Patient Focused Medicine Development: Listening to how Society is Changing
God is in the details said Ludwig Mies vander Rohe, cautioning that bold thinking in architecture must be grounded in a fervent commitment to quality and details. When we consider patient-focused drug development, that same commitment to detail is a crucial piece of the puzzle according to a video from the Patient Focused Medicine Development (PFMD) initiative. link here
Geraint Thomas, Patient Affairs Director at Amgen holds to the same belief as vander Rohe. “We have to listen to how society is changing,” he says in a PFMD video interview. Thomas outlines the complex environment for patient-centered drug development beginning with the task of engaging the right patients and patient organizations as advisors. We must not forget that we are doing this for the benefit of patients, says Thomas. We must be resilient because there are hurdles in the way. No obstacle should be insurmountable, he adds.
Engaging patients in appropriate, thoughtful and scientifically relevant ways will help us collectively get the details right as we work towards more patient focused healthcare. When Rx4good collaborates with patient organizations in bringing the patient perspective to our client’s business challenges, we follow a series of principles to make sure we get the details right.
Demonstrate respect for patient and caregiver needs in all our interactions.
We think about how disease limitations might impact a patient’s ability to be an advisor and find ways of easing their involvement.
Draw from diversity when bringing the patient perspective to clients.
Diversity means that patients represent the spectrum of economic, cultural, ethnic, gender and geographic perspectives that are reflected in a particular disease.
Include patients as partners in our feedback loop, by sharing insights that stem from their engagement.
Patient summaries of our findings, thank you notes, proper compensation for time, and updates on client decisions stemming from patient input are efforts that can help patients feel their time and perspective have been valued.
Always view the patient as a person first and design programs that address the logistical, emotional, financial, social and physical aspects of disease.
Asking the right questions about the needs of the person as a patient, helps us target the most important factors weighing on a person who is not well so we can learn to treat them better
Authored by Ann Moravick, President, Rx4good
