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.

Maxx Orthopedics appoints Rich Gray as Area Vice President of Sales


Rich Gray, Area Vice President of Sales, Maxx Orthopedics

“We are very excited to welcome Rich to Maxx Orthopedics. Rich embraces our core philosophy of putting surgeons at the center of every decision we make, and I am confident he will help propel our business into new geographies,” says Farzin Khaghani, CCO of Maxx Orthopedics.

Maxx Orthopedics, Inc., a rapidly expanding global orthopedics device company, recently appointed Rich Gray as Area Vice President of Sales, West. In this roll, Mr. Gray will be responsible for all strategic sales growth initiatives for the organization in the western half of the US, including strengthening relationships with customers, increasing the distribution network, and expanding the company’s footprint.

“We are very excited to welcome Rich to Maxx Orthopedics. He has a proven track record of delivering growth and is a consummate professional. Rich embraces our core philosophy of putting surgeons at the center of every decision we make, and I am confident he will help propel our business into new geographies,” says Farzin Khaghani, CCO of Maxx Orthopedics.

Mr. Gray’s career in the orthopedic industry began in October 2000 as a sales representative for Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics. His passion and focus have helped fuel his career as he ascended to roles of increasing responsibility in sales leadership including Director of Sales for Ortho Development and West Area Vice President of Sales for NextStep Arthropedix.

Mr. Gray holds a BS in Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics and Kinesiology from California State University.

About Maxx Orthopedics

Maxx Orthopedics is the manufacturer of the Freedom Knee® System, Libertas® Total Hip System and Quick Recovery Solutions (QRS®). The company develops and markets innovative orthopedic medical devices worldwide with a focus on providing state-of-the-art implants and related solutions that best restore patient mobility while accommodating lifestyle, anatomical and economic needs. Find out more at http://www.maxxortho.com

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Unity Consortium Is Awarded Candid’s 2023 Platinum Seal Of Transparency


This achievement recognizes Unity’s fiscal discipline, governance, and transparent operations in our work to improve adolescent and young adult vaccination to support lifelong health.

Unity® Consortium has announced that it has received the 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the highest-level designation awarded to nonprofit organizations, illustrating responsible fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. Previously known as the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency, the prestigious designation is provided by Candid, a 501(c)3 organization that provides the world’s most comprehensive data and information about nonprofit organizations and the social sector.

“This achievement recognizes Unity’s fiscal discipline, governance, and transparent operations in our work to improve adolescent and young adult vaccination to support lifelong health,” said Unity Consortium President Judy Klein. “This designation means partners, donors, and supporters can have confidence that Unity is worthy of their support and generosity.”

Established in 2014, Unity focuses on adolescent immunization platforms by engaging with adolescents, parents, and healthcare providers to address significant gaps in adolescent and young adult preventive health. By providing action-oriented leadership, innovation, and education for adolescents and young adults, Unity has established immunization as a central component of preventive health and investment in lifelong health. Unity Consortium seeks to engage parents, adolescents, and young adults to embrace the value of immunization by developing healthcare professionals as advocates that make strong recommendations for all nationally recommended vaccines and ensuring easy access to and timely delivery of all recommended vaccines.

Unity is also the founder of Adolescent Immunization Action Week, which aims to reach adolescents, their parents, and physicians to encourage adolescents and young adults to catch up on missed or delayed vaccines. Adolescent Immunization Action Week takes place in the first week of April.

About Unity Consortium

Unity® Consortium is a non-profit organization that unites diverse groups around a common passion – the imperative to protect against all vaccine-preventable diseases to support lifelong health. Our members represent public and private organizations, industry, academia, healthcare providers, retailers, and advocacy groups. As one strong voice, Unity Consortium addresses the unique challenges surrounding adolescent and young adult health, prevention, and immunization.

For more information, visit us at https://www.unity4teenvax.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.

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UofL experts ask public to be on the lookout for sex trafficking and report it


Sex trafficking is a component of human trafficking. The color blue is internationally symbolic of human trafficking awareness.

The average age of entry into trafficking in the United States is 13 years old.

Human trafficking occurs everywhere and at all times of the year, but certainly there is an uptick in the Louisville area during Kentucky Derby time, according to Naomi Warnick, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at the University of Louisville.

“We typically think of human trafficking as sex trafficking, which is certainly more common, especially during Derby time,” Warnick said.

Warnick suggests members of the public keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. Judgment should be used when making contact with anyone potentially involved in the situation, says Olivia Mittel, associate dean for medical student affairs in the UofL School of Medicine.

“I think it’s important for people to become familiar with the various aspects of trafficking and recognize that many people are at risk; there’s not just one way. Asking the question ‘is anyone asking you to do something you don’t want to do?’ is one way to gauge whether someone is at risk.”

Warnick and Mittel are developing educational content for health care providers to help them recognize human trafficking and provide care for those who are trafficked or at risk of being trafficked. The project specifically relates to trauma-informed communication with those who are affected by trafficking.

Children are sex trafficked victims, too

While there are some differences in research results on the degree to which adult sex trafficking occurs during the days surrounding large sports event like the Kentucky Derby, there’s no question that any child used for sex is being exploited and abused.

Melissa Currie is Kosair Charities Professor and Endowed Chair for Pediatric Forensic Medicine and chief of the Kosair Charities Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine in the UofL Department of Pediatrics and Norton Children’s Hospital. “Child sexual trafficking, also known as commercial sexual exploitation, is a form of child abuse that can involve males and females of any age,” Currie said.

“The average age of entry into trafficking in the United States is 13 years old. It can involve the child being advertised, solicited or otherwise exploited for commercial sex acts. The exchange can involve money, drugs, food, attention or housing—particularly in children who have run away from home—in return for sex acts.”

Currie said that parents and other adults can and should watch for signs of sex trafficking of children. “Social media can be a facilitator of trafficking. Parents should know the individuals their children are spending time with,” she said. “Red flags include spending time with people who are older, having expensive items that the family is unclear how the child obtained, signs of substance use disorder and changes in school performance. Risk factors include a history of abuse of neglect, lack of a strong support network, runaway behavior, being marginalized by society and substance use disorder.”

Children won’t necessarily recognize that they are being used and exploited, Currie said. “Victims often don’t recognize that they’re being victimized and may identify their trafficker as a romantic partner. This is a complex crime that targets our most vulnerable children.”

To report signs of adult or child sex trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888, or contact a local police department.

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Announces Partnerships in Two New States


USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall welcomes new partner practices Stopperich Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Southwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Our passion and our expertise is caring for patients, providing them with the best care possible. Partnering with USOSM will enable us to do that on an even deeper level, and that’s something we’re all excited about.

U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) – a specialty management services company that exclusively serves premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons – is excited to announce partnerships in two new states: Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The new partners are Stopperich Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of McMurry, Pennsylvania, and Southwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

USOSM was the first company of its kind, and it continues to lead the industry today. Currently, the shared-services organization has more than 190 surgeon partners across 26 states. It has the largest and fastest growing network of premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons, nationwide.

“We’re honored to announce our first partnerships in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Our new partners – Stopperich Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Southwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – are exceptional OMS (oral and maxillofacial surgery) practices, who put patients first. They are leaders in their field and we welcome them to our network of like-minded surgeon partners,” said USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall.

About the new partners:

Located in McMurray, Stopperich Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery primarily serves patients in Western Pennsylvania, providing comprehensive, compassionate and highly personalized care for a wide variety of OMS needs. Led by P. Shawn Stopperich, DMD, the practice offers the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures from dental implants to wisdom teeth removal, bone grafting, diagnosing and treating facial pain and injuries, and much more. The office is outfitted with the latest technology and equipment, designed with patients’ safety and comfort in mind.

“Our passion and our expertise is caring for patients, providing them with the best care possible,” said Dr. Stopperich. “Partnering with USOSM will enable us to do that on an even deeper level, and that’s something we’re all excited about. USOSM can provide the behind-the-scenes business support we need, so we can spend more time focused on patient care.”

Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Southwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery offers a full-scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures, such as dental implants, wisdom teeth removal and bone grafting. Led by Wai Pong Ng, DMD, and Jeffrey Hagen, DMD, the practice specializes in complex orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery. They provide highly personalized and exceptional patient care in a comfortable and technologically-advanced setting.

“Our patients trust us to provide the highest quality patient care possible, and that’s what we do,” said Dr. Hagen. “That’s why we need a partner like USOSM, to take care of the administrative details, so we can give our patients our full attention.”

Dr. Ng echoes Dr. Hagen’s sentiments, saying: “We’ve always been intentional about what we’re doing here. We’ve built a carefully crafted, state-of-the art practice to serve our community well and meet each patient’s individual needs. Partnering with USOSM will help us to keep doing that more effectively. They will allow us to be more streamlined, so that our practice continues to flow like it should.”

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM has partner practices spanning 26 states. A shared services organization, USOSM collaborates with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer a partnership solution for continued and accelerated practice success. USOSM provides operational, marketing and administrative support services, reinvests resources, and applies best practices to improve clinical and financial performance and produce steadier, more profitable growth for all. For more information, visit https://www.usosm.com/.

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HMP Global unveils MATE Act virtual training program for DEA license holders who prescribe controlled substances


MATE Act Training logo

HMP Education’s MATE Act Training provides a fully online experience with sessions aligned with the new federal law’s requirements.

HMP Global, the leading healthcare events and education company, today unveiled a new virtual course aligned with the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act requirements mandating that practitioners holding licenses from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) complete eight hours of coursework on Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

The MATE Act passed by Congress as part of the Omnibus Bill of 2022 and was signed into law earlier this year. Effective June 27, all DEA-registered practitioners will be required to check a box on their online DEA registration form affirming that they have completed a one-time, eight-hour training program on opioid or other substance use disorders.

The program is provided through HMP Global’s subsidiary HMP Education, jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

“Prescribers and patients mutually benefit from more education on addiction,” said Doug Edwards, Senior Vice President, HMP Education. “With more than 1 million lives lost since the start of the Opioid epidemic, providing prescribers with additional training on substance use is one step toward ending this crisis.”

HMP Education’s MATE Act Training provides a fully online experience with sessions aligned with the new federal law’s requirements, including:


  • The Power of Shared Decision-Making: Collaboration with Patients and Families to Support Effective Pain Management
  • Voices of Recovery: Combining Medication for Opioid Use Disorders with 12-Step Recovery Support
  • Suicide Prevention: Working with Patients Who Have SUD
  • Comorbid PTSD and SUD: Case-Based Interactive Learning
  • Taking a Team Approach to Opioid Overdose Treatment: Facilities, Patients, and Caregivers
  • State of Substance Use
  • Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A New, Neuroscience-Based Treatment for Opioid Misuse, Opioid Disorder, and Chronic Pain

Participants can earn the required 8-hour Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements through the MATE Act Training, and additional courses will be added on May 15 to supplement the core program.

For more information or to register, visit matetraining.com.

ABOUT HMP GLOBAL 

HMP Global is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical — and is an omnichannel leader in healthcare content, events, and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events — in person and online via its proprietary VRTX virtual platform — and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include the HMP Global Learning Network, healthcare’s most comprehensive source for news and information; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; the Evolution of Psychotherapy, the world’s largest independent educational event for mental health professionals; the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC), the leading, global gathering for interdisciplinary cardiovascular specialists; EMS World Expo, North America’s largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.

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Now available from Aniara Diagnostica 5-ELISA ADAMTS-13 Antigen, for measuring ADAMTS-13 antigen in plasma or in any biological fluid


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The entire Aniara line is available for purchase at http://www.aniara.com.

Aniara Diagnostica, a multi-national distributor of diagnostic and research agents, as well as screening tools, has strengthened its commitment to meeting today’s highest standards for product quality and cost-efficient delivery.

For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.

This sandwich ELISA is designed with polyclonal antibodies coated onto the plate for capturing ADAMTS-13 in the tested sample.

ADAMTS-13 is a metalloproteinase present in plasma at a concentration of about 500-800 ng/mL. It cleaves high molecular weight von Willebrand factor polymers to a lower molecular weight, following its release into blood circulation from endothelial cells (released from Weibel-Palade bodies).

5-ELISA ADAMTS-13 Antigen A5D-55501 click here for more information

The entire Aniara product line is available for purchase at http://www.aniara.com. The Company distributes products in North America, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Iceland.

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Team Novo Nordisk welcome Kate Brim as ambassador for 2023


©Mary Carol Peterson

“As soon as I heard about Kate I knew that Team Novo Nordisk was the right place for her”, said Phil Southerland, Team Novo Nordisk’ CEO and co-founder

World Champion Handcyclist Kate Brim joins the world’s first all diabetes professional cycling team as a sponsored athlete for 2023 as the American Para athlete continue her rapid rise to the top of her sport and targets more success in Para-cycling.

Two years after entering her first race Brim is now World Champion in both the road race and time trial H2 category after finding almost immediate success at both national and international level.

“We’re absolutely over the moon to be able to welcome Kate Brim to the Team Novo Nordisk family,” began CEO & Co-Founder Phil Southerland. “If you don’t know about Kate and her incredible story then you need to keep reading and find out all about her, and hopefully we can do what we can to help to support her as she surely pushes for more success.”

“As soon as I heard about Kate I knew that Team Novo Nordisk was the right place for her. All of our athletes have incredible stories, but Kate’s spinal chord accident and subsequent diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes happened within such a short space of time, that to see how she’s adapted, not only in her life but in her sport and drove on is awe inspiring.”

Kate Brim was 19 years old with when an unfortunate accident occurred during what should have been routine surgery for a herniated disc did not go as planned, and Brim’s spinal cord was damaged. Shortly after, Brim was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and had to learn how to manage the condition as a quadriplegic.

As part of her rehabilitation Brim started to take part in adaptive sport sessions that included wheelchair rugby and handcycling and a few years later Brim is now at the top of her sport.

“I am so incredibly honored to join Team Novo Nordisk,” said Brim. “Community is of huge importance to me and as I continue to learn and develop, I’m looking forward to being part of the Team Novo Nordisk family.”

“I think maybe the best way to sum things up is a quote that I try to live by from Walter Anderson: Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.”

Brim is currently on the road with Team USA in Europe and after staring her season with a victory in Italy, she’s set to compete in upcoming races in Belgium.

“It’s rare that you meet some one who’s new to elite level sport and immediately finds success,” concluded Southerland. “For Kate that’s happened with Hand Cycling and her recent World Cup wins in Maniago, Italy with Team USA in Italy just goes to show that she’s already firing in 2023.”

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New remote patient monitoring tool helps hospitals deliver high-quality patient care amid growing staff shortages


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With XProtect Hospital Assist, hospitals can improve patient care by offering an additional layer of support for the healthcare staff,” said Rahul Yadav, Chief Technology Officer at Milestone Systems.

As hospitals and healthcare facilities grapple with staffing shortages, XProtect Hospital Assist offers an innovative level of remote patient monitoring that aims to help healthcare professionals do more with less, improve overall patient safety, care, and experience, and enhance the situational awareness of the staff.

“There is no doubt that the irreplaceable human touch of healthcare professionals is essential, and by integrating data-driven video technology into their daily routine, they can now be even further empowered. With XProtect Hospital Assist, hospitals can improve patient care by offering an additional layer of support for the healthcare staff,” said Rahul Yadav, Chief Technology Officer at Milestone Systems.

Available now, XProtect Hospital Assist is a data-driven video and audio technology solution designed to improve patient care in medical settings. This advanced system empowers healthcare professionals to remotely monitor multiple patients simultaneously, enabling them to respond rapidly to incidents as they arise. By streamlining routine tasks and enhancing the efficiency of medical staff, XProtect Hospital Assist is poised to help significantly alleviate the workload burden faced by healthcare providers in today’s fast-paced hospital environment.

Added Yadav: “With an extra set of eyes and ears in patient rooms, our solution enables rapid response to incidents, ensuring the highest quality of patient care. And by addressing critical staff shortages and streamlining efficiency, XProtect Hospital Assist paves the way for a better, safer, and more connected hospital environment worldwide. We are proud to unveil this innovative solution, designed to enhance hands-on patient care and reinforce the vital role of healthcare professionals.”

Around-the-clock care

Built upon the robust foundation of XProtect — Milestone’s versatile, open platform video management software — XProtect Hospital Assist is designed for hospital units that require continuous or situational patient observation such as individuals in intensive care and rehabilitation units, ensuring optimal patient safety and care delivery.

With XProtect Hospital Assist, healthcare professionals can observe and communicate with multiple patients simultaneously. By reducing the need for frequent patient room visits, the two-way audio communication functionality within the video system optimizes staff resources and enhances overall patient care. To uphold patient privacy, when staff observation is not required the intuitive Privacy Blur feature ensures that patients’ dignity and privacy remain intact.

Additionally, XProtect Hospital Assist includes automatic fall detection alarms, a critical tool that alerts medical staff to a patient fall, helping to save valuable seconds on their response time. In the U.S. alone, up to one million patient falls occur in hospitals every year, resulting in roughly 250,000 injuries and up to 11,000 deaths.*

The open platform data-driven video solution

The XProtect open platform can seamlessly ingest and process vast amounts of data from various sources such as analytic software, specialty cameras, sensors, and existing facility systems. The video management system within many healthcare organizations now serves as the unifying platform, bridging the gap between raw data and actionable insights.

The Milestone XProtect open platform video management system currently supports more than 13,000 different security devices from more than 700 of the industry’s leading manufacturers. Technology Partners include providers of network video cameras, NVRs, cloud technologies, access control, alarm and detection systems, video analytics, GPS technology, laser scanners, emergency call boxes, and much more.

About XProtect Hospital Assist

Designed exclusively for hospital units caring for patients in need of 24/7 or situational observation, XProtect Hospital Assist is a dedicated remote patient monitoring solution that allows the hospital to increase staff efficiency, react to incidents rapidly and provide high-quality patient care. By providing the ability to observe, detect and respond to situations quickly, XProtect Hospital Assist is a product extension that expands the classic security solution to help improve staff efficiency, optimize patient care and outcomes, and deliver a safer, more efficient hospital environment.

Notes for editors

*Statistics from the Clinics in Geriatric Medicine journal: Link

About Milestone Systems

Milestone Systems is a leading provider of open platform video management software; technology that helps the world see how to ensure safety, protect assets and increase business efficiency. Milestone enables an open platform community that drives collaboration and innovation in the development and use of network video technology, with reliable and scalable solutions that are proven in more than 500,000 installations worldwide. Founded in 1998, Milestone is a stand-alone company in the Canon Group. For more information visit: http://www.milestonesys.com. For news and other press releases, visit our Newsroom.

Company Contacts:

Lisbeth Nedergaard

Head of External Communications

GLOBAL

lin@milestone.dk

Tel: +45 31 39 49 37            

Barbara Rizzatti

Communications Manager

AMERICAS

bari@milestone.us

Tel: +1 503 601 9749                

Simone Lorenzen

Communications Manager

APAC

silo@milestone.us

Tel: + +65 9690 7160

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HHAeXchange Achieves New Milestone, Processes Over 1 Billion Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Confirmations


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HHAeXchange’s EVV software has been integral in helping our agency improve operational efficiency, increase compliance on multidisciplinary levels, and provide the best care to the elderly and disabled

HHAeXchange, the leading provider of homecare management solutions for state Medicaid programs, managed care organizations, and providers, has announced that the company has processed over one billion Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) confirmations. The accomplishment falls nearly 16 years after the company processed its first EVV, and showcases HHAeXchange’s growth and commitment to guiding its customers in achieving operational efficiency, increasing compliance, and improving member outcomes.

“Hitting more than one billion EVV confirmations is an incredible milestone, as this technology impacts all stakeholders of the homecare ecosystem: payers, providers, caregivers, and members,” said Stephen Vaccaro, President of HHAeXchange. “As we continue to grow and evolve alongside our homecare provider and payer customers, our team remains focused on deploying the most innovative tools and solutions needed to meet industry challenges.”

Originally introduced within the 21st Century Cures Act, EVV authenticates that homecare services are performed, offering a new level of accountability and transparency for providers and payers. Utilizing HHAeXchange’s integrated EVV platform, homecare agencies can ensure compliance to requirements, provide a pathway to streamline and simplify workflows, and even benefit from the ability to better recruit and retain caregivers – while building the foundation to positively impact patient outcomes.

One homecare agency that has been leveraging HHAeXchange’s EVV solution for the past nine years, Jzanus Home Care, Inc., has been providing homecare services in Long Island and New York City since 1992. The agency has remained committed to delivering quality patient care services with full compliance with federal, state, and city regulations regarding patient care and labor laws for over 30 years, and has also been Joint Commission accredited for the past 20 years, ensuring an even higher level of safety and compliance.

“HHAeXchange’s EVV software has been integral in helping our agency improve operational efficiency, increase compliance on multidisciplinary levels, and provide the best care to the elderly and disabled,” said Polina Savich, Director of Patient Services at Jzanus Home Care, Inc. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with HHAeXchange and leveraging their technology so we can focus on what matters most: caring for our members, safely at home.”

HHAeXchange now handles 600,000 EVV confirmations each day, serving over 1.8 million unique members and 1.5 million caregivers.

To learn more about HHAeXchange and its integrated EVV solution, visit hhaexchange.com/solutions/providers/electronic-visit-verification.

About HHAeXchange

Founded in 2008, HHAeXchange is the leading technology platform for homecare and self-direction program management. Developed specifically for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), HHAeXchange connects state agencies, managed care organizations, providers, and caregivers through its intuitive web-based platform, enabling unparalleled communication, transparency, efficiency, and compliance. For more information, visit hhaexchange.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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American Stroke Association Honors Debra Meyerson with 2023 Stroke Survivor Hero Award


Debra Meyerson, PhD with 2023 American Stroke Association Survivor Hero Award

“I’m honored to win this award and want to share it with all the people who have supported me in my recovery,” shared Debra Meyerson. “I only hope the work we’re doing can make recovery easier, more complete, and more rewarding for all stroke survivors in the future.”

Debra Meyerson, PhD was named the American Stroke Association’s (ASA) 2023 Stroke Survivor Hero in recognition of her efforts to use her experience as a stroke survivor to bring awareness, education, and inspiration to people across the country. More than 800,000 people across the US have a stroke every year, leaving many with permanently changed lives and Debra has worked tirelessly to bring awareness to stroke and its impact on one’s identity. “I’m honored to win this award and want to share it with all the people who have supported me in my recovery,” shared Debra. “I only hope the work we’re doing can make recovery easier, more complete, and more rewarding for all stroke survivors in the future.”

In 2010, Debra was a healthy, fit mother of three, working as a professor at Stanford University, when she suffered a severe stroke that changed her life forever. The once-active 53-year-old was left unable to work, speak, or be physically active in the ways she once was. Despite years of intensive therapy, she was left with disabilities, including aphasia, a communication disorder that makes it hard for her to speak the thoughts that are clear in her head, which forced her from her job at Stanford. Meyerson refused to let these disabilities stop her from living her life to the fullest and with help from her husband Steve Zuckerman, son Danny Zuckerman, and others, wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke, an inspiring look at the emotional journey of stroke recovery. The book includes not only Debra’s story but also those of more than 55 survivors, family members, and healthcare providers she interviewed and her insights as a social scientist who has studied identity for years.

Concurrent with the launch of Identity Theft, Debra and Steve co-founded the nonprofit Stroke Onward to ensure stroke survivors and their supporters have the resources needed to support the emotional journey of stroke recovery. Stroke Onward is organizing its efforts through a three-pronged strategy: raising awareness, creating and sharing resources, and driving institutional change. Current projects include developing and sharing resources to support survivors and their loved ones with the steps to rebuild a rewarding life, one filled with meaning, purpose, and pleasure. Stroke Onward is also partnering with academic institutions to integrate its content into healthcare provider degree program curriculum and evaluating barriers and opportunities to bring more mental health professionals into the stroke system of care.

The American Stroke Association’s annual Stroke Hero Awards honor stroke survivors, health care professionals, and carepartners who want to build more resilient communities. The Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health and research for all, celebrates these heroes during American Stroke Month this May and advocates for stroke survivors year-round. Winners were selected by a nationwide panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, with the exception of the Voters’ Choice Award, which was selected via online votes.

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