Case Studies

An NIH study of treatments for high blood pressure, called the ALLHAT trial, shows some of the strengths and limitations of comparative effectiveness research to improve patient care. More...

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PIPC chairman delivers speech to specialty docs on importance of patient centered CER
July 6, 2010 |

Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) chairman, Tony Coelho, recently delivered a speech on patient centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) in front of fifty specialty doctors from around the country, among others, at the Alliance for Specialty Medicine’s (ASM) “Capitol Hill Advocacy Conference.” The conference took place just a day before the specialty doctors met w

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Tony Coelho's recent speech on patient centered CER
June 24, 2010 |

Below: PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho's recent speech on patient centered CER. The speech was delivered on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at the Alliance for Specialty Medicine's “Capitol Hill Advocacy Conference,” in Washington, D.C.

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Lack of support for "evidence-based health care"— don't blame the patient
June 10, 2010 |

A new Health Affairs article concludes, based on focus groups and interviews, that "consumers will revolt if evidence-based efforts are perceived as rationing or as a way to deny them needed treatment."

You don't need to look any further than public reaction to the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force's updated recommendations on mammography screening to see the proof of this.
 
How should policy-makers react? Should they conclude that consumers, and even more so, patients, cannot be relied on to make evidence-based decisions, and therefore these decisions need to be made for them? Or should they conclude that evidence-based models of medical care and health delivery need to be carefully constructed so they have the trust and support of patients and consumers?

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PIPC Calls for Bipartisan Consensus on Patient-Centered Comparative Effectiveness

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2009 – After speaking at a health care reform event on comparative effectiveness research and choice in health care, Chairman of the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), Tony Coelho, issued the following statement:
 
"The ability for patients and health care providers to get sound medical information to guide their treatment decisions is critically important.  Establishing comparative clinical effectiveness research to expand knowledge of what works in health care, while preserving the ability of doctors and patients to use this research to tailor care to the needs of the individual patient, is a vital part of health care reform.

“Comparative effectiveness research is not about dictating what kind of care should be provided. It's about providing patients and doctors with the information they need to make the best medical decisions.

"PIPC believes that bipartisan consensus to achieve this goal is within our reach and we commend both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate HELP Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee for taking the time to engage in a robust discussion of this important issue during recent hearings and mark-up of health care reform legislation.
 
"We urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance CER within the patient-centered framework established by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) in their CER bills (S. 1213 and H.R. 2502).

"We also urge them to include strong patient safeguards in these bills to ensure that CER empowers patients and doctors with good information, and does not restrict access to appropriate medical care or impede their ability to select the tests and treatments that best meet the needs of the individual." 

At an event sponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform, Mr. Coelho highlighted the potential for CER to improve patient care, and emphasized the need for sound policy that centers on the needs of patients and providers and avoids misuse of CER in ways the deny patients' access to beneficial care.

Mr. Coelho said S. 1213 and H.R. 2502 offer a strong starting point for patient-centered CER and should be part of health care reform.

About PIPC
The Partnership to Improve Patient Care was formed in November 2008 to support new comparative effectiveness research proposals that are centered on patient and provider needs; raise awareness about the value of well-designed CER; and promote the important role of continued medical innovation as part of the solution to cost and quality challenges in health care. Partnership members include a wide range of healthcare organizations representing patient, provider and industry advocacy groups. 

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