Reaching out to patients – the Challenge
Transcription
Reaching out to patients – the Challenge
July 2013 Reaching out to patients – the Challenge Canadian Skin Patient Alliance The CSPA helping your patients The Canadian Skin Patient Alliance (CSPA) prides itself in serving all skin patients in Canada. Given this, we do our outmost to provide our services in both official languages, offer shipping of our magazine anywhere in Canada and have an extensive line of tools available online 24/7. The presence of social media and the Internet has challenged organisations such as the CSPA to evaluate its existing line of services along with all the new online tools widely used today by the public at large, and how these can benefit the organisation, the dermatological community and the patients we, together, serve. Keep reading to learn how we can help your patients! Serving a variety of skin patients Everyone has skin and skin diseases affect patients of every age group. Given this fact, the CSPA considers their audience when providing new content and news. Social media and the internet do not serve all Canadians and therefore we have learned that many of our followers still prefer calling us over the telephone to talk and would rather read a hard copy of our magazine. Canadian Skin magazine: hard copy and online For over three years, the CSPA has mailed our popular complimentary skin magazine to tens of thousands of patients and dermatologists across Canada. Also available online, the magazine offers patient testimonials, information about many common and less common skin conditions, a feature affiliate skin organisation (for specific skin diseases) and the latest research news. CSPA website In 2012, our website was refreshed and re-launched offering patients and the general public access to more information, and more ways to help themselves and others suffering with a skin condition. Some of the new upgrades include a Twitter feed and an advocacy interactive tools such as ‘contact your local political representative in 3 easy steps’. Skinergy.ca: connecting patients Along with our new website we launched Skinergy.ca, a virtual social café where almost three hundred skin patients now gather. This private website is open 24/7 and offers specific skin diseases discussions as well as common concerns, ailments and struggles shared by many skin patients. Send your patients to SKINERGY! All a Twitter! Also, the CSPA’s Twitter and Facebook accounts include a variety of followers from the dermatological community as well as patients. Patients and caregivers engage with each other in this open forum. We use these tools to broadcast new research news and local events of interest. Continuously, the CSPA evaluates its tools to ensure that they continue to serve their purpose as well as how they can best be improved to meet today’s technological advancements. A special thanks to the CSPA’s affiliates, sponsors, board of directors and its medical advisory board (comprised of CDA dermatologists) for supporting our work over the past 6 years. Top 7: How the CSPA is reaching and supporting your patients? 1. We have met and welcomed over 2,000 patients at face-to-face events. 2. We represent the patients’ “voice” at over 10 dermatological events per year. 3. We support and work with 19 patient skin organisations. I.e.: Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation, About Face, Save your Skin and more. 4. We encourage patients to learn more about their treatment options and ask to see a dermatologist. 5. We have distributed almost 400,000 copies of our magazine since 2010. 6. We have advocated for improved access to dermatologists and treatments via our Report Card and met face to face with politicians and bureaucrats in 6 provinces. 7. We take calls on our toll free number and respond to frequent emails from patients seeking help and information. Your Patient toolkit Contact the CSPA: www.canadianskin.ca or 1 877 505 CSPA Join Skinergy.ca: virtual social café Order a magazine subscriptions: [email protected] Join or volunteer today: [email protected] Twitter:@canadianskin Facebook.com/CanadianSkinhttp://www.Facebook.com/CanadianSkin Editorial Board/ Conseil de rédaction National Editor/ Rédacteur en chef Charles W. Lynde, MD Markham, ON Executive Director / Directeure générale Chantal Courchesne Ottawa, ON Regional Editors / Rédacteurs régionaux Benjamin Barankin, MD Toronto, ON Marc Boucier, MD Moncton, NB Peter R. Hull, MD Saskatoon, SK Statements and opinions expressed in the CDAeB reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the CDA. The CDA does not assume responsibility or liability for damages arising from errors or omissions, or from the use of information or advice contained in the CDAeB articles or letters. Les textes et les opinions publiés dans le eBACD reflètent les points de vue de leurs auteurs et non pas nécessairement ceux de l’ACD. L’ACD ne peut être tenue responsable des dommages qui pourraient résulter d’erreurs ou d’omissions rélées à l’utilisation de renseignements ou de conseils inclus dans les articles ou lettres apparaissant dans le eBACD. Robert Jackson, MD Ottawa, ON Ian Landells, MD St. John’s, NL Catherine McCuaig, MD Montréal, QC Kathleen Moses, MD Ottawa, ON Paul Kuzel, MD Edmonton, AB G. Daniel Schachter, MD Toronto, MD Victoria Taraska, MD Winnipeg, MB Catherine Zip, MD Calgary, AB The Canadian Dermatology Association eBulletin is issued monthly as a forum for Association News, information of interest to members and for members’ opinions. Please notify the Executive Director of any change in address. L’Association canadienne de dermatologie publie chaque mois le eBulletin en tant que forum de nouvelles de l’Association, d’informations qui pourraient intéresser nos membres, ainsi que pour recueillir leurs opinions. Prière d’aviser la Directeure générale pour tout changement d’adresse. CHANTAL COURCHESNE EXECUITVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTEURE GÉNÉRALE 425-1385 rue, Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1H 8N4 Tel: (613) 738-1748 / 1-800-267-3376 | Fax: (613) 738-4695 [email protected]