Clinical Data Manager Career

Job Description: Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.


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Clinical Data Manager Career

What Clinical Data Managers do:

  • Confer with end users to define or implement clinical system requirements such as data release formats, delivery schedules, and testing protocols.
  • Design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks.
  • Evaluate processes and technologies, and suggest revisions to increase productivity and efficiency.
  • Monitor work productivity or quality to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.
  • Process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information.
  • Read technical literature and participate in continuing education or professional associations to maintain awareness of current database technology and best practices.
  • Track the flow of work forms, including in-house data flow or electronic forms transfer.
  • Train staff on technical procedures or software program usage.
  • Write work instruction manuals, data capture guidelines, or standard operating procedures.
  • Design forms for receiving, processing, or tracking data.
  • Develop project-specific data management plans that address areas such as coding, reporting, or transfer of data, database locks, and work flow processes.
  • Generate data queries, based on validation checks or errors and omissions identified during data entry, to resolve identified problems.
  • Prepare data analysis listings and activity, performance, or progress reports.
  • Provide support and information to functional areas such as marketing, clinical monitoring, and medical affairs.
  • Contribute to the compilation, organization, and production of protocols, clinical study reports, regulatory submissions, or other controlled documentation.
  • Perform quality control audits to ensure accuracy, completeness, or proper usage of clinical systems and data.
  • Prepare appropriate formatting to data sets as requested.
  • Supervise the work of data management project staff.
  • Develop technical specifications for data management programming and communicate needs to information technology staff.
  • Analyze clinical data using appropriate statistical tools.
  • Develop or select specific software programs for various research scenarios.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Holland Code Chart for a Clinical Data Manager