Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Truveta and Boston Scientific Forge Collaborative Agreement to Enhance Patient Care and Address Healthcare Disparities
Truveta, a leading healthcare data provider, has announced a strategic collaborative agreement with Boston Scientific aimed at improving long-term patient care and gaining valuable insights into healthcare disparities. This collaboration grants Boston Scientific researchers access to Truveta's extensive database, which contains de-identified medical records from over 65 million U.S. patients.
Michael R. Jaff, D.O., Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, Innovation and Technology, Peripheral Interventions at Boston Scientific, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "Truveta will enable us to gather insights on a breadth of devices and disease states, including peripheral artery disease, venous thromboembolic disease, and segments of interventional oncology. Our initial analysis will focus on understanding the long-term patient outcomes related to the use of our products for peripheral artery disease treatment. This partnership allows us to further our commitment to addressing healthcare disparities that exist among different patient populations and demographics."
Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a prevalent condition that causes arterial narrowing in the lower extremities, affects around 6.5 million individuals aged 40 and older in the U.S. In line with PAD Awareness Month, Truveta recently shared enlightening insights from its de-identified data. Among the findings were disparities in access to revascularization procedures for PAD patients, with Black or African American patients (1.0%) being less likely to undergo these procedures compared to their white counterparts (2.6%). Additionally, differences in the usage of drug-eluting stents between racial groups were identified. Such insights also shed light on major adverse outcomes, revealing lower rates of lower-limb amputation for patients treated with drug-eluting stents (4.8%) compared to the broader group of patients receiving revascularization (8.5%).
Terry Myerson, CEO of Truveta, emphasized the significance of data in improving patient care, stating, "Device manufacturers recognize the importance of having clinical outcome data for patients treated with their devices following regulatory approvals. However, obtaining and analyzing this data can be challenging due to its fragmented and complex nature. Truveta addresses this issue by empowering researchers with real-world data on the current utilization of drugs and devices across the U.S. With this knowledge, we can advance patient care, promote health equity, and ultimately save lives through data-driven insights."
Truveta's database offers a comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of U.S. health, encompassing various demographic factors such as age, race, ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic indicators. The data, including device-specific information, is refreshed daily and comprises the complete Electronic Medical Record (EMR), providing a holistic view of each patient's health journey while preserving privacy through de-identification techniques. By integrating clinical data across providers and linking it with medical claims, Truveta ensures a comprehensive understanding of patient care beyond its own network.
Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Community and Population Health at Northwell Health and a member of Truveta's Ethics and Health Equity Board of Governors, highlighted the importance of data in addressing healthcare disparities and promoting equitable access to care. She emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgency of these issues, emphasizing the need for data-driven solutions.
The collaborative agreement between Truveta and Boston Scientific signifies a significant step towards leveraging real-world data to drive improvements in patient care, inform research, and address healthcare disparities. By combining their expertise and resources, these organizations aim to make a positive impact on the healthcare landscape and promote equitable access to high-quality care for all individuals.
