Magellan Health, Inc. launched Magellan Health Studio to accelerate the design, development and delivery of next generation products complemented by integrated digital solutions for health plans, healthcare systems, providers and ultimately patients.

Magellan Health Studio, located in Frisco, Texas, will focus on solving healthcare’s most vexing issues through a human-centered design approach that will bring innovation to life. Using a proprietary innovation engine, Magellan Health Studio will test new care delivery models and create products that address the behavioral health and physical needs of patients. This whole person approach will be powered by deep clinical and digital expertise, advanced analytics, top talent with Fortune 100 healthcare experience, and partnerships with leading innovators who share Magellan Health Studio’s commitment to accelerate the digital capabilities required to address complex healthcare challenges.

As the nation and the industry continue to explore the intersection of behavioral and physical health, there is an increasing need for whole person solutions that lead with behavioral health. Magellan Health will leverage its expertise and skills from both its behavioral and specialty health and pharmacy business segments. This collaborative and integrated approach will improve quality and value, address the total patient experience across the continuum of care, and as a result, reduce the total cost of care.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it abundantly clear that the behavioral health of individuals remains a critical societal need, presenting challenges for health plans, employers and government payors – a challenge and opportunity Magellan is well positioned to address,” said Ken Fasola, chief executive officer, Magellan Health. “Overall medical costs increase two to three times when patients receive a behavioral health diagnosis. We must address the behavioral, physical and pharmacy needs of people through an integrated approach that supports the patient through their health journey. Magellan Health Studio is our commitment to deliver innovative solutions that will transform the healthcare experience for patients and bring even greater value to our customers.”

About Magellan Health:
Magellan Health, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is a leader in managing the fastest growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare. Magellan supports innovative ways of accessing better health through technology, while remaining focused on the critical personal relationships that are necessary to achieve a healthy, vibrant life. Magellan’s customers include health plans and other managed care organizations, employers, labor unions, various military and governmental agencies and third-party administrators.

OptimizeRx Corp., a leading provider of digital health solutions for life science companies, payers, providers and patients, has completed the latest expansion of its digital health communication network in collaboration with Change Healthcare (Nasdaq: CHNG).

Change Healthcare’s Intelligent Healthcare Network™ is the broadest and deepest in the industry, driving 14 billion transactions each year, delivering $150 billion in payments, and providing unparalleled insights for the company’s data solutions business. The platform enables end-to-end workflows––from eligibility through payments––and supports a broad set of data and analytics offerings that create value for Change Healthcare customers.

The integration of the two companies’ digital health platforms strengthens their mutual efforts to improve transparency and patient experience in healthcare. The connected platforms enable certain providers in the Change Healthcare network to digitally receive important information from the life sciences industry via OptimizeRx.

These providers have gained real-time access to critical drug savings, treatment information, refill reminders, sponsored patient engagement programs and more, directly within their daily electronic workflow and while consulting with their patients. Access to these valuable resources at the point-of-care helps to support more productive patient-provider communication and clinical decisions, and ultimately a better experience for the patient.

“Enabling providers to deliver patient-centered care is at the core of what we do,” said Ian Ellis, vice president and general manager of clinical exchange for Change Healthcare. “Our collaboration with OptimizeRx demonstrates our commitment to helping providers improve the patient experience through enhanced capabilities for our e-prescribing solution.”

Miriam Paramore, president of OptimizeRx, commented: “Transparency in healthcare, supported by the right digital communication tools, is key to creating better health outcomes. Our collaboration with Change Healthcare expands our ability to reach providers within their daily digital workflow. We anticipate our connection will have a significant positive impact on the health of millions of patients nationwide.”

About OptimizeRx
OptimizeRx Corporation is a digital health company that facilitates communication at point-of-care among all stakeholders in healthcare. Primarily focused on life science and payer clients, its suite of digital and mobile SaaS-based solutions enables affordability, patient adherence and care management. OptimizeRx’s network reaches more than 60% of U.S. ambulatory providers, delivering therapeutic support on specialty medications and patient financial assistance directly within a provider’s workflow through leading electronic health platforms. OptimizeRx’s fully integrated platform supports the real-time exchange of information, improving provider knowledge and patient engagement, and ultimately leading to healthier outcomes.

Managed service provider Althea has installed the UK’s first Alphenix Sky + system by Canon Medical Systems within Leicester General Hospital’s new interventional suite.

The clinical team from Leicester General along with Althea’s Technology team undertook an official procurement exercise last year to look through all the Interventional systems on the market.

The Alphenix Sky + Canon Medical system was shortlisted due to its advanced technology features, including the new Alphenix engine, with a new full 16 BIT imaging chain and an integrated 3D workstation for improved workflow and user experience.

The specification of the equipment was very high, including software modules like AlphaCT. Due to the specialised Sky + C-Arm this system was designed for high speed, low dose CBCT imaging.

Going forward it will be ideal for developing Leicester General as a specialised site for prostate embolisation. The special C-Arm allows for complete rotation of the patient from either the right or left side of the table – one of the first systems of its kind to do so.

The installation and turnkey works to refresh the room started in August 2019. The works were more complicated than usual as the technical cabinets of the equipment were being moved to a separate room.

The equipment also comes with a Dose Tracking system that offers clinicians a live overview of peak skin dose during the examination, ensuring patients always receive the lowest dose possible to the area of interest. SPOT Fluoro is another advanced dose saving technique used – the advanced collimator moves asymmetrically, allowing the system to move around the patient, improving patient comfort and lowering patient dose.

In the last couple of weeks, the system has been used on a prostate embolisation with great success.

Sarita Modi, Superintendent of Interventional suite at Leicester General said, “We are really excited here at Leicester to be home of the first Alphenix Sky + Canon Medical system in the UK. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is home to a number of Canon Medical imaging systems and their reliability and service is fantastic. Our choice for this particular system is firstly for ease of use and standardisation across the Trust and secondly for the versatility of the newly designed double c-arm enabling us to achieve a greater range of movement. In our first week of applications training, the Radiographic team were able to successfully carry out a prostate embolisation using the cone beam CT, a service that we will be establishing in the coming months. Our team have also been trained to perform biopsies using 3D needle guidance. Having had an excellent applications period, the Radiographic team are confident with using the system and passing their embedded knowledge onto other users. As a reference site, we look forward to showcasing the Alphenix Sky + and welcoming potentially buyers.”

Claire Maxim, Clinical Lead Supertindent Radiographer added: “The installation of the Alphenix Sky + system is an exciting addition to the LGH site and to Interventional Radiology services within University Hospitals of Leicester Imaging . Already, the capabilities of the system and the training and support given by Cannon has enabled us to offer additional complex procedures at the LGH site.  This in turn ensures that patients are receiving dedicated and specialist care and support for their procedures on one site.  The capabilities of this machine now allow us future opportunities to offer specialist interventional procedures to our patients and referrers. The Interventional Radiology team have embraced the training and are enjoying uses the new system and doing a great job of ensuring the capabilities of the equipment are fully utilised. I would like to thank all involved with the installation and training and showing the true meaning of great teamwork.”

Althea delivers managed services and multi-vendor maintenance services to public and private hospitals in the UK and Ireland, designed to improve Radiology, Cardiology, Endoscopy and Biomed equipment availability whilst minimising costs under one service contract.

Being vendor-independent means Althea’s customers can choose equipment and clinical consumables from any manufacturer as well as select the most-appropriate blend of maintenance providers including their ISO13485-certificated, in-house engineering workforce.

David Rolfe, UK&I Chief Executive Officer at Althea, said: “Althea, the Estates team and Canon all worked together professionally to find the best solution for the clinical team and ensure this project could be delivered before the end of 2019. Significant refurbishment of the clinical areas was completed at the same time to improve service delivery. It is a huge achievement, and I am delighted that so many patients will be able to benefit from the new equipment during 2020 and beyond.”

Overwatch Technologies has introduced a new real-time seizure monitoring technology, as part of its efforts to enhance the quality of life for people living with epilepsy.

The company has designed the new advanced solution to deliver real-time seizure monitoring, alerts, and reports for epilepsy patients.

Overwatch Technologies patent advocacy director Stephanie Fokas said: “One of the biggest fears in our epilepsy community is not knowing when someone will have a seizure and making sure that they’re safe.”
The new seizure detection and alerting application has been developed using machine-learning algorithms

Developed using machine-learning algorithms, the new seizure detection and alerting application is said to work on an Apple Watch.

Upon detection of abnormal movement that indicates seizure, the Overwatch application delivers an alert through text or telephone call along with location information to the user’s designated caregivers and contacts.

The information provided by the new technology will help detect potential patterns or triggers, which may result in seizures in the future.

Overwatch CEO Terry Fokas said: “In addition to its monitoring and alerting functionality, the Overwatch application stores seizure data in an online diary and sends real-time reports, which can be shared with caregivers and doctors.

“The seizure detection application is not a substitute for medical treatment, but a complementary technology that provides users, caregivers and doctors with a comprehensive analysis of the intensity, frequency and duration of seizure events.”

Overwatch Technologies is engaged in the development and commercialisation of products and services for the neurology market.

The company’s research and development teams work with scientists, doctors, clinicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and first responders to better design products and services.

Earlier this month, Royal Philips collaborated with BioIntelliSense to integrate the latter’s BioSticker device into its remote patient monitoring (RPM) offering to monitor at-risk patients from the hospital into the home.