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PRACTICE OUTCOMES DOCUMENTATION SYSTEMS (PODS)

INTRODUCTION
Many local medical practices around the world fall outside those used in mainstream hospitals and clinics in the West. Few of these practices have been scientifically examined, although many claim dramatic benefit for serious disease.  One of the first steps in their evaluation is objective documentation of these effects. Since most clinics do not collect sufficient information to evaluate the effects, prospective data collection systems are needed to assess which practices   warrant more extensive investigation. The Practice Outcomes Documentation Systems (PODS) will serve this purpose.

PROCEDURE AND COMPONENTS
Participants (with consultants) jointly identify and prioritize practices for evaluation. Practices claimed by local people to be effective in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease (malaria, hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis), cancer, depression and heart disease are our highest priority. The Samueli Institute will dedicate a full-time epidemiologist to run the program. The epidemiologist will develop PODS protocols in conjunction with: the local practitioners, local research nurse/investigator for data collection and training, population/condition expert for determining outcomes measurement, and local hospitals, laboratories, and Investigational Review Boards (IRB) for data collection and research approval. The program will also establish timelines, cost estimates, and milestone papers and reports, as well as coordination mechanisms with participants and sponsors.  Each PODS protocol will include:

  • The location and practice to be evaluated

  • Data and outcomes to be collected

  • Pilot phase before full sample study

  • Contract agreements with practitioners and researchers at the location, and any required local government approvals

  • All documents for informed consent, IRB and human use approval

  • All collection procedures, data collection forms and transmittal procedures

  • Individuals to collect and verify data

  • Quality assurance procedures

  • Timelines for protocol approvals, local approvals, data collection forms development and training procedures, scientific review, start dates for pilot and full study completion, and stopping points

  • Full study cost estimates, budget and audit procedures

Each PODS protocol will be reviewed by the Samueli Institute Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to ensure high scientific quality and eventual publication in peer-reviewed journals and program reports.  Participating sponsors will jointly develop a resource plan and budget for each PODS project.

OPPORTUNITIES
Initiated under the MIL-CAM appropriation, and in conjunction with the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine, PODS will develop an epidemiological template to evaluate the efficacy of certain low-cost, locally applied and accepted practices for particular conditions. We seek regional partners who are interested in studying or validating particular clinical settings, treatments or conditions.

 








Partners



 

An international, interdisciplinary program to document the effects of indigenous or complementary medical practices around the world.
 

  • Fibroids
     

  • Cancer
     

  • Depression
     

  • Emerging infections
     

  • Heart disease
     

  • HIV infection
     

  • Hepatitis C
     

  • Tuberculosis
     

  • Tropical disease

    Indigenous healing practices from around the world report cures to serious disease.

    PODS will document with scientific rigor which of these practices are effective.