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Tag: Healthcare

  • 1 in 10 women may develop hypertension for the first time after pregnancy

    1 in 10 women may develop hypertension for the first time after pregnancy

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    Newswise — People with no history of high blood pressure can develop hypertension for the first time in the weeks and months after childbirth, but there is very little data on first-time hypertension that develops more than six weeks after delivery.

    Now, a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher has found that 1 in 10 women who did not have hypertension before or during pregnancy may develop hypertension up to a year after they give birth.

    Published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association, the study also found that nearly a quarter of these cases of  high blood pressure developed six weeks or more after childbirth, and mothers at highest risk are over 35 years old, current or former smokers, or patients who delivered their baby via Cesarean section.

    Postpartum hypertension can lead to complications such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure later in life, but until now, most research has underestimated the burden of new-onset postpartum hypertension. Previous studies on this topic focused primarily on blood pressure measurements taken during delivery or hospital readmissions. Furthermore, standard postpartum care consists of just one clinical visit within four to six weeks of delivery—so new cases of hypertension in the late postpartum period (six weeks to a year after childbirth) may go undiagnosed.  

    The new study, which featured racially and ethnically diverse participants, shows that patients with all three of the above risk factors had a 29 percent risk of developing new postpartum hypertension, and that this risk increased to 36 percent among non-Hispanic Black patients.

    This insight may provide a better understanding of the persistent racial disparities in US maternal morbidity and mortality, and the extent to which hypertension may contributes to these disparities. The findings also underscore the need for strategies to identify and manage postpartum high blood pressure among high-risk patients before they are discharged from the hospital after delivery.

    “The study findings have implications for postpartum care, particularly among patients without a history of hypertension,” says study lead author Dr. Samantha Parker (SPH’14), assistant professor of epidemiology at BUSPH and a 2014 alum of SPH’s PhD program in epidemiology.

    “We were surprised at the number of cases captured more than six weeks after delivery, a period that falls well outside of routine postpartum follow-up,” Parker says. “Monitoring during this period could mitigate severe postpartum and long-term cardiovascular complications.”

    Other studies suggest that new-onset hypertension after childbirth may be up to 2.5 times more common among non-Hispanic Black women compared to white women, she adds. “Understanding this relationship between pregnancy and hypertension is particularly important in addressing inequities in maternal cardiovascular disease and death for people of color.”

    For the study, Parker and colleagues from BUSPH and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine (Chobanian & Avedisian SOM) utilized medical records to examine demographic characteristics and prenatal, delivery, and postpartum data among 3,925 pregnant people who gave birth between 2016 and 2018 at Boston Medical Center. The researchers analyzed patients’ blood pressure measurements from the prenatal period through 12 months after delivery, taken at the hospital during office visits, urgent and emergency care, and readmissions.

    The team defined new-onset postpartum hypertension as at least two separate blood pressure readings, beginning 48 hours after delivery, in which the systolic blood pressure was at least 140 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure was at least 90 mmHg. Severe blood pressure included systolic readings that were at least 160 mmHg and diastolic readings that were at least 110 mmHg.

    Although the majority of patients were diagnosed with postpartum hypertension before they were discharged from the hospital following delivery, 43 percent of patients received first-time hypertension diagnoses after their delivery hospitalization—and about half of these new cases occurred more than six weeks postpartum, emphasizing the need for blood pressure monitoring throughout the entire postpartum period.

    “Future research should explore opportunities to reduce the risk of hypertension in the postpartum period and investigate the implications of postpartum hypertension on future cardiovascular health.”

    The study’s senior author is Dr. Christina Yarrington, assistant professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Chobanian & Avedisian SOM. Ayodele Ajayi, a research assistant at BUSPH at the time of the study, is a co-author. 

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    About Boston University School of Public Health
    Founded in 1976, Boston University School of Public Health is one of the top five ranked private schools of public health in the world. It offers master’s- and doctoral-level education in public health. The faculty in six departments conduct policy-changing public health research around the world, with the mission of improving the health of populations—especially the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable—locally and globally.

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    Boston University School of Public Health

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  • Self-driven healthcare can improve health outcomes and reduce costs

    Self-driven healthcare can improve health outcomes and reduce costs

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    Newswise — A vision for building sustainable, self-driven healthcare spanning primary care, secondary care and the wider health and social care system has been set out by medical innovators writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

    Self-driven healthcare (SDH) is an umbrella term introduced by Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency, to conceptualise aspects of healthcare delivery that can support people in becoming more engaged in managing their own health and wellbeing, rather than being passive receivers of healthcare.

    In their paper, the authors, from Imperial College London and Innovate UK, describe an SDH ecosystem that supports individuals to take more ownership of their health and wellbeing and in recording their own data (e.g. weight, blood pressure) using a phone app, tablet, computer or Bluetooth device. This self-generated data would then be uploaded onto a secure online SDH portal which holds all their health records, including those generated in the wider healthcare system.

    Lead author Dr Austen El-Osta, Director of the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) at Imperial College London, said: “Individuals would also enter other data such as what medication they had taken that day, the food they had eaten or the exercise they had done. They may even have a range of other devices that automatically record and upload useful information, such as environmental data about local air quality that day.”

    A personalised dashboard would automatically present the user with their ‘digital twin’ and the portal may also be enabled to routinely offered insights and actionable advice, including microlearning and behaviour change interventions and a holistic picture of the person’s overall health and wellbeing status.

    Dr El-Osta said: “The vision for SDH is that these personal healthcare management systems are integrated with the wider healthcare system, including the NHS.” He added: “SDH would support better online interaction with healthcare professionals and improve the exchange of information, including shareable personal healthcare records and self-generated data.”

    Dr El-Osta and his co-authors believe that by building a personal healthcare infrastructure capability that connects people to the wider healthcare system, SDH also has the potential to integrate a wider range of activities, such as AI-guided clinical coaching, preventative medicine and home clinical trials.

    When applied at scale, SDH ecosystems could, say the authors, help governments and health organisations, including the NHS, to achieve their ambition of improving health outcomes while controlling costs and addressing priority areas such as equality, diversity and inclusion, levelling up and net-zero.

    The authors caution that the SDH approach must create better access to all sections of the community rather than just wealthier and more technically literate individuals. It is also crucial, they say, that the SDH movement does not exacerbate inequalities due to the digital divide.

    Dr Chris Rowe, Medical Technology Innovation Lead at Innovate UK said: “How SDH is adopted in the future is very important, especially when it is applied to help enhance the consumer health system by trying to link it effectively with state-funded NHS health and social care systems. It will be important to determine if these online environments will be provided by expanding the NHS App, for example, or by commercial companies.”

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    SAGE Publications UK

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  • Flu shots are recommended for those 65 and older as cases rise

    Flu shots are recommended for those 65 and older as cases rise

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    Newswise — DALLAS – Nov. 30, 2022 – With flu cases on the rise, geriatric specialists at UT Southwestern Medical Center say vaccinations are particularly important this year for people 65 and older who are more at risk from complications than other age groups. 

    As we age, our immune system changes, making us more susceptible to infections like influenza. Older adults make up 70%-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths in the United States and account for 50%-70% of hospitalizations from influenza, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even older adults who spend most of their time at home have family members or home health aides visit, providing opportunities for the influenza virus to spread. The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported a higher number of influenza-like illnesses statewide so far this season compared with recent years.

    “It is important to take action now to prevent the possibility of severe infections, especially for populations at higher risk for complications, which includes older adults,” said geriatrician Deborah Freeland, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern. “Because the influenza virus changes over time, we need annual vaccinations to help protect against infection and reduce the severity of infection.”

    Dr. Freeland recommends that those age 65 and older get a high-dose influenza vaccine. Research shows that high-dose vaccines reduced the risk of infection by 24% in older adults compared with the standard dose. In addition, the influenza vaccination is shown to lower the risk of heart attacks and death. It can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to become effective, and flu season is already in full swing, so Dr. Freeland advises people to obtain the vaccine as soon as possible.

    Wearing masks in crowded places and washing hands regularly are additional steps people can take to stay healthy. It’s also important for those living with older adults to get the flu vaccine to help decrease the spread of infection to groups at greater risk.

    While some older adults refrain from getting the flu vaccine for fear of catching the flu, Dr. Freeland said vaccines cannot cause influenza infections. However, there can be side effects, including soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, and muscle aches, which typically resolve within 24-48 hours. UT Southwestern offers flu shots to patients at several locations; they are also available at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and other locations.   

    “There is robust data behind the benefits of influenza vaccination,” Dr. Freeland said. “Get your flu vaccination today to protect yourself and those around you.”

    About UT Southwestern Medical Center

    UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,900 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 4 million outpatient visits a year.

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    UT Southwestern Medical Center

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  • UCHealth Initiative Reduces Off-Label Pulse Oximeter Placement

    UCHealth Initiative Reduces Off-Label Pulse Oximeter Placement

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    Newswise — The critical care team at UCHealth in Colorado reduced the off-label placement of pulse oximetry sensors from 15% to less than 1%, according to an article published in the December issue of Critical Care Nurse (CCN).

    “Improving Patient Safety by Increasing Staff Knowledge of Evidence-Based Pulse Oximetry Practices” details how the short-term quality improvement initiative helped change the culture of pulse oximetry use, with long-term solutions, ongoing education and the addition of dedicated ear probes in each critical care patient room.

    Pulse oximetry is a commonly used monitoring technology that provides an indirect and accurate method of measuring a patient’s oxygen saturation, an essential element in critical care units and many inpatient clinical areas. The results help inform decisions regarding oxygen therapy.

    Many common clinical situations can result in using a pulse oximetry sensor in an off-label location, such as placing a finger sensor on an earlobe. With limited literature about the accuracy of such off-label use, it’s considered a best practice to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and use sensors for only those locations for which they are designed. 

    Co-author Maureen Varty, PhD, RN, is a research nurse scientist at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and an assistant professor at University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora. She worked on the initiative with Danielle Hlavin, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, a charge nurse at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs.

    “When trying to get an oxygen reading, it can be easy to use the same sensor in various points, but pulse oximeters are not interchangeable,” Hlavin said. “By taking the time to understand the barriers to practice, we identified sustainable solutions and reinforced best practices for using the correct type of sensor and preventing pressure injuries that may develop.”

    The initiative was a response to noticing that off-label placement was being used in critical care patient rooms, with inconsistent practices that could affect patient safety.

    Audits were conducted by entering each occupied patient room and noting finger probes being used on off-label sites. In the preintervention audit, with 508 observations during August through October 2020, a finger probe was used off label in 77 patients (15.2%). In the postintervention audit in March and April 2021, with 365 observations, a finger probe was used instead of an ear probe in only three patients (0.8%).

    The team used a simple preintervention survey to assess healthcare staff members’ knowledge of and confidence in pulse oximetry use and appropriate placement. Before the intervention, only 38.9% of bedside staff members said they knew not to use finger sensors on the ear. After the intervention, 85% of respondents knew not to do so.

    They also evaluated the availability of pulse oximetry supplies, types of supplies and any barriers to obtaining this equipment. This assessment revealed anecdotal evidence that staff members had difficulty quickly locating ear probes for their patients, leading them to turn to off-label placement when finger sensors were not able to detect a good signal.

    With the support of hospital management, 90 ear probes were purchased for critical care settings. These were labeled “ICU” and affixed to the pulse oximeter cable in each patient room for easy access.

    A brief, formal educational presentation was first provided to 175 nurses in October 2020 during staff skill laboratories, and then to 37 respiratory therapists and 21 patient care technicians and advanced care providers during their staff meetings from October 2020 through January 2021.

    Further education was provided in real time to mitigate the potential risks of pressure injuries developing from the use of ear probes and ensure that best practices continued to be followed.

    As the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ bimonthly clinical practice journal for acute and critical care nurses, CCN is a trusted source of information related to the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients.

    Access the article abstract and full-text PDF by visiting the CCN website at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org.

     

    About Critical Care Nurse: Critical Care Nurse (CCN), a bimonthly clinical practice journal published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, provides current, relevant and useful information about the bedside care of critically and acutely ill patients. The award-winning journal also offers columns on traditional and emerging issues across the spectrum of critical care, keeping critical care nurses informed on topics that affect their practice in acute, progressive and critical care settings. CCN enjoys a circulation of more than 128,000 and can be accessed at http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/.

    About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States.

    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

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    American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

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  • La Section des soins infirmiers vise à répondre aux besoins des infirmières en matière de soins de l’épilepsie dans le monde entier

    La Section des soins infirmiers vise à répondre aux besoins des infirmières en matière de soins de l’épilepsie dans le monde entier

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    Newswise — Les infirmières sont les fournisseurs de soins de santé les plus répandus dans le monde; l’Organisation mondiale de la santé estime qu’ils représentent 59 % de tous les professionnels de la santé.

    Les infirmières qui s’occupent de personnes atteintes d’épilepsie peuvent remplir des dizaines de rôles, selon la formation de l’infirmière et l’établissement et le pays dans lesquels elle travaille. Mais les infirmières qui soignent les personnes atteintes d’épilepsie font face à de nombreux défis, notamment un manque de possibilités de formation, un financement de recherche inadéquat et une compréhension limitée de leurs rôles et de leur valeur.

    À l’automne 2021, la section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE a été créée pour créer un « foyer » pour les infirmières du monde entier qui s’occupent de personnes atteintes d’épilepsie. La section se concentrera sur les besoins des infirmières et infirmiers et déterminera comment l’ILAE peut aider à y répondre, ainsi que d’intégrer les points de vue des infirmières dans d’autres aspects de l’ILAE, y compris les commissions, les conseils et les congrès.

    Les priorités de la Section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE

    La première priorité de la Section des soins infirmiers est de recueillir de l’information au moyen d’une évaluation des besoins. « L’objectif est de se faire une idée des types d’infirmières qui existent, de ce qu’elles font, de leur milieu de travail, de leurs besoins en matière d’éducation et d’autres besoins », a déclaré Patty Osborne Shafer, coprésidente de la section des soins infirmiers et infirmière spécialisée en épilepsie et consultante de Boston.

    Les chefs de section s’attendent à une grande variabilité des besoins et des obstacles parmi les infirmières et infirmiers de différentes régions et espèrent cibler chaque région avec une formation et des solutions personnalisées. Étant donné que 80% des personnes atteintes d’épilepsie vivent dans des pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, il est crucial de comprendre les besoins des infirmières dans ces domaines, a déclaré Jane von Gaudecker, coprésidente de la section des soins infirmiers et professeure adjointe à l’École des sciences infirmières de l’Université de l’Indiana.

    « Nous savons qu’il n’y a pas de possibilités d’éducation dans ces domaines – pas seulement pour l’épilepsie, mais une formation plus large en neurologie n’est pas possible pour les infirmières dans de nombreuses régions à revenu faible ou intermédiaire », a-t-elle déclaré.

    L’enseignement normalisé n’existe pas

    Le Royaume-Uni a élaboré des cadres de compétences pour les infirmières spécialisées dans l’épilepsie adulte (ESN), les ESN pédiatriques et les ESN pour troubles d’apprentissage. L’American Association of Neurology Nurses a un programme de certificat. Les infirmières peuvent obtenir une maîtrise ou un doctorat en préparation à un rôle de pratique avancée, comme infirmière praticienne, mais il n’y a pas d’accréditation spécialisée pour les infirmières praticiennes en épilepsie ou les autres infirmières qui s’occupent de personnes atteintes d’épilepsie.

    « Les infirmières doivent suivre un processus de formation et d’accréditation formels pour pouvoir dire qu’elles sont des infirmières en pratique avancée, mais la façon dont cela se rapporte à l’acquisition de connaissances avancées sur l’épilepsie varie selon votre établissement, vos ressources et votre lieu de résidence », a déclaré Shafer. « Nous essayions d’obtenir une certification infirmière pour l’épilepsie aux États-Unis, mais les organismes de certification nous disaient que nous n’étions pas assez nombreux. »

    « La plupart des infirmières qui commencent à travailler dans un centre d’épilepsie ou une clinique d’épilepsie apprennent de leurs collègues », a déclaré Karen Legg, secrétaire de la Section des soins infirmiers et infirmière praticienne récemment retraitée de la Nouvelle-Écosse. « Nous sommes autonomes et lisons tout ce que nous pouvons trouver. Nous trouvons les besoins du patient, puis apprenons comment répondre à ces besoins. Mais il ne nous reste plus qu’à le comprendre.

    Trois niveaux de formation

    La Section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE élabore des programmes d’enseignement pour trois niveaux :

    • Infirmières qui découvrent l’épilepsie
    • Infirmières qui peuvent s’occuper régulièrement de personnes atteintes d’épilepsie, mais qui ne s’identifient pas comme « infirmières épileptiques »
    • Infirmières spécialisées dans les soins aux personnes atteintes d’épilepsie (infirmières spécialisées dans l’épilepsie, ou ESN)

    « Nous nous concentrons sur ce premier niveau en ce moment, et les données de l’évaluation des besoins nous aideront à aller plus loin », a déclaré Shafer.

    Bien que le fardeau de l’épilepsie soit plus lourd dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, il y a moins de médecins pour y faire face. « Les infirmières constituent le segment le plus important du groupe de travail sur les soins de santé », a déclaré von Gaudecker, qui mène également des recherches sur la santé mondiale. « Donc, se concentrer sur les infirmières dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire, les former à la façon de prendre soin des personnes atteintes d’épilepsie et d’identifier une personne atteinte d’épilepsie dans la communauté et de l’orienter vers des soins, ce serait très important. »

    La formation des infirmières en soins primaires pourrait les aider à identifier les signes et les symptômes de l’épilepsie chez leurs patients, ainsi qu’à mieux comprendre les options de traitement pour les personnes atteintes d’épilepsie pharmacorésistante, ce qui ferait des infirmières un rôle actif dans l’aiguillage des personnes vers des soins plus spécialisés.

    « Il y a tellement de personnes atteintes d’épilepsie, même dans les pays à ressources élevées, qui ne sont pas proches d’un centre tertiaire ou d’un centre d’épilepsie », a déclaré Legg. « Ils peuvent avoir des crises continues, mais ils souffrent simplement parce que la personne qui s’occupe d’eux dit:« Oui, vous avez l’épilepsie et vous allez avoir des crises de temps en temps.

    « Nous savons que cela ne doit pas être la vérité et qu’il y a plus d’options. Si nous pouvons atteindre les infirmières et les sensibiliser, nous pouvons changer la vie des gens. »

    Développer la section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE

    Le nombre de membres de la Section des soins infirmiers a augmenté rapidement; il y avait 250 membres à la mi-août 2022, et près de 450 à la fin de septembre 2022. La réponse a été une agréable surprise, a déclaré Legg.

    « Les gens ne se contentent pas de se joindre aux questions des membres et d’y répondre, ils envoient des notes pour leur demander comment ils peuvent s’impliquer », a-t-elle déclaré. « Il y a vraiment une réponse tellement vive et vibrante; c’est grand, et ça grandit rapidement.

    « C’est tellement gratifiant et encourageant de voir cela », a déclaré von Gaudecker. « Les infirmières et infirmiers sont intéressés à faire partie de cette organisation mondiale, à apprendre à se connaître et à travailler ensemble. »

    En savoir plus sur la section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE

    Rejoignez la section des soins infirmiers de l’ILAE

    Lire l’étude ESPENTE (2019)

    Avantages du rôle des RSE, des pratiques standardisées et de l’éducation dans le monde (2019 – Prevos-Morgant M et al, Revue Neurologique)

    Objectifs de la section des soins infirmiers

    • Évaluation des besoins pour comprendre ce que les infirmières qui s’occupent des personnes atteintes d’épilepsie veulent et ce dont elles ont besoin
    • Programmes d’études pour différents niveaux de soins infirmiers, comparables au programme d’épileptologie de l’ILAE – niveaux 1, 2 et 3, de base à hautement spécialisé
    • Intégrer la participation des infirmières à d’autres conseils, commissions et groupes de travail de l’ILAE qui traitent de questions importantes pour les infirmières (c.-à-d. la santé mondiale)

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    Fondée en 1909, la Ligue internationale contre l’épilepsie (ILAE) est une organisation mondiale avec plus de 120 sections nationales.

    En promouvant la recherche, l’éducation et la formation pour améliorer le diagnostic, le traitement et la prévention de la maladie, ILAE œuvre pour un monde où la vie de personne n’est limitée par l’épilepsie.

    Site Web de l’ILAE (disponible en plusieurs langues) | Facebook | Instagram

    Twitter: Français Anglais Japonais Portugais Espagnol

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    International League Against Epilepsy

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  • Higher use of CT contrast media is associated with non-physician practitioners

    Higher use of CT contrast media is associated with non-physician practitioners

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    Newswise — Reston, VA – A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that when non-physician practitioners (NPPs) perform a higher share of patient evaluation and management (E&M) visits, computed tomography (CT) imaging is more likely to use iodinated contrast media.  The research revealed that for each 10-percent increase in visits performed by an NPP rather than a physician, there was 4.5% higher utilization of contrast media for ordered CT studies. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, was based on an evaluation of a 100% sample of Medicare fee-for-service professional claims between 2011 and 2020.

    The new study found the share of E&M visits performed by an NPP (nurse practitioner or physician assistant) increased from 6.5% in 2011 to 14.7% in 2020. This trend mirrors results of another Neiman Institute study published earlier this month in JAMA Network Open that found growth in NPPs as emergency department (ED) providers and an associated increased use of advanced imaging in this setting.

    “The recent contrast media shortage created a need to identify opportunities to reduce lower value utilization of contrast in CT imaging. Given that NPPs are associated with more imaging utilization in the ED, we wanted to see if these providers also order more contrast-enhanced imaging than physicians, across settings,” explained Elizabeth Rula, PhD, Executive Director of the Neiman Institute.

    “For a 10-percentage-point increase in NPPs relative to physicians as E&M providers, we found an associated increase in CT contrast media orders in the outpatient hospital (4.5%), inpatient (11.9%), and office (12.1%) settings, but not in the ED,” said Eric Christensen, PhD, Research Director at the Neiman Institute and lead author of the study. “Similarly, there was more CT contrast media ordered for imaging studies of the chest (9.2%), abdomen/pelvis (3.5%), and spine (34.2%) with a higher share of NPPs; contrast use in other body areas were not significantly higher.”

    “Across most settings and body regions contrast media use increased significantly with a higher share of E&M visits to NPPs. Conversely, we observed no negative associations, where higher physician ordering resulted in a greater likelihood of CT with contrast,” stated Andrew Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, a study co-author, professor and director of health policy in the department of radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “Our study cannot determine if imaging was appropriately used by NPPs or physicians, but the observed variation in care patterns by practitioner type highlights the need to establish systems to ensure the appropriateness of imaging ordered.”

     

     

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    About the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute

    The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute is one of the nation’s leading medical imaging socioeconomic research organizations. The Neiman Institute studies the role and value of radiology and radiologists in evolving health care delivery and payment systems and the impact of medical imaging on the cost, quality, safety and efficiency of health care. Visit us at www.neimanhpi.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute

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  • Can AI Drive More Diversity in Drug Development?

    Can AI Drive More Diversity in Drug Development?

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    Nov. 29, 2022 – Artificial intelligence could help improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials and drug development by overcoming some traditional human bias in these areas, but we’re not there yet, experts say. The technology could also assist doctors with data insights to make diagnosis and treatment more precise. 

    It starts with quality. Artificial intelligence (AI) relies on large amounts of data to create algorithms – or computer instructions – to develop best practices and predictions. But the instructions are only as good as the data used to create them. And people are the ones creating the data.

    “Underpinning the development of AI technologies are people, and those people have their own biases,” says Naheed Kurji, the chair of the board for the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. “As a result, the algorithms will have their own biases.”

    Technology that uses speech to diagnose disease is an example. 

    “There are many cases, examples where companies have failed to recognize the differences in speech across different cultures,” says Kurji. When technology is based on speech patterns of a limited demographic, “then when that model is applied in the real world to a different demographic with a different accent, that model fails.”

    “As a result, it’s not representative.”

    Another example is genetic and genomic data. 

    “Give or take, 90-plus percent of genetic and genomic data has originated from people of European descent. It’s not from people from the continent of Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia, or South America,” says Kurji, who is also president and CEO of Cyclica Inc., a data-driven drug discovery company based in Toronto. 

    Therefore, “a lot of research that has been done on that level of data is inherently biased,” he says. 

    To Be Fair 

    Creating data that takes diversity, equity, and inclusion of people and cultures around the world into account is not a hopeless challenge. But it will take time, experts say. Once that is achieved, AI should be closer to being free of human and systemic biases.

    Greater awareness is essential. 

    “The solution to the problem comes from people inherently understanding that the bias exists,” Kurji says, and then only including fair and balanced data that passes a diversity test.

    Choosing More Wisely?

    Another promising avenue for AI is streamlining the drug development process, narrowing down potential drug candidates, and making clinical trials more cost-effective. 

    “If the source data has challenges and limitations, then that the AI is going to just keep propagating those limitations,” agrees Sastry Chilukuri, co-CEO of the data-driven clinical trial company Medidata and founder and president of Acorn AI. “The source data has to get more representative and has to get more equitable for the AI to reflect what’s happening.”

    When it comes to human or systemic bias in drug development, “it would be too much of a simplification to say AI or machine learning can fix it,” says Angeli Moeller, PhD, head of data and integrations generating insights at Roche in Berlin. “But responsible use of AI and machine learning can help us identify biases and find ways to mitigate any negative effects it might cause.”

    Silent Partners?

    At the same time AI aims to streamline drug development, the technology also can help make all doctors better at their jobs, experts say. AI would, for instance, help by spreading knowledge and expertise far and wide, sharing best practices from doctors with a lot of experience in more complex patients. This would help guide those who treat only a few such patients each year. 

    The surgical volumes in New York City or in Delhi could be as high as hundreds of patients a year, Chilukuri says. “But if you go to interiors of the U.S. like Nebraska, the surgeon just doesn’t see that much volume.” 

    AI could help doctors “by providing the kind of tools that allow them to be able to deliver the same top-notch care to all of their populations at lot faster,” he says.

    Boosting Efficiency 

    AI could help target therapy by using data to identify patients at highest risk. The technology also could improve some bottleneck areas in medicine, such as the time it takes to interpret radiology images, Kurji says. 

    There is an AI company “whose entire business model is not to replace your radiologist but to make radiologists better,” he notes. One of company’s aims is “to prevent death or severe ailment from radiology scans that get missed or that get stacked on the pile and just don’t get acted on fast enough for that patient.” 

    Radiologists are so busy, they may have only 30 seconds or less to interpret each scan, says Chilukuri. AI can flag a lesion of potential concern, but it can also compare an image to past scans on the same patient. This view afforded by AI does not just apply to radiology but across data-driven areas of medicine. 

    Advancing Personalized Medicine

    AI could also guide a personal approach to surgery, “because it’s not like humans come in small, medium and large,” Chilukuri says. The technology could help surgeons determine exactly where to operate on an individual patient.

    Moeller agrees that AI holds potential for boosting personalized medicine. 

    “AI can help with diagnosis and risk prediction, which can mean earlier interventions,” says Moeller, who’s also vice chair of the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare board.  “If you look, for instance, at a diabetic patient, what is the likelihood that he or she might develop eye problems from diabetic macular edema?”

    The technology could also help with getting a look at the big picture. 

    “Machine learning can look for patterns in a population that might not be in your medical textbook,” Moeller says. 

    Beyond diagnosis and treatment, AI also could help with recovery by customizing rehabilitation for each patient, Chilukuri predicts. 

    “It’s not like every person is going to rehab the exact same way. So, you have highly individualized AI plans that allow you to actually stay on track and predict where you’re going.”

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  • TTUHSC El Paso Radiology Chair to Lead Advocacy Efforts to Support Patients and Physicians

    TTUHSC El Paso Radiology Chair to Lead Advocacy Efforts to Support Patients and Physicians

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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Nov. 28, 2022

     

    Newswise — EL PASO, Texas — The radiology chair at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is now the regional leader of a national group that campaigns for patients’ and radiologists’ best interests.

    Thomas M. Dykes, M.D., FACR, FSAR, Foster School of Medicine professor and Department of Radiology chair, was recently selected to a two-year term as the West Texas regional director of the Texas Radiology Advocacy Network. The advocacy network is an extension of American College of Radiology’s state chapter, the Texas Radiological Society.                                      

    Radiologists are medical doctors specializing in treating and diagnosing diseases, such as cancer, using X-rays, MRI’s, ultrasounds and other methods. At Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, the medical practice of the Foster School of Medicine, Dr. Dykes is part of a team offering El Pasoans most in need the world-class patient care they deserve without having to go out-of-town to get medical scans or treatment.

    Dr. Dykes is also the Dr. Arvin and Beverly Robinson-Furman Family Endowed Chair in Radiology. Endowed faculty positions allow TTUHSC El Paso to attract and retain world-class talent. Endowed chairs are considered a prestigious honor in academia, and give department leaders the ability to invest in their vision for the department by supporting scholarships and fellowships for talented students and residents, and funding research activities. 

    As regional director of the advocacy network, Dr. Dykes will mobilize his peers in the Borderplex and West Texas region to lobby legislators at the state and national level and advocate for policies that help radiologists provide the best health care for patients.

    “Legislative measures are usually passed with cost-cutting in mind, but sometimes they may not be aware that it could lead to a lapse in health care that could create health disparities and cost patients either financially or medically,” Dr. Dykes said. “That’s where we come in, to advocate. We want to make them aware of potential pitfalls in their proposals and, vice versa, lobby for legislation we believe could be helpful.”

    In 2017, the American College of Radiology successfully convinced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to forgo a 50% cut to mammography technical reimbursement. In 2021, the organization also lobbied to ensure lung cancer screening coverage policies were revised to line up with the updated U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations.

    Dr. Dykes has been a member of the organization since he was a radiology resident in 1987. He is also a fellow of the Society of Abdominal Radiology and fellow of the American College of Radiology. That background combined with TTUHSC El Paso’s standing in the region make communicating with other radiologists easier and results in more participation from both Texas Radiology Society members and non-members.

    As regional director, Dr. Dykes said he will also be in position to lobby the American College of Radiology in support of Borderplex patients. In the future, there may be specific policies that affect patients in our region, and he could help get the largest network of radiology advocates to support it. 

    “It’s a service opportunity, and I want TTUHSC El Paso to be recognized as a leader not just in medicine and radiology but policy making as well, and this is how policy is made,” Dr. Dykes said. “I’ve talked with faculty and residents here, and I hope to get them involved early and often because it’s important for the visibility of TTUHSC El Paso. It’s good for us to be side-by-side with big medical practices and firms because in the end, we’re trying to help every radiologist and their patients.”

    The need for radiologists is crucial as an imaging study can help identify critical illnesses and diseases. However, the Association of American Medical Colleges project the U.S. may have a shortage of 17,000 to 42,000 radiologist, pathologists and psychiatrists by 2033. Educating future radiologists is vital to reducing those projections.

    At TTUHSC El Paso, Dr. Dykes is training the next generation of radiologists who will serve Borderplex patients living in underserved communities. TTUHSC El Paso and the Foster School of Medicine strive to close the health care provider gap in the region. Since most physicians go on to practice in close proximity to where they complete their residency, the school is ensuring a healthy future for the region.

    TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s designated as a Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care leaders, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation college students.

    TTUHSC El Paso was established to focus on the unique health care and educational needs of our Borderplex community. In 2023, TTUHSC El Paso will celebrate its 10th anniversary as an autonomous university within the Texas Tech University System. In those 10 years, the university has graduated nearly 2,000 doctors, nurses, researchers, and will soon add dentists to its alumni. 

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    Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

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  • Stocks Are Clawing Their Way Back. Consider These Moves for 2023.

    Stocks Are Clawing Their Way Back. Consider These Moves for 2023.

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    Stocks Are Clawing Their Way Back. Consider These Moves for 2023.

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  • 23 Days of Giving With Charitable Events Starting Dec. 1, 2022 Are Announced by P23 Labs, Renowned Molecular Laboratory

    23 Days of Giving With Charitable Events Starting Dec. 1, 2022 Are Announced by P23 Labs, Renowned Molecular Laboratory

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    P23 Labs, a leading molecular laboratory, is kicking off its 23 Days of Giving series of charitable events running from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23, 2022. Three of these days will be dedicated to gifts to the company’s team members and 20 days are for charitable donations to causes from P23 and its partner, Laddia Whittier, who made a generous contribution to make this initiative possible.

    Press Release
    –

    Nov 23, 2022 11:30 EST


    SAVANNAH, Ga., November 23, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    P23 Labs believes in giving back. Besides the 23 Days of Giving campaign, the company holds monthly giving events on the 23rd of each month. At least 3% of P23 Labs’ profits are given annually to the planet, community, and health equity.

    P23 Labs makes a difference in the lives of thousands of Americans who have the goal of keeping themselves and their loved ones safe. In this vision, P23 Labs is a household name and the healthcare laboratory of choice when it comes to taking charge of health. A recently launched P23 Health brand helps to achieve long-lasting well-being results, assuming, that healthcare is self-care. Besides, for underserved communities and those in need, P23 holds its monthly #BeGiving contributions in line with the company mission. It all makes P23 Labs acknowledged not only for its science-backed health and wellness solutions but also for being a mission-driven community player with meaningful values.

    “Our 23 Days of Giving is such a special time in our company, full of ways that we give back to our community, and spread holiday cheer. I love the feeling of making a difference in the lives of others, and P23 team embraces it and participates with open hearts and warm smiles. I can’t wait to see the good that we accomplish,” Dr. Tiffany Montgomery, Founder and CEO of P23 Labs. “We would like to give a special thank you to Laddia Whittier for demonstrating our core value of BE GIVING by sending a donation for our giveback efforts and continuously supporting and valuing P23.”

    P23 Labs encourages more participants to support the initiative and is open for cooperation with parties with shared values.

    Source: P23 Labs LLC

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  • Remdesivir reduces COVID-19 mortality in a real-world setting

    Remdesivir reduces COVID-19 mortality in a real-world setting

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    Newswise — Tokyo, Japan – The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an explosion of clinical research resulting in the development of a variety of vaccines and treatments, although the efficacy of some remains controversial. Now, researchers from Japan report that remdesivir, a drug whose effectiveness has been debated, appears to make a big difference in Japanese patients with COVID-19 who received corticosteroids in the ICU.

    In a study published in September in the Journal of Medical Virology, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have revealed that remdesivir can reduce mortality in Asian patients if administered shortly after they begin showing COVID-19 symptoms.

    Several studies have already shown that remdesivir can shorten recovery time in patients with COVID-19, although there are conflicting reports on whether the drug prevents patients from dying. In addition, previous trials did not focus on patients who required breathing support while in the ICU.

    “Given the inconsistent evidence regarding the survival benefit it confers, we sought to investigate the effectiveness of remdesivir in patients with COVID-19, who were admitted to an ICU in Japan,” says Mariko Hanafusa, first author of the study. “All of these patients were being treated with corticosteroids for pneumonia, and some were receiving mechanical assistance for breathing.” 

    The researchers analyzed the medical records of 168 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU at TMDU Hospital between April 2020 and November 2021. The patients were divided into groups based on whether or not they were also treated with remdesivir.

    “The results showed a clear difference in patient survival based on when they received treatment with remdesivir,” states Takeo Fujiwara, senior author of the study. “In-hospital mortality rates were significantly lower in ICU patients who received remdesivir and corticosteroids within 9 days of symptom onset than in patients whose treatment with remdesivir started 10 or more days after they first developed symptoms.”

    A small number of patients experienced adverse events such as a rash, requiring them to stop taking remdesivir, while a greater proportion experienced acute kidney injury or liver injury but were able to continue treatment.

    “Our findings suggest that, at least in a largely Japanese patient population with severe to critical COVID-19, early treatment with remdesivir and corticosteroids is associated with decreased mortality,” says Hanafusa.

    Given the survival benefit demonstrated in this study, the time that has elapsed since symptom onset should be considered when using remdesivir to treat patients who are critically ill with COVID-19. The varying effectiveness of remdesivir at different time points may reflect increasing viral load and lung damage over time, and could help explain why the effectiveness of this drug remains controversial.

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    The article, “Effectiveness of remdesivir with corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit: A hospital-based observational study,” was published in the Journal of Medical Virology at DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28168.

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    Tokyo Medical and Dental University

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  • Newer Cementless Knee Replacements Could Last Longer

    Newer Cementless Knee Replacements Could Last Longer

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    Newswise — Newer “Cementless” Knee Replacement Could Last Longer

    Knee replacement surgery is considered one of the most effective and predictable procedures in orthopedic surgery today. Hundreds of thousands of patients opt for the procedure each year to relieve arthritis pain and restore function and mobility.

    The standard knee implant used in joint replacement generally lasts a long time—15 years—but it doesn’t last indefinitely. When the implant wears out or loosens, patients generally need a second knee replacement, known as a revision surgery. Now a newer kind of “cementless” knee replacement could change that, according to Dr. Geoffrey Westrich, research director emeritus in the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at Hospital for Special Surgery.

    CEMENTLESS KNEE REPLACEMENT FOR YOUNGER PATIENTS

    Implant longevity is an important consideration, especially for younger patients with arthritis who opt for joint replacement to maintain their active lifestyle. “Increasing numbers of people in their 50s and even 40s are coming in for joint replacement because they don’t want arthritic knee pain to slow them down. Once they have a knee replacement, these active patients generally put more demands on their joint, causing more wear and tear,” Dr. Westrich explains. “With a conventional cemented prosthesis, chances are they’ll need another surgery down the road. This often has to do with loosening of the implant.”

    In a standard knee replacement, the components of the implant are secured in the joint using bone cement. It’s a tried-and-true technique that has worked well for decades. But eventually, over time, the cement starts to loosen from the bone and/or the implant. “With the new cementless prosthesis, the components are press fit into place for “biologic fixation,” which basically means that the bone will grow into the implant. Perfect positioning of the implant is critical, and we use robotic guidance for pinpoint accuracy,” Dr. Westrich explains.

    ADVANCES IN CEMENTLESS IMPLANT DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

    Dr. Westrich believes that with biologic fixation, implant loosening over time will be less likely and a total knee replacement could potentially last much longer, even indefinitely. “Cementless implants have been used in total hip replacement surgery for many years,” he says. “Because of the knee’s particular anatomy, it has been much more challenging to develop a cementless prosthesis that would work well in the knee.”

    Dr. Westrich now believes the time has come. Major advances in design, technology and biomaterials have paved the way for a viable cementless knee implant. The cementless knee system Dr. Westrich utilizes is FDA‐approved for use with the MAKO Robot, combining two of the most recent knee replacement advancements into one high tech procedure that aims to benefit patients.

    Candidates for the cementless procedure are generally patients under 70 with good bone quality to promote biological fixation. In addition to younger patients, Dr. Westrich notes that the cementless implant may also prove to be a good option for very overweight patients who tend to put more stress on their joint replacement.

    To date, Dr. Westrich has seen good results with the cementless prosthesis. However, he says more studies are needed to see how patients with cementless knee replacements do over the long term.

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    Geoffrey Westrich, MD

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  • Internal medicine physicians call for improved access and quality in health care for incarcerated patients

    Internal medicine physicians call for improved access and quality in health care for incarcerated patients

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    Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M22-2370

    URL goes live when the embargo lifts

    Note: Sound bites from ACP President Ryan Mire, MD, MACP available for download at https://www.dssimon.com/MM/ACP-Incarceration

    Adequately funded policies and procedures are needed to reduce health care disparities in access to, and quality of, health care for the U.S. jail and prison population says the American College of Physicians (ACP). Health Care During Incarceration: A Policy Position Paper of the American College of Physicians details recommendations to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals incarcerated in adult correctional facilities. The paper is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

    ACP’s recommendations include adequate funding for, and timely access to, necessary health care services that are evidence-based and meet community standards. They also recommend measures to ensure adequate nutrition; opportunity for physical activity; smoke-free policies and smoking cessation interventions; and access to recommended preventive health services. ACP further calls for policies to adequately treat both chronic noncommunicable diseases and infectious diseases. This should include infectious disease prevention and control programs developed with public health authorities. In addition, all persons entering correctional facilities should be screened for substance use disorders and behavioral health conditions and provided with treatment if necessary.  ACP also supports policies that promote the treatment of patients with substance use disorders as an alternative incarceration.

    The paper also details recommendations for population segments within correctional facilities. This includes recommendations for how to better meet the needs of incarcerated women; LGBTQ+ patients; aging patients and those living with disabilities or life-limiting illnesses; and immigrant populations.

    Lastly, the paper details how health care needs must be included in community re-entry planning for individuals who are released from jail or prison, so that they are able to continue to access health care and social services once they return to their communities. ACP specifically makes recommends for policies that would help to facilitate or reinstate state Medicaid enrollment.

     

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    American College of Physicians (ACP)

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  • Exámenes de detección guiados por inteligencia artificial usan datos de electrocardiogramas para detectar factores de riesgo ocultos de accidente cerebrovascular

    Exámenes de detección guiados por inteligencia artificial usan datos de electrocardiogramas para detectar factores de riesgo ocultos de accidente cerebrovascular

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    Newswise — ROCHESTER, Minnesota —Los investigadores de Mayo Clinic utilizaron inteligencia artificial para evaluar electrocardiogramas de pacientes en el marco de una estrategia dirigida para detectar fibrilación auricular, un trastorno frecuente del ritmo cardíaco. La fibrilación auricular es un latido cardíaco irregular que puede provocar coágulos sanguíneos que podrían viajar al cerebro y causar un accidente cerebrovascular, y suele ser difícil de diagnosticar. En el estudio descentralizado realizado a través de medios digitales, la inteligencia artificial identificó nuevos casos de fibrilación auricular que no se habrían observado clínicamente en la atención médica de rutina. 

    En investigaciones anteriores, ya se había desarrollado un algoritmo de inteligencia artificial para identificar a los pacientes con una probabilidad alta de tener fibrilación auricular previamente desconocida. nference y Mayo Clinic otorgaron la licencia del algoritmo para detectar la fibrilación auricular en un ritmo sinusal normal a partir de un electrocardiograma a Anumana Inc., una empresa de tecnología médica impulsada por inteligencia artificial. 

    El Dr. Peter Noseworthy, cardiólogo electrofisiólogo en Mayo Clinic y autor principal del estudio, declaró: “Creemos que los exámenes de detección de la fibrilación auricular tienen mucho potencial, pero actualmente los resultados son muy pocos, y los costos son muy altos como para posibilitar la detección generalizada. El estudio demuestra que un algoritmo de inteligencia artificial aplicado a un electrocardiograma puede ayudar a dirigir los exámenes de detección a los pacientes que tengan más probabilidades de beneficiarse con ellos”. 

    Del estudio participaron 1003 pacientes, a quienes se les realizaron controles constantes, y otros 1003 pacientes de atención médica habitual funcionaron como controles del mundo real. Los hallazgos, que se publicaron en The Lancet, mostraron que la inteligencia artificial puede identificar un subgrupo de pacientes de alto riesgo que recibirían más beneficios al hacerse controles cardíacos intensivos adicionales para detectar fibrilación auricular, lo que apoyó la estrategia de detección dirigida y guiada por inteligencia artificial. 

    Habitualmente, los electrocardiogramas se hacen para diagnosticar una variedad de trastornos, pero como la fibrilación auricular puede durar poco, es baja la posibilidad de detectar un episodio durante un rastreo por electrocardiograma de 10 segundos. Los pacientes pueden someterse a enfoques de control cardíaco intermitentes o continuos que tienen tasas de detección más altas, pero se requieren muchos recursos para aplicarlos a todo el mundo, y los controles pueden ser molestos y costosos para los pacientes. 

    En este punto, puede ser útil el electrocardiograma guiado por inteligencia artificial. El algoritmo de inteligencia artificial puede identificar pacientes que, aunque tengan un ritmo cardiaco normal el día en que se hacen el electrocardiograma, puedan tener un riesgo mayor de episodios de fibrilación auricular no detectada en otros momentos. Luego, estos pacientes pueden hacerse controles adicionales para confirmar el diagnóstico. 

    “Los programas de exámenes de detección tradicionales seleccionan pacientes según la edad (mayores de 65 años) o la presencia de afecciones como la hipertensión arterial. Estos enfoques tienen sentido porque la edad avanzada es uno de los factores de riesgo de fibrilación auricular más importantes. Sin embargo, no es factible realizar controles cardíacos intensivos de manera reiterada a más de 50 millones de adultos mayores en todo el país”, señaló la Dra. Xiaoxi Yao, investigadora de resultados médicos del Departamento de Medicina Cardiovascular y del Centro Robert D. y Patricia E. Kern para la Ciencia de Brindar Atención Médica de Mayo Clinic. La Dra. Yao es autora sénior del estudio. 

    “El estudio muestra que un algoritmo de inteligencia artificial puede seleccionar un subgrupo de adultos mayores a los que los controles intensivos podrían beneficiar más. Si esta nueva estrategia se implementara de forma generalizada, podría reducir la fibrilación auricular sin diagnosticar y prevenir accidentes cerebrovasculares y la muerte de millones de pacientes alrededor del mundo”, indicó la Dra. Yao. 

    El próximo paso en esta investigación es un ensayo híbrido multicéntrico enfocado en la eficacia de la implementación del proceso de trabajo del electrocardiograma guiado por inteligencia artificial en diversos entornos clínicos y poblaciones de pacientes. 

    “Esperamos que este enfoque sea especialmente valioso en entornos de pocos recursos, en los que las tasas de fibrilación auricular sin diagnosticar pueden ser particularmente altas y pueden ser limitados los recursos para detectarla. Sin embargo, hace falta más trabajo para superar los obstáculos de implementación, y los estudios futuros deben evaluar las estrategias de exámenes de detección dirigidos en estos entornos”, expresó el Dr. Noseworthy. 

    “Ahora que demostramos que son posibles los exámenes de detección de fibrilación auricular dirigidos por inteligencia artificial, también debemos mostrar que los pacientes con fibrilación auricular detectada mediante exámenes se benefician del tratamiento para prevenir accidentes cerebrovasculares”, señaló el Dr. Noseworthy. “Nuestro objetivo final es prevenir los accidentes cerebrovasculares. Creo que el estudio actual nos ha llevado un paso más cerca”. 

    ### 

    Información sobre Mayo Clinic 

    Mayo Clinic es una organización sin fines de lucro comprometida con la innovación en la práctica clínica, la educación y la investigación que ofrece atención experta y respuestas a todos los que necesitan recobrar la salud. Visite la Red Informativa de Mayo Clinic para obtener más noticias de Mayo Clinic. 

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  • Family and friends come together for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

    Family and friends come together for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

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    FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (WNEM) – Family and friends of those lost to suicide gathered at Bavarian In for the “Hope Starts Here” conference.

    “it’s just a beautiful day, a wonderful event, where you’re surrounded by love and hope and caring and so much empathy in the room,” says Julie Hart who lost her nephew to suicide.

    The event was held for International Day Survivors of Suicide Loss.

    Hope Starts Here conference chair Barb Smith says, “there are events just like this all over the world being held. So this is our local event called Hope starts here is for anyone who has been impacted by suicide in a place to bring people together to let them know that they’re not alone in their grief journey.”

    The annual event hosted by the Barb Smith Resource and Response Network brought guest speakers and more than a dozen vendors offering resources to help those grieving or struggling with the loss of their loved ones.

    “We have a panel of families who have lost someone to suicide to talk about what their grief journey looked like and really the message of hope,” says Smith.

    Organizers say suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in people between the ages of 10-22. And for every death to suicide there is 120-135 people who have been exposed to someone who has died by suicide.

    “We have 1400 deaths to suicide in Michigan, you know, that’s a lot of people who’ve been impacted that struggle alone. And suffer alone because, you know, we don’t want to talk about it because sometimes it can bring shame or guilt or you know, just kind of that lack of understanding,” says Smith.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2020, more than 45,000 people died by suicide in the United States; that is 1 death every 11 minutes, and in the same year 1.2 million adults have attempted suicide.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide you can call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.

    Copyright 2022 WNEM. All rights reserved.

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  • Mark Your Calendars for the 2023 AANEM Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona

    Mark Your Calendars for the 2023 AANEM Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona

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    Newswise — Rochester, Minn. (November 18, 2022)- American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) is excited to announce the 2023 AANEM Annual Meeting, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge from Wednesday, November 1 to Saturday, November 4, 2023. Association President, Robert W. Irwin, MD, has chosen the plenary topic to be: Disability and NMDs: The Whole Enchilada. The AANEM Annual Meeting offers valuable in-person sessions, hands on workshops, and social events, as well as the option to participate virtually. The meeting provides opportunities for physicians, technologists, and other healthcare professionals to learn about the latest in neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, electrodiagnostic, and neuromuscular ultrasound; earn CME/CEUs; and network with colleagues from around the world. “My favorite part of the AANEM Annual Meeting is everything,” said Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD, AANEM Board of Directors member, and longtime AANEM member. “It’s a combination of a feast of learning, camaraderie, and friendship. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and a meeting I never miss.” AANEM hosted their 2017 annual meeting at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona, and is looking forward to going back. “We’re excited to be back in Arizona,” said AANEM Executive Director, Shirlyn Adkins, JD. “It’s always nice when our staff knows the layout of the conference space before we invite folks to attend. It ultimately creates a more seamless experience for the meeting attendees and an overall better experience for all.” About American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) Based in Rochester, MN, AANEM is the premier nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular (NM), musculoskeletal, and electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine. The organization and its members work to improve the quality of patient care and advance the science of NM diseases and EDX medicine by serving physicians and allied health professionals who care for those with muscle and nerve disorders. For more information about AANEM, visit aanem.org or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. ###

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    American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)

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  • Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to over 11 years in prison for Theranos crimes

    Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to over 11 years in prison for Theranos crimes

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    Theranos founder and former chief executive Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 135 months, or over 11 years, in prison, putting an endpoint on the unraveling of a onetime vigorously hyped Silicon Valley startup that collapsed under allegations of fraud.

    The sentence, handed down from U.S. District Judge Edward Davila, came after Holmes was convicted in January of defrauding investors in the blood-testing company, which purported to have technology that could identify diseases from a pinprick of blood from the tip of a finger.

    Prior to the sentencing, Holmes had sought more lenient treatment, while prosecutors aimed for more. Holmes had requested up to 18 months in prison, along with home confinement and community service, according to The Wall Street Journal. Prosecutors sought 15 years in prison, a three-year supervised release and restitution of $800 million, the Journal said.

    Holmes had until April 27 to surrender, and 14 days to appeal the conviction, according to the Journal. Her lawyers said they would seek permission to keep her out of prison on bail, pending appeal, the Journal said.

    Founded in 2003, Theranos’ value over the years ballooned to $9 billion. But the company’s pitch of simple-to-use blood-testing technology — which attracted the likes of the Walton and Murdoch families, along with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger — began to fall apart in 2015, after reporting from the Wall Street Journal raised questions about the claims’ veracity.

    The Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018 charged Holmes and former president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani with what the agency called “massive fraud,” leading Holmes to give up control of the company. Criminal charges, and the company’s dissolution, followed later that year.

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  • Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center Awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group

    Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center Awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group

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    Newswise — Westwood, NJ – (November16, 2022) – Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates the hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors.

    “At Pascack Valley Medical Center, safety comes first,” said Emily Holliman, CEO of Pascack Valley Medical Center. “This recognition is a true testament to our commitment and focus on safety and quality-care for every patient.”

    The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.

    “I applaud the hospital leadership and workforce for their strong commitment to safety and transparency,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a sign that hospitals are continuously evaluating their performance, so that they can best protect patients. Your hospital team should be extremely proud of their dedication and achievement.”

    To see Pascack Valley Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.

    About Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center

    Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center is a 128-bed, full-service, acute-care community hospital, located in Westwood, NJ providing a caliber of care consistent with Hackensack Meridian Health’s world-class standard.  The state-of-the-art facility features a brand-new Emergency Department, state-of-the-art maternity center, a women’s imaging center, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, center for joint replacement, wound care center, and an intensive/critical care unit. The hospital is the only hospital in Bergen County with all private rooms at no additional cost to the patient. Find the kind of care you’ve been looking for at Pascack Valley Medical Center. For more, please visit www.PascackMedicalCenter.com 

    About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.

     

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  • Keck Hospital of USC nationally recognized with seventh consecutive ‘A’ hospital safety grade

    Keck Hospital of USC nationally recognized with seventh consecutive ‘A’ hospital safety grade

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    Newswise — LOS ANGELES — For the seventh consecutive time, Keck Hospital of USC earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety.

    “Keck Medicine is dedicated to providing quality care, and we are proud once again to be recognized as one of the safest hospitals in the nation,” said Marty Sargeant, MBA, CEO of Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. 

    The Leapfrog Group assigns letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.

    “While Keck Hospital has received an ‘A’ grade since 2019, we’re honored to share that this year, we received the highest score on performance measurements we’ve ever achieved,” said Stephanie Hall, MD, MHA, chief medical officer of Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. “This distinction reflects the commitment of the entire staff to the highest standards of care as we continue to ensure a safe environment patients can trust.” 

    The Leapfrog Group grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. To see Keck Hospital’s full grade details and access hospital safety tips for patients, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

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    For more information about Keck Medicine of USC, please visit news.KeckMedicine.org.

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  • Study reveals economic burden of gun violence

    Study reveals economic burden of gun violence

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    Newswise — New Orleans, LA – A study led by Christopher Marrero, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, reports that the net loss for treating acute firearm injuries at one Level I Trauma Center was $20.3 million over a four-year period. The results are published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, available here.

                “Firearm injuries continue to plague the US as a serious public health problem, causing preventable death, illness, and disability,” notes Dr. Marrero. “They also continue to result in a major economic burden.”

                The research team conducted a retrospective study of patients with acute gunshot wounds admitted to the LSU Health New Orleans Affiliate Level 1 Trauma Center, University Medical Center New Orleans, from January 2016 to December 2019. A total of 2,094 patients met the criteria of acute firearm injury and were included in the analysis. Injuries included those caused by accidents, intentional self-harm, assault, legal intervention, and undetermined causes.

    The researchers tabulated the estimated costs and losses using the hospital cost-to-charge ratio. The estimated cost associated with treatment was $37,602,667. The total payment collected by the hospital was $17,293,655, resulting in a net loss of $20,309,012 over the four years.

    “When victims of firearm-related injuries are unable to pay their medical expenses, the hospitals write off unpaid medical bills as medical losses,” Dr. Marrero explains. “In this study, Medicaid dominated the payer makeup. This can also result in losses because Medicaid reimbursement does not fully cover costs. Per the American Hospital Association, Medicaid paid hospitals, on average, 90 cents for every dollar spent by hospitals caring for Medicaid patients in 2019. Because taxpayers fund Medicaid as well as Medicare, they bear the economic burden of these firearm injuries.”

                The authors observe that nonfatal firearm injuries are highest in the South, and Louisiana leads the US in the nonfatal firearm injury rate.

                They stress that when examining the financial impact of gun violence, it is important to also consider the costs associated with nonacute care such as follow-up visits, rehabilitation, secondary outpatient surgeries, home health, and durable medical equipment, which increase the total cost exponentially. The authors also point out economic burdens to society beyond medical expenses, including criminal justice expenditures, employer and work-loss costs, as well as intangible losses, such as diminished quality of life.

                “The estimated costs presented in this study show only a fraction of the economic burden associated with gun violence,” Dr. Marrero concludes. “In actuality, the financial impact of firearm injuries is much greater, and further research is necessary to find solutions for this public health issue.”

     

    LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana’s health care professionals. The state’s flagship health sciences university, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine with campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state’s only School of Dentistry, Louisiana’s only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease. To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu, http://www.twitter.com/LSUHealthNO, or http://www.facebook.com/LSUHSC.                                                   

                                                             

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    Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans

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