By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    pharmaphorum
    Democracy Comes to Healthcare
    May 12, 2015
    health reform
    Medical Regulations Run Amok!
    March 11, 2013
    The Risk of Concussions in Contact Sports
    September 22, 2017
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Age of “Patient Opinion Leaders”
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > The Age of “Patient Opinion Leaders”
BusinessPolicy & Law

The Age of “Patient Opinion Leaders”

Andrew Schorr
Andrew Schorr
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

I am writing this from a conference of pharmaceutical executives meeting in my hometown of Barcelona, Spain. I was a speaker here at the Eye for Pharma conference trying to drive home the point that the pharmaceutical industry (“pharma”) needs to support, without control, ongoing education programs for patients. I hope the message begins to sink in.

I am writing this from a conference of pharmaceutical executives meeting in my hometown of Barcelona, Spain. I was a speaker here at the Eye for Pharma conference trying to drive home the point that the pharmaceutical industry (“pharma”) needs to support, without control, ongoing education programs for patients. I hope the message begins to sink in.

For many years “pharma” has spent billions on educating top physicians and researchers, people they call “key opinion leaders” or “KOLs.” These are the people other doctors listen to for guidance. Now it’s time to recognize an increasing number of patients are leaders too. As you and I seek information for our conditions weekly or even every day, many of us have become quite knowledgeable. We discuss what we learn with our doctors, we tweet, we blog, we chat on Facebook and other sites like HealthUnlocked. Some of us might be seen as “patient opinion leaders” or “POLs.” Others listen to us, including our doctors, as we pose questions and discuss new developments.

Today, with digital communications at lightning speed, the heavily regulated pharma indust1889072_711153825571489_258689135_ory, devoted to bringing new science to market, needs to understand that patients have a thirst for ongoing information as much as doctors do, and it is our lives and quality of life that is on the line. The “industry” needs to provide more support for our communications, communications they don’t control, and often supported by their competitors, too – a good and healthy thing! It may mean a reallocation of resources from what they spend on drug or disease.com websites they own that few people visit because the content remains static and has limited credibility. They may need to move some funds from medical education too. As one speaker here said, patients are now much higher on the “food chain.”

More Read

How We Ration Care
The Top 5 Very Important Reasons To Learn CPR
IPAB: Fix It, Don’t Repeal It
How Does Custom Software Development Affect the Healthcare Sector?
4 Ways Health Care Is Different from Other Industries

The result of more active and ongoing communications for patients is ultimately better care. It’s been proven time and time again…the right treatments and tests for the right patients at the right time, and with everyone working together.

It seems my talk went over pretty well and my hope is more funds will be allocated to support independent and ongoing programs for patients like what we produce for you at Patient Power. I saw some heads nodding in the audience. Just maybe, besides pouring millions into developing new medical products and discussions among doctors, pharma will increasingly understand that discussions among patients – and among patients and experts in their condition – year round and 24/7 – is important too.

TAGGED:patient opinion leaderspharma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Can WellPoint Make P4P Work? !Good Idea!

February 1, 2012

Rent a Grandma

October 19, 2011
Policy & LawTechnology

Can HIPAA compliant digital patient intake help your practice margins?

May 28, 2018
BusinessNewsPublic Health

TDI-132 Shows Promising Results in the Treatment of ALS

March 4, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?