Hospitals and Health Systems News

If your at the stage where you feel you no longer feel like wear glasses – whether you only use them for driving at night or reading or daily use or or if you want a break from the hassle of constantly changing contact lenses you can go for laser eye surgery Belfast clinics which can improve your vision. Laser eye clinics in this part of the world seem to be 10 a penny. You should carry out some research on the clinics offering the surgery here if you are going to be using them. The most important point and it makes no difference the location, is to only use experienced and qualified surgeons with a strong history of previous successful operations .

If you therefore think Belfast laser eye surgery is for you you’ll learn more details if you book a consultation at one or a number of practises. Then if you decide you want to pursue with the operation you will clinic will perform an eye test to work out your levels of your eyesight in very high detail. Most peoples eyes are completely unique and the difference between the vision of our own eyes can also be totally different .

Once the complicated optometrist eye scanning test has been carried out you could be required to sit through some more tests such as the state of the art Artemis™ corneal scanner test. There are a host of surgery options such as LASIK, PRK and LASEK available to you in Belfast . Your type of surgery will be dictated to your eye conditions and the limitations of your budget. There is a whole host of other techniques from lense implants, cross linking and artificial lenses. An experienced eye surgeon can recommend the best treatment options for your eye conditions .

Lots of folks have been rejected for laser eye surgery by some eye surgeons in Belfast before as it was thought the person or even the surgeons could not perform successful laser eye surgery. Something commonly stated for rejection was that the patient was too old , or rather their eyes had preamaturely aged this is known as presbyopia), and nothing could be done to benefit their deteriorating eyesight. With the pace and advancement of medical break throughs new techniques have been put to trial that have had exceptional advances for laser eye surgery. One such technique called Laser Blended Vision Surgery has had great results in improving the eyesight where presbyopia had set in .

There is a massive market for laser eye surgery Belfast clinics servicing the 30 and over age bracket . This is more true than ever as we progress into an an aging society were most of us are living longer because of diet and health changes . It is noticeable many people who used to have good eyesight in their youth notice that by the time they get to their forties their eyesight becomes weaker . Its a good job most of the small visual incorrections can be fixed with laser eye surgery.

Some of the pitfalls of laser eye surgery are you can have poor vision during night and experiencing halos around bright lights. You may also suffer dryness in the eyes. Remember as with most surgical procedures there are associated complications, a good surgeon will be able to explain all the risks of laser eye surgery.

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In 2007, drug development in Japan, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market, exploded six-fold over 2006 and should continue to grow, according to a new CenterWatch report released today.

Japan: Opening the Door to Global Clinical Trials, the fourth in a series of CenterWatch reports on global clinical research markets, takes a look at the reasons for Japan’s dramatic growth, the differences in the country’s approach to clinical research, and government initiatives to attract Big Pharma to conduct simultaneous global clinical trials in Japan.

“New government initiatives have helped to streamline drug review and approval processes, and sponsor companies have responded by including Japan in their global drug development programs more,” said Sara Gambrill, senior editor at CenterWatch and author of the report. “Japan is participating in global drug development at historic levels; however, there is still work to be done there to sustain that growth.”

This is an essential resource for any business seeking to better understand Japan’s clinical trials landscape and what to expect when conducting clinical research there.
– See more at: http://www.centerwatch.com/news-online/article/33/new-centerwatch-report-examines-japans-surging-clinical-trials-market#sthash.iXq1pwgG.dpuf

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The US healthcare system is the best in the world! — Only if you can access and afford it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a good healthcare system should ideally comprise of state of art medical facilities being fairly distributed across the entire population at fair and affordable rates. Contrary to this, the healthcare system in the United States is not only the most expensive in the world but also is unfairly distributed among its population. People who have access to an insurance cover may have some respite, but the scenario is hopeless for the poor, uninsured and the underinsured. The rising costs of technology and high administrative costs have escalated the overall medical expenses to such an extent that it has become too expensive for the people at large. On the other hand, the availability of similar medical facilities at fair rates in some of the offshore countries has made them a promising medical destination for the US citizens. This has led to the emergence of a phenomenon called medical tourism.

The recent years has seen an upsurge in the number of US citizens opting for medical treatment at offshore locations such as India, Singapore, Bangkok and Thailand. Most medical procedures in these countries are conducted at one-tenth of the cost of a similar procedure at the United States. The low cost of medical facilities in these countries may raise a few eyebrows regarding the quality of the medical services being offered. These countries offer world-class medical facilities that are at par with the best. Some of the doctors administering the patients have even been trained in US. The success rate and medical achievements has also been a major draw among the medical tourists. In the year 2005, around 3,74,000 medical tourists opted for a treatment at Singapore; a Bangkok hospital admitted over 1,50,000 foreign patients and approximately 1,00,000 tourists chose India as their medical destination.

However, among the various medical tourism destinations, India is on it’s way to becoming the most preferred destination among the medical tourists. The Indian healthcare industry with employee strength of over four million is among the largest service sectors in the economy. The government and the private hospitals are working together towards the objective of making India the leader in this sector. Well-trained and experienced doctors, state of art medical facilities and personalized care have helped India to register the fastest growth rate in this Industry. The number of patients seeking treatment in India has gone up from 10,000 in the year 2000 to 100,000 in the year 2005. If the estimates are to be believed, the medical tourism industry in India has the potential to be a 2 billion dollar industry by the year 2012.

Medical tourism is the best alternative for people belonging to countries such as the United States, where the entire healthcare system is unfair both in terms of cost and accessibility. The situation has become so precarious that it seems beyond repair. However, on the other side of the Pacific, the Asian countries have succeeded in offering a combination of world-class medical services, good care and prompt attention that has made them an instant favorite among patients throughout the world.

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Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, recently announced that 150 CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery Systems now have been installed worldwide. This milestone was achieved when Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a leading healthcare services company, installed a CyberKnife System in collaboration with consultant clinician partners at The Harley Street Clinic in London. HCA’s addition of this CyberKnife System marks the installation of its seventh system companywide, including its first outside the United States.

“The combination of the CyberKnife Systems’ robotic mobility and integrated imaging system provides us with a powerful tool for treating tumors with a precision that wasn’t possible before,” said Nick Plowman, M.D., oncologist and clinical director of The CyberKnife Centre London. “The CyberKnife System not only improves the accuracy with which we can target tumors, but provides the patient with a pain-free experience that minimizes side effects and shortens treatment time.”

Availability of the CyberKnife System has grown dramatically, increasing by 50 percent since May 2007 when the company announced that the 100th CyberKnife System was installed at Centre Oscar Lambret in Lille, France. Additionally, patient demand for CyberKnife radiosurgery is on the rise with the number of patients treated increasing more than 34 percent during fiscal year 2008. Prostate and lung radiosurgery seem to be driving the demand, having grown approximately 95 percent and 44 percent respectively during the last fiscal year.

“The rapid growth in deployments of the CyberKnife System around the world is a testament to the promise of robotic radiosurgery for the treatment of a wide variety of tumors,” said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray. “The accuracy and non-invasive nature of CyberKnife radiosurgery gives patients a more convenient and less intrusive option for the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body.”

Currently, HCA has installed CyberKnife Systems in six facilities, including CyberKnife Center of North Florida Radiation Oncology in Gainesville, Fla.; CyberKnife Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.; St. Lucie Medical CyberKnife Treatment Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Fla.; Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan.; and Methodist CyberKnife Center in San Antonio, Texas.

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Nationally recognized healthcare reimbursement experts, Tracy Knowles, Esq., Senior Vice President for AHC, and Maria Persons, Corporate Director of Patient Financial Services for Tucson Medical Center, recently provided education to the Texas Chapter of American Association of Health Care Administrative Management.

Their seminar, Managing Usual and Customary Denials, discussed the manner in which healthcare providers can develop a payer specific approach to resolve reimbursement reduction issues. The educational conference was attended by over 60 individuals from hospitals and health systems, specialized healthcare providers, and sponsoring organizations.

Representative provider organizations in attendance included:
Arlington Memorial Hospital
Baylor Health Care System
Children’s Medical Center
East Texas Medical Center
Harris Methodist Southlake
HCA Healthcare
Hill Country Memorial Hospital
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital
Hunt Memorial Hospital District
Methodist Health System
Parkland Health & Hospital System
Texas Health Resources
Triumph Healthcare
University Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Wilson N. Jones

Workshop attendees received education on the various tactics employed by payers, state statutes, federal regulations, case law, correct guidelines utilized in determining “reasonableness” of charges for each payer type, and appropriateness of patient involvement in each payer situation.

Having completed over 160 seminars this year, AHC maintains their commitment to the healthcare community by providing complimentary, on-site healthcare reimbursement education. Interested parties who wish to schedule a complimentary workshop for their hospital business office staff may contact AHC at (888) 511-7901 or visit www.ahcinc.com.

About AHC
AHC Healthcare Receivables Management (www.ahcinc.com) provides technology enabled accounts receivables management solutions and complimentary education offerings for the healthcare community. Employing over 500 healthcare reimbursement professionals, approximately 100 of which are attorneys, AHC utilizes federal and state regulations, established case law, and client specific protocols to provide guaranteed results to our 760 clients nationwide. AHC has offices in Virginia, New York, Florida, Illinois, and California.

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A White Paper issued today by AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) reports that the impact of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on patients’ Quality of Life and psychological well-being is comparable to that of cancer or coronary heart disease. The White Paper also shows the diagnosis of AMD and the threat of blindness increases depression and the risk of suicide.

America’s leading vision, seniors and research organizations have joined forces, under the umbrella of AMD Alliance International, to call on health policy makers, healthcare professionals and the AMD community to take immediate action to combat the risks of depression, suicide and social isolation linked to age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in the USA. According to AMD Alliance International, the dire consequences of AMD can be prevented by early detection, measures taken during diagnosis, and providing access to low vision rehabilitation and support services. More than 15 million American seniors live with some form of AMD, and this number is expected to reach potentially epidemic proportions as the population ages.

“AMD is no longer just about vision loss. It’s also about mental health and quality of life, which is why identifying and catching AMD at its earliest stages is critical. People, especially those over 50, must have regular eye examinations,” said Don Curran, Chairman, AMD Alliance International and AMD patient. “Further, health policy makers need to acknowledge that quality of life is an important patient outcome and recognize the urgent need to provide timely access to physicians, treatments, and support services to limit the damage caused by AMD. The pieces for optimal AMD care exist, but the puzzle must be put together. A good life with AMD is very possible, with the right supports at the right time.” According to Dr. Tara Cortes, RN, PhD President and CEO, Lighthouse International, “Early detection and treatment are essential, especially for those with wet macular degeneration. In addition, in many cases, low vision rehabilitation and counseling is the right support. We must accelerate our efforts to make low vision rehabilitation available to all those who need it.”

The White Paper, issued to kick off the 2006 AMD Awareness Week, September 18 to 24, 2006, also marks the start of a global outreach campaign to raise awareness of the little-known psychological effects of AMD. The campaign aims to demonstrate that basic supports to improve AMD patients’ quality of life – early access to medical expertise, early diagnosis and treatment, and referral to appropriate low vision programs, including counseling – are vital. As AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the Western World in people 50 and older, and with cases rising as the baby boomer generation ages, more people are at risk of suffering from more than just vision loss.

People with vision loss are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression versus the general population. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850,000 lives worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Further studies included in the White Paper analysis show quality of life for an AMD patient to be an underestimated outcome at both the clinical and public levels. Other studies show that the inclusion of low-vision care services help to reduce the negative impact of the AMD diagnosis, empower patients and help them adjust to living with the disease.

In addition to an increased risk of depression, the White Paper notes how AMD adversely affects day to day life. People with AMD are eight times more likely to have difficulties shopping, 12 times more likely to have problems using a telephone and nine times more likely to experience difficulties doing simple house work. The condition also puts patients at higher risk of accidents such as hip fractures, and many with the disease are unable to drive. All of these factors together lead to depression and sense of isolation that many people with AMD needlessly experience.

“Education, awareness, and good clinical care are important in reducing the impact of AMD on the quality of life. At the same time, investments in research are leading to more effective therapies to limit the effects of the disease,” says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). “Our goal is to fund research that will put an end to all retinal degenerative diseases including AMD. FFB-funded researchers are making excellent progress in identifying the genetic and lifestyle factors that lead to AMD, and they are moving promising preventions, treatments, and cures into clinical trials and the marketplace.”

About AMD
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the central part of the retina – the area responsible for central vision, which allows us to read, drive and recognize faces. As central vision breaks down, only peripheral vision remains. There are two types of AMD: wet and dry. Dry AMD is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 80 per cent of all cases. Dry AMD occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down. Approximately 10 to 20 per cent of cases will progress to wet AMD. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels are formed under and leak into the macula. Blood vessel growth in wet AMD progresses much more rapidly than the dry form and accounts for the majority of cases in which severe vision loss occur.

AMD causes more than 14 million cases of visual impairment worldwide each year. More than 15 million American seniors live with some form of AMD, and this number is expected to reach potentially epidemic proportions as the population ages. AMD is even more prevalent among people who smoke. Evidence shows that smoking doubles the risk of developing AMD, while some studies suggest the risk could be as high as three- to four-fold. The World Health Organization recognizes smoking as the only modifiable risk factor for AMD. For more detailed information about AMD, consult http://www.amdalliance.org.

About AMD Alliance International
The AMD Alliance International is a global non-profit coalition of vision, seniors’ and research organisations working to raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in older populations. The AMD Alliance International promote regular eye examinations and provide education about prevention, treatments, rehabilitation, and support services available for AMD. Comprising 55 organisations in 22 countries, the AMD Alliance International is the only international organisation focused exclusively on AMD.

The mission of the Alliance is “to bring knowledge, help and hope to individuals and families around the world affected by AMD through:
– Generating awareness and understanding of AMD;
– Promoting the importance of education, early detection, knowledge of
treatment and rehabilitation options; and
– Preserving vision and improving the quality of life of individuals
affected by AMD.”

The American members of AMD Alliance International who join forces in this awareness effort are (in alphabetical order) The Alliance for Aging Research, The Deicke Centre for Visual Rehabilitation, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Lighthouse International, Macular Degeneration Partnership, Macular Degeneration Support, Prevent Blindness America, and The Seniors Coalition.

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AHC Healthcare Receivables Management, an industry leader in providing third-party reimbursement solutions and complimentary education offerings, announced today the completion of the company’s acquisition of Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions (CHS), a division of CB Accounts, Inc. CHS, with offices in Peoria and Jacksonville, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland is a national healthcare accounts receivable management firm offering early-out self-pay programs, self-pay after insurance services, and Out-of-State Medicaid billing and follow-up.

This acquisition enables AHC to offer comprehensive “patient centric” reimbursement programs to healthcare providers. “Patient centric” reimbursement programs enable AHC, on behalf of its hospital clients, to address both third-party payer and patient follow-up requirements, including eligibility and enrollment services, ensuring maximum reimbursement for healthcare providers while offering a single, blended pricing structure. This integrated service approach will simplify invoices for healthcare providers, remove the challenges associated with managing multiple vendors, and improve patient satisfaction by reducing the number of parties a patient needs to interact with during the payment/recovery process. Most importantly, the hospital can be assured it is recovering the appropriate monies from the appropriate responsible party(ies).

“This acquisition provides us greater expertise in the patient recovery process, which, combined with our historic expertise and reputation recovering monies from insurance companies, gives us unlimited potential to meet the future needs of healthcare providers, ” states AHC President, David Langsam. “Expanding our product lines will allow us to deliver a more comprehensive service offering to our clients and the healthcare marketplace in general.”

For more information about AHC’s “Patient Centric” Reimbursement Programs or to schedule a complimentary, state specific, in-service workshop on “Insurance Reimbursement Law”, contact AHC toll free at (888) 511-7901.

About AHC:
AHC Healthcare Receivables Management (www.ahcinc.com) specializes in accounts receivable management solutions for the healthcare industry. Employing over 500 healthcare professionals, approximately 100 of which are attorneys, AHC utilizes federal and state regulations, established case law, and client specific protocols to provide guaranteed accounts receivable management solutions to our 750 clients nationwide. AHC operates out of eight locations, with headquarters located in Manassas, Virginia.

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