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National Registry
Partnerships to Advance Therapeutics (PATHs) March 2007

Letter from the CERTs

Dear PATHs Participant:

Welcome to the 6th annual Partnerships to Advance THerapeutics (PATHs) meeting. At the first annual meeting in 2001, the CERTs responded to the PATHs partners' request to develop, survey, and distribute a registry of projects describing therapeutic initiatives among PATHs partners. The first PATHs Registry was distributed in March 2002 at the second annual meeting.

The Registry contains information about research and educational projects from various organizations committed to improving the use of therapeutics. It includes summaries of the goals and objectives of many of the organizations participating in the program as well as descriptions of projects. We trust that the Registry continues to serve as a valuable national resource for information about collaborative opportunities which address important therapeutics issues.

The CERTs welcome your organization to submit information to the Registry using the forms located on the CERTs Web site: http://www.certs.hhs.gov/partners/paths/regis/index.html. If you have questions regarding the PATHs program or the Registry, please feel free to contact Dayna Olson-Getty, CERTS Coordinating Center, at dayna.olson@duke.edu. Thank you for your commitment to the PATHs program and participation in the PATHs Registry.

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PATHs National Registry 2007

Table of Contents

PATHs Partners....................page 4
Organizational Summaries.......pages 5-41
Quick Reference to Projects....pages 42-45
Project Summaries................pages 46-89

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PATHs National Registry Partner Organizations

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Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

Mission

To empower our members to serve society by using sound medication principles and strategies to achieve positive patient outcomes.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Ensuring positive health care outcomes through quality,accessible and affordable pharmaceutical care.
2. Encourage patient-focused medication management, including an emphasis on improved quality of life, positive outcomes, the affordability and accessibility of prescription medications.
3. Promote, document and/or demonstrate the value of managed care pharmacy

AcademyHealth

Mission

In collaboration with its members and other key stake holders, AcademyHealth the supports the best health services research through:

1. Expanding and improving the scientific basis of the field;
2. Increasing the capabilities and skills ofresearchers;
3. and Promoting the development of the necessary financial, human, infrastructure, and data resources.

AcademyHealth facilitates the use of the best available health services research and health policy information by:

1. Translating research findings and the lessons of experience into useful information for clinical, management, and policy decisions;
2. Enhancing communication and interaction between health services researchers and health policy-makers;
3. Identifying areas in which additional research is needed to better inform decisions.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Although we don't have a specific project to include in the registry, we support development of the resources needed and the dissemination of research to inform practice.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Mission

To improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Support the study of the relative effectiveness, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of clinical conditions.
2. Development and administration of research programs related to patient outcomes associated with pharmaceutical therapy

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Mission

Promote mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Mission

The American Academy of Pediatrics is dedicated to the attainment of optimal health for all children, including the optimal use of safe and effective therapeutics for children.

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

Mission

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is a national organization whose mission is to serve its member colleges and schools and their respective faculties, by acting as their advocate at the national level, by providing forums for interaction and exchange of information among its members, by recognizing outstanding performance among its member educators, and by assisting member colleges and schools in meeting their mission of educating and training pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.

The Association recognizes a special responsibility to provide leadership in advancing and enhancing the quality of education and training in its member colleges and schools while respecting the diversity inherent among them. AACP also recognizes that academic pharmacy plays an important role in and shares responsibility with the broader profession of pharmacy in leading efforts to improve medication use.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. AACP will lead the development and continuedenhancement of educational programs (professional degree, graduate degree, postgraduate residencies and fellowships, and continuing professional education) offered by colleges and schools of pharmacy.
2. AACP will promote and support members' work todiscover and apply new knowledge that advances pharmacy education, pharmaceutical sciences, and the profession of pharmacy in the US and throughout the world.
3. AACP will assist members in the delivery ofoutstanding experiential education.

American Association of Retired Persons

Mission

With over 35 million members, AARP is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over in the U.S. AARP is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age. We provide information and resources; engage in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy; assist members in serving their communities; and offer benefits, products, and services for members.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

AARP is committed to improving the health status of Americans age 50 and older. AARP is also committed to helping educate Medicare beneficiaries and others about the new prescription drug benefit that takes effect in 2006. To meet these objectives, we have several programs to assist people to make, in consultation with their health care professionals, wise medication choices from both economic and clinical perspectives.

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

Mission

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services in an effective, ethical and efficient manner.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

AARDA advocates for drug safety as well as for issues surrounding payment for therapeutics under Medicare Part D.

American College of Cardiology

Mission

The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to advocate for quality cardiovascular care - through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines - and to influence health care policy.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Help improve cardiovascular care and practice
2. Foster disease prevention
3. Communicate the latest advances
4. Create and develop responsive, innovative, and relevant educational opportunities
5. Disseminate tools and best practices (products, services, and programs) for ready use by practitioners, patients, and policymakers
6. Develop clinical standards
7. Identify the latest advances
8. Promote and uphold the highest professional standards in patient care and physician conduct
9. Promote adequate workforce training and support for cardiovascular care

American College of Clinical Pharmacology

Mission

The American College of Clinical Pharmacology strives to be the premier professional society with the size, influence and diversity of membership consistent with the breadth of the discipline of clinical pharmacology that will:

1. Provide innovative, unbiased, quality educational programs and forums for our membership, fellow health professionals, students and the public;
2. Lead in the development and dissemination of basic and clinical knowledge to improve rational drug use and patient outcomes;
3. Support and encourage discovery and development efforts designed to provide improved therapeutic modalities;
4. Serve as a forum for active public debate to influence scientific, regulatory, and public health policy issues;
5. Serve the membership through ongoing, open communication, recognition of excellence and service, and by providing opportunities to influence future directions of the College.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Publish the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
2. Provide the highest quality educational programs inclinical pharmacology.
3. Endorse the efforts of organizations or agencies toinfluence scientific, regulatory, and public health policy issues

American College of Clinical Pharmacy

Mission

ACCP/Pharmacy is a professional and scientific society that provides leadership, education, advocacy, and other resources that enable clinical pharmacists to achieve excellence in practice and research.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Advocate for amendment of the Social Security Act to add pharmacists to the group of recognized providers of health services.
2. Double funding support provided for research awardsand fellowships by the ACCP/Pharmacy Research Institute.
3. Double the number of ACCP/Pharmacy members who are board certified.

American College of Physicians

Mission

To enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. To establish and promote the highest clinical standards and ethical ideals
2. To be the foremost comprehensive education and information resource for all internists;
3. To advocate responsible positions on individual health and on public policy relating to health care for the benefit of the public, our patients, the medical profession, and our members;
4. To serve the professional needs of the membership, support healthy lives for physicians, and advance internal medicine as a career;
5. To promote and conduct research to enhance the quality of practice, the education and continuing education of internists, and the attractiveness of internal medicine to physicians and the public;
6. To recognize excellence and distinguished contributions to internal medicine;
7. To unify the many voices of internal medicine and its subspecialties for the benefit of our patients, our members, and our profession.

American Heart Association

Mission

Reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Support professional education in the area ofcardiovascular disease and stroke by providing healthcare professionals up-to-date research guidelines, education and information relevant to clinical practice, funding research, and publishing scientific journals (e.g., Circulation, Circulation Research, Stroke, Hypertension, and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology);
2. Increase efforts and opportunities for the continued improvement of cardiovascular disease quality improvement through the development and dissemination of: scientific guidelines and statements; tools to implement scientific guidelines and statements; and educational materials for the general public and patients around primary and secondary prevention, risk factors and warning signs;
3. Advocate for cardiovascular disease and stroke patients, which might include prescription drug coverage, risk factor screening, and quality improvement initiatives.

American Medical Association

Mission

To promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of the public

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Improving patient safety by reducing risks and errors.
2. Clinical Quality Improvement.
3. Clinical Performance Improvement

American Nurses Association

Mission

Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Work for the improvement of health standards andavailability of health care services for all people
2. Foster high standards of nursing
3. Stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses.

American Pharmacists Association

Mission

Provides information, education and advocacy to help all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Expand access to and promote the value of pharmacist's care-giving services in obtaining positive health outcomes through optimal use of medications.

American Public Health Association

Mission

The American Public Health Association (APHA), founded over 133 years ago has continued to evolve throughout the decades to meet the increasing challenges of public health and the public health community. APHA has remained consistent in its mission to improve the public's health and to achieve equity in health status for all.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Ensuring universal access to health care to include therapeutics
2. Eliminating disparities in health to include access to therapeutics
3. Building an effective public health infrastructure to protect the public.

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation

Mission

The mission of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Foundation is to improve the health and well-being of older persons through appropriate, effective, and safe medication use. The ASCP Foundation provides leadership, innovation, and expertise in medicines and aging to seniors and those who care for them. The unique focus of the ASCP Foundation is the development, integration, and application of knowledge regarding medication use in the senior population and the practice of senior care pharmacy to optimize health care outcomes.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Fund, coordinate, and conduct research that centers on geriatric pharmacotherapy and senior care pharmacy practice.
2. Design, conduct, coordinate, and fund educational programs and initiatives that enhance appropriate, effective, and safe medication use in the senior population.
3. Address the information and education needs of consumers, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the aging network regarding appropriate medication use in the senior population.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Mission

ASHP believes that the mission of pharmacists is to help people make the best use of medications. The mission of ASHP is to advance and support the professional practice of pharmacists in hospitals and health systems and serve as their collective voice on issues related to medication use and public health.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Publish and maintain continuously a comprehensive, unbiased, comparative, and evaluative drug information resource for physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals (AHFS Drug Information-print and various electronic formats).
2. Facilitate the development and dissemination of evidence-based professional consensus on important therapeutic controversies.
3. Promote fail-safe medication use in hospitals and health systems.
4. Encourage pharmacy departments in hospitals and health-systems to become formally engaged in implementing national quality indicators in drug therapy.

The ASHP Leadership Agenda focuses on:

1. Promoting fail-safe medication use in health systems;
2. Fostering evidence-based medication use in health systems;
3. Expanding access to the patient care services of health-system pharmacists;
4. Helping health-system pharmacists deal with the affordability and accessibility of pharmaceuticals;
5. Fostering an adequate supply of practitioners and practice leaders in health-system pharmacy.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation

Mission

The mission of the ASHP Foundation is to improve the health and well being of patients in hospitals and health systems through appropriate, safe and effective medication use. The Foundation provides leadership and conducts education and research activities that foster the coordination of interdisciplinary medication management leading to optimal patient outcomes. Emphasis is given to programs that will have a major impact on advancing pharmacy practice in hospitals and health systems, thereby improving public health.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Design and Study of Safe and Effective Medication-Use Systems
2. Advancement of Optimal Patient Medication Outcomes
3. Expansion of Pharmacists' Direct Patient Care and Leadership Roles

Arthritis Foundation

Mission

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Top objectives/ goals relative to optimizing the care of people with arthritis:

1. Reduce arthritis pain
2. Reduce activity limitations due to arthritis
3. Reduce racial disparities in arthritis care
4. Promote visits to competent arthritis care providers

Arthritis Foundation (Maryland Chapter)

Mission

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation (Maryland Chapter) is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. To support a unique and effective mix of research through the Arthritis Foundation Research Program (including national and chapter grants to support clinical and health services and outcomes research. See Project summary for example.)
2. To obtain Medicare coverage for outpatient prescription drugs and biologic therapies, as a national leader working with other stake holders in this debate, by 2003, and for arthritis education activities, by 2004, to facilitate the control of arthritis.*
3. To validate and implement, by 2006, the Arthritis Foundation Quality Indicator Set (AFQuIP) into performance measurement systems designed to improve arthritis quality of care in provider, health care organization, and consumer settings. (See Project Summary)
4. To provide high-quality, unbiased consumer education materials on therapeutics (e.g. brochures on specific medications, annual Drug Guide, press releases on new medications etc.) *Information provided in 2003

Association of American Medical Colleges

Mission

The mission of the AAMC is to improve the health of the public by enhancing the effectiveness of the nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals. The AAMC pursues its mission by assisting academic medicine's institutions, organizations, and individuals in carrying out their responsibilities for: educating the physician and medical science workforce; discovering new medical knowledge; developing innovative technologies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease; providing health care services in academic settings.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Discovering new medical knowledge

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Mission

1. Reduce targeted catheter-associated adverse events by 50% in 5 years.
2. Reduce targeted surgery-associated adverse events by 50% in 5 years.
3. Reduce targeted antimicrobial-resistant infections by 50% in 5 years.
4. Reduce mortality and hospitalizations attributable to respiratory tract infections among long-term care patients by 50% in 5 years.
5. Eliminate microbiology laboratory and errors that cause adverse patient events in 5 years.
6. Eliminate occupational needle injuries among healthcare personnel in 5 years.
7. Achieve 100% adherence to CDC guidelines for immunization of healthcare personnel in 5 years.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Educate clinicians about the most appropriate use of antimicrobials in the healthcare setting (12 steps program).
2. Conduct intervention studies to improve prophylactic use of antimicrobials in surgical patients.
3. Conduct intervention studies to reduce the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings.

Centers for Education & Research on Therapeutics

Mission

To conduct research and provide education that will advance the optimal use of drugs, medical devices, and biological products.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Increase awareness of both the uses and risks of new drugs and drug combinations, biological products, and devices as well as of mechanisms to improve their safe and effective use
2. To provide clinical information to patients and consumers; health care providers; pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers, and purchasers; health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and health care delivery systems; insurers; and government agencies
3. To improve quality while reducing cost of care by increasing the appropriate use of drugs, biological products, and devices and by preventing their adverse effects and consequences of these effects (such as unnecessary hospitalizations)
4. The conduct of research on the comparative effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of drugs, biological products, and devices.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Mission

Assure health care security for beneficiaries. In serving beneficiaries, we will open our programs to full partnership with the entire health community to improve quality and efficiency in an evolving health care system. Among our goals is to protect and improve beneficiary health and satisfaction and provide leadership in the broader health care marketplace to improve health.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Improve quality of care and health outcomes for the beneficiaries of CMS programs.
2. Protect beneficiaries from substandard or unnecessary care.
3. Continually improve CMS programs and operations by actively seeking and responding to the input of beneficiaries and the health care community

Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare

Mission

CAQH is a not-for-profit alliance of health plans and networks that promotes collaborative initiatives to help make healthcare more affordable, share knowledge to improve the quality of care, and make administration easier for physicians and their patients.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

To increase appropriate use of antibiotics and reduce antibiotic resistance. To improve long term adherence to treatment recommendations post-myocardial infarction.

Drug and Therapeutics Information Service (DATIS)

Mission

The Drug and Therapeutics Information Service's mission is to facilitate better patient outcomes by supporting clinical decision-making through delivery of personalized, unbiased, practical and evidence-based counsel to health care practitioners, especially those in primary care.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. To improve health care quality and safety through effective use of research-validated academic detailing concepts.
2. To assist primary care providers translate best evidence into clinical practice.
3. To prove the sustainability and value of long term relationships between primary care providers and locally situated health care extension services.
4. To embrace with the primary care provider areas of clinical uncertainty and controversy.

Food and Drug Administration

Mission

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Use science-based efficient risk management in all Agency regulatory activities, so that the Agency's limited resources can provide the most health promotion and protection at the least cost for the public.
2. Enable consumers to make smarter decisions by getting them better information to weigh the benefits and risks of FDA-regulated products.
3. Seek continuous improvements in patient and consumer safety by reducing risks associated with FDA-regulated products.
4. Strengthen FDA's capability to identify, prepare for, and respond to terrorist threats and incidents.

National Consumers League

Mission

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America's pioneer consumer advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. Today, NCL uses research, education and advocacy to empower, defend, and represent consumers' interests on such issues as health care, food and drug safety, child labor and sweatshops, corporate social responsibility, personal finance, technology and telecommunications, and consumer fraud. NCL provides a wide range of consumer information and links to other relevant and useful sites through its main Web site, www.nclnet.org.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Provide useful and reliable information to consumers about the safe and appropriate use of medications.
2. Promote communication between consumers and their health care providers to improve consumer understanding of the medications they take.
3. Improve risk communication about medications so that consumers are better able to weigh the risks and benefits of medications.

National Council on Patient Information and Education

Mission

Formed in 1982 as one of the original patient safety coalitions, NCPIE's mission is to improve communication between health care professionals and patients/consumers about the safe, appropriate use of medicines. Its over 120 coalition members include health professional associations, consumer and patient advocacy groups, pharmaceutical manufacturers, academic institutions, and state and federal government agencies (e.g., FDA, AHRQ, Administration on Aging). NCPIE maintains two Web sites: http://www.talkaboutrx.org and http://www.bemedwise.org

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Pursuant to "Healthy People 2010" (objective #17-4) and Public Law 104-180, promote the development and awareness of enhanced written consumer medicine information (leaflets that accompany prescriptions obtained at pharmacies), in accordance with guidelines for "usefulness."
2. Promote public and professional awareness of the importance of oral counseling (at the point of prescribing and dispensing) as a supplement to distribution of written consumer medicine information (see "Healthy People 2010" Objective #17-5).
3. Six of the top 10 most frequently used medicines are available without a prescription. Promote the safe, appropriate use of non-prescription medicines by encouraging consumers to: (1) ask questions of health professionals prior to using OTC products, and (2) read carefully the "Drug Facts" label

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Mission

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. For more than 50 years, NIAID research has led to new therapies, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and other technologies that have improved the health of millions of people in the United States and around the world.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Support preclinical discovery and development of new and improved therapeutics:

1. Further the understanding of self-tolerance, tolerance induction, and afferent and efferent pathways of the immune response to aid development of new therapeutics.
2. Support in vitro screening and animal-model testing of potential therapeutics.
3. Make specialized resources available for clinical and preclinical testing of therapeutics.
4. Maintain clinical trial networks to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Impact the clinical management of HIV infection:

1. Further the understanding of HIV biology and HIV-host interactions to identify new viral and cellular targets for novel therapeutics and microbicides.
2. Support chemical and biological databases, pharmacology, toxicology, analytical chemistry and drug manufacturing for the development of new HIV therapeutics.
3. Provide tissue-based small animal models for HIV drug discovery and in vitro virologic and immunologic evaluations for anti-HIV drugs and microbicides.
4. Support development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of HIV, its complications, and co-infections.

Support biodefense research, pursuing development of new and improved products designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases caused by potential agents of bioterrorism.

National Pharmaceutical Council

Mission

NPC conducts, supports and disseminates research for health care decision makers and public and private payers on behalf of the research-based pharmaceutical industry. NPC has three major strategies:

1. Development of intellectual assets.
2. Partnering with member companies and outside organizations to achieve maximum impact.
3. Direct dissemination of programs and products.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

Replace component management with a systems approach to pharmaceutical therapy based on:

1. Integrating total patient care;
2. Recognizing the total cost/benefit over time;
3. Aligning incentives;
4. Developing more accurate measures for integrated care.

Foster appropriate use of pharmaceuticals through:

1. Timely and accurate diagnosis;
2. Initiation of treatment for diagnosed conditions;
3. Rapid adoption of "state-of-the-art" therapies;
4. Patient compliance with treatment regimens

National Quality Forum

Mission

The National Quality Forum's mission is to improve the quality of American healthcare by: setting national priorities and goals for performance improvement; endorsing national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on performance; and promoting the attainment of national goals through education and outreach programs.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

The specific goals of NQF are to:

1. Promote collaborative efforts to improve the quality of the nation's healthcare through performance measurement and public reporting;
2. Develop a national strategy for measuring and reporting healthcare quality;
3. Standardize healthcare performance measures so that comparable data are available across the nation (i.e., establish national voluntary consensus standards);
4. Promote consumer understanding and use of healthcare performance measures and other quality information;
5. Promote and encourage the enhancement of system capacity to evaluate and report on healthcare quality.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Mission

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA members invested an estimated $38.8 billion in 2004 in discovering and developing new medicines. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

One of PhRMA's principal missions is to improve the regulatory environment for drug development and provide a platform for education and communication on the importance of the pharmaceutical research and development process to society.

United States Pharmacopeia

Mission

USP promotes the public health by developing and disseminating quality standards and information for medicines, healthcare delivery, and related products and practices. Our standards and information help patients and practitioners maintain and improve health.

Top objectives/goals relative to optimizing the use of therapeutics:

1. Eliminate fatal medication errors
2. Ensure the safe use of medications
3. Reduce the burden of medication errors

PATHs National Registry Quick Reference to Projects

PATHs National Registry Project Summaries

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

ID: AMCP-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: On-line Drug-Drug Interaction Initiative
Description: Drug-drug interaction system improvement
Key Words: drug-drug interactions, online drug utilization review
Partners: American Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain DrugStores, National Community Pharmacy Association, American Society for Automation in Pharmacy, US Pharmacopeia
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Partners Description: drug database vendors
Contact: Marissa Schlaifer, mschlaifer@amcp.org, (703) 683-8416 x303
Year Added: 2004
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMCP-002
Status: Completed
Title: AMCP's Framework for Quality Drug Therapy
Description: Total quality improvement tool for pharmacists and pharmacy systems
Key Words: quality improvement in delivery of pharmaceuticals, self-assessment, enhancement of quality
Partners: Caremark Rx, Fallon Community Health Plan, Indian Health Service, Veterans Administration
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Pharmacists practicing in any setting; pharmacy system administrators
Contact: Richard Fry, rfry@fmcpnet.org, (703) 683-8416 x345
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMCP-003
Status: Completed
Title: AMCP's Format for Formulary Submissions
Description: Tool for providing pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committees with evidence based medicine documentation for making formulary inclusion decisions
Key Words: formulary decision making, evidence based medicine
Partners: Health plan and PBMs providing pharmacy benefits to over 150 million Americans; Department of Defense; Veterans Administration
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Pharmacy and therapeutics committees of health care systems
Contact: Steve Avey, savey@fmcpnet.org, (703) 683-8416 x346
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

American Academy of Nursing

ID: AAN-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Expert Panel on Acute and Critical Care
Description: The expert panel on Acute and Critical Care consist of nurses who are fellows in the American Academy of Nursing who have a focus on issues in acute and critical care nursing practice. The AAN Expert Panels function as a national think tank mechanism and are constituted from the top nursing leaders in the country elected by their peers to the AAN. Expert Panels represent the working groups of the Academy performing the critical knowledge analysis, summary, and integration for transforming healthcare policy and practice. They provide a flexible and efficient mechanism by which Fellows may address emerging issues within the nursing profession and concerns for the health of the public, in order to:

1. Initiate exploration of trends and issues important to health care delivery and policy;
2. Recommend actions to the Board of Directors and the Fellowship;
3. Provide expert opinion on issues critical to the provision of health care and the wellbeing of the American people; and
4. Prepare documents that reflect the synthesis of philosophic and scientific knowledge aligned with the strategic directions of the Academy.

1. With funding from Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA) Specialty Nursing Association Partner in Geriatrics (SNAPG), completed a consensus document addressing strategies to reduce deterioration in hospitalized elders.
2. Based on work on the consensus document, submitted eight manuscripts for publication in the journal Critical Care Nursing Clinics.
3. Coordinated a symposium at the 2006 State of the Science in Nursing Research Congress addressing the theme "Methodological and Design Challenges in Acute Care Research.
4. A subgroup of panel members contributed two chapters to a forthcoming book, "Advances in Patient Safety and Quality - An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses," being published by AHRQ.

American Association of Retired Persons

ID: AARP-001
Status: Planned and will start within year
Title: Medication Use Campaign
Description: AARP is using 2005 to plan and develop a medication use campaign that will launch in 2006. The campaign may include consumer information on: making informed decisions about medication options; avoiding medication errors, adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions; underuse and overuse of medications; use of inappropriate medication; comparative effectiveness; enhancing medication compliance; enhancing doctor/pharmacist and patient communications; and personal medication records. Many of these issues have been addressed in an on-line medication use learning course that will appear on AARP's Web site in Spring 2005.
Key Words: doctor/patient relationship, compliance, drug interactions, side effects, comparative effectiveness
Partners: AARP will enter into partnerships with organizations that share an interest in appropriate medication use.
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Parters may include: national physician organizations, AARP Health Guide partners, allied health professional groups, health care purchasers and companies; pharmacist associations, and chain drugstores. We also seek to join other relavent coalitions.
Contact: Margaret Hawkins, mhawkins@aarp.org, (202) 434-2201
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AARP-002
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Evidence-Based Research
Description: In February 2005, AARP unveiled its drug safety and effectiveness program at http://www.aarp.org/researchRx. This program incorporates evidence-based research of the Drug Evidence-based Practice Center. Components of AARP's program include simplified comparative information about prescription drug safety and costs, accessible by health condition and/or by specific drug. The online information includes all therapeutic classes reviewed by OHSU to date; this will be updated and new classes added as OHSU completes their work.
Key Words: comparative effectiveness, drug safety, evidence-based research, side effects
Partners: Current partners are AARP's state chapters.
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Additional partners are sought to help fund research about consumer and health provider opinions about evidence-based research, and to help develop educational products for both audiences.
Contact: Van Ellet/N. Lee Rucker, vellet@aarp.org/lrucker@aarp.org, (202) 434-3949/(202) 434-3897
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

American College of Cardiology

ID: ACC-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: CERTs - Duke University Medical Center
Description: The goals of this project are to develop and enhance methodologies for translating research into practice. Specific objectives include developing a focus update process for guidelines, developing mobile guideline applications, examining the use and development of appropriateness criteria, evaluating physician perceptions of guidelines and performance measures, interviews with guideline developers on challenges to constructing useful guidelines, the evolution of guideline grading schemes, the use of guidelines to develop research priorities, methods for updating established performance measures, and disseminating and interpreting FDA alerts for physicians.
Key Words: clinical trials, research, guidelines, quality indicators, performance, outcome, quality cycle, appropriateness criteria
Partners: Duke University Medical Center
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: Joseph Allen, MA, jallen@acc.org, (202) 375-6463
Year Added: 2003
Last Update: 2007

ID: ACC-002
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: National Cardiovascular Data Registry: NCDR ®
Description: Leading provider of services to improve the quality of cardiovascular care through the collection, analysis, and reporting of data and providing educational and research activities. Registries include ACTION Registry™ (ACS), Cath PCI Registry™, ICD Registry™, and CARE Registry™ (carotid)
Key Words: guidelines, quality indicators, performance, outcome, registry
Partners: ICD Registry™ - HRS; CARE Registry™ -- SCAI and SIR
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners:
Contact: Kathleen Hewitt, MA, Khewitt@acc.org, (202) 375-6336
Year Added: 2007
Last Update:

ID: ACC-003
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Offers outstanding educational sessions, live cases from sites around the globe, latebreaking clinical trials, late-breaking emerging technologies, simulations, abstract presentations.
Key Words: education, live cases, clinical trials, simulations
Partners: SCAI
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: Jin Soo Kim, Jskim@acc.org, (202) 375-6345
Year Added: 2007
Last Update:

American College of Clinical Pharmacology

ID: ACCP-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Educational Symposia
Description: An educational symposia featured during the annual meeting in the fall of each year.
Key Words: educational symposia
Partners: Partners for two of the symposia are ASCPT and AAPS.
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: Susan S. Ulrich, R.Ph., accp1ssu@aol.com, (315) 768-6117
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2007

American College of Clinical Pharmacy

ID: ACCP/Pharmacy-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program (PSAP) (5th edition)
Description: Comprehensive, modular-based home-study program that updates and assesses pharmacotherapy knowledge in 19 therapeutic areas.
Key Words: pharmacotherapy, self-assessment, recertification program for pharmacotherapy specialists certified by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties
Partners: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Promote PSAP use by their members.
Contact: Kristin Povilonis, kpovilonis@accp.com, (816) 531-2177
Year Added: 2002
Last Update: 2005

ID: ACCP/Pharmacy-002
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Updates in Therapeutics
Description: Live programming at ACCP spring meetings each year, followed by web-based updates on more than 60 therapeutic topics in pharmacotherapy, psychiatry, oncology, and nutrition support. www.accp.com
Key Words: on-line, drug therapy, education
Partners: None
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Promote use by their members.
Contact: Robert M. Elenbaas, relenbaas@accp.com, (816) 531-2177
Year Added: 2002
Last Update: 2005

ID: ACCP/Pharmacy-003
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Pediatric Medication Education Text, 4th Edition
Description: More than 200 monographs written at 6th grade level in English and Spanish for use in patient education.
Key Words: pediatrics, drug information, patient education
Partners: None
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners:
Contact: Wendi Kishi, wkishi@accp.com, (816) 531-2177
Year Added: 2002
Last Update: 2005

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

ID: AHA-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: The Cholesterol Low Down
Description: The Cholesterol Low Down teaches families what they can do to manage their cholesterol, including diet, exercise and therapeutics.
Key Words: cholesterol, prevention, diet, exercise, AHA, risk factors, education, treatment
Partners:
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: The American Heart Association would be interested in collaborative activities to increase awareness and compliance with guidelines.
Contact: Megan Lozito/Katie Bell, Megan.lozito@heart.org/Katie.bell@heart.org, (214) 706-1359/(214) 706-1345
Year Added: 2004
Last Update: 2007

ID: AHA-002
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Heart of Diabetes
Description: The Heart of Diabetes works by first giving people the knowledge they need in managing their Diabetes, including diet, exercise and therapeutics.
Key Words: diabetes, prevention, diet, exercise, AHA, risk factor, education, treatment
Partners: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: The American Heart Association would be interested in collaborative activities to increase awareness and compliance with guidelines.
Contact: Megan Lozito/Katie Bell, Megan.lozito@heart.org/Katie.bell@heart.org, (214) 706-1359/(214) 706-1345
Year Added: 2004
Last Update: 2007

ID: AHA-003
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Heart Profilers
Description: Through a series of online questions, Heart Profilers provides patients treatment options for a variety of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including condition specific therapeutics.
Key Words: secondary prevention, diet, exercise, AHA, risk factors, education, treatment
Partners: Nexcura, KOS Pharmaceuticals
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: The American Heart Association would be interested in collaborative activities to increase awareness and compliance with guidelines.
Contact: Kim Jennings, kim.jennings@heart.org, (214) 706-1850
Year Added: 2004
Last Update: 2007

ID: AHA-004
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Get With The Guidelines
Description: The Get With The Guidelines program is a rapid cycle quality improvement hospital-based program that helps improve patient outcomes. This program makes it possible for the healthcare provider team to consistently treat every patient in the hospital setting with the most updated guideline information.
Key Words: guidelines, secondary prevention, quality indicators, performance, outcome, quality improvement, hospital implementation, concurrent data entry, real-time benchmarking
Partners: Hospitals, physician groups, medical professional associations such as nursing & C-suite, Health Systems, QIOs, Health Plans, Health Departments
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: The American Heart Association would be interested in collaborative activities to increase awareness and compliance with guidelines.
Contact: Diane Porter, diane.porter@heart.org, (214) 706-1829
Year Added: 2004
Last Update: 2007

American Medical Association

ID: AMA-001
Status:
Title: Diagnosis and Management of Foodborne Illnesses: A Primer for Physicians and Other Health Care Professionals
Description: This is a popular educational/awareness project on management of foodborne illnesses directed at healthcare professionals. It was done in collaboration with the FDA, CDC, USDA, and the American Nurses Association. A free hard-copy CME product has been distributed to over 17,000 healthcare professionals; it currently is being translated into Spanish. A version for personal digital assistants (PDAs) also is available.
Key Words: education, awareness, foodborne illnesses
Partners:
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: L.J Tan, PhD, (312) 464-4147
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMA-002
Status:
Title: The National Influenza Vaccine Summit
Description: Co-sponsored by the CDC and the AMA, this annual summit includes nearly 100 organizations from the fields of influenza vaccine research, production, distribution, promotion and advocacy. This collaborative group focuses on influenza vaccine issues that are important to achieve the Healthy People 2010 goals. Additionally, throughout the year, the Summit participants collaborate to address barriers that may hinder influenza vaccination rates. These activities range from addressing payment problems, to communicating nationally on the benefits of influenza vaccination, to creating tools to facilitate the provision of vaccine.
Key Words: vaccines, research, production, distribution, promotion, advocacy
Partners: Co-sponsored by CDC and AMA
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: L.J Tan, PhD, (312) 464-4147
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMA-003
Status:
Title: Hepatitis C Physician Education Monograph for Primary Care Physicians
Description: A CME monograph with accompanying patient information on the diagnosis and management of hepatitis C infection. Targeted at the primary care physician, the monograph includes information on the initial testing for hepatitis C, on when to refer the patient to a specialist, on the long-term management of the patient with chronic infection, and the counseling of infected patients.
Key Words: Hepatitis C, physician education, doctor/patient relationship
Partners:
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: L.J Tan, PhD, (312) 464-4147
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMA-004
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: Enhancing Adult Immunization in the United States
Description: A new initiative with both outreach and legislative efforts to improve the overall rates for adult immunization in the United States. In particular, efforts will be initially focused on collaborating with immunization partners to develop strong adult immunization policies to procure adult vaccines and to provide outreach to the public and to physicians on the importance of adult immunization.
Key Words: immunization, adults, legislation
Partners:
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: L.J Tan, PhD, (312) 464-4147
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

ID: AMA-005
Status: Projected
Title: Improving Appropriate Antimicrobial Use and Reducing Resistance by Primary Care Physicians
Description: Currently in discussion is an educational initiative to highlight the appropriate use of new antimicrobials. An educational session at one of the AMA's meetings is in consideration. This part of the initiative is subject to funding. Another part of this initiative involves the national dissemination of a compendium of guidances on appropriate use of antibiotics. This compendium was produced by the CA Medical Association and the AMA is working with them on a potential national distribution of the compendium.
Key Words: educational initiative, appropriate use, new antimicrobials
Partners:
Desire Additional Partners: No
Comments on Partners:
Contact: L.J Tan, PhD, (312) 464-4147
Year Added: 2005
Last Update: 2005

American Pharmacists Association

ID: APA-001
Status: Planned and wills start within year
Title: Maximizing the pharmacist's role in risk management
Description: Exploring use of a performance-based group of pharmacists and pharmacies to improve risk management initiatives.
Key Words: pharmacist, pharmacy
Partners: None
Desire Additional Partners: Yes
Comments on Partners: Academia, industry, other health professional organizations
Contact: Susan Winckler, swinckler@APhAnet.org, (202) 429-7533
Year Added: 2003
Last Update: 2003

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

ID: ASHP-001
Status: Currently ongoing
Title: ASHP Therapeutic Position Statement on Strategies for Preventing and Treating Osteoporosis
Description: This document supports the use of appropriate pharmacotherapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious health disorder characterized by low bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility. The document will focus on medications that have been shown to increase bone mineral density