Category Archives: Business of Medicine

Business of Medicine, Consultations, Diagnostics, Disorders, Doctors, Ear Nose and Throat, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Medicine, Society

Co-operative Pharmacy Offers Free Hearing Tests

The Co-Operative Pharmacy has pledged to provide free hearing tests at a number of their branches throughout the UK. The proposal is a part of a new audiology service being trialled in selected branches in the UK as an effort to help those with hearing problems get the treatment they need.

Many UK patients do not notice any deterioration in their hearing and it is hoped that by having these sessions made available that the Co-Operative Pharmacy can help identify who may need a hearing aid.

If after taking part in the free hearing test that the patient is identified as having hearing difficulties then they will then be offered advice on purchasing a hearing aid, either privately or being referred to a GP if they wish to get one via the National Health Service.

For patients opting to purchase privately they will be able to have their hearing aid fitted within 3 weeks and free follow up appointments to make sure everything is fine at their pharmacy.

The Co-Operative aims to have the service in 80 of its branches nationwide with fully qualified audiologists available twice a month for consultations by September 2009.

Via EPR Network
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Swine Flu Could Trigger Boom In Remote Diagnosis

Lloydspharmacy has revealed a new report that suggests the government’s use of the internet and call centres to deal with the swine flu pandemic could pave the way for a rapid growth in remote diagnosis and prescriptions. This was just one of the conclusions found in the report by the Future Foundation.

Judith Kleine Holthause, the report’s lead author, said:”Despite its clinical shortcomings, the use of the internet and call centres for diagnosing swine flu and distributing medication demonstrates that remote diagnosis can be an efficient way of dealing with certain conditions.”

The Future Foundation forecasts that 37% of people will be using the web for medical information by 2020 (up from 14% in 2009) and that a variety of social and economic factors will lead to a substantial market for online diagnosis and prescriptions in the future.

The report, commissioned by Lloydspharmacy, coincides with the roll-out of ‘virtual GPs’ into 300 of the chain’s pharmacies. Lloydspharmacy has pioneered online diagnosis and prescription.

Now the chain has innovated again by allowing customers to walk into a pharmacy, consult with a doctor from a computer terminal and walk out with their prescriptions a few minutes later.

Andy Murdock, pharmacy relations and governance director of Lloydspharmacy, said: “The face to face consultation will remain at the heart of primary care, but for an increasing array of conditions, remote services provide a viable alternative.

“Right now these include lifestyle conditions such as impotence and hair loss, embarrassing conditions such as STIs, contraception and certain minor ailments such as cystitis. But the list could expand considerably in the future.”

However the report’s authors warn that regulation will be critical if privately run diagnosis and prescription services are to grow. At present only one online doctor service is registered with the Care Quality Commission explicitly to manage patients remotely. That service, Dr Thom, also provides the GP component of the Lloydspharmacy service.

There is no question that consumers are receptive to the concept. Forty eight per cent of respondents to a poll conducted for the Future Foundation said they were interested in online diagnosis and 56% said they were interested in online prescriptions.

Holthaus added: “In certain areas consumers welcome regulation. Concerns about counterfeit medicines, bogus doctors and commercial motivations will inevitably act as a brake on consumer confidence in remote diagnosis services. We believe that more regulation, monitoring and control will be crucial to the further development of this market.

“There are strong arguments for why the NHS might embrace remote diagnosis as a complementary method to ensure sufficient delivery of satisfactory health care in the future. If regulated and monitored appropriately remote diagnoses and prescriptions could benefit the healthcare system in similar ways as remote services have helped the banking system.”

The Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor service is run in conjunction with online health experts Dr Thom, who adhere to the General Medical Council’s guidelines on remote prescribing. Patients log on for an online questionnaire-based consultation with a GP. If clinically appropriate the GP writes a prescription and the treatment is dispensed by post for next day delivery.

Via EPR Network
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Alternative medicine, Business of Medicine, Disorders, Doctors, Ear Nose and Throat, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals

Acurest – The First Non-Invasive, Drug-Free, Predictable Solution For Snoring And Sleep-Related Problems

“Acurestâ„¢ finger wraps provide the first non-invasive, drug-free, predictable solution for snoring and Sleep-Related Problems“, says Dr. Gerald Smith, CEO of the International Center for Nutritional Research and author of several books including Headaches Aren’t Forever and Alternative Treatments For Conquering Chronic Pain.

Acurest

The inventor of the Acurest™ Anti-Snoring Device is Eula Mae Pollard – a reflex therapist from Mississippi, United State. Ms. Pollard discovered, in April 2006, that continuous massage to the first joints of the thumbs and index fingers could prevent snoring and other sleep related problems.

This discovery came after twenty-four years of study and the utilization of a simple therapy that helped her and others recover from disabling injuries.

In 1980, Eula Mae Pollard suffered a severe whiplash injury which gave rise to a rare arthritis of the spine and fibromyalgia, Told by a rheumatologist that she would have to take medication for the rest of her life, she worried that this would be no cure for the underlying cause of her condition and decided to research alternative options.

One day as she sat crying, her son handed her a book on reflex therapy, that her grandmother had left her. He said “Here, Mother, read this, it will help you”. She had glanced through this book before and thought it sounded to good to be true, but her son’s words, “It will help you”, touched her deeply.

Eula Mae propped the book up on a pillow as she was unable to hold it up, and could only read two or three chapters at a time because her severe pain and stiffness seemed to distort her concentration and her ability to comprehend. As she was reading she decided out of desperation to prove or disprove whether reflex therapy could relieve pain. In one of the chapters she learned how to stop throat pain, and it so happened that one week later she woke up with a severe sore throat.

Eula Mae considered the sore throat a great opportunity to test reflex therapy. She massaged her right hand as directed in the book, and the pain on the right side of her throat disappeared. She repeated the massage on my left hand, and got the same pain relief on the left side of her throat. In five minutes her throat was completely pain-free.

Eula Mae felt as if God had shown her this, and she thanked him for it immediately.

Her throat pain returned in two hours, so she repeated the therapy every two hours that day, and had less pain every time it returned. The next morning she was pain free.

This proof gave her new hope in finding a solution for her overall body pain and stiffness. She continued to study the book, and continued to massage her hands and fingers in a certain way. Her pain and stiffness began to diminish as days went by. She found that she couldn’t miss a once-daily treatment, and soon regained her health in every respect and started to give reflex treatments to family and friends.

This is what eventualluy gave birth to Acurestâ„¢ (Snoring Remedy), a solution to the age-old problem of snoring.

She named the finger wraps Acurest™, because they prevent Snoring and other sleep-related problems. Acurest™ allows one to get accurate rest, when they sleep.

Via EPR Network
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Business of Medicine, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Hospitals, Medical Apparel, Medicine, Nurses

Customers Give Medelita Lab Coats and Scrubs Rave Reviews

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical scrubs and lab coats for female clinicians, was founded on the premise that quality medical apparel should be both beautiful in appearance and high in performance. At a time when unisex medical uniforms dominated the market, a woman’s only choice was to shop on price; today, that paradigm has changed and the value of a garment is defined by a high level of product and customer satisfaction, as reflected in accolades from loyal Medelita customers.

Medelita Lab Coats

“I received my new lab coat today and it is beautiful finally, a lab coat that doesn’t look like I’m wearing a big white bag and feel like sandpaper,” said Mary Beth H., PA-C, of Loma Linda, Calif. “The workmanship is so nice. It looks like it was custom made and fitted for me. The detailing gives it such a clean, superior look. Thank you for making a great product!

Considered to be utilitarian by some, the frumpy, unisex scrubs and lab coats provided by hospitals for female employees fail to deliver the confidence and composure that professional attire should convey. Medelita strives to meet the needs of women in healthcare.

“I saw the write up about your coats in the e-mail from AMWA,” according to Desiree C, physician from Dover, Mass. “I never thought about getting my own coats before (for over 30 years). I’ve always worn the thin, horrible ones the hospital provides. I’m looking forward to receiving yours.”

“I must commend Medelita for its outstanding commitment to serving health professionals, for having beautiful attire is an important component of delivering effective medical care,” said Linda S., a satisfied customer from Westbury, NY. I look forward to ordering more items from the company!”

Many companies touting designer lab coats overlook performance and functionality for the sake of appearance, but Medelita addresses both with high performance fabrics and feminine tailoring.

“I purchased a lab coat from [Medelita] at the CAPA conference this year. Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE IT! I get compliments all the time on how tailored and professional it looks, said Tiffany H., PA-C from Sacramento, Calif. “I’ve gotten blood on it more than once and it beautifully rolls right off. And I love that I can wash it, throw it in the dryer and it comes out looking like the day I bought it, stainless (and no ring around the collar which has been a problem with previous white coats over time), and without wrinkles. Thanks for making such a great product!”

For the first time ever, women in clinical settings are rewarded with fit, functionality and form in a product that is a staple in their wardrobe but that wears like a custom-made outfit.

“You can be assured I will be passing this along to friends, colleagues and family (mom and sis are also doctors!),” said Silddly A. MD from Doral, Fla. “This is exactly what we have all been waiting for! As you said, the lab coat is our ‘suit’, and it should look the best. The feminine but classic look is perfect.”

“I am SO happy with the scrubs. I wore them for the first part of the photo shoot, and I think they looked marvelous,” stated Margaret A., PA-C from Palo Alto, Calif., who won an award in her field. “The material is wonderful, and I never thought scrubs could be so flattering. I love the shape. I am so glad I bought the items. I’d been thinking about it, and then that award was the impetus for a treat. And a treat they are! Thank you so much for your excellent customer service.”

In addition to women working in healthcare, Medelita lab coats are worn and appreciated by those in academia and other laboratory settings, who need a garment that commands respect as effectively as it repels fluids.

“Let me just tell you how pleased I am with the coat. It is even nicer and better than I could have expected. The quality, durability, everything about it down to the embroidery is excellent,” remarked Ashley T., PhD in Toxicology from Raleigh, NC. “Frankly I just cannot put into words my happiness when I see how liquid and other materials that normally soak right through my old lab coats just seem to bounce off of your lab coats, it is so wonderful that I just cannot bring myself to put the old ones back on while my new one is being laundered!”

“I do love my Medelita scrubs,” said Ellen S., MPAS, PA-C from Houston, TX. “A patient spilt his pancake syrup on me the other day and I just went to the sink and it washed right off. It dried just as quick. Awesome!”

Women are seeking out Medelita’s practical and stylish solution to perfunctory unisex medical uniforms and are delighted to receive them as gifts, as described in this customer’s experience purchasing embroidered lab coats.

Made from 100 percent high-denier cotton, the Medelita lab coat is designed specifically for women with a focus on fit and function. The fluid resistant lab coats are treated with Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector, which allows fabric to repel and release stains. Tailored for a feminine shape, the coats feature traditional side slits, French finish inside seams and hidden inside pockets that are great for carrying handheld devices and mobile phones.

About Medelita
Medelita has one purpose: to reinvent the way women of all healthcare professions present themselves at work by offering the highest quality, best fitting, and most comfortable medical apparel available, including lab coats, women’s lab coats and women’s scrubs.

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Established Ink Stain Remover Is A Must-Have For Clinical Professionals Wearing White Lab Coats

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical scrubs and lab coats for female clinicians, today announced the addition of the breakthrough stain remover Amodex® to its extensive line of products. Internationally known as one of the best products available for the removal of ink stains, Amodex can also be used in the removal of food stains, blood, and makeup from clothing, furniture and other household surfaces.

“Worn in hospitals and in clinical setting, white lab coats inherently get dirty and are subject to permanent damage, if stains cannot be removed. Ink stains are a common culprit as pens tend to leak in pockets and the dominant sleeve tends to pick up ink while a clinician writes,” said Lara Manchik, founder, Medelita. “Even with the most advanced fabrics and treatments, ink stains are still a problem. That’s why we are pleased to add Amodex Ink and Stain Remover to our line of products. After much research, we have found that Amodex is the best product to get pesky ink stains out of our lab coats.”

Amodex is an eco-friendly, non-toxic lanolin cream that was specially developed to remove ink stains from fabrics, skin and other surfaces. Amodex is the only liquid cream stain fighting formula that is not a solvent but instead a soap, which is non-corrosive and won’t harm skin or clothing. A versatile product, Amodex not only works wonders on ink, but also effectively removes stains that clinicians may run into on a daily basis such as blood, iodine, coffee, tea, chocolate, lipstick, or just about anything else that would leave a seemingly permanent stain.

Trusted by customers, Amodex is rated number one by a leading consumer magazine. Popular ink makers have lab tested and recommend Amodex for the removal of unwanted marks on fabrics and skin. Medelita has independently tested Amodex and found that it is the best product on the market for removing stains from its high performance lab coats and scrubs.

Made from 100 percent high-denier cotton, the Medelita lab coat is designed specifically for women with a focus on fit and function. The fluid resistant lab coats are treated with Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector, which allows fabric to repel and release stains. Tailored for a feminine shape, the coats feature traditional side slits, French finish inside seams and hidden inside pockets that are great for carrying handheld devices and mobile phones.

In addition to high quality lab coats, Medelita provides a line of performance women’s healthcare apparel, including clinician scrubs and nursing scrubs, which are available for purchase at www.medelita.com.

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Business of Medicine, Cosmetics, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Products, Society

Introducing The New ‘Mother To Be’ Range, By Celebrity Colourist Louise Galvin

Fantastic news for all those new mothers or mothers to be: Louise Galvin celebrity colourist has created a complete natural hair care range dedicated to women, pre, during and post pregnancy. This range is said to have “…the most natural and environmentally friendly hair products on the market…” (Plum Sykes, novelist and contributing editor, Vogue Magazine). As well as offsetting any carbon emissions caused via manufacturing by investing in the Carbon Neutral Company, the range is totally natural. Using solely natural or naturally-derived ingredients like essential oils, natural extracts and vegetable-derived moisturising and conditioning ingredients, there isn’t a sign of any harmful sulphates, parabens, silicone, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and polymers in the new mother to be haircare line.

The new ‘Mother To Be’ range was inspired by Louise Galvin’s own recent pregnancy. While pregnant, Louise found she needed help in retaining her hair’s shine and vitality and assistance in creating volume and root lift. During pregnancy, women can be a lot more sensitive to smells than they usually are, consequently the citrus aromatherapy oils frequently used in Louise Galvin’s other products and ranges can be overpowering in the early days of pregnancy. Louise set about creating a hair care range that was both fragrance-free and extremely enriching, giving pregnant women an extra helping hand. The result is ‘Mother To Be’.

What’s more, Louise like other women during their pregnancies became extra conscious about safety: skin is our largest organ and anything we put on it (from body wash to shampoo) is absorbed into the bloodstream and can find its way to the growing foetus through the placenta. After pregnancy, these same chemicals are retained within the body, in particular in breast milk. Many popular cosmetics are made with harmful or damaging chemicals, unfortunately these chemicals been linked to birth defects and health problems. Nevertheless, pregnant women or those that are nursing a new born can rest reassured that all ‘Mother to Be’ and Sacred Locks products are free from any harmful or nasty chemicals.

Louise Galvin has pledged to personally help raise vital funds for the charity. So check out her new ‘mother to be’ eco-friendly, Sacred Locks range online visit:http://www.louisegalvin.com and give a little back.

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The World’s First Dry-On-Contact H1N1 Sanitising Spray

A sanitising spray that kills 99.99% of Viruses, Bacteria and Germs is now available for purchase in the UK. The SaniGuard wipes, spray and fogger products were invented by David Morgan, president of DEM Technology in the United States.. After patenting the product he was awarded EPA registration for its use on food contact surfaces in 1996.

The World's First Dry-On-Contact H1N1 Sanitising Spray

One benefit of the spray is that there is no “wet dwell” time, meaning that users don’t need to wipe the product away prior to it being effective. According to US laboratory reports, the product kills 99.99% of germs in 30-45 seconds. It also exceeds the requirements of EN1276 in Europe.

Jim Taylor, formerly president of Smith & Nephew and now CEO of Saniguard International, based in Chorley, Lancashire, said: “SaniGuard contains a unique configuration of quarternary ammonium compounds (QUATS) and other proprietary components, which allow for the elimination of microbes that regular QUATS alone cannot kill.”

The dry-on-contact spray can be used in between regular cleaning on “hot spot” areas such as telephones, computer keyboards, light switches, door knobs and other areas that are frequently used and rarely cleaned. SaniGuard leaves no film or moisture on surfaces.

The spray is effective against Swine Flu, MRSA, HIV-1, herpes, herpes simplex 1 and 2, salmonella typhi, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus epidermidis and pseudomonas aerginosa and fungi such as trichophyton interdigitolo (Athlete’s foot).

MisterSterile.com also offers the Total Release Fogger in a single-release aerosol, which is claimed to sanitise an entire room with the press of a button within 15-20 minutes. The product is available in small room (155ft²) and large room (625ft²) sizes.

The company says this product is safe for all surfaces and helps to stop the transmission of germs in high traffic areas such as lobbies, waiting rooms, hospital wards, GP surgeries and patient care facilities.

Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Virus Swine Flu prevention products from MisterSterile.com ‘Mr Sterile.com’ is authorised by SaniGuard International and have launched their new website to service the explosive demand for anti-bacterial, anti-virus products.

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Lloydspharmacy Is To Become The First Major Healthcare Brand To Supply Tamiflu Online

Customers can now buy Tamiflu via the Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor service. “We are playing as full a role as possible in the distribution of Tamiflu to NHS patients,” said Andy Murdock, Governance and Pharmacy Relations Director of Lloydspharmacy, “but it is clear that there is a significant demand for private prescriptions of the drug.

Supply Tamiflu Online

“We have decided to become the first recognised healthcare brand to sell Tamiflu online in advance of need so that people who want to buy the treatment can get it from a reputable online source which they can trust to dispense Tamiflu.”

Lloydspharmacy’s Online Doctor service is run in partnership with online health experts Dr Thom, the only online doctor to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission* specifically to prescribe medicines online.

Packs of 10 x 75mg Tamiflu will be available via the online pharmacy. All medicines will be dispatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery for delivery the next working day.

“Anyone displaying symptoms of swine flu, would be advised to call the NHS service appropriate to their area,” said Andy Murdock. “The Lloydspharmacy service is for people who want to ensure they have Tamiflu available if and when they need it and for people who will be travelling abroad at some point in the future.

“In the information sent out with every Tamiflu order Lloydspharmacy doctors will explain the symptoms people should look out for and the circumstances under which they should begin treatment.”

Lloydspharmacy has pioneered the development of online diagnosis and prescriptions. The Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor service is expanding and already offers treatments for impotence, hair loss and cystitis plus oral contraceptives, sexual health tests and travel medications.

About Lloydspharmacy
Lloydspharmacy has around 1700 pharmacies across the UK. These are based predominantly in community and health centre locations. The company employs over 16,000 staff and dispenses over 145 million prescription items annually. Lloydspharmacy is the trading name of Lloydspharmacy Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Celesio AG based in Stuttgart. Celesio is the leading pharmaceutical distribution company in Europe and is represented in 16 countries. With its three divisions, Patient and Consumer Solutions, Pharmacy Solutions and Manufacturer Solutions, the group covers the entire scope of pharmaceutical trade and pharmaceutical-related services.

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The U.S. Department Of Commerce Selects Medelita To Exhibit At Medica 2009

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough scrubs and lab coats for female clinicians, today announced that it has been selected by the United States Department of Commerce to participate in Medica 2009, a leading international trade fair for the medical industry, which will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, November 18-21. Medica 2009 is comprised of more than 135,000 individuals, representing over 100 countries, that come to learn about current and future trends in both in-patient and out-patient care.

medelita

“As the largest medical trade show of its kind, Medica 2009 is the ideal venue for us to launch a new product line and showcase current Medelita products to an international audience,” said Joe Francisco, chief operating officer, Medelita. “We are extremely pleased to have been selected as one of an esteemed group of companies, to attend this year and showcase our unique lab coats and scrubs.”

Medelita is one of only ten U.S.-based medical supply companies invited to attend Medica 2009 and exhibit with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). In a recent statement, OTEXA reports that the medical textiles segment of the medical sector is experiencing one of the highest expansion rates in the technical textile market. According to recent research, over the next few years the world market for technical textiles and industrial nonwovens will increase by 3.8% per year – a volume value of nearly $126 billion.

In a bid to capture its share of this growing market, Medelita will be exhibiting its innovative medical apparel at the OTEXA USA Sample Pavilion. The company plans to introduce its men’s line of lab coats at Medica 2009. Medelita products are available direct to consumers and through its retail channels. Wholesale orders also are available to hospitals and large groups.

Made f r o m 100 percent high-denier cotton, the Medelita lab coat is designed specifically for women with a focus on fit and function. The fluid resistant lab coats are treated with Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector, which allows fabric to repel and release stains. Tailored for a feminine shape, the coats feature traditional side slits, French finish inside seams and hidden inside pockets that are great for carrying handheld devices and mobile phones.

In addition to high quality lab coats, Medelita provides a line of performance women’s healthcare apparel, including clinician scrubs and nursing scrubs, which are available for purchase at www.medelita.com.

Medelita will be exhibiting at the USA Business Information Office, set up by OTEXA, E10, Hall 16. To schedule a SKYPE pre-briefing, please email joe@medelita.com or call 1-877-987-7979.

About Medelita
Medelita has one purpose: to reinvent the way women of all healthcare professions present themselves at work by offering the highest quality, best fitting, and most comfortable medical apparel available, including lab coats, women’s lab coats and women’s scrubs. Medelita caters to professional women who want their uniforms to embody the poise and confidence already displayed f r o m within. For more information, visit our website at http://www.medelita.com or call (877) 987-7979.

Via EPR Network
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Three Alternative Scenarios of the Future In Vitro Diagnostics Market, 2009-2018

Venture Planning Group is pleased to announce completion of the new multiclient study, “Three Alternative Scenarios of the Future In Vitro Diagnostics Market, 2009-2018.” The report is designed to assist executives in the diagnostics industry in formulating policy alternatives that will provide the best choice among possible courses of action.

Venture Planning Group

The major thrust of the study is to clarify future consequences of the current developments in the absence of unforeseeable events, and expose the very different actions and policies that would be required by diagnostic product suppliers if the market moves in any of the three directions.

Each scenario is built around a specific theme with a particular set of assumptions. Business-As-Usual Scenario assumes that the current trends will continue without significant interruptions. Economic Austerity Scenario is predicated upon a significant rise in cost-containment pressures by all payers determined to drastically curtail not only the intensity of health care services, but the size of the industry as well. Technological Breakthroughs Scenario assumes a series of successful developments and commercialization of a number of diagnostic technologies and products occurring during 2009-2018.

This study will help diagnostics industry executives and companies planning to diversify into the diagnostics field to bring about more flexible planning, reduce surprises, and add to ways of improving the ability to cope with the future.

Please visit www.vpgcorp.com to review this and over 5,000 other innovative market research reports from VPG and other world’s leading publishing companies.

About VPG
VPG is an international market research, publishing and management consulting firm providing Market Intelligence Surveys, Opportunity Analyses, New Technology/Product Assessments, and Acquisition/Joint Venture Evaluations to corporate executives and key decision-makers in the healthcare, biotechnology, chemical, food and beverage, and electronics industries worldwide.

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Lower prices, legitimate dealers ultimate goal of ePharmacies.com

ePharmacies.com, a website dedicated to promoting legitimate online pharmacies, announced today that after considerable research, they have determined that they provide the best fulfillment services on the net for prescriptions. In addition, because they represent more than one Online pharmacy, their prices are among the best available anywhere.

Cary Byrd, ePharmacies.com president, said that staying current with prices and availability is only one advantage of using the site as a pharmacy search source.

“In our research, we discovered that our competition usually has outdated pharmacy sources and drug prices,” Byrd said. “Plus, the pharmacies they use are usually not pre-screened. “ Byrd added that ePharmacies.com works exclusively with pharmacies and suppliers who have gone through the company’s third-party approval process.”

“In order to be accepted by the ePharmacies.com network, pharmacies must be licensed by the proper governing authorities,” Byrd added. “We also require independent, third-party verification of pharmacy licensing and standards by organizations such as the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), Manitoba International Pharmacists Association (MIPA), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), PharmacyChecker.com and the Better Business Bureau.”

Byrd said that the reason for so much security is quite simple: there are way too many scam artists out there selling phony prescriptions or lower-quality medicines and passing them off as brand-name prescriptions or high-quality generics.

“90 percent of the online pharmacies in Canada might better be classified as scam artists,” Byrd Said. “We’ve tracked several down to third world slums.”

These phony pharmacists may not know what they’re selling, but they’re very good at looking legitimate.

“Many simply put a fake government seal on the homepage of their website, and people think they’re dealing with a legitimate company,” Byrd said.

Byrd says the other goal of epharmacies.com is a bit more pragmatic: the site wants to save its customers money. The membership-only site is designed to save members an average of 50 percent on their prescription drug purchases – starting with their very first order. Members report saving up to 80 percent off U.S. retail prices. The site’s state-of-the-art comparison-shopping search engine connects shoppers with the most reputable online pharmacies. Both brand name and generic prescriptions are available, and prices are updated daily.

Memberships start at $24.97 per month, with considerable discounts for both quarterly and annual memberships. Annual memberships cost less than $90. It’s the lowest price structure in the online pharmacy business – and Byrd is very proud of that.

“We’re not trying to make a lot of money off of our customers before they buy anything,” Byrd said. “We want our members to save money where it really counts – on their prescriptions.”

For more than six years, ePharmacies.com has been helping customers worldwide to save money on top quality brand name and generic prescription drugs. As an independent investigation site, it is dedicated to exposing all Online pharmacy scams and helping customers to find the Best online pharmacy to fit their needs.

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Pharmacy Shoppers Find Lower Prices, Trusted Dealers at ePharmacies.com

Shoppers at Online pharmacies have a friend in ePharmacies.com. The six-year-old online service is dedicated to helping customers locate quality, legitimate medications at discount prices, while adhering to strict FDA regulations.

The company recently announced that after researching their online competition, they can safely proclaim that the site offers the best service and prices for both brand name and prescription drugs on the internet.

“When it comes to buying prescriptions on line, two elements are key: pricing and legitimacy,” Cary Byrd, ePharmacies.com president, said. “Our competition routinely uses outdated pharmacy sources and drug prices. However, at ePharmacies.com we update our drug prices daily, by way of XML feeds f r o m each of our member pharmacies.”

Byrd added that vendors are only added as providers on the ePharmacies.com site after a strict prescreening. This includes achieving appropriate third-party approvals.

“We’ve come across a lot of scam artists that claim to be legitimate Canadian pharmacies, only to find out that they’re unscrupulous third-world shops with lower-quality medicines,” Byrd said. “All of the online Pharmacies we represent are respected, trusted businesses in Canada, the U.S. or Australia. We make it easy to find a Discount pharmacy online by only working with the best.”

Byrd added that in order to be accepted in the ePharmacies.com network, online pharmacies must be licensed by the proper governing authorities in their respective countries. In Canada, these organizations include the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA), Manitoba International Pharmacists Association (MIPA), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), PharmacyChecker.com, and the Better Business Bureau.

Byrd also warned would-be online shoppers to check the legitimacy of the security badges located on many disreputable websites.

“Many phony pharmacies can look very real simply by slapping a fake government seal, or a bogus security badge, on the home page,” Byrd said. “We urge our customers to do their homework before making such an important purchase online. Fortunately, we’ve done a lot of the work for them, but we welcome additional research f r o m our customers. We follow up on any concerns immediately.”

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Travel Nurse Across America Expands Into New Offices

Travel Nurse across America, a national travel healthcare staffing company, recently completed the relocation of its executive and administrative offices to its newly constructed 21,000 square foot office building located in Northshore Business Park in North Little Rock , Arkansas.

nurse.tv

“This new facility was designed from the ground up with our travel nurses, travel therapists and client healthcare facilities in mind”, says Gene Scott, the company’s president. “The office layout will be much more functional and will facilitate better communication between departments and personnel that work together the most in serving our customers. I’m also happy for our associates as well. The proximity of our new offices to the Arkansas River Trail, a biking and pedestrian trail along the Arkansas River and the notorious Big Dam Bridge, the nation’s longest pedestrian bridge, will offer our associates opportunities to maintain a healthy lifestyle around their work.”

According to Mr. Scott, the travel healthcare industry has experienced a turbulent first half of the year, as most industries have experienced, as a result of the recent economic downturn. “The travel healthcare industry has been directly impacted because of the hardship placed on our client healthcare facilities – decreases in admissions, elective surgeries, access to capital and foundational giving along with increases in the number of uninsured patients and operating costs. As a result, there are less travel nursing and therapy jobs available. We have worked even closer with our client healthcare facilities to fill travel nurse jobs and travel therapy jobs in a fraction of the lead times of the past. Our travel nurses and travel therapists have shown great patience and understanding as we find travel assignments that meet their needs and expectations. They know these conditions will not last for long. The long-term demand for highly qualified travel healthcare professionals is still very strong.”

Even though the tough economic environment has caused consolidation within the travel healthcare industry, Mr. Scott says Travel Nurse Across America is well positioned to weather the economic storm, and even thrive in the current environment. Mr. Scott points to some recently released economic indexes that indicate the nation’s economy may be on the mends. “The Economic Cycle Research Institute’s weekly leading index measuring the U.S. Economy, which we follow very closely, returned to positive territory for the first time in over 22 months. Since the staffing industry in general is so closely tied to GDP, that was welcomed news for the industry, but we’ll have to see if that trend continues”

Travel Nurse across America is a national travel healthcare staffing agency that places travel nurses and travel therapists on multi-week travel assignments in client healthcare facilities in all 50 states.

For more information, visit Nurse.tv.

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Business of Medicine, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Hospitals, Medical Apparel, Medicine, Nurses

Medelita Announces Record Second Quarter Performance

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical apparel for female clinicians, today announced that its second quarter fiscal year 2009 revenues have increased 119 percent, over last quarter. Medelita has been in business just over one year and sells its innovative lab coats and medical scrubs direct to consumers online, through authorized resellers and wholesale. In addition, the company sells its lab coats and scrubs at national and regional medical conferences.

medelita

“The economy has not slowed the growth of Medelita, with our second quarter seeing a 119 percent increase in revenue from our online and medical conference sales,” said Joe Francisco, chief operating officer, Medelita. “We are experiencing a tremendous conversion rate through our ecommerce channel and what’s even more impressive is the rate of returning visitor conversion, which is up almost 73 percent.”

Returning visitor conversion rate is up 72.50 percent, from 7.82 percent to 13.49 percent. This significant increase reflects the strength of Medelita products in a marketplace that offers limited choices for quality lab coats and scrubs.

Satisfied customers are returning to purchase new styles and additional colors, steadily replacing their existing medical wardrobe with Medelita products. The company attributes the garments’ high value and performance to building a solid return clientele base and is receiving unsolicited testimonials about its products superiority, fast turnaround and courteous customer service.

Medelita’s innovative approach to medical apparel was born out of necessity when founder, Lara Manchik, emergency room PA turned entrepreneur, failed to find alternatives to the frumpy, unisex medical apparel made for the male figure and representative of a time when men dominated the field.

Made from 100 percent high-denier cotton, Medelita lab coats are designed specifically for women with a focus on fit and function. The fluid resistant lab coats are treated with Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector, which allows fabric to repel and release stains. Tailored for a feminine shape, the coats feature traditional side slits, French finish inside seams and hidden inside pockets that are great for carrying handheld devices and mobile phones.

In addition to high quality lab coats, Medelita provides a line of performance women’s healthcare apparel, including clinician scrubs and nursing scrubs, which are available for purchase at www.medelita.com.

About Medelita
Medelita has one purpose: to reinvent the way women of all healthcare professions present themselves at work by offering the highest quality, best fitting, and most comfortable medical apparel available, including lab coats, women’s lab coats, women’s scrubs and medical scrubs. Medelita caters to professional women who want their uniforms to embody the poise and confidence already displayed from within. For more information, visit our website at http://www.medelita.com or call (877) 987-7979.

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Alternative medicine, Business of Medicine, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Services, Medicine, Online, Society, Therapies

Compare Health Insurance And Explore The World Of Alternative Medicine

Many emerging alternative therapies such as reiki, hypnosis and crystal healing are not yet available on the NHS despite their increasing popularity. Various studies have shown people really do believe in the power of complementary medicine – of course some are still sceptical – and it seems our health service is not keeping up with demand. Private health insurance policies do cover alternative therapies and if you can find the right policy, at the right price, by comparing different health insurance providers using online comparison sites, you will be able to explore the various options available to you.

insurancewide

For those interested but with a lack of knowledge, alternative medicine can be an intriguing and perhaps confusing world – and while they may be keen to seek out some form of treatment for an ailment, they are unsure of what is the correct choice for them. It helps to know exactly what you will get when you put yourselves in the hands of an alternative therapist.

Compare Health Insurance And Alternative Therapies

Acupuncture involves placing needles into specific parts of the body, to treat the symptoms of pain as well as illness and disease. It originates from China and is perhaps the complementary therapy with the most evidence to suggest it works – research suggests it can be effective in providing relief from minor ailments such as headaches and backpain. It can also work well at relieving nausea caused by cancer treatment.

Reiki is used by practioners to channel a persons ‘life force’ by laying their hands on the patient to produce a healing effect. It used to treat mental and physical stress and devotees swear after a session they feel energised and back on form. As it is an ‘energy medicine’ some scepticism surrounds it’s effectiveness, with critics claiming patients are merely experiencing a placebo effect.

Shiatsu, meaning ‘finger pressure’ is a form of Japanese massage – the practioner uses massage to adjust the bodies physical structure and inner energies to ward off illness. It is used to treat conditions such as insomnia, headaches, anxiety, back pain and skin irritations and can improve the nervous and immune systems – again sceptics point to the placebo effect but shaitsu massage has been proven to be effective.

Hypnotherapy involves placing a person in a relaxed state, almost a light trance, and then addressing their fears, addictions and worries. It is gradually being recognised as effective in this area – when a patient is placed under hypnosis their heart rate and metabolism slows and their mind is in a more suggestive state.

Not all private health care providers will cover every single alternative therapy available – there is still a great deal of suspicion surrounding the more ‘out there’ ones. If you are interested in having access to alternative medicine compare health insurance providers to find the right insurance for your needs.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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Business of Medicine, Health 2.0, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Software, Hospitals, Online, Society

Using ROAM, Authorized Healthcare Workers In New Brunswick Can Securely Access Any Health System In The Province From Any Location

The province is teaming up with partners to provide health-care professionals with better and faster access to medical information.

Health Minister Michael Murphy announced on Monday that new specialty software had recently been integrated with IT systems in New Brunswick’s regional hospitals and other health-care facilities.

“Providing all provincial health-care workers with a single secure access portal to provincial health information systems represents a significant modernization of our health system,” said Murphy. “This is a significant milestone in our One Patient One Record project, and further ensures the consistent delivery of care, regardless of the patient’s location.”

The access portal is supported by AnyWare Group’s ROAM platform. In addition to improving working conditions for health-care professionals, it will better protect patient privacy by providing to New Brunswick’s health-care professionals secure remote access to all of the province’s health information systems.

Health officials said that this innovative project will have an impact on the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the system.

“Sharing a single common secure infrastructure across the province’s entire health-care system provides cost savings for the province, and a consistent experience for health-care workers,” said Gordon Gilman, CEO of FacilicorpNB. “This project is a result of excellent teamwork and collaboration between the regional health authorities, the Department of Health and FacilicorpNB.”

The portal will increase the efficiency of the health-care system by allowing clinicians to devote more time to patients, and improve patient safety. Health officials also mentioned the portal’s impact on innovation and cost-effectiveness, thereby lowering health-care expenditures and reducing wait times.

“AnyWare Group is pleased to be supporting New Brunswick’s iHER (interoperable electronic health record) initiative,” said Robert Lalonde, AnyWare Group Inc. CEO. “Providing a single secure remote access point for all health-care workers across the province makes New Brunswick a North American leader in e-health.”

The launch of the ROAM platform follows the introduction of government legislation designed to protect personal health information and privacy.

About AnyWare Group
AnyWare Group is the leading remote access solution provider for hospitals and healthcare organizations. AnyWare Group’s award-winning ROAM Platform enables clientless remote access to all applications from any device (PCs and Macs) without requiring the management of users’ computers. Through the ROAM portal, organizations present all relevant applications to authorized users, when and where required. More information is available at www.AnyWareGroup.com.

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Anti-aging, Business of Medicine, Dermatology, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, Society, Weight loss

Boots Stocks New Alli Weight Loss Product

Boots have announced the arrival of alli, a new over the counter weight loss medicine. alli (Orlistat 60mg), available at Boots without prescription and is suitable for adults with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 28 or over, who are prepared to make changes to their diet – and Advantage Card holders who purchase alli from Boots are eligible for a whole host of added savings and benefits.

Alli Weight Loss

As one of UK’s leading healthcare retailers, Boots is a popular destination for those wanting to find out more about how to lose weight safely and effectively through taking alli. Boots pharmacists are on hand for expert, personalised help and advice without an appointment, and will be able to recommend the best way to help customers lose weight with the help of the weight loss aid, alli.

Weight loss advice from Boots experts:

“If customers want to lose weight, their pharmacist is a good first point of call,” said Boots Pharmacist Angela Chalmers, “They will be able to ascertain a method of weight loss which would be suitable, provide advice and set realistic goals. They are there to help the customer and monitor their progress, so they really don’t have to go it alone. They don’t even have to make an appointment, just pop into their local Boots store.”

The first step towards losing weight is for customers to find out their BMI, which for a healthy person is between 18.5 and 24.9. Boots has installed easy-to-use Healthy-Weight Check Machines in larger stores throughout the UK which enable customers to ensure they are making the right weight-loss decision for their individual needs. The machines give a healthy weight assessment that measures their height, weight, and BMI at the cost of just 50 pence.

For those on a reduced calorie and lower fat diet, they may find it helpful to consider supplementation, to help ensure they are meeting all their nutritional needs while on a diet.

Boots Positive Healthcare Technical Expert Nick Bennett said: “If customers are taking a weight loss product that reduces fat absorption, then they may wish to consume extra fat soluble vitamins and important fatty acids such as EPA and DHA which may otherwise be lacking in the diet. A good way to do this is by building a foundation of supplementation to include a complete A-Z of vitamins and minerals, an omega 3 supplement, such as a high strength fish oil, and a probiotic supplement to help maintain the health of the digestive tract while it experiences potentially radical changes in food intake.”

About Boots:
Boots UK is the UK pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing business of Alliance Boots. Boots Pharmacy Superintendent is responsible for healthcare advice provided in relation to Pharmacy medicines and other healthcare advice located within the Boots Pharmacy pages of Boots.com. Boots.com is the trading name of Boots UK Limited (registered number 928555) a member of Alliance Boots. All other information and advice on boots.com is the responsibility of Boots UK Limited.

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Business of Medicine, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Products, Society

Night Sweats A Memory Of The Past For Many Menopausal Women And Hot Sleepers With Bedfan

It’s a new product that is designed to stop night sweats before they start. As we sleep — or try to — our body generates heat that is absorbed into the sheets and mattress. When a night time hot flash occurs, our body is seeing excessive skin level heat. That heat will lead to sweating (night sweats) unless you are able to cool yourself down fast. The Bedfan Personal Cooling System will keep your body cool, remove the built-up heat and cool your bed at the same time. This is accomplished by delivering a soft breeze that flows along your body. The Bedfan is a simple system that is hidden at the foot of your bed to deliver a gentle flowing air between your sheets. This gentle breeze keeps the body and bed cool enough to stop night sweats. No more nighttime tossing and turning, or changing clothes and sheets due to sweating. Menopausal women rejoice night sweats are over, the Bedfan is here. (How Bedfan works: http://www.bedfan.com )

The Bedfan is capable of moving up to 100 Cubic Feet of air each minute but can be dialed down to create an incredibly gentle breeze as well. The unit comes with a compact “Speed Controller” that can be placed under the pillow or on a bedside table giving you full control of the airflow. The Bedfan is a breeze to use and install, and is designed for an extremely long service life.

Most fans, like a ceiling fan, simply circulate air around the room. Up to now, many people used oscillating fans or rigged-up clip-on fans to combat the heat problem. But the Bedfan is the only fan specifically designed to deliver a gentle breeze between your sheets, right where it is needed to end night sweats. If a couple finds that one sleeps hotter than the other, the hotter sleeper can use a Bedfan to keep himself or herself cooler without interrupting the partner’s sleep.

“I had seen the options available for hot sleepers to end night sweats and found that there was truly a need. In the case of Menopausal women there were very few options other than drugs methods to absorb sweat while they tried to sleep.” Says the Bedfan inventor, Kurt Tompkins. “The Bedfan is able to stop night sweats from ever starting this is accomplished by keeping the body and the bed cool.” Not only are people sleeping cooler at night but they are actually saving hundreds of dollars a year on their electric bills. “I knew it was working when my mother in-law, started sleeping throughout the night without waking. Something that menopause had not allowed her to do for the last three years.

The Bedfan sells for $89.95 and is available online at: www.bedfan.com.

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Biotech, Business of Medicine, Healthcare, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Hans Westenburg, A Senior Scientist At Catalent Pharma Solutions, Will Present At The TIDES 2009 Conference

Dr. Hans Westenburg, a senior scientist of structural characterization and analysis at Catalent Pharma Solutions, will present this month at the TIDES 2009 Conference to be held in Las Vegas, NV, May 17-20, 2009. The conference agenda was put together by leaders in oligonucleotide and peptide development and manufacturing, and features a program full of novel, in-depth scientific presentations related to oligonucleotide and peptide drug development and manufacturing. The TIDES conference is produced by IBC Life Sciences.

Dr-Hans-WestenburgDr. Westenburg’s poster presentation is titled “Teriparatide Degradation Products Identified by Accurate Measured Mass LCMS.” Presentation abstract: The human parathyroid hormone (PTH) contains 84 amino acids. The biologically active region is 34 N-terminal amino acids (teriparatide) from the recombinant human PTH. Teriparatide is the first FDA approved agent for the treatment of osteoporosis that stimulates new bone formation. The safety of the drug product is dependent not only on the toxicological properties of the active drug substance, but also on the impurities that it contains. Therefore, identification of impurities in the drug product is an important part of drug development and regulatory assessment. Accurate measured mass liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LCMS) is a rapid technique to identify impurities at levels as low as 0.02% in the drug product. LCMS enabled the identification of fifteen low level impurities in teriparatide.

Based in Catalent’s Trade Place facility in San Diego, CA, part of the organization’s Respiratory, Analytical and Biotechnology group, Dr. Westenburg works to structurally identify impurities for virtual, generic, small-, and mid-size pharmaceutical companies. In his current capacity, he has been able to identify impurities belonging to a large number of structural classes. The identification of these impurities supports the client to enable greater reporting thresholds or, in some instances, identify an impurity causing discoloration of a drug substance or product. During the past two years, Dr. Westenburg has routinely monitored low level genotoxic impurities by QTOF LCMS in a drug product. Overall, the majority of his work is impurity identification for companies concerning impurities in drug substances [Q3A(R2)] and impurities in drug products [Q3B(R2)], in compliance with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.

About Catalent
Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, Catalent Pharma Solutions is a leading provider of advanced dose form and packaging technologies, and development, manufacturing and packaging services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and consumer healthcare companies in nearly 100 countries. Catalent applies catalentits local market expertise and technical creativity to advance treatments, change markets and enhance patient outcomes. Catalent employs approximately 9,100 at more than 30 facilities worldwide and in fiscal 2008 generated more than $1.8 billion of annual revenue. For more information, visit www.catalent.com.

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Business of Medicine, Health 2.0, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Services, Society

New Technology That Enhances Pre-Natal Bonding

As an expectant mother, her first official Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be next year, after her special delivery arrives. Here are five unique ideas to make this Mother’s Day special for the expectant mother.

Precious Glance, a leading imaging boutique, can help celebrate motherhood in all its stages. Its premiere service is its 3D and 4D ultrasound technology. Unlike traditional, black-and-white 2D ultrasounds that show only the skeletal outline of the child, 3D and 4D ultrasounds share the baby in greater detail. 3D ultrasounds show the baby’s tissue, so the result is more like the baby’s first picture. Each contour of the baby’s face can be seen in 3D, which can be enhanced in red tones for further personalization. 4D ultrasounds actually show real-time movement, offering an entirely different bonding experience.

“Our 3D and 4D ultrasounds provide exciting, meaningful ways for mothers to start getting to know their babies – the ultimate Mother’s Day gift” said Chastity Jones, owner of the ultrasound studio . “We offer highly-specialized services to help a mother celebrate one of the most meaningful, intimate times in her life.”

Precious Glance offers gender checks and photography packages, preserving the memory of the expectant mother in all her glory.

Mothers often experience aches and pains like nothing they’ve ever had before. Why not surprise her with hiring a pre-natal massage specialist to ease her discomfort and help her relax?

Throwing a baby shower? Consider Baby Cakes Diaper Design, whose creative specialists concoct decorative, tiered cakes made of diapers and sprinkled with gifts and trinkets guaranteed to make her shower memorable.

Sometimes mom doesn’t have to leave her house to enjoy her gift: If she’s encouraged to stay off her feet, why not hire a concierge to pet-sit, grocery shop, or even run errands for her?

Remember: There’s no reason to wait until next year to start celebrating Mother’s Day if she’s expecting today. She can celebrate the fact that she’s expecting this year, commemorating a time in her life in a way that can’t ever be replicated.

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