These treatments have been shown to be highly effective for some patients and have revolutionized oncology. However, many patients do not respond to immunotherapy, and it is critical to understand why.

RAMAT GAN, Israel (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Researchers at Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer and Tel Aviv University (TAU) have discovered why 60% of patients with metastatic melanoma – skin cancer that has spread to other parts of the body – do not respond to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments use the body’s own immune system to control and eradicate cancer.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. More than 7,000 people will die from melanoma this year in the United States.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Prof. Tami Geiger, Dr. Michal Harel and Prof. Gal Markel of TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine and Sheba’s Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology.

“In recent years, a variety of cancer immunotherapy therapies have been used, therapies that strengthen the anti-cancer activity of the immune system,” explained Prof. Gal Markel, a senior oncologist and scientific director of the Ella Lemelbaum Institute at Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer.

“These treatments have been shown to be highly effective for some patients and have revolutionized oncology. However, many patients do not respond to immunotherapy, and it is critical to understand why,” added Markel.”

The scientists examined tumors taken from 116 patients using proteomics. In this new approach, also called “protein mapping,” researchers mapped thousands of proteins. They found differences in the metabolism, or energy production process, of the cancer cells in patients who responded to immunotherapy and those who did not.

In the study published in Cell earlier this month, researchers reported that the non-responding patients tended to have lower fatty acid metabolism, meaning that their enzymes broke down fat for energy at a slower rate.

“In our study, we identified a significant difference between melanoma patients who live years thanks to immunotherapy, and patients who are not at all affected by the treatment,” said Prof. Geiger, head of Tel Aviv University’s Proteomics Lab.

Due to these findings, oncologists now know to check the levels of fatty acid metabolism in their melanoma patients and advise those who have high levels to pursue immunotherapy. Researchers say it may also be possible to raise the levels of fatty acid metabolism in cancer cells with medication to make more patients receptive to immunotherapies. A follow-up study will focus on that area.

Sheba’s Prof Gal Markel is available for interviews on this key discovery and how it could change the treatment options for melanoma patients.

About Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer

Born together with Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. In 2019, Newsweek magazine named Sheba one of the top ten hospitals in the world. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il.

Share article on social media or email:

CPPS Pilot Program

The CPPS course pilot group can truly be called innovators. We welcome these participants to the patient safety community and know they will change health care for the better.”

FORT WORTH, Texas (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Ten UNT Health Science Center students made history by completing the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) pilot program, a unique collaboration between UNT Health Science Center, SaferCare Texas, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

The CPPS credential distinguishes health care professionals who demonstrate competency in the following patient safety domains: culture, leadership, risks and solutions, measuring and improving performance, and systems thinking and design/human factors. The pilot is the first program nationally specifically offered to provide qualified medical students an opportunity to prepare for the CPPS certification exam.

“Ensuring future providers understand critical concepts related to patient safety is an essential part of their learning experience,” said Lillee Gelinas, MS, RN, CPPS, FAAN, Senior Fellow at SaferCare Texas, who led the CPPS review course pilot. “We chose to implement the CPPS pilot program to help qualified candidates prepare for the certification exam by reviewing the key domain content areas and test-taking strategies.”

IHI’s CPPS credential is the leading health care interprofessional certification specific to the field of safety. More than 3,000 professionals have earned the CPPS credential, representing all 50 states and 10 countries. Achieving certification demonstrates personal and professional commitment to the patients and families who trust providers and health care professionals to do no harm while compassionately providing evidence-based care.

“IHI’s mission is to improve health and health care worldwide, and the CPPS credential helps fulfill that mission by setting standards for the field,” said Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, IHI’s Vice President of Patient Safety Programs and President of the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety. “The CPPS course pilot group can truly be called innovators. We welcome these participants to the patient safety community and know they will change health care for the better.”

Sponsored by SaferCare Texas, the pilot was conducted with 10 Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) students who are members of the IHI Open School – Fort Worth Chapter. To qualify, participants met IHI’s CPPS requirements and SaferCare Texas’ criteria for selection into the course. The students received a scholarship from SaferCare Texas to cover the costs of the review course, practice exams, and the certification exam.

“With an estimated 440,000 deaths occurring every year from preventable errors, it is critical that future health care professionals, like myself, take patient safety seriously,” said Heather D. DeVille, MS, CPPS, OMS-II, TCOM student and IHI Open School Fort Worth Chapter President. “I’m looking forward to sharing the strategies and lessons learned throughout this course with my peers and future organizations.”

SaferCare Texas plans to expand this program into other colleges and schools across UNT Health Science Center’s campus. If you would like more information, please contact Katie Shanklin at katie.shanklin(at)unthsc(dot)edu.

About SaferCare Texas

A department within the UNT Health Science Center, SaferCare Texas was founded in response to the national challenge to improve patient safety and eliminate preventable harm. Through professional and community education, applied research, and quality improvement projects, SaferCare Texas identifies opportunities to eliminate medical errors and assure all patients receive the safest care. SaferCare Texas includes diverse health care and related institutions throughout the region, as well as fellows and scholars who represent a broad array of health care professionals, patients, and advocates. Learn more at Safercaretexas.org

About UNT Health Science Center

UNT Health Science Center is one of the nation’s premier graduate academic medical centers, with six schools that specialize in patient-centered education, research and health care. With a passion for teamwork and innovation, UNTHSC is driven to improve the human condition. For more information, visit https://www.unthsc.edu/

Share article on social media or email:

ATTORNEY JOHN Q. KELLY

“You are allowed to use reasonable force to protect yourself and your family from bodily harm,” Kelly commented.

GREENWICH, Conn. (PRWEB)
September 09, 2019

Connecticut banker Scott Hapgood is accused of manslaughter in connection with the death of hotel maintenance worker Kenny Mitchel. (Gavin Scott Hapgood v Regina in the Courts of Anguilla CLAIM No. AXAHCV 2019/0018) Hapgood has told authorities that Mitchel came to his hotel room door on April 13 at the Malliouhana An Auberge resort on the island of Anguilla, wielded a knife, tried to rob him, and threatened his daughter. Hapgood then used reasonable force to restrain him.

The ensuing confrontation and struggle left Mitchel dead and Hapgood bloodied and bruised. “You are allowed to use reasonable force to protect yourself and your family from bodily harm,” Kelly commented.

According to Kelly, there are three main issues that are going to prove important in the trial. One will be the autopsy, or what actually caused Mitchel’s death. The Fox News interview with Kelly (https://video.foxnews.com/v/6075825576001/#sp=show-clips), which aired on Aug. 22, 2019, reported that Hapgood’s attorney said toxicology results show Mitchel had cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of death, which may have caused him to act in a “frenzied” manner or may have been a contributing factor in his death. (https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Report-Man-allegedly-killed-by-Darien-man-had-14341909.php) Second, the processing of the crime scene will play an important role in the trial. Third, determining whether witness statements were written down properly or videotaped, signed, and otherwise recorded accurately.

When asked if he thinks Hapgood can receive a fair trial, Kelly said it is hard to tell that ahead of time. Factors which will affect the outcome include the judge assigned to the case, the way in which the jury deliberates and how the prosecutor presents his evidence. Kelly also noted that the media portrayal of the case and any possible bias can also impact the trial.

About Ivey, Barnum & O’Mara, LLC

Ivey, Barnum & O’Mara, LLC is a general practice law firm which was established in Greenwich, CT in 1950. It is the largest Greenwich-based law firm, with a fully staffed branch office in New Canaan, CT and satellite locations in New York.

The firm is dedicated to its clients and community and offers service in a wide range of practice areas including personal injury and wrongful death, residential and commercial real estate, trusts and estates, employment law, civil litigation, corporate and franchise matters. The firm employs the latest technologies to successfully achieve their clients’ objectives, whether personal, family or business.

To learn more, visit https://www.ibolaw.com/ or call 203-661-6000 to schedule a consultation.

Share article on social media or email:

…helping PAINWeekEnd attendees understand medical necessity for substance abuse treatment, drug testing, and prescribing controlled medications

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

PAINWeekEnd, on September 28 at the Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills, 21850 W Oxnard Street in California, will be a timely full-day program providing busy clinicians and allied healthcare practitioners with 6.0 hours of relevant, practical instruction in the management of chronic pain.

In 2018, the California legislature passed new laws intended to address the crisis of opioid abuse in the state. Among the bills signed are new requirements for standardized and serialized prescription pads; enhancements to pain related CME requirements that mandate instruction in addiction risk; and direction that prescribers of opioid medications provide access to, and education in, the use of naloxone. Additional regulatory measures are scheduled to go into effect. Senior faculty member Jennifer Bolen, JD, is the founder of The Legal Side of Pain in Knoxville, Tennessee. She observed, “As payer policies for treatment continue to evolve, it is important that providers take steps to stay current on the legal and regulatory environment that may affect their practice and their patients. To that end, I look forward to helping PAINWeekEnd attendees understand medical necessity for substance abuse treatment, drug testing, and prescribing controlled medications.” Attorney Bolen will present two courses at PAINWeekEnd: Get Your Specimens in Order: Timely Use of Test Results, and Embrace Changes and Prevent Overdose: A Basic Blueprint for Legal Risk Mitigation and Response.

Other courses to be offered at PAINWeekEnd Woodland Hills include The Role of the Advanced Practice Provider in the Acute Care Setting; Involuntary Tapers: Legal, Ethical, and Clinical Concerns; Cannabis vs Cannabinoids: The Politics of Medical Marijuana; and Episodic Versus Chronic Migraine: An Update on Novel and Emerging Therapeutic Options.

Commercially supported activities—addressing a range of product, disease state, and medical information topics—will also be presented.

For more information about this or other regional conferences, and to register for $129, go to the PAINWeekEnd website. BONUS: PAINWeekEnd registrants may register for the 2020 PAINWeek National Conference, September 8-12, in Las Vegas, for $200 off the regular online published price.

PAINWeekEnd is provided by Global Education Group. About Global Education Group:

Global Education Group focuses on producing partnership-based CME for healthcare practitioners. The Global team works with a select group of medical education companies, associations, academic institutions and healthcare facilities to develop and accredit live healthcare conferences and workshops as well as online activities. With each partnership or joint providership, Global brings accreditation expertise, project management excellence and grant funding intelligence. Based in Littleton, Colo., Global has accreditation with commendation from the ACCME. Global also holds accreditations to offer continuing education for nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dietitians, dentists and psychologists. Global is a division of Ultimate Medical Academy.

Share article on social media or email:

Stuart Long, CEO of Infobionic, underscores how remote monitoring and telemedicine can help solve the rural healthcare challenges.

“All patients deserve access to the best medical solutions, regardless of their location.”

WALTHAM, Mass. (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Patients who live in rural areas are in need of access to proper and convenient care. According to a 2018 study, over 85.5 million people in rural areas need better access to healthcare—this translates to a need of 4,022 doctors[1].

Compounding the need to improve access and for nearly the past decade the healthcare challenges in rural areas have worsened—with over 100 hospitals in 30 states having closed their doors since 2010. Texas has seen the most hospital closures at 20, followed by Tennessee with 12 and Georgia and Oklahoma tie for third with seven closures each[2].

However, with consumer health wearables on the rise, rural residents may not have to sacrifice time or convenience if their nearby hospital closes its doors. Telemedicine and remote monitoring are the best solutions for these scarcely populated areas. Stuart Long, CEO of InfoBionic, a leading remote cardiac monitoring company, notes that remote monitoring technologies are the best solution to help address these challenges.

“All patients deserve access to the best medical solutions, regardless of their location,” said Long. “It’s vital for healthcare providers to incorporate remote monitoring and telemedicine procedures into their longitudinal patient care plans.”

These closures also impact hospitals that remain open. A study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) focused on the outcomes of rural closures on heart-attack patients, and the results are troubling. Patients experiencing heart-attack symptoms in rural areas are often forced to travel long distances to their closest emergency room. According to the study, when a patient’s travel time to the hospital was 30 minutes or more, the likelihood of a 30-day readmission increased by six percent, the one-year mortality rate increased by eight percent, and the likelihood of receiving the proper cardiac procedure declined by four percent[3].

These statistics prove the need for prompt solutions; telemedicine and remote monitoring come in a variety of forms, from apps to smart watches to even wearable fabrics. Popular brands like Fitbit or the Apple Watch are consumer products available for purchase that track steps taken, calories burned, sleep times and heartbeat patterns. Apps on these wearables can act as a liaison to remote diagnostic monitoring solutions, like InfoBionic’s MoMe Kardia.

The MoMe Kardia provides diagnostic remote cardiac monitoring that streams patient cardiac data to doctors in near real-time. For those in rural areas, the ability to be at home and have their health monitored is not only convenient–it may be their only option.

“The MoMe is one piece of the complex puzzle required to solve the rural healthcare challenge,” said Long. “Consumer wearables and apps are the first step, but there is a need for healthcare industry leaders to develop and implement programs to support remote networks to support patients and work with manufacturers to ensure the remote monitoring technology requirements can meet the healthcare demands of rural patient populations.”

About InfoBionic

InfoBionic is a digital health company transforming the efficiency and economics of ambulatory remote patient monitoring processes by optimizing clinical and real-world utility for the users that need it most – physicians and their patients. The Massachusetts-based team of seasoned entrepreneurs have had successful careers in healthcare, IT, medical devices and mobile technology, and bring specific expertise in remote monitoring and cardiology. They have seen first-hand the complexities of traditional cardiac arrhythmia detection and monitoring processes and designed the transformative MoMe® Kardia platform to remove the roadblocks hindering faster, more effective diagnosis and decision-making. Frost & Sullivan bestowed the 2019 North American Remote Cardiac Monitoring Technology Leadership Award upon InfoBionic. For more information visit http://www.infobionic.com

About MoMe® Kardia

The company’s flagship product, the MoMe® Kardia 3-in1 monitor, is the first non-invasive remote cardiac monitor to offer truly full disclosure, heartbeat-to-heartbeat data over the Cloud, allowing doctors 24/7 real-time access to hospital telemetry-level data. With the MoMe® Kardia, doctors will be able to eliminate third-party monitoring data services and take full ownership of the cardiac monitoring process, empowering them to realize lucrative new revenue streams by billing globally for the monitoring service. MoMe® Kardia is not intended for use as an emergency medical response system. Call 911 if you feel you are having a medical emergency.

1.Mills, Terence. “How Health Care Apps Can Improve Patient Health And Support Physicians.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 4 Sept. 2019.

2. Ellison, Ayla. “State-by-State Breakdown of 113 Rural Hospital Closures: Of the 30 States That Have Seen at Least One Rural Hospital Close since 2010, Those with the Most Closures Are Located in the South, According to & nbsp;the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.” Becker’s Hospital Review, 26 Aug. 2019,

3. “Emergency Department Openings and Closures Impact Resources for Heart Attack Patients.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 4 Sept. 2019.

Share article on social media or email:

Lynda

“This is absolute MUST READ for anyone dealing with cancer as a patient, family member or friend! I got mine yesterday and couldn’t put it down until I finished.”

BOISE, Idaho (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Voices of Cancer helps validate patients’ feelings and thoughts, as well as offering guidance to those supporting them, through lessons learned from the inevitable “cancer shift” in perspective that occurs post-diagnosis. This book contains insight that can help those on all walks of their journey:

• 
  Focus on what is really important
• Find joy in the small things
• Begin to accept physical, mental and emotional changes
• Vocalize the need for support and the acceptance of reality
• Learn to live beyond the diagnosis

Every cancer story is different, but there is one commonality: both patients and the people supporting them often struggle to properly articulate their wants and needs through particularly challenging – and in many cases, uncharted – territory. Voices of Cancer offers a candid look into the world of a cancer patient, informed by the author’s own story and conversations had with dozens of patients weighing in on their needs, wants, and dislikes as they navigate the complex world of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

With comprehensive and accessible insight from people who’ve been there, Voices of Cancer helps educate, dispel fears and start positive conversations about what a cancer diagnosis truly means, while shining a light on how best to support a loved one on their own terms.

http://www.lyndawolters.com

A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Epic Experience, a nonprofit camp helping adult cancer survivors and thrivers learn to live beyond cancer. To learn more about Epic Experience and to donate directly, please visit:

http://www.epicexperience.org.

Share article on social media or email:

ATLANTA (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Dr. Phillip Langer is a nationally recognized orthopedic physician who is double Board Certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. He offers advanced orthopedic care to patients in and around the Atlanta area. Dr. Langer has exceptional training, skill, and experience to treat many different injuries that require therapy, repair, and/or reconstruction. His areas of expertise include:

•     Tommy John Surgery (UCL Reconstruction)
•     Rotator Cuff Repair
•     Labral Repair
•     Hip Arthroscopy
•     Femoral Acetabular Impingement
•     Knee Reconstruction
•     Cartilage Repair/Restoration
•     Total/Partial Knee Replacement
•     Tendon Repair
•     PRP
•     Viscosupplementation

In the duration of his 19-year medical career, Dr. Langer has garnered numerous awards and honors. Dr. Phillip Langer is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, and he has completed three Fellowships: Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy, Complex Orthopedic Trauma, and Hip Arthroscopy. His expertise in many areas of orthopedic surgery and treatments have given him the earned respect of his peers across the United States. Dr. Langer has given himself the goal of becoming the best at what he does. He does not settle for simply being a good doctor – he wants to make sure that he is the best doctor that his patients can turn to. Dr. Langer has also become an expert at performing minimally invasive techniques to treat various hip problems in young, active patients. Knowing that he is able to help people stay active is something that he takes pride in.

Dr. Langer is the Medical Director of Orthopedic Sports Medicine at Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians in Atlanta, Georgia. This nationally recognized center of excellence in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Interventional Spine Treatment provides excellent and personalized care to all patients.

“I truly understand the importance of putting patients at the center of everything I do. When my patients and I have time for open communication, I am better able to deliver exceptional care. This award is confirmation that patients are pleased with their care and knowing that patients are pleased is very satisfying,” says Dr. Langer.

More About Dr. Langer, MD, MS:

Dr. Phillip Langer of Ortho Sport and Spine is double Board Certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Langer has successfully completed Three Fellowships that have not only given him expertise in many areas concerning orthopedic surgery and treatments, but they have also given him the earned respect of his peers across the United States. Dr. Langer has repeatedly been chosen to teach at the national/international level by the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He was the Associate Team Physician and Orthopedic Surgeon of the NBA Miami Heat 2007-2008 before transferring to be the Assistant Team Physician and Orthopedic Surgeon for the NHL Atlanta Thrashers and NFL Atlanta Falcons in 2008-2011. Dr. Langer has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, an Active Member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and a member of the prestigious University of Minnesota Wangensteen Surgical Society. He is the Medical Director of the Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine at Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians.

Share article on social media or email: