Social Network for MS Patients Launched by Curatio and BioScript Solutions

Curatio and BioScript Solutions recently launched a mobile patient engagement platform designed to provide multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a way to connect, share experiences, and gain new knowledge.

The private, free social network app was introduced at the recent HLTH conference, which took place May 6-9 in Las Vegas.

Created to help reduce the isolation, stigma, and loneliness that often accompanies disease, the app provides peer support, reliable information, and personalized programs for MS patients. It combines matchmaking technology, curated content, and easy-to-use disease tracking tools to further empower and support patients.

“As a society, we are starting to understand the detrimental and costly impact that isolation has on health outcomes and well-being. No patient should be alone when managing a health condition. The symptoms that people living with MS experience are particularly isolating and impact everything from quality of life to adherence to eventual outcomes,” Lynda Brown-Ganzert, founder and CEO of Curatio, said in a press release.

“Curatio helps partners, like BioScript Solutions, deliver private, social, patient support programs that combine personalized support with daily disease management for an all-in-one solution that drives better health outcomes and most importantly, better lives,” she said.

Through the app, patients can connect with “buddies” with Curatio’s matchmaking technology, track and manage their symptoms on a daily basis, and participate in personalized programs, self-assessments, and research surveys that provide new insight and knowledge.

It is available for download on iOS and Android devices. The platform is also available for licensing to hospitals and healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, payers, and government and non-governmental organizations.

“From a specialty pharmacy perspective, we’ve been searching for a technology solution to complement the high-touch, personalized services we provide our patients. It’s been challenging to find a technology platform that provides patients both a private and personalized experience, yet has the ability to easily scale across our entire patient population. Curatio provides exactly that. We are excited to launch this innovative solution to the patients and partners we serve,” said Jeff Wandzura, vice president of innovation for BioScript Solutions.

MS was estimated to affect 947,000 people in the U.S. in a recent study funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  — more than twice the 400,000 figure researchers had long used for reference.

It is considered to be the most widespread disabling neurological condition among young adults in the world. The isolation and loneliness that MS patients often experience can further affect their health and well-being. The Curatio app is intended to alleviate this isolation and help MS patients choose the type of support they need.