Value-Based Approach to Reduce Fall Risk While Improving Performance
(October 2023 – APG Case Studies in Excellence 2023) This case study provides an in-depth example of how one of Altura’s customers implemented the UpRight™ mobility and fall prevention program to improve quality scores, reduce utilization and related costs, and enhance patient satisfaction.
According to the CDC, every 11 seconds someone over 65 falls and visits the Emergency Department, which can lead to long-term disability and significantly impact quality of life. The Altura UpRight™ program is a home-based, virtual, and bilingual intervention that improves strength and balance for older adults leading to lower fall risk and increased physical activity. SEE MORE: (opens PDF for review or download)
Expanding Clinical Research Access and Diversity via Community Health Centers – White Paper & Toolkit Released
(May 21, 2024 – Mission Viejo, CA) Altura announced that the white paper and toolkit produced in conjunction with the grantee and its clinical research partner Neighborhood Healthcare, has been released. Forty (40) CHCs nationally provided feedback on real and perceived barriers to supporting or conducting clinical studies of all types. Increasing CHC involvement will directly address the much needed diversity that has been lacking in clinical trials and health research. The White paper includes a call to action for CHCs as well as life science and research organizations. These resources were made possible by a Genentech Health Equity Innovation grant. SEE MORE: (opens PDF for review or download)
Neighborhood Healthcare and Altura Partner to Expand Clinical Trial Access for Minority Populations
(April 2023 – Escondido, CA) Lack of diversity in clinical trials has long been an issue, and increasing minority participation is now a priority for the FDA, CMS, and other stakeholders. Community Health Centers (CHCs) must be part of the solution, and via a Genentech health Equity grant, Neighborhood Healthcare and Altura have engaged 40 CHCs and over 220 leaders, providers and medical staff to understand roadblocks to research participation. A white paper and CHC tool kit will be available in early 2024 to support expanding research access for minority patients via the people they trust. SEE MORE: Grant Press Release
Improving Older Adult Mobility while Reducing Fall Risk
(January/February 2023 – AMGA Group Practice Journal) This article provides examples and data that can support medical providers and health systems with providing timely and appropriate interventions to older adults, while optimizing organizational performance. Altura’s UpRight™ mobility and fall prevention program’s implementation at Desert Oasis Healthcare is highlighted to provide key features required in any remotely delivered, flexible program.
Older adults who maintain mobility are likely to remain living at home, have low rates of disease, disability, hospitalization, and death. Falls and loss of mobility are associated with multiple risk factors, many of which are modifiable. The good news is that mobility can improve and falls can be reduced. Screening patients, assessing modifiable risk factors such as poor mobility, balance, or use of certain medications, and recommending interventions can go a long way in preventing older adult falls.
SEE MORE: (opens PDF for review or download)
The Michael J Fox Foundation & Altura Expand Parkinson’s Research Access and Diversity
(October 6, 2022 – Association of Clinical Research Professionals) Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting an estimated one million Americans and six million people worldwide. No cure or treatment to slow the progression has yet been found, but research is leading to deeper understanding of PD and its impact. However, this knowledge is hampered by underrepresentation of diverse and underserved populations in PD studies.
To support MJFF’s outreach to underserved populations through their trusted health care professionals (HCPs), and expand on their seven year partnership, Altura is providing its HCP Studies™ research engagement platform to communities surrounding PPMI clinical study sites across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in service to the study’s online platform.
HCPs, people with PD, caregivers, research professionals, and anyone interested in finding solutions for PD, brain disease or other medical conditions are invited to download HCP Studies at no cost and share studies with those who might have an interest or need. SEE MORE: ACRP Blog
Reducing COPD Emergency Room Visits with High-Touch Patient Engagement
(Journal of America’s Physician Groups, Spring 2022, Conference Edition) Recognizing the complex needs of people living with COPD, Desert Oasis Health Care (DOHC) established a pharmacist-led, value-based care coordination program for high-risk, high-need COPD patients. In 2020, DOHC utilized its 20-year relationship with patient engagement firm Altura to add an innovative component to care coordination: an early warning and alert system to avoid emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations and reduce costs for patients with COPD. SEE MORE: (opens PDF for review or download)
Multi-language version of HCP Studies™ Research Engagement Platform released
(May 30, 2022 – Mission Viejo, CA)
Altura announced that its HCP Studies™ research engagement platform is now able to deliver information about clinical trials and health studies in any language. This decision supports Altura’s mission to expand research access to underserved and minority populations directly or through people they trust. HCP Studies™ is available in 25 countries via the App Store, Google Play, as well as a desktop version. Public and healthcare professional versions are available. SEE MORE: HCP Studies
Altura Joins America’s Physicians Groups’ (APG) Group Purchasing Program
(May 2022 – Mission Viejo, CA)
APG believes in the strength of collaboration and actively seeks opportunities to join like-minded organizations in turning thought into action and shaping the future of healthcare. For over 22 years, Altura has developed an expertise in engaging patients to improve health outcomes. Altura supports health systems and physician groups with our customizable patient-centered services and unique technology. Service areas include: patient engagement to improve quality and/or reduce avoidable costs, UpRight™ turnkey program to reduce fall risk in older adults, and clinical research ecosystems to enable study participation. SEE MORE: APG Group Purchasing Program
Decentralized Clinical Trials – Take the First Step!
(September 8, 2021 – Association of Clinical Research Professionals – ACRP Blog)
Decentralized Clinical Trials (aka: virtual clinical trials, remote clinical trials) may not be the norm anytime soon, but proactive sponsors, study sites and healthcare systems that conduct clinical trials and health studies can begin to take steps to prepare for the future. Surveys and polls consistently show that people want their trusted HCP to be part of the research process in some way, even if it’s information sharing.
The key is to engage HCPs, disease specific healthcare stakeholders, patients and the public so they can have study access, and share studies, when needed. The HCP Studies™ Mobile Platform supports the development of local, regional, and national research ecosystems. Study sites, HCPs, and research professionals can use the app anytime at no cost. A patient version is also available. Study sites, health systems and sponsors to build awareness and create access for their studies (basic version at no cost). To add studies, please e-mail [email protected]. To use HCP Studies, visit https://alturastudies.com/hcp-studies/. SEE MORE: ACRP Blog
Neighborhood Healthcare (FQHC) Launches Research Center – Altura partnership expands access to innovative medical advances for historically underrepresented patients
(July 12, 2021 – Escondido, CA) Neighborhood Healthcare, a regional Federally Qualified Health Center providing a wide range of medical, dental, and behavioral health services, announced today the launch of its research center in Escondido. Altura, a 20-year, health-related research and technology veteran with deep domain expertise in servicing FQHCs, will assist Neighborhood Healthcare by deploying its performance management services as well as its HCP Studies™ mobile platform, both of which include culturally competent and bilingual capabilities.
The partnership will enable virtual and local clinical trials that connect patients, healthcare providers, and other healthcare stakeholders to accelerate clinical studies with diverse patient populations. “Neighborhood Health’s vision and mission are aligned with the need of expanding research access to underserved populations through the people they trust,” said Pete Fronte, President & CEO of Altura.” SEE MORE: Neighborhood Healthcare Press Release
Altura Joins America’s Physicians Groups’ (APG) Health Equity and Social Justice Collaborative Steering Committee
(Spring 2021 – The Journal of America’s Physicians Groups) APG’s Health Equity and Social Justice Collaborative facilitates development of best practices to support the evolution of patient-centered healthcare. Altura’s perspective is on supporting and encouraging diversity in clinical trials and health studies of all types. Whether it is a COVID-19, Alzheimer’s, mental health or cancer study, based on various surveys and public opinion polls, over 81% of people would likely join a study if they were informed by a trusted health related resource such as a doctor, nurse/medical assistant, or other healthcare professional. This is especially true for underrepresented populations. SEE MORE: (opens PDF for review or download)
Clinical Research as a Profession
(May, 17 2021 – The Association of Clinical Research Professionals’ (ACRP) – ACRPtv Episode) Clinical and health research career options are plentiful for people with various skills and educational backgrounds. In particular diversity and growth in this workforce will help ensure health care innovation impacts everyone. ACRP and Altura are leading the way to help enable research workforce growth and diversity. Altura’s CEO Pete Fronte was a recent guest on ACRPtv to discuss this topic. VIEW NOW: ACRPtv Episode
Altura Joins ACRP Partners in Workforce Advancement
(December 12, 2020) The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) welcomes Altura as a Workforce Champion member of the Partners in Workforce Advancement. Partners in Workforce Advancement is a multi-stakeholder collaborative initiative to grow and expand the diversity of the clinical research workforce, and to set and support standards for workforce competence. “We are thankful for the support of Altura and look forward to working together to overcome these critical challenges,” says Jim Kremidas, ACRP Executive Director. “Altura is dedicated to expanding access to research of all types and we are pleased to support ACRP’s workforce initiative,” says Pete Fronte, Altura President/CEO. “Ensuring a growing and high quality research workforce is essential for accelerating medical innovation.” SEE MORE: ACRP Press Release
Blackberry’s InSecurity Podcast: Helping People Understand and Find Relevant Health Studies & Clinical Trials
(October 19, 2020) Altura’s CEO Pete Fronte is a guest on a recent episode of Blackberry’s InSecurity Podcast. Tune in as Pete speaks with Matt Stephenson about how people can better understand and find relevant health studies and clinical trials. LISTEN NOW: Blackberry InSecurity Podcast
Altura Supports COVID-19 Studies Nationally – Provides Study Sites and the Public a Free App
(July 30, 2020 – Association of Clinical Research Professionals – ACRP Blog) As the world comes together to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, “people are rooting for clinical trials and the clinical trial professionals who make them possible,” says Pete Fronte, CEO at Altura. “This is a challenging and rewarding time for clinical research, as a few hundred thousand people will be needed for studies by the end of the year to bring forth a vaccine and other interventions quickly.”
Altura is collaborating with ACRP to offer its HCP Studies™ mobile platform for listing and finding trials, free to all ACRP members/study sites, as part of a broader effort to attack COVID-19 and help sites address enrollment delays for studies in other important areas such as cancer, neurology, and mental health. Since an estimated 200,000 clinical trials have been impacted with delays globally, many important non-COVID-19 studies will also need to address enrollment issues. A patient-focused version is also available at no cost. Users can easily view studies, share studies, and contact site teams as needed. For those who would like to add studies, please e-mail [email protected]. To learn more and to get download options, go to https://alturastudies.com/hcp-studies/. SEE MORE: ACRP Blog
Desert Oasis Healthcare offers Altura’s national online study to help understand and stop COVID-19
(July 29, 2020 – Palm Springs, CA) As Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to infect people worldwide, the U.S. is being particularly hard-hit, with California being one of the largest centers of infection. “With the Coachella Valley experiencing an extreme surge in new COVID-19 cases, Desert Oasis Healthcare is excited to partner once again with Altura to offer this important study to our members and the larger community,” said Brian Hodgkins, PharmD and Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations at Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC.) “The goal of the study is to help all of us to better understand, prevent and treat COVID-19 now and over the long term.”
“We’re delighted to be working with DOHC again on such an important and timely research study,” said Pete Fronte, CEO of Altura. “Our goal is to make it easy for medical practices, healthcare professionals and employers to offer a study that anyone can join so that we can learn about and ultimately stop COVID-19.” SEE MORE (DOHC Press Release)
Improving Patient Activation: Case Studies from Parkinson’s Disease
Journal of America’s Physicians Groups, August 2019
Physician groups (PGs) are well-positioned to be patient-centered change leaders. Although PGs contend with organizational, financial, and cultural barriers to providing consumer-driven healthcare, groups that consistently overcome these barriers will see significant benefits. Patient experience depends not only on clinical skills, practice workflow, and environment, but also on patient engagement and activation—defined as the knowledge, skill, and confidence to self-manage care. Patients who are actively engaged in their own care have better outcomes, require less-costly care, and are more satisfied. SEE MORE (opens PDF for review or download)
FDA Approval No Longer Device Makers’ Last Step
Orange County Business Journal, August 8, 2019
Value-based care, the healthcare model designed to incentivize providers to improve patient recovery and reduce costs is not news in California as the state is an early adopter of the Affordable Care Act. The shift is also changing the approach to new product adoption. Altura’s CEO Pete Fronte has noted a consistent rise in the number of post-FDA approval clinical studies of medication and devices. SEE MORE (opens PDF for review or download)
Summit Medical Group to Implement Altura’s Novel HCP Studies™ Mobile Platform to Support Expanding Patient Access to Clinical Studies
Mission Viejo, CA and Berkeley Heights, NJ, JUNE 13, 2018 – Altura, the pioneer in expanding participation in health-related studies by streamlining connections between patients, healthcare providers (HCPs) and healthcare organizations, today announced that Summit Medical Group has agreed to implement the company’s HCP StudiesTM mobile platform across its growing medical practice. Summit Medical Group is New Jersey’s largest physician-owned medical group with more than 800 HCPs representing over 80 medical specialties. As part of the agreement, the group will utilize Altura’s HCP StudiesTM as a conduit to inform and encourage participation in its expanding clinical research efforts throughout the group’s ecosystem of HCPs. SEE MORE – click on link
Clinical Studies: What they are, and why should you care. Today’s Health Community radio show: February 2, 2018
This week on Today’s Healthy Community, host Rebekka VanNess interviews Pete Fronte, CEO of Altura. Did you know that there are different types of studies and not all research involves medication? Pete Fronte is the founder and President/CEO of Altura. He shares why medical studies, of all types, are so important to the future of healthcare and how both patients and healthcare provider (HCP) benefit from studies. SEE MORE AND TO LISTEN – click on link
The Enrollment Rescue Dilemma: How Sponsors and Sites Can Make the Most of a Tough Situation: Applied Clinical Trials, September 7, 2017
Studies in “enrollment rescue mode” present dilemmas for sponsors, CROs and sites alike. While the sponsor ultimately has the most to gain or lose if a trial fails to achieve its enrollment goals, there are several ramifications to the study site that are often not considered. Sites invest a lot of time and resources to get up and running only to find that the trial is difficult to enroll or is ultimately terminated. SEE MORE – click on link or download PDF
Desert Oasis Healthcare Establishes Center for Research and Healthcare Innovation Featuring Altura’s HCP Studies™ Mobile Platform: Press Release, April 19, 2017
Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC), a California-based Physician Group within the Heritage Provider Network, today announced the establishment of a Center for Research and Healthcare Innovation (DCRI). Created in collaboration with partner Altura, the DCRI is designed to build upon the long-standing clinical trial resources at DOHC. By implementing Altura’s Study Engagement PlatformTM, DCRI will expand DOHC’s capabilities to support observational studies, healthcare technology assessments, and patient and healthcare provider (HCP) quality surveys. Importantly, DCRI will leverage Altura’s HCP StudiesTM mobile/portal platform as a conduit to inform and encourage participation throughout the DOHC ecosystem of HCPs. SEE MORE – click on link
Healthcare Innovation and Practice Transformation through Clinical Studies: The Role of Physician Groups: CAPG Health Journal, June 2015
Today, many organizations, including employers, government agencies, foundations, health systems, insurers, and pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies are supporting or performing real-world studies and clinical trials to better understand how to improve healthcare costs, quality and access. Since clinical data and large numbers of patients and physicians are required, these studies are best conducted in structured, coordinated healthcare settings. SEE MORE (opens PDF for review or download)