Our PTC team in the United Kingdom partnered with expert Dr. Henriette van Ruiten, a neuromuscular clinician, and her colleagues at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to support the development of an accredited e-learning module. “Recognising Neuromuscular Disorders – A Practical Approach” helps educate health care professionals (HCPs) on how to recognize and diagnose neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) as early as possible in young patients. HCPs can login or create an account to view this content.
A key focus of this unique education resource is to enable HCPs to upskill in their own time. This is achieved through interactive educational content and practical guidance, which can be immediately translated into a real-world setting. Key innovation features of this module include videos of real patients, highlighting differences in motor development in children with and without an NMD, at a range of ages. Additionally, simple acronyms are taught (such as “PMT” for Posture, Motor development and muscle Tone), to help HCPs remember the most effective way to assess patients for a potential NMD.
Diagnosis of NMDs is still a challenge for many doctors. Despite advances in research, medical intervention and standards of care, there has been no measurable lowering in the average age of diagnosis for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy over the past few decades.
To date, an estimated 5,000 HCPs or more have been reached through this e-learning approach. These clinicians are at the forefront of childhood NMD diagnosis in over 30 countries around the world.
We are continuing to work with experts and various medical communities to integrate and expand access to the e-Learning program among other HCP groups – in both the UK and beyond. In the meantime, PTC is pleased to announce that this initiative has been recognized as a finalist for a Reuters Events Pharma Awards Europe 2020 award in the category “Most Valuable Healthcare / HCP Initiative.” Congratulations to our award winner, Well Child for Life, and our other finalists in Europe:
- Rare Resolve for Rare Disease
- Improving Duchenne Care with Physiotherapy
- STRIDE Registry – First and Largest Real World Study of Nonsense Mutation DMD
Our project to accelerate DMD diagnosis in Russia was a finalist for a Reuters Events Pharma Awards USA Global Health Pioneer award in 2020.