|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
ABOUT
THE CENTER
Other
services: ACPD also offers general searching of medical information, including referrals to
support groups that help in critical stages of treatment. ACPD does not provide medical
care,
and its services are designed for use within the context of a doctor-patient relationship.
Links to other
WEB sources. Click here for links to other groups and
government agencies providing
patient-oriented health care information and education.
-
Contact
us! If you would like to know how ACPD could help in a specific medical situation, please
contact us at (202) DECIDE-1 (332-4331) or send E-Mail to info@decision.org.
Join us!
ACPD is also seeking additional physicians, other health care providers, and health services
researchers to join the Center as "clinical fellows." Additional resources now needed in
cardiology, oncology, and rare diseases. To nominate or apply, fax a c.v./resume plus a
brief
statement of interest to ACPD at (410) 358-1400 or e-mail to info @decision.org.
Key
Disclaimers: The Center's only mission is to provide information that patients and their
treating
physicians can use to reach health care decisions. It does NOT provide clinical consultation
or
treatment. Although a not-for-profit organization, it charges fees for most services, which
typically are NOT covered by health insurance. If you are sick, consult with your physician
before utilizing these services. This page copyrighted ©1995 by ACPD: all rights
reserved, but
links to this page are thoroughly encouraged.
Guestbook: Like most of the
Web, this site is in its early stages of construction. If you would like to
receive E-Mail notification of updates and additions, please register here. <<(sorry,
this form is
still under construction: send E-Mail to info@decision.org and a real live person will handle
this
for you)>>
-
MedFindMedFind provides a personal consultant to search thousands of information sources and translate technical jargon into clear language. Some of the questions MedFind can help answer include:
Fees for MedFind depend on the complexity of the request, and typically are charged on an hourly basis. MedFind is provided by the American Center for Patient Decisionmaking, a not-for-profit resource providing medical information to support a patient's health care decisions. Call us at (202) DECIDE-1 (332-4331) , or E-Mail us at info@decision.org.
New tools for analyzing health care outcomes have produced an awesome volume of medical data, but information for a patient's use is often too expensive or technical to use. Insurers analyze their claims data but keep the lessons secret. Even practicing physicians generally lack access to new quality measures and the training to uncover their full meaning. Patients have few places to turn.
MedSelect translates the best available health care data into useful, personalized patient information. Survival rates, patient satisfaction, length-of-stay, complaints before licensure boards or malpractice panels, quality measures, and a range of other inputs help MedSelect offer patients (and their health care providers) data they can use.
For patients who see their choice of doctor or hospital as a life-and-death decision, MedFind can be a unique and priceless resource. MedFind is provided through the American Center for Patient Decisionmaking, a not-for-profit resource providing medical information to support a patient's health care decisions. Fees will vary with the project's length and complexity. Call us at (202) DECIDE-1 (332-4331) , or E-Mail us at info@decision.org.
MedSupport can help a patient:
MedSupport can also provide specific patient advocacy services for enrollees in managed care plans. This includes developing the scientific dossier to support out-of-plan treatment, challenging reimbursement decisions, overcoming waiting lists, and more.
MedSupport is provided through the American Center for Patient Decisionmaking, a not-for-profit resource providing medical information to support a patient's health care decisions. Fees will vary with the range of services provided. Phone us at (202) DECIDE-1 (332-4331), or E-Mail us at info@decision.org.
Many organizations provide general information useful to patients and their providers in the process of making major medical decisions. The following "short list" is a starting point for Internet research and toll-free support in the quest for "answers" in a medical crisis.
The American Center for Patient Decisionmaking does not endorse any specific group or program, and urges that patients and physicians share all the information contributing toward informed decisions.
The American Center for Patient Decisionmaking is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing health care information from a patient-centered perspective.
The Center's main focus is on customized, individual searches of treatment options, quality measures, and technical databanks to help patients facing catastrophic diseases. This information is meant to support patient-centered decisionmaking, in conjunction with a patient's treating physician.
Most of ACPD's services are provided on a fee-for-service basis, and health insurance typically does not cover these charges. In the future, the Center hopes to connect with outside funding sources to provide these services without charge to needy patients and to develop new sources of patient-oriented medical data analysis.
Founders and Directors include Judy Schnidman, MBA and Frank Schnidman, Esq., who saw the need for these services through the battle of their brother John Schnidman with brain cancer. John died in 1995, and the Center's operations are dedicated in his memory.
Another Director is Eric Katz, an attorney and public health advocate volunteering his time to design new projects for the Center. He has served as a Fulbright fellow studying health care delivery, a senior analyst in the federal office of health care reform, and a senior policy analyst for FDA matters in the US Public Health Service. Mr. Katz is currently a senior policy analyst in the US Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and at the Health Care Financing Administration.
The Center's base of operations is in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, but has networks of providers and other support throughout the US and internationally. E-Mail us at info@decision.org, phone us at (202) DECIDE-1 (332-4331), fax us at (410) 358-1400, or mail us at 6001 Stuart Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209. The Web site's pointer is http://www.decision.org.
Because the Center is organized as a charitable organization, we are always looking for grants, joint ventures, and other ways to expand our effectiveness. Click here for thoughts on contributions, recruiting, and other growth plans.
The American Center for Patient Decisionmaking is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing health care information from a patient-centered perspective. It has earned tax-exempt status from the IRS under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to the Center are tax-deductible.
The ACPD founders believe strongly that medical treatment information belongs in the nonprofit sector, not in large publicly-traded corporations. The Center does charge for its services (the money has to come from somewhere), but is not bound by quarterly dividend responsibilities or annual growth targets. We hope you agree with this vision of organizing medical knowledge.
If you do, the Center would welcome cash contributions or in-kind donations of professional services -- our mailing address is 6001 Stuart Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209 USA. Of particular interest are opportunities for partnership with other patient-oriented organizations to develop new information resources, data analysis tools, and outreach projects. Please contact us at info@decision.org.