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
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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]