RALEIGH — The coronavirus pandemic is making it hard for patients enrolled in clinical trials to get to sites to be monitored.

So PRA Health Sciences is taking it to them instead.

The global contract research organization with headquarters in Raleigh today announced that it has expanded its Mobile Health Platform for remote clinical monitoring. The app-based platform allows sponsors to do everything that’s possible in a physician’s office or clinical site, virtually.

Among the new capabilities: gathering electronic informed consent and e-signatures, remotely scheduling and conducting video consults with patients​ and leveraging mobile survey tools to provide real-time insights to study investigators for potential action.

PRA Health Sciences Mobile Health Platform

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it will be increasingly difficult for patients to see their medical professionals in person or adhere to clinical study protocols requiring visits to sites and hospitals,” said Kent Thoelke, PRA Health’s executive vice president and chief scientific officer, in a statement.

“Equally challenging and difficult is the ability for sites to keep up with both trial patients as well as COVID-19 patients. This mobile and remote solution allows critical studies to continue, where protocols and regulatory guidelines permit, and ensures that patient safety and wellbeing can be maintained during a time when social distancing and relieving the burden on our healthcare system is important in fighting COVID-19.”

Founded in 1976, the company moved its global headquarters to Raleigh in 2008. It specializes in clinical research, Phase I-lla, Phase II-lll, post approval, therapeutic exercise, biosimilars, rare disease and oncology.

Since 2000, PRA has participated in more than 3,800 clinical trials and participated in regulatory approval of more than 85 products. It now has over 16,000 employees operating in more than 90 countries.