Category Archives: Doctors

Biotech, Doctors, Eye Care, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Non-Surgical Procedure, Ophthalmology

8-year follow up results revealed for the ELIOS® Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy procedure combined with cataract surgery

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LOS ANGELES, CA, United States, 17-Feb-2022 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Elios Vision Inc. announced today 8-year follow up results of its novel ELIOS® Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy procedure combined with cataract surgery.

Key study findings:

  • 161 eyes of 128 patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension and cataract received Phaco-ELIOS, and were followed over an 8-year period
  • Significant mean IOP reduction from 19.3 mmHg at baseline to 15.4 mmHg after 8 years of follow-up (p=0.0040)
  • Significant reduction in medication requirements
  • Only 3.7% of patients required secondary surgical glaucoma intervention during the 8-year follow-up period
  • No serious intra- or post-operative events were observed

“This large cohort study provides encouraging evidence that the ‘implant free’ Phaco-ELIOS procedure causes minimal trauma, appears to show lasting IOP control with no serious intra- or post-operative complications, and low rate of incisional secondary surgical intervention over a period of at least 8 years,” said Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, founding partner of Minnesota Eye Consultants and an Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota. Dr Samuelson added that, “it is encouraging for patients that the number of topical medications required to control IOP was reduced significantly up to 4 years and remained below baseline levels across the entire 8-year follow-up period.”

About the ELIOS procedure:

  • The ELIOS procedure creates ten ‘microchannels (210µm)’ in the trabecular meshwork using an excimer laser.
  • The microchannels facilitate aqueous outflow into Schlemm’s canal, the eyes natural outflow pathway, reducing IOP2 and preserving the integrity, structure, and function of the trabecular meshwork.
  • Combining ELIOS with phacoemulsification is an ‘implant free’ minimally invasive glaucoma procedure with a rapid learning curve for ophthalmic surgeons.
  • The ELIOS procedure is approved in Europe for use in adults with glaucoma, with or without cataract, and is undergoing clinical trials in the US under an investigational device exemption (IDE).
  • Data on the ELIOS procedure has been published in 12 clinical studies2 with over 850 eyes treated showing an IOP reduction of 20-40% from baseline, a significant reduction of medication for up to 4 years, and up to 81% of patients ‘medication free’ at 1 year,3 and a favorable safety profile.

Over the past decade minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) have transformed the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma and are an attractive alternative to more invasive incisional procedures such as trabeculectomy and tube shunts. Despite the growing popularity of MIGS, combining cataract and glaucoma surgery is not yet the preferred choice by most surgeons.

This clinical study shows that the ELIOS procedure is attractive to all ophthalmic surgeons for patients with glaucoma that are not controlled by medications or SLT because it reduces IOP to mid-teens for at least 8 years, minimizes postop inflammation, avoids intraocular implants, has a favorable safety profile, with or without cataract surgery.

Why are these findings relevant?

  • In 2022 it is estimated that around 29 million people globally will undergo cataract removal and around 20% also have glaucoma or ocular hypertension4.
  • These findings demonstrate a sustained reduction of IOP that is longer than any other currently available MIGS procedure.
  • Routinely combining cataract and glaucoma treatment is appealing since it can reduce the undesirable burden and side effects of drops and it can avoid patients undergoing two separate surgical procedures which also is more efficient for healthcare systems.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Biotech, Business of Medicine, Diseases, Doctors, Drugs, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Online, Pharmaceuticals, Physicians, Public Health, Society

EU Patients as Partners in Medicines Development conference to be held virtually on Jan 24-25, 2022

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(PRESS RELEASE) New York, NY, United States, 5-Jan-2021 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — The Conference Forum announced the launch of the 6th annual EU Patients as Partners in Medicines Development conference to take place virtually on January 24-25th, 2022 GMT time.

​​This annual event, the first of its kind in Europe, will feature successful collaborations between patients and pharma where patient input directly impacted aspects of how a pharmaceutical company either designed or conducted a clinical trial.

Of the 20 sessions, half include a patient or patient advocate. This two-day program will demonstrate how patient-led research can improve the way pharma conducts clinical trials.

Examples include UCB developing new assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of novel treatments for Parkinson’s disease, changes in the design and implementation of an MS trial for greater patient engagement, and the development of a new toolkit to change the way patients are compensated for their contributions in clinical research.

“Patients have become more empowered,” says co-chair Michaela Dinboeck, Head, Center of Excellence for Patient Engagement at Novartis. “So patient engagement must be integrated into the DNA of how medicines are developed, approved, and used. Patients as Partners Europe will provide Pharma with valuable insights on how to achieve this.”

Participating pharma companies include Novartis, Pfizer, Merck KGaA, EMD Serono, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, Ipsen, UCB, Takeda, AbbVie, Noema Pharma, Gilead Sciences, Regeneron, and Pierre Fabre.

Other topics to be addressed include: Scaling patient engagement activities company-wide, engaging patients in early clinical development, leveraging social media to gain patient insights, diversity and inclusion in research and updates on patient engagement activities in Eastern Europe.

To learn more, please visit Patients as Partners Europe.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Biotech, Child health, Diseases, Disorders, Doctors, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Pediatrics, Pharmaceuticals, Physicians, Society, Urology

Palette Life Sciences unveils 4 international sites for its Deflux online presence

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SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. / STOCKHOLM, 27-Oct-2020 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Palette Life Sciences, a fully integrated global life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today introduced valuable new online resources for healthcare providers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. By expanding its Deflux online presence to international audiences, Palette Life Sciences demonstrates its commitment to supporting the global paediatric community.

Deflux.fr is a French-language resource for healthcare providers in France. Deflux.com/de is a German-language site serving practitioners in Germany. Deflux.com/es and Deflux.it are English-language sites serving physicians in Spain and Italy respectively. These new sites offer best-in-class online resources, important information and education about VUR, including symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, such as Deflux®. All of the European sites provide physicians with access to the global Deflux Learning Center, a leading education platform that features information and training for paediatric urologists and their peers who treat VUR. The Deflux Learning Center includes clinical articles, educational videos, webinars, brochures, downloadable tools and The PedSpace podcast series, created for and presented by paediatric urology healthcare professionals.

The Deflux Learning Center for each respective country also provides downloadable educational materials for parents and caregivers managing children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).

“My personal long-term experience with Deflux has proven its effectiveness and safety in reducing VUR and preventing UTI recurrence in patients who fail medical management, thus avoiding use of long-term antibiotics. It is my hope that the new website initiative, which includes helpful resources for physicians, will help raise awareness of this treatment option in patients with primary VUR, troubled by recurrent febrile UTIs,” said Dr. Marie-Klaire Farrugia, Consultant Paediatric Urologist and Service Lead for Paediatric Surgery at Chelsea & Westminster and Imperial College Hospitals.

“We are excited to offer these new online resources to the healthcare community in France, Germany, Italy and Spain,” said Rich Low, Head of Marketing at Palette Life Sciences. “We are confident they will benefit the global paediatric urology ecosystem and serve as valuable resources by providing critical information and access to educational resources through the Deflux Learning Center.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Biotech, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Products, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Solutions

CoapTech and Fidmi Medical to Collaborate on Groundbreaking G-Tube Systems

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Baltimore, MD, 2019-Sep-18 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — CoapTech LLC (Baltimore, MD) and Fidmi Medical, Ltd. (Caesarea, Israel) announced today that they will be collaborating on bringing to market a set of next-generation products for the initial placement and long-term maintenance of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes). The collaboration between CoapTech and Fidmi will focus on integrating the company’s two technologies and expanding their collective market opportunities.

Gastrostomy tubes, which help patients receive long-term nutritional support, are typically placed endoscopically and need to be replaced every 3-6 months.

CoapTech’s PUMA-G System allows initial gastrostomy tube placement by non-surgeons/ gastroenterologists, outside of the endoscopy suite, using point-of-care ultrasound at the patient bedside. This novel approach can be performed in the ICU, emergency room, and eventually outside of the hospital setting, substantially reducing costs for tube placement.

Fidmi Medical’s innovative low-profile gastrostomy system is unique in that it can be utilized for both initial placement and replacement and has several features which make it more durable and comfortable for patients. Gastrostomy tubes very often get dislodged, clogged, or infected, and need to be replaced frequently. Fidmi’s improved low-profile gastrostomy tube is placed just like any standard PEG tube but has an easily replaceable inner tube which can be changed by patients without the need to re-enter the healthcare system for replacement procedures. This will result in fewer complications with patients’ g-tubes, therefore potentially reducing healthcare costs for payers and healthcare systems; as well as providing a substantial improvement in quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Fidmi Medical Chairman, Lloyd Fishman, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with CoapTech in development and marketing. Both companies have developed cutting-edge technologies that will improve patient care and contribute to the ease, efficiency and confidence of clinicians’ work in the gastrostomy field.”

Dr. Steven Tropello, CoapTech’s founder and CMO said, “In combination these systems will be compatible with Push or Pull methods, be implantable in a wide variety of clinical settings, and require minimal readmission to the hospital and fewer visits to the ER. The synergy will reduce both front and back-end costs for hospitals and payers, and make care safer and more patient-centered.”

Via EPR Network
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Business of Medicine, Clinics, Consultations, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Public Health, Society

GenieMD to Feature Award Winning AI-based Telemedicine Platform at HIMSS19

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San Francisco, CA, 2019-Jan-24 — /EPR Network/ — GenieMD will be exhibiting at HIMSS19 in Orlando, Florida February 11-15, 2019. The GenieMD team will be showcasing their iVisit Telemedicine platform. GenieMD’s award-winning Telemedicine platform, driven by an AI engine, assists in the patient’s triage allowing for a streamlined consult with their physician through its HIPAA compliant text messaging, video visits and question-based asynchronous visits.

Patients are demanding convenience, expanded access and lower cost of health care. Doctors are overwhelmed with simple cases which take up most of their consult time. Clinics are struggling to manage costs in light of their patients increasingly use of alternative channels to seek treatment. To address these challenges, technology companies are innovating new ways for patients to gain access to providers. Government regulators are responding more favorably to the use of these methods including Telemedicine. Therefore, Telemedicine adoption is growing at a rapid pace.

“At GenieMD, our mission is to help improve the quality of human life by providing solutions that enable people to live healthier and longer.” – Dr. Soheil Saadat, CEO

The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to democratize healthcare globally.

Via EPR Network
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Diabetes, Diseases, Doctors, Fitness, Health 2.0, Health Plans, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Obesity, Weight loss

How Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Cured

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VANCOUVER, B.C., May-31-2018 — /EPR Healthcare News/ —  The mission of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is to promote diabetes care and cure worldwide. Type 2 diabetes, once thought only to afflict African descends, other minorities, and the less educated, is now an ignored pandemic afflicting over 450 million people from diverse academic backgrounds and races, worldwide. Health Department budgets allocated for managing diabetes in developed nations each year is staggering; far exceeding the GDP of most other countries. In a new book titled Diabetic’s Journey, diabetes survivor and expert, Ernest Quansah, demystifies how type 2 diabetes can be cured.

In his book, Quansah chronicles circumstances that led him to crave and heavily indulge in sugar, one day awaking to find a sticky, whitish substance in the corners of his eyes and on his tongue. Upon reviewing Quansah’s blood tests, his doctor used these words: “Do you know the danger you have put yourself in? You are not far from going into cardiac arrest. The whitish substance is sugar build-up in your body trying to find a way out.”

Quansah’s research uncovered two lifesaving pieces of information:

  1. Type 2 diabetes is caused by consumption of refined sugar; a fact confirmed by Dr. Sanjay Basu, Ph.D., of Stanford University.
  1. Natalia McInnes of McMaster University, type 2 diabetes cure researcher, stated that type 2 diabetes can be reversed  and cured in four months.

Said Quansah, “My doctor supported Dr. McInnes’s findings when he said to me: ‘Type 2 diabetes is cured using several approaches all working together. The diabetes is cured if it does return two years after reversal.’ Reversing type 2 diabetes costs less than $200.00 per diabetic, a fraction of what is spent each year managing diabetes for the rest of one’s life. This is not taking into account the added cost of the onset of other diseases resulting from the diabetes. Best of all, the victim’s life will be saved when he or she is cured. One becomes type 2 diabetic when sugar builds up in the body and converts into fat. Some of the fat finds its way into the bloodstream. It coats red blood cells preventing them from absorbing sugar and transporting it to the muscles to be used as energy. The pancreas still works; however, the insulin it secretes is not able to transport the excess sugar. The excess sugar buildup causes heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness, etc.: Diabetes simply forecasts these pending diseases. The solution is simple. To reverse type 2 diabetes, the sugar buildup in the body and the fat coating the cells must be expelled, allowing for normal cell function.”

Quansah developed:

  1. A customized weight-reducing menu cycle
  2. A customized fat and sugar burning exercise routine
  3. A vitamin/supplement regime to protect the heart

When asked about his own response to his program, Quansah said, “Within a month of applying the above factors, my energy level surged. My doctor ordered another blood glucose test. ‘Look at your test results,’ Dr. Robinson said. ‘Congratulations. You are no longer a diabetic.’ My life was saved. I told him that I must write a book to help other diabetics. He replied, ‘that’s an excellent idea.’”

Quansah’s book, Diabetic’s Journey, is endorsed by a professor of diabetology and medicine. Reviewers gave his book a rating of 8.8/10.

Proof that type 2 diabetes can be reversed: WebMD, the leading healthcare information provider to doctors and consumers, interviewed Quansah and published an article about his diabetes cure methodology in WebMD Diabetes Fall 2016 issue, page 19, and on their website. The article was titled, Secret recipe: How a Chef Cured His Type 2 Diabetes . Additionally, Clyto Access contacted him to produce a video presentation on How Type 2 Diabetes Can be Cured to be presented at the International Diabetes and Degenerative Disease conference. His paper titled, The Case Against Managing Type 2 Diabetes is posted on Academia.edu and has been viewed and downloaded by researchers worldwide.

Quansah’s book’s subtitle, How Type 2 Diabetes Can be Reversed and Cured, amplifies what doctors say. Quansah says, “The mission of the Just for Diabetics website is to promote diabetes care and cure by offering pre-diabetics and type 2 diabetics the tools to reverse and cure themselves. Proceeds provide funding to humanitarian efforts and for developing products for diabetics.”

###

Ernest Quansah is available for interviews.

Email: ernestq@ernestquansah.com

Cell: 1-778-229-8049

Diabetic’s Journey is available from:

Amazon: ISBN- 978-0994767042

Website: https://justfordiabetics.com

Biotech, Business of Medicine, Cancer, Critical Care, Diseases, Doctors, Drugs, Emergency Medicine, Health Plans, Health Reform, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Medicine, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Public Health, Regulation, Society, Therapies

Prof. Lucien Abenhaim: There is an incredible challenge for the sustainability of health systems across the world

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Prof. Lucien Abenhaim

LONDON, Dec-3-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — On December 5-6, 2017, 200 high-level experts from government, academia, biopharmaceutical developers and patient organisations convene in London (UK) to address the mounting challenge of accessibility and patient access to high-value, high-cost medical therapies.

The not-for-profit executive forum is organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and analytica|LASER, a global research consultancy, to investigate topical questions around drug policy, global health systems sustainability and innovation funding through a combination of case studies, panel sessions, and roundtables. Delegations are registered from over 70 public and private organisations, including the World Health Organization, as well as health systems representatives from Belgium, England, Estonia, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United States and Wales. Multiple patient organisations support the meeting to ensure that the patient voice is reflected in all deliberations.

“Access to life-saving drugs is not a new challenge. The paradigm of accessibility was changed completely in the face of the deadly HIV epidemic. This time, however, accessibility concerns almost every domain of medicine such as cancer, auto-immune diseases and rare diseases. We must act now,” says Prof Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and former head of UNAIDS.

“There is an incredible challenge for the sustainability of health systems across the world”, says Prof. Lucien Abenhaim, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Chairman of Analytica Laser. “It is critical that drug developers and health system engage on actionable proposals that address concerns around value, cost and overall access to innovation for the patients who need it. We are at an inflection point – the paradigms of the 1990’s can no longer guide us,” he adds.

The main plenary on December 6th features scheduled remarks by over a dozen authorities in the field, including Professor Baron Peter Piot (Director, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and former Head, UNAIDS), Dr. Olivier Brandicourt (Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi), Dr. Sarah Garner (World Health Organization), Prof. Dominique Le Guludec (President, French HAS), Sir Andrew Dillon (Chief Executive, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence UK) and Dr. Harold Paz (Chief Medical Officer, Aetna). The plenary is preceded by a scientific seminar on December 5th which gathers globally renowned academics to explore new frontiers on the methodology for the appraisal and valuation of high-value medicines.

Please contact the organisers for more information on the programming and media access, or refer to www.accessibility-symposium.org

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Physicians, Psychologist, Public Health, Society

Five Years After Iraq War’s Official End, a New York Community Is Still Healing

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NEW YORK, NY, 2017-Jan-14 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — As the Iraq War’s official end in December 2011 marks its fifth anniversary, many questions remain on its fallouts. New York’s French-American community is one of them, as it remembers its blacklisting when France opted out of attacking Iraq.

Choosing diplomatic pressure rather than “shock and awe” ignited fury for many in New York. The call for anti-French boycotts resonated in tabloids as pictures of New Yorkers spilling wines in gutters vied with accusations of an ally’s betrayal and cowardice. Information can be found by searching for “New York’s anti-French boycotts and Iraq,” and “Freedom fries.”

How effective were the boycotts? “Very much so, even devastating,” says French consulate’s official physician and mental health coordinator at the time, Gérard Sunnen, MD, “the French-American community of New York was stunned by their virulence and persistence. Why, many wondered, did they materialize only in New York, in striking contrast to the rest of the country?”

“Targeted were all manner of French-American businesses, from Air France to bakeries, as rosters of marked companies circulated widely. Earliest felled were restaurants, whose sales plummeted by as much as half. Like dominoes, they closed their doors, dismissing their workers. Called by many the “consulate’s darkest hour,” it went on for interminable months, years, and still resonates today.”

“As layoffs mounted,” Dr. Sunnen added, “so did their mental health consequences, from all manner of stress reactions to self-destructive depressions. And workers suddenly out of work could not find employment because no one would take them. The consulate’s social services department work load soared to levels never attained before.”

Faced with this onslaught, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was repeatedly contacted to lend the community its medical and mental health assistance. In addition, New York State and city top officials were insistently asked to add their voice to call off the boycotts. All appeals remained unanswered and, for reasons of non-assistance and abandonment of responsibility, this matter was eventually reported and filed in New York and Federal courts.

Dr. Sunnen, who also cites his experience as a Vietnam-era U.S. veteran, concludes, “history needs constant reckoning, otherwise it can remain a fable. These events are now brought to light so that long-term allies can better understand and appreciate the meaning of their special relationship.”

References:

Gérard Sunnen, MD, www.triroc.com/sunnen
Supreme Court, State of New York, No. 102194/2012
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 12 Civ. 3417
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 13-465cv
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) 1:13-cv-1242
New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) No. 10181422
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) No. DCA96MA070

Contact-Details: Gerard Sunnen, MD
gsunnen@aol.com
www.triroc.com/sunnen

Via EPR Network
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Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Psychologist, Public Health, Society

New York’s Health Agency (NYSDOH) Cited in Iraq War’s Blowback

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New York, NY, 2016-Dec-31 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — As the Iraq War’s official end on December 18, 2011 marks its fifth anniversary, many questions remain on its fallouts. New York’s French-American community is one of them, as it remembers its blacklisting when France opted out of attacking Iraq.

Choosing diplomatic pressure rather than “shock and awe” ignited fury for many in New York. The call for anti-French boycotts resonated in tabloids as pictures of New Yorkers spilling wines in gutters vied with accusations of an ally’s betrayal and cowardice. Information can be found by googling “New York’s French boycotts and Iraq,” and “Freedom fries.”

How effective were the boycotts? “Very much so, even devastating,” says French consulate’s official physician and mental health coordinator at the time, Gérard Sunnen, MD, “the French-American community of New York was stunned by their virulence. Why, many wondered, did they materialize only in New York, in striking contrast to the rest of the country?”

“Targeted were all manner of French-American businesses, from Air France to bakeries, as rosters of marked companies circulated widely. Earliest felled were restaurants, whose sales plummeted by as much as half. Like dominoes, they closed their doors, dismissing their workers. Called by many the “consulate’s darkest hour,” it went on for weeks, interminable months, and still resonates today.”

“As layoffs mounted,” Dr. Sunnen added, “so did their mental health consequences, from all manner of stress reactions to self-destructive depressions. And workers suddenly out of work could not find employment because no one would take them. The consulate’s social services department work load soared to levels never attained before.”

Faced with this onslaught, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was repeatedly contacted to lend the community its medical and mental health assistance. In addition, New York state and city top officials were insistently asked to add their voice to call off the boycotts. All appeals remained unanswered and, for reasons of non-assistance and abandonment of responsibility, this matter was eventually reported and filed in New York and Federal courts.

Dr. Sunnen, who also cites his experience as a Vietnam-era U.S. veteran, concludes, “history needs constant reckoning, otherwise it can remain a fable. These events are now brought to light so that long-term allies can better understand the meaning of their relationship.”

References:

Gérard Sunnen, MD: www.triroc.com/sunnen
Supreme Court, State of New York, No. 102194/2012
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 12 Civ. 3417
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 13-465cv
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) 1:13-cv-1242
New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) No. 10181422
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) No. DCA96MA070

Contact-Details: Gerard Sunnen, MD

Via EPR Network
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Alternative medicine, Diseases, Disorders, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Neurology, Non-Surgical Procedure, Therapies

TESTmyBRAIN opens its first center of Functional Neurology in Europe

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GENEVA, 2016-Jun-8 — /EPR Healthcare News/ — TESTmyBRAIN (Switzerland) has opened its first center of Functional Neurology in Europe. This non-invasive therapy (no medication, no surgery) coming from the United States helps patients suffering from migraines, concussions, strokes, AD/HD, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer, … all disorders related to the brain and the central nervous system.

This innovative therapy combines several approaches and relies mainly over 3 decades of research on the eye-movements to diagnose and treat. Completely adopted and established in the United States, this therapy is almost unknown in Europe.

This is the reason why TESTmyBRAIN Switzerland is happy to bring the American experts to Europe to teach other doctors and to help patients differently with their pain.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Consultations, Doctors, Emergency Medicine, Healthcare Services, Hospitals, Public Health

Free doctor visit to celebrate Tampa Bay’s newest Centra Care location

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Tampa, FL, February 12, 2015 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — To celebrate the Grand Opening of their newest urgent care medical center, Florida Hospital Centra Care is offering 100 FREE urgent care health passes to families in Tampa Bay.* Residents have a chance to collect an urgent care health pass between Tuesday, February 17th and Friday, February 27th at either of the following Centra Care locations: (while supplies last)

Carrollwood Centra Care
4001 W. Linebaugh Ave.
(Near Gunn Hwy )

South Tampa Centra Care
301 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
(Just north of Kennedy Blvd. )

Pass holders can redeem their health coupons for most Centra Care services, from the unexpected urgent care visit to wellness exams such as school or sports physicals.

Florida Hospital Centra Care has been serving Florida patients for over 35 years. The all-new Carrollwood location is Centra Care’s fourth in the Tampa Bay area and its 26th location throughout the state. The brand new center will provide Carrollwood-area residents with fast and convenient care for urgent, nonemergency medical needs. Centra Care’s team of board certified, adult and pediatric-trained doctors will be available to families seven days a week – weekdays from 8AM–8PM and weekends from 8AM–5PM.

Because time is valuable, Centra Care offers an online, No Wait Reservations system to schedule to see a doctor when it’s convenient for patients. But, because Centra Care understands injuries and illnesses can happen at the most unexpected moments, walk-ins are always welcome.

*Each health pass is good for one free urgent care visit per household and will be available while supplies last. Free services do not include X-Rays, Labs or medications. Passes valid through 09/01/15.

Visit centracare.org for information and directions

MEDIA CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: 407-833-9201

Via EPR Network
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Assistants, Business of Medicine, Clinics, Doctors, Health 2.0, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Software, Healthcare Solutions, Hospitals, Medicine, Online

Health Gorilla Releases Mobile Application for Doctors

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Digital Health Leader Expands Marketplace Access with Mobility

SUNNYVALE, CA., 2014-8-20 — /EPR Healthcare News/ — Health Gorilla™, Inc., the first online healthcare marketplace to connect doctors and clinicians with over 9,000+ diagnostic labs and 35,000+ radiology centers, has announced today the release of Health Gorilla mobile.  Health Gorilla mobile provides access to the Health Gorilla Marketplace through the Apple® iPhone® and iPad™.

Today over 68% of doctors have standardized on the Apple platform to communicate with peers and patients. Doctors can now use their mobile devices to place electronic orders with Health Gorilla mobile to diagnostic labs, radiology centers, physical therapy, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and durable medical equipment (DME) and other medical providers nationwide with the ability to track and review the results instantly as they arrive.  Physicians can then forward electronic results within their practice or exchange them with peers and patients to streamline the process and improve quality of care.

According to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine noted that approximately 59.3% of all of a primary care physician’s daily emails were for the interpretation of test results and 21.7% were responses to patients.  The use of email generally increases the risk for doctors and their patients as most email services are not HIPAA compliant.

Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston conducted a survey of primary care practitioners and found that a third reported missing alerts about test results from an electronic health record notification system designed to inform them when a patient has abnormal test results.

Doctors are adopting iPad and iPhones as the platform of choice to communicate with peers and patients. Health Gorilla mobile integrated messaging greatly reduces the risk in communication between a doctor and their patients by offering a fully HIPAA compliant environment. Health Gorilla mobile enables a physician to securely and compliantly forward diagnostic test results, radiology images, admission and discharge summaries and other clinical documents to patients and care coordinators through secure messaging.

Benefits of Health Gorilla Mobile Include:

  • HIPAA compliant and ONC modular certified MU2 solution
  • Order in less time than it takes to use fax forms
  • Receive results faster wherever you are
  • Forward results to patients instantly
  • Immediately refer results to another doctor and send messages
  • Eliminate error prone paper processes
  • Mobile solution available at no charge for doctors and their teams

“We believe that the value proposition is clear and compelling for doctors and their teams.” said Steve Yaskin, Chief Executive Office, Health Gorilla, Inc.  “The existing process is heavily dependent on paper, fax and manual processing.  It is slow, cumbersome and prone to error.  Doctors can better manage their time, and the time of their administrative and care coordinating teams, by using the power of the marketplace through the Health Gorilla app.  Now they have one place to order from any diagnostic lab, radiology center, hospital, physical therapy, sleep center, SNF and other healthcare providers in the United States.  A doctor can start with us the first day and begin ordering through the marketplace immediately.  Health Gorilla is the first to deliver this capability.  No other vendor can provide this benefit.”

Health Gorilla mobile is available as an approved Apple® enterprise application and will be distributed to existing Health Gorilla Marketplace users via a secure link for the next month.  In September Health Gorilla mobile app will be available from the Apple® store and will be fully integrated with the Apple® Health app upon its release.

About Health Gorilla
Health Gorilla™ is the first online healthcare marketplace to connect all doctors and clinicians with over 9,000+ diagnostic labs and 35,000+ radiology centers.  Doctors and their teams can instantly place orders, get results, and completely eliminate paper faxes. Uniquely, our HIPAA compliant and ONC modular certified MU2 solution is available immediately at absolutely no charge for doctors and clinicians.

Watch our 2 minute video Intro to Health Gorilla: http://youtu.be/6Luo5eNG8-s
Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/healthgorilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthgorilla
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2542523?
Sign-up for our Newsletter at the bottom of homepage:
http://www.healthgorilla.com

Contacts

For additional information contact Joe Austin via jaustin@theventanagroup.com or call 818-332-6166.

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Health Gorilla Releases Mobile Application for Doctors
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Child health, Consultations, Doctors, Healthcare Services, Pediatrics

Virtual Pediatrics, “Immediate Medical Care, Virtually Anywhere” — Online Pediatric Healthcare Consults for Your Sick or Injured Child — To Launch This Month

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Virtual Pediatrics (www.virtualpediatrics.com), a national pediatric telemedicine service dedicated specifically to children, provides immediate medical care to those sick or injured, without them having to leave the comfort of their home. Certified family and pediatric health care providers, through online webcam consultation, provide personalized treatment plans, including e-prescriptions if needed. Virtual Pediatrics is set to launch in 10 states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, NJ, NY, NC, TX & VA) this month.

Virtual Pediatrics Providers

Virtual Pediatrics dedicated and compassionate providers, who are board certified, licensed and credentialed to practice in their respective state, remain on standby for consultation from the hours of 8am to 12am, seven days a week.

Why Wait?

Children no longer need to wait a day or two to see their family doctor, nor will they have to wait in a crowded office or ER waiting room with other sick patients for minor ailments. By receiving an immediate telemedicine consultation and treatment, kids won’t miss additional days of school, parents won’t have to call out from work and worry about additional lost wages, and most importantly, sick or injured children can start getting better sooner.

Save Money

The cost of a Virtual Pediatrics consultation is less than many walk-in clinic fees and insurance co-pays, especially those expensive ER copays parents often pay after hours, when their doctor’s office is closed.

What and Where Do Virtual Pediatrics Providers Treat?

Virtual Pediatrics can treat your child anywhere – home, daycare, or on vacation. This month, Virtual Pediatrics will launch in 10 states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia). Each month, additional states will be added until Virtual Pediatrics providers are able to care for children in all 50 states. Illnesses or ailments that can be treated through online consultations include, but are not limited to:

Abrasions, Allergies, Bites & Stings, Body Aches, Bronchitis, Bruises, Burns, Colic, Cough, Croup, Dehydration, Diarrhea, Ear Ache, Fever, Flu, Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, Headaches, Hives, Itchy Eyes, Lice, Medication Refills, Minor Head Injuries, Nasal Congestion, Nausea, Pink Eye, Rashes, Reflux, Respiratory Infections, Seasonal Allergies, Sinus Infections, Skin Infections, Sore Throat, Sprains & Strains, Travel Medications, Urinary Tract Infections (Only for Older Kids), Vomiting

How Does It Work?

Parents can go to www.virtualpediatrics.com and click “start visit”, after which they will be directed to the registration page of our partner company, MeMD. Once the secure patient account is created, parents complete a brief medical history form for their child and submit payment, at which point they are directed to a patient care coordinator who will arrange the consultation between patient and healthcare provider. Upon completion of the webcam consultation, a Virtual Pediatrics provider will provide an individual treatment plan for the child’s ailment and, if needed, e-prescribe any medication to a local pharmacy that the family selected during the registration process. After the visit is concluded, parents can login to the patient account and print their child’s medical record as well as discharge instructions for their specific condition.

Leading Edge of Pediatric Healthcare

Virtual Pediatrics is working toward becoming the national leader in pediatric telemedicine, while providing excellent medical care to children and families in need. In this era of social media and advanced video technology, the practice of medicine is constantly evolving, and Virtual Pediatrics is at the frontier of this rapidly developing area of pediatric healthcare.

Contact Details: www.virtualpediatrics.com
doc@virtualpediatrics.com

Via EPR Network
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Doctors, Eye Care, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Ophthalmology, Public Health, Society

Maine Ophthalmologists Encourage Greater Knowledge of Glaucoma Risks

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“As patients enter their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s and beyond it is important for them to become aware of glaucoma risk factors that might be relevant to their individual situation,” commented Glaucoma Specialist Robert Daly, M.D. of Eyecare Medical Group in Portland.

“There is strong correlation between age and the likelihood of developing glaucoma. We know that your risk increases considerably after the age of 40. And if you are over 60 years of age-even if you have no other family or medical history that is significant-you are six times more likely to get glaucoma. A family history of glaucoma-especially among your brothers and sisters-can increase your risk to 4-9 times that of the average population,” noted Dr. Daly.

“Patients should take note of some recent research that suggests additional glaucoma risk factors may include long term use of oral contraceptive birth control pills, early natural menopause and obstructive sleep apnea,” shared Glaucoma Specialist Samuel Solish, M.D. “This is important for patients to know about. First, researchers reporting on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), administered by the Centers for Disease Control, indicated that woman who had used birth control pills for long periods of time were twice as likely to develop glaucoma. Further, researchers reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that those women who entered natural menopause at an early age were more likely to develop glaucoma. And finally, it appears that having sleep apnea exposes patients to significant risk of glaucoma. All three of these risk factors should prompt patients to seek routine eye exams with glaucoma evaluation in order to have early detection, diagnosis and treatment is necessary. In this way we are more able to help patients prevent vision loss from glaucoma,” stressed Dr. Solish.

Eyecare Medical Group is a leading ophthalmology practice in Portland, Maine staffed by a team of eye care specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained glaucoma specialists, retina specialists, cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

To learn more about Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine you may visit http://www.eyecaremed.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eyecaremedicalgroup or follow our eye care blog at http://eyecaremed-maine.blogspot.com.

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Diseases, Doctors, Eye Care, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Services, Online, Society

20 cm Long Worm In The Human Eye, First Ever Recorded On Video

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Can you believe that a 20 cm worm can house itself in the human eye? But one has to believe one’s eyes.

Here is the video clip of a 20 cm long worm being removed from a human eye through surgical procedure. It is the first time ever that such a long worm growing in the eye has been recorded. The video has evoked great interest among medical students as well as the general public.

http://www.indiavideo.org/health/loa-loa-worm-removing-surgery-8857.php 

Dr. Ashley Thomas Mulamoottil, the doctor who recorded this unique surgery says that this is the seventh worm that he has removed in the last one decade and it is also the longest.

The worm Loa Loa was originally found in Africa and has now reached Asia. The mangrove fly or deer fly is believed to be the carrier of this worm. The eggs of the worm enter the human body through small wounds inflicted by the fly. The death of the worm inside the body could be fatal as it could contaminate the blood. The disease is known as microfilariasis or Loa Loa infestation (Loiasis).

The video portal www.indiavideo.org and the Indian language portal www.oneindia.in are taking the video to the world. According to Mr. M.R. Hari, Executive Editor of India Video, the process recorded by Dr. Ashley fetched 2 million views on Facebook in three days and this persuaded them to make a short movie with supporting information to make it useful. Loa Loa disease could be a major health problem in future and hence an awareness campaign is the need of the hour. ‘We take up that mission now’ says

Mr. Sriram Hebbar, CEO of One India.

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EMS Healthcare’s recent work supporting better healthcare, closer to home

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The prospect for major investment in new healthcare estates looks slim as the strategy to bring care closer to people’s homes becomes reality. Keith Austin, managing partner at EMS-Healthcare has looked at how the switch to community care is raising standards nationwide:

“Private Finance 2, which sets out a new approach to financing the building and maintenance of public infrastructure, will be used to build the next generation of hospitals. But despite its announcement at the end of last year there has been little movement to invest in new healthcare estates.

“The delay isn’t just about money or red tape; there is the wider strategy to consider of moving away from care delivered in hospitals to providing care closer to people’s homes.”

Keith continued, with how EMS Healthcare in particular helps address the costs involved with this kind of shift in patient care: “The scale of investment necessary to meet this ideal is much smaller than that required for developing new large scale hospital sites. But this isn’t the only benefit. We have been working with numerous private and public sector organisations to facilitate care in the community via medical trailer solutions and have been inspired by what has been delivered and the warm reception from patients and staff alike… To say the benefits can be life changing is not an overstatement.”

One stand out project for EMS Healthcare has been to fit out and supply Clatterbridge Cancer Centre with a state-of-the-art mobile chemotherapy facility. Since the beginning of the year the medical trailer has been improving patient care by making treatment as accessible and easy as possible, serving around 25 people daily from the Chester area in a Tesco car park.

“Perhaps an unlikely site for life-saving treatment, but the feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. The bespoke medical trailer houses six chemotherapy stations with preparation, reception and waiting areas. Patients feel a real sense of community and ownership while attending the clinic and the environment has been described as ‘warm and cosy’ with a ‘more jovial atmosphere’.”

Other initiatives that EMS Healthcare have been involved in include a medical trailer eye clinic which helped medical consultants save the sight of thousands of patients across the East Coast of the UK, while saving them a trip of up to 84 miles for treatment. A temporary renal dialysis medical trailer unit has also saved patients in North Wales hours of travel every week, helping to improve their quality of life.

Thousands of patients across the UK are making long journeys to receive specialist treatment. These unique facilities provide a solution to help reduce the cost, burden and strain of travelling while delivering first class care. Waiting time is minimal too, making the experience less tiring, and a more familiar location helps put patients at ease.

The evidence is clear on why healthcare providers are taking their care closer to people’s homes. This patient-centric approach is set to continue and Keith – and EMS Healthcare – are proud to be part of it.

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Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, Dentistry, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Society

Sierra Vista AZ. Dentist Announces 2012 Holiday Free iPad Contest

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Dr. Steve Wolfington, of Cochise Caring Dentistry in Sierra Vista, AZ. announces their “2012 Holiday Free Contest for residents of Cochise County Arizona. “We selected the iPad for our first contest because it is one of the most popular items people are interested in” states Dr Wolfington.

Dr. Wolfington states, ”We wanted to thank all of our patients for their continued support and give back to our community, so we created our first annual Holiday Contest, where any one of our existing patients has several chances to win a free iPad when they refer a friend or family member. All they have to do is go to our Sierra Vista Dentist Free iPad Contest Entry Page and fill out a short entry form and they’re automatically entered to win. The drawing will be held on Dec 20th 2012 and the winner will be announced on our blog.

We keep our contests and referral offers pretty simple, all we ask is that a patient refers a friend or family member who may be interested in getting the best dental care in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The referring patient can enter our contest as many times as they want by entering a new friend referral each time.

Our entire staff wanted to do something for the holidays and we all thought the iPad would make someone a nice gift for this year’s holidays.

We treat many patients from Benson, Bisbee, Douglas and other outlying cities in Cochise County, even as far as Tucson in our dental office in Sierra Vista. Our Sierra Vista dental office has been in this location for over 30 years, and our staff members have treated and cared for 2 and 3 generations of our patient’s family and friends.

Outside of our first annual Holiday Contest we maintain our “Smile-A-Mile” Program. This is an on-going program we created to support our community year-round. Smile-A-Mile reimburses our patients for their round trip cost of gas for each visit. We calculated the mileage from each of the cities like Benson, Douglas, Tombstone, Bisbee and more, to ourSierra Vista Dentist Office. We used the average miles per gallon that a typical family vehicle gets according to statistics, and the average cost of per gallon of gas throughout Cochise County Arizona, and came up with our “Smile-A-Mile Program”. As an example, our Benson Arizona Patients are now being reimbursed $7.00 for each and every visit to our Sierra Vista Dental office, and all they need to do is bring in a water, electricity or phone bill to show proof of residence”.

At Cochise Caring Dentistry, we strive to be the most affordable Family Dental and Cosmetic Dentistry Practice in Cochise County. For all of our New Patients, we offer 50% off our Exams and Cleanings and 50% off our Professional Opalescence Teeth Whitening treatments for all patients to assist our customers in attaining quality dental health”.

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Mesa AZ Dentist Views Banner Health Through The Eyes Of A Child Program Sponsorship

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During the last 30 years of providing dental care throughout the Mesa community, the Robison Dental Group has continued to give back o the nonprofit health organizations serving local residents.

This month our staff gave recognition to one of the nonprofit organizations serving the Mesa community. After hearing so much about the programs Banner Health offers through our patients, many who are Banner Health employees, one just tugged at the hearts so much that our entire staff simply said “That’s The One”. It was unanimous. Charlotte, our Office Manger of 25 years, and the entire staff were so excited, the next thing I knew, there was a shopping list for gift bags and an assembly line in our lunchroom.

“Through The Eyes Of A Child” – A Cardon Children’s Medical Center Program Banner Health responded to the needs of our children who were unable to attend school during treatment. Six years ago, Banner Desert Hospital started a program for schooling and the transition back to school. In 2009 the school was relocated to the Cardon Children’s Medical Center, which now serves over 1000 children each year. The program is staffed and managed year round

The teachers at Cardon school act as advocates for each student, communicating with the child’s teachers and school officials .Having the knowledge and experience to know what each child is entitled to, “Through The Eyes Of A Child”.

The school provides a “Re-Entering” phase where a teacher or counselor will accompany the child back into the child’s home school or classroom to provide answers for the teacher and fellow classmates. This is a very emotionally sensitive process that requires the skills and experience of the Program Staff.

The hospital was designed to look and feel as close as possible to home. Each room is equipped with a dining table, small refrigerator, and bathroom. There is a convenient laundry facility available for parent’s personal use.

We want to thank Sue Eaton, MSW, CCLs and Senior Manager Child Life, for the tour and opportunity to be a part of this great organization, and most certainly, the banner employees who speak so highly of Banner Health

We are proud of Banner Health, and we know our gifts and money for our sponsorship is serving one of the best causes we all stand for, “giving back to the community and our precious children within it”.

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Alabama Eye & Cataract Center and Michelson Laser Vision Welcome Corneal Specialist Tyler Hall, M.D.

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Marc Michelson, M.D., Medical Director of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center and Michelson Laser Vision is pleased to announce that Corneal Specialist Tyler Hall, M.D. has joined the ophthalmology staff at their practice. Dr. Michelson commented, “With Dr. Hall joining our practice we are able to expand upon our tradition of providing world class diagnosis and treatment of corneal disease, including advanced corneal transplantation procedures such as DSEK and DALK for Fuch’s Dystrophy and Keratoconus, to our community. Further, his experience in Laser Eye Surgery such as Bladeless LASIK will be a welcome addition in helping to meet the patient demand for Laser Vision Correction in Birmingham.”

Tyler Hall, M.D. is a Corneal Specialist who is a Cataract and Refractive Surgeon at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center and Michelson Laser Vision where he performs all types of Laser Eye Surgery for the Laser Vision Correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism including All Laser Bladeless LASIK, Custom Wavefront Optimized LASIK, monovision LASIK and PRK. In addition, Dr. Hall provides his patients with the most modern Cataract Surgery in Birmingham that requires only a very tiny incision, no patches and only eye drops for anesthesia so that his patients can benefit from very quick visual recovery times, with minimal interruption in their daily routines. Dr. Hall is committed to helping patients with Cataracts achieve greater independence and possibly eliminate the need for eyeglasses, reading glasses or bifocals after Cataract Surgery through the use of astigmatism correcting toric lens implants. For those patients with significant amounts of astigmatism, near vision multifocal and accommodating presbyopia correcting lens implants, such as the Crystalens® Accommodating Lens Implant, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® Multifocal Lens Implant and the Tecnisâ„¢ Multifocal Lens Implant, are used to have their distance, arm’s length and near vision corrected after Cataract Surgery without eyeglasses, bifocals or reading glasses.

Dr. Hall earned his Medical Degree at the Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He then completed his Residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama (UAB)-Birmingham where he served as Chief Resident followed by a Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he obtained specialized training and experience in all types of Refractive Surgery including LASIK Surgery and advanced Lens Implants for Vision Correction. Dr. Hall is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of The Cornea Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading Alabama vision and eye care centers in Birmingham, staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists. The staff includes Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

To learn more about Alabama Eye & Cataract Center visit http://www.michelsonvision.com or visit us at http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision

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Coalition For The Advancement Of Brachytherapy

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The Coalition for the Advancement of Brachytherapy (CAB) has reviewed recent media reports stemming from a study originally presented in December 2011 by physicians associated with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study compared the efficacy of whole breast irradiation (WBI) to accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), including the use of brachytherapy to treat select patients with early stage breast cancer. CAB believes that the methodology used in the MD Anderson study is misleading as it utilizes a Medicare billing claims database that does not include patient risk stratification data and therefore is not appropriate to use to compare outcomes and toxicities of ABPI to that of whole breast irradiation (WBI).

The treatments examined utilize different methodologies for delivering radiation therapy following surgery for the treatment of breast cancer. APBI delivers a targeted radiation therapy to select low risk patients over a five-day period. Whereas WBI delivers a broader radiation therapy whereby the entire breast is treated over the course of 30-40 days. The conclusions reached regarding the relative efficacy of the two forms of treatments are based completely on a retrospective study of insurance billing claims. This retrospective study fails to take into account key patient clinical characteristics, including, but not limited to pathology and staging, which determine risk assignment of a patient. Further, the billing code data was collected from patients treated from 2000 through 2007. Since that time, advances in brachytherapy product design, physics planning and delivery of dose have led to greater precision and accuracy of radiation treatment with improved outcomes.

CAB contends that it is impossible to draw any meaningful comparisons or conclusions without taking into consideration patient risk assessments. Counter to the findings in the MD Anderson study are multiple peer-reviewed publications available supporting the safe and effective use of APBI in appropriately selected patients. The safety and effectiveness of APBI is further supported by the fact that the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) reaffirmed its Consensus Statement in 2011 endorsing the use of APBI in appropriately selected patients. The ASTRO APBI Consensus Statement was originally issued in 2009 based on an exhaustive search of the available medical literature in combination with expert opinion and public comment.

More recent data from a trial comprising over fourteen hundred breast cancer patients, presented on May 5, 2012 at the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) Annual Meeting, found that APBI is equally effective, if not more effective, in preventing local breast cancer recurrence than WBI. * This trial’s findings not only contradict the MD Anderson data in finding that tumor control in the breast appears to be similar for APBI and WBI, but suggest that disease control at the initial tumor site may be better with APBI.

Michael Krachon, CAB Chair notes, “The MD Anderson study is by no means sufficient to condemn a promising procedure like APBI brachytherapy. As we await results of the randomized NSABP-B39 Phase III Trial comparing WBI to APBI, physicians should be mindful of the many positive peer-reviewed publications analyzing the efficacy and toxicity associated 2 1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20004 with APBI brachytherapy. The technique has been endorsed by ASTRO in appropriately selected patients, and physicians must take into account the clinical presentation of the patient and their own clinical judgment in the safe and appropriate use of this treatment modality.”

For more information contact: Richard White, Roberti + White at (202) 624-0395

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