Spine Navigation and Robotics: Exclusive Strategic Partnership

We plan to have a technically advanced navigation platform to improve spine procedural efficiency and be economically feasible for the growing number of ASCs and specialty hospitals throughout the United States.

JUPITER, Fla. (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022

Captiva Spine is a medical device organization located in Jupiter, Florida, dedicated to delivering smart, elegant, and intuitive spinal fusion solutions. They announced today its long-term exclusive strategic partnership with REMEX Medical, a developer of advanced navigation and robotics technologies located in Taichung, Taiwan; for spine navigation with future developments in practical robotic solutions.

Captiva Spine looks forward to serving the substantial need and demand for both navigation and surgical robots for spinal applications. For underserved hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) throughout the U.S., the technology will serve as a platform to expand the company’s products and services with enhanced enabling technology to support MIS technology; specifically starting with their CapLOX Pedicle Screws, TowerLOX-EXT MIS Extended Tab Pedicle Screws, and TransFasten Posterior SI joint fusion system.

Nelson Lin, CEO of REMEX Medical, said, “we are very pleased to enter the US marketplace with our new strategic partner, Captiva Spine. We share an enthusiasm and commitment to providing ongoing advancements for the betterment of spine care. REMEX has been researching and developing this platform for eight years with proven clinical performance.”

The navigation system has 510(k) clearance from the FDA (U. S. Food and Drug Administration) and is available for commercial use. The navigation unit is a small on-site unit for more facilities looking to take advantage of the benefits of readily available, easy-to-use spine navigation. This model offers physicians, orthopedics, and neurosurgeons easy-to-use, cutting-edge technology to pre-plan and visualize their surgical approach. This platform utilizes preoperative CT scans and rapid intraoperative registration for accurate real-time 3D navigation with limited radiation exposure to staff and patients.

“This platform for navigation helps fulfill our commitment to being a clinical and economical solution with advanced enabling technology for spine care,” said Dale Mitchell, President of Captiva Spine. “We plan to have a technically advanced navigation platform to improve spine procedural efficiency and be economically feasible for the growing number of ASCs and specialty hospitals throughout the United States,” Mitchell continued.

The spine navigation platform will be demonstrated at Captiva Spine’s booth (#3731) at the 2022 North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, October 12-14.

Spine Navigation allows surgeons to oversee the precise placement of MIS pedicle screws while situated directly at the operation site, guided by navigation technology. “Our goal is to provide a technology for reproducibility of screw accuracy and placement with higher confidence and safety in difficult areas is also a goal in mind, as well as improving screw insertion times, especially in cases of difficult anatomy,” said Mitchell.

Captiva Spine is planning to expand the system’s capabilities to include robotics. Both platforms are intended to improve the reproducibility and accuracy of applicable procedures to meet the growing demand for enabling solutions worldwide.

Inquiries from physicians and industry professionals looking to incorporate intelligent and innovative technologies into their offerings are always welcome. Captiva Spine can be contacted directly by phone at 561-277-9480.

Discover strength through connections at http://www.captivaspine.com.

About Captiva Spine, Inc.

Captiva Spine is a privately owned medical device organization founded in 2007. Captiva Spine supports spine surgeons, tenured spine distributors, and healthcare facilities. In providing patients with progressive spinal care and an obsessive focus on quality, they strive to create and maintain sincere, honest, collaborative relationships. Valuing their relationships fosters the mutual trust and openness needed for Captiva Spine to be a conduit of high-quality, smart, elegant, and intuitive patient solutions. Captiva Spine operates as a family of industry professionals that take pride in delivering these solutions responsibly and ethically. While never losing sight of what they refer to as the Human Factor, they find joy in their daily lives and serve the needs of their customers with sincere, professional enthusiasm.

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One year after stopping all treatments, the combination of tezepelumab plus immunotherapy resulted in a reduction in expression of a number of genes which control allergic inflammation.

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022

A combination treatment of tezepelumab and allergen immunotherapy for patients with cat allergies resulted in reductions to the nasal allergen challenge (NAC) compared with the treatment of allergen immunotherapy alone. The new research was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). The trial was conducted by the Immune Tolerance Network and supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

The study demonstrated that while subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) alone performed better than the placebo after one year of treatment, the effects were no longer present a year after treatment concluded. Patients who received both SCIT and tezepelumab, however, showed a reduction in peak nasal symptoms induced by cat allergen challenge (a key secondary endpoint) one year after treatment was stopped. “We know from prior research that SCIT alone may only be partially effective in some patients, and it needs to be administered for a minimum of three years to induce lasting tolerance,” said Jonathan Corren, MD, first author of the study. “We found that combining tezepelumab plus SCIT resulted in a persistent significant reduction in allergen responsiveness one year after treatment was stopped, indicating that the combination treatment provided a degree of tolerance for patients with cat allergies.”

Researchers conducted the double-blind trial in 121 patients with cat allergies. Patients were randomized to receive SCIT alone, tezepelumab alone, SCIT and tezepelumab combined, or a placebo over 52 weeks, followed by 52 weeks of observation.

In addition to the key finding noted above, combination therapy was also significantly more effective than SCIT alone at week 52. This outcome indicates that there is an additive effect on nasal responsiveness to allergen while patients are actively receiving both treatments.

Serum assessments found that serum concentrations of IL-5 and IL-13 were lower in the combination group compared to SCIT alone, as well as in the tezepelumab alone group. Reductions in cat-specific IgE saw ongoing reductions after week 52 in the combination and tezepelumab groups while the reductions plateaued at week 52 for the SCIT alone group.

Researchers also discovered a number of type 2 gene alterations. Dr. Corren explains, “One year after stopping all treatments, the combination of tezepelumab plus immunotherapy resulted in a reduction in expression of a number of genes which control allergic inflammation. Most important of these were genes which control the production of mast cell mediators, particularly tryptase”.

You can learn more about immunotherapy on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is the leading membership organization of more than 7,100 allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. The AAAAI is the go-to resource for patients living with allergies, asthma and immune deficiency disorders. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,100 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. The AAAAI’s Find an Allergist/Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

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OMC is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that assists Oakland County resident in resolving disputes in a peaceful and respectful manner through mediation and education.

Our goal is to keep people in their homes and provide support and resources to residents who would normally not receive them — people whose lives have been affected because of COVID-19’s impact.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022

Oakland Mediation Center (OMC) announces a new Legal Aid Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program to help renters and property owners, who may have fallen behind on their payments due to COVID-19 pandemic. The services are free for people who qualify.

The program, which launched February 1, 2022, is part of a joint partnership with Lakeshore Legal Aid and Legal Aid and Defenders Association. Awarded by a county grant, the program helps to provide legal assistance to tenants or homeowners at risk of or subject to eviction or foreclosure. OMC’s legal services department has already assisted 166 individuals in addition to the 989 cases facilitated by mediation services in pretrial hearings. Most cases have been resolved within 30 days.

The benefits of the Legal Aid Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program include access to justice, legal resources, and education that empowers clients. The program also helps relieve the burden and stress related to the eviction process.

“The pandemic has created so many challenges for people who live in Michigan,” said Charity Burke, Executive Director of OMC. “Our goal is to keep people in their homes and provide support and resources to residents who would normally not receive them — people whose lives have been affected because of COVID-19’s impact.”

The Legal Aid Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program is part of a larger program at OMC offering low-cost legal services. For those who do not qualify for free services, rates range from $60 to $145 per hour depending on income, household size, and the complexity of the case. The average cost for most cases is $120 per hour.

To schedule an appointment, renters and homeowners in Michigan must call 248-338-4280 or email legalservices@mediation-omc.org. Requests can also be submitted through the OMC website.

OMC has partnered with 51st Waterford District Court, 52-4th Troy District Court, 52-3rd Rochester Hills District Court, 48th Bloomfield Hills District Court, and Oakland County to execute the Legal Aid Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program.

About Oakland Mediation Center: OMC is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that assists Oakland County resident in resolving disputes in a peaceful and respectful manner through mediation and education. Formed in 1989 at the recommendation of the Oakland County Bar Association, OMC was established to provide individuals with an alternative to the litigation process. For additional information about OMC and the Community Mediator Training Program, visit http://mediation-omc.org/or call 248-338-4280, ext. 227.

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MILWAUKEE (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022

Less than 7% of respondents associated an imitation label with skim milk without added vitamins. Some vitamins and fats are removed from skim milk in the process of removing milk fat to create the product, and some consumers prefer to purchase food without additives. Requiring skim milk without added vitamins to be labeled as imitation could increase, not decrease, consumer confusion. If the imitation label did not accurately communicate product contents, then the standard of identity is not actually protecting consumers.

In the new article released in the open access Journal of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, “Standards of identity and Imitation Milk Labeling“, Brandon McFadden from the University of Arkansas asks if it is possible that standards of milk labeling can increase consumer confusion instead of reducing it.

McFadden says, “We need to be more thoughtful about standards of identity. Allowing firms to meet the desires of specific consumer segments while also protecting consumers from misleading claims and marketing campaigns can be a fine line to toe. If the goal of standards of identity is to provide accurate information about product contents to consumers, then research is needed to better understand how labels and claims are perceived by consumers. Too stringent standards of identity can simultaneously harm firms and increase consumer confusion.”

If you are interested in setting up an interview, please contact Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office.

ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes three journals, the Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (an open access journal), the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit http://www.aaea.org.

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Broward Guardian is an accountable care organization operated by Memorial Healthcare System.

“These results were accomplished through the enhanced coordination of care among a network of primary care and specialty physicians supported by professionals and technology housed in Memorial’s value-based care division.” – Matthew Muhart, Memorial Healthcare System Chief Strategy Officer

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022

Recently, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the results of all ACO’s performance in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). In this latest reconciliation for the performance year 2021, Broward Guardian ACO, which was purchased by Memorial Healthcare System (“Memorial”) in May of 2020, had the highest savings per beneficiary of any other high revenue (or health-system-owned) ACO in the nation in the MSSP program.

Broward Guardian has achieved a cumulative $36 million in shared savings since its inception in 2014 while caring for close to 9,000 beneficiaries. For the most recent program year of 2021, Broward Guardian achieved more than $11 million in savings in the program of which they received more than $8 million.

“These results were accomplished through the enhanced coordination of care among a vibrant and dedicated community-wide network of primary care and specialty physicians supported by a very robust team of professionals and technology resources housed in Memorial’s value-based care division,” said Matthew Muhart, Memorial’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. “Working together, we provide not only the chronic condition management many Medicare beneficiaries need, but the sorely needed navigation to care and other services, such as support for socioeconomic needs, which are often barriers to accessing care, and are necessary for keeping a population healthy.”

Since the purchase in 2020, Memorial has invested in technology, infrastructure, analytics, and numerous clinical resources for Broward Guardian to improve the health of the populations in the communities they serve and to reduce the total cost of care by helping patients receive the right care at the right time and in the right setting.

“The deployment of these resources across all of our value-based care programs including Broward Guardian, Memorial Health Network – our commercial ACO managing approximately 200,000 members – participation in approximately 20 bundle payment programs under Medicare’s BPCI-A program, and our co-branded Medicare Advantage Health Plan with Holy Cross Health and Oscar are producing incredible results, improving people’s health, and making the cost of healthcare more efficient,” said Monica Puga, Sr. VP, and Chief Nursing Executive.

There are close to 800 primary and specialty providers in the Broward Guardian ACO, providers that have partnered with Memorial on this value-based care journey. At the top level, Memorial is committed to care transformation, technology enablement, and innovation to support growth in the ACO.

Broward Guardian ACO performance depends on the innovative, technology-based clinical support and the collaboration among physicians, specialists, and clinical operations which collectively have resulted in optimized clinical, quality and financial outcomes.

“It is clear to us that our stakeholders; our patients and their families, the employers in our community, our physicians, and our commercial and governmental payers are expecting more from us, which means improving the health of our community and becoming more cost-efficient. These results validate Memorial is leading the way in South Florida,” Muhart said.

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About Broward Guardian:

Acquired by Memorial Healthcare System in 2020, Broward Guardian was first formed in 2013 as a primary care-focused organization and began as a Track 1 ACO in 2014 in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Broward Guardian advanced to a Track 3 ACO in the Medicare Shared Savings Program in 2017 and is currently in the Enhanced track. Currently, there are 39 ACO participants and 795 ACO providers and suppliers with approximately 9,000 Medicare beneficiaries attributed to Broward Guardian ACO.

About Memorial Healthcare System:

Memorial Healthcare System is one of the largest public healthcare systems in the U.S. and a national leader in quality care and patient satisfaction. It is highly regarded for a patient and family-centered approach at facilities that include Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar, Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center in Wellington, and Memorial Manor nursing home.

Among the many awards and recognition, it has earned are Modern Healthcare magazine’s “Best Place to Work in Healthcare,” Florida Trend’s “Florida’s Best Companies to Work For,” and Becker’s Hospital Review’s “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare.” In a recent report (“Humanizing Brand Experience”), the Denver-based consulting firm Monigle named Memorial the top health system brand in America, based on consumer surveys.

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