Will Patients Have A Choice In Participating In ATHN?

In terms of ATHN research, patients will have a choice.  And, the patient’s choice will be documented in a written patient consent form maintained at the treatment center, which will have been reviewed by the provider’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).  The choice is to participate in ATHN or to forego the opportunity.  The name and address of the patient will not be available to ATHN.  The patient and family will retain privacy and control over their lives.  If the patient’s decision is to contribute to scientific studies for the improvement of care, then a limited subset of data that has been stripped of identifying information will be available to ATHN.  If the patient chooses not to participate in ATHN, no data (i.e., neither personal demographic data nor de-identified data) will be transferred by the patient’s healthcare provider.  Whatever the patient’s decision, their choice will not influence the care received.