Telemedicine, Changing the Face of Healthcare By Eddie Fatakhov, M.D.
Advancements in technology are dramatically changing the world of medicine as we know it, and medical professionals worldwide are utilizing this rapidly evolving landscape to achieve and innovate the way we stay healthy. One vein of medicine that is really maximizing the potential of these advancements, while changing the face of healthcare, is telemedicine.
The definition of telemedicine has many variations but the broadly accepted version comes from the World Health Organization who defines it as “the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”
More simply put, telemedicine is a term that was coined in the 1970s as “healing at a distance.” So how is telemedicine changing the face of healthcare?
In the biggest sense, 2018 saw telemedicine legislation continuing to gain traction toward allowing more payers greater health benefit options while Congress passed the CHRONIC Care Act that effectively increased telemedicine access to individual homes. Telemedicine isn’t only making moves politically; the industry is also drawing attention from technology giants like Samsung and Apple. It makes perfect sense when companies like Chiron Healthcontinue to successfully invest in new and advanced ways to bring patients and health providers together.
Much closer to home, telemedicine is reshaping how technology is being used to deliver distance care for a wide variety of conditions. Healthcare providers and patients are connecting to address mental health, post-surgical care, in-home dialysis, cancer treatment, and more, all through secure video and telecommunication. In addition telemedicine is solving (or working to solve) three current healthcare system problems: limited providers, cost prohibitive care, and access to that care.
Telemedicine is a great solution for individual practitioners who are looking to be more available to patients as newer health systems are offering wider reaching networks. This expansion of providers marries supply with patient demand and effectively allows patients easier access to clinical care and even emergency and intensive services.
Telemedicine is also a great reducer of cost. Hospital costs are expensive so hospital visits are too. By eliminating the need to go to the hospital for care that can be handled remotely, costs scale down across the board.
When it comes to access, telemedicine is providing more but this service does have its limits. True, telemedicine is serving rural America in a very important way by allowing rural interactions and treatment to take place. For instance, rural clinicians have access to continuing education they might otherwise be disconnected from. While seeing patients in rural areas these clinicians can also reach out to their peer community to provide a greater knowledge base. For residents in rural communities, telemedicine means even more.
Telemedicine supports rural patients as well as their families. Instead of traveling great distances to see a doctor or visit a hospital, patients can stay where they are most comfortable. Studies have proven that patients tend to exist in a healthier state when they are in their normal environment as apposed to a hospital in a strange town where family and friends might be many miles away. Because of the convenience the access to telemedicine provides, patients, and their families, tend to participate more actively in their healthcare which in turn gives them greater overall health and longevity.
Those are the basic upsides of the growing world of telemedicine but there is one important point to make regarding a key deficit this industry that needs to be addressed – access doesn’t always equal available.
As telemedicine progresses serious consideration needs to be paid to the expansion of technology. For example, how do you “heal at a distance” when the rural communities have no broadband to support the call? Take rural Montana, for example. Communities are often long distances from medical specialists and advanced technology.
Peter Rosenberger, family caregiver advocate, acknowledges the need for broadband in telemedicine saying, “Caregivers often function as high-functioning multi-taskers. The demands on family caregivers can be better managed with help. Alexa, Siri, Google and a host of other virtual help is a click away, but they need an interstate of broadband to travel upon, not the dirt roads that serve all too many.”
While telemedicine still has room to grow and evolve it’s clear that its progression is showing no signs of slowing. So the next time you need to go to the doctor check to see if the doctor can heal you from the comfort of your own home.
No, and doing so can undermine efforts to promote patient-centered health care, write three Hastings Center scholars in the March issue ofHealth Affairs.
There is broad support for building health care systems that are patient centered, seen as a means of improving health outcomes and as morally worthy in itself. But the concept of patient-centered care has increasingly merged with the concept of patients as consumers, which “is conceptually confused and potentially harmful,” write Michael K. Gusmano, a Hastings Center research scholar and an associate professor at Rutgers University; Karen J. Maschke, a Hastings Center research scholar; and Hastings Center president Mildred Z. Solomon in an article in the March 2019 issue of Health Affairs. The metaphor of patients as consumers, long used by advocates of patient-centered care, has recently been co-opted by critics of government health care regulation and advocates of market solutions to health care costs. Gusmano, Maschke, and Solomon discuss why the consumer metaphor is inappropriate. Health Care is not a Market Patients can be construed as consumers only if they are operating within a market. But there are several key differences between health care and typical commercial markets. Patients often lack the information and time to select the best health care on the basis of quality and price. Even if health care were to be made more like a conventional market—for example, by increasing the number of competitive health care choices—patients still could not act like consumers because they would often lack the time and knowledge to “shop” for different options. The High Cost of Health Care is not Due to Excessive “Consumer” Demand Some commentators believe that health care costs are high because patients overuse health care, and that one way to reduce costs is to make patients pay more out of pocket. Though requiring patients to pay more for their care has been shown to reduce overall health care spending, this tactic also reduces patient usage of appropriate or essential medical care. What does drive up health care costs, the authors write, is the common practice of compensating physicians for each service they provide and the U.S. government’s failure to sufficiently negotiate prices of hospital, physician, and other health care services. Price Transparency Won’t Lower Costs, EitherIn conventional markets, knowing the price of different items might help customers make informed choices about what to purchase. While it is helpful for patients to consider the costs of different treatments as part of deciding the best course of action with their provider, there is little evidence that price transparency reduces health care spending. Patients may have little time or insufficient knowledge to shop around for health care options that provide treatments at the best value. The Consumer Metaphor Could Erode Physicians’ Professionalism Physicians rely on their knowledge, skill, and obligations to patients’ well-being to recommend the best course of treatment. But if “the customer is always right,” physicians might feel compelled to defer to what patients ask them to do, for example, when patients insist on unproven, ineffective, or even harmful treatments, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation for terminally ill patients. Avoiding or devaluing physician expertise in health care decision-making would erode medical professionalism and could result in poorer patient outcomes. The concept of patients as consumers does not bolster patient-centered care but instead places undue burdens on patients to reduce health care costs and erodes medical professionalism, the authors write. “Pursuing the sensible goal of creating a patient-centered health system will be undermined if consumer metaphors prevail,” they conclude.
THE LATEST HEALTH TREND IN THE WORKPLACE:
BALANCED ACTIVE SITTING
Expert Shares Why "Balance" Will Improve Overall Health & Mental Clarity
Workplace wellness has become a popular initiative for many businesses across America. It began a decade ago with things like corporate weight loss competitions, gym partnerships, office 5k races, and today (since research has linked "sitting" to severe health problems) the wellness focus has shifted to "active office furniture."Walk inside the Apple headquarters today and you will see 100% of their employees using standing desks...but Silicon Valley isn't the only place to adopt this wellness trend. Last summer, after Apple CEO Tim Cook re-popularized the term "sitting disease" and declared "sitting is the new cancer," a whole new line of office furniture from exercise balls, to treadmill desks have made their way to offices in middle America. But will exercise balls and standing desks really make a difference? According to ergonomics expert Scott Bahneman, the key component needed to make active sitting effective is "balance." "Balanced Active Sitting has been proven to not only help physical heath but also cognitive functioning..."...says Bahneman. According to research, "balancing" improves memory and cognition by requiring a complex synchronization of mental function and physical movement. One of the four main classifications of fitness (along with strength, endurance, and flexibility) balance is often overlooked, yet it is one of the most important, and it lends itself perfectly to the office setting. Are you sitting at a desk right now? Take note of your body and how you are sitting. Did you just adjust your posture? We know that working in an office can wreak absolute havoc on our bodies. Research has linked sitting for long periods to obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels. Even worse, The American Cancer Society finds that people who sit more than 6 hours a day raises their risk of death by 19%. Whether it's working all day at a desk, watching TV, eating, or driving, this increased sedentary lifestyle has been one of today's most unanticipated health threats. "Health has become a top priority especially with younger generations. Companies that want to attract and retain top talent must find ways to keep them happy and healthy..."...says Bahneman, who knows first hand the negative health consequences of sitting disease. After working at a desk job for years and experiencing a decline in health, Bahneman began researching ergonomics and made it his mission to teach others in the corporate world how to combat the "sitting disease." Bahneman is shedding light on corporate wellness trends and how Balanced Active Sitting can improve physical and cognitive health. He has information and advice people can use to combat sitting disease and be healthier and more active in the workplace. IN AN INTERVIEW / ARTICLE:How Balanced Active Sitting can improve physical and mental healthAdvice people can use to combat sitting disease and be healthier and more active in the workplaceWhy "balance" is the key component needed to make active sitting effectiveThe impact sitting has on our overall health ABOUT SCOTT BAHNEMAN:
Scott Bahneman is an ergonomics expert on a mission to teach others in the corporate world how to combat the "sitting disease." He is the Founder & Chairman of SitTight™ a company that has transformed sitting into an activity that improves your health by using your body's natural ability to balance. Bahneman been featured on Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca,Fast Company Magazine, and last year, SitTight won the bronze at the 2018 Edison Awards!More Information Visit: www.SitTight.com
The Best Spring Fitness Retreats for Self-Improvement
The Easter break is the best time to emerge from winter hibernation and venture abroad to kick-start your health and fitness regime with Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists.Reconnect to your passion and purpose by embarking on a R&R getaway to make sustainable changes along with like-minded people. Discover the best global wellness retreats to escape to in the Easter break this year. From local to long haul, and from the affordable to the luxurious, ditch the Easter eggs in favour of one of these Fusion Fitness™ Holidays. It’s never too late to set your wellness goals.
Fulfil those wellness goals on the idyllic location of the Estoril coast, known as the Portuguese Riviera. With a warm, dry climate, scenic views, and a team of specialist trainers and therapists, finding motivation to restore your health is only a hop, skip and jump away. Recover from beach circuits, resistance and cardio training in the Asian-inspired spa.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,140pp or £1,580 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Improve your stamina this Spring by blending high intensity training with soothing spa treatments while experiencing the rich beauty and culture of this vibrant destination. Set in a private landscape of pristine beaches and hills blanketed with olive trees, there are activities to suit all abilities and tastes including yin yoga, mountain biking, scuba diving and hiking.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kaplankaya from £2,140pp or £3,050 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Kick-start your fitness goals amongst the charming beaches and rolling hills of Cyprus, by creating a personal fitness regime that suits your body type. Power walk along the coast and explore the beautiful Cypriot landscape, before boosting your metabolism with strengthening TRX training. For the perfect recovery, soothe your muscles and release tensions with therapeutic treatments adjacent to fragrant gardens.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Aphrodite Hills from £925pp or £1,170 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boost your energy levels and spring into shape in the enchanting woodlands and stunning Monchique mountains of the Algarve. Choose from a range of personalised activities from boot camp training, yoga, Pilates and walking tours. Enhance your physical endurance and reach a new level of consciousness, for a truly bespoke wellness experience as you get close to nature.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Monchique Resort from £640pp or £965 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boasting the world’s top sports and fitness coaches, make a huge difference to your training with Muay Thai boxing, weight training TRX and tennis to leave you confident in your future game. Create your own fitness programme in the state-of-the-art fitness centre alongside nutritional advice and physiotherapy to help you hit your goals.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Thanyapura from £840pp or £1,060 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Stay in shape and try a new sports discipline in sunny Sardinia, including boxing, fencing, triathlon courses or wreck diving. There’s a choice of al fresco training throughout the 47 acres of natural surroundings, a multi-faceted gym, yoga, tennis and cycling. Make like the Romans and melt away woes in the revolutionary world of thalassotherapy.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village from £2,485pp or £3,090 for singles. Price includes half-board, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Challenge yourself to Bootcamp training, bolster your cardio and focus on mindfulness within 40 acres of Indian wildlands. Push your limits with a kick-boxing workout designed for total body toning and reward yourself with deep tissue massages, acupuncture and moxibustion. Receive guidance on postural alignment and integration, a keystone in overall health and well-being.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Atmantan from £2,115pp or £3,360 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Embark on a tailored wellness getaway with azure blue waters on the island of Madeira. Offering unrivalled choice, this healthy break allows you to design your own bespoke fitness experience with an array of activities from mountain biking, dancing, cross-fit, and sea-kayaking. Soothe weary muscles with indulgent treatments, physiotherapy and yoga.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Galo Resort from £740pp or £935 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.
Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ Mindful Triathlon™, BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
The Best Spring Fitness Retreats for Self-Improvement
The Easter break is the best time to emerge from winter hibernation and venture abroad to kick-start your health and fitness regime with Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists.Reconnect to your passion and purpose by embarking on a R&R getaway to make sustainable changes along with like-minded people. Discover the best global wellness retreats to escape to in the Easter break this year. From local to long haul, and from the affordable to the luxurious, ditch the Easter eggs in favour of one of these Fusion Fitness™ Holidays. It’s never too late to set your wellness goals.
Fulfil those wellness goals on the idyllic location of the Estoril coast, known as the Portuguese Riviera. With a warm, dry climate, scenic views, and a team of specialist trainers and therapists, finding motivation to restore your health is only a hop, skip and jump away. Recover from beach circuits, resistance and cardio training in the Asian-inspired spa.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,140pp or £1,580 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Improve your stamina this Spring by blending high intensity training with soothing spa treatments while experiencing the rich beauty and culture of this vibrant destination. Set in a private landscape of pristine beaches and hills blanketed with olive trees, there are activities to suit all abilities and tastes including yin yoga, mountain biking, scuba diving and hiking.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kaplankaya from £2,140pp or £3,050 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Kick-start your fitness goals amongst the charming beaches and rolling hills of Cyprus, by creating a personal fitness regime that suits your body type. Power walk along the coast and explore the beautiful Cypriot landscape, before boosting your metabolism with strengthening TRX training. For the perfect recovery, soothe your muscles and release tensions with therapeutic treatments adjacent to fragrant gardens.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Aphrodite Hills from £925pp or £1,170 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boost your energy levels and spring into shape in the enchanting woodlands and stunning Monchique mountains of the Algarve. Choose from a range of personalised activities from boot camp training, yoga, Pilates and walking tours. Enhance your physical endurance and reach a new level of consciousness, for a truly bespoke wellness experience as you get close to nature.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Monchique Resort from £640pp or £965 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boasting the world’s top sports and fitness coaches, make a huge difference to your training with Muay Thai boxing, weight training TRX and tennis to leave you confident in your future game. Create your own fitness programme in the state-of-the-art fitness centre alongside nutritional advice and physiotherapy to help you hit your goals.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Thanyapura from £840pp or £1,060 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Stay in shape and try a new sports discipline in sunny Sardinia, including boxing, fencing, triathlon courses or wreck diving. There’s a choice of al fresco training throughout the 47 acres of natural surroundings, a multi-faceted gym, yoga, tennis and cycling. Make like the Romans and melt away woes in the revolutionary world of thalassotherapy.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village from £2,485pp or £3,090 for singles. Price includes half-board, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Challenge yourself to Bootcamp training, bolster your cardio and focus on mindfulness within 40 acres of Indian wildlands. Push your limits with a kick-boxing workout designed for total body toning and reward yourself with deep tissue massages, acupuncture and moxibustion. Receive guidance on postural alignment and integration, a keystone in overall health and well-being.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Atmantan from £2,115pp or £3,360 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Embark on a tailored wellness getaway with azure blue waters on the island of Madeira. Offering unrivalled choice, this healthy break allows you to design your own bespoke fitness experience with an array of activities from mountain biking, dancing, cross-fit, and sea-kayaking. Soothe weary muscles with indulgent treatments, physiotherapy and yoga.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Galo Resort from £740pp or £935 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.
Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ Mindful Triathlon™, BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
Flu deaths this season rank 3rd highest in last decade.
With flu associated deaths this season being the 3rd highest in the last decade to include children with the highest rates of flu, I would like to schedule a time for you to speak with Dr. Gustavo Ferrer. Dr. Ferrer has recently been featured by USA Today, NBC News, CNN en Español, Huffington Post, Shape, Health Times, Doctors Channel, Doctors Show Sirius XM, Miami Herald, Fox News, Telemundo and many more.
Background on Dr. Ferrer Gustavo Ferrer, MD FCCP, is an experienced pulmonologist trained both in Cuba and the US, founder of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Cough Clinic, Interstitial Lung Disease and president of Intensive Care Experts. An authority on respiratory ailments with more than 20 years of experience. His new book, Graceful Exit: How to Advocate Effectively, Take Care of Yourself, and Be Present for the Death of a Loved One, available now for preorder.
He also wrote, Cough Cures: The Best Natural Remedies and Over-the-Counter Drugs for Acute and Chronic Cough (Moxie Life Press, April 2016) challenges our Western mindset that over medicates. Dr. Ferrer offers a blend of Western and natural remedies to effectively address both acute and chronic respiratory issues. He has also translated Cough Cures into Spanish for Latin America titled Cura Tu Tos con los Remedios de Abuelita: Una Guía Completa de los Mejores Remedios Naturales y Medicinas Sin Receta Médica Para la Tos Aguda y Crónica (Moxie Life Press, October 2016).
In 1999, he left Cuba to work with the United Nations University to work as director of respiratory research in the Venezuela’s Orinoco River region. He emigrated to the United States the following year, where he completed his residency at Texas Tech University and received a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at George Washington University. He joined the Cleveland Clinic Florida and led efforts to open centers of excellence for lung fibrosis and chronic cough.
Dr. Ferrer left the Cleveland Clinic in 2013 to establish Intensive Care Experts, a practice dedicated to bringing high-quality medical advancements to acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home-care patients. In December 2016, he was appointed as one of the board members for the NCQA’s Geriatric Measurement Advisory Panel. He continues to be actively involved in medical research for the advancement of medicine and patient care. He is the Program Director of the Aventura Hospital Pulmonary and Critical Care and Pulmonary Disease.
He has received several prestigious awards, including: being listed among the Best Doctors in the US by U.S. News & World Report, Most Compassionate Doctor, Patients’ Choice Award, and multiple teaching awards. He has been featured in USA Today, NBC News, CNN en Español, Huffington Post, Health Times, Doctors Channel, Doctors Show Sirius XM, Miami Herald, Fox News, Telemundo and many more.
If Healthcare is a 'Right,' What’s Next?
“Few laying on a gurney heading to surgery want “lowest bidder government operatives”
By Peter Rosenberger
One cannot help but admire those who persevere through medical school. For most, the journey begins as teenagers and weighs heavily on young minds as they slog through a difficult educational journey. Through uncounted classrooms and labs to often working multiple jobs eking out a living, these individuals push themselves in truly amazing ways. Enduring grueling hours in residency and fellowships, they press on towards the fixed goal of putting out their shingle in private practice, landing a job at a top university, working for research companies, or other related fields.
This herculean effort stems from core values of wanting to heal, make a better life for themselves, and achieve deep-seated goals. Why else put themselves through such an arduous ordeal?
Add to that, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, lab technicians, phlebotomists, radiology technicians, and others in the virtual army of medical support. They all sacrifice and work extremely hard to learn their individual skill sets in the healing arts.
Yet, political figures lead the charge in now saying the work these individuals perform is a right, akin to a birthright or a constitutional right. According to many politicians, fellow citizens (and even non-citizens) are entitled to the efforts of others. The acquired knowledge of achievers is now at the disposal of political figures.
If healthcare is a right, then the dedication, education, and sweat equity must be compensated fairly. Yet, politicians seem to now not only determine society is entitled to the products and services of others, but those same politicians grant themselves permission to determine the rate of compensation.
If politicians alone decide what is fair compensation, then what is the impetus for success? Reward is what inspires dedication and effort. Mediocrity doesn’t stand on a podium with a medal. When a healthcare crisis hits, who looks for a mediocre healthcare provider?
Dictating remuneration for the skills of others invalidates the free market for those skills. This leads to the inevitable consequence of stunting the excellence participants require for those skills. When not paid commensurately for effort and ability, even the lowest on the wage spectrum concludes that “phoning” it in makes it easier.
In a free market, excellence is rewarded. In authoritarian constructs, excellence grows scarce. Few laying on a gurney heading to surgery want “lowest bidder government operatives.”
Declaring healthcare a “right” allows politicians to grasp control of someone else’s hard work and abilities, and mete it out at their discretion. In classrooms across America, teenagers seeking to make a name for themselves as surgeons, for example, routinely hear that the field of their aspiration is a right to their fellow citizens. Even with politicians declaring free funding for education, the path remains brutal. Learning the end of that path means working under an externally determined threshold of success is hardly an inspiration to academic distinction—or a motivator to even enter the field.
Competing for no recognition, reward, or the ability to self-negotiate a return on investment leads to empty stadiums. Likewise, it will lead to empty surgical suites.
The logic of “healthcare is a right” seems to naturally extend to politicians allotting farmers’ produce and ranchers’ beef. After all, everyone must eat.
While legislators push bills allowing others the “right to die,” it seems the “right” to crematorium or funeral services can’t be far behind. After all, the mortality rate still hovers at one-hundred percent. Yet other than special individuals like Elvis, the government prohibits “backyard burials.” Instead, families must seek the expensive help of licensed and trained funeral workers. Those service providers also sacrificed and worked hard to learn their skills.
Plumbing, electrical repair, fresh water—if allowed, services and products that politicians might deem as rights can comprise a lengthy list. When elected officials placate the desires of constituents at the expense of others’ hard work, training, and skills, a society careens from freedom to totalitarianism.
Access to medical services for the indigent is a noble thing. Medicaid, while not perfect, serves a great need. However flawed and rife with fraud, Medicare remains embedded in our society. As a society, we can certainly vote and work to improve Medicare and to help the truly needy through a more effective Medicaid program. Furthermore, many ways remain available to assist those with the important skills needed to better treat the sick and injured.
Classifying hard-earned skill sets, products, and services —their property—as a right to be dispensed by politicians to their constituents is far different than working together to solve a problem or address a need. Determining society is entitled to the labor and expertise of some shows great disrespect to their extraordinary achievement.
The nomenclature of “right” is far better suited to the constitution.
Peter Rosenberger is the host of HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER, a syndicated radio program heard weekly on 200 stations. For more than thirty years, he’s cared for his wife, Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities. @hope4caregiver www.hopeforthecaregiver.com
MSH AMERICAS announces the launch of LivExpat - A flexible, affordable international health insurance plan for 1 – 150 lives.
TORONTO, March 4, 2019 /CNW/ - LivExpat is the beginning of a new generation of flexible, cost efficient and innovative international health insurance plans. Designed to meet the needs of the ever-changing global traveler and SME's.
LivExpat fully insured plans give you choice; Emergency medical only coverage or Comprehensive medical coverage with optional Disability, Life and AD&D. These plans provide insurance protection with several duration options and mix and match benefits to best suit you and or your employees.
Medical including hospitalization, routine and vision care, and prescription drugs, and optional dental care;
Evacuation including transportation, hospitalization and repatriation;
Employee Assistance Program
Life & Disability, including Life, Long-Term Disability, Temporary & Permanent Total Disability, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits.
LiveExpat includes access to MSH's exclusive Provider Network of more than a million healthcare professionals around the world and MSH's "in – house" 24/7 assistance and case management.
LivExpat premiums include three geographical zones; high, medium and low risk locations, so that you pay for what you need, ensuring affordability for all members.
Pamela Kwiatkowski, Senior Vice President, Distribution & Client Experience at MSH Americas, says: "SMEs and individuals are changing and their travel and expatriate lifestyles are becoming more diverse and unique in their needs and expectations. It is our mission to make sure they are supported with programs that are flexible and cost appropriate. LivExpat will continue to evolve and deliver a variety of coverage and pricing options for the globally mobile traveler. Individuals and businesses are looking for cost-efficiency without sacrificing essential benefits. At MSH we listened and responded to our partners and will continue to work with them to deliver relevant plans and exceptional service."
LivExpat is further enhanced with our NEW MSH Navigator, a duty of care mobile application including geo tracking, security warnings, travel and city guides, 2-way communication and single touch access to emergency assistance and provider networks.
SOURCE MSH International
NHL Alumni Association teams up with Canopy Growth to research concussions and cannabinoids
New study led by NEEKA Health Canada will test if CBD-based therapies can reduce the severity of post-concussion brain disorders in former NHL players
TORONTO and SMITHS FALLS, ON, March 2, 2019 /CNW/ - NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), NEEKA Health Canada and Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company") (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) are pleased to announce a transformative clinical research partnership that will investigate the efficacy of cannabinoids as an integral part of a novel treatment for post-concussion neurological diseases in former NHL players.
A substantial number of these high performing, former professional athletes have developed impairments as a result of past concussions, ranging from depression, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and progressive dementia from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In some cases, this leads to debilitating limitations in their ability to cope with their environment, a term NEEKA Health Canada has defined as functional disintegration. This study will undertake the rigorous science needed to establish the medicinal value of cannabis when combined with other proven treatments amongst this highly-afflicted group of elite athletes and potentially improve their ability to interact with family, friends and their communities.
Researchers estimate that between 1.6 and 3.8 million athletes suffer from a sports-related concussion each year*. Ten to 15 percent of these athletes will go on to develop chronic post-concussion symptoms that can affect their ability to function. The results of this original study may also lead to new cannabinoid-based therapies that help athletes in other professional sports, along with adults who suffer from the aftermath of brain injuries from accidents and other activities.
"NHL alumni gave everything they had during their careers, but the physical consequences after they hang up their skates can be devastating for both players and their loved ones for the rest of their lives," said Glenn Healy, Executive Director of the NHLAA. "This study offers alumni the promise of help and hope, and we are excited to participate in what could become a true game-changer in allowing these professional athletes to finish strong."
Approximately 100 former players will be enrolled in this randomized double-blind study. The research will be led by NEEKA Health Canada's Dr. Amin Kassam, a world-renowned neurosurgeon who completed his undergraduate training at the University of Toronto and has led four neurosurgery programs over two decades. Joining Dr. Kassam is Dr. Richard Rovin, a neurosurgeon who completed post-graduate training through the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program at Harvard University Medical School. Their combined expertise in neuroscience, molecular cell signaling, brain mapping, and clinical trial design may lead to novel cannabis therapies that have the potential to improve the lives of patients suffering from post-concussion healthcare issues.
"We have seen the debilitating effects of chronic repeated head injuries on the lives of patients and their families," said Dr. Amin Kassam, Founder and CEO of NEEKA Health Canada. "Our team is excited to partner with Canopy Growth, a global leader in cannabis science and the NHL Alumni Association, a committed organization to its players, to demonstrate the immense and unexplored opportunity in cannabis-based remedies, particularly when synergized by novel treatment paradigms such as digital mental health and behavioral therapy."
"This complex and multidimensional study will give us an unprecedented understanding of the interaction between cannabidiol (CBD) and the brains and behaviours of former NHL players living with post-concussion symptoms," said Dr. Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth. "We thank the members of the NHLAA whose willingness to join this unique research partnership speaks to the need for alternative medical treatments to treat the long-term and often devastating effects of concussions."
The study is expected to begin in summer 2019 and will take one year to complete. The results of this unprecedented trial could also catalyze new research initiatives further investigating the potential of CBD as a treatment to help people recover from their brain injuries.
About NHLAA The NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), established in 1999, is a charitable organization in Canada and the US that serves as a passionate advocate devoted to bettering the lives of its members (all former NHL Players). The NHLAA exemplifies this commitment to its members in many different ways including financial assistance, commercializing players' rights, emotional support, physical care, post playing career transition and family aid all in furtherance of its efforts to 'Honour the Past'. Since its inception, the NHLAA has acted as a liaison with its 29 local chapters and has become the largest membership association for retired professional hockey players.
About Canopy Growth Corporation Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. Canopy Growth offers medically approved vaporizers through the Company's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in over a dozen countries across five continents.
The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations ("Canopy Health"), has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Canopy Growth works with the Beckley Foundation and has launched Beckley Canopy Therapeutics to research and develop clinically validated cannabis-based medicines, with a strong focus on intellectual property protection. Canopy Growth acquired assets of leading hemp research company, ebbu, Inc. ("ebbu"). Intellectual Property ("IP") and R&D advancements achieved by ebbu's team apply directly to Canopy Growth's hemp and THC-rich cannabis genetic breeding program and its cannabis-infused beverage capabilities. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector.
From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over 500,000 square feet of GMP certified production space. The Company operates Tweed retail stores in Newfoundland and Manitoba and has entered into supply agreements with every Canadian province and territory. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com
About NEEKA NEEKA Enterprises founded by neurosurgeon Dr. Amin Kassam, is a health care entity that provides broad ranging services, including, econometric modeling and strategic health care transformation. The Canadian clinical subsidiary of NEEKA Enterprises, NEEKA Health Canada, will co-ordinate the unprecedented National Hockey League Alumni Association trial from its headquarters in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Built on the scientific underpinning of Dr. Amin Kassam and Dr. Richard Rovin, NEEKA Health Canada will bring its competencies in the fields of economic modeling, machine learning, bioinformatics and patient empowerment to transform the lives of those suffering from post-concussion healthcare issues. www.neekahealth.ca www.neekaenterprises.com
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements with respect to "transformative clinical research partnership", and "results of this original study may also lead to new cannabinoid-based therapies". Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including research outcomes, timeline for publishing results, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 27, 2018 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation
Media advisory - NHL Alumni Association, NEEKA Healthcare Canada and Canopy Growth Team Up for a new Research Initiative
TORONTO and SMITHS FALLS, ON, March 2, 2019 /CNW/ - We would like to invite you to join us as NEEKA Healthcare Canada and Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) unveil a transformative clinical research initiative in partnership with the NHL Alumni Association, a passionate advocate for improving the health and quality of life for all former NHL players.
There will be a press conference featuring Glenn Healy, Executive Director with the NHLAA and former NHL player, Dr. Amin Kassam from NEEKA Healthcare Canada, and from Canopy Growth, Dr. Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer and Hilary Black, Chief Advocacy Officer. Additional former NHL players will also be in attendance.
Toronto, Ontario
Date: March 2, 2019
Time: Event begins at 2:45 p.m. EST. We recommend media arrive before 2:45 p.m. for set up.
Location: Artscape Sandbox, 301 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, ON
About Canopy Growth Corporation Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. Canopy Growth offers medically approved vaporizers through the Company's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in over a dozen countries across five continents.
The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations ("Canopy Health"), has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Canopy Growth works with the Beckley Foundation and has launched Beckley Canopy Therapeutics to research and develop clinically validated cannabis-based medicines, with a strong focus on intellectual property protection. Canopy Growth acquired assets of leading hemp research company, ebbu, Inc. ("ebbu"). Intellectual Property ("IP") and R&D advancements achieved by ebbu's team apply directly to Canopy Growth's hemp and THC-rich cannabis genetic breeding program and its cannabis-infused beverage capabilities. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector.
From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over 500,000 square feet of GMP certified production space. The Company operates Tweed retail stores in Newfoundland and Manitoba and has entered into supply agreements with every Canadian province and territory. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include "transformative clinical research initiative". Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including research results, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 27, 2018 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.
Galderma: New Data Reveals Benefits of Combining Oral and Topical Treatment in Patients With Severe Papulopustular Rosacea
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 1, 2019 /CNW/ - First randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy andsafety of combined doxycycline 40 mg modified release (DMR) and ivermectin 1% cream (IVM), versus ivermectin 1% cream plus placebo in adults with severe papulopustular rosacea, reveals more than double the number of patients reach 'clear' (100% lesion clearance) at 12 weeks
Today, Galderma shares the results of its ANSWER study, which highlights a superior reduction of inflammatory lesions with combination doxycycline 40 mg modified release capsules (DMR) and ivermectin 1% cream (IVM), compared to IVM plus placebo, in adults with severe papulopustular rosacea (IGA 4*) at 12 weeks.
Clinicians often use a combination of topical and oral therapies for the treatment of rosacea. A previous study confirmed the increased benefits of combination therapy.[1] More recently, once daily IVM has been shown to be more effective than twice daily metronidazole 0.75%.[2] The ANSWER study is the first to evaluate the combination of IVM and DMR, which is the only approved oral treatment for inflammatory rosacea lesions.[3]
According to the results, the combination treatment was associated with 2.5 times more patients achieving 100% lesion clearance already at 12 weeks compared with IVM plus placebo (17.8% vs. 7.2%). DMR and IVM also worked significantly faster than IVM plus placebo, with significant differences seen as early as week 4. The safety profile of both treatment arms was generally well tolerated with no significant differences between the arms. The data is revealed as a poster at the 2019 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., USA.[4]
"ANSWER is a significant step forward for people suffering with severe rosacea, and for clinicians in this field. The data shows combination therapy with IVM + DMR was a safe and more efficacious option with a faster onset of action compared to IVM alone" says Dr James Del Rosso, DO of JDR Dermatology Research/Thomas Dermatology, Las Vegas, Nevada, who is presenting the data at AAD.
"Reaching clear is a tremendous achievement for those living with this chronic, visible disease.Through combination (DMR + IVM) treatment more people willhave the opportunity to reach clear and be relieved of the physical, emotional and psychological burden of this disease."
Results showed a consistent outcome in doubling the number of patients achieving 'clear' (IGA 0) which is defined as 100% clearance in inflammatory lesions and erythema (redness) at 12 weeks using combination therapy (11.9% vs 5.1%) in this severe population.
In addition, three quarters of patients in both treatment groups saw a reduction in burning and stinging sensations by week 12, with 73.3% and 75.4% of patients reporting complete elimination of these symptoms on combination therapy and monotherapy, respectively. Both treatment arms also experienced a substantial increase in the proportion of patients without flushing episodes (-47.2% IVM+DMR vs -41.9% IVM+PBO) and a significant improvement in DLQI** (quality of life).
"The ANSWER results demonstrate the optimized clinical outcome of associating these two treatmentsin patients with severerosacea,both known for theirefficacy and safety profile.Ivermectin again showed efficacy and the combination with modified release doxycycline has significantly increased the number of patients achieving 100% lesion reduction, without compromising the safety profile" says Kamel Chaouche, Head of Global Medical Affairs Rx SIG, Galderma Nestlé Skin Health.
"Galderma has a long-standing commitment to skin health and we know that the impact dermatological conditions have on people is more than skin-deep, regardless of severity. ANSWERprovides us with important new evidencewhich supports our mission to help patients with rosacea to reach clear."
* The success of rosacea treatment is usually defined as a score of 1 ('almost clear') or 0 ('clear') on the 5-point Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale. Several studies have shown that patients who achieve 'clear' (IGA 0), a complete reduction in symptoms, experience an extended time to relapse and an improved quality of life compared with patients who are 'almost clear' (IGA 1)[5]
**DLQI is the most well-known quality-of-life index in dermatology[6]
Del Rosso J et al. Combined doxycycline 40 mg modified release capsules plus ivermectin 1% cream therapy for severe rosacea. 3 March 2019. Poster presented at 2019 AAD Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., USA. Poster 10628
Webster G et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017;28(5):469-474
Shikiar R, et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2005;3:36
About Rosacea
Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disease that presents variable clinical characteristics, of which the most common are flushing, permanent erythema, and inflammatory lesions. It mainly affects the central areas of the face, such as the cheeks and nose. The disease can affect both adult men and women, usually after the age of 30. Additionally, symptoms such as stinging, burning and increased sensitivity of the skin are common. The eyes are often affected, and might present as red, dry or itchy.
Although the cause of the disease is still under debate, various trigger factors are known, including spicy foods, alcohol, emotional stress, sun/UV-exposure, hot baths and beverages. Demodex, generally harmless mites, can also be found in the skin in an elevated quantity in people with rosacea.
Rosacea may worsen over time if left untreated. People that suspect they suffer from rosacea should visit their dermatologist or healthcare provider for diagnosis and discuss what treatment is right for them. Because rosacea is a highly visible disease, it is known to cause embarrassment and anxiety in some patients, which in turn may cause frustration and have a negative impact on their social life.
About ANSWER
ANSWER is a multicenter (US, EU, CAN), randomized, vehicle-controlled, investigator-blinded, parallel-group, comparison study treating patients with severe rosacea (IGA 4) with concomitant use of topical ivermectin 1% cream (IVM) and doxycycline 40 mg modified-release (DMR) capsules. The aim of the study was to evaluate if IVM + DMR association is more efficient than IVM + placebo alone. Patients received either IVM + DMR (n= 135) or IVM + placebo once daily for 12 weeks (n= 138). Subjects were ≥18 years, with >20 to max. 70 inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) on the face.
About Galderma
Galderma, Nestlé Skin Health's medical solutions business, was created in 1981 and is now present in over 100 countries with an extensive product portfolio to treat a range of dermatological conditions. The company partners with health care practitioners around the world to meet the skin health needs of people throughout their lifetime. Galderma is a leader in research and development of scientifically-defined and medically-proven solutions for the skin. For more information, please visit http://www.galderma.com
SOURCE Galderma
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