Category Archives: Preventative Medicine

Recently, I was appointed to succeed Peter Piot, the former head of Unaids, as a chairperson of the Africa Health Research Initiative (Ahri). This prompted me to reflect on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the third SDG, on good health and wellbeing.

I reflected on the trajectory of the life expectancy of South Africans. In 1991, the life expectancy in South Africa peaked at 64 years and dropped to the lowest point of 53 years in 2005 and only recovered to the 1991 levels in 2019. In the same period, the life expectancy of Nigeria rose from 46 years in 1991 to 54 years in 2019 while the life expectancy of the UK rose from 76 years in 1991 to 81 years.

South Africa experienced a decline in life expectancy because of the HIV pandemic. Intriguingly, economic performance (GDP per capita) is closely correlated to life expectancy. In 2014, V Bilas, S Franc, and M Bonjak argued that life expectancy is an indicator of economic and social development. Good health, the authors assert, improves education, reduces unemployment and leads to better living conditions.

Life expectancy is a good measure of a nations health and wellness. So any country that seeks to increase its life expectancy at the same time pursues the goal of good health and wellness. One of the mechanisms that can be used to increase life expectancy is to build health infrastructure, including clinics and hospitals.

In the developing world, including South Africa, the state of infrastructure, especially in rural areas, is appalling. The problems vary from unreliable water and electricity supplies to a lack of basic instruments such as the stethoscope.

In South Africa, we must bring the private sector, which is deemed world-class, into the public service. The much talked about National Health Initiative (NHI) will suffer the same fate as the other state-owned enterprises struggling with inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of talent. Competent people must be appointed to run our hospitals, and adequate budgets must be allocated to ensure that there are enough health workers, adequate infrastructure and a focus on maintenance.

Another mechanism to ensure good health and wellness is to find a sound balance between preventative and curative medicine. Preventive medicine focuses on preventing the onset of a disease. For example, for type 2 diabetes, instead of focusing only on ensuring that insulin is available for those in need, wellness programmes that focus on exercising and a good diet can be implemented to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Curative medicine is the practice that solely focuses on curing diseases. Unfortunately, much of our medical training in South Africa is strong on the curative approach and weak on the preventative approach. At the University of Johannesburg (UJ), we intend to establish a graduate medical school that will take university graduates and put them in a four-year medical programme with a focus on preventative rather than curative medicine.

Of course, key to prevention is to promote a healthy lifestyle, especially through physical activities. Programmes that encourage people to be physically active should be implemented throughout our communities.

I recently started skipping in the mornings and posting videos on social media to encourage others to do so. The uptake on this initiative was impressive, and it included people inside and outside the University. Our leaders in private and public services must be positive role models for wellness lifestyles. Wellness should be part of what is done in the workplace. At UJ, prior to the pandemic, staff and student fun walks were encouraged to promote a healthy lifestyle.

There are also smart solutions that can be deployed. Now that we are living in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), data is the new oil that can fuel medical care.

Firstly, we need to gather as much health-related data as possible. This data should include the geographical distribution of diseases and the physical activities of our people. Such information should be factored into account when we craft health policies. Our health courses should also include health data analytics as a compulsory subject.

Elsewhere, we should implement early warning systems to predict the onset of diseases. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer a unique opportunity to build predictive systems in our health systems. AI is a technology that tries to create intelligence through the use of data, statistics and algorithms. It has been found to be effective in dealing with health-related issues. For example, it has been used to predict the onset of diseases such as diabetes, pulmonary embolism and HIV infection. It is a relatively cheap technology because it does not require a huge infrastructure outlay.

Another issue that we have to focus on to increase global life expectancy is the creation of affordable and appropriate technology. Much of the medical technology is inaccessible in the Global South because of the exorbitant costs.

For example, the X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner ironically developed by the South African Allan Cormack is not readily available in the Global South. It is, therefore, important that companies in the Global South start manufacturing medical devices with a focus on making these affordable and appropriate for the Global South.

Ultimately, health and wellness are essential to economic production because they impact the primary production agent, human beings. Of course, the human as a primary production agent is being disrupted by AI-powered agents. Robots are disrupting medical care with positive consequences for the quality of medical care and a negative impact on the employment of people in this industry.

Despite this shift towards automation in the world of work, we have to take care of human beings and put in measures including those outlined above to increase life expectancies. From an economic perspective, this will mean low workplace absenteeism and will ultimately lead to an increase in economic productivity.

As the former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders aptly put it, health is more than absence of disease; it is about economics, education, environment, empowerment, and community. The health and wellbeing of the people is critically dependent upon the health system that serves them. It must provide the best possible health with the least disparities and respond equally well to everyone. DM

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OPINIONISTA: As AI and the 4IR transform healthcare, we must ensure the Global South doesn't get left behind - Daily Maverick

Guest columnist Ruth Casada, MSN-Ed, RN, has been a nurse for 22 years, with experience in medical-surgical, obstetrics, school health and nursing education. She enjoys working with nursing students in the classroom and clinical settings, including the Baldwin Wallace University Nursing Program, to share her passion for improving patient care and outcomes.

One of the greatest accomplishments in medicine has been the discovery of vaccines to help prevent life-threatening diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that vaccines saved approximately $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in costs to our public from 1994 to 2013. The CDC also estimates that immunizations will prevent 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths among those born between 1994 and 2013.

Vaccines save approximately 2.5 million children under the age of 5 each year. Because of vaccines, countless lives are saved from premature death or disfiguring effects of diseases.

Even with these staggering statistics, one in five children worldwide lacks vaccine access. An estimated 1.5 million people die yearly from vaccine-preventable diseases or complications.

Low vaccine rates create a preventable public health crisis.

Smallpox has been eradicated because of vaccines, and many adults have not personally witnessed the diseases that vaccines protect against, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and now COVID-19.

Vaccines prevent the spread of infections like chickenpox, shingles, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, whooping cough, meningitis and COVID-19, which can be fatal to individuals with suppressed immune systems, infants and our elderly populations.

Despite individuals in the scientific and medical professions sharing an overwhelming consensus that vaccines are safe and effective, misinformation remains in circulation, including unfounded and debunked theories concerning the dangers of vaccinations.

Social media outlets have added fuel to the fire by providing misinformation to the public regarding immunization dangers. These fabrications alarm individuals and result in them waiving vaccines and using exemptions to avoid school and employment requirements.

Some people have a valid medical reason for not being able to receive immunizations -- and those are the individuals we must protect.

But some parents are choosing not to vaccinate healthy children because they follow the misguided information linking immunizations to autism or believing that vaccines contain aborted fetus cells.

We ought to seek advice from medical providers, who utilize evidence-based practice to improve healthcare outcomes.

Vaccine exemptions should be rare and reserved for individuals with severely compromised immune systems due to scenarios like chemotherapy treatments or an allergy to vaccine components.

Moreover, policymakers must evaluate the ethical implications for strict vaccine requirements while considering the safety of all American people.

As concerned members of the community, we all want to protect others to the best of our abilities. When advocates discuss vaccine dangers, we as concerned citizens will naturally discuss the adverse effects of immunizations with others. However, we need to be careful about who we rely upon for sound medical advice.

Vaccinations are the preventative medicine we should choose to take advantage of, instead of seeking an exemption based on false information.

Our government is moving in the right direction with vaccine requirements; however, the current debate over the COVID-19 vaccine is the latest debacle to undermine the public perception of the safety and efficacy of vaccinations.

Individuals need to understand that their personal decision to opt out of immunizations has a dramatic effect on our publics health.

While this decision may not have a direct impact on their personal health, it may result in another person contracting a disease. It could lead to the death of a newborn down the street, a kind elderly neighbor or a friend battling cancer.

We all must understand our personal choices will have a lasting impact on the entire community.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome.

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Vaccines are a safe way to protect our neighbors: Ruth Casada - cleveland.com

Lawmakers and policy makers react to Newsom's budget proposal to cover all undocumented Californians under Medi-Cal.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom ran on a universal health care in California promise. Now, he says hes delivering on the that promise with his latest budget proposal. However, the proposal looks to fill the gap for undocumented Californians between 26 and 50, but as it stands right now, they're the only group that doesnt qualify for Medi-Cal.

Assembly member Vince Fong reacted to Newsoms budget proposal to expand Medi-Cal to all 2.2 million undocumented Californians.

Gov. Newsom is trying to be all things to all people and hes on this roadshow promoting universal access in a way that I think destabilizes the Medi-Cal system. Its unsustainable, and I dont know if its going to provide quality health care. The governor is trying to split hairs in saying that, okay, Im going to try and expand access. But is he providing more quality care to Californians? That is an open question. A lot of details still need to be provided, in terms of what can be accomplished in what the governors trying to accomplish in whether he can pay for it and whether its sustainable over a longer period of time, said Fong.

Yet Assembly member Dr. Joaquin Arambula, who has championed his own bill to expand health care to the undocumented, said the governors proposal is a big win.

That will mean an expansion of hundreds of thousands of Californians who make this state great, who will now be able to access preventative care that is so necessary for us, Arambula said.

He says hes seen the need firsthand because of his experience as an emergency room doctor. He said undocumented people, "would come and see me in the emergency room, oftentimes too late or late in their disease process and know there was so much more we could do in advance to help to prevent."

He said California can do better.

The better way to do it is what we have always talked about, which is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If were able to provide health care coverage and preventative medicine in advance, we can be more cost effective in delivering care for all who call this state home, said Arambula.

Jose Torres is a policy and legislative advocate with Health Access California.

Our philosophy is again, like, everyone benefits when everyone is covered. And we want to make sure that coverage is great quality and affordable and accessible for people, said Torres

He too reacted to Newsoms budget proposal.

Its a huge win. Its a huge win and we recognize there is still work to make sure that we get this through the finish line. But for the undocumented community, this is an enormous victory, Torres said.

Torres admitted he was undocumented for half of his life.

For me, these are people like my tias and my tios that have lived here so much, contributed economically, socially, and personally. They pay taxes in various forms, that even though theyve been participating in our society, they dont have access to these benefits, said Torres.

He knows many cite cost when opposing health care expansion. But he says there is significant costs to the current system that leaves the undocumented out.

If they get sick, if anything happens, they have to go into the hospital, they have to go into the emergency room, specifically. And going to the emergency room and just getting stabilized for whatever they have going on is not preventative or primary care. And it ends up being more expensive then having those regular check-ups, having that access to preventative medicine, said Torres.

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Universal health care or just filling a gap in current coverage? - ABC10.com KXTV

When Novartis scooped up The Medicines Company and its promising cholesterol drug inclisiran back in late 2019, the company jumped into a field where some of its pharma rivals had struggled to meet expectations over the years. Now, with approvals on both sides of the Atlantic, Novartis is busy rewriting the drug launch playbook in cardiovascular disease.

While Novartis' Leqvio launch strategy will vary in different countries worldwide, the "philosophy" is "very much the same," Novartis' pharma presidentMarie-France Tschudin said this week in an interview during the virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.About 300 million people worldwide have cardiovascular disease, and 80% of serious cardio events are preventable, Tschudin said.

"We have everything in our hands to make a real difference in cardiovascular disease," she said. "But there are a number of issues not related to clinical barriers."

Those barriers include challenges for patients reaching the right diagnosis and treatment plus drug affordability, Tschudin said. For Leqvio, Novartis wants to "work with systems of care" to help prevent serious cardiovascular complications.

That means that in the U.S., the company won't just follow a "traditional marketing" approach in an attempt to change prescribing behaviors, Tschudin said. Instead, the company is also working with about 200 healthcare systemssuch as hospital groupsto convince them of the power of its new drug when given to appropriate patients.

RELATED: Novartis aims to avoid pitfalls of earlier PCSK9 launches with its new blockbuster hopeful Leqvio

Through the partnerships, Novartis wants to home in on how best to identify patients who could benefit from the treatment, create ways for patients to get on the treatment and, finally, enable drug access, Tschudin said. The company is at "different stages" of dialogue with the various groups, but it believes healthcare systems are increasingly moving toward a "preventative medicine approach," Tschudin said.

As one example, Novartis is working with Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia on a partnership aimed at improving access to treatment for underserved populations, Tschudin said. In September, the partners unveiled a three-year "Close the Gap" initiative aimed at addressing the reasons cardio health varies so widely between the city's different ZIP codes.

Leqvio won FDA approval late last year as an adjunct treatment to diet and statins to lower the level of bad cholesterol in patients who have failed to control elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with statins. Novartis acquired the drug through its $9.7 billion buyout of The Medicines Company in 2019. Shortly after that deal, the drugmaker unveiled a "population-level agreement" deal with officials in England, offering an early hint that the company would try a new approach with the launch.

RELATED:Novartis revives inclisiran U.S. filing by sidestepping FDA's manufacturing inspection concerns

The drug,a PCSK9-targeted RNAi therapy, is hitting the scene in a field where other pharmaceutical productsnamely Repatha from Amgen and Praluent from Sanofi and Regeneronhave struggled in part because of payer barriers. Those companies launched their drugs with before-discount prices of about $14,000 per year, but they've since cut their prices in a bid to boost access. Leqvio costs $9,750 for the first year and $6,500 for subsequent years before discounts, according to reports.

As for Novartis, the company thinks the population health strategy could apply beyond cardiovascular disease and Leqvio, Tschudin said. Amid the recent challenges for healthcare systems, such as ballooning costs and the pandemic, the Novartis executive said there's a new opportunity for the pharma industry to interact and play a different role in the healthcare ecosystem. Still, Tschudin thinks industry can expect more "accountability" going forward, as health systems and patients want more assurances that its products will provide expected benefits.

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JPM 2022: Novartis rewrites the drug launch playbook with Leqvio, and it doesn't plan to stop there, exec says - FiercePharma

Many may think they only need to see their primary care provider if theyre sick, or for an annual physical. But preventative care is key to helping you live a healthier and happier life.

Kathryn Kozminski, MD, a family medicine provider with Mercy Health Physician Partners Hudsonville, discusses how your primary care provider can also help with preventive care and help you maintain a healthy life.

The most common practices people can do to create a healthy life for themselves are: Maintaining a healthy weight Eating a healthy diet Staying active and getting regular exercise Managing your blood pressure and cholesterol Getting the right amount of sleep Taking care of your mental health

However, managing a healthy lifestyle also means scheduling regular visits with the doctor. Every person should see their primary care physician every year for a wellness visit, especially if they have particular risk factors such as a chronic disease, obesity or a family history of a disease, additional screenings may be recommended.

Screenings are also a vital task for men and women preventative care for conditions such as cancer.

Starting at age 45 men should be screened for colon cancer. Men are also encouraged to have a conversation with their doctor to discuss their individual risk factors for prostate cancer and whether screening is appropriate for them.

Women should have a pap smear starting at age 21. Pap smears are recommended every 3 years from age 21-30 and every 5 years from age 30-65.

Mammograms are annual starting at age 40 some women may need to start screening earlier depending on family history. Women should also be screened for colon cancer starting at age 45.

Annual wellness visits for children should also be years after the age of 2. Infant wellness visits are generally every two months after the newborn visit through age six months, then every three months until age 2.

Remember to take charge of your health by staying current on well-care visits, screenings, and immunizations. In turn, good health can decrease your risk of developing certain conditions. These include heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and injuries.

For people looking for a primary care provider, they can visit MercyHealth.com/PrimaryCare to find a provider near them. Patients can schedule online or call to schedule their next appointment.

This segment is sponsored by Mercy Health.

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Mercy Health explains the importance of Wellness & Preventative Screening - Fox17

Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

In an article published in Science Translational Medicine entitled Loss-of-function mutations in the co-chaperone protein BAG5 cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) requiring heart transplantation, Hideyuki Hakui, a member of the Osaka University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and his colleagues found through whole-genome sequencing that loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding BAG5 caused DCM with complete penetrance.

These findings are important, as DCM is the leading cause of heart failure, affects 1 in 2,500 individuals, and has no known cure. The majority of DCM inheritance is through an autosomal dominant pattern; however, other inheritance patterns have been identified, such as autosomal recessive, X-linked, and mitochondrial. These new findings are promising for the development of therapies, including gene therapy, as a treatment for this disease.

BAG5, or BAG Cochaperone 5, plays a crucial role in maintaining proteostasis at junctional membrane complexes (JMCs). By comparing transcriptional changes in heart tissue samples from five patients with DCM, the Japanese researchers found that rare homozygous truncating variants were detected in 15 genes. But multiple variants were identified only in the BAG5 gene, inherited in a recessive fashion.

They go on to observe that five patients carrying homozygous BAG5 truncating variants all developed life-threatening DCM. As DCM requires a heart transplantation for survival, the researchers analyzed the removed diseased hearts of the affected individuals: they concluded that BAG5 protein expression was not observed in the heart tissue obtained during heart transplantation from the affected individual.

Adequate proteostasis, or protein homeostasis, is essential for maintaining a healthy heart. Mutations in BAG5 disrupt proteostasis by disrupting co-chaperone activity. The HSP70 and HSC70 genes are important for proteostasis, as they ensure correct protein folding and refolding of misfolded proteins. BAG5 functions as a nucleotide exchange factor for HSP70 and HSC70; consequently, a loss-of-function mutation in BAG5 disrupts this interaction, inhibiting proteostasis.

The Osaka researchers found that all of the identified BAG5 truncating mutations caused loss-of-function as a co-chaperone for HSC70 in the heart. The inhibition of HSC70 to act as a ubiquitous molecular chaperone resulting from loss-of-function mutations in BAG5 explains a biological mechanism of DCM.

Aside from disrupting proteostasis, loss-of-function mutations in BAG5 were also found to disturb transverse tubule morphology and perturb calcium handling in mouse cardiomyocytes by impairing JMCs. Impaired JMCsspecialized membrane contact sites between the sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubules critical for calcium handlingcause abnormal T-tubule structure. These T-tubules, or transverse tubules, are responsible for cardiac muscle cell contraction. T-tubule alterations are common features of heart failure, and the researchers conclude that upregulation of BAG5 gene expression in failing hearts could be a compensatory mechanism to maintain JMC proteostasis.

The researchers modeled the effected of these mutations in knock-in mice. When the BAG5 gene was mutated in these animal models, the researchers found that a promotion of the interaction of HSC70 and the JMC protein did not occur. This suggests that JMC protein changes could be the cause of heart failure in knock-in mice. Moreover, the impairment of the JMC protein was associated with changes in calcium dynamics, confirmed by the staining of cardiomyocytes in the knock-in mice, specifically decreasing interactions between JMC protein JPH2 and voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels.

Although many of the underlying biological causes of DCM remain unknown, this study reveals a crucial genetic mutation responsible for DCM. These findings allow for a foundation for preventative and corrective treatment. The researchers conclude that genetic testing for BAG5 variants could be beneficial for clinical risk stratification in DCM. They also believe that BAG5/HSC70-mediated proteostasis at JMCs could be a future target for the treatment of heart failure. The extension of treatment from current small-molecule treatments to targeted gene therapy can potentially save the life of individuals who recessively inherit DCM from gene mutations on BAG5.

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Bagging the Culprit: Japanese Researchers Identify BAG5 Mutations as Cause of Dilated Cardiomyopathy - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

(NewsUSA)

The good news is that no matter your age, fitness level, or current work-life balance, GOLO --the pioneering wellness solutions company -- has suggestions that can help you achieve tangible health and wellness benefits in the new year:

1. Create a plan: Instead of piling on new resolutions this year, consider building on the ones you are currently working on. Why? Because it takes much time, energy, mental resistance, focus, and willpower to make new changes, and we only have so much of each to spare.

2. Establish goals: Your goals should be small, obtainable, and sustainable over a reasonable amount of time.

3. Get Active: Regular exercise is one of the best-kept secrets in preventative medicine. The key is to do enough and to do it often enough.

4. Stop checking the scales every day: Scales can be misleading and result in frustration. Remember: the number on the scale does not define your self-worth. Weigh yourself once a week and note how your clothes are fitting. Some people lose inches before pounds, or experience other non-scale victories such as sleeping better.

5. Attitude Matters: Having a positive outlook will help you get through everyday life, but it is vital to a healthy wellness journey. When you think negatively, negative things tend to happen. So, stay positive -- you got this!

It is natural to reflect on past commitments to health and wellness that came up a bit short. This year, increase your chances of lasting and sustainable success by making a plan and keeping it simple.

Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, GOLO offers a range of innovative products designed to help, including the GOLO for Life Plan, a game-changing nutritional approach to losing weight, and a healthy alternative to conventional dieting. The program includes the GOLO Release supplement (an all-natural dietary supplement), the GOLO Metabolic Plan (a healthy balanced meal plan), access to personal coaches, and free online tools.

Learn more by visiting http://www.Golo.com for information and suggestions.

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Five Healthy Suggestions this New Year from GOLO - Mexico Ledger

Fourth yearly survey cites millions of consumer-driven data points amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; provides healthcare organizations with insights to navigate 2022

LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NRC Health, the leading provider of in-depth customer intelligence in healthcare, today released its 2022 Healthcare Consumer Trends Report. The fourth annual report captures evolving consumer sentiments and provides insight into how healthcare organizations can navigate the next year successfully amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The global pandemic and its variants have led hospitals and health systems to quickly learn that transformational change is necessary in order to meet demand and move the industry forward, said Helen Hrdy, Chief Growth Officer, NRC Health. And while many healthcare organizations have shown they can be flexible despite the catastrophic loss, the pandemic has shined a light on how necessary consumer-driven improvements and a better patient experience are for continued survival and growth.

Consumers are returning in record numbers, but preventative care is still rebounding While consumers deferring healthcare services due to the pandemic is one of the most significant disruptions in healthcare delivery in modern history, NRC Health data shows that from 2020 to 2021, the rate at which consumers resumed services rose by 132% across all major service lines.

Preventative care however was particularly affected by pandemic-induced deferment and continues to see slow returns, especially in conditions where the COVID-19 virus can be most acute, like blood pressure tests, routine physical exams and BMI (Body Mass Index) screenings.

Left untreated, many conditions are likely to deteriorate, leading to serious adverse outcomes that health systems may not be able to treat. They should be mindful that some consumers who re-emerge could be sicker and costlier in 2022.

Healthcare systems must offer resources to support rising mental health challenges A national study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of a depressive disorder increased from more than 24% in August 2020 to 30% in December. This increased frequency indicates that mental health services and resources, including telehealth behavioral services, are critical, particularly among populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

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Hospitals and health systems have a responsibility to address the urgency around mental health, from adopting mitigation strategies that could incorporate ways to promote mental wellbeing and target determinants of poor mental health to interventions to treat those with a mental disorder. Taking no action to address the burden of major depressive and anxiety disorders should not be an option.

Telehealth growth is consistent, but not a slam dunk in every practice areaWhile in years past, telehealth struggled with reimbursement and logistics, its widespread adoption during the pandemic has grabbed and is holding consumer interest now.

From telehealths ease of use, the amount of time spent with providers, courtesy, the respect received, and attentiveness patients feel, telehealth has emerged a winner, and not just with family practice, internal medicine, and nurse practitioners. Telehealth usage has increased among several specialty providers, including thoracic/cardiothoracic vascular surgeons (202%), social workers (195%) and counselors (183%), but its not a shoo in for all practice areas, with NRC Health data showing telehealth usage down in ophthalmology (-200%), dermatology (-142%) and orthopedic surgery (-131%).

While telehealth usage has more than doubled since 2020, healthcare systems need to cultivate an effective and meaningful telehealth practice and consider digital health innovations beyond video conferencingto sensors, augmented intelligence, wearables, and more to improve health outcomes, care experience and work-life balance and reduce costs.

Healthcare recall on the rise, giving hospitals opportunity to personalize communicationsNRC Health data shows that marketing recall over the last year has increased from the lowest point of 59% in 2020 to 64% in 2021. And with more consumers turning to hospital websites for helpful health information and more, digital healthcare efforts are on the rise, arming healthcare systems with an abundance of data that can be used to personalize communications and deliver connected tools and data for consumers. Ultimately, the ability to be proactive in communications allows for preventing disease rather than treating it.

To build trust, hospitals must demonstrate an understanding of patients unique needsPersonalized experiences are slowly becoming the norm as consumers engage and share information with hospitals and practitioners, who then use this information to personalize experiences further. With personalization at the center of emerging healthcare, consumers will seek new levels of health and wellnessbut only if healthcare organizations get it right.

The key to enhancing a patients journey is understanding preferences in advance. After all, almost 99% of life happens for patients beyond the hospital care setting. When healthcare organizations begin to understand each persons expectations in advance of their interaction or episode of care, they can personalize their interactions at the right moments and exceed those expectations.

When organizations lead with empathy and Human Understanding and can engage patients to co-design the process to change healthcare, they will be more than ready to meet any future challenges, said Hrdy.

The NRC Healthcare Consumer Trends Report is based on the single most extensive database of healthcare consumers, with more than two million consumer voices from 310,000 American households sourced from more than 300 markets across all 50 states. The report is available for download here.

About NRC HealthFor more than 40 years, NRC Health (NASDAQ: NRC) has been committed to achieving Human Understanding and bringing healthcare organizations closer to their customers than ever before by illuminating and improving the key moments that define an experience and build trust. Guided by their uniquely empathic heritage, proprietary methods, skilled associates, and holistic approach, NRC Health helps its customers design experiences that exceed expectations, inspire loyalty, and improve well-being among patients, residents, physicians, nurses, and staff.

For more information, email info@nrchealth.com, or visit http://www.nrchealth.com.

Press Contact:Jennifer LyleBarokas, a FINN Partners Companynrchealth@finnpartners.com

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NRC Health Annual Consumer Trends Report Shows Declining Care Deferment, Rising Mental Health Challenges and Gaps in Telehealth - Yahoo Finance

Lawsuit says Pasco jail nurse reused needles on diabetic inmates

Aaron Mesmer reports

LAND O' LAKES, Fla. - Attorneys for five Pasco County inmates announced a class action lawsuit Wednesday that accuses a nurse in the county jail of exposing inmates to HIV and other potentially-deadly viruses.

The lawsuit is filed against Wellpath, a medical company contracted by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to work in the jail. According to the complaint, a nurse regularly re-used syringes while treating diabetic inmates.

"This is an absolute nightmare that shocks the conscience," said Kevin Conway, an attorney with Peiffer Wolf, the firm representing five inmates. "I can't even fathom this occurring. This is truly a practice that is avoided like the plague by IV drug users: dirty needles, dirty vials every single day. It's unbelievable."

During a virtual news conference, Conway and attorney Ashlie Case Sletvold told reporters the nurse would inject an inmate with insulin and, if that person needed more, she would re-use the syringe to extract insulin from a new, multi-dose vial.

According to attorneys, the nurse would then use the same, potentially-contaminated vial for a new patient.

Conway and Case Sletvold said one of the patients is known to have HIV, meaning the virus could have been spread to other inmates.

"Diabetics who rely on insulin to survive shouldn't have to fear that the medicine they take to save their lives might be ending it," said Case Sletvold.

The plaintiffs also accuse Wellpath of failing to notify the inmates who may have been exposed. Instead, attorneys said, the company began testing some, but not all, of the inmates for blood-borne illnesses and treating several with preventative HIV medications, without indicating why.

Conway and Case Sletvold said this nurse worked at the jail for about a year, and they worry there are inmates released or still incarcerated who aren't yet aware they were exposed.

"This was a complete lack of care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society who were in Pasco County's custody," said Case Sletvold.

Amanda Hunter, public information officer for the sheriff's office, released the following statement:

"The Pasco Sheriffs Office is aware of this complaint and immediately began working with Wellpath, the third-party medical provider for detention center inmates, to investigate this matter. Wellpath employees, including the nurse involved in the alleged incident, are not employees of the Pasco Sheriffs Office.We are unable to provide specific details on this matter as it involves confidential medical information and pending litigation. It is our understanding that Wellpath took immediate corrective action upon being notified of a possible issue with insulin dispensation, and CDC exposure guidelines were followed as safety precautions. At this point, no adverse reactions have been reported by any affected individuals. We are taking the reported complaint very seriously, and will continue to work with Wellpath regarding investigation of this matter and steps to ensure a situation like this does not happen in the future."

The county and sheriff's office are not defendants in the case at this time.

Wellpath has not yet responded to a request for comment.

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Pasco jail nurse exposed inmates to HIV and other viruses, lawsuit says - FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Josh Eckel

MAYPORT, Fla. - (Jan 8, 2022) - Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Josh Eckel, a native of Junction City, Kansas, was recently promoted to petty officer first class.

Eckel graduated from Junction City High School in 2010 and obtained his associates degree from American Military University in 2017.

As a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Eckel works as a hospital corpsman.

"Previously as a preventative medicine technician I would identify, evaluate, monitor, and respond to diseases and environmental factors that threaten human health," said Eckel. But now as a command fitness leader, I handle monthly medical reports and my goal is to make it easier to check on our sailors and bump up medical readiness.

Eckel was promoted to his current rank on December 10, 2021.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports joint and command military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jahlena Royer/ Released)

The information was provided by the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

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Junction City native is promoted - JC Post