Category Archives: Health

What is new in the field of Health. Trending topics, and cutting edge research in the are of Health. Press Releases that give us updates on Health.

Health: Addiction

Cybersecurity for Diagnostic Imaging Equipment to Increase in Importance

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According to an IMV survey, 78% expect the importance of cybersecurity to diagnostic imaging equipment to increase in importance over the next few years.

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Service and maintenance have long been important aspects of managing diagnostic imaging equipment, and with an increase in equipment connectivity and hospital networking, cybersecurity is becoming a growing concern.

For hospitals, the top three priorities over the next three years related to imaging equipment service management are to reduce mean repair time, manage service needs for imaging on a 24/7/365 basis, and improve the cybersecurity of imaging and networked healthcare equipment.

Of the survey respondents who participated in our IMV 2023 Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Service Outlook Report, 78% indicated they expect the importance of cybersecurity to increase, 19% stated they expected it to stay the same, and 3% said they expected it to decrease in importance in 2024 and beyond.

The top two concerns regarding cybersecurity noted by those surveyed are ensuring the privacy of patients’ protected health information (PHI) and ransomware attacks. These concerns reflect the importance of protecting the data stored on hospital networks and connected systems, because the consequences of data breaches or data corruption can be severe and directly impact patient care and safety.

Survey respondents stated that a hospital’s IT department has the most responsibility for ensuring the cybersecurity of medical imaging devices.

As for service expenditures for diagnostic imaging equipment in 2022, the top modalities covered by service contracts were CT, x-ray, MRI and ultrasound. Regarding service provider type in 2022, 49% of service-related spending was with an OEM, 41% with a third-party provider, and 10% outside of a formal service contract.

Percentage of 2022 service-related spending:
OEM: 49%
Third-Party: 41% 
Outside Formal Contract: 10%

The report found that the top three diagnostic imaging service providers in 2022 — by share of expenditures — were GE HealthCare, Siemens Healthineers, and Crothall Healthcare. It also found the following:

  • Overall in 2022, 77% of sites had a post-warranty service contract with an OEM and 64% had one with a third-party service provider.
  • In 2023, 46% of respondents indicated that their primary hospital had at least one multi-OEM service contract.
  • Overall, the top modalities that are planned to be covered with full onsite service contracts (OEM) are CT with 41% of sites indicating, MRI with 39% and ultrasound with 29%.

If you’d like to share your knowledge of medical imaging, click here to sign up for the IMV Survey panel.

Davin Korstjens is a Senior Market Research Program Manager at IMV Medical Information Division, part of Science and Medicine Group.

IMV’s 2023 Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Service Outlook Report explores market trends related to service contracts for diagnostic imaging equipment in U.S. hospitals. The report was published in August 2023 and is based on responses from 292 radiology and biomedical managers and administrators who participated in IMV’s nationwide survey from May 2023 –June 2023. Vendors covered in this report include Agfa, Aramark, BC technical, Canon, Carestream, Crothall Healthcare, Fujifilm, GE, Hologic, Konica Minolta, Philips, Renovo Solutions, Samsung, Shimadzu, Siemens, Sodexo, TriMedx, Unisyn, United Imaging, Ziehm.

For information about purchasing IMV Market Outlook Reports, visit the corporate website at https://imvinfo.com/ or call 703-778-3080 ext. 1033 to speak with a representative. In addition to the report, all purchases will include a complimentary recording of an executive summary presentation of findings conducted by IMV’s Senior Program Manager.

Disclosure: IMV Medical Information Division is a sister company of AuntMinnie.com.

Media Contact

Davin Korstjens, IMV, a Science and Medicine Group Company, 703-778-3080, [email protected], https://imvinfo.com/

SOURCE IMV, a Science and Medicine Group Company

Health

AuntMinnie.com Unveils New Service Content Area, Sponsored by Bracco, Encouraging Service Professionals to Dive Deeper into Topics Most Relevant to Them

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AuntMinnie.com, the premier online destination for medical imaging professionals, is excited to introduce its latest Service Content Area.

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — AuntMinnie.com, the premier online destination for medical imaging professionals, is excited to introduce its latest Service Content Area. This dedicated space will provide radiology professionals with a wealth of specialized content, insights, and resources related to the service of medical imaging equipment and software. AuntMinnie.com has long served as a hub for collaboration, education, and innovation in radiology. Now, with the Service Content Area, they are taking another bold step to enrich the experiences of our community members, particularly professionals involved with handling imaging equipment and software contracts.

The Service Content Area is a specialized platform designed to provide these service professionals with an in-depth exploration of service-related content. Whether it’s staying updated with the latest service trends, accessing comprehensive articles, or finding educational resources, this new area is crafted to cater specifically to service-related interests.

“Our ongoing mission at AuntMinnie.com is to empower and support professionals in the medical imaging field. The Service Content Area is a testament to our commitment to this mission,” said Barry Lovette, General Manager, Media at Science and Medicine Group. “We believe this dedicated space will serve as a valuable resource for service professionals, facilitating their growth and contributing to the advancement of the entire industry.”

We are proud to announce that Bracco, a leading name in the medical imaging industry, has come on board as the inaugural sponsor of the Service Content Area. Bracco’s support will not only enhance the resources available to our audience but also allow them to gain deeper insights into reader behavior, enabling more effective campaign strategies, refined targeting approaches, and deeper connections with AuntMinnie.com’s vibrant community.

The launch of the Service Content Area is a significant step forward in enhancing the AuntMinnie.com experience for all medical imaging professionals, further solidifying its position as the go-to platform for news, knowledge, and collaboration.

In addition to this new and exciting Service Content Area, AuntMinnie.com offers Practice Management Content Areas for Administration, Associations, Careers, Equity & Inclusion, Medicolegal, Patient Safety, Radiologic Technologists, and SalaryScan.

To learn more about AuntMinnie.com’s Service Content Area and other sponsorship opportunities, contact us at [email protected].

About AuntMinnie.com

AuntMinnie.com is the premier online destination for medical imaging professionals. With a dedicated focus on advancing the field of medical imaging, AuntMinnie.com provides a platform for collaboration, education, and innovation in the industry. Our community of radiologists, researchers, and industry leaders relies on AuntMinnie.com for the latest news, expert insights, and valuable resources.

Media Contact

Ben Barna, AuntMinnie.com, (703) 646-8365, [email protected], https://www.auntminnie.com/

SOURCE AuntMinnie.com

Health: Abortion

Summit Public Schools’ Opacity Demonstrates Need for Oversight and Transparency in Digital Education Programs

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Key New NEPC Research Brief Takeaway: Summit’s bold claims of success stand in contrast to its weak responses to a public records request, revealing shortcomings in policies governing school performance, digital educational programs, protection of student data, and school funding.

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 21st, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Businesses can be expected to claim success. But when children’s education and taxpayer dollars are at stake, reasonable transparency should also be expected.

Summit Public Schools (SPS), a California-based charter school network financially supported by hundreds of millions of dollars in technology-industry contributions, is widely promoted nationally as a success story to be emulated. Marketing for SPS claims that its innovative curriculum and instruction, anchored in its proprietary digital platform, leads to extraordinary percentages of its students being eligible for, accepted into, and graduating from college.

SPS’s boasts of success and its national prominence make understanding its story a useful way to gain insight into how Silicon Valley funds and markets education initiatives. To that end, Alex Molnar, Faith Boninger and Anna Noble, all of the University of Colorado Boulder, along with Meenakshi Mani of the University of Edinburgh, authored We Need Better Education Policy. Summit Public Schools Shows Why.

The research brief analyzes the documents SPS provided in response to a request for public records bearing on its reports of students’ academic success, its curriculum and instruction program, its proprietary digital platform, its protection of student data, its funding, and the validity and reliability of its assessments. The limited records SPS ultimately provided failed to support its claims of student academic success and did not demonstrate the validity or reliability of learning outcomes assessments. Nor did the records illuminate the pedagogical decisions embedded in SPS’s learning platform or its safeguards for student data and privacy. And although the financial statements SPS provided did not identify the sources of the large contributions it received, publicly available information suggests that tech industry donors provided significant funding and in-kind contributions. Such donors are likely to benefit from the development, promotion, and adoption of digital educational platforms such as that used by SPS.

Summit Public Schools provides a powerful example of inadequacies in policy related to transparency and accountability around school performance, digital educational programs, protection of student data, and school funding. For example, although California’s open records statute explicitly includes charter schools, its lack of an enforcement mechanism allows well-funded organizations like SPS to avoid meaningful compliance.

SPS’s inability to provide records demonstrating the academic success it claims suggests the need for greater oversight of performance. Its inability or unwillingness to identify key elements of its proprietary digital platform reveals inadequacies in state policy overseeing digital educational platforms and protecting student data. Its financial records indicate inadequate reporting requirements for sources and amounts of non-public funding. Finally, SPS demonstrates how nominally nonprofit charter school organizations evade public oversight and provide technology companies and their investors with both a market for their products and a continually renewing source of valuable data from young people.

The new research brief from Molnar, Boninger, Noble, and Mani provides state policymakers with recommendations for oversight and accountability to protect the public interest and to ensure the transparency of digital educational programs.

Find We Need Better Education Policy. Summit Public Schools Shows Why, by Alex Molnar, Faith Boninger, Anna Noble, and Meenakshi Mani, at:
https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/summit-2023

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, sponsors research, produces policy briefs, and publishes expert third-party reviews of think tank reports. NEPC publications are written in accessible language and are intended for a broad audience that includes academic experts, policymakers, the media, and the general public. Our mission is to provide high-quality information in support of democratic deliberation about education policy. We are guided by the belief that the democratic governance of public education is strengthened when policies are based on sound evidence and support a multiracial society that is inclusive, kind, and just. Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu

Media Contact

Alex Molnar, National Education Policy Center, (480) 797-7261, [email protected], https://nepc.colorado.edu/

Faith Boninger, National Education Policy Center, (480) 390-6736, [email protected], https://nepc.colorado.edu/

SOURCE National Education Policy Center

Health

Innovative Health Brings EP Labs’ Carbon Emissions into Focus with New Sustainability Calculator

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“At Innovative Health, we’re committed to giving hospital leaders the information and tools they need to move their environmental sustainability efforts forward in a substantial and quantifiable way,” Ferreira added. “Even a simple tool, like our emissions reduction calculator, can make a huge difference when it comes to arming clients with the knowledge and data they need to make informed decisions.”

Today, healthcare is responsible for almost 5 percent of all carbon emissions, and more than 80 percent of those emissions come from the supply chain. Each device used in a standard EP lab procedure contributes up to the equivalent of 10 pounds of CO2, and an average of 5.9 devices used in EP procedures can be reprocessed, rather than simply being used and discarded. By implementing a complete reprocessing program, EP labs could effectively cut their per-procedure greenhouse gas contribution in half.

To learn more about how EP labs can reduce their carbon footprints with EP reprocessing, check out Innovative Health’s informational video and emissions reduction calculator here.

About Innovative Health
Innovative Health is an advanced medical device reprocessing company that offers smarter utilization of medical devices in hospitals’ cardiology and electrophysiology programs.

Media Contact

Lori Luechtefeld, WIT Strategy for Innovative Health, 310-210-4757, [email protected], https://innovative-health.com

SOURCE Innovative Health

Health

Dr. Gary Nakhuda to Present Insights on Mosaic Embryo Transfer at CFAS Annual Meeting 2023

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Mosaicism is a subject of ongoing debate within the field, particularly with the increased sensitivity of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. While NGS has improved the ability to detect mosaicism, questions persist about its impact on successful pregnancies.

Dr. Gary Nakhuda explains, “Embryonic mosaicism refers to the co-existence of cells with normal chromosome complements and others with apparent abnormalities. While the ability to detect mosaicism can be highly informative, we are recognizing that many of these embryos have the remarkable ability to apparently self-correct and may still result in healthy outcomes.”

Nevertheless, debate persist regarding the transfer of mosaic embryos. This underscores the importance of facilitating patient access to genetic counseling resources, particularly when mosaicism emerges in PGT-A results.

Dr. Taylor, co-director of Olive Fertility Centre, emphasizes their commitment to patient-centered care grounded in scientific research: “Our dedication to advancing knowledge, exemplified by Dr. Nakhuda’s work, empowers Olive to enhance our patients’ chances of achieving pregnancy and delivering healthy babies.”

Dr. Gary Nakhuda’s presentation promises to be a significant contribution to the CFAS 2023 event, offering valuable insights that could shape the future of reproductive medicine. Olive Fertility Centre is honored to participate in the ongoing conversation and progress within the field, with a focus on scientific excellence and patient well-being.

Olive Fertility Centre (olivefertility.com) is one Canada’s leading fertility centres with clinics in Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, and Kelowna. We offer an award-winning IVF lab, personal care teams, and innovative programs including specialized genetic testing, egg freezing, and prenatal NIPT testing.

Media Contact

Mairi Campbell, Personae Concepts, 1 7788855300, [email protected], Personae.ca

SOURCE Personae Concepts

Health

Mployer Advisor Announces 2023 Winners of Third Annual ‘Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards’ in Northern Ohio

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Mployer Advisor has named more than 500 winners in over 50 regions as part of its third annual 2023 awards. The class of 2023 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers has named over 500 winners across more than 50 regions as part of its third annual “Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards” for 2023. Mployer Advisor’s Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award Program evaluates brokers based on breadth and depth of experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

Our team is proud to recognize this group of 2023 top-rated insurance advisors as part of our third annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards,”‥said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. “Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on employee cost and satisfaction with their healthcare than who an employer chooses as the insurance carrier. We have rated these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners’ demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.”

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the third annual “Top Employee Benefits Consultant Award” by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Northern Ohio job market is one of the most competitive in the U.S. Midwest, employing more than 2 million people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the region’s employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2023 “Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards” for Northern Ohio are as follows:

The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisor’s matrices and proprietary M Score on June 15, 2023. To view a full list of consultants in Northern Ohio, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a company’s specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisor’s website. Because Mployer Advisor’s research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next year’s list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:
Anthony Waters
[email protected]

SOURCE Mployer Advisor

Health

Latest Clinical Evidence Presented at APWCA's Wound Week™ 2023 Illustrates the Significant and New Clinical Utility of the MolecuLight Point-of-Care Imaging Platform

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6 Clinical Posters and a Presentation Including New Results of a 1,447 Patient Study Highlights the Breadth of Clinical Benefits of the MolecuLight Device for Wound Care Applications TORONTO and PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – MolecuLight Inc., the leader in point-of-care…

Health

It’s Back-to-School and LuvBug Learning Reports 9 in 10 Parents Feel Interactive Tools at Home can Improve Academic Performance

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Key Findings:

  • 95%* – over nine in ten Americans say it is important or somewhat important for parents to provide tools at home for children to learn emotional development to reduce mental health risks later in life.
  • The highest rankings came from the Midwest at 94.1%, females 93.6 and 55-plus at 92.8%.
  • 93%*- Nine in ten Americans say it’s important or somewhat important for parents to have tools to teach children emotional development with an emphasis on self-image, self-worth and self-regulation.
  • The highest rankings came from the Midwest 88.7%, females 89.6% and 55-plus 88.5%
  • 89% – almost 9 in 10 say that young children having access to interactive educational tools at home would have a positive (42%) or somewhat positive (43%) impact on their academic performance.
  • The highest rankings came from the Midwest 87.4%, females 85.4% and 55-plus 88%

“You have to raise your kids online the same way you raise them offline, by thinking about what your values are offline and mirroring those same values online. Choose screen time based on connection, growth and creativity. Try to be thoughtful and mindful about what screen time is valuable, making it more about quality, than quantity.” adds Dr. Jodi Gold, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Author of Screen Smart Parenting

Overall, the statistics in all regions of the country, between males and females and all age groups were close. This reflects the overwhelming desire and perception that proactive tools are valuable and needed to assist parents, grandparents, and caregivers at home to help guide emotional development in young children, a segment often overlooked when it comes to discussions on overall parenting.

Innovative brands such as LuvBug Learning can augment a child’s digital consumption with smart screen time. LuvBug offers the first comprehensive emotional development learning platform, boasting a catalogue of engaging videos and enticing games. Designed by learning scientists, it equips kids with vocabulary and tools to manage and regulate their own emotions, building integrity and fostering a growth mindset from early on.

Unlike any other e-learning product, devoid of ads with the strictest privacy protocols, LuvBug elegantly combines powerful learning with play, in a safe environment. LuvBug’s award winning ‘Learning Path’ curates videos and games to match the age and skill level of each child. Designed with unyielding standards for beauty, child user-experience and detailed reporting, LuvBug provides 3D adventure, filled with e-learning games and videos. The Learning Path incentivizes kids to build bridges by advancing their knowledge, under the guidance of their beloved digital chaperone and resident ‘unicorn puppy dog’, Violet.

“Parents today are increasingly conscious of the importance of teaching kids to communicate their emotions. I’m a mom who is mindful of my daughter’s screen time but am also aware of the positive aspects of technology. So, I’m excited that new tools go beyond traditional academics, to teach kids about feelings while regulating their own emotions. These are impactful parenting tools, with potential benefits to long term mental health,” adds Dr. Kiarra King, MD, FACOG.

About LuvBug Learning

Designed by learning scientists, LuvBug Learning equips kids and families with tools to better understand and regulate their own emotions, as a means to offset mental health risks and improve overall academic success. Visit LuvBug Learning.

Support Material:

Survey Infographics

Product Overview

Onboarding Video

Methodology

Nanos Research conducted an online representative non-probability survey of 1,269 Americans, 18 years of age or older, between August 5th and 10th, 2023 as part of an omnibus survey. The research was commissioned by LuvBug Learning.

Media Contact

Victoria Sandic, LuvBug Learning, 1 4163899510, [email protected], https://luvbuglearning.com

SOURCE LuvBug Learning