{"id":6530,"date":"2015-05-19T13:30:41","date_gmt":"2015-05-19T17:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/news\/?p=6530"},"modified":"2016-01-26T13:34:01","modified_gmt":"2016-01-26T18:34:01","slug":"polaris-health-directions-partners-with-md-anderson-cancer-center-at-cooper-on-breast-cancer-pilot-project-using-the-apple-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/news\/2015\/05\/polaris-health-directions-partners-with-md-anderson-cancer-center-at-cooper-on-breast-cancer-pilot-project-using-the-apple-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Polaris Health Directions Partners with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper on Breast Cancer Pilot Project Using the Apple Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AppleSport_Pink_Face200\"<\/a>Behavioral health technology company Polaris Health Directions (Polaris) and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper (MD Anderson Cooper)<\/a> have signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on an integrated medical- behavioral health pilot project, using the Apple Watch to capture behavioral data that could affect the courses and outcomes of treatment for breast cancer patients.<\/p>\n

The partnership brings together MD Anderson Cooper\u2019s expertise in oncology and Polaris\u2019s deep experience in behavioral health science and innovative technology. It will leverage Polaris\u2019s Polestar behavioral health outcomes management (BHOM) platform\u2013 an advanced data-collection-and-analytics platform that provides meaningful, actionable results for reporting on and monitoring of a patient\u2019s expected treatment response.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur integrated BHOM platform has been helping to improve overall outcomes in patients throughout the U.S. via browsers and iPads. Through this breast cancer pilot, we hope to see even better patient outcomes with the addition of the Apple Watch,\u201d said Tina Harralson, Ph.D., science director, Polaris Labs.<\/p>\n

\u201cVia our secure Polestar platform, behavioral data captured through the Apple Watch will combine with medical data from the patients\u2019 electronic health records within the Cooper health system and population health data,\u201d Dr. Harralson explained, adding that data will include treatment side effects, sleep information, physical activity levels, patient mood, and other inputs. \u201cAdvanced analytics applied to this mix will result in meaningful and actionable insights for patients and their care teams as treatment progresses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact of the integration of behavioral health in cancer care is significant. A positive frame of mind can help a patient through all phases of diagnosis and treatment,\u201d said Generosa Grana, MD, FACP<\/a>, director of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and head of the division of hematology\/medical oncology at Cooper University Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatient engagement is a critical factor in successful treatment plans,\u201d Dr. Grana continued. \u201cWe expect using the Apple Watch will help increase engagement and collect data that ultimately allows us to further refine treatment plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cPolaris and Cooper\u2019s oncology team have been research partners for almost a decade and have collaborated on six studies related to behavioral health with funding from the National Institutes of Health. If results of this pilot prove promising, the partnership will pursue a National Cancer Institute research grant for a full-scale breast cancer project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Grana noted that MD Anderson Cooper\u2019s director of behavioral medicine, Cori McMahon, Psy.D., will be medical project lead, working with Polaris on the breast cancer pilot.<\/p>\n

Pilot Project Plans at a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n