Open-source patient communications resource recognized
TORONTO, May 4, 2017 /CNW/ - A Toronto-based service design firm has teamed with a global biopharmaceutical company to capture a prestigious international award. Bridgeable and Bristol-Myers Squibb won top North American honours in the 2017 eyeforpharma competition. Their collaborative Universal Patient Language (UPL) project was cited in the most valuable patient initiative or service category.
This award goes annually to an innovative project designed to deliver tangible patient improvements, both in the long and short term. Demonstrating real understanding for patient requirements prior to implementation, the winning project will have been managed to an outstanding level and will have made an exceptionally positive impact on its intended customer.
About the Universal Patient Language
The Universal Patient Language (UPL) is an organizational capability and set of practical resources that help communicate complex topics to patients. It was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) — with support from Bridgeable — to help patients facing serious disease better understand treatment options. The story of UPL presents a unique approach to patient experience. It was designed specifically to help present information to patients in a way that is fair, accurate, understandable, and which addresses patients' needs.
The UPL has been applied to Bristol-Myers Squibb patient communications for every product the company has in market. The redesigned UPL deliverables include drug safety information, branded messaging, disease state education, clinical trial recruitment, and even call centre interactions. In developing these outputs, Bristol-Myers Squibb has engaged with numerous patients and caregivers, and over 100 healthcare providers, patient advocacy group representatives, communication experts, and other external stakeholders.
In 2016 Bridgeable supported Bristol-Myers Squibb in launching an open-source UPL capability, sharing it with any individual, company, or institution interested in improved patient communications. The first UPL resources and case studies are already publicly available on upl.org. In early May, a new and improved version will be launched with a new emphasis on helping practitioners apply the UPL to their own work. The hope is that if all industry players — from hospital systems to advocacy groups to clinicians to pharma — adopt a set of universal standards in patient communications, patients' overall healthcare experiences will be improved.
About the eyeforpharma awards
The eyeforpharma awards recognize positive progress towards value for patients and customers, and recognize those in the pharmaceutical industry who are driving pharma forward.
The awards celebrate those who aren't just chasing higher short-term profits, but who are investing in better customer innovation, value and outcomes leading to longer-term success.
The program is part of eyeforpharma's mission to make the pharmaceutical industry more open and valued. The London-based organization views its responsibility as shining a light on where pharma does well, to inspire others into similar or better action.
About Bridgeable
Bridgeable is a leading service design company dedicated to transforming healthcare experiences so they provide greater value to healthcare systems, and the patients they serve. Its solutions are rooted in a deep understanding of clinical interactions and an intimate knowledge of both healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
By delivering exceptional service design, Bridgeable helps deliver holistic experiences for users by ensuring that multiple touch points work in harmony over time. Bridgeable has worked with some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as Fortune 500 companies and innovative start-ups.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
SOURCE Bridgeable
Susan Bartlett, Bridgeable, 416-580-3581, [email protected]
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