Showing posts with label Connect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connect. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2014

The FPIES Foundation Celebrates Three Years!


The FPIES Foundation is excited to celebrate its third anniversary of empowering, educating and helping families around the world to navigate life with Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES).

This past year was packed with numerous accomplishments, big and small. The FPIES Foundation achieved its goal of launching a first-of-its-kind FPIES Global Patient Registry. The registry is a ground-breaking opportunity to directly bring families affected by FPIES together with doctors and researchers interested in learning more about this rare allergy.


We are also excited to announce that The FPIES Foundation has established October 14th as Global FPIES Day. Global FPIES Day honors families by giving the opportunity to bring specific awareness to what FPIES is to the general public.


“There are days to recognize other food allergies and rare diseases, but FPIES is unique and the children are extraordinary. They deserve this day just for them,” says Joy Meyer, Executive Director of the FPIES Foundation. Meyer says, “October 14th was chosen specifically because the first research paper to mention the features of FPIES was published in October.”

In addition to establishing the FPIES Global Patient Registry and Global FPIES Day, achievements by the Foundation that were accomplished this year include:




    • Supporting teams raising awareness in the Food Allergy community by participating in various FARE walks nationwide.
    • Expanding our online Provider Database to increase the number of FPIES informed providers committed to helping children living with FPIES.
    • Achieving the Top-rated Non-Profit award from Great NonProfits, a distinction given to less than 10 percent of eligible non-profits.

    The work does not stop here. The FPIES Foundation is excited for the year ahead and plans additional announcements in the coming weeks about our latest efforts in raising FPIES Awareness. 

    This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation 



    Tuesday, July 29, 2014

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry: Getting to Know Connect

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry Getting to Know CONNECT

    Part 3 of 3 in Registry Series

    What defines the CONNECT program?

    Patient Crossroads' CONNECT program is, “a registry platform, which allows patients around the world to join others in reporting their own experience of disease.”-- From the Patient Crossroads Advocacy Brochure

    According to the Patient Crossroads website, “PatientCrossroads is a place where all kinds of people can share and access medical data to hasten the search for cures. Our programs enable anyone—from individual patients to global research organizations—to collect and share disease data in a way that's controlled, transparent and centered on patients' best interests. . .  The CONNECT registry enables disease communities, regardless of size and shape, to collect and share de-identified patient data in a consistent and transparent manner.”

    For more, about de-identified data and Patient Crossroads' strict confidentiality policies, read here: https://www.patientcrossroads.com/advocacyfaq.html

    What do I need to know about the latest updates to the Connect program?

    Recently, participants received the ability to upload genetic testing results and growth charts to the database. It is essential to remember that if you elect to upload any information to the portal, you MUST remove any identifying information from the documents, such as birth date, medical record numbers, name, and so on. Printing out a copy of each electronic document, blacklining identifying information and then re-scanning to the computer for upload may be a potential way to approach this process. Uploading information is optional and does not affect participation in the surveys. For any questions about this process, please contact us at contact@thefpiesfoundation.org. For more about additional updates from CONNECT, please visit: https://www.patientcrossroads.com/

    What other organizations utilize the registry process through patient crossroads CONNECT program?

         The Alzheimer's Association
         The American Cancer Society
         Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
         Government Organizations: NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research and RD-Connect (FP7 European Union Programme)

    For more, read here: https://www.patientcrossroads.com/advocacy-research-clients.html and here: https://www.patientcrossroads.com/industry-government-clients.html

    What will be coming up in the future?

         Over the next year, regular survey releases will include FPIES-specific, IRB-backed and “research-minded” surveys in combination with surveys targeting general health topics. We will further develop a strong foundation of data, impact existing and future research, and strengthen the collective voice of the FPIES community.
         The ability to become aware of clinical trials or other studies, posted in the portal by researchers or other medical industry professionals


    How can I register today?

    1.      Go to the FPIES Foundation's home page (www.fpiesfoundation.org) and click on the blue “Connect” logo on the left side of the page
    2.      You will arrive at the home page for The FPIES Foundation Global Registry. Click the blue box that says “Click to Register Now!”
    3.      Complete the “Consent and Registration” section. Click “Register” and you are ready to go!
    4.      On your dashboard page, you will be able to select surveys to complete at your convenience. View the results as you complete each one and learn more about the FPIES community as you CONNECT!! Be sure to register each member of your family diagnosed with FPIES
    5.      For PORTAL Registration, simply go to the patient crossroads homepage at www.patientcrossroads.com and click on the button that says “log in/sign up” and follow the prompts!
    6.      For additional support, contact us at contact@thefpiesfoundation.org

    Additional Resources:

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry
    • This registry is operated on the Patient Crossroads CONNECT platform and adheres to the Patient Crossroads privacy policy and terms of use.
    • For questions regarding the registry’s privacy policy, terms of use, and/or any other questions regarding the FPIES Global Patient Registry, please email us: contact@thefpiesfoundation.org.
    This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation 

    Monday, July 21, 2014

    The FPIES Global Registry: Getting to Know the Patient Registry

    The FPIES Global Registry Getting to Know the Patient Registry

    Part 2 of 3 in Registry Series

    What is a Patient Registry?

    Also referred to as a “disease registry” or “clinical registry,” a Patient Registry is a program that collects and stores data related to health information for a specific purpose and in an organized and uniform manner.

    In our case, this purpose is to use collected information to further clarify facets of FPIES presentation, diagnosis, treatment and management, and its impact on the whole individual, by means of:
    ·         Further defining symptom presentation
    ·         Examining potential risk factors
    ·         Reviewing quality of life and psychosocial issues, 
    ·         Investigating co-occurrence of other conditions,
    ·         Exploring treatment and management approaches currently in use
    The term “patient registry” also refers to the records that are then created as a result of the processes used to collect and store data. (for more, see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK49448/)

    A patient registry must carefully observe confidentiality. In The FPIES Global Patient Registry , patient confidentiality is of utmost importance. The platform for the registry is the CONNECT program from Patient Crossroads, a platform designed for use by rare disease organizations to create patient registries in order to facilitate awareness to the various facets involved in each diagnosis. Key points:
    ·         Data submitted to the registry becomes de-identified – any and all identifying characteristics (name, email, etc) are unable to be associated with data by registry and portal participants
    ·         You can choose the level of contact you have with CONNECT and registry partners, including the decision to opt out of any contact, without your decision impacting participation in surveys
    ·         Data is so secure that the NIH actually houses its own GRDR through Patient Crossroads.

    For more, read here: https://www.patientcrossroads.com/security-privacy.html

    What can my family gain from joining the patient registry?

         Participation in surveys that will serve to bolster information in the registry and may be used for research
         A broader understanding about the rare disease community to which you belong by viewing the information compiled from the surveys offered--- information is able to be viewed as soon as each completed survey is submitted!
         The ability to review the collective registry's information with the patient's medical team in order to potentially enhance the quality of care
         To impact the patient-family-physician relationship through the sharing of information for individualized care of the child
         Free access to surveys in a secured patient database registry program.

    What does my child's medical team gain by registering for the portal?

         A potentially better understanding of the current trends in the affected patient community
         Knowledge of current clinical studies for FPIES that researchers may post in the data portal
         Ability to impact management strategies and diagnostic considerations, in terms of individualized care and the identification and consideration for co-occurrence of related disorders.
         Ability to impact the patient-family-physician relationship through the sharing of information
         Free access to view de-identified patient data from the Connect program, including the FPIES Global Patient Registry which houses data from over 300 participants at this time

    What information can be found in the registry?

    Surveys will contain a variety of FPIES-specific and general patient history questions. General questions will mainly originate from the question library of Patient Crossroads, a compilation of registry questions already vetted and approved for use in any of the various registries in the Patient Crossroads database, and also through the NIH's GRDR, for the rare diseases' collective voice. General questions will focus on a variety of patient history topics, including birth history, quality of life, and others, providing a foundation for more specific FPIES information in later surveys.

    FPIES-specific questions will be engineered by the FPIES Foundation's Medical Advisory Board with support from our Executive Board. These will investigate aspects related to presentation and diagnosis, daily and emergency management strategies, and clues for potential treatment options possessing more universal effectiveness.

    These questions will then be submitted for review by an IRB (institutional review board), examining ethical considerations, evidence of informed consent, and so on, ensuring that the rights of participants are considered and upheld. Once approved by the IRB, the questions will receive final approval from Patient Crossroads and be entered into their question library. The FPIES-specific survey will at that time be posted to the registry for participants to complete as they are able.

    There is no limit to the amount of general surveys and FPIES-specific surveys that can be posted for participant completion and we intend to post multiple surveys over time, keeping with trends in the existing research and those as observed in the patient community.

    Both medical professionals and registered participants can view de-identified medical data from the completed CONNECT FPIES registry surveys, compiled in easy-to-read charts and graphs.

    Why do some surveys seem to feature content not necessarily specific to FPIES?

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry is set up as an on-going program, and will be collecting information over time.

    Much like the food journal that many families use to monitor how their children are tolerating a new food during food trials, the registry will also track a variety of topics in order to determine any existing patterns among the general patient population diagnosed with FPIES. By including a combination of general and specific surveys, a “wide net” is cast, allowing for a broader view of each participant's experience and background, potentially revealing previously unseen significance in certain factors or patterns.

    What is the cost?

         Registry participants do not pay anything for their participation or in order to view the data or information posted by researchers and industry professionals
         Medical professionals and researchers can register to access the data portal at no cost
         Specialized FPIES-specific surveys, upon approval by The FPIES Foundation's esteemed Medical Advisory Board, will be submitted to an IRB for review prior to being posted on the registry for participants to complete. There is a cost for IRB review and those costs will be absorbed by The FPIES Foundation as part of our research initiatives.


    How can I register today?
    1.      Go to the FPIES Foundation's home page (www.fpiesfoundation.org) and click on the blue “Connect” logo on the left side of the page
    2.      You will arrive at the home page for The FPIES Foundation Global Registry. Click the blue box that says “Click to Register Now!”
    3.      Complete the “Consent and Registration” section. Click “Register” and you are ready to go!
    4.      On your dashboard page, you will be able to select surveys to complete at your convenience. View the results as you complete each one and learn more about the FPIES community as you CONNECT!! Be sure to register each member of your family diagnosed with FPIES
    5.      For PORTAL Registration, simply go to the patient crossroads homepage at www.patientcrossroads.com and click on the button that says “log in/sign up” and follow the prompts!
    For additional support, contact us at contact@thefpiesfoundation.org


    The FPIES Global Patient Registry

    • This registry is operated on the Patient Crossroads CONNECT platform and adheres to the Patient Crossroadsprivacy policy and terms of use.
    • For questions regarding the registry’s privacy policy, terms of use, and/or any other questions regarding the FPIES Global Patient Registry, please email us: contact@thefpiesfoundation.org.
    This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation  

    Tuesday, July 8, 2014

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry: An Introduction and Overview

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry An Introduction and Overview

    Part 1 of 3 in a Registry Series

    In November 2013, we at The FPIES Foundation presented the first-of-its-kind FPIES Global Patient Registry, via the Patient Crossroads CONNECT program.

    Some Key Terms:


    ·         Patient Registry: Also referred to as a “disease registry” or “clinical registry,” a Patient Registry is a program that collects and stores data related to health information for a specific purpose and in an organized and uniform manner.
    ·         De-identified Data: Information that is stripped of any and all identifying characteristics (name, email, etc) so that those viewing the data cannot see any connection to the participant from whom it came
    ·         Institutional Review Board (IRB): this may also be referred to as an ethics review board. It is put into place in order to approve, monitor and review research that involves people-- it exists in order to protect research participants (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=22413)

    There are two essential parts to the registry:


    ·         The patient registry, which houses surveys (general questions and FPIES-specific questions) for registered participants to complete.

    General Surveys will mainly utilize questions from the Patient Crossroads question library, a library of previously IRB-approved questions for use by any of the participating registry programs utilizing the CONNECT platform
         FPIES-Specific Surveys will utilize questions engineered by The FPIES Foundation's medical advisory board, with support from the Executive Board. Those questions, once internally approved, will then be sent for approval by an IRB (Institutional Review Board) before being submitted to the Patient Crossroads CONNECT program for final approval and  survey publication on the FPIES Global Patient Registry.

    ·         The data portal, a newly released component of the CONNECT program, is for use by medical professionals, researchers, and other industry professionals (such as pharmaceutical companies). The portal is free for these professionals to register and allows them to view the de-identified, anonymous information entered into the patient registry by registry participants

    How does the FPIES Global Patient Registry work?


    The FPIES Global Patient Registry is set up through Patient Crossroads' Connect program-- a program offering platforms for rare disease organizations to create registries for their individual patient populations and data portals to display de-identified information from these registries. Registered participants, as well as registered medical, research and pharmaceutical professionals, can then view the information in a secured location. The registry is intended to present a “big picture” of FPIES and all of the issues that may or may not affect each individual patient. It aims to further research endeavors, examine improved treatments and achieve a better understanding of this diagnosis.

    An important privacy feature of a research registry is the collection of data with de-identified information

    De-identified information means that when you submit information into any of the surveys or the registration process of the Connect database, the information will not be able to be attached to you or your child's identifying characteristics. The information will be stored by means of a code, accessible only to Patient Crossroads staff. Even if you select the option to allow researchers to contact you, the contacting is done through Patient Crossroads. The researcher contacting you still does not have any identifying information about you, your child or even your contact information. All of those are protected, making this database secure and confidential. In fact, its privacy standards are so high, the Patient Crossroads registry system is utilized by NIH (the National Institute of  Health) to power its Global Rare Diseases Patient Registry and Data Repository (GRDR)!





    How can I register today?

    1.      Go to the FPIES Foundation's home page (www.fpiesfoundation.org) and click on the blue “Connect” logo on the left side of the page
    2.      You will arrive at the home page for The FPIES Foundation Global Registry. Click the blue box that says “Click to Register Now!”
    3.      Complete the “Consent and Registration” section. Click “Register” and you are ready to go!
    4.      On your dashboard page, you will be able to select surveys to complete at your convenience. View the results as you complete each one and learn more about the FPIES community as you CONNECT!! Be sure to register each member of your family diagnosed with FPIES
    5.      For PORTAL Registration, simply go to the patient crossroads homepage at www.patientcrossroads.com and click on the button that says “log in/sign up” and follow the prompts!
    6.      For additional support, contact us at contact@thefpiesfoundation.org





    Patient Registry

    Data Portal
    What information can be viewed?
    De-identified data from the FPIES Global Patient Registry
    De-identified data from the FPIES Global Patient Registry 

    Who can register?
    Individuals diagnosed with FPIES can be registered by their guardians to be survey participants
    Medical professionals, researchers, industry professionals





    How is my information protected?

    All information submitted by participants is de-identified-- this means that all identifying characteristics (name, contact info, etc) are removed from the information in the registry.

    In fact, the privacy standards are so high, the Patient Crossroads registry system is utilized by NIH (the National Institute of  Health) to power its Global Rare Diseases Patient Registry and Data Repository (GRDR)!
    ·         All information submitted by participants is de-identified
    ·         If data portal participants wish to contact registry participants, Patient Crossroads does not disclose any information to these portal participants, but directs the communication to the registry participant without revealing any identifying info in the process.
    ·         Once contacted, it is the choice of the participant whether or not to reveal any information to the individual contacting them.


    Why would someone contact me?
    If you select the option to be contacted (this is part of the registration page-- you may opt in or opt out without your decision impacting your ability to participate in the registry)you may be contacted in regards to participation in clinical trials


    For more information and FAQ about the Patient Crossroads CONNECT program, go to: https://connect.patientcrossroads.org/en/home/frequently-asked-questions.html

    The FPIES Global Patient Registry
    • This registry is operated on the Patient Crossroads CONNECT platform and adheres to the Patient Crossroads privacy policy and terms of use.
    • For questions regarding the registry’s privacy policy, terms of use, and/or any other questions regarding the FPIES Global Patient Registry, please email us: contact@thefpiesfoundation.org.

    This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation 

    Friday, May 16, 2014

    Be the Voice!

    May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month!

    In 1998, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, now Food Allergy Research and Education Foundation (FARE), created Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) to educate others about food allergies, a potentially life-threatening medical condition. This year, FARE has declared the entire month of May Food Allergy Action Month!  We invite you to use this month to help us continue to build awareness with us for Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES).



    In honor of this week, we are releasing the latest survey as part of our ongoing partnership with the NIH-funded Connect program through Patient Crossroads. Once again confirming The FPIES Foundation's commitment to furthering research for this little understood diagnosis.  



    This week, we have invited you to join us and ‘Be the Voice’ for FPIES during Food Allergy Awareness Week in your community with our awareness tools and by joining in our social media campaigns.  


    Remember-- raising awareness does not have to be elaborate or involve planning large events. Raising awareness can be simple and start with a single conversation. It starts with ONE. ‘Be the Voice’ to increase FPIES awareness!



    One can:



    Our voices together will educate, empower, and connect; our united voices will advocate for change and call to action in order to truly impact improved standards of care. Help those affected today and tomorrow! It starts with one, it starts with you. 

    Read how Your Voice: can be a part of inspiring FPIES research!  Let's Connect all of our voices through the FPIES Global Registry today!

    This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation