OnCore efficiency updates enhance user experience

OnCore is Stanford’s secure, centralized system for tracking clinical research. This industry-standard system positions Stanford Medicine to collaborate across all Stanford groups and participate in multicenter clinical trials. All (non-cancer) clinical research involving a Stanford consent must be registered in OnCore.

The OnCore (non-cancer) team has implemented three significant enhancements to the platform that are making things easier for all users, whether they be study team members, department chairs, or division managers. 

"These enhancements to OnCore benefit the entire School of Medicine research enterprise," said Senior Associate Dean of Research Dr. Ruth O'Hara. "Streamlining key processes and adding functionality empowers all of our users."

1.     OnCore and REDCap Integration

The integration between these two applications now allows study teams to automatically sync up lists of participants for a particular study. This process is bi-directional and eliminates the need to enter participants in both REDCap and OnCore – they can simply be entered in either system and then automatically appear in the other. A number of “super users” tested the integration, and additional improvements were made based on their recommendations. The integration was rolled out in October 2022.

2.     Effort Tracking

Effort tracking has now been implemented in OnCore, which allows protocol staff to record the effort spent on the studies they manage and to which they are assigned. It provides aggregate data to educate principal investigators, managers, and study teams on what specific resources are needed for a study. It also helps with decision-making processes related to staffing requirements when new studies are launched. In addition, effort tracking categories have been updated and consolidated from 60 to just 12, streamlining the tracking process. Details are available in the updated Effort Tracking Quick Guide and Effort Tracking Video.

3.     Tableau

The OnCore team utilizes Tableau software to create and provide dashboards for School of Medicine department chairs and management who need access to the clinical trial data stored in OnCore. The dashboards accomplish the following:

• Provide quick glances at studies using visually appealing analytics,
• Consolidate data, easing navigation for department chairs and division managers, and
• Show department/division OnCore registration and enrollment compliance.

Summary

The OnCore team is continuing to collaborate with individual departments to provide any needed information or training as upgrades are rolled out. For more information or assistance, please email the OnCore Support Team.