FDA Patient Network Launches New Website

The FDA's new Patient Network website gives patients and advocates a bigger voice in medical product regulation, which includes drugs, devices and biologics. Designed as a key education and communication tool between the FDA and the public, the site features patient-friendly information on drug and device development and approval, clinical trials, latest treatment options, important safety information and more. It also connects members of the public to the Patient Representative Program, where they can apply to sit on official FDA Advisory Committees and act as consultants during the drug and device review processes. For more information, visit the FDA Patient Network website

Toolkit aims to reduce health disparities for racial, ethnic minorities.

American Medical News (9/10) editorializes, "Despite the best efforts of health professionals, patient advocates and policymakers, the US still struggles to eliminate pervasive health disparities, especially for racial and ethnic minorities." Recognizing physicians' clinical and ethical responsibilities to their patients, the AMA has produced a Communication Climate Assessment Toolkit, "an online resource designed to help large group practices and hospitals evaluate their own efforts to treat diverse patient populations." The "toolkit, which has been assisting users since 2008, utilizes surveys of patients and staff to determine how well a clinic or office handles impediments to care that might be driven by patients' language, culture, literacy, illness or fear.”