In 2016, as we prepared to transition to Max Access Solutions, we realized we needed to categorize the major pillars of our program. We divided the model into four parts: Network of Doctors, Donated Medicine, Shipping and Logistics, and Wraparound Support. These four pillars continue to serve as our map that guides us with a patient-centered approach through every step we take.
At The Max Foundation, we’re also continuously growing our brand and messaging to reflect the growing needs of our global communities and the patients we support. Today, we’re announcing an update in how we communicate our model: our Wraparound Support pillar will now be called Patient Services!
This is a change in name only and our model’s wraparound support pillar remains the same in its essence. Read on to learn why we’re making the naming change and how our Patient Services differentiate our global access model from other drug-donation programs.
When we initially outlined Max Access Solutions, we focused on outlining the systems and processes to make our treatment access program succeed. We enlisted physicians into our Network of Doctors with an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU), we negotiated new agreements with our Humanitarian PACT members to secure Donated Medicine, and we built out an entire Shipping and Logistics framework! But Wraparound Support did not go through a massive change – Wraparound Support was what we have been doing since our very beginning in 1997!
We know that Wraparound Support is our team’s strongest connection point with patients. While the other three pillars of our model focus on getting treatment into the patient’s hand, our Wraparound Support covers everything else a patient needs: individual care, access to expanded diagnostics and monitoring, and educational workshops and community meetings. There is a lot wrapped up in Wraparound Support!
We started thinking of a new term for this pillar earlier in 2020. We chose Patient Services for a few reasons.
First, Patient Services is more inclusive to all of our offerings. We give patients more than emotional support – we provide pathways to diagnostics, education, and communities. This work ranges from individual patients to large patient associations. Patient Services captures all aspects of this work.
Next, Patient Services is easier to understand. We got feedback that Wraparound Support was not self-explanatory, which meant we had to spend time explaining what we mean. Patient Services makes more sense to someone learning about our work for the first time.
Finally, Patient Services is commonly used in the healthcare field. As a global health organization, we are mindful of the terms already being used in the global health sphere. Renaming this pillar will connect our services to the global health conversation.
We extend our patient services to help patients understand their cancer diagnosis, navigate our access program, and monitor treatment options. For patients living in selected countries without access to molecular testing, we partner to bring diagnostic access. We also offer our support through individual care, educational workshops, and community meetings with local patient associations and advocates.
Learn more about our Patient Services and Max Access Solutions pillars.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
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