What Is Big Data?

“Big data” is being discussed in the media quite a bit these days.  But what exactly is it? Generally speaking, it’s a data set that’s extremely large and complex, thus requiring advanced technology to turn it into meaningful insights.  Yet there’s a good reason to try to collect and interpret it.  Simply put, big data… Continue reading What Is Big Data?

Behind Every Piece of Data Is a Patient

(This post has been repurposed from an article written by PatientsLikeMe’s Ben Heywood for eyeforpharma’s Patient’s Week 2011.) Real-world, patient-reported data is becoming more important to you, the patient, as well as everyone in healthcare. One source of that data is patient registries. According to the US Department of Health & Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research… Continue reading Behind Every Piece of Data Is a Patient

What We Took Away from e-Patient Connections

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, provided the perfect backdrop for e-Patient Connections 2011, a two day summit about reaching and engaging both patients and their caregivers in the digital age.  Right away conference organizers set the tone that the patient voice should be our focus by introducing respected e-patient bloggers and advocates, such as… Continue reading What We Took Away from e-Patient Connections

PatientsLikeMe Facing World AIDS Day 2009

Every December 1st, we join hands with the HIV community at large in recognition of World AIDS Day. The theme of World AIDS Day this year is leadership — a fitting theme for the 2500+ patients who are leading the way through openness in the PatientsLikeMe HIV community.  These leaders have chosen to share their… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Facing World AIDS Day 2009