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Evaluating the Clinical Impact of an Internet-based Therapy Management Platform, ADVOY, in Hemophilia Patient Care

Stan Kachnowski, MA, Columbia University, Healthcare Innovation & Technology Lab, 3960 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10032, 212-543-0107, swk16@hitlab.org and Jijo James, MD, PhD, School of Public Health, Columbia University, 3960 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10032.

Background: Small changes in patient behavior have been demonstrated to dramatically improve healthcare quality and cost outcomes. ADVOY is an internet-based hemophilia management program designed to facilitate communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

Objective: To conduct a preliminary analysis on the clinical impact of ADVOY on hemophilia patient care.

Methodology: A total of 44 hemophilia patients using ADVOY were identified at two comprehensive care centers in the UK. Using a pre-post study design, 12 months of bleed count, emergency room and scheduled healthcare provider visit count, and product utilization data, prior to and after ADVOY implementation, data was collected and analyzed. The ADVOY records were supplemented by medical chart and pharmacy data.

Results: Post ADVOY implementation, patients were seen to exhibit a 45% decrease (p=.025;n=37; both prophylaxis and on-demand therapy) in the number of emergency room visits and a 6.1% (p=.031;n=24; only those on prophylaxis therapy) increase in product utilization. No significant pre-post difference in the number of bleed counts or scheduled healthcare provider visits was observed.

Conclusion: ADVOY helps improve quality while reducing costs associated with hemophilia patient care. Emergency room visits decreased by almost half with a corresponding increase in product utilization among the post ADVOY population. A small sample size was thought to contribute to the lack of significant difference in the bleed count between the two groups. Based on pilot success a larger Phase II study is currently in development.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Technology, Information Technology

Related Web page: www.advoy.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Managing Health and Leading Improvement: New Directions in Health Administration

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA