What unites all Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients is that no two people experience the disease in the same exact way, so industry practitioners have developed a resource network devoted to the community of affected individuals.
Consequently, Dr. Matthew Stern, one-time president of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and supporter of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, has teamed up with specialists to create the Panorama Patient Network (PPN) to help patients navigate their particular manifestation of the disease.
Through a series of online video presentations, PPN presents information ranging from identification of the disorder and symptoms to watch for to everyday management techniques and treatment options. The goal, according to Stern, is to assist those with PD in preparing for productive meetings with their physicians.
"We're taking patients inside the examination room with a real physician to create a virtual experience for them to observe and learn how to successfully manage their diagnosis," Stern, who serves as Parker Family Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and director of its Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, said.
The online portal offers insight into care and management of the disorder at varied stages of the progressive disease in the hopes of improving patient outcomes for individuals.
Patients can access the resource at www.panoramapatientnetwork.com. PPN has plans for development of additional resources in the future.
