All posts by imreal

Business: Executives

Voters Like You Picked SkyStem For A Double Win With ACQ!

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“Winning awards such as these, further fuels our motivation and drive to provide service and quality to our customers. We are humbled and grateful for these awards.”


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

SkyStem LLC, a provider of automated month-end close solution, is proud to announce being named “Americas – Financial Close Management Provider of the Year” and “Americas – Gamechanger of the Year, Shagun Malhotra” by ACQ5 Global. These awards recognize organizations and individuals that have achieved outstanding commercial success in designated areas of expertise.

ACQ5 identifies smaller market participants as well as larger firms adapting international models to unique geographies. The ACQ Global Awards set out to recognize the achievements of those who are responding most successfully to the demands being placed on them in the new post-recession business environment. Their awards are the only industry honors given purely on the basis of voter participation.

“Being listed as ACQ5 Financial Close Management Provider of the Year is very important to us as we strive to deliver a quality product with great support,” said Shagun Malhotra, CEO and Founder of SkyStem. “Winning awards such as these, further fuels our motivation and drive to provide service and quality to our customers. We are humbled and grateful for these awards.”

To find out more about the best of the best in the financial market, please visit the ACQ website (https://www.acq5.com/ga19-32dk4/) for full winners’ list and a link to the winners’ supplement.

About ACQ

ACQ5 (Acquisition Finance Magazine) is a leading mergers and acquisitions magazine news site. Serving the finance sector since 2003, they provide their Global audience of over 163,000+ subscribers with the information behind the headlines. ACQ5 magazine is intended for CEO’s & CFO’s as well as other corporate finance and private equity executives from all corners of the globe. ACQ5 achieves its objectives through non-bias, concentrated, up to date flagship coverage, country reports and multilateral documents, in some cases commissioned by corporate, governmental and multilateral institutions.

About SkyStem LLC

Headquartered in the heart of New York City, SkyStem delivers a powerful month-end close solution for organizations seeking to streamline their financial processes. The company’s flagship solution, ART, is an enterprise technology that helps CFOs and Controllers shorten the month-end close and the time to issue financials by automating balance sheet reconciliations, managing month-end tasks, performing flux analysis and providing insightful reporting. The web-based solution streamlines and eliminates up to 90% of manual activities while strengthening internal controls and corporate governance

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Health

American College of Lifestyle Medicine Announces Addition of Plant-Based Formula Leader Kate Farms to its Corporate Roundtable

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Food is medicine, and ingredients do matter for the best patient outcomes.


ST. LOUIS (PRWEB)

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) announced today the addition of leading plant-based oral and tube-feeding formula company Kate Farms to its Lifestyle Medicine Corporate Roundtable, a group of individuals and organizations whose collective vision is sustainable human health, a sustainable health care system and a sustainable world.

Kate Farms is the leader in plant-based, organic, ready-to-use oral and tube feeding formulas. Made with organic pea protein and providing 24 vitamins and minerals and a phytonutrient blend that delivers antioxidants and prebiotic fiber, Kate Farms formulas are non-GMO, gluten free and do not contain the eight most common sources of allergens, which are commonly found in traditional formulas. Last week Kate Farms’ first third-party study was released demonstrating both efficacy and improved tolerance of plant-based formulas for pediatric patients.

“I’m proud to be representing Kate Farms and joining the many committed and talented people on the Corporate Roundtable working to transform health and health care,” said John Hommeyer, Kate Farms Chief Operating Officer. “We know from our clinical trials and patient and clinician reporting that Kate Farms produces better health outcomes. In one study, 87% of clinicians reported improved symptoms of GI intolerance in most or all of their patients. By joining the Roundtable, we have the opportunity to engage and educate health care professionals about the outcomes when plant-based options like Kate Farms are made available for their patients.”

“Food is medicine, and ingredients do matter for the best patient outcomes,” said ACLM President Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, FACLM, DipABLM. “Kate Farms’ unique formulations offer the potential for significant improvements to health and to the practice of health care. Doctors, dietitians, parents, caregivers and those with medical and dietary needs are now empowered with the choice of a new formula. We welcome Kate Farms to the Corporate Roundtable.”

The Corporate Roundtable of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine convenes health care and lifestyle thought leaders, with a keen focus on the power of Lifestyle Medicine to transform health and health care. Roundtable members explore effective Lifestyle Medicine clinical applications, strategies for accelerating reimbursement and adoption and analysis of potential business-related opportunities. The Roundtable launched in 2015 and has grown to include more than 30 active member organizations.

About the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

ACLM is the medical professional association for those dedicated to the advancement and clinical practice of Lifestyle Medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable health care system. Lifestyle Medicine involves the use of the use of a whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection as a primary therapeutic modality to prevent, treat, and, oftentimes, reverse the lifestyle-related, chronic disease that’s all too prevalent. ACLM addresses the need for quality education and certification, supporting its members in their individual practices and in their collective desire to domestically and globally promote Lifestyle Medicine as the first treatment option, as opposed to a first option of treating symptoms and consequences with expensive, ever-increasing quantities of pills and procedures. Join today at http://www.LifestyleMedicine.org.

About Kate Farms

Founded in 2011 by Richard and Michelle Laver, who were trying to save their daughter Kate’s life after a diagnosis of Failure to Thrive (FTT), Kate Farms is now the #1 plant-based enteral formula on the market. Kate Farms offers nutritionally advanced, organic plant-based tube feeding and enteral formulas that are well-tolerated by most patients with sensitivities to the ingredients in other formulas. Free of common allergens, including soy, dairy and corn, clinicians and caregivers report patients have experienced decreased symptoms of GI intolerance, improved weight or linear growth and overall improved nutritional status. Made with organic non-GMO yellow pea protein, Kate Farms formulas provide 24 vitamins and minerals and a phytonutrient blend to deliver antioxidants. For more information, visit http://www.katefarms.com or follow the company on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

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Health

Numb No More! Breast Cancer Patient Given Restored Hope Through Advanced Breast Reconstruction Technique

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PRMA surgeon performing sensory nerve reconstruction during DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

PRMA surgeon performing sensory nerve reconstruction during DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

I want other women to know there is a light at the end of the breast cancer tunnel. Choosing to have breast reconstruction was the best thing I’ve done for myself both physically and mentally.


SAN ANTONIO (PRWEB)

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 years old, Cynthia chose to undergo a double mastectomy.

“Because I also had a strong family history of breast cancer on my dad’s side, I had both breasts removed to reduce my risk of developing cancer again in the future,” Cynthia shares.

Radiation was recommended as part of her cancer treatment, so Cynthia chose not to have breast reconstruction at the time of her breast cancer surgery. Following her mastectomy, Cynthia experienced numbness in her chest. Numbness following mastectomy is extremely common and is caused by nerves that supply feeling to the chest being cut when the surgeon removes the breast tissue. Unfortunately, many patients will end up losing most if not all their breast sensation because of the mastectomy.

About a year after having her breast removed, Cynthia was finally ready for reconstruction.

Initially she consulted with a local plastic surgeon who informed her of her reconstructive options. She was told that because of her prior radiation, breast reconstruction would likely be unsuccessful. It wasn’t until her radiation oncologist encouraged her to get a second option from the surgeons at PRMA Plastic Surgery that she felt hopeful.

“After my mastectomy and hysterectomy, I felt like everything that defined me as a woman was gone,” explains Cynthia. “I feared I would always feel deformed. Dr. Ledoux gave me hope that I would be able to achieve my desired results though DIEP flap reconstruction.”

In December of 2018, Cynthia underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. This procedure does not depend on implants to recreate a breast. Instead, it uses the patient’s own tissue from the lower abdomen to restore a warm, soft, natural breast after a mastectomy. Unlike the TRAM flap that also utilizes lower abdominal tissue, the DIEP flap preserves all the patient’s abdominal muscles. Sparing the abdominal muscles makes recovery much easier and significantly decreases the risk of abdominal complications, like bulging or a hernia.

“When I first saw my new breasts after surgery, I was immediately relieved,” she says. “They looked like real breasts!”

About six months after the initial surgery, her newly reconstructed breasts also began to truly “feel” like natural breasts.

During the DIEP surgery, PRMA surgeons perform an extra procedure known as sensory nerve reconstruction. This repairs the nerves cut by the mastectomy and significantly improves return of feeling to the reconstructed breast.

“At first, it felt like a tingling sensation…kind of like when your foot falls asleep. But eventually the tingling subsided and now my reconstructed breasts feel almost the same as my natural breasts used to,” Cynthia shares. “I remember going into the office for my nipple reconstruction procedure…Dr. Ledoux was using a needle to inject a numbing medicine and I could feel the needle prick!”

“Cynthia’s experience is something we see regularly at PRMA,” shares PRMA co-founder Dr. Peter Ledoux. “The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore a sense of wholeness after breast cancer surgery, but we want to raise the bar. Restoring sensation in the breast is the next major frontier in breast reconstruction but unfortunately this has yet to be embraced by all plastic surgeons. We are proud to say we have been successfully performing sensory nerve reconstruction since the 1990’s!”

“I want other women to know there is a light at the end of the breast cancer tunnel. Choosing to have breast reconstruction was the best thing I’ve done for myself both physically and mentally,” Cynthia shares. “I hope that by sharing my experience, I can help others who find themselves in the same situation I faced.”

About PRMA

PRMA Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, Texas, specializes in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction. Procedures offered include the DIEP flap, SIEA flap, thigh flaps, buttock flap, sensory nerve reconstruction, fat grafting, vascularized lymph node transfer and nipple-sparing mastectomy. PRMA is In-Network for most US insurance plans and routinely welcomes patients from across and outside the US.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to promoting an environment of compassion, concern and support for every patient regardless of social or economic status and regardless of type of insurance. We will strive to not only support the patient and their family but also to support each other as the ever-changing field of medicine becomes more complex. Honesty and integrity, compassion and caring, make up the foundation of PRMA and at no point shall these principles be compromised

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Health

R3 Stem Cell Aesthetics Training Scheduled for Nov 15-16, 2019 in Scottsdale AZ

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https://www.prweb.com/

Hands On Training – Hair, Face and ED with Stem Cells, Exosomes and PRP Therapy!

Any provider who wants to offer the stem cell procedures for hair, face and ED needs to attend this course. We go through marketing for patient acquisition, then teach in a hands on setting the best techniques for becoming an expert in these procedures. Become your local expert!


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (PRWEB)

R3 Stem Cell is now enrolling for its upcoming hands on Regenerative Aesthetics Training Course coming up November 15-16th, 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ. The course will teach all types of aesthetic providers skills in micro-needling, hair restoration, facial and body rejuvenation along with erectile dysfunction using stem cells, exosomes, thread lifting and PRP therapy.

All types of providers including MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, ND and aesthetician injectors should call (844) GET-STEM for more information and to enroll.

As an increasing number of patients ask providers about regenerative aesthetics procedures, there is a huge need for training that teaches the best skills in a hands on setting. The R3 Course includes real patients for hands on training with stem cell biologics, exosomes, PRP therapy and PDO thread lifting. In addition, each provider receives a free regenerative procedure!

The regenerative aesthetics trainers at the course are experts in stem cell and PRP facelifts. This includes combining regenerative biologics with fillers, micro needling and thread lifting to provide the best nonoperative results. Stem cell and PRP facelifts offer a great option for patients to achieve a much younger appearance without potentially risky surgery.

Said R3 CEO David Greene, MD, MBA “Any provider who wants to offer the stem cell procedures for hair, face and ED needs to attend this course. We go through marketing for patient acquisition, then teach in a hands on setting the best techniques for becoming an expert in these procedures. Become your local expert!”

PDO thread lifting is a great addition to regenerative aesthetics, but it can be tricky to achieve the best results while avoiding complications. The FDA requires providers to be Certified, and R3 offers a Sunday PDO Thread Lifting Training Course on November 17th for MD’s, DO’s and NP’s to get Certified specifically in thread lifting.

Hair restoration procedures also require a specific skill set in order to achieve numbing and the systematic approach to injecting the biologics for optimal results. The R3 expert hair trainers will teach providers who is a good candidate, how to perform the workup and then how to perform the procedures using best practice protocols.

Erectile dysfunction procedures are also taught including the P Shot and the O Shot. The procedures may be very effective, and the R3 trainers will show how to perform the procedures and ancillary therapies to provide the best outcome.

Real patients will be available for providers to learn on in a hands on setting, and each attendee will also receive a stem cell procedure as well.

Currently the course is being offered with $1000 off to make it $2495. The training will take place at ASU SkySong Center for Innovation in the beautiful setting of Scottsdale, Arizona. Call (844) GET-STEM and visit https://stemcelltrainingcourse.org for more information and registration.

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Health

RSIP Vision and BioView Collaborate, Using Artificial Intelligence to Classify Chromosomes for Highly Accurate Genetic Testing Results

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JERUSALEM (PRWEB)

RSIP Vision, a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and image processing technology, has announced that they have collaborated with BioView (TASE:BIOV), a leading developer of cell imaging and analysis solutions, using artificial intelligence to classify chromosomes for highly accurate genetic testing results. Previously, cytologists performed manual chromosome classification that was timely and costly. The new AI solution drastically reduces time and the expense of genetic testing with a drastic improvement in results.

“Machine learning provides the unique capability to both segment and straighten out chromosomes so that the results that the patient receives are as accurate as possible,” says Ron Soferman, CEO of RSIP Vision. “When patients are undergoing genetic testing, it is often a sensitive time for them – they are testing for various conditions that could potentially affect their lives forever. Reducing the time for patients to receive the results of genetic testing is a step in making this process easier and smoother, providing patients with the correct answers, faster.”

This type of genetic testing, called karyotype classification is a common form of genetic testing that classifies and pairs the chromosomes to find any irregularities. Cytologists evaluate the size, shape, and number of chromosomes in the body’s cells as well abnormal locations and chromosome pieces, which can indicate irregular growth development or body functioning. The process of genetic testing has been greatly improved by machine learning since many data sets can easily be collected for the training phase. RSIP Vision, together with BioView’s team of algorithm and clinical experts, utilized a deep learning technique that is trained on very large datasets so that it could easily and accurately make precise data correlations and detect any abnormalities quickly.

“This is another breakthrough demonstrating our advanced capabilities in the field of pharma and biomedical imaging. With the use of AI, our team in conjunction with the BioView engineers, has been able to greatly improve the performance of classical tasks as well as deliver solutions for new and innovative projects,” said Alan Jerusalmi, PhD and VP of Pharma at RSIP Vision.

RSIP Vision recently announced other advanced solutions based on AI segmentation and machine learning including lung segmentation for precise interventional lung procedures and an AI module for knee replacement surgery.

Yuval Harari, Executive VP of BioView, says that he chose to work with RSIP Vision for several reasons: RSIP Vision’s expertise in AI, experience in medical devices, and the short time to market requirements. BioView has implemented this solution in its Duet Image and Analysis systems at several leading hospitals in the USA and Europe. “The feedback from the clinical operators has been very positive. The customers noted the increased throughput of the testing and the very accurate results they received as compared to other available solutions. We look forward to continue to work with RISP Vision on additional projects to help us provide the most efficient and accurate solutions on our cell imaging systems.”

About RSIP Vision

RSIP Vision is a global leader in artificial intelligence, computer vision, and image processing technology. The company draws on a depth of knowledge and experience to provide customized services, sophisticated algorithms, and deep learning technology to businesses of all kinds, most notably medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and autonomous driving.

RSIP Vision develops practical AI modules that ensure precision, reduce time to market, cut costs, and free the core R&D team staff for other endeavors, saving significant time and money and giving businesses a real edge over the competition. RSIP Vision partners with customers on scientific research and development projects using customized algorithms in fields including physics, computer science, mathematics, biomedicine, and neuroscience.

RSIP Vision is headquartered in Jerusalem, with U.S. offices in San Jose, CA, and Boston, MA. More information is available on the company website: https://www.rsipvision.com/.

About BioView Ltd

Established in 2000, and led by an expert team of biologists, software engineers, and physicists, BioView develops, manufactures, and supplies cell imaging equipment, and analysis software to medical institutes and universities. BioView is a publicly traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock exchange, and currently has strategic collaborations underway with international scientific leaders and institutions. For more information about the BioView technology, and press related issues, please contact alan@bioview.co.il or visit our website at http://www.bioview.com.

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Society: Christianity

Cynthia Egbujo’s newly released “Playing the Tribal Card” is a scholarly book that explains cultural diversity in context with the biblical teachings.

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MEADVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB)

“Playing the Tribal Card”: a compelling tome that shows the many types of culture and tradition that interpret the message of Jesus Christ, resulting in separation from the desired oneness in faith. “Playing the Tribal Card” is the creation of published author Cynthia Egbujo, a forerunner of the Spirit of Life and Power Ministry in Roanoke, Virginia.

Egbujo shares, “Over the course of human existence, various cultures, traditions, and languages arose from the building of the Tower of Babel as described in the book of Genesis chapter 11. The diversity of cultures and traditions in the world today have made people serve God through the eyes of man and not the way God wants to be truly honored.

“This book cuts across many religious differences in the service of God, resulting from different cultures and practices of men, cutting across countries like Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The world, although global, is also a small village and moving from one nation to another can either change the thinking of man through the acquisition of new knowledge or the dethronement of the knowledge already resident in man.

“A general picture of this book shows how cultural groups started and how traditions of men end up creeping into the church of Christ and dethrone the true laws of God and end up satisfying the sinful nature of men who are not watchful.”

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Cynthia Egbujo’s new book imparts the weight of unity in the name of Christ to effectively battle against diversity that the material world seeks.

This book also emphasizes that Christians must strive to uphold their spiritual integrity despite the disparity in culture and norm.

View the synopsis of “Playing the Tribal Card” on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase “Playing the Tribal Card” at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about “Playing the Tribal Card,” contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.

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Technology: Computer

Helios IP Announces DocketEngine™ Version 11 Update

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TAMPA, Fla. (PRWEB)

Helios IP, a managed services company providing Intellectual Property operation solutions to law firms and corporations, today announced the latest release of its DocketEngine™ country law ruleset. The version 11 release achieves the significant milestone of surpassing 3,000 unique IP procedure rules and over 65,000 unique action and task outcomes. The DocketEngine™ supports patents, design, utility models, trademarks, and domains, for over 330 IP jurisdictions.

With this release, the DocketEngine solution introduces significant enhancements, with a focus on recent changes in Canada, Eurasia (EAPO), the Madrid Protocol (WIPO), Rwanda, and South Korea; as well as new trademark rules for Tanganyika and the Malaysian Component Regions.

In announcing the version 11 release, Robin Cali, Director of Country Law Operations at Helios IP, said, “This release represents our continued commitment to building the most comprehensive IP country law ruleset available on the market.” With the latest update being immediately available to DocketEngine™ subscribers, Cali continued, “ensuring access to the latest IP procedure changes is critical to our clients, and we are very pleased to offer immediate access to the important changes included in this release.”

An overview of the Country Law Update is included with this announcement.

About DocketEngine™

DocketEngine is the industry’s most comprehensive Intellectual Property country laws ruleset available. Comprised of over 3,000 unique IP procedure rules and over 65,000 unique action and task outcomes, the DocketEngine™ supports patents, design, utility models, trademarks, and domains, for over 330 IP jurisdictions. DocketEngine is available through the Helios Complete platform, or as a custom country rules service to IPMS vendors and in-house development through T-H Systems. More information can be found at https://www.heliosip.com/technology/docketmodule.html

About Helios IP

Helios IP provides IP operations support to law firms and corporations, including docketing, US filing, foreign filing, annuities, business analytics and financial management. Through its Helios Complete platform, powered by DocketEngine, clients access the industry’s only Microsoft-based solution that includes integration to Outlook, O365, Sharepoint, OneDrive and PowerBI. Visit http://www.heliosip.com to learn more about how Helios IP can help improve your IP Operations.

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Technology: Electronics

Robotic Skies Partners with SqwaQ to Advance Commercial Drone Operations BVLOS

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SqwaQ is the network on which all smart aircraft can fly while connected at up to 5500′ altitude


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (PRWEB)

Robotic Skies Inc, the first and only global MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) network for commercial UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), and SqwaQ, a global SD-WAN network company offering a powerful new redundant comm-link that enables drones to fly unlimited-range BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight), have signed an agreement that grants the Robotic Skies Service Center network access to distribute, retrofit, and provide field MRO services for SqwaQ communications equipment.

SqwaQ’s patented, postcard-sized communications modem aggregates the bandwidth of up to twelve individual 3G/4G/LTE connections. This powerful multi-redundant, massive throughput enables reliable drone command and control nationwide, with simultaneous streaming of pilot view cameras, as well as downward facing cameras and sensors.

Supporting live FPV (First-Person View) camera streaming nationwide, the SqwaQbox gives remote pilots the enhanced experience of flying with an onboard cockpit perspective, just like in manned aircraft, for increased situational awareness and safety. It can also validate pilot credentials, pre-flight aircraft registration, and FAA flight plan authorizations. SqwaQ can provision these custom data services on over 600 global cellular networks across 130 countries.

“SqwaQ is building the carrier-agnostic network on which all smart aircraft can fly connected up to 5500-feet altitude. Our agreement with Robotic Skies is an important part of this vision,” said Ted Lindsley, CEO of SqwaQ. “As our equipment and services proliferate worldwide, we need front end distribution partners who also have backend MRO service capabilities and an understanding of FAA/EASA/CASA rules and regulations. Robotic Skies has all of these, and we share the same long-range vision of where the industry is going BVLOS.”

SqwaQ’s global, flexible, and secure Mobile Virtual Network Operator solution will empower drones, air taxis, helicopters, and other aircraft to safely share the same airspace, transforming industries like pipeline monitoring, power line inspection, perimeter security, border patrol, e911 emergency response, broadcasting, and more.

“With the SqwaQ partnership, the Robotic Skies Service Center network can further expand services beyond maintenance and repair,” said Brad Hayden, Founder and CEO of Robotic Skies. “This is a great opportunity to help UAS operators evolve with new technology and get more out of their UAS investment by offering an upgrade path to safe BVLOS operations for more complex and demanding mission profiles.”

The SqwaQbox modem can be factory-installed or retrofitted to the existing commercial UAS fleet. Learn more at http://www.sqwaq.com.

About Robotic Skies Inc

Robotic Skies is a brokered global network of commercial UAS maintenance Service Centers. Founded in 2014, Robotic Skies has more than 175 independently owned and operated certified repair stations across more than 40 countries. The company’s comprehensive turnkey field service programs are designed to keep commercial UAS operations safe, affordable, and mission ready. Learn more at http://www.roboticskies.com.

About SqawQ

SqwaQ is a new SD-WAN and MVNO service provider focused on high-value mobile, Industrial IoT applications that demand reliable multi-redundant connectivity like aviation, telemedicine, oil and gas, and commercial construction. Founded in 2018, the company has more than a dozen patents issued and pending on its multi-redundant 3G/4G/LTE/5G communications router which is manufactured to rugged AS9100 and DO-160 specs in the USA. SqwaQ has wholesale bandwidth agreements with major cellular networks and can provision custom data services on over 600 cellular networks across 130 countries. Learn more at http://www.sqwaq.com.

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health and fitness

Shopping For A Better Health Or Drug Plan Could Save Hundreds of Dollars, Says The Senior Citizens League

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https://www.prweb.com/

Mary Johnson
The Senior Citizens League Policy Analyst

“It’s very important to compare all your health and drug plan options to find your lowest-costing coverage,” Johnson says.


WASHINGTON (PRWEB)

Making the effort to check health and prescription drug coverage during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, October 15th through December 7th, can pay off in significant savings for retirees, says The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “The job does not have to be overwhelming,” says Mary Johnson, a Medicare and Social Security policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. “Free one-on-one counseling is available in every area of the country to check coverage options and to switch to other health or drug plans when a better choice is available,” Johnson says. “Checking coverage is especially important since the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2020 is just 1.6 percent, and will only raise an average benefit of $1,460 by about $23 per month.

According to research by Johnson, prescription drug costs vary significantly between drug plans — by the hundreds or even thousands of dollars — even for common generics. Unlike other services, Medicare does not negotiate drug prices on behalf of beneficiaries. The plan with the lowest-priced drug can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than the highest cost plan for the very same drug. Yet the majority of Medicare beneficiaries rarely shop for their best drug plan during Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period. Consequently, Medicare beneficiaries in Part D and Medicare Advantage plans overpay for their prescription medications even though less expensive, high quality plan choices are available.

The drugs covered by each plan can vary dramatically, and plans frequently push drugs into a higher formulary tiers which are more expensive, unbeknownst to even the most conscientious consumers. “That can result in a drug price shock next year at the pharmacy counter, unless you nip that in the bud right now,” says Johnson.

Since the start of Medicare Part D in 2006, Johnson has volunteered to help friends, neighbors and family members compare Part D plans and switch to new plans when better choices are available. Doing so often results in substantial savings on drug prices —sometimes hundreds of dollars, lower premiums, and better access to brand and pricey drugs.

How should Medicare beneficiaries prepare for Open Enrollment? Here’s a checklist from The Senior Citizens League:

1.    Review: By now, people covered by Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans should have received an Annual Notice of Changes for 2020 from their current plan. In addition to changes to the premiums, the notice will explain increases, if any, in the deductible, copayments and coinsurance. The notice will tell you where to find information about the pharmacies in the drug plan’s network, and it will refer to “the drug list” or plan formulary of covered drugs which usually can be found online or requested from the plan. “What the notice does not include is a list of the drugs you currently take, the tiers that your drugs will be on in 2020, whether coverage has been dropped for any of your drugs in 2020, or what those drugs will cost if co-insurance is charged,” Johnson says. “Plans will provide most of that information, but it requires calling your plan directly and speaking to someone who can estimate the cost of your drugs in 2020. Once you have this information, it’s very important to compare all your health and drug plan options to find your lowest-costing coverage,” Johnson says.

2.    Gather and write legibly: Gather all of the drugs you currently take and carefully make a list, printing the name of the drug, dosage, quantity taken per day, and quantity required per month. Do this for each drug taken. Make sure your writing is legible. Type it into a Word document and print it out if possible. Keep this list on file where you can find it easily. Not only will you need it to compare drug plans, it’s handy to take with you on each visit to your doctor.

3.    Get free, unbiased assistance from a Medicare counselor: You can get great help from a local Medicare benefit counselor who provides free one-on-one counseling through State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPs). Local contact information can be found at: https://www.shiptacenter.org. Call and make appointment now, because Open Enrollment will take more time than usual this year. The Medicare Drug Plan Finder comparison tool which counselors use to compare drug plans and estimate costs has recently been re-designed. “It’s likely to take longer than usual to sort through plans and determine the best choice for clients while all of us are learning how to use the new system,” Johnson says.

4.    Narrow your choices and contact the prospective drug plans directly to confirm details: Once you have picked out three or so plans that look like your best bets, contact the plans directly to confirm the details. This includes coverage of all your drugs, estimated co-pays and co-insurance, which pharmacies participate and other questions you may have.

5.    Switch plans by going through the Medicare website: It’s better to switch plans through the Medicare website than trying to do so directly with the insurer. This way Medicare will make sure your previous plan unenrolls you by the end of the year and your new coverage begins on January 1, 2020 with the new plan. Your SHIP Medicare benefits counselor can help you do this.

To learn more, visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org.

With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors’ groups. Its mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.

JOURNALIST: Analysis and table illustrating wide variation in drug costs – https://seniorsleague.org/assets/Part-D-Drug-Price-Variance-Report.pdf

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Industry: Healthcare

HMP’s Journal of Clinical Pathways and Association of Community Cancer Centers Announce Collaboration

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The alliance will not only allow us to offer more value to our readers through a greater breadth of information on ACCC activities and research, but will also increase ACCC’s visibility and impact in the oncology and value-based care fields.


MALVERN, Pa. (PRWEB)

HMP, a leader in health care events and education, today announced that its peer-reviewed publication, Journal of Clinical Pathways®, has formed a strategic partnership with the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), a leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community.

Through this alliance, readers of the journal will benefit greatly from regular columns from ACCC and its membership on topics such as multidisciplinary approaches to care delivery, reimbursement issues, trends in cancer care, the evolving practice of oncology pharmacy, and integrating new technologies and therapies into practice. In addition, ACCC will gain significant reach to more value-based cancer care decision-makers through the journal’s robust print and digital distribution channels.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with ACCC,” said Kara A. Rosania, MSc, Senior Editorial Director, Oncology and Managed Markets Divisions, HMP. “The alliance will not only allow us to offer more value to our readers through a greater breadth of information on ACCC activities and research, but will also increase ACCC’s visibility and impact in the oncology and value-based care fields.”

ACCC has added Linda Frisk, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers (Chandler, AZ), and member of the leadership team for the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association Inc., to the journal’s editorial advisory board. Dr. Frisk will provide the journal with expert guidance on the changing landscape of value-based cancer care and reimbursement models.

“ACCC is pleased to collaborate with Journal of Clinical Pathways to advance the critical conversation on defining and demonstrating value in cancer care and to help promote innovative strategies to accomplish this,” said Leigh Boehmer, PharmD, BCOP, Medical Director, ACCC. “Through this partnership, we aim to increase our reach to value-based oncology care decision-makers and reduce current health system silos that can hinder innovative collaborations aimed at providing high-quality oncology services to patients.”

About Journal of Clinical Pathways

Founded in 2015, Journal of Clinical Pathways captures the shift in health care away from a fee-for-service system and toward a value-based care delivery and reimbursement model. The move towards value-based medicine combined with innovations in big data has brought clinical pathways to the forefront as a means to drive precision and optimization of care for patients. Journal of Clinical Pathways addresses the potential of clinical pathways to address rising health care costs, mitigate patient risk, reduce variability, and achieve better, more predictable clinical outcomes. In this unique publication, physicians, payers, and health care executives share methods, insights, and results of projects to design, implement, evaluate, and update clinical pathways in their organizations. Journal of Clinical Pathways is specifically positioned to address the design and implementation of value-based care approaches; the use of clinical and real-world evidence to drive treatment decision-making; and the early learnings and experiences of managed care professionals and health care organizations as they implement new models for achieving high-value care. To learn more, visit journalofclinicalpathways.com.

About HMP

HMP is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical – and is a multichannel leader in healthcare events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America’s largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.

About the Association of Community Cancer Centers

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community. Founded in 1974, ACCC is a powerful network of 25,000 multidisciplinary practitioners from 2,100 hospitals and practices nationwide. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis, treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve, so does ACCC, adapting its resources to meet the changing needs of the entire oncology care team. For more information, visit accc-cancer.org.

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