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Clinical Trials

Why should you participate?

Because Overlake Hospital Medical Center is at the frontier of innovative care, a number of our physicians are participating in clinical studies or serving as principal investigators. These studies research questions with significant implications for patients. Patients who participate in clinical trials receive access to the current standard of care, as well as the potential to be treated with a new innovative therapy even before it becomes widely available. Other studies seek to improve quality of life for patients.

Potential Benefits

  • Possibility of early access to innovative therapies that may be better than current treatment options.
  • Study-related healthcare provided by a team of experts, including top physicians and researchers, along with nurses, statisticians and social workers.
  • Enhanced patient monitoring and individualized care.
  • Increased understanding of the disease and its treatment.

Potential Risks/Disadvantages

  • Possibility of unknown side effects
  • New drug/treatment may be ineffective or less effective than current options.
  • Greater time commitment to treatment.

Who qualifies?

Not everyone with a specific disease or condition is eligible. Type and extent of disease, age and health status can determine your eligibility. But if early results of an experimental treatment are encouraging, eligibility is usually broadened.

How do you find out what clinical trials are under way?

Ask your doctor. He or she may know about the latest research for your condition and can contact researchers on your behalf.

If you are interested in any of the listed protocols at Overlake you may contact Tina Fortney, BSN certified clinical research coordinator at 425-688-5407.

Current clinical trials at Overlake:

Other Useful Links:

www.cancer.gov
www.peoplelivingwithcancer.org
www.ctsu.org/patients_page.asp

Frank Shaver
hip replacement patient
 
An avid skier, Frank Shaver's active lifestyle caught up with him. The retired member of the National Ski Patrol hit the slopes at the start of a recent ski season, only to experience terrible pain in his left leg.
 
X-rays showed the cartilage in his left hip was gone. Frank’s Overlake physician recommended a left hip replacement. When he developed similar symptoms in his right leg a few ski seasons later, Frank underwent a second replacement surgery—this time for his right hip.
 
Today, Frank's legs are even stronger and he’s able to ski as well as ever. 		 
Katharine Warmerdam
weight loss surgery patient
 
Katharine was injured and bedridden for six months as a result of a devastating car crash. After undergoing many surgeries to repair her crushed feet, Katharine was told by her doctor that if she didn’t have weight loss surgery and shed her excess weight, she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
 
Katharine had the surgery and lost 254 pounds in two years. She no longer has high blood pressure or pre-diabetes. She’s learned to eat healthier and become more active while gaining a new lease on life. 		 
George Anderson
cancer survivor
 
When George Anderson experienced persistent abdominal discomfort, he suspected something was wrong. He was right. A colonoscopy showed he had stage IIIB rectal cancer and needed surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
 
Overlake's interdisciplinary cancer treatment team developed a treatment plan specific to George's condition. Today he is cancer free, enjoys spending time with his wife and grandchildren and continues to live his life to the fullest. 		 
John Keffer
cardiac patient
 
Redmond Fire Captain John Keffer had transferred hundreds of patients to Overlake’s Emergency Department (ED), so when paramedics rushed him to the same ED to for an irregular heartbeat, he appreciated getting immediate access to top-notch treatment.
 
A congenital heart defect had damaged a portion of John’s aorta, causing the irregular heartbeat. During open-heart surgery, Overlake’s expert team of physicians successfully replaced the damaged blood vessel. Today, John is fully recovered. 		 
Sarah Mejlaender
mother of twins, Aksel and Anja Mejlaender
 
First-time mom Sarah Mejlaender was elated when she discovered she was pregnant with twins. But an ultrasound in her second trimester revealed the babies’ heart rates were slowing down.
 
Sarah was considered a high-risk pregnancy because she was carrying multiples. That, combined with the fact she was at risk of premature delivery, made it clear she needed to be admitted to the hospital so doctors could monitor the babies' health.
 
After 35 weeks of pregnancy and 63 days of bed rest at Overlake, Sarah gave birth to healthy babies, Anja and Aksel. The twins are now thriving toddlers. 		 
Jami Giammusso
spine surgery patient
 
In just weeks, Jami went from living a full, active life to using a walker and then a wheelchair. The mother of four was suffering from excruciating back pain and was unable to stand up straight or bend over because of a degenerative condition.
 
Jami underwent spinal fusion surgery at Overlake, and the result, she says, is too good to be true. Crediting the expert care of her Overlake orthopedic surgeon and the hospital staff, Jami says she's gone from having no quality of life to feeling like her life was given back to her. 		 
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Overlake is a non-profit, non-tax-supported regional medical center
Phone : 425-688-5000   Physician Referral Line: 425-688-5211
1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, Washington 98004
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