Amiri Hospital, one of Kuwait’s most established medical facilities, has leveraged new network architecture from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, to pioneer new innovations and standards in digital health, telemedicine and in-patient care in the Gulf state.

Amiri Hospital, one of Kuwait’s most established medical facilities, has leveraged new network architecture from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, to pioneer new innovations and standards in digital health, telemedicine and in-patient care in Kuwait.

According to the hospital, the implementation has resulted in 99.9% network availability, enabled introduction of remote healthcare, staff mobility and other digital healthcare services, facilitated 60% reduction in hospital footfall while serving same patient volumes and increased appointment efficiency by 120%.

The IT Infrastructure supports the Health Informatics Platform, employing best-of-breed solutions and integrating with existing systems, delivered through the Kuwait based systems integrator Ms Virtus Informatics Company WLL.

“To enhance our operations, we were seeking a HIMSS EMRAM Level 5 certification and aimed to establish ourselves as a smart hospital that offers digital services and advanced technologies for patient care. We recognised that a secure, reliable and high-performance network infrastructure would be essential to achieving this ambition,” said Dr Ali Al Alanda, Director, Amiri Hospital.

“The Aruba architecture, designed, successfully deployed and NOC managed by the company’s partner in Kuwait, has enabled an SLA of 99.9% at Amiri Hospital,” said Eng. Mazyad Al Ardi, IT Manager, Capital Governorate.

In line with its Digital Transformation vision, the hospital now delivers all services –including registration, appointment setting and prescription management – through the digital gateway ‘Derwaza’. “We have set up the gateway for the convenience of our patients with seamless and secure access, and high-performance for a remarkable user experience,” Al Ardi said.

With a pervasive wireless coverage now in place, underpinned by a robust and scalable wired network, Amiri hospital has been able to introduce new and innovative technologies to enhance patient care.

“We have implemented over 50 portable devices, that give our medical practitioners instant secure access to patient records, wherever and whenever they need it,” said Dr Raed Syed Hashem, Head, Disaster Management Team, Amiri Hospital. “This not only empowers our staff to perform their duties more effectively, but it also serves as a highly visual example to patients of Amiri Hospital’s commitment to pioneering the latest digital technologies.”

According to the hospital, the COVID-19 pandemic best demonstrated the value and capabilities of Aruba’s infrastructure. “Nearly overnight, we had a pressing need to serve thousands of patients remotely. We suddenly had to manage remote network access for thousands of people and the platform not only delivered the performance we needed, but also effectively protected the network from the 50 plus attacks and malicious access attempts we typically faced each day,” Dr Hashem added.

During the lockdown, the hospital successfully migrated 80% of its services to digital channels and consequently was able to reduce the footfall by 60% while still offering world class care to its patients. As pandemic related restrictions were lifted, Amiri Hospital managed to maintain this reduction in footfall while enhancing patient and staff satisfaction.

Dr Hashem explained that: “Today, we still have over 400 patients per day who receive remote consultancy. This is not only more convenient, but it has also enhanced appointment efficiency by 120% as we have been able to manage scheduling and staff utilisation in a far more effective manner.”

The hospital’s IT team is looking to continue to use Aruba’s solutions in further innovative projects. It is currently assessing Aruba’s Meridian mobile engagement platform to facilitate wayfinding and location-based services around the hospital to enhance patient experience while also preventing overcrowding in corridors and other common areas. It is also testing an asset management system based on Aruba Asset Tags, to enable better inventory management and prevent equipment like oxygen tanks and wheelchairs from going missing.

“Because it works silently in the background, the network isn’t something staff and patients think about unless something goes wrong. The platform has given us the confidence to deliver innovation, at scale and at an accelerated pace,” said Dr Hashem. “With the wellbeing of our patients ultimately dependent on our network and digital services, this translates to better care and outcomes.”

Kindred Healthcare, LLC and Mercy announced the completion of Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith, a 50-bed facility that will provide care for adults recovering from stroke, neurological conditions and more.

Leaders from Mercy, Kindred, the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education in Fort Smith, as well as U.S. Sen. John Boozman, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill and others, were on hand to dedicate the new hospital, which has been under construction at 6700 Chad Colley Blvd. in Fort Smith for about 14 months. The new 62,570-square-foot facility is a joint venture between Mercy Fort Smith and Kindred Healthcare that sits on four acres of land donated by the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE).

The 50-bed hospital will provide care for adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, neurological disease, injury to the brain or spinal cord and other debilitating illnesses or injuries. The first patients are expected to be seen June 1.

“Mercy is so very blessed to partner with Kindred Healthcare and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education,” said Juli Stec, vice president of operations at Mercy Fort Smith. “These strategic partnerships provide access to quality, compassionate cost-effective rehabilitative care, while also supporting the educational advancement of future health care providers.”

Around 140 co-workers will be employed at the new hospital. The facility has a hard construction cost of about $28.5 million. Kindred Healthcare will manage day-to-day operations of the hospital, which is the fifth joint venture partnership between Kindred and Mercy.

The hospital will feature all private rooms; a secured brain injury unit with private dining and therapy gym; large interdisciplinary gyms; transitional living apartment, designed to simulate a residential apartment; therapeutic courtyard with golf, pickle ball and corn hole; specially designed rooms to treat dialysis patients; and specialty programs dedicated to neuro, stroke, brain injury and amputation.

The rehabilitation hospital will serve as a teaching site for students in ACHE’s School of Occupational Therapy and School of Physical Therapy. Kyle D. Parker, JD, CEO of ACHE, said the rehabilitation hospital is a “perfect addition to the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) campus at Heritage.”

“This facility will support ACHE’s mission to improve the lives of others as a valuable health care resource for our community,” he said. “The hospital will be ready just in time for our first class of physical therapy students to begin June 1, 2021, followed by our first class of occupational therapy students in January 2022. We look forward to the exceptional training our students will receive at this outstanding rehabilitation facility located right on our campus.”

Stec continued by connecting Mercy’s origins almost 200 years ago with its ongoing efforts to provide quality care to its patients.

“In 1827, a woman in Dublin, Ireland named Catherine McAuley recognized the needs of people who were sick, economically poor and uneducated and determined that she and women like her could make a difference and so, the Ministry of Mercy began,” Stec said. “The power of this one woman changed the world by giving hope to others. As we continue her legacy, we celebrate the opening of this new hospital that will be a beacon of hope to individuals within our community, our region and our state.”

“As with Kindred’s other quality-focused partnerships with Mercy, this new hospital will be dedicated to passionately advocating for, and providing hope, healing and recovery to, patients in its care,” said Russ Bailey, President, Kindred Rehabilitation. “Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith will provide increased access to rehabilitation services to the surrounding community of Fort Smith and help address the growing need for these services throughout the state of Arkansas.”

About Kindred Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, LLC is the nation’s leading specialty hospital company delivering acute health services in its long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, acute rehabilitation units, and behavioral health line of business, all specializing in treating the most medically complex patients. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, and ranked as one of Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Healthcare Companies for nine years, Kindred’s mission is to help our patients reach their highest potential for health and healing with intensive medical and rehabilitative care through a compassionate patient experience.

Intersect ENT®, Inc., a global ear, nose and throat medical technology leader dedicated to transforming patient care, announced it has received CE Mark approval for the company’s PROPEL® Contour (mometasone furoate) sinus implant enabling sales and distribution in the European Union. The Contour CE approval expands the portfolio of PROPEL products available for commercialization inclusive of PROPEL and PROPEL Mini. PROPEL Contour is specifically designed to maintain patency and reduce inflammation, and conform to the sinus ostia (openings) by focusing mechanical support and steroid delivery where it is needed to optimize sinus surgery outcomes. It is the third localized drug delivery implant, completing the PROPEL family of drug-eluting, bioabsorable implants now available to ENT specialists in select EU countries.

PROPEL Contour features an innovative hourglass shape, specifically designed for placement in the frontal sinuses (between the eyebrows) following sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis patients. The implant features a low-profile flexible delivery system to make it easier to access areas of the frontal sinus ostia.

“Having the ability to accommodate the size and variable shape of the frontal sinus openings with the PROPEL Contour sinus implant is a great advantage for ENT specialists who treat patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis,” said Prof. Dr. Jan Gosepath, Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Helios HSK Wiesbaden and Medical Director, Helios Private Clinic Wiesbaden. “Since this bioabsorbable implant is designed to be self-retaining against the tissue lining, the surgically enlarged sinus opening can be maintained and the steroid can be delivered directly to the site where it is needed most to improve post-operative outcomes.”

Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions worldwide, affecting all age groups, with an estimated incidence of nearly 11% in Europe.i Of those in the UK with chronic sinusitis, approximately 15 percent undergo sinus surgery yearly after failing medical treatment.ii Quality of life scores of patients with chronic sinusitis are significantly lower than in other common chronic diseases, such as congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and back pain.iii Chronic sinusitis symptoms may include drainage of excess mucus, nasal blockage or congestion, difficulty breathing, pain and tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, nose and forehead, a reduced sense of smell and taste, and fatigue and irritability.iv

“We are pleased that PROPEL Contour, the latest addition to the PROPEL family of steroid-releasing sinus implants, is now available in select EU countries to treat patients undergoing sinus surgeries, which represent the majority of procedures for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis,” said Thomas A. West, President and Chief Executive Officer of Intersect ENT. “Our goal is to offer sinus physicians the broadest range of products so they can customize treatment for each patient with focused drug delivery and mechanical support where it is needed to optimize sinus surgery outcomes. The introduction of Contour is consistent with our strategic growth initiatives, where we expect to see more significant revenue contributions from PROPEL and our other technology platforms across Europe over the coming years.”

The CE Mark approval was supported by positive data from the PROPEL Contour cohort of the US clinical study – PROGRESS, a prospective, randomized, blinded, multi-center trial of 80 patients designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the implant when placed in the frontal sinus ostia, following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) with traditional instrumentation, balloon dilation, or a combination of both. The study met its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant 65 percent relative reduction in the need for post-operative interventions, such as the need for additional surgical procedures or the need for oral steroid prescription, compared to surgery alone + standard of care. There were no implant related serious adverse events reported in the clinical studies. The most common adverse reactions observed in > 2% of subjects were acute sinusitis, asthma, headache, chronic sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection, fungal sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, nausea, neck pain, sinus headache and streptococcal pharyngitis.

About Intersect ENT

Intersect ENT is a global ear, nose and throat medical technology leader dedicated to transforming patient care. The Company’s steroid releasing implants are designed to provide mechanical spacing and deliver targeted therapy to the site of disease. In addition, Intersect ENT is continuing to expand its portfolio of products based on the Company’s unique localized steroid releasing technology and is committed to broadening patient access to less invasive and more cost-effective care. In October 2020, Intersect ENT acquired Fiagon AG Medical Technologies, a global leader in electromagnetic surgical navigation solutions with an expansive portfolio of ENT product offerings, including the VenSure sinus dilation balloon, which is FDA-approved in the US that complement the Company’s PROPEL® and SINUVA® sinus implants and extend its geographic reach.

 

 

Beckman Coulter, a clinical diagnostics leader, announced the global launch of the DxA 5000 Fit, a workflow-automation solution designed to fit into medium-sized labs that run fewer than 5,000 tests a day.

Good health is a necessity. As with every other necessity of life, you do everything possible to ensure good health. One part of keeping healthy is seeing a doctor on a regular basis. As important as that is, only a few people make sure to consult doctors regularly, and others simply decide whether or not to see a doctor on the basis of their situation. For example, they won’t go to a doctor if things seem alright or the symptoms of particular diseases are not causing any serious trouble. Well, such a practice is not ideal, in fact, you should constantly be in touch with a doctor so that you can get the best care on time. Do you know which kind of doctor is perfect for regular consultation and medicine? It is a concierge doctor.

Who Is A Concierge Doctor

A concierge doctor is a physician who offers healthcare services to patients for a fixed period of time in return for an upfront fee. The professional generally has a great deal of experience in the medical field and body treatment. The concierge physicians were initially popular among wealthy patients, but in current times, their services have become more affordable.

Top Responsibilities Of A Concierge Doctor

Concierge doctors offer a variety of healthcare services to their patients and clients. However, they are most popular for giving personalized care to patients depending upon their health situation. They see the patients privately so that they can pay close attention to the patients they have in their care. As far as practice is concerned, a concierge doctor is similar to a primary care physician. Some of the services in their practice include:

1. Administration of lab tests
2. Regular or annual physical exams
3. Offering prescriptions
4. Diagnostic screenings
5. Minor urgent care services
6. Patient consultation & counseling

Taken all together, a concierge doctor provides all the basic healthcare services you need in your regular life. In case you can’t go to the clinic, Erin Reese MD suggests, you should look for doctors who offer virtual consultation over FaceTime or any other video chat platform. This method is especially helpful to those who are not in the position to go anywhere. The only kind of healthcare services that concierge doctors don’t offer are specialized treatments such as operations, implants, or surgeries. For that, you will need to see a specialist.

The Benefits Of Choosing A Concierge Doctor For Treatment

If we talk about the training and licensing of concierge doctors, the process to obtain one is the same as a doctor you would find through an insurance network. There are many benefits of seeing a concierge doctor such as:

• Immediate care
• Personalized care
• Unlimited primary care services
• Better understanding due to long-time consultation

A concierge doctor provides you with healthcare services that promise you good health. The process of getting the treatment is easy and quick in lack of a lot of paperwork. We hope the information given above makes your understanding of concierge doctors clearer.

Tenet Health Central Coast is proud to announce a unique, new relationship with the University of California, San Francisco and UCSF Health to provide access to a nationally-recognized network of neurological and spine care services here on the Central Coast. Combining UCSF’s expertise with advanced technology – that includes real-time consultations from neurosurgeons and experts during surgery – has created a new level of care for Central Coast communities.

This neurosurgical affiliation with UCSF Health further elevates Tenet Health Central Coast’s ability to provide state-of-the-art triage and care to any patient in San Luis Obispo County with acute or non-emergent neurological disorders involving the brain, spine or peripheral nerves in a seamlessly integrated fashion, any time of day.

Neurosurgeons at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center now have around-the-clock access to UCSF Health neurosurgical providers to discuss any neurosurgical patient at Sierra Vista who could benefit from more complex care at UCSF. A continuum of care between the two organizations ensures that patients remain connected to their surgeons and specialists regardless of which facility they require. Sierra Vista and UCSF Health physicians will work hand-in-hand to enhance the patient experience via immediate expertise for emergent, urgent, semi-elective neurosurgery consultations, and transfers.

Two key aspects make this relationship unique to the region:

• Remote and direct access to UCSF Health physicians that allows for real-time consultations from neurosurgeons and experts even during surgery;
• A continuum of care between the two organizations for a patient clinical pathway that keeps them connected to their surgeons and specialists regardless of which facility they

“Our neuro services at Sierra Vista also include our advanced stroke care program with our local interventional neurology team that responds to emergencies 24/7/365. By adding direct access to UCSF physicians from the Department of Neurological Surgery, known as one of the best in the country, we are bringing top notch care and expertise to our community,” said Phillip Kissel, M.D., Director of Neurosciences at Sierra Vista and Clinical Professor for the UCSF Department of Neurosurgery. “This relationship is more than expanding access to expertise at UCSF; we are looking to introduce new programs and services locally in direct support of our community and its needs. I believe this affiliation will have a tremendous, positive impact on our Central Coast community.”

“The UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery is proud to work with Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center to provide comprehensive, leading-edge treatment for complex neurosurgical cases, including pediatrics, in the central California community,” said Mitchel Berger, MD, Professor, UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery and Director, Brain Tumor Center.

“We want to make sure our communities know we have a robust, high-quality neuro program right here in their backyard through our affiliation with UCSF Health. If patients can avoid transfers or traveling for surgery, we believe the chances are better for their recovery,” said Mark Lisa, CEO of Tenet Health Central Coast. “This is an excellent fit, and we are thrilled to collaborate with UCSF for national excellence at a community level.”

Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital, part of the UK’s largest healthcare charity, is the first independent hospital in Scotland to offer prostate cancer patients radiotherapy treatment withSpaceOAR® hydrogel, which reduces the risk of side-effects such as pain, incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Prostate cancer can affect 1 in 10 men in Scotland and is the most common cancer amongst men in Scotland (Prostate Scotland).While surgery to remove the gland is one option, typical treatment plans include a high dose of radiotherapy that aims to effectively kill cancer cells so they cannot spread any further.

This involves blasting the prostate with powerful X-ray beams that destroy cancer tumour cells. Due to the prostate being close to other organs and tissues, such as the rectum, there is a risk of long-term damage and side effects such as rectal pain, bowel and urinary leakage or incontinence and sometimes erectile dysfunction.

SpaceOAR®, a water-based hydrogel is inserted into the cavity between the prostate and rectum, creating about 1cm of space. This allows the prostate cancer specialist to deliver radiation to the prostate and reduce exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, with positive patient outcomes globally and at median 3 years, SpaceOAR® Hydrogel reduced declines in bowel quality of life by 70%.

Patients in Scotland can now have SpaceOAR® Hydrogel inserted at Nuffield Health Glasgow and then return to their local radiotherapy centre for subsequent treatment where teams will incorporate SpaceOAR®when planning/delivering the radiotherapy treatment.

Julie Campbell, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital says: “We are proud to be the first independent hospital to offer SpaceOAR® Hydrogel to prostate cancer patients in Scotland, as part of a wider radiotherapy treatment plan. Over 100,000 SpaceOAR® Hydrogel treatments have been provided worldwide, with positive good outcomes for patients with reduced side-effects, including bowel, urinary and sexual problems.Making this innovative radiotherapy treatment technique available in Scotland supports Nuffield Health’s purpose to build a healthier nation.”

Dr Abdulla Alhasso, Clinical Oncologist at Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital says:“SpaceOAR® Hydrogel is a major step forward to improve on the quality of radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients. It can help to significantly reduce the toxicities associated with prostate radiotherapy and thus improves on the therapeutic ratio and quality of life. This significantly positive impact together with the simplicity of the insertion procedure make it a very attractive strategy for both prostate cancer patients as well as for the treating physicians to consider. SpaceOAR® Vue Hydrogel is another step forward and a higher level of technology that adds additional value to this technique as it is designed to improve on the accuracy of imaging during planning and subsequent treatment.”

About Nuffield Health
Nuffield Health is the UK’s largest healthcare charity. For the last 60 years, Nuffield Health’s experts have been working together to make the nation fitter, healthier, happier and stronger, all for the public benefit. As an organisation with no shareholders, income is invested back into the vision to build a healthier nation.

Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital, located in the heart of the West End of Glasgow is one of Scotland’s leading private hospitals. We recently embarked on phase three of our multi-million-pound refurbishment, adding state of the art equipment like our MAKO robotic arm for orthopaedic surgery and a new ambulatory theatre. We have a special focus in the areas of orthopaedics, spinal surgery, men’s health, ophthalmology, weight loss surgery and cosmetic treatment.

The Charity does this through its day-to-day services across 31 award-winning hospitals, 113 fitness and wellbeing clubs, healthcare clinics, and over 200 workplace wellbeing services, and through flagship programmes to support communities by widening access. Through these flagship programmes,we aim to help to improvepeople’s livespeople who normally would not have access to Nuffield Health’s services.

One of these flagship programmes is developing the UK’s first specialistrehabilitation programme to support patients in their recovery after they have received medical treatment for COVID-19.The programme, which blends together physical therapy and mental health support, works withlocal NHS trusts and referrers is now running at 17 of our fitness and wellbeing centres across the UK, ahead of a larger rollout to over 40 sites by May.

Our patients work with a rehabilitation specialist for personalised advice and on a recovery plan, consisting of a six-week virtual programme of at home exercises, before moving to one of our fitness and wellbeing centres. We will share the outcomes with the NHS and other healthcare providers.

Nuffield Health delivers a sector-leading 94% of hospitals rated as Good or Outstanding by national regulators. With a breadth of expertise, Nuffield Health provides connected care spanning from personal training and health MOTs to supporting people on their fitness journeys, helping patients recover with physiotherapy or emotional wellbeing counselling, or providing hospital treatments for illness and serious conditions like arthritis or cancer.