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Posted on 04.06.05
CERTs PATHs and Government Day Meetings Held in Washington, March 15-16, 2005
By Martha C. Rundles
On Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 16, the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) program hosted the CERTs 5th Annual Partnerships to Advance THerapeutics (PATHs) and the 4th Annual CERTs Government Day meetings.
CERTs 5th Annual Partnerships to Advance THerapeutics (PATHs) Meeting
The CERTs 5th Annual Partnerships to Advance Therapeutics (PATHs) Meeting, PATHs Success Stories: Present and Future, was held on March 15, 2005, at the Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. The annual meeting was established in 2000 as a way to bring together different organizations sharing a common goal: improving health through the optimal the use of drugs, medical devices and biological products (therapeutics). This year, nearly 40 organizations attended representing a broad range of constituencies, including consumer groups, health care providers, government, academia, delivery systems, payers and purchasers.
Meeting objectives were to provide a forum for leaders of national organizations to: (1) learn about initiatives of the CERTs and other organizations aimed at improving public health through the appropriate use of therapeutics; and (2) identify specific potential collaborative opportunities in several important areas.
At last year';s meeting, Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), challenged CERTs leaders to use the 2005 meeting as a forum to celebrate the success of PATHs, and to demonstrate evidence of productive public-private partnerships. The CERTs accepted the challenge and used the first half of this year';s meeting to showcase four different “PATHs Success Stories.” Presentations highlighted some of the most successful partnerships between CERTs researchers and national organizations and how they address key health issues in therapeutics.
Four “PATHs Success Stories” presented include: the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare';s beta-blocker quality indicator project; United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds'; prescription drug care coordination program; American Academy of Pediatrics'; toolkit to improve care; and America';s Health Insurance Plans'; “Tools for Improved Medication Use.” Each was an example of completed or current collaboration with one or more of the CERTs centers.
For the second half of the meeting, participants formed three groups to discuss potential collaboration in the following therapeutic areas: (1) prevention and treatment of heart disease; (2) prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; and (3) prevention of gastrointestinal side effects. The purpose of the sessions was to propose a specific project to improve health outcomes and identify at least two potential partners. The discussions yielded several ideas for future projects and partnerships.
The keynote address was given by Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In his remarks, Dr. McClellan discussed some of the challenges involved with implementing changes and making improvements in the quality of health care related to Medicare and Medicaid. He stated that as thought leaders, the CERTs are in a good position to work and collaborate with CMS.
In closing, Hugh H. Tilson, MD, DrPH, Chairman of the CERTs Steering Committee, said, “When we work together, we can do more. Part of the genius of the CERTs is the vision, now reality, of multiple academic centers and their public and private partners working together for a greater good.”
4th Annual CERTs Government Day Meeting
The 4th Annual CERTs Government Day Meeting, Communication Strategies to Inform Consumers, Providers and Other Decision-Makers, was held on Wednesday, March 16, at the Lister Hill Center, located on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Government Day is an opportunity for the CERTs to discuss projects and exchange ideas about potential collaborative initiatives with individuals from government agencies. Over 50 people participated in this year';s meeting.
The meeting began with a program overview by Lynn Bosco, MD, MPH, the CERTs Program Officer at AHRQ. She provided background information about the program, noting that four new CERTs research centers would be added later this year. Dr. Bosco emphasized the importance of communication for the CERTs to fulfill its mission; communicating research results and ensuring these results are used. Robert Califf, MD, Principal Investigator of the CERTs Coordinating Center, followed Dr. Bosco';s remarks, and discussed how the CERTs are well positioned to take advantage of current opportunities in the public health arena.
With a focus on communication and education strategies, the agenda featured presentations from government officials and CERTs investigators, one from each of the current seven CERTs centers. The following government agencies were represented: AHRQ, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Presentations in the first half of the meeting involved Communication of Therapeutics Safety Information. Topics included: patient safety product development; risk communication; Medicare Part B drug coverage; risk assessment and communication in the use of new biological therapeutics; the Critical Path Institute; and improved discharge planning with computerized physician order entry.
For the second half of the meeting, Use and Evaluation of National Education Strategies, presentation topics included: clinical trials registration; the CDC';s campaigns to improve antimicrobial prescribing and prevent resistance; communication of safe and appropriate use of two agents; using the Internet to communicate to providers; improving antibiotic use in acute care settings; improving antibiotic prescribing in communities; and developing and implementing an ADHD toolkit.
Bringing organizations together in a forum such as Government Day is a prime opportunity to share ideas and build important partnerships. Identifying potential collaborations and building synergy among stakeholders is a critical step to promoting the safe and effective use of therapeutics.