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Tag: medicine

  • There Is No Aspect of Healthcare That Is Not Being Transformed Digitally, Says AMA Chief Experience Officer

    There Is No Aspect of Healthcare That Is Not Being Transformed Digitally, Says AMA Chief Experience Officer

    “A lot of times it’s better to think about (digital transformation) in retrospect after you’ve gotten something done, but the digital platform is essential in helping you achieve your business objectives, and that’s really what it boils down to,” says AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger. “Even though my purview here is mostly communicating between us and physicians, ultimately, I’m there to help them in what they care the most about, which is patient care. There is no aspect of healthcare right now that is not being transformed digitally.”

    Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer for the American Medical Association, discusses how digital transformation is ultimately about improving patient care in a video interview (watch below) with industry analyst Michael Krigsman on CXOTALK:

    I Don’t Start Anything That I Do With Digital Blinders On

    I don’t start anything that I do with digital blinders on. The first thing is to figure out what the job that you’re trying to get done is. Inevitably, of course, these days, if you’re trying to meet people where they are, that does involve digital platforms. We are, in essence, like any other subscription business in that we have something that we’re trying to get people to belong to. If you’re going to communicate with people and build a subscription business, you do need to have that platform in place.

    I think, basically, today, most organizations or businesses, they have to act in three ways. They’ve got to have the consumer product focus of a company like Proctor & Gamble. They need to have the publishing experience and content management experience of a New York Times or Washington Post, and they need to have the data and analytics platform and skillset of like an Amazon. That’s a tough organization to build these days. But if you’re going to succeed in creating a member experience and really interacting with people, you’ve got to be able to do all three things.

    There Is No Aspect of Healthcare That Is Not Being Transformed Digitally

    I think digital transformation is a bizarre and scary term. I don’t walk in the door saying, “We need to have a digital transformation,” because that is really kind of meaningless to people. A lot of times I would say it’s better to think about that in retrospect after you’ve gotten something done, but the digital platform is essential in helping you achieve your business objectives, and that’s really what it boils down to. 

    Even though my purview here is mostly communicating between us and physicians, ultimately, I’m there to help them in what they care the most about, which is patient care. There is no aspect of healthcare right now that is not being transformed digitally. One of the most exciting places, and I think it probably has more relevance on the long-term care side, is remote patient monitoring. You look around at most systems and they’re equipping themselves to have people not come to the hospital, not come into the office, but to provide people with the technology to be able to do what they need to do from home and to be able to communicate with them from a remote place and have their progress monitored.

    Driving The Future of Medicine

    I’d say the final way that we (are an ally in patient care) is through something I don’t think a lot of people know about, which is driving the future of medicine. We are facilitating the changes that are happening in medicine right now. I talked about remote patient monitoring, but telemedicine is something that’s increasing in usage and all of the infrastructure that underlies that needs to get put into place to make sure that doctors have what they need to be able to do that and, from a technology payment standpoint, all of that kind of stuff.

    The other thing and this is affecting every aspect of business out there is data. One of the key things about data right now in healthcare is, it’s not necessarily hooked up in a way that can connect the input when a patient comes in the door and the outcomes. There are different systems that underly that data input and the portability of that. We are putting in place an infrastructure and what we would call an innovation ecosystem to facilitate the flow of that data so that it can actually deliver better patient care in the end.

    There Is No Aspect of Healthcare That Is Not Being Transformed Digitally – AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger
  • Every Sector of the Economy is Going to Benefit From Robotics and AI

    Every Sector of the Economy is Going to Benefit From Robotics and AI

    “We are on the cusp of ubiquitous automation,” says ROBO Global President William Studebaker. “We have an undeniable inflection point because of the performance capabilities of computing and the cost curve declining such that these now are technologies that used to be science fiction but now have actual use applications. Fast forward six years later and we are at a launching pad in terms of the economic activity that we’re seeing and the innovations. Every sector of the economy is going to benefit from robotics and AI.”

    William Studebaker, President and Chief Investment Officer of ROBO Global, discusses how robotics and AI are at an inflection point where soon every sector of the economy is going to benefit in an interview on CNBC:

    Every Sector of the Economy is Going to Benefit From Robotics and AI

    We were fortunate six years ago to develop an index that tracks the growth in robotics and AI because we saw these technologies changing the way we live and work. We are on the cusp of ubiquitous automation. We have an undeniable inflection point because of the performance capabilities of computing and the cost curve declining such that these now are technologies that used to be science fiction but now have actual use applications. Fast forward six years later and we are at a launching pad in terms of the economic activity that we’re seeing and the innovations. It’s being spread out to all parts of the economy. Every sector of the economy is going to benefit from robotics and AI.

    We try to identify the companies that we think have the highest revenue threshold that corresponds directly to selling the technologies. We’re looking for high revenue purity. We’re also looking for large technological mode around their business and we have an interesting lens to capture this. We actually have seven PhDs on our team. They’re really the who’s who in robotics and AI that have built technologies, built businesses, or academic researchers, etc. That gives us a great lens to see not what yesterday’s winners are but what the future winners are likely to be. That gives us an interesting lens.

    A World of Prediction, Prevention, and Individualizing Medicine

    The official fee is 95 basis points. We do rebate securities lending which is effectively their 25 basis points. So the actual costs are 70 basis point to investors. With a team of industry experts that we have tracking this, I think that we do a pretty good job. We are generally the Alpha that investors are looking for. The index is up a little over 20 percent year-to-date and the last three years is probably close to up 15 percent. We think the inflection is starting here and we’ve got years if not decades of growth ahead of us.

    Healthcare is probably one of the most exciting areas for investors to think about. Why? We’re going to a world of prediction, prevention, and individualizing medicine. Effectively, we’re going to create much healthier livelihoods for us but more pulling longer longevity. We live in a world that’s been historically sick care. We deal with the problem after it happens. We’re now going to a world of prevention, prediction, and individualizing medicine. A lot of healthcare structures tend to focus on therapies. We’re actually focused much more on the prediction and the prevention; diagnosis, medical instruments, regenerative medicine, and prevention. These are the kinds of technologies that investors need to embrace when they’re thinking about healthcare.

    Every Sector of the Economy is Going to Benefit From Robotics and AI, says ROBO Global President William Studebaker
  • Kim Kardashian Forced to Post a ‘Corrective Ad’ After FDA Called Previous One Misleading

    Kim Kardashian Forced to Post a ‘Corrective Ad’ After FDA Called Previous One Misleading

    Future first lady and Instagram queen Kim Kardashian has been forced to post a #CorrectiveAd on Instagram after she and a drugmaker ran afoul of the Food and Drug Administration over a deceptive ad.

    In now-deleted Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts, Kardashian touted the amazing benefits of a morning sickness drug called Diclegis, made by a drug company called Duchesnay.

    But according to the FDA, the post was “false and misleading.”

    “The Office of Prescription Drug Promotion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the Kim Kardashian Social Media Post for DICLEGIS (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets, for oral use submitted by Duchesnay, Inc. under cover of Form FDA 2253. The social media post was also submitted as a complaint to the OPDP Bad Ad Program. The social media post is false or misleading in that it presents efficacy claims for DICLEGIS, but fails to communicate any risk information associated with its use and it omits material facts,” says the FDA in a letter addressed to Eric Gervais, Executive Vice President of Duchesnay, Inc., dated August 7th.

    “OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know my #morningsickness has been pretty bad. I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped, so I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, and I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby,” wrote Kardashian in her original Instagram post.

    Now, Kardashian has been forced to post a follow up ad – this time including the appropriate risk information.

    “#CorrectiveAd. I guess you saw the attention my last #morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine HCl) was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis. A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis,” she writes.

    The rest reads like any drug ad – a long list of warnings and possible side effects.

    #CorrectiveAd I guess you saw the attention my last #morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine HCl) was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis. A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis. For US Residents Only. Diclegis is a prescription medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in women who have not improved with change in diet or other non-medicine treatments. Limitation of Use: Diclegis has not been studied in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Important Safety Information Do not take Diclegis if you are allergic to doxylamine succinate, other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in Diclegis. You should also not take Diclegis in combination with medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as these medicines can intensify and prolong the adverse CNS effects of Diclegis. The most common side effect of Diclegis is drowsiness. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or other activities that need your full attention unless your healthcare provider says that you may do so. Do not drink alcohol, or take other central nervous system depressants such as cough and cold medicines, certain pain medicines, and medicines that help you sleep while you take Diclegis. Severe drowsiness can happen or become worse causing falls or accidents. Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Diclegis can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. You should not breastfeed while using Diclegis. Additional safety information can be found at www.DiclegisImportantSafetyinfo.com or www.Diclegis.com. Duchesnay USA encourages you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

    A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

    Of course, #CorrectiveAd or not, it’s still an ad. Probably a win for Diclegis.

    Image via Kim Kardashian, Instagram

  • E-Cigarettes 95% Safer? Not So Fast, Says Top Medical Journal

    E-Cigarettes 95% Safer? Not So Fast, Says Top Medical Journal

    The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and best-known medical journals, has blasted a widely-publicized report that said e-cigarettes are 95% safer than regular, combustible tobacco.

    “Tobacco is the largest single cause of preventable deaths in England—e-cigarettes may have a part to play to curb tobacco use. But the reliance by PHE on work that the authors themselves accept is methodologically weak, and which is made all the more perilous by the declared conflicts of interest surrounding its funding, raises serious questions not only about the conclusions of the PHE report,” writes the Lancet editorial team.

    The report, from Public Health England, said that e-cigarettes can help smokers quit and are 95% less harmful than regular cigarettes.

    “Many people think the risks of e-cigarettes are the same as smoking tobacco and this report clarifies the truth of this. In a nutshell, best estimates show e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful to your health than normal cigarettes, and when supported by a smoking cessation service, help most smokers to quit tobacco altogether,” said the report.

    “Smokers who have tried other methods of quitting without success could be encouraged to try e-cigarettes (EC) to stop smoking and stop smoking services should support smokers using EC to quit by offering them behavioral support. Encouraging smokers who cannot or do not want to stop smoking to switch to EC could help reduce smoking related disease, death and health inequalities. There is no evidence that EC are undermining the long-term decline in cigarette smoking among adults and youth, and may in fact be contributing to it. Despite some experimentation with EC among never smokers, EC are attracting very few people who have never smoked into regular EC use,” it says.

    But The Lancet calls into question the report, saying the papers it is based upon are faulty at their core.

    “[N]either PHE nor McNeill and Hajek report the caveats that Nutt and colleagues themselves emphasised in their paper. First, there was a “lack of hard evidence for the harms of most products on most of the criteria”. Second, “there was no formal criterion for the recruitment of the experts”. In other words, the opinions of a small group of individuals with no prespecified expertise in tobacco control were based on an almost total absence of evidence of harm. It is on this extraordinarily flimsy foundation that PHE based the major conclusion and message of its report.”

    “The study led by Nutt was funded by Euroswiss Health and Lega Italiana Anti Fumo (LIAF). Riccardo Polosa, one of the authors of the Nutt paper, is the Chief Scientific Advisor to LIAF. In the paper, he reports serving as a consultant to Arbi Group Srl, an e-cigarette distributor. His research on e-cigarettes is currently supported by LIAF. Another author reports serving as a consultant to manufacturers of smoking cessation products. The editors of the journal added a note at the end of the paper warning readers about the “potential conflict of interest” associated with this work.”

    PHE has responded, standing by its findings.

    “We concluded that these new studies do not in fact demonstrate substantial new
    risks and that the previous estimate by an international expert panel (Nutt et al,
    2014) endorsed in an expert review (West et al, 2014) that e-cigarette use is
    around 95% safer than smoking, remains valid as the current best estimate based
    on the peer-reviewed literature,” says PHE.

    Image via Vaping360, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Kim Kardashian Posted a Misleading Drug Ad on Instagram and Ran Afoul of the FDA

    Kim Kardashian Posted a Misleading Drug Ad on Instagram and Ran Afoul of the FDA

    Kim Kardashian has 42.6 million Instagram followers and nearly 26 million Facebook likes. So when she promotes a product, it’s a pretty big deal.

    Paid social media promotion is everywhere, as companies look to provide their products a lucrative endorsement from the rich and famous. Kim Kardashian is far from the only celebrity who rents out space on their social media profiles for advertisements.

    But a recent endorsement from the most famous of the Kardashian clan has run afoul of the US Food and Drug Administration.

    In now-deleted Instagram and Facebook posts, Kardashian recently touted the amazing benefits of a morning sickness drug called Diclegis, made by a drug company called Duchesnay.

    But according to the FDA, the post was “false and misleading.”

    “The Office of Prescription Drug Promotion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the Kim Kardashian Social Media Post for DICLEGIS (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets, for oral use submitted by Duchesnay, Inc. under cover of Form FDA 2253. The social media post was also submitted as a complaint to the OPDP Bad Ad Program. The social media post is false or misleading in that it presents efficacy claims for DICLEGIS, but fails to communicate any risk information associated with its use and it omits material facts,” says the FDA in a letter addressed to Eric Gervais, Executive Vice President of Duchesnay, Inc., dated August 7th.

    Basically, Kardashian’s social media posts failed to illuminate the limitations and potential side effects of the drug.

    The post is still up on Twitter:

    Here’s what it said:

    OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know my #morningsickness has been pretty bad. I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped, so I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, and I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby. I’m so excited and happy with my results that I’m partnering with Duchesnay USA to raise awareness about treating morning sickness. If you have morning sickness, be safe and sure to ask your doctor about the pill with the pregnant woman on it and find out more www.diclegis.com; www.DiclegisImportantSafetyInfo.com.

    According to the FDA, directing people to the company’s website in order to “find out more” isn’t enough.

    When looking to celebrity endorsements for guidance on medication, it probably pays to be discerning. This goes double for social media, where brevity is king.

    Image via Toglenn, Wikimedia Commons

  • 3D Printed Drug: FDA Approves Its First, an Epilepsy Medication

    Medical tech is a huge market where 3D printing is attempting to make a splash, and now we have another first for the industry.

    The US Food and Drug Administration has approved its first-ever 3D-printed medication.

    The drug is called Spritam, and it’s used in the treatment of seizures.

    Spritam is a “prescription adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial
    onset seizures, myoclonic seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in
    adults and children with epilepsy,” according to Aprecia Pharmaceuticals.

    The 3D printing tech allows Aprecia to produce a pill that’s easier to administer.

    Spritam utilizes Aprecia’s proprietary ZipDose Technology platform, a groundbreaking advance that uses three-dimensional printing (3DP) to produce a porous formulation that rapidly disintegrates with a sip of liquid.

    “By combining 3DP technology with a highly-prescribed epilepsy treatment, SPRITAM is
    designed to fill a need for patients who struggle with their current medication
    experience,” said Don Wetherhold, Chief Executive Officer of Aprecia. “This is the first in
    a line of central nervous system products Aprecia plans to introduce as part of our
    commitment to transform the way patients experience taking medication.”

    The drug will become available in early 2016. 3D printing has been used to create medical devices and models, but this is the first time a medication has ever received full FDA approval.

  • The First Successful Penis Transplant Has Occurred

    It took nine hours, but a team of surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital in South Africa have completed the world’s first successful penile transplant.

    Well, the team pulled it off in December of 2014. But it’s now being deemed “successful” because a “long-term result was achieved.” The first attempt at a penile transplant happened back in 2006 in China, but the procedure had to be reversed. That makes this transplant the first successful one in history.

    And the patient is doing even better than expected:

    “Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery,” said Prof André van der Merwe, head of Stellenbosch University’s Division of Uroloy. “It’s a massive breakthrough. We’ve proved that it can be done – we can give someone an organ that is just as good as the one that he had. It was a privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world.”

    The patient is expected to gain back all urinary and reproductive functions.

    So, what happened to the guy’s original penis?

    Apparently, the 21-year-old had his penis amputated when he developed life-threatening complications from a circumcision.

    “There is a greater need in South Africa for this type of procedure than elsewhere in the world, as many young men lose their penises every year due to complications from traditional circumcision,” explains Van der Merwe. “This is a very serious situation. For a young man of 18 or 19 years the loss of his penis can be deeply traumatic. He doesn’t necessarily have the psychological capability to process this. There are even reports of suicide among these young men.”

    Authorities estimate about 250 similar cases per year in the country.

    Of course, this surgery has implications outside of South Africa. The University says that it could help men who’ve lost their penises from cancer, or as a “last ditch” effort combat erectile disfunction.

    Have fun getting your insurance to cover that.

  • Google Starts Returning Quick Medical Facts

    Google is about to start displaying more medical information in its Knowledge Graph, enabling users to quickly search and retrieve important health info without necessarily having to click through to other sites. The company says it has been working with a team of doctors led by its own Dr. Kapil Parakh, M.D., MPH, Ph.D. to compile, curate, and review the information it shows.

    “All of the gathered facts represent real-life clinical knowledge from these doctors and high-quality medical sources across the web, and the information has been checked by medical doctors at Google and the Mayo Clinic for accuracy,” says product manager Prem Ramaswami. “That doesn’t mean these search results are intended as medical advice. We know that cases can vary in severity from person to person, and that there are bound to be exceptions. What we present is intended for informational purposes only—and you should always consult a healthcare professional if you have a medical concern.”

    “Think of the last time you searched on Google for health information,” Ramaswami says. “Maybe you heard a news story about gluten-free diets and pulled up the Google app to ask, ‘What is celiac disease?’ Maybe a co-worker shook your hand and later found out she had pink eye, so you looked up ‘pink eye’ to see whether it’s contagious. Or maybe you were worried about a loved one—like I was, recently, when my infant son Veer fell off a bed in a hotel in rural Vermont, and I was concerned that he might have a concussion. I wasn’t able to search and quickly find the information I urgently needed (and I work at Google!).”

    Ramaswami says his son was indeed OK (hopefully a doctor’s assessment rather than Google’s), and notes that 1 in 20 Google searches is health-related.

    The new information sounds like a major step up from what Google has offered in the past. Before the Panda update, there were some pretty questionable articles ranking for some health-related queries. We’re talking brain cancer articles from eHow written by non-medical professionals.

    Google has been working on improving health search for years. In February fo 2012, the company started displaying lists of possible health conditions when the searcher typed a query for a symptom.

    Interestingly enough, results for that same query look more like an old school SERP these days:

    Later that year, Google added new medical info to the Knowledge Graph, specifically for medications:

    The following year, the Knowledge Graph began to show nutrition information for foods:

    The latest Knowledge Graph additions seem like a major improvement to Google’s health-related search results. It’s good that all of this information is being reviewed by a team of doctors before inclusion, which would suggest a better review process than some of the other Knowledge Graph info has been subjected to in the past.

    Still, if it’s important, don’t rely on Google.

    Images via Google

  • Mark Zuckerberg, Wife Priscilla Chan Give $75 Million to Hospital Where She Completed Residency

    Mark Zuckerberg, Wife Priscilla Chan Give $75 Million to Hospital Where She Completed Residency

    Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have just announced a huge donation to San Francisco General Hospital.

    The couple is giving $75 million to the hospital, which is called The General, to expand the size of the ER and provide more beds for patients.

    “To add some specifics, our contribution today will allow The General to double the size of its new Emergency Room and quadruple the number of beds, and provide state of the art equipment for healthcare providers and first responders,” says Zuckerberg.

    “We believe everyone deserves access to high quality health care. The General is the main public hospital in San Francisco, and it is an important safety net for our community. More than 70% of the families it serves are uninsured or underinsured. It is open to anyone who lives, works in or visits the city … We hope this contribution alongside the great work of other contributors, will help The General to continue to save lives and deliver care to everyone who needs it.”

    Post by Mark Zuckerberg.

    Chan is a pediatrician. She completed her residency at The General.

    In October, Zuckerberg gave the Centers for Disease Control $25 million to help battle Ebola in Africa. In May, he donated $120 million to help improve Bay Area schools.

    Image via Priscilla Chan, Facebook

  • Dr Oz Slammed As Wrong Half the Time by New Study

    Dr. Oz was already dealing with a recent appearance before Congress that put a dent in his believability. Now another study has come out that says the famous TV doctor is wrong at least half the time.

    The British Medical Journal study outlined 40 episodes from last year that included 479 separate medical recommendations. But they found that medical research yielded evidence that only supported 46% of Dr. Oz’s recommendations, contradicted 15% and wasn’t available for 39%.

    But the study went further. Other findings of the study included these interesting tidbits:

    Believable or somewhat believable evidence supported 33% of the recommendations on The Dr. Oz Show.

    The most common recommendation category on The Dr. Oz Show was dietary advice (39%).

    A specific benefit was described for 43% of the recommendations made on the show.

    The magnitude of benefit was described for 17% of the recommendations on The Dr. Oz Show.

    Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest accompanied 0.4% of recommendations.

    The Dr. Oz Show recommended consulting a healthcare professional 9% of the time

    By the time the study was over, the researchers reached the conclusion that “recommendations made on medical talk shows often lack adequate information on specific benefits or the magnitude of the effects of these benefits. Approximately half of the recommendations have either no evidence or are contradicted by the best available evidence. Potential conflicts of interest are rarely addressed.”

    Their recommendation?

    The public should be skeptical about recommendations made on medical talk shows.

    Back in June, Dr. Oz came in to a Commerce subcommittee hearing in the U.S. Senate to testify about weight-loss product fraud. While he was there, Senator Claire McCaskill let him know how she felt about his show.

    “I don’t get why you need to say this stuff because you know it’s not true,” McCaskill said to Oz.

    “No one is telling you not to use passion, but passion in connection with the words ‘miracle,’ ‘weight loss’ and ‘pill’ is a recipe for disaster in this environment in terms of the people looking for an easy fix and getting sometimes delusional,” she said.

  • Jonas Salk Gets A Google Doodle On His 100th Birthday

    Jonas Salk is the subject of today’s Google Doodle as the company celebrates what would have been his 100th birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1995.

    Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, who is credited with discovering and developing the first successful inactivated polio vaccine. He went to New York University School of Medicine, where he is said to have stood out because of his academic abilities as well as the fact that he went into research rather than becoming a practicing physician.

    Jonas Salk

    When Salk developed his vaccine, polio was considered the scariest public health problem in the U.S. 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with paralysis from an epidemic in 1952. Most were children.

    As far as the actual Doodle goes, I find it a bit difficult to identify the Google logo in this one. It’s one of the most difficult the company has ever displayed in my opinion. Still, it’s a very fitting image honoring someone that had a tremendous impact on the well-being of kids.

    Images via Google, Wikimedia Commons

  • Proposition 46 Debate Heats Up in California

    In November Californians will have the opportunity to significantly change medical malpractice law in their state.

    Proposition 46 would raise California’s cap on non-economic damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. The state’s cap is currently $250,000, set in 1975 by the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. If voted into law, Proposition 46 would raise the cap to around $1.1 million, matching inflation growth over the past 39 years and requiring the cap to grow with future inflation.

    The law would also require doctors in California to undergo drug and alcohol testing. The results of the tests would be sent to the California Medical Board and positive test results would require disciplinary action from the board.

    Proposition 46 is being pushed largely by trial lawyers and consumer advocates throughout California. Though the law would not raise California’s attorney fee percentage cap, it would indirectly raise lawyer’s fees through larger pain and suffering judgments.

    According to the Los Angeles Times, proponents of the law argue that the current cap on pain and suffering damages hasn’t prevented large malpractice awards inflated by un-capped medical expense and lost wage claims. What is has done, proponents argue, is make lawyers hesitant to take on medical malpractice cases in which patients’ economic losses are low.

    On the other side of the issue the medical community in California, including the California Medical Association, is opposing Proposition 46. Doctors are afraid that such a large jump in the pain and suffering judgment cap will cause medical malpractice insurance rates to skyrocket, possibly increasing medical costs and shrinking the number of patients that practices can take on.

    Those fears are not unfounded, as rating agency A.M. Best warned this week. The agency surveyed California companies and determined that malpractice insurance rates and malpractice claims are both expected to rise significantly if Proposition 46 is passed.

    The debate over Proposition 46 is heating up as election day draws near. Both sides of the debate are focusing on different aspects of the law. Proponents of the law are highlighting its drug testing provisions while opponents are framing the bill as a payday for lawyers. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader this week criticized former California Governor Jerry Brown for failing to support Proposition 46.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease Discovery Leads To Nobel Prize

    Alzheimer’s disease studies have had a major breathrough with new information from Monday’s Nobel Prize winners in medicine.

    Their discovery of cells that act as the brain’s gps could have a serious impact on our understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease works, and therefore, how it can best be treated.

    British-American researcher John O’Keefe, co-winner of the 2014 prize with Norwegians May-Britt and Edvard Moser, believes that a better understanding of how these cells degrade is the key to understanding Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia in general.

    “We’re now setting up to do much more high-tech studies where we hope to follow the progression of disease over time,” said O’Keefe.

    He added, “This will give us the first handle as to when and where the disease starts and how we can attack it at a the molecular and cellular level.”

    A major discovery in the foggy science that is Alzheimer’s disease has been long-awaited.

    Millions are affected by Alzheimer’s disease each year, but there has yet to be a solid cure or treatment. Undertanding of the disease is still flailing and development of drugs has seen only one failure after another.

    Could this be the Alzheimer’s disease information that is needed to help complete the puzzle?

    The information garnered from this research won’t have immediate effects, but the basic understanding it provides as to how the disease progresses is seen as vital in the medical community.

    “Understanding how the healthy brain functions, especially areas of the brain crucial to learning and memory, is incredibly important in understanding what changes occur during conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease,” said Doug Brown, director of research and development at Britain’s Alzheimer’s Society.

    Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia, a condition which affects 44 million people worldwide. That number is expected to jump to 135 million by 2050.

    New information is sorely needed to protect our generation and future generations from Alzheimer’s disease. Hopefully these new discoveries will lead to medical advances soon.

  • Antihistamines: Are There Better Options?

    Antihistamines and decongestants are often the last line of defense for those poor souls suffering through seasonal allergies and colds.

    While the medicines that use these ingredients such as Claritin or Allegra boast effectiveness, sometimes there are some unpleasant side-effects to deal with.

    For instance, it’s commonly known that antihistamine medications can cause dizziness or drowsiness, if the medicine doesn’t put you completely to sleep!

    If you’re taking these types of medicine in an effort to be active, then it seems to work against your intended goal.

    This leaves sufferers to ask, “Are there any alternatives out there?”

    Well, actually there are alternatives to over-the-counter antihistamine or decongestant medications.

    Watch What You Eat

    Dr. Lisa Lewis of Naturopathic Physicians claims that nutrition can be a major factor in aggravating or eliminating allergy symptoms.

    She writes, “To reduce allergy symptoms, eat a moderately low-fat, high-complex-carbohydrate diet.”

    Dr. Lewis also suggests the elimination of certain foods, such as dairy products, peanuts, chocolate, food coloring, and red meat from your diet.

    In their stead she suggests adding foods like garlic, ginger, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, and yams to your diet. Dr. Lewis also suggests being sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

    Drink More Green Tea

    Green tea is a great way for coping with seasonal allergies. It is a natural histamine blocker and over time will help boost your immune system.

    Other benefits of drinking green tea include the lowering of (bad) cholesterol and improvement of blood circulation.

    It’s one of the best things you can take, not only for things like hay fever, but for your overall health.

    Grapefruit/Lemon/Raw Honey Mixture

    This remedy suggestion calls for boiling grapefruit and lemon (the fruit only, not the rinds) in one cup of water for about 15 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, stir in raw honey.

    Taking this mixture is said to greatly relieve hay fever symptoms.

    Know of any natural or homemade remedies to fight allergies/hay fever? Share in the comments below!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Plague Found in China, City of Yumen Sealed Off

    Plague Found in China, City of Yumen Sealed Off

    Chinese state media reported Tuesday that the city of Yumen has been sealed off since last week, after a 38-year-old man died of bubonic plague.

    Yumen, which has a population of roughly 30,000, is situated in the northwestern province of Gansu, and is presently surrounded by police at roadblocks. No residents are allowed to leave the established perimeter, and travelers are being forced to take detours, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

    CCTV reported that Yumen “has enough rice, flour and oil to supply all its residents for up to one month.” China Daily newspaper revealed that “four quarantine sectors” have been set up in Yumen, where 151 people are being held for observation. CCTV added that “local residents and those in quarantine are all in stable condition.” No new plague cases have been reported in the city.

    The sole plague fatality in Yumen occurred after a man came into contact with a dead marmot. Marmots are similar to squirrels, though larger, and can carry plague-infected fleas in their fur.

    Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection of the lymphatic system, usually resulting from the bite of an infected rat flea, scientifically known as Xenopsylla cheopis. Plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually two to five days after exposure, and symptoms include general malaise, chills, high fever, muscle cramps, a painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo, seizures and gangrene.

    Roughly two-thirds of untreated plague cases result in death, though several types of antibiotics are effective in treating the infection, and when administered can cut the mortality rate to 1-15%. According to the U.S. Centers Centers of Disease Control, “human plague infections continue to occur in the western United States, but significantly more cases occur in parts of Africa and Asia.”

    Here is a clip documenting a case of domestic plague that a man contracted in Oregon:

    In China, plague is classified as a Class A infectious disease, the “most serious under China’s Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,” according to the Xinhua news agency.

    Once known as the “Black Death,” bubonic plague ravaged Europe in the 14th century, leaving an estimated 25 million dead, or roughly 30–60% of the population.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Fish Oil Supplements Protect Against Alzheimer’s

    A new study suggests that fish oil might be one of the most effective preventative measures against developing Alzheimer’s disease, for those who aren’t genetically inclined to develop the common form of dementia.

    There is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s; it is a progressive disease and eventually leads to death. It is most often diagnosed in those over 65 years of age, and is projected to affect 1 in 85 globally by 2050. It is presently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

    Researchers from Rhode Island Hospital studied three groups of adults ages 55-90, utilizing neuropsychological tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging biannually. The participants in the study, all part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), comprised 229 adults with no signs of the disease; 397 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment; and 193 with Alzheimer’s. The ADNI study ran from 2003 until 2010.

    Results showed that adults who had not displayed any symptoms of the onset of Alzheimer’s saw a significantly less decline in cognitive function and brain shrinkage than those who weren’t taking the substance. Cognitive decline was measured using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE).

    Though, researchers pointed that those who are genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s, carriers of the APOE (apolipoprotein E) gene, might not be able to metabolize DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the fatty acid in fish oil thought to promote cognitive benefits. Yet, taking fish oil is suggested regardless, as it might prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s from being triggered late in life.

    The most widely available dietary source of DHA comes from cold-water, oily fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

    Doctor Andrew Weil explains some fish oil facts:

    The Hodge Twins reveal that a man who doesn’t take fish oil is pretty much a female, but likewise advise not to take fish oil:

    Aside from cognitive benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to help in preventing heart disease. Other studies have revealed that fish oil might be beneficial to those who suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, cancer, psoriasis and macular degeneration, although benefits have yet to be proven.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Panda Animal Clinic Offers Groundbreaking Holistic Care for Pets

    Holistic medicine, also known as holistic health or holism, is an all-inclusive type of health care that attempts to focus on all areas of a person’s well-being – not just any particular malady. Holistic health practitioners take into account a person’s physical, mental, and even spiritual status before they dispense care. A type of alternative medicine, holistic medicine is often used alongside traditional medicine for integrative care.

    For example, a holistic practitioner looking to treat some sort of cancer may suggest lifestyle changes and even counseling, in addition to other treatments.

    Though holistic medicine isn’t a fully accepted practice within the mainstream medical community, many people turn to it to improve their overall well-being. Most likely, you may have heard about this before – but did you know that holistic medicine is also being applied to pets?

    More and more holistic vets are coming forward to espouse the benefits of practicing integrative veterinary medicine, which they believe can lead to an a true support of total health – not just a single-minded focus on treating particular diseases once they arise.

    Once such clinic is the Florida-based Panda Animal Clinic, which offers groundbreaking holistic treatments for pets – especially those who are older in age. Their philosophy is that it’s not beneficial to treat certain maladies if you’re just going to introduce another problem with the aforementioned treatment.

    “As an animal gets older, their organs do not function as well. So if a dog was having a spinal problem, for example, you would want to avoid the use of steroids. The liver could enlarge because the body is producing too much cortisol, and steroids could induce this enlargement. Although I’m relieving the pressure and the pain in the animal, I would be inducing another problem,” says a Panda Animal Clinic representative.

    The American Veterinary Medical Association‘s thoughts on holistic medicine for animals are as follows: “The AVMA recognizes the interest in and use of these modalities and is open to their consideration…all veterinary medicine (including alternative) should be held to the same standards. Claims for safety and effectiveness ultimately should be proven by the scientific method.”

    “The quality of studies and reports pertaining to (alternative treatment) varies; therefore, it is incumbent on a veterinarian to critically evaluate the literature and other sources of information,” they continue.

    In other words, be smart and practice caution when looking to alternative treatments and medicines. Examine all practices critically, in the same way that you would look at any traditional methods.

    Dr. Barbara Royal, a holistic veterinarian, suggests some practical tips to help get you started with a more holistic way of care for your beloved pets. First, she suggests that you really pay attention to what you’re feeding your animals. Good health starts with proper nutrition, and you need to be making sure that you feed your pets based on the diets they require.

    Second, exercise is key – not just for the body, but for the mind as well. Dr. Royal suggests varying the terrain on which you walk your pets, in order to give them both a physical and mental challenge. Another tip, and the one most in-line with a truly holistic approach to care, is to not over-medicate your pets.

    But most importantly, talk to your vet and work together to decide what is best for your pet’s unique needs. As the professionals at Panda Animal Clinic can attest, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to medical care for pets.

  • Blood Test for Alzheimers Getting Closer

    Alzheimer’s disease is one of those ailments that strikes fear throughout society, no matter what your socioeconomic standing. It does this for two simple reasons: There is no defined cause. And there is no known cure.

    Folks suffering from Alzheimer’s disease currently have no way of reversing the disease, no matter how much money they may have to throw at the problem. All that can be done is to help lessen the symptoms. A caregiver will be burdened with the patient at an increasing rate from diagnosis on.

    But now there may be a development on the horizon that can at least help folks plan for how they might handle the disease better. British researchers have developed a blood test that will help predict when at-risk people will develop Alzheimer’s.

    “We want to be able to identify people to enter clinical trials earlier than they currently do and that’s really what we’ve been aiming at,” lead researcher Professor Simon Lovestone said.

    The newly-developed test would help identify proteins in the blood of people with mild cognitive impairment. Presence of these proteins indicates that the patient would develop Alzheimer’s within a year. The test appears to be 87% accurate.

    Back in March, another group in the U.S. embarked on similar work.

    How might knowing that Alzheimer’s is coming one month earlier than usual be a help?

    For starters, that gives the family and patient more time to make decisions and plan for the care of the patient. There are also estate and other decisions that a person might be inclined to make if they catch their disease in an earlier stage.

    There is always the hope that some kind of cure will be found, some breakthrough that will bring sufferers of this disease back to their families. But, in the meantime, early detection is a great aid.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Allergy Treatments: From Pharmacy To Self-Hypnosis

    Feeling like the respiratory spasmodic little dude from Snow White this summer?

    While that anticipated pollen vortex was not nearly as unpleasant as expected, we may not be out of the woods – so to speak. Experts concede that the most intense of summer allergies may be yet to come. For some of us that signifies a series of sneezing fits or inconvenient symptoms – but for others it can be a bit more debilitating. Often, our immune response when plants catch spring fever is to create antibodies. Wherever they attach (usually to cells in the nose, eyes, and lungs), a histamine gets released. And while the body’s just trying to protect itself, that’s ultimately the misery causing chemical. So if you’re at the end of your red nosed rope – perhaps some of these methods ranging from conventional to not so conventional might bring you a bit of relief.

    As ever, please consult a physician before beginning a medical course of treatment.

    Oralair

    Among the newer treatments, you may have heard about the new pill called Oralair (video above) that may soon partially supplant injections. The pill – which just got FDA approved last month certainly sounds hopeful, but the drawback is that you have to take it early enough before sneezin’ season for it to function and counteract some allergies. For example, it’s too late for grass allergy sufferers. However, if you experience symptoms from ragweed allergies, you might still benefit and want to ask your doctor. As mentioned in the clip above, it does run about $200 – but if your insurance is better than mine, you might land a better deal.

    If that’s not for you, let’s look at some other tried and true methods…

    Antihistamines and Decongestants

    Those histamines we just talked about can be a real itchy nuisance. Anything from runny noses to itchy eyes or skin rashes can be a day ruiner – especially if you’re expected to look your professional best. Antihistamines (which come in various forms like tablets, capsules, liquids, nasal sprays, and eyedrops) might just do the trick. Because they cause drowsiness, it’s generally suggested not to take them until bedtime.

    Talking like you’ve got a clothespin over your nose? Decongestants might be the right fit for those narrowed nasal passages. Where allergies make the respiratory lining swell, decongestants can come in and shrink the inflamed tissues and blood vessels. There are pills, liquids, nose drops, and spray forms for decongestants – but use with care. Things to watch out for with these guys? You may want to play down you coffee while taking (or at least avoid before bed). Decongestants can make some feel a bit jittery. Also, avoid using this medication for more than three days. After that, your body gets a bit dependent on it and you may find yourself even more stuffy.

    Anticholinergic Nasal Allergy Sprays

    Instead of being stuffy – is hose nose your main conundrum this year? The idea with anticholinergic nasal sprays is to decrease secretions from the glands that line your nasal passages, thus putting an end to runny nose symptoms.

    Steroid Nasal Sprays

    Considered one of the big guns in allergy treatment, steroid sprays mitigate your allergy symptoms by decreasing the inflammation happening in the nasal passage. While they’re deemed the most effective treatment for relief of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), these bad boys are available by prescription only. So if you’re still not getting what you need OTC, perhaps your medical provider can tell you more about whether steroids are your next best step.

    Allergy Eye Drops

    Remember those Ben Stein commercials for allergy eye drops? Wait, I found one:

    Unlike Mr. Stein’s voice inflection, there’s variety in eye drop choices (and brands – I’m not endorsing anything here). Whether you want to kill the itchy redness or just need some moisture to flush the pollen from your peepers – there’s everything from artificial tears to antihistamines and anti-inflammatories. The anti-inflammatories have two classes: NSAIDs and corticosteroids. The former group (NSAIDs) alters nerve ending perceptions of itch-factor (sometimes it burns a bit on the way in; I entered drama mode the first time I tried them – but the relief was worth it within an hour).

    For severe eye allergy symptoms that have been going on a while, Corticosteroid drops may help. However (like the other steroids you need a prescription to get), they’re not suggested for long-term use. Cataracts, eye infection, glaucoma, and increased pressure in your eyes are all risks that get raised with overuse of this stuff.

    Leukotriene Inhibitors

    Tried everything? Have you tried leukotriene inhibitors? Fairly new to the allergy-relief world, Montelukast (Singulair) helps assuage allergy symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. Congestion gets reduced along with sneezing, itching, and wanting to scratch out your own eyes. For those who get that panicky “can’t-breathe” feeling, it also helps keep airways to the lungs open. How? It shuts down the chemical called leukotriene. As leukotriene is responsible for making nasal passages swell, causing globs of mucus, and constricting airways in asthmatics, this can prove super helpful for sufferers of all sorts.

    Next come a few for the non-pharmaceutical folk and homeopathic homies…

    Saline Solutions

    You know, I often run to CVS when a simple solution will do. A literal solution, in this case – of salt and water. There are all sorts of nasal irrigation products out there and you can buy it ready-made or brew it up yourself in the kitchen. These just get sniffed up the nose and drain back. It’s a little weird feeling at first, but ultimately it can be a nice alternative to the side effects some of the other options bring with them.

    Dehumidifiers

    I love keeping my window open, but during the humid summer, that can make for a lot of moisture. While I don’t mind it, neither does mold. In fact, mold thrives in damp atmospheres. If you’re like me (or have in-home dampness for whatever reason), then a dehumidifier might be right for you. Mold, mildew, or dust mite allergies can often be the culprit – not pollen. And if it’s inside your home, that can cause some thoroughgoing misery (sneezing, wheezing, eye and nose irritation) even after you’ve shut all the doors and windows. Costs of dehumidifiers range anywhere from $200 (small, portable sort) to $2,000 (massive built-in ones).

    Hot Shower?

    I can’t think of many times when stepping out of a hot shower hasn’t felt refreshing. And after a long day outside, it can help with multiple allergy factors as well. One thing I hadn’t considered before this year was how pollen can latch onto our locks. That’s right. While Gretchen Weiner’s hair may be full of secrets, ours if full of “mean” sneeze fodder after being in nature. So, a hot rinse with a good hair-scrubbing often helps get out the pollen. Likewise, the steam from the shower sometimes aids in opening up your breathing passage. Win-win in my book.

    Cleaning

    In the same vein of cleaning your body, a thorough house cleaning can help rid what dehumidifiers don’t. Because it’s such a chore, my selective memory usually over-estimates how much cleaning I actually do or how frequently. But once I get a good playlist going and start that vacuuming, dusting, and bed-cover changing done, I can almost breathe the difference before I even get halfway done. (psychological?) I highly endorse wearing a mask if you’ve let your dusting go a while.

    Likewise, cleaning our pets is important too. He/she/androgynous they all get pollen stuck in their fluff – just like we do with our hair.

    Peppermint Tea

    This remedy is one that I really didn’t believe was going to do anything other than freshen my breath. In fact, I went into giving it the old college try with such a defeatist outlook that I was 100% surprised that it both counteracted my face-spasm inducing sneezing fit and my bad attitude. That might be because the essential oil does the job of a decongestant, while the peppermint itself contains anti-inflammatory and mild antibacterial constituent properties. To be fair, though, maybe the little fortune-cookie style affirmations Yogi puts on their tea-bags helped in my case too.

    Self Hypnosis?

    Anyone ever tried hypnosis before? I’ve tried it for everything from back pain to quitting my Breaking Bad addiction. Conclusions? Sometimes it works and sometimes you just harbor an existential need to know what happens to the fictional science teacher turned drug kingpin. As for allergies, I’d never even thought about it. However, a 2005 Swiss study put allergy patients into a hypnotic trance (a state at which you become open to suggestion), and imagined them into a place of safety, free of allergens. In fact, those who underwent the experience admitted about a third of their congestion during allergy season was reduced. Better than nothing, right? If nothing else, perhaps a swinging timepiece could go in one hand while your Flonase rests in the other – just in case.

    From natural remedies to frequent pharmacy trips to keep you serene – what’s worked best for ceasing your sneezy summer symptoms?

    Image via Youtube

  • Hospital Leaked Patient’s Syphilis Diagnosis on Facebook, Claims Lawsuit

    I’d imagine that being told you have an STD isn’t pleasant, but I’m pretty sure that it would be twice as awful if that news was made public – plastered all over Facebook, for instance.

    That’s what one Cincinnati woman is alleging in a new lawsuit.

    She claims that University of Cincinnati Medical Center employees posted a photo of her medical records on Facebook, to a group called “Team No Hoes.”

    Apparently, the photo not only contained her name and other personal information, but also displayed the fact that she had been diagnosed with syphilis.

    Yikes.

    “She was absolutely devastated. That is the most private of private medical information that was posted on Facebook and went out to a group on Facebook that had a huge dissemination,” Allen said. “For an employee of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to post that information on a social media device that millions of people have access to, it’s above and beyond the law and that’s why we feel that they’re responsible,” the woman’s attorney told WLWT.

    The suit not only name UC Medical center as a defendant, but also a hospital employee, a nurse, and the woman’s ex-boyfriend, who she claims masterminded the leak.

    UC Medical Center would only comment that they haven’t yet received a copy of the suit and even if they had, they can’t comment on pending litigation.

    The victim is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

    No word on any internal actions taken against the employees named in the suit, but I assume they’ll be canned faster than you can say Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • $650 Million Settlement: Pradaxa Maker Wants To Avoid Litigation

    A $650 million settlement is a hefty chunk of change, but it was a better outcome than the alternative for one drug maker.

    Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical company, was facing multiple lawsuits after families claimed Pradaxa, a blood thinner, caused severe and often fatal bleeding in those who took it. The drug is said to reduce the risk of stroke in those suffering from non-valvular atrial fibrillation. While internal bleeding is a side effect of this particular class of blood thinners, Boehringer Ingelheim claims that Pradaxa is safer than its closest contemporary – warfarin.

    Despite their claims, Boehringer Ingelheim chose to settle to avoid any lengthy litigation:

    “Time and again, the benefits and safety of Pradaxa have been confirmed,” said Desiree Ralls-Morrison, senior vice president and general counsel, Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation. “BI stands resolutely behind Pradaxa and believed from the outset that the plaintiffs’ claims lacked merit. Notwithstanding our strong belief that we would prevail in these lawsuits, this settlement allows BI to avoid the distraction and uncertainty of lengthy litigation and focus on our mission of improving patients’ lives.”

    While Boehringer Ingelheim believes the settlement will satisfy most, it says that it’s ready to combat any plaintiffs that don’t take their offer:

    There are approximately 4,000 claims that the company seeks to resolve with this settlement. BI expects most, if not all, of the plaintiffs to accept the terms of the settlement and BI will vigorously defend against those who do not.

    It doesn’t seem that Boehringer Ingelheim is trying to sweep this issue under the rug, but it does seem to be moving the blame away from its drug. The company claims that its product is safe when taken properly. It also implores those taking the drug to consult a doctor before making any major changes to their intake:

    As with any anticoagulant, there needs to be a balanced consideration of stroke risk reduction and bleeding risk. Patients should not stop taking their anticoagulant medication without first talking to their health care providers. Discontinuing anticoagulation therapy puts a patient at increased risk of stroke.

    Here’s more information on Pradaxa and its effects:

    Image via SauceSpotz/YouTube