the identified therapeutic areas.

Step 3— Assess KOL Clusters

Health systems and hospitals rise to the level of centers of excellence in a disease area for many factors. Chief among these reasons is the fact that you’ll see KOLs in that disease clustered together at these centers. As KOLs have a huge influence on innovation in medicine at the individual level, they also collaborate to do so at institutional level. 

Step 4— Evaluate Research Output

After you’ve conducted extensive research on various centers of excellence in your therapeutic area, you’ll need to assess the quantity and quality of research output from each medical center. You should look for publications in high-impact journals, clinical trials, and research collaborations with other renowned institutions.

Step 5— Assess Clinical Expertise

Next, examine the medical center's clinical expertise and patient care capabilities in the relevant therapeutic areas. It’s important to consider factors such as the number of patients treated, success rates, specialized treatment options, and patient outcomes.

Step 6— Check Affiliations and Collaborations

You should investigate the medical center's affiliations with universities, research organizations, and industry partners. Centers with strong collaborative networks often have access to the latest research, funding, and resources.

Step 7— Consider Accreditations and Awards

Recognitions from reputable organizations can indicate the center's commitment to quality and excellence. An essential step in evaluating a medical center’s value is to consider any accreditations, certifications, and awards they’ve received. 

Step 8— Assess Infrastructure and Facilities

You’ll need to assess the medical center's infrastructure, facilities, and technological capabilities. Advanced equipment and resources can contribute to cutting-edge research and patient care.

Step 9— Look at Track Record With Clinical Trials

Next, make sure to evaluate the medical center's participation in pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials. A history of successful collaborations with pharma companies indicates their interest and experience in partnering with industry.

Step 10— Analyze the Geographical Reach

Centers with a broader reach may have access to diverse patient populations and a more significant impact on the target market. You should consider the geographical reach and patient catchment area of the medical center. 

Step 11— Learn About Key Personnel

What calibre of key personnel does the medical center have? You need to evaluate the expertise and reputation of key personnel, such as renowned researchers, physicians, and clinicians associated with the medical center. Their influence can contribute to the center's status as a center of excellence.

Step 12— Evaluate Engagement and Partnership Potential

Finally, assess the willingness of the medical center to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies. This can involve direct partnerships for clinical trials, research projects, or joint educational initiatives.

Get the Help You Need in Understanding COEs

The process of profiling medical centers of excellence and identifying partners for research collaborations, clinical trials, educational initiatives, and other strategic partnerships, is highly complex and time-consuming. It’s research-heavy and there are countless moving parts, so pharma companies often get overwhelmed. 

If you’re looking for a helping hand from a company with a long track record of success in this area, contact our team at Thought Leader Select to learn how we can assist.