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An interview with Christina Liston, Director of Patient Access at PharmaEssentia
It’s no secret in the polycythemia vera (PV) community that the patient journey comes with many challenges, sometimes feeling like a roller coaster ride. It impacts us at a physical, mental, and spiritual level. For many people, the disease comes with a long path to diagnosis that includes finding the right physician, learning how to live with a life-long disease and treatment, and determining your “new normal” at home and at work – it’s a lot to navigate. That’s why having access to plenty of support, guidance, and education is critical to help you feel in control of your experience. Customized support can help address our own individual needs and circumstances, ranging from insurance options, to counseling on how to talk with your care team, or treatment education and assistance.
When I was diagnosed 13 years ago, patient support programs were practically non-existent. It’s really encouraging to see partners take an active role in helping patients access important new treatments for PV. To gain more insight on this topic, I spoke with Christina Liston, the Director of Patient Access at PharmaEssentia, about their patient support program called SOURCE.
Q: Can you tell me about PharmaEssentia’s SOURCE program?
A: PharmaEssentia’s SOURCE program was designed for and with the PV community. Given the differences in everyone’s disease journey, we aimed to take a personalized approach. During the development stages, we went directly to patients, caregivers and advocates to better understand what matters most, including what resources and education would be most helpful and in what format.
SOURCE takes a holistic approach, beyond offering tools to navigate the access and payer approval process. We continue to evolve this program to meet patients where they are and deliver relevant support, including insurance navigation assistance, injection training, help with medication ordering/delivery, support for adherence, medication reminders, questions to ask your doctor, and advocacy information – among other resources. Overall, we’ve customized the program to be flexible and offer enrollment at any point in a patient’s treatment journey.
Q: What do you think makes SOURCE unique?
A: SOURCE is different from other programs because it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our goal is to provide the kind of support that can help patients better manage their day-to-day lives, based on their unique means and needs.
One example is our dedicated SOURCE case managers who are trained to help patients navigate the access and insurance coverage process and offer tailored support on demand. No patient should go without treatment due to challenges in access, and we’re committed to helping overcome barriers to treatment.
Q: What do you hear from patients who have experienced SOURCE?
A: The response from the patient community has been positive and continues to motivate us to do more. Patients appreciate our surround-sound approach to care, including a comprehensive website that is easy to navigate to find important information. Having a manager dedicated to their case makes it feel like they have another partner throughout their treatment journey, helping to instill confidence and peace of mind.
Q: What would you say to patients who are interested in accessing patient support resources?
A: They should talk to their doctor about the right treatment plan for them and the associated support available. Seeking out resources and speaking up for individual needs is an essential step in making informed decisions about care.
For more information about PharmaEssentia’s SOURCE program, please visit www.pharmaessentiasource.com.
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PharmaEssentia is a registered trademark of PharmaEssentia Corporation,
and PharmaEssentia SOURCE and the PharmaEssentia SOURCE logo
are trademarks of PharmaEssentia Corporation. US-PV-2200043 (v1.0) 10/2022
