Soovu Labs, Inc. Partners with Cynergy Wellness Inc. to Offer Workers a Safe Pain Relief Alternative


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“We are thrilled to establish this partnership with Cynergy Wellness to extend the availability of our pain relief system to their workplace and consumer health customers,” said Jenny Hapgood, President of Soovu Labs.

Soovu Labs, Inc., manufacturer of drug-free wearable pain relief systems, announces its partnership with Cynergy Wellness Inc., a privately-owned provider of nationwide physician services for workplace screening and consumer health. Through the partnership, Cynergy offers discounted access to Soovu’s advanced pain relief system for the management of chronic and musculoskeletal pain.

Soovu’s FDA-registered wearable technology harnesses the power of patented thermal neuromodulation to alleviate pain and enhance the quality of life. In clinical trials, chronic pain sufferers experienced significant pain relief within 5 minutes of a single thermal therapy session, with the relief lasting 3.5 hours. After eight weeks of use, participants reported overall pain reduction and improvements in mobility, sleep, productivity, mood, and well-being.

“At Cynergy Wellness, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions that support workplace safety and consumer health,” said Angela Moore, CEO of Cynergy Wellness Inc. “We are delighted to partner with Soovu Labs to offer a drug-free and effective alternative for pain management that significantly enhances the safety, health, and well-being of individuals struggling with pain.”

Through this collaboration, Cynergy workplace customers and consumers with chronic and MSK pain may purchase the Soovu Pain Relief System at an exclusive partner rate. Additionally, they will have access to Soovu’s team of highly skilled pain management experts and coaches who provide personalized guidance and support, addressing any questions or concerns that may arise during their pain management journey.

“We are thrilled to establish this partnership with Cynergy Wellness to extend the availability of our pain relief system to their workplace and consumer health customers,” said Jenny Hapgood, President of Soovu Labs. “Effective pain management, particularly that which can be used on-the-job as Soovu can, plays an important role in helping workers return to work after injury and improving worker productivity. We firmly believe the collaboration with Cynergy will allow us to reach workers suffering from chronic pain and make a positive impact on their lives.”

For more information about Soovu Labs, Inc. and Cynergy Wellness Inc., please visit their websites at https://www.soovu.com/ and https://www.cynergywellness.com/.

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Cloud-Based Statistical Computing Solutions for Every Size Pharma, Biotech, or CRO, Upcoming Webinar Hosted by Xtalks


There are many solutions available, but how do you know which is the best for your project?

When it comes to transforming and analyzing clinical trial data, there’s a huge number of manual steps and handoffs between siloed groups making it incredibly easy to lose information through the life cycle. A few of the most common problems are found within the biometrics area which can be plagued by disjointed systems, high IT costs, extended installation timelines, and validation burdens, among other variables. These obstacles can eat away at your budget, time, and resources. Or what if you do something wrong and need to start over? There are many solutions available, but how do you know which is the best for your project?

Join us on Monday, June 12th at 2pm EDT as experts from Instem, Chris Decker and John Leveille dive into how users can overcome common obstacles in the biometric area using a statistical computing environment (SCE) which provides a centralized compliance, analysis, and submission solution enabled by the cloud for any size pharmaceutical company and CROs. They’ll explain and demonstrate how using a cloud-based statistical computing environment (SCE) that comes preloaded and validated with tools, applications, and licenses for your biometric team can increase efficiency by allowing users to share data, programs, and analysis results.

Register today to learn:

(1)    An overview of a cloud-based SCE’s value and key capabilities

(2)    A demonstration of how programmers and statisticians can leverage different tools to improve their processes

(3)    A sneak peak of an even more powerful cloud enabled platform for managing the biometrics workflow at large pharmaceutical companies and CROs

(4)    Q&A portion

Join Chris Decker, VP Clinical Solutions, Instem; John Leveille, Executive Vice President, Clinical Trial Acceleration, Instem; and Wayne DellaMaestra, Senior Director, Clinical Data Programming, Dermavant Sciences, for the live webinar on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 2pm EDT (11am PDT).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Accelerating Biometrics Results: Cloud-Based Statistical Computing Solutions for Every Size Pharma, Biotech, or CRO.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

Contact:

Vera Kovacevic

Tel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x371

Email: vkovacevic@xtalks.com

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ScitoVation Recipient of National Institute of Environmental Health Science Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Award of $1.8 Million


Pioneers in Chemical Safety Assessment

“The lack of a regulatory human cell mutagenicity assay is a significant data gap in genetic toxicology risk assessment.”

ScitoVation is the recipient of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II award of $1.8 Million that is granted over two years in $900,000 increments. The SBIR program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization; enabling small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization.

Leslie Recio, PhD, ScitoVation’s Chief Scientific Officer, explains the focus of this SBIR Phase II application: “We will develop a New Approach Methodology (NAM) combining human cells and game changing technology developed by TwinStrand Biosciences referred to as error-corrected next generation sequencing (EcNGS) as in vitro alternatives to current rodent cell mutagenicity assessments and as an in vitro alternative to rodent mutation assays. The lack of a regulatory human cell mutagenicity assay is a significant data gap in genetic toxicology risk assessment.”

ScitoVation plans to replace fifty-year-old clonal selection techniques to assess mutation in mammalian cells by using error-corrected next generation sequencing (EcNGS) to quantify mutations in human TK6 cell and in proliferation induced HepaRG™ cells in two specific aims. Completion of this Phase II SBIR will produce two human cell-based mutation assays that can be used as a follow up to bacterial mutation assays and as a NAM to reduce reliance on current in vivo gene mutation assays in rodents. These assays will be a cornerstone of ScitoVation’s NAM based vision for next generation genotoxicity assessment using human relevant cell-based models and dosimetry for human safety and risk assessments.

Jean Orelien, DrPH, MStat, CEO ScitoVation, is pleased to receive the award. “As a small company, this award supports our scientists performing cutting edge research that fills a data gap and provides better outcomes for the risk assessment community by relying less on animals.”

The funding officially starts May 23, 2023.

For more information, please contact Dr. Les Recio lrecio@scitovation.com

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44ES035336. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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KUBRA Named One of Arizona’s Best Companies for Mental Health


KUBRA logo

“We’re committed to reducing the stigma around mental health by creating an inclusive environment where our people feel supported in managing their mental health and providing tools and programs to encourage mental wellness in our workplace.” – Rick Watkin, President and CEO, KUBRA

KUBRA, a leading provider of customer experience management solutions for some of the largest utility, insurance, and government entities, is honored to be named one of Arizona’s Best Companies for Mental Health by BestCompaniesAZ.

“Being recognized for helping set a new standard for employee well-being in the workplace is an absolute honor,” said Rick Watkin, President and CEO. “We’re committed to reducing the stigma around mental health by creating an inclusive environment where our people feel supported in managing their mental health and providing tools and programs to encourage mental wellness in our workplace.”

KUBRA is recognized for its dedication to prioritizing its employees’ mental health. Through various wellness programs, including paid mental health days, generous time off, free Headspace subscriptions and gym memberships, and flexible work schedules, KUBRA is focused on helping keep their employees’ minds and bodies happy and healthy. Visit the careers page at https://bestcompaniesaz.com/kubra-careers-culture/ to view KUBRA’s current opportunities.

BestCompaniesAZ

Arizona’s Employer Branding Partner, BestCompaniesAZ, specializes in helping corporate clients develop, strengthen, and market their unique employer brands through a variety of digital marketing, events, communication, and award programs. Founded in 2002, BestCompaniesAZ pioneered the intersection of recruiting, human resources, marketing, and public relations and has evolved into an exclusive, niche PR, marketing, and employer branding firm specializing in building and promoting strong employer brands. For more information, visit BestCompaniesAZ.com.

About KUBRA

KUBRA provides customer experience management solutions to some of the largest utility, government, and insurance entities across North America. Our extensive portfolio includes billing and payments, mapping, mobile apps, proactive communications, and artificial intelligence solutions for customers. With more than 1.5 billion customer interactions annually, KUBRA services reach over 40% of households in the U.S. and Canada. KUBRA is an operating subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation. Visit https://www.kubra.com for more information.

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Perspectives Honors St. Louis Park Councilwoman and Certified Peer Recovery Coach Yolanda Farris, with its First-Ever Phoenix Award


Yolanda Farris

When I was accepted into Perspectives, it was the first time that I received comprehensive psychological support to create a new life for myself and my son. I cried when I moved into a fully furnished apartment with my son. This was my last chance, and I was determined to live by the rules.

Perspectives is Minnesota’s largest therapeutic supportive housing program for women and children who have experienced long-term trauma, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, and poverty. As a former client of Perspectives, Yolanda Farris understands addiction, poverty, and despair. With a history of childhood trauma and grief, substance abuse was a way to block painful memories and intense emotions.

“When I was accepted into Perspectives, it was the first time that I received comprehensive psychological support to create a new life for myself and my son,” said Ms. Farris. “I cried when I moved into a fully furnished apartment where my son could have his own room. This was my last chance, and I was determined to live by the rules.”

“Yolanda’s willpower and commitment to Perspectives was evident throughout her time as a client,” remarked Jeannie Seeley-Smith, Perspectives CEO. “She became a model resident, who encouraged other women to stay sober, so that they could remain in Perspectives housing and keep custody of their children. It was obvious that she could become an asset to our team.”

Since 2016, Yolanda Farris has been a peer support specialist, who meets with clients when they enter the program. She delights in being able to give them the keys to their own furnished apartment. She directs a recovery support group and meets with clients one-on-one every week. Because she lives on the Perspectives campus, she is available to residents when they need guidance and support.

Perspectives systematically addresses the growing need for early intervention programming for children while providing comprehensive services for mothers. Perspectives children’s services include a year-round academic and social enrichment program. The Cargill Kids Cafe provides lunch and dinner to children living at the Perspectives housing campus five days a week during the school year. A summer program serves breakfast and lunch.

Funding the Future:

The Kids Cafe is still growing. Perspectives is in the middle of a capital campaign to expand Perspectives’ Family Center (site of Kids Cafe) by 16,000 square feet. This new 38,000-square-foot state-of-the-art center will shine within the city of St. Louis Park as a beacon of hope to those who have been disenfranchised.

About Perspectives:

Perspectives is known as a national model, providing comprehensive mental health services for women and children emerging from homelessness and addiction. Perspectives proven track record demonstrates the disruption of cycles of dysfunctional lifestyles through a holistic approach that includes trauma-informed care, therapeutic services, supportive housing, and comprehensive children’s programming. For more information, please contact Annemarie Osborne at 949.237.2906 or annemarieosborne7@gmail.com or Jacqueline Michaud at 952.405.2529, jmichaud@perspectives-family.org or visit https://www.perspectives-family.org/.

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ABQAURP Announces Recipient of the 2023 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award


2023 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award Winner

Kimberly K. Garner, MD, JD, MPH, FAAFP, CHCQM

I am tremendously honored to be awarded the 2023 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award…Assisting individuals, especially Veterans, to plan for future medical decisions is critical in the process of honoring their personal and health care preferences.

The American Board of Quality Assurance & Utilization Review Physicians is pleased to announce the selection of Kimberly K. Garner, MD, JD, MPH, FAAFP, CHCQM, as the recipient of the 2023 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award. Dr. Garner is the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Integrated Clinical Communities Lead for the South Central Veterans Health Care System Network in Little Rock, Arkansas. She served as Project Lead for the award-winning quality initiative, the Veterans Health Administration Enterprise-Wide: Advance Care Planning via Group Visits.

Advance Care Planning via Group Visits (ACP-GV) engages Veterans, their families, and caregivers in advance care planning by facilitating group discussions to prompt conversation about personal experience and encouraging participants to actively participate in the planning of future health care needs. ACP-GV’s objectives are to engage and enable Veterans to communicate future health care preferences and to improve choice and timeliness to advance care planning (ACP) discussions, especially in medically underserved rural areas.

Started as a VA Clinical Demonstration Project in 2012, the project has grown and was awarded as a VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative to evaluate and determine best practices to promote nationwide facilitation of ACP-GV, serving tens of thousands of Veterans. According to the National ACP-GV Program database, at the end of 2022, the program was adopted in a total of 63 sites out of 171 VA medical centers.

Completion of the Advanced Directive is documented within the VA’s electronic medical record system for all providers to access. The Veteran also receives a card stating they have an Advanced Directive at their named VA Medical Center with a phone number for their providers to document.

ACP-GV exemplifies the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) focus on incorporating strategies to initiate “what matters” conversations in support of Age Friendly Health System across the VHA. The National ACP-GV Program applies the Whole Health and Age Friendly Health System’s 4Ms framework in many ways. ACP-GV encourages discussion and supports federal law in protecting the veteran’s rights, values, beliefs, and the inclusion of caregivers and family members and communication with their health care team.

The Project Lead, Dr. Kimberly Garner, was chosen as winner of the CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award based on a quality improvement initiative that is sustainable over time, with impressive results, and impacting a large number of individuals in a positive manner. ACP, palliative care, and hospice are areas that health systems struggle with despite a lot of effort and resources. This initiative offers a framework that can be adopted by others for improvement throughout health care systems nationwide.

Dr. Garner’s vast health care experience is exemplified through serving on numerous committees within the VA, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and throughout the geriatric care community. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has been an investigator on various research grants and has served as project lead in several VHA clinical initiatives. She has been published within the Veteran’s community, with articles in clinical care areas, and in numerous geriatric publications. She is well-versed in ACP and has presented lectures and educational activities on advanced care planning (ACP), palliative care, and various geriatric care topics.

In acceptance of the Award, Dr. Garner states, “I am tremendously honored to be awarded the 2023 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award for my activities in Advance Care Planning via Group Visits. Assisting individuals, especially Veterans, to plan for future medical decisions is critical in the process of honoring their personal and health care preferences. This is one of the most important aspects of our roles as health care professionals.”

ABQAURP extends a sincere Thank You to Dr. Garner, her team, and all those who submitted outstanding achievements in quality and patient safety that have led to improvement, positive outcomes, and the advancement of Health Care Quality Management and Patient Safety.

Join us at the 2023 Annual Health Care Quality & Patient Safety Conference to hear more and to congratulate Dr. Garner and celebrate all of our Diplomate’s achievements. For more event information, please visit: https://www.abqaurp.org/AnnualConference.

About ABQAURP

Celebrating 45 years of excellence in Health Care Quality Management and Patient Safety, ABQAURP is a premier professional association providing Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) certification, ACCME-accredited continuing medical education, and membership to health care professionals worldwide. Learn more at: https://www.abqaurp.org.

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Koa Health Partners with International SOS to enable global access to mental healthcare across the continuum


A business traveler stands in front of a window looking out on a city skyline

Employees around the world need mental health support: Koa Health & International SOS have a plan to enable access across the continuum

“For a majority of working adults (up to 75%), traditional pathways to care don’t lead people to the help they need or want,” said Jennifer Gendron, Global CCO at Koa Health, “Business leaders must take action sooner, not later to support employees physical and mental wellbeing.”

Koa Health, a leading global provider of digital-first mental healthcare, today announced a new partnership with International SOS, a pioneer, and leader in international health & security risk management solutions, to unlock the value of positive mental health and wellbeing in workplaces everywhere.

Koa Health’s clinically validated mental wellbeing app, Koa Foundations, will become a part of the International SOS mental health ecosystem as the two companies partner together to support employee mental health across the continuum. Koa’s top-ranked, science-based app will be integrated into International SOS’ Workforce Resilience Subscription, making it easy for organizations to boost mental resilience and offer support for everyday mental health challenges to their employees around the world, reducing individual and business risks and driving positive outcomes for workers and the organizations who employ them.

Available to more than 3 million users worldwide, Koa Foundations is more than a wellbeing app, improving access to mental health support and covering a range of evidence-based interventions and activities from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), Positive Psychology, and more. Koa Foundations has been shown to significantly benefit users in two to four weeks of use, helping them to work through common mental health challenges, such as anxious thoughts and feeling low, stress, burnout, trouble disconnecting, sleep problems, and more.

“For a majority of working adults (up to 75%), traditional pathways to care don’t lead people to the help they need or want. With the shortage of mental healthcare professionals at all-time highs, individuals who lack a formal diagnosis struggle to access the support they need. Due to these constraints, people have to get worse before they can get the help they need to feel better. Business leaders must take action sooner, not later, to support employees’ physical and mental wellbeing to help them bring their best selves to work and beyond,” said Jennifer Gendron, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Koa Health.

“Mental health impacts every aspect of how we live and work. In challenging times, we are experiencing historic prevalence of mental disorders. In this context, protecting mental health has become a key priority for workers of all ages and backgrounds. Koa Health’s clinically rigorous mental health tools empower employers and health plans to quickly and comprehensively address the full spectrum of health with effective, evidence-based mental health support. By partnering with International SOS, we hope to enable discrete access to care of the highest quality. Together, our partnership aims to address the fact that more than half of individuals experiencing clinical-level mental health challenges do not access care due to concerns about stigma and the efficacy and affordability of treatment. We look forward to bringing access and quality to clients around the world,” said Dr. Oliver Harrison, Chief Executive Officer at Koa Health.

Trusted by more than 9,000 organizations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, the International SOS Group of Companies leverages innovative technology and medical and security expertise to focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery to help global organizations fulfill their Duty of Care responsibilities. As a key provider for International SOS’ Workforce Resilience services, Koa Health has been vetted through comprehensive blue-chip security, privacy, and business operations reviews. This allows for streamlined contracting, procurement, and billing through the partnership.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Koa Health. By adding Koa’s flagship mental wellbeing app to our Workforce Resilience Subscription, we are endorsing the power of timely and proactive mental health support to reduce mental and physical health risks and the incidence of mental illness. It is vital for organizations to prioritize mental health in their workplaces and take an integrated and comprehensive approach by offering proactive care across the continuum from prevention to treatment,” says Dr. Neil Nerwich, Group Medical Director, International SOS, “By accessing Koa Foundations through International SOS’ Workforce Resilience Subscription, organizations can quickly and effectively implement a mental wellbeing solution that supports the full range of mental health for all their unique populations while reducing the lift for busy in-house teams.”

Read how industry leaders plan to support mental health in 2023. Visit http://www.koahealth.com or follow us at @KoaHealth on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more.

About Koa Health

Koa Health is the leading global provider offering evidence-based, personalized, integrated solutions and services that deliver mental health for everyone. Available to more than 3 million users worldwide, Koa Health addresses the full continuum of mental health needs – from prevention to treatment. Backed by investors such as Telefónica, a consortium advised by Ancora Finance Group, Wellington Partners Life Sciences, and MTIP, Koa Health leverages deep clinical expertise, research, and technology to deliver effective and accessible care that adapts to users’ unique circumstances, leading to lasting behavior change and positive health outcomes across the full continuum of mental health. Koa Health partners with employers, health plans, health systems, and providers worldwide, with its headquarters in the Netherlands and operations in Boston, London, and Barcelona.

About Koa Foundations

Koa Health’s flagship app, Koa Foundations, has been top-ranked by expert mental health reviewers ORCHA and OneMind’s Psyberguide, boasts top user ratings across app stores, and has proven health outcomes in sleep, resilience, and overall wellbeing in just two weeks. Built by leading experts in neuroscience, psychiatry, behavioral therapy, and digital therapeutics, Koa Health’s solutions leverage evidence-based programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), positive psychology, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation techniques, psychoeducation, emotional regulation, and acceptance and commitment training (ACT) to drive health outcomes and deliver long-lasting behavior change. Powered by a proprietary AI recommendation engine, employees have access to a rich library of exclusive, bite-sized educational content, tools, interventions, activities, and games designed to provide an engaging employee benefit for a diverse population.

About the International SOS Group of Companies

The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives, protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customized health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, your organization’s reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organizations can fulfill their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.

Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is trusted by more than 9,000 organizations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions and NGOs. 13,000 multicultural medical, security and logistics experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.

To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: http://www.internationalsos.com

Di Smalley, FACHE, Appointed to AHSG Board of Directors


“I am excited to work alongside a talented team as we embrace innovative technology through our world-class SaaS platform, Trio VMS, and Per Diem shift scheduling, Trio Shifts, to drive growth and deliver exceptional value to our clients and healthcare professionals alike,” said Smalley.

American Health Staffing Group (AHSG) announced today that it has appointed Di Smalley, Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, to its Board of Directors.

Smalley joins AHSG with an illustrious track record of success in healthcare as a CEO, nurse executive, and a system executive. She has also had tremendous success in the private sector, both in for-profit and not-for-profit settings.

“I am honored to join this exceptional organization, committed to providing incomparable workforce solutions to healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes,” said Di Smalley, FACHE. “I am excited to work alongside a talented team as we embrace innovative technology through our world-class SaaS platform, Trio VMS, and Per Diem shift scheduling, Trio Shifts, to drive growth and deliver exceptional value to our clients and healthcare professionals alike.”

Smalley’s experience includes more than a decade as CEO of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma. She then served as Sr. Vice President of Workforce Solutions for the entire Mercy system, a role in which she was instrumental in the selection and implementation of Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Vendor Management Systems (VMS).

“We’re thrilled to welcome Di Smalley to the AHSG Board of Directors,” said Mark Smith, CEO. “Di is a wealth of knowledge, thanks to her impressive experience in clinical settings and healthcare operations. She will be a vital part of our team that is dedicated to delivering forward-thinking, visionary solutions to our clients.”

Some of Smalley’s notable career recognitions and accomplishments include:


  • Becker’s Hospital Review Top 100 Woman Hospital and Healthcare Executives to Know (three separate instances)
  • Becker’s Hospital Review “15 Hospital CEO’s and CFOs to Know”
  • Gold Medal Award, the highest honor granted by the American College of Healthcare Executives
  • Woman of the Year – 50 Making a Difference, Oklahoma Journal Record (2014)
  • Co-founder of Avantas and pioneer of a predictive model for staffing to minimize human resource waste and maximize labor efficiency.

AHSG is a leading workforce solutions provider in the healthcare sector, having been named this year to prestigious lists including:

  • The Oklahoman Top Work Places (#1) of 2022
  • SIA Best Firms to Work For
  • SIA Largest Healthcare Staffing Firms in the United States
  • SIA Largest Travel Nurse Staffing Firms in the United States
  • SIA Fastest-Growing U.S. Healthcare Staffing Firms

About American Health Staffing Group:

AHSG is a national healthcare talent and technology services business, serving thousands of endpoints across health systems, hospitals, and outpatient clinics in all 50 states. AHSG’s seven divisions span the entire healthcare workforce solutions continuum and include its leading flagship SaaS products, Trio VMS, Trio Shifts and Insight ATS+. AHSG is a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co., LLC.

If you would like to arrange for an interview with CEO Mark Smith to discuss this topic or other AHSG innovations, please contact Cade Webb, Marketing Manager, at (405) 697-2099. For more information about AHSG Workforce Solutions, visit http://www.theahsg.com. For more information about AHSG’s leading vendor-neutral workforce solutions software, Trio, visit http://www.ahtgsolutions.com/trio-vms. For more information about AHSG’s leading vendor-neutral Managed Service Provider, AHSA, visit http://www.ahsa.com.

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Photon-Counting CT Offers Superior Imaging in Babies with Heart Defects


Infants and neonates with suspected congenital heart defects are a technically challenging group of patients for any imaging method, including CT. There is a substantial clinical need to improve cardiac CT of this vulnerable group.

A new advanced form of CT imaging called photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) offers better cardiovascular imaging quality at a similar radiation dose compared to dual-source CT (DSCT) in infants with suspected cardiac heart defects, according to a study published today, May 23, in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, occurring in up to one percent of live births. Of those, approximately 25% are critical defects requiring surgical intervention within the first month after birth. A comprehensive assessment, including ultrasound, MRI and CT exams, is typically needed to plan for surgery and to create virtual and printed 3D reconstructions of the heart.

“Infants and neonates with suspected congenital heart defects are a technically challenging group of patients for any imaging method, including CT,” said Timm Dirrichs, M.D., senior physician and specialist in cardiothoracic radiology in the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at RWTH Aachen University Hospital in Aachen, Germany. “There is a substantial clinical need to improve cardiac CT of this vulnerable group. It’s essential to carefully map the individual cardiac anatomy and possible routes of surgical intervention using the highest possible diagnostic standards.”

PCCT is an emerging imaging technique that counts the exact number and measures the energy of incoming x-ray photons. Compared with DSCT technology, PCCT offers higher image resolution and/or reduced radiation doses, which is of particular interest when imaging children. The PCCT technique has already been shown to improve cardiovascular CT imaging in adults. However, data on neonates and small children are lacking.

“Our aim was to evaluate the image quality of first-generation photon-counting CT for cardiac imaging in children with suspected cardiac heart defects compared with third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) and to compare the respective radiation exposure,” Dr. Dirrichs said.

The research team analyzed existing clinical CT exams of 113 children who underwent contrast enhanced PCCT (30 infants), DSCT (83 infants) or both PCCT and DSCT (one infant) of the heart and thoracic aorta between January 2019 and October 2022. The study group consisted of 55 girls/58 boys (median age 66 days).

The researchers found that the PCCT images were sharper, with less image noise and greater contrast than DSCT images. The mean overall visual image quality ratings were higher for PCCT versus DSCT at a similar radiation dose. More than 97% of the PCCT images were at least diagnostic quality, compared to 77% of the DSCT images.

“In our study, none of the PCCT examinations exhibited a poor image quality, and only a few were of limited or moderate quality,” Dr. Dirrichs said.

He noted that of the DSCT images, almost one-quarter were of limited or non-diagnostic quality, and 40% were of moderate quality.

“PCCT is a promising method that may improve diagnostic image quality and efficiency compared to DSCT imaging,” Dr. Dirrichs said. “This higher efficiency can be used to reduce the radiation dose at a given image quality level or to improve image quality at a given radiation level.”

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“Photon-counting versus Dual-Source CT of Congenital Heart Defects in Neonates and Infants: Initial Experience.” Collaborating with Dr. Dirrichs were Eric Tietz, M.D., André Rüffer, M.D., Jens Hanten, M.D., Thai Duy Nguyen, M.D., Ebba Dethlefsen, M.D., and Christiane K. Kuhl, M.D.

In 2023, Radiology is celebrating its 100th anniversary with 12 centennial issues, highlighting Radiology’s legacy of publishing exceptional and practical science to improve patient care.

Radiology is edited by Linda Moy, M.D., New York University, New York, N.Y., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https://pubs.rsna.org/journal/radiology)

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on CT and pediatric imaging, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

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