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Buffalo Medical Group Partners with Circuit Clinical

By Buffalo Medical Group | June 7 2017 | BMG News & Updates

BUFFALO MEDICAL GROUP PARTNERS WITH CIRCUIT CLINICAL
Local physician-led network links patients to clinical drug studies

(Buffalo, N.Y.) – Buffalo Medical Group (BMG), one of the oldest and largest physician-directed group practices in New York State, has signed with Circuit Clinical, a Buffalo startup that aims to partner with community based physicians to bring clinical research studies to their patients. BMG brings over 125 area primary care and specialty physicians into Circuit Clinical’s network of participating physicians.

“Buffalo Medical Group is so pleased to partner with Circuit Clinical to enhance clinical research studies within our Group,” explained Irene Snow, MD, Medical Director, Buffalo Medical Group. “This partnership is a win-win for both organizations that will ultimately benefit our patients.”

BMG and Catholic Medical Partners, another area healthcare provider, join Optimum Physician Alliance to become the first three partnering organizations to formally commit to Circuit Clinical. These partnerships bring the number of WNY doctors in the Network to nearly 1,700, with specialties including General Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, OBGYN/Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Nephrology. This means Circuit Clinical is off to a healthy start in matching patients with research studies that can improve their medical condition and overall health, in a setting that is familiar: their own physician’s office.

“What sets Circuit Clinical apart from companies offering similar services is that we match patients with studies run by their own doctors at their local offices, so the process of participating in a drug study isn’t this foreign, daunting experience,” said Dr. Irfan Khan, Circuit Clinical’s Chief Medical Officer, who founded the company (then called Empirican) in 2014.

Khan had experienced firsthand the frustration associated with connecting his patients to potentially lifesaving pharmaceutical studies, the vast majority of which fail because participants drop out, and pharmaceutical companies cannot get FDA approval to bring their drugs to market.

Circuit Clinical plays a crucial role in the process through building a more personable and accessible clinical research experience for patients, where they can become participants in the drug studies using their own doctors to help facilitate the process. “This solves the biggest challenge in bringing new medicines to market, and lowers the cost of developing medicines, which benefits everyone,” said Khan.

Circuit Clinical’s team of medical experts is currently matching research studies with BMG physicians in specialty and primary care practices. Both partners are looking forward to enhanced, state-of-the-art care for patients who participate in available study opportunities.

Doctors or patients who want to know more, including how to become a partner or participate in a study, should call Circuit Clinical at (800) 720-5430.

Khan said that once he feels that the Buffalo market is adequately served, Circuit Clinical will look to Rochester and Syracuse for more partnering opportunities.

“Of course I understand why the parameters and procedures are in place for a drug or device to get FDA approval,” said Khan, “but no one should be denied access to potentially lifesaving therapies because that process is counterintuitive.”

About Buffalo Medical Group

Started in 1946 by four area physicians who experienced the benefits of a group practice model during WWII, Buffalo Medical Group now encompasses over 125 doctors in four main locations, 15 satellite locations and Buffalo General, Mercy, Sisters of Charity and Millard Fillmore as affiliate hospitals. Their fields of practice range from primary care to a host of specialty and sub-specialty disciplines. BMG’s comprehensive patient care is based on a team approach including not only experienced physicians and surgeons, but nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists and behavioral health specialists as well. It works closely to offer patients a continuum of care that meets all their health care needs as conveniently and easily as possible. For more information, visit www.buffalomedicalgroup.com.

About Circuit Clinical

Founded in 2014, Circuit Clinical was a 2016 semi-finalist in the 43 North Competition, and was designated one of the 40 Best University Start Ups 2017 by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Technology Transfer (NCET2). The company simplifies the process of matching patients and physicians to clinical studies that are right for them.

Circuit Clinical is currently building a large Network of doctors and patients who want to participate in clinical studies, and making it easier for them by providing the software and the expert support team they need to successfully complete the process. For more information, go to www.circuitclinical.com, or like its page on Facebook.