HealthLeaders Media Launches Free Online Daily Business Newsletter for Physician Leaders - PhysicianLeaders Daily News

PhysicianLeaders Daily News, a new free online publication offering daily updates on top business news of the day for physician leaders, is now available.

Marblehead, MA (PRWEB) January 31, 2006 -- PhysicianLeaders Daily News, a new free online publication offering daily updates on top business news of the day for physician leaders, is now available.  

Physician leaders need timely, accurate and relevant business information every day. Physicians are trained to sift through myriad bits of information to come up with only what is essential. This same philosophy guides our editors—the same team of journalists who bring you HealthLeaders magazine and HealthLeaders Daily News. We look for the national stories that have implications for physician leaders, as well as some of the local and regional issues that could impact their practice.

“Today’s physician leader is being bombarded with information at the same time that the business side of medicine increases in complexity,” says HealthLeaders editor Jim Molpus. “This newsletter is designed to be a streamlined way for physicians to stay current on the business of healthcare.”

Every issue will feature a handful of links to the top news of the day from newspaper Web sites across the country. PhysicianLeaders Daily News also offers quick, action-oriented insight, from new ways to make the practice more efficient, to updates on policy from Washington. Peer insight comes from contributed columns from experts in the medicine. Plus, the PhysicianLeaders Daily News offers abstracts and exclusive bonus content from the physician practice expert newsletters of HCPro, Inc.

PhysicianLeaders Daily News is delivered to a physician’s inbox every day for free, in an easy-to-read format. Readers may go to www.healthleadersmedia.com/subscribe to sign up.

To sponsor PhysicianLeaders Daily News contact Sara Law at 800.639.7477.

About HealthLeaders Media
HealthLeaders Media, a division of HCPro, Inc, is the premier publisher of information resources for senior executives at healthcare organizations. Each month, more than 100,000 healthcare executives and key decision makers nationwide turn to HealthLeaders Media for timely industry information and practical advice on trends and innovations, strategy, case-study solutions, and opinions. As an integrated media company, HealthLeaders Media consists of the monthly HealthLeaders magazine, several healthcare business e-mail publications, live events, and a state-specific healthcare business news service. Advertising vehicles include print ads, online sponsorships, banner ads, e-mails, Webcasts, roundtables and custom publishing products. For more information, visit them online at www.healthleadersmedia.com.

Contact:
Matt Cann, Group Publisher
Phone: 781-639-1872 ext. 3233

Mark H. Hollister, General Manager
Phone: 888.834.4678

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Press Contact: Matt Cann
Company Name: HCPRO
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 781-639-1872
Website: www.healthleadersmedia.com/subscribe

¶ 9:45 AM 0 comments

Avian Flu Talk Launches New Discussion Forum

Avian Flu Talk hosts forum for discussions relating to H5N1 bird flu virus.

(PRWEB) January 30, 2006 -- Avian Flu Talk recently announced that it had launched a discussion forum dedicated to discussing issues relating to the H5N1 bird flu virus. Over the last 90 days, this new forum has rapidly grown to be one of the most active forums in the world. The new forum appears to be capturing the public’s attention as people continue to join this community in waves.

“Perhaps the forum is appealing to so many around the world because of the overall caring nature being displayed among the members,” said Ryan Evans, founder of the forum. “The people on this forum also seem to be taking a united stance against the growing pandemic threat, which is also attracting people to the site.”

The new website recently added new informative forums that are designed to help educate the public on pandemic preparedness. “The addition of these new forums will provide a great service to the world,” said Evans, who attributed these latest enhancements to the forum Moderator.

In addition, this forum is a great news source to receive all of the latest information and developments regarding the bird flu as its members share news articles from around the world.

View the forum at www.Avianflutalk.com .

Media Contact:
Ryan Evans
Avian Flu Talk
P.O. Box 1294
Stanton, California 90680
714.965.5950
www.Avianflutalk.com

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Press Contact: Ryan Evans
Company Name: Avian Flu Talk
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 714.965.5950
Website: www.Avianflutalk.com

¶ 1:08 PM 0 comments

Federal Register Publishes TÜV Healthcare Specialists’ Application for Medicare Deeming Authority

Healthcare quality firm TÜV Healthcare Specialists (TÜVHS) today announced that its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for deeming authority has been published in the Federal Register.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) January 30, 2006 -- Healthcare quality firm TÜV Healthcare Specialists (TÜVHS) today announced that its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for deeming authority has been published in the Federal Register.

The CMS request for public comments in the Federal Register is a key administrative milestone in the months-long process to achieve CMS hospital deeming authority for Medicare. TÜVHS completed its formal application for deeming authority in December. Posting in the Federal Register (http://www.gpoaccess.gov) moves the process into the public domain as a way to inform and involve healthcare leaders and the general public.

“January has been a significant month for us,” says Rebecca Wise, CEO of TÜVHS. “In addition to expanding our ISO 9001 and accreditation teams, we have been undergoing a rigorous evaluation of our operations by CMS. We want to be ready when CMS issues their decision.”

If granted deeming authority, TÜVHS will become the first new option for CMS hospital accreditation in 40 years, and the only service to integrate the ISO 9001 Quality Management System into the accreditation process.

About TÜV Healthcare Specialists

TÜVHS (TÜV America Healthcare Specialists TÜV SUD Group LLC) is an experienced healthcare quality company dedicated to improving safety and patient outcomes in America’s hospitals. TÜVHS is a subsidiary of the international quality management and product testing company TÜV America. TÜV America is a Registrar for the international ISO 9001 Quality Management System. For more information visit: www.tuvhs.com.

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Press Contact: Peter Greer
Company Name: TUV Healthcare Specialists
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 978-462-8042
Website: www.tuvhs.com

¶ 11:50 AM 0 comments

MediComm Patient Flow System Integrates with Centricity Physician Office Practice Management System

Visionary Systems announces new Reception Desk Software that integrates its MediComm exam room management system with Centricity’s Patient scheduling module.

(PRWEB) January 30, 2006 -- Visionary Systems announces new Reception Desk Software that integrates its MediComm exam room management system with Centricity’s Patient scheduling module.

Centricity, the industry's leading practice management software, can now forward patient information to Visionary System's MediComm exam room management system.

When the receptionist checks a patient in using Centricity, the patient's name and the name of their physician are automatically sent to the MediComm system. The MediComm system then keeps track of patients as they are assigned to exam rooms, taken to the x-ray suite, or to the lab for blood work. Throughout these movements within the office, the MediComm system maintains the proper priority of the patient relative to other patients.

Norma Morrison, vice president of operations at Foundry Sports Medicine and Fitness in Providence, Rhode Island says “One of our concerns coming to our new office was the communication from the front desk to the patient treatment area. The MediComm system handles this without extra steps or wasted time in walking up front, and eliminates confusion if a medical assistant/x-ray tech is busy and does not hear an overhead page. The MediComm system is foolproof and has exceeded our expectations.”

The heart of the MediComm system is an LCD touch screen mounted at the back nurse's desk. Along with a full floor plan of the exam room status, the MediComm system displays a list of patients in the waiting room. Using the touch screen, a staff member assigns patients an exam room, which alerts the doctor that the patient is ready. Modules outside each exam room display the name of the patient in the room, as well as which room the doctor should go to next. User defined pushbuttons on the modules allow the doctor to call for additional services such as an x-ray, medical assistant, or lab tech.

Morrison added “We no longer use paper charts. But without the chart on the door, the doctors wouldn't have known the name of the patient in the exam room. The MediComm system not only lets the doctor know who is in the room, but also the order of rooms to visit - even if a patient left the exam room for an x-ray, and is now back and awaiting the results. Our staff always knows what to do and where to go next.”

About VISIONARY SYSTEMS and MEDICOMM.
The MediComm is a sophisticated and user-friendly communication system. It allows doctors to request specific staff assistance, and directs doctors to their next patient. It is the ultimate exam room signaling system.

A central display panel gives an overview of the entire office, while modules at each exam room allow quick data entry and focused information display.

MediComm can streamline traffic and information flow in your office. MediComm:

Indicates which rooms are free.

Tells the doctor which room he has patients in – and keeps them in order so he knows which room to go to next.

Allows the doctor to call a particular nurse or tech service with enough detail so that the assistant arrives prepared.

To learn more visit http://visionary-systems.com or call 401-643-1765.

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Press Contact: Marshall Huggins
Company Name: Visionary Systems
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 401-643-1765
Website: http://visionary-systems.com

¶ 7:40 AM 0 comments

PMI Announces the 2006 National Conference for Certified Professionals to be held in San Antonio, Texas

Practice Management Institute (PMI), a leading provider of medical office continuing education, today announced its National Conference for Certified Professionals, to be held on May 18 & 19, 2006 on the River Walk in San Antonio.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) January 27, 2006 -- Practice Management Institute (PMI), a leading provider of medical office continuing education, today announced its National Conference for Certified Professionals, to be held on May 18 & 19, 2006 on the River Walk in San Antonio.

“This conference is jam-packed with information critical to the physician’s office. Topics such as: ‘EMRs -- Should you Implement a Paperless System?’, ‘Pay For Performance and Consumer Driven Healthcare’ and ‘Making Sense of the New Competitive Acquisition Plan’ will be profiled at this year’s conference,” said Lynn Ballard, Conference Chair and VP of Professional Services for Practice Management Institute. “These sessions will be presented along with 20 other classes highlighting critical administrative issues that impact today’s physicians and their practices.”

PMI’s veteran faculty team will present the program, along with guest presenters, including Stan Luke, Deputy Chief, U.S. District Attorney’s Office, Civil Division, Department of Justice, and Michael Brown, Contributing Editor for Medical Economics. Round table discussions, customized breakout sessions and networking luncheons are planned to promote group interaction with conference participants and faculty members.

Participants are encouraged to register early, as the conference will be capped at 300 participants. This year, PMI celebrates 25 years of coding, reimbursement and practice management training. The federal government recently recognized PMI’s Certified Medical Coder (CMC) program. In 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) named PMI’s Certified Medical Coder program as an example coder certification programs that could be utilized to fulfill its coding certification requirement of Medicare Contractors. The requirement stems from implementation guidelines for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). This recognition reinforces PMI’s position as a top provider of certification for medical office staff.

PMI training and certification classes are currently presented to physicians and their staffs in 400 of the nation’s leading hospitals, health care systems, colleges and medical societies. For more information, visit www.pmiMD.com or call 800-259-5562.

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Press Contact: Nancy Clements
Company Name: PRACTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 210-691-8900
Website: www.pmimd.com

¶ 5:38 PM 0 comments

MD-IT Adds Operations Executive

MD-IT, an industry leader in integrating automated tools with medical transcription to assist physicians in documentation of medical care, announced today that Michael Murphy has joined the Company as Vice President of Operations.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) January 27, 2006 -- MD-IT, an industry leader in integrating automated tools with medical transcription to assist physicians in documentation of medical care, announced today that Michael Murphy has joined the Company as Vice President of Operations.

Mr. Murphy brings twenty-five years of leadership and management experience with both start-up and Fortune 500 firms in software and services businesses. He has distinguished himself as an effective leader with a strong customer service orientation. After beginning his career at Verac, Inc. and later Ball Corporation, Mr. Murphy co-founded Colorado-based Requisite Technology and has been a key member of several successful Colorado startup companies. Most recently, Mr. Murphy served as the Vice President and COO of CTEK, a Colorado-based organization that helps entrepreneurs launch and develop new growth businesses.
“I’ve had my eye on MD-IT for the past couple of years,” said Murphy, “and I’m impressed by the cutting-edge technology it has developed and is now deploying to deliver state-of-the-art medical transcription services. I’m excited to be joining the company at this juncture, as it accelerates its growth to apply its medical transcription solutions more widely.”

The addition of Mr. Murphy is an important commitment to ensure timely, world-class customer support and service. MD-IT’s goal is to make it easy for physicians to use twenty-first century technology in their medical practices without complicating their workload or distracting from physician-patient interactions. “Physicians have enough time demands just keeping up with medical advances in their specialty area, much less having time to research and apply the latest advances in information technology,” noted Thomas Carson, president and CEO of MD-IT. “Our business is to integrate new technology seamlessly into the medical transcription process, so that when an individual physician is ready to try a new tool, such as automated voice recognition, we can switch on that function as part of their existing transcription service. The best part is that the more technology is used, the less expensive documentation becomes, so we can actually help a medical practice decrease operating costs over time while creating an electronic record.”

About MD-IT
MD-IT provides Intelligent Transcription services and products to over 300 physicians in 90 clinics and group practices. Intelligent Transcription uses new technology to transform old services by providing a full range of automated tools that enable fast and easy document creation and exchange among physician offices, medical transcriptionists and information systems, while retaining personalized service to support individual physician preferences. Located in Denver, Colorado, the company is financed by equity investments from strategic partners and private investors. Additional information can be found at www.md-it.com.

Intelligent Transcription - New Technology Transforming Old Services

Media Contact
Thomas Carson President and CEO, 720-932-6262 x411

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Press Contact: Thomas Carson
Company Name: MD-IT
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 720-932-6262
Website: www.md-it.com

¶ 9:53 AM 0 comments

University of California Uses Technology to Tackle Rising Healthcare Costs

California’s 2nd largest employer selects CompassCare’s Clinical Information System.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 26, 2006 -- The University of California’s (UC’s) Office of the President selects CompassCare’s Clinical Information System, which will be provided to its occupational health clinics on a system wide basis. CompassCare provides software to manage healthcare information and delivery.

“A top priority for UC is to ensure that all employees have access to quality healthcare when they need it. Technological innovation helps us advance the delivery of care while stemming the tide of rising costs,” says Dan Nicholson, Workers’ Compensation Manager, UC Office of the President.

The State of California has seen workers’ compensation (WC) costs more than triple from 1995 to 2003. Total medical treatment costs are estimated to be 50 to 100 percent higher in WC than treatments paid for by private health insurance. Although medical costs have decreased with recent reforms, the overall cost of workers’ compensation in California remains significantly higher than in other states.

“As the 2nd largest employer in California with more than 175,000 faculty and staff, it is important that we take proactive measures to ensure our people’s access to high quality care,” says Nicholson. “CompassCare enhances our ability to monitor and measure performance system wide, increasing our visibility into the entire care process. It will help us standardize clinical documentation electronically, capture information on a real-time basis, transmit appropriate levels of information to the correct parties (e.g., claims administrator), and automate clinical and operational functions using a rules-based engine.”

UC comprises 10 campuses and 5 medical centers. The Office of the President is responsible for UC's system wide activities and programs including the coordination of all workers’ compensation claims made throughout the UC system. The CompassCare system will be used by UC to link together its Occupational Health clinics on a common, electronic platform, creating seamless networking and information flow.

The CompassCare clinical information system integrates practice management, EMR, billing and communication processes on top of a rules engine driven architecture – all accessible from a secure, HIPPA compliant, web-interface.

“Effectively managing the delivery of Occupational Healthcare services is paramount for employers like the University of California who serve a broad patient community. We designed CompassCare with the intent of improving the delivery of care on a massive scale. This is being validated at UC as it is with several other hospital systems that use our software,” said Rick Valentine, CEO of CompassCare Inc.

“The CompassCare system helps hospitals reduce the costs associated with processing claims, ensure compliance with regulations, eliminate redundant data entry, manage the delivery of care, and improve communication flow between key stakeholders such as the healthcare provider, the employer and the insurer, all to ensure the injured worker gets the required treatment quickly and efficiently,” says Valentine.

UC represents Chicago-area CompassCare’s 3rd customer in California, others include Dameron Hospital in Stockton, CA and Sutter Health based in Sacramento, CA.

About University of California
UC’s ten campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara. The UC’s 5 medical centers and 10 health centers comprise one of the largest health care systems in the state, and one of the most respected in the country. Each year the University provides care to more than 135,000 inpatients, 239,000 emergency room visitors and more than 3.6 million outpatients. In 2004, the UCLA and UCSF medical centers were ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the entire by U.S. News and World Report.

About CompassCare
CompassCare Inc. provides occupational healthcare stakeholders (employers, care providers, and TPA/ case managers) an integrated management system that connects all parties together in "real-time” via the Internet. It provides instant access to HIPAA-compliant information on an injured worker so all parties have the tools they need to manage the information and activity associated with workers' compensation. The result is improved quality of care and better financial and operations management. With more than 25 million electronic medical (patient) records accurately processed to date, CompassCare is one of the leading suppliers of healthcare information technology. The following are copyrights of CompassCare: CompassCare, MedTRAK, FasTRAK, ClaimTRAK, CaseTRAK, For more information please visit: www.compass-care.com.

Media Contact:
Stewart Dixon
847.604.9800

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Press Contact: Stewart Dixon
Company Name: CompassCare
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 847-604-9800
Website: www.compass-care.com

¶ 3:51 PM 0 comments

Wisdomatics Launches Health Industry News - Comprehensive Resource for Medical and Pharma Sectors

Wisdomatics, publishers of the successful consumer health websites BreakThroughDigest.com and Search Cancer.com, announces the launch of a new business information portal for the medical industry: Health Industry News.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) January 26, 2006 -- Wisdomatics, publishers of the successful consumer health websites BreakThroughDigest.com and Search Cancer.com, announces the launch of a new business information portal for the medical industry: Health Industry News (www.healthindustrynews.com).

"This website is about the business of medicine", says Wisdomatics president and executive producer, Gary Bryant. "There are financial information sources out there that offer highlights of the health industry, and there are consumer health sites that allude to the business side of medicine. But Health Industry News is nothing but Health Industry News."

Wisdomatics is no stranger to the Web and health content in particular. Launched in 2003, their flagship website Breakthrough Digest now receives millions of visitors each year.

"Consider the challenges this industry faces today: drug companies have a public image problem, a deepening health insurance crisis as more and more employers cut health benefits, a nursing shortage, dissatisfaction with the new federal prescription drug plan, and of course, product safety." Says Bryant, "This is a fragmented business sector that screams for visionaries."

One feature to be introduced in April of 2006, Health Industry Leaders, will present editorial content written by the leadership of the industry. Health Industry Leaders will be an opportunity for a company's visionaries to provide high-level perspective on the issues facing the healthcare industry today- a perspective that can only come from a company's unique position in the marketplace.

Other site highlights include daily news updates, interactive event scheduling, a sizeable resource directory and additional features available to registered users. The entire site's offerings are free. Health Industry News can be found on the Web at http://www.healthindustrynews.com

Wisdomatics is a web site publishing enterprise. Since 1994, has created, developed and managed a number of award winning web sites including BreakThroughDigest.com and Search Cancer.com.

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Press Contact: Gary Bryant
Company Name: WISDOMATICS
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 360 547 1339
Website: http://www.healthindustrynews.com

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Glenn Galloway, CEO for Healthia Consulting, stated: "The annual HIMSS conference is the place to be for an organization like Healthia Consulting. It brings the key industry players right to us; those who can make the buying decisions and are ready to buy. When they stop by our booth, we can talk one-on-one with them about their needs and how Healthia Consulting can help them meet those needs. We would never be able to see as many high-level decision makers otherwise."

The HIMSS conference attracts more than 22,000 attendees annually, making it one of the largest healthcare IT and management systems conference in the world. Attendees who visit the conference participate in education sessions and networking events, in addition to visiting the exhibits. The 2006 conference takes a knowledge-based focus, with more than 300 education sessions and seven symposia, including five new sessions: Pre-Nursing Informatics, Clinical Engineering, Pay-for-Performance, Pharmacy and RHIO, in addition to the Nursing Informatics and Physician symposia so popular at HIMSS 2005. The Interoperability Showcase returns in 2006 with groundbreaking demonstrations that utilize cutting-edge technology and standards to demonstrate interoperability in an interactive environment. Attendees will be able to create, track and manage virtual electronic health records and experience interoperability advances across both acute and ambulatory care environments.

Among the speakers lined up for the 2006 conference are keynoters secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt (invited), national health information technology coordinator, Dr, David Brailer, Virginia Governor, Mark Warner, and Intel board chairman, Craig R. Barrett, as well as a number of leading healthcare IT industry and business speakers.

ABOUT HEALTHIA CONSULTING

Healthia Consulting, Inc. is a privately held national healthcare consulting firm that offers management advisory and solution delivery services for healthcare provider, payer and life sciences organizations. Founded in 1998, the company has three regional offices in Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver and a client roster that includes the nation's most prominent healthcare organizations. For more information, visit www.healthiaconsulting.com.

ABOUT HIMSS

HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology and management systems for the betterment of human health. Visit www.himss.org for more information.

¶ 6:56 PM 0 comments

Dynamic Healthcare Systems Debuts ManagingMedicare.com

Industry site designed to serve medicare professionals.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) January 25, 2006 -- Dynamic Healthcare Systems, a provider of innovative solutions for Medicare-focused health plans, today announced the creation of ManagingMedicare.com (http://www.managingmedicare.com), a Medicare industry web site that offers analysis, expertise, current information, discussions and collaboration between professionals who are committed to the success of the ever changing Medicare industry.

“As new guidelines and regulations set forth by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 are rolled out for implementation, Medicare-related businesses need a forum for up-to-date analysis and information to help them streamline their transition and adoption of the new rules,” said Ken Stockman, Founder and CEO of Dynamic Healthcare Systems, Inc. “ManagingMedicare.com is a collaborative site that tracks trends, issues, ideas and best practices.”

ManagingMedicare.com has enlisted industry experts and leaders to contribute content on a regular basis. Collaboration between professionals who manage Medicare programs is critical to the success of providing quality health care to the elderly and disabled. ManagingMedicare.com is just one place where cooperation and the exchange of information and ideas can take place.

About Dynamic Healthcare Systems
Dynamic Healthcare Systems, Inc. was founded on delivering comprehensive solutions for Medicare Advantage health plans and MSOs striving to succeed amid new and evolving regulatory requirements. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company brings world-class innovations to middle market companies serving the Medicare population. Dynamic Healthcare Systems can be reached at (949) 975-1877. www.dynamichealthsys.com.

Contact:
Dynamic Healthcare Systems
Media Relations
Jay Baker
Phone: 805.906.7327
Web: http://www.dynamichealthsys.com

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Press Contact: Jay Baker
Company Name: DYNAMIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 805.906.7327
Website: www.dynamichealthsys.com

¶ 10:25 AM 0 comments

C.A. Short Assembles New Marketing Taskforce to Focus on Healthcare Industry

C.A. Short has formed a new marketing taskforce to develop an employee recognition program exclusively for the healthcare industry. The new program, the Preferred Recognition Program (PRP), will offer unique benefits like plateau pricing, a more diverse range of gifts and a dedicated customer service professional.

Shelby, NC (PRWEB) January 23, 2006 -- C.A. Short Company, a leading provider of employee recognition solutions, today announced the formation of a new marketing taskforce with the sole responsibility of developing, designing and marketing an employee recognition program exclusively for the healthcare industry.

“Healthcare is an extremely diverse yet employee conscious industry that appreciates and recognizes people for their hard work and commitment. This is the perfect client demographic for C.A. Short since research proves overwhelmingly that 3 out of 4 companies that rate its employee appreciation and loyalty rates as ‘High’ choose C.A. Short as their recognition provider,” said C.A. Short Company President, Chuck Davis.

The new exclusive healthcare recognition program, the Preferred Recognition Program (PRP), will be specifically designed to celebrate diversity by including a choice of presentation box or folder, gift brochure, personalized certificate and custom award in any of 24 different combinations.

Some of the additional unique benefits the healthcare industry can expect to see with the new Preferred Recognition Program (PRP) are plateau pricing, a more diverse range of gifts and a dedicated dependable customer service professional.

The plateau-pricing model C.A. Short is offering is ideal for industries like healthcare that have a fixed budget for their Service Award Program. The total cost is set at the start of the program based on each organization’s specified budget and never exceeds or wavers from that set price.

“The plateau pricing model is unique to C.A. Short, designed by our customers and offering numerous advantages for our customer’s program and budget, said Davis. Other recognition providers have a tendency to build their programs on the old average pricing paradigm, which is misleading, and in many cases, unethical. Organizations are tricked into buying a program based on a proposed average total price and then sent into a budgetary roller-coaster when they are invoiced for their items. Administrators then have to borrow against the following year’s budget or worse, are forced to ask their boss for additional funds at the end of the fiscal year. That is the last thing we want our customers to have to do.” Davis added.

Another benefit, the larger number of gift choices, offers the healthcare industry and their diverse workforce a much better selection compared to the older, more traditional Service Award Programs that offer as few as 10-15 choices that very few people really want or need. C.A. Short’s new Preferred Recognition Program (PRP) offers nearly 100 diverse lifestyle items in each level guaranteed to ‘WOW’ administrators and associates alike.

About C.A. Short
Established in 1937, C.A. Short (www.cashort.com) is a leading full-service recognition company providing Years of Service, Safety Incentive, Performance Recognition, and Holiday Gift Programs for companies and organizations in the United States and around the world. For more information on the benefits of the Preferred Recognition Program (PRP) or to find out how you can enhance your recognition investment, contact C.A. Short for a free consultation.

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Press Contact: Cassie Cooper
Company Name: C.A. SHORT COMPANY
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 800-535-5690
Website: www.cashort.com

¶ 8:47 AM 0 comments

AlliReport.com Provides Latest News About Over-the-Counter Alli, Low-Dose Xenical

AlliReport.com, an independent news site published by Medical Week News, Inc., provides the latest news about Alli, trade name for low-dose Xenical. Alli, which is half the strength of prescription Xenical (orlistat), is seeking approval to become the first prescription weight-loss drug to be sold over-the-counter. Medical Week News also publishes the highly rated site, AcompliaReport.com, reporting on the new prescription weight-loss drug, Acomplia (rimonabant).

Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 23, 2006 -- Medical Week News, Inc., publisher of the highly rated Acomplia Report (http://www.acompliareport.com), announced it has launched a new guide to weight-loss drugs called Alli Report (http://www.allireport.com) to cover latest news about the new over-the-counter version of the prescription weight-loss medication Xenical (orlistat).

“With Alli awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to be sold without a prescription, we believe a growing number of Americans will soon be searching for independent, objective news and information about the benefits and risks of taking this low-dose version of Xenical,” said Milton R. Benjamin, publisher of Alli Report (http://www.allireport.com).

“We intend to provide all the positive and negative expert opinions on the use of Alli just as our other obesity publication, Acomplia Report (http://www.acompliareport.com), provides all the news about the prescription drug rimonabant as it makes its way through the FDA and European approval processes,” Benjamin added.

The Alli Report (http://www.allireport.com) will be updated daily by Medical Week News, and will keep readers fully informed on the FDA approval process, and when this over-the-counter version of low-dose Xenical will be available to the public.

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Press Contact: Milton Benjamin
Company Name: MEDICAL WEEK
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 772-559-4187
Website: www.allireport.com  

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 FDA Raises Warning Flags on Over-the-Counter Sale of Low-Dose Xenical

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff has raised a variety of warning flags in advance of an advisory committee meeting set for Jan. 23rd to consider GlaxoSmithKline's petition to sell a half-dose version of the diet drug Xenical (orlistat) without a prescription.

The FDA staff, in documents released on Jan. 19th, questioned whether the proposed six-month treatment with the over-the-counter version of the drug would be beneficial for a "chronic" condition like obesity.

The staff's comments were being scrutinized particularly closely by those awaiting an FDA decision on whether to approve the new prescription weight-loss drug Acomplia (rimonabant).

While the FDA reviewers did not dispute that the new version of Xenical helped more patients lose weight than those on placebo, they said "there is no evidence presented that a modest, transient weight loss due to orlistat will afford any long-term clinical benefit through either a change in behavior or a reduced risk of serious clinical diseases manifested by being overweight.

"It is difficult to define the clinical benefits of short-term treatment with orlistat," the FDA said. "Although not studied by the sponsor, it is well known that once weight-loss treatment is stopped, lost weight is quickly regained and improvements in co-morbidities become undone."

Patients in clinical trials of Acomplia achieved impressive weight-loss gains in the first year of taking the drug, but for the most part regained the weight in the second year if they stopped taking it.

In addition, the FDA staff expressed concern that the OTC version of Xenical, which would be marketed under the name Alli, might be taken by some type 2 diabetics (many of whom are overweight) and other patients that did not understand the risk after reading the label.

In a study cited by the reviewers, only one-third of those taking diabetes medication correctly stated that they should not use orlistat, and only half the people taking the blood-thinner warfarin correctly understood that they should not use it.

If the FDA, which generally follows the counsel of its advisory committees, ultimately approves Alli, it will be the only FDA-endorsed weight-loss drug available without a prescription.

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Report Says Acomplia Still Must Overcome "Skepticism About Its Side Effects"

 An article set for publication in the respected journal, Nature Medicine, says that while Acomplia (rimonabant) may turn out to be the "Prozac of obesity," it still faces the challenge of overcoming "skepticism about its side effects."

The article notes the troubled past of obesity drugs, ranging from misuse of amphetamines to the "fen-phen debacle of the mid-1990s, when one component of the popular pill combination was found—but only after several years on the market—to cause irreversible heart valve damage."

While the developer of Acomplia, Sanofi-Aventis, has two years of safety data from clinical trials that concluded last year, U.S. and European regulators currently weighing approval of the drug are thought to still be concerned about the possibility of adverse effects developing during long-term usage.

Participants who lost significant amounts of weight in clinical trials of Acomplia regained the weight when they stopped taking the pill, suggesting that to keep weight off, people will have to continue on Acomplia indefinitely.

The most common side effects reported during the Acomplia clinical trials were nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and joint pain, which researchers described as "mild and transient."

But Nature Medicine reports that when drugs target the central nervous system to control appetite, "how they influence peripheral function only comes out after people have been on the drugs for a period of time," according to Jeffrey Bland, president of Metagenics, a California-based maker of nutritional products.

The journal also took note of reports by researchers that ten participants taking Acomplia in the clinical trials dropped out because of depression, compared to two participants in the clinical trials taking placebos.

"In a 2005 survey of 142 doctors conducted by Decision Resources, a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical market research firm, more than 80 percent listed depression triggered by the drug as their primary concern; insomnia ran a distant second at 45 percent," the journal reported.

 

 

¶ 8:08 AM 0 comments

FLAVORx Enhances Treatment Options for Pediatric Oncology Patients

Because of the struggles that young cancer patients face on a day to day basis during and after treatment, FLAVORx is dedicated to defining methods in which they can best accommodate their needs to make their situation that much more bearable. Working with several cancer-related medications and consumer responses, FLAVORx has discovered flavorings that improve several cancer medications' taste most effectively, and therefore improves patient quality of life.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) January 19, 2006 -- It is estimated that approximately 12,400 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. The most common childhood cancers are leukemia, lymphomas, brain tumors and bone cancers. The frequency of cancer diagnoses has risen since the 1970’s. In each individual case, cancer patients and their families must endure the pain, uncertainty and disruptions caused to their lives as a result of the diagnosis. Recognition of the needs of these pediatric oncology patients and the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives has led FLAVORx to dedicate a targeted investigation on how they can best serve the needs of childhood cancer patients.

The chemotherapy, doctor’s exams, constant discomfort of their condition and the countless medications these children must tolerate, is more than even the strongest adult could endure. Beyond the physical and medical changes to a child’s lifestyle, diagnosis and treatment also cause feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, sadness and depression. Therefore, any way of making these children’s lives a little easier, a little less painful and a little less traumatic is what FLAVORx strives for. Succeeding in this manner is what sets FLAVORx apart as a company dedicated to understanding the needs and situations of all children.

Medications used during cancer treatment are essential to alleviate or eradicate the signs of cancer from the body and can be classified into two groups: antineoplastic (cancer-fighting) or immuno-suppression (lessening the body’s reaction). These include drugs that can prevent infection, like antibiotics, or drugs that treat side effects such as nausea and pain. FLAVORx testing and research with children has shown that some flavors mask the existing tastes of certain medications better than others. Of the following common cancer medications, here are some of the most effective flavors:

1. Zofran (for nausea associated with chemotherapy)- Raspberry, Natural Orange, Bubblegum
2. Phenergan (for nausea associated with chemotherapy)- Grape, Sour Apple, Peaches and Cream
3. Acyclovir (to prevent viral infections)- Orange Cream, Banana, Cherry
4. Septra/Bactrim (to prevent some types of pneumonia)- Grape, Bubblegum, Watermelon
5. Vancomycin (an antibiotic)- Vanilla, Strawberry Cream, Grape/Bubblegum
6. Roxanol (to relieve pain)- Grape, Raspberry, Orange Cream

Because FLAVORx flavors are inert, non-allergenic, sugar-free, alcohol-free, very concentrated, as well as gluten and casein-free, they do not affect the efficacy of the medication and also comply with any specific dietary restraints (to reduce the risk of infection from food) that many oncology patients must follow.

Many years ago, a father came to FLAVORx with a problem. His young son had an inoperable brain tumor and was on a very strict regimen of medications. In anticipation of the medications’ taste, the young boy would become nauseated hours before he had to take them everyday, and simply could not keep them down. With no foreseeable solution, his parents were told if he couldn't ingest the medications necessary for his survival, they would have no choice but to return him to the hospital and administer the medications intravenously. Needlessly readmitting their son to the hospital would add unnecessary strain and suffering to an already unbearable situation. The family knew he would only be comfortable in a home setting, not in a cold, sterile hospital. They finally found FLAVORx and Kenny asked the entire family to come in to see how he could help. Kenny asked the little boy to name his favorite flavor, and without hesitation, he responded “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.” Kenny created a formulation using a combination of peanut butter and chocolate flavoring to pair with each of his medications.After that the young boy was able to take all of his medicine without opposition. Sadly, he only lived for eight more months but his final months were spent at home with his family and those that loved him, surrounded by familiarity. Kenny recalls, “Knowing that we were able to bring this child a little happiness at the end of his life is a feeling that I will never forget. It was a feeling of triumph over an otherwise cold world that for the most part didn’t do all it could to help a little boy, and value the importance of his life. I will always remember him and feel we succeeded by helping him and his family. After this, I vowed I would never let another child’s health and happiness fall by the wayside if I could help it.”

It is extremely important that children with compromised immunity, as in the case of cancer, take all medications prescribed by their physicians as they are precisely directed. FLAVORx has improved treatment quality in administering medicines by alleviating the unnecessary strain, trauma and more importantly, ramifications of medicinal non-compliance by improving the taste of unpalatable medications. FLAVORx President and CEO, Kenny Kramm, has brought increased pediatric oncology awareness to his company, as well as a heightened dedication to patient needs. FLAVORx offers 42 scientifically developed and safety-tested flavors to cover both over-the-counter and prescription medications and is available at most pharmacies nationwide.

For more information, please contact Teresa Chen at 800.884.5771, extension 234.

# # #

Press Contact: Teresa Chen
Company Name: FLAVORX, INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 240.223.0953
Website: www.flavorx.com

¶ 2:45 PM 0 comments

Carmel Pharma, Inc. to Market and Distribute PhaSeal®, the Only Clinically-Proven Closed System Transfer Device Available Today

At the beginning of 2006, Carmel Pharma, Inc. applies its passion and undivided resources to the distribution and education of their own product, PhaSeal®--the only "clinically-proven" closed system transfer device available today. PhaSeal's unique design "contains the drug" which helps prevent occupational exposure to hazardous drugs in health care settings--a call to action required by The National Institute for Occupational Safety.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Carmel Pharma began to market and distribute PhaSeal® from its own company, Carmel Pharma Inc, based in Columbus Ohio as of January 2006.

PhaSeal is the only "clinically proven" closed system transfer device on the market today. It's unique design is meant to prevent environmental contamination and help protect healthcare employees through the preparation, administration and waste handling of hazardous drugs.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) states that "working with or near hazardous drugs in health care settings may cause skin rashes, infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, and possibly leukemia or other cancers," quotes David Schneider, President of Carmel Pharma Inc. "The PhaSeal System contains the hazardous drug which prevents enviromental contamination, therefore providing healthcare workers a safer working environment. As the manufacturer, our sole focus is to continue to educate and be a valuable resource on this important safety issue."

PhaSeal's double membrane provides dry connections between system components and it's expansion chamber ensures aerosols and vapors are contained and neither over pressure or under-pressure occurs duing drug preparation.

PhaSeal was launched in the US in December of 2000 and today, more than 400 leading cancer facilities, such as MD Anderson, University of San Francisco, Standford and Texas Childrens Hospital have contributed to PhaSeal's outstanding growth. Carmel Pharma has recently been placed on the Deloitte´s Fast 500 EMEA List.

If you have questions or want more information on ordering PhaSeal, please contact Carmel Pharma, Inc. at
866-487-9250 or 614-841-0504.

Contacts:
Christine Crooks, Marketing Director Carmel Pharma, Inc.
Direct: 866-487-9250 ext. 202

Agneta Ekblad, VP Oncology Solutions Carmel Pharma Inc. Direct: 858-220-3583

David Schneider, President Carmel Pharma Inc.
Direct: 866-487-9250 ext. 201

# # #

Press Contact: Christine Crooks
Company Name: CARMEL PHARMA, INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 614-841-0504
Website: www.phaseal.com

¶ 10:50 AM 0 comments

New Technical Report Outlines ICT and the Future of Healthcare in Canada

A newly released technical report examines the role that ICT will play in the future of health systems in Canada and analyzes in-depth the status and future of the Canadian health industry in relation to the healthcare ICT market.

Saskatoon, Canada (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Bankix Systems Ltd has released its new 271-page technical report, ICT and the future of healthcare in Canada. This technical report examines the role that ICT would play in the future of health systems in Canada. It analyzes in-depth, the status and future of the Canadian health industry in relation to the healthcare ICT market. It explores investments and market opportunities in the health ICT industry, and discusses the interplay of factors shaping the future of the health industry in Canada, including the role that ICT would play in the sustainability and future direction of the country’s health systems.

Canada’s health system is evolving, and healthcare ICT is an integral part of this evolution. This technical report presents a comparative analysis of healthcare ICT initiatives, their financing, and implementation at federal, provincial, and territorial levels, and the underlying dynamics of the drivers of the initiatives at these various levels. The goal of this analytical approach is to facilitate an appreciation of the issues fundamental to current healthcare ICT spending and to anticipate those germane to future investments in health ICT. Such appreciation would be invaluable to software vendors and ICT companies interested in the Canadian health ICT market.

Healthcare professionals, Hospital CEOs and CIOs, government agencies, other healthcare stakeholders, including members of the public interested in how healthcare ICT is shaping the future of healthcare services in Canada would also find this technical report useful.

Bankix Systems Ltd is a Canadian healthcare ICT consulting company that publishes online articles, reports, market, and industry analyses, and books on healthcare ICT. Kindly visit our website at www.bankixsystems.com

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Press Contact: George Obikoya
Company Name: Bankix Systems Ltd.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 1-306-441-6601
Website: www.bankixsystems.com

¶ 8:17 AM 0 comments

Medicare Part D News & Resource Site Released

Medicare news and resource site just released to help consumers stay informed about the recent and ongoing changes for Medicare policies and the recent "Part D" Prescription Drug Plan.

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) January 18, 2006 -- Ongoing confusion created by the recently released Medicare "Part D" prescription drug plan stemmed a new website to help cut through the confusion and keep consumers informed about Medicare policies.

The latest revision to Medicare that has seniors everywhere scrambling to try and understand how it impacts their lives is "Part D." Medicare Part D was enacted to help seniors make prescription drugs more affordable because many could not keep up with the rising costs of their daily regimen.

Current members of the Medicare program have a 6 month enrollment extension and the plan is expected to help more than 40 million seniors across the nation. The current deadline to enroll in a program is May 15, 2006 and if late their are some hefty penalties, one of which includes the loss of health benefits from employers.

Medicare-News.com is aggregating the latest breaking news and resources to help consumers understand Medicare policies, updates, and revisions so they can make informed decisions for their health care and medical insurance needs.

To find the latest breaking news and information just visit Medicare-News.com.

http://www.medicare-news.com

The site also offers a convenient RSS feed that you can plug in to news readers to make the content even more convenient.

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Press Contact: Jimmy Ellis
Company Name:
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 352-256-4480
Website: http://www.medicare-news.com

¶ 8:16 AM 0 comments

An ICT Perspective on Private v. Public Healthcare in Canada

This e-book examines the role of ICT in how the private/public health system debate in Canada plays out.

Saskatoon, Canada (PRWEB) January 15, 2006 -- Bankix Systems Ltd has released its new 68-page e-book, An ICT perspective on Private v. Public Healthcare in Canada. The e-book examines a kaleidoscopic health issue in Canada with a technology paradigm. It discusses the pros and cons of public and private health systems, and analyzes differing views on the debate.

It examines the effectiveness of the current health system and its challenges, if a parallel private healthcare system would be more effective in reducing wait times, and the overall costs of running a public versus a private health system. It also examines broader views regarding the interplay of political, social, economic, and technology forces in the success or otherwise of any health system, including in the financial rearrangement, insurance regulation and risk, and other issues that a shift to a private health system would engender.

The role that ICT plays in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery is no longer in doubt. The e-book explores the differences in approaches to ICT implementation between publicly vis-à-vis privately financed health systems and the consequences of these differences for their survival, competitiveness, and sustainability. It examines pertinent questions that arise thereof and seeks to provide answers to these and other important questions relevant to the debate.

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, hospital CEOs, government agencies, software and ICT vendors, all other healthcare stakeholders, and members of the public interested in the private v. public health debate would find this e-book delightful to read.

Bankix Systems Ltd is a Canadian healthcare ICT consulting company that publishes online articles, reports, market and industry analyses, and books on healthcare ICT. Kindly visit our website at www.bankixsystems.com

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Press Contact: Dr. George O. Obikoya
Company Name: BANKIX SYSTEMS LTD.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 13064416601
Website: www.bankixsystems.com

¶ 11:59 AM 0 comments

Confusion Surrounding The Medicare Part D Controversy is Reaching Panic Level For Seniors and Family Members Alike

There is a lot of confusion right now concerning the Medicare Part D issue. Pressure is mounting because seniors feel they are being forced or intimidated into making a decision with Medicare Part D. The threat of penalties for not joining in time is cause for concern, and the deadline is May 15th.

(PRWEB) January 12, 2006 -- Seniors are panicky, confused and angry at the way Medicare part d is being handled. There are gapping holes in the plan when it is examined closely and most people will not be able to take advantage of the ideal savings because that ideal savings is based on a specific annual expense.

Here are some facts that may help answer the concerns and make the issue a little clearer.

The Government is enforcing Medicare Part D. Proof of this is evident if considering the penalties individuals will incur by not joining Medicare Part D by May15th. The accumulative 1% penalty (per month) can become expensive over time and looks counter productive. It seems more likely the Government agenda is geared towards herding the public into a central plan and closing the doors for international prescription imports.

Medicare Part D is great if individual retail expenses are exactly $2250 each year. The further away annual costs are from that perfect amount, the less effective the plan is.

Medicare Part D is deceptive because it is presented as a 75% savings when in reality the savings are at best 60% when the perfect amount of $2250 is spent.

Medications that are not insured obviously reduce the savings. If you spend exactly $2250 retail on insured medications then your savings will be significant, probably between 50% and 60%. So who will hit that perfect amount?

Here are some scenarios to consider: (Based on $250 deductible and monthly premiums of $35)

* Spend $1200 on insured medications - Savings will be about 16%

* Spend $3000 on insured medications - Savings will be about 36%

* Spend $4000 on insured medications - Savings will be about 27%

The Perfect Situation:

* Spend $2250 on insured medications - Savings will be 52%

Anyone who is spending more than $2250 on prescriptions each year will be unhappy paying full retail after spending beyond the $2250 mark, and possibly angry when they realize the monthly premiums are still due.

Spokesman for Professional Services Canada Darwin Corby, has this advice:

"Sit down and calculate all your prescription expenses at full retail by phoning a local Pharmacy. Get familiar with your Medicare Part D costs. Add the $250 deductible and monthly premiums together with the %25 not covered in the first $2250. Then add the full retail you will be paying in the doughnut hole on top of your costs. (The doughnut hole is the gap between $2250 and $5100)

Subtract the deductible, monthly premiums, doughnut hole expenses and 25% from the savings to find your approximate savings for the year. You also need to understand that reaching the ideal savings is highly unlikely."

A simple webpage chart is provided to help understand Medicare Part D on this page http://www.medicareaide.com/supplement.html

Recommendations:

Use a Canadian Prescription service to help avoid the Doughnut hole if expenses are high. Join a low cost Medicare Part D plan to avoid the penalties if expenses are low. Enquire about Canadian prescription prices to maximize savings

Take full advantage of Medicare Part D
Use a Canadian Pharmacy together with / or in place of Medicare part D
Call for more information
1-800-946-4820
http://www.medicareaide.com

Professional Services Canada
Contact: Dwain Berlin
1-800-946-4820
#1 Flynn Court
Port Moody B.C.
V3H4W1
www.medicareaide.com

# # #

Press Contact: Dwain Berlin
Company Name: AUTOMATIC MARKETING
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 1-800-946-4820
Website: http://www.medicareaide.com

¶ 8:49 AM 0 comments

A Company That Cares - FLAVORx Develops Products to Accommodate Needs of Celiac Disease Patients

In response to growing demand from consumers for a gluten-free and casein-free line of FLAVORx Medicinal Flavorings, President Kenny Kramm has re-vamped the products to diminish the possibilities of allergy or adverse reactions due to diet limitations. Nearly all of the 42 flavors have been modified to cater to the needs of patients who cannot consume wheat, barley, rye, oats and dairy products.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) January 10, 2006 -- FLAVORx, Inc., the industry standard for the flavoring of prescription and OTC drugs, now offers medicinal flavorings safe for patients suffering from Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance or wheat allergies. Additionally, FLAVORx flavorings are now also casein-free and thus friendly to consumers who face troubles digesting dairy products. In a response to consumer requests for gluten and casein-free products, the company has taken it upon itself to re-vamp its formulations to make them safe and available to consumers of all needs.

Having received calls from many parents and pharmacists regarding the gluten and casein content in FLAVORx flavorings, Kenny Kramm, President and CEO of FLAVORx, began to realize that this was a limiting factor to many children. Thus began the modification process for the existing FLAVORx product line to address the dietary limitations that consumers with Celiac Disease face. According to Kramm, “Disease, allergy or intolerance shouldn’t prevent a child from being able to have their medication taste palatable. The limitations that these children (also teens, adults and the elderly) have to face on a day to day basis are already more than most could endure, adding bad-tasting medicine to that list is adding insult to injury.” With gluten and casein-free flavors, patients can rest-assured that they will still receive the maximum benefit from their medications, without having to worry that the addition of a flavoring could cause further complication because of a specific allergy or disease.

Working with all 42 flavors, Kramm had the formulations tested for safety and efficacy, to ensure they would still be appetizing and successful to use in medications. By making these modifications, 41 of the 42 flavors are now completely safe for consumers with a chronic reaction to gluten and/or dairy products, and also better for those consumers who may be unaware of allergic conditions. This vastly reduces any incidence of complication with allergy or adverse reaction when taking a FLAVORx medication. The one flavor that is still being modified is Strawberry Cream, which contains a very small amount of casein, a milk protein; however FLAVORx researchers are currently working to alter this component while maintaining the taste characteristics and medication covering properties.

Celiac Disease is the result of an adverse reaction to glutens that causes destruction of villi in the small intestine and results in inadequate nutrient absorption. Patients with Celiac Disease are typically unable to consume gluten products containing wheat, rye, barley and oats including common items like breads, pasta, cookies and even alcoholic beverages like beer. Celiac Disease affects 1 in 133 Americans, and there is no prescriptive cure for Celiacs, except to maintain a gluten-free diet. Doing so allows for immediate repair of villi in the small intestine, and likewise regression back to a diet containing gluten can be immediately detrimental. Therefore, even a small amount of gluten, like that in a few drops of flavoring, could cause a negative reaction. When asked why he took such great lengths to ensure that the flavorings were absolutely without gluten or casein, Kramm simply stated, “When it comes to medicine, you just can’t be too careful and everybody’s health circumstances must be taken into consideration.”    

Symptoms of Celiac Disease include both intestinal and non-intestinal disorders including abdominal pain, general swelling, hair loss and malnutrition, as well as additional complications like lactose intolerance. Similarly, allergies and intolerance to gluten and casein can lead to such reactions as GI symptoms (gas, bloating) and respiratory problems.

FLAVORx’s development of flavors that are gluten and casein-free exemplifies the company’s dedication to consumer needs, so patients can be confident that flavoring their medications will not cause adverse reactions to their medications.

For more information, please visit www.flavorx.com or contact Teresa Chen at 800.884.5771, extension 234.

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Press Contact: Teresa Chen
Company Name: FLAVORX, INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 240.223.0953
Website: www.flavorx.com

¶ 7:17 AM 0 comments

Medical Risk Management Associates, LLC (MRMA) Shares Top Honors as Technology Innovator in Patient Safety

Medical Risk Management Associates, LLC (MRMA) has been designated as a top award winner by the 2005 The Emerging Technologies and Healthcare Innovations Congress (TETHIC) for “Use of Technology for the Improvement of Patient Safety.” The award was given for MRMA's two software tools, Root Cause Analyst and Failure Mode Analyst, which respectively facilitate root cause analysis and failure mode & effects analysis in the healthcare environment.

Washington D.C. (PRWEB) January 11, 2006 -- The TETHIE Awards recognize healthcare industry leadership in the areas of innovation, technology, implementation, best practices, and research. In the category of technological innovation for patient safety, MRMA has been honored for its achievements in software-facilitated root cause analysis (RCA) and failure mode & effect analysis (FMEA) in the healthcare environment. MRMA's two software products guide the analysis team through the respective analytic process of RCA and FMEA, providing for direction, expert prompting, documentation, reporting and graphical presentation of the analyses. The underlying analytic logic structures have designed specifically for application to the healthcare industry.

“We are both pleased and honored to have been recognized for our contribution to patient care,” said Kenneth Hirsch, MD, PhD, medical director of MRMA. “This underscores our firm’s commitment to safety of our patients and effectiveness of the organizations that provide clinical care.”

About Medical Risk Management Associates, LLC (MRMA):
MRMA is a leading provider of patient safety software, training and consulting services, with specific focus upon the areas of Root Cause Analysis and Failure Mode & Effects Analysis. Its software and underlying analytic methodologies have been created by and for healthcare professionals, for exclusive application to the healthcare environment. Its software products are strongly supported by integrated traing and consultative services.

About The Emerging Technologies & Healthcare Innovations Congress (TETHIC):
Jointly developed by Health Care Conference Administrators, LLC and The Emergent Group, LLC, TETHIC’s purpose is to address the challenges and opportunities presented by new technology and healthcare innovation, provide a strategic setting, and present specific and practical solutions currently being implemented in the field.

To learn more about Medical Risk Management Associates, LLC and its products and services, go to www.Sentinel-Event.com.

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Press Contact: Kenneth A Hirsch, MD, PhD
Company Name: MEDICAL RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 808-754-3639
Website: http://www.Sentinel-Event.com

¶ 11:31 AM 0 comments

White Paper on Electronic Medical Records Published

2K Electronic Medical Records publishes white paper on the effects of implementing Electronic Medical Records in your practice.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB) January 10, 2006 -- 2K Electronic Medical Records, located in Redondo Beach, California has published a white paper entitled “Electronic Medical Records and Your Practice”.

The white paper takes an in-depth look at electronic medical records (EMR), the effects implementation can have on your practice, questions practioner’s and office personnel should ask before purchasing EMR software among other things.

2K Electronic Medical Records is a leading provider of electronic medical software for physicians and medical billing services.

Tammy Harrison, President of 2K Electronic Medical Records said, “Looking back at 2005 with President Bush’s request to have all medical records be electronic within the next 10 years, the national disasters -- like hurricane Katrina our country has experienced, we felt examining the EMR process would help practioner’s and medical billing specialists make an informed decision that is right for them.”

Ms. Harrison said, “Many practices begin to re-evaluate their business processes when they implement EMR software. Existing office procedures, patient safety and satisfaction, as well as cost effectiveness are all important factors.”

Here are some questions she advises those evaluating EMR ask before purchasing software:

1.    What goals do you expect to achieve?
2.    What basic features does your practice need?
3.    How will you enter old data into the system?
4.    What is your budget?
5.    Who in the office will assist with implementation?

2K Electronic Medical Records specializes in helping medical establishments evaluate the needs of physicians and medical billing services and develop tailored medical billing software options and solutions.

You can receive a copy of the free white paper at http://www.2kmedicalrecords.com/electronic_medical_records_white_paper.html

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Press Contact: Kelly Robbins
Company Name: KELLY ROBBINS LLC
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 310-937-8924
Website: www.2kmedicalrecords.com

¶ 9:17 AM 0 comments

Effective Pain Relief Without Medications: Stanford Engineer Introduces Impressive New “Acupuncture Without Needles”

Gary Craig (Stanford ’62) has discovered a clear link between our bodily pains and our negative emotions. Used properly, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) simultaneously removes or reduces emotional and physical pains in about 80% of the cases. The basics are available free on his website.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 9, 2006 -- A growing number of physicians are “tossing the meds” for some of their pain-ridden clients. Because of the dangers of many medications, a new “Acupuncture Without Needles” procedure is being substituted, often with astonishing results.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a dual-purpose method introduced by Stanford Engineer Gary Craig. After thousands of clinical uses it has proven effective 80% of the time and simultaneously removes or reduces both emotional and physical pain. The process involves stimulating established acupuncture meridian points by tapping on them with the fingertips. No needles are necessary.

As Eric Robins, MD states, "Someday the medical profession will wake up and realize that unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses. When they do, EFT will be one of their primary healing tools...as it is for me."

EFT makes clear the link between our physical pains and our negative emotions. Once anger, stress, anxiety and fear abate with EFT, the corresponding pains usually subside. Sometimes the results are astonishing. Examples: Migraine headaches vanish on the spot, never to appear again. Frozen shoulders loosen and regain normal mobility. A gout sufferer goes dancing without pain.

As EFT user Bill Edens states, “We are very excited about this EFT program. My wife got rid of her back pain and too frequent headaches she has had for years. I no longer have acid reflux and no longer have to take a prescription drug for it.”

Hundreds more cases fill the EFT website. The basics can be learned and applied by anyone and are available free in the downloadable 79 page EFT Manual. See http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.htm?ref=prw . The finer points of EFT are available on low cost DVD sets and purchasers are encouraged to make up to 100 copies to give (not sell) to others.

For additional information, or for a complete press kit, contact:

Gary Craig
Emotional Freedom Techniques
707-785-2848
http://www.emofree.com

# # #

Press Contact: Gary Craig
Company Name: EFT
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 707-785-2848
Website: http://www.emofree.com

¶ 8:27 AM 0 comments

Arcadian Health Plan Selects Dynamic Healthcare Systems to Meet Medicare Challenges

Dynamic Healthcare Systems, a provider of innovative solutions for Medicare-focused health plans, today announced that Arcadian Health Plan, Inc., a provider of Medicare Advantage health plans, purchased two major components of Dynamic’s Voyager Medicare Suite.

IRVINE, CA (PRWEB) January 9, 2006 -- Dynamic Healthcare Systems, a provider of innovative solutions for Medicare-focused health plans, today announced that Arcadian Health Plan, Inc., a provider of Medicare Advantage health plans, purchased two major components of Dynamic’s Voyager Medicare Suite.

Part of Dynamic’s powerful Voyager software suite, the two modules — RAPS Management and HCC Analytics — will provide Arcadian with a critical advantage toward meeting current challenges in managing explosive Medicare populations, helping the company maximize revenues and profitability by streamlining the critical risk adjustment phase of the reimbursement process.

“After an in-depth review of several systems,” says David Lontok, President of Arcadian’s Management Services Organization, “Dynamic was selected for its flexibility in managing our data, in-depth analytics, reporting capabilities, HIPAA compliance and intuitive nature of its interface. Additionally, Dynamic fields an experienced team with a deep understanding of crucial technologies, and how to solve problems in the Medicare space. We’re very optimistic about 2006.”

The RAPS Management module should fulfill that role amply by helping Arcadian automate the way they accept, manage and exchange RAPS encounter data in conjunction with The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS. The HCC Analytics solution analyses and enriches that information by applying complex algorithms to identify suspected missing or mis-coded diagnostic ICD9 codes and using secondary data like prescriptions, lab results and authorizations.

“We are very pleased that Arcadian Health Plan selected Dynamic to address their challenges of managing and analyzing risk adjusted data and reimbursements. With CMS implementing the risk adjustment payment model at 100% in 2007, plans, MSOs and providers must really focus on the way they handle encounter data today,” says Ken Stockman, Dynamic’s founder and CEO. “Their success directly depends on the quality of that information, with complete, accurate coding and reporting being key to full reimbursement. Our Voyager solution was specifically designed to help plans and MSOs address these challenges.”

About Arcadian Health Plan, Inc.
Arcadian Health Plan (AHP) is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-licensed Medicare Advantage health plan. Through state or locally-branded health plans, AHP is focused on offering value-oriented Medicare health plan options to Medicare beneficiaries who reside in small to medium-sized communities that currently do not have affordable Medicare replacement plan options available.

About Dynamic Healthcare Systems
Dynamic Healthcare Systems, Inc. was founded on delivering comprehensive solutions for Medicare Advantage health plans and MSOs striving to succeed amid new and evolving regulatory requirements. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company brings world-class innovations to middle market companies serving the Medicare population. Dynamic Healthcare Systems can be reached at (949) 975-877. www.dynamichealthsys.com.

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Press Contact: Jay Baker
Company Name: DYNAMIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 949-975-1877
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¶ 8:19 AM 0 comments

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Drug Discovery Online Newsletter - http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com
Friday, January 06, 2006
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TOP NEWS STORIES
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1) TransTech Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim Initiate $54 Million Drug Discovery Collaboration
2) Perlegen Forms Collaboration With Genentech in Cancer Genetics
3) Pfizer Invests $50 Million In Perlegen Sciences
4) Quintiles Book Shows Path To High-Performance  Phase IIIB-IV Research
5) Xenogen Announces Extension of Global Licensing Agreement
6) Vaccine For Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Active In Patients With Persistent Disease
7) The Personalized Medicine Market Aims to Match the Most Appropriate Drug to the Right Person
8) Cetek Raises $10 Million To Advance Drug Discovery And Development
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1) TransTech Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim Initiate $54 Million Drug Discovery Collaboration

TransTech Pharma, Inc. recently announced a worldwide research and license collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH using TransTech's proprietary TTP Translational Technology(R)...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

2) Perlegen Forms Collaboration With Genentech in Cancer Genetics

Perlegen Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has begun a collaboration with Genentech, Inc. to study the genetics of cancer...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

3) Pfizer Invests $50 Million In Perlegen Sciences

Perlegen Sciences, Inc. announced recently that Pfizer Inc has made a $50 million equity investment in Perlegen, taking a twelve percent position in the private biotechnology company...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

4) Quintiles Book Shows Path To High-Performance  Phase IIIB-IV Research

Patients, physicians, payers and politicians are calling for more information on the risks and benefits of prescription drugs. At the same time, some organizations are questioning the value of direct-to-consumer advertising...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

5) Xenogen Announces Extension of Global Licensing Agreement

Xenogen Corporation announced recently an extension of its licensing agreement with Novartis for up to two more years...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

6) Vaccine For Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Active In Patients With Persistent Disease

Breakthrough Therapeutics, a privately owned biotechnology company, recently announced the presentation of positive interim data for a novel vaccine known as VAX100 for patients with persistent chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) while on imatinib mesylate (Gleevec(R); Novartis)...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

7) The Personalized Medicine Market Aims to Match the Most Appropriate Drug to the Right Person

The aim of personalized medicine or individualized treatment is to match the right drug to the right patient and, in some cases, even to design the appropriate treatment for a patient according to his/her genotype...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/

8) Cetek Raises $10 Million To Advance Drug Discovery And Development

Cetek Corporation announced it has raised $10 million to advance its proprietary drug discovery platform and its emerging pipeline of compounds to treat cancer and infectious diseases...
http://www.drugdiscoveryonline.com/


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¶ 1:38 PM 0 comments

California Governor Urges Drug Imports; Canadian Pharmacies Have Already Delivered

Governor’s endorsement verifies that drug importation from Canada is inherently safe and cost effective. Licensed Canadian pharmacies have already demonstrated an impeccable track record by delivering affordable drugs to millions of Americans.

Calgary, AB (PRWEB) January 5, 2005 -- This week California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appealed to Congress to allow Americans to import affordable prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. In a letter to Congressional leaders he acknowledged that “drug prices continue to escalate” and “his own effort to lower the cost of prescription drugs has been insufficient.” Whether a sincere gesture or election year posturing, the notion of acquiring safe and affordable medications is already available to Californians and to all Americans. Licensed online Canadian pharmacies like Minit Drugs (www.Pharmacy-Online.ca) have been safely dispensing prescriptions to Americans for years.

“The political and legal debate will rage on but at the end of the day, any American, regardless of age, income or social status can order their medications by mail from a reputable online pharmacy in Canada and they will get the real McCoy,” says Barney Britton, President of Minit Drugs (www.Pharmacy-Online.ca). “Scare tactics abound but the fact is that we dispense approved drugs from regulated pharmacies. The pill is the same, the only difference is the price and the label.”

Gestures by Governor Schwarzenegger and others only confirm that drug importation from Canada is a feasible option for Americans regardless of legislative status. The key is simply to select legitimate online Canadian pharmacies.

Methods to verify the legitimacy of an online Canadian pharmacy include:

1.    Check for a provincial pharmacy license number
2.    Verify the pharmacy has a physical address in Canada
3.    Look for toll free phone and fax numbers
4.    Verify that a prescription and patient medical questionnaire is required
5.    Look for a CIPA certification seal

Another attribute that truly distinguishes a pharmacy from all others is IMPAC accreditation (www.impacsurvey.org). Minit Drugs is one of only six Canadian pharmacies to achieve the IMPAC accreditation.

As many as ten state governments have inspected and endorsed Canadian pharmacies to dispense their drugs to American patients. In every case politics and corporate financial interests threatened to de-rail the initiative. But regardless of the obstacles, Canadian pharmacies continue to offer significant savings to Americans without compromising safety.

“Debating legislation is one thing but actually helping people to afford their medications is another. We do it everyday and the only permission we ask for is the patient’s.”

Minit Drugs is a licensed pharmacy located in Calgary, Alberta (AB License # 1657) and is CIPA certified and IMPAC accredited. All Canadian drugs are approved by Health Canada and dispensed by licensed pharmacists.

Contact:

Barney Britton
President, Minit Drugs
Ph. 1-877-530-3743
website: www.Pharmacy-Online.ca

# # #

Press Contact: Barney Britton
Company Name: Minit Drugs
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 1-877-530-3743
Website: www.Pharmacy-Online.ca

¶ 9:02 AM 0 comments

Building Interoperability into Medical Information

Modern health information systems today are proprietary and often only serve one department making it impossible to easily share data across one facility, never mind across different facilities or countries. A big problem, it makes it difficult for doctors to capture a complete clinical history of a patient. But one project hopes to overcome this.

(PRWEB) January 5, 2006 -- Modern health information systems today are proprietary and often only serve one department making it impossible to easily share data across one facility, never mind across different facilities or countries. A big problem, it makes it difficult for doctors to capture a complete clinical history of a patient. But one project hopes to overcome this.

“The healthcare interoperability problem can be investigated in two categories: Interoperability of the healthcare messages exchanged and interoperability of electronic healthcare records [EHRs,” says Professor Asuman Dogac, Director of the Software Research & Development Center in Turkey, and ARTEMIS project coordinator.

Right now messaging interfaces, or interface engines, are used to exchange information among different healthcare information systems. Currently, the Health Level 7 (HL7) Version 2 Messaging Standard is the most widely implemented.

Unfortunately, HL7 V2 compliance does not imply direct interoperability between healthcare systems, because V2 has no explicit information model. Instead it has rather vague definitions for many data fields and contains many optional fields.

EHRs suffer from similar problems. An EHR is digitally stored healthcare information about an individual that supports continuity of care, education and research, while ensuring confidentiality. A number of standardisation efforts are progressing to provide EHRs interoperability. However, an exchange of well-structured and machine-processable EHRs has not been achieved yet in practice.

ARTEMIS provides the desperately required interoperability between medical information systems through semantically-enriched Web services that use defined meanings of individual pieces of parameters. ARTEMIS uses existing standards, such as HL7, as a basis for defining both the service action semantics and the message semantics.

For EHRs, ARTEMIS uses constraint rules for specific clinical concepts, called ‘archetypes’, rather than distinct entities in the reference information model. It annotates their archetypes with ontologies, an established list of definitions, and then composes templates from archetypes and retrieves corresponding data from the underlying medical information systems.

To complicate matters, in most countries there are no unique person identifiers that would be valid for the whole lifetime of an individual and used by all parties in healthcare and for all episodes of care. In many cases several identifiers for a patient exist even within a single organisation.

Consequently a protocol is needed that allows the identification of patients by means of non-unique patient-related attributes. ARTEMIS developed a ‘Patient Identification Process’ (PIP) Protocol’. PIP provides a solution for continuity of care by locating and accessing prior clinical records and provides comprehensive security and privacy protection mechanisms.

Currently, the industry’s Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) initiative proposes the Retrieve Information for Display (RID) integration profile to allow users retrieve and display patient-related documents on systems other than the document keeping systems. Although it is well suited for use in a single hospital or within a trust of hospitals that belong to a single Patient Identifier Domain, it is not designed for cross-boundary access on information stored in different hospitals.

ARTEMIS’ middleware infrastructure extends the IHE RID protocol for cross-enterprise search and access to patient-related clinical information, even if no Master Patient Index is available, and without modifications to existing information source actors. Applied to the ARTEMIS infrastructure, the RID Information Source and Display actors may be located in different institutions using different Patient ID domains and different sets of demographic data.

At the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society annual conference in San Diego, February 2006, "we will run a demonstrator that will realise a scenario where, after an accident, a patient is admitted to the most appropriate hospital from the ambulance,” says Dr Dogac. “The patient will be admitted before the ambulance arrives at the hospital, via a mobile device. The hospital admissions service will then automatically seek out any relevant healthcare records of the patient in the ARTEMIS P2P network, and presents them to the doctor, although the hospitals discovered may not be using interoperable standards with each other. This is a considerable improvement over current systems."

Dr Dogac will begin a new project, SAPHIRE, in the next months. "That project will seek to extend the functionality of ARTEMIS. It will expose medical sensor data as semantically-enriched Web services. It will process sensor output, the patient's medical history and clinical guidelines to help physicians with diagnoses and treatment."

But even without these new services, ARTEMIS already represents a major advance; it enables clinicians to capture the complete clinical history of a patient that may be spread out over a number of different institutes that do not interoperate.

###

Press Contact: Tara Morris
Company Name: IST RESULTS
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: +90-312-2105598 21
Website: http://istresults.cordis.lu/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Features/ID/79928

¶ 8:47 AM 0 comments

I had my Chitika account suspended the other day (December 29, 2005) and they will not respond to the calls, emails, and support ticket I entered on their site.

I wanted to know what the problem was and try to resolve it, but they won't get in touch with me no matter what I do. So I am starting the big job of pulling all of their ads from the sites I added them to. Man, what a pain!

My sites weren't making much from them anyway, I think they owe me $30-$40, but I had been working to try and generate more traffic to the sites that have their ads. Now they pull this BS.

So if you were considering using Chitika on your site(s), I would recommend instead that you copy the style of ads they were using and try that with some good affiliate programs. The ad style seemed to be effective, but the company really, really sucks.

I thought I waited long enough to make sure it was going to be worth the trouble, but at least now some of you won't have to go through what I am. The program from Google is so far the easiest, the best run, and pays very well so I can recommend that you try that completely.

¶ 6:18 PM 0 comments

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Launches New Corporate Web Site

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is dedicated to providing new therapies and new hope for patients with rare diseases. There are some 6,000 identified rare diseases that affect approximately 10 million patients in the United States. The founding principle and core belief of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sigma-Tau S.p.A., is that finding therapies for rare diseases is just as important as finding ones for more common diseases. After all, to the patient, there’s nothing “rare” about their condition.

Gaithersburg, MD (PRWEB) January 3, 2006 -- Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the company has launched its new corporate web site at www.sigmatau.com.

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is dedicated to providing new therapies and new hope for patients with rare diseases. There are some 6,000 identified rare diseases that affect approximately 10 million patients in the United States. The founding principle and core belief of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sigma-Tau S.p.A., is that finding therapies for rare diseases is just as important as finding ones for more common diseases. After all, to the patient, there’s nothing “rare” about their condition.

To that end, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals has been focused on rare diseases since its founding, and was one of the first companies to obtain an Orphan Drug Designation in the United States more than 20 years ago.

Our core belief is that no patient should go untreated simply because the disease they are fighting is so rare that only a few thousand, or even a few hundred, suffer from the condition. Every one of us shares an unwavering commitment to develop novel products and therapies for patients with rare diseases. This unique vision, indeed, our passion, is woven into everything we do.

>From our people, to our pipeline, to our partners, and most importantly, to our patients, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of creating treatments for rare diseases.

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Sigma-Tau S.p.A., is particularly proud of its research in the area of rare diseases. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.sigmatau.com. If you need to contact us for further information, please call 1-800-447-0169 and ask for the Marketing Group.

# # #

Press Contact: Yamil Hernandez
Company Name: Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 1-800-447-0169
Website: www.sigmatau.com

¶ 8:41 AM 0 comments