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Affordable Health Insurance

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Cheap Medical Health Insurance

People Most people are aware of the importance of having medical health insurance plan : of having coverage for hospitalization, for visiting physicians etc . I dont believe there is even one reasonable person who would underustimate the significance of having a medical health insurance the covers life saving medication. But somehow because of  money issues or because of wrong priorities many people don’t have any insurance plan and postpone getting a plan to the “right time”. Many people assume that it’s better not to have insurance at all than to have a cheap medical health insurance, deluding themselves that the day will come when they will have a plan that covers every possible scenario Well, they are wrong and the right time for joining an isurance plan was yesterday, yes!

Joining a medical health plan is mandatory . It is unfortunate to say but the right time for  you and for the insurance companies is when you are still young and healthy Namely, that your premium will not be too high and you won’t need everything the insurance company has to offer . So if you tell you’re self I don’t need it because I am health, well, I don’t want to sound free-spoken but its sheer stupidity. I hope you will be healthy for the rest of your life and may you live until 120 but even a very mild medical situations can get you into such a financial troubles that you can find you self enslaved for the rest of your life trying to return your debts to the health system

I am aware of you having so many expenses ; if you are a family man/woman you probably have mouthsto feed , you have mortgage and regular bills are waiting on the table to be paid . I know you probably thought about the option of having insurance but postpone it as you didn’t know where to cut money from so you can channel it and get an insurance, even a cheap health insurance plan. But the thing is it is not something that suppose to be optional , relate to it as you relate to the essentails. food, water, clothes,etc.

What are my options? join an affordable health insurance plan

Getting a cheap health insurance might be the perfect solution for you. The term “cheap” doesn’t mean low quality necessarily. It can be just what you need and even if it won’t cover everything you need and it probably won’t it will cover the main and important things

  Is it easy to find a cheap health insurance plan? Are low cost healh insurnce plans accessible

Those plans are very accessible as all  companies and agencies have cheap plans that suit many people just like you . These plans cover all basic medical health expenses.

  What is the important information the insurance companies need to know?

There are many factors that come under consideration: your family status, your wage  , your age, and your health condition, number of visits to the physician per year , future pregnancies and more.

 Can I find it on the internet?

There is absolutely no reason why you won’t find a cheap medical health insurance online Health insurance is a very competitive field so you can make a good comparison and get the perfect plan for you. Each company will ask you to fill a short form in order to estimate y your needs and your financial abilities in order to match you with the right medical health insurance plan.

Medicare ABC’s

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You have three basic choices for Medicare coverage  , Original Medicare (just Parts A and B  ), Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement  plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan.  Medicare Part A  helps with  hospitalization, skilled nursing facilities, home health care, and hospice expenses and if you are eligible for Medicare then it doesn’t cost you anything extra.  Medicare Part B covers doctors, outpatient care, home health care, and some preventative care, but it costs extra. Medicare Part C, also know as Medicare Advantage plans are plans offered by private companies that are approved and under contract with Medicare.  Medicare Part C HMO and PPO plans include Medicare Parts A and B, sometimes D. Medicare Part D is for prescription drugs and is also run by private insurance companies under contract with Medicare. You could also get a standardized medicare supplement, Medigap, plan to help cover those expenses (deductibles and coinsurance) not paid by Medicare. Medicare supplement plans do not cover prescription drugs.  So if you want prescription drug coverage you will have to join a Medicare prescription drug plan. I think the biggest advantages of having original Medicare with a Medigap plan are that you can go to any doctor, hospital, or medical provider that accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans use networks like PPO’s and HMO’s to control costs.  It depends on your plan but going to an out of network medical provider will cost probably cost.  You may or may not have out of network coverage and could end up with a hefty medical bill.  Most Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for your prescription medications but you out of pocket costs, like copayments and deductibles, will vary.  Medicare Advantage plans also include extras like meal programs, gym memberships, vision and dental coverage.

Medicare advantage plans do not all work the same way and they will differe not only from company to company but also from state to state.  For example Florida Medicare Advantage plans are not the same as Medicare advantage plans in other states.  Not only do they have different service areas but also different networks and benefits.  Make sure you understand the rules, costs, and why a particular plan fits you best.  The only way to insure this is to ask questions.  There will be variations in the services covered as well as the costs for those services.  Advantage plans have a lot of rules (i.e. referrals and certifications).  Since Part C coverage is from private insurers you will also need to be sure your doctors accept the proposed plans.  You will also be restricted to enrolling and disenrolling at certain times.  You do not need to get a supplement plan if you get a medicare advantage plan.  AARP United Healthcare Advantage and Supplement Plans are some of the most popular. 

Many people forget to consider travel when choosing a supplement or advantage plan.  Since Medicare Supplements don’t use networks you can go to any medical provider that accepts Medicare insurance.  Part C Medicare Advantage plans use networks and those networks may have regional restrictions.  If you plan on doing a lot of traveling you may want to look into a Medicare Supplement Plan.

Medigap policiesare health insurance plans sold by private health insurance companies to help pay for the gaps in Original Medicare coverage, deductibles, and copays. In other words your share of the costs not covered by Original Medicare.  Medigap plans have been designed as a supplement to Original Medicare.  When you receive Medicare approved services Medicare will pay its share.  Your medigap isurance policy will the help you with your share of the Medicare approved health care costs. Medigap plans do not cover prescriptions drugs.

 

Memo to myself – I would like Keyman Insurance coverage

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Chubb Insurance

 Final month I needed to drive right down to London. I don’t like driving at the most effective of occasions but the rain, spray and heavy visitors on the M1 made circumstances difficult. Radio 2 kept me company and the heater saved me warm. Then I hit that queue – six miles strong and I used to be quickly an hour behind schedule. 
They had been nonetheless clearing up the accident after I got there. It was nasty. A lorry and what was left of two cars. Made me assume, in any case that would have been me. Yep, my life insurance coverage is up to date and my Will was renewed solely final month. The family could be effectively cared for and the mortgage repaid. Had I missed something? 
The business. What would occur to that? Now we have two directors, 7 staff, an overdraft and plenty of insurance. Public Legal responsibility, professional indemnity, autos and inventory are all insured. We even have legal safety insurance. Had I missed anything? I obtained to thinking. 
Thank goodness it wasn’t George in that accident. A great guy and he is been with us five years. He’s our high salesman. There once more what if it had been my co-director who additionally owns 50% of the business? What could be the repercussions on the business? 
Sales down, earnings down, financial institution phoning all too politely to ask concerning the Administrators assure on the overdraft. Then I’d have to try and buy his shares. I would not want another person to get hold of those. At some stage I’d have to recruit someone of his calibre to proceed the corporate going forward – that would not be simple! And recruiting high folks doesn’t come cheap. That is extra time and extra money. The non-public problems …… the repercussions …….. the extra work ……… the extra stress …….. 
Oh heck, I do not need to give it some thought all. Shortly, change over to Radio 1 . 
Does all this ring alarm bells with you? 95.2% of UK businesses make use of lower than 10 folks and these are exactly the organisations most at risk from the influence of extreme illness or dying of a key person. The risks of a key person being stuck down with a long term illness or demise are real. 1 in 5 men suffer a critical illness before their regular retirement age. Then there’s the M1. The fact that it hasn’t happened thus far might just imply your business has just been lucky. 
Now to these actuarial boffins in insurance companies, threat and luck are flip sides of the identical coin. And they can present insurance cowl for many risks. In spite of everything they too wish to increase sales. But they’re scratching their heads about Keyman Insurance. Most of Britain’s 4.1million small businesses ought to have it but few do. What can it do? It may be structured to: 
Present an earnings stream to the corporate whilst the key person is incapacitated (compensation for the misplaced contribution from the Keyman) 
Provide a lump sum to the business in the event of death (pay off the overdraft or just bolster money flow?) 
Present money for remaining shareholders to buy the shares from the original shareholder or their property 
You’ll want to speak to a Monetary Adviser about these issues but they’re all insurable. Can your corporation afford to take a threat it doesn’t need to? 
Memo to myself – get Keyman Insurance coverage!

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Auto Employment

Why You Ought to Contemplate Pet Insurance For Your Household Pet

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National Insurance Contributions

 If in case you have ever surprise about the advantages of insuring your family pet, then you could need to think about the following pointers as to why it is best to consider pet insurance coverage for your loved ones pet:
<li> 1 in each three family pets will go to a vet this 12 months for treatment<li>  forty p.c of all vet charges are caused by ‘unforeseen’ diseases or accidents<li>  less than 15 % of household pets within the UK are lined by pet insurance coverage<li>  the common vet bill for care and attention wanted following a street accident involving a cat or canine final yr was circa. £750 – £1,000<li>  2 out of every three pet owners within the UK have admitted to having gone overdrawn at some time during their lives with a view to pay for his or her pet’s vet bills.
All of those are fairly scary statistics.  They’re event more scary when you think about that may a simple household pet insurance policy, paying a minimum premium of someplace between £25 and £seventy five (depending on the size of the pet), all of these are completely unnecessary. 
<I>If you wish to get you pet insured and keep away from any of those statistics happening to you, you may select from:</I>
<b>Pet Accident Insurance coverage </b>
Because the title suggests, with a pet accident insurance you are getting the basic minimum in pet insurance – accident coverage.  Under this policy the insurance coverage company will reimburse you for all costs and expenses you incur caused because of your pet having been concerned in an accident (sadly, more often than not, this implies a highway accident).
<b>Pet Accident and Sickness Insurance coverage</b>
With pet accident and sickness insurance coverage you get full protection insurance; namely, your insurance coverage firm will comply with pay for all the costs and bills incurred because of your family pet having suffered any sickness or accident.
<b>Extra Amount</b>
One factor you do need to remember when arranging your loved ones pet insurance coverage is the excess amount.  As with all insurance insurance policies, the excess quantity is the amount you and the insurance coverage firm agree you’ll pay before you’re entitled to claim towards the insurance policy.  Whereas it’s always a good suggestion to set an extra quantity that may cover you for any mundane visits to the vet, in order to maintain the premium down if nothing else, you don’t want to se the excess too high that you find yourself having to pay for care and a focus you thought would be coated by the pet insurance coverage policy.  It’s, due to this fact, advisable that you have a look at some of your more recent vet bills and try and mind a medium between these sums so you have got some idea of the excess before you set off arranging your family pet insurance.

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Mortgage Implode

Mortgage Terms and Definitions

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AON Insurance

 The mortgage process could be a little confusing should you aren’t conversant in the terms used in the process. To help you out, here is a listing of terms with corresponding mortgage definitions.
Broker: An unbiased mortgage professional that oversees the entire dwelling mortgage process.
Lender: The business entity offering and funding the house loan.
Processor: Prepares your mortgage for underwriting. The processor makes sure your revenue is properly documented and verified, the appraisal is being performed, and title and escrow are opened.
Escrow: Works with title to certify payoff calls for for all existing liens. Escrow is an impartial group which disburses monies to all events in the loan transaction and ensures full payment.
Title: Ensures each the borrower and the lender have a clean title on the home, guaranteeing to each events there are not any mistaken liens and that all current liens on the home are scheduled to be paid and removed.
Underwriters: Make the decision to approve or deny the loan. Hired by the lender, their job is to evaluation all elements of the loan based mostly on the lender’s approval guidelines.
Automated Underwriting: A computer generated loan approval. This automated process solely takes minutes and is the quickest path to approval.
ARM: Adjustable Fee Mortgage. An ARM has a fixed fee for a specified quantity of time. After the initial term, the loan turns into adjustable and the speed can fluctuate relying on market conditions. ARM payments are initially lower than fixed price payments. This is a wonderful choice for people with broken credit, those that plan to promote their properties quick term or who merely want to lower your expenses on their month-to-month payment.
DTI: Debt to Earnings Ratio or your total month-to-month debt in relation to your gross monthly income. For example if you have $2,500 in total month-to-month debts with a total earnings of $5,000, your DTI is 50%. The higher the DTI, the upper the lender’s risk and 50% is usually the maximum allowable DTI.
Equity — The amount of vested or owned curiosity in your property. Subtract the whole steadiness owed on the property from the appraised value to determine your equity.
FICO Scores: Most lenders use the FICO scoring system to qualify borrowers. The FICO rating is a number assigned from each of the three main credit repositories (Experian, Trans-Union, and Equifax). This number is calculated primarily based on your complete credit score profile and takes into consideration late funds, balances on commerce lines, inquiries for extra credit, judgments, bankruptcies, total debt, length of credit score history, and more. The decrease the FICO rating, the upper the lender’s risk.
LTV: Loan to Worth Ratio. For instance: a mortgage amount of $75,000 on a house valued at $a hundred,000 equals an LTV of 75%. Your fairness would equal $25,000, or 25%. The higher the LTV ratio, the upper the lender’s risk.
Stated Income: Your individual statement of earnings on the application versus revenue that can be independently verified. Use of stated income is a wonderful option for self-employed individuals or these with hard to prove income.
Getting a mortgage for a house buy can be stressful. In case you understand the lingo being used, you’ll find it less so.

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ICICI Mutual Fund

Whole Vs Term: Which One Does Suze Orman Like?

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Have you seen the Suze Orman Show on NBC or CNBC?

You might have an idea of Suze’s stance on Term Life vs Whole Life Insurance . Below is Suze’s conversation with a guest caller which will give you more insight on her thoughts about Whole Life Insurance .

Deepak: Hi Suze! We love your show. My wife and I watch it every week. It’s such an honor to talk to you.

Suze Orman: Oh. Thank you! What can I do for you?

Deepak: Well Suze, a friend has recommended that we buy a whole life insurance policy as an investment.

Suze Orman: Stop! Stop! There isn’t a friend in the world. Not one friend in the world that if it is a true friend that would recommend you buy a whole life insurance policy. A snook, somebody who wants to take you, somebody who in my opinion is not a friend maybe. But there is no way a friend would do it. Does that answer your question already?

Deepak: It gives me a good sense of what you are thinking.

Suze Orman: Alright, how old are you though Deepak?

Deepak: 31

Suze Orman: How much of an insurance policy? What was the death benefit?

Deepak: Um, I think 50…$500,000.

Suze Orman: $500,000? Alright how much was it per year?

Deepak: Fourteen

Suze Orman: Fourteen Hundred?

Deepak: $14,000

Suze Orman: Fourteen Thousand dollars a year?!?!

Deepak: …and the idea was largely use it as an investment to put money away to save on taxes.

Suze Orman: Ok, just out of curiousity…made my nose itch. I have to tell you whenever my nose starts to run I feel like Samantha…where I wanna…you know on Bewitched? I don’t know if you were even born back then where I want to twinkle my little and get that guy out or whoever that friend is and off the face of this Earth.Listen, insurance is not an investment. Does this friend of yours happen to sell whole life insurance?

Deepak: Boy it seems like you’re reading my mind here.

Suze Orman: Oh sweetheart that’s not a friend that a sn….I don’t even know %#*#)$! You know, it gives me dandruff I think. Listen, you can get a half a million dollar term policy for 20 years at your age for approximately $25 or $30 per month. OK? That’s $300 per year. Now, if you really want to make an investment you could take all those other $1000s of dollars and take that money and invest it where? In a retirement account, a piece of real estate, in stocks, bonds, whatever it may be where it absolutely makes sense to you.

Do you know that I am a licensed insurance agent. A life insurance agent and I am licensed in every single state in the United States except Hawaii because I don’t want to go to Hawaii right now to take the exam.

So I have been licensed everywhere. Very few people can tell you that they have that type of insurance background. I can tell you that if you put $14,000 into a whole life insurance policy, my friend, how much commission do you think I or your friend would make off of that $14,000 deposit?

Deepak: Like atleast a thousand or two.

Suze Orman: Oh, are you sitting down?

Deepak: I am.

Suze Orman: Are you? What don’t you try about $10,000. Ok?

Deepak: Wow.

Suze Orman: So yeah, he could buy you…just forget it. Here’s the bottom line. Don’t do it. Do what I said. Buy a term insurance policy. You can get a half million dollars that way. $300 a year and tell your friend why doesn’t he go and make some real enemies!

Suze Orman doesn’t seem to like the permanent type of life insurance: Whole Life Insurance very much (also called Variable Life Insurance or Universal Life Insurance)

Whole Life Insurance is way too expensive for the amount of death benefit one can receive

Paying $14,000 (although not all Whole Life policies are this costly) you only receive $500k of coverage

Paying $300 (or less) per year (not month!) you can get about $500k worth of term life insurance coverage

For Permanent Life coverage you are paying a whopping $13,700 extra .

With Term Life vs Whole Life Insurance let’s look into the detailed differences with those two types

Term Insurance is for a set term or time period from 1 year and usually up to 30 years .

When Life Insurance has an investment vehicle attached to it you now have whole life insurance coverage and monthly premiums will be paid for the rest of the insured’s life .

For Term Life Coverage it is basically pure life insurance with nothing else attached to it .

Combining life insurance and an investment does not make any sense but that is what whole life insurance is. Is there any reason why life insurance should be added to an investment?

Each month, for your entire life you will be paying monthly life insurance premiums if you have a whole life policy .

Understanding what reasons you need life insurance before buying it is key

Life Insurance protects the income that the working spouse brings home to sustain the family and the dependents of the family. Without the monthly income that would normally be available the family’s financial situation would be at serious risk. Protection of the income provider is the key to having life insurance.

The income from the working spouse is important for the rest of the family. Especially the children who are dependent on that income to survive. When they get older and are able to work they no longer need to depend on the parents’ income. Life insurance isn’t important when the children is not counting on the monthly income from the parents any longer.

There is no one that wants to throw money away at a lifetime of monthly life insurance premiums

You don’t make anyone rich by owning life insurance. Don’t fall into that trap . Life insurance is of utmost importance to have during a certain period of time within a family . There is no point in buying life insurance for the sake of making someone rich. You’re just throwing money away. The right choice is to purchase term life insurance for the time it is needed.

The younger you are the lower the monthly premiums will be for life insurance. Once you purchase a policy the monthly premiums are fixed . Purchase Life Insurance coverage when the family needs the income protection and no other time.

With the savings you have by buying a term life insurance policy go ahead and invest it or save it in the bank .

Anything good about the investment portion of permanent coverage?

Well, whole life insurance has the investment component which is also known as “Cash Value”. Your money goes to the investment and you can then “Borrow” from your own money paying it back with interest .

Why must I borrow my own money and pay it back?

The only way to access your investment is to borrow it and pay it back with interest. It’s how whole life insurance works. “Cash Value”, the investment portion sounds like music to people’s ears but it is very much an empty deal

The ultimate deal breaker? You receive absolutely NO CASH VALUE the first year of premiums payments . Yes, that’s right . Your beloved “Cash Value” will start to grow starting the 2nd year of your costly life insurance premium payments in a whole life policy. The first year’s premium payments go to paying the life insurance agent who sold you that whole life insurance policy . Your hard earned money flows right through to paying a hefty commission for a whole life insurance policy salesperson.

Only purchase term life insurance when you have dependents that count on your income to survive. If you don’t then you really have no need for life insurance coverage

You can take the savings you would have from purchasing a term insurance policy instead of buying a whole life insurance policy and put it into a retirement account to invest any which way you choose. No borrowing and 100% control. Always have 100% control of your funds so that you have the freedom to move it anywhere you choose . Keep away from any type of life insurance that is asking you to put money towards cash value or an investment. Examples include variable life insurance, whole life insurance, permanent life insurance or universal life insurance.

By following the methods above in comparing Term Life vs Whole Life Insurance you will be saving you and your family quite a large sum of money.

Industrial Mortgage Financing

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Van Insurance Comparison Site

 <p>Ever wondered what you could do with a business mortgage? Well, to be quite candid, there is a plethora of ways to make use of a commercial mortgage.  Such a mortgage can be utilized to finance many various kinds of properties, so let’s take a minute to overview these properties.  Of course, not all business investments are created equal.  Some inherently contain extra danger than others.  Because of this, some banks and monetary institutions that supply business mortgages could or could not offer a product that funds one of many following. As at all times, will probably be up to you to buy round and discover a business loan broker that gives a <a href=http://sncloans.com/industrial-mortgage.html>commercial mortgage </a> package that fits your needs. 
<p><b>Flats</b>  – Nice investment opportunities exist with apartments.  Residences function an important form of securitization for a commercial mortgage. Additionally they prove to be great income properties, as flats that are managed effectively can herald positive cash flows similtaneously equity is being created.  <p><b>Health Care Services</b>  – A business mortgage will also be used to finance health care facilities.  Such an funding offered two distinct advantages.  First, you’re investing in a standard enterprise that has a growing market and customer base.  Second, you are additionally investing in land and facilities that will recognize over time, creating optimistic fairness for you.  Investing in the sort of property and business is not so far fetched once you realize simply how accessible a business mortgage really is.  <p><b>Industrial</b>  – Although industrial spaces are neither glamorous nor thrilling investments, they’re actually valuable.  Most lending institutions will provide some form of industrial mortgage that permits for investment in industrial spaces.  Such an funding typically proves to be a stable funding since industries are at all times growing and this kind of area will at all times be needed.  <p><b>Manufacturing</b>  – In case you are concerned with increasing your business and rising your manufacturing capacity, a business mortgage will be the solution to go. You need to use a commercial mortgage to finance the enlargement of your manufacturing amenities and thus develop your enterprise in the process. <p><b>Warehouse</b> – Not very many businesses can continue to grow and show profitable with no room for inventory.  In the event you discover your online business is ready to take it to the following degree, and you might be brief on warehouse area a business mortgage may also help you as well.  Many giant lending establishments have a industrial mortgage designed to finance warehouse growth, so don’t hesitate to contact your commercial loan broker at this time if you are able to expand.  <p><b>Retail Constructions</b> – Even retailers need financing to build new stores, enhance their accessibility, and develop their business.  When retailers are able to fund a new undertaking, they flip to a industrial mortgage as well. <p><b>Workplace Complexes</b> – Workplace parks and buildings are financed the same approach as all of the others, with a industrial mortgage.  Workplace complexes also prove to be great <a href=http://sncloans.com/investment-property.html>funding properties</a> for buyers in the true property market, as the risk of emptiness in workplace complexes is much less than that of retail spaces. <p>You might have noticed a pattern when you read this list. Certainly, a industrial mortgage can be used to finance just about any sort of commercial property.  So if you end up in the market for a business property, go visit your commercial mortgage broker.

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EMC Mortgage Servicing

Finding The Reassure America Life Insurance Company Website Isn’t Anymore A Issue

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Boy was he wrong. Every time you attempt to find Reassure America Life Insurance company website you potentially can locate many points, but not the website you will have to have. I had a comparable trouble. So I continued looking for them.

And most astonishing discovery was that Reassure America Life Insurance is part in the improved company. A company named Swiss Re. Our sources say that Reassure America merged with them in July of 1999. So, so that you possibly can see Reassure Americas website, we should go to Swiss Re website. You are going to be in a position to arrive across it at http://www.swissre.com/.

Whenever you lay your eyes on their website house web page it could be obvious that that’s a very good company. It’s enterprise everywhere. But there is surely 1 downside. Graphic style of this particular website is poor. Choice of colors is poorly created. I do not know about you, but green color over the complete screen provides me a nasty headache.

In the very commencing they sort us out. They’ve sections composed for a different type of folks. So regardless of whether or not you happen to be customer or investor, you’ve a particular part composed just to suit your needs.

But a single of the most vital factor is that this company has world broad coverage and it actually is shown on their website. They have a option for you personally personally no matter wherever you are. There is certainly undoubtedly a good locator for that household page from which you are able to discover an agent which is nearest to suit your needs.

So we can say their website design is contemporary but in the specific exact same time a conventional one. Browsing is really effortless and also you genuinely can discover everything you may need.

Swiss Re clearly characteristics a require to indicate us that that’s a large company, oriented on globally company.

 

You can find more information about Life Insurances at <a href=”http://bankhelpsite.com/reassure-america-life-insurance-company/”>http://bankhelpsite.com/reassure-america-life-insurance-company/</a>, where you can read about <a href=”http://bankhelpsite.com/reassure-america-life-insurance-company/”>Reassure America Life Insurance Company website</a>.

Automotive Insurance coverage: Sorts of Insurance coverage You Must Understand

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 With all this traveling in and out, back and forth around the maze that’s the United States infrastructure, its simple to understand why auto insurance is required so as to own an function a car. For automotive patrons, an effort must be made on the a part of insurance firms to offer info on the various kinds of auto insurance coverage available. These include bodily damage and legal responsibility, collision, complete, full glace, legal responsibility, medical coverage, personal harm safety, and underinsured or uninsured motorist.
Legal responsibility insurance protection is crucial to have as a driver. This insurance covers any injuries or damages to property which will happen during an accident. Two types of liability embody bodily injury liability insurance and property harm liability insurance.
Medical insurance is totally different in that it focuses on the driving force and passengers of the car. It will cover any medical therapy for the driver and the passengers. In addition, the medical insurance may or might not supply disability insurance and ache and struggling compensation.
Uninsured or underneath-insured drivers insurance coverage pays any costs that you just or your passengers may experience if an accident should happen with a driver who’s uninsured or underinsured.
Collision insurance coverage offers with the price of harm attributable to a collision to your automotive that will affect the ebook value. Complete offers extra with injury caused by vandalism, pure disasters, theft or other forms of damage.
There are a number of different sorts of automobile insurance. These include glass alternative insurance, towing insurance etc. A lot of these insurance coverage are sometimes not required and are not fashionable as they’re typically costly.
Now that you realize what kinds of automobile insurance are out there, the next step is to find a credible insurance agent. The primary place to research that is by family and friends. Referrals will enable you type those brokers that you want to investigate further. You will want to speak with a number of totally different agents earlier than you make your remaining decisions. Ask any and all questions you may have. That’s what the agent is there for.

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Bank Rate Mortgage Calculator

Low Price Automotive Insurance – There Are Ways in which To Get It

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Van Insurance Comparison Site

 We have all heard the old saying regarding no pain and no gain. Which will conjointly be true when it comes to finding low price car insurance. The typical insurance buyer avoids most of the responsibility when it comes to buying automobile insurance. They rely heavily on the insurance skilled or the insurance company. Sometimes that approach works out fine but there is a determined advantage to the client who is best informed when searching for automobile insurance. Here are a number of the things that you would like to contemplate when looking for automobile insurance.
Do I need an Agent? – The agency system has been around a protracted time. The price of a sensible insurance professional is very high to a lot of people. They like having someone to counsel them on insurance. They don’t like dealing over the telephone or the internet.
Insurance Company – Once you opt on whether or not you wish an agent or not then you’ll slim down the sphere of insurance companies. You might want to select some familiar national names along with an independent agency.
All in One – There’s a good chance that you will notice lower value automotive insurance by combining all of your insurance with one company. The multiple policy discounts together with the convenience makes it worth you time to match your auto, home and even your life insurance.
Insurance Coverage – The searching expertise is a smart time to urge artistic and ask a heap of questions concerning discounts and vehicle types. Query the need for coverage and buy what’s most vital to you.
Self Insuring – The times of low deductibles are slowly vanishing. Low deductibles are expensive and not value the out of pocket expense. Higher deductibles suggests that you are self-insuring for the first $five hundred to $1000 on collision and or comprehensive. This can save you thousands of bucks over the lifetime of the policy.
Please see our counseled supply for insurance quotes of all types. It is a web site dedicated to quotes and is powered by Insure Me. Insure Me is the leading net insurance quote provider. They are a broker of the many insurance corporations to provide you very cheap rates.

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Home Loan EMI Calculator

Low Value Health Insurance – Knowing The Terms And Alternatives

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AON Insurance

 Paying for health care can consume a massive portion of a personal or family’s disposable income. Some costs are non-negotiable however there are ways that to lower the number you pay on insuring your health.
Deductibles
You may be ready to pay a lower premium by paying a higher deductible. This is often particularly true if you’re insured as a personal rather than through your employer. If you choose this feature it is wise to place a little of the money saved on your premium into an account that is employed solely to pay your deductible. 
Co-pay quantity
Many firms have lower premium policies obtainable for those willing to make a better co-payment once they visit the doctor. Choosing the next co-payment will be particularly advantageous for folks who don’t typically visit the doctor.
Generic medication
Generic medicine are manufactured to the identical standards as brand name drugs. Selecting to have a prescription crammed with a generic drug will offer substantial savings over having it stuffed with a complete name drug. 
Healthy living programs
Several insurance plans offer pre-emptive health care services which are entirely funded by the insurance company. Employee plans often do this as a approach of avoiding paying for higher priced services afterward down the line. Programs could include free immunizations, mammograms, prostate exams and general physicals. Paying some of monthly health club dues is additionally out there on a few plans. Be sure to require advantage of these choices if possible.
Keep in mind, while health insurance premiums are high the peace of mind brought by knowing you and your family are insured is priceless. Gathering as several quotes as doable is the best manner to be told and compare companies.
Please view our recommended sources for insurance quotes online. We have done the research so that you don’t have to. This website is powered by the most important online insurance broker in the world. With a lot of brokers competing you save.

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Medicare Claim Form

In search of a House Mortgage? Store Around

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Financial Risk Management

 On the lookout for a Home Mortgage? Shop Around
The mortgage trade is a extremely competitive one, so it wouldn’t harm you to shop around earlier than you decide on which company and which program you want to go with.
There are two methods you possibly can go about buying around for a home mortgage lender.
The primary means would be to do the purchasing yourself. Before you start your purchasing nonetheless, it is necessary that you simply take the time to educate your self with the language of the mortgage industry. This fashion you will be able to talking the talk.
However, if you don’t wish to do the procuring yourself, you might wish to consider discovering a broker to do the searching for you.
A dealer is not a lender. A broker’s job is to assess your state of affairs, than discover a lender for you. The brokers have access to a whole bunch of wholesale lenders throughout the country. What the dealer does is make a number of of those wholesale lenders that he believes may be a good fit for you conscious of your state of affairs, than the lenders will compete for your business.
Permitting for as much as four lending corporations to compete for your online business is not such a bad idea. This fashion you will be able to check rates and pricing, than base your resolution on what’s the most cheap and ultimate state of affairs in your needs.
A dealer can show to be a smart choice if your credit is poor, or in case your situation is unique.
One facet of the dealer’s job is to educate and council their consumer through the mortgage process from beginning to end. So in the event you imagine your mortgage scenario to be a tough one, you might wish to give a mortgage broker some critical consideration.
Nearly all of mortgage brokers are paid on fee, so getting you’re your mortgage to the closing table is simply as necessary to them as it’s to you.

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Company Life Insurance

Tell The Insurers Everything When You Apply For Life And Critical Illness Insurance.

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Confused Com Car Insurance

 The failure to disclose information, particularly medical data, is the foremost common reason why an insurer can reject a claim on a life or crucial illness policy. To help underline some problems, we need to tell you a real story – however we tend to’ve hid the policyholders’ name and some different aspects to preserve anonymity. 
Mrs A was fighting a secondary infection following surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes in her groin when she received more dangerous news. Her vital illness insurer was refusing to pay out the £200,000 she was expecting. To perceive why and the problems concerned it’s helpful to understand how the events unfolded. 
• In June 2001, Mrs A visited her GP when discovering a patch of flaky skin on her back. Mrs An idea it absolutely was eczema. During a temporary consultation, her GP thought that it ought to be looked and counseled a referral to a dermatologist. But soon afterwards the flaky skin healed and Mrs A cancelled the appointment with the dermatologist. Apparently her GP failed to express any major concern and a few years later admitted that Mrs AP was in all likelihood unaware of the urgency of the referral. 
• Nine weeks later a sales representative from Commonplace Life created a routine visit to Mrs A at her home. As Mrs A was currently alone with a young family, the representative reviewed Mrs A’s life insurance cowl and suggested that she should additionally have a £200,000 Vital Illness policy. Mrs An inspiration that sounded a terribly smart idea and willingly agreed there and then. 
The sales representative made the shape and went through it, question by question , writing down Mrs A’s answers for her. When it came to the query asking Mrs A to disclose all occasions her GP had counseled referrals for tests or treatments, Mrs A asked the sales representative what Commonplace was asking for. Mrs A alleges that the representative replied that Commonplace only required details of appointments that related to serious conditions. Mrs A didn’t believe that her referral for what she thought had been eczema, fell into that category – therefore she didn’t mention it. She then signed the form honestly believing that she had disclosed everything Standard Life had required. 
Normal subsequently accepted her application and issued the £two hundred,000 Vital Illness Insurance policy. 
• Two years later Mrs A was found to have skin cancer. Major surgery rapidly followed to remove the cancer. As her essential illness policy included cowl for her cancer, Mrs A then created what she thought was a legitimate claim. 
• Normal Life subsequently rejected her claim on the premise of “reckless non-disclosure” – the insurers’ jargon for Mrs A’s failure to disclose her cancelled appointment with the dermatologist. 
The Problems 
The events that followed showed that Mrs A’s application should have included her referral to the dermatologist. Thus why didn’t she disclose the knowledge? 
It seems that two aspects conspired to make true: Normal Life’s sales representative told Mrs A that the query on the application form soliciting for “all occasions her GP had referred her for tests or treatments” as solely referring to serious conditions. That interpretation was essentially wrong. The question asked for ALL OCCASIONS. These queries are worded carefully and ALL suggests that ALL – it’s not asking the applicant to make a private judgement as to whether the grounds for the referral were serious or not. The representative was clearly wrong. 
Secondly, the GP failed to apparently convey to Mrs A the potential seriousness of her flaky skin and her referral to the dermatologist. If, when the insurance application was being completed, Mrs A was unaware that her condition was probably serious and therefore the representative said the referral query only connected to serious conditions, Mrs A can hardly be held responsible for not disclosing that information. 
In our read, and on the premise of the knowledge provided to us, Mrs A is to not blame. Customary Life’s representative made the important error. He gave incorrect guidance on what the question at the center of the dispute, was asking for. In our read Commonplace Life ought to pay out. 
The teachings to be learnt 
Forever terribly carefully scan each query on an insurance application form – and answer the query FULLY and ACCURATELY. Do not be tempted to be economical with the truth. If you are doing omit one thing they raise for, the insurance company can rightfully claim that you simply mislead them by omission. Never be tempted to omit some data in order to qualify for a less expensive premium. You might get a cheaper premium, however that’s a false economy if a subsequent claim is rejected. 
We tend to hope Mrs A can get her payout as she was mislead by circumstances beyond her control. We believe she acted honestly. She deserves her payout and our best wishes. 
However, those candidates who deliberately withhold info from their insurer or who offer misleading info, do not. 
Postscript : Reports show that Normal Life refuse five% of all Crucial Illness claims thanks to non-disclosure. Another insurers have abundant higher figures – Legal & General reject sixteen% and Friends Provident reject 15%. The insurance industry is making an attempt to boost this case by the ways that they seek data from applicants and by the method the penalties for no-disclosure are explained.

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HDFC Home Loan

eDiets.com Receives Notice Relating to NASDAQ’s Minimum Bid Price Rule

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SOURCE: eDiets.com

Company Has Approximately One Year to Regain Compliance, Provided It Meets Other Listing Requirements

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–(Marketwire – July 2, 2010) –  eDiets.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIET), a leading provider of convenient at-home diet, fitness and healthy lifestyle solutions, today announced that on June 28, 2010, it received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market that the minimum bid price of the Company’s common stock closed below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days and that the Company was therefore not in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules (Rule 5550(a)(2)).

In accordance with the rules, the Company has 180 calendar days, or until December 27, 2010, to regain compliance. If at any time before that date the bid price of the Company’s common stock closes at $1.00 per share or more for at least 10 consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide written notification that the Company complies with the rules (Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)).

If compliance is not achieved by December 27, 2010, the Company will be eligible for an additional compliance period of 180 days provided that it meets The Nasdaq Capital Market initial listing criteria (Rule 5505), with the exception of the bid price requirement. If the Company is not eligible for an additional compliance period, Nasdaq will provide written notification that the Company’s securities will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal Nasdaq’s determination that the Company’s common stock will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market.

About eDiets

eDiets.com, Inc. is a leading provider of personalized nutrition, fitness and weight-loss programs. eDiets currently features its award-winning, fresh-prepared diet meal delivery service as one of the more than 20 popular diet plans sold directly to members on its flagship site, www.eDiets.com. The company also provides a broad range of customized wellness and weight management solutions for Fortune 500 clients. eDiets.com’s unique infrastructure offers businesses, as well as individuals, an end-to-end solution strategically tailored to meet its customers’ specific goals of achieving a healthy lifestyle. For more information, please call 310-954-1105 or visit www.eDiets.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, that we will not be able to obtain sufficient and/or acceptable outside financing (when and if required); changes in general economic and business conditions; changes in product acceptance by consumers; a decline in the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts; loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition; significant investments in our technology platform, marketing plans, and product development to remain competitive with other online providers of healthy living and weight loss plans, many of which may be found to offer superior and more varied features than our plans and may also be offered for free; volatility in the advertising markets; any delay, disruption, or suspension of our supply of prepared meals from our vendor; changes in consumer preferences and discretionary spending; product liability and other risks from the sale of ingested products; regulatory actions affecting our marketing activities; and the outcome of litigation pending against us. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with eDiets.com’s business, reference is made to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements are made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

A Quick Overview on the Hospitals Industry

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SOURCE: Rothman Research

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA–(Marketwire – July 2, 2010) –  www.rothmanresearch.com — Healthcare spending in the U.S. accounts for close to 16% of the nation’s GDP and according to estimate of every dollar disbursed on health care 31% is allocated to hospital care. There are over 6000 hospitals, government or privately administered, scattered throughout the U.S. territories, employing over 4.5 million workers and generating an overall yearly revenue of about $700 billion. Accounting for almost 2% of the market, Community Health Systems Inc. (NYSE: CYH) is regarded as the biggest for-profit general healthcare services in the country.

*Free downloadable research reports on Health Management Associates Inc. and Community Health Systems Inc. are available by signing up now at http://www.rothmanresearch.com/article/hma/23652/Jul-02-2010.html or http://www.rothmanresearch.com/article/cyh/23653/Jul-02-2010.html

A major milestone in the industry which also impacted the whole of the healthcare sector was achieved in March 2010 when the healthcare reforms were passed as law. With this new law additional patients in their millions (between 31 to 32 millions) will now be covered by health insurance. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also encourage healthcare institutions to start the creation of a universal database of electronic medical records. Mercy Health Systems is amongst those which have already started experimenting with this new system. 

www.rothmanresearch.com is a source for investors seeking free information on Hospitals industry; investors are encouraged to sign up for free at http://www.rothmanresearch.com/index.php?id=6&name=Register.

Hospitals in the U.S. are very close to the monopoly concept, and one of the key reasons why hospital operators like Health Management Associates Inc. (NYSE: HMA) can achieve this kind of regional dominion is through consolidation. Recently, Health Management Associates has announced the acquisition of 60% controlling shares in three Shands Healthcare hospitals.

Companies looking for additional media or advertising services can call Blue Chip IR at 1-917-267-8836

About Rothman Research
Rothman Research brings independent company and sector research together, utilizing top financial advisors and investment tactics to provide you with a clear picture of investment opportunities.

For More Information Contact:
Jack Benassi
[email protected]

GoHealthInsurance Launches GoHealthExchange.com: How to Make Health Care Reform Successful

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SOURCE: GoHealthInsurance

GoHealthInsurance.com Launches a New Exchange Site, GoHealthExchange.com, to Share Their Vision on How to Make Health Care Reform a Success in America

CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  GoHealthInsurance.com, an online health insurance marketplace, recently launched www.GoHealthExchange.com as an educational resource for health reform information and the use of technology with the implementation of health care reform.

GoHealthExchange.com provides an overview of the future of health insurance and the importance of providing consumer-driven tools and information. With health care reform, the convergence of technology, information and health insurance agents will come together to provide the ultimate consumer experience.

“Providing an in-depth resource on health care reform and changes to health insurance policies will help make the next few years an easy transition for consumers. Access to information and technology will be critical for the success of reform,” said Michael Mahoney, Director of Consumer Markets at GoHealthInsurance.com.

Recently, the new health reform government site, HealthCare.gov, was launched to provide a great resource for individuals and businesses looking for health care reform information. The consumer-driven site will help provide individuals and businesses a go-to place to find solutions regarding health reform.

Many consumers have been confused about health care reform and the changes to health insurance policies. Sites like GoHealthExchange.com and HealthCare.gov will help provide health coverage answers and solutions for many Americans.

Similar to the vision of HealthCare.gov, GoHealthInsurance.com currently offers interactive tools to help all Americans compare, apply and buy health insurance online. For example, on GoHealthInsurance.com, consumers can view health plans side-by-side from leading insurance companies including Aetna, many Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, UnitedHealthOne and more.

Consumers can use the tools at GoHealthInsurance.com absolutely free at www.gohealthinsurance.com.

About GoHealthInsurance

GoHealthInsurance.com makes buying health insurance simple. GoHealthInsurance explains health coverage options in plain English, provides free health insurance quotes, connects shoppers with local agents, and helps consumers choose plans that meet their health and budget needs.

Contact:
Michael Mahoney
GoHealthInsurance
888-250-3409
Email Contact

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CVPH Medical Center Partners With Avantas for Scheduling & Staffing Application

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SOURCE: Avantas

OMAHA, NE–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  Avantas is proud to announce a new agreement to provide the healthcare scheduling software, Smart Square, to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Medical Center in Plattsburgh, NY.

Smart Square is a comprehensive labor management tool designed specifically for healthcare. Intuitive, flexible, and highly configurable, it can be utilized system-wide in both nursing and non-nursing units. 

With Smart Square, organizations can effectively schedule core staff and proactively manage contingency staff against forecasted patient demand, while elevating labor management to an enterprise business initiative.

Interfacing seamlessly with 3rd party Time/Attendance, Payroll and HRIS systems, Smart Square provides real-time analytics and dashboards that identify opportunities to adjust staffing levels, manage incidental worked time, and prevent waste. Additionally, the Software as a Service (SaaS) platform reduces costly internal infrastructure and enables access to all the tools within the application anytime, from anywhere. 

“The only certainty healthcare organizations can rely upon in these changing times is the ongoing pressure to keep productivity on target,” said Chris Fox, Avantas’ Senior Vice President of Growth & Innovation. “Smart Square enables hospitals to better manage their resources by making proactive, cost-conscious staffing decisions that meet the needs of their patients. With Smart Square, CVPH is poised to flourish while providing the exceptional care for which they are known.”

CVPH is a 391-bed facility recognized as a leader in providing quality care and health and wellness services to North Country residents in upstate New York. “CVPH is excited to be partnering with Avantas for the implementation of Smart Square,” says Rosemary Reif, Associate Vice President of Patient Services at CVPH. “After researching other automated staffing and scheduling systems, we are confident this is the product for us — providing the sophistication, expertise, and support to streamline and maximize our employee resources!” Also point on the project from CVPH are Julie Brunell, Associate Vice President of Patient Services and Rhonda Kowalowski, Office Supervisor-Patient Services.

Discover the Smart Square difference by scheduling a web demo: 888-338-6148.

About Avantas

Avantas (www.avantas.biz) is an Omaha, Nebraska-based company devoted to serving the healthcare industry. By combining advanced technology with evidence-based methodologies, Avantas delivers immediate ROI and long-term savings by helping healthcare organizations realize continual improvement with regard to healthcare scheduling and staffing.

Contact:
Chris Fox
Senior Vice President of Growth & Innovation
Avantas
888-338-6148
Email Contact

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Chiropractor Dr. Robert Patterson Reviews Social Media Marketing for Health Care Industry

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SOURCE: Jennings Social Media Marketing

KANSAS CITY, MO–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  Internal Health Specialist and Overland Park Chiropractor Dr. Robert Patterson recently evaluated the benefits of working with Jennings Social Media Marketing.

Watch Dr. Patterson review social media marketing:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MichelleJPRA

Dr. Patterson explains that in a busy practice it is difficult to just get through his emails every day, let alone try to deal with essential parts of marketing such as Facebook, Twitter or the blog. “Jennings Social Media Marketing gives me the tools I need to see how much traffic we have to our blog, how many followers we have on Twitter, how many people signed up for our e-newsletter and how many hits we get on our website. I can see the growth of these areas with my own eyes. Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, helps me manage all of the marketing, advertising and public relations. It is important to have someone like Valerie, who is high energy, to push me and give me deadlines,” said Patterson.

Patterson said that Jennings gives him confidence that all of the marketing, advertising and public relation needs for his practice will be taken care of. “Jennings Social Media Marketing is an extension of my staff. They work hard to deliver measurable results. Our relationship with Jennings will definitely be a long-term one,” said Dr. Patterson.

Jennings Social Media Marketing is a full service company that utilizes the art of online storytelling with the science of measuring quantifiable results. Jennings creates comprehensive social media marketing and Web advertising strategies from website design and development to viral videos. The company represents publicly traded to medium-sized businesses across the U.S. and overseas including technology, sports, sustainability, entertainment, travel, financial, health care and real estate.

Dr. Robert Patterson is the founder of Overland Chiropractic and has been practicing for more than 20 years in the Kansas City area. In 2007, his clinic became only one of approximately 300 Creating Wellness centers located in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Patterson is a graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College (Kansas City), class of January 1988 and has specialized in the treatment of low back and leg pain for much of his career. Patterson is one of only three certified doctors in Kansas in Cox Flexion Distraction (decompression) manipulation. Most recently, he received Certification as an Internal Health Specialist through Logan College of Chiropractic.

Contact:
Jamie Sutera
816.221.1040
[email protected]

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$6M Award to Support Aging Resource at Coriell Institute

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SOURCE: Coriell Institute for Medical Research

Promoting Research on Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism

CAMDEN, NJ–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  Close on the heels of another major award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Coriell Institute has announced its receipt of a five-year, $6-million NIH contract to manage the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Aging Cell Repository.

“Our long-standing expertise in the biobanking arena has been a decisive factor in maintaining major contracts such as the NIA Cell Repository,” said Coriell President and CEO, Michael F. Christman, Ph.D.

Coriell has overseen the Aging Cell Repository since its establishment in 1974, repeatedly outshining the competition to house this vital resource and distribute high-quality biomaterials for research purposes. The Repository, which facilitates cellular and molecular research studies on the mechanisms of aging and the degenerative processes associated with it, contains more than 2,000 cell lines from individuals with premature aging disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and samples from persons of great age (90+ years).

“Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s ravage our seniors, weigh on their loved ones and drain patients of financial resources,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. “This an investment that will assist research to treat and defeat these diseases, while lowering the costs associated with them. Coriell is helping to lead the way, once again showing how New Jersey is the innovation state.”

Scientists in more than 40 countries have utilized these vital biomaterials, resulting in the publication of more than 1,000 scientific papers describing aging-related research discoveries. These samples have been used in the identification of many disease genes, including the gene for Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare, genetic disease causing characterized by dramatic, rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood.

With this award, Coriell is responsible for selecting, establishing, characterizing, documenting and storing new aging-related cell lines for research. Additionally, Coriell will bank induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines — cells produced by genetically reprogramming specialized cell types, like skin cells, into cells with the ability to turn into any human cell type.

“Coriell will be integrating a revolutionary technology, iPSCs, into the Repository collection to support the study of aging-related diseases. This effort will promote discovery around the causes and potential cures for devastating diseases such as Parkinson’s disease,” said Margaret Keller, Ph.D., Principal Investigator of the NIA contract. “The future holds great promise for the use of iPSCs in regenerative medicine and we are taking the first step to understand this potential.”

Since its establishment in 1953, Coriell has served the scientific community by maintaining the world’s leading cryogenic biobanking facility, distributing its more than 745,000 unique samples — encompassing cell lines, DNA, RNA, plasma, and more — to researchers in sixty-five nations. Through contracts such as the National Institutes on Aging, Coriell is able to support worldwide research initiatives with the ultimate goal of improving human health.

About Coriell
Coriell Institute for Medical Research (www.coriell.org) is an internationally known, non-profit, biomedical research institution headquartered in Camden, NJ, contiguous with the Cooper University Hospital Health Sciences Campus. Founded in 1953, Coriell is the world’s leading biobank resource for biological materials and home of the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative® (CPMC®) research study, a forward-looking project aimed at understanding the utility of genome-informed medicine and identifying genetic variants associated with common complex disease and variation in drug response (http://cpmc.coriell.org).

About NIA
The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people. For more information on research and aging, go to www.nia.nih.gov.

The NIH — the nation’s medical research agency — includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

CONTACT:
Coriell Institute for Medical Research
Courtney Kronenthal, Ph.D.
856-757-9752
Email Contact

PerioHealth(TM) Professionals, Houston’s "Smile Engineers(TM)," Changing Lives of Local and National Patients With Dental Implants

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SOURCE: PerioHealth(TM) Professionals

HOUSTON, TX–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  PerioHealth™ Professionals, also known as Houston’s Smile Engineers™, are a team of dedicated dental specialists who specialize not only in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, but also in the placement of dental implants, a permanent replacement for lost or damaged teeth.

The principals of PerioHealth Professionals, Michael K. McGuire, DDS and E. Todd Scheyer, DDS, MS, practicing in Houston for a combined total of 40 years, are world-renowned experts when it comes to dental implants. Their implant expertise has helped thousands of patients from Houston and across the nation, enabling them to eat solid foods, advance their careers, find romance, and enhance their overall quality of life.

Both are board-certified periodontists, and each has extensively lectured on, written about, and conducted research on the latest advances in dental implants and related surgical procedures. They are considered pioneers in an advanced form of implant treatment called “guided implant surgery,” which uses computer technology and 3-D digital X-rays to ensure the most precise implant placement possible.

“There is no doubt that dental implants are among the most significant advances in dentistry, with guided implant surgery helping to make the placement and success of same-day implants more predictable, “says Dr. McGuire. “However, the marketing claims of some high-volume implant practices lead consumers to believe that implants can be placed quickly in all cases, and this is not always true.”

PerioHealth patients, according to Drs. McGuire and Scheyer, frequently come in with severe gum disease and bone loss. “As periodontists, we are uniquely qualified to assess the individual patient’s gums and underlying bone structure to determine if they can support and sustain a dental implant,” explains Dr. Scheyer. “If not, we can perform preliminary surgical procedures, including tissue grafting and bone regeneration, to help rebuild the strong foundation needed to bear the load of an implant during chewing, etc.” 

Other factors that Drs. McGuire and Scheyer take into consideration when evaluating each dental implant candidate include the following:

  • The age of the patient
  • How long the tooth has been missing
  • Pre-existing periodontal disease
  • Overall patient health
  • Individual’s rate of healing
  • Whether the implant is in the front or back of the mouth
  • Whether implants can be splinted together

“There’s no doubt that dental implants, when placed correctly and monitored properly, can dramatically improve a person’s smile, quality of life, and overall health, and last for a lifetime,” comments Dr. McGuire. “However, to ensure all of these patient benefits, we at PerioHealth Professionals believe a personalized approach to evaluation, treatment, and follow-up is required.”

About PerioHealth™ Professionals

Known as Houston’s very own “Smile Engineers™,” PerioHealth™ Professionals has established itself as the most trusted source for accurate information and expert treatment regarding a variety of relevant topics within the dental field, including oral/systemic health links, single and multiple-site implants, tissue engineering, periodontal plastic surgery, and guided implant surgery. 

Established in 1979, PerioHealth Professionals is led by Michael K. McGuire, DDS and E. Todd Scheyer, DDS, MS. Both are board-certified periodontists who have dedicated their professional lives to the practice of periodontics, the organized leadership of the profession, and educating fellow dentists and patients alike on the various aspects of proper periodontal care, including:

  • Dental implants
  • Tissue grafting to reduce gum recession and bone loss
  • Periodontal procedures to correct damaged or extracted teeth
  • Prevention, identification, and treatment of periodontal disease
  • Recontouring of the teeth and gums
  • Bone regeneration therapy
  • Education and clinical research

PerioHealth Professionals’ “personalized care” philosophy is what drives the independent periodontal practice to best serve its patients by not being locked into a specific treatment protocol or dental implant product line. Instead, PerioHealth Professional team members are firm believers in “patient-driven dentistry,” which means each periodontal and implant case is treated with optimum, personalized care from the initial evaluation and treatment to long-term follow-up and maintenance. 

Media Contact:
Michael Ventriello
732-389-4500 ext. 181
Email Contact

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TomoTherapy to Announce Second Quarter Financial Results on Thursday, July 29, 2010

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SOURCE: TomoTherapy

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for cancer care, announced today that it will release its 2010 second quarter financial results on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. CDT.

TomoTherapy will hold an investment community conference call on Thursday, July 29, 2010 beginning at 4:00 p.m. CDT. Fred Robertson, M.D., CEO, and Thomas Powell, CFO, will review second quarter performance and discuss the company’s strategies. To join the conference call, dial 1-800-260-8140 (international 1-617-614-3672) and enter passcode 35309628. A replay of the conference call will be available at 7:00 p.m. CDT on July 29, 2010, through 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 5, 2010. To access the replay, dial 1-888-286-8010 (international 1-617-801-6888) and enter passcode 64325104.

For individual investors, a live Webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations page of TomoTherapy.com. Institutional investors can access the Webcast through a password-protected site, www.streetevents.com. An archived Webcast of TomoTherapy’s conference call will be available for two weeks.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated develops, markets and sells advanced radiation therapy solutions that can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions include its flagship Hi·Art® treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

©2010 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, Tomo, TomoDirect, TQA, Hi·Art, TomoHD, TomoMobile and the TomoTherapy logo are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

Investor Contact:
Thomas E. Powell
Chief Financial Officer
608.824.2800
Email Contact

Media Contacts:
Kevin O’Malley
Manager, Corporate Communications
608.824.3384
Email Contact

First Study Ever on Effect of Wood Smoke in Smokers Conducted by the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

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SOURCE: Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

First Study on Wood Smoke Effects on COPD in US

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  The nation’s first scientific study on the effects of wood smoke in smokers shows that wood smoke is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and has identified a link that increases the risk for reduced lung function in cigarette smokers. That exposure to wood smoke causes COPD was previously found to be common in women in developing countries, but has not been recognized as being a hazard at concentrations generally found in developed countries. 

The objective was to evaluate the risk of wood smoke for COPD in a population of smokers in the United States, and whether non-hereditary changes of DNA that were detected in sputum samples of these patients were correlated to the disease of COPD as shown by the destruction of lung function. The association between wood smoke and reduced lung function was stronger among current cigarette smokers, non-Hispanic whites and men.

Lead investigators at Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) in New Mexico, the only dedicated respiratory research center in the US, in collaboration with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the University of Colorado at Denver, conducted the study which was financed by the appropriation from the Tobacco Settlement Fund, and from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The findings were recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, a publication by the American Thoracic Society.

Yohannes Tesfaigzi, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at LRRI based in ABQ, NM and lead investigator, said, “The findings are significant and timely because it shows that there are many factors that reduce lung function in the world today.” Tesfaigzi continued, “Our findings suggest that smokers of cigarettes who are exposed to wood smoke increase their risk of having reduced lung function.”

For the research, a cross sectional study of 1,827 subjects were drawn from the Lovelace Smokers’ Cohort, a predominantly female cohort of smokers that is unique with its high percentage of Mexican Hispanic participants. The wood smoke exposure was self-reported. The research included measuring air entering and leaving the lungs, airflow obstruction and chronic bronchitis. Also explored were modification of wood smoke exposure with current cigarette smokers, ethnicity, sex, and the relationship with lung cancer-related genes on COPD. 

Robert W. Rubin, Ph.D., CEO of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, said, “Many people use wood smoke as a major heating source and also smoke cigarettes, and this research proves that it can be a very unhealthy combination.” Rubin continued, “With the legitimate concern to find alternative energy and heating methods in the world, we need more research of this kind to make certain that we do not add to the many factors in the air we breathe that will contribute to the destruction of lung function.” 

About Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

The Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) is a private, biomedical research organization dedicated to improving public health through research on the prevention, treatment and cure of respiratory disease. LRRI is committed to curing respiratory diseases through research aimed at understanding their causes and biological mechanisms; assessing and eliminating exposures to respiratory health hazards; and developing improved therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics. LRRI is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, employs 1100 people, and is a $125 million company. www.lrri.org

Contact:
Kyla Thompson
[email protected]
505-366-7222

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Given Imaging Announces Article in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Featuring Maneuverable PillCam Capsule

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SOURCE: Given Imaging

PillCam® Capsule Manipulated to Change Direction; Researchers See Potential for Future to Deliver Therapy in Humans

YOQNEAM, ISRAEL–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  Given Imaging Ltd (NASDAQ: GIVN), a leader in capsule endoscopy and specialty GI diagnostics, today announced that the first in-human study analyzing remote magnetic manipulation of a PillCam video capsule was published in the June 2010 edition of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, which validates the potential of magnetic maneuvering of the PillCam capsule endoscope. Led by Dr. Paul Swain of the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, and sponsored by the nano-based capsule endoscopy with molecular imaging and optical biopsy (NEMO) consortium led by Given Imaging, the study aimed to assess the efficacy of remote magnetic manipulation in the esophagus and stomach by simultaneously recording the capsule’s positions and movements with the orientation and movement of the external handheld magnet.

“This study demonstrated two things: 1] we can maneuver capsule in humans and 2] that the procedure is painless. We believe that these results underscore the value of conducting additional clinical studies in humans,” said Dr. Paul Swain of the Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. “Remote manipulation may improve diagnostic accuracy and is essential for the future development of remote controlled therapy by video capsules.”

Researchers modified a PillCam® COLON capsule to include rare earth magnetic materials and to replace the usual magnetic on/off switch with a thermal switch. An external paddle-shaped magnet was used to manipulate the capsule remotely, and Given Imaging’s RAPID® RealTime viewer captured capsule images. Additionally, a high-definition video-gastroscope was used to observe the capsule in the esophagus and stomach, and a room video camera recorded the scene and hand movements of the endoscopist to allow coordinated time imaging of the movement of the external magnet with movements of the capsule inside the stomach and esophagus.

“As the pioneers of capsule endoscopy, Given Imaging is committed to exploring new ways to make both diagnoses and therapeutic interventions in the GI tract less invasive and more effective for patients,” said Homi Shamir, president and chief executive officer, Given Imaging. “Our relationship with the NEMO Consortium exemplifies how productive a true partnership between industry and the medical community can be at finding new ways to improve patient care.”

The exam was performed in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, by Richard I. Rothstein, MD and Paul Swain of the Imperial College, London, UK in cooperation with Given Imaging. IBMT, or the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, St. Ingbert, Germany, provided the external paddle-shaped magnet under the direction of Frank Volke, PhD.

About Given Imaging Ltd.
Since 2001, Given Imaging has advanced gastrointestinal visualization by developing innovative, patient-friendly tools based on its PillCam® Platform. PillCam® capsule endoscopy provides physicians with natural images of the small intestine via PillCam® SB, the esophagus through PillCam® ESO and the colon with PillCam® COLON [PillCam COLON is not cleared for use in the USA]. The PillCam® capsules are miniature video cameras that patients ingest. Given Imaging’s other capsule products include Agile™ patency capsule, to verify intestinal patency, and Bravo®, the only wireless, catheter-free, 48-hour pH test commercially available for pH testing to assess gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Given Imaging’s products use cutting-edge, wireless technology and advanced software to enable gastroenterologists to visualize diseases of the esophagus, small bowel and colon. All Given Imaging products allow patients to maintain normal activities. In April 2010 Given Imaging acquired Sierra Scientific Instruments, the leading provider of specialty GI diagnostic solutions and pioneer of high-resolution manometry for assessing gastrointestinal motility. Sierra Scientific is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Given Imaging. Given Imaging’s headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are located in Yoqneam, Israel, with operating subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.givenimaging.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections about our business and our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) our ability to develop and bring to market new products, (2) our ability to successfully complete any necessary or required clinical studies with our products, (3) our ability to receive regulatory clearance or approval to market our products or changes in regulatory environment, (4) our success in implementing our sales, marketing and manufacturing plans, (5) the level of adoption of our products by medical practitioners, (6) the emergence of other products that may make our products obsolete, (7) lack of an appropriate bowel preparation materials to be used with our PillCam COLON capsule, (8) protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights, (9) the impact of currency exchange rates, (10) the effect of competition by other companies, (11) the outcome of significant litigation, (12) our ability to obtain reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors, (13) quarterly variations in operating results, (14) the possibility of armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, (15) the impact of global economic conditions, (16) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, (17) changes and reforms in applicable healthcare laws and regulations and (18) other risks and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, risks and factors identified under such headings as “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Operating Results and Financial Review and Prospects” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for the Company’s ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the applicable securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For further information contact:

Fern Lazar/David Carey
Lazar Partners Ltd.
1-212-867-1768
Email Contact/
Email Contact

Allied Healthcare International Inc. Announces Intended Cancellation of Admission to Trading of Depository Interests on AIM

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SOURCE: Allied Healthcare International Inc.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  Allied Healthcare International Inc. (NASDAQ: AHCI) (AIM: AHI) (“Allied”), a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom, announces today that it has requested the cancellation of admission to trading of its depository interests on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Cancellation will become effective as of 7:00 a.m., U.K. time, on August 20, 2010 (the “Effective Time”). The depository interests will trade on AIM through the close of business on August 19, 2010. Each depository interest represents one share of common stock of Allied.

The shares of common stock of Allied will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market after the cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of the depository interests.

Allied’s depository interests were admitted to trading on AIM in December 2005 in the expectation (among other reasons) that the quotation would provide an additional source of liquidity for investors who wished to own an equity position in Allied. Allied also anticipated that the admission to trading on AIM of its depository interests would enable it to access the capital markets in the U.K. and provide it with an enhanced ability to undertake acquisitions. However, there have never been more than ten holders of depository interests at any one time and there are currently only eight holders of depository interests. As a result, Allied has not realized the benefits it anticipated at the time of admission. In light of this and the costs and additional regulatory burdens associated with continued admission of its depository interests, the board of directors of Allied has determined to request the cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of its depository interests as of the Effective Time.

At the Effective Time, the Deed that established the depository interests will be terminated and the depository interests will cease to exist. Prior to the Effective Time, holders of depository interests will be able to trade their depository interests on AIM or transfer their depository interests into an identical number of shares of common stock of Allied. In the event that any holder of depository interests has not transferred its depository interests into shares of common stock prior to the Effective Time, at the Effective Time the depository will cause any holder of then-outstanding depository interests to be registered on the stockholders’ list of Allied as a holder of an identical number of shares of common stock of Allied. Allied will send to the current holders of depository interests a letter explaining their options for converting depository interests into shares of common stock.

About Allied Healthcare International Inc.

Allied Healthcare International Inc. is a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom. Allied operates a community-based network of over 110 branches with the capacity to provide carers (known as home health aides in the U.S.), nurses, and specialized medical personnel to locations covering approximately 90% of the U.K. population. Allied meets the needs of private patients, community care, nursing and care homes, and hospitals. For more news and information please visit: www.alliedhealthcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements include: general economic and market conditions; Allied’s ability to continue to recruit and retain flexible healthcare staff; Allied’s ability to enter into contracts with local government social services departments, NHS Trusts, hospitals, other healthcare facility clients and private clients on terms attractive to Allied; the general level of demand for healthcare and social care; dependence on the proper functioning of Allied’s information systems; the effect of existing or future government regulation of the healthcare and social care industry, and Allied’s ability to comply with these regulations; the impact of medical malpractice and other claims asserted against Allied; the effect of regulatory change that may apply to Allied and that may increase costs and reduce revenues and profitability; Allied’s ability to use net operating loss carry forwards to offset net income; the effect that fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may have on our dollar-denominated results of operations; and the impairment of goodwill, of which Allied has a substantial amount on the balance sheet, may have the effect of decreasing earnings or increasing losses. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release include those described in Allied’s most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and any current reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of the last Form 10-K. Allied undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 

CONTACT
Allied Healthcare International Inc.
Sandy Young
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Weston
Chief Financial Officer
+44 1785 810600

Or

Piper Jaffray Ltd. (Nominated Advisor)
Matthew Flower
Rupert Winckler
+44 20 3142 8700

Or

ICR Inc.
Sherry Bertner
Managing Director
+1 646 277 1200
[email protected]

AcuMedSpa Holdings, Inc. Addresses an Erroneous Filing

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SOURCE: AcuMedSpa Holdings, Inc.

TAMARAC, FL–(Marketwire – July 1, 2010) –  AcuMedSpa Holdings, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AMSZ), a provider of Medical Aesthetic, Spa and Acupuncture services, would like to address an erroneous filing made to raise the authorized shares.

A filing dated June 25, 2010 was made with the state of Nevada to raise the authorized shares of AcuMedSpa from its current 150 million shares to 300 million shares. This action was done erroneously and was never intended to be filed. AcuMedSpa has rescinded the incorrect filing and expects the State of Nevada website to reflect this action shortly. The correct authorized shares total should be 150 million shares.

The company does not have the authority to raise the authorized shares without majority shareholder approval. Recently AcuMedSpa reformed its share structure by reducing both the authorized shares and the outstanding shares. These changes were intended to give all major decision making power to the shareholders. Any significant share structure decisions such as raising the authorized shares, share issuances, and stock splits of any kind etc. now require the consent of a majority of shareholders by proxy vote.

“Obviously raising the authorized shares after just having lowered them was not by design,” stated AcuMedSpa Holdings President Gregory Antoine. “Just last week we reiterated in our press releases that moves like this cannot be done without consent from our shareholders. This was a regrettable internal communication error on our part. Our commitment to our shareholders has never wavered and we will continue to press forward in our efforts to continue building a strong company.”

Please follow our progress on twitter: http://twitter.com/acumedinc

For additional info please visit our website: http://www.acumedspa.com/

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and AcuMedSpa Holdings, Inc. takes no obligation to update such statements.  

Contacts:

Gregory Antoine
1-877-8-ACUMED

American Diabetes Association Statement on Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

ALEXANDRIA, VA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  The American Diabetes Association does not have official position favoring or recommending against specific drugs that are approved by the FDA to lower glucose. The 2009 consensus statement on medical management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes does not reflect official position of the ADA but rather the expert opinion of the authors of the paper.

Recently, additional information regarding the cardiovascular safety of rosiglitazone was reported, with some analyses suggesting a possible increase in risk and others supporting the drug’s safety. This information as well as past reports of a potential increase in the risk of CVD is being reviewed by the FDA. The Association’s staff and volunteer leadership are also reviewing the information in the public domain and await further information from the FDA. Until further information is provided, patients and health care professionals should continue to recognize that multiple classes of drugs, often with more than one agent per class, are available to maintain glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

The decision whether or not to use any medication must remain that of the treating physician in direct discussion with their patients. As additional information becomes available, the Association will provide detailed updates for both health care professionals and patients with diabetes. Patients should continue taking all currently prescribed medications unless otherwise informed by their health care team.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Contact:
Colleen Fogarty
703-549-1500, ext. 2146

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EMR Incentives Should Boost Handheld Use in Healthcare, Report Says

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SOURCE: Kalorama Information

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Stimulus incentives designed to spur hospitals and physicians to use EMR systems are among several factors that will drive growth of handheld devices in healthcare, according to a new report from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information. The report, “Handhelds in Healthcare: The World Market for PDAs, Tablet PCs, Handheld Monitors & Scanners,” indicates that handheld device sales for healthcare use reached $8.2 billion globally in 2009 and are expected to increase to seven percent for the next five years as physicians and hospitals purchase new IT systems. 

“The ARRA incentives for electronic medical records do not specifically reimburse doctors for devices,” said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. “But they are getting healthcare organizations to think about IT purchases, and they are helping to make the argument for better electronic data entry, something that we think will lead to increased sales for devices used to enter data.”

Other factors are driving the expansion of this market, including a growing and aging population, a shortage of qualified medical professionals, cost restraints, and medical error reduction measures, according to the report. The propensity of doctors and nurses to use the devices is also driving sales. 

“Healthcare workers need to be mobile, and so PDAs and monitoring devices have long been a good fit,” said Carlson.

The report looks at all handheld devices and makes specific forecasts for each category. Patient monitoring devices account for the largest share of sales in the handheld market, largely due to the range of products available, the number of conditions requiring monitoring, and increasing demand for essential monitoring products in portable sizes, such as ultrasound and ECG. Administrative devices have exploded over the last five years with the growing use of PDAs, smartphones, and tablet PCs taking hold in the healthcare industry. Advances in technology and the continued benefits provided by handheld devices are a significant factor in driving this market.

Competitors supplying new technologies to hospitals are mainly large, established healthcare companies, often working in conjunction with other information technology companies on an entire system. Some of the top companies offering handhelds are Research in Motion, GE Healthcare, Global Media, Medtronic, Omron, Siemens Healthcare, Socket Mobile, Inc. and Welch Allyn.

“Handhelds in Healthcare: The World Market for PDAs, Tablet PCs, Handheld Monitors & Scanners” provides profiles of these competitors, discusses trends in handheld technology in healthcare and forecasts the market for these devices. The report can be found at:
http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=79304&productid=2703662.

About Kalorama Information
Kalorama Information supplies the latest in independent market research in the life sciences, as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/KaloramaInfo) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2177845&trk=hb_side_g).

Medline Industries, Inc. and Strategic Healthcare Programs Partner to Drive Improved Outcomes and Costs for Home Health

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SOURCE: Medline Industries, Inc.

New Data Solution Helps Providers Select Optimum Wound Care Treatment for Key Diagnoses

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  To help homecare providers improve patient outcomes and comply with the federal government’s new regulations on data collection and implementing best practices, Medline Industries, Inc., and Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) are together providing a cutting edge solution-based reporting and benchmarking system. The state-of-the-art automated program recognizes specific diagnosis codes in patient records and suggests best-practices supplies and interventions to achieve improved patient outcomes. 

Medline and SHP developed this revolutionary best practices technology to help homecare providers comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) new Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) and to improve the agencies’ publicly reported scores on Home Health Compare. Patients reap the benefit of better treatment, decreased wound healing time, and reduction in pain. All of these, in turn, improve the providers’ scores while decreasing costs.

“We have developed a program that not only shows home health agencies where their problems exist, but how to fix them with the right products and treatment,” said Mike Lee, president of Medline’s Homecare Division. 

Medline leverages SHP’s real-time reporting capabilities and automated data interfaces with the industry’s software vendors; and then transmits its patient-specific medical supply order data to SHP. Home health agencies receive SHP’s real-time email notifications alerting them to issues that require immediate attention. If the supply orders do not match best practice recommendations, action can be taken. SHP drill-down reports also identify the specific clinician that is delivering care; thereby allowing for targeted education and increased accountability. 

“Our data indicate that proper management of wounds continues to be both a clinical and financial challenge to healthcare providers. Evidence-based best practices programs such as this are the solution to improving the situation. The patient, provider and payer all benefit in this scenario. This is disease management at its best,” said Barbara Rosenblum, Founder and CEO of SHP.

About Medline Industries, Inc.
Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and health care systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities, and on-staff clinicians.

About Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP)
Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) is an award-winning innovator in real-time decision support tools that immediately improve patient outcomes and protect financial performance. SHP uses best-of-breed technology and data architecture that enables instant deployment of continuous product enhancements to its clients. SHP is the undisputed industry innovator having pioneered real-time benchmarks, data interfaces, risk modeling, on-demand reporting, pushed alerts, integrated patient satisfaction (HHCAHPS), clinician scorecards, gross profit comparisons, RAC surveillance, telehealth data, and disease management programs. SHP is the industry’s only one-stop source for data, spanning all post-acute business lines. 

Medline Media Contacts:
John Marks
(847) 643-3309

Jerreau Beaudoin
(847) 643-3011

www.nygplasticsurgery.com: Westchester Plastic Surgery Practice, New York Group for Plastic Surgery Addresses Results of Cleft Palate Prevention Study

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SOURCE: New York Group for Plastic Surgery, LLP

TARRYTOWN, NY–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  A new study holds promising evidence that monitoring certain molecules during fetal growth may potentially permit doctors to reverse a cleft palate before birth. Published in the journal Development, researchers at the USC School of Dentistry found that an excess of a specific protein resulted in the formation of a cleft palate. “There are exciting developments on the horizon regarding our understanding of cleft palates,” noted plastic surgeon Dr. Tae Ho Kim of the New York Group for Plastic Surgery in Tarrytown, New York. “Breakthroughs like these could one day help us successfully prevent or treat this condition early on in babies,” Kim continued.

Dr. Kim, a craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgeon, has worked for many years treating patients with craniofacial deformities. He restores the natural symmetry and balance of the human face for those born with complex physical deformities. His work is not limited to cleft palates, as he also works with cases of craniosynostoses, hemangiomas, vascular malformations, jaw deformities, burns and traumatic injuries. In addition to his work as the Chief of Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and the Westchester Medical Center, Dr. Kim runs an informational website on cleft palates at www.craniofacialhealing.com.

The protein, sonic hedgehog homolog (SHH), which is regulated by two genes, the Msx1 and the Dlx5, must be maintained within a certain level in order for proper palate formation in a fetus. If the protein is not properly balanced, a cleft palate could form. The Msx1 and Dlx5 genes both encourage and discourage the protein’s growth respectively and are needed for the development of the main facial structures, such as the skull, teeth and the palate.

In the study, originating from the School of Dentistry’s Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, fetal mice were purposely bred with an Msx1 deficiency, which suppressed SHH protein growth and promoted the formation of cleft palates. However, when the researchers also suppressed the Dlx5 gene, SHH was expressed and the palate experienced a regrowth. After birth, the palates of the mice were intact, with small differences as compared to the palates of healthy mice. The “regulated” palates, however, functioned as normally as the healthy palates.

Dr. Kim states that cleft palates are one of the most common congenital birth defects in humans. They occur in 1 of every 700 newborns, and are seen more in males than females. The treatment is very complex, taking many years before it is completed. Initial repair is done early, with a subsequent repair happening a year later, then about every 2 to 4 years until the age of 16, if necessary. However, these treatments are not without complications, such as problems with eating or speaking.

Dr. Kim is hopeful. “The proper balance of these genes and their influence on the protein is an exciting concept that could have positive implications on this troubling condition,” he said.

Contact:
New York Group for Plastic Surgery, LLP
http://www.nygplasticsurgery.com/
(800) 433-7410

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CNS Response to Receive Fourth U.S. Patent

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SOURCE: CNS Response

Patented Methodology for Determining Drug Effects Using Quantitative EEG

ALISO VIEJO, CA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  CNS Response, Inc. (OTCBB: CNSO) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has allowed patent number 77,54,190, Method for Determining Drug Effects Using Quantitative EEG, which extends application of the Company’s Referenced-EEG® technology platform to improve the performance and efficacy of clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies. The patent will be published July 13, 2010.

“As the costs of discovering and testing new drugs have soared, particularly those in the central nervous system (CNS) class, Referenced-EEG presents new opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry,” said CNS Response CEO George Carpenter. “Our patented methodology can assist pharmaceutical companies in drug discovery, program evaluation, and clinical trial design.”

The contribution of Referenced-EEG has been successfully demonstrated in numerous clinical studies, including the multi-site Depression Efficacy Study completed in 2009. CNS Response submitted a 510(k) for review by the FDA in April 2010.

About CNS Response
Today, most physicians are able to base treatment on objective test data, such as EKGs, MRIs, blood tests, etc. Broadly speaking, such advances have not yet come to those physicians practicing psychiatry.

Referenced-EEG was developed by physicians to provide objective, statistical data on patient neurophysiology. In clinical trials, physicians using Referenced-EEG data have consistently achieved superior clinical results compared to physicians using trial and error pharmacotherapy.

To read more about this patented technology, please visit the CNS Response website, www.cnsresponse.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties as set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made herein.

Investor and Media Relations:
Marty Tullio, Managing Partner
McCloud Communications, LLC
949.553.9748
Email Contact

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National Healthcare Reform Conference(TM) to Address Challenges of Reform and the Health Reform Bill

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) – With the passing of the Healthcare Reform Bill, PPACA, healthcare as we know it in the US has changed. Emotions run strong from people supporting it and those who oppose it. Healthcare reform made sweeping changes to the health insurance system and expanded health insurance coverage, but did so without addressing many of the underlying problems within our healthcare system that cause inefficiencies and increased healthcare costs. Such challenges have created a need for a platform to discuss solutions and answer. Renowned world leaders are gathering together National Healthcare Reform Conference in Los Angeles. www.healthcarereformconference.com

“The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act will change the way many employees receive their coverage and affect the type of health plans workers are allowed to have. Many firms not currently offering coverage will face fines beginning in 2014, while some firms may find their plans do not meet new requirements,” said Devon Herrick, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis. “Conference attendees will learn about their obligations under the new law and how to navigate employers’ and employees’ options,” he added.

Employers, Insurance Companies and Americans will have new challenges to face, as every American is affected differently by healthcare reform. People who are sick will see their health insurance costs go down as healthy Americans may see their prices increase, and older Americans will see their health insurance costs go down as younger Americans may see their prices increase.

“Bringing together a dynamic and diverse group of health care leaders, government officials and industry experts, this Conference will engender thoughtful and timely discussion about how the landscape of health care is changing. I am pleased to be a part of this important opportunity to address the challenges and implications of the health care law for all Americans,” said Therese Vaughan, CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 

The National Healthcare Reform Conference™ is the first conference in the US to address the problems, challenges and obstacles of implementing Healthcare Reform. The conference, which is sponsored by the Healthcare Reform Magazine, www.healthcarereformmagazine.com, will focus on how healthcare reform affects employers, insurers, insurance agents, healthcare providers and patients and will peel back the onion of the thousands of pages of healthcare reform bill to look at how different aspects of health care reform will really work.

Maureen Ross, Senior Meeting Manager of the National Healthcare Reform Conference stated, “this conference will bring together all the senior leaders in the healthcare sector to share their knowledge and collaborate on how to comply and work under the new healthcare reform law. Some of the top experts in the US will be sharing their knowledge such as the CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association, the CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters, the President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, National Center for Policy Analysis, Thomson Reuters, Milliman and other leading experts.”

The National Healthcare Reform Conference™ is part of the Employer Healthcare Congress, www.employerhealthcarecongress.com, which is one of the leading healthcare conferences in the country with a focus on employers.

About Employer Health Congress

The National Healthcare Reform Conference is a stream of Employer Healthcare Congress. Together with four streams 1) Corporate Wellness Conference 2)Voluntary Benefits and Limited Medical Conference 3) Self Funding Employer Healthcare & Workers Compensation Conference and 4) The National Healthcare Reform Conference, The Employer Healthcare Congress is one of the largest US healthcare conferences in the country with up to 2,000 attendees and up to 150 exhibitors and sponsors.

The Employer Healthcare Congress | www.employerhealthcarecongress.com

Corporate Wellness Conference | www.corporatewellnessconference.com

Voluntary Benefits and Limited Medical Conference | www.voluntarybenefitsconference.com

Self Funding Employer HC and Workers Compensation Conference | www.selffundingconference.com

The National Healthcare Reform Conference | www.healthcarereformconference.com

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Clear Lake Fertility Center, Center of Reproductive Medicine Supports Troops

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SOURCE: Center of Reproductive Medicine

Free Sperm Freezing Provided for Servicemen Facing Deployment

HOUSTON, TX–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Independence Day is a national holiday with a multitude of celebrations to commemorate our country’s freedom. The day is marked with traditional family gatherings including parades, picnics and riveting fireworks displays.

But July 4 can be a somber day for members of the military who are facing deployment to military outposts in Iraq and across the Afghan combat zone. The Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM) maintains that the celebration of Independence Day this year should not exclusively honor those that have fallen in defense of our country, but to also honor those who are currently in harm’s way serving in our military. As a leading Texas fertility clinic, CORM would like to offer men in the military preparing to deploy the opportunity to freeze their sperm at no charge.

CORM has offered sperm freezing since the very first deployment to Iraq in 2003 and will continue to do so until these conflicts come to an end and all of our military have returned home safely.

The process of sperm cryopreservation or freezing is simple and safe in terms of protecting and maintaining fertility potential for the male. The sperm are frozen in liquid nitrogen where the cells will remain unchanged until they are needed. 

“The success rate of conception using frozen sperm is excellent and we are pleased to offer servicemen this option,” said CORM medical director, Vicki Schnell, M.D. “We recognize how difficult deployment can be for couples wanting to start a family and hope that the end result is a safe return and a healthy baby.”

CORM is the only accredited Tricare infertility provider in the Houston Bay Area/Webster and Southeast Beaumont area. Tricare insurance covers infertility diagnostic testing and the cycle management portion of a treatment cycle.

About The Center of Reproductive Medicine
The Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM), located at 1015 Medical Center Boulevard in Webster, Texas, is a full service, state-of-the-art medical facility dedicated to female and male infertility. CORM has an on-site SurgiCenter, complete diagnostic and laboratory facilities, in-vitro fertilization laboratory and Andrology and Endocrine labs. The highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, lab technicians and counselors is committed to assisting each patient in a positive and nurturing manner. 

For more information, please contact:
Tess Enriquez
Center of Reproductive Medicine
281-332-0073
http://www.infertilitytexas.com

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Truestone Article on Preparing the Healthcare Profession for Implementing Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)

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SOURCE: Truestone

HERNDON, VA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) – Truestone, LLC, a provider of enterprise IT and mission operations solutions to the Federal government, announced today that “Readying Your Infrastructure for EMR” — an article on the steps healthcare providers can take to prepare and implement an electronic medical record (EMR) infrastructure has been featured in the May 2010 issue of Information Week Analytics.

The article, written by John Sankovich, Truestone’s VP of Federal Civilian Services, focuses on making smart technology-ready investment decisions in anticipation of increased demand for medical services and adoption of EMRs. Although the Federal government has created a $17 billion program to reimburse doctors and hospitals for implementing EMR systems, fewer than 10% of providers have taken concrete steps toward digital medical records.

The article provides frameworks for assessing requirements, determining delivery models, selecting hardware vendors and right-sizing server specifications. Sankovich also provides scoping mechanisms to help healthcare providers determine the proper server configuration for the size and scope of their practice. The article is available for purchase at www.analytics.informationweek.com. John Sankovich can be reached at [email protected].

About Truestone
Truestone delivers enterprise IT, cyber security, systems integration and mission operations solutions to the federal government. Founded in 2003, Truestone employs approximately 300 people located in Herndon, VA; Washington, DC; Suffolk, VA; Oakland, CA and at customer sites nationwide. Truestone is a subsidiary of Qivliq, LLC — a NANA company. For more information, visit www.truestonefed.com.

Contact:
Jonathan Sharp
Talant
703.282.5659

Averitt and Marathon Health Offer Comprehensive Onsite Health Services

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SOURCE: Marathon Health

Initiative Reflects Ongoing Commitment to Associate Health and Wellbeing

BURLINGTON, VT–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Marathon Health today announced that Averitt Express, a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management, will offer onsite health services to its associates at its corporate campus in Cookeville, TN. 

The Averitt clinic is scheduled to open in early October 2010.

Marathon Health will implement and manage the onsite health clinic for Averitt associates, spouses, and dependents over the age of six. Available services include acute and primary care, wellness and health promotion, health coaching, disease management, medication dispensing, and the Marathon eHealth Portal technology to support the delivery of care and coaching.

The opening of an onsite health clinic is a logical next step for Averitt’s health benefit strategy according to Averitt consultant Jeff Lynch, Summit Financial Group. “Over the past five years, we have systematically introduced wellness/prevention into the medical plan design, workplace policies, and employment policies. Balancing the cost pressures related to healthcare with a sincere desire to provide high-quality health benefits is a challenge for Averitt. The answer is providing Averitt associates with access to a full range of health services at work; this is a win-win for Averitt and its associates.”

“Our associates’ overall health is very important to us, and we strive to provide the appropriate tools to help them achieve the best health possible,” said Scott Wolf, Averitt vice president, corporate services. “We are very excited about how the onsite clinic will contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of our team.”

The foundation for Marathon Health services is health risk identification and mitigation. This total population health risk management approach addresses the health needs of the entire population, helping the healthy maintain good health, and helping those with costly and debilitating chronic disease to manage conditions.

“We are proud to partner with Averitt and to contribute to their vision of health and wellbeing for Averitt associates and their families,” said Jeff Shea, Marathon Health vice president.

About Averitt Express

Established in 1971, Averitt Express is a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management with international reach to more than 100 countries. The company specializes in delivering customized solutions with a single source of accountability for service offerings that include cross border/domestic offshore, dedicated, expedited, intermodal, international ocean/air, local customization, less-than-truckload, PortSide™, transportation management, truckload (dry van, flatbed, refrigerated, brokerage), warehousing and value-added services, including a centralized call center, strict performance metrics and an ongoing focus on green/sustainability efforts. Averitt’s technology offerings include a full suite of web-based shipping tools, electronic data interchange (EDI) and transportation and operations management systems. For more information, please call 1-800-AVERITT (283-7488) or visit http://www.averittexpress.com.

About Marathon Health

Marathon Health of Colchester, VT, offers a proven solution for helping employers reduce the total cost of healthcare. The Marathon Health approach integrates the best practices of onsite primary care, health assessment with risk identification, coaching and advocacy, and disease management for high cost chronic conditions. Marathon Health supports its unique model with an eHealth Portal delivering medical content, interactive diet and fitness tools, a personal health record, and an electronic medical record to manage care. For more information, please visit www.marathon-health.com.

Contact:
Tracey Moran
802-857-0459
Email Contact

Healthnostics, Inc. Retires 90 Million Outstanding Shares

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SOURCE: Healthnostics, Inc.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Healthnostics, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: HNSS), a medical and biotechnology analytics company, announced that in addition to its recent investment in a medical manufacturing company, it has invested in the repurchase of 90 million shares of its common stock in a private transaction, thereby reducing the actual issued and outstanding shares to 305,857,509. Of this total, the approximately 39 million shares which are not closely held are traded in the public market. These shares constitute the public float.

Both the investment in an ongoing acquisition and the investment in the repurchase of shares will have the immediate effect of increasing shareholder equity through significantly enhanced earnings per share.

About Healthnostics

Healthnostics, Inc. is a medical and biotechnology analytics company that provides comprehensive patient clinical monitoring and risk management systems to acute care hospitals and utilizes its Internet portals to deliver medical and biotechnology resource information to industry professionals as well as to the general public. Healthnostics’ major products include: MedGuardian, a patient care monitoring and risk management system for hospitals that is fully Web-based; and through the MedBioWeb subsidiary, MedBioWorld™, one of the largest professional medical and biotechnology directory resource and reference portal sites on the Internet, and FamilyMedicalNet, a companion consumer healthcare information portal.

For further information please visit Healthnostics www.healthnostics.com, MedBioWorld www.medbioworld.com, and FamilyMedicalNet www.familymedicalnet.com.

And visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Healthnostics.

This press release may contain certain statements that are not descriptions of historical information, but are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements refer to matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect management’s current views and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from the assumptions currently anticipated.

Contact:
Alan Grofe
P. 703-754-7126
[email protected]

SixLog(TM) Demonstrates Room Disinfection/Sterilization Technology at APIC 2010

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SOURCE: SixLog Corporation

SANTA ANA, CA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  SixLog Corporation, an Astro Pak company providing on-site biological decontamination and sterilization services, today announced it will be demonstrating its revolutionary iHP™ (ionized Hydrogen Peroxide) room disinfection/sterilization technology at the annual conference for APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control), July 12-14 at booth #2235 at the New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

SixLog’s featured system uses iHP™ technology, the next-generation of hydrogen peroxide fogging systems. It is faster, more effective, and safer than alternatives. Originally developed for the US Department of Defense to combat biological warfare, this breakthrough technology is now available for commercial use. iHP™ has proven efficacy in a multitude of industries including Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical, and SixLog now offers its service to the healthcare industry to address the ongoing challenges resulting from a nationwide goal of preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

“I am very excited to be able to offer our room disinfection/sterilization service to the healthcare industry,” says Vanessa Valdez, general manager of SixLog. “iHP™ is a proven sterilant that not only kills all microorganisms, but their spores as well, eradicating any possible reproduction of pathogenic organisms leading to nosocomial infections. We offer fully integrated, customized solutions to meet infection prevention needs at an affordable price. iHP™ can easily augment any hospital’s terminal cleaning protocol to provide a more robust result.”

SixLog’s room disinfection/sterilization service utilizing iHP™ technology solves critical infection control challenges in the healthcare industry and is particularly effective against common “super bugs” such as MRSA, C. difficile, VRE and multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter. iHP™ does not damage sensitive electronics and dissolves into just water and oxygen making it safe for staff, patients and visitors as well as the environment. A few examples of iHP™ room disinfection/sterilization applications include:

  • Emergency and patient rooms
  • Intensive care units
  • Surgical suites
  • Tissue culture labs
  • Bone marrow transplant suites
  • Blood banks
  • Sputum induction areas

For more information about SixLog’s iHP™ technology or to view it in action, please visit SixLog at booth #2235 at APIC 2010 July 12-14 at the New Orleans Convention Center, or contact us at [email protected] or 877-4SIXLOG (474-9564).

About SixLog Corporation

SixLog provides on-site biological decontamination for equipment, rooms, entire buildings, and modes of transportation such as ambulances, trains, and cruise ships. Its proprietary iHP™ (ionized Hydrogen Peroxide) decontamination technology is utilized across a variety of industries including Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, First Responders, Transportation, and Public Facilities. SixLog is privately held with headquarters in Santa Ana, CA. For more information, please visit www.sixlogcorp.com.

Editorial Contact
Jolene Harlan
Marketing Communications Manager
Astro Pak Corporation
(949) 270-0884

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GetWellNetwork Automates Alerts and Notification to Cisco Wireless Devices

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SOURCE: GetWellNetwork

GetWellNetwork and EXTENSION, INC. Give Patients Direct Communication to Caregivers 24×7 at Norton Brownsboro Hospital

BETHESDA, MD and FORT WAYNE, IN–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  GetWellNetwork, Inc. today announced a successful collaboration with EXTENSION, INC. to enable patients at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, Ky. to send messages directly to their attending nurse as well as to automate new patient care workflows that enable the hospital to provide better service and care more efficiently. Norton Brownsboro is one of five hospitals in the Norton Healthcare system, the Louisville area’s leading health provider.

The integration to EXTENSION® keeps the GetWellNetwork system connected to the right nurse and staff member, enabling nursing workflows that keep nurses informed and connected to their patients at all times — via the Cisco wireless device. The integration is accomplished through a new systems interface developed by GetWellNetwork using the HL7 protocol. 

EXTENSION specializes in solutions that turn Cisco Unified Communications into a clinical workflow tool by automating notifications using text messages, phone calls, and emails. It also allows nurses to acknowledge the notification directly from his/her phone and escalate the issue when needed. Through this integration effort, the GetWellNetwork system now sends alerts that inform nurses when patients have not completed important education videos or other service requests.

“The GetWellNetwork system provides us with valuable input from our patients but we needed an automated way for that information to be delivered to the handheld Cisco phones that are assigned to each of our staff on a given day,” said Doug Winkelhake, President, Norton Brownsboro Hospital. “We appreciate how quickly GetWellNetwork and EXTENSION came together to help us make patient experience and quality of care much better and more efficient.”

“By working with EXTENSION, we’re able to send actionable patient information right to the attending nurse and staff at Norton Brownsboro Hospital,” said Robin Cavanaugh, CTO, GetWellNetwork, Inc. “This integration effort is also noteworthy because it is standards-based, which means that we can implement this for any of our client hospitals who want to take the next level of patient engagement.”

“This solution was created in a way that leverages the existing process for how nurses and other staff members receive and react to other types of alerts sent by EXTENSION,” said Josh Mahler, COO, EXTENSION, INC. “By incorporating these new alerts into the existing process, minimal training was required.”

About EXTENSION, INC.
EXTENSION, INC. is based in Fort Wayne, IN and is the developer of the EXTENSION® Solution Suite (ESS). EXTENSION tightly integrates any HL7-based or web services-based medical application with Cisco Advanced Unified Communications, using standards-based protocols. EXTENSION recently earned the ‘Cisco Collaboration Partner of the Year for the US/Canada’ award at the 2010 Cisco Partner Summit. For more on EXTENSION visit www.OpenTheRedBox.com.

About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. uses the bedside TV to entertain, educate and empower hospital patients and caregivers to be more actively engaged in their care. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. GetWellNetwork is the leader in interactive patient care solutions and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.

Media Contacts:
Jenny Song
GetWellNetwork, Inc.
(703) 338-8434
Email Contact

Whitney St. Pierre
EXTENSION, INC.
(773) 661-2748
Email Contact

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World White Smiles Launches Celebrity Favorite Products

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SOURCE: World White Smiles

Revolutionary Product Launched During the Hollywood Mother’s Day Suite and MTV Movie Awards Suites From Gifting Services; Instant Celebrity Favorite Product From World White Smiles

CALGARY, AB–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  Celebrities are accustomed to getting the latest and greatest products from Gifting Services. Sometimes it is a clever gadget or a miracle skin cream. Sometimes they are amused, impressed or even shocked. On occasion they are left in awe of an innovative product that is becomes an instant “must have.” This season’s newest must have item is the Advanced Whitening Toothbrush from World White Smiles. When celebs think of tooth whitening they imagine the bright LED lights from the dentist’s office. World White Smiles took those lights and put them into a toothbrush! This is the James Bond of toothbrush technology. “How did they do this?” asked Nicole Scherzinger. Celebs had a consistently similar response to Debi Mazar who said, “This is genius.” A few of the other celebs who received the products were Jodi Sweetin, AnnaLynne McCord, Patti Labelle, Snooki and Chris Bauer.

Perfect white teeth are the soul of your smile. This patented LED Light Toothbrush is a revolutionary dental care system that not only cleans the teeth but also prevents many forms of gum disease.

Features/Benefits

  • Reduces bleeding gums
  • Leaves teeth feeling smoother longer
  • Scientifically proven to kill the photosensitive bacteria of the mouth and gums — the bacteria that causes gingivitis and other more severe forms of periodontal disease, and even kills thrush on contact
  • Whitens naturally — Does not utilize harsh chemicals to whiten teeth
  • Enhances the whitening capabilities of any whitening toothpaste
  • Increases saliva production — Which protects teeth and gums from periodontal disease by keeping the mouth more alkaline
  • Prevents halitosis

Some bacteria are photosensitive and when activated by visible light, induce a photodynamic reaction that kills them within seconds.

Deeply cleaning
Photodynamic energy can activate active oxygen ion in toothpaste and rapidly spread to teeth surrounding and every inch of space and edge where the common tooth brush is hard to reach. Clean and whiten each tooth completely. The innovative manual toothbrush is similar in outward appearance to conventional toothbrushes but that’s where the similarity ends. No toothbrush currently on the market can stand up to the superior performance of the LED Light Toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes can only brush the plaque off the tooth surface and nothing more. You can benefit from using this innovative technology today by brushing with this revolutionary toothbrush.

Natural design
Round-head brush is grinded by adopting advanced technology to nurse your teeth and gums. The handle designed by using Ergonomics can be held comfortably and controlled freely.

Battery
One AAA battery. It can be used for three months if teeth are brushed twice each day and for three minutes each time. It is safe and reliable. Photodynamic energy belongs to low energy light that is safe for gums or oral.

Affordable
We offer free Teeth Whitening Toothpaste while supplies last, you pay only a small shipping and handling fee as needed. Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every 3-6 months.

Contact:
Lennah Taleb-Fouani
President/CEO
1 403 975-8472
1 888 SMILE 16

Or

Talal Fouani
1-403-616-8472
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.worldwhitesmiles.com

Leading China Hospital Chooses TomoTherapy(R) Technology to Deliver Advanced Cancer Care for Broad Patient Base

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SOURCE: TomoTherapy

Peking Union Medical College Hospital Will Become Beijing’s First Ministry of Health System Facility to Adopt Innovative Radiation Therapy Platform

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of highly integrated radiation therapy solutions, announced today that Peking Union Medical College Hospital has selected the TomoTherapy® treatment system to advance its cancer care capabilities. Located in Beijing, the teaching hospital is one of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in China and a leader in radiation oncology that treats more than 200 patients per day. Peking Union will become the first Ministry of Health system-based general hospital in Beijing to offer TomoTherapy technology.

“After comparing a number of radiation therapy options, we chose a TomoTherapy treatment system in order to provide the most integrated, advanced treatment platform in the world,” said Dr. Fuquan Zhang, chairman of Radiation Oncology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. “We expect that TomoTherapy will provide advantages compared to traditional delivery methodologies, and that the simple operational platform will help increase throughput for many complex cases, while helping reduce the chance for mistakes. In other words, TomoTherapy is an efficient and advanced system that meets our demanding clinical environment.”

The TomoTherapy treatment system will be used to treat the hospital’s most challenging cases, starting with head, neck and gynecological cancers. The system’s unique helical IMRT capability enables clinicians to deliver highly conformal dose distributions to complex tumors. Additionally, the integrated CT image guidance offered by the TomoTherapy platform allows for precise patient positioning based on internal anatomy at time of treatment. This feature helps increase treatment delivery accuracy and ensure that radiation exposure to surrounding organs and tissue is minimized.

“Peking Union Medical College Hospital has a strong reputation throughout China for its radiation oncology services. With the addition of the TomoTherapy platform, clinicians there can advance their treatment capabilities with IG-IMRT, allowing them to better address more complex cases,” said Paul Baumgart, general manager of TomoTherapy’s Asia-Pacific Operations. “The introduction of TomoTherapy technology at Peking Union will provide a great showcase of the platform’s capabilities for the Chinese market, and is evidence of the growing demand for our solution in Asia.”

The TomoTherapy treatment system was sold to Peking Union Medical College Hospital by the company’s Chinese distributor TomoKnife. The system is expected to be installed later this year.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated develops, markets and sells advanced radiation therapy solutions that can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions include its flagship Hi·Art® treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding future products or product capabilities, events, expectations and other similar matters, including but not limited to statements using the terms “expect,” “expected,” “should” or “will” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including but not limited to factors such as our ability to integrate acquired assets, ability to protect intellectual property, risks of interruption due to events beyond the company’s control, and the other risks listed from time to time in TomoTherapy’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. These forward-looking statements represent TomoTherapy’s judgments as of the date of this press release. TomoTherapy assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events or otherwise.

©2010 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, Tomo, TomoDirect, TomoMobile, TomoHD, the TomoTherapy logo and Hi·Art are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

Investor Contact:
Thomas E. Powell
Chief Financial Officer
608.824.2800
Email Contact

Media Contacts:
Kevin O’Malley
Manager, Corporate Communications
608.824.3384
Email Contact

Susan Lehman
Rockpoint Public Relations
510.832.6006
Email Contact

DiaMedica Announces Completion of Sanomune Acquisition and $2.26 Million Prospectus Offering

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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) – DiaMedica Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DMA) (“DiaMedica” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce the completion today of its $2.26 million short form prospectus offering of units (the “Offering”) and its previously announced acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Sanomune Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on neurological disorders (“Sanomune”). 

The Offering

Pursuant to the completion of the Offering, DiaMedica has issued a total of 5,650,000 units (each a “Unit“) at a price of $0.40 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.26 million. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a “Common Share“) and one Common Share purchase warrant (each a “Warrant“), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire a further Common Share until the second anniversary of the closing of the Offering. The expiry date of the Warrants is subject to acceleration if the volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSX-V“) exceeds $0.75 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days. 

The Offering was led by Bolder Investment Partners, Ltd., as agent (“Bolder”). In connection with the completion of the Offering, Bolder exercised its agent’s option to increase the size of the Offering by 13%, or 650,000 Units. 

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund DiaMedica’s ongoing research and development programs, including planned pre-clinical trials for our lead products, and for general working capital purposes. 

As compensation for its services as agent, Bolder received a cash commission of $226,000, and received broker warrants to acquire up to 565,000 Common Shares exercisable at the price of $0.40 per share at any time on or prior to June 30, 2011.

The Acquisition

Pursuant to the completion of the Sanomune Acquisition, DiaMedica has issued a total of 12,807,377 Common Shares to Sanomune shareholders as consideration for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Sanomune.

“With the completion of this financing and the strategic acquisition of Sanomune, we have brought together two of Canada’s Top 10™ Life Sciences Companies,” stated Mr. Rick Pauls, President and Chief Executive Officer of DiaMedica. “This acquisition allows us to take advantage of a unique opportunity to strengthen our patent portfolio and expand into neurological and autoimmune disorders targeted by our lead program, DM-99/199, which has demonstrated neural protection (protects brain cells) and neural cell proliferation (creates brain cells)”.

As a result of the Acquisition, in addition to Sanomune’s lead compound, SAN-61, DiaMedica also acquires a panel of monoclonal antibodies that trigger the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3ß). GSK-3ß plays an important role as a regulatory switch for numerous cell-signaling pathways and has been linked to diabetes, cancer, infectious diseases and a variety of neurological disorders. It is anticipated that the monoclonal antibody program will compliment DiaMedica’s DM-99/199 program, which has also been shown to have GSK-3ß inhibiting properties.

As announced in its April 20, 2010 press release, DiaMedica obtained the required minority shareholder approval (the “Minority Approval”) for the Acquisition under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”), by securing written consents to the transaction from shareholders representing approximately 65% of the Common Shares held by parties eligible to vote for approval of the transaction under Part 8 of MI 61-101. This is in excess of the simple majority requirement (i.e., 50%+1) set out in MI 61-101 for such Minority Approval. 

In addition to the related parties described in DiaMedica’s February 18, 2010 press release regarding the Acquisition (each a “Related Party” and collectively, the “Related Parties”), Common Shares held by two investment funds, Manitoba Science & Technology Fund (“MST”) and Crocus Investment Fund (“CIF”) were also excluded for the purposes of obtaining Minority Approval for the Acquisition. MST and CIF each hold approximately 24.75% of the voting common shares of Genesys Ventures Inc., a Related Party, and are therefore each “a related party of an interested party” as described in MI 61-101. Immediately prior to the completion of the Acquisition and the Offering, the Related Parties, in the aggregate, beneficially owned, or exercised control or direction over, a total of 5,493,523 Common Shares, or 28.60% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares. To the knowledge of the Company, based on public filings by each of MST and CIF, immediately prior to the completion of the Acquisition and the Offering, MST and CIF held, in the aggregate, a total of 3,065,764 Common Shares, or 15.96% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares.

Management Changes

DiaMedica further announces the appointment of Mr. Pauls to the full-time position of President and Chief Executive Officer and the appointment of Dr. Mark Williams to Vice-President, Research. Dr. Stephen Waters has resigned from his interim role as Executive Vice-President and Interim Chief Scientific Officer.

Mr. Pauls, who has been an active board member since 2005, and is currently the Chairman of the Board of DiaMedica, has served as the acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since July 2009. Mr. Pauls was previously the Managing Director of CentreStone Ventures Inc., a life sciences venture capital fund which he was involved with from inception. While with CentreStone, Mr. Pauls led investments in Orasi Medical Inc., winner of the Red Herring Global 100; LED Medical Inc., winner of Red Herring Canada 50 award in the Health category; as well as DiaMedica and Sanomune, both named among Canada’s Top 10™ Life Sciences Companies. Prior to his role with CentreStone, Mr. Pauls was employed by Centara Corporation, another early stage venture capital fund.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Stephen Waters for his valuable contributions to our strategic planning efforts and we look forward to working with him as a consultant,” continued Mr. Pauls. “The Board of Directors of DiaMedica joins me in thanking Dr. Waters for his efforts, and we wish him continued success in his future endeavors”.

In conjunction with these management changes, the Board of Directors has approved a grant of 457,500 stock options to certain directors, executives and employees under the terms of the Company’s stock option plan. The options have an exercise price of $0.42 per share and are exercisable for a period of 5 years. This grant of such options is subject to acceptance by the TSX-V.

Please visit DiaMedica’s new company website at www.diamedica.com.

About DiaMedica and Sanomune

DiaMedica is a biopharmaceutical company, focused on developing novel treatments for diabetes and neurological disorders. The Company’s diabetes program is based on a critical liver nerve signaling mechanism involved in enhancing insulin sensitivity after meal consumption. Two of DiaMedica’s products have demonstrated human efficacy in lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics based on this novel nerve signaling mechanism.

As a result of the Sanomune Acquisition, DiaMedica plans to expand its DM-199 program into neurological and autoimmune disorders. Sanomune has demonstrated that its lead compound, SAN-61, a naturally occurring protein, confers neural protection (protects brain cells) and triggers neural stem cell proliferation (creates brain cells) for the treatment of numerous neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. DiaMedica has also acquired from Sanomune a panel of monoclonal antibodies targeting diabetes, neurological disorders and cancers through the inhibition of GSK-3ß.

Both DiaMedica and Sanomune were recognized as one of Canada’s Top 10™ Life Sciences Companies in 2008/2009. DiaMedica is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “DMA”.

For further information please visit www.diamedica.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, the “forward-looking statements“). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, DiaMedica’s objectives, goals, targets, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, estimates and outlook, and can, in some cases, be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may” and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding matters such as, but not limited to, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, management’s assessment of DiaMedica’s future plans, information with respect to the advancement of DiaMedica’s research and development programs, and DiaMedica’s other estimates and expectations.
These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: uncertainties and risks related to our research and development programs, the availability of additional financing, risks and uncertainties relating to the anticipated use of proceeds, changes in debt and equity markets, uncertainties related to clinical trials and product development, rapid technological change, uncertainties related to forecasts, competition, potential product liability, additional financing requirements and access to capital, unproven markets, the cost and supply of raw materials, management of growth, effects of insurers’ willingness to pay for products, risks related to regulatory matters and risks related to intellectual property matters. Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in the body of this news release, as well as under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in DiaMedica’s 2009 annual information form. DiaMedica cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on DiaMedica’s forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to DiaMedica, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions regarding the availability of additional financing for research and development companies, and general business and economic conditions. These risks and uncertainties should be considered carefully and investors and others should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, DiaMedica cannot provide assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. DiaMedica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Additional risk factors, factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and assumptions relating specifically to our acquisition of Sanomune may be found in our press releases dated February 18, 2010 and April 20, 2010.

AdCare Health Systems Prices Offering of $6.0 Million of Common Stock

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SOURCE: AdCare

SPRINGFIELD, OH–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK), an Ohio-based long-term care, home care and management company, has priced a public offering of 1,714,286 shares of its common stock at $3.50 per share. AdCare expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $5.5 million from the sale of the common stock. AdCare has granted a 30-day option to the underwriter to purchase up to an additional 15% or 257,143 shares to cover over-allotments. The offering is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on Friday, July 2, 2010.

AdCare plans to use the net proceeds of the offering for acquisition purposes, working capital and general corporate purposes. C.K. Cooper & Company is acting as the sole manager for the public offering.

The offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 4, 2010, which became effective on June 23, 2010. The offering will be made by a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, copies of which have been filed with the SEC.

Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from C.K. Cooper & Company, 18300 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 700, Irvine, California 92612, Attention: Hue Lapham/Syndicate Department, or [email protected], or via fax +1-949-477-9211.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any such offer may be made only pursuant to the company’s prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus for the offering and only in states in which the offering is registered or exempt from registration and by broker-dealers authorized to do so. The securities offered by the prospectus involve a high degree of risk.

About AdCare Health Systems
AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK) develops, owns and manages assisted living facilities, nursing homes and retirement communities and provides home healthcare services. Prior to becoming a publicly traded company in November of 2006, AdCare operated as a private company for 18 years. AdCare’s 900 employees provide high-quality care, management services and other services for patients and residents residing in 19 facilities, seven of which are assisted living facilities, 11 skilled nursing centers and one independent senior living community. The company owns eight of those facilities. In the ever-expanding marketplace of long-term care, AdCare’s mission is to provide quality healthcare services to the elderly. For more information about AdCare, visit www.adcarehealth.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal law. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management, and involve known and unknown risks, results, performance or achievements of the company which may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors are identified in the public filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include the company’s ability to secure lines of credit and/or an acquisition credit facility, find suitable acquisition properties at favorable terms, changes in the health care industry because of political and economic influences, changes in regulations governing the industry, changes in reimbursement levels including those under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and changes in the competitive marketplace. There can be no assurance that such factors or other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements.

MMRGlobal Gives Sales and Revenue Guidance

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SOURCE: MMRGlobal, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – June 30, 2010) –  MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (www.mmrglobal.com) today gave guidance in the form of projected sales, portions of which may be recognized as deferred revenue (“Sales”). For the 12 months ending December 31, 2010 the Company expects Sales of $2.7 million or 350 percent over 2009. Based on the knowledge of management today, the Company also projects Sales of $28 million for the 12 months ending December 31, 2011 or an increase of over 800 percent. Sales for the first six months of 2010 are expected to exceed the first six months of 2009 by more than 20 percent not including any revenues from International Licensing in 2010. This demonstrates that the Company’s core Sales are growing at a pace of over 100 percent after excluding the licensing revenues the Company reported last year. These projections do not include revenues from Chartis in 2010 which may occur, or any revenues from new affinity sales, China, India, integration to wireless devices, clinical trials, biotech assets or revenue that may be recognized through acquisitions.

According to Ingrid Safranek, Chief Financial Officer, “With the launch of MMRPro, the Company is taking the proactive step of early-adopting Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. This allows the Company to consistently record revenue on these sales up to and through the Company’s mandatory adoption date of January 1, 2011. Additionally, this new ASU is closer to the FASB’s proposed alignment with International Financial Reporting Standards. Adoption of this new standard results in revenue being reported earlier than under the old accounting rules.”

“Management has taken what we believe to be a cautious approach to our guidance by carefully evaluating our sales and marketing agreements, distribution channels and long lead times for time-to-market, which the Company has experienced in the past,” added Safranek.

The Company has modeled patient upgrades internally as follows: Patient upgrades will come from MMRPatientView through MMRPro sales from resellers and distributors, and National Payment Providers (“NPP”). The Company projects that the average MMRPro user will have 2.5 physicians, each with 2,000 active patient charts, or 5,000 patients per MMRPro placement. The Company projects that doctors will upgrade an average of two patients per month to MMRPatientView (www.mmrpatientvideos.com ),which should continue to increase year-over-year as the public becomes more aware of the importance of having a personal health record (“PHR”) and the government mandates the use of PHRs in healthcare reform. Physicians receive 35 percent of all revenue from patient upgrades, which the Company believes can result in substantially more income to doctors than the $44,000 in government stimulus programs. Kodak distributors and resellers and NPP receive an additional 15 percent as long as their MMRPro sale is active which should be no less than three years.

According to Robert H. Lorsch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MMRGlobal, “In addition to the Company’s core business, we foresee incremental growth from the effects of an acquisition strategy by adding business units that sell complementary products and services to MMRPro customers, and from our targeted expansion into the Pacific Rim with Kodak, and India with Nihilent. As part of the acquisition strategy, the Company could introduce a full-blown Electronic Medical Records product after meaningful use criteria are finalized. We continue to work with GRSworldwide on opportunities to introduce the Company’s products and services to the clinical trials market. Also, it is impossible to predict revenues, if any, which could come from the Company’s pre-merger Favrille biotech assets. While the Company continues to explore opportunities involving those assets, we remain focused on our core business, which is the development and marketing of professional and consumer-based health information technology products and services.”

Last Sunday, on June 27th, the Company ran a 30-second commercial during the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards primetime television special. The Company converted more than 20 percent of all visitors to its website to an e-mail address and more than 5 percent to paid accounts despite a 30-day free trial. MMR will continue to exploit its commercial advertising on the Web and in direct marketing materials through its agreement with E-Mail Frequency.

The Company is in the process of translating its consumer websites into seven foreign languages in support of its Chartis agreement and believes that once completed, this could result in additional licensing and/or direct international marketing opportunities. To learn more about MMR Global, Inc. and its products, visit www.mymedicalrecords.com, www.mmrpro.com and view our product videos at www.mmrtheater.com.

About MMRGlobal, Inc.
MMR Global, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (“MMR”), provides secure and easy-to-use online Personal Health Records (“PHRs”) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions (www.myesafedepositbox.com), serving consumers, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and professional organizations and affinity groups. MyMedicalRecords enables individuals and families to access their medical records and other important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance policies and wills, anytime from anywhere using the Internet. The MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record is built on proprietary, patented technologies to allow documents, images and voicemail messages to be transmitted and stored in the system using a variety of methods, including fax, phone, or file upload without relying on any specific electronic medical record platform to populate a user’s account. The Company’s professional offering, MMRPro, is designed to give physicians’ offices an easy and cost-effective solution to digitizing paper-based medical records and sharing them with patients in real time through an integrated patient portal. MMR is an Independent Software Vendor Partner with Kodak to deliver an integrated turnkey EMR solution for healthcare professionals. MMR is also an integrated service provider on Google Health.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk the Company’s products are not adopted or viewed favorably by the healthcare community, risks related to the current uncertainty and instability in financial and lending markets, timing and volume of sales and installations, length of sales cycles and the installation process, market acceptance of new product introductions, ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships, ability to identify and integrate acquisitions, relationships with licensees, competitive product offerings and promotions, compliance with and changes in government laws and regulations and future changes and initiatives in the healthcare industry, undetected errors in our products, risks related to third party vendors, risks related to obtaining and integrating third-party licensed technology, acceptance of the Company’s marketing and promotional campaigns, risks related to a security breach by third parties, maintaining, developing and defending our intellectual property rights including those pertaining to our biotechnology assets, uncertainties associated with doing business internationally across borders and territories, and additional risks discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, we are a developing early-stage company and many variables can affect revenues and/or projections, including factors out of our control. The Company is providing this information as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

CONTACT:
Bobbie Volman
MMR Global, Inc.
(310) 476-7002, Ext. 2005
[email protected]

Michael Selsman
Public Communications Co.
(310) 553-5732
[email protected]

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AdCare Health Systems Proposes Offering of Common Stock

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SOURCE: AdCare

SPRINGFIELD, OH–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK), an Ohio-based long-term care, home care and management company, intends to offer shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. C.K. Cooper & Company is acting as the sole manager for the public offering.

AdCare plans to use the net proceeds of the offering for acquisition purposes, working capital and general corporate purposes.

AdCare previously filed a registration statement, together with the accompanying base prospectus, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 4, 2010, which became effective on June 23, 2010. Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and expenses of AdCare before investing. The base prospectus contains certain information about AdCare and should be read carefully before investing. A prospectus supplement describing the particular terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will form a part of the effective registration statement. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from C.K. Cooper & Company, 18300 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 700, Irvine, California 92612, Attention: Hue Lapham/Syndicate Department, or [email protected], or via fax +1-949-477-9211.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any such offer may be made only pursuant to the company’s prospectus for the offering and only in states in which the offering is registered or exempt from registration and by broker-dealers authorized to do so. The securities offered by the prospectus involve a high degree of risk.

About AdCare Health Systems
AdCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ADK) develops, owns and manages assisted living facilities, nursing homes and retirement communities and provides home healthcare services. Prior to becoming a publicly traded company in November of 2006, AdCare operated as a private company for 18 years. AdCare’s 900 employees provide high-quality care, management services and other services for patients and residents residing in 19 facilities, seven of which are assisted living facilities, 11 skilled nursing centers and one independent senior living community. The company owns eight of those facilities. In the ever-expanding marketplace of long-term care, AdCare’s mission is to provide quality healthcare services to the elderly. For more information about AdCare, visit www.adcarehealth.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal law. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management, and involve known and unknown risks, results, performance or achievements of the company which may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors are identified in the public filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include the company’s ability to secure lines of credit and/or an acquisition credit facility, find suitable acquisition properties at favorable terms, changes in the health care industry because of political and economic influences, changes in regulations governing the industry, changes in reimbursement levels including those under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and changes in the competitive marketplace. There can be no assurance that such factors or other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements.

Company Contacts
David A. Tenwick, Chairman
AdCare Health Systems, Inc.
Tel (740) 549-0400
Email: Email Contact

Or

Chris Brogdon
Vice Chairman and Chief Acquisitions Officer
AdCare Health Systems, Inc.
Tel (937) 964-8974
Email: Email Contact

Investor Relations
Ron Both or Geoffrey Plank
Liolios Group, Inc.
Tel (949) 574-3860
Email: Email Contact

TomoTherapy Selected by Premier Healthcare Alliance for Supply Agreement

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SOURCE: TomoTherapy

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of advanced radiation therapy solutions for cancer care, announced today that it has signed an equipment supply group purchasing agreement with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc. The agreement provides TomoTherapy greater reach into Premier’s not-for-profit hospitals and health centers, which includes 2,300 U.S. hospitals and more than 67,000 other healthcare facilities, while enabling Premier members to access special pricing and terms for innovative radiation oncology solutions and establishing a streamlined purchasing solution for them.

TomoTherapy’s radiation therapy solutions enable high treatment quality for a broad patient population, with capabilities to treat cancers throughout the body.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Premier, the leading group purchasing organization serving not-for-profit healthcare institutions,” said Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy CEO. “In addition to providing TomoTherapy expanded reach through Premier’s network, this agreement will offer Premier’s members better access to highly precise cancer treatment solutions.”

About Premier Healthcare Alliance
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 67,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to achieve high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation’s most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom’s National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington. http://www.premierinc.com.

About TomoTherapy Incorporated
TomoTherapy Incorporated develops, markets and sells advanced radiation therapy solutions that can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most complex. The ring gantry-based TomoTherapy® platform combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. TomoTherapy’s suite of solutions include its flagship Hi·Art® treatment system, which has been used to deliver more than three million CT-guided, helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment fractions; the TomoHD™ treatment system, designed to enable cancer centers to treat a broader patient population with a single device; and the TomoMobile™ relocatable radiation therapy solution, designed to improve access and availability of state-of-the-art cancer care. TomoTherapy’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.

©2010 TomoTherapy Incorporated. All rights reserved. TomoTherapy, Tomo, TomoDirect, TQA, the TomoTherapy logo and Hi·Art are among trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of TomoTherapy Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

Investor Contact:
Thomas E. Powell
Chief Financial Officer
608.824.2800
Email Contact

Media Contacts:
Kevin O’Malley
Manager, Corporate Communications
608.824.3384
Email Contact

Susan Lehman
Rockpoint Public Relations
510.832.6006
Email Contact

AXcess News: Neostem Cleared for China Manufacturing, Stock Upgraded

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SOURCE: AXcess News

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Neostem (NYSE Amex: NBS) was cleared for manufacturing penicillin and cephalosporin powder for injection at its new manufacturing facility by China’s State Food and Drug Administration. The news helped convince WBB Securities to upgrade the company from ‘sell’ to ‘hold’.

WBB Securities initially extended coverage on Neostem on June 3, 2010 with a ‘sell’ recommendation, however, it should be noted that the investment banking firm began touting four other stem cell companies in late April. The fact that Neostem raised $5 million in cash through a placement in late June had no bearing on the investment banker’s outlook, however, after the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration cleared the way to begin selling drugs manufactured at Neostem’s new, state-of-the-art facility in China, WBB Securities analysts had second thoughts and upgraded the company’s shares.

Neostem announced Tuesday morning that two of its manufacturing lines were up and running at its China pharmaceutical manufacturing unit which would increase production capacity by more than 50%. With that country’s State FDA giving the green light to manufacture penicillin and cephalosporin powder for injection, sales forecasts are expected to show substantial gains.

Based on sales results for 2009 and the new manufacturing plant’s increased capacity, sales could increase by more than $20 million.

Neostem founder and CEO, Dr. Robin Smith, noted that Eyre was one step closer to becoming “one of the largest antibiotic producers in Eastern China.”

Note to Editors: “News Features” are stories provided to publishers copyright-free for print or online display at no charge. All we ask is that publishers include our byline (AXcess News) as the source, or if online, link to our Web Site: http://www.axcessnews.com. If you are interested in displaying our news on a regular basis, please contact our editorial department at: 775-461-0362 or by email at: [email protected].

Contact:
AXcess News
Email Contact
775-461-0362

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ARRA Financial Incentives Drive Demand for VisualMED smart EHR

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SOURCE: VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp.

Medical Facilities Sign Agreements Worth $2.6 Million

LAS VEGAS, NV–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp. (The “Company”) (PINKSHEETS: VMCS) (FRANKFURT: VA6) announces that it has received in the past three weeks firm orders for its Clinical Information System from independent private medical facilities worth an aggregate amount of 2.6 million.

The deals are multi-year rental agreements that will see the deployment of the Company’s signature smart Electronic Health Record, with full CPOE, decision support and medical alerts, over the next 3 months. A significant part of the implementation support and help desk will be outsourced for greater speed and efficiency.

Starting in April the Company has been receiving increasing requests for quotes as medical facilities seek to meet the 2011 deadline for the first and largest disbursement to physicians under ARRA provisions. The key for physicians to secure these payments is meeting the meaningful use criteria which can only be demonstrated by using a true intelligent CPOE such as the ones VisualMED has been offering for many years.

“Thanks to the new reforms our time has come,” says Chairman Gerard Dab. “We are now becoming a mainstream product line that helps physicians meet new regulatory standards. Providers have only five years to implement systems that offer meaningful use before they face punitive measures, and there is a shortage of expertise in the marketplace to do so.” 

VisualMED appears to be benefiting from the new regulatory environment created by the Healthcare Information Technology provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which has earmarked close to $40 Billion to promote the widespread adoption of systems that correspond to federal norms of meaningful use, such as those owned and marketed by the Company since 2006.

Medical institutions are under increasing pressure to adopt such technologies. There is an industry-wide rush to identify systems that can help physicians qualify for federal ARRA reimbursement grants. This has led to an increased demand for products and services from companies that can deliver the rich medical content and suitable interoperability required.

The Company continues to work with its network of licensees and will seek to expand its network of strategic alliances. It expects to be profitable for a second consecutive year and has continued to contain operating costs.

ABOUT VISUALMED

VisualMED markets smart EHR with Clinical Information Systems (CIS) and Computerized Physician Order Entry that meet the new regulatory environment ushered in by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Health Reform Act of 2010.

We offer a powerful technology platform both scalable and interoperable, developed at a cost of some forty million dollars and tested over many years in tertiary care and ambulatory environments.

Our solutions help medical facilities reduce mortality and morbidity due to medical errors, increase provider efficiency and bring down operating costs. Their key clinical components are a core solution in the new agenda to promote greater patient safety and reduce risks due to medication errors.

Detailed information on our company and its products is available on our web site at www.visualmedsolutions.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information provided herein, this press release may contain information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on management’s best possible evaluation of future events. Such factors may include, without excluding other considerations, fluctuations in quarterly results, evolution in customer demand for the Company’s products and services, the impact of price pressures exerted by competitors, and general market trends or economic changes. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results.

Contact:

Gerard Dab
CEO
VisualMED Clinical Solutions Corp.
Tel: 514 582 5220

This Week on ORLive: Live Personalized Partial Knee Replacement Surgery From Germany

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SOURCE: ORLive, Inc.

New On-Demand and Live Surgery Video for the Week of June 28, 2010

WEST HARTFORD, CT–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  ORLive, the vision of improving health, presents a personalized partial knee replacement surgery. Presented by ConforMIS, the surgery will be broadcast live from University of Wuerzburg Orthopedic Center for Musculoskeletal Research.

This week ORLive also invites you take part in the latest installment of the Virtual Brain Tumor Board, and to watch and learn from our library of spine surgery videos.

NEW ON ORLIVE

LIVE SURGERY — German Language Broadcast to Europe, Featuring ConforMIS iUni® G2 Patient Specific Partial Knee Replacement System
Live June 29, 2010, 11:00 AM EDT

Live from the University of Wuerzburg Orthopedic Center for Musculoskeletal Research, a live partial knee replacement surgery using the ConforMIS iUni® G2 system. The broadcast will feature Dr. Wolfgang Fitz of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Ulrich Nöth and Dr. Maximilian Rudert, both of the University of Wuerzburg Orthopedic Center for Musculoskeletal Research, presenting and performing the surgery. Learn more about this broadcast, presented entirely in German, at http://www.orlive.com/conformis-inc-/videos/n-chste-generation-patienten-spezifischer-knieoberfl-chenersatz-mit-conformis-iuni-sup-/sup-g2-17-00-uhr-mez-1.

Viewers will be able to interact and ask questions via the ORLive website. Learn more about this program, and request a reminder on ORLive.com.

ORLIVE REFERRALS — Week of June 28, 2010
Each week ORLive highlights on-demand videos for our membership and visitors.

Spine Health Referral: XLIF® Procedure from Tampa General Hospital

CME Referral: Complex Cases in Cardiovascular Anesthesiology

Viewer’s Referral: Revision Knee Surgery Featuring the Zimmer® NexGen® LCCK System, from Zimmer

HIGHLIGHTS

NOW ON-DEMAND — Advances in Treating Pediatric Epilepsy
Now Available On-Demand

If a child’s seizures can’t be controlled with medications, surgery may be the solution. See how the Neurosurgical team at NewYork-Presbyterian Phyllis & David Komansky Center for Children’s Health is making advancements in epilepsy. Hosted by Philip Stieg, MD, PhD, and featuring Jeffrey Greenfield, MD, PhD, Samual Weinstein, MD, and Theodore Schwartz, MD, this program goes in depth into the latest surgical advancements and options for patients.

Viewers of this video are invited to interact with the surgeons via the ORLive website, and to join the community and receive regular updates from the NewYork-Presbyterian Phyllis & David Komansky Center for Children’s Health on pediatric epilepsy.

LIVE PROGRAM: Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery: Robot Assisted Mitral Valve Repair
Now Available On-Demand

Baptist Health South Florida will take center stage when viewers watch as cardiac surgeon Dr. Lynn Seto uses the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System to perform a mitral valve repair.

The webcast will be moderated by television personality Diane Magnum. She will moderate commentary by Dr. Seto and cardiologists Dr. Paul Seigel and Dr. Romeo Majano, who will explain the benefits of having valve repair surgery. Additionally, the patient who was operated on in late May will share his experience about his diagnosis and recovery. Viewers also can choose to watch the procedure in Spanish.

SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT — VOX ORLive
This procedure is also featured in an episode of VOX ORLive, an audio podcast featuring the latest advancements in medicine, surgery, and medical technology.

About ORLive
ORLive is the leading provider of video communication channels to the healthcare community. Working collaboratively with hospitals and device manufacturers, ORLive produces and distributes customized, interactive, video programs that demonstrate the latest advances in medicine, surgical techniques and product innovations. The ORLive broadcasting network provides an intimate look at over 650 live and on-demand surgeries to a global audience, streaming over 50,000 hours of programming each month. The ORLive network can be found on-line at www.ORLive.com.

Contact:
Bonnie Gergely
Communications Manager
(860) 953-2900
Email Contact

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Interactivation Health Networks Bolsters Out-of-Home Ad Sales Team With Addition of Seasoned Account Executive

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SOURCE: Interactivation Health Networks

Chana Stern, From Everwell TV Network, Joins Interactivation as Account Executive, Ad Sales

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Interactivation Health Networks, parent company of the Newborn Channel and Patient Channel, the nation’s most comprehensive in-hospital TV networks, today announced the appointment of Chana Stern as Account Executive, Ad Sales, for both channels.

Formerly with Everwell TV, Chana joins Interactivation with over 10 years experience in the Out-of-Home media space. A seasoned executive, Chana will provide agencies with an additional point of contact for advertisers seeking expertise in point of care, place based media, as demand for both networks continues to grow.

“Demand for digital out-of-home video advertising, particularly as it relates to hospitals as a fourth screen location, has grown significantly over the past year,” said Suzanne Fleming SVP of Sales at Interactivation Health Networks. “Chana’s familiarity with both place based media advertising and the health industry at large will be key assets for us as we continue to meet the needs of our growing list of advertisers.”

Newborn Channel and Patient Channel provide marketers with unparalleled access to their target consumers in a highly trusted environment. 

About Interactivation Health Networks
The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel are the most comprehensive in-hospital TV networks. Delivered directly to patient rooms and waiting areas, the Channels provide viewers with original, award-winning health programs and advertisers with the unique ability to integrate brand messaging with content that is compelling and endorsed by healthcare professionals. The Newborn Channel broadcasts baby care and postpartum programming for new parents, reaching 60% of new moms. The Patient Channel features both condition-specific and preventative health programming to empower and inform patients. The channels are currently available in over 2,700 hospitals nationwide.

Media Contact Information:
For more information on Interactivation, or to speak with an executive of the company, please contact:

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Mixed Results From ACCORD: Study Found No Overall Reduction in Cardiovascular Risk, but Benefits to Eyes, Kidneys and Nerves

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

Potential Benefits of Intensive Blood Glucose Lowering Must Be Weighed Against Higher Mortality Risk

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Five-year results of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study confirm that neither more intensive lowering of blood glucose (sugar) levels, more intensive lowering of blood pressure, nor treatment of blood lipids with a fibrate and a statin drug reduce cardiovascular risk in people with established type 2 diabetes who are at severely high risk for cardiovascular events. However, the study did find improvements to microvascular conditions, such as progression of diabetic eye disease (retinopathy), visual acuity, and renal and nerve function. The landmark study is sponsored by the federal government through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Speaking at the American Diabetes Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®, the ACCORD Study Group cautioned that any potential benefits must be weighed against the increased risk of mortality and episodes of seriously low blood glucose that were seen to accompany intensive lowering of blood glucose levels — which in ACCORD was focused on achieving normal A1C levels in the study population. They emphasized that both the positive and negative results of the study apply only to this population of middle-aged or older people with type 2 diabetes for an average of 10 years, who also had a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or at least two risk factors for CVD.

“These results underscore the importance of patient-centered care that stresses individual treatment choices made in consultation with a physician,” said Denise Simons-Morton, MD, Ph.D, Director of the Division for the Application of Research Discoveries at the NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the primary sponsor of the study. “Within this group, it’s important for patients and doctors to decide the highest priority for the patient,” she said. “Is improved eye health worth a higher risk of death and low blood sugar episodes? That’s a question only a fully informed patient can answer.”

The ACCORD researchers set out to investigate whether cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes could be reduced using one of the following strategies, each compared with standard treatment: intensive lowering of blood glucose to near-normal levels (target A1C less than 6%), intensive lowering of blood pressure to near-normal levels, or treatment of blood lipids with a combination of fibrate and statin drugs. It also looked at how each of these treatments would affect other outcomes such as mortality and microvascular outcomes (e.g., eye, kidney and nerve complications). 

NHLBI prematurely halted the intensive blood-glucose lowering strategy after 3.5 years, in February 2008, due to safety concerns caused by an unexpected higher incidence of death in the intensive glucose lowering treatment group compared with the standard treatment group. Patients in the intensive treatment arm of the study were transitioned into the standard treatment arm for the remainder of the trial’s five years, which has now concluded.

Intensively Lowering Blood Glucose: Increased Mortality and No Cardio Benefit, But Possible Benefits to Eyes, Kidneys and Nerves

Results of intensive glucose lowering on microvascular outcomes were published today in the Lancet and presented at a symposium at the American Diabetes Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions in Orlando.

The study examined patients who underwent intensive glucose-lowering treatment for 3.5 years (increased medication aimed at lowering A1C levels to less than 6 percent) and were then given standard treatments (aimed at achieving A1C levels of 7.0-7.9%) for the remaining 1.5 years, compared with standard treatment for the duration of the study. The intensively treated patients did not see a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the groups did not differ in overall measures of microvascular health, for example, in the progression rates to kidney failure, major vision loss, or advanced peripheral neuropathy, a common nerve problem in diabetes that usually begins as tingling or numbness in the feet. However, there were some microvascular improvements noted, such as a reduced incidence of albuminuria (protein in the urine, a marker of kidney disease) in the intensive group, compared to those receiving standard treatment, along with fewer cataract extractions during the study period. Visual acuity (sharpness of vision) and nerve function scores were also better for the intensive group than for the standard-treatment group, suggesting that intensive lowering of blood glucose may also help prevent eye and nerve damage.

“Patients who develop macroalbuminuria are prone to renal failure and cardiovascular events,” said Faramarz Ismail-Beigi, MD, Ph.D, of Case Western Reserve University and the lead researcher on this portion of the study. “Less protein in the urine is a very good sign.”

Though the visual acuity tests were somewhat subjective, Ismail-Beigi said, they could indicate that intensive glucose lowering helps to prevent eye damage.

Intensively Lowering Blood Glucose, Treating Lipids: Slows Retinopathy Progression

That finding is further supported by a substudy of ACCORD chaired by Emily Chew, MD, chief of the Clinical Trials Branch of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI). Results of the study were published online in the New England Journal of Medicine today. Chew and her colleagues investigated whether each treatment arm of the ACCORD trial — blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids — would reduce the progression of diabetic eye disease (or retinopathy) in a subset of about 3,000 ACCORD study participants, compared to that treatment’s standard approach. Disease progression was identified through retinal photographs that indicated blood vessel changes or by the need for laser or vitrectomy surgery to treat abnormal blood vessels.

The study found that people in the intensive blood glucose lowering arm, as well as those who received a combination of a fibrate and a statin for blood lipids, experienced slower progression in diabetic retinopathy than those in each standard treatment arm. Those who were in the intensive blood pressure lowering arm did not see a reduction in eye disease progression when compared to people receiving standard blood pressure control.

Compared with standard blood glucose control, intensive control decreased the progression of diabetic retinopathy by about one-third, from 10.4 percent to 7.3 percent, over four years. Participants in the intensive control group had a median blood glucose level of 6.4 percent hemoglobin A1C — a level close to values in people without diabetes. The standard blood glucose control group maintained a median level of 7.5 percent.

In addition, compared with simvastatin treatment alone, combination lipid therapy with fenofibrate plus simvastatin also reduced disease progression by about one-third, from 10.2 percent to 6.5 percent, over four years. No prior clinical trial has shown that the combination of fenofibrate and simvastatin reduces diabetic eye disease progression.

Contrary to predictions, there was no difference in diabetic retinopathy progression among participants treated to an intensive systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) target of less than 120 mm Hg, compared with those treated to a standard target of less than 140 mm Hg.

“The results of the ACCORD Eye Study indicate that intensive blood sugar control and combination fibrate plus statin treatment of lipids independently reduce diabetic retinopathy progression,” Chew said. “However, patients and their doctors should work together to develop an individual treatment plan, taking into account the potential risks of intensive glucose treatment.”

Combination Lipid Treatment: No Cardio Benefits Overall, But Subgroup May See Reduced Risk

Combination lipid therapy with a statin plus a fibrate did not help lower cardiovascular risks overall, but the results did suggest that a subgroup of the study — those with high triglycerides and low HDL (the so-called “good” cholesterol) — may benefit by such treatment.

In this subpopulation of the investigation, which included about 15 percent of the 5,518 people studied in the ACCORD Lipid Trial, those who had triglyceride levels of more than 200 and HDL levels below 34 saw a reduced incidence of cardiovascular events of 30 percent. These findings are supported by similar findings of subgroup populations in several large previously published clinical studies.

“If it were an isolated finding in our study I’d be less enthusiastic,” said Henry Ginsberg, MD, Irving Professor of Medicine and Director of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Columbia University. “But this finding is in line with subgroup analyses in several other trials.”

A second subgroup analysis of this arm of the study found that women and men respond differently to combination lipid therapy, Ginsberg said. Though overall the study found no cardiovascular benefits for the study population, when broken down by gender, the results showed men experienced a 20 percent reduction in cardiovascular events, while women experienced a 38 percent increase in cardiovascular events.

However, when examined for statistical significance, “the data for men showed a strong indication that they benefitted, while the data for women were not as conclusive,” Ginsberg said. “This raises possibilities that need to be further examined.”

These results were published in the April 29, 2010, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Intensively Lowering Blood Pressure: No Cardio Benefits, But Suggested Reduction in Stroke

Results from the intensive blood pressure control arm of the study were also published in April in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this treatment arm, participants lowered blood pressure levels to “normal” levels of less than 120 mm Hg, to see if doing so would reduce major cardiovascular events, compared with standard treatment of levels less than 140 mm Hg. No significant reduction in overall CVD events was found.

The study did find a significant (41 percent) reduction in stroke, which was consistent with other BP-lowering clinical trials. However, because this was not the primary focus of the study, and because the overall rate of stroke was low, the researchers are hesitant to recommend a strategy of lowering blood pressure to this degree without further study.

“Older patients with known cardiovascular disease, higher blood pressure to begin with, and African Americans may benefit from such a treatment plan,” said William Cushman, MD, of the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, “but we’re going to have to do further analyses.”

The NHLBI is the primary sponsor of ACCORD, with additional funding and scientific expertise contributed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Other components of the NIH — including the National Institute of Aging — as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support substudies. The following companies provided study medications, equipment, or supplies: Abbott Laboratories, Amylin Pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Closer Healthcare Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Inc., Omron Healthcare, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis U.S., and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Symposium, June 29, 10:15 a.m.

Contact:
Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146

News Room: June 25-29, 2010
Room 303B, Orange County Convention Center
(407) 685-4010

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Long Term Care Facilities Face Uncertain Future

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SOURCE: MarketResearch.com

ROCKVILLE, MD–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of Kalorama Information’s new report “Long Term Care Market: Nursing Homes, Home Care, Hospice Care, and Assisted Living,” to their collection of Home Healthcare market reports. For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?ProductID=2578516

Kalorama Information publishes its third edition of this detailed report on the long term care industry at a time of growth but also change and concern for the long term care industry. The economy has challenged the business strategies of key players, while the recent healthcare legislation introduces changes that may affect revenues. These twin challenges are addressed in The Long-Term Care Market: Nursing Homes, Home Care, Hospice Care, and Assisted Living The report provides an in-depth examination of the market for long-term care today. The following segments are broken out in detail: This report covers the most important segments of the long term care industry, each of which provide medical care and/or assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs) on an ongoing basis:

  • Nursing care;
  • Home Care;
  • Hospice Care;
  • Assisted Living.

Excluded are markets that address temporary care needs such as physical or mental rehabilitation. Residential living programs and facilities that do not generally provide care such as retirement communities.

For each of the segments of long term care the report provides:

  • Market Size and Forecast
  • Number of Facilities/Providers and Growth Trends
  • Patient Statistics
  • Forms of Payment and Reimbursement Levels
  • Trends Affecting the Marketplace
  • Competitors and Competitive Analysis

Sales estimates for each market segment represent U.S. revenues and are expressed in current dollars. Estimates are provided for the historic 2005 to 2009 period and forecasts are provided through 2015.

As part of the report’s analysis of the state of the industry, the report covers the Recent Healthcare Reform and its Impact on Nursing Homes and the Effects of the Economy. Other issues and trends discussed in the report include:

  • Medicare & Health Care Reform
  • Patient Dumping
  • Quality of Care
  • Federal Quality Improvement Initiatives
  • State Quality Improvement Initiatives
  • Legal Actions
  • Safety
  • Aging of the Population
  • Marital and Living Arrangements
  • Geographic Concentrations
  • Certification and Accreditation
  • Fees and Payment
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Cost of Coverage and Affordability
  • Staffing and Human Resources
  • Building of New Facilities 

Historical information for this report was gathered from a wide variety of published sources including company reports and filings, government documents, legal filings, trade journals, newspapers and business press, analysts’ reports and other sources. Interviews with company representatives were conducted to capture the perspectives from industry participants’ point of view and assess trends, and form the basis of the forecasting and competitive analysis.

As part of its coverage of the industry, the following long term care companies were profiled in this report:

  • Apria Healthcare Group Inc./ Blackstone Group
  • Brookdale Senior Living
  • Emeritus Corporation
  • Extendicare, Inc.
  • Genesis Healthcare
  • Golden Living
  • Manor Care, Inc.
  • Sun Healthcare Group Inc.
  • Sunrise Senior Living Inc.

For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?ProductID=2578516.

Contact:
Sean Snyder
MarketResearch.com
[email protected]
240.747.3076

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Banyan Forms Dental Division

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SOURCE: Banyan Corporation

BOCA RATON, FL–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) – Banyan Corporation (PINKSHEETS: BNYN) announced that its board of directors has agreed to the formation of a new operating unit of the company called “America’s Dentist.”

This operating division will focus on the multi-billion dollar dental industry and is establishing itself to provide marketing, finance, practice management and branding to the dental community. The company feels that it will be able to bring significant value added to a broad array of dental practices.

Banyan Corporation believes it can leverage off its significant experience with Chiropractic USA, as well as with its existing operations in its diagnostic imaging business, to move into the dental arena.

About Banyan Corporation:

Banyan Corporation is a publicly traded holding company focused on investing in and building a network of operating subsidiaries engaged in various innovative businesses. Currently the company’s subsidiaries, Premier Medical Group, Inc. and affiliated companies, provide diagnostic testing services to physicians nationwide.

This Press Release contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements including certain information with respect to plans and strategies of Banyan Corporation. For this purpose, any statements contained herein or incorporated herein by references that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of events or actual results of Banyan Corporation operations that could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Michael Gelmon
1-310-909-4607
www.PMGtesting.com

Outsourcing Claims Processing Saves Companies Time and Money to Meet New Health Care Reform Requirements

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SOURCE: SOURCECORP

Latest SOURCECORP® White Paper Details Upgrades Mandated by Recently Passed Legislation

DALLAS, TX–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) – As a result of the health care reform law that was recently passed, organizations that process health care claims must take action to comply with the new regulation. To assist organizations, SOURCECORP, Incorporated, a premier business process outsourcing company, has released a new white paper, “Is Your Claims Processing Destined for Success in the Face of Government-Driven Change?” This complimentary document explains some of the law’s requirements and demonstrates why outsourcing is an efficient and cost-savvy way for organizations to adhere to the new standards.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is expected to cause an increase in enrollments, which will lead to growth in claims processing and customer service assistance. Payer companies and organizations must also convert to HIPAA 5010 standards and enact changes in medical coding from ICD-9 to ICD-10 as of October 1, 2013. In order to meet these mandates, these organizations will need to upgrade their software systems and implement other new processes.

There are many benefits of outsourcing the administrative burden that will come with the predicted surge in enrollment. Utilizing a subcontracting model will lower the operational cost of processing claims and responding to customer needs, and reduce the cost associated with the technology that must be used in order to comply with the law. It also helps ensure that organizations will meet the terms of the legislation, giving companies expert advice on this new platform.

Outsourcing will help organizations meet the demands of the rapid increase in enrollment, as well as the costs to manage additional insured customers. While HIPAA implementation and migration to ICD-10 codes are not required until 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services is expecting providers to complete testing by the end of this year.

To execute new HIPAA standards and code changes, most companies will have to update their infrastructure and expend the resources to evaluate and test new software systems. By subcontracting, organizations can eliminate the need for an additional capital expense and make sure the systems are implemented correctly.

Another benefit of outsourcing is that organizations will not need additional space to house equipment or provide additional staff to run the systems. Instead, health care payer companies can optimize their space for revenue-generating activities instead of storing bulky equipment and hosting mailroom operations.

Outsourcing will enable companies to speed up and efficiently process new enrollments and serve customers. Staff members will be able to focus more on customer care rather than tedious administrative tasks. In addition, employees of companies that subcontract can maintain accuracy despite spikes in enrollment and claim processing. Administrative expenses and time can be reduced by nearly 50 percent as a result of hiring a company that specializes in claims processing to meet the new health care reform guidelines.

John Nixon, Senior Vice President of Business Development for SOURCECORP’s BPS division, stated, “Outsourcing to SOURCECORP has helped many companies save on per claim capture costs by an average of $1.2 million to $4.5 million annually. Best of all, we can help ensure that a company will avoid penalties that can be issued from not implementing systems correctly, and from not deploying a new system on time.”

For a complimentary white paper on migrating to the new health care reform standards, visit www.sourcecorp.com/newsroom/white-papers.aspx

About SOURCECORP®
SOURCECORP, Incorporated provides business process outsourcing solutions and specialized high value consulting services to clients throughout the United Sates. SOURCECORP focuses on business processes in information-intensive industries including commercial, financial, government, healthcare, and legal. Headquartered in Dallas, the company serves clients throughout the United States through a network of locations in the U.S., Mexico, Philippines and India.

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Patient Care Technology Systems Announces New Software Release for Their Popular Workflow Automation System, Amelior Tracker(R)

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SOURCE: Patient Care Technology Systems

Amelior Tracker 2.8 Allows New Quick-Search Options for One-Click Access to Asset Status

CHARLOTTE, NC–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Patient Care Technology Systems (PCTS), a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSLR), today announced the availability of an upgrade to its software for tracking patients, staff and equipment. The new release of Amelior Tracker 2.8 features multiple improved user interfaces with enhanced search and identification tools to help healthcare staff locate resources as efficiently as possible.

Some key software enhancements include advanced “Map View” configuration options such as popup balloons that enable users to customize the contents and the number of items displayed for each entity when in hover-mode. This allows for a quick view of the details of each entity in its location including: name, serial number, workflow status (clean, in use, dirty), asset type and hospital ID to name a few. Users will also be able to view the actual number of entities in a specific location, rather than just a dot indicating that there is a piece of equipment nearby. Another key feature is a new RTLS Component Health Monitoring module that will enable the user to more effectively and efficiently monitor the status and functionality of the RTLS equipment deployed. Other enhancements include improved zone tree displays, application to use globalization settings to configure date formatting, a textbox available for quick tag id search, and a powerful new keyword search feature that dynamically searches over all attributes of an entity.

Amelior Tracker 2.8 advanced utilization reports help drive purchasing, rental and allocation decisions by analyzing whether the facility is making the best use of the assets it has. The PCTS workflow engine receives and interprets data from the RTLS system applying client-specific business rules to assess status and provide feedback that is critical to drive business processes and asset workflow. These reports provide managers, administrators and process improvement teams with movement, interaction and flow data that assists in spotting trends and identifying situations that may require corrective action, thus providing real-time business intelligence to our clients.

The Amelior Tracker® solution is part of the Amelior Enterprise Visibility and Workflow Automation Suite™ which comprises department to facility-wide software solutions and services designed to more efficiently and safely orchestrate patient care through the real-time visualization of patient flow. Hospitals can scale their implementations by the entities they wish to track (movable medical equipment, patients, staff), purpose (temperature monitoring, asset management, patient flow, infection control) and by the scope of hospital workflow (acute care, inpatient floors, outpatient services, enterprise-wide). 

Amelior Tracker is interoperable with all major locating technologies including active-RFID, infrared, ultrasound, ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. PCTS also works closely with a network of successful locating hardware partners and provides consulting services so the best locating technology or technologies are chosen to match the client’s particular needs. In addition, the Amelior Interface Gateway™ supports the exchange of data between an Amelior tracking or documentation solution and virtually any hospital information system. Key functions include sending/receiving, data transformation, transaction logging, administration/monitoring and notifications. These platforms work together to offer extensive performance and workflow advantages to the healthcare industry.

“Recent enhancements to our Amelior Tracker software allows us to continue to provide an improved system that requires less time spent locating resources needed to support patient flow and improve staff workflow,” says Chad Sallee, vice president of information technology at PCTS. “The real-time identification and visualization of asset location can help eliminate redundant equipment purchases and leases, improve equipment utilization and preventative maintenance, and track assets as part of infection control protocols.”

About Patient Care Technology Systems

Patient Care Technology Systems, a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSLR), helps health care providers to improve patient flow, increase capacity and improve patient and staff safety by visualizing the real-time location and status of people and equipment throughout their facility. PCTS solutions have supported over 2 million patient visits annually and have shown a proven return on investment in high turnover, high-acuity units such as the emergency department and perioperative suites. The Amelior Enterprise Visibility and Workflow Automation Suite™ is interoperable with all leading locating technologies, including active-RFID, infrared, ultrasound, ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. PCTS customers have been recognized nationally for improvements in efficiency and clinical excellence. For more information, visit www.pcts.com. 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. PCTS and CSLR caution you that any statements contained in this press release which are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to PCTS’s and CSLR’s expectations regarding continued business growth. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, (copies of which may be obtained at the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov) — could impact the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PCTS and CSLR disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in PCTS and CSLR’s expectations, or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Contact Information:

Karen Beran
Marketing Manager
Email Contact
714-642-1056

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Healthnostics Initiates Investment in Medical Manufacturing Company

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SOURCE: Healthnostics, Inc.

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Healthnostics, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: HNSS), a medical and biotechnology analytics company, has initiated its acquisition strategy with cash investments in a medical manufacturing company.

The Company will continue to provide additional details as its acquisition strategy continues to unfold.

“We have now moved from the planning stage to the implementation stage of our acquisition strategy, which means that the positive impact on our sales and earnings will come sooner than originally planned,” said Alan Grofe, President.

About Healthnostics

Healthnostics, Inc. is a medical and biotechnology analytics company that provides comprehensive patient clinical monitoring and risk management systems to acute care hospitals and utilizes its Internet portals to deliver medical and biotechnology resource information to industry professionals as well as to the general public. Healthnostics’ major products include: MedGuardian, a patient care monitoring and risk management system for hospitals that is fully Web-based; and through the MedBioWeb subsidiary, MedBioWorld™, one of the largest professional medical and biotechnology directory resource and reference portal sites on the Internet, and FamilyMedicalNet, a companion consumer healthcare information portal.

For further information please visit Healthnostics www.healthnostics.com, MedBioWorld www.medbioworld.com, and FamilyMedicalNet www.familymedicalnet.com.

And visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Healthnostics.

This press release may contain certain statements that are not descriptions of historical information, but are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements refer to matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect management’s current views and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from the assumptions currently anticipated.

Contact:
Alan Grofe
P. 703-754-7126
[email protected]

Avaya Aids Study to Evolve Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare Information Technology System

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SOURCE: Avaya Inc.

Foundation of Quality V.A. Healthcare Information System to Modernize, Migrate to Open-Standards

FAIRFAX, VA–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Avaya Government Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avaya, today announced the company’s participation in the recently-released study to modernize the healthcare system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). The V.A. relies heavily on this system to ensure America’s Veterans receive the treatment they require. Called the “VistA Modernization Report – Legacy to Leadership,” it is focused on improving the V.A.’s VistA (V.A. Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) healthcare network.

The V.A. has seen an uptake in the demands of its healthcare system; which must serve nearly eight million veterans, 153 V.A. hospitals and 768 outpatient clinics. VistA is the integrated health information system — recognized as one of the best in the nation — that supports the V.A. in its work.

“The V.A. relies on the best doctors and medical technology,” said Joel Hackney, president, Avaya Government Solutions. “We are honored to be chosen to contribute to the success of this study and help the V.A. make its next-generation, information network the best available. We support the work of the VistA study participants and thank them for their unique contributions in helping define the next-generation Healthcare IT vision.”

“Providing for those who have served this great nation is more than our mandate, it is our passion,” said the Honorable Roger Baker, assistant secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer, Veterans Affairs. “The VistA study provides critical insight from the leaders in industry as to how we can do this better, more effectively and more comprehensively. This is planned to enable us to employ our resources with laser precision, eliminating waste in terms of time to service and completely eliminating every unused or underused resource.”

Included in the recommendations of the VistA study is the need to migrate the design of the information system of the Veterans Affairs to an open, plug-and-play architecture so that the most modern and “built for purpose” components that enhance functionality can be incorporated. In addition, by moving to an open-standards approach, the VistA system can utilize the best technology from standards-compliant vendors as well as other open source communities that will provide the best, most innovative products in the future.

The VistA study was spearheaded by the American Council for Technology (ACT) – Industry Advisory Council (IAC), which promotes government and industry collaboration. It was managed by the V.A. and Andy Robinson, IAC executive vice chair, for the IAC Executive Committee. Ed Meagher, chair of the IAC VistA Modernization Working Group, led the working group of healthcare and IT professionals from 34 companies for the six-month study, which included co-chair of the VistA Modernization & Architecture subcommittee, Srinath Godavarthi, technical director, Avaya Government Solutions.

Enterprise network modernization is critical for all healthcare entities. HIPPA compliance has mandated that all such systems be ultra-secure in their totality with no margin for error. Avaya is focused on serving the needs of both the Civil Government and Federal Government as well as the Healthcare industry.

About Avaya Government Solutions
Avaya Government Solutions is a network-centric integrator, providing the services expertise, mission-critical systems and secure communications that empower government to ensure the security, livelihood, and well being of its citizens. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., Avaya Government Solutions offers a one-stop shop for solutions designed to improve workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, and streamline inter-agency communications. Please visit www.Avayagov.com for more information.

About Avaya
Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, data solutions, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organizations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.

Media Inquiries:
Pat Cooper
Avaya Government Solutions
425-829-8572
[email protected]

Community-Based Lifestyle Intervention Yields Weight Loss, Reduced Glucose Results Similar to Those in DPP

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  A community-based lifestyle intervention program, modeled after one used in a landmark government funded diabetes-prevention study, can help participants in a group setting achieve weight loss and blood glucose reductions comparable to those achieved with individual counseling from health professionals, according to data presented by researchers at the American Diabetes Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®.

In the Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes (HELP PD) study, participants were divided into two groups: a lifestyle weight loss group, which received six months of weekly behavioral weight loss sessions in a group setting, followed by monthly follow-up meetings, at which they were encouraged to change eating behaviors and exercise up to 180 minutes per week; and a usual care group, which received two visits with a dietitian and a quarterly newsletter with tips for lifestyle changes. The group weight loss sessions were delivered by lay community health workers trained and supervised by dietitians at the Wake Forest Diabetes Care Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The study found that those in the lifestyle intervention group achieved and maintained significantly greater weight loss (an average of 7.3 percent of body weight) than those in the regular care group (who achieved an average loss of just 1.3 percent of body weight) after 12 months. The lifestyle intervention group also reduced blood glucose levels by an average of over 4 mg/dl, from 105.8 mg/dl to 101.2 mg/dl, after 12 months, compared to an average drop of less than 2 mg/dl (to 104 mg/dl) for the regular care group. The results for the lifestyle group mirrored those achieved over three years by participants in the landmark National Institutes of Health-sponsored Diabetes Prevention Program, in which individuals with glucose levels in the pre-diabetic range were able to reverse the course of their disease by losing 5-7% of body weight and exercising 150 minutes per week, in addition to receiving individual counseling sessions with trained behavioralists. In the Diabetes Prevention Program, the weight loss program led to a 58% reduction in the development of diabetes, from about 11% a year to about 5% a year.

“In the Diabetes Prevention Program, professional behavioral specialists worked with participants with pre-diabetes in one-on-one sessions. We trained some of our patients with diabetes to work as lay community health workers with groups of participants with pre-diabetes, so we really didn’t expect to see quite as good a weight loss result as we did, but we were very pleased to see it,” said David Goff, MD, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and lead researcher on the study. “Given that our weight loss results look as good as the DPP, this approach shows great promise for preventing diabetes. It’s a very translatable intervention to deliver in public health settings. We think this approach could be replicated at Diabetes Care Centers across the country.”

There are more than 3,000 such centers in the United States, with on-site physicians, diabetes educators and facilities that can be used for delivering the type of group intervention employed in this study. However, the intervention can be delivered in any setting where community health workers have access to a room large enough for about a dozen people to meet, a television, a DVD player, and a scale, Dr. Goff said.

The HELP PD model relies upon DVDs developed by the research team that give participants information about healthy eating, proper stretching and exercise tips, how to eat “mindfully” (i.e. not out of boredom or habitually in front of the television) and other lifestyle-related topics. Dr. Goff said that training community health workers to coach participants on how to set goals, solve problems and use the information in the DVDs could be accomplished by others interested in starting such a program in their own community. Reimbursement for these programs is a barrier.

Study participants will be followed for an additional five years to see whether individuals can maintain weight loss and blood glucose reductions independently, or if they need continued group counseling to do so. The study is being funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

HELP PD is one of numerous community-centered intervention models being developed based upon a program used during the DPP. Several different programs, tested in a variety of community settings, will be discussed and presented during the Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions, including the Group Lifestyle Balance Program, which helped significantly reduce diabetes risk factors through group settings at a primary care practice in California and also through DVDs that could be viewed at home (105-OR). This program was also successful when delivered by diabetes educators (417-PP). Another focused on Arab Americans in the Detroit, Michigan area, who successfully reached weight loss and physical activity goals through a program culturally modified to suit Middle Eastern diet and values (110-OR). And African Americans recruited during Sunday services at 42 churches in Georgia and Connecticut showed promising initial weight loss and a high willingness to participate in a church-based, culturally adapted lifestyle change program, according to preliminary data (109-OR).

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Oral Presentation, Tuesday, June 29, 8:25 a.m.

Contact:
Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146

News Room: June 25-29, 2010
Room 303B, Orange County Convention Center
(407) 685-4010

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HHS Secretary Sebelius to Join Leaders From NIH, FDA and Academia to Discuss New Roles in Drug Discovery and Development

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SOURCE: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

KANSAS CITY, MO–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and other national leaders are coming together on July 6, 2010 for a first-of-its-kind town hall-style meeting with the goal of accelerating the discovery and development of new cancer drugs.

The event will bring together other senior government officials and thought leaders from industry, venture capital, academia, venture philanthropy and non-profit sectors to spur innovation and move discoveries more quickly from the laboratory to the clinic, where they can benefit patients battling cancer. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Richard Gephardt, former U.S. House Majority Leader and Chairman of the Council for American Medical Innovation, are among those who will participate.

Reflecting the growing shift away from the model of large pharmaceutical companies developing drugs internally from start to finish, the town hall is titled, “The New Role of Academia in Drug Discovery and Development.” It is being sponsored by Friends of Cancer Research and the University of Kansas Cancer Center, with support from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Council for American Medical Innovation.

Where: The Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64110

When: July 6, 2010, 7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. CDT

Many key participants and organizational leadership will be available for press prior to the conference.

Press Contacts:
Friends of Cancer Research: Ryan Hohman, [email protected] or 717-333-6248

The University of Kansas Cancer Center: Marci Nielsen, [email protected], 913-961-0759 or Stephanie Sharp, [email protected], 913-579-4376

Kansas Bioscience Authority: Chad Bettes, [email protected] or 913-397-8300

Kauffman Foundation: Barb Pruitt, [email protected] or 816-932-1288

Council for American Medical Innovation: Sean Donahue, [email protected] or 202-347-7947

About Friends of Cancer Research

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is a cancer research think tank based in the Washington, D.C. area. Working with the entire cancer research and advocacy community, Friends pioneers innovative public-private partnerships, organizes critical policy forums, educates the public, and brings together key stakeholders to overcome the barriers standing between patients and the most promising cancer treatments.

About The University of Kansas Cancer Center

At The University of Kansas Cancer Center, we are more than an academic cancer center; we are a unique community-based cancer research and care partnership focused on one mission: eliminating the burden of cancer. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care by linking our innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to our nationally accredited patient care program.

About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. 

About the Council for American Medical Innovation

The United States faces serious challenges to maintaining its leadership position in innovation. The Council for American Medical Innovation is bringing together leaders in research, medicine, public health, academia, education, labor, investment, and business, who are working in partnership toward a national policy agenda aimed at preserving U.S. leadership in medical innovation. American medical innovators create millions of high-paying jobs, and their discoveries are integral in the fight to cure cancer and other illnesses. The Council for American Medical Innovation views leadership in medical innovation as a key part of America’s economic recovery, future prosperity and health.

About the Kansas Bioscience Authority

The KBA is a $581 million initiative that is advancing Kansas’ national bioscience leadership by building world-class research capacity; fostering the formation and growth of bioscience startups; supporting expansion of the state’s bioscience clusters; and facilitating industrial expansion and attraction.

Press Contacts:
Friends of Cancer Research:
Ryan Hohman
[email protected]
717-333-6248

The University of Kansas Cancer Center:
Marci Nielse
[email protected]
913-961-0759

Stephanie Sharp
[email protected]
913-579-4376

Kansas Bioscience Authority:
Chad Bettes
[email protected]
913-397-8300

Kauffman Foundation:
Barb Pruitt
[email protected]
816-932-1288

Council for American Medical Innovation:
Sean Donahue
[email protected]
202-347-7947

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Vanguard Announces $225 Million Offering of Notes

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SOURCE: Vanguard Health Systems, Inc.

NASHVILLE, TN–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. (“Vanguard”) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC (“VHS Holdco II”), and Vanguard Holding Company II, Inc. (“VHS Holdco II Inc.” and, together with VHS Holdco II, the “Issuers”), plan to issue an aggregate principal amount of up to $225.0 million of 8% senior notes due 2018 (the “New Notes”) in a private placement. 

The Issuers intend to use the net proceeds from the offering of the New Notes, together with cash on hand, to finance Vanguard’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets of The Detroit Medical Center, a Michigan non-profit corporation, consisting primarily of eight acute care and specialty hospitals in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area and related healthcare facilities and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. If the acquisition is not consummated, the proceeds of the offering of the New Notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including other acquisitions.

The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The New Notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons, except to “qualified institutional buyers” in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A and to certain persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S. You are hereby notified that sellers of the New Notes may be relying on the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy New Notes in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or sale would be unlawful.

Company Information and Forward Looking Statements

About Vanguard

Vanguard owns and operates 15 acute care hospitals with 4,135 licensed beds and complementary facilities and services in Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; and Massachusetts. Vanguard’s strategy is to develop locally branded, comprehensive healthcare delivery networks in urban markets. Vanguard will pursue acquisitions where there are opportunities to partner with leading delivery systems in new urban markets or to increase its presence in existing markets. Upon acquiring a facility or network of facilities, Vanguard implements strategic and operational improvement initiatives including expanding services, strengthening relationships with physicians and managed care organizations, recruiting new physicians and upgrading information systems and other capital equipment. These strategies improve quality and network coverage in a cost effective and accessible manner for the communities Vanguard serves.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are those statements that are based upon management’s current plans and expectations as opposed to historical and current facts and are often identified in this report by use of words including but not limited to “may,” “believe,” “will,” “project,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and “plan.” These statements are based upon estimates and assumptions made by Vanguard’s management that, although believed to be reasonable, are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. These factors, risks and uncertainties include, among others, Vanguard’s high degree of leverage and interest rate risk; Vanguard’s ability to incur substantially more debt; operating and financial restrictions in Vanguard’s debt agreements; the enactment in March 2010 of major healthcare reform legislation and the future possible enactment of additional federal or state health care reform and changes in federal, state or local laws or regulations affecting the healthcare industry; Vanguard’s ability to generate cash necessary to service Vanguard’s debt; weakened economic conditions and volatile capital markets; post-payment claim reviews by governmental agencies could result in additional costs to us; Vanguard’s ability to successfully implement Vanguard’s business strategies; Vanguard’s ability to grow its business and successfully integrate future acquisitions, including the assets of The Detroit Medical Center; potential acquisitions, including the assets of The Detroit Medical Center, could be costly, unsuccessful or subject Vanguard to material unexpected liabilities; conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of Vanguard’s control by a small number of stockholders; the highly competitive nature of the healthcare industry; governmental regulation of the industry, including Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; pressures to contain costs by managed care organizations and other insurers and Vanguard’s ability to negotiate acceptable terms with these third party payers; Vanguard’s ability to attract and retain qualified management and healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses; future governmental investigations; the availability of capital to fund Vanguard’s corporate growth strategy; potential lawsuits or other claims asserted against Vanguard; Vanguard’s ability to maintain or increase patient membership and control costs of its managed healthcare plans; Vanguard’s exposure to the increased amounts of and collection risks associated with uninsured accounts and the co-pay and deductible portions of insured accounts; dependence on Vanguard’s senior management team and local management personnel; volatility of professional and general liability insurance for Vanguard and the physicians who practice at its hospitals and increases in the quantity and severity of professional liability claims; Vanguard’s ability to maintain and increase patient volumes and control the costs of providing services, including salaries and benefits, supplies and bad debts; increased costs from further regulation of healthcare and potential liability from Vanguard’s failure to comply, or allegations of Vanguard’s failure to comply, with applicable laws and regulations; the geographic concentration of Vanguard’s operations; Vanguard’s failure to adequately enhance Vanguard’s facilities with technologically advanced equipment; technological and pharmaceutical improvements that increase the cost of providing, or reduce the demand for, healthcare services and shift demand for inpatient services to outpatient settings; costs and compliance risks associated with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; a failure of Vanguard’s information systems that would adversely impact its ability to manage its operations; material non-cash charges to earnings from impairment of goodwill associated with declines in the fair market values of Vanguard’s reporting units; and volatility of materials and labor costs for potential construction projects that may be necessary for future growth.

Although Vanguard believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, you should not regard the inclusion of such information as a representation by Vanguard that its objectives and plans anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on Vanguard’s results of operations and financial condition. Vanguard undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Vanguard Health Systems, Inc.
Gary Willis
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(615) 665-6098

StayWell Custom Communications Aligns With Leading SEO Firm to Offer Search Engine Marketing Services

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SOURCE: StayWell Custom Communications

SALT LAKE CITY, UT–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Custom health communications company StayWell Custom Communications (SCC), a division of MediMedia USA, has announced an exclusive strategic alliance with SEO.com, a leading provider of search marketing strategies including search engine optimization, pay-per-click management, social media, and SEO Web design. 

Through this strategic alliance, StayWell Custom Communications will be offering a range of search marketing strategies designed to increase website traffic, build loyal customers and drive online transactions for its clients, which include health care providers, health plans, and retailers such as pharmacies and supermarket chains.

The increasing demand for online health information and services is fueling a growing need for health care organizations and health care retailers to focus on programs and tactics that make it easier for consumers to navigate the Internet and find information, which ultimately builds business for their organization. Search Engine Optimization and online advertising programs are becoming an increasingly important part of the mix when it comes to driving prospective patients and consumers to a health care site.

“As organizations continue to invest heavily in developing a robust online presence, ensuring that consumers can find them is critical to a successful e-business strategy,” said StayWell Custom Communications president and CEO Trent Sterling. “The need for such specialized search marketing strategies in order to optimize healthcare content and services have become ever more important.”

SCC established the alliance with SEO.com in order to meet this need and help its clients improve site performance. “We partner with our clients to deliver robust interactive health content solutions designed to achieve business results,” said Sterling. “The excellent search marketing strategies offered by SEO.com will enable our clients to maximize their ROI by helping them boost their Web traffic, and turn that traffic into revenue for their organization. With 80 percent of consumers going online to look for health information, the potential for our clients to use their content to attract visitors is unlimited.” 

SEO.com, an SEO company, is based just outside Salt Lake City, just minutes away from the headquarters of SCC’s Interactive Solutions. SEO.com’s clients include Dell, H&R Block, AlphaGraphics, Hugo Boss and Mrs. Field’s Cookies. Website Magazine ranked SEO.com the No. 2 SEO firm in the country in April 2010.

“Good content with the right keywords is critical for search engine optimization,” said Dave Bascom, CEO of SEO.com. “We’re excited to have joined forces with StayWell to help many respected organizations in the health industry achieve their goals.”

About StayWell Custom Communications (SCC)
StayWell Custom Communications is the leader in custom health content solutions delivered via a variety of sophisticated technology platforms. Our interactive offerings include robust web platforms, online health libraries, e-mail and SMS (or mobile) marketing programs, and an extensive range of multimedia tools including video, podcasts and animations. The company serves hundreds of clients representing several channels in the healthcare industry: hospitals and health systems; health plans; employers; and retail organizations. StayWell Custom Communications also offers a comprehensive range of print and print/interactive integrated solutions to meet a broad range of clients’ marketing and communication needs. 

SCC is a member of the StayWell family of companies, which includes Krames, StayWell Health Management, StayWell Consumer Health Publishing (A Harvard Medical School Strategic Alliance), Vitality Communications, StayWell Productions and StayWell Safety Solutions (a Red Cross Strategic Business Alliance). StayWell, which is a division of MediMedia USA, represents the largest patient education and consumer health information publisher in North America.

For more information, visit www.staywellcustom.com.

About MediMedia
Headquartered in Yardley, PA, with 1,700 employees in offices throughout the U.S., MediMedia changes consumer and professional behaviors through superior engagement, education and end-user preferences. Our health information services group creates, publishes, distributes, and syndicates on and off-line health information to help consumers make informed health decisions on behalf of a variety of sponsors, including providers — both hospitals and physicians, payers, and online media companies. Our health management services group provides population health management services which help consumers lower their health risk, enabling employers to lower their risks, utilization and ultimately their health care expenses. And finally, our professional segment derives its revenues from providing online/off-line professional promotion, engagement, and education services targeted to healthcare professionals and their patients.

MediMedia is a Vestar Capital Partners portfolio company.

About SEO.Com
SEO.com is a search marketing firm that makes its clients money by driving traffic to their websites through aggressive search engine optimization, pay per click management, and social media marketing. SEO.com then turns those visitors into sales through search-optimized Web design and conversion optimization. Clients range from small startups to Fortune 100 companies. For more information, visit http://www.seo.com/.

For more information:
Angie Hansen
StayWell Custom Communications
(801) 517-6941
Email Contact

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Southern Chicago Healthcare Provider, Riverside Healthcare, Launches New Website

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SOURCE: Riverside Medical Center

KANKAKEE, IL–(Marketwire – June 29, 2010) –  Riverside Healthcare is proud to have their new website up and running. Current users of www.RiversideHealthcare.org will notice that the new website has maintained the overall look and feel of the original site and also offers new information in an easy to navigate format. As one of the top hospitals in Illinois, this website only makes Riverside’s services that much better.

With just a quick visit to this website you will see that they offer a wide range of services online. This Chicago south suburbs healthcare provider allows you to find a physician online with a basic search. Whether you need a dentist, family doctor, oncologist or even a plastic surgeon, this website can help you find one. If you need to schedule a mammogram or bone density scan, you can make this appointment directly online. There is no need to make telephone call and wait on hold anymore. Simply logon to get started today.

We all know that paying our medical bills can get hectic at times. Through Riverside Healthcare’s new website you can pay your medical bills with their bill payment center. This system makes paying your bills simple and convenient.

If you are not a patient at the hospital, but know someone staying at the southern Chicago healthcare center, there are services online that can help you as well. This website is great for those people who live out of town and can’t make it to the hospital to be there in person. You can go online and order flowers to be sent to your loved one. You can choose from a wide range of beautiful arrangements that will be delivered directly to their room. The website also offers access to The Market Place, where you can shop for all different types of medical goods. If you need books, gifts, strollers, or vitamins, this website has it all. One of the most popular features of the website is the online nursery. If someone you are close to just had a baby you can access the online nursery through their website as well.

Riverside Healthcare’s new website has something to offer everyone. You can visit the website every day to read up on the latest medical news. www.RiversideHealthcare.org is just what the doctor ordered!

Media Contact:
Carl Maronich
815-935-7256
Email Contact

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Medical Women’s International Association: Good Maternal Health Care Must Be Maintained in Order to Save Thousands of Lives

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) – Funding for maternal health care must stay front and centre as the G8 and G20 summits conclude. Approximately 500,000 women around the globe die each year from pregnancy related causes that are preventable. Another 70,000 die from complications of unsafe abortions. When their mothers die, 80% of children under age one will also die, usually within two years.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper demonstrated Canadian leadership when addressing the goal of improving maternal health and lowering maternal and child mortality. Women around the world need Canada’s commitment and that of the other G8 countries.

As physicians, we are committed to evidence based solutions and realize that to reach this goal the strategy must include access to a full range of reproductive health programs including access to safe abortion where legal. There must be development of strong health care systems, supported by trained health care providers and integrated into whichever local health systems already exist. There need to be community based programs for maternal and child health including preventative programs such as nutrition, public health and vaccination programs. There also need to be programs that continue to work on the big three diseases that ravage sub-Saharan Africa, namely TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS, as these diseases contribute significantly to maternal and child mortality.

As world leaders leave Canada and prepare for the upcoming meeting in South Korea, there needs to be a commitment from all G8 countries for $30 billion over five years to fund maternal health. Saving women makes economic sense. Women make up half of the world’s population, and as women, produce the other half.

The Medical Women’s International Association has been in existence since 1919 and is an organization of women physicians from around the world whose mandate is to improve the health of women and children. The national branch is the Federation of Medical Women of Canada.

Diabetes Drug Rosiglitazone Not Associated With Increased Risk of Death, Stroke or Heart Attacks in BARI 2D Study

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

Study Confirms Higher Incidence of Fractures

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  Rosiglitazone, a commonly used diabetes drug, poses no significant increased risk of death, stroke or heart attack, though it does increase the risk of fractures, according to a new analysis of thousands of patients with established cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The findings are being presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®, and are part of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) study, a landmark multicenter trial focusing exclusively on patients with both diabetes and established heart disease.

The safety of rosiglitazone, marketed as Avandia, a medication in the class of thiazolidinedione (TZD) drugs, has been a controversial topic since a 2007 meta-analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that rosiglitazone “was associated with a significant increase in the risk of myocardial infarction and with an increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular causes.” The strength of this study, which reviewed the results of 42 previously published investigations but did no independent testing of the drug, has been questioned by others in the field but ultimately led to a review of the drug’s safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In November 2007, the FDA added a warning label to the drug regarding potential heart risks.

The following year, however, researchers conducting the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT), a large-scale clinical trial in which 80 percent of patients were taking rosiglitazone, added further, while still inconclusive, information to this discussion. During the American Diabetes Association’s 68th Scientific Sessions, the VADT researchers reported that a specific analysis of rosiglitazone found that it did not appear to cause excess cardiovascular events and may in fact provide protective benefits for cardiovascular health.

Now a post-hoc analysis of the BARI 2D findings also shows no increased risk of heart attack or cardiovascular death with rosiglitazone treatment. Analyzing 4.5 years of follow-up data for patients who were being treated with rosiglitazone, compared to those not taking any TZD drugs, the study found no increase in risk of death or heart attack from taking rosiglitazone. While no protective cardiovascular benefit was shown, the analysis found that the rate of death, heart attack and stroke tended to be lower — about 28 percent lower in fact — among patients taking rosiglitazone. As has been seen with other studies of TZDs, the rate of congestive heart failure was significantly higher among patients taking rosiglitazone, but this difference was not statistically significant. 

As seen in previous studies, the analysis of BARI 2D reported a 45 percent increase in fracture rates for those taking rosiglitazone, compared to those not taking any TZD medications.

“I think these data are important because they suggest there is no significant cardiovascular harm posed by taking rosiglitazone for patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease,” said lead researcher Richard Bach, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine. “There is an increase in fractures, but when one considers the dramatic morbidity and mortality associated with ischemic cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes, these data are reassuring.”

The BARI 2D study, led by principal investigator Sheryl Kelsey, Ph.D, of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, evaluated both a cardiovascular treatment approach as well as a diabetes control approach in 2,368 persons with type 2 diabetes and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) to reduce deaths or deaths and cardiovascular events (heart attacks and stroke) combined. The first component compared intensive medical treatment with prompt coronary revascularization by either bypass surgery or angioplasty (which opens blocked arteries by inserting metal stents or balloons through the arteries, without recourse to surgery) to intensive medical treatment alone. The second component compared whether controlling diabetes with drugs to make insulin work better (insulin sensitization) had an advantage for heart health or survival compared to using a strategy emphasizing drugs increasing insulin itself (insulin provision).

Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, a group of serious diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin. Diabetes can lead to severely debilitating or fatal complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation. It is a leading cause of death by disease in the United States. Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance — the body’s inability to properly use its own insulin — and occurs mainly in adults who are overweight and age 40 and older. More than 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. With diabetes, heart attacks occur earlier in life and often result in death.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Oral presentation, Tuesday, 8:50 a.m.

Contact:

Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146

News Room: June 25-29, 2010
Room 303B, Orange County Convention Center
(407) 685-4010

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FMX Ventures Announces Appointment of New CFO

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TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) – FMX Ventures Inc. (the “Company“) (TSX VENTURE:FXX.H)announced today that, subject to regulatory approval, it has appointed Mr. Carmelo Marrelli as its Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Marrelli replaces Jon Kelly who has resigned to pursue other interests. Mr. Kelly served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company prior to the sale of its orthotics business in 2007 and assisted with the Company’s transition from an operating company to its current form. The board of directors of the Company wishes to thank Mr. Kelly for his contributions.

Mr. Marrelli holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Certified General Accountant. Mr. Marrelli is currently President of Marrelli Support Services, a bookkeeping firm based in Toronto, Ontario.

Number of Common Shares Outstanding – 3,934,296

American Diabetes Association Revised Embargo for Rosiglitazone Study

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  The American Diabetes Association has announced a change in the embargo time of the rosiglitazone study being presented at the 70th Scientific Session in Orlando, FL. This is part of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) study, a landmark multicenter trial focusing exclusively on patients with both diabetes and established heart disease. The new embargo time is 4:30 pm (EDT).

The American Diabetes Association thanks the BARI 2D investigators for their collaboration and appreciates their willingness to present this important scientific information to the diabetes community during the 70th Scientific Sessions. The full scientific disclosure and discussion of these data will be featured at the Late Breaking Clinical Trials session on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 8:50 am.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Contact:
Christine Feheley
Newsroom: 407-685-4010
Office: 703-253-4374

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GuideStar Advises That June 30 Fiscal Year End Will Trigger New Form 990 Filing Deadline for Many Nonprofits

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SOURCE: GuideStar USA, Inc.

Failure to File May Lead to Loss of Tax-Exempt Status

WASHINGTON, DC and WILLIAMSBURG, VA–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  GuideStar, the leading source of nonprofit information, encourages any exempt organization whose fiscal year ends June 30 to verify that it is compliant with IRS reporting requirements in order to maintain its exemption.

Most tax-exempt organizations except churches are required to file an annual information return (IRS Form 990-N, 990-EZ, 990, or 990-PF). Organizations required to file that fail to do so for three consecutive years will automatically lose tax-exempt status, as mandated by a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. 

The deadline for filing Form 990 and its variants is determined by the end of the filing organization’s fiscal year. The filing deadline for an organization whose fiscal year ends on June 30, 2010, is November 15, 2010. 

“The first time the revocation provision of the Pension Protection Act was put in effect was last May, when returns for organizations whose fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, were due,” said Bob Ottenhoff, GuideStar’s president and CEO. “We learned then that thousands of nonprofits, particularly smaller ones, did not realize they needed to file and were at risk of losing their exemptions. That’s why GuideStar created a nonprofit resource center about the revocations. Nonprofits can use the resource center to stay up to date on what they must do in terms of filing an annual information return.”

An organization’s annual gross revenue and assets determine which version of the 990 it must file. Filing extensions are available for Forms 990-EZ, 990, and 990-PF, but not for Form 990-N. (See the accompanying table.)

GuideStar’s nonprofit resource center provides an overview of the revocations issue and several quick links, including ones to a Form 990-N filing status database, the mechanics of filing Form 990-N, filing exceptions, filing thresholds, filing deadlines and extensions, and IRS and GuideStar revocation FAQs. The resource center is updated as new developments related to the revocations occur.

“We hope every exempt organization will use these resources to ensure that they are not at risk of losing their exemptions for failure to file an annual return,” Ottenhoff said. “Nonprofits play vital roles in our society, and losing tax-exempt status will hurt not only the organizations but also the causes and people they serve.” 

About GuideStar

GuideStar, www.guidestar.org, connects people and organizations with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, government officials, academic researchers, and the media.

News Contact
Suzanne E. Coffman
Director of Communications
(757) 941-1427
Email Contact

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TetriDyn Solutions, Inc. Introduces Charge Catcher at Bear Lake Memorial and Steele Memorial Hospitals

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SOURCE: TetriDyn Solutions, Inc.

POCATELLO, ID–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  TetriDyn Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: TDYS), a multi-channel technology innovator in the Information Technologies sector, announced today that it has delivered its latest revenue and business process improvements tool targeted specifically for hospital environments — Charge Catcher.

Charge Catcher enables hospitals to improve their revenue generation by identifying lost charges in an accurate and timely manner. Hospitals can improve their revenue by reviewing and correcting the identified and missed charges quickly and accurately. Charge Catcher uses a combination of rule-based logic and artificial intelligence techniques to detect potential missing charges before the patient bill is generated. 

Bear Lake Memorial Hospital increased its earnings by more than one percent of gross revenues in its first full year of using Charge Catcher. Bear Lake Memorial Hospital also found additional benefits of using Charge Catcher included lower administrative costs due to fewer re-billings, improvements in departments’ billings and procedures, and enhanced levels of compliance. TetriDyn has also recently signed a contract with Steele Memorial Medical Center to implement the latest version of Charge Catcher in their facility so that they can begin to appreciate increased revenues as well.

In addition, past charges can be reviewed in the initial stages of deployment to recoup lost revenue from previous billing cycles as much as one year later. Charge Catcher has been proven to incrementally increase revenue reimbursement, improve billing accuracy, and reduce business office expenses.

Dave Hempstead, CEO of TetriDyn Solutions, commented, “We are excited to be delivering to our customers a product that generates added revenue on a daily basis. The Charge Catcher tool creates revenue improvements for hospitals and reduces accounts receivable days throughout the revenue cycle.” 

For more information about Charge Catcher, visit www.chargecatcher.com.

About TetriDyn Solutions, Inc.
TetriDyn Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: TDYS) specializes in providing business information technology (IT) solutions to its customers. TetriDyn Solutions optimizes business and IT processes by utilizing systems engineering methodologies, strategic planning, and system integration to add efficiencies and value to its customers’ business processes and to help its customers identify critical success factors in their business. For more information about the company, visit www.tetridyn.com.

For Further Information:
Phone 208-232-4200
Public Relations
TetriDyn Solutions, Inc.

Uni-Ter Names Vilches VP-Marketing

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SOURCE: Uni-Ter Underwriting Management Corp.

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  Armando L. Vilches, CPCU, a sales executive with 25 years of experience in property/casualty insurance, has joined Uni-Ter Underwriting Management Corporation as Vice President-Marketing, Nadeene Wood-Clater, Senior Vice President-Marketing, announced.

Vilches spent 20 years with the Willis Insurance Group and its subsidiary Stewart Smith where he was named the Company’s Most Valuable Producer in 2000. As Nashville Marketing Manager, he led a team that placed $250 million in commercial premium.

“Armando has an outstanding track record marketing and underwriting all lines of liability insurance. He will be a valuable addition to the Uni-Ter team as the Company grows,” Wood-Clater said.

Vilches will work in marketing and new business development for Lewis & Clark LTC RRG, Inc., provider of liability insurance to long-term care facilities and nurses nationwide and Ponce de Leon LTC RRG, Inc. that writes liability insurance for long-term care facilities in Florida. He will work also on new business development for J.M. Woodworth Risk Retention Group, Inc., medical malpractice insurance writer in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Vilches is a graduate of DePaul University. He holds the CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) Designation and is a recognized speaker on risk management and liability insurance.

Learn more about Uni-Ter at www.uni-ter.com.

Media contact:
Mechlin Moore
MDM Communications
239-777-1595
Email Contact

New Medline.com Website Offers Faster Product Search With Highly Intuitive, User-Friendly Enhanced Features

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SOURCE: Medline Industries, Inc.

New Site Increases Product Search Performance by More Than 50 Percent

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, today announced the launch of a new, completely redesigned and expanded company website that vastly improves the user experience for its healthcare customers. The newly revamped medline.com features improved navigation enabling direct access to key information regarding Medline products, programs and education.

“While we’ve refined the design, we’ve also improved the use of technology so users can engage directly with our content, products and services faster than ever,” said Jignesh Thakkar, Medline’s Director of E-Business Marketing. “The redesigned website vastly improves the customer experience. Visitors can now get much more information quickly and easily through expanded content, videos, product search capabilities and more.”

With users accessing medline.com content more than two million times a month, a critical outcome for the redesign was to not only create an updated interactive environment for customers, but to help them find what they are looking for easier and faster. The new site achieves this by not only increasing product search performance by more than 50 percent, but by also adding more features such as:

  • 200-plus pages of fresh content that provides valuable information and resources to customers.
  • Thousands of additional product images and updated descriptions
  • New detailed product specification pages — in full page format
  • Ability to select preferred product page views in thumbnail, column or table formats
  • Filtered product category functionality to reduce product search results
  • Selection categories of top products and manufacturers from the products results page.

“It is so much more user friendly. I like the options at the top (thumbnails) as to how you can view the items,” said Cali Yocom of Bethany Hospice in Valdosta, GA. “I also love the pictures. It is so nice to have that when you want to get a better view of the item.”

The medline.com redesign is the second major upgrade the company has made to its core group of websites. Last month significant enhancements were added to Medline University (MU), its online resource for clinical education and product training for healthcare providers. That site (www.medlineuniversity.com) now includes free unlimited access to CE credit courses, live webinars, downloadable podcasts, real-time news feeds and innovative interactive competency tools. Additionally, the company also recently added a free CE iPhone® and iPod Touch® app, now available for download from Apple’s iTunes store.

“Medline is committed to helping customers make profitable, educated decisions through engaging, interactive experiences,” said Mike Penny, Medline Chief Information Officer. “Our focus on innovation in online interaction will continue to increase over time as we see strong results from our efforts to date.”

About Medline Industries, Inc.

Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Headquartered in Mundelein, Ill., Medline has more than 900 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest-growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 450 major hospitals and healthcare systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities and on-staff clinicians.

Medline Media Contacts:
Jerreau Beaudoin
(847) 643-3011
John Marks
(847) 643-3309

GetWellNetwork Webinar Shares Secrets to High Patient Satisfaction for Children’s Hospitals

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SOURCE: GetWellNetwork, Inc.

BETHESDA, MD–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  GetWellNetwork, Inc. will host a webinar on Tuesday, June 29th to demonstrate how children’s hospitals can improve patient satisfaction and enhance patients’ and families’ experience through using GetWell Town™, an interactive patient care solution.

GetWell Town was developed in collaboration with GetWellNetwork’s National Children’s Hospital Task Force, comprised of 15 pediatric facilities across the U.S., and direct input from pediatric patients and their families. GetWell Town is designed to complement the kid-friendly spaces that children’s hospitals have worked hard to create and features exclusive content in partnership with KidsHealth®, part of The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media.

“Since the launch of GetWell Town, we’ve been honored to help many pediatric facilities improve patient care processes and drive better outcomes as a result,” said Shannon O’Neil, MSW, Director of Pediatrics at GetWellNetwork, Inc. “This webinar is designed to share with other children’s hospitals how they can realize the same benefits for their patients and gain efficiencies in core nursing activities such as education, patient documentation, and patient safety.”

To register for this webinar please visit http://www.getwellnetwork.com/webinar.asp.

When: June 29, 2010.
Time: 12:00-1:00 PM, EDT.
Who: Chief Nursing Officers, Child Life Specialists, Discharge Planners, Environmental Services, and Safety Services.

More information about GetWell Town is available at http://www.getwellnetwork.com/pdfs/getwell_town.pdf.

About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. uses the bedside TV to entertain, educate and empower hospital patients and caregivers to be more actively engaged in their care. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. GetWellNetwork is the leader in interactive patient care solutions and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.

Media Contact:
Jenny Song
(703) 338-8434
Email Contact

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ALR Technologies Appoints Healthcare Executive as President and Chief Operating Officer

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SOURCE: ALR Technologies Inc.

Lawrence Weinstein Brings Extensive Healthcare Industry Experience

ATLANTA, GA–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) – ALR Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ALRT) announces the appointment of Lawrence (Larry) Weinstein to be President and Chief Operating Officer effective July 1, 2010, replacing Sidney Chan who will become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Stan Cruitt is retiring as Chairman of the Company.

Larry has extensive experience in the development and launch of medical products. His experience includes 11 years with Cordis Corporation (a Johnson & Johnson company), 6 years with DHD Healthcare Corporation and most recently, 9 years with Pari Respiratory Equipment. He is leaving Pari as Senior Vice President of Operations at PRE Holding, Inc. and as President, Hydrate, Inc.

Mr. Chan says that, “Larry Weinstein brings a skill set and experience that will be invaluable as the company introduces the ALRT Health-e-Connect (HeC) monitoring system. Our product will be invaluable for the healthcare industry to achieve better health outcomes and contain costs.”

About ALR Technologies Inc.
ALRT Health-e-Connect (HeC) System is the principal product of the Company. HeC is a web-based application for medical professionals to improve compliance and adherence of care plans of patients in their homes. HeC is programmed to assist healthcare providers caring for diabetes patients. The platform will be expanded to cover patients with other chronic diseases. More information on ALR Technologies and its products can be found at http://www.alrt.com. 

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” relating to ALR Technologies’ business, and these statements reflect the current views of ALR Technologies with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. When used, the words “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ALR Technologies and its products to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further management discussions of risks and uncertainties can be found in the company’s quarterly filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Public Relations:
ALR Technologies Inc.
678-881-0002 Ext. 704
e-mail: Email Contact

MedChoice Financial Adds New Capabilities in Its Platinum Provider Portal to Support Healthcare Practices

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SOURCE: MedChoice Financial

Provides Dental, Cosmetic, Laser Hair Removal/Restoration, and Medical Practitioners With Automated Processes, New Reporting Features and Increased Efficiencies

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) –  MedChoice Financial, a national medical financial company, announces new functionality for healthcare and medical providers to truly leverage its Platinum Provider Portal and go paperless. The secure, web-based provider portal enables a medical practice or clinic to dynamically manage its financing programs through automated processes, application submissions and reporting.

The portal now allows for more visibility into the current state of a patient’s account by showing in real time availability of funds. Healthcare providers can service patients faster when they know what funds can be applied to their patients’ procedures, whether it be medical, cosmetic, dental, laser hair removal or restoration. Additionally, MedChoice’s enhanced reporting benefits practices by allowing them to export data to an Excel spreadsheet and allows for the integration with other business applications.

“The enhancements we have made to our portal support our mission for a customer driven, flexible and responsive support system for a practice’s needs. Our investment in automation will benefit practices nationwide by not having to delay performing procedures and will give them an instant overview of a patient’s financing options,” said Valerie Harding, MedChoice Financial Marketing Spokesperson.

Healthcare practices today find physicians and their staff juggling more patients and paperwork, with fewer resources. MedChoice’s Platinum Provider Portal simplifies, accelerates and automates administrative tasks that drain precious resources. It allows staff and physicians to focus their energies on better serving their patients and brings the practice one step closer to achieving a paperless environment. Other benefits include increased efficiencies and accuracies, improved access to information, better collaboration and communication between colleagues and patients.

About MedChoice Financial

MedChoice Financial, headquartered in Deerfield Beach, FL, is a national medical financial institution that services the medical community (medical, dental, cosmetic) and its patients with flexible, convenient financing solutions. Dedicated foremost to superior customer service and partnered with World Financial Network National Bank (WFNNB), MedChoice Financial has become one of the largest and fastest growing elective medical financing companies in the nation. For more information, visit www.medchoicefinancial.com

Media Contact:
Valerie Harding
Ripple Effect Communications
Tel: 617-536-8887
Email: Email Contact

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Presentation of preclinical data for NicOx’s ophthalmology candidate NCX 434

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SOURCE: NICOX

SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, FRANCE–(Marketwire – June 28, 2010) – www.nicox.com

NicOx S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris: COX) today announced that new preclinical
results for NCX 434 were presented at the Retina International World
Congress in Stresa, Italy. NCX 434 is a nitric oxide (NO)-donating new
molecular entity (NME) and a potential preclinical candidate in Diabetic
Macular Edema (DME). It was shown to reduce retinal damage due to ischemia
(restriction of blood flow) and reperfusion (return of blood supply
following ischemia) in a preclinical model without inducing a significant
increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), in contrast to a reference steroid.

DME is a form of diabetic retinopathy, which results from high blood sugar
causing progressive damage to retinal cells and can lead to blindness. In
addition to laser surgery, DME is often treated with injections of steroids
inside the eye (intravitreal injections), which tend to increase IOP,
presenting a significant safety concern. Additionally, local ischemia
resulting from an imbalance between NO, known for its vasodilation
properties, and a vasoconstrictor substance called endothelin-1 (ET-1)
appears to play a pivotal role in DME progression.

This presentation showed that NCX 434 was efficient in reducing several
biochemical and functional aspects of retinal damage in a preclinical model
of ischemia/reperfusion induced by the injection of ET-1. NCX 434 did not
significantly change IOP in this model, while triamcinolone acetonide, a
reference steroid, resulted in significant increase in IOP.

Previous preclinical results showing that NCX 434 enhanced oxygen
saturation in various optic nerve head structures in contrast to a
reference steroid were presented recently at the Ocular Diseases & Drug
Discovery conference in Boston (NicOx press release dated June 1, 2010).

Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on NicOx’s
business are presented in the 4th chapter of the ” Document de
référence, rapport financier annuel et rapport de gestion 2009 ”
filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on
March 5, 2010 and available on NicOx’s website (www.nicox.com) and on the
AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org).

The Company notably draws the investors’ attention to the following risk
factors:

– Risques liés à la dépendance de la Société
à l’égard du naproxcinod (Risks related to the Company’s
dependence on the success of its lead product naproxcinod)

– Risques commerciaux et développements cliniques (Clinical
developments and commercial risk)

– Risques liés aux contraintes réglementaires et à la
lenteur des procédures d’approbation (Risks linked to regulatory
constraints and slow approval procedures)

– Manque de capacités dans les domaines de la vente et du marketing
(Lack of sales and marketing capabilities)

– Incertitude relative aux prix des médicaments et aux régimes de
remboursement, ainsi qu’en matière de réforme des régimes
d’assurance maladie (Uncertainty on drug pricing and reimbursement policies
and on the reforms of the health insurance systems)

NicOx (Bloomberg: COX:FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is a pharmaceutical company
focused on the research, development and future commercialization of drug
candidates. NicOx is applying its proprietary nitric oxide-donating R&D
platform to develop an internal portfolio of New Molecular Entities (NME)
for the potential treatment of inflammatory, cardio-metabolic and
ophthalmological diseases.

NicOx’s lead investigational compound is naproxcinod, an NME and a first-
in-class CINOD (Cyclooxygenase-Inhibiting Nitric Oxide-Donating) anti-
inflammatory drug candidate developed for the relief of the signs and
symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), which is currently under review by
regulatory authorities, following the submission and filing of a New Drug
Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a
Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency
(EMA). The FDA and the EMA are evaluating the data submitted. The FDA has
set an action date of July 24, 2010, under the Prescription Drug User Fee
Act (PDUFA).

In addition to naproxcinod, NicOx’s pipeline includes several nitric oxide-
donating NMEs, which are in development internally and with partners,
including Merck & Co., Inc. and Bausch + Lomb, for the treatment of
hypertension, cardiometabolic diseases, eye diseases and dermatological
diseases.

NicOx S.A. is headquartered in France and is listed on Euronext Paris
(Compartment B: Mid Caps).

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although
the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions,
these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual
results, financial condition, performance or achievements of NicOx S.A. to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer
to the Risk Factors (“Facteurs de Risque”) section of the Document de
Reference filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website
(http://www.amf-france.org) or on NicOx S.A.’s website
(http://www.nicox.com).

CONTACTS

www.nicox.com

NicOx

Gavin Spencer – Vice President Business Development

Tel +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00 – [email protected]

Media Relations

Financial Dynamics

Europe

Guillaume Granier (France) – Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 68 10 –
[email protected]

Stéphanie Bia (France) – Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 68 10 –
[email protected]

Jonathan Birt (UK) – Tel +44 (0)20 7269 7205 – [email protected]

United States

Robert Stanislaro – Tel +1 212 850 5657 – [email protected]

Irma Gomez-Dib – Tel +1 212 850 5761 – [email protected]

NicOx S.A.,

Les Taissounières – Bât HB4 – 1681 route des Dolines – BP313,
06906 Sophia Antipolis cedex, France. Tel. +33 (0)4 97 24 53 00 – Fax +33
(0)4 97 24 53 99

This information is provided by HUGIN

Artificial Pancreas Improves Overnight Glucose Control for Range of Real-Life Situations, Latest Data Show

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

Researchers Also Identify Psychosocial Barriers to Use of CGM Devices; Symposium Provides Update on Advances That Could Lead to Rapid Commercial Development of an Artificial Pancreas System

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 27, 2010) –  Research into whether an “artificial pancreas” can effectively control blood glucose levels in children and adults with type 1 diabetes continues to make rapid advances, leading those in the field to predict that technology could become commercially available within the next few years, according to speakers at a joint American Diabetes Association — Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) symposium at the Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®.

Results, presented for the first time at today’s symposium, show that adults with type 1 diabetes can use the artificial pancreas technology to significantly improve overnight blood glucose control without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia, across a range of real-life situations — even after eating a large meal and drinking a glass of white wine. Lead researcher Roman Hovorka, Ph.D, Principal Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, noted that such a system could greatly improve the lives of those who are insulin-dependent.

A second study, also presented for the first time at the Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions, helped to identify the psychosocial characteristics of people with type 1 diabetes most likely to successfully utilize continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, an important component of an artificial pancreas system. This data, presented by Marilyn Ritholz, Ph.D, Senior Psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, should help physicians and other diabetes care providers to identify patients for whom the new devices are most likely to be beneficial.

Both studies are part of the JDRF’S Artificial Pancreas Project, a partnership that brings together diabetes researchers and businesses focused on making the artificial pancreas a reality. The American Diabetes Association joined forces with JDRF at its Scientific Sessions to promote the research behind this project and to raise awareness of efforts underway to improve the lives of people with diabetes who are insulin-dependent.

“This joint symposium highlights how major organizations working together can move these technologies forward,” said Richard Bergenstal, MD, Executive Director of the International Diabetes Center and American Diabetes Association’s President, Medicine & Science. “It’s going to require collaboration between many different organizations to come together to tackle this problem.”

“It’s very exciting to work together to help people with diabetes achieve their outcomes,” said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D, Research Director of the Artificial Pancreas Project. “We’re all interested in people with diabetes achieving better glucose control. The community needs to hear what’s happening and where we are headed.”

The JDRF research involving artificial pancreas technology combines CGM with an insulin pump and a sophisticated computer program (called an algorithm) that can automate when and how much insulin to deliver. All but the computer program are technologies already commercially available to people with diabetes. Research trials performed so far within the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project have tested various levels of automation, multiple computer programs, and a range of in-clinic situations, including large and small meals, nighttime control, and exercise.

However, “a fully automated system that administers insulin as needed during the night without human intervention is planned to be tested on children in their homes in the United Kingdom. Nobody has done such a study before,” Hovorka said.

“I think artificial pancreas systems are going to turn out to be among the most promising short-term clinical benefits of diabetes research,” said Richard Insel, Executive Vice President of Research at JDRF. “They are going to obviously allow individuals to more effectively manage their blood glucose levels, especially after eating, when exercising, and during the night while they sleep. Not only will that help prevent long-term complications of the disease, but low blood sugars will be prevented, and living with diabetes will be easier. Just preventing the swings in glucose levels will help. The benefits are countless.”

Partially Automated Systems in Development

Hovorka and his team from the University of Cambridge have completed several recent studies of the artificial pancreas that hold promise for both children and adults with type 1 diabetes. Earlier this year, The Lancet published their landmark study of children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes who experienced better control of blood glucose levels and lower incidence of hypoglycemia while sleeping, using a closed loop artificial pancreas system.

Today, during the joint American Diabetes Association-JDRF symposium, Hovorka outlined results of his most recent study, which showed these benefits remain consistent even after adults with type 1 eat a large meal and drink a glass of white wine before bedtime. The study found that using the artificial pancreas system, these adults spent 70 percent of their time within their target blood glucose range, up from 47 percent of the time they spend within target overnight without use of the artificial pancreas system. As in the other studies, time spent in hypoglycemia tended to be reduced, even though alcohol is known to increase the risk of nocturnal/next morning hypoglycemia for people with type 1 diabetes. Full results will be presented on Monday.

The Cambridge team has also begun preliminary research into how such a system might work for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Early results have examined overnight glucose control in this population to establish a baseline against which they can measure effectiveness using the closed loop artificial pancreas system. These preliminary results were discussed in a poster presentation here on Saturday.

Barriers to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

A major component of the technology needed to produce an artificial pancreas is a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, which relates blood glucose levels and the direction they are trending throughout the day and night, compared to the “snapshots” that are currently taken by pricking the skin and using test strips on a periodic basis. CGM involves inserting a glucose-sensing device called a “sensor” under the skin of the abdomen, where it takes a glucose reading from the tissue every few seconds and relays it to a handheld device or insulin pump.

“CGM has the potential to be one of the most important breakthroughs in diabetes management in many years, especially for type 1, probably since pump therapies were developed in the 1980s,” said William Tamborlane, MD, of Yale University, and co-chair of JDRF’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring Group. Holding back more wide scale adoption of the technology at present, he said, are technical imperfections that make the devices cumbersome to use and require frequent calibrations and manual confirmations to ensure accuracy. “What we have now are imperfect simulations of the perfect system,” he said. But the technology holds great promise because even while not yet perfected, research has shown that using it regularly can significantly reduce A1C levels without increasing severe hypoglycemia in those who used it as directed.

JDRF-funded studies have shown that adults over the age of 25 were able to reduce their A1C levels from 7.6 to 7.1, using CGM in conjunction with an insulin pump, he said. In children ages 8-14, A1C levels dropped from 8.0 to 7.6 using CGM. Teenagers did not see a benefit, but that is likely because they were less likely to comply with using the technology than the other two groups, Tamborlane said. Participants in the trials who used the technology regularly — more than six days per week — saw similar improvement regardless of age.

“To get a benefit from a device, you actually have to use it,” he said.

Most importantly, when using CGM, A1C levels were reduced half a percentage point without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycemia, Tamborlane said. Hypoglycemia is perhaps the biggest concern for people with diabetes looking to significantly lower blood glucose levels and can have serious negative consequences, such as loss of consciousness.

The Joslin Center’s Ritholz said her team studied the psycho-social barriers that can prevent people from successful use of a CGM system and found that those who used problem-solving skills for coping with frustration and anger; who saw CGM as a mechanism for better understanding glucose patterns; and who had good support from a spouse or significant other were most likely to achieve good results with using this technology. Conversely, those who had anger and impulse control issues, who failed to synthesize the data from CGM and who didn’t have good emotional support were less likely to benefit from CGM use.

Success was defined, in this study, as lowering A1C levels by at least half a percentage point (if levels were above 7 percent at baseline) or decreasing the amount of hypoglycemia (if levels were below 7 percent at baseline), Ritholz said.

“There needs to be attention paid to the people using CGM,” she said. “We can’t just focus on the technology. In determining individualized patient care, it’s important to pay attention to who is most likely to succeed with this technology. It’s not for everybody.”

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump — each day, every day of their lives. And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation. The goal of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is to speed the development of automated diabetes management systems. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.4 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in 20 countries last year alone.

Symposium, Sunday June 27, 2 P.M.

Contact:

Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146

News Room: June 25-29, 2010
Room 303B, Orange County Convention Center
(407) 685-4010

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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre: Emergency Medical Assistance Team Deployed for G8 Summit

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TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 26, 2010) – The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has deployed Ontario’s Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) to support capacity at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. In anticipation of the many visitors expected in the region, the ministry has been working with the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and local health service providers in the Simcoe-Muskoka region for over a year to develop plans to ensure there are minimal disruptions during the G8 summit.

The EMAT is funded by the ministry and is operated by the Sunnybrook-Osler Centre for Prehospital Care (SOCPC), a division of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

“The EMAT is providing additional critical care capacity in the region as part of a comprehensive health care plan to support the needs of this community”, said Robert Burgess, SOCPC Senior Director.

The EMAT mobile field hospital has been erected directly adjacent to the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital.

The Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT)

Backgrounder

Q1. What is the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT)?

The EMAT is a part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s (the ministry) health emergency response program and is an important component of Ontario’s overall emergency response capacity. The EMAT is funded by the ministry and is operated by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The EMAT is a 56-bed mobile field hospital that may be deployed by the ministry within 24-hours to any road-accessible community in Ontario. The unit provides the capacity to provide ongoing treatment for up to 20 acute care and 36 intermediate care patients and/or a staging and triage base for patients prior to transporting them to acute care hospitals and is medically self-sustainable (supplies, equipment, power, and personnel) for 72 hours.

Q2. What kind of health emergency response services does the EMAT provide?

The EMAT has the capacity to provide ongoing treatment for up to 20 acute care and 36 intermediate care patients and/or triage. The EMAT has expertise in: patient isolation in the case of an infectious disease outbreak; the provision of medical support and first receiver cold zone decontamination in the case of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incidents; and assisting with managing patients in a mass casualty situation. If any jurisdiction in Ontario finds that it does not have the capacity to respond effectively to a health incident or emergency, the EMAT may be deployed to support the local health system.

Q3. How is the EMAT staffed?

The EMAT uses on-call professional health care providers from across the province who volunteer to work on the EMAT. Team members come from a variety of locations so that no single area is without vital health human resources at any given time. There are approximately 90 members including physicians, nurses, critical and advanced care paramedics and social workers, who are specially trained through the EMAT in health emergency management and response. Once the EMAT is activated, on-call volunteer workers are alerted and transported to the emergency site.

Q4. Who determines when the EMAT is deployed?

Deployment is based on an established set of criteria, including an immediate assessment of the local health care system’s ability to respond to the incident/ emergency, the availability of accommodations, water and food supplies for the EMAT volunteer workers, and an assessment of the emergency site (e.g., safety assessment for the mobile unit and EMAT volunteer workers). To deploy the EMAT, the local hospital and/or health system contacts the ministry with the initial request for EMAT support. If the situation meets the criteria, the ministry activates the EMAT.

Q5. How is the EMAT trained?

The EMAT team has the appropriate training and skills to function as a team in a health emergency environment involving infectious diseases outbreaks, natural disasters, CBRN, and mass causality incidents. The EMAT team trains regularly through full-scale exercises, which involve the participation of local health care organizations, and may also include local police, fire and ambulance services, as well as local municipalities.

Q6. What is the EMAT’s role at the G8?

The EMAT is a mobile field hospital that has been deployed to the G8 in Huntsville, ON to support capacity for the Huntsville hospital. It is onsite as part of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s work to ensure there is capacity for care for all patients.

Bret Michaels Receives American Diabetes Association’s Chair’s Citation Award

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SOURCE: American Diabetes Association

Bret Michaels Presented With the Chair’s Citation Award Prior to World’s Largest Diabetes Meeting

ORLANDO, FL–(Marketwire – June 25, 2010) –  Bret Michaels, lead vocalist of Poison and winner of this season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” has received the American Diabetes Association’s prestigious Chair’s Citation Award in Orlando, FL. Bret will be the first recipient of the Award, which recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of individuals, corporations, institutions or organizations who have demonstrated significant dedication and commitment in their local market and have had a positive impact in advancing the mission of the American Diabetes Association.

“We are proud of Bret’s passion and commitment to raising funds for the American Diabetes Association. His efforts this year will truly help us change the future of this deadly disease,” said Larry Hausner, CEO, American Diabetes Association. “We are also very excited to continue our relationship with Bret and, together, help Stop DiabetesSM.”

Bret, who has type 1 diabetes, chose the American Diabetes Association as his charity during this season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” He raised $390,000 for the Association and has helped put a face to diabetes by raising critical awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and management.

The American Diabetes Association is the largest voluntary health organization committed to the fight to stop diabetes. Each year the Association honors volunteers who have made a significant contribution to this fight at its Community Volunteer Leadership Conference and National Board Meeting. Immediately following this conference, the Association hosts its Scientific Sessions with more than 13,000 top scientists, physicians and other health care professionals from around the world to share cutting edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes.

Nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Diabetes contributes to the deaths of more than 230,000 Americans each year. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is more than $174 billion; further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total diabetes-related costs in the United States could exceed $218 billion. 

About Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels, lead vocalist of Poison and winner of this season’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” has an album coming out on July 6, 2010 called “Custom Built.” Bret will also be producing and appearing in a new reality show on VH1 called “Bret Michaels: Life as You Know It.”

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

Contact:
Angela Murray
800-676-4065 ext. 3425
[email protected]

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Choosing To Switch To A Paperless Medical Practice

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Most medical practices now use an electronic practice management (EPM) system. Usually this means some type of proprietary software, something different than the old system of hand-written calendar notes. In the last twenty years, the EPM market has ballooned into a large industry, generating products which run on several platforms.

Unfortunately, however, although these systems are enacted, the vision of the paperless office is not fulfilled. Most practices still store paper records in the old-fashioned way. Some practices are text-driven, such as family practices and internal medicine. Graphical and visually-driven specializations like ophthalmology, however, have given developers trouble and many systems are not ready to go live.

At our practice we had been using an EPM system since ’83. The first vendor we were using said that they would not extend technical support after the year 2000. We decided to change to another system before this happened. While the software was good for billing and scheduling, we started to realize that we would need to keep growing in terms of square footage, in order to accommodate the storage of medical records. So, we asked ourselves which would be more cost-efficient in the end: conversion to an EMR system, or continual growing of the space? Our particular practice has five office spaces with records storage at the central main office. We started to consider a scanning solution to assist with the storage problem, still realizing that we’d have to become more efficient while maintaining full access to stored information.

EMR system implementation involves the following expenses:

* technical support
* IT consulting
* infrastructure costs
* computer hardware
* licensed software

Also consider the costs of training staff, and the extra data entry that they will perform to move information over to the new system. In most cases, a practice will use both the new and old systems until a conversion is complete. There could be some tasks duplicated between the two systems.

Our choice came down to a consideration of the necessity to curb the amount of paper records we were accumulating, meanwhile facing new privacy and patient record security proactively.

There are some excellent benefits to EMR, which include:

* enhanced documentation
* remote access
* improved coding and compliance
* better integration
* communication improvements
* measured efficiency

When making our choice, we imagined that we could recover our investment in five years; this calculation was based on savings on estimated office space rental needs. This includes reduced service costs and printing expenses. We are monitoring changes in job efficiency. There are benefits which are difficult to calculate accurately, but we are always measuring our performance and return on investment. There will be an initial investment of both time in expense which should reap benefits in terms of future productivity.

The overall trend seems to look toward a future in which EMR is the standard rule. Insurance providers and government agencies are increasing pressure for standardized medical documentation, and EMR could become obligatory someday. As healthy competition brings down hardware and software costs, even the smaller offices are then able to make the move over to a paperless practice.

Laser Eye Surgery Belfast Clinics

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If your at the stage where you feel you no longer feel like wear glasses – whether you only use them for driving at night or reading or daily use or or if you want a break from the hassle of constantly changing contact lenses you can go for laser eye surgery Belfast clinics which can improve your vision. Laser eye clinics in this part of the world seem to be 10 a penny. You should carry out some research on the clinics offering the surgery here if you are going to be using them. The most important point and it makes no difference the location, is to only use experienced and qualified surgeons with a strong history of previous successful operations .

If you therefore think Belfast laser eye surgery is for you you’ll learn more details if you book a consultation at one or a number of practises. Then if you decide you want to pursue with the operation you will clinic will perform an eye test to work out your levels of your eyesight in very high detail. Most peoples eyes are completely unique and the difference between the vision of our own eyes can also be totally different .

Once the complicated optometrist eye scanning test has been carried out you could be required to sit through some more tests such as the state of the art Artemis™ corneal scanner test. There are a host of surgery options such as LASIK, PRK and LASEK available to you in Belfast . Your type of surgery will be dictated to your eye conditions and the limitations of your budget. There is a whole host of other techniques from lense implants, cross linking and artificial lenses. An experienced eye surgeon can recommend the best treatment options for your eye conditions .

Lots of folks have been rejected for laser eye surgery by some eye surgeons in Belfast before as it was thought the person or even the surgeons could not perform successful laser eye surgery. Something commonly stated for rejection was that the patient was too old , or rather their eyes had preamaturely aged this is known as presbyopia), and nothing could be done to benefit their deteriorating eyesight. With the pace and advancement of medical break throughs new techniques have been put to trial that have had exceptional advances for laser eye surgery. One such technique called Laser Blended Vision Surgery has had great results in improving the eyesight where presbyopia had set in .

There is a massive market for laser eye surgery Belfast clinics servicing the 30 and over age bracket . This is more true than ever as we progress into an an aging society were most of us are living longer because of diet and health changes . It is noticeable many people who used to have good eyesight in their youth notice that by the time they get to their forties their eyesight becomes weaker . Its a good job most of the small visual incorrections can be fixed with laser eye surgery.

Some of the pitfalls of laser eye surgery are you can have poor vision during night and experiencing halos around bright lights. You may also suffer dryness in the eyes. Remember as with most surgical procedures there are associated complications, a good surgeon will be able to explain all the risks of laser eye surgery.

Health Insurance policy

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Getting Health Insurance Quotes By Phone
Though calling around for insurance quotes will be a terribly time-consuming task, it is a sensible approach to get your questions answered about the policy by a professional. In several cases, calling an insurance company for a quote will result in an automated session and then being placed on hold. This can be the kind of frustration that you’ll face, time and again, when making an attempt to receive any quite insurance quote by phone.

It will take up a heap of time and you are doing have to stay notes about every quote you receive, but there are some good reasons for getting health insurance quotes by phone:

• You’ll be able to speak to a skilled in real time
Eventually, you will get through to an actual person on the opposite finish of the phone. This person can explain the policy to you in detail, answering any queries you may have as they come up.

• You’ll be able to learn about different premiums and choices on the same policy
When a bound health insurance policy interests you, you will be ready to talk to somebody concerning adjusting the premium and/or deductible on the policy, tailoring it to raised fit your needs.

• You can purchase a policy immediately
By using a check by phone or your credit card, you can purchase a policy based on the health insurance quotes you receive over the phone. This process is mostly fast, as well as a brief question-and-answer session.

Obtaining Health Insurance Quotes On-line
For those who prefer a quick and straightforward method of insurance looking, the Web is certainly your best option. Using the Web, you’ll be able to head to a selected company’s web site and learn additional about their policies by receiving free on-line health insurance quotes, or compare and distinction the policies offered by several corporations at once.

The Web allows you to receive several more health insurance quotes, in an exceedingly much shorter amount of your time than you would be receiving quotes over the phone. There are a number of advantages to shopping for health insurance quotes online:

• You can get several health insurance quotes, fast
When time could be a factor, the Net is your best friend. You’ll be able to examine many totally different health insurance quotes at the identical time on-line, a lot of additional quickly than it takes to get through most phone automated systems.

• You can compare tons of health insurance quotes directly
Aspect-by- aspect or page-by-page, with the Net you’ll compare health insurance quotes from several totally different health insurance companies at once. This makes comparison shopping a breeze.

• Simple purchase
You’ll usually purchase a health insurance policy online, employing a secured method and your credit card. This allows you to get your health insurance policy quickly, therefore that coverage will start right away.

An Independent Agent
When doing your own research, finding completely different quotes, calling around or even using the Net to buy just isn’t your thing, you’ll wish to use an independent insurance agent. These agents don’t work for any specific company except for you. They use their time to shop around for you, finding you the most effective potential policy based mostly upon the health insurance quotes they receive.

Typically, freelance agents will get much higher rates than the common customer. This is as a result of insurance company provide agents deals and discounts merely for brining in new business. An freelance agent will work for you to find the most effective health insurance quotes, thus that you simply pay less while still receiving the best coverage doable for you and your family.

American Medical Association AMA Foundation Seed Grant Research Recipients

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The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation has awarded medical research grants to 38 junior investigators. Established in 2000, the Seed Grant Research Program provides medical students, physician residents and fellows with grants of up to $2,500 to conduct basic science or clinical research projects.

ama-foundation

This year’s recipients are studying cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, HIV/AIDS, leukemia, and neoplastic diseases.

The 2010 recipients are:
— Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, Ohio State University College of Medicine
— Hans Arora, Northwestern University
— Deanna Cettomai, MHS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
— Akash Chandawarkar, Harvard Medical School
— Kevin Chen, Duke University School of Medicine
— David Clifton, University of Texas Medical Branch
— Jeffrey Costas, MS, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University
— Andrea Dean, Yale University School of Medicine
— Dustin Deming, M.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
— Kelsey Derricks, Boston University School of Medicine
— Laura DiNardo, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
— Darshan Doshi, M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
— Caitlin Elgarten, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
— Curtis Gabriel, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
— Ann-Johanna Giaccone, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
— Allen Ho, Harvard Medical School
— Anna Kamp, M.D., MPH, University of Michigan Medical School
— Nicolas Kummer, New York Medical College
— James Lester, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
— Rung-chi Li, Ph.D., Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
— Ta-Chiang Liu, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
— Su Luo, Massachusetts General Hospital
— Joshua Meisner, MS, University of Virginia School of Medicine
— Benjamin Nacev, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
— Michael Nguyen, MS, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
— Toral Patel, M.D., Yale University School of Medicine
— Jarrod Predina, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
— Greg Rice, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
— Shreyas Roy, M.D., CM, SUNY Upstate Medical University
— Lynn Rudner, University of Utah School of Medicine
— Sarah Russell, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
— Hersh Sagreiya, Stanford University School of Medicine
— Shiraj Sen, University of Texas Medical School at Houston
— Keri Seymour, DO, SUNY Upstate Medical University
— Natalie Shaw, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
— Preeti Sukerkar, Northwestern University
— Jesse Sulzer, Louisiana State University Medical Center
— Rabi Upadhyay, University of Massachusetts Medical School

The Seed Grant Research Program was created to encourage more physicians to consider research as a career option. Many recipients go on to publish their work, present at scientific meetings, or even secure larger grants.

The AMA Foundation supports a broad range of programs in public health and medical education. Visit www.amafoundation.org to learn more.

Source: American Medical Association Foundation

Fake Prescriptions Still an Issue; Corey Haim Death Highlights Problem

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With the recent untimely death of actor Cory Haim this week, the public is learning about an industry-wide problem that continues to plague the health insurance industry, fake prescriptions.

corey-haim

Corey Ian Haim (December 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010) was a Canadian actor, best for his 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. Mr. Haim starred or co-starred in a number of movies like Lucas, Murphy’s Romance, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream. Corey Haim appeard many times alongside his friend Corey Feldman. The two later starred in the hit A&E reality television show called The Two Coreys.

Corey Haim died an untimely death on March 10, 2010.

According to the Examiner, “A state investigation turned up an unauthorized prescription in Corey Haim’s name. According to People.com, the illegal prescription was noticed when investigators ordered drug pads from a San Diego vendor. The prescriptions were filled out by using the stolen identity of doctors. Authorities have described this prescription drug ring as “massive”.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown said that the illegal prescription made out to Corey Haim was for the pain killer OxyContin. The prescription was located through the California computer database that tracks all prescriptions that are filled in the state.”

The Associated Press is also reporting that “California Attorney General Jerry Brown said records of the prescription in the name of the former teen heartthrob were found during an investigation of the ring that illegally obtained prescription pads and used the stolen identities of doctors to fill them out.”

The public is learning of the problem of fake drug prescriptions because of this celebrity’s untimely death and the fact that one of the prescriptions that was part of illegally obtained prescription pads and the stolen identities of physicians. There continues to be calls for changes in the way prescriptions are written that will make it more difficult for fake prescriptions to be obtained by the public.

TriCipher myOneLogin SignatureBook Offers Digital Signatures On-Demand

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TriCipher, a leading provider of Internet identity services, today announced a hosted, on-demand version of its powerful digital signature solution. myOneLogin SignatureBook is an on-demand service that accelerates and streamlines business processes requiring non-repudiable signatures across different groups, organizations or geographic locations. It supports a number of different online credentials, including a clientless credential and the SAFE-BioPharma digital signature widely adopted in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

“The SAFE-BioPharma® signature standard provides a high level of trust assurance for digital identities, and is instrumental to speeding processes and reducing costs in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries,” said Mollie Shields-Uehling, president and CEO, SAFE-BioPharma Association. “The Tricipher myOneLogin SignatureBook service offers SAFE-BioPharma members a means of improving business process and simplifying the signing process. This service will be especially attractive to the growing body of smaller companies which have joined SAFE-BioPharma as a step toward improving their workflows and converting to paperless operations.”

myOneLogin SignatureBook collects digital signatures on an electronic document, automatically applying signature policies and streamlining processes of collecting and validating signatures. It creates an original, signed version of a final document as well as a flattened PDF without active signature blocks, suitable for distribution. As an on-demand service, myOneLogin SignatureBook is easy to deploy, and is particularly useful for organizations with many business processes requiring signatures by multiple parties. The service offers several different signature methods, including a TriCipher clientless credential and with credentials compliant with the SAFEBioPharma digital signature standard. myOneLogin SignatureBook is the in-the-cloud, hosted version of the on-premise TriCipher mySignatureBook digital signing solution.

“Digital signatures are a natural extension of the Internet identity services that we provide at TriCipher, making it easier and more secure to do business on the web,” said John De Santis, chairman and CEO at TriCipher. “The on-premise TriCipher mySignatureBook solution is already adopted in large pharmaceutical organizations. By offering these capabilities as an on-demand service, we deliver on the promise of digital signatures for a wider range of businesses.”

For more information, please visit www.myOneLogin.com.

15 Ways to Take Care of Your Elderly Parents

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US News and World Report Health has a great article about caring for elderly parents. They say that there are fifteen ways:

“The first step toward avoiding such baptism by fire is to acknowledge you’ll most likely take on caregiving responsibilities someday. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, the number of “unpaid family caregivers” is set to reach 37 million by 2050, an 85 percent increase from the year 2000. You can help your parents stay happily independent as long as possible if you start those tough conversations now and do some thorough preparation. Here’s a game plan.”

15 Ways to Take Care of Your Elderly Parents:
1-5: Preparing the Home
6-8: Safeguarding Their Health and Safety
9-12: Protecting Their Finances
13-15: Keeping Them Socially Connected

1. Consider hiring a pro

2. Keep track with technology. Helping your parents remain in their home may be realistic but typically requires at least a few adjustments to keep them comfortable and safe.

3. Remove booby traps. The National Association of Home Builders has certified aging-in-place specialists who can consult and make structural changes.

4. Visit frequently. The time together matters, plus you’ll have a better sense of whether they’re safe, mentally sound, and in the best living situation, says Alexis Abramson, author of The Caregiver’s Survival Handbook.

5. Anticipate expenses

6. Work with the pharmacy. “Poor medication management is the No. 1 reason for leaving an independent living situation and going into supervised care,” says Elinor Ginzler, coauthor of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide.

7. Get help behind the wheel. One of the messiest challenges for adult children and their parents to navigate is the driving question..

8. Draw up the documents.

New Study Shows Uninsured Crisis Wildly Overestimated

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The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) has released the results of a new study. that shows that the “widely employed estimate of 47 million uninsured Americans is a misleading representation of the problem.”

The study, authored by Drs. June and David O’Neill of Baruch College and City University of New York, shows that more than 43 percent of uninsured Americans ages 18-64 could likely afford health coverage and are actually “voluntarily uninsured.”

Using data from a number of surveys to determine what percentage of uninsured Americans are actually unable to afford it, the study finds that at least 43 percent of Americans in the 18-64 year-old age group have incomes at least 2.5 times the poverty level and are “voluntarily” uninsured.

The study finds that 79 percent of people with incomes between 2.5 and 3.75 times the poverty level currently purchase private health insurance. In view of the large percentages covered at this level, the authors consider this uninsured group as having enough disposable income to purchase health insurance.

The uninsured population also varies dramatically from state to state. For example, thirty percent of Texas residents are uninsured, compared to 18 percent of New York and 13 percent of D.C. residents. Three states (Texas, Florida and California) make up a third of the uninsured population.

US Healthcare System Prepared for Swine Flu

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The entire healthcare system in the United States is prepared for the Swine Flu if it becomes a national epidemic. Many organizations are working with the CDC in order to keep updated on the latest information about this influenza virus.

IBHS Cautions Businesses to Prepare for Flu Pandemic; Provides Free Self-Assessment Tool to Rate Readiness
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is cautioning businesses and nonprofit organizations to examine their ability to operate in the event of a flu pandemic.

With the federal government declaring Swine Flu a public-health emergency, IBHS says it would be wise to prepare now for the possibility of closures or other impacts a pandemic could have on operations.

“Evaluating specific risks and planning well beforehand for a variety of potential emergencies that could disrupt day-to-day business is critical, no matter how big or small a company may be,” states IBHS President and CEO Julie Rochman. “Fortunately, most catastrophes can be managed with advance, effective preparation – and that means having a well-thought out action plan with specific, appropriate policies, resources and contingencies.”

The Top 5 IBHS pandemic preparedness steps include:

1. Determine when to curtail employee travel, domestically and
internationally.
2. Develop business continuity policies that provide work-at-home options.
3. Address sick leave policies, since people with swine flu or those
attending to relatives may need to be on leave longer that the current
policy allows.
4. Consider the impact a shutdown of public transportation or the loss of
basic utilities would have.
5. Determine at what point the organization would need to close its doors.

IBHS has created a self-assessment tool for business owners and managers who can rate their readiness for a flu pandemic by answering nine basic questions. http://www.disastersafety.org/resource/resmgr/pdfs/pandemic_flu.pdf

Trust for America’s Health Applauds U.S. Response to Swine Flu
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) today commended the Administration for its fast and effective response to the swine flu outbreak.

In order to continue to respond to this swine flu outbreak and to continue and improve preparations and the capacity to respond to other potential pandemic outbreaks, such as the H5N1 “bird flu,” TFAH recommends:

— Completing the funding to implement the National Strategy for Pandemic
Influenza. Former President Bush originally requested $7.1 billion to
carry out research and development for vaccinations, pharmaceuticals,
and medical devices needed to respond to a pandemic. $870 million of
this has never been funded. This funding was originally included in
both the FY 2008 budget and proposed 2009 stimulus bill, but was
removed each time before the bills’ final passage.
— With more than $1 billion of HHS funding, six companies are in various
stages of implementing commercial-scale production of cell-based
methods and/or expanding their vaccine capacity using eggs. By 2011,
U.S. based vaccine production capacity is expected to be at a point in
which it can generate enough pandemic influenza vaccine for every
American within six months of the time that the pandemic virus is
identified, according to the most recent Pandemic Planning Update from
HHS. However, the U.S. will not reach that capacity without completion
of the initial investment.
— Replenishing and building the Strategic National Stockpile. Purchasing
antiviral medications, vaccines, and equipment for the stockpile
should be a federal responsibility. Responding to this outbreak will
require using a significant portion of the currently stockpiled
Tamiflu(R) and other medical equipment, such as respirator masks.
These medications and equipment will need to be restocked. In
addition, the stockpile has existing shortfalls in the number of
masks, respirators, and medications needed to respond to this and
other possible pandemics, which must be completed to be prepared for
the possibility of other strains of flu.
— At the end of 2008, the Strategic National Stockpile reportedly
contained 104 million N95 respirators; 51.6 million surgical masks; 20
million syringes for pre-pandemic vaccine; 4,000 ventilators.
— Purchasing antiviral medications should become solely a federal
responsibility. Under the plan from the previous Administration,
states were expected to purchase a portion of the antiviral
medications that would be needed to protect citizens in their
states, through a program that included 25 percent subsidy from
the federal government. While the federal government has purchased
enough antivirals to cover 50 million Americans, as of October
2008, states only had purchased 22 million courses of antivirals,
which is nine million short of the goal, leaving Americans in some
states more vulnerable than others.
— Providing resources for state and local health departments to
adequately prepare for outbreaks. State and local officials are the
front line responders to outbreaks, yet they have not received any
federal funding for pandemic flu preparedness since FY 2006. $350
million is needed annually to adequately maintain state and local
pandemic preparedness activities.
— All 50 states and D.C. have a pandemic flu preparedness plan.
— All 50 states and D.C. have adequate plans to receive and
distribute emergency vaccines, antidotes, pharmaceuticals, and
medical supplies from the SNS, based on a review by CDC.
— All 50 states and D.C. have increased or maintained rates for
vaccinating adults ages 65 and older for seasonal flu, which is a
key indicator for showing how well states could vaccinate
individuals in an emergency.
— All but three states reported that their public health
laboratories meet the expectations of their state’s pandemic flu
plan (as of November 2008).

— Increase support for the Global Disease Detection (GDD) program. In
2007, the GDD program received $33.7 million in funding. If the
funding was increased to $55 million, four additional regional
detection centers could be established to improve global disease
outbreak detection and control.

Some additional ongoing challenges for pandemic preparedness that TFAH has identified in recent analyses include:

— Maintaining real-time disease detection and surveillance capabilities;
— Managing mass casualty care if there is a major surge in patients at
hospitals and treatment facilities;
— Ensuring the ability to swiftly and safely distribute and administer
medical treatments and vaccines;
— Reaching and providing special services for at-risk and vulnerable
populations, including children, the elderly, and low-income
communities;
— Bolstering the public health workforce with enough experts and
officials, many state and local health departments have experienced
workforce cuts during the recession; and

— Protecting health officials and volunteer medical providers during
emergencies.

TFAH’s annual health emergency preparedness report, Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism, and a report that examined the potential impact of a severe pandemic outbreak, Pandemic Flu and the Potential for U.S. Economic Recession, are available on TFAH’s Web site: www.healthyamericans.org. Also, brochures about how individuals, businesses, community-based organizations and the medical community are available at the Web site.

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.

Travellers to Mexico so far Undeterred by Swine Flu Outbreak
Data from leading flight search company Skyscanner (http://www.Skyscanner.net) shows that travellers planning trips to Mexico have so far been undeterred by the outbreak of swine flu influenza announced by Mexico’s Federal Health Ministry on the 22nd April.

“Dire predictions have already been made about the impact that this will have on tourism, but the number of Skyscanner users searching for flights to Mexico has remained stable in the days since news emerged of the outbreak,” said Skyscanner director and co-founder Barry Smith.

“We would have expected to see some negative impact by now, but it may be that travellers are reassured by the fact that the outbreak is largely concentrated in Mexico City – a two hour flight from the coastal resorts – and by the fact that the Foreign Office, World Health Organisation and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention have not yet made recommendations that people stay away. We’ll get a clearer picture in the next few days as the news spreads and the implications for travellers are fully understood.”

Skyscanner is the most powerful and flexible flight search engine in Europe, providing instant online comparison on flight prices for over 670,000 routes on over 600 airlines. With Skyscanner, users can browse without having to enter specific dates or even destinations, and Skyscanner is available in 20 different languages including French, German and Spanish.

Swine Flu: Infection Control in Hospitals Will Be Critical
In response to confirmed cases of swine flu in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, European Union health officials are advising against travel to North America. At airports in Japan and several other Asian countries, thermal scanners are being used to identify fever among passengers from North America.

But in the U.S. the disease is already among us. The severity and extent are unknown. The SARS outbreak (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003 teaches that rigorous infection control in hospitals may be key to limiting deaths from swine flu in the U.S. Much will depend on what hospitals do when the first seriously ill victims arrive.” If hospitals have effective infection controls in place, the disease can be prevented from spreading to visitors, healthcare workers and their families,” warns Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., and Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID), a national organization that educates the public and medical community about preventing infection. McCaughey explains that “77% of the people who contracted SARS in the Canadian outbreak were patients, visitors or workers in hospitals. SARS was almost entirely a hospital infection epidemic.”

SARS — four letters that filled the headlines in the spring of 2003, and then disappeared. “A report issued after the fact by the government of Ontario (The SARS Commission, Spring of Fear, December 2006) shows how hospitals in one city thwarted an epidemic while hospitals in another city made deadly mistakes” says McCaughey, an expert on preventing infection.

Many hospitals in the U.S. are under-prepared for a similar challenge. As many as ten percent of patients contract infections in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacteria such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and Clostridium difficile race through hospitals, spread by unwashed hands and unclean equipment. How can hospitals that are failing to prevent ordinary infections spread by touch contain a new, unknown virus that can spread whenever someone coughs or sneezes?

“The best defense against swine flu and other unknown pathogens is rigorous hospital hygiene and routine infection prevention. That is the lesson of SARS,” says McCaughey.

Dr. McCaughey is available to speak about the precautions that should be taken in hospitals, schools, day care centers, nursing homes and other places where the disease can spread easily.

Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., is founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and former Lt. Governor of New York State.

http://www.hospitalinfection.org/

Pennsylvania Working Closely With Federal Partners to Contain Impact of Swine Flu
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is working with federal officials to contain the impact of an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico that resulted in the declaration of a national public health emergency in the United States.

The Department of Health is working to educate the public and health care providers of recommended steps to prepare for potential cases of swine influenza in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Health has notified health care providers across Pennsylvania to be watchful for patients with influenza-like illness who may have been exposed to the new swine flu strain and to immediately inform the local health department of any suspected cases. The department will assist all health care providers in evaluating the patients, recommending control measures, and assisting in specimen collection and testing when indicated.

This notification follows confirmation of a new strain of swine influenza A/H1N1 virus in Mexico and five locations in the U.S., including New York and Ohio. To date, all U.S. cases were “mild” with only one person requiring brief hospitalization.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine influenza A/H1N1 is a new strain of influenza that has not previously been detected in swine or humans. The virus has also been confirmed in Canada and Mexico. It is still safe to eat pork and pork products.

The Department of Health provided information to all of the state’s health care providers and hospitals late Friday regarding the swine flu, including how to quickly report possible cases and how to submit samples for testing. Anyone who has traveled to or from the affected areas and has a respiratory illness should contact their health care provider or local health department before seeking health care.

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. Before the current outbreak, people rarely got swine flu, and usually only if they were in very close proximity to infected pigs. However, during the current outbreak, the virus is able to spread from person-to-person.

Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Although winter is over, there is still a low level of seasonal influenza occurring in the state.

There is no vaccine available at this time, but the swine flu can be treated with certain antiviral drugs. Persons with swine flu are contagious for up to seven days or longer after the onset of illness, so it is important to take the following steps to prevent spreading the virus to others:

— Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others;
— Cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow or a tissue and properly
dispose of used tissues;
— Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
— Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
— Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and
getting plenty of rest and exercise; and
— Seek care if you have influenza-like illness.

The CDC is asking that those individuals who have a recent history of travel and experience mild, flu-like symptoms to stay home. However, if you feel your symptoms worsen or become severe, call or visit your health care provider.

For more information on Swine Influenza A/H1N1, contact the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or visit www.health.state.pa.us.

New CenterWatch Report Examines Japan’s Surging Clinical Trials Market

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In 2007, drug development in Japan, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market, exploded six-fold over 2006 and should continue to grow, according to a new CenterWatch report released today.

Japan: Opening the Door to Global Clinical Trials, the fourth in a series of CenterWatch reports on global clinical research markets, takes a look at the reasons for Japan’s dramatic growth, the differences in the country’s approach to clinical research, and government initiatives to attract Big Pharma to conduct simultaneous global clinical trials in Japan.

“New government initiatives have helped to streamline drug review and approval processes, and sponsor companies have responded by including Japan in their global drug development programs more,” said Sara Gambrill, senior editor at CenterWatch and author of the report. “Japan is participating in global drug development at historic levels; however, there is still work to be done there to sustain that growth.”

This is an essential resource for any business seeking to better understand Japan’s clinical trials landscape and what to expect when conducting clinical research there.
– See more at: http://www.centerwatch.com/news-online/article/33/new-centerwatch-report-examines-japans-surging-clinical-trials-market#sthash.iXq1pwgG.dpuf

New CSC Survey Predicts Continued Decline in Health Plan Enrollment

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According to a survey released today by CSC (NYSE:CSC), entitled “Insuring the Future: Health Plans Respond to the Financial Crisis”, about 75 percent of health plan executives expect the current economic crisis to have a greater impact on their business than the 2001-2002 economic downturn.

While few of the health plan executives surveyed expect immediate changes in enrollment and membership levels in health plans, more than two-thirds expressed concern that continued rising unemployment would drastically affect their plan operations and profitability.

54 percent of health plan executives expect small group health plan and business health plan renewals to decrease. Large employers are expected to maintain their commitment to group health insurance coverage. Less than 31 percent expect a decrease in large group health plan renewals. However, almost three-quarters of plan executives foresee an increase in consumer-directed plans with higher deductibles and lower premiums as employers shift more of the cost to their employees. Nearly two-thirds expect an increase in government program enrollment as economic disruption and unemployment expand welfare participation.

The survey research was conducted in November of 2008. CSC interviewed 30 senior health plan executives that represented 26 different health plans. 83 percent of the participants hold C-level positions. To view the results report, visit go here.

CSC’s Global Health Care sector, which serves health care providers, health plans, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, and allied industries around the world, is a global leader in transforming the healthcare industry through the effective use of information to improve health care outcomes, decision-making and operating efficiency.

Medical Tourism: World-class Medical Care at Affordable Rates

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The US healthcare system is the best in the world! — Only if you can access and afford it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a good healthcare system should ideally comprise of state of art medical facilities being fairly distributed across the entire population at fair and affordable rates. Contrary to this, the healthcare system in the United States is not only the most expensive in the world but also is unfairly distributed among its population. People who have access to an insurance cover may have some respite, but the scenario is hopeless for the poor, uninsured and the underinsured. The rising costs of technology and high administrative costs have escalated the overall medical expenses to such an extent that it has become too expensive for the people at large. On the other hand, the availability of similar medical facilities at fair rates in some of the offshore countries has made them a promising medical destination for the US citizens. This has led to the emergence of a phenomenon called medical tourism.

The recent years has seen an upsurge in the number of US citizens opting for medical treatment at offshore locations such as India, Singapore, Bangkok and Thailand. Most medical procedures in these countries are conducted at one-tenth of the cost of a similar procedure at the United States. The low cost of medical facilities in these countries may raise a few eyebrows regarding the quality of the medical services being offered. These countries offer world-class medical facilities that are at par with the best. Some of the doctors administering the patients have even been trained in US. The success rate and medical achievements has also been a major draw among the medical tourists. In the year 2005, around 3,74,000 medical tourists opted for a treatment at Singapore; a Bangkok hospital admitted over 1,50,000 foreign patients and approximately 1,00,000 tourists chose India as their medical destination.

However, among the various medical tourism destinations, India is on it’s way to becoming the most preferred destination among the medical tourists. The Indian healthcare industry with employee strength of over four million is among the largest service sectors in the economy. The government and the private hospitals are working together towards the objective of making India the leader in this sector. Well-trained and experienced doctors, state of art medical facilities and personalized care have helped India to register the fastest growth rate in this Industry. The number of patients seeking treatment in India has gone up from 10,000 in the year 2000 to 100,000 in the year 2005. If the estimates are to be believed, the medical tourism industry in India has the potential to be a 2 billion dollar industry by the year 2012.

Medical tourism is the best alternative for people belonging to countries such as the United States, where the entire healthcare system is unfair both in terms of cost and accessibility. The situation has become so precarious that it seems beyond repair. However, on the other side of the Pacific, the Asian countries have succeeded in offering a combination of world-class medical services, good care and prompt attention that has made them an instant favorite among patients throughout the world.

150th Cyberknife System Installed Worldwide

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Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, recently announced that 150 CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery Systems now have been installed worldwide. This milestone was achieved when Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a leading healthcare services company, installed a CyberKnife System in collaboration with consultant clinician partners at The Harley Street Clinic in London. HCA’s addition of this CyberKnife System marks the installation of its seventh system companywide, including its first outside the United States.

“The combination of the CyberKnife Systems’ robotic mobility and integrated imaging system provides us with a powerful tool for treating tumors with a precision that wasn’t possible before,” said Nick Plowman, M.D., oncologist and clinical director of The CyberKnife Centre London. “The CyberKnife System not only improves the accuracy with which we can target tumors, but provides the patient with a pain-free experience that minimizes side effects and shortens treatment time.”

Availability of the CyberKnife System has grown dramatically, increasing by 50 percent since May 2007 when the company announced that the 100th CyberKnife System was installed at Centre Oscar Lambret in Lille, France. Additionally, patient demand for CyberKnife radiosurgery is on the rise with the number of patients treated increasing more than 34 percent during fiscal year 2008. Prostate and lung radiosurgery seem to be driving the demand, having grown approximately 95 percent and 44 percent respectively during the last fiscal year.

“The rapid growth in deployments of the CyberKnife System around the world is a testament to the promise of robotic radiosurgery for the treatment of a wide variety of tumors,” said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray. “The accuracy and non-invasive nature of CyberKnife radiosurgery gives patients a more convenient and less intrusive option for the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body.”

Currently, HCA has installed CyberKnife Systems in six facilities, including CyberKnife Center of North Florida Radiation Oncology in Gainesville, Fla.; CyberKnife Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.; St. Lucie Medical CyberKnife Treatment Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Fla.; Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan.; and Methodist CyberKnife Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Observational Study Finds Changes in Medicare Reimbursement for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents Associated With Increased Need for Blood Transfusion

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers today report that after the implementation of Medicare coverage limitations for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), a significantly greater proportion of anemic cancer patients who were on chemotherapy and who received ESAs needed blood transfusions and utilized more units of blood per patient than those patients who received ESAs prior to implementation of coverage limitations. The findings from this observational study will be presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on Saturday, December 6th at 9:00 a.m. PST.

In July 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued coverage limitations, in the form of a National Coverage Determination (NCD), for the use of ESAs in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. An ongoing, prospective, observational study [Dosing and Outcomes Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Therapies (DOSE) registry] is evaluating ESA-treated anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The present analyses were conducted using data from this study, focused on patients covered by Medicare before and after implementation of the CMS NCD for ESAs.

“We wanted to examine the potential impacts on transfusion patterns and hematologic changes in anemic Medicare patients receiving chemotherapy treated with ESAs before and after implementation of the ESA coverage limitations,” said study director Chris L. Pashos, PhD, Vice President, Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions, Inc. “Our analyses found increased transfusion rates and greater blood utilization in anemic Medicare patients receiving chemotherapy and treated with ESAs after implementation of the ESA NCD compared with before implementation of the ESA NCD.”

Study Methods and Results

Data from 288 Medicare patients (pre-NCD: 230, post-NCD: 58) from 41 sites included in the DOSE registry were analyzed. Data were categorized into two timeframes based on date of initial ESA administration (pre-NCD: April 2006 through April 2007; post-NCD: October 2007 through May 2008). Baseline characteristics of pre-NCD and post-NCD patients were similar for age, gender, weight and tumor type.

Compared to the pre-NCD patient group, a significantly greater proportion of Medicare patients in the post-NCD group received blood transfusions (post-NCD 32.8 percent vs. pre-NCD 18.3 percent, p= 0.0157), with greater blood utilization per patient (mean units of blood/patient: post-NCD 1.1 vs. pre-NCD 0.5, p= 0.0089). Significantly lower mean Hb levels (g/dL) were reported in the post-NCD group at all time points [Hb level (g/dL): post-NCD vs. pre-NCD: 9.6 vs. 10.6, 9.9. vs. 11.1, 10.4 vs. 11.2, 9.8 vs. 11.1 and 9.7 vs. 11.0 at baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 and Week 16, respectively]. The post-NCD ESA dosing guideline that impacts ESA utilization for anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is the requirement to discontinue ESA dosing for Hb levels exceeding 10 g/dL. Safety, including thrombovascular events, was not examined in this analysis. An increased relative risk of thrombovascular events has been observed in ESA-treated patients; physicians should use the lowest dose needed to avoid red blood cell transfusion.

About the DOSE Registry

The Dosing and Outcomes Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Therapies (DOSE) Registry is an ongoing prospective, observational study that aims to characterize ESA dosing patterns, hematologic outcomes, costs and patient-reported outcomes of anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treated in United States (U.S.) oncology clinics. Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, LLC, supported the DOSE registry and this study.

About PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa)

PROCRIT is an ESA used for the treatment of anemia in patients with most types of cancer receiving chemotherapy, with chronic renal failure who are on dialysis and those who are not on dialysis, who are being treated with zidovudine for HIV infection, and to reduce the need for transfusion in anemic patients who are scheduled for elective noncardiac, nonvascular surgery. Depending on the country in which Epoetin alfa is marketed, these indications may differ.

Important Safety Information

WARNINGS: Increased Mortality, Serious Cardiovascular and Thromboembolic Events, and increased risk of tumor progression OR recurrence

Renal failure: Patients experienced greater risks for death and serious cardiovascular events when administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to target higher versus lower hemoglobin levels (13.5 vs. 11.3 g/dL; 14 vs. 10 g/dL) in two clinical studies. Individualize dosing to achieve and maintain hemoglobin levels within the range of 10 to 12 g/dL.

Cancer:
— ESAs shortened overall survival and/or increased the risk of tumor
progression or recurrence in some clinical studies in patients with
breast, non-small cell lung, head and neck, lymphoid, and cervical
cancers (see WARNINGS: Table 1).
— To decrease these risks, as well as the risk of serious cardio- and
thrombovascular events, use the lowest dose needed to avoid red blood
cell transfusion.
— Use ESAs only for treatment of anemia due to concomitant
myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
— ESAs are not indicated for patients receiving myelosuppressive therapy
when the anticipated outcome is cure.
— Discontinue following the completion of a chemotherapy course.

Perisurgery: PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) increased the rate of deep venous thromboses in patients not receiving prophylactic anticoagulation. Consider deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.

Contraindications
— PROCRIT is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension
or with known hypersensitivity to albumin (human) or mammalian
cell-derived products.
Additional Important Safety Information
— Patients with chronic renal failure experienced greater risks for
death and serious cardiovascular events (including myocardial
infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, and hemodialysis
vascular access thrombosis) when administered ESAs to target higher
versus lower hemoglobin levels (13.5 vs. 11.3 g/dL; 14 vs. 10 g/dL) in
two clinical studies; these risks also increased in controlled
clinical trials of patients with cancer. A rate of hemoglobin rise of
1 g/dL over 2 weeks may contribute to these risks.
— Dose of PROCRIT
— Chronic renal failure patients: The dose of PROCRIT should be
titrated for each patient to achieve and maintain hemoglobin
levels between 10 to 12 g/dL. If a patient does not attain
hemoglobin levels of 10 to 12 g/dL despite 12 weeks of appropriate
PROCRIT therapy, see DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION in the PROCRIT
Prescribing Information.
— Cancer patients: PROCRIT therapy should not be initiated at
hemoglobin levels greater than or equal to 10 g/dL. The dose of
PROCRIT should be titrated for each patient to achieve and
maintain the lowest hemoglobin level sufficient to avoid the need
for blood transfusion. Discontinue if after 8 weeks of therapy
there is no response as measured by hemoglobin levels or if
transfusions are still required (see recommended Dose Modification
section in DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION of the PROCRIT Prescribing
Information).
— HIV patients: The dose of PROCRIT should be titrated for each
patient to achieve and maintain the lowest hemoglobin level
sufficient to avoid transfusion and not to exceed the upper safety
limit of 12 g/dL.
— Monitor hemoglobin regularly during therapy, weekly until hemoglobin
becomes stable.
— Cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and of severe anemia, with or
without other cytopenias, associated with neutralizing antibodies to
erythropoietin have been reported in patients treated with PROCRIT;
predominantly in patients with chronic renal failure receiving PROCRIT
by subcutaneous administration. If any patient develops a sudden loss
of response to PROCRIT, accompanied by severe anemia and low
reticulocyte count, and anti-erythropoietin antibody-associated anemia
is suspected, withhold PROCRIT and other erythropoietic proteins.
Contact ORTHO BIOTECH (1-888-2ASKOBI or 1-888-227-5624) to perform
assays for binding and neutralizing antibodies. If erythropoietin
antibody-mediated anemia is confirmed, PROCRIT should be permanently
discontinued and patients should not be switched to other
erythropoietic proteins.
— The safety and efficacy of PROCRIT therapy have not been established
in patients with a known history of a seizure disorder or underlying
hematologic disease (e.g., sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic
syndromes, or hypercoagulable disorders).
— In some female patients, menses have resumed following PROCRIT
therapy; the possibility of pregnancy should be discussed and the need
for contraception evaluated.
— Prior to and regularly during PROCRIT therapy monitor iron status;
transferrin saturation should be greater than or equal to 20% and
ferritin should be greater than or equal to 100 ng/mL. During therapy
absolute or functional iron deficiency may develop and all patients
will eventually require supplemental iron to adequately support
erythropoiesis stimulated by PROCRIT.
— Treatment of patients with grossly elevated serum erythropoietin
levels (e.g., >200 mUnits/mL) is not recommended.
— During PROCRIT therapy, blood pressure should be monitored carefully
and aggressively managed, particularly in patients with an underlying
history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
— In studies, the most common side effects included fever (pyrexia),
diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, swelling of hands or feet (edema), lack or
loss of strength or weakness (asthenia, fatigue), shortness of breath,
high blood pressure, headache, joint pain (arthralgias), abnormal skin
sensations (as tingling or tickling or itching or burning;
paresthesia), rash, constipation and upper respiratory infection.

Please visit www.procrit.com for the full Prescribing Information, including the Boxed WARNINGS, and for the Medication Guide and Patient Instructions for Use.

About Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. is a leading biopharmaceutical company devoted to helping improve the lives of patients with cancer and with anemia due to multiple causes, including chronic kidney disease. Since it was founded in 1990, Ortho Biotech and its worldwide affiliates have earned a global reputation for researching, manufacturing and marketing innovative products that enhance patients’ health. Located in Bridgewater, N.J., Ortho Biotech is an established market leader in Epoetin alfa therapy for anemia management. The company also markets treatments for recurrent ovarian cancer, rejection of transplanted organs and other serious illnesses. For more information, visit www.orthobiotech.com.

Note: Data in this release correspond to ASH abstract 1301

Source: Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

Investing in Healthcare Recruiting – Risks and Opportunities

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Hospitals and healthcare are definitely on the reliable growth pace. Current industry trend is really reverse to what you would expect, being new to this sector – this is shortage of nurses and medical professionals, meaning that it is rather challenge to find certified applicants, and not really to get new contracts from healthcare organizations. This trends requires the investors to look at healthcare staffing agency from the perspective of its popularity among nurses community – getting nurses opinions on which company is “better” – in the senses of being more friendly, offering better conditions, including faster paychecks issuance. As medical staffing companies actually sells services in the form of recruiting fees, plus W2 services to their medical temps – you should feel the nature of the risks and the opportunities: they are at the management experience, passion and competence side, not in real material assets, such as plants, production tools or even buildings. Let’s try to see the pro and contra arguments:

1. Economy Cycles: Booms and Recessions – healthcare is always in demand, so it should be considered stable and not really exposed to economy cycling. This statement might be considered as a trend, however some companies will suffer from bad economy, but in our opinion mostly due to the recession “atmosphere”.

2. US population “aging” – this is similar to what was long times seen in Europe and Japan, where immigration offset (or even new young immigrants inflow reversed the aging process) was not as active as in United States. Senior population requires more medicine attention and potentially will increase the workload for healthcare staffing organizations, who supply hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities with nurses and medical doctors.

3. Baby Boomers “contribution”. It is believed to be a factor and it should begin its population aging contribution, in the sense that baby boomers will approach retirement age in five-ten years from now. Maybe it is over estimated, however as new population is growing due to current high rate of immigration into US.

4. Healthcare placement competition is rising. Still, we see large number of privately owned recruiting firms, who are strong on the local and sub-regional markets, so the best way to grow is merges and acquisitions, it is not a good time for new operations launching in the regions. Obviously it is too optimistic to predict that all of these healthcare staffing firms will be absorbed by public healthcare placement providers, however the trends are out there.

5. Sun belt states syndrome. Retiring population has a trend to sell their mortgage paid single family houses in New England, New York, Illinois, California and other mid-west or northern states and move down to Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and others sun belts states, where they surge new medical nurse inflow.

Andrew Karasev is an independent technical writer for AudioStocks. Crdentia Corp. (CRDT.OB) http://www.crdentia.com 800.803.1777, is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare staffing services. Crdentia seeks to capitalize on an opportunity that currently exists in the healthcare industry by targeting the critical Nursing, Physician and Allied Health shortage issue. Crdentia has locations in the following states: Alabama: Birmingham, Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson, North Carolina: Charlotte, Texas: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Odessa, Lubbock, Temple, Austin. Author opinion is personal and may not coincide with the company official policy, author agrees with free press rules and article free republishing rights.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/737326

AMERIGROUP Adds 3 Executives with Healthcare and Government Experience to Team

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AMERIGROUP Corporation (NYSE:AGP) has appointed three senior executives to three key senior management positions within AMERIGROUP Corporation.

Steven B. Larsen has been named Senior Vice President for State Government Relations; Tunde Sotunde, M.D., has been named Chief Executive Officer of AMERIGROUP Community Care of Georgia; and Robert A. Wychulis has been named Chief Executive Officer of AMERIGROUP Community Care of New York. [Read more…]

AARP Announces Next Steps on Medicare Bill

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Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s Executive Vice President of Social Impact, has recently announced the Association’s next round of activity to encourage the enactment of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.

After having been passed by both chambers of Congress with veto-proof margins, the bill now sits with the President. Administration officials have indicated his intention to veto the bill.

“We’re hoping for the best and preparing for everything else,” said LeaMond. “We are not taking any signature or vote for granted. We’ve come too far in this campaign to let up at the end.”

Earlier today, AARP and its volunteers began reaching out to the White House encouraging the President’s signature of the bill. AARP CEO Bill Novelli is sending a letter to the White House asking the President to reconsider his intention to veto given the bill’s strong bipartisan support. The White House also received more than 45,000 emails on Friday from grassroots volunteers encouraging the President to sign the bill today.

AARP is also launching a national effort to thank the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Representatives and Senators who voted to pass the bill and ask them to continue their support in the event of a vote to override a presidential veto.

AARP’s activities early next week will include:

– Coordinated visits from constituents to Washington and district offices of the bill’s supporters;

– A national write-in effort from volunteers to opinion-leaders and news outlets;

– Ads placed in key outlets encouraging a veto override, if necessary; and

– Continued grassroots contacts to legislative offices.

Since launching its national Keep Medicare Fair campaign in April, AARP volunteers have sent more than 910,000 emails, phone calls, faxes and petition signatures to Congress in support of a bill to improve and protect Medicare.

“After months of debate on how to strengthen and protect Medicare, we finally have a bill that would improve low-income, prevention, and mental health programs, and boost health care quality through national e-prescribing,” added LeaMond. “We are confident and hopeful that this bill, which has earned broad bipartisan support, will become law.”

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Case Management Society of America CMSA Launches Software Solution for Case Managers

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The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS) have recently announced a partnership to bring a care management software application, called ACUITY AnyWare, to case managers as a membership benefit of CMSA.

acuity-anywhere

cmsa

This new application, called ACUITY AnyWare, will support individual case managers and small groups through a web-enabled app without having install expensive software or have technical support maintain it.

ACUITY AnyWare allows independents and small groups to transition from paper…to easily run reports. ACUITY AnyWare is the first software that has the Case Management Adherence Guidelines (CMAGs) as an integrated tool.

CMSA members can license ACUITY AnyWare for less than $200 per month.

For more information about ACUITY AnyWare, please contact John Sekerak ([email protected]) at (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or Robert Pruss ([email protected]) at (501) 673-1142.

Case Management Society of America (www.cmsa.org) is an international non- profit 501(c)(6) multi-disciplinary professional association established in 1990. CMSA is dedicated to the support and advancement of the case management profession through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy, and establishing standards to advance the profession. The association is based in Little Rock, AR and serves more than 20,000 members/subscribers and 70 affiliate and pending chapters. Since its inception, CMSA has been at the forefront of setting professional standards for the industry, which allows for the highest level of efficiency and integrity, as well as developing national and local leaders who are recognized for their practice and professional excellence. For more information on CMSA, call CMSA at (501) 225-2229 or go to www.cmsa.org .

TCS Healthcare Technologies (www.tcshealthcare.com) is a leading provider of software and clinical solutions that improve medical management (UM/CM/DM) performance and effectiveness for health plans, insurers, providers, third party administrators, medical management companies, and other health care organizations, who serve both the private and public sectors. For more information about TCS, call (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or go to www.tcshealthcare.com .

Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s CEO Hala Moddelmog Earns Recognition at 2008 Trumpet Awards

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trumpet-awards

Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the global leader in the fight to end breast cancer forever, has been recognized for her leadership in business at the 16th annual Trumpet Awards event in Atlanta with a ‘High Heels in High Places’ award.

Hala-Moddelmog

The Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of black women and men, including the part they play in ensuring the continued vitality of the nation’s economy. Special recognition is given to ‘the few who symbolize the many who have overcome the ills of racism and poverty to achieve special greatness.’ The Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.’s ‘High Heels in High Places’ award salutes women in leadership positions in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. The award made its debut at the 2007 Trumpet Awards gala held in Las Vegas.

susan-g-komen

Moddelmog, a former Fortune 500 executive, became Komen’s CEO in the fall of 2006. In her first year at Komen, she leveraged unique opportunities presented by Komen’s 25th anniversary, its accompanying name change and brand transformation, effectively re-igniting the organization’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever while solidifying its position as the global leader in the breast cancer movement.

Prior to coming to Komen, Moddelmog served as founder and CEO of Catalytic Ventures, a consulting firm that worked with private equity investments in the food service industry. She was the first woman in corporate America to lead an international quick service restaurant brand when in 1995 she was named president of Church’s Chicken, a division of Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises. Church’s subsequently realized record sales and profit performance. Moddelmog also held management and marketing positions at Church’s Chicken, Arby’s Franchise Association and BellSouth.

Moddelmog has led Komen in building new alliances with leading cancer organizations in order to reduce duplicated efforts and maximize resources. She has assembled a group of breast cancer thought leaders chaired by distinguished Dana-Farber clinician and Harvard educator, Dr. Eric P. Winer, to form Komen’s new Scientific Advisory Board. Komen has implemented new grants mechanisms to speed the delivery of discoveries and breast cancer cures.

In 2007, Moddelmog saw the organization make the largest grants investment in its 25-year history, more than $77 million. In addition, she encouraged Komen leadership to make public its pledge to invest no less than $2 billion in the coming decade on research and community outreach programs. Moddelmog inaugurated Komen’s global expansion into 10 foreign countries, including several in the Middle East. In the fall of 2007, she led a delegation of breast cancer advocates from the United States to an historic meeting held in Budapest, Hungary with breast cancer advocates from 30 other countries.

Under Moddelmog’s leadership, Komen last year embarked on its 25-city Komen Community Challenge, an educational tour designed to help select U.S. communities close existing gaps in breast cancer and breast health services for the medically uninsured and underserved. The organization published the first-ever State of Breast Cancer report, which has helped people appreciate the advances that have been made in diagnosing and treating breast cancer while understanding the extent of healthcare disparities that keep the latest treatments as well as basic health care out of the reach of millions. In recognition of the tremendous toll breast cancer takes on African Americans in the United States, Circle of Promise, a campaign to engage African Americans with Komen in the fight against breast cancer was launched last fall.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure(R), we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org/ or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Family Healthcare Network Chooses InteGreat EHR

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MED3OOO Group, Inc., a privately held national healthcare management and technology company, recently entered into an agreement to implement and deploy InteGreat EHR, a true browser-based electronic health record (EHR) application, within the Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) community-based clinics throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California. The installation of InteGreat EHR is designed to improve patient care within the 11 ambulatory clinics with intuitive workflows and clinical decision support, while minimizing bandwidth requirements and improving FHCN’s long-term operations.

Family HealthCare Network serves the healthcare needs of the community within Tulare and Kings Counties of California. Since 1976, they have been dedicated to providing access to care for local farm workers and others who may encounter barriers to healthcare because of financial or transportation issues. The clinic will leverage the InteGreat EHR platform for their 90+ providers to document clinical findings to enhance patient care and improve productivity while securely sharing information from disparate lab and hospital systems.

“Family HealthCare Network spent a considerable amount of time investigating the right EHR choice for our community-based centers,” said Jay S. Kelley, Chief Information Officer of Family HealthCare Network. “We selected the InteGreat EHR because of its ease of use, as well as the expertise the MED3OOO team has in implementing the EHR in community healthcare centers and clinics of all sizes.”

The InteGreat EHR browser-based application costs less for network infrastructure and produces higher levels of satisfaction among clinical staff because it offers a reliable connection without the need for a dedicated line. This technology will save the community health center several thousand dollars in IT costs per year.

“We believe the healthcare management and technology experts at MED3OOO will not only be able to help us successfully implement the InteGreat EHR, but also help us grow our network and proactively manage our patient outcomes,” said Harry Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Family HealthCare Network.

“MED3OOO is excited to have Family HealthCare Network implementing the InteGreat EHR product,” said Patrick Hampson, Chairman and CEO of MED3OOO. “We will be working with the community network with an approach to improve patient and financial outcomes. Our IT operational process and technologies will help the network streamline clinical workflows.”

About MED3OOO

MED3OOO is a national leader in advancing Healthcare Management and Technologies focused on improving performance and adding value to the delivery of healthcare. MED3OOO’s vision is to be considered a “premier operations partner” for physicians, hospitals, employers, and municipalities throughout the U.S. Founded in 1995, MED3OOO provides services to over 15,000 physicians and has become one of the largest and most advanced private management, technology, and information management companies in the United States. InteGreat EHR is a proprietary browser-based technology of MED3OOO used by over 13,000 users to improve clinical and operational outcomes. It adapts to clinical workflows with the highest degree of physician acceptance. InteGreat EHR automates common physician activities, including prescribing, capturing charges, ordering lab tests, viewing results, and documenting clinical encounters. InteGreat EHR uses MEDCIN to document visits, and supports HIPAA compliance programs through comprehensive access audits. For more information, please contact Karla Sartori, MED3OOO Corporate Marketing at 412-937-8887 or [email protected]

MED3OOO logo: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/MED3OOO_logo.jpg

About Family HealthCare Network

Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is a private, non-profit community-based organization established in 1976 to provide access to care for those in the community who would encounter barriers to healthcare. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has developed a comprehensive primary healthcare delivery system with 11 clinical sites located throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California’s Central Valley. Family HealthCare Network was the first freestanding ambulatory healthcare center in Tulare County to be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. FHCN is licensed by the State of California as a community clinic and is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Family HealthCare Network is one of the largest employers in Tulare County with over 700 employees as well as the largest Primary Care Provider. For more information about Family HealthCare Network, visit http://www.FHCN.org.

FDA Extends Marketing Exclusivity for LEVAQUIN

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted LEVAQUIN(R) (levofloxacin) an additional six months of marketing exclusivity, known as “pediatric exclusivity.” The action attaches to the U.S. patent covering LEVAQUIN, extending exclusivity from December 2010 to June 2011. This decision was based on five, company-sponsored pediatric studies conducted at the request of the FDA.

The studies included trials to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the efficacy and safety of LEVAQUIN in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and recurrent and/or persistent acute otitis media. The studies were conducted in close collaboration with leaders in the pediatric and infectious disease communities and in consultation with the FDA. LEVAQUIN is not indicated for use in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age).

Since its U.S. introduction in 1996, LEVAQUIN has gained widespread use in the treatment of adults for a variety of bacterial infections caused by specific pathogens(1), including: acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, nosocomial pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, complicated and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (mild to moderate), chronic bacterial prostatitis, complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (mild to moderate) and acute pyelonephritis (mild to moderate).

LEVAQUIN is available in 250 mg, 500 mg and 750 mg doses in both oral and I.V. formulations. The safety profile of LEVAQUIN is similar across doses. LEVAQUIN is marketed to healthcare providers by Ortho-McNeil, Inc., and PriCara, Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc.

Study Finds More Obese Teens Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

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At a time when there are growing concerns about a national epidemic of obesity among teenagers, a new study focusing on morbidly obese teens who have last-resort bariatric surgery has found that the procedure poses no greater risks for them than for adult patients, and that, in fact, they have a zero death rate and a faster rate of recovery than older patients.

Gastric bypass, stapling or similar procedures known as bariatric surgery is an approach to weight management for morbidly obese patients, which has documented results in improved health outcomes for adults.

Now researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have used data from a large national database to examine nationwide trends from 1996 to 2003 in the use of adolescent bariatric surgery in the first effort to compare the early postoperative results following bariatric surgery in adolescents and adults.

The study, published in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, shows that surgery among teens has tripled in recent years, increasing in the U.S. from an estimate of just over 200 procedures in 2000 to almost 800 procedures in 2003.

The new study also compared the costs of surgery for adults and teens, finding that adolescents had lower hospital charges. Total hospital charges in 2003 for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery were $23.6 million and for adults was $3.8 billion. The average hospital charges associated with these procedures were 15 percent lower for adolescents than for adults. Similar to adults, most adolescents had private insurance.

Although bariatric surgery among adolescents has increased, it is by no means a common procedure, representing fewer than one percent of the bariatric procedures performed nationwide. The study found that although the majority of surgery recipients are female, more male adolescents are requesting it.

Access Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Somanta Pharmaceuticals

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: ACCP) and Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: SMPM) have signed a letter of intent for Access to acquire Somanta. Somanta is an Irvine, California based biotechnology company with four novel anti-cancer compounds in development, one of which is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.

Each of Somanta’s drug candidates acts by a unique mechanism of action, and has the potential to target a wide range of different cancer types. In addition to its significant product pipeline, Somanta brings an experienced team of clinical development and regulatory professionals who have an established track record of guiding compounds through the FDA and EMEA approval processes.

Upon consummation of the acquisition, Somanta’s preferred and common shareholders will receive an aggregate of 1.5 million shares of Access common shares which would represent approximately 13% of the combined company assuming the conversion of Access’ existing convertible debt under existing terms of conversion. The letter of intent is non-binding. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter.

“The proposed acquisition of Somanta is very exciting for Access from a number of perspectives,” stated Stephen R. Seiler, Access’ President and CEO. “Somanta comes with four very interesting anti-cancer compounds, one of which is already in Phase 2 clinical trials. Each compound acts by a novel mode of action, and one represents a novel platform technology. As a result, the combined Access and Somanta will have a broad cancer-focused portfolio which will include one approved product, two drug candidates in Phase 2 trials and three novel and exciting pre-clinical products. Our goal has always been to make Access a leader in the oncology space and this acquisition fills out our product pipeline extremely well.”

“In addition, the Somanta clinical development team fits well with our current management group,” continued Mr. Seiler. “I look forward to leveraging their expertise to assist in accelerating and broadening the clinical program for Access’ ProLindac which is in Phase 2 trials in the EU and in the U.S. as well as on our oral insulin program.”

“The proposed combination of Somanta with Access is highly synergistic,” added Agamemnon Epenetos, M.D., Ph.D., Somanta’s CEO. “Each company is at a position where the combination makes strategic sense, and the product pipelines and management teams come together very well, with little overlap. I believe the combined product and technology pipeline is extremely exciting, and I look forward to working closely with the Access team to advance both companies’ products through the development and regulatory process.”

About Somanta
Somanta Pharmaceuticals is a company focused on the development of novel oncology compounds and anti-cancer agents. Somanta’s lead clinical product Sodium Phenylbutyrate (PB) is currently in Phase 2 development. In National Institute of Health sponsored trials, PB has demonstrated the greatest activity in CNS cancers, several of which are “orphan” indications such as Glioblastoma Multiforme. Moreover, promising data has also emerged which suggests PB may be an effective therapy for certain blood cancers and other solid tumors. PB has been well tolerated; its safety profile has generally been established due to its many years of clinical use in pediatrics for inherited urea cycle disorders.

Somanta’s other drug candidates include Alchemix, Prodrax and Angiolix. Alchemix is pan-target inhibitor that is effective in tumor cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy by targeting and irreversibly binding to DNA. Prodrax, a technology platform, is a novel family of prodrugs that enables compounds to remain inert until they reach the hypoxic region of tumors where they become toxic, thus targeting tumor cells which are typically difficult to kill. Somanta believes Alchemix and Prodrax have the ability to overcome many different pathways of drug resistance, and will be studied in a broad range of cancers including lung, colon, ovarian and renal. Proof-of-principle pre- clinical studies have been completed in both of these compounds, and Phase 1 dose escalation trials are being planned. Additionally, Somanta is developing a humanized monoclonal antibody, Angiolix, which appears to induce cell death selectively to tumor blood vessels using a different mode of action than VEGF- oriented therapies. Somanta has prepared clinical development plans for all preclinical projects. For additional information on Somanta Pharmaceuticals, please visit http://www.somanta.com/ .

About Access
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access’ products include ProLindac(TM), currently in Phase II clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer and MuGard(TM) for the management of patients with mucositis. The Company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin(TM)-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at http://www.accesspharma.com/ .

About ProLindac(TM)
Access’ lead compound, ProLindac(TM), is a novel DACH platinum prodrug which has been shown to be active in a wide variety of solid tumors in both preclinical models and in human trials. The Company believes that ProLindac’s unique molecular design potentially could eliminate some of the toxic neurological side effects seen in currently marketed DACH platinums. The Company is currently enrolling patients in two Phase II clinical trials, one in ovarian cancer and one in head and neck cancer, and plans to initiate one or more additional Phase II trials, including one in colorectal cancer in 2007.

About MuGard(TM)
Access has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market MuGard(TM) in the United States. MuGard(TM) is Access’ proprietary oral rinse product for the management of oral mucositis, the debilitating side-effect which afflicts more than 40% of cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. There is currently no well-accepted treatment for mucositis. Access is actively seeking marketing partners in Europe and the US.

About Cobalamin(TM)
The Company is actively pursuing development of its novel Cobalamin(TM) drug delivery technology, particularly as it pertains to the oral delivery of large molecule drugs that are only currently deliverable by injection or subcutaneous administration. Pre-clinical animal studies utilizing Access’ Cobalamin(TM) technology have demonstrated the ability to deliver insulin by oral administration in therapeutic levels.

The conclusion of the acquisition of Somanta by Access as anticipated in the Letter of Intent is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation negotiation of a definitive acquisition agreement which will contain standard and customary provisions, completion of due diligence to the full satisfaction of each party, approval by the respective Boards of Directors and by Somanta shareholders, completion of all government filings and receipt of all necessary government approvals and all required third party consents.

Allied Healthcare International Reports Fiscal 2006 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

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Allied Healthcare International Inc. (Nasdaq: AHCI; AIM: AHI), a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom, has announced the financial results of its fiscal 2006 fourth quarter and year-end.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company generated revenues of $294.6 million, compared with $351.2 million reported in 2005. The $56.6 million decline was mainly due to a reduction in NHS business, which was again driven by a decrease in expenditures and the NHS’s downward price pressure on the cost of agency nurses. Revenues were also impacted by the unfavorable effect of changes in foreign exchange of $8.0 million. Net income for the year, before impairment charges, totaled $7.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with net income, before charges, of $20.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share for the comparable period last year. With the addition of impairment charges, which reduced 2006 results by $131.4 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, the Company reported a net loss of $123.8 million, or $2.75 per diluted share, compared with earnings after charges in 2005 of $18.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share.

The Company’s 2006 fourth quarter and year-end results were negatively impacted by a total of $131.4 million of impairment charges, net of taxes, resulting from charges for goodwill and long-lived assets of $120.1 million and $11.3 million, respectively, which were determined after the company completed its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. The long-lived asset impairment charge represents $4.3 million for cylinders, redundant plant and software related to the transfer of the Company’s historical oxygen distribution business, $6.3 million associated with the decision to discontinue the implementation of the Oracle front-office operating system, and $0.7 million related to impairment of other intangibles.

Gross profit margins for the year, as adjusted, remained strong and increased to 30.4%, compared with 29.5% reported in 2005. The increase in gross margin resulted from the Company’s continued emphasis on its higher-margin, Social Services business, and a decreased emphasis on its lower-margin, NHS business. The Company’s reported gross profit mix for the year, as adjusted, is as follows: 65% Social Services, 16% Nursing homes, 14% NHS, and 5% Oxygen.

For the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Company generated revenue of $74.5 million, compared with $84.3 million reported for the comparable quarter last year. Net income for the quarter, before impairment charges, reached $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared with net income before charges of $5.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share for the comparable period in 2005. Net loss in the fourth quarter, after impairment charges, was $131.1 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, compared with net income after charges of $4.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2005.

Gross profit margins for the fourth quarter, as adjusted, remained strong at 29.8%, absorbing the full impact of the lower respiratory margins, compared to 30.9% reported for the comparable quarter last year. The strong gross margin resulted from the Company’s continued emphasis on its higher-margin, Social Services business, and a decreased emphasis on its lower-margin, NHS business. The Company’s reported gross profit mix for the fourth quarter, as adjusted, is as follows: 69% Social Services, 15% Nursing Homes, 11% NHS, and 5% Oxygen.

The Company reported selling, general and administration (SG&A) costs for the year of $75.6 million, compared with $74.0 million last year. The increase was a result of significant investments in its Allied Respiratory division where patient numbers more than doubled from that which was originally anticipated, and the Company is now servicing over 12,500 individuals. As a result, the Company had a disproportionate increase in SG&A expenses of $3.6 million, and anticipates costs relative to the oxygen business to significantly decrease going forward. Additional costs were also related to increased levels of IT depreciation and maintenance costs of $2.7 million, and stock based compensation costs of $0.7 million. These costs were partially offset by savings in the Company’s flexible staffing division of $3.6 million, and the effects of foreign exchange.

The Company reported selling, general and administration (SG&A) costs for the fourth quarter of $20.7 million, compared with $20.4 million last year. Similarly, the increase was a result of costs associated with the investment in the respiratory business, and an increased level of IT depreciation and maintenance costs associated with the implementation of the Oracle accounting and payroll systems.

The Company will maintain its emphasis on growing the Social Services business and is poised to continue to deliver services at home.

“The positive results in our core social services business were obscured by the contraction in the nursing market and the investment in the Oxygen business,” said Timothy Aitken, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite these challenges, the Company successfully transitioned the flexible staffing business to homecare services and the emerging complex care market, which is the foundation for our future growth.”

Mr. Aitken concluded: “During 2006, management focused on improving the operating structure of the Company, rationalizing the branch network and reducing costs relative to the NHS business. In 2007, the Company is poised to leverage our branch network to deliver Community Care in partnership with Local Government and achieve improved operating results.”

Allied Healthcare invites all those interested in hearing management’s discussion of the results to join the call by dialing 877-407-9205 for domestic participants and 201-689-8054 for international participants at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 14, 2006. A replay will be available for one week following the call by dialing 877-660-6853 for domestic participants and 201-612-7415 for international participants, and entering account number 286 and conference ID number 223788 when prompted. Participants may also access a live Webcast of the conference call through the “Investors” section of Allied Healthcare’s Website, www.alliedhealthcare.com. The presentation will be available and archived for 90 days.

In addition to disclosing results of operations that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (”GAAP”), this press release also discloses non-GAAP results of operations that exclude or include certain charges. These non-GAAP measures adjust for charges that are unusual. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s results of operations, as these non-GAAP measures allow investors to better evaluate ongoing business performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally to assess the performance of its business and to establish operational goals. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About Allied Healthcare International
Allied Healthcare International Inc. (http://www.alliedhealthcare.com) is a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom. Allied operates a community-based network of approximately 100 branches with the capacity to provide carers (known as home health aides in the U.S.), nurses, and specialized medical personnel to locations covering approximately 90% of the U.K. population. Allied meets the needs of Private Patients, Community Care, Nursing Homes and Hospitals. The Company also supplies medical-grade oxygen in the form of cylinders and concentrators to patients in the U.K.

AHC Healthcare Receivables Management Partners with Tucson Medical Center

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Nationally recognized healthcare reimbursement experts, Tracy Knowles, Esq., Senior Vice President for AHC, and Maria Persons, Corporate Director of Patient Financial Services for Tucson Medical Center, recently provided education to the Texas Chapter of American Association of Health Care Administrative Management.

Their seminar, Managing Usual and Customary Denials, discussed the manner in which healthcare providers can develop a payer specific approach to resolve reimbursement reduction issues. The educational conference was attended by over 60 individuals from hospitals and health systems, specialized healthcare providers, and sponsoring organizations.

Representative provider organizations in attendance included:
Arlington Memorial Hospital
Baylor Health Care System
Children’s Medical Center
East Texas Medical Center
Harris Methodist Southlake
HCA Healthcare
Hill Country Memorial Hospital
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital
Hunt Memorial Hospital District
Methodist Health System
Parkland Health & Hospital System
Texas Health Resources
Triumph Healthcare
University Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Wilson N. Jones

Workshop attendees received education on the various tactics employed by payers, state statutes, federal regulations, case law, correct guidelines utilized in determining “reasonableness” of charges for each payer type, and appropriateness of patient involvement in each payer situation.

Having completed over 160 seminars this year, AHC maintains their commitment to the healthcare community by providing complimentary, on-site healthcare reimbursement education. Interested parties who wish to schedule a complimentary workshop for their hospital business office staff may contact AHC at (888) 511-7901 or visit www.ahcinc.com.

About AHC
AHC Healthcare Receivables Management (www.ahcinc.com) provides technology enabled accounts receivables management solutions and complimentary education offerings for the healthcare community. Employing over 500 healthcare reimbursement professionals, approximately 100 of which are attorneys, AHC utilizes federal and state regulations, established case law, and client specific protocols to provide guaranteed results to our 760 clients nationwide. AHC has offices in Virginia, New York, Florida, Illinois, and California.