Smileyscope’s VR system was created specifically to address pediatric pain and anxiety during common medical procedures, such as IV starts and blood draws. Designed by physicians who saw firsthand how painful and traumatic medical procedures can be for children and families, Smileyscope was designed so that no child would suffer unnecessarily during a medical procedure. Smileyscope’s benefits have been tested in the world’s largest randomized clinical trials on VR. As showcased in the prestigious Journal of Pediatrics, Smileyscope reduced pain by 60%, anxiety by 40%, and halved the use of restraints.1
“Invincikids reduces barriers to access by providing one-stop-shop immersive technology packages that make children’s healthcare experiences less traumatic,” said André N. Bollaert, Executive Director of Invincikids. “We are excited and grateful to have Smileyscope on board. The introduction of Smileyscope’s cutting-edge VR technology aligns seamlessly with our mission to harness technology for the betterment of children’s lives.”
“VR technologies can truly transform the way children, families, and healthcare providers experience medical procedures,” said Dr. Evelyn Chan, CEO of Smileyscope. “Through this partnership with Invincikids, more children will now have access to technology that eases their pain and anxiety, allowing them to have better healthcare experiences.”
Invincikids is a dedicated team of innovators working to evolve the delivery of pediatric care, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. The organization collaborates with public and private institutions, businesses, researchers, and investors to address the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Invincikids drives advancements in pediatric care, advocates for meaningful change, and envisions a brighter healthcare journey for children.
About Smileyscope:
Smileyscope is a multi-award winning digital therapeutics company with proprietary technology that reframes medical procedures using choreographed virtual-reality (VR) experiences to help reduce patient pain and anxiety, and improve the overall patient experience. Smileyscope VR is the first regulatory body approved VR product for medical procedures and is clinically proven to reduce patient pain, anxiety and the need for restraints. The device is utilized by clinicians across a range of medical procedures such as vaccines, bloodwork, wound dressings, anesthetic inductions, nitrous oxide, and plaster cast applications/removals. Smileyscope VR has partnered with over 50 US hospitals to implement the VR technology.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Aug. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Marrow Access Technologies announced today that it signed a distribution agreement with Spartan Medical. The distribution agreement will provide patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) access to…
“Our league is focused on getting the best performance from our players in a healthy team environment,” said Jay Recinito, President of Melrose Little League. “We’ve expanded our league to include more players and more playing time throughout the year. I am incredibly proud of our program and the success of our 2023 State Championship team. These players have earned something for themselves and for the league as we continue to set the bar high as a little league organization.”
Coach Dan Cordella led the team throughout the season: “As a father, a fan, and a coach, it’s incredibly rewarding to see a group of kids come together. These kids brought the right combination of attitude, skill, and hustle to play at a championship level. I’m extremely proud of how they conducted themselves both on and off the field.”
Little League baseball has been played in the City of Melrose, Massachusetts since 1952. It wasn’t until 2023 that the city brought home their first Little League State Championship.
Players on the team include Dev Sullivan, Braden Bolger, Owen Pillsbury, Eamonn Judge, Colin Ryder, Joe Weaver, Lawton Chisholm, Ben Cordella, Alex Ogiba, Sam Kirsh, Michael Tierney, Drew Besegai, and Oliver Pechulis. The team is led by coaches Dan Cordella, Chad Ogiba, and Rob Kirsh.
About Melrose Little League
Melrose Little League is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing supervised baseball programs that are fun, educational, and competitive for players between the age of 4 and 12. The league operates three seasons of baseball in addition to indoor winter practices.
Melrose Little League is part of the Massachusetts District 12 Little League which serves the communities of Melrose, Medford, Malden, Somerville, Everett, and East Boston. Each summer, district teams compete within the state tournament, with the 12-year-old district team eligible to compete in the Little League World Series Williamsport Tournament, https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/.
Melrose Little League was formed in December 2016 following the successful merger of the Melrose National Little League (MNLL) and the Churchill American Little League (CALL) organizations and has served the community through its baseball programs continuously since 1952. The league has been a top performing fundraiser annually in support of The Jimmy Fund Summer Baseball Program and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“The Aging Better Expo exceeded our expectations,” said Elderwerks President Jennifer Prell. “The speakers were amazing and received rave reviews. The onsite resources and representatives were all engaging and supportive of the older adults and seniors who toured the Expo. We are already planning the next Expo—our 10th anniversary for this event— for Aug. 14, 2024.”
Visitors met with representatives from over 100 local resources and aging experts who provided information about local services agencies, senior communities, businesses, and benefits. The presentations were in-person and virtual ranging from increasing strength and mobility, to learning the basics of Medicare, to being aware of various financial scams. Some presentations were recorded and can be viewed by visiting this link.
“We found that our most popular presentations focused on topics that concern many seniors such as estate planning and fraud protection and advocacy,” Prell said. “The latter topic worries many as we hear about seniors experiencing financial scams that not only take away their hard-earned money, but also leaves them afraid to trust people who do have their best intentions in mind. This year, we focused on different areas of health, and I was pleased to see guests wanting to learn about improving their brain health as they age.”
Seeing an important need to help veterans and Spanish speakers, Prell and her team are also working on presenting two more free events. Elderwerks will be hosting a Veterans’ Health and Wellness Expo on Monday, November 6th from 3 to 6 p.m. at the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL, and Exposición Latina Para Mayores | Latin Expo for Seniors on Thursday, November 16 from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Edward Catholic Preparatory Academy gym, 274 Division Street, Elgin, Illinois.
“Elderwerks Latino Senior Expo is an exciting opportunity for Elderwerks and local resources to help older adults, seniors, caregivers, and their families understand the services available to them,” Prell said. “We believe this population has been underserved. We want to help everyone understand what’s available to our Latino seniors including local and federal resources, how to avoid scams and fraud, and aging well in Illinois.”
For more information about Elderwerks, visit its website or its YouTube Page.
About Elderwerks: Based in Palatine, Elderwerks, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, has helped thousands of older adults and seniors age well. Elderwerks offers complimentary information, referrals, and guidance for all types of senior living, home care, support services, and benefits based on your or your loved one’s needs. Acting as “senior guidance advisors,” we help find the right solutions for you or your loved one. Whether it’s assisted living, memory care, a referral for an elder law attorney, veterans benefit specialist, or transition to any other type of senior care, Elderwerks simplifies the process of navigating senior living options and supportive services. We can offer you support in a very short period. Don’t let the future overwhelm you, call Elderwerks first: 855-462-0100. For more information, visit Elderwerks’ website.
The new Prevent Blindness data showed once again that the category of “non-powder guns, darts, arrows, and slingshots” had the overall highest rate of eye injuries. For children ages 0-14, “pools and water sports” had the highest rate of injuries. Types of sports-related eye injuries include blunt trauma, penetrating injuries, eye infections, and corneal scratches and abrasions.
According to Keck Medicine of USC, athletes may also be at risk for a Radiation Eye Injury. Prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can be incredibly harmful to vision. Athletes who play in water or snow sports, such as surfing or snow skiing are exposed to bright glaring sunlight that reflects off water or snow, increasing the risk of vision loss or damage.
Prevent Blindness strongly recommends that athletes of any age wear protective eyewear when participating in sports. Athletes should always consult an eyecare professional to determine the best kind of eye protection for their sport and medical needs. Fortunately, according to the National Eye Institute, wearing the right protective eyewear can prevent 9 out of 10 sports-related eye injuries.
For parents/caregivers of children involved in sports, Prevent Blindness recommends:
Parents, teachers, school nurses and coaches should learn about the eye injury risks associated with sports before allowing children to participate.
Parents should consult an eye doctor for protective eyewear recommendations before enrolling a child in any sports program.
Parents should only enroll children in after-school organized sports through school districts, community centers, park districts and recreation centers where adults supervise all sports activity. Ideally, an adult trained in the prevention, recognition and immediate care of an eye injury should always be present.
Parents should meet with a child’s coach or athletic trainer to make sure that proper procedures are in place to deal with a child’s eye injury should one occur.
Parents, teachers, school nurses and coaches should familiarize themselves with the warning signs of an eye injury and know when to seek treatment.
Prevent Blindness and Rec Specs are partnering during September’s Sports Eye Safety Month to promote education and awareness on ways to protect vision. To download free educational and promotional materials, including the Sports Eye Safety Guide from Liberty Sport, the company behind Rec Specs, visit LibertySport.com/resources, or contact Jon Phillips at (973) 882-0986 x113, or [email protected]. Social media toolkits are also available by request.”
“A sports-related eye injury can happen in an instant, but the effects may last a lifetime,” said Todd. “Team up with your eye doctor to find the best sports eye protection to help keep you in the game today and save your sight for the future.”
About Prevent Blindness Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, visit us at PreventBlindness.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube.
“My story could be the story of tens of thousands of nonwhites, mixed race, people of color, ethnicity, culture, class, and caste born and living in a world of white supremacy,” said Scheepers. “I am not seeking empathy, as I have grown to embrace opportunities of privilege and leadership in the church, my career and society. This is seen through my eyes within the contexts of my growth, pain, and successes before I emigrated to the USA.”
Scheepers will continue to dedicate any proceeds from his book to several charities to honor the legacy of his two deceased children, Robin and Sandi. The beneficiaries will be the ministries of spiritual dancing, and junior choir at St. Timothy’s Anglican church in Factreton, Cape Town, and a scholarship fund for psychiatric students in need of financial assistance in Cape Town.
“This book is meant for the eyes of the beautiful people of the Cape Flats and surrounding areas of Cape Town,” said Scheepers. “My late children have been my inspiration, and this book is to become a legacy of their purpose.”
“A Child of Apartheid: A Memoir of a Colored Capetonian” By Noble F. Scheepers ISBN: 9798823005678 (softcover); 9798823005661 (electronic) Available at AuthorHouse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the author The Reverend Noble F. Scheepers is a dedicated pastoral minister with a strong emphasis on equipping young people with leadership skills within the Church and community. He is currently an Episcopal Priest with the Diocese of Massachusetts. He has developed musical programs and spiritual development in congregations in Southern Africa. Scheepers currently resides with his family in Jamaica Plain, Mass. To learn more, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/840670-a-child-of-apartheid.
“Young Living is excited to provide our employees with this important mindfulness room resource,” said Ed Dailey, director of Product Development at Young Living. “Our company’s mission is to empower wellness, purpose, and abundance for communities around the world, and that starts right here in the office.”
Young Living Essential Oils is at the forefront of companies that value workplace wellness and incorporate mindfulness rooms into office buildings. To encourage other companies to follow suit, Young Living is sharing four steps on how to set up a mindfulness room that is welcoming and conducive to a transformational experience:
1-Choose your locale: Find a room that isn’t used much or an infrequently used nook. If the space is open, consider adding a partition or screen for some privacy. Ideally, this is a place that is largely quiet. 2-Mind your decor: Pay close attention to the visual stimulation in your surroundings. In a mindfulness room, use soft chairs, warm lighting, and soothing colors to create a sense of calm. 3-Select your soundscape: A sound machine can provide peaceful background noise as users focus on their intentions, but guided meditations are also helpful. Young Living Essential Oils supplies employees with three different guided meditations to choose from, depending on their intention. This flexibility helps with feeling prepared and confident going into a mindfulness session. 4-Make scent a priority: With Young Living Essential Oils, workers can use their sense of smell to prompt relaxation and ease. Keeping some products in the mindfulness room allows employees to know where to go for resources. A few great essential oils to try include: Lavender, the most universal oil that has a tranquil aroma and is soothing to the senses; Lemon to create a fresh, uplifting aroma; and Peppermint, an invigorating aroma that can be diffused to create an environment conducive to work or study.
National Wellness Month is a time to focus on self-care, stress management, and healthy routines. To help other businesses and people improve their well-being with a mindfulness room, Young Living has created a video detailing how to design a mindfulness room!
“We sometimes can get overwhelmed during the workday, and that’s the perfect time to experience the mindfulness room,” said Dailey. “Young Living encourages other businesses to create similar spaces for employees to unwind. By supporting mental health and promoting self-care and stress management, you can honor your commitment to invest in your employees’ health and wellness.”
About Young Living Essential Oils Young Living Essential Oils, LC, based in Lehi, Utah, is the world leader in essential oils, offering the highest quality oil-infused products available. Young Living takes its industry leadership seriously, setting the standard with its proprietary Seed to Seal® quality commitment. This guiding principle helps Young Living protect the planet and provide authentic products that its Brand Partners and Customers can feel confident using and sharing with friends and family. Young Living’s products—sourced from corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and other trusted suppliers—not only support a healthy lifestyle but also provide opportunities for over 6 million global Brand Partners to find a sense of purpose and whole-life wellness by aligning their work with the Young Living values and passions. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com, follow @youngliving on Instagram, or like us on Facebook.
A Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration, Esterly’s ‘help one more’ ethos reflects his military background and dedication to exceeding expectations in serving others.
“Brian’s distinguished background is steeped in a profound commitment to service. His unwavering dedication to serving others and his comprehensive understanding of intricate healthcare landscapes have consistently set him apart,” said Mirza Baig, managing partner of Aldrich Capital Partners, TimeDoc Health’s lead investor. “He embodies a selfless approach to leadership that prioritizes patients, and the wide spectrum of healthcare needs they have. This positions the company to advance ambitiously, ensuring enhanced patient support at its core.”
During his tenure at Centria Healthcare, Esterly assumed accountability for both cultivating new client sales and nurturing existing client relationships, while upholding Centria’s mission of prioritizing patient well-being. Moreover, his development of a comprehensive go-to-market strategy enabled the company’s expansion into four new markets, solidifying Centria’s market-leading position.
Prior to this role, he served as the chief operating officer of Solera Health, a preventive care benefits manager. He worked in a similar capacity for Aspire Health, an in-home palliative care services provider. Both organizations experienced significant growth and improved patient experiences during his tenure.
“TimeDoc has a history of success, and I am deeply honored to be granted the opportunity to further enhance the accomplishments set in motion by the founding team, including Will Boeglin,” said Esterly. “I am excited about spearheading the organization’s journey during this period of growth, as we extend our services to an even greater number of patients.”
Co-founding the company in 2015, Boeglin’s contributions were instrumental in securing $48.5 million in growth capital for the company in early 2022. He is committed to facilitating a seamless transition while retaining his role on the board and within the organization.
“TimeDoc’s future centers around the expansion of our collaborations with medical providers at the forefront of care, enhancing patient health outcomes and achieving success in the transition to value-based care,” said Boeglin. “The board and I selected Brian because of his extensive experience in working with industry leading health services companies to deliver preventive care services for older adults and the chronically ill. Embracing a seasoned and mission-driven healthcare leader like Brian stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to our clients and patients.”
Currently, TimeDoc Health services more than 100,000 Medicare and Medicaid patients through virtual care management. The company also has more than 140 clients across 37 states. By leveraging proven engagements and investing in an expanded team, TimeDoc Health hopes to significantly drive enrollment and explore new service lines to support patients in need.
About TimeDoc Health
TimeDoc Health, based in Chicago, Illinois, is a leader in virtual care management. The company enables providers to deliver truly continuous, comprehensive care by helping them establish care management programs for patients with chronic health conditions. The solution combines a care management SaaS platform with care coordination services for chronic care management, remote patient monitoring, and behavioral health integration. For more information, visit www.timedochealth.com.
Media Contact
James Coates, TimeDoc Health, 1 844-784-8362, [email protected], timedochealth.com
“In some circumstances, these covariates may be known from the scientific literature. In other cases, it may be useful to use previous studies (e.g., a Phase II trial) to select prognostic covariates or form prognostic indices.”
One such innovative application of the guidance is the use of composite covariates such as Placebell, a placebo prognostic covariate developed by Cognivia.
Join this exclusive webinar to explore the latest FDA guidelines and the remarkable benefits of using prognostic covariates to enhance trial accuracy and improve assay sensitivity while complying with regulatory requirements. With a decade of experience developing prognostic covariates and assisting sponsors with adjustments, Cognivia will help you translate this critically important FDA guidance into practical recommendations for your next trial. The featured speakers will also delve into concrete applications of composite prognostic covariates.
Join experts from Cognivia, Samuel Branders, Data Mining Scientist Director; and Hervé Pagès, Customer Solution Director, for the live webinar on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 11am EDT (4pm BST/UK).
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.
In 2023, there are 6.92 billion smartphone users worldwide, which equates to 85.95% of the global population.(4) QR code scan-order-pay capitalizes on smartphone technology to elevate the dining experience for guests, lighten the load for overworked staff, and increase revenue for restaurant and bar owners. Patrons simply scan a QR code at their table using their smartphone, order from an interactive virtual menu, which offers suggestions, such as food and drink pairings, and then pay their bill with one click.
According to a Cornell report, ‘The Future of Full-service Dining,’ at-table ordering offers the potential to enhance table turnover time, accommodating more guests each day. With a 15% reduction in turnover time, a restaurant earning $2.5 million could see an extra $375,000 in sales from unmet customer demand. Beyond sales gains, patrons value control over payments and service elements through customer-facing tech. The labor savings could allow servers to wait on more tables and provide more one-on-one time with guests. Diners can place orders for additional beverage refills, appetizers, and desserts without waiting for a server, increasing the total check amount. A $3 improvement in average guest check, with a restaurant average of $15, translates into a 20% increase.(3)
A report by YouGov and a me&u interview panel of industry experts throughout the US, Australia, and the UK predicts what bars and restaurants of the future will look like and the trends that will redefine the drinking and dining experiences; the report found that 49% of consumers prefer venues with smart technology options, such as personalized menus that offer food and drink recommendations catered to their tastes.(5)
Seymour provides a few insights into some of the main ingredients for the bars and restaurants of the future:
Smart technologies are not only efficient; QR codes provide meaningful data on guest foot traffic as well as their behaviors and preferences to better predict service requirements, facilitating data-driven decision-making for businesses.
The future of dining could include meta-events, taking diners on a virtual trip to the vineyard where the wine they’re drinking came from.
Venue operators will need to think beyond the main course by offering fun activities, such as mini-golf and arcade games.
AI will usher in a new era of hospitality with hyper-personalized venues tailored to every visitor’s unique background.
Designed for casual and premium dining, me&u flex offers a two-way ordering system where both customers and servers can order and add items to the table. Ordering is synchronized, ensuring everyone eats together. Guests can pay through me&u flex or the server with options to split the check without having to do the math. Servers can increase their tips with me&u’s automatic tipping feature, where restaurants control the default tip percentage. The me&u flex system boosts table turnover rates, increases revenue, and enables restaurants to maximize efficiency. Its tailored features increase upselling by up to 30%, while integrated marketing tools enhance customer loyalty. The friction-free process allows servers to focus on building relationships with guests and creating memorable moments.
Seymour emphasizes that “Heart remains the cornerstone of hospitality. While technology is an asset to any venue, dining out is still about social interactions and making connections with people. In an industry that’s experienced significant changes in the last three years, the one constant that we know will exist in the future will be the people. While we can’t predict what will happen in the next decade or what technologies will emerge, we see a future of full hearts, venues, and appetites — and our industry and its people are shaping it. For centuries, bars and restaurants have been the beating heart of communities. While technology is evolving how we navigate venues, genuine interactions, and human connections cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.”
About me&u A global leader in the hospitality technology space, me&u is on a mission to build a better future for the hospitality industry. Launched in 2017, me&u was conceptualized by Founder Stevan Premutico to transform the traditional ordering experience in a bid to solve deep-rooted structural issues that have been the Achilles heel of the hospitality industry for decades. The technology is not just a digital menu but one that is intelligent and highly personalized to the ordering experience for both the customer and venue. me&u presents the best of both worlds — seamlessly enabling greater human connection while ensuring efficiency for venues, greater client satisfaction, and retail growth. The company that Premutico has created works with operators, not against them, to create a more profitable future for the industry through fair financials, transparency, and a hospitality-led founding team. Visit https://www.meandu.com/.
References: 1. Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects simply to a non-technical, et al. “Digital Revolution.” Techopedia, 12 Dec. 2017, techopedia.com/definition/23371/digital-revolution. 2. Russell, James. “A Timeline in the Adoption of Technology in Hospitality.” Hospitality; Catering News, 8 Feb. 2023, hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2023/02/a-timeline-in-the-adoption-of-technology-in-hospitality/#:~:text=inventory%20more%20efficiently.-,The%20adoption%20of%20technology%20in%20the%20hospitality%20industry%20has%20been,in%20an%20increasingly%20crowded%20market. 3. Susskind, Alex M., and Benjamin Curry. “The Influence of Table Top Technology in Full-Service Restaurants.” The Influence of Table Top Technology in Full-Service Restaurants, 6 Oct. 2016, ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/70998. 4. Turner, Ash, et al. “3.12 Billion More Phones than People in the World!” BankMyCell, 1 Aug. 2023, bankmycell.com/blog/how-many-phones-are-in-the-world. 5. Bray, Ashley. “What the Bar of the Future Will Look Like.” Bar Business, 24 Jan. 2023, barbizmag.com/news/research-reveals-what-the-bar-of-the-future-will-look-like/.
Media Contact
Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4619, [email protected], jotopr.com
