“We are encouraged by the increase in patient adherence to their medications for asthma and COPD, which is critical to avoiding symptoms and keeping patients out of the hospital during this pandemic.” – Leanne Kaye, PhD, MPH.

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

According to research from The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI: In Practice), controller inhaler adherence increased between January and March 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers analyzed the adherence of controller inhaler use for 7,578 patients using Propeller Health, a digital platform that uses electronic medication monitors to track inhaler use and send alerts to patients about missed doses. Data showed that between the first seven days of January 2020 and the last seven days of March 2020, there was a 14.5% relative increase in mean daily controller medication adherence. During the last week of March, data showed over 53% of patients achieved 75% or greater medication adherence, up 14.9% from the first seven days of January.

“We are encouraged by the increase in patient adherence to their medications for asthma and COPD, which is critical to avoiding symptoms and keeping patients out of the hospital during this pandemic,” said first author Leanne Kaye, PhD, MPH. “This research further supports that digital health tools can improve adherence and provide insight into patient well-being between office visits.”

The study authors believe that the observed trend may be attributable to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic guidelines regarding medication use, as well as patients’ desire to keep their pre-existing respiratory disease under control at this time.

Daily controller medications are essential for patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling primary respiratory diseases with proper medication use can improve disease outcomes and reduce acute events requiring medical care, which could inadvertently expose a patient to COVID-19.

There were no statistically significant differences in improved medication adherence between asthma and COPD patients during the study period. The data showed similar medication adherence increases across all age groups, with older patients overall showing a higher baseline adherence.

You can learn more about asthma and COVID-19 on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. 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.

###

Share article on social media or email:

WCG FDAnews

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

Sustained Medical Device Regulation Compliance:

Ensure Your Regulatory Processes and Tools are Fully Optimized

A Free FDAnews Webinar, Sponsored by Instem

Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT

http://info.fdanews.com/sustained-medical-device-regulation-compliance?free_webinar_source=HP

Even though the European Commission will likely postpone the date of application for the European Medical Device Regulation (EU-MDR), the medical device industry must not curtail compliance readiness activities.

Implementation of EU-MDR and IVDR will exponentially increase the volume and velocity of data that requires regulatory operations support. Now is the time to challenge the status quo and leverage technology solutions to improve the efficiency of regulatory operations information management.

Attend this free webinar sponsored by Instem and understand how to optimize processes and tools to ensure that regulatory operations meet global regulatory compliance.

Kim Young, Instem’s Director, Global Regulatory Intelligence, and Chris Nichols, an Instem Product Specialist, will explain the critical steps of confirming MDR readiness and remaining compliant with the new regulation. They’ll share how Regulatory Information Management (RIM) software can reduce several weeks of manual efforts into just a few hours — if not minutes.

Gain insights into:

• 
  How challenges are contrary to the way regulatory teams have traditionally operated across the industry… and how to overcome them
• How to integrate the critical aspects of EU-MDR compliance, and what one must consider to deploy a sustainable compliance framework
• How technology is optimizing some of the largest regulatory operations teams by helping them rationalize their efforts between rote tasks and business-critical strategic endeavors
• How to avoid suffering undue challenges for want of the right technology and tools
• How to develop a sustainable cadence to meet global compliance requirements, which will require a serious modernization of processes, technologies and tools

When one understands how to implement true end-to-end regulatory operations automation, one will ensure compliance with EU-MDR.

Webinar Details:

Sustained Medical Device Regulation Compliance:

Ensure Your Regulatory Processes and Tools are Fully Optimized

A Free FDAnews Webinar, Sponsored by Instem

Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT

http://info.fdanews.com/sustained-medical-device-regulation-compliance?free_webinar_source=HP

Easy Ways to Register:

Online: http://info.fdanews.com/sustained-medical-device-regulation-compliance?free_webinar_source=HP

By phone: 888.838.5578 or 703.538.7600

About FDAnews:

FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews’ print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA’s complex and ever-changing regulations

Share article on social media or email:

“Giving back and paying it forward has always been part of our company’s culture,” said Ann Miller, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder and LDI Workplace Effectiveness Business Partner.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

Today, Community Health Charities (CHC) announced a generous donation of $85,000 from The Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation and Liberty Diversified International (LDI) to support increasing mental health needs around COVID-19. Mike Fiterman is the chairman of the LDI board and grandson of the company’s founder.

In honor of Mental Health Month this May, CHC will use LDI’s gift to provide immediate mini grants to local NAMI organizations in all the markets where LDI employees live and work. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, and a long-time CHC partner. Before the global coronavirus pandemic, one in five Americans lived with a mental health condition. Now, these unprecedented times are causing an increase in mental health challenges, including social isolation, anxiety, depression, and more. The remaining funds will be used to provide long-term mental health and community support.

“Giving back and paying it forward has always been part of our company’s culture,” said Ann Miller, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder and LDI Workplace Effectiveness Business Partner. “We’re proud to partner with Community Health Charities to lift up mental health and encourage others to join us.”

LDI is challenging other companies to step up and give as much as they can during #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, and throughout the month of May, whether corporate gifts and grants, special employee giving opportunities, cause marketing or another creative option.

LDI has been a committed supporter of mental health, tying it into last year’s annual workplace giving campaign. In 2018, LDI celebrated 100 years in business with a “Great Gratitude Tour,” lighting the torch for the next 100 years of doing good, making lives better, and giving back to communities with partners like CHC.

Anyone needing mental health support can contact the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264, or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling. For more health resources during coronavirus, please visit https://healthcharities.org/coronavirus-resources/.

About LDI and Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation

The Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation honors LDI’s values of caring, innovation, trust and excellence to support the causes closest to its employees. Liberty Diversified International is a $700 million privately held family of businesses with more than 1,900 employees operating in the following industries: paper and packaging; furnishings and organization products for the office; and building and architectural products. With roots in the corrugated fiberboard business, the company, founded in 1918, is headquartered in the Minneapolis suburb of New Hope, MN, and has 20 facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. To learn more, visit http://www.libertydiversified.com.

About Community Health Charities

For more than 65 years, Community Health Charities (CHC) has been creating stronger, healthier communities. We build capacity for nonprofits by raising awareness, amplifying their message, and driving more funds and supporters to their cause; increase employee engagement and social impact for companies through giving, volunteering, health resources, engagement tools, community partnerships, and more; bring leaders together at the national, regional, and local levels to educate, elevate key issues, and improve overall social impact and community health; build community partnerships to harness collective efforts and coalitions; working together to tackle projects that improve community health and address root causes at scale. Visit https://healthcharities.org or @healthcharities.

Share article on social media or email:

M&S Visual Field Testing

“We’re excited to release the Melbourne Rapid Fields – A Visual Field which allows for the user to utilize one or both products to fit their individual need.”

NILES, Ill. (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

M&S Technologies, internationally recognized leader, in creating essential products eye professionals rely on, has partnered with the University of Melbourne and to release the “Melbourne Rapid Fields – Visual Field Suite (MRF)” which consists of In-Clinic and Online Visual Field testing.

“We’re excited to release the Melbourne Rapid Fields – A Visual Field which allows for the user to utilize one or both products to fit their individual need. The MRF-Clinic has been published, peer reviewed and demonstrates a high correlation to the Humphrey HFA Perimeter. A significant advantage is that the unit can be sanitized in less than 2 minutes between patients mitigating exposure to the COVID virus. The Online Visual Field screening allows the eyecare professional to monitor patients in the comfort of their home,” says Joe Marino, President & CEO.

The new MRF Visual Field Tablet is meticulously designed and calibrated to deliver consistent results. The portability enabled by the new space saving design allows for reliable testing on and off-site. The simple interface makes it easy to use and reduces test time.

This revolutionary software has been peer reviewed and published by leading journals. Tests include: Full field 30-2, Full grid 24-2, Macular 10-2, Screening as well as Visual Acuity assessment. Patient data is auto-populated providing immediate, accurate HFA style reports.

For more information call 847-763-0500

About M&S Technologies:

Founded in 1990, M&S Technologies is a software development and device manufacturer, rooted in innovative software development, local manufacturing and stellar customer service. M&S specializes in visual acuity testing systems. Known worldwide for our leading technological advancements, M&S is dedicated to bringing high quality, extremely accurate testing products to eye-care professionals, optometry schools and universities.

See the Release on PRWeb

Have a thought about this article? Contact us and let us know.

http://www.mstech-eyes.com

Share article on social media or email:

Companions In Care

This program will support professionals providing service to others in a variety of ways to be able to offer spiritual care as well.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

One Spirit Learning Alliance (OSLA), the largest interfaith educational organization in the United States with students from around the world, announced today the creation of a Spiritual Counseling program specifically related to helping people during uncertain times.

This 6-month program, Companions In Care, beginning in July 2020, will be geared to clergy, therapists, chaplains, healthcare professionals, first responders and those providing a myriad of services to enable them to explore the ongoing, emerging, and evolving spiritual needs of this time while cultivating the skills to effectively meet those needs. Rev. Therese Bimka and Rev. Sally Schwager, who have led One Spirit’s Interspiritual Counseling Program for 9 years will be shepherding this new initiative.

Rev. Diane Berke, Founder and Spiritual Director of One Spirit Learning Alliance said, “The unprecedented situation we are in requires that caregivers be open to and skillful in being present to the spiritual dimensions of the challenges presented by loss, trauma, loneliness, financial insecurity and uncertainty about what the future will look like. This program will support professionals providing service to others in a variety of ways to be able to offer spiritual care as well.”

About One Spirit Learning Alliance: One Spirit Learning Alliance (http://www.1spirit.org) is a 501(c)(3) interfaith institute that offers in-depth educational and professional training to clergy, spiritual counselors and the general public. OSLA is an umbrella organization which includes the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, the largest of its kind in the world, and other faith-based training programs.

For more information about One Spirit Learning Alliance please visit: 1spirit.org

Share article on social media or email:

South African Travelers Happy to Be Heading Home

Trip Concierge went above and beyond in every aspect. Thank you for all the hard work and the time you have taken to make this trip less stressful.

LAS VEGAS (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

Trip Concierge Inc. announced today that it was able to successfully and safely repatriate three dozen South Africans, ranging in age from mid-20s to early 30s, after all commercial flights to South Africa ceased due to a government imposed lock down.

It was far from the smooth conclusion to their U.S. experience they had envisioned when they arrived here in early January. Part of Staffing Accountants (“SAPRO”), they had each flown across the Atlantic full of optimism about a terrific opportunity: to fulfill a short-term work commitment with a respected U.S. accounting firm, thus enhancing their work credentials while enjoying the cultural experience of living in an exciting foreign city.

But when the coronavirus began slamming into communities across the United States back in mid-March, members of the group found themselves suddenly let go, as the companies they were working with abruptly cut back on expenses in the face of the looming economic crisis. Subsequently, the South African Government announced that, as of March 26, it was closing its borders to anyone trying to enter the country. And in a swift third blow, every commercial flight into South Africa was cancelled through June.

“We were checking in with each of our consultants daily,” says SAPRO co-founder and co-CEO Dario Grassini. “We wanted to make sure they were safe; physically, mentally, and emotionally. And at the same time we were calling on one of our secret weapons, Trip Concierge, whose CEO Thomas Schneider coordinated transporting all our people from across the country and housing them in various Marriott Hotels, while we worked tirelessly to find them a way home to South Africa.”

Eventually, through the combined efforts of Trip Concierge, SAPRO and Workaway, a large employer of young South Africans to work in the hospitality industry in Florida, a private charter flight was arranged with Ethiopian Airlines and permits received from the South African government. After a health screening at Miami International Airport, all passengers embarked on their return flight on Thursday, arriving safely in Johannesburg last Friday.

ABOUT TRIP CONCIERGE

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada Trip Concierge is an award-winning business travel agency committed to reducing stress and anxiety for the business traveler, while offering the world’s best travel experience. The Company is an independent affiliate of Nexion, a subsidiary of Travel Leaders, the largest network of professional travel agents in North America. The co-founders of Trip Concierge are successful entrepreneurs who previously IPO’ed their last company on the Toronto Venture Exchange and are joined by a development team that hail from global Fortune 500 companies like Facebook, Procter & Gamble and SAP.

ABOUT SAPRO STAFFING ACCOUNTANTS

SAPRO Staffing Accountants, based in New York City with offices in Johannesburg and Brisbane, is a global talent mobility and training company. Its core focus is supporting public accounting firms with experienced contingent audit, accounting, advisory, and tax resources, while providing its consultants with ongoing professional development and enriching cultural experiences.

Share article on social media or email:

With the wealth of data from Clareto, we now offer the most comprehensive and convenient EHR data retrieval tool on the market.

TORRANCE, Calif. (PRWEB)
May 04, 2020

Express Imaging Services (EIS), a leading provider of patient medical record retrieval for life and disability insurance carriers, today introduces the ability to order electronic health record (EHR) data via their EIS Direct platform.

In light of COVID-19 and the recent difficulty in receiving timely patient medical records, it’s more important now than ever to have a faster alternative to accessing traditional medical records. Those in the life and disability insurance space seeking medical information have long been relegated to placing orders and waiting weeks for a response from medical offices. Now they can take advantage of a more convenient and cost-effective method of receiving medical information by utilizing EHR data.

EHR data has quickly become a valuable source to underwriters for screening applications. Now, through a partnership with Clareto and other reliable data sources, EIS clients can request EHR data that can be returned overnight, rather than the weeks it may take other providers. The ability to pre-screen, decline and triage cases weeks faster delivers considerable cost savings — underwriters will save hundreds per chart in state fees.

Beyond the speed of the delivery, perhaps the most remarkable feature available in EIS Direct is its format ordering flexibility: clients can order EHR data and seamlessly transition to request a traditional attending physician statement (APS) with just a click. The ability to order multiple formats – either simultaneously or in succession – is a one-of-a-kind feature unique to EIS Direct.

Paul Terry, CEO of EIS, said, “We recognize that quality, availability and speed are essential to healthcare data requestors, and we understand the burden of waiting weeks for a response. We added the EHR ordering features to EIS Direct to provide an easier user experience. With the wealth of data from Clareto, we now offer the most comprehensive and convenient EHR data retrieval tool on the market.”

EIS and Clareto are among the key players who are building the interoperability bridge between the data sources and the requestor. David Dorans, CEO of Clareto, added, “Partnering with EIS means more open access to information, and this is just the start of expanding healthcare data availability. Together, we’ll continue to innovate the field of health information exchange, offering functionality that simplifies the entire process and makes the customer’s life easier.”

EIS is committed to making the retrieval process as seamless as possible. With the ability to review request history, provider and case manager contacts, authorizations and more, EIS Direct aims to offer constituents an all-in-one solution.

Existing EIS clients can access all these tools in their platform starting today. Note that EIS Direct adheres to stringent security protocols and does not require applicants to reveal their patient portal credentials. HIPAA authorization and basic patient information are all the underwriter needs. Anyone seeking to learn more about ordering EHR data or EHR to APS ordering capabilities should consult with EIS today.

About Express Imaging Services (EIS)

Express Imaging Services (EIS) provides advanced solutions in the requisition of medical records for life insurance and financial professionals across the nation. EIS utilizes secure portals and advanced technology to transfer and receive confidential information between provider and requester, anywhere in the world. We provide a level of service to clients that far exceeds industry standards.

About Clareto

Clareto is a long-time innovator in the field of health information exchange. Founded in 2000 by Virginia healthcare providers, its focus has been on initiatives that improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health data. MedVirginia was the first HIE to be live on eHealth Exchange, the nation’s largest query-based health information network.

Share article on social media or email: