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
Category: Patient Experiences
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
PatientsLikeMe at the Parkinson’s Unity Walk
PatientsLikeMe was a proud sponsor of the 14th Annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York City this past Saturday (April 26, 2008). Jeff Cole, Kate Brigham, Maureen Oakes and I (Lori Scanlon) were all onsite working at our sponsored booth. The event, which raised more than $1.3 million in donations this year, brought together thousands… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe at the Parkinson’s Unity Walk
HIV: The Story is Far From Over
Recently, PatientsLikeMe opened a community for people affected by HIV, our first outside the area of neurological diseases. Since then, we’ve gained some 700 patients in the community, including a member who goes by the name of “BrightonBear.” His experiences are quite unique as he’s been living with HIV for more than 25 years and… Continue reading HIV: The Story is Far From Over
PatientsLikeMe Corporate Update: Q1 2008
This month marks the two-year anniversary of our flagship ALS community. It’s amazing to reflect on what we’ve achieved in just two short years. Not only did we build the world’s largest treatment and outcome sharing communities for ALS (1,800+ patients), MS (4,500+ patients) and Parkinson’s (1,300+ patients), but this year we began evolving… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Corporate Update: Q1 2008
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
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
The growth of social media in health care
According to a December 2007 iCrossing survey cited by Jane Sarasohn-Kahn in her Health Populi blog “34% of Americans turn to social media for health research.” Jane points to PatientsLikeMe and others as “proof of the reality of social media in health is alive and well and healing”, and observes that “increasing numbers of people… Continue reading The growth of social media in health care