Members of PatientsLikeMe interact a number of ways: viewing profiles, reading treatment and symptom reports, and posts in our forums. In contrast to many of the most heated arguments on the internet (politics, religion, Star Trek…), the discussions on PatientsLikeMe have a tangible impact on people’s lives. Patients with a chronic condition often spend… Continue reading The Power of “Light Touch” Moderation
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Wikinomics Blog Praises PatientsLikeMe Business Model
Yesterday Naumi Haque of the Wikinomics Blog referenced PatientsLikeMe as part of a bold prophecy regarding viable business models for social networking companies, particularly Facebook. First, we are honored that Wikinomics found our business model compelling given our decision to forgo an advertising-based revenue stream at this time. While Facebook is a pure-play social network… Continue reading Wikinomics Blog Praises PatientsLikeMe Business Model
ALS Patients: Give us the truth about cognitive change
One of the things we’re most proud of at PatientsLikeMe is our ability to rapidly carry out research. There are some obvious benefits online: patients can can take part whenever they want, take as much time as they need (often using assistive technology), and are more likely to be open and honest about subjects that… Continue reading ALS Patients: Give us the truth about cognitive change
PatientsLikeMe Featured in New York Times Magazine
In one of the greatest honors in our young company to date, PatientsLikeMe was featured in today’s New York Times Magazine. The article, entitled Practicing Patients, appropriately discusses the pros and cons associated with sharing data-rich personal health information in an open community. PatientsLikeMe seeks to go a mile deeper than health-information sites like WebMD… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Featured in New York Times Magazine
It’s been two years!! ALS Community Report
PatientsLikeMe was born of a passion to provide the best tools for patients to participate in their own care, share experiences and change the way medical research is done.Thanks to our members and the dedication of our growing team, our first community, ALS, has now been open to the public for two years! The community… Continue reading It’s been two years!! ALS Community Report
Does It Work? Lithium and ALS
by James Heywood Update (March 7, 2008): PatientsLikeMe ALS Lithium Research released. Does it work? On February 12th of this year, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (one of the leading science journals) published a paper entitled — Lithium Delays Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. After 10 years researching ALS, I believe it is… Continue reading Does It Work? Lithium and ALS
Business Development in Health 2.0: Blazing the Trail to Profitability
Much has been made about the potential for viable businesses in the health 2.0 movement. In short, these articles and blogs (among others) openly and appropriately question the long-term viability of the space: Are they right? That answer is unclear, but they are right to ask. In our spirit of openness… Continue reading Business Development in Health 2.0: Blazing the Trail to Profitability
PatientsLikeMe Recognized by Health 2.0 Founders
PatientsLikeMe is proud to be at the forefront of the Health 2.0 movement. What’s Health 2.0 you ask? It’s all about revolutionizing healthcare through new, web-based tools, search functionality and communities. As a result, patients are able to communicate and exchange information in ways they never could before. No wonder Matthew Holt and Indu Subaiya,… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Recognized by Health 2.0 Founders
Community Report: The composition and experience of the Multiple Sclerosis community
Six months after its public launch, the MS PatientsLikeMe community includes over 1 in 200 MS patients in the U.S. and the rate of growth continues to escalate. To mark the occasion and experiment with new community tools, we put together the first PatientsLikeMe community report. In this report, we begin to paint a portrait… Continue reading Community Report: The composition and experience of the Multiple Sclerosis community
The Value of Openness
Welcome to the PatientsLikeMe blog. Here you will get firsthand accounts of our growth and how we are impacting global health care. Why have we chose the name “The Value of Openness”? Read our Openness Philosophy below, and you’ll see why. ________________________ Openness is a good thing. Most healthcare websites have a Privacy Policy. Naturally,… Continue reading The Value of Openness