Showing posts with label Patient Registry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patient Registry. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Power of the PIN

In 2013 we, at The FPIES Foundation, presented the first-of-its-kind FPIES Global Patient Registry through the Patient Crossroads CONNECT program a patient registry platform companyLast year, Patient Crossroads underwent a rebranding to become AltaVoice.  Through Altavoice we were introduced to the Power of the Patients Insights Network (PIN) which enables us to further amplify the voice of children and families living with FPIES to help researchers and potential drug developers find better treatments, faster.


What is AltaVoice?
AltaVoice, formally Patient Crossroads, is a patient-centered data company that optimizes the search for better treatments for diseases.  They build and host Patient Insights Networks (PINs). PINs are ideal for collecting, curating and sharing patient and clinician reported health data. Altavoice works with drug developers, advocacy organizations, like The FPIES Foundation, and academic researchers, uniting them with patients to help improve lives.

What is a PIN?
A PIN stands for Patients Insights Network.  An AltaVoice PIN is more powerful than a traditional registry. It is an interactive, online platform for surveying patients, uploading medical records, tracking health outcomes and sharing de-identified disease data. Additionally, unlike typical clinician-driven registries, PINs are patient powered. The AltaVoice PINs make it easy for families to share their child’s experience, contribute medical data and maintain their privacy while being connected to the latest research, treatment and disease education opportunities.

Sharing Data & Improving Care
The AltaVoice PIN model was built with patients at the center, in control of their data. They believe strongly that advances are made faster when data collection is standardized and advocacy groups, such as ours, include the data in a global network, among other rare diseases that may share commonalities.
We share AltaVoices goals to encourage the sharing of de-identified data and studying findings to help patients learn how others manage similar health challenges. Sharing data also helps quantify the patient journey and build a stronger case for improving care.

Your Privacy
AltaVoice remains passionate about using their expertise to save time, lower costs and improve patients’ lives in a protected environment. Protecting patient data while providing broad access to health information is the cornerstone of their system design. AltaVoice rigorously manages and operates all systems to comply with HIPAA, FISMA and data and patient protection laws.

Inherited & Rare Diseases
AltaVoice has also partnered with Invitae to create new offerings to advance research and access to care for patient with inherited and rare diseases.  While FPIES is not known to be a genetic condition, this merger enables our registry to be open to collecting the data needed for investigating FPIES as a genetic condition.  We are excited for these possibilities under our free FPIES Patient Registry. 

The AltaVoice PIN provide patients, The FPIES Foundation, and research groups with a platform where they direct how, when, and with whom to share their clinical, and in the future, genetic, information to benefit their children and families and further research efforts for FPIES.


Register on the FPIES Registry here: www.fpiesregistry.com






Monday, October 26, 2015

FPIES Trends and Insights from the Patient Registry

FPIES Trends and Insights: 
Caregiver/Patient Reported Data from the Global Patient Registry 
By Hilary Lagerwey 

For four years now we have been working on collecting data from FPIES patients across the world using our Global Patient Registry from Patient Crossroads, a leading registry platform among rare diagnosis.

First of all, we want to say a big thank you to those who have already filled out the survey with valuable information!  There are several good studies out there describing what FPIES looks like, and our goal is to supplement that research with up to date information gathered from an even larger pool of families that we are able to reach using this tool. We hope that this information proves immediately valuable to families and doctors who are managing this diagnosis on a daily basis. We also hope to provide some insights to researchers that might prompt further study.

Anyone who fills out the survey has access to all of the cumulative data so feel free to browse and analyze for yourself, but today, in honor of Global FPIES Day this month (Oct.14th!) we thought we would share some of the insights we’ve gleaned so far. We recognize that since we are collecting data by voluntary responses some of our information may look skewed as compared to a more random sample; however we know that these results are important to share and that they represent a significant portion of FPIES families.


If you haven’t filled out the survey yet, please do so! The more data we have the more we can learn. The more information we can give to doctors and researchers, the more we can advance research to benefit all families living with FPIES.  Here is a look at what our data says about some frequently asked questions:


Do FPIES symptoms typically appear with the introduction of solid foods and formula or is it possible to react through breast milk?

57.4% of survey respondents reported exclusive breastfeeding when symptoms began.

Is FPIES typically outgrown in early childhood?

Out of patients 3 or older in our survey data, 15.8% report outgrowing acute reactions. 1 patient reported is under 3 and reported already outgrowing acute reactions. Several patients well into their elementary school years state that they still have not outgrown acute reactions.

*Also out of patients 3 or older, 15.8% report outgrowing chronic reactions.

50% of those who report outgrowing acute reactions report still experiencing GI symptoms with previously reactive foods.

Do most kids only react to one or a few foods?

Out of those who report projectile vomiting with reactions, 51.9% stated this occurs with only 1 or 2 triggers vs. 48.1% who stated they experience projectile vomiting with more than 2 triggers.

26.9 report projectile vomiting with 5 or more triggers.

What symptoms are common with reactions?

81.3% report projectile vomiting
65.6% report diarrhea
48.4% report visible and/or occult blood with stool


Thank you to FPIES Mom and FPIES Foundation volunteer, Hilary Lagerwey for compiling this survey data. 

Graphic created by FPIES Mom and FPIES Foundation volunteer, Melissa Rice 

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