The Effect of Computer Automation on Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office Efficiency

Companies purchase computer systems to make their processes more efficient through automation. Some academic medical centers (AMC) have purchased computer systems for their institutional review boards (IRB) to increase efficiency and compliance with regulations. IRB computer systems are expensive to purchase, deploy, and maintain. An AMC should expect a positive return on investment from the purchase of an IRB system. An IRB system should decrease the processing time for IRB applications and affect the number of IRB staff members necessary to adequately handle IRB processes. This study examined these and other factors at AMCs to determine the value of IRB computer systems.