BOSTON (PRWEB)
October 21, 2019

Concerto HealthAI, the leading Real-World Data and AI Enterprise Technology company for precision oncology, announced today that it will present research findings which show how utilizing an electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO) system can be a highly effective and superior way for oncology practices to identify unmet needs of patients and link them to resources for developing Advance Directives (ADs), which are a guide to patients’ wishes for medical decisions during end-of-life care. The data will be presented during a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2019 Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium being held October 25-26 in San Francisco, California.

ASCO recommends that healthcare providers encourage early advance care planning with their patients. However, many cancer patients do not have advance directives, such as a living will or a durable power of attorney. A potential reason for low rates is inadequate communication between the provider and patient. The value of having advance directives is to allow patients to make decisions about their health and quality of life known in the event they are unable to express them.

Researchers used the Patient Care Monitor™ (PCM), Concerto HealthAI’s proprietary, web-based ePRO system that links PRO data to electronic medical record data in real-time, to survey patients as part of routine clinical care at an initial visit to a community-based oncology practice.

“Utilizing patient reported outcomes has become a practical tool to assess the impact of treatment on patient quality of life and understand the factors that can improve communication between providers and patients,” said Joanne Buzaglo, PhD and Executive Director of PRO Solutions at Concerto HealthAI. “This study demonstrates that using an ePRO system can be a non-threatening way to identify potential questions patients have and provide them with useful information about developing advance directives.”

Overall, of the 4,573 patients that completed the PCM survey including the advance directives module, one quarter (26%) reported having an advance directive at the time of the initial visit to the oncology clinic, specifically 10% indicated having a Living Will and 6% a durable power of attorney. The remaining three-fourths (75%) indicated either not having an advance directive (64%) or not knowing if they had an advance directive (10%). Patients with advance directives were more likely to be older (M=68 v. 56 years) and White (79% v. 21% Black). Of the patients without advance directives, 11% requested more information on them and were more likely to be older (M-59 v. 55 years), female (66% v. 34%), Black (55% v. 45% White) and non-married/non-partnered (55% v. 45%).

“The majority of patients do not have ADs at the time of an initial visit to a community-based oncology practice,” said Jeff Elton, CEO of Concerto HealthAI. “This systematic and advanced approach to capturing data can address the gap in provider-patient communication in order to create the best possible care and end-of-life plan together.”

Details of the presentation are below. The full abstract can be accessed on the ASCO 2019 Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium website.

Abstract Number and Title: #5, “Capturing patient advance directives status in a community oncology practice using an electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) system”

Poster Board Number: B2

Session Information: Poster Session A

Session Date and Time: Friday, October 25, 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM; then again from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT

About Concerto HealthAI

Concerto HealthAI is a technology leader in Definitive Real-world Data (RWD) and AI solutions for precision oncology. Our mission is to bring together unique data assets, leading AI-based technologies, and the world’s top outcomes research and data science talent. Our focus is on revolutionizing clinical and outcomes research to accelerate the insights benefitting patient treatment. Concerto HealthAI is a SymphonyAI company. eurekaHealth is a trademark of Concerto HealthAI. For more information, visit us at http://www.concertohealthai.com.

Share article on social media or email:

Will his toothy recklessness damage the world-famous Bieber grin?

While the intimate moment might have made for a memorable photo — using teeth for any other purpose than eating risks damaging them.

WEST COVINA, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 21, 2019

An October 10 article on People reports on the mildly risqué Instagram post by Justin Bieber in which he is seen removing his new bride’s garter with his teeth. The post confirmed the pop star’s recent marriage to Hailey Baldwin, destroying the dreams of millions of ardent “Beliebers” around the world. West Covina based dental office A-Z Dental Care, however, says that – while the intimate moment might have made for a memorable photo — using teeth for any other purpose than eating risks damaging them, even if the situation seems harmless.

The office explains that human teeth are specially designed to break down specific types of food. A-Z Dental Care says that molars, for example, are largely meant for grinding vegetables or roots, not biting into fabrics or other objects. When a person uses their teeth on an object, their risk for chipping or breaking a tooth gets exponentially higher, the office notes. Common habits such as biting one’s nails are a frequent cause of chipped teeth, the office adds. A-Z Dental Care says that while it is unlikely that a single event will actually destroy a person’s teeth, getting out of the habit of using teeth instead of scissors or a knife will limit the risk of chipping or breaking substantially.

Of course, A-Z Dental Care notes that even the most oral-health conscious person can still experience chipping or breaking, and when it happens its time to visit the dentist. The dental office says that chipped teeth have the potential to break further so it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist right away. If a chipped tooth ends up exposing the pulp of the tooth in even a minute amount, the patient’s risk for infection and costly restorative procedures skyrockets. Taking care of a chipped tooth sooner rather than later is always in a patient’s best interests, the office notes.

If a patient experiences a broken or missing tooth, however, the matter is much more urgent, says A-Z Dental Care. Broken teeth have a high risk of causing infection as food particles can get stuck inside of hard-to-reach crevasses, allowing infection-causing bacteria to flourish. The office also notes that missing teeth can lead to bone loss if unchecked for long periods of time, as there is nothing to stimulate bone tissue production in the gap. Getting dental implant as soon as possible can reduce the risk of bone loss and infection considerably while also restoring lost confidence in a patient’s smile and full functionality.

For more information on all of A-Z Dental Care’s services, readers can visit their website at https://www.atozdentalcare.com/ or by calling 626-314-6908.

Share article on social media or email: