If you have a double chin, this is normally a result of excess fat and weight. While being overweight or obese does not necessarily lead to a double chin, it can contribute towards the likelihood of developing one. Medically speaking, a double chin is not normally a sign of a health problem. However, some people regard them as unsightly, and having one may impact your confidence and self-esteem. With that in mind, here are several things that can cause a double chin, as well as some treatments to get rid of it.

Causes of a Double Chin

The most common cause of a double chin is excess fat. As you gain weight, it’s normal for fat to be deposited across the body. Unfortunately, this does include the face and under the chin. For those who have a naturally larger frame, weight gain can be more noticeable in the face.

Another common cause of a double chin that gets overlooked regularly is the effect age has on the skin. We all have to go through the aging process, and once you hit your mid-20s, the amount of collagen your skin produces starts to decline. As this occurs, your skin begins losing elasticity, causing it to sag. When the skin under your jaw starts to sag, this creates the illusion that you’re carrying excess fat in the same area.

How to Get Rid of a Double Chin

Whatever the cause, if you have a double chin and find it’s impacting your day-to-day life and how you view yourself, there are things you can do that can banish it away for good. If your double chin is caused by weight gain, following a balanced diet, and exercising regularly is key for shedding the pounds and getting rid of a double chin.

For those whose double chin is down to sagging skin, it’s time to reevaluate your skincare routine. Drinking more water, stopping smoking, and avoiding alcohol are all effective lifestyle changes that can not only make your skin look younger, but help you to get rid of a double chin too.

Surgical Treatments

There are several Surgical Solutions for Double Chin, which include liposuction, facelifts, and facial contouring. Each surgical procedure will carry different risks and side effects, so you must research the different treatments available to find one right for your needs. Cosmetic surgery is often a route for those who have difficulty losing a double chin and keeping it off. This may be down to your bone structure or genetics.

Non-Surgical Treatments

If you’re struggling to make lifestyle changes or fear going under the knife, there are non-surgical treatments that can help too. These include dermal fillers and Botox which can reduce the appearance of a double chin and get your confidence back.

It’s suggested that roughly 70% of adults will have a double chin at some point or another. While it’s incredibly common and nothing to be too concerned over, there are lifestyle changes and treatments to consider which can get rid of a double chin for good.

Hearing the phrase “surgery” always appears as a serious matter. This is particularly true if your spine or backbone has been affected. Specialists that handle spine surgery are known as Orthopedic Spine surgeons. There are a couple of great Orthopedic Spine Surgeons Wayne in the New Jersey area; they can definitely help you with your spine problem.

Orthopedic spine surgeon Wayne is committed to holistic patient treatment and good positive outcomes. They are also effective communicators who take time explaining their rationale for surgical treatment and possible non-surgical alternatives.

The following are the things you should know when consulting with an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne. Read on.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne: Seeking Surgical Care

When conservative methods for treatment have proved ineffective and the pain is chronic and excruciating, spine surgery can be a good option. Spine surgery is typically expected to relieve related pain and numbness on either or both legs/arms.

Pain and numbness are the typical symptoms that are usually triggered by constricted nerves in your spine. This could happen owing to several factors, including:

• Spine Disk Problems. Bulging disks or Slipped (herniated) — the rubbery cushions which separate the bones in your spine – might push too tight against the spinal nerve and compromise its function.
• Excessive Bone Growth. Certain disorders, such as osteoarthritis, can result in the formation of bone spurs in the spine. Several hinge joints on the back of your spinal columns are frequently impacted when this occurs, reducing the amount of room available for nerves to traverse spinal holes.

Even if diagnostic testing reveals a bone spur or herniated disc, determining the particular source of back pain can be highly challenging. Diagnostic tests are performed as recommended, but it often reveals herniated or bulging disks that do not require further treatment and do not cause symptoms.

Often, spine surgery is not immediately performed in clients suffering herniated or degenerative spine issues by Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne due to the fact that the progression and worsening of these conditions are pretty slow. Orthopedic spine surgeons would usually advise patients to wait at least six weeks before undergoing surgery. This allows the patient to determine whether the body can heal itself and whether conservative therapies can be viable.

However, there are instances where spine surgery must be performed as soon as possible. These include the following:

• Excruciating and unrelenting pain
• Neurological manifestations (spinal cord injuries or foot drop)

At all times, spine surgery is a collaborative effort between the client as well as the orthopedic spine surgeon.

Types of Spine Surgery Procedures Performed By An Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne

Multiple types of back surgery are performed by Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne, including the following:

• Diskectomy. This procedure involves the surgical excision of material from a herniated disc that is pressing on the spinal cord or its nerve root. This is to alleviate pain or numbness produced by an inflamed and infected nerve. Moreover, this method involves surgical removal of the posterior lamina (a process called a laminectomy) in order to gain access to the slipped disk.
• Spinal Fusion. This operation permanently joins one or more bones in the spine. It alleviates discomfort by stabilizing the vertebral fracture. It is occasionally used to eliminate uncomfortable vertebral shifts associated with disk degenerations or injuries.
• Laminectomy. This is a surgical procedure involving the lamina’s excision – the flattened portion of its vertebral arch. This results in the expansion of the spinal canal, relieving the strain on the nerves produced by spinal stenosis.
• Artificial Disk Substitute. Artificial disk replacement is an alternative to fusion in the treatment of painful shifts between vertebrae triggered by disk degenerations or injuries.

An orthopedic spine surgeon Wayne who can offer Minimal Invasive Spinal Surgeries, or MISS, would be a great option because these procedures require very few incisions. MISS has a number of advantages, including the following:

• promotes quicker wound healing
• significantly less blood loss
• fewer scars
• decreased operational time
• a complete recovery after surgery
• can be performed as an out-patient

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne: Non-Surgical Treatments

Approximately 90% of people with pain caused by spinal problems can be managed non-surgically or conservatively. Each patient is evaluated thoroughly by an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne to make a customized program that is tailored to their specific needs.

Pain Management

Functional results should be addressed, which may involve adaptations to the patient’s daily activities, sexuality, home management, recreation, child care, and vocational responsibilities. Proper usage of medical services is carried out during treatments. Appropriate medication usage is also necessary. When available, psychological assistance is recommended. It is undeniable that the spouse’s support is critical. Furthermore, ergonomics and rehabilitative exercise regimens should be provided as well.

Moreover, pain management regarding spine problems may address five typical issues, namely:

• Lifestyle issues such as smoking cessation, weight loss, and abstinence from illicit drugs.
• Exercise is at the heart of conservative treatment for spine disorders. There are certain exercises that are beneficial for strengthening and stretching the back. Additionally, modalities like moist heat, cold compresses, and electrical stimulation could be used to alleviate discomfort prior to fully involving patients in activities.
• Patients with spinal problems can be taught proper body mechanics.
• Medications are frequently used to treat spinal problems. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can be used constantly rather than on a need-to-know basis to produce anti-inflammatory benefits. Regular monitoring is performed as a result of long-term drug use.
• Spinal injections are a highly effective method of managing pain associated with spinal diseases. Steroid injections in the epidural space may be provided. Oftentimes, spinal injection treatments are used in conjunction with pre-existing specialized treatment programs, such as those stated previously.
• Nutritional Coaching

Almost everyone is aware that both proper nutrition and physical activity could help overall well-being. Orthopedic Spine Surgeons Wayne takes advantage of this fact to provide nutrition counseling to their patients.

Proper nutrition can aid in the following:

• Decreased risk of developing certain diseases, including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis
• Regulates blood pressure
• Cholesterol control
• Enhancing the body’s capacity to recover from disease or injury
• Increased capacity for post-operative recovery
• Boost energy levels

In addition to the surgical and non-surgical treatments that an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Wayne may provide, it is also crucial to evaluate details and facts like success rates, past customer satisfaction rating, accessibility of location or geographical proximity, clinic hours, and also the acceptance of medical insurances.

Self-help apps are leading more and more people towards therapy and enhanced treatment. rather than replacing it, they often provide an excellent supplement instead. The exact number of users can be difficult to track as newer apps are entering the market, just as the older ones are being phased out.

While there is no doubt that these apps can spur a person to work online with a psychologist, the onus is on the health professionals to ensure they comply with state and federal laws.

With that said, there are a number of therapy apps with robust business plans, which have established a market that people have been flocking to. Let’s take a look at the top five and see where they stand in 2021.

Get Cerebral

Get Cerebral, also referred to as Cerebral, is one of the new online apps which have recently entered the market. Founded in 2020, this mental health company is based out of San Francisco, California. They have a tie-up with various insurance companies through which they can ship prescriptions at your doorstep.

During this short period, Cerebral has shown rapid growth almost all over America by offering comprehensive treatment plans for depression, insomnia and anxiety for a monthly flat fee. In some states, it can support treatment for bipolar disorder and PTSD as well.

If you are looking for an all-included approach for your mental health care concerns pertaining to counseling and psychiatry, then Cerebral has you covered at a low cost.

(Cerebral should not be used if you are suffering from severe mental illness or looking for substance use treatment)

When you compare Cerebral with other online therapy sites like BetterHelp and Talkspace you will find similar features. That said, while Cerebral is a great option for those seeking advice from a psychologist as well as psychiatric intervention, BetterHelp is a fit for those who prefer weekly sessions with licensed therapists.

Talkspace too has its exclusive set of advantages like insurance and psychiatry service, while Cerebral offers a combined approach. In conclusion, all the three services, more or less, outdo each other in different departments but are generally worth it.

Health Sapiens

Health Sapiens is an online platform that has been offering affordable counseling to residents of the United States for over a decade. Members are given an option to consult their care provider either by phone or by computer, without having to leave the comfort of their preferred space.

Health Sapiens offers monthly membership plans to its customers for providing access to certified mental health professionals and doctors in the whole of America as well as Puerto Rico. For two years in a row, 2020 and 2021, it has been voted as the ” Best Subscription Service for Online Doctors”.

While Health Sapiens providers can help with a wide range of mental issues, what sets it apart from the platforms listed here and elsewhere is their offer of therapy during night time as well as on weekends. Other competitors generally work Monday through Friday on normal business hours.

Pride Counseling

A subsidiary of the established long-running online therapy platform BetterHelp, Pride Counseling was established in 2017 with specialized therapists to serve the LGBTQ+ community for adults of 18 year age and older. Their focus was to serve the members of the community to receive help in a safe environment.

Experts of the National Alliance on Mental Illness say that nearly 39% members belonging to the lesbian, gay and bisexual community have experienced conditions such as depression and anxiety in 2020. The cost is nearly the same as other online platforms that offer messaging and live sessions, and ranges between $90-$120 per week.

Compared to standard counseling, Pride Counseling prices are very competitive, given the stigma attached to this kind of service. The only downside is the online therapist would not be able to offer diagnosis or prescribe medications. Again, compared to BetterHelp which offers a seven day free trial, Pride Counseling does not offer this facility.

MyTherapist

Since online therapy boasts of convenience, affordability and privacy, more and more people are leaning towards online counseling therapy. One of the newest players in this industry which has got rave reviews is MyTherapist – even chosen as the ‘best new therapy site for 2021 by bestonlinetherapy.com’.

Launched in 2017, their platform enables the user to get counseling access from any corner of the world, using a smartphone, computer or tablet. Thanks to its ease of use and excellent counseling service, MyTherapist has earned a great reputation by onboarding accredited family and marriage therapists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, each having a Doctorate or Master’s Degree in the field they are expert in.

MyTherapist has plenty of payment options and even offers to finance to those patients in need, provided they meet certain terms and conditions. Currently, they are offering unlimited sessions on a weekly basis at a flat rate of $65 a week. The best part is you can register without revealing your real name to keep things anonymous.

Compared to other apps, the matching of counselors and therapists is absolutely spot on and it takes very little time to sign up and fill up their short questionnaire for registration.

Sondermind

If you are wondering if you should connect SonderMind.com to get matched with a licensed therapist, this unbiased review will tell you if their therapy is worth your attention. But before that a bit about the company.

SonderMind is based in Denver, Colorado but has begun to expand its business to other states as well. Founded in 2012, the company endeavors to make healthcare more accessible and highly utilized.

While SonderMind has an A+ rating being accredited with Better Business Bureau, people who registered with them reported that they had many issues, as the company had issues with billing insurance and no third-party certifications. Moreover, they don’t provide information about the qualifications of the professionals they hire.

There has been a proliferation of mental health apps in recent years available to any person with a smartphone, despite the fact they may not have peer-reviewed research to support their claims. they provide evidence-based therapy exercises from the comfort of your home.

There are plenty of reasons to look after your teeth properly, but if you’re not too bothered about having a sparkling white smile then it’s easy to overlook the importance of taking good care of them.

What many people don’t realize is that stained teeth may cause serious health problems, and the longer you leave them, the more likely they are to affect your overall health in the long run. If you’re worried that your teeth have become a little dingy and discolored, then it’s important to nip this in the bud as soon as possible. Here are a few tips for keeping your mouth healthy and stain-free.

Use a Whitening Device

There are lots of teeth whitening products available that can give teeth a deep clean, and it’s worth trying out one of these devices for a few days to see if it makes any difference. You can either buy an in-mouth product or use teeth whitening pens which you brush onto teeth. Either way, there is bound to be a teeth whitener on the market that suits your budget – from over-the-counter treatments to expensive teeth laser treatment clinics, ensuring your teeth have a brilliant shine should not be difficult. You may also consult your dentist for advice and guidance on which jobs you can do at home to keep teeth bright.

Brush and Floss

You’ve probably heard this one enough times before, but it really is the most effective way of keeping teeth clean and healthy – and giving them a natural shine as well. Make sure that you brush your teeth at least two or three times a day to keep plaque from building up on your teeth. If you can’t brush straight after eating, try to do it as soon as you’ve finished your meal. Once a day, use dental floss or interdental brushes to remove any food particles that missed the brush. Even though it’s a little more time-consuming, this is an important step to take. If you don’t floss, the food particles will sit between your teeth and gums, causing plaque to form, potentially leading to serious health problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Eat the Right Foods

Some foods are going to leave teeth looking much more discolored compared to others, and it’s important to avoid these as much as possible if you want a bright smile. For example, drinking coffee or tea is going to leave teeth stained a dark color, so make sure that you drink lots of water after eating or drinking these types of drinks – this will reduce the effects on teeth stains. If you bake cakes or other sweet treats at home then it’s important to stay away from using sugar in recipes – there are plenty of alternative sweeteners available that can give baked goods a sweet taste without the teeth staining properties of sugar.

Take Special Care When Wearing Braces

It’s obvious that wearing braces isn’t going to leave your teeth looking pristine until they come off – but many people don’t realize how much damage having teeth straighteners attached can do to teeth and gums. Make sure that you brush your teeth after every meal to ensure your teeth don’t start to decay, although it’s important not to use a heavy hand with brushing teeth when wearing braces – too much pressure on the teeth is going to lead to serious damage in the long run. Additionally,  it’s a good idea to see your dentist before getting braces fitted, and make sure they thoroughly clean your teeth before starting treatment.

Use a Mouthwash

Using a mouthwash can make your breath more pleasant, but some types of mouthwashes are also useful for giving teeth a bright look. Mouthwashes which contain fluoride are good for removing stains and minerals on teeth, so try to find one with this ingredient if you want to ensure that your smile is sparkling white during the day. The best way to whiten teeth is by finding a treatment or product that suits you and sticking with it. For example, if you find that a whitening pen works best for your teeth – then don’t be tempted to try out something new after a few days of using the original product.

Choose Your Toothpaste Carefully

First impressions say a lot about someone, so it’s important to choose toothpaste carefully if you want people to talk about how fresh-looking your smile is rather than what color your teeth happen to be. The best teeth whiteners are going to give teeth a deep clean, and teeth-whitening toothpaste must contain fluoride. Most dentists recommend this ingredient as the best teeth whitener available on the market today. Other toothpaste ingredients proven to help with teeth whitening include baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, while recently, activated carbon has also been included in certain brands.

As you can see, there are many different ways to keep your teeth looking clean and white, and it’s well worth finding a treatment that suits your style and budget – as this will ensure you can maintain your bright smile throughout the day. Keep these points in mind if you want to ensure your teeth look as good as possible during the day and make sure you take care of them at night too.

Read below to learn everything there is to know about sequencing Covid-19 and why it is such a critical weapon in the fight against this deadly virus.

COVID-19 was first detected in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since that day, the coronavirus has spread to 170 nations, and the World Health Organization has labeled it a pandemic.

Globally, this COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a devastating loss of human life. Furthermore, this lethal virus continues to pose an extraordinary threat to public health. The pandemic’s social and economic upheaval is catastrophic.

While we are not in an ideal situation with COVID-19 at present, testing remains vital. Testing enables us to identify persons who are infected with the virus, treat them appropriately, or request that they isolate to prevent the infection from spreading.

Not only does testing assist us in identifying virus-infected individuals, but testing is also critical for the larger public health picture. It can aid scientists in characterizing disease propagation, contagiousness, and whether the disease is evolving over time.

There are two primary tests that are available to assist us in this endeavor: PCR testing and next-generation sequencing (NGS) (Next Generation Sequencing). Sequencing is critical for diagnosing COVID-19 and may also aid in our understanding of the disease’s transmission.

Sequencing Covid-19 and Genomes

The genetic material of a certain organism is known as its genome. A genome is essentially a collection of instructions that contain all of the information necessary for its maintenance and production. Human genomes are constructed using double-stranded DNA. You may be more familiar with the term DNA. These genomes collectively exceed three billion base letters in length.

In contrast to human genomes, the virus genomes can be composed of either DNA or RNA. COVID-19 is an RNA virus. It is composed of a single short RNA strand about 30,000 letters in length. While it is straightforward to visualize the genetic makeup of a genome, reading and comprehending it is far more complicated. Sequencing enables scientists to read and comprehend a virus’s RNA or DNA.

What is “Sequencing”?

When a person is diagnosed with coronavirus, their specimen sample is examined in conjunction with that of other individuals. This process is referred to as genomic sequencing. The positive test swab will go through numerous phases throughout this process to remove the mucus proteins from that of the RNA molecules. When it is already separated, these RNA molecules are converted into DNA that can then be easily read and understood. Genomic sequencing has already been utilized for a variety of purposes in the past, including tracking out the source of hospital illnesses and foodborne pathogen outbreaks.

Why is Sequencing Covid-19 Important?

Genomic sequencing is a method for scientists to read and comprehend the genetic information contained in RNA or DNA. Sequencing is used to trace a virus’s evolution. This information can assist public health officials in monitoring the virus’s spread and enacting the necessary laws and limits to inhibit the virus from spreading further.

Sequencing COVID-19 Globally

We have seen countries throughout the world ratchet up their testing efforts in recent months in trying to combat this dangerous virus. Knowing how the virus has evolved over time can assist us in determining the length of time the infection remained undetected. Additionally, it can help us in deciding what measures should be implemented to prevent the virus’s transmission until a vaccine is discovered.

COVID-19 sequencing is being finished by scientists worldwide as they collaborate to identify the origins of outbreaks.

Making use of sequencing as a tool in the battle against COVID-19 is critical. Not only can sequencing aid in the identification of novel viruses, but it may also aid in the tracking and monitoring of existing viruses to see if they evolve over time.

Sequencing the latest Covid-19 virus entails gathering samples from people who have been proven to be infected with the virus and sending them to a sequencing facility.

How Can Sequencing Covid-19 Help?

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful and unbiased method for identifying new coronavirus strains and other pathogens without prior knowledge of the organisms. Growing concern over rapidly spreading novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variations, such as with the B.1.1.7 strain in the United Kingdom and the B1.351 strain in South Africa, stresses the importance of more sequencing to be able to detect changes or any mutations promptly and limit the spread of newer strains. Early in the outbreak, sequencing Covid-19 was employed to identify the new coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). NGS continues to provide vital evidence to public health experts, vaccine and pharmaceutical drug makers, and scientists, enabling laboratories to:

• Track the virus’s global transmission routes
• Rapid detection of changes to halt the spread of new strain types
• Determine which viral alterations are undetectable by conventional molecular diagnostic techniques
• Identify viral alterations that may impair the efficacy of vaccines
• Target identification for potential COVID-19 treatments
• Identify and describe co-infections of the respiratory tract and antimicrobial resistance alleles

Additional Information About Sequencing Covid-19 Methods

Sequencing of Amplicons

By sequencing certain portions of the viral genome, it detects if there is a presence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This technique entails ultra-deep sequencing of the PCR amplicons in order to analyze genomic regions of interest.

Target Enrichment Sequencing 

Coronaviruses, influenza viruses, many other pathogenic respiratory tract microorganisms, and associated antibiotic resistance alleles must be identified and characterized. These findings may aid researchers in monitoring and optimizing infection control efforts. Through hybridization to target-specific probes, this approach captures genomic areas of interest.

Shotgun Metagenomics

This comprehensively sequences all organisms present in a sample in detail and finds novel diseases such as coronaviruses. This next-generation sequencing approach can help in the acceleration of outbreak investigations and the creation of new laboratory tests.

Due to the involvement of multiple organizations, learning outcomes from the sequencing process may be shared promptly with decision-makers. This research will definitely help us  know the appropriate response we should do to combat COVID-19, and it will also aid in responding to future pandemics.

The alliance’s immediate benefits will include assisting with clinical patient care and fighting to save lives.

As another pandemic-stricken year comes to an end, one question remains—will things go back to the way they were, or is the new normal here to stay? There are plenty of things that prove to be uncertain at this point, but if there’s one thing that COVID-19 has taught everyone, it’s that standard healthcare practices can go a long way in taking care of ourselves and the people around us.

Now that everything is almost going back to how it was, it’s safe to say that the pandemic has changed different aspects of everyone’s lives. Even as the virus eventually runs its course, the new habits that emerged during this time will most probably remain. If you’re wondering what those are, here’s a quick rundown of what you can take note of:

1. The Effort To Keep Up With Manufacturing Medical Supplies

It’s no secret that the people in charge had not prepared the medical industry as much as they should’ve when the pandemic hit. There was immediately a shortage of medical supplies, from mechanical ventilators to ICU beds, personal protective equipment (PPE,) and N95 masks. Even the production of over-the-counter medicines for colds and flu was on the verge of scarcity, which only worsened the fear and panic among consumers. To cite an example, a law firm emphasized this shortage in an article they wrote. They mentioned that the lack of medical supplies had increased exposure for healthcare professionals, resulting in the further decline of those who treat patients.

Fortunately, the medical industry seems to have learned from this. As the world moves forward, it can expect healthcare supply companies to step up in preparing for the worse. This practice might not completely prevent another pandemic, but the people can hopefully be more ready and equipped to face one should it come again in the future.

2. Handwashing Is Here To Stay

No one can ever be too sure when it comes to health and safety. That said, most people will likely continue washing their hands religiously, even in a post-COVID era. It would be best to keep this practice in mind because, virus or no virus, handwashing is always a part of any routine.

Committing to at least 20 seconds of meticulously scrubbing and soaping your hands and arms is good enough. If you need a timer, experts suggest humming the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice from start to finish.

3. Face Masks Are The New Normal

Even when wearing face masks becomes voluntary soon, some people might still use them for added protection in public. Social distancing may not be that possible anymore, especially when attending concerts or events. Still, you can somehow be relieved that you’re safe from contracting any virus if you wear a mask.

This habit will most likely be prevalent when riding public transit, going to work, and attending school. Besides, what’s a slight inconvenience if it can give you an extra layer of protection and peace of mind?

4. Prioritizing Mental Health

Quite understandably, the pandemic saw a drastic decline in the mental health of most individuals all over the world. Before the crisis, people were comfortable doing mundane things like socializing, eating out, and attending parties and events. But when almost all government bodies implemented lockdowns, no one saw the consequences coming. Some people didn’t know how to deal with self-isolation, leading to the rise of mental health conditions that were difficult to face, to begin with.

As things go back to how they used to, mental health will probably be among the top priorities among families, workplaces, and educational institutions. That’s because there is nothing more important than a healthy body. Aside from mental health, most people will likely take their physical wellness more seriously too. Getting adequate sleep and exercise is just one of the simple things we can do to better take care of ourselves. Self-care will be a trend, and being kinder to our minds might emerge as a new positive habit post-COVID.

Final Words

COVID-19 has changed people’s lives in more ways than one. The way different countries prioritize healthcare has evolved because of it, and the next best thing to do is to keep practicing the good habits you’ve learned along the way. Remember that it’s always best to prepare for what’s to come because there is no telling when the pandemic will be over or if there’s a new one coming soon. But what you can do to assure the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones is by adopting these essential practices into the new normal.

HealthTalk A.I., a leading patient engagement company, announced the addition of Practice Analytics capabilities to its platform. This enhancement gives healthcare organizations the ability to measure performance — from a practice and individual provider standpoint — against the broader HealthTalk A.I. network.

“Our strategy at HealthTalk A.I. is to deliver value quickly for both our current and future clients,” said CEO and founder Jerrod Ullah. “With Practice Analytics, we’re adding value and helping our customers differentiate.”

HealthTalk A.I. was formed to change the way patients and healthcare organizations connect. From a patient experience and performance perspective, practices use the company’s A.I. assisted patient engagement platform to conduct clinical follow-up and to drive patient satisfaction by quickly identifying and intervening with at-risk patients at scale. By automating this process, practices can manage more patients, retrieve immediate feedback, and take essential corrective action.

Practice Analytics further enhances healthcare organizations’ performance by using A.I. and analysis to isolate and present — front and center — patient geographic locations, care groups, and even payer groups that need attention. Rather than relying on anecdotal conclusions, information is based on the voice of the patient. A practice can now easily see if they are hitting or missing the mark — at a particular facility — with a certain age group, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, zip code, and/or campaign initiative.

Following a successful pilot with two HealthTalk A.I. customers, this functionality is now available for all platform users.

“HealthTalk A.I.’s Practice Analytics is a game changer, said Dr. Tanveer Gaibi, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital. “It gives me key opportunities for improvement; whether it’s diagnosis, demographics or aggregate comment data, I can now get insight and take action.”

About HealthTalk A.I.

HealthTalk A.I. helps healthcare providers improve access to care and intervene like never before possible. Their fully-automated, text-based platform delivers user-friendly communication with specific messages and rules dictated by each healthcare organization. This gives providers the ability to engage 100% of their population and close the loop with customer recovery actions and clinical encounters.