Outlook Add Ins – Map Your Calendar Meetings, Events and Contacts in Outlook 2007

<p>If you live in Outlook like I do, then these <strong>two add ons might be of interest.</strong>  <strong>Multi-Map</strong> is a Microsoft Live Search Company and in my opinion a bit more automated and easier to use without the browser having to open.   You can easily put a map in your appointments and meeting requests.   I spend a lot of time talking about healthcare software integration, so here’s some information on Outlook integration add ons.   Maps for Outlook below uses Google Maps.  </p> <p>Have an appointment with a new doctor, put in the appointment calendar, you need to put the location in the appointment at the top to automate and not have to copy and paste or type the location when the window pops up.  Both programs will give you driving directions too.  <a href="http://explore.multimap.com/Toolbox/toolsSpecific_outlookaddin.aspx"><img alt="image" border="0" height="64" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYlphoHNXI/AAAAAAAAQBc/MHbrtG9lElc/image%5B34%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="128" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://explore.multimap.com/Toolbox/toolsSpecific_outlookaddin.aspx"><img alt="image" border="0" height="195" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYlrQq-s3I/AAAAAAAAQBg/nLiG83PywWE/image%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="355" /></a> </p> <p>You can also map a contact too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYlu62s2rI/AAAAAAAAQBk/H_7557_73TM/s1600-h/image%5B18%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYlxqQoU2I/AAAAAAAAQBo/L96nevpJQK4/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="358" /></a> </p> <p>There are a few other MultiMap tools to look at.  I have the Firefox extension installed and it works good.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYly3UyKLI/AAAAAAAAQBs/eD62R4P2-7w/s1600-h/image%5B21%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl09d_7DI/AAAAAAAAQBw/mkjvvhdzIIM/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="209" /></a> </p> <p>Put it in your Google toolbar too.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl3E-4yZI/AAAAAAAAQB0/-nhgPcH9Mnc/s1600-h/image%5B25%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl5Fxy-hI/AAAAAAAAQB4/OdnarCB4KAI/image_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="322" /></a></p> <h5><strong><u><a href="http://www.cmapsys.com/MapsForOutlookGoogle.htm"><img alt="image" border="0" height="49" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl5os-t7I/AAAAAAAAQB8/ahRfITSyBw0/image%5B39%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="178" /></a></u></strong></h5> <h5><strong><u>This add on is for Google Maps.  I have both of them working in Outlook so if you can’t make up your mind, try both.</u></strong></h5> <p><a href="http://www.cmapsys.com/MapsForOutlookGoogle.htm"><strong>Maps for Outlook</strong></a><strong> is</strong> a Microsoft Outlook add-in that helps you work with Contacts and Appointments, quickly find locations on a map and plan your route to a client. </p> <p><strong>It helps you save your time!</strong>  You don't have to switch back and forth between Outlook and Map entering manually address information anymore. <strong>Maps for Outlook</strong> allows you to see contact's location or driving directions to your client by few clicks. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl6y5af3I/AAAAAAAAQCA/7nRtIxAbE-o/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="141" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl8J5-d2I/AAAAAAAAQCE/SF2Ru77xGwI/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="355" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>You can Map Contacts here too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl87vRO1I/AAAAAAAAQCI/EB8ZPO2L76w/s1600-h/image%5B28%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="208" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl98v_WJI/AAAAAAAAQCM/E01tRJzrKpA/image_thumb%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> </p> <p>Anything that I can add on to make <strong>life in Outlook</strong> a little more convenient I do it.  You can also find these add ons for Twitter and Facebook too.  BD</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/outlook-twitter-and-facebook-add-ins.html"><font size="2">Outlook Twitter and FaceBook Add Ins and a couple more useful free utilities…</font></a></h4> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl-tTHmaI/AAAAAAAAQCQ/KL5iPiKDAWk/s1600-h/image%5B32%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYl_hC08_I/AAAAAAAAQCU/nH43yZOJhKg/image_thumb%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="388" /></a> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e35a873e-97d6-4690-9d8a-ee657dd87aa8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microssoft" rel="tag">Microssoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Outlook" rel="tag">Outlook</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/multimap" rel="tag">multimap</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/maps+for+outlook" rel="tag">maps for outlook</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+Office" rel="tag">Microsoft Office</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Google+Maps" rel="tag">Google Maps</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Live+Search" rel="tag">Live Search</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/maps" rel="tag">maps</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/integration" rel="tag">integration</a></div>

Outlook Add Ins – Map Your Calendar Meetings, Events and Contacts in Outlook 2007

If you live in Outlook like I do, then these two add ons might be of interest.   Multi-Map is a Microsoft Live Search Company and in my opi...

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Transoma Medical Receives FDA Marketing Clearance – ECGs on Mobile Handheld Device from Implanted Device

<p>Information is sent through frequent ECG samples to Manage Complex and often Changing Arrhythmias with patients to a cardio center for technicians to analyze.  From here physicians are alerted for any significant events.  One nice move is a physician’s portal, but we need to go the next level up <a href="http://www.transomamedical.com/medical_professionals/sleuth_at"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="75" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYcVUDI0ZI/AAAAAAAAQBU/gTopieYufdA/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="143" /></a>and have the information brought to a <strong>Personal Health Record</strong>, so perhaps this is a new potential vendor for Microsoft.  </p> <p><strong>St. Jude has a similar device and is now connected to the HealthVault.  (related reading below)</strong></p> <p>Cardio implants are now being capable of sending SMS, faxes and emails themselves too.  With this device, the patients too can see the information and thus the need to include in a PHR.  The procedures is minimally invasive, since the device is not providing a function for the heart, but rather creating a ECG electronic report card.  With the FDA marketing clearance, we could be seeing this device recommended by physicians soon.  It does make you wonder exactly how much time will transpire before we all have some type of device someday.  BD  </p> <p><b>Transoma Medical, Inc.,</b> manufacturer of Sleuth^® and Sleuth AT^™, the only wireless and automated implantable cardiac monitoring (ICM) systems has received FDA 510(k) marketing clearance for its new Data Review feature on Sleuth AT. The Data Review feature allows any clinician to easily access up to 99 events stored on the patient’s Personal Diagnostic Manager (PDM). The PDM is a handheld device that retrieves and stores ECG data from the implanted device prior to automatic transmission to the 24/7 monitoring center. Each stored ECG strip is labeled with the time and date of the cardiac event making it easier for clinicians to correlate symptoms with rhythms. </p> <blockquote> <p>Not only does Sleuth AT capture ECG strips containing arrhythmias automatically, it also allows the patient to capture data by pressing a button on the handheld PDM after experiencing a symptom<strong>. All data captured by the implanted device is automatically transferred to the PDM, providing an additional 10.5 hours of ECG storage. Data stored on the PDM is automatically transmitted to a 24/7 monitoring center where certified cardiac technicians review the data and alert clinicians to clinically-significant events, providing a high degree of specificity.</strong></p> <p> <a href="http://transoma.com/medical_professionals/products"><img alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYcWkGhlHI/AAAAAAAAQBY/RQrz2F1shnU/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="334" /></a> </p> <p>Now with Sleuth AT, the added benefit of ECG access on the handheld device means any available clinician can view recently captured events without a programmer, even if the patient has been away from home. I am hopeful this will further speed access to critical information.”</p> <p>At the third-party <b>Monitoring Center</b>, certified cardiac technicians review the patient’s ECG data and provide information to the physician to aid in diagnosis and ongoing treatment. Physicians can access this information via a secure Web portal, and have the reports faxed or e-mailed to them as they prefer. If the cardiac technician observes a particularly concerning arrhythmia, the patient’s physician will be contacted immediately.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://wireless.sys-con.com/node/984588">Transoma Medical Receives FDA Marketing Clearance for Exclusive Capability Providing Immediate Access to Critical ECGs on Mobile Handheld Device | Wireless Developer's Journal</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/biotronik-home-monitoring-cardio.html"><font size="1">Biotronik Home Monitoring – Cardio Implant that sends email, SMS or faxes</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/st-jude-medical-announces-fda-approval.html"><font size="1">St. Jude Medical Announces FDA Approval of New Features with Merlin for Implantable Cardiac Devices</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/implanted-heart-monitor-inserted-with.html"><font size="1">Implanted Heart Monitor Inserted with Minor Outpatient procedure – Medtronic Reveal DX</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a531b0ac-0c51-424b-a843-704cc5a1200f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/implants" rel="tag">implants</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/wireless" rel="tag">wireless</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/home+monitoring" rel="tag">home monitoring</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinical+trials" rel="tag">clinical trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cardimessenger" rel="tag">cardimessenger</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sleuth" rel="tag">Sleuth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Transoma" rel="tag">Transoma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a></div>

Transoma Medical Receives FDA Marketing Clearance – ECGs on Mobile Handheld Device from Implanted Device

Information is sent through frequent ECG samples to Manage Complex and often Changing Arrhythmias with patients to a cardio center for techn...

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GE Healthcare’s Application for DaTSCAN™ Given Priority Review by the FDA to Help Detect Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) often misdiagnosed

<p>Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) has been difficult to diagnose, and is <strong>often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.</strong>  Nuclear medicine scans can help determine whether a patient has Alzheimer's or the beginning effects of Parkinson’s Disease.  <strong><a href="http://www.helpguide.org/elder/lewy_body_disease.htm">Lewy Body Disease</a></strong> is actually the second most common cause of dementia.  Symptoms include hallucinations, sensitivity to antipsychotic drugs, and symptoms that change.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYTacVdmlI/AAAAAAAAQBM/9BPa1huGj_4/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="119" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYTbh76MvI/AAAAAAAAQBQ/8qLC75HataU/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="172" /></a></p> <p>The hope here is to diagnose properly and not confuse the disease with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's so correct treatments plans can be given.  BD  </p> <p><strong><u>From the website:</u></strong></p> <p><em>DaTSCAN is appropriate for patients referred by physicians experienced in the management of movement disorders and/or dementia. It should only be used by professionals with the appropriate government authorization for the use of radionuclides within a clinical setting.[1] </em></p> <p><em>The complete procedure takes about half a day to complete. An injectable solution is given intravenously three hours before the scan. A gamma camera is used to produce 3-D reconstructed images.</em></p> <blockquote> <p>GE Healthcare announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for DaTSCAN <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaTSCAN">(Ioflupane I123 Injection)</a></strong> for priority review. DaTSCAN is a radiopharmaceutical agent containing Ioflupane (¹²³I) in development for a proposed indication of the detection of loss of functional nigrostraiatal dopaminergic neurons by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in patients presenting with symptoms or signs suggestive of dopaminergic neurodegeneration.  </p> <p>A priority review designation is intended for drugs that offer major advances in treatment, or provide treatment where no adequate therapy exists. The FDA's goal is to review and act on 90 percent of NDAs designated as priority review within six months of receipt. </p> <p>DaTSCAN has been available in Europe since 2000. In Europe, DaTSCAN is indicated for detecting loss of functional dopaminergic neuron terminals in the striatum in patients with <strong>clinically uncertain Parkinsonian Syndromes</strong> in order to help differentiate Essential Tremor from Parkinsonian Syndromes related to idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). DaTSCAN is unable to discriminate between PD, MSA and PSP. In Europe, it is also indicated to help differentiate probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer’s disease. DaTSCAN is unable to discriminate between DLB and Parkinson’s disease dementia. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.euroinvestor.co.uk/news/shownewsstory.aspx?storyid=10474096">EuroInvestor.co.uk - GE Healthcare’s Application for DaTSCAN™ (Ioflupane I123 Injection) Accepted by the FDA for Priority Review</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a4760c6b-6ba5-42e1-a32a-1d5957d67a58" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DLB" rel="tag">DLB</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dementia" rel="tag">Dementia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/GE" rel="tag">GE</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DaTScan" rel="tag">DaTScan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinsons'+Disease+Research" rel="tag">Parkinsons' Disease Research</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lewy+Body+Disease" rel="tag">Lewy Body Disease</a></div>

GE Healthcare’s Application for DaTSCAN™ Given Priority Review by the FDA to Help Detect Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) often misdiagnosed

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) has been difficult to diagnose, and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.   Nuclear medicine sca...

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First heart patients implanted with 3rd Generation mechanical heart pump - DuraHeart

<p></p> <p>The device helps the heart pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, increasing flow throughout the body. Previous research has shown the approach can help alleviate symptoms and improve survival.  With a shortage of hearts available for transplant the device can help extend lives and earlier this year I posted about the clinical trials of the DuraHeart which is now in it’s 3rd generation.  </p> <p>When the heart can’t function and pump the blood, the device kicks in and takes over, it is called a left-ventricular assist device, or LVAD and the first devices came into play in the 80s.  BD</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/duraheart-implantable-pump-beginning.html"><font size="2">DuraHeart Implantable Pump – Beginning Clinical Trials</font><a href="http://www.terumoheart.com/duraheart/"><font size="2"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="57" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYMiLnKrgI/AAAAAAAAQBE/-OoAJjom3DM/image%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="105" /></font></a></a></h4> <blockquote> <p>Three patients at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center were among the first in the United States to be implanted with a next-generation artificial heart pump called the DuraHeart™ Left-Ventricular Assist System. The surgeries took place earlier this year. NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is one of only three centers in the U.S. currently enrolling patients in a clinical trial studying the device.</p> <p><img alt="image" border="0" height="157" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiYMjfmpUqI/AAAAAAAAQBI/IO20RGIlklI/image6%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="209" /></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.terumoheart.com/DuraHeart/lvas.aspx">DuraHeart® LVAS</a> helps the left ventricle pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. Since a failing heart cannot pump enough blood out to the body, the DuraHeart takes over the additional work. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SdAxatbAv-I/AAAAAAAAO54/ey10dRx7QPA/s1600-h/image%5B17%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="201" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SdAxcoMLzHI/AAAAAAAAO58/UZrKbcIz9wY/image_thumb%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="210" /></a></p> <p>When the pump is activated, the impeller position is precisely controlled by the electromagnetics and sensors to keep it centered within the blood chamber. Permanent magnets attract the impeller to the motor so when the motor spins, it causes the impeller to rotate and pump blood from the heart to the body.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news163165294.html">First heart patients implanted with next-generatio n mechanical heart pump</a></p> <p><u><strong>Related Reading:</strong></u></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/fda-oks-blood-test-for-heart-transplant.html"><font size="1">FDA OKs blood test for heart transplant rejection - Personalized Medicine</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/heartware-receives-conditional-approval.html"><font size="1">HeartWare Receives Conditional Approval for Investigational Device Exemption from the FDA</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/worlds-smallest-heart-pump-saving-lives.html"><font size="1">The World’s Smallest Heart Pump Saving Lives in the US - Impella</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/duraheart-implantable-pump-beginning.html"><font size="1">DuraHeart Implantable Pump – Beginning Clinical Trials</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/patient-who-needed-heart-and-kidney.html"><font size="1">Patient Who Needed Heart And Kidney Transplant Borrowed Time With Heart Assist Device</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/little-blue-egg-helps-surgeons-save.html"><font size="1">Little Blue Egg Helps Surgeons Save Lives</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f7105e10-6af0-4524-a62c-98bdea51c649" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DuraHeart" rel="tag">DuraHeart</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heart+transplant" rel="tag">heart transplant</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/New+York+Pesbyterian+Hospital" rel="tag">New York Pesbyterian Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/artificial+heart+pump" rel="tag">artificial heart pump</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/left+ventrical" rel="tag">left ventrical</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/surgery" rel="tag">surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cardiology" rel="tag">cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/LVAD" rel="tag">LVAD</a></div>

First heart patients implanted with 3rd Generation mechanical heart pump - DuraHeart

The device helps the heart pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, increasing flow throughout the body. Previous research has sho...

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Woman Lost Her Limbs Due to a Kidney Stone Infection and Sepsis– Legal Case Continues

<p> This could be anyone’s biggest nightmare.  This happened a number of years ago before electronic medical records were coming of age, but rather were in the infancy stage.  It does show how vital records can be in an emergency situation.  Recently there were a couple other stories like this in the news, the woman in New York and the model in Brazil who didn’t make it.  (related reading).  <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2009-01/44529015.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/davie/sfl-flblostlimbs.pg,0,4685822.photogallery%3Findex%3Dsfl-flblostlimb14c.cav20090115071911&usg=__n7UTEQxMCV4g81hs0excrI7Q_oo=&h=425&w=304&sz=36&hl=en&start=2&sig2=lYgPgQD4GpN-ixF69j6SNA&tbnid=Lnixb6CKvYSDGM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlisa%2Bstrong%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS286US286&ei=QmwlStj8Np2ktAO74fyUBg"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="201" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiVxBrgH26I/AAAAAAAAQBA/cuwF9EYQ3OY/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="144" /></a></p> <p>One of the best posts I have had on this blog is how <strong>Vanderbilt University used Silverlight and Server 2008</strong> to create software they make available for all to <u><strong>alert clinical staff for the onset of Sepsis,</strong></u> which kills thousands every year.  This just goes to show too how important a simple and easy to read interface is with visuals. </p> <p><strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/vanderbilt-university-medical-center.html"><em>Also Vanderbilt Medical Center created a Microsoft technology solution to quickly identify Sepsis</em></a></strong><em> and you <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/vanderbilt-university-medical-center.html"><img align="left" src="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R-oA5FKN9NI/AAAAAAAAESU/hhdm96hJxIU/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png" /></a></strong>can read more here, which entails a solution with Server 2008, SQL server and the<u> use of Silverlight to give clinicians a clear and active visual</u> to detect immediately before the condition would progress any further without immediate attention.  </em></p> <p><strong><u></u></strong><em>Healthcare jumping out with <strong>Server 2008 and</strong> all the <u>updated components for the application to track Sepsis,</u> a systemic inflammatory response to infection which can progress to circulatory system dysfunction, multiple organ failure, and eventually </em><strong><em>death.</em> </strong></p> <p>It was a shame that perhaps Sepsis was not identified sooner with her case, and there were no medical records to review, perhaps both could have helped to create a different outcome, but in today’s world we have such technology available where as in 2004 this was not as much of an option. <strong> Get a personal health record started soon.  BD</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>When Lisa Strong, now 45, went to the emergency room in the early morning hours with back pain from a kidney stone she hardly imagined that she'd leave four months later as a quadruple <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/story?id=6108398&page=1">amputee</a>. </p> <p>"I was on a respirator in the ICU and I don't remember the first 10 days," said Strong, of Davie, Fla. Her then-husband and two young children had <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3789868&page=1">waited anxiously for a diagnosis</a> or any good news as Strong battled septic shock, lived through surgery and then survived multiple heart attacks. </p> <p>She got a diagnosis, "but at that point they didn't know I would be losing my hands and feet," said Strong. </p> <p>Over the next month Strong watched the black "<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=6718289">line of demarcation</a>" as doctors called it inch up her fingers and toes signaling just how much of her limbs she would lose. </p> <p>"My hands were black, it was as if I stuck them in a fire. The line moved very slowly, and it was very painful burning," said Strong. "I thought if I exercised a lot I could get life back into my limbs." </p> <p>Whatever was said, even more confusion ensued after the doctors hung up the phone -- each ended their shifts with no new doctor taking charge. </p> <p>Green wrote "that no doctor was administering care to plaintiff because Dr. Kocik had gone off shift and left the hospital: Dr. Strong never came to the hospital; and Dr. Sharma arrived about three to four hours late for the start of her shift." </p> <p><strong>Unfortunately, Savard said most people don't have cradle-to-grave medical records, or any medical records that would be readily accessible to the emergency room staff.</strong> Savard said calling your family doctor and trying to involve him or her is a good first step in getting the right diagnosis. <strong>An alternative would be to bring a copy of some medical records with you.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/Story?id=7729694&page=1">Legal Battle Ensues Over Kidney Stone Amputations - ABC News</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/sepsis-update-hospital-error-in-new.html"><font size="1">Sepsis Update – Hospital Error in New York and Technology that can help</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/model-in-brazil-loses-hands-and-feet.html">Model in Brazil loses hands and feet - Sepsis</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/nyc-mom-sues-hospital-after-losing-both.html">NYC Mom Sues Hospital After Losing Both Hands and Feet – Infection lead to Sepsis</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/leadership-strategy-for-prevention-of.html">Leadership Strategy for the Prevention of Line Sepsis – 10th Leading Cause of Death Worldwide</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/vanderbilt-university-medical-center.html">Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Server 2008, Silverlight, SharePoint, Windows Activation Services and more....</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/04/02/patient-safety-screening-tool-for-sepsis-new-video.aspx">Patient Safety Screening Tool for Sepsis: New Video</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/docs-trained-with-it-say-without-it.html">Docs trained with IT say without it they feel vulnerable when using a paper based system</a></h6> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d4d75314-aa11-41c2-9571-fb1a97a97706" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sepsis" rel="tag">Sepsis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Vanderbilt+University" rel="tag">Vanderbilt University</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kidney+infection" rel="tag">Kidney infection</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/legal+suit" rel="tag">legal suit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/amputation" rel="tag">amputation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+records" rel="tag">health records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Server+2008" rel="tag">Server 2008</a></div>

Woman Lost Her Limbs Due to a Kidney Stone Infection and Sepsis– Legal Case Continues

This could be anyone’s biggest nightmare.  This happened a number of years ago before electronic medical records were coming of age, but ra...

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The Tomato Pill for the Treatment Of High Cholesterol

<p> This could be an alternative, a natural one, that could help with keeping cholesterol in check.  We all know about statins and their side effects, so <a href="http://www.ateronon.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiVoBPDDVRI/AAAAAAAAQA0/Ny1UZMDe3Dk/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="115" /></a>perhaps this is worth a look.   There is one enzyme that has been recommended by physicians and one that I take myself for just good general health as I do not take any statins called <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/NS_patient-coenzymeq10">COQ10</a> so maybe adding the tomato pill could be a good thing.  COQ10 has been known to also reduce the muscle spasms associated with statin drugs.  </p> <p>If you don’t like tomatoes, there’s a pill for that now.  Maybe this is a healthy solution instead of putting us all on Crestor?  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>A new pill that contains a potent version of the naturally occurring compound lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, was launched today as a new approach to the treatment of high blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis. <br />The new pill, called Ateronon, is made by Cambridge Theranostics, a bio-technology spin-out of Cambridge University, in the UK, and was launched today, Monday, at a conference of the British Cardiovascular Society in London.</p> <p>Researchers at Nestlé and other establishments had already determined other facts about the compound, such as it is more readily <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiVoDWF1p5I/AAAAAAAAQA4/17-_Sm35_7s/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><font color="#000000" size="1"><a href="http://www.ateronon.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="117" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiVoEXH43eI/AAAAAAAAQA8/Rh9u4ktQxIA/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="133" /></a></font></a>absorbed from tomatoes when they have been cooked, or if eaten with a source of fat such as olive oil.</p> <p><u><font size="1">From the website:</font></u></p> <p><font size="1">ATERONON™ is the first clinically proven, natural supplement for the inhibition of LDL cholesterol oxidation – a leading cause of atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.</font></p> <p><font size="1">ATERONON™ capsules contains an active ingredient from the Mediterranean diet, known to help provide heart and circulatory benefits, intended for those who wish to take steps to help maintain their own health.</font><font size="1"> </font></p> <p><font size="1">Within just two months, a daily dose of ATERONON™ reduces the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol) by over 90%.</font></p> <p><font size="1">Inhibiting LDL oxidation helps to prevent a key step in the development of plaque in the arteries, which in turn can help to improve circulation and reduce the risk of a number of health issues. </font></p> <p><font size="1">ATERONON™ is best taken each day to maintain effective levels of lycopene in the body, in order to continue to help inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and to reduce the risk of plaque build-up in the arteries.  As a natural food supplement, it is possible to take ATERONON™ alongside prescribed medication and other supplements.*</font></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152113.php">Potent "Tomato Pill" Launched As New Approach To Treatment Of High Cholesterol</a></p> <p><strong>Related Reading:</strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/fda-approves-fenofibric-acid-for-lipid.html"><font size="1">FDA approves fenofibric acid for lipid target controls – Lower LDL, Increase HDL</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/amish-genomics-study-potential-new.html"><font size="1">Amish Genomics Study – Potential New Territory for cholesterol drug development</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/crestor-may-save-lives-according-to.html"><font size="1">Crestor May Save Lives according to recent large study</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/cholesterol-lowering-drugs-may-also.html"><font size="1">Cholesterol-lowering drugs may also lower PSA, but stopping cancer risk effect is unknown</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/muscle-pain-from-statins-time-for.html"><font size="1">Muscle Pain from Statins? Time for a genetic evaluation - Personalized Medicine</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/statin-side-effect-test-worth-price.html"><font size="1">Statin Side Effect Test: Worth the Price?</font></a></h4> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:41e2b305-9fba-4dd3-a7d6-056deedd9408" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cholesterol" rel="tag">cholesterol</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ateronon" rel="tag">ateronon</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/capsules" rel="tag">capsules</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tomatoes" rel="tag">tomatoes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/statins" rel="tag">statins</a></div>

The Tomato Pill for the Treatment Of High Cholesterol

This could be an alternative, a natural one, that could help with keeping cholesterol in check.  We all know about statins and their side e...

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BiPar Helps Women Live Longer – Breast Cancer

<p> This is great news, prolongs life without any side effects.  The technology being studied and targets here is called PARP, or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.  </p> <p>The drug prevents cancer cells from repairing their own DNA, thus enhancing the potential of chemotherapy and radiation radiation therapy to have the cell self destruct.  The announcement was made at the ASCO convention this week.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/05/22/vulcans-biotech-windfall-bipar-sciences-sparks-fundamental-cancer-advance/">Billionaire Paul Allen made windfall profits from his investment in BiPar Sciences</a>, and today we can really see why. The Brisbane, CA-based biotech company founded by Allen’s Vulcan investment firm said today that <strong>its drug candidate for women with an aggressive form of breast cancer was able to help them live longer without adding side effects to standard chemotherapy</strong>.<a href="http://www.biparsciences.com/00002.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="67" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTLf6u2CjI/AAAAAAAAQAs/PNG0aVuXf8k/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="145" /></a> </p> <p>Women who were randomly assigned to get the <strong>BiPar drug, BSI-201,</strong> in combination with chemotherapy lived a median time of 9.2 months, compared with 5.7 months for those who just got the chemo, gemcitabine and carboplatin, researchers said today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando, FL. The trial of 116 women also demonstrated BiPar’s treatment shrank or stabilized tumors, and slowed the spread of malignancy, researchers said today in a plenary presentation at the conference, which has attracted 30,000 cancer specialists.</p> <p>BiPar has generated buzz because it aims to develop the first drug to block an enzyme called <a href="http://breastcancer.about.com/od/targetedbiologictherapies/p/parp_basics.htm">PARP</a>. This approach—which is being pursued by Genentech and others—is designed to prevent cancer cells from repairing their own DNA, which is one of the deft little tricks tumors employ to bounce back after their DNA has been damaged by chemotherapies. <strong>BiPar’s lead drug, BSI-201</strong>, is being studied in mid-stage clinical trials for an aggressive form of breast cancer known as the <a href="http://www.biparsciences.com/000014.html">“triple negative”</a> variety, as well as ovarian cancer and other tumor types.  </p> <p>BiPar Sciences will initiate a Phase 3 clinical study of BSI-201 in triple negative metastatic breast cancer in Summer 2009.<a href="http://www.biparsciences.com/000010.html"><img alt="image" border="0" height="247" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTLhM4uwbI/AAAAAAAAQAw/bt4KtSdmqkc/image%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="317" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlusBreastCancerNews/story?id=7716343&page=1">In a related story,</a> some experts stated they also felt antidepressants may hinder anti-cancer drugs.  </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/05/31/bipar-sciences-vulcan-backed-biotech-helps-women-live-longer-with-breast-cancer/">Breast Cancer Bombshell: Vulcan-Backed BiPar Wows Scientists, Helps Women Live Longer | Xconomy</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-technology-assesses-breast-cancer.html"><font size="1">New Technology Assesses Breast Cancer Risk – The Breast Pap</font></a><font size="1"> </font></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/10-year-old-girl-with-breast-cancer.html"><font size="1">10-Year-Old Girl With Breast Cancer – Fullerton, CA</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/healthcare-patents-how-long-and-how.html"><font size="1">Healthcare Patents – How Long and How Much is Becoming a Challenging Question</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/ge-healthcare-to-commercialize-cytori.html"><font size="1">GE Healthcare to Commercialize Cytori Therapeutics Stem Cell Technology – Regenerative Medicine</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/stem-cells-and-breast-surgery.html">Stem Cells and Breast Surgery</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:804cfbf7-d41a-4ebd-b00f-813da80bf5cb" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/breast+cancer" rel="tag">breast cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+care" rel="tag">health care</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genentech" rel="tag">Genentech</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chemotherapy" rel="tag">chemotherapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/side+effects" rel="tag">side effects</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/BiPar" rel="tag">BiPar</a></div>

BiPar Helps Women Live Longer – Breast Cancer

This is great news, prolongs life without any side effects.  The technology being studied and targets here is called PARP, or poly (ADP-rib...

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New Medical Device Pending FDA Approval to Test for GERD

<p>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTF9Q_B3hI/AAAAAAAAQAU/nchmZkh8004/s1600-h/image%5B21%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="113" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTF-O9LTuI/AAAAAAAAQAY/XeIE-GW0aVE/image_thumb%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="143" /></a>There certainly hasn’t been a shortage of products for GERD, there are implants and now a device to better test, monitor and diagnose.  It goes through either your nose or your mouth, like roto rooter it appears.  </p> <p>Just give it a few more years here and I don’t think I’ll be able to recognize any equipment my doctor is using (grin).  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Galway medical device developer Crospon has secured a global deal for its flagship gastroenterology product, <a href="http://www.crospon.com/products">EndoFLIP.</a>   Crospon develops leading-edge minimally invasive medical devices for monitoring, diagnosis and therapy in the gastroenterology area.</p> <p>The EndoFLIP tool, which is pending US <em>Food and Drug Administration</em> <em>(</em>FDA) approval, was designed by Crospon to provide a more physiologically relevant diagnostic test for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTF_8QC86I/AAAAAAAAQAc/iRzv-8NTvKw/s1600-h/image%5B20%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTGA5ZIk_I/AAAAAAAAQAg/uW41WtN5yvc/image_thumb%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="171" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTGDBO_TyI/AAAAAAAAQAk/R7KLyWUBm3Y/s1600-h/image%5B19%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTGEJqwPYI/AAAAAAAAQAo/vhEAQ08D_HU/image_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="170" /></a></p> <p></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/13070/business/worldwide-deal-for-galway-medical-device-player">SiliconRepublic.com: Worldwide deal for Galway medical device player - Business</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading: </u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/two-medical-device-makers-with-gut.html"><font size="1">Two Medical Device Makers with “Gut” Efforts to control over-eating</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/implanted-medical-device-for-gerd.html"><font size="1">Implanted Medical Device for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) in Trials</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/gerd-maze-is-not-patient-friendly.html"><font size="1">The GERD Maze Is Not Patient-Friendly</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/hospitalizations-for-gerd-up-by-103.html"><font size="1">Hospitalizations For GERD Up By 103 Percent</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-incisionless-surgery-offers-hope-to.html"><font size="1">New Incisionless Surgery Offers Hope to Heartburn Sufferers - GERD</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/09/ndo-receives-fda-510k-clearance-for.html"><font size="1">NDO Receives FDA 510(K) Clearance For Plicator II(TM) - GERD procedure and treatment</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6ff9ac7c-545e-4db0-ab46-2177e3198fc8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/GERD" rel="tag">GERD</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Acid+Reflux" rel="tag">Acid Reflux</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Devices" rel="tag">Medical Devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinical+Trials" rel="tag">clinical Trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gastroesophageal+Reflux+Disease)" rel="tag">Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Endoflip" rel="tag">Endoflip</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Galway" rel="tag">Galway</a></div>

New Medical Device Pending FDA Approval to Test for GERD

  There certainly hasn’t been a shortage of products for GERD, there are implants and now a device to better test, monitor and diagnose.  It...

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Charity Navigator – A Guide to Intelligent Giving

<p>Do you have a difficult time finding charities, this might be the spot you could be looking for.  I thought I would make mention here since the site was kind enough to feature the post on the American Cancer Society and the Ring of Friends I posted this week.  The site is very easy to navigate and almost anything you can think of appears to be listed.  BD    </p> <p> <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/"><img alt="image" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTCCczfqtI/AAAAAAAAQAM/t3YVrvyrmeg/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="158" /></a> </p> <h4><em><font size="2">“Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,400 of America's largest charities.”</font></em></h4> <p> <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.news&orgid=6495"><img alt="image" border="0" height="273" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiTCDzBhWNI/AAAAAAAAQAQ/DeXdApZLgo8/image%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="371" /></a> </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>American Cancer Society</strong> <br />250 Williams Street, NW <br />Atlanta, GA 30303</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.news&orgid=6495">Charity Navigator Rating - American Cancer Society</a></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1174ff25-f3e7-4661-99fe-7aa831d9a57a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/charity" rel="tag">charity</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/philanthropy" rel="tag">philanthropy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/American+Cancer+Society" rel="tag">American Cancer Society</a></div>

Charity Navigator – A Guide to Intelligent Giving

Do you have a difficult time finding charities, this might be the spot you could be looking for.  I thought I would make mention here since ...

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New Blood Test Developed to Detect Lung Cancer – CPT Code and Available in the US

<p> The test was launched here in the US last week.  It does have a CPT code but the web pages sates they do not anticipate insurance coverage yet for <a href="http://www.oncimmune.com/providers/insurance.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="65" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiS7emEF5tI/AAAAAAAAQAA/e8RBaRO6LQg/image%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="166" /></a>the test so you are on your own for this one.   The NHS plans to have the test worked into their system within a year.  BD</p> <p><strong><u>From the website:</u></strong></p> <p><em><strong>“EarlyCDT^{<small><small>TM</small></small>}</strong> does have established, applicable CPT codes and though we have not tested reimbursement directly with carriers we do expect that some patients will attempt submission and may receive payment. That being said, we are releasing Early<strong>CDT</strong>^{<small><small>TM</small></small>} as a self–pay test and do not expect immediate reimbursement form carriers. We are still in the process of finalizing pricing as we complete the analysis of focus group inputs, market comparisons, reimbursement potential and economic modeling.”</em></p> <blockquote> <p>British scientists have developed the first blood test for lung cancer which could save thousands of lives. <br />The revolutionary test picks up proteins in blood that are only produced as a reaction to the presence of lung cancer cells. <br />These proteins will appear long before tumors develop, meaning further investigations in the form of scans and biopsies could be started at a much earlier stage.  </p> <p><strong>The overall performances of the test compared to a CT scan is better, because a scan produces so many false positives.'</strong> <br />The antibodies produced by the body in response to the presence of cancer cells are different for each type of disease. <br />Mr Hamilton-Fairley says Oncimmune has identified the antibodies specific to breast cancer and is in the final stages of developing a test for the disease, which will be available in months.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiS7lxTmwfI/AAAAAAAAQAE/cm6PpkJe9LU/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiS7pRW_fHI/AAAAAAAAQAI/lVycBALS_FE/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>  <br /><strong>But he hopes that a single blood test, which would be able to identify any cancer type, will be available within five years</strong>. It would involve patients giving a conventional blood sample and could become a routine part of NHS care for people considered most at risk, such as smokers, those with respiratory diseases and those with a family history of the disease. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189790/New-test-lung-cancer-save-thousands.html?ITO=1490">New test for lung cancer 'could save thousands' | Mail Online</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/rosetta-genomics-interview-microrna-for.html">Rosetta Genomics Interview – microRNA for Diagnosing Lung Cancer Tumors</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/rosetta-genomics-sells-parkway-clinical.html"><font size="1">Rosetta Genomics Sells Parkway Clinical Labs – Lab Facility Identifies Cancer of the Unknown Primary with Lung Tumors</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/teva-to-distribute-three-rosetta.html">Teva to Distribute Three Rosetta Genomics Cancer Diagnosis Tests in Israel and Turkey</a></h6> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0200e116-6dce-4081-94cc-58ba8cdf380c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/markers" rel="tag">markers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/blood+test" rel="tag">blood test</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lung+Cancer" rel="tag">lung Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Early+CDT" rel="tag">Early CDT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/biopsies" rel="tag">biopsies</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/imaging" rel="tag">imaging</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ONC+Immune" rel="tag">ONC Immune</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lab+test" rel="tag">lab test</a></div>

New Blood Test Developed to Detect Lung Cancer – CPT Code and Available in the US

The test was launched here in the US last week.  It does have a CPT code but the web pages sates they do not anticipate insurance coverage ...

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New Potential Drug to Treat advanced Melanoma

<p> Clinical Trials state that the drug is prolonging life and also showing to shrink tumors.  We may all remember the Super Bowl this year with Bruce Springsteen and the member of his band lost to skin cancer, and now there’s the <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/danny-fund-research-and-development-to.html">Danny Fund foundation</a></strong> where you can contribute.  </p> <p>This study looks good, but a larger clinical trial will be started soon to further test the drug.  BD <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiS2HVpoOEI/AAAAAAAAP_4/OSANtEscIFU/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="129" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiS2Ii9tZLI/AAAAAAAAP_8/QgF1efLvkE8/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="167" /></a></p> <blockquote> <p><b>Scientists say they have developed a drug that can treat the most deadly form of skin cancer in its most advanced, incurable stages.</b></p> <p>Malignant melanoma is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the UK, largely due to sun exposure.  </p> <p>An experimental drug<strong> PLX4032 (R7204)</strong> could help many patients with incurable disease live longer with the disease in check, early trial results suggest. </p> <p>Roche and Plexxikon presented the work at a renowned US cancer meeting. </p> <p>PLX4032 works by seeking out and destroying tumor cells carrying the BRAF mutation implicated in 60% malignant melanomas.</p> <p>Patients treated with PLX4032 lived for a median of six months without their disease getting worse and more than half experienced significant shrinkage of their tumors.  Roche and its partner Plexxikon told delegates at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting <strong>in Florida that they now plan larger trials to further test the drug's safety and check things like what dose is best.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8076743.stm">BBC NEWS | Health | Drug hope for advanced melanoma</a></p> <p></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading</u></strong>:</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/physicians-and-education-are-key-to.html"><font size="1">Physicians and Education are the Key to early Melanoma Detection</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/melanoma-drug-fails-small-biotech.html">Melanoma Drug Fails – Small Biotech Company Cancer Drug Research Halted</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/skin-cancer-and-sun-screens-dilemma.html">Skin Cancer and Sun Screens – The Dilemma</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/danny-fund-research-and-development-to.html">The Danny Fund – Research and Development To Find the cure for Melanoma</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/melanoma-bracelet-protects-you-from.html">Melanoma Bracelet protects you from harmful UV rays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/melanoma-trial-canceled-not-effective.html">Melanoma Trial canceled – not effective</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/advanced-melanoma-new-treatment.html">Advanced melanoma - new treatment</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/tasmanian-devils-threatened-by.html">Tasmanian devils threatened by contagious skin cancer</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:647a3090-931b-441e-ac5a-8d954b22e197" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/melanoma" rel="tag">melanoma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/skin+cancer" rel="tag">skin cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bruce+Springsteen" rel="tag">Bruce Springsteen</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/R+and+D" rel="tag">R and D</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/E+Street+Band" rel="tag">E Street Band</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lemanoma+Research+Alliance" rel="tag">Lemanoma Research Alliance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Danny+Fund" rel="tag">Danny Fund</a></div>

New Potential Drug to Treat advanced Melanoma

Clinical Trials state that the drug is prolonging life and also showing to shrink tumors.  We may all remember the Super Bowl this year wit...

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Total Ankle Replacement System Approved by the FDA – The Star System

<p>Finally an ankle replacement approved by the FDA.  Another company, Endotec went to court with the FDA not too long ago and I didn’t know if we were every going to see ankles out there, but <strong><a href="http://www.totalsmallbone.com/us/products/foot_ankle.php4">Small Bones Innovations</a></strong> has the approval.  <a href="http://www.totalsmallbone.com/index.php4"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="58" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSzM0e9xDI/AAAAAAAAP_o/YTv3U0Qj1Mk/image%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="118" /></a></p> <p><em>“It's not often the little guy takes on the federal government and wins. Endotec, a small South Orange maker of orthopedic devices, did just that this summer after years of fighting with the Food and Drug Administration for permission to legally market its unique ankle joint replacement implant.”</em></p> <p>They also have more products, <strong>even one for your thumb</strong> in case you over do it on your cell phone or Blackberry.  BD  </p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.totalsmallbone.com/us/products/thumb/artelon_stt.php4"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSzNhxkRoI/AAAAAAAAP_s/64eCOG0F_8c/image%5B22%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="116" /></a></strong></p> <p><strong>From the Website:  </strong></p> <p>The SBi S.T.A.R.^® is the treatment option for <strong>moderate to serious ankle arthritis</strong>, for relieving pain and mimics normal anatomical movement in restoring motion. It is a safe, proven alternative to failing conservative treatment. The S.T.A.R.^® has published superior outcomes and is statistically superior to ankle fusion. <br />The S.T.A.R.^® Ankle has a 30 year development history beginning with the development of the first generation S.T.A.R.® prosthesis by Hakon Kofoed, MD*, in 1978. The S.T.A.R. Ankle has been used clinically since 1990 with over 14,500 implantations performed worldwide.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://atlanta.injuryboard.com/medical-devices-and-implants/fda-not-enforcing-medical-device-safety-standards.aspx?googleid=257548">FDA</a> recently approved a total ankle replacement system, the <strong>Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) system.</strong></p> <p>STAR may preserve some range of motion in arthritic or deformed ankles, according to the <a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/arth/627524.html">Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>.</p> <p>This is the first type of system approved for ankle deformities or like injuries of the ankle. STAR uses bearings that move across a surface of flexible plastic (polyethylene).</p> <p>  <a href="http://www.totalsmallbone.com/us/products/foot_ankle.php4"><img alt="image" border="0" height="179" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSzOiWSJCI/AAAAAAAAP_w/eUcG75Q47ZE/image%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="217" /></a> <a href="http://www.totalsmallbone.com/us/products/foot_ankle.php4"><img alt="image" border="0" height="178" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSzPjbWtkI/AAAAAAAAP_0/-oFn1D52Duc/image%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="109" /></a> </p> <p>When someone is experiencing or has arthritic or a deformed ankle, they may undergo a surgery called Fusion surgery. Fusion surgery is where the shin bone is cemented to the talus bone in the ankle. This surgery is suppose to stabilize the ankle but adversely decreases a patient’s ability to move their foot up and down.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://atlanta.injuryboard.com/medical-devices-and-implants/star-system-approved-by-fda.aspx?googleid=263874">STAR System Approved by FDA | InjuryBoard Atlanta</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-era-of-artificial-ankles.html"><font size="1">A New era of artificial ankles</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/fda-shackled-at-ankles.html">FDA Shackled at the Ankles?</a></h6> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:489e8700-7d0e-4e8a-bce6-ae1c4f0ba649" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ankles+Endotec" rel="tag">Ankles Endotec</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/SBI" rel="tag">SBI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ankle" rel="tag">ankle</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/surgery" rel="tag">surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Small+Bones" rel="tag">Small Bones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Star+System" rel="tag">Star System</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/orthopedic" rel="tag">orthopedic</a></div>

Total Ankle Replacement System Approved by the FDA – The Star System

Finally an ankle replacement approved by the FDA.  Another company, Endotec went to court with the FDA not too long ago and I didn’t know if...

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Octo-Mom to Get her own Reality TV Show – a Documentary?

<p> Well you heard it here and I think the word documentary should be used loosely, you think?  Well at least this way perhaps Kaiser can get paid.  With eight children there’s bound to be something going on all the time.  How do you take 8 children for their flu shots maybe.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>After weeks of meetings and negotiations, Suleman’s attorney Jeff Czech confirmed exclusively to <b>Usmagazine.com</b> that Suleman signed<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSs19qjsQI/AAAAAAAAP_g/PH3ADnSbJkg/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="261" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSs4meBuMI/AAAAAAAAP_k/JddhJk_WylU/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="183" /></a> a deal Thursday night to star in her own reality series.</p> <p>"[Nadya and the producers] are hoping to have an arrangement whereby several events in the children's lives would be filmed in a documentary series," Czech told <b>Us</b>.</p> <p>"They came up with this idea, presented to her and she liked it because she'll get to use a camera and do some of the filming herself," Czech told The Associated Press over the weekend.</p> <p>"They might be several shows aired during a year. There are all kinds of possibilities. It really depends on what the networks want," her lawyer told <b>Us</b>.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/news/octomom-signs-reality-tv-deal-2009295">News - EXCLUSIVE: Octo Mom Signs Reality TV Deal | Usmagazine.com</a></p> <p></p> <p><u><strong>Related Reading:</strong></u></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/octo-mom-back-in-hospital-to-remove.html"><font size="1">Octo-Mom Back in the Hospital to Remove Uterine Tumors and Kaiser Gets Fined Over Privacy</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/octomom-worried-hospital-wont-release.html">OctoMom worried the Hospital Won’t Release the babies to go home – Calls Dr. Phil</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a608cbe3-ab13-4c36-81dd-80eca1162962" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Octuplets" rel="tag">Octuplets</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Suleman" rel="tag">Suleman</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kaiser" rel="tag">Kaiser</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Child+Protective+Services" rel="tag">Child Protective Services</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dr.+Phil" rel="tag">Dr. Phil</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Epic+Medical+Records" rel="tag">Epic Medical Records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Break+the+Glass" rel="tag">Break the Glass</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Octo-Mom" rel="tag">Octo-Mom</a></div>

Octo-Mom to Get her own Reality TV Show – a Documentary?

Well you heard it here and I think the word documentary should be used loosely, you think?  Well at least this way perhaps Kaiser can get p...

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ASCO Annual Meeting – EHR Lab (Perhaps Something New at the American Cancer Society Convention)

<p>If you were not aware yet, one of the biggest meetings of the year is the ASCO convention.  This year, someone attending the convention was kind enough to snap a picture of something that may be new, an EHR Lab.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiShPQIjnKI/AAAAAAAAP_M/gxKh043iHug/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="166" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiShSR5-qGI/AAAAAAAAP_U/DJGkgOr3L7o/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="334" /></a> </p> <p>This just goes to further indicate the <strong>partnership of electronic medical records, technology, data intelligence, and research all coming together</strong> with the needed and appropriate data to find the <strong>cures for cancer.</strong>   <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/reader-comment-american-cancer-society.html">Microsoft also announced</a></strong> at the convention the Circle of Sharing personal health records software using Microsoft HealthVault.  BD</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiShfzKn7yI/AAAAAAAAP_Y/rj-J7EYU7oc/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="258" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiShkI8j5ZI/AAAAAAAAP_c/2n0TEBvd0Tc/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="342" /></a> </p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/reader-comment-american-cancer-society.html"><font size="1">Reader Comment: American Cancer Society Circle of Sharing Tool Is a Good Thing</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/american-cancer-society-circle-of.html">American Cancer Society Circle of Sharing Tool Unveiled – Microsoft HealthVault</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/asco-launches-cancernet-website.html"><font size="1">ASCO launches Cancer.net Website</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6f50fbde-a56c-49e7-a8bc-28c26d77a87a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ASCO" rel="tag">ASCO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/American+Cancer+Society" rel="tag">American Cancer Society</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/convention" rel="tag">convention</a></div>

ASCO Annual Meeting – EHR Lab (Perhaps Something New at the American Cancer Society Convention)

If you were not aware yet, one of the biggest meetings of the year is the ASCO convention.  This year, someone attending the convention was ...

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UnitedHealth Ingenix's acquiring AIM Healthcare Services in Tennessee

<p> Health insurers hire AIM Healthcare to collect overpaid medical claims to providers, who in turn also hire AIM to get back any dollars they may have overpaid to insurers.   <strong>This seems to be a match made in heaven,</strong> depending on what type of data base they are using and if it represents true <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-this-case-for-new-law-illegal.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="153" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSXYo3khgI/AAAAAAAAP_E/rCI7Q8eg1qs/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="140" /></a>figures and algorithms.  <strong>Ingenix made1.3 Billion dollars</strong> last year and pays a few million out on penalties, gives up the data base that not only United HealthCare used, but rather most major carriers, so it appears they found a twin and the sale is all cash. Maybe they want to use one modeled after what AIM has in place?   </p> <p>United Healthcare agreed to pay the AMA 350 million on a class action lawsuit; however no mention on each individual state, which several have their own cases going against United/Ingenix.  The problem here is such a lack of transparency with the insurance business, so who knows that the next algorithms will show, we never get to see the numbers.  </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-this-case-for-new-law-illegal.html"><font size="2">Is This a Case for a New Law – Illegal Algorithms? How Do You Sleep at Night Rockefeller asked the CEO of United Health Care</font></a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/ingenix-inquisition-hearing-requested.html">The Ingenix Inquisition – Hearing Requested by Senator Rockefeller</a></h6> <p>Last I heard, Senator Rockefeller is still waiting to see how many federal employees were ripped off and wanted a report back from 20 major health insurance companies, so it looks like Ingenix is wasting no time to add more cost and business intelligence to the bag of tricks.  BD</p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/us-congress-has-inadequate.html"><font size="2">U.S. Congress has an inadequate understanding Value of Health IT – HIMMS Opening Session</font></a></h6> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/ingenix-inquisition-hearing-requested.html"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="152" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSXaHzcrxI/AAAAAAAAP_I/7nzoyC9mZiY/image%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="189" /></a>Ingenix, the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary that in the past year faced scrutiny over its databases used by insurers to set reimbursement rates for out-of-network care, said it has acquired a Franklin-based health care information technology company.</p> <p>Today’s acquisition of AIM Healthcare Services Inc., <strong>which helps payers and hospitals to manage claims, </strong>expands Ingenix’s business of ensuring accuracy of payments at a time when eliminating unnecessary paperwork is seen as a key part of any reform of the nation’s health care system. Errors in processing claims cost the U.S. health care system more than $150 billion a year, according to one estimate by policy research firm The Lewin Group of Falls Church, Va. </p> <p><strong>Under the all-cash deal,</strong> AIM Healthcare and its affiliates Netwerkes and Ingram & Associates will become part of Ingenix’s payor and <strong>government services group</strong>. Netwerkers provides electronic connectivity between payers and providers, while Ingram & Associates helps client hospitals to collect on payments from insurers. Overall, the companies employ 2,000 people — half working from offices in Cool Springs and the other half onsite at about 3,000 client hospitals across the country.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090601/BUSINESS01/90601048/UnitedHealth+Ingenix+s+acquiring+AIM+Healthcare">UnitedHealth Ingenix's acquiring AIM Healthcare | tennessean.com | The Tennessean</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <p><a name="7301964153419733155"></a></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/united-health-care-says-cheaper.html"><font size="1">United Health Care Says Cheaper Efficient Doctors and Reducing Hospital Visits by the Elderly Would Help Reduce the Cost of Healthcare</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/im-stuck-with-united-healthcare-would.html">I’m Stuck with United HealthCare – Would Welcome a Change to Try a Public Health Insurance Option</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/insurance-ceos-get-rich-while-denying.html">Insurance CEOs Get Rich While Denying Health Coverage to Children – As Noted in the Senate Hearings</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-this-case-for-new-law-illegal.html">Is This a Case for a New Law – Illegal Algorithms? How Do You Sleep at Night Rockefeller asked the CEO of United Health Care</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/ingenix-inquisition-hearing-requested.html">The Ingenix Inquisition – Hearing Requested by Senator Rockefeller</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/andrew-cuomo-you-have-to-like-this-guy.html">Andrew Cuomo – You Have to Like This Guy – Healthcare Reform</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/prescriptions-risk-score-used-to-deny.html">Prescriptions risk score used to deny health insurance</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/texas-joining-ingenix-inquisition-with.html"><font size="1">Texas Joining the Ingenix Inquisition with Introducing Bill for New Penal Codes – Fraud Against Practitioners</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:60c9371d-fed3-4dcf-935c-c2c1ba31628b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/legislation" rel="tag">legislation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Penal+Code" rel="tag">Penal Code</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Fraud+Against+Practitioners" rel="tag">Fraud Against Practitioners</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/database+mining" rel="tag">database mining</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/formulas" rel="tag">formulas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/balance+billing" rel="tag">balance billing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Texas" rel="tag">Texas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rockefeller" rel="tag">Rockefeller</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare+reform" rel="tag">healthcare reform</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Senate" rel="tag">Senate</a></div>

UnitedHealth Ingenix's acquiring AIM Healthcare Services in Tennessee

Health insurers hire AIM Healthcare to collect overpaid medical claims to providers, who in turn also hire AIM to get back any dollars they...

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Researchers at UCLA Link Intestinal Inflammation to Systemic Chromosome Damage – Blood Marker Test Possible Instead of Endoscopic Procedure

<p>Intestinal inflammatory disease leads to potentially developing cancer.  Now, other than an endoscopic test there’s no way to determine where the source of irritation is.  Is the inflammation bacteria related or colitis for a simple example.  If a blood test were delivered, it could also mean earlier diagnosis before actual uncomfortable symptoms appear.  BD</p> <p><b><u>Press Release:<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSRRklicRI/AAAAAAAAP-8/G1mOFwxCm34/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSRSmQTHeI/AAAAAAAAP_A/TtVZJrHaImg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a> </u></b></p> <p><b>RESEARCHERS AT UCLA’S JONSSON CANCER CENTER FIRST TO LINK INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION TO SYSTEMIC CHROMOSOME DAMAGE</b></p> <p></p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b></b></p>              UCLA scientists have linked for the first time intestinal inflammation with systemic chromosome damage in mice, a finding that may lead to the early identification and treatment of human inflammatory disorders, some of which increase risk for several types of cancer. <p></p> <p>            Researchers found that <strong>local intestinal inflammation induced DNA damage to lymphocytes of the peripheral blood circulating throughout the body. This means that chromosome damage was not limited to the intestine, but involved tissues of the body distant from the site of inflammation</strong>. The team found single- and double-strand DNA breaks in the blood, and chromosome damage in peripheral blood indicating systemic genetic damage.</p> <p>            Inflammatory diseases have been linked to some lymphomas and abdominal, liver and colorectal cancers, said Robert Schiestl, a professor of pathology, radiation oncology and environmental health sciences and a Jonsson Cancer Center scientist. If inflammation can be found early – before any symptoms arise - and the diseases treated immediately, it may prevent the damage that eventually leads to these cancers, he said.</p> <p><strong>            The study appears in the June 1, 2009, edition of CANCER RESEARCH, the peer- reviewed journal for the American Association for Cancer Research.</strong></p> <p>            “This was not known before, that intestinal inflammation causes damage that can be found throughout the body,” said Schiestl, the study’s senior author. “This may help explain how inflammation leads to these cancers.”</p> <p>            Conditions that cause intestinal inflammation include Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Celiac disease. About 1.4 million people in the United States and 2.2 million Europeans currently suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases and incidence worldwide is increasing, Schiestl said.</p> <p>            The chromosome damage in the peripheral circulating blood could be used as a biomarker to identify those with intestinal inflammation before they show any symptoms or suffer any distress. In the study, the chromosome damage could be detected in the blood before the onset of colitis in the mouse models the team studied, which were engineered to develop the inflammatory disorder, said Aya Westbrook, a graduate student of the UCLA Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program and first author of the paper. She also noted that the severity of the disease correlated with higher levels of chromosome damage in the blood.</p> <p>            Dr. Jonathan Braun, professor and chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA and a study author, said the chromosome damage may be the “earliest detectable indicator” of intestinal inflammatory diseases.</p> <p><strong>            “Patients come to us with abdominal complaints and we can’t tell if they are inflammatory, obstructive or a bacterial overgrowth,” said Braun, who also is a researcher at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center. “At present, the only way to diagnose the patients is to do full endoscopic examinations, which are both invasive and expensive. ”</strong></p> <p>            In principle, Braun said, this <strong>biomarker blood test could replace the invasive endoscopic exam</strong> and allow physicians to identify smoldering inflammatory disease before it becomes full blown. </p> <p>“This may give us the opportunity to ward off the disease early and avoid the subsequent organ damage,” Braun said. “This could change the natural history of these diseases.”</p> <p>            Treating these diseases early would not only bring patients relief, it could prevent the cancers that might have developed later, Braun said.</p> <p>            “We know that prolonged exposure to intestinal inflammatory disease leads to greatly increased risk of cancer,” he said. “If we can reduce the <strong>inflammation, we may be able to prevent the cancer.”</strong></p> <p><strong>            UCLA researchers have launched a clinical trial to confirm their findings in humans, Schiestl said. They’re focusing on patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.</strong></p> <p>            “This discovery may give us an opportunity to test new strategies to treat smoldering disease, which we’ve never been able to identify before,” Schiestl said. “We may be able to test new drugs to see which are best at treating early inflammatory disease.”</p> <p>            The research also may uncover why some patients with inflammatory disease develop cancers, while others may have chronic inflammatory disorders for decades and never develop cancer. There may be <strong>molecular mechanisms</strong> at work that protect some patients and not others. If those mechanisms could be found, it could lead to tests that can predict which patients with intestinal inflammatory diseases are predisposed to cancer.</p> <p>            This study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, and by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.</p> <p>            UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has more than 240 researchers and clinicians engaged in disease research, prevention, detection, control, treatment and education. One of the nation's largest comprehensive cancer centers, the Jonsson center is dedicated to promoting research and translating basic science into leading-edge clinical studies. In July 2008, the Jonsson Cancer Center was named among the top 10 cancer centers nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, a ranking it has held for nine consecutive years. For more information on the Jonsson Cancer Center, visit our website at <a href="http://www.cancer.ucla.edu/"><b>http://www.cancer.ucla.edu</b></a>.</p> <p><font size="1">-UCLA-</font></p> <p><font size="1">Kim Irwin</font></p> <p><font size="1">Director, Media Relations</font></p> <p><font size="1">UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center</font></p> <p><font size="1">Broad Stem Cell Research Center</font></p> <p><font size="1">(310) 206-2805</font></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCLA-Fights-Cancer/54243776715">http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCLA-Fights-Cancer/54243776715</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ab7dc82e-afce-4506-bcee-12c1a0aae852" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinical+trials" rel="tag">clinical trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UCLA" rel="tag">UCLA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Crohns+Disease" rel="tag">Crohns Disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/colitis" rel="tag">colitis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/markers" rel="tag">markers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/endocopy" rel="tag">endocopy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a></div>

Researchers at UCLA Link Intestinal Inflammation to Systemic Chromosome Damage – Blood Marker Test Possible Instead of Endoscopic Procedure

Intestinal inflammatory disease leads to potentially developing cancer.  Now, other than an endoscopic test there’s no way to determine wher...

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Doctor who performed late term abortions shot to death - Wichita

<p>This is just sad and hard to fathom over abortions.  No matter which side of the fence one takes on the issue, there’s no reason to kill the doctor <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSHNfoOt9I/AAAAAAAAP-0/ZRS73qd6WOU/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="115" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiSHOiV6ReI/AAAAAAAAP-4/B569BEnr4Bs/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="139" /></a>here.  When you read further, it states that 16 years ago he survived a shooting, so makes one wonder how long the killing individual was harvesting the feelings, maybe?  </p> <p>The clinic had been picketed for years and was bombed once.  He had been taken to court and was acquitted in 2008 for performing unlawful procedures.  Even those who are against abortions, stated this was not the correct route to go and denounced the killing.  This is so very sad that over all the years this issue just keeps on on going when there are more important issues, like hunger and shelter that are occurring today in the US.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><b>(CNN)</b> -- Dr. George Tiller, whose Kansas women's clinic frequently took center stage in the U.S. debate over abortion, was shot and killed while serving as an usher at his Wichita church Sunday morning, police said. </p> <script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/us/2009/05/31/tiller.backgrounder.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript></noscript> <p>The scene outside Tiller's church on Sunday, shortly after he was shot and killed. </p> <p>Wichita police said a 51-year-old man from the Kansas City, Kansas, area was in custody in connection with the slaying of Tiller, who was one of the few U.S. physicians who still performed late-term abortions.</p> <p>The killing, which came about 16 years after Tiller survived a shooting outside his <a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Wichita">Wichita</a> clinic, took place shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday at Reformation Lutheran Church. Officers found the 67-year-old dead in the foyer, police said.</p> <p>Witnesses provided a description of the car and a license number of the killer's getaway vehicle, Wichita police spokesman Gordon Bassham said. Police stopped a blue Ford Taurus matching the description about three hours later in Gardner, about 30 miles southwest of Kansas City, and took the driver into custody.</p> <p>No charges had been filed Sunday evening and no motive for the killing was immediately known, but <a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Wichita">Wichita</a> police Detective Tom Stoltz told reporters: "We think we have the right person arrested."</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/31/kansas.doctor.killed/index.html?eref=rss_topstories">Doctor who performed abortions shot to death - CNN.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3aab5f09-bbda-490b-901c-877b5e881b43" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/abortions" rel="tag">abortions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wichita" rel="tag">Wichita</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/church" rel="tag">church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/murder" rel="tag">murder</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/women's+Health" rel="tag">women's Health</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/George+Tiller" rel="tag">George Tiller</a></div>

Doctor who performed late term abortions shot to death - Wichita

This is just sad and hard to fathom over abortions.  No matter which side of the fence one takes on the issue, there’s no reason to kill the...

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What’s in a Prescription Bottle – Ask Target

<p> I have had a prescription in the new bottle and I do have to say I did look twice when I picked up my first one.  The ClearRx program goes much <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-YnAiswI/AAAAAAAAP-c/CN3fzRnpQgo/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="190" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-adH2HmI/AAAAAAAAP-g/E_M-TTzPX98/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="310" /></a>beyond the bottle though and entails an entire new procedure brought in by the pharmacies.  They big keys to their success were in a couple areas, one instead of letting management make the decisions and roll it downhill, they used the suggestions and ideas of the front line individuals doing the job, the pharmacists.   </p> <p>Second, by using such a method, and I have to chuckle here a bit, they left out the usual PowerPoint presentations, you know the ones we all yawn at today.  Nothing against PowerPoint as it is a great program, but sometimes the users over work it.  <strong>CRM (customer relations management) software</strong> and other areas of IT had to enter the picture as well as training pharmacists on how to use the new system.  What I see as a consumer is the branding portion, the bottle and not what is behind the scene, <strong>but all that has to take place for me to get my bottle too.</strong>  </p> <p>The entire program showed that frontline individuals CAN be trusted and DO have valuable information to contribute, unlike what we have seen so much of in the past where some establishments would never even think of using this technique and would not feel like frontline people could effectively contribute as well as a “management” individual.    I like the oral syringe, makes it easy to measure too.  BD  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-cDorJpI/AAAAAAAAP-k/jS04w3PJRWI/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-dzR7EpI/AAAAAAAAP-o/uncOQV3jhys/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>What many people might not realize is that good design work happens all the time inside companies, even companies that you would never associate with great design. The difference is that Target is able to get this great design out into the world. In looking at the <strong>ClearRx</strong> story, there are a number of lessons for anyone wanting to deliver a great experience.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-gSFUf8I/AAAAAAAAP-s/M-xlba09xWg/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="187" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiR-iD4kOFI/AAAAAAAAP-w/gxkhJjRYQIg/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="310" /></a> </p> <p><strong>1. Prototype Early</strong></p> <p><strong>2. Gird yourself for a slog</strong></p> <p><strong>3. Align efforts with your brand values</strong></p> <p><strong>4. Customer experience is made of people!</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/merholz/2009/06/four-customer-experience-lesso.html">Four Customer Experience Lessons from Target's ClearRx - Peter Merholz - HarvardBusiness.org</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/target-corporation-partners-with-red.html"><font size="1">Target Corporation Partners with Red Brick Wellness Program</font></a></h4> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6eb47f36-7936-4ab5-9193-d8e04f67eb0c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Target" rel="tag">Target</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/prescriptions" rel="tag">prescriptions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/marketing" rel="tag">marketing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/branding" rel="tag">branding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/safety" rel="tag">safety</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CRM+Software" rel="tag">CRM Software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/IT" rel="tag">IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharmacy" rel="tag">pharmacy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a></div>

What’s in a Prescription Bottle – Ask Target

I have had a prescription in the new bottle and I do have to say I did look twice when I picked up my first one.  The ClearRx program goes ...

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Microsoft Acquires Rosetta Biosoftware – Merck Becomes Microsoft Life Sciences Client

<p>This is interesting as last Friday I discussed different uses of the Cloud by Pharma and <a href="http://www.merck.com/">Merck</a> has a computer center in Seattle, Rosetta, which it <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiRzB4OUMuI/AAAAAAAAP-I/hq0OVpQ2zvw/s1600-h/image%5B23%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="79" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiRzDz2RgwI/AAAAAAAAP-M/Jxp1-Af9ywc/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="136" /></a>acquired in 2001, with about 10,000 processors and an elaborate Internet-based architecture allowing researchers working on thousands of projects anywhere at Merck to access data from storage.</p> <p><u><font size="1">From last week:</font></u></p> <p><em>“In the coming months, Merck will be handing the Rosetta computer cluster, and a majority of the data therein, to a nonprofit bioinformatics database called <strong>Sage Bionetwork</strong> being formed by Schadt and Stephen Friend, senior vice president and oncology franchise head at Merck Research Laboratories. The drug firm, which will have open access to Sage, will consolidate research computing at its new Center of Excellence for Molecular Profiling & Research Informatics, in Boston. Meanwhile, Sage will pursue partnerships with other public and private research centers in order to expand the database. Sage, as it develops, may well incorporate cloud computing, according to Schadt.”</em></p> <p>Merck is also making it’s presence in the Biosimilar business and this could also stand to enhance this effort as well with creating biosimilar or follow me drugs at a smaller fraction of the cost of what we see on the market today.  </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/merck-purchases-insmed-biosimilar.html"><font size="2">Merck Purchases Insmed – Biosimilar Biotech Drug Company</font></a></h6> <p>Last week I published a recent interview with Michael Naimoli, Industry Solutions Director for Microsoft’s U.S. Health & Life Sciences Group and with the information he discussed, it helped to describe some of the <strong>unique problems and issues addressed by Life Sciences</strong>.  In looking at the Rosetta group here it appears Life Sciences will be <strong>playing in the “sandbox” as mentioned in the interview</strong> as the data is currently stored with Oracle data sets, so bio mashups are on the way, one more example of working together as teams for generating results.<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/amalga/products/microsoftamalgalifesciences/default.mspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="68" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiRzEzl8rqI/AAAAAAAAP-Q/CZVN9LhKwwk/image%5B22%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="154" /></a></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/deep-dive-into-microsoft-life-sciences.html"><font size="2">A Deep Dive into Microsoft Life Sciences Today and in the Future – Interview with Michael Naimoli</font></a></h4> <p>One of the Rosetta Products, <strong><a href="http://www.rosettabio.com/company/news/20050824_fda">Revolver has been licensed and used by the FDA since</a></strong> 2005 which is a high-capacity data storage, retrieval, and analysis solution for gene expression data, and we are producing data today in tera bytes by the masses too so the power an speed required to filter, sort and analyze is growing by the minute.  BD</p> <p><b><u>Press Release:</u></b></p> <p><u>Multifaceted agreement enhances Microsoft Amalga Life Sciences to accelerate basic research and drive personalized medicine.</u> </p> <p><i></i></p> <p><b>REDMOND, Wash. — June 1, 2009 —</b> Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has signed an agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. to acquire certain assets of <strong><a href="http://www.rosettabio.com/">Rosetta Biosoftware</a></strong>, a business unit of <strong><a href="http://www.rii.com/">Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC,</a></strong> a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. The deal allows Microsoft to incorporate genetic, genomic, metabolomic and proteomics data management software into the Microsoft Amalga Life Sciences platform for enhanced translational research capabilities. In addition, <strong>Microsoft will establish a strategic relationship with Merck to enhance the Amalga Life Sciences</strong> platform to meet emerging pharmaceutical research needs. </p> <p>Under the terms of the agreement, <strong>Merck will become a customer of the Microsoft Amalga Life Sciences 2009 platform and</strong> also will provide <a href="http://www.rosettabio.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="64" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiRzF5OVOdI/AAAAAAAAP-U/G0Oeghnw85c/image%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a>strategic input to Microsoft on the direction and evolution of new solutions incorporating Rosetta Biosoftware technologies. The software platform will help drive improvements in Merck’s already advanced research capabilities.</p> <p>“This agreement establishes a stable and sustainable platform for the Rosetta Biosoftware technology. In addition, we look forward to collaborating with Microsoft to develop new bioinformatic solutions to enable and expedite drug discovery and development,” said Rupert Vessey, vice president, Merck Research Laboratories. “This is part of our previously announced strategy designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our Basic Research operations to ensure long-term pipeline productivity.”</p> <p>“We’re excited to collaborate with Merck and <strong>augment the capabilities of Amalga Life Sciences</strong> with the complementary assets of Rosetta Biosoftware,” said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president, Health Solutions Group, Microsoft. “The newly combined offering will enable customers to improve the management and analysis of genomic, biological and research data, helping to bring lifesaving drugs and therapies to market faster and accelerate the realization of personalized medicine.”</p> <p>Introduced in <strong>April 2009, Microsoft Amalga Life Sciences</strong> is a new software platform designed to transform health and life sciences research data into the critical knowledge needed for the discovery of new treatments. The platform helps organizations across the life sciences spectrum accelerate research and discovery efforts by automating the management and analysis of massive, heterogeneous research data. This gives scientists and  <a href="http://www.rii.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="48" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SiRzG4F4mEI/AAAAAAAAP-Y/CY9KVx4Xo-M/image%5B21%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="139" /></a>researchers the opportunity to redesign, manage and control research processes to increase productivity, reduce errors and improve decision-making.</p> <p>The deal is expected to close at the end of June 2009, and the new<strong> Amalga Life Sciences platform incorporating Rosetta Biosoftware technologies</strong> is slated to be available in early 2010. Microsoft is pursuing hiring Rosetta Biosoftware employees who can fill roles that are critical to the effective incorporation of Rosetta Biosoftware technologies into the Amalga Life Sciences platform. Until the deal is closed, Rosetta Biosoftware will continue to operate as a business unit of Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck. </p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>About Microsoft in Health</b></p> <p>Microsoft is committed to improving health around the world through software innovation. Over the past 12 years Microsoft has steadily increased its investments in health, with a focus on addressing the challenges of health providers, health and social services organizations, payers, consumers, and life sciences companies worldwide. Microsoft closely collaborates with a broad ecosystem of partners and develops its own powerful health solutions, such as Amalga and HealthVault. Together, Microsoft and its industry partners are working to advance a vision of unifying health information and making it more readily available, ensuring the best quality of life and affordable care for everyone.</p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>About Microsoft</b></p> <p>Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.</p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-pharma-exploring-and-moving-data-to.html"><font size="1">Big Pharma Exploring and Moving Data to the Cloud – IT Execs Talk about How It is Being Done</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/microsoft-seeking-database-customers-to.html">Microsoft Seeking Database Customers to Test Synchronizing SQL Server with the Cloud</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/merck-purchases-insmed-biosimilar.html">Merck Purchases Insmed – Biosimilar Biotech Drug Company</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/deep-dive-into-microsoft-life-sciences.html"><font size="1">A Deep Dive into Microsoft Life Sciences Today and in the Future – Interview with Michael Naimoli</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/04/microsoft-introduces-groundbreaking.html"><font size="1">Microsoft Introduces Groundbreaking Technology – Amalga Life Sciences Software</font></a></h4> <p><u><font color="#669966" size="1"></font></u></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/03/microsoft-research-trento-centre.html">Microsoft Research Trento Centre: Biology and Computer Science Coming Together</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/microsofts-growing-push-into-life.html">Microsoft’s Growing Push into Life Sciences</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/microsoft-research-research-programs.html">Microsoft Research: Research & Programs for Healthcare</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6ab79730-baa7-48fb-8a69-52fa533a5ed2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rosetta+Biosoftware" rel="tag">Rosetta Biosoftware</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/software" rel="tag">software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Life+Sciences" rel="tag">Life Sciences</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Merck" rel="tag">Merck</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amalga" rel="tag">Amalga</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a></div>

Microsoft Acquires Rosetta Biosoftware – Merck Becomes Microsoft Life Sciences Client

This is interesting as last Friday I discussed different uses of the Cloud by Pharma and Merck has a computer center in Seattle, Rosetta, w...

Read more »