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iTech Releases SaaS Based expEDIum Medical Billing Solution v1.0

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iTech Workshop Private Limited (iTech), a leading SaaS based Healthcare billing solution provider announces the availability of its expEDIum Medical Billing Solution v1.0 in a subscription (SaaS) model. The solution provides complete automated life cycle management of medical claims including automatic reconciliation of 835 (ERA), delayed payer report processing and denial management among other features. This solution provides better billing productivity for Practices, Hospitals, IPA, MSO, Healthcare BPO/KPO and Billing service bureaus.

iTech Releases SaaS Based expEDIum Medical Billing Solution v1.0

iTech Workshop Private Limited (iTech), a Healthcare IT Solutions Company with special focus on Medical Billing, HIPAA, X12N, Direct Payer Connectivity, Electronic Claim Life Cycle, Revenue Cycle Management Products and Solutions for the US healthcare domain, announces release of expEDIum Medical Billing Solution v1.0 in a subscription (SaaS) model.

Some of the key features include:

• Built in “online validation” of claims rather than waiting for 24 or more hours waiting for claims to be validated.

• Denial Management including increased payment due to secondary insurance visibility [In one case with 7 doctors with 900 claims that were eligible for secondary payments were not processed earlier as the information was not visible on the legacy system and customer lost revenue of about $45,000 in one year].

• Built in direct payer / CH connectivity providing seamless uploading of electronic claims and downloading of remittance advices and other reports. This reduces hours spent by billing administrators daily.

• “Provider direct” feature where providers can get to watch the status of their claims and look at analytics using a configurable dashboard using a secure logon.

• Increased claim life cycle visibility.

• Automated ERA processing reducing EOB data entry time.

• Built-in patient statements and collection agency reports features.

• EMR Integration – Secure and seamless connectivity from any existing web based or client-server EMR solution to our hosted billing solution.

• This platform price rolled into a single monthly subscription; no hardware/software or IT support costs and no capital expenditure. The pricing is for “all” available features without any “add-on” pricing for additional features (as in other equivalent products).

We have seen the solution providing over 50% more billing productivity compared to legacy systems due to more efficient processes and features. We have seen the average payment cycle time through this solution to be about 11 days compared to legacy system’s 24 days (our median of 9 days vs legacy’s 14 days, our 80 percentile of 15 days vs legacy’s 27 days).

The solution can be hosted securely on a SaaS (Software as a Subscription) model over the Internet or the Intranet for a monthly subscription. The solution is available in a “mega-tenant” model and shall be available on a retail “multi-tenant” model in the future. Our solution shall provide support for ICD-10 and HIPAA v5010 seamlessly in the future. A list of features is available at http://www.itechws.com/medicalbilling.html and demos can be requested through our website.

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Innovative Medical Apparel Company Launches Men’s Lab Coats At Medica 2009 Conference

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical apparel, today announced the launch of its men’s lab coats, which are on display at Medica 2009, a leading international trade fair for the medical industry held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Medelita inaugurates its men’s collection with three varying lab coat styles, all named after distinguished figures in medicine: The Osler (44 in.), The Laennec (40 in.) and The Fleming (30 in.).

Men's Lab Coats

“Sophisticated, prestigious, innovative — these are words that medical professionals do not typically associate with lab coats,” said Lara Manchik, founder, Medelita.“But with the introduction of Medelita Men’s lab coats, male clinicians can now enjoy the same designer tailoring, high performance fabrics and upgrades that our female customers have raved about in our lab coats. The arrival of our men’s line is a natural evolution and we are thrilled to bring a product to market that’s long overdue.”

All Medelita lab coats are hand sewn in the U.S. using 100 percent pre-shrunk cotton, representing a significant improvement over traditional polyester/cotton blend lab coats with limited breathability. The lab coats feature a modern tailored fit, with finished inside seams and advanced fabric technology for unparalleled soil, stain, fluid and wrinkle resistance. While each style of Medelita Men’s lab coat is designed for a specific use, they are all available in contemporary menswear sizes 36-52.

The 44-inch Osler men’s lab coat is the modern version of the classic, full-length lab coat. Featuring five total pockets, including a concealed pocket for a PDA or Smartphone, the Osler lab coat is named after Sir William Osler, MD, CM, a Canadian physician, pathologist, educator, bibliophile, historian, and author, who is described as the Father of Modern Medicine.

The 40-inch Laennec lab coat is Medelita’s mid-length lab coat featuring abundant upgrades to this versatile physician lab coat. With a tailored, distinguished look and technically innovative features, this new men’s lab coat was named for René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec, a French physician who invented the stethoscope in 1816, while working at the Hôpital Necker and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions.

The 30-inch Fleming lab coat is a hip-length lab coat, often called a “consultation” or “student” length lab coat. The Fleming is named after Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist who published many articles on bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy. He is best-known for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for the discovery of penicillin, which he shared with two colleagues.

About Medelita
Medelita has one purpose: to reinvent the way women and men of all healthcare professions present themselves at work by offering the highest quality, best fitting, and most comfortable medical apparel available, including women’s lab coats, men’s lab coats, embroidered lab coats and medical scrubs. Medelita caters to medical professionals who want their uniforms to embody the poise and confidence already displayed from within. For more information, visit our websites at http://www.medelita.com or http://www.medelita-mens.com, or call 877.987.7979.

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New 28-Inch Student-Length Lab Coat Answers Customer Demand For Shorter Style And Is Available For Pre-Order

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical apparel, today introduced the new Elizabeth B. lab coat to its collection of high performance women’s lab coats. Shorter than traditional coats, the Elizabeth B. is 28 inches in length and falls just below the hip on a woman of average height. The new, shorter-length lab coat is available for pre-order and will be available to purchase online November 6, 2009.

“The introduction of the Elizabeth B. lab coat is a significant milestone for us in that it answers countless customer requests, expressing the need for a lab coat with modern styling, sensible performance fabric features and long-lasting durability,” said Lara Manchik, founder, Medelita. “We chose to name the coat in honor of Elizabeth Blackwell, the very first female medical school graduate who paved the way for women in field of medicine. This appellation also honors customers of Medelita who continue to make significant contributions in their respective medical professions.”

At the turn of the 19th century, female doctors did not exist. But Elizabeth Blackwell changed that with her inspiring life’s work. Education played an important role for Blackwell, whose father moved the family from England to the U.S. Motivated by the desire to fill the unmet needs of women who preferred to consult with a female physician, Blackwell eventually sought a formal education during a time when medical schools simply did not allow women. Her application to the Geneva Medical College in New York was inadvertently accepted because students and the administration thought it was a practical joke.

Eventually, Blackwell’s persistence won her respect, admiration and the first U.S. medical degree awarded to a woman in 1849; however, she was barred from practicing in hospitals and set up a practice out of her own home. Among Blackwell’s many achievements was the establishment of women’s medical schools in the U.S. and in England. The educational institutions were the culmination of plans co-developed with Florence Nightengale, whom she met during the Civil War. Well into her later years, Blackwell continued to inspire and encourage women to study medicine. Today, women represent more than half of the students pursuing some form of medical education.

The Medelita Elizabeth B. lab coat is designed for those medical professionals who prefer technical advancements – not only in their clothing but also in their lifestyle. The fluid resistant lab coat is treated with Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector, which allows the fabric to repel and release stains, including blood, while maintaining a clean and crisp, polished appearance. Tailored for a feminine yet professional shape, the coats are sewn in the U.S. and feature the highest quality workmanship available in a medical uniform. Modern styling includes rounded lapels with complimentary pocket detailing, clean finishing of all seams, and a hidden inside pocket for transporting handheld devices and other useful medical tools.

Also called a consultation lab coat, the 28 inch lab coat is worn by students across numerous medical professions — medical school, dental school, physician assistant school — as well as by those medical professionals who simply prefer a hip length lab coat. Although the length is often a designation of a student, in some settings, the shorter coat is preferred or even required.

The new lab coat joins the Medelita collection of women’s lab coats, which range from the original, full-length Callia lab coat (38 in.), the Ellody (34 in.), to the Estie (38 in.) and Sophia (34 in.), all of which can be custom embroidered with name, title, and profession as preferred. For more information on the Elizabeth B. lab coat and all Medelita products, please visit www.medelita.com.

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Medelita Celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week

Medelita®, maker of breakthrough medical apparel, celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week this November 8 through 14. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a doctor. They diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems, and even prescribe medication. This year, nurse practitioners are celebrated for providing “125,000 solutions to the primary care shortage.”

“Nurse practitioners play a critical role in our healthcare system, providing much needed care that encompasses disease diagnosis and treatment, health education and helping patients to make wise choices and to become better advocates of their own health,” said Lara Manchik, PA-C and founder, Medelita. “Medelita is proud to be a partner to NPs, who combine strengths f r o m nursing and medicine to provide a holistic approach to personalized patient care.”

Most nurse practitioners have advanced degrees, such as master’s degrees, and training beyond their registered nurse credentials. Many even have doctorates in their areas of specialty. Since 1965, NPs have been practicing in all types of settings including clinics, hospitals, private physician or nurse practitioner offices, schools, urgent cares, colleges and public health offices, to name a few.

Every day, nurse practitioners are making a difference in the lives of patients and they are advancing the role of women in the healthcare professions. Medelita honors NPs this week and throughout the year, through its “Celebrating Women in Healthcare” campaign showcasing the talents, devotion and accomplishments of women all across the nation, just like Secor. The women selected for “Celebrating Women in Healthcare” each receive a lab coat or scrubs of their choice and are featured on the Medelita web site. Nominations that include photos and detailed descriptions of professional and personal accomplishments can be emailed to celebrating.women@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, embroidered lab coats and women’s medical 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.

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Medelita Joins AAPA in Celebrating National PA Week

Medelita®, makers of innovative high-quality scrub sets and lab coats for women in health care who excel in their profession and take pride in their appearance, joins the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) in celebrating National PA Week, October 6 – 12.

“National PA Week provides us the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the central role PAs have in shaping the future of health care in this country, and across the world,” says Medelita founder Lara Manchik, who brings a decade of experience as a PA to her breakthrough line of medical apparel. “We’re honored to join AAPA in celebrating National PA Week and the professionals who deserve this recognition. AAPA is doing an outstanding job communicating the role of PAs in transforming health care — not just on the floor and by the patient’s bedside, but in our laws and legislation.”

Manchik points out that PAs have always responded to the changing needs of patient care. Launched in 1967 at Duke University Medical Center, the first PA program was developed to utilize the skills of returning Vietnam medics and fill a need for quality health care when and where it is needed most. Since then, PAs have continued to make cost-effective, quality health care accessible to more people who might otherwise have limited, or no, access.

Today, you’ll find PAs providing not only primary care, but also working with physicians across a spectrum of medical specialties. Says Manchik, ”Patients and physicians alike are recognizing the tremendous value that PAs, with their advanced training and knowledge, bring to patient care. They assume many of the same responsibilities of doctors, keep costs in check, and spend time with patients to completely understand their needs and goals. National PA Week allows us to acknowledge this contribution.”

During this year’s National PA Week, the AAPA is emphasizing the leading advocacy position PAs share in the current health care debate. Through grassroots efforts and awareness-raising campaigns, AAPA and its members are making sure legislators include PAs in the strategy to increase access to quality, affordable health care.

“National PA Week brings much deserved attention to these dedicated, extraordinary professionals,” adds Manchik. “Medelita applauds the AAPA and its members for their tremendous efforts and commitment to reform health care. We’re proud to provide PAs quality lab coats and scrub sets that reflect their exceptional dedication and professionalism.”

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

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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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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.

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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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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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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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Clinics, Consultations, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Hospitals, Obesity, Society, Surgeons, Surgery, Weight loss

Lexington Medical Center Has Made Medical History By Becoming The First Hospital In South Carolina With Incisionless Surgery

Lexington Medical Center has made medical history by becoming the first hospital in South Carolina with incisionless surgery.

incisionless surgery

The South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center, a physician practice affiliated with Lexington Medical Center, is now offering “the ROSE procedure” and performed it for the first time at Lexington Medical Center this week. ROSE stands for Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endoscopic. This procedure is for patients who have gained weight back after gastric bypass surgery. Currently, only approximately 30 facilities in the United States offer this treatment.

During ROSE, the surgeon will insert an endoscope through the patient’s mouth into the stomach pouch. The doctor then creates folds to make the stomach pouch smaller. Because there are no external cuts into the body, the procedure offers the advantages of reduced risk of infection, less post-operative pain, faster recovery time and no scars. The treatment can be especially important in South Carolina, which ranks 5th in the nation for obesity.

Dr. Marc Antonetti and Dr. Glen Strickland of the South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center completed special training to do the ROSE procedure at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas earlier this year. Each procedure takes about 1 ½ hours. Patients may be in the hospital less than one day. The ideal candidate is someone who had gastric bypass two years ago, lost greater than 50% of their excess weight and regained greater than 10%.

Before the ROSE procedure, patients who regained weight after gastric bypass surgery had few treatment options. Scarring from the initial procedure made revision surgery challenging, with longer recovery time and an increased risk for complications.

Some patients regain weight after gastric bypass surgery because of gradual enlargement of the surgically altered small stomach pouch. In weight loss surgery, the stomach pouch is made very small, which creates a feeling of fullness after just a small volume of food is eaten. When the pouch gradually enlarges, the feeling of fullness is no longer present, patients can eat larger meals and weight regain occurs.

Doctors say similar incisionless surgery may have future application for gall bladder surgery and appendectomies.

The South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center is dual-certified as a Center of Excellence in bariatric surgery by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Its doctors are Dr. Antonetti, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Jim Givens. The surgeons there have completed more than 3,000 bariatric surgeries.

News reporters who wish to do a story on the procedure, its patients and doctors should call Jennifer Wilson at Lexington Medical Center at 803-791-2191. For more information on the South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center and the ROSE procedure, go to www.scobesity.com.

About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,100 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the state, an occupational health center and physician practices. At its heart is the 384-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center was voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for nine years in a row, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times and “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent. Visit www.lexmed.com or www.lexmed.tv.

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Assistants, Critical Care, Health Reform, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Hospitals, Nurses

Nursing Shortfall In The UK, According To Hays, Specialist Recruitment

According to Hays, specialist recruitment, the acute shortage of qualified workers, which continues to plague the nursing sector, is particularly apparent for A&E, critical care (ITU), theatre, intensive care (ICU) and emergency medicine nurses.

hays.com healthcare

The magnitude of the shortage has however now also spilt over into other areas of nursing jobs such as obstetrician, orthopaedic, anaesthetic and gynaecologist nurses are also highly sought after by the health service. Additionally there is currently a shortage of accident and emergency expertise and a growing requirement for nurses from an emergency medicine background.

“Without a doubt, there is a shortage of nurses in the UK. The available talent from abroad throws an important lifeline given the pressing need for skilled nurses. Around 10% of nurses working in the UK have trained abroad and it is important that skills shortages in the healthcare sector continue to be addressed where possible, using labour from overseas where necessary,” added Simon Hudson, the new Director of Hays Global Resourcing.

The UK has been able to benefit from the global mobility of the nursing sector and tap into the worldwide nursing talent pool to fill its vacancies, however, “The shortage of nurses is not just limited to the UK. Demand exceeds supply across the world, which in turn fuels this cyclical international movement of labour in the nursing profession,” continued Simon.

Many UK nurses are leaving to go and work abroad to destinations such as Canada, Australia, the Middle East and the United States. There are several reasons why nurses from the UK are attracted to overseas destinations, but clearly it is more a case of lifestyle and financial reasons rather than an inability to find a job in the UK.

Nursing in the UK not only offers excellent and varied opportunities to learn valuable skills but also enables individuals to make a positive difference to the lives of others. The NHS encourages applications from people with a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications.

“Going on a work placement or volunteering are excellent routes into the nursing sector and a great way to get a feel for the industry,” said John Faraguna, the newly appointed Managing Director of Hays Health and Social Care. Other ways of entering the industry include cadet schemes and apprenticeships, especially for those with previous NHS experience, for example, clinical support workers and healthcare assistants.

According to recent statistics from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), one in three community nurses are over 50 and over a fifth of practice nurses are over 55, which adds up to around 200,000 nurses who are due to retire over the next decade.

This represents almost 50% of the worker population and this will leave a massive skills shortfall if these problems are not addressed. This is a worrying prospect at a time when the size of the UK’s elderly population looks set to continue to increase over the coming years, meaning the demand for specialist nurses will continue to grow with it.

“The best solution to this issue is a combination of more effective utilisation and retention of skilled nurses, increased emphasis on training new nurses and, in the short term, increased international recruitment” concluded John,

 

About Hays Healthcare:
Hays Healthcare is part of Hays plc, the leading global specialist recruitment group. It is market leader in the UK and Australia, and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. As at 30 June 2008, the Group employed 8,294 staff operating from 380 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

For the year ended 30 June 2008:
– the Group had revenues of £2.5 billion, net fees of £786.8 million and operating profit before exceptional items of £253.8 million; 
– the Group placed around 80,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 300,000 people into temporary assignments; 
– the temporary placement business represented 49% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 51% of net fees. 

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Assistants, Disabilities, Ear Nose and Throat, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Hospitals, Online, Society

WeInterpret.Net and University of Maryland Medical System Expand Contract

WeInterpret.Net has signed a contract with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and has been providing sign language interpreting services to both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University Specialty Hospital, both in Baltimore. The additional seven member hospitals have now been added to the contract. Located in Baltimore City and Glen Burnie, along with Cambridge, Easton, and Chestertown on the eastern shore, the list of participating hospitals includes Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Memorial Hospital at Easton, Chester River Hospital Center, Dorchester General Hospital, and the James Lawrence Kernan Hospital. As one of the largest hospital networks and related clinic services in Maryland, hundreds of patients each year require interpreting services to communicate successfully with hospital staff and medical personnel. WeInterpret.Net, providing interpreting services throughout the state of Maryland and in many locations across the country, is pleased to have been chosen by the University Medical System to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nationally Certified and Qualified Interpreters provided by WeInterpret.Net assure that the hospital is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. which requires equal access through appropriate methods of communication.

weinterpret

Appropriate communication methods vary by individual and We Interpret.Net can provide interpreters skilled in American Sign Language, Signed English, The Rochester Method, Cued Speech and Oral Interpretation. In areas such as the Washington / Baltimore metro area, interpreters are in high demand and short supply. “Full-time staff interpreters along with managers who are also certified interpreters, allows the agency to respond to every request with qualified interpreters even on the busiest of days or during the overnight and weekend hours,” stated Tauna Faries, Vice President of Operations for WeInterpret.Net.

About WeInterpret.Net
Maryland Interpreting Services, a Maryland corporation doing business as WeInterpret.Net and WeInterpretLinked was established in 1996. Owner and President, David Stephenson is a nationally certified interpreter. Since its establishment, it has provided some 6 million hours of interpreting services to some 900 customers through offices in Utah, Virginia, Maryland and New Mexico. Staff Interpreters and Independent Sub-Contractors numbering over 1000 provide On-Site (www.WeInterpret.Net) and Video Remote Interpreting. (www.WeInterpretLinked.com)

About University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) was created in 1984 when the state-owned University Hospital became a private, nonprofit organization. It has evolved into a multi-hospital system with academic, community and specialty service missions reaching every part of the state and beyond. (www.umm.edu) UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. It also has one of the world’s largest kidney transplant programs, as well as scores of other programs that improve the physical and mental health of thousands of people daily.

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

Anyware Group’s ROAM Helps Radiologists, Physicians And Managers Access Hospital Systems From Anywhere

With doctors spread across 4 rural counties, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan has implemented AnyWare Group’s ROAM (Role Oriented Access Management) as the remote access platform to deliver their medical systems and applications, leading to more timely adherence to the hospital’s “sign-off” policy.

All hospitals depend on physicians and radiologists to promptly “sign-off” on patient records – but it is challenging to encourage and sustain compliance when physicians are spread out over a wide rural area like Western Michigan. With ROAM, healthcare providers can access internal hospital systems, check patient records and sign-off reports, from home or in a distant office, improving the effectiveness, and lifestyles, of physicians, administrators and IT staff – who might otherwise be forced to stay overtime in the hospital.

“A high level of complexity can discourage consistent adherence to the “sign-off” policy,” said Sue Luskin, IS Supervisor at MMCWM. “ROAM is so intuitive, it’s easy to use right away and our physicians and staff took to it immediately.”

Sue Luskin recently received an email sent by Lynn S. McCurdy, D.O., a radiologist. Dr. McCurdy wrote:

“I just used ROAM to sign 28 reports (which were not transcribed yet when I left the hospital at 7:30 last night). It worked beautifully; in fact, much more smoothly than when I was editing and signing reports in house (perhaps because both I and the transcriptionist were busily accessing the list). Next time I won’t stay late while the weather is deteriorating, knowing I can sign things from the safety of my home.”

Memorial Medical also chose ROAM because it is “clientless” – so specialists in distant cities can be provided with a secure personalized portal that restricts access to only the systems and information they need, based on role, within minutes. Rural hospitals often rely on larger urban hospitals for consultations from on-call specialists, especially in emergency situations. Remote access systems that take days to add a new user, or require a high level of technical support for end users, are not well suited for this situation.

“We recently heard from a consulting radiologist from a large urban hospital who had provided a diagnosis for one of our emergency patients,” said Sue Luskin. “He said that consulting to Memorial Medical was such a wonderful experience – that we could set him up with a new temporary user account immediately and, within minutes, he was reviewing images and dictating his diagnosis. He was very impressed with the ease with which ROAM had made records available.”

Prior to introducing ROAM, Memorial Medical provided access to their HIS through IPsec VPN, which required that IT staff either burn and mail out a CD or visit distant offices and homes to install a client on each of the personal computers belonging to authorized users on the network. It was very time consuming for IT staff and tends to act as a disincentive to granting remote access to new users.

“We at AnyWare Group are very excited to be working with Memorial Medical on this important initiative that truly highlights the unique capabilities of the ROAM Platform,” said Robert Lalonde, CEO of AnyWare Group Inc. “By providing authorized physicians, clinicians and managers with a single point of access to hospital systems and applications, ROAM is helping Memorial Medical improve the work life and efficiency of physicians and staff.”

About Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan
Headquartered in the town of Ludington, Michigan, an area known for its beautiful beaches, spectacular sunsets and numerous parks, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan serves a community spread out over 4 rural counties, with over 500 employees, including those working in a satellite primary care facility in a neighboring county.

About AnyWare Group
AnyWare Group provides remote access solutions designed to meet the needs of 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.

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

MaineGeneral Health Selects AnyWare Group’s ROAM Platform For Remote Access

AnyWare Group Inc. announced today that MaineGeneral Health, one of the largest health care systems in Maine, has implemented AnyWare Group’s clientless remote access platform. The ROAM (Role Oriented Access Management) platform allows secure remote access to any designated application or file share within the health care system through a role-based portal.

Physicians associated with MaineGeneral’s Augusta and Waterville campuses may now use any PC or Mac, equipped with nothing more than a web browser and a basic version of JAVA, to access more than thirty applications within the health care system. Application examples include Eclipsys Sunrise, Allscripts TouchWorks, Philips iSite, Kronos and Lawson which reside in various environments including Citrix and Terminal Services.

“Initially we were looking for a very secure and cost effective remote access technology to connect our independent physicians to our EHR,” said Danny Burgess, CIO of MaineGeneral Health. “To be honest I had a very difficult time believing the claims of what ROAM could do for our organization. ROAM simply sounded too good to be true. Healthcare vendors routinely make extraordinary claims, but most have a track record of over-promising and under-delivering. It was not until we agreed to a ROAM pilot that AnyWare Group demonstrated they could do everything they said and much more.”

ROAM’s remote access capabilities have proven effective for the IT staff of MaineGeneral as well as a broad cross section of healthcare professionals. “The positive feedback from physicians has been overwhelming,” said Jimmy Mansir, System Support Technician. “Users are receiving the access they need, when needed”. “I have found ROAM to be an extremely powerful tool, simple to use and, best of all, it delivers only the applications that I require,” said Dr. Edward Ringel, Director of Clinical Informatics.

System engineering staff can deploy applications quickly, securely and reliably. “Prior to using ROAM for remote access, we had used IPSec VPN as well as one of the leading SSL VPN appliances – Citrix Access Gateway – for remote access connectivity. Both are great technologies, but we all agreed that ROAM delivered a level of security, simplicity and flexibility that was hard to ignore,” said Jerry Lindsay, Senior Systems Engineer. “Valuable IT resources have been freed to work in critical areas because, as a service, we just tell AnyWare Group what applications or roles we want to add to our ROAM Portal and they take care of it.”

AnyWare Group provides proactive monitoring and responsive 7/24 support as part of the service. “One of the most significant benefits of ROAM has been the support and engineering services that come bundled as part of the ROAM offering. There hasn’t been a single issue they couldn’t help us with”, said Mansir. “In addition our help calls regarding remote access have 
virtually disappeared as end users find the ROAM remote access solution extremely simple to use. There is virtually no learning curve for the end users.”

“Since AnyWare Group focuses on healthcare solutions, they have expertise that has helped us optimize a number of our applications including our PACS systems for remote access,” said Burgess.

“Having MaineGeneral Health as a customer is certainly a thrill for us. They have given us an opportunity to demonstrate the value we bring to both the IT department and end users – particularly physicians,” said Robert Lalonde, CEO of AnyWare Group. “The results at MaineGeneral legitimize the benefit claims of ROAM as a clientless remote access platform and are yet another customer proof point for us.”

About MaineGeneral Health
MaineGeneral Health is the parent corporation of a network of acute care hospitals, physician practices, long term nursing care, and assisted living and retirement communities.

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.

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Diagnostics, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Professionals, Hospitals, Medicine, Physicians, Psychiatry, Society

Wrongful Convictions Of Physicians By Department Of Health (NYSDOH) Linked To Patient Mortality

The proliferation of wrongful convictions in New York State prompted the NYS Bar Association to create a Blue Ribbon task force to study its systemic, procedural and statutory causes, and to propose solutions. Indeed, a report by the Innocence Project found New York State to be the national leader, outpacing all other states in its rate of wrongful convictions. The Blue Ribbon findings, embodied in a document entitled “ Final Report of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Wrongful Convictions” was unanimously endorsed by the Association’s House of Delegates on April 4.

The findings of the Task Force provide a disturbing commentary on flagrant errors by the New York State judicial system, leading to convictions of innocent individuals. In over 50% of cases, the failures of government practices – such as misconduct by prosecutors – were to blame for the wrongful convictions.

Wrongful convictions do not solely implicate the New York State criminal justice system. They are reportedly rife in the legal practices of the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), known for ignoring due process and abusing power in its disciplinary actions against physicians. Several bills aiming to redress these inequities were all vetoed. Reported among many of these due process violations is the denying of witnesses for phy sicians’ defense, the use of tainted judges, and the coaching of plaintiffs by prosecutors to lie – indeed, “winning” cases is vital for their career advancement. Especially targeted in these malicious prosecutions are physicians practicing complementary medicine. One physician who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution remarked, “Convicting doctors is a cinch: just don’t allow them any witnesses; then the Department is free to make up whatever it wants.”

The tragedy of wrongful convictions in matters of health care affects far more than physicians. The plight of patients suddenly obliged to forgo the continuity of their medical care by the forcible removal of their long term physicians via the challenging of their license is illustrated in press and Internet releases entitled, “Patient Mortality Linked to Judicial Errors.” Noted are certain fragile patients who, “vulnerable, sick, alone, frightened and suddenly deprived of their main lifeline (their physician), became acutely demoralized, refused referrals to other doctors or failed to bond with them, eventually giving up their will to live and neglecting their medical needs.” One physician reported the untimely deaths of 7 patients, including one from suicide, the rapid decline of 8 Alzheimer’s and the relapses of 12 psychiatric patients leading to their serial hospitalizations.”

In response, petitions have now been forwarded to agencies concerned with patient20welfare, calling for independent impact studies on state-ordered patient abandonment. Agencies contacted include the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The petition has also been sent to Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, NYSDOH.

This landmark study, of major interest to medical, psychiatric and medico-legal communities and the public at large, would aim to show that abruptly severing medical and psychiatric services by state agencies has serious and sometimes fatal consequences for patients – especially patients who are disadvantaged, infirm, chronically ill or psychiatrically disabled. It would also suggest remedial action. Indeed, if state agencies assume the power of terminating the basic care to patients provided for by their physicians, they presumably also should accept the responsibility for adequately supporting said patients through crisis, by providing them with life-saving continuity of care.

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Clinics, Cosmetic Surgery, Diabetes, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Hospitals, Liposuction, Obesity, Plastic Surgery, Surgery, Weight loss

Recent Research Published By The American Journal For Medicine Showed 87% Of Diabetics Either Saw A Complete Cure Or Improvement After Weight Loss Surgery

As the focus on the nation’s expanding waistlines grows, medical experts now believe that weight loss surgery can completely eliminate all types of Diabetes.

The UK’s number one weight loss surgery provider, The Hospital Group, has seen outstanding long-term results for its gastric band patients over the last three years. Of the 106 gastric band operations performed in January 2007, the total weight loss was a massive 300 stone. Obesity is the main risk factor for Diabetes, so sustained weight loss on this level goes a long way towards fighting the condition, which affects 2.5 million people in the UK, according to Diabetes UK.

The research published by the American Journal for Medicine showed that following obesity surgery, 87% of diabetics either saw a complete cure or improvement.

David Ross, Chief Executive of The Hospital Group, said: “More and more people are choosing to have obesity surgery with The Hospital Group and it’s fantastic because people see results so quickly, which gives them the get up and go to live healthier lifestyles – some free from Diabetes. You wouldn’t think it, but Australia is the gastric band capital of the world. Their government recognises the long-term savings it can make by funding obesity surgery on their national healthcare system – and in the same way, obesity surgery in the UK is saving the NHS money by curing Diabetes patients, which is currently costing the NHS £1m an hour.”

The huge surge in demand for obesity fighting treatments such as Gastric Bands, Balloons and Bypasses from The Hospital Group has more than doubled in the last year, rising from 111 operations in February 2008 to 225 in the same month in 2009. Continuing the trend, enquiries into gastric band surgery have risen by almost 25% from 727 in February 2007 to 963 in February 2009. Health-conscious surgery-seekers in February 2008 made 815 enquiries into The Hospital Group’s obesity surgery.

The Hospital Group is committed to providing the very highest standards and all procedures are performed by an expert medical team in state-of-the-art facilities that are second to none. Since The Hospital Group was established in 1992, it has grown from a small pharmaceutical company to one of the UK’s foremost cosmetic surgery providers, and the same high standards remain to this day. For further information of The Hospital Group’s range of gastric procedures, surgery-seekers should visit the website www.thehospitalgroup.org or call our patient care coordinators on 0845 762 6727.

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Local Respiratory Therapist Lobbies Washington D.C. for Better Health Care

Respiratory therapist Paul Sherman, MS, RRT, RPFT, RCP went to Washington, DC March 8 2009, representing California Respiratory Care Practitioners, to ask members of Congress to allow Medicare patients with lung disease to have greater access to the services of a respiratory therapist. 

Paul Sherman is a respiratory therapist at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and lives in Goleta, California.

Sherman met with Representatives Frank Wolf, James Moran, Senator Jim Webb, Carina Armenta of Senator Barbara Boxer’s office and Tim Gronniger, aid for Congressman Henry A. Waxman to ask their support for the Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative. Sherman plans to meet with Representative Lois Capps when she returns to her home district of Santa Barbara. Congressman Henry A. Waxman is the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce committee.

The Medicare Respiratory Therapy Initiative legislation will let patients more easily receive care in doctor’s offices from respiratory therapists, which is currently restricted under Medicare law. “Currently,” Sherman explains, “Medicare policy limits how patients can receive care from respiratory therapists, who are the expert caregivers for lung patients. We think that needs to change.”

Sherman is a member of the Political Advocacy Contact Team (PACT), a nationwide group organized by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to spearhead grassroots level advocacy efforts. Sherman is also a long time member of the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) and has served in the past on the Board of Directors of the CSRC.

The California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC), as an affiliate of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC), is a non-profit professional organization, whose mission is to represent and support our members through public and legislative advocacy, educational opportunities, and to continuously strive for excellence in the cardiopulmonary profession. By these means, the CSRC is committed to health, healing and disease prevention in the California community.

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Clinics, Healthcare, Hospitals, Liposuction, Medicine, Obesity, Surgery, Weight loss

Tummy Tuck And Liposuction, Before And After Photos

Tummy tuck and liposuction, before and after photos demonstrate why this combined surgery is becoming ever more popular. At £2846, it has become more affordable for many men and women to have the combined procedure to their tummy region.

Tummy tuck surgery at an affordable price, provided by Beautiful Beings.

Abdominal cosmetic surgery, commonly known as a tummy tuck offers a solution by flattening the slack skin and tightening the muscles of the relaxed abdominal wall, which frequently occurs after pregnancy or a distinct weight loss.

If needed, excess subcutaneous fatty tissue can be removed as well. The appearance and functional results of the tummy tuck are substantial, although scars are inevitable in order to remove excessive skin from the tummy during a tummy tuck. It leaves a permanent scar after. However, it will fade after time and its quality differs per individual. A tummy tuck is not only an aesthetic cosmetic surgery procedure but it provides a solution to functional deficiencies of the abdominal wall, i.e. inferior rectus muscle diastases. A tummy tuck not only brings about a better appearance and function, but it also stops the slackening process of the abdominal wall.

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