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Kidney Transplants Continue to Rise Nationally

United Network for Organ Sharing

A new report shows continued increases in the number of lifesaving kidney transplants taking place across the country, according to data compiled by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS is the engine that powers the national donation and transplant system, serving as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under federal contract. Following changes in March of 2021 to how deceased donor kidneys were allocated, an early data report showed increases in the number of transplants and expanded equity, especially amongst historically marginalized groups. Now, with one full year of post-implementation data available, the new report shows a 16% increase in kidney transplants across the nation, including for the following groups: 23% for Black patients 29% for Hispanic patients 20% for Asian patients 36% for people with longer times on dialysis 63% for pediatric patients 79% for highly-sensitized patients, or those with more difficulty finding a compatible donor organ This data remains consistent with previous reports that showed similar, positive results for the same patient groups. “We continue to see positive results for patients and families following changes we enacted in 2021,” said UNOS CEO Brian Shepard. “Getting to this point means bringing together a diverse group of physicians, patients, advocates, donor families and others to develop policies that continue to improve the national system and save more lives. But even as we see transplants rise and equity improving, there is more work to do and we are committed to building on these and other successes.” The report also showed an increase in the number of kidneys that were not utilized. In keeping with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Math (NASEM) recommendations, UNOS and stakeholders across the nation are committed to working together to find new ways to incentivize the use of more kidneys. Ongoing efforts to achieve this goal include the UNOS-developed offer-filters tool for transplant programs, expanding the use of predictive analytics in decision making, and more. Additionally, the OPTN Kidney Transplantation Committee will continue to monitor the impact and results of this policy. About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 newsroom@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

July 05, 2022 01:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Vascudyne Receives BioBusiness Award from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota for Treatment of Nerve Injury

Vascudyne, Inc.

Vascudyne, Inc., a biotechnology trailblazer in regenerative medicine, announced today that it was awarded a grant from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota for a project titled “Development of a Peripheral Nerve Wrap Using Regenerative Engineering Tissue Tube”. The one-year, $100,000 grant will commence in June 2022 and utilize Vascudyne’s TRUE™ Tissue technology that is unique and 100% natural. The TRUE Tissue allogeneic biomaterial is completely biological, non-immunogenic and regenerates by the host. Nothing synthetic or artificial is ever used in the manufacturing process, in contrast to other regenerative medicine soft tissue biomaterials made from synthetic polymer-based scaffolds that slowly degrade in the body and may lead to adverse immune response. Chronic nerve compression is one of the most common peripheral nerve injuries with carpal tunnel syndrome being the most common type of nerve compression affecting 3-6% of the general population. Tissues isolated from the patient are used in surgery but have shortcomings such as donor site morbidity, limited availability, and risk of surgical complications. “We are excited to expand our TRUE Tissue platform technology to other soft tissue applications such as nerve repair,” said Rick Murphy, Vascudyne’s Chief Operating Officer. “The exquisite regenerative properties of our 100% biological biomaterial combined with its non-immunogenic properties and off-the-shelf availability are a perfect fit for addressing the challenging nerve injury applications. Demonstrating these benefits in a preclinical nerve injury model will greatly advance the field of peripheral nerve injury and offer a promising alternative to current treatments that often lack complete and functional nerve repair.” Vascudyne has prioritized commercialization of its cardiovascular products and recently announced the first clinical results of its regenerative vascular conduit for hemodialysis access. “While we are initially focusing on cardiovascular applications for our TRUE Tissue technology, we continue research and development efforts in other soft tissue applications such as nerve injury repair,” stated Dr. Zeeshan Syedain, Vascudyne’s Chief Scientific Officer. “This grant from the Regenerative Medicine Minnesota will help accelerate our preclinical animal study timeline and demonstrate safety and efficacy of the TRUE Tissue technology as a peripheral nerve wrap.” Vascudyne licensed its proprietary TRUE Tissue technology developed by world renowned tissue engineering leader Robert Tranquillo, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, and his colleagues from the University of Minnesota in 2017. TRUE Tissue products are not available for commercial sale. About Vascudyne Headquartered in the heart of Medical Alley in Minnesota, Vascudyne is on a mission to improve patient care with regenerative biomaterials that are inspired by nature. Vascudyne, a privately held company founded in 2014, uses the TRUE™ Tissue technology to develop TRUE to Nature™ biomaterials for soft tissue repair and replacement. For more information, please visit https://www.vascudyne.com/. About TRUE™ Tissue Technology TRUE™ Tissue is developed from cells isolated from donor tissue and is 100% biological. There are no synthetic materials or chemical fixation used, and implanted tissues are completely cell-derived and acellular. The TRUE™ Tissue technology can be readily shaped into tubes, sheets, and other geometries making it suitable for many soft tissue applications, is mechanically comparable to native tissues, and is a ready to use, off-the-shelf allograft. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements identified by words such as "projects," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "potential" or similar expressions. These statements relate to future events or Vascudyne’s clinical development programs, reflect management’s current beliefs and expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Vascudyne’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different. Vascudyne undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future presentations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Contact Details Vascudyne, Inc. Sandy Williams, Marketing Director +1 952-412-5975 swilliams@vascudyne.com Company Website https://vascudyne.com/

June 30, 2022 09:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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What Your Nails Say About Your Health

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/LI5F93klWMQ Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? Take a close look at your fingernails. Are they strong and healthy looking? Or do you see ridges, dents, or areas of unusual color or shape? Many in your audience might be asking, am I taking good care of my nails? Here's what you need to know to keep your nails in tiptop shape from Dr. Dana Stern, board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Stern is the only dermatologist who devotes her entire practice to nail diagnosis, treatment, and surgery and she’s a go-to dermatologist for patients seeking advice on how to treat nail conditions and gel damage, as well as how to keep their nails healthy and beautiful. Recently relaunched by Rare Beauty Brands and hailed by celebrities as a nail miracle, Dr. Dana’s famous Nail Renewal System is an easy-to-use botanically formulated product that utilizes plant-based science to exfoliate and hydrate nails to combat brittle, ridged, weak and over-processed nails within minutes of the first application. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: DRDANANAILS.COM Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 29, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Leader in LED Light Therapy Devices LightStim® Launches Elipsa™ Alongside BeautyHealth’s HydraFacial

LightStim

Poised for exponential growth in 2022, LightStim® launches its latest innovation in LED light therapy, Elipsa™, which seamlessly integrates with BeautyHealth’s next generation HydraFacial system, Syndeo. The new LightStim Elipsa elevates the provider experience and treatment results. Elipsa is available today for retail and professional use in the U.S., and will, in time, roll out internationally in conjunction with Syndeo, increasing LightStim’s national and global presence. “We are consistently looking to enhance the treatment experience for consumers and expand the range of service offerings for providers,” said Ben Baum, BeautyHealth Chief Experience Officer. “LightStim is a trusted leader in LED light therapy among our community, so it was only natural to partner with them for our next-generation delivery system. Now with Elipsa, our HydraFacialists can deliver a new level of personalization for consumers seeking the latest in LED light therapy.” Elipsa is the first LightStim device to offer dual treatment modes for both wrinkles and acne, allowing ultra-close proximity to the skin for the most effective and result driven treatment. Designed and engineered with more than double the number of LEDs in most comparable devices, Elipsa utilizes LightStim MultiWave® Patented Technology and medical-grade LEDs to deliver a soothing and relaxing experience that promotes meaningful benefits. LightStim Elipsa wirelessly connects to the HydraFacial Syndeo, providing treatment analytics to better address client needs. “The introduction of Elipsa marks a huge milestone for LightStim, rounding out our product portfolio and filling a much-needed gap for growth,” says Joniann Marchese, LightStim President. “Beauty and wellness have always been at the forefront of everything we do here at LightStim, and it is a common goal with HydraFacial. Together, our missions match up perfectly with the growing focus on health and wellness, and we look forward to building awareness and expanding across the U.S. and most excitingly, globally.” Beyond expanding to new providers in the U.S. and, eventually, global markets, this partnership encourages adoption of other LightStim products within the brand’s professional and consumer portfolios. LightStim offers FDA Cleared devices including its LED Bed, Professional ProPanel line, and at-home consumer devices that target specific areas of concern inclusive of LightStim for Wrinkles, Pain and Acne. For more information on Elipsa for consumers and licensed professionals visit LightStim.com and LightStimPro.com, respectively. About LightStim LightStim has been the global leader in both professional and consumer markets for over 20 years, with patented technology, certifications and FDA Clearances. The family-owned and operated company proudly designs, engineers and manufactures all LightStim devices inside their Irvine, California facility to ensure paramount quality, reliability and effectiveness of the entire LightStim collection. Touted amongst dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical doctors, estheticians, professional athletes, recovery and wellness clinics, and the beauty industry elite, the innovative brand continues to pioneer and revolutionize the face and body of beauty and wellness. Beauty editors and social influencers have joined the convergence of LightStim aficionados alongside industry professionals, propelling LightStim to earn kudos in hundreds of top publications including Vogue, InStyle, Women’s Health, Glamour and The New York Times. For more information, visit LightStim.com, and follow on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. About The Beauty Health Company The Beauty Health Company (NASDAQ: SKIN) is a global category-creating company focused on delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodies and their self-confidence. Our flagship brand, HydraFacial, created the category of hydradermabrasion by using a patented Vortex-Fusion Delivery System to cleanse, peel, exfoliate, extract, infuse, and hydrate the skin with proprietary solutions and serums. HydraFacial provides a non-invasive and approachable experience with a powerful community of aestheticians, consumers and partners, bridging medical aesthetics to beauty to democratize and personalize skin care solutions across ages, genders, skin tones, and skin types. HydraFacial is available in over 90 countries with an install base of over 21,000 Delivery Systems providing millions of experiences to consumers each year. Find a local HydraFacial at https://hydrafacial.com/find-a-provider/. For more information, visit www.beautyhealth.com. Contact Details Rell Marketing + Communications Linsey Tilbor ltilbor@rellmc.com

June 29, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Elsevier expands MedReprints service to Global Customers

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, announced today the global expansion of their new MedReprints service. The expansion, which extends the growing digital and print-on-demand service to customers globally, is in direct response to an increasing need from Elsevier clients, especially pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and their agencies. The announcement follows a successful pilot program targeting those industries. MedReprints will now supply printed and electronic copies of the latest research to health and pharma companies across all major markets. MedReprints accelerates and streamlines the reprint and ePrint order process by providing an automated online portal for corporate medical and marketing departments to order reprints of both Elsevier and non-Elsevier published content. Customers around the world can now quickly order and access credible and quality peer-reviewed research to use in their educational and promotional materials to distribute to their targeted healthcare networks. Elsevier’s offering affirms its position as a market leader amongst reprint and ePrint providers with enhanced platform features that include: 24/7 access to instant quotes and orders Access to easy ordering and rapid delivery of all reprints and e-reprints In-app communications and email alerts on customer delivery status ScienceDirect and SCOPUS integration for article retrieval Efficient access to reliable reprint services has been found to benefit the medical and research community. More than 80% of physicians read medical articles in reprint format, whilst 90% of physicians say reprints are useful for their practice and viewed as a reliable source of quality, creditable peer reviewed research. Customer experience is at the core of Elsevier’s MedReprints service which is supported by a round-the-clock, customer service team that can be contacted directly through the online portal. Darren Webster, Managing Director at Elsevier, said: “The launch of Elsevier’s MedReprints service will ensure the continued sharing of quality research to make meaningful innovation happen faster and go further. It will offer our global customers a seamless, more efficient service to get research shared amongst their audiences to help scientists make discoveries, researchers develop new medicines and healthcare professionals improve patient care.”. More information about Elsevier’s MedReprints can be found here, as well as frequently asked questions about the service. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,700 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our over 2,700 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our over 43,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com. Contact Details Andrew Davis +44 7393 242466 andrew.davis@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

June 29, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

OPTN Board Approves Removing Race-Based Calculations of Kidney Function for Transplant Patients

United Network for Organ Sharing

The Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) yesterday approved a measure that will require transplant hospitals to no longer consider race when estimating a patient’s kidney function. The action, which will take effect July 27, will ensure that all candidates are assessed more equitably. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the engine that powers the donation and transplant system, serves as the OPTN under federal contract. “This is an important step forward, in keeping with broad efforts to provide equitable healthcare for all,” said Matthew Cooper, M.D., president of the board. “Communities of color are disproportionately affected by end-stage kidney disease, so we must do all we can within our power to ensure that they receive the utmost access to lifesaving care.” The action will require all transplant hospitals to use race-neutral calculations when estimating a transplant candidate’s kidney function. For years, some calculations (known as eGFR) have included a modifier for Black patients based on outdated assumptions about race and biology. This practice has led to the severity of kidney disease in Black patients being systemically underestimated. It may have also negatively affected when Black patients get added to the national waitlist. The board is also developing a policy to address patients previously impacted by this measure. This new policy, which will soon come up for public comment, will correct the waiting time for Black patients who may have been affected by the race-based calculation. The OPTN Minority Affairs and Kidney Transplantation Committees co-sponsored the proposal that was approved by the board. The removal of race variables from eGFR calculations has been broadly supported by institutions, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, as well as a joint task force of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Improving equity in access to transplant opportunities for patients is an OPTN strategic goal. About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

June 28, 2022 05:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Know Your Back Story Campaign

YourUpdateTV

According to a new landmark survey, Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America conducted by Harris Poll, more than 72.3 million U.S. adults self-report they have chronic low back pain (CLBP)1 and 78% do not know that an enlarged ligament can be the cause. But there is hope for people who have been suffering with chronic low back and leg pain. Recently, Dr. Denis Patterson, specialist in neurological disorders and musculoskeletal issues and his patient, Lee Davis conducted a satellite media tour to talk about the “ Know Your Back Story ” campaign, a national health awareness campaign that educates and encourages millions of people with chronic low back pain, due to pain, numbness, heaviness, or tingling in back, legs, or buttocks when standing or walking, and their physicians to learn more about their “back story”, the potential cause, lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), the importance of looking for the enlarged ligament, screening, and potential treatment options. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/dokXFqXWQiQ Lumbar spinal stenosis, or LSS, is a condition in which the lower spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves in the lower back and up to 85% of spinal canal narrowing is caused by an enlarged ligament.2 People with LSS typically experience a variety of symptoms that affect daily life, including low back and leg pain and limited mobility. People with LSS often feel pain, numbness, tingling, or heaviness when standing or walking that is relieved by sitting, bending forward, or sleeping curled in the fetal position. While generally found in people over the age of 50, the likelihood of developing LSS increases with age. The Know Your Back Story campaign addresses the physical and emotional aspects of health and mobility as it relates to chronic low back pain and includes: · Landmark Survey - Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America - Harris Poll survey that reveals misconceptions about chronic low back pain and need for education about the impact on mobility, quality of life, and the right spine health doctor to go to who can diagnose and outline treatment options available. · The first-ever Mobility Index to demonstrate how people should be moving through the decades of their lives without chronic low back pain. · #LookForTheLigament Education and Experiential Mobile Unit tour visits New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Sarasota, and West Palm Beach to educate, engage, and increase awareness about the enlarged ligament as a potential cause for low back pain and encourage people to be screened for LSS. This experiential mobile unit includes: Visualization stations exploring why LSS symptoms occur, tips on how to identify symptoms, how an enlarged ligament impacts spine health, and potential for a mild® Procedure treatment option Immersive 3D journey down the spinal canal to the lumbar region that explores the enlarged ligament, spine degeneration and how mild works Interactive Ligament Kiosk features an animated Mobility and the Enlarged Ligament education program that demonstrates the spinal compression inherent with LSS and its effect on pain, posture, and mobility; a Look for the Ligament swipe engagement for people to view and compare MRI images of a healthy ligament against an enlarged ligament; and How Do Doctors Describe LSS? Module filled with a colorful list of analogies doctors often use to explain the condition to patients · Interactive Motion Memoir iPads, featuring our writing program developed with award-winning author, certified therapist, and founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW), Dr. Linda Joy Meyers, that provides tips and encouragement for people to write their own memoir vignette tracing their history of low back and leg pain so that their next chapter might be pain free. Also highlighted are mild patients telling their personal back stories · Campaign website: KnowYourBackStory.com is the online hub for all elements of the campaign including how to find a spine health doctor. How can people get help? Visit KnowYourBackStory.com for information about LSS and find a spine health doctor to have a conversation about the steps you can take to stand longer, walk farther, and get moving! Also, learn more about how to write/submit your personal low back story to address the physical and emotional aspects of your experience. How can healthcare providers get involved? Visit KnowYourBackStory.com for more information about how you can educate and identify patients, learn more about patient misconceptions when it comes to chronic low back pain, LSS, and potential treatment options such as the mild Procedure and more. --------------------------- About Dr. Denis G. Patterson, DO Board Certified Pain Medicine Board Certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists Reno, NV Dr. Patterson is a specialist in common and complex neurological disorders and musculoskeletal issues. He is an expert in electrodiagnostics (nerve conduction studies and electromyography) which aid in the diagnosis of nerve disorders. He utilizes non-surgical methods such as bracing, medications, physical therapy, spinal injections, and neuromodulation for the treatment of acute and chronic pain disorders. Dr. Patterson earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder and his medical degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He successfully completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. After residency, Dr. Patterson completed a comprehensive Interventional Pain Management Fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He became dually board certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2007. Upon completion of his medical training, Dr. Patterson moved to Reno, Nevada. Since that time, he has been helping patients in the greater Reno area with acute and chronic pain needs. About Lee Davis, Dr. Patterson’s Patient Lee is a retired former police officer, bus driver · Symptoms: Chronic pain, difficulty walking on hardwood stage, severe muscle spasms · Prior Treatments: Laminectomy discectomy, fusion, ESIs, nerve blockers · Procedure: September 2020 · After mild procedure: Only feels pain when it is cold due to arthritis, “mild has been a miracle, sleep is much better”. Now off anti-depressants. About Vertos Medical Inc. Vertos Medical Inc. is a medical device company committed to developing innovative, minimally invasive treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). mild®, its proprietary technology, is a safe and minimally invasive outpatient procedure designed to restore space in the spinal canal through an incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin. Vertos empowers healthcare providers and patients with minimally invasive treatments for LSS. After witnessing the impact that LSS has on millions of patients’ quality of life annually, it became the company’s mission to help patients suffering from low back pain reclaim their quality of life using the simplest, safest, most durable, and early treatment available. Allowing patients to get back to what matters most to them is what matters most to Vertos. From playing with their grandkids or golfing with friends to getting a better night’s sleep and doing it all over again, Vertos want to help patients find joy every day by increasing their mobility and reducing their pain — in the least invasive way. About the mild® Procedure The mild Procedure is an FDA-cleared early treatment option that addresses a major root cause of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) – primarily a degenerative, age-related narrowing of the lower spinal canal that causes symptoms of pain and numbness in the lower back, legs, or buttocks. mild® treats this condition by removing excess ligament tissue to restore space in the spinal canal. mild is the only treatment with a safety profile similar to an Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI), and the lasting relief expected from back surgery3 and an option to consider when conservative therapies such as physical therapy, pain medication, and chiropractic treatments are not providing adequate relief. Using specialized mild devices physicians remove excess ligament compressing the spinal canal, through a single, tiny incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin (5.1-mm). 1 Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America, Harris Poll Survey, 2022. View data and full summary at KnowYourBackStory.com. 2 Hansson T, Suzuki N, Hebelka H, Gaulitz A. The narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal during loaded MRI: the effects of the disc and ligamentum flavum. Eur Spine J. 2009;18(5):679-686. Doi:10.1007/s00586-009-0919-7. 3 Benyamin RM, Staats, PS, MiDAS ENCORE Investigators. mild® is an effective treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication: MiDAS ENCORE Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Physician, 2016;19(4):229-242 Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 28, 2022 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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UNOS CEO Brian Shepard to Leave Organization after a Decade of Service

United Network for Organ Sharing

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) today announced that CEO Brian Shepard will depart the organization at the end of September, following the completion of his contract. Shepard’s 10-year tenure as UNOS CEO was marked by groundbreaking progress in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system. Maureen McBride, Ph.D., UNOS’ chief operating officer, will assume the role of interim CEO beginning October 1 while UNOS conducts a national search for Shepard’s successor. McBride has been with the organization since 1995. She served as director of research until 2014, when she accepted her current role as COO. During his tenure, Shepard presided over the adoption of innovative policies, lifesaving improvements and record increases in both organ donation and transplant, including 2021, when the national system conducted over 41,000 transplants in a single year, a global record. These and other advancements have positioned UNOS to drive the next phase of system progress, from increasing equity in transplant to adopting cutting-edge technologies to collaborative improvement, further strengthening the nation’s high performing system and saving more lives. “As UNOS CEO, Brian was a constant and courageous advocate for increasing equity in our national donation and transplantation system,” said Jerry McCauley, M.D., the vice president of the UNOS Board of Directors and incoming president. “His leadership has resulted in marked improvements in access to transplant for patients of color and those who have been historically marginalized. I am proud to have worked alongside Brian as a member of the UNOS board and am excited to build upon the foundation he has laid to further advance our mission and save even more lives.” “UNOS is the engine that powers the U.S. donation and transplant system, and we are so lucky to have had Brian Shepard in the driver’s seat for the past decade,” said Matthew Cooper, M.D., president of the UNOS Board of Directors. “During such a pivotal time in our community, Brian took UNOS to the next level, driving accomplishments and championing the work of so many. His is a legacy to be celebrated.” Under Shepard’s leadership, UNOS undertook a series of efforts to increase equitable access to transplant, including adopting a new way to distribute donor organs that emphasizes patient need. These new polices have resulted in greater access for the sickest patient s. “These changes to organ distribution weren’t easy or always popular, and it was so important to have Brian centering these discussions,” said David Mulligan, M.D., immediate past president of the UNOS Board. “Now that these policies are in place, we can see the positive impact they’re having on patients and families across the country.” Additionally, Shepard was instrumental in the development of UNOS Labs, an innovation center dedicated to fostering new ideas and encouraging experimentation. Since its founding, UNOS Labs has developed transplant-focused predictive analytics to help doctors decide whether to accept an organ offer for their patient, a GPS tracker for organ shipments, an offer simulator to conduct behavioral science research to improve organ matching, and a high-quality medical image sharing platform. “The UNOS team is the most incredibly talented and dedicated team I’ve ever had the honor of being a part of,” said Shepard. “I’ve always viewed my job as making their job easier; removing obstacles and watching them run. I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished and of all of the ongoing efforts that will further improve donation and transplant in the U.S.” Over the last several years, Shepard has helped put into place a new allocation policy, dubbed Continuous Distribution. This innovative approach dissolves rigid boundaries, structured so that no single attribute determines whether or not a patient receives a transplant. Importantly, Continuous Distribution is also designed to allow for more patient engagement in the decision-making process. “As a three decade heart transplant survivor who strongly advocates increased involvement for transplant patients in the policy development process, continuous distribution is a game changer,” said Jim Gleason, president of Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), engaged with UNOS for over 25 years and former two-term UNOS Board member. “This effort is not only going to help guide patients to the information they need in their transplant journey, it will also give them an active contributor seat at the decision-making table.” “From policymaking to technology, from system-wide improvements to one-on-one interactions, Brian’s leadership has left an indelible mark on UNOS and the wider donation and transplant community,” said Sue Dunn, former CEO of Donor Alliance and former president of the UNOS Board of Directors. “But for me, to see his ongoing commitment to honoring selfless donors, their courageous families, and recognizing the often-thankless work of our OPOs – that is a legacy be proud of.” “We’ve come such a long way in the last decade,” said Shepard. “While I am honored that the Board asked me to continue to serve as CEO, I felt it was the right time to take the next step. I have worked with so many amazing and dedicated people over the years who made it possible to accomplish all that I originally set out to do as UNOS CEO. Now, as we embark on a new chapter with even more exciting opportunities, I know the UNOS team and the donation and transplant community are in good hands, and I’m excited about the future.” About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the mission-driven non-profit serving as the nation’s transplant system under contract with the federal government. We lead the network of transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and thousands of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the gifts of life entrusted to us and to making lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need. Working together, we leverage data and advances in science and technology to continuously strengthen the system, increase the number of organs recovered and the number of transplants performed, and ensure patients across the nation have equitable access to transplant. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

June 28, 2022 12:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Doctors don’t know what’s happening! New health app CAREFUL helps clinical teams reduce the dangers of handover

CAREFUL

Thousands of patients are dying every year and hospitals are wasting up to 15% of their entire budget as a result of poor handover. The UK NHS wastes at least £250m a year from delays to discharge, and the same problem is seen in hospitals throughout the world. Today, healthcare start-up CAREFUL has launched its platform to help make handover safe, save lives and speed-up patient flow in hospitals by making discharges quicker to save costs and improve care. Handover is a critical process in healthcare when responsibility for patients transfers from one clinician or team to another. In every hospital, thousands of such handovers take place every week. Most hospitals use a combination of inefficient, informal communication systems for handover including bits of paper, sticky notes, and WhatsApp messages. Established in 2021, Careful has been testing and building its tech platform to enable clinicians to seamlessly capture and update health data and records of patients in hospital care. CAREFUL is a digital health platform that enables visibility, accountability and collaboration as patients move through different care settings and interact with different care-givers. The platform provides hospitals, clinicians and multidisciplinary teams with a constantly updated, holistic view of every patient’s plan of care to ensure their safe and frictionless movement throughout their health journey. Research from CAREFUL* shows a quarter of all doctors and nurses worldwide use spreadsheets to record lists of patients and tasks. A clear view of the status of the hospital — and predicting future flows — is obscured. Staff don’t know what’s happening and nor do the patients. Even in digitally advanced hospitals, critical tasks are regularly lost or forgotten. “All these headaches can be solved quickly and easily with CAREFUL” says Dr DJ Hamblin-Brown, Founder & CEO of the company. “CAREFUL is a simple-to-use and easy-to-implement application which helps hospitals communicate internally, and also with patients and their families”. Dr Hamblin-Brown was motivated to build CAREFUL because his mother nearly died from a simple communication failure in a UK hospital. He adds, “Although clinicians take handover very seriously, errors still occur because staff are let down by the systems they are forced to use. With desperate shortages of clinical staff, hospitals need CAREFUL to help save money and save lives.” The WHO estimates that 15% of all hospital expenditure is wasted on adverse events that happen to patients – and that 80% of these are due to poor handover. This causes serious harm to patients, sometimes with fatal outcomes. Inadequate systems leave staff over-burdened and stressed, leading to resignations and burnout. Errors also cause delays. Beds are taken up by patients who should be discharged. Once at home, the problems continue. No one knows what the next steps are and patients are often lost to follow-up. Together this costs every hospital millions every year. Dr Johann Grunlingh, an NHS emergency medicine consultant and Intensive Care specialist in London. He and his team at Newham Hospital helped to test the application during development. He says, “Handover is a time consuming and dangerous process especially in critical care. CAREFUL fills a huge gap where Electronic Patient Record systems perform poorly. CAREFUL provides an action-focus that would benefit every care team in the NHS.” “CAREFUL can be up-and-running in any hospital, clinic, or care home in a matter of days”, says Dr Hamblin-Brown. It works on mobile, tablet or desktop presenting critical information for each patient, along with task lists assigned to individuals, clarifying who needs to do what, and when. As staff change shift, and patients move through the hospital, tasks and status information move with them – even out into the community or home. As a result, patients and staff know at all times what is happening, and who is responsible. Roohi Hamlani, CAREFUL’s co-founder and Head of Patient Participation is passionate about extending CAREFUL’s reach into care-homes and families, from whom patients receive the majority of their care. CAREFUL’s approach was based on her work in Asia improving outcomes with collaborative care for chronic disease patients. She says better workflows are about breaking-down silos. “To provide the very best care, clinicians, families and caregivers all need to work together across boundaries. CAREFUL bridges the gaps that exist today”. CAREFUL users can send, receive and share responsibility for patient care during peer-to-peer handover, internal referrals, discharges and transfers between organisations. Patient safety is improved because nothing is lost or forgotten. Patient information is added, reviewed and updated at every transition of care to ensure a complete and continuous health story across care settings. Caregivers contribute to the story as the patient moves between community care, hospital, teams and home or back into community care. Patients are invited to access and contribute to their own record. CAREFUL uses privacy-by-design principles and is regulatorily-compliant in UK, Europe, USA. As a cloud-based application, it is fully encrypted and protected. It is also fully interoperable using industry standard messaging – so that it can integrate with healthcare systems globally Dr Jeffrey Staples has led large hospital and health systems across Middle East and Asia building quality and operational excellence commented: “CAREFUL has global relevance across the private and public healthcare sectors. Hospitals find it hard to understand what is happening with patient flow in real time. Important data often stays in clinicians’ pockets or just gets thrown away. In my view, CAREFUL will significantly improve clinical and operational performance.” Recently, CAREFUL published the results of a study* on clinicians’ experience of handover. The findings were sobering. Errors in handover occur weekly or daily according to 12% of respondents. Nearly 10% had witnessed severe harm because of handover error. Dr Hamblin-Brown and Ms Hamlani are clear that “We work in an industry that is failing to take seriously the dangers of handover. It is arguably the most common, and one of the most important, processes. We harm both staff and patients if we fail to address the dangers of handover.” About CAREFUL CAREFUL is a digital health platform that enables visibility, accountability and collaboration as patients move through different care settings and interact with different care-givers. The platform provides hospitals, clinicians and multidisciplinary teams with a constantly updated, holistic view of every patient’s plan of care to ensure their safe and frictionless movement throughout their health journey. CAREFUL is backed by Artesian, The Pension SuperFund as well as Brinc and was recently welcomed into the Microsoft for Startups programme. The team is made up of experienced clinicians and technologists from every corner of the globe and are united by a shared goal: to ensure the right care is provided at the right time, by the right person, every time. Available on mobile, tablet and desktop, CAREFUL is designed to interoperate with and complement existing Hospital information systems/Electronic Patient Record systems and replace manual, paper-based systems or messaging apps with a future-focused collaboration tool. For more information please visit https://careful.online/ Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://careful.online/

June 28, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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