Venous Patient Outcome Registry Launched by Heart and Vascular Outcomes Research Institute

November 1, 2013—The Heart and Vascular Outcomes Research Institute (HVORI, Beverly, MA) announced the launch of the Venous Patient Outcome Registry, which is designed to assess clinical outcomes for various treatments of deep and superficial venous diseases. Uchenna Onyeachom, who previously managed the American Venous Registry, serves as Director of Endovascular Research at HVORI.

According to HVORI, the Venous Patient Outcome Registry features both a patient and physician portal, allowing for patient data to synchronize with the appropriate clinician's record. To join the registry, HVORI emails patients a questionnaire, which the patient can either complete online or through a smart phone app. Once the patient has completed the questionnaire, it will automatically link to the clinician's record and enter into the registry. Patients can then monitor their own treatment and view aggregate data from other patients. The comparison may lead to a discussion about additional treatment options with their physician.

Additionally, because the Venous Patient Outcome Registry incorporates evaluation of patient-driven outcomes, its existence will focus attention on the most important aspect of medical treatment and improve results by directly involving patients in the care of their disorders.

In the HVORI press release, Mr. Onyeachom commented, “We need to empower and engage patients by giving them access to their own data. Through this registry, they can access which treatments are working best and compare their outcome with other patients.”

Brajesh K. Lal, MD, added, “Venous disease treatments have traditionally lacked objective quantifiable metrics of success and failure. By providing an objective measure of the results after treatment, the registry will drive improvements in quality of care.” Dr. Lal is Professor of Vascular Surgery, Physiology & Bioengineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore and Chief of Vascular Surgery, Baltimore VA Medical Center in Maryland.

HVORI stated that despite the medical advances of the past 2 decades, venous disease remains understudied and is severely underestimated for its effects on public health. Experts believe that at least 25% of the United States and worldwide population have venous disease. Chronic venous diseases affect more than 20% of the adult population and are more prevalent than coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease combined. Additionally, acute venous thromboembolism is the cause of more than 100,000 deaths in the United States each year. However, treatment of these conditions is not standardized, noted HVORI.

HVORI is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to the study of heart, vascular, and related disorders. HVORI's mission is to provide excellence in outcome research that is patient focused and thereby improves quality of care, advances clinical outcomes, reduces health care costs, and drives innovation. More information is available online at www.hvori.org. The Venous Patient Outcome Registry can be contacted by email at hvori@administrare.com or by phone at (978) 927-7800.