Hospitals and Health Systems News

LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) –  That back to school time of year is here again and whether you are a student, a parent, or a burnt-out employee, the return to a regular schedule generates feelings of renewal and promise. Back to school (or back to work) resolutions focus more on improving stress management and decreasing the aches and pains associated with deskwork than their sibling New Year’s resolutions. 

Chantal Donnelly, a physical therapist and host of the new DVD “Pain Free At Work,” offers tips on making the most effective back to school resolutions.

“Come Labor Day, you may find it more difficult to push the pause button on stress than you did on vacation, but you can make changes that will decrease stress, neck pain, back pain, headaches and arm pain as well as improve your mood and productivity at work,” states Donnelly, the owner of Body Insight Inc., a company dedicated to injury prevention through exercise. Among her favorite back to work resolutions, Donnelly recommends committing to more micro-breaks while working at a computer. “Studies have shown that taking short, more regular breaks can decrease discomfort and increase typing speed (so there is no loss of productivity). Take 30-second long breaks every 45 minutes as well as longer, five-minute breaks every two hours. Computer rest break programs are a great way to keep tract of break times. These downloadable programs remind you when it is time to rest and will guide you through desk exercises during the longer break periods,” suggests Donnelly.

Here are some more tips for back to school and work resolutions from Chantal Donnelly:

“Learn how to type properly. If you are a two-fingered typist and have to constantly look down at the keys to write, you are placing excessive strain on your neck joints and are at risk for disc injuries. Try free, online typing lessons or check your local community college for classes.

“Get some form of physical activity DURING your workday. The brain is stimulated by exercise. Your creativity, problem solving and thinking skills will improve if you move. Try a brisk 10-minute walk during a meeting with a coworker, a game of basketball during lunch, 20 minutes of upper body weights while on a conference call… Whatever your preference and however you can fit it in, physical activity while at work will help you think better.

“Schedule a daily ‘no screen time’ period when you get home from work or school. This means no computers, video games or T.V. during a set time everyday. A two to three hour period works best and encourages face-to-face social interaction (necessary for stress management) and gives your eyes a needed break from staring at a monitor.”

About Chantal Donnelly

Chantal Donnelly, MPT is a faculty member and research advisor at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. She is the host of two rehabilitation DVDs: “Strong Knees” (Gaiam) and “Pain Free At Work” (Body Insight Inc.). She has been featured in various magazines including Woman’s World and Woman’s Day Magazine. Chantal designed the Pain Free At Work program in order to give people a healthy solution to repetitive strain injuries, back pain and neck pain so common in the workplace. 

For more information on health and wellness in the workplace, computer rest break programs or back to school resolution tips, please visit www.bodyinsight.com or contact Chantal Donnelly at [email protected] or by phone 213.215.6778.

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NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) –  On August 31st Fly for MS takes off from New York on a thrilling humanitarian mission to 30 countries in North America, Europe and Asia where the team will fly MS patients for treatment, and share the joy of flying with more than 100 people with MS to raise awareness for the challenges faced by over 2.1 million fighting this debilitating disease.

Fewer than 300 have flown a small plane for such a distance, and none for a humanitarian mission, compared to over 4,000 people who successfully climbed Mount Everest.

The mission will debut with a flight above Manhattan with Tom Clyne of New York, a representative from the U.S. National MS Society suffering from MS.

“Using my cane, I’m reminded of my MS with every step I take. Being up in the air with Andrei and the Fly for MS team, I can be free, even for a few moments. It’s a wonderful and exciting project he’s undertaking to bring awareness to the challenges people with MS experience every day of their lives,” says Tom.

Fly for MS is the brainchild of pilot Andrei Floroiu, a former Wall Street investor focused on biotechnology companies. In his profession he realized from interviews with over 600 MS patients and doctors how little the public knows about MS and recognized the need for a unique event to inspire compassion and action.

MS patients face harsh realities including lack of services due to budget cuts and limited availability of proper treatment. Ignorance of MS often forces people with MS to withdraw from society, hiding an illness poorly understood.

MS is a debilitating disease that affects 1.5 million people in North America and Europe alone. The symptoms of MS are cruel and include paralysis, speech impairment, and blindness. MS typically strikes people between the ages of 20 – 50 and renders 60% of those touched disabled over time. MS also affects an estimated 50,000 children globally.

With no known cause or cure in sight, awareness will move MS higher on government agendas, change employers’ attitudes and educate the world how to help. Awareness has a multiplier effect on future research funding.

“Through this unprecedented journey we aim to expose the contrast between the ultimate freedom of flying and the limitations of those living with MS, and reach new, broader audiences that other efforts have not been able to in the past,” says Floroiu.

“As a volunteer driven organization, it is bold, imaginative and independent projects such as Fly for MS that raise awareness for the challenges of living with MS and the funds needed to move us closer to a world free of the disease. The Society certainly encourages this heart-felt endeavor,” says Joyce Nelson, President and CEO of the U.S. National MS Society.

On certain legs of the tour, MS specialists, advocates, public figures and journalists will fly along.

Competitions are organized in certain countries for those that want a flight in the Fly for MS plane and the team will join fundraisers and awareness events across Europe.

Updates and photographs from the mission will be posted daily at www.flyms.org, Twitter, and Facebook. For more information visit: http://www.flyms.org/fly-for-multiple-sclerosis-schedule.html

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KANKAKEE, IL–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) –  Riverside Medical Center, whose mission is to meet the health and well-being needs of the communities it serves, provided more than $36.7 million in community benefit in 2009. This high quality southern Chicago suburbs healthcare provider receives no payment for a wide variety of vital programs and services devoted to individuals and families through the medical center’s service area. As one of the top hospitals in Illinois, Riverside is committed to making quality healthcare available to everyone, regardless of their economic condition. 

The income, employment and insurance status of residents of Kankakee County results in the hospital caring for a large number of patients who are uninsured or underinsured, or for whom public program reimbursement is inadequate to cover costs. Of the $36.7 million of community benefit that Riverside Medical Center provided in 2009, over $18.1 million of the total covered costs was for subsidized health services. That included Medicaid services and community health centers in Kankakee, Momence and Hopkins Park. This figure also includes New Life Center, ambulance services, health screenings, physician recruitment and health care education, among other services.

As a nonprofit organization, after paying expenses, Riverside reinvests any excess revenue back in the organization to pay for capital improvements. Riverside also allocates portion of this money to services that benefit patients: free care for patients who cannot pay, subsidized care for patients whose government insurance does not cover all of Riverside’s costs, and critical medical services that operate at a financial loss but are necessary for the overall health and well-being of the community.

Riverside also acts as an economic engine for Kankakee County and the surrounding areas like southern Will County healthcare. Not only do they provide care for those who are not financially able to afford it, but they also help create more jobs and economic growth in our community. Riverside not only has a significant impact on the health and welfare of residents, but also has a large impact on the local economy, both of which are definitely for the better. If you are in need of any sort of medical services, Riverside Medical Center is here to make sure you get the best care provided anywhere.

To learn more about the quality services offered by Riverside Medical Center, visit www.RiversideMC.net or call (815) 933-1671.

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RALEIGH, NC–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) – Healthcare experts got a dose of Lean Six Sigma principles when Rucker and Associates presented its best industry practices to ISH, Inc. to help them better understand the power of Lean Six Sigma for efficiency and productivity. Florida-based ISH, Inc. has developed hundreds of quality improvement initiatives at many of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations. Working with Rucker has been their first exposure to Lean Six Sigma principles in action.

ISH, Inc. is a leading provider of office processing and time management software for the healthcare industry. Bonnie Smith of Rucker and Associates handled the presentation to administrators at ISH, Inc., providing them with information on ways to integrate Lean Six Sigma principles into everyday operations to improve performance. 

According to Smith, the strategy at ISH, Inc. focused on lead-time to reduce defects and improve the company’s workflow. “Finding ways to improve what we refer to as ‘profit-busters’ will not only decrease waiting times and improve patient care but save a healthcare organization money,” she said.

Smith’s seven profit-busters that plague the industry include: waiting, over-processing, over-production, indecision, hand-offs, loop-backs and excess inventory.

She uses Rucker case examples to explain: “Hospitals that use Lean Six Sigma have saved $16 million through efficiency improvements that include: reducing emergency room wait times by one hour, reducing turnaround times for patient tests from 74 to 40 minutes, lowering in-patient registration questions from 39 to six, and more timely accounts receivables,” she said.

“Controlling these efficiencies helps healthcare organizations save valuable time and resources, which impacts the bottom line,” said Smith, an efficiency expert who played a pivotal role in creating the synthesis of Lean principles and Six Sigma tools now known as Lean Six Sigma.

Healthcare organizations are more actively using Lean processes to improve clinical trials and supply chain management. According to Rucker statistics, Lean Six Sigma has helped hundreds of healthcare organizations improve quality measures and increase bottom line profitability.

Rucker and Associates is a high-performance consultancy dedicated to helping companies discover dramatic new efficiencies using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma improvement methodologies. Rucker’s hands-on mentoring process with clients produces dramatic results — training teams to accelerate change and implement continuous improvement. Every Rucker project features an unconditional guarantee. http://ruckerassociates.com/.

Headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., ISH, Inc. is a leading national provider of professional services for healthcare, including: Perioperative, Sterile Processing, ED, EMR, Supply Chain, Finance, HR/PR, Time and Attendance, Scheduling, Document Imaging, Interim Management. ISH has delivered business improvement solutions and information technology implementations to prominent healthcare providers throughout the nation since 1989. With a staff of more than 150 professionals, an extensive best practice library developed from over 500 clients, and a powerful program management methodology, ISH is positioned to deliver the results you need when you need them. http://www.ishinc.com.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) –  Sunshine Heart Inc., a global medical device company focused on innovative technologies for moderate heart failure, today announced that its C-Pulse^® Heart Assist System has been successfully implanted using a minimally invasive thoracotomy procedure at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart and Vascular Institute in Kansas City, MO. The C-Pulse System is the first known mechanical heart assist system to be implanted using a minimally invasive thoracotomy technique. The device was inserted through a small, pacemaker-like incision between the patient’s ribs, leaving the sternum intact. To date, thirteen patients have been implanted under Sunshine Heart’s existing worldwide C-Pulse study protocols. The FDA approved IDE feasibility study will include a total of 20 patients to evaluate the performance of this device for patients with moderate heart failure.

The C-Pulse Heart Assist System is designed to treat patients suffering from the debilitating effects of moderate heart failure caused by a failing left ventricle (the left heart chamber). The C-Pulse System features a unique balloon counterpulsation technology that is designed to assist the left ventricle by reducing the workload required to pump blood throughout the body. In addition, it increases blood flow to the coronary arteries. Combined, these potential benefits may help reverse the heart failure process or maintain the patient’s current condition, thereby preventing the need for later stage heart failure devices, such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), artificial hearts or transplants. 

“We are pleased to welcome Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart and Vascular Institute to our C-Pulse clinical trial,” said Dave Rosa, CEO of Sunshine Heart. “These latest procedures accomplish our goal of successfully implanting the C-Pulse System through a mini-thoracotomy surgical method. As we approach the end of our feasibility study, we are encouraged by the interest of our centers and we remain dedicated to developing this minimally invasive, cost-effective treatment that is intended to relieve the symptoms of moderate heart failure.”

Sanjeev Aggarwal, MD, Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart and Vascular Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, performed the procedures. In addition to performing the first minimally invasive thoracotomy C-Pulse procedures, Dr. Aggarwal has also successfully performed a minimally invasive hemi-sternotomy (mini-sternotomy) C-Pulse procedure at St. Luke’s Hospital.

“The C-Pulse Heart Assist System represents an important advance in the treatment of patients suffering from heart failure,” commented Dr. Aggarwal. “In our initial procedure last month, the clinical effects were dramatic, with an almost immediate improvement in cardiac performance and the patient’s functional status. I am very encouraged that we were able to perform our two subsequent implants utilizing a minimally invasive pacemaker-like incision, without dividing the sternum. This offers the opportunity to provide patients suffering from moderate heart failure with a means of mechanical circulatory support through a truly minimally invasive, low risk procedure with a short recovery period.”

“Today, there are few treatment options for the millions of Class III/IVa moderate heart failure patients who have achieved the maximum benefits of drug and pacemaker therapy yet still suffer from symptoms such as shortness of breath and reduced mobility,” said Dr. Andrew Kao, Medical Director of Heart Transplantation at St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. “I am very pleased that the new C-Pulse therapy is being studied at St. Luke’s Hospital as we believe this device can make a tremendous difference for these patients who have limited treatment options.”

The C-Pulse System is an earlier intervention than other mechanical therapies, such as LVADs. This device does not make direct contact with patient’s blood and it can be turned on or off at any time allowing patients intervals of freedom to perform certain activities. The C-Pulse System can also be implanted as a minimally invasive procedure, thereby potentially reducing procedural time, hospital stays, overall cost and patient risk as compared to a traditional sternotomy.

Sunshine Heart’s FDA approved IDE study is available to men and women between the ages of 18 to 75 who suffer from Class III/ambulatory Class IV heart failure and for whom standard drug therapy has failed. The study monitors each patient’s performance with the C-Pulse System at one-month, three-month and six-month intervals to assess risks and potential benefits. Each patient’s physical endurance, quality of life and cardiac performance will also be specifically monitored.

About the C-Pulse Heart Assist System
The C-Pulse Heart Assist System uses proprietary balloon counterpulsation technology to increase the amount of blood pumped by the heart and to reduce the workload on the heart. The C-Pulse System is implanted in the patient’s chest through a sternotomy or through a small incision when performed as a minimally invasively procedure. During the procedure, there is no need to place the patient on a heart-lung machine as the patient’s heart remains beating continuously.

Once implanted, the C-Pulse cuff is positioned on the outside of the patient’s ascending aorta above the aortic valve. An ECG sensing lead is then attached to the heart to determine timing for cuff inflation and deflation in synchronization with the heartbeat. The C-Pulse cuff and electrical leads are connected to a single line that is run through the abdomen to connect to a power driver outside the body. Because the C-Pulse System remains outside the blood system, there is potentially less risk of blood clots and stroke in comparison to other mechanical devices that reside or function in the bloodstream.

About Sunshine Heart
Sunshine Heart (ASX: SHC), a global medical device company focused on innovative technologies for the treatment of moderate heart failure, is commercializing the C-Pulse^® Heart Assist System, a minimally invasive, implantable, non-blood contacting, heart assist therapy for the treatment of moderate heart failure. The C-Pulse System relieves the symptoms of heart failure through the use of counterpulsation technology which enables an increase in cardiac output, an increase in coronary blood flow and a reduction in the heart’s pumping load. The Company has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a 20-patient U.S. clinical trial with the C-Pulse^® System and the study has achieved more than fifty percent enrollment as of August 2010. Sunshine Heart, Inc. is a Delaware-based Corporation headquartered in Minneapolis with a subsidiary presence in Australia. The Company has been listed on the ASX since September 2004. For more information, please visit www.sunshineheart.com.

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GLOSTRUP, DENMARK–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) – Dako, a leading player in the field of advanced staining, launches a new staining solution for H&E. The pathology laboratories today are facing many constraining factors; finding and retaining trained laboratory staff is more difficult, and the need for more efficient and cost effective solutions is essential. Dako has designed a new H&E solution to meet the needs of the customer. Today Dako is launching the CoverStainer helping to optimize the laboratory process and delivering high quality, consistent results.

“At Dako, it all starts out with quality. We have transformed all our knowledge within IHC and Special Stains into the H&E area. We have done this not just by focusing on the instrument like many of our competitors do, but we have taken it one step further and are providing a full solution with reagents and instrumentation that work together perfectly. First we standardize and then we automate to secure quality at every step,” Lars Holmkvist, Dako’s CEO, says. He continues: “We are trying to help the laboratory with the most efficient means, so they can control the lab at the highest level of quality, and deliver fast answers to the patients.”

What is H&E staining?
When a patient is confronted with a possible cancer diagnosis, a biopsy is performed and a tissue specimen is taken. The specimen is tested in a pathology laboratory, using a process referred to as Hematoxylin and Eosin or H&E staining. The H&E stain is the first stain in the diagnostic process where a pathologist confirms or rules out a possible disease. The patient will either be able to go home with a ‘normal’ result, or they will be told that more confirmatory testing is required. A majority of the H&E samples can be diagnosed immediately. The pathologist can confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis.

Prof. Dr. Hermann Herbst at Vivantes in Berlin, Germany has been using the Dako CoverStainer for four months in their routine operations, shares his findings: “You want to have a standardized process. At Vivantes we did a test of around 3000 slides, and our measurements show that the Dako CoverStainer saves us about 43% of the time needed in the older procedure. Our previous process required a lot of attention on the part of the technicians, and this lead to a lot of variation in the results. Now with the Dako CoverStainer, slides have a consistent quality, which makes it a lot easier.”

The launch of the Dako CoverStainer is part of the Dako strategy to be the preferred partner to the pathology laboratory. The addition of H&E staining to the Immunohistochemistry and Special Stains product lines, that Dako has mastered for more than four decades, allows Dako to become a complete staining partner.

Facts about the Dako CoverStainer
The Dako CoverStainer is an automated instrument transforming the H&E staining process by combining the entire process from baking through coverslipping to determine the patient’s first and most critical diagnosis of cancer. The Dako H&E solution combines the advanced Dako CoverStainer with Dako Ready-to-Use (RTU) Reagents and a Dako validated pre-optimized staining protocol. The Dako CoverStainer can process up to 240 H&E slides per hour and the first results in 46 minutes which makes it the fastest in its automated class.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – August 30, 2010) –  Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the nation’s eighth largest health system, today announced that its severe sepsis prevention initiative has saved an additional 991 lives and reduced severe sepsis inpatient mortality rate by 33 percent at the end of three years.

“A core tenant of the health care reform plan enacted by Congress is that we can improve quality while also reducing costs,” says Lloyd H. Dean, CHW President/Chief Executive Officer. “The results of this program clearly demonstrate those achievements are possible.”

CHW launched the three-year initiative in July 2007 with the goal of reducing its inpatient severe sepsis mortality rate by five percent across its 41 hospitals in California, Arizona, and Nevada by 2010.

“This is a remarkable expression of CHW’s mission to deliver excellent care,” says Robert Wiebe, MD, CHW’s Chief Medical Officer. “The collaborative effort amongst our outstanding physicians, nurses, and hospital staff has shown tangible improvements in care. We are diagnosing sepsis earlier, treating it more aggressively, and saving lives.”

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to a serious bacterial infection. It can start in a single area in the body or can be widespread in the bloodstream. If not diagnosed early and treated quickly, sepsis can rapidly lead to organ failure and death. According to the national Surviving Sepsis Campaign, there are more than 750,000 cases of severe sepsis annually in North America with 210,000 fatalities, making it the number one cause of inpatient mortality.

Using the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommendations, as well as the Institute for Health Care Improvement’s collaborative improvement methods, CHW caregivers and staff focused on early recognition of severe sepsis patients, increasing the use of aggressive and appropriate treatment protocols, educating healthcare professionals, monitoring compliance to treatment guidelines, and facilitating data collection for the purposes of improvement and feedback.

“This is innovative and groundbreaking work,” said R. Phillip Dellinger, M.D., a leader in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, professor of medicine at University Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, and the director of critical care for Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. “CHW’s caregivers have demonstrated the power of a well-organized quality program that both reduces morbidity and mortality while also achieving significant cost savings.”

Each CHW hospital has a multi-disciplinary team comprising physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other clinicians that implement an early resuscitation ‘bundle’ — a series of evidence-based measurable treatments that have proven effective when implemented together — during the first six hours a patient is diagnosed with sepsis. The bundle consists of measuring the patient’s blood lactate levels and blood cultures, administering appropriate antibiotics within the first hour of a patient presenting to the emergency department and administering appropriate treatments for low blood pressure. 

Because sepsis is such a widespread and serious problem in the inpatient setting, studies have shown that treating it more effectively will result in lower health care costs. In three years, CHW estimates its severe sepsis prevention resulted in a savings of more than 36 million in direct variable costs.

“By standardizing this early resuscitation bundle throughout our system, CHW is able to deliver the appropriate care to our patients when they need it, avoiding lengthy and costly hospital stays,” says Dr. Wiebe.

In its nine Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area hospitals, CHW has received a two-year grant totaling $1.8 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support the expansion of sepsis prevention nursing education. Utilizing the grant and a portion of matching funds, CHW has hired an analyst, paid for innovative sepsis education services and has developed a comprehensive sepsis education program.

“The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is pleased to be supporting this important initiative, which has made a significant and positive impact on the lives of patients and their families,” said Marybeth Sharpe, Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative Program Director. “We congratulate the CHW hospitals on implementing evidence-based practices for identification and treatment of sepsis and recognize the critical role of CHW’s frontline nurses and other clinicians in this effort.”

About Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is the eighth largest hospital system in the nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in the West. Founded in 1986, the CHW network of more than 10,000 physicians and approximately 54,000 employees serve a population spanning 22 million people at 41 hospitals across California, Arizona, and Nevada. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare services with special attention to the poor and underserved. In 2009, CHW provided $1.2 billion in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed patient care. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC–(Marketwire – August 30, 2010) –  Patient recruitment is not the first step in a clinical trial, but well-designed recruiting could be the most important piece. Companies have only scratched the surface of the potential benefits of deep patient understanding to more accurately develop protocols that will meet enrollment targets, according to consulting firm Cutting Edge Information.

According to the upcoming study, “Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment: Accelerate Enrollment, Increase Retention and Reduce Costs,” 72% of respondents perform pre-project research into patient emotion and motivation. But much of that research is ‘surface deep,’ according to industry participants.

“The more information trial designers have about the patient population, the more likely you are to design a study that meets all enrollment goals,” said Jason Richardson, president of Cutting Edge Information. “More nuanced demographic research saves dollars as coordinators put limited funds into the right recruiting channels.”

Project partners pointed to geographically focused recruitment as a significant potential advantage in patient enrollment. Identifying patient clusters aids in clinical site management, helps determine ideal patient incentives and lets the clinical team communicate directly with local advocacy groups.

Thinking like a patient means heavily weighing emotional motivators. Benchmarking partners mentioned common considerations including:

• Are patients embarrassed by their condition?
• Will daily office visits be too painful a reminder that they are living with the disease?
• Will they feel altruistic in joining a study?
• Will the opportunity to increase the scientific understanding of a disease resonate with them?

More experienced patient recruitment specialists are better prepared for such issues, the study suggests. A clinical trial team may push for additional office visits, for example, while a recruitment specialist can identify the point at which site visit frequency will increase drop-out rates. In such situations, the team can identify the best trial protocols to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

“Knowing your patient volunteers and making a strong effort to think like them ultimately helps teams better meet the many challenges of study recruitment,” added Richardson.

Cutting Edge Information (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/) is a consulting firm serving the life science industry. For more information about clinical trials management, contact Elio Evangelista at 919-433-0214 or [email protected]. For media information, contact Stephanie Swanson at 919-433-0212 or [email protected].

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POMONA, CA–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) – Western University of Health Sciences is addressing California’s dire need for more health care workers thanks to visionary leadership, California State University Chancellor Charles Reed, EdD, said during his keynote address for the dedication of the Health Education Center and Patient Care Center on Aug. 25, 2010.

California is in a unique and precarious position today, Reed said. The state is growing by leaps and bounds, and it’s growing fastest among the underserved population that needs health care assistance. One recent economic study predicted that California needs to train an estimated one million workers for allied health careers by the year 2025 to care for California’s 49 million residents.

“The role of all universities, public and private, is to prepare students to meet the future needs of our businesses and communities and families, and in doing so, universities need to be fully integrated in their communities,” Reed said. “Here at Western University, community service has been a cornerstone of this university’s philosophy since it was first established more than 30 years ago. Today’s dedication represents another new chapter in the expansion of WesternU’s efforts to meet the needs of so many Californians.”

The Health Education Center provides much needed teaching space and is home to the cutting edge interprofessional education program. The Patient Care Center provides a living laboratory for students who are embarking on health care careers, Reed said.

“It has already proven to be an incredibly valuable health resource to members of the surrounding community,” he said.

Reed praised WesternU Founding President Philip Pumerantz for his long-term vision and for continuing to propel the university to new, greater heights.

“He also deserves credit for developing a real sense of family and community here at Western University,” Reed said. “The personal experience that students have here translates into the kind of experience that they can give their patients. And that is an incredibly important contribution to our society and to our state.”

Reed also acknowledged the contributions of WesternU Provost and COO Benjamin Cohen, Assistant Provost for Strategic Operations and Clinical Services Joan Sandell, Executive Director of Facilities and Physical Plant Todd Clark and WesternU board member Vince Naimoli, who he has known more than 20 years. In addition, Pumerantz thanked the Board of Trustees for its support and Senior Vice President for Advancement Thomas Fox for organizing the dedication ceremony.

“What Western University does so well is to prepare students in a range of health disciplines with a focus on comprehensive and compassionate care,” Reed said. “Thanks to the contributions of so many people and supporters here and not here, Western will now be able to do even more and better work on behalf of the students and the community and the state of California.”

Someone once asked if caring and science could exist at the same time in an academic setting, Pumerantz said.

“Humanism is a major part of the education and training of the health professions, and the best example of that is Western University of Health Sciences,” he said. “These buildings are very attractive, they’re state of the art, they’re beautiful, but the buildings don’t really tell you that this is the university. It’s what’s in the buildings that represent the university. It’s the people. It’s the philosophy. It’s the caring. That’s what’s in these buildings that make a difference.”

WINCHESTER, CA–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) – Minutes after her father — a veteran of WWII — left to fight in the Korean War, Sandi Kriebel was born. “I was raised in a patriotic home. One of my brothers served in Vietnam and the other was in the Navy. We flew the American flag every day,” says Kriebel.

These days Kriebel applies that patriotism by working with hospitalized veterans distributing HHV-provided therapeutic arts & crafts kits at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, a position funded by Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV). What makes her story touching is the fact that her son, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, is seriously ill. “There are reminders of the pain he endures every day. I want to make sure all veterans, particularly those in VA hospitals and nursing homes, know they are not forgotten,” she adds.

Kriebel enjoys her work, witnessing the benefits of the craft kits every day. “When I approach a veteran to try something new, the initial reaction is oftentimes reluctance.” With encouragement, however, Kriebel says reluctance gives way to curiosity, then finally — willingness to try a project. “I’ve seen fear replaced with hope and despair replaced with enjoyment. As veterans work on their craft kits, levels of confidence and self-esteem increase,” says Kriebel.

In addition, a breakthrough moment was observed by a therapist on the mental health unit who was having difficulty getting patients to open up during group sessions. The therapist noticed that, while working on HHV’s leather craft items, a couple of the patients were talking to each other. Therapists decided to incorporate arts & crafts into regular group therapy. “You’d be amazed at the positive difference craft kits have made,” Kriebel added.

Since 1971, HHV has donated over 25 million therapeutic arts & crafts kits to our nation’s VA and military hospitals at no charge. For more information on HHV’s variety of programs and services — all of which are made possible through the generous support of donors throughout the United States — visit www.hhv.org.

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IRVING, TX–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) –  Seven hospitals in North Carolina, all members of VHA Inc., the national health care network, formed the Southern Atlantic Health Care Alliance, known as SAHA, purchasing coalition in 2007. Within the past two years, they have saved $2.8 million by aggregating their purchasing volume and achieving greater savings than they could have realized individually, while retaining their ability to make independent decisions about product purchases as hospitals adopt tactics that help them do more with reduced resources. 

“Almost daily, our member hospitals tell us that current conditions are forcing them to stretch their budgets without impinging upon patient care,” said Scott Downing, executive vice president of Supply Chain Management at VHA. “Purchasing coalitions create opportunities for savings on clinical commodities that hospitals use every day as well as more specialized products, resulting in significant savings while fostering peer-to-peer interaction and knowledge sharing.”

Working with VHA to focus on supply chain improvement activities, SAHA purchasing coalition acts as a single entity to drive savings and supply chain efficiency that reduce supply expenses. On average, members of VHA Supply Networks save 8% to 12% annually through network contracts.

Demonstrating the benefits of aggregation, collaboration, commitment and teamwork, SAHA members anticipate significant savings while preserving patient safety. For example, they created a prototype, with member-approved new features for some existing patient footwear. Because members agreed to aggregate their purchasing volumes and the supplier, Encompass, agreed to make the changes and lower the cost, this standardization initiative will reduce costs and decrease the number of inventory stock keeping units, or SKUs, for hospitals that discontinue their use of hard-soled slippers. 

“The Moses Cone Health System values the SAHA membership because we’ve realized more than $500,000 in savings since joining the network,” says Susan Aquino-Smith, SAHA’s chairman of the Joint Implementation Team and Contract Administrator for The Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, NC. “We are working on several initiatives and believe that these savings will grow as SAHA continues to mature.” 

About VHA — VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. In 2009, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.47 billion to members. Formed in 1977, through its 16 regional offices, VHA serves more than 1,400 hospitals and more than 28,000+ non-acute care providers nationwide. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 7th best place to work in health care in 2009.

MUNDELEIN, IL–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) –  Medline Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, announced today the signing of a cost management prime vendor agreement with Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center based in Anniston, Alabama. The five-year agreement is anticipated to deliver significant savings for the hospital over the term of the contract.

Under the agreement, Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center will receive a broad array of Medline brand medical and surgical products, including surgical procedure trays, patient care products, disposable protective gowns, exam gloves and bandages. The hospital can also leverage other Medline clinical and educational evidence-based programs that were carefully designed to affect clinical outcomes, drive cost savings and improve patient satisfaction. 

Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center will benefit from significant cost savings through the delivery of Medline manufactured products shipped directly from Medline’s distribution center located in Atlanta, GA.

Medline will also deliver cost savings by reducing distribution fees on other national brand products and product standardization. In addition, Medline will provide enhanced reporting capabilities and offer comprehensive product utilization, education and practical solutions to help the facility control costs and improve patient care. 

About East Jefferson General Hospital 
East Jefferson General has grown over the past three decades to become a medical landmark with the addition of medical office buildings, the Yenni Pavilion for outpatient cancer treatment, and the Domino Pavilion, which houses Same Day Surgery, outpatient laboratory and outpatient radiology services. Most recently, the Wellness Center, a 38,000 square foot, state-of-the-art fitness facility, was added to the hospital’s main campus.

East Jefferson General Hospital has grown with the East Bank community, offering the clinical expertise and cutting edge technology our community expects and deserves. Today, the hospital remains publicly owned and not-for-profit. It is a service district hospital governed by a 10-member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by the Jefferson Parish Council and the Parish President. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In 2002, East Jefferson General became Louisiana’s first Nurse Magnet Hospital. This honor is bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center on select hospitals that demonstrate excellence in patient care and provide a superior environment for professional nurses.

About Medline Industries, Inc.
Medline, the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services. 

Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 250 major hospitals and health care systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities, and on-staff clinicians.

Medline has a growing network of 34 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 180 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers’ specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication. For more information on Medline, visit our Web site, www.medline.com.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) –  As children return to school, parents naturally consider how to help their children learn and succeed. Good vision and eye health are key to students’ ability to do well in the classroom, on the playground, in sports, and when studying at home. September is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages families to make sure students receive vision screening and learn eye health and safety practices. Also, it’s important for parents of children with learning disabilities to know how vision does — and does not — play a role.

Mary Lou Collins, M.D., a pediatric ophthalmologist in the Baltimore, Maryland area, said Quinn Kirby’s story illustrates how screening can make a big difference to a child’s future. Quinn is a bright, lively little girl whom Dr. Collins initially saw at age four.

The first hint that Quinn might have a vision problem was picked up in her pediatrician’s office. In a preliminary screening Quinn couldn’t name the pictures or letters — and she expressed a lot of frustration about that, since she knew her alphabet. Dr. Doran and Quinn’s mom, Kris, agreed on sending her to Dr. Collins for a comprehensive exam.

“We found that Quinn’s vision was 20/30 in her right eye and 8/200 in the left, compared with 20/20 normal vision,” Dr. Collins said. “Quinn’s stronger eye was doing most of the work, and her other eye was becoming weaker as a result, a condition called amblyopia. Also, Quinn’s weaker eye was slightly turned inward (one variation of a condition called strabismus), but this was too subtle to be noticed, except in an exam.”

Her parents take excellent care of their kids’ health, and so were stunned by the news. Dr. Collins told them not to blame themselves as such vision problems are nearly impossible to detect — especially in young children — except through vision screening by a school nurse, pediatrician or other qualified health provider. When a potential problem is revealed, a comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist is the best way to determine whether vision correction or other treatment is needed.

Parents may have questions on how the eyes and vision interact with learning disabilities in children. These disabilities result from the brain’s misinterpretation of images received and relayed by the eyes, rather than from structural or functional eye problems. That’s why learning disabilities are not treatable by eye exercises or vision therapy. If disabilities are suspected, students need testing, followed as appropriate by in-depth neurological exams and treatment. And whether or not learning disabilities are suspected, all students need vision screening to check eye health and visual acuity.

Kris, who teaches third grade, said some of her students’ learning struggles might have been avoided if they had vision screening and treatment when they entered kindergarten, or as soon as vision or learning problems were suspected.

“I’d encourage all parents to make sure your children get screened at school, at your pediatrician’s office, or through another health service,” Kris said. “My husband and I are grateful that Quinn’s problem was discovered and treated early. She’s now almost 5 1/2, with 20/25 vision in her right eye and 20/30 in the left. She loves being able to do what ever her big brother does and enjoys reading with us.”

Her treatment included glasses — at first with very thick lenses — but Kris says Quinn liked choosing the pink and purple frames and didn’t mind wearing them. The eye patch treatment was a different story: after three months of persuasion, Quinn agreed to wear the patch over her stronger eye for about eight hours daily so that her weaker eye took on the work of seeing and developed more normally. “Actually, she insisted all of us wear patches along with her. Quinn and my husband in their daisy eye patches were famous at our local market!” Kris added.

For more on children’s eye health and safety at home, school and during sports, visit:
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/resources/children/index.cfm

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons — Eye M.D.s — with more than 29,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” — opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy’s Web site at www.aao.org.

BOCA RATON, FL–(Marketwire – August 26, 2010) –  David H. Fater, CEO of Vicor Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: VCRT), today announced that abstracts of three studies involving its PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm have been accepted for presentation during the Poster Session of the 2010 Heart-Brain Summit. Vicor Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative, non-invasive medical devices using its patented, proprietary PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm and software. Vicor is currently in the process of commercializing diagnostics that accurately risk stratify specific target populations for future pathological events including cardiac death resulting from arrhythmia or pump failure, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and trauma victims in need of lifesaving intervention.

“We’re honored to have three abstracts selected for presentation before this prestigious group, especially during the distinguished Poster Session. We believe the results achieved by the PD2i^® in each of these studies suggest the prospect of incorporating the PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm into a noninvasive diagnostic that will significantly contribute to the identification and treatment of at-risk patients. We hope that having the opportunity to share these results with those active in the field of heart-brain medicine worldwide will further opportunities to advance study of the PD2i^® as a noninvasive diagnostic to identify at-risk populations and further our commercialization efforts for the PD2i^®,” stated Mr. Fater.

Dr. James E. Skinner, Vicor Vice President and Director of Grant Research, will present the following abstracts at the 2010 Heart-Brain Summit, which will be held at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, September 23-24. The Poster Session is on September 23, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Short-Term Heart Rate Complexity Determined by the PD2i^® Algorithm is Reduced in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Melitus — The objective of this study was to test the ability of PD2i^® to discriminate between young DM patients without neuropathy and age- and gender-matched controls. Seventeen DM patients with known autonomic dysfunction and 17 age- and gender-matched controls were studied. The same R-R interval data (3,200 heartbeats per subject) were analyzed (blinded) to determine the PD2i^® values. The study revealed that the PD2i^® was able to detect ANS dysfunction with p = 0.0006.

Prognostic Significance of PD2i^® in Heart Failure Patients — The goal of this effort was to determine the PD2i^®‘s ability to predict cardiac events in chronic heart failure patients. The study population was a group of chronic heart failure patients, who had been studied for 44 months, on average, with total mortality as primary endpoint and cardiac mortality, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure death as secondary endpoints. The PD2i^® was computed based on 20-minute supine high-resolution Holter recording and was categorized as positive (PD2i® less than or equal to 1.4) or negative (pD2i® greater than 1.4) based on pre-specified criteria. Of the 651 chronic heart failure patients studied, 537 had successful PD2i^® analyses resulting in 144 (27%) patients showing positive results and 393 (73%) negative results. After adjustment for clinical covariates PD2i^®, was found predictive for total mortality (HR=1.55; p=0.026). Predictive value of PD2i^® was observed in heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 35% (HR=1.95; p=0.004) whereas not in patients with greater than 35% (HR=0.87; p=0.716); p for interaction 0.072. Further analyses revealed that among patients with ejection fraction less than or equal to 35%, PD2i^® was also predictive for cardiac death and for heart failure death.

Mild Hypovolemia and PD2i^® — The goal of this pilot study was to test the ability of the PD2i^® to identify acute hypovolemia in blood donors as a preliminary step toward ascertaining whether it could be a useful noninvasive diagnostic for detecting blood loss from internal bleeding. Study subjects were volunteers who presented for a standard single unit whole blood donation. A 15-minute ECG recording was made pre-donation and the recording was then continued during the donation period and a rest afterwards. Eighteen subjects participated with a mean age of 48+/-18 years. Three were on beta blockers, 2 on antidepressants, and 1 had diabetes. At baseline the minimum PD2i^® had a mean of 2.6+/-0.8 dimensions, whereas after donation it fell to 1.8+/-0.5 dimensions (p=0.0011). The minimum PD2i^® was found to be a sensitive metric for the detection of mild blood loss, as seen in the controlled environment of donation of a whole unit of blood. Thus, PD2i^® may serve as a marker for mild hemorrhage in hospital (e.g., surgery) and trauma environments. In addition, given PD2i^®‘s association with autonomic activity, these results suggest significant sympathetic activation with even standard blood donation, suggesting that PD2i^® can be used to track a patient’s autonomic response to insult.

The Heart-Brain Summit, now in its fifth year, is the annual event of The Society for Heart Brain Medicine. More than 200 physicians, researchers, scientists, and industry professionals from around the world attended the 4^th Annual Heart-Brain Summit in 2009.

The Society for Heart Brain Medicine was officially established as a 501(c) (3) organization in June of 2008, with the purpose of:

• educating clinicians and scientists about the physiology, pathophysiology, and medical aspects of heart-brain interactions;
• educating the public about these aspects; and
• promoting and fostering research into heart-brain relationships.

The Society for Heart-Brain Medicine provides a forum for researchers and clinicians from different disciplines, both clinical and laboratory, to present, discuss, and evaluate data, and promotes the study of heart-brain medicine as a discipline in its own right. Additional information about the Society for Heart-Brain Medicine is available at www.heartbrain.org.

About Vicor Technologies, Inc.
Vicor Technologies is focused on commercializing innovative non-invasive diagnostics employing its patented, proprietary point correlation dimension algorithm (PD2i^®). The PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm is a deterministic, nonlinear measure of electrophysiological potentials that predicts future pathological events with a high degree of accuracy in target populations.

The PD2i Analyzer™, which has FDA 510(k) marketing clearance, measures heart rate variability. Physicians performing diagnostic tests with the PD2i Analyzer™ are able to receive reimbursement under existing CPT codes. The PD2i VS™ (Vital Sign), in clinical trials under a collaborative effort with the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research (http://www.usaisr.amedd.army.mil/), risk stratifies combat and civilian trauma victims. The PD2i CA™ (Cardiac Analyzer), in various clinical trials, identifies patients at elevated risk of cardiac death resulting from arrhythmia or pump failure.

Vicor anticipates developing additional applications utilizing the PD2i^® nonlinear algorithm to enable early detection and risk stratification for a variety of other disorders and diseases. Additional information is available at www.vicortech.com.

Disclaimer
The appearance of name-brand institutions or products in this media release does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, the U.S. Government, or the AABB of the information, products or services contained therein.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current plans and expectations that are subject to uncertainties and risks, which could cause our future results to differ materially. The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results to differ: our ability to generate revenues from the sale of the PD2i Analyzer™; our ability to obtain FDA approval of our 510(k) submission to secure a claim for the PD2i CA™(Cardiac Analyzer) for risk stratifying congestive heart failure patients at elevated risk of cardiac mortality and our ability to obtain marketing clearance from the FDA for the PD2i VS™ (Vital Sign) for military and civilian applications; our ability to continue to receive financing sufficient to continue operations and complete critical clinical trials; our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to successfully develop products based on our technologies; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate levels of third-party reimbursement for our products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our ability to receive regulatory approval for our products; the ability of third-party contract research organizations to perform preclinical testing and clinical trials for our technologies; the ability of third-party manufacturers to manufacture our products; our ability to retain the services of our key personnel; our ability to market and sell our products successfully; our ability to protect our intellectual property; product liability; changes in federal income tax laws and regulations; general market conditions in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries; and other matters that are described in Vicor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of the press release, and we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements or the reasons why actual results could differ.

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HOUSTON, TX–(Marketwire – August 25, 2010) –  Over the next three days, the Discovery Channel will begin airing a special episode of Health Heroes focused on dental innovations, including a segment on clear aligner therapy. The episode educates viewers about clear aligner therapy, a popular teeth-straightening alternative to metal braces, and also explores how orthodontic manufacturers such as ClearCorrect are making the procedure simpler and more affordable to the public. 

The episode premieres on both the East and West Coast at 7 am on Thursday, August 26, 2010 on the Discover Channel. It will re-air on Dish Network Channel 225 on Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10 pm EDT and on the Discovery Channel via DirectTV on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10 pm EDT.

Clear aligner therapy is an orthodontic treatment involving a series of clear, removable aligners that gradually move teeth to improve aesthetics and bite function. The technique, often referred to as “invisible braces,” is becoming increasingly popular with the public and a key growth area for dentists looking to add services.

The Health Heroes episode features dental industry innovators, including ClearCorrect founder Willis Pumphrey, DDS, and how he, along with input from other dentists, worked to create a more patient and doctor-friendly alternative to more costly clear aligner choices on the market.

In the clear aligner process, ClearCorrect receives the patient’s records from their general dentist or orthodontist and creates exact 3D models of the teeth. Working with a doctor, ClearCorrect then maps out a complete treatment plan of gradual adjustment, then manufacturers and delivers the clear aligners used in the procedure. 

For doctors interested in learning more about clear aligner therapy, ClearCorrect will be at two upcoming dental conventions. It will be at the California Dental Association (CDA) convention in San Francisco, CA on September 9-11, 2010 at Booth # 736 and at the American Dental Association (ADA) convention in Orlando, FL on October 9-11, 2010 at Booth #1244.

For more info, call 888-331-3323 toll free; visit www.clearcorrect.com; or write to ClearCorrect, Inc. at 5200 Mitchelldale St., Suite F-26, Houston TX 77092.

PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwire – August 25, 2010) –  Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders reports in the past five years, self-injury, particularly cutting oneself, is becoming more prevalent among eating disorder patients. 

“Approximately 40 to 50 percent of our patients have either reported a history of self-injury or are presently engaging in these behaviors,” said Dena Cabrera, PsyD, psychologist and national speaker at Remuda Ranch. “This number seems to be consistent for the past five years. Studies have shown that adolescents engaging in self-injury behavior were more likely to have an eating disorder.”

Cutting may be increasing in our culture because young women today are struggling with identity issues and dealing with challenging problems. They feel they have to go to extremes to show others that they are suffering. Often, they are suffering from depression. In a visual culture, cutting may be a voice to get needs met. Self-injury may represent that struggle visually while physiologically and emotionally numbing the pain.

Based on studies and direct patient reports, Dr. Cabrera lists the following as additional reasons for self-injury:

• Stimulation: Escaping dissociative experience through an intentional gesture to feel one’s body, thereby using self-injury as a self-grounding technique.
• Emotional Release: Self-imposed when feeling guilt, shame, weakness, anger or punishment.
• Relaxation: A pleasure response to the warmth of the blood and to the physical sensation of pain.
• Distraction: Inducing dissociation or a trance-like state to avoid attending to an emotional trigger, issue, subject or suicidal thoughts.
• Social Attention: Obtaining self-affirmation by showing oneself and others one’s strength and achieving protection through the response of others.
• Alteration: Altering one’s body to make it unattractive to others through scarring.

At Remuda Ranch, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is used to teach patients skills to replace the self-harm behavior whether that behavior is an eating disorder, cutting, or both.

“We provide structure to the patient’s environment to motivate, reinforce and individualize appropriate skills needed for recovery,” adds Dr. Cabrera. “We also help remove negative behaviors as well as establish plans in case of relapse.”

“If someone you know is practicing self-injury it’s important to get help immediately,” said Dr. Cabrera. “Cutting is not like biting your nails, it can be very dangerous. Further, it perpetuates low self worth and esteem. It becomes a vicious cycle.”

About Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders
Remuda Ranch offers inpatient and residential programs for individuals of all faiths suffering from eating or anxiety disorders. Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a psychiatric and a primary care provider, registered dietitian, master’s level therapist, psychologist and registered nurse. The professional staff equips each patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life. For more information, call
1-800-445-1900 or visit www.remudaranch.com.

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LEXINGTON, MA–(Marketwire – August 25, 2010) –  Imprivata^®, Inc., the company that simplifies and secures user access, today announced the formation of its Healthcare Advisory Board. This board draws upon real-world perspectives of industry leaders to address healthcare IT challenges and trends as the company develops innovative and practical solutions that solve the unique challenges facing the healthcare industry. Chaired by Barry P. Chaiken, MD, MPH, FHIMSS, chief medical officer of Imprivata, the Healthcare Advisory Board is comprised of Imprivata customers and industry experts, including:

• Michael Westcott, MD, CMIO, Alegent Health
• Denis Le Beuf, Chief Information Security Officer, Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal
• Tarun Ghosh, CIO, Fremont-Rideout Health Group
• John Fernandez, CEO, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• Michael Krouse, Senior Vice President and CIO, OhioHealth
• Ted Lewis, President, Parkview Adventist Medical Center
• Deborah Peel, MD, Founder and Chair, Patient Privacy Rights

Through open sharing of experiences, dialogue about trends and regulatory influences and thoughtful debate, this new Healthcare Advisory Board is the latest example of Imprivata’s commitment to helping hospitals improve clinician workflow, enforce patient privacy and deploy transparent security.

“Today’s healthcare organizations face constant change, new regulatory mandates and a unique working environment that demands quick access to information but tight security on patient data,” said Dr. Michael Westcott, CMIO of Alegent Health, the largest healthcare system in Nebraska. The not-for-profit, faith based health care provider, which is 9,000 employees strong, has been an Imprivata customer since 2006. “One of the primary goals of the Healthcare Advisory Board is to share our experiences, study our similarities and differences, develop creative solutions to the challenges we face as an industry, and help Imprivata develop practical solutions that make a difference in hospitals around the world,” Dr. Westcott explained.

The Healthcare Advisory Board held its first meeting in Boston in June 2010 and will meet again in December. While topics for discussion at the first meeting were broad, there were clear commonalities among this varied group of healthcare organizations. Among the topics were:

• The impacts of the Healthcare Information Portability and Privacy (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Acts
• The role of access management in the implementation and “Meaningful Use” of EMRs
• Health information exchanges (HIEs) and the accompanying Beacon Grants (in ARRA)
• SSO and Strong Authentication enhancements for improved workflow
• Privacy and security
• Compliance demonstration, auditing and reporting
• Enterprise-wide business intelligence
• SaaS/cloud computing

“With the Healthcare Advisory Board, we have built a community of trusted, experienced and motivated members that are dedicated to triage industry priorities and provide fresh perspectives from C-level leaders,” said Barry P. Chaiken, MD, MPH, FHIMSS, chief medical officer of Imprivata. “I am very proud to be working with this diverse group of industry insiders and influencers to solve the problems of tomorrow — fast EMR access, patient privacy, security — today.”

Built upon a foundation of deep healthcare industry experience, Imprivata strives to make patient data easily accessible throughout clinical workflows, empowering physicians, nurses and other clinicians with fast EMR access, while enforcing stringent patient privacy policies through transparent security across healthcare information systems. Today Imprivatas’ Global Healthcare Division, has more than 550 healthcare customers and one million-plus healthcare users worldwide. 

“Imprivata long ago established a firm commitment to the healthcare industry, which has in turn fueled our rapid growth in recent years,” said Omar Hussain, president and CEO of Imprivata. “We have a history of not asking our customers what products they need, but rather spending time understanding what their problems and concerns are. It is in this mindset that we’re excited to tap into some of the healthcare industry’s brightest minds to spark vibrant discussion and help shape what solutions Imprivata brings to market over the long term.”

About Imprivata
Imprivata is the leading independent vendor focused on simplifying and securing user access. By strengthening user authentication, streamlining application access and simplifying compliance reporting across multiple computing environments, customers can align security with user workflows and realize substantial productivity gains while lowering IT costs.

Imprivata has received numerous product awards and top review ratings from leading industry publications and analysts. Headquartered in Lexington, Mass., Imprivata partners with over 200 resellers, and serves the access security needs of more than 1,000 customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.imprivata.com.

RSS Feed to Imprivata News: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ImprivataNews

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KANKAKEE, IL–(Marketwire – August 25, 2010) – Riverside Medical Center, a leading provider in the Chicago south suburbs hospital network, now offers a new way to stay connected to loved ones and friends during their stay in the hospital.

Under Riverside’s website features, located at www.RiversideMC.net, loved ones logging in online can simply click on the red email a patient button to get started. From there, friends and relatives can send an electronic message to a patient being treated within the Riverside Illinois healthcare system. Messages will be delivered by a Riverside volunteer Monday through Friday during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). This service is offered as a courtesy to all Riverside patients and their families.

Additional Riverside online features include bill payment, nursery and scheduling. Patients and loved ones can also shop, check maternity registration, browse the news room and look for upcoming events at Riverside.

In an effort to provide more efficient service, Riverside Medical Center volunteers will deliver all email messages Monday – Friday during normal business hours at Riverside’s Kankakee hospital facilities. Delays in delivery may occur during weekends and holidays. Riverside Medical Center will make every effort to deliver your message promptly but cannot guarantee delivery. If a patient has been discharged or has opted to stay anonymous during their stay at Riverside Medical Center, message will be discarded.

This e-mail service should not be used for any confidential communication and is solely for the purpose of sending encouragement to patients in the hospital. Emails containing information of a personal nature or ones including any medical or diagnostic information should not be sent via this method. 

All messages will be read and printed by Riverside Medical Center volunteers. Inappropriate messages, including business solicitations or messages containing offensive or obscene language, etc. will be discarded at the discretion of the volunteers.

Unfortunately, the e-mail service can only receive and deliver messages at this time. The system cannot send a response from the patient or provide outgoing e-mail services for patients.

To learn more about the patient e-mail service, or for more information about other quality services offered by Riverside Medical Center, visit www.RiversideMC.net or call (815) 933-1671.

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LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – August 24, 2010) –  MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (www.mmrglobal.com) through its subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (www.mymedicalrecords.com), a leading provider of Personal Health Records (PHR) technology and professional document management and imaging systems, today announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Image Access Corporation, Kodak’s largest reseller of document imaging products and services. Image Access, in business for over 20 years, will sell the MMRPro electronic document management solution to hospitals, alternate care facilities and physician practices and clinics (www.mmrprovideos.com).

Robert H. Lorsch, Chairman and CEO of MMRGlobal, commented, “We are excited about Image Access joining our growing list of resellers in support of the deployment of MMRPro. Image Access through its offering of MMRPro enables its customers to take the first step toward meaningful use.”

MMRGlobal also recently announced its move to new corporate headquarters, expanding its office space by more than 300%. The offices are located in the Associated Television International building (www.associatedtelevision.com), the Company’s strategic media and advertising partner, at 4401 Wilshire Blvd. 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90010. The move will enable MMRGlobal to house development resources from its technology partner, Nihilent in India. The two companies are working together in support of MMRGlobal’s worldwide expansion of its products and services, including China.

About MMRGlobal, Inc.

MMR Global, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. (“MMR”), provides secure and easy-to-use online Personal Health Records (“PHRs”) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions, serving consumers, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and professional organizations and affinity groups. MyMedicalRecords enables individuals and families to access their medical records and other important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance policies and wills, anytime from anywhere using the Internet. The MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record is built on proprietary, patented technologies to allow documents, images and voicemail messages to be transmitted and stored in the system using a variety of methods, including fax, phone, or file upload without relying on any specific electronic medical record platform to populate a user’s account. The Company’s professional offering, MMRPro, is designed to give physicians’ offices an easy and cost-effective solution to digitizing paper-based medical records and sharing them with patients in real time through an integrated patient portal. MMR is an Independent Software Vendor Partner with Kodak to deliver an integrated turnkey EMR solution for healthcare professionals. MMR is also an integrated service provider on Google Health. To learn more about MMR Global, Inc. and its products, visit www.mymedicalrecords.com and view the videos at www.mmrtheater.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical matters are forward-looking statements, and some can be identified by the use of words (and their derivations) such as “need,” “possibility,” “offer,” “development,” “if,” “negotiate,” “when,” “begun,” “believe,” “achieve,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “maintain,” “plan,” and “continue,” or the negative of these words. MMRGlobal, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on MMRGlobal, Inc.’s reasonable expectations as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The information discussed in this release is subject to various risks and uncertainties related to changes in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s business prospects, results of operations or financial condition, government regulation and initiatives, uncertainties associated with doing business internationally across borders and territories, and such other risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in MMRGlobal, Inc.’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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DALLAS, TX–(Marketwire – August 24, 2010) –  Too many men have suffered in silence for too long, according to Dr. Bill Johnson, Medical Director of Innovations Medical. He wants more men to “Loose the Moobs” by leveraging modern cosmetic procedures to solve a serious problem.

Male breast fat.

“Either more men are developing flabby pecs, or men are just taking better care of themselves now,” says Dr. Johnson. “We’ve seen the interest in male breast fat reduction jump dramatically in the last year.”

Johnson’s team of technicians at Innovations medical has seen a 300% increase in the demand for this procedure over the last 3 years. “These days, I see at least one ‘moob’ patient per week,” says Johnson. “All of them want liposuction to reduce their chest fat.”

Medically, it’s called gynecomastia, but most men refer to their enlarged breasts as “moobs.” Some Hollywood glitterati have been snapped with “moobs”: Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, even Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are numerous YouTube videos. But no one needs to put up with it, according to Johnson.

Causes can include obesity, hormones and kidney disease, but most of the determining factors are genetic.

“A decade ago, men didn’t seek out cosmetic procedures to address their appearance, but they do now,” says Dr. Johnson. “It’s simple and effective.” Dr. Johnson’s unique “moob” liposuction takes less than one hour, and the patient is awake the entire time. “A guy can come in, have the procedure, and be back at work the next day,” says Johnson. He combines two popular lipo technologies — Tickle Liposuction and SmartLipo. The combination allows for removal of excess fat and skin tightening in the chest area.

“I want more men to take better care of themselves,” says Dr. Johnson. “Get over the hesitation and loose the moobs!”

Innovations Medical is a full-service aesthetic medical practice with locations in Dallas, Fort Worth and Grapevine, Texas. Medical Director Bill Johnson, M.D., has been treating patients in North Texas since 1984. As the name implies, Innovations Medical was the first in North Texas to offer many leading-edge technologies, including SmartLipo, Vibro Liposuction and Acoustic Wave Therapy for cellulite. www.innovationsmedical.com

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LOUISVILLE, KY–(Marketwire – August 24, 2010) –  ZirMed®, a leading national provider of revenue cycle management solutions for healthcare providers, today announced the addition of a first-of-its-kind new self-sign up capability for Patient Notebook, ZirMed’s online electronic billing and patient medical account management solution. The self-sign up function allows patients to enroll themselves to receive and pay their medical bills electronically for multiple healthcare providers in a single convenient, secure location.

With the new self-sign up feature, patients not only enjoy the convenience and privacy of enrolling for the service from the comfort of their own home, but healthcare practices also benefit from the improved workflow, reduced paperwork and cost savings of having more patients enroll in electronic bill presentment.

“Self-subscription had been a major hurdle due to HIPAA regulations and logistical concerns, but we’ve been able to overcome these challenges to offer a new level of convenience and efficiency to both the provider and the patient,” said Jim Lacy, ZirMed CFO. “As healthcare evolves into a more consumer-driven industry, this new feature demonstrates our view of giving patients more transparency into the payment process. Our approach is a fundamental step in giving patients control over their healthcare information, both financial and clinical.”

The new self-enrollment feature allows patients to sign up online to receive billing statements and pay bills at www.patientnotebook.com. Prior to this capability, office staff had to ask patients to sign up and enroll at the office. With the self-sign up feature, the office has the flexibility to continue to enroll patients or direct them to Patient Notebook to sign themselves up for this service.

For more information about Patient Notebook visit www.zirmed.com or www.patientnotebook.com.

About ZirMed:
Founded in 1999, ZirMed is a nationally recognized leader in delivering revenue cycle management solutions to healthcare providers. ZirMed enables healthcare providers to leverage the power of technology to cure administrative burdens and increase cash flow. ZirMed solutions include eligibility verification, credit/debit card processing, check processing, claims management, coding compliancy and reimbursement management, electronic remittance advice, patient statements, patient e-commerce solutions, provider credentialing, and lock box services. ZirMed solutions are designed to complement provider workflow and to provide innovative, creative and flexible solutions for healthcare’s most pressing administrative challenges. For more information about ZirMed, visit www.zirmed.com/pr.