Wenzel Spine, Inc., a medical technology company focused on providing minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of spinal disorders, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Statera Spine, a pre-operative diagnostics and quantitative data software solution that improves treatment decisions for spine patients.

Statera Spine is a software enabled spine imaging analytics company dedicated to providing easy-to-use solutions that facilitate improved care for patients suffering from chronic and acute spine issues. Standard pre-operative imaging does not allow for consideration of overall spine biomechanics, including sagittal alignment. The ProfileESP (Expanded Spine Parameters Report), VMA (Vertebral Motion Analysis) technology and integrated Surgical Planning Solution will enhance Wenzel’s current spine fusion-related product portfolio by providing vital diagnostic and decision-making tools that are missing from today’s technology.

“Solutions in diagnostics and surgical planning tools play a critical role in the advancement of Wenzel Spine’s total solution offering in minimally invasive surgery,” said Chad Neely, CEO of Wenzel Spine. “We are very excited to have the experience, expertise and dedication of the Statera Spine team as part of Wenzel Spine. The addition of these unique diagnostic and planning solutions complement our existing minimally invasive implant technology and allow us to bring comprehensive solutions to spine surgeons and their patients. By combining diagnostics with our MIS implant portfolio, we can continue to advance minimally invasive spine surgery, while reducing overall cost.”

The new Wenzel Spine Diagnostics service offering will allow physicians to utilize full spine alignment data, plus motion (angulation and translation) and disc height data at each spine level to aid in the decision-making process alongside their patients. The diagnostic service results in standardized, comprehensive spinal motion and alignment data is conveniently packaged in a graphical, easy-to-read report. Profile ESP and VMA are commercially available in the US. The Surgical Planning Solution is planned to be launched and commercially available in the US in early 2021.

About Wenzel Spine, Inc.

Wenzel Spine, Inc. is a medical technology company focused on providing minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of spinal disorders. Headquartered in Austin, TX, Wenzel Spine is focused on delivering surgical solutions that improve the overall quality of spine care by simplifying procedures and reducing recovery time. Wenzel Spine seeks to improve patient quality of life by designing and producing devices of the highest quality to support our surgeon clients in the care and treatment of their patients.

Change Healthcare announced it has acquired PROMETHEUS Analytics from Altarum. PROMETHEUS Analytics is a leading reimbursement approach based on medical episodes of care, used by payer-provider collaborations nationwide, uniquely providing a fair and realistic blueprint for value-based payments. It includes more than 90 episode of care definitions outlining the entire range of treatment that include all covered services across providers that would typically treat a patient for a single procedure, illness or condition.

This transaction supports Change Healthcare’s commitment to focus on and invest in core aspects of the business to fuel long-term growth, advance innovation and accelerate the industry’s transition to value-based care.

Change Healthcare has a successful history of working with PROMETHEUS Analytics and was one of the first certified partners of the PROMETHEUS Analytics model supporting some of the nation’s largest health plans with their value-based payment programs.

Healthcare organizations use PROMETHEUS Analytics to optimize their provider networks under value-based care reimbursement models. They create unique analytic insights that help improve provider performance and provide consumers more value from their health care experience. PROMETHEUS Analytics is integrated into Change Healthcare’s HealthQX® value-based care platform that enables health plans to optimize payment models, evaluate provider performance, identify care variations, and improve network efficiency.

“By owning and continuing to develop the industry standard, PROMETHEUS Analytics, Change Healthcare will support all PROMETHEUS users across the industry as they explore innovative ways to reduce cost, increase quality and improve outcomes,” said Robert Capobianco, vice president and general manager, Value-Based Payments at Change Healthcare. “We’re excited about expanding the collaboration around PROMETHEUS Analytics industry-wide to accelerate value-based care in commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets.”

About Change Healthcare

Change Healthcare is a leading independent healthcare technology company, focused on insights, innovation, and accelerating the transformation of the U.S. healthcare system through the power of the Change Healthcare Platform. We provide data and analytics-driven solutions to improve clinical, financial, administrative, and patient engagement outcomes in the U.S. healthcare system.

Being fit and healthy, learning how to cook proper meals, and improving your knowledge on nutrition are all worthy goals to pursue. The problem is that there is always so much misinformation out there that it can be hard to tell what is right and what is wrong.

Nutrition has a lot of information floating around which makes it susceptible to this issue. One source may make a claim while another refutes it, and so on and so forth. When it comes to learning about nutrition, you want credible sources, but not just that, you want up-to-date information too. Here are ways you can find those nutrition facts that are trustworthy.

Medical Journals

Medical journals provide a collection of information from reputable sources, like Phd-educated doctors, and compile the data for easily searchable and readable material. These can range from chemistry papers to short articles on dietary needs. Medical journals represent an excellent source of information for various scientific fields. Nutrition is also a well-studied field which is featured in many medical journals and has some of the best quality information available. The American Journal of Medicine, European Heart Journal, Canadian Medical Association Journal and the Medical Journal of Australia are amongst numerous high-quality journals that have a plethora of information on nutrition and health. Medical journals are a good place to find up-to-date information because they are well maintained and edited based on relevant papers and documents. They maintain rigid standards to assure that readers and researchers are able to find quality data on topics without having to sift through misleading topics and articles.

Dietician/Nutritionists

What better way to find information than going directly to the source. Dieticians and nutritionists are a good primary source because they have extensive formal education in the field of nutrition and dieting. If you visit the site that you want to learn more nutrition info about, you can always check for guest posts from certified nutritionists or cross-reference data. There are a lot of dieticians and nutritionists that are regulars on websites and blogs and they provide good information on products, meal plans, and other tips that can really help you out. While it is important to keep an eye out for the trustworthiness of information on the internet, dieticians and nutritionists are easy to find to make sense of everything you read or see.

Peer-Reviewed Papers

In a similar sense to medical journals, peer-reviewed papers are another good primary source of information on dietary and nutrition. Medical journals compile a wide array of this information but peer-reviewed papers are denser and require much more thorough examination to make sense of. The importance of peer-review for academic standards is that it equates to a paper that has been checked for accurate information and passes the quality check. Peer-reviewed papers are usually in PDF format online and many are free, available for easy access or viewing through college databases and libraries.

Peer-reviewed papers may be harder to understand than a medical journal that helps highlight or extract pertinent information, but they still offer information on nutrition that is accurate. It is useful to note that many papers have been published from years ago so keep an eye out for any that are seemingly out of date, but many have been edited or amended to include more relevant data.

Government Organizations

Not too many people realize how valuable their taxpayer dollars are for finding information through government websites and databases. For nutrition information, there are numerous government organizations that have collected information sources like the ones listed above to make it easier to find what you are looking for. In the U.S., the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) both have extensive records available online for browsing. Most countries have their domestic government agency that handles matters of nutrition and food information that are widely available for public use and are free of charge. These organizations have everything from information on specific foods, dietary needs, food growing, food handling practices, and issues of public policy regarding food and agriculture.

In today’s well-connected age of the internet, there is never a shortage of information available on just about any subject you can imagine. The problem is that not all of this information is useful or accurate. Finding up-to-date, relevant, and accurate information for a topic like nutrition can be difficult, but the sources listed above can provide you with an expectation of integrity for research on food, drug, and health data.

We live within what can only be called a disposable society. Since the dawn of mankind, humans have generated significant amounts of waste. This was not necessarily a problem until the Industrial Revolution. As we began to discover new and more durable materials, we failed to recognise the fact that some of these substances would have extremely adverse impacts upon the environment. This was especially relevant when plastic was invented. Plastic represents one of the most profound threats to the planet and thankfully, businesses are beginning to search for healthier alternatives. One material which shows a great deal of promise is hemp. What advantages does hemp have to offer? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why this plant-based substance could very well begin to replace plastic in the not-so-distant future.

Hemp is Recyclable

Plastic is dangerous due to the fact that is requires more than 1,000 years to break down into its components. However, hemp will decompose in between three to six months. This is beneficial for two reasons. First, it will not have a lasting impact upon the environment. Secondly, hemp can be used as an effective composting material. In other words, it will help to grow other plants.

A Climate-Friendly Substance

Biodegradable hemp plastic is also surprisingly strong. While many believe that the biodegradable aspects of this plant might equate to physical weakness, it is actually up to 2.5 times more durable than standard plastic. This is critical, as hemp can therefore be used in a wider range of applications than would be possible with plastic. From extra-strong shipping containers to everyday water bottles, the universal nature of hemp cannot be denied.

A Financial Paradigm Shift

It is often frustrating to think about how many billions of pounds oil and petrochemical companies have reaped over the years; particularly when we consider that this was at the expense of the environment. Natural hemp can be produced on a local scale as opposed to remaining the property of big businesses alone. This will help to place money back into the pockets of individual growers. Communities and towns can therefore enjoy a sustainable source of income without placing any additional strain upon the environment.

Additional Intrinsic Qualities

Hemp is indeed a miracle material due to its natural qualities. For example, it is highly resistant to mould and bacteria. Hemp is an effective fireproofing material and it is not toxic. These are some of the reasons why we could see the plant being used in a variety of industries including:

• Roofing
• Insulation
• Flooring
• Shipping

We should also mention that we are only now beginning to appreciate the many advantages that this natural substance has to offer. This is rather ironic, as ancient civilisations were using hemp for centuries. It is therefore time to appreciate that some modern techniques may be more risky than they are worth. In terms of the future, hemp will provide us with a green edge.

Tenet Health Central Coast is announcing this week a new option for patients unsure of whether to come to the emergency room: Tele-ER. This option allows any one to talk to a board-certified Emergency Room physician24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need is a smart phone, tablet or computer.

“This is a significant achievement in providing patient-first care in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tenet Health Central Coast, Chief Executive Officer Mark Lisa. “Tele-ER provides another solution for families and front-line healthcare workers, in addition to our hospitals’ separate COVID SAFE and COVID CARE zones. This is one more way we’re working to keep hospitals operating as efficiently as possible in a rapidly changing environment.

”Patients who may be uncertain whether to seek treatment–either due to suspected COVID-19 or other emergent medical conditions–no longer have to make the decision alone thanks to Tele-ER.

“This helps address a tremendous challenge during these times: across the country, we have seen patients delay care due to concerns about going to hospitals and, unfortunately, that has life-altering consequences,” said Brad Knox, MD, Director of Emergency Services at Tenet Health Central Coast’s Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, San Luis Obispo County’s only designated Trauma Center.

Cinnamon Redd, MD, the Director of Emergency Services at Twin Cities Community Hospital, which is San Luis Obispo County’s busiest Emergency Department, adds, “the great advantage of Tele-ER is that it provides immediate access for patients and, many times,we will have already seen them virtually if they need to come in-person to the Emergency Department.”Patients can easily access Tele-ERby calling (805) 546-7990at any hour of the day or night.They will connect with a Tenet Health Central Coast Tele-ER staff member to register and get started with a secure, private and individualized ER evaluation. All the patient needs is an internet-connected smartphone, tablet or computer, with a functioning camera.

Due to the need for healthcare options in the face of COVID-19, Medicare now covers Tele-ER visits. The virtual visit cost is typically $20 for Medicare patients, which does not include any follow-up in-person care needed. Tele-ER may be eligible for reimbursement from other insurance providers.

If a patient requires in-person care, diagnostic procedures or lab tests, they will be asked to come into the hospital.Tele-ERis an evaluation tool for patients seeking emergent care and is not a substitute for calling 9-1-1:
if a person’s condition worsens quickly or requires immediate attention, they will be directed to hang up and call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

“Peace of mind is an important part of a sound body, and providing our Tele-ER option is yet another way Tenet Health Central Coast helps reinforce the community’s confidence in accessing safe and high-quality care in our hospitals and via virtual visits, whichever is most appropriate,”said Lisa.

About Tenet Health Central Coast
Tenet Health Central Coast is an integrated healthcare system consisting of two acute care hospitals and several affiliated entities, including primary and specialty care, urgent care, outpatient imaging and laboratories across the Central Coast. The hospitals are Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, the county’s only designated trauma center, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, Calif. Among their numerous recognitions for quality and compassion, both are internationally recognized Baby-Friendly birth facilities and both have earned the “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Tenet Health Central Coast serves many diverse communities throughout the Central Coast, enabling all that come through its doors have access to quality, coordinated care and advanced specialty services at convenient locations.