The Medicaid and CHIP Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act aims to increase access to care options that can improve patients’ health outcomes and quality of life. This week, the Digital Therapeutics Alliance urged lawmakers to support its initiatives to increase DTx access.

Reimbursement for digital apps and platforms that can improve health outcomes has been constrained for persons with chronic and mental health issues who are insured by Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The requirement for a regulatory framework might be met by the bipartisan measure S.5238, which was presented by Senators Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and would mandate the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create national coverage criteria.

Additionally, the proposal would give states technical support as they evaluate coverage from US Health and Human Services and clarify the term prescription digital therapeutic under Medicaid.

Because it allows physicians to prescribe cutting-edge new technology like digital health devices and mHealth apps that benefit both patients and providers, the DTA said they appreciate the action and look forward to working with a large coalition to get it passed in Congress.

According to Andy Molnar, chief executive officer of the DTA, this legislation would establish more clarity and uniformity in how prescription digital therapeutics are covered by public programmes from state to state and is a crucial step toward ensuring that these evidence-based treatment options get into the hands of those who need them most.

Medicaid patients encounter more difficulties getting care both during and after the COVID-19 outbreak, the DTA pointed out in a statement endorsing the legislation.

However, with repeatable procedures and technologies that automate low-touch encounters, therapies like digital applications for psychological health and digital care management systems can help practises scale and reach more patients. These programmes can also locate patients who need treatment. As per the founder and CEO of Force Therapeutics, Bronwyn Spira, with some digital therapeutic tools, doctors may simply track engagement and progress within electronic health records and workflows.

Spira stated that digital care management platforms can assist in addressing fundamental patient challenges, such as limited access to healthcare, low health literacy, and a lack of motivation, during a recent discussion on how digital therapeutics can improve orthopaedic care and physical therapy.

She explained that orthopaedists and physical therapists lacked data to make the best care decisions, while patients fell behind in their treatment regimens or faced financial difficulties. They had little or no access to information about how patients were trying to manage at home or if they were achieving the outcomes that mattered to them, she said.

During that time, she came to the conclusion that proof-of-concept remote therapy and education could be crucial in assisting underserved populations in adhering to their postoperative care plan. According to Molnar in the DTA statement, digital therapeutics have particular promise for Medicaid populations with easy, accessible, and individualised therapy alternatives to satisfy numerous unmet medical needs.

So, you want to set up your own dental business? You’re not alone; the demand for dental services is on the rise. In order to ensure your success in this highly competitive industry, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind. In this article, we will explore how to set up a successful dental business.

Sort Out Your Website

If you’re starting a dental business, one of the first things you need to do is sort out your website. Your website is one of your most important marketing tools, and it needs to be up to scratch if you want to attract new patients. There are specific services in web design for dentistry professionals. However, in general, here are the best tips for sorting out your website:

1. Make sure your site is responsive and mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to search for dental services, so it’s important that your site can be accessed easily on these devices.
2. Use compelling copy and design to make your site stand out from the competition. Your website needs to look professional and offer potential patients a good user experience.
3. Use SEO best practices to ensure that your site appears high up in search engine results pages. This will help you attract more visitors to your site.
4. Make sure your contact information is prominently displayed on your site so that potential patients can easily get in touch with you. Include a contact form on your site so that people can request appointments or ask questions easily.
5. Regularly update your content to keep potential patients engaged with your site. Add new blog posts, photos, and videos on a regular basis to give people a reason to keep coming back to your site

Have A Niche

As a dentist, you have a lot of competition. There are many dentists out there who are trying to get new patients and keep their existing ones. So, how do you set up a successful dental business? One way is to have a niche. Find a specialty or service that not many other dentists offer. This can be something like sedation dentistry, teeth whitening, or dental implants. By offering something unique, you can attract new patients who are looking for that specific service.

Create A Positive Working Environment

A positive working environment is essential for any business, but it is especially important in the dental industry. Creating an open and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable communicating with one another is key to maintaining a positive work environment. Promote an atmosphere of teamwork and respect, and discourage gossip or negative talk. Similarly, a little recognition can go a long way in making your employees feel appreciated. Whether you give verbal praise, write thank-you notes, or offer small bonuses or perks, letting your team know when they’ve done a good job will make them feel good about their work – and more likely to stick around long-term. By following these tips, you can create a positive working environment that will benefit your entire dental practice – from your patients to your staff members!

Get A Good Scheduling System In Place

As a new dental business, one of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for success is to get a good scheduling system in place. This will ensure that your patients are seen in a timely manner and that your appointments are properly spaced out so that you can provide quality care. Once you have selected a scheduling system, be sure to add all of your current and future appointments into the system. This will help you keep track of your schedule and make sure that you are always aware of upcoming appointments. You should also set up reminders for yourself so that you don’t forget about any appointments. If you take the time to set up a good scheduling system, it will pay off in the long run by helping you run a more efficient and successful dental practice.

Hire Enthusiastic And Experienced Staff

If you want to set up a successful dental business, it is essential that you hire enthusiastic and experienced staff. This will ensure that your patients receive the best possible care and that your business runs smoothly. When hiring staff, it is important to consider their qualifications and experience. You should also look for individuals who are passionate about providing excellent dental care. It is also worth considering whether they have any specific skills or knowledge that could benefit your practice. Once you have found the right team of staff, it is important to provide them with ongoing training and development opportunities. This will help them to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in dentistry and to provide the best possible care for their patients.

Make Sure Your Location Is Convenient

And finally, you need to make sure you choose a convenient location for your practice. You want to be sure that your office is easy to get to and that there is plenty of parking. You also want to make sure that your office is in a safe neighborhood.

Build A Successful Practice

In sum, by keeping the above in mind when setting up your dental business, you’re sure to build a practice that can be enjoyed by both patients and staff members for years to come.

The healthcare industry is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world. With an aging population and increasing rates of chronic diseases, more and more people are turning to healthcare centers for treatment and care. This means that there is a greater demand than ever before for high-quality healthcare centers.

But what exactly makes a good healthcare center? What are the essential ingredients? What should you look for when choosing a healthcare center for yourself or your loved ones?

Let’s look at the seven items every good healthcare center needs to have.

Qualified Staff

The quality of care you receive is largely dependent on the qualifications and experience of the healthcare staff. Make sure to ask any potential healthcare centers about the qualifications and experience levels of their staff, including doctors, nurses, and support personnel.

Additionally, make sure that the staff is experienced in providing care for whatever condition you are seeking treatment or advice for.

For instance, if you’re getting a prenatal checkup, make sure the staff is educated and experienced in offering care for expectant mothers. Or if you’re seeking treatment for a chronic condition, ask about the staff’s experience in providing care for such conditions.

State-of-the-Art Equipment

The right equipment can make all the difference when it comes to healthcare so these centers should be equipped with advanced medical technology and modern diagnostic equipment. This will ensure not only that they can provide accurate diagnoses but also that they can offer up-to-date treatments.

On the other hand, certain centers go even further – their equipment is used not only for diagnostics and treatments, but they offer additional services like physical therapy, rehabilitation, or medical spa treatments.

The accessibility of their patients and taking care of every step of the stay is a must. This results in providing hospital shower curtains, grab bars, patient lifts, and other items that are important for elderly care or disabled individuals. You can conclude a lot based on the equipment they have.

Proper Hygiene and Cleanliness

A clean and hygienic environment is essential in any healthcare center, as it reduces the risk of infection and the spread of disease. Make sure to ask any potential healthcare centers about their cleaning protocols and hygiene practices.

Also, make sure that the staff is properly trained in infection prevention and control measures. This includes wearing protective gear such as gloves, masks, and gowns when necessary.

However, proper hygiene doesn’t just apply to the center itself. It also applies to patients. Make sure that any potential healthcare centers have policies in place for ensuring that all patients follow good personal hygiene practices, such as washing their hands regularly and using hand sanitizers.

You should also check that the center has adequate supplies of soap and disinfectant so that patients and staff can maintain good hygiene practices.

Well-Stocked Pharmacy

A well-stocked pharmacy not only should have a wide variety of medications, but it should also be able to provide advice on the proper use of these medications and when to seek professional help. Additionally, the pharmacy should be staffed by qualified pharmacists who are knowledgeable about drug interactions, side effects, and other important information.

Therefore, pay attention to the pharmacy when picking a healthcare center – make sure to ask about the types of medications they carry, and whether they’re equipped with the right technology to provide up-to-date information on these medications.

Data Security

Data security is paramount in any healthcare center – after all, you’re trusting them with sensitive information about your health. Therefore, make sure the healthcare center has robust data security protocols in place to protect your personal and medical information from unauthorized access or use.

For instance, ask about the type of encryption they use for storing patient records, and whether they have other measures in place to protect this information from external threats such as hackers. Are they asking about the permissions of the staff to access patient data? This is an important factor in ensuring a secure environment.

Emergency Services

No matter how prepared you are, there is always a chance that something could go wrong during an appointment at a healthcare center. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that any potential healthcare center you choose is equipped with an emergency services team.

This team should include physicians, nurses, and other healthcare staff who are trained in providing emergency care. Additionally, a good healthcare center should be able to provide emergency care services, including 24-hour access to a doctor or nurse practitioner. They should have protocols in place for dealing with medical emergencies and the necessary equipment (e.g., defibrillators, and oxygen tanks) for providing life-saving treatments.

On the other hand, some centers go even further – their emergency services teams are dedicated to providing not just medical care, but psychological and emotional support. This way, they can provide comprehensive care for any possible situation that a patient may experience.

Uninterrupted Power Supply

When it comes to healthcare, a reliable power supply is essential. In the event of an emergency or unforeseen medical issue, all medical equipment must remain functional at all times. This means that any potential healthcare centers should have a backup generator and an uninterrupted power supply in case of outages or other issues.

Additionally, check if the center has protocols in place for dealing with power outages, such as having a designated area where medical procedures can still be performed or having a battery-powered generator on standby.

However, it’s not just about having a reliable power supply – there should also be protocols in place for ensuring that all medical equipment is regularly maintained and tested to ensure that it remains operational.

No matter what healthcare center you choose, it’s important to make sure that they have the necessary supplies and equipment for providing quality care. Additionally, be sure to ask about their emergency services team and whether they have a backup generator in case of power outages. Cleanliness and data security are also important factors, so take the time to make sure they’re up to standard.

Ultimately, careful research and due diligence will help you find a healthcare center that can provide the best care for your health and well-being, as well as for your loved ones.

Axonics, Inc., a global medical technology company that is developing and commercializing novel products for the treatment of bladder and bowel dysfunction, announced that Health Canada has approved the company’s fourth-generation rechargeable sacral neuromodulation system.

The newly approved Axonics R20™ neurostimulator is labeled for a functional life in the body of at least 20 years and reduces how frequently a patient needs to recharge their implanted device to once every 6 to 10 months for only one hour. This compares to the third-generation’s recharging interval of once a month for one hour. The Axonics R20 neurostimulator utilizes the same small 5cc form factor as the third-generation device and is paired with the same tined lead and intuitive, easy to use patient remote control.

“Since Axonics’ founding, delivering superior patient experiences has been at the forefront of our development efforts,” said Raymond W. Cohen, chief executive officer of Axonics. “Patients with overactive bladder want efficacy and a long-lived solution to address their chronic condition. The Axonics R20 represents a significant breakthrough for rechargeable neuromodulation devices and underscores our commitment to continuous innovation. We are confident that Axonics’ keen focus on the incontinence patient population and increasing public awareness of sacral neuromodulation has the potential to drive significant market expansion in the years ahead.”

Axonics has commenced sales of the R20 sacral neuromodulation system to customers in Canada. The device is currently under review by the FDA in the United States. The company anticipates FDA approval and plans to commercially launch the product in the United States in the first quarter of 2023.

Hill International, the American construction consulting firm with operations across the globe, has said that it has been awarded a contract to provide construction management services to the Saudi Jordanian Fund for Medical Educational Investment Company (SJFMEI), a subsidiary of the Saudi Jordanian Investment Fund (SJIF), for a new US$400 million healthcare project in Amman, Jordan.

In a statement, Hill said that the project is a university hospital that will deliver 330 beds, 72 outpatient clinics, a children’s hospital and a medical school with a capacity for up to 600 students, once complete. The school has a projected enrolment of 100 students annually.

The project will also include five medical centres of excellence, each focused on providing care for the most common and fastest-growing non-communicable diseases in Jordan and the region. These include cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics, while also supporting advanced research through four centres in the fields of genomics and precision medicine, stem cells and regenerative medicine, health systems and public health, and bioinformatics.

Hill Regional President – Middle East Abdo Kardous said of the award: “This new healthcare project will raise the level of care for the entire Jordanian population and set a new standard in patient well-being. We are excited to support such a transformative healthcare infrastructure program and look forward to realising the SJFMEI’s vision as planned.”

Ambitious Project

The consultancy added that work on the project will be implemented in partnership with two of the most prestigious institutions in the world in the fields of healthcare and medical education.

Hill Chief Executive Officer Raouf Ghali added: “Healthcare projects and programs are growing in scale and complexity around the world, and SJFMEI’s new project is as ambitious as it is necessary.

“Hill specialises in achieving such bold healthcare projects, and in helping our clients realise their goals of delivering improved care for their citizens,” he concluded.

Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global medtech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, announced their part in a project in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC), entitled, “Survey Study for International Expansion of Endoscopes Utilizing High-definition Imaging Technology AI Diagnosis Support System in Vietnam.”

This is the third year, after similar projects in Thailand in fiscal year 2021 and India in fiscal year 2020, that Olympus has acted as a corporate partner to investigate the effectiveness and potential dissemination of an AI diagnostic support system. As part of these projects, Olympus has researched clinical applications in collaboration with major local medical institutions. Past clinical use by doctors in India and Thailand, along with consultation with Japanese physicians, showed the effectiveness and potential for future use of EndoBRAIN-EYE and other endoscope diagnostic imaging support software.

From November 2022 to March 2023, Olympus, in collaboration with CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO., LTD., will conduct research on the effectiveness and future use of the AI diagnostic support system EndoBRAIN-EYE at Cho Ray Hospital and 108 Hospital in Vietnam. In addition, specialist lecturers and physicians from Japan’s Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital and Shizuoka Cancer Center will provide expert guidance to doctors at major Vietnamese hospitals. They will train doctors in techniques for detecting diseases and differential diagnosis with colonoscopes using EndoBRAIN-EYE, and they will also instruct on how to train the next generation of endoscopists.

At the kick-off meeting on November 28, Ho Dang Quy Dung M.D. from Cho Ray Hospital said, “AI is a new and powerful technology making endoscpic procedure more efficient and high quality. I do think that AI will be the big breakthrough of the filed of GI endoscopy in the upcoming years. I hope we have the opportunity to work with Japanese experts in the field of AI in endoscopy.” Professor Shin’ei Kudo from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital also commented, “I hope this project will contribute to not only dissemination of the AI technology but also increased partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and look forward to amazing results from this exciting collaboration.”