A.S.P.E.N. Launches Sustain™, LLC, A New Online Patient Registry for Nutrition Support Therapy

New tool will allow clinicians to benchmark patient outcomes against aggregate data

February 1, 2011, Silver Spring, MD - The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) announced today the launch of Sustain™, LLC its new online patient registry for nutrition support therapy cases in the United States. The information entered into Sustain will ultimately help organizations make better-informed treatment decisions, support the appropriate use of nutrition support therapy, and hopefully result in improved patient outcomes that will help justify the need for clinician nutrition specialists.

Currently in the United States, little is known about the annual utilization of Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN). Medicare, the largest payer for home parenteral and enteral nutrition, does not generate specific public access reports on this patient population. The most recent published data from 2002 estimated that 39,000 people received HPN. This estimate was based on home care infusion therapy databases, and does not represent the entire US population.

This tool allows clinicians to enter patient data, review and analyze results, benchmark outcomes against the national aggregate, pose research questions and publish clinical research based on registry findings.

In phase one, Sustain will collect data on patients receiving HPN. Subsequent phases will allow expansion to other populations and therapies. A.S.P.E.N. has already begun to solicit institution and home infusion company providers (known as sites) to join the patient registry program. After their data is submitted, each site will be allowed to analyze and publish their own series and benchmark against the total pooled data.

“Finally, the tracking tool that clinicians have been seeking,” said Debra Ben Avram, A.S.P.E.N.'s CEO. “We could not be more excited about the launch of Sustain. By tracking and analyzing data benchmarked against national aggregates, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions and provide sound advice to patients. A.S.P.E.N. is excited to take the lead on this initiative and continue toward our mission of improving patient outcomes.

Any U.S. based clinician who discharges HPN patients from a hospital or cares for them in the home can participate in Sustain. Individuals must successfully complete the enrollment process which includes Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and signing of a Participant Agreement.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation has signed on as Sustain’s first founding supporting sponsor.

For more information on Sustain go to www.nutritioncare.org/sustain or to set up an interview with a subject matter expert, please contact Jenn Haymaker at jenn.haymaker@gmail.com

The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) is dedicated to improving patient care by advancing the science and practice of nutrition support therapy. Founded in 1976, A.S.P.E.N. is an interdisciplinary organization whose members are involved in the provision of clinical nutrition therapies, including parenteral and enteral nutrition. With more than 5,500 members from around the world, A.S.P.E.N. is a community of dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, scientists, students and other health professionals from every facet of nutrition support clinical practice, research and education. For more information about A.S.P.E.N. please visit www.nutritioncare.org.