plus 4, MedSolutions Suggests Use of Technology to Expand Access to Expertise ... - Yahoo Finance

MedSolutions Suggests Use of Technology to Expand Access to Expertise ... - Yahoo Finance
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MedSolutions Suggests Use of Technology to Expand Access to Expertise ... - Yahoo Finance

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 11:17 AM PST

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Use of technology that expands access to the most qualified radiologist will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, said MedSolutions, a leading provider of medical cost management services.

MedSolutions is speaking out in the wake of controversy surrounding recent recommendations from the U.S. Preventative Task Force, which suggested mammography screenings be limited for women under 50.(1) The guidelines ignited significant debate in the medical community, prompting new recommendations this week from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) that call for screening to begin at age 40 or earlier in high-risk women.(2)

"With so many groups weighing in on this issue, it is important to keep in mind the primary goal, which is to find the most effective way to identify and treat breast cancer earlier," said Curt Thorne, CEO of MedSolutions. "In addition to ensuring adequate screening, we can more swiftly and accurately detect cancer in women of all ages by leveraging technology to expand access to expertise that yields increased diagnostic accuracy. Such expanded access can also help to eliminate geographic and socio-economic barriers to care."

Studies show socio-economic status and race are major factors in breast cancer survival. Women in low socio-economic areas, including non-metropolitan areas, had the lowest percentage of early-stage cancer and the highest percentage of advanced stages at the time of diagnosis.(3)

MedSolutions speaks from experience. The company offers a diagnostic accuracy solution that uses advanced Clinical Logic™ and proprietary workflow technology to identify and route scans to a certified expert radiologist with experience in a particular specialty. Premerus(SM) Diagnostic Accuracy has shown that this approach significantly improves the error rate of misdiagnosis, thus curbing unnecessary treatments and reducing downstream costs. This use of certified expert radiology specialists differs from current practice where, frequently, generalists perform the initial reading and diagnosis. In simple terms, radiology specialists focus on specific anatomic or organ systems, following the established model of specialized medicine, where one would seek a cardiologist or neurologist for treatment related to the heart or brain, respectively.

"There is considerable evidence that diagnostic accuracy in mammography can be significantly improved by using technology to connect patients with experienced radiology subspecialists," said C. Alan Henry, M.D., a former breast surgeon and chief medical officer for Premerus at MedSolutions. "As responsible members of the healthcare system, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to leverage known best practices in medicine. That means moving away from the current practice of sending scans to the first available radiologist and leveraging technology to ensure that every test is read by an expert 100 percent of the time."

Academic and peer-reviewed research shows that diagnostic experts have more accurate cancer detection rates and provide earlier identification. A mammography study published in Radiology found that radiology specialists have a 30 percent lower recall rate than general radiologists, meaning specialists need significantly fewer additional tests to confirm their screening mammography findings.(4) In addition, these specialists had a 75 percent greater cancer detection rate than that of general radiologists, as well as finding 75 percent more stage 0-1 cancers with screening mammograms. A follow up study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute confirmed this finding noting that it was the degree of specialization and the volume of experience that increased diagnostic accuracy rates. Physicians who interpreted 2,500 to 4,000 mammograms per year consistently had lower false positive rates.(5)

The Premerus solution is built on this model, leveraging the expertise of radiologists who are fellowship trained and board certified with documented experience in a particular specialty. In addition to meeting American Board of Radiology certification for interpretation in a subspecialty area, they must also pass rigorous testing and an ongoing quality assurance program.

While there is ample evidence to support the merits of subspecialization in radiology, access to a qualified expert continues to be an obstacle for many women. According to the ACR, even radiologists who subspecialize spend only 40 to 60 percent of their time working in that specialty. Additionally, it has been estimated that only about 30 percent of mammograms are interpreted by breast imaging specialists.(6) Using logic and technology to connect patients with certified diagnostic experts not only expands access for patients but also allows radiology subspecialists to spend more time working within their area of expertise.

"More accurate diagnoses obviously reduce the need for, as well as the avoidable risks and costs of, unnecessary follow-up testing and biopsies for many women who would otherwise have false positive screening mammography results," said Norman Scarborough, M.D., a diagnostic radiologist who serves as a vice president and senior medical director with MedSolutions. "But more importantly, greater accuracy and earlier detection improves survival rates and incurs lower overall treatment costs for those diagnosed with cancer."

In an independent analysis, Premerus was shown to yield significant reductions in healthcare costs. A cost analysis validated by the actuarial firm Thomson Reuters indicated that Premerus could save healthcare payors $4.45 per member per month by reducing downstream costs associated with misdiagnosis. This translates to savings of approximately $16 million per year for an average-sized health plan.

"Our methodology has been independently validated to definitively show that using Certified Premerus Expert diagnostic radiology specialists can yield billions of dollars in annual savings for the health care system," stated Thorne. "Of even greater importance is the fact that diagnostic accuracy assures patients more rapidly receive the appropriate care they need."

About MedSolutions

Using independently validated savings methodologies, MedSolutions specializes in intelligent cost management of medical services for commercial, Medicare and Medicaid payors. The company maintains management contracts for more than 25 million individuals nationwide. Using robust data, predictive intelligence technology and clinical expertise, the company's innovative solutions extend beyond radiology management to other areas of medical specialty, including cardiology, oncology, ultrasound, emergency room and Premerus(SM) diagnostic accuracy. MedSolutions has been recognized three consecutive years for its call center operations by the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Award. Visit www.MedSolutions.com.

About Premerus(SM) Diagnostic Accuracy

Premerus(SM), a product of MedSolutions, is the first coordinated solution designed to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy in the interpretation of diagnostic imaging studies by expanding access to the certified specialty expertise of some of the nation's leading diagnostic physicians. Premerus(SM) uses advanced Clinical Logic™ and proprietary technology to match individual cases with diagnostic specialists, efficiently routing the clinical data and images to leading diagnosticians for expeditious review. Premerus(SM) quality is built around the patent-pending Certified Premerus Expert™ process, which certifies diagnostic physicians as experts within their area of anatomic or organ systems specialty in order to dramatically reduce diagnostic error and improve both the cost and quality of patient care. For more information visit www.medsolutions.com.

References:

1) Nelson H, Tyne K, Nalk A, et al. Screening for Breast Cancer: An Update for the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, Annals of Internal Medicine 2009:151:10:727-736.

2) Journal of the American College of Radiology, 2010. Volume 7, Issue 1, Pp 18-27.

3) Yu, Xue Qin, Socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer survival: relation to stage at diagnosis, treatment and race. BMC Cancer 2009.

4) Sickles, EA, Wolverton DE, Dee KE. Performance Parameters for Screening and Diagnostic Mammography: Specialist and General Radiologists. Radiology 2002; 224:861-869.

5) Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2005. Physician Predictors of Mammographic Accuracy. Pp 358-367.

6) Rebecca S. Lewis, Jonathan H. Sunshine, and Mythreyi Bhargavan. American Journal of Roentgenology. A Portrait of Breast Imaging Specialists and of the Interpretation of Mammography in the United States:2006;187:W456-W468

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Web Standouts - Asbury Park Press

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 10:55 AM PST

In the Limelight

Howard Stern sidekick, Artie Lange, stabs himself 9 times

The New York Post is reporting that Howard Stern sidekick, Artie Lange, lan...

Jan. 7, 2010, 8:13 am

UT Medical School biomedical engineer Mauro Ferrari elected AAAS Fellow

EUREKALERT

Contact: Robert Cahill
Robert.Cahill@uth.tmc.edu
713-500-3030
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering (nBME) at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, has been elected a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. This prestigious honor is awarded for efforts deemed scientifically or socially distinguished.

Ferrari is the only 2009 fellow from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

"This is a great honor for both Dr. Ferrari and the university," said Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., president of the UT Health Science Center at Houston. "Dr. Ferrari is known worldwide for his efforts to apply nanotechnology to the field of medicine."

Ferrari was elected as an AAAS Fellow for distinguished contributions to biomedical nano and microtechnology, especially in the fields of cancer therapeutics, diagnostics, screening and prevention, according to the AAAS.

"In high school sports, the students play and win, but it is always the school that keeps the trophy. In this case I am like the school, but I want to emphasize that this important recognition was really earned by the great students and young scientists who work in my lab and our new department," Ferrari said.

"Furthermore, this is a recognition for the mode of interdisciplinary, interinstitutional collaborations that has guided everything we do - a victory for the Alliance for NanoHealth, the leaders of the institutions that comprise it, and the vision of our elected leaders who have launched it: Texas Governor Rick Perry, United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and U.S. Congressman John Culberson. Nanomedicine is the ultimate team sport - playing together as a team, we can accomplish extraordinary objectives in health care for all," Ferrari added.

Ferrari is the first chairman of the newly-created Department of NanoMedicine and Biomedical Engineering, which gives students hands-on experience in these emerging fields of medicine.

He has been the editor-in-chief for BioMEMS and Biomedical Nanotechnology since 1997 and has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles. He received a National Young Investigator Award of the National Science Foundation from 1993 to1998, the Wallace H. Coulter Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 1999 and an Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Program. He was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2008.

Ferrari has a master's degree and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a degree in mathematics from the Universita' di Padova in Italy.

Ferrari's laboratory is currently developing a multi-stage drug delivery system to improve therapeutic efficacy; implantable drug release systems designed to provide controlled long-term release of medications; silicon nano chips for early detection and prognosis of disease; and a fracture putty using synthetic biodegradable scaffolds together with specially engineered silicon particles with nano-scale features to treat bone fractures both in civilian clinics and on the battlefield.

Ferrari is the co-founder of two nanomedicine startups. NanoMedical Systems, Inc., of Austin, Texas, is developing nano-channeled drug delivery systems and Leonardo Biosciences, Inc., of Houston is developing nano-based therapeutics. The startups licensed patents through the Office of Technology Management at the UT Health Science Center.

Ferrari serves as a professor of experimental therapeutics at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, adjunct professor of bioengineering at Rice University, adjunct professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, adjunct professor of engineering at the University of Houston and president of the Alliance for NanoHealth, Houston.

This year, 531 AAAS members were named fellows. New fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on Feb. 20 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2010 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Diego. This year's AAAS Fellows were announced in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science on Dec. 18.

The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Currently, members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the steering groups of the Association's 24 sections, or by any three Fellows who are current AAAS members (so long as two of the three sponsors are not affiliated with the nominee's institution), or by the AAAS chief executive officer.

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Ohioans have a choice to make: fit or fat? - Newark Advocate

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 10:12 AM PST

It's time to shape up, Ohio.

The Buckeye State is tied for 10th in obesity among the 50 states.

Ohio has an obesity rate of 28.7 percent, and Licking County has a rate of 30.1 percent, according to the most recent data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rate keeps going up, and it is causing medical professionals to worry what the lasting health consequences will be.

In Licking County, the obesity rate has increased four percentage points in three years.

It's an epidemic Dr. James Bacon at the Mid-Ohio Heart Clinic in Mansfield calls distressing.

"It's a problem that really turns your stomach a bit," Bacon said.

A rise in childhood obesity also has prompted concern.

According to the CDC, health consequences of obesity include coronary heart disease; Type 2 diabetes; endometrial, breast or colon cancer; hypertension; dyslipidemia; stroke; liver or gallbladder disease; sleep apnea or respiratory problems; osteoarthritis; and gynecological problems.

Bacon said there is real concern about what the cost of treating these health problems will be down the line.

"There has got to be some emphasis from government down to the schools on how to try and address this," he said.

The Ohio State University Medical Center runs a program for people wanting to lose weight.

Shirley Kindrick, a team leader with the weight-management program, said in December 2008 that four new people signed up. In December 2009, 30 new people signed up.

The biggest factor Kindrick said contributes to high obesity rates is the fast-paced lifestyle people live.

People are either busy or have stresses in their life that cause them to neglect their health.

"Food is available everywhere, but it's not necessarily the best food for us," she said.

This year, people seem more concerned about the health risks of obesity, particularly diabetes and heart disease.

"I wonder if all the talk about health care reform (contributes)," she said. People think, "Government is not going to do it for me, so I'll have to do it for myself."

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Dieting is ineffective and unsustainable, at least according to one Cincinnati company.

SparkPeople.com is a social networking site focused on creating a healthy lifestyle.

Spokesman Grant Miller defines "diet" as a short-term approach to losing weight focused on deprivation.

"We're not telling you what you can't do," Miller said. "Instead we're here to provide support and motivation, and give 24-7 access to a community of people going through the same thing."

SOCIOECONOMICS

Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the nation, and a Department of Health official there thinks it is because the state's demographics dealt them a better hand.

The Rockies attract a younger, wealthier and more-educated population, said Jillian Jacobellis, director of prevention services with the state's department. Not to mention the outdoor enthusiasts.

Jacobellis said the state excels in two categories, consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity.

The young and the wealthy are more likely to eat better and get more physical activity, she said.

However, there are subpopulations in the state with high obesity rates, including the poor and minority areas.

CDC numbers show that nationwide blacks had a 51 percent higher prevalence of obesity and Hispanics had a 21 percent higher prevalence.

However, Kindrick and Bacon said in their respective clinics, the problem crosses all walks of life.

Jessica Alaimo can be reached at (740) 328-8576 or jalaimo@nncogannett.com.

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Breast Cancer

Thursday, January 7, 2010