All posts by imreal

Health

ProPharma Group Recognized by Everest Group as a Major Contender in Life Sciences Operations PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2023

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“We are honored to be named a Major Contender this year, with ProPharma making one of the biggest climbs in placement among all the companies assessed,” said ProPharma Group CEO Michael Stomberg. “This achievement underscores our focus on technology-enabled consulting and delivering comprehensive solutions for our clients. In less than a year after the launch of our Research Consulting Organization model, our team has achieved a number of significant milestones and I’m immensely proud that their hard work has been recognized in this way by Everest Group.”

ProPharma was evaluated by Everest Group alongside 27 other leading global life sciences operations providers based on various parameters encompassing their market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, vision and strategy, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, and delivery footprint. The assessment by Everest Group consisted of interactions with leading life sciences operations service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the life sciences operations market.

The full report can be viewed here.

About ProPharma
For over 20 years, ProPharma has improved the health and wellness of patients by providing advice and expertise that empowers biotech, med device, and pharmaceutical organizations of all sizes to confidently advance scientific breakthroughs and introduce new therapies. As the world’s largest RCO (Research Consulting Organization), ProPharma partners with its clients through an advise-build-operate model across the complete product lifecycle. With deep domain expertise in regulatory sciences, clinical research solutions, quality and compliance, pharmacovigilance, medical information, and R&D technology, ProPharma offers an end-to-end suite of fully customizable consulting solutions that de-risk and accelerate our partners’ most high-profile drug and device programs. For more information about ProPharma, please visit: https://www.propharmagroup.com.

ProPharma Media Inquiries and Contacts:

Zosya Popik
Vice President, Global Marketing
ProPharma
[email protected]

Jason Wakeford
Associate Partner
Clarity for ProPharma
[email protected]

Media Contact

Jason Wakeford, Clarity for ProPharma, 424-385-4062, [email protected], https://www.propharmagroup.com/

SOURCE ProPharma

Health

CSG Government Solutions Selected by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to Support Procurement of a Pharmacy Claims Management Solution

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“CSG is dedicated to supporting MassHealth’s mission to promote the health, resilience, and independence of the people it serves,” says Robin Dufresne, Director of CSG’s Healthcare and Human Services Practice. “CSG is applying our national Pharmacy and Medicaid enterprise system expertise to help assure the Commonwealth achieves its pharmacy solution goals.”

Contact:
Robin Dufresne
Director, Healthcare and Human Services Practice
CSG Government Solutions
180 N. Stetson Ave
Suite 3200
Chicago, IL 60601
312.444.2760 Fax: 312.938.2191
[email protected]

About CSG Government Solutions:
CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm helping states modernize critical program enterprises. We help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG clients include 47 state and territory governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments. For more information, visit http://www.csgdelivers.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE CSG Government Solutions



Science: Biology

Locks Decline in September Due to Seasonal Purchase Declines, Rates Hit Multi-Decade Highs

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September’s lock decline continues a four-month trend of declining volumes, with purchase locks down 20%, cash-outs down 17%, and rate/term refis down 18% from August. Total volumes were down 33% from the same time last year. Additionally, purchase lock counts – which exclude the impact of rising home prices – were down 32% year over year, and 39% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Conforming loans gave up share in September to all other product types. While still making up the majority of production at 57%, conforming volumes are trending well below pandemic levels and have returned to the mid-50–60% range seen in 2018 and 2019. FHA and VA production both gained share, rising to 20.6% and 10.4%, respectively. The lock production share of nonconforming loans – including both jumbo and expanded guidelines – grew as well in September to 11.1% of the total.

“As the market reacted to the Fed’s ‘higher for longer’ message, we saw mortgage rates pushed to multi-decade highs in September,” Smith continued. “We also continue to see average credit scores remaining high, suggesting tight credit availability and a relatively small cohort of buyers who can make a purchase in this historically unaffordable environment.”

The Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices 30-year conforming rate rose 33 basis points during the month to close at 7.41%, with FHA at 7.18%, VA at 7.00%, and jumbo loans up to 7.60%. Rates are now roughly a quarter point higher than the highs in fall 2022. The 30-year conforming rate spread to the 10-year Treasury narrowed 17 basis points, with the 10-year finishing September at approximately 4.6% – nearly 40 basis points above the highs set last fall.

Each month’s Originations Market Monitor provides high-level origination metrics for the U.S. and the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas by share of total origination volume. View the Optimal Blue Originations Market Monitor report for more detail on September’s activity: OMM-Report_September2023.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue
Optimal Blue is the market leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology. The company facilitates transactions among mortgage market participants through its Marketplace Platform, actionable data, and technology vendor connections. The platform supports a range of functions for originators and investors to automate and optimize core processes related to product, pricing, and eligibility, hedge analytics, MSR valuation, loan trading, social media compliance, and counterparty oversight. The company’s premier product, pricing and eligibility engine – the Optimal Blue PPE – is used by 64% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S. For more information on Optimal Blue’s end-to-end secondary marketing automation, visit http://www.OptimalBlue.com.

Media Contact

Olivia DeLancey, Optimal Blue, 904.854.5459, [email protected], https://www2.optimalblue.com/

SOURCE Optimal Blue

Health

Healthcare M&A Volume Falls in Q3:23, According to Acquisition Data from LevinPro HC

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However, activity in the Home Health & Hospice and Behavioral Health Care sectors remained stable thanks to tailwinds in each market. More and more patients are seeking alternatives to facility-based care, turning toward home health services, and demand for substance use disorder treatment services have driven investment in that area.

The Hospital sector saw a slight increase, with 22 deal announcements in the third quarter. Nearly all of the activity in the sector was driven by acquisitions from health systems, with REITs and other investors stepping away in the third quarter.

The largest hospital deal of the third quarter was PureHealth’s acquisition of Circle Health Limited for $1.2 billion, or 1.0x Circle’s 2021 full-year revenue. Circle Health has approximately 2,000 beds and 53 hospitals around the United Kingdom. The U.K.-based health system was sold by Centene Corporation, which invested in Circle Health in 2019 and acquired the remaining equity interests in the company in July 2021.

In the healthcare technology markets, deal volume took a hit across the spectrum: Medical Device, eHealth and BioPharma M&A activity all dropped by an average of 30% compared with the previous quarter, with Medical Devices seeing the worst slowdown at a 45% decrease. Companies like Biogen Inc and Eli Lilly had some headline-worthy transactions, with the former announcing a $7.3 billion takeover of Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Deal value in the third quarter totaled $36.8 billion, a decline of 41% compared with the $62.6 billion spent in the second quarter, based on disclosed prices. Other notable deals include Danaher Corporation’s purchase of Abcam Plc, a global life science company that distributes antibodies and associated protein research tools, for $5.7 billion.

“It seems like the macro headwinds have finally caught up to the healthcare M&A market,” said Dylan Sammut, Editor of Health Care at Irving Levin Associates, which publishes M&A data on its LevinPro HC platform. “Although interest rates will eventually fall, the labor challenges could have a long-lasting impact on the industry. Some analysts have suggested that things will pick up again in 2025, but the next 12 months are going to be tough for investors and providers alike.”

All quarterly results are published in The Health Care M&A Report, which is part of the Irving Levin Associates and LevinPro investment research source. For information, or to order the reports, call 800-248-1668. Irving Levin Associates is celebrating more than 70 years of delivering exclusive M&A intelligence to its sophisticated audience of seniors housing and healthcare investors. The company was established in 1948 and has offices in New Canaan, Connecticut and North Bethesda, Maryland. The company publishes research reports and newsletters and maintains databases on the healthcare and senior housing M&A markets.

Media Contact

Dylan Sammut, Irving Levin Associates, 203-846-6800, [email protected], www.levinassociates.com

SOURCE LevinPro HC

health and fitness

PathKeeper Surgical Demonstrates New Technology at Prestigious North American Spine Society Annual Meeting

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The PathKeeper System was designed to replace traditional navigation technology with an active, independent and precise 3D optical navigation system. It offers tracking and registration accuracy to less than 1mm, an efficient surgical workflow from planning to post-operative analysis, elimination of radiation exposure during the surgical procedure and a more economical price so both the hospital and ambulatory surgical center operating rooms can incorporate this new technology.

“The United States represents a strategically important market for commercializing the PathKeeper System and the NASS annual meeting is the ideal environment to demonstrate our technology to spine surgeons from the United States and around the world,” said Erez Lampert, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of PathKeeper Surgical.

PathKeeper Surgical received its FDA 510k clearance earlier this year for the PathKeeper System. The name PathKeeper effectively describes the essence of the system – a 3D optical navigation system that ‘keeps’ the surgical ‘path’ on course throughout the surgery. Learn more at https://www.path-keeper.com.

About PathKeeper Surgical

PathKeeper Surgical is an Israeli-based, medical technology company that has established a solution to combat the high failure rates seen in spinal surgeries. PathKeeper was founded in 2018 by Erez Lampert, a top 3D medical imaging expert with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and aerospace industries, and a proven track record in the field of 3D imaging. Erez previously served as the R&D leader for the Itero Element Intraoral Scanner for Align Technology (Invisalign), the leading 3D dental scanner in the world today. Josh Schroeder, MD, the Director of Spinal Deformities at Hadassah Medical Center and a HSS fellow, has been onboard since the inception of the company as a clinical advisor. Erez and Josh’s combined knowledge and experience enabled the company to develop an innovative navigation system that outperforms existing solutions. For more information, go to https://www.path-keeper.com.

Media Contact

Ryan LeBlanc, PathKeeper Surgical, 1 860-334-6493, [email protected], https://www.path-keeper.com

SOURCE PathKeeper Surgical

Health

NJ-CRC Announces the Launch of Statewide Cannabis Safe-Use Campaign

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“While the enabling legislation stipulates the Commission provide information to the public about safe and responsible cannabis consumption, we see safety and harm reduction messaging as more than legal obligation,” said NJ-CRC executive director, Jeff Brown. “Safety is one of the values – with equity – that we have embraced as part of our mission and duty to the public.”

The campaign, produced with the marketing firm Princeton Partners, is broad in its reach and its focus. The ads include messages to teenagers, parents of young children, seniors, drivers, and those pregnant and nursing; as well as reminders to cannabis consumers to buy from legal dispensaries where they can be assured of safety, and to store their cannabis and cannabis products properly to avoid accidental ingestion.

Commissioner Krista Nash, who co-chairs the Commission’s Public Engagement and Education Committee, said she was pleased to see the campaign ready to be launched across the state.

In her remarks she said, “Our top priority is the safety, health, and well-being of all New Jerseyans – whether they are cannabis consumers or not. Launching this campaign demonstrates New Jersey’s dedication to responsible legalization, emphasizing safe use among adults, while protecting our youth and vulnerable populations.”

The outdoor portion of campaign will utilize digital billboards along New Jersey’s major roadways, and includes posters in beauty salons and barber shops across the state for localized awareness. Streaming service ads will invite interaction with viewers for maximum exposure and some of the campaign’s internet ads will measure public learning over the life of the campaign.

Dr. Dianne Calello, executive medical director at the New Jersey Poison Control Center, also spoke at the press conference.

“We commend the NJ-CRC’s commitment to ensuring that cannabis users in New Jersey are educated and informed,” Calello said. “The majority of child-related exposures are attributable to edible products left out in the open or stored in easily accessible places, and many are illegal candy lookalikes. Thanks to strict regulations on packaging and sales, legal products in New Jersey are safer, but no package is completely child-proof so I appreciate this campaign’s driving home the message that safe storage is key.”

Scott Rudder, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, voiced zealous support for the agency’s campaign. “The launch of the safe-use campaign by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission sets an example for the nation as we navigate the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization. The NJCBA is wholeheartedly committed to this mission and looks forward to working closely with the Commission and other stakeholders to ensure its success.”

Other speakers at the event included Helen Hannigan, CEO at Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative and Lauren Paterno, senior government affairs advisor at AAA Northeast.

A recording of the press conference is available here and a press kit with campaign art is available here.

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission establishes and enforces the rules and regulations governing the licensing, cultivation, testing, selling, and purchasing of cannabis in the state.

Contact: Toni-Anne Blake
Email: [email protected]

Media Contact

Toni-Anne Blake, New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission , 1 609-376-7300, [email protected], https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/adult-personal/safe-responsible-consumption/ 

SOURCE New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Science: Biology

Moving Forward in Enhanced Customer Insights and User Experience

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EAG is moving forward in enhanced customer insights and user experience, including:

  • In-depth Customer Research & Insights: With tools ranging from product testing and retail ergonomics to stakeholder interviews, clients can expect tailored marketing strategies rooted in customer understanding.
  • Elevated User Experience (UX): EAG, coupled with Useagility’s expertise, will provide heuristic evaluations, experience design and other UX services to guarantee user-centric online platforms.
  • Real-world Behavioral Analysis: The acquisition reflects an era of data-driven strategies, based on observing real-world customer interactions, understanding their motivations, and addressing their challenges.

Useagility’s former principal and experience design lead, Kyle Dennis, joins EAG as its new director of research and development. “There’s research data. There’s what clients think about their customers. There’s what customers say. There is what they actually do. In the middle is where the evidence-backed recommendations are that can make immediately impactful design improvements that solve complex customer experience and interface challenges,” states Dennis. “I’m looking forward to working with clients from inside EAG.”

About EAG Advertising & Marketing

EAG, headquartered in Kansas City’s vibrant Crossroads District, is a fiercely entrepreneurial marketing advisory and creative agency. Since its inception in 2003, EAG’s agile team of marketing specialists and creative visionaries have delivered right-sized solutions to solve our clients’ marketing challenges and guide responsible, sustainable and informed decisions on their marketing investment. Providing a complete spectrum of strategic and tactical marketing services, EAG excels in developing and implementing customized, realistic and successful marketing strategies and tactics to harness each company’s unique strengths, address gaps and align with their goals. The agency has an impressive track record, with over 100 awards in areas ranging from marketing and design to workplace excellence, growth and community contributions. Visit www.eagadv.com for more information.

Media Contact

Erin Dechman, EAG Advertising & Marketing, 1 8168420100, [email protected], https://eagadv.com/ 

SOURCE EAG Advertising & Marketing

Society: Christianity

Critical Thinking and Communications Specialist AmyK Hutchens Reveals the Secrets to Navigating Tough Conversations on Women Lead TV

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“As one of the only female CEOs of a renewable energy consultancy, I have struggled with gender, discrimination, and with being assertive, without damaging relationships,” remarked Kimberlee Centera. “I have attended several of AmyK’s remarkable presentations, and I am excited to learn more about the most effective conversation framework to influence and nurture productive behaviors and positive outcomes.”

Watch Kimberlee and AmyK live on Women Lead TV, Monday, October 16th at 11:00am Pacific Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QglLIi6rpSE

About Kimberlee Centera:
Kimberlee Centera, CEO,TerraPro Solutions is a renewable energy industry pioneer and the only female CEO of a privately held utility scale renewable energy consulting practice. An enthusiastic champion of women, she believes that diversity is essential in meeting the demands of the rapidly growing renewable sector. She encourages and mentors’ women from around the world, by offering them actionable skills that help them to achieve their goals. As a Women Lead TV host, she is committed to providing a platform for changemakers. For more information contact Annemarie Osborne 949-237-2906 [email protected] or visit http://www.terraprosolutions.com.

About AmyK Hutchens:
AmyK Hutchens is an international award-winning speaker, Amazon #1 bestselling author of the books, The Secrets Leaders Keep and GET IT!, and has over twenty years’ experience training, coaching and consulting with clients such as Whole Foods, iS CLINICAL, Starbucks Canada, Comerica Bank, UBS and hundreds more. AmyK founded the global Self-leadership platform She Gets It, received her M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, and has been a featured guest on numerous TV, radio & print networks including Bloomberg, Entrepreneur, USA Today, US News & World Report, NBC & ABC. She resides in San Diego where you’ll often find her, and her favorite human Scott, out and about searching for a tasty taco. For more information contact Courtney Lentz at 760-652-4030 [email protected] or visit https://shegetsit.com/

About TerraPro Solutions:
TerraPro Solutions is a leading renewable energy project development consultancy. The company has generated over 12 GWs in solar, wind, and energy storage. With a total financed value of over $6 billion, .TerraPro Solutions is the top development consultancy in the renewables market. TerraPro Solutions provides high-level expertise in the development and implementation of renewable energy projects including wind, solar and energy storage. From inception to transaction closing, we use our real-world knowledge to continually assess and mitigate risk, to ensure that all legal requirements and project milestones are met. For more information contact Annemarie Osborne 949-237-2906 [email protected] or visit http://www.terraprosolutions.com.

Media Contact
Annemarie Osborne, TerraPro Solutions, 949.237.2906, [email protected], https://terraprosolutions.com/
Courtney Lentz, She Gets It, 760-652-4030, [email protected], https://www.shegetsit.com/

SOURCE TerraPro Solutions

Health

Industry veterans launch new nation-wide healthcare staffing firm, Thrive Staffing

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The journey towards Thrive Staffing began approximately a decade ago when Ben and David first crossed paths. Over the years, their relationship evolved, culminating in their partnership to launch Thrive Staffing in April 2023. With a core launch team assembled in just five months, Thrive Staffing is poised to make a significant impact on the healthcare staffing landscape.

Healthcare facilities nationwide face the challenge of staffing shortages. An aging patient population, increased census due to the pandemic and a lower supply of healthcare professionals have contributed to this crisis. Hospitals are increasingly seeking high-quality professionals to ensure top-tier patient care.

Thrive Staffing’s ideal clients are healthcare facilities that view the agency as a strategic partner in their mission to deliver exceptional patient care. The agency specializes in staffing clinical positions, encompassing individuals involved in direct or indirect patient care.

Thrive Staffing’s distinguishing factor lies in its visionary approach to leadership. Rather than adhering to a traditional top-down model, the agency fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among its team members. “We’re not just another staffing agency,” said Ben Rascona, Thrive Staffing CEO and co-founder, “We’re a team of leaders who empower one another to provide top-quality care. Thrive Staffing is where healthcare professionals come to truly thrive in their careers.”

“At Thrive Staffing, we believe in the power of people-centered solutions,” continued Rascona. “We understand that at the heart of any successful endeavor are the individuals who drive it. Our values—character, integrity, transparency, loyalty, respect and accountability—guide every decision. We prioritize building genuine relationships with our clients and candidates, seeking to bridge gaps and create a unified, supportive healthcare community. Yet, we also recognize that technology is a tool to empower our people. We seamlessly blend the human touch with cutting-edge technology.”

By carefully selecting technology partners and integrating AI services into our operations, Thrive Staffing ensures that initiatives are not only efficient but also provide the highest level of service. “Our commitment is to serve both the healthcare professionals who are the lifeblood of our industry and the healthcare facilities that depend on them, harnessing the best of human values and technological innovation to drive excellence,” said Rascona.

Thrive Staffing sets high standards when recruiting healthcare professionals. Their commitment to providing top-quality candidates is anchored in trust, professionalism and maintaining higher standards in an industry where excellence is paramount. While healthcare professionals typically have numerous job opportunities, they often encounter difficulties in selecting the right role. They seek an environment that values them and fosters relationships, rather than isolation or undervaluation.

Rascona continued, “We believe Thrive Staffing is only as strong as the people who make up the organization, so we put a strong emphasis on leadership development.”

What sets Thrive Staffing apart is its full-service approach to healthcare staffing. The agency offers a wide range of staffing solutions, including travel, local, PRN and direct/permanent placements. With operations in all 50 states, Thrive Staffing covers all clinical specialties and professions across diverse healthcare settings. Thrive Staffing has already entered significant relationships within the healthcare staffing arena, enhancing its ability to provide quality placements to its clients.

For more information about Thrive Staffing or to see current opportunities, please visit thrivestaffing.com.

ABOUT THRIVE STAFFING

Thrive Staffing is a healthcare staffing company on a mission to forge purposeful relationships to improve patient care. Founded by industry experts Ben Rascona and David Gibson, Thrive Staffing offers a comprehensive range of healthcare staffing services across all 50 states, serving diverse healthcare settings and specialties. The company’s commitment to building relationships, fostering diversity and delivering quality care sets it apart in the industry. Learn more at thrivestaffing.com.

Media Contact

Ben Rascona, Thrive Staffing, 1 513-653-0900, [email protected], www.thrivestaffing.com

SOURCE Thrive Staffing

Science: Biology

Master the Art of Leadership with Mastery Training Services’ Upcoming Webinar

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In this webinar, Syquia helps leaders understand what power truly is, how different sources of power relate to leadership, and how to avoid the most common mistakes leaders make when it comes to wielding power.

This one-hour session is geared toward leaders and human resources professionals. All those interested in attending can register here.

Mastery Training Services brings in engaging subject matter experts to share their knowledge on topics related to employee development, leadership, organizational culture, diversity and more. The webinars are free to attend and usually last about an hour. For our full calendar of free webinars, click here.

About Better Organizations by Design (BOxD)

BOxD is a BIPOC, woman-owned and led firm that makes the people-side of business growth less chaotic, more efficient. Nenuca founded BOxD with two goals: (1) To make toxic, inequitable workplaces a thing of the past (2) To challenge the model of management consulting; primarily available only to executives at industry giants. Nenuca provides perspectives on leadership, team effectiveness, DEI & the design of prosperous organizations.

About Mastery Training Services

Mastery Training Services is a leader in the corporate online training marketplace. We help organizations grow and become more successful with our comprehensive workplace training systems and services. In this way, Mastery fulfills its mission of helping build more successful, effective and amazing organizations.

Media Contact

Rachel LaPointe, Mastery Training Services, 2486991704, [email protected], https://www.mastery.com/ 

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SOURCE Mastery Technologies Inc.