FEBRUARY 2023
STUDY FEATURE: CARISMA
As a patient-centered research network, PaTH is proud to participate in the CaRISMA study, a project that has emphasized community from its beginnings.....
Continue Reading -—›FEBRUARY 2023
PATH TEAM HIGHLIGHT: NEENA THOMAS AND INFORMATICS
Health research relies on data, and good data requires excellent informaticians. The PaTH Network is very lucky to have wonderful informatics teams across our seven sites. We spoke to Neena Thomas.....
Continue Reading -—›DECEMBER 2022
DERRI PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
Being readmitted to a hospital after a previous hospital stay is an undesirable situation for both patients and hospitals as it is costly and often preventable.....
Continue Reading -—›DECEMBER 2022
THE PEOPLE OF PaTH: MEET CRYSTAL EVANS
The PaTH Network prides itself on being patient-centered, requiring dedicated time and staff for patient engagement. Luckily, we have a fantastic outreach team, including Crystal Evans.....
Continue Reading -—›NOVEMBER 2022
DS-DETERMINED AND THE BUDDY WALK
On Sunday, October 23, members of the PaTH team at the University of Pittsburgh attended the Buddy Walk, an event organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh.....
Continue Reading -—›NOVEMBER 2022
PATH-WIDE STUDY ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE LEADS TO SEVERAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
In October, PaTH hosted the first of a series of workshops with our network patient partners. The basis of these meetings is to discuss topics where patient partners believe researchers should focus, how PaTH research focuses on that topic and how they can provide feedback on that research.....
Continue Reading -—›NOVEMBER 2022
PATIENT VOICES: I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE I HAD TO DRIVE THE BUS
In this health narrative of the MyPaTH Story Booth archive, a mother describes her experience caring for her daughter who has Down syndrome.....
Continue Reading -—›OCTOBER 2022
INTRODUCING THE PATH SCHOLARS PROGRAM
PaTH is pleased to announce the PaTH Scholars program, established following a successful pilot implementation from 2020-2021 at the University of Pittsburgh. The PaTH Scholars program aims to mentor and engage scholars through hands-on participation alongside experienced PaTH researchers, as .....
Continue Reading -—›OCTOBER 2022
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH WORKGROUP
Patient partners at the PaTH Network have expressed the need for us to focus more on maternal health, and one way we are addressing this important health issue is through a new workgroup led by Dr. Seuli Brill.....
Continue Reading -—›OCTOBER 2022
PATIENT VOICES
In this story, a mother describes her experience with high-risk pregnancy due to a condition that affects her blood’s ability to clot......
Continue Reading -—›SEPTEMBER 2022
Patient Partner Gathering Focused on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Our patient partners told us they would like to focus more on maternal mortality and morbidity, so we invited Dr. Shari Lawson to present on the topic to the group on Wednesday, July 27....
Continue Reading -—›SEPTEMBER 2022
PREVENTABLE Study Spotlight
The PaTH Network is currently recruiting participants for the PREVENTABLE Study: PRagmatic EValuation of evENTs And Benefits of Lipid-lowering in oldER adults.....
Continue Reading -—›SEPTEMBER 2022
Listening to Patient Voices
This original painting is part of the PaTH Story Booth Special Collection of story-inspired artwork.....
Continue Reading -—›DECEMBER 2020
Patient Partners
In October, PaTH hosted the first of a series of workshops with our network patient partners. The basis of these meetings is to discuss topics where patient partners believe researchers should focus, how PaTH research focuses on that topic and how they can provide feedback on that research.....
Continue Reading -—›DECEMBER 2020
Meet Patient Partner – Greg Merritt
The PaTH team is delighted that Greg Merritt, one of our patient partners engaged through the University of Michigan, has joined the national PCORnet Steering Committee and Engagement Work Group!....
Continue Reading -—›DECEMBER 2020
Story Booth Website
Our team has created a "special collection" of Story Booth narratives that address life and health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient advocate and medical expert responses to the stories are also shared in the accompanying videos.....
Continue Reading -—›OCTOBER 30, 2019 BY KENDAL BACHARACH
Happenings: September Face-to-Face PaTH Steering Committee Meeting
In mid-September, all seven PaTH sites gathered at the University of Pittsburgh for a two-day Steering Committee Meeting. The principal investigators, project managers, informatics teams, as well as PaTH patient partner, Treva Alston, were on hand to discuss the exciting happenings within the network....
Continue Reading -—›OCTOBER 30, 2019
Meet PaTH: Alice Livshits
AUGUST 22, 2019 BY CAROLYN BRAMANTE, MD, MPH
Cohort Update: Healthy Lifestyle and Heath Care Research PaTH Cohort
The PaTH Network Primary Care cohort is an exciting way to gain insight into health behaviors among primary care patients. This cohort of patients was given a series of surveys...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 22, 2019 BY SOLEDAD FERNANDEZ, PHD
Happenings: Overview of The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, ranked #3 among 104 academic medical centers, is one of America’s largest and most comprehensive universities and is home to more than 20 research centers and institutes and 25 core research laboratories...
Continue Reading -—›JULY 24, 2019 BY KENDAL BACHARACH
Study Spotlight: ADAPTABLE
The ADAPTABLE Study set out three years ago to compare the effectiveness of two commonly prescribed doses of aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes in those living with heart disease...
Continue Reading -—›JULY 24, 2019 BY MEGAN HAMM, PHD
Patient Partner News: Piloting and Revising a Survey to Assess Patient Partner Perspectives on PCORnet Queries
During the first six months of 2019, the PaTH Stakeholder Workgroup piloted a survey it had developed to assess patient partner interest in and opinion on the PCORnet research queries that PaTH fulfills...
Continue Reading -—›JUNE 21, 2019 BY Jennifer Kraschnewski, MD, MPH
Study Update: PaTH To Health: Diabetes
Nearly 40% of adults are obese in the United States, making it our number one health concern. There is a well-established link between obesity and increased morbidity...
Continue Reading -—›JUNE 21, 2019
Meet PaTH: Nickie Cappella
MAY 10, 2019 BY KATHLEEN M. MCTIGUE
General Update
2019 has brought some exciting changes to PaTH, including the addition of two new sites to the network – the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019
Study Spotlight: Daily24 Study
Overweight and obesity are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Successful weight loss strategies have focused on reducing calories and modifying dietary composition...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019
Happenings: PaTH Welcomes the University of Michigan
The PCORnet site at the University of Michigan (U-M) is pleased to become a new member of PaTH. Previously a member of LHSNet, our site is both joining a new network and finding a new home within our own academic institution...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019
What We’re Learning: What is Real World Evidence, summary of presentation by Dr. Mark Weiner, PaTH-Temple
To understand what “Real World Evidence” entails, we must first describe the understanding of real world data. Real world data are data related to patient health status and/or delivery of health care that is routinely collected from various sources....
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019
Patient Partner News: Fostering Stakeholder Engagement Using Narratives
The MyPaTH Story Booth project aims to help researchers understand the perspectives of patients and caregivers facing illness or who have difficulty accessing health care...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019
Meet PaTH: Soledad Fernandez
Get to know the Principal Investigator of another new PaTH site—Soledad Fernandez, PhD...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 10, 2019 BY JONATHAN SILVERSTEIN
Data Paths: An Update from the PaTH Informatics Team
The Common Data Model (CDM) is the structure in which health systems and health plans assemble data from electronic medical records and billing systems for PCORnet...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY KATHLEEN M. MCTIGUE
General Update
The passing of the Equinox has brought change to PaTH and PCORnet. Perhaps the biggest news is that a non-for-profit organization, the People-Centered Research Foundation (PCRF), has been incorporated...
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Study Spotlight: PaTH to Health: Diabetes Study
Type 2 diabetes affects over 29 million people in the U.S. and carries a number of serious risks including heart disease and blindness. Such complications are preventable through proper medication and weight loss, but almost half of all people with diabetes struggle to control it.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Happenings: Focus on PaTH Patient Perspectives in the PCORnet Bariatric Study
The PCORnet Bariatric Study (PBS) will track the benefits and risks of three common bariatric procedures to help patients and care providers make more informed decisions about bariatric surgery.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
What We’re Learning: Changes in Preventive Health Care Services After Bariatric Surgery
One of the first research questions that the PaTH Healthy Lifestyles and Weight researchers are tackling is focused on obesity. The analysis is being led by Michelle Lent, Ph.D., of Geisinger Health System, who recently spoke with us about the paper, and Sharon Herring, M.D., from Temple University.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Patient Partner News: Julie Tice
Julie Tice had struggled with her weight for most of her adult life and was eventually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. When she realized she could become dependent on insulin, Julie knew it was time for a change.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Cohort Update: Healthy Lifestyles and Weight
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight can provide a wide range of health benefits, while having obesity or overweight puts individuals at increased risk for serious conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Meet PaTH: Treva Alston
As a PaTH Patient Partner, Treva Alston participates on the Steering Committee, Executive Committee, Protocol Review Committee, and Healthy Lifestyles and Weight Cohort. She says her experience has been “rewarding and enlightening,”
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Clinical Champion News: Dr. Anita P. Courcoulas
As care providers who work directly with patients, Clinical Champions offer PaTH a unique and important perspective. For instance, they’re able to give researchers input on whether or not a proposed study would align with their clinic’s workflow and whether a study’s processes are likely to be satisfactory to care providers and patients.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Data Paths: An Update from the PaTH Informatics Team
Researchers often refer to patients’ electronic medical record (EMR) to better understand their risk for developing disease and the efficiency of different treatments.
Continue Reading -—›MAY 11, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Researcher Toolbox: Recruitment Strategies
PaTH project managers and research assistants use a variety of methods to recruit study participants, such as reaching out to potential participants through traditional means like email, phone calls, direct mailings, and in-person conversations.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY KATHLEEN M. MCTIGUE
General Update
Greetings! The PaTH team is welcoming 2017 with a flurry of good news – all six of our network’s DataMarts are fully operational, having passed the second round of PCORnet “Data Characterization”
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Study Spotlight: TARGET Trial
Many people are all too familiar with low back pain. It’s a common problem among adults that can impact a person’s ability to participate in daily activities, including their job.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Happenings: Stakeholder Meeting at Temple
On September 14, PaTH researchers, clinical champions, health system leaders, informatics experts, and patient partners gathered at Temple University in Philadelphia for a Stakeholder Engagement meeting.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
What We're Learning: PCORnet Bariatric Study
Obesity is a significant problem in the United States, affecting more than one third of adults and about 12.7 million children and adolescents. It is connected to a myriad of other health issues.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Patient Partner News: Jim Carns Shares His Story
In this month’s Patient Partner News, Jim Carns shares his personal experiences leading up to and post single lung transplant in September of 2013.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Cohort Update: Atrial Fibrillation
Between 2.7 and 6.1 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm abnormality. Atrial fibrillation, or AF, occurs when the normal, organized electrical signals that typically control heart contractions are replaced with chaotic waves of electrical activity in the top heart chambers.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Meet PaTH: Heather Coulter
As a Community Engagement Specialist for the PaTH Network, Heather Coulter, M. Ed., University of Utah, facilitates collaborations between researchers and community members to help researchers best understand how to work with patients.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Clinical Champion News: Dr. Henry Parkman
An important feature of the PaTH Network is Clinical Champions. These clinicians work directly with patients and act as representatives of their medical specialty.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Data Paths: An Update from the PaTH Informatics Team
The Geisinger Health System joined PaTH as a new site just over a year ago, bringing a wealth of experience with using “real-world” health data in research to improve health care and health outcomes.
Continue Reading -—›JANUARY 20, 2017 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Researcher Toolbox: PaTH’s FRT Group Can Help Researchers Obtain Funding
Applying for a research grant can be a complicated process, especially when data from multiple health systems are involved, so PaTH created the Future Research Topics (FRT) Work Group.
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY KATHLEEN M. MCTIGUE
Welcome
Greetings from the PaTH Clinical Research Network (CDRN)! In the PaTH Finder, our new quarterly e-newsletter, we hope to share news across the many clinical researchers, patient partners, other stakeholders, informatics experts and clinicians who make up the PaTH community.
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Study Spotlight: ADAPTABLE
In 2014, heart disease led to 614,348 deaths, making it the leading cause of death in the United States once again. Today, an estimated 15.4 million Americans continue to live with heart disease.
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
What We’re Learning: PaTH Cohorts Prepare to Analyze Data
Researchers will soon analyze data from surveys sent to patient participants in each PaTH cohort. Currently, PaTH focuses on three main cohorts: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Atrial Fibrillation (AF), and Healthy Lifestyles and Weight (HLW)...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Happenings: Understanding Health System Leaders’ Priorities
Last November, researchers, health system and health plan leaders, physicians, and patients from PaTH’s six health care systems met in Pittsburgh to identify research areas the network could pursue.
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Meet PaTH: Dr. H. Lester Kirchner
H. Lester Kirchner, PhD, knew since high school that he wanted to be a biostatistician, so it’s hardly a surprise that today he’s the director of the Biostatistics Core at Geisinger Health System, leads PaTH’s data and informatics at the Geisinger site, and acts as the Geisinger PaTH Principal Investigator.
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Patient Partner News: Sharing Your Story
“All people are storytellers,” says David Brauer, a master storyteller and member of the Scottish Storytellers Guild, The Society for Storytellers (UK), Three Rivers Storytellers, and the West Virginia Storytelling Society...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Data Paths: An Update from the PaTH Informatics Team
With 10.8 million patients across six different health care systems, a unique challenge the PaTH Network faces is recording data consistently across its sites. For example, Pitt researchers may note a patient’s blood cholesterol levels as milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood (abbreviated as mg/dL)...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Cohort Update: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, often known as IPF, is a rare and often severe lung condition that affects 14 to 28 people per 100,000 individuals in the U.S. population. PaTH’s IPF team meets weekly and includes researchers ...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Clinical Champion News: Dr. Frederick Han
When the University of Utah joined PaTH in 2015, the network gained not only another terrific partner institution, and maintained leadership by Dr. Rachel Hess ...
Continue Reading -—›AUGUST 19, 2016 BY MOLLY SKUBAK
Researcher Toolbox: The PaTH Network Protocol Review Committee
One of the most important goals of the PaTH Network is ensuring all PaTH-affiliated studies are informed by patient perspectives. The PaTH Network Protocol Review Committee (PNPRC) is a key innovation the network has developed to help reach this goal.
Continue Reading -—›