14 Oct 2015

Vets Plus and ProLabs team up to expand distribution of FLEX Rx® supplements

By Rachel Chamberlain

Animal health company Vets Plus to manufacture and sell FLEX Rx at the beginning of October

MENOMONIE, Wis. (October 12, 2015) - Vets Plus, Inc., the manufacturer of FLEX Rx, will now also be the distributer of the product in OTC channels. The company has expanded its licensing agreement with ProLabs to incorporate the manufacturing and selling of its FLEX Rx joint products.

FLEX Rx chewable tablets offer a specific formulation to support joint health. 46 million households own dogs, and 9.6 million dog owners routinely purchase joint products for their pets. The need for joint supplements is an effect of an aging dog population with obesity, poor diet, or stress to the joints. FLEX Rx is a product intended as a substitute for glucosamine and chondroitin, two common supplements suggested by veterinarians when joint issues arise. In a multi-clinical study, FLEX Rx proved to be more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin for supporting joint function and mobility.

Vets Plus has been currently manufacturing FLEX Rx; with this agreement, Vets Plus will become the exclusive manufacturer and OTC distributor for the product as well. Rick Haxton, National Manager - Companion Animal Business, is leading the partnership on the Vets Plus side.  Haxton said, "The addition of FLEX Rx to the Vets Plus product line is an exciting development. Our goal is to improve the overall health of pets by providing them nutritional support. FLEX Rx certainly fulfills this goal, allowing consumers a high-quality product for their pets' joint health."

14 Oct 2015

Grassley, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Apply Payment Sunshine to Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced legislation to apply the disclosure of drug company and medical device maker payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

"There ought to be a complete record for consumer benefit," Grassley said.  "The goal of sunshine for payments to doctors is to help the public.  It makes sense to apply the sunshine to anyone who prescribes medicine.  The goal of this bill is to continue the transparency that brings accountability."

"Requiring companies to disclose gifts and payments made to other health care providers - not just doctors - is absolutely essential," said Blumenthal. "The Provider Patient Sunshine Act will rein in dishonorable behavior by increasing transparency and accountability across the entire healthcare industry. Increased access to information is in the public's best interest, and this legislation will ensure healthcare consumers receive safe, efficient, and cost-effective practices."

The new Provider Payment Sunshine Act would require drug companies and medical device makers to publicly disclose their payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants for promotional talks, consulting and other interactions.  The disclosures already apply to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and podiatrists under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, co-authored by Grassley and enacted in 2010.  The records that apply to doctors are publicly available in the federal Open Payments database.  The payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants would be added to the database.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants write a significant number of prescriptions in Medicare and nationwide, and they were among the top prescribers for some drugs, including narcotic controlled substances, according to a ProPublica analysis.  Also, a few of them have been criminally charged with taking industry kickbacks.

Since 2013, the Open Payments database created by the Physician Payment Sunshine Act covers 15.71 million published records and $9.92 billion in payments.  Grassley co-authored the legislation after his oversight and news stories uncovered payments from industry to doctors.  Rather than prohibit such payments, which in many cases might benefit patients as in through research, the legislation required disclosure.

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12 Oct 2015

Lead Safety Week is coming; Are you ready?

By Chris Reed

National lead safety week is officially the last week of the month, but Angie's List celebrates 24/7 because it's THAT important.

  • 40 million homes in America still contain dangerous lead paint.
  • 500,000 kids have dangerously high levels of lead in their bodies.
  • Too many homeowners and service pros either don't know or don't follow the rules about this 100 percent preventable malady.

That's why Angie's List is teaming up with U.S. EPA to get the word out about getting the lead out. Want to help us?  Details below. 

 

INDIANAPOLIS (October 12, 2014) - Angie's List is marking National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Look for the Logo" campaign.

"Awareness is the key to eradicating lead poisoning," says Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks. "The more homeowners know, the more likely they are to demand and be willing to pay what it takes to remodel and repair without endangering their children."

Since 1978, the federal government has banned residential use of lead-based paint, which remains on the walls of about 40 percent of the housing stock in the U.S. Any project that disturbs this old paint - such as prep work for re-painting, remodeling or window installation - can create dust and debris that an infant or child may inhale or ingest. Since 2010, the EPA has required contractors whose work disturbs lead paint be trained and certified in proper safety techniques.

"Of course do-it-yourself projects present the same dangers, so handy homeowners should be following best practices, too," Hicks said. "This isn't rocket science. It's smart, common sense actions that anyone can do - and all of us who deal with older homes should want to do."

Angie's List, an e-commerce marketplace and consumer review site, is helping share an EPA-sponsored outreach program to alert homeowners and remind professionals about lead paint. The materials and other outreach materials are available on Angie's List and the EPA websites. The company will alert members to the initiative this week. Hicks will also discuss lead paint in one of her weekly local television news segments, which air this month.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said that her agency takes its mission to protect human health and the environment seriously and appreciates the opportunity to partner with citizens and corporations.

"We've been working to make the country's air, land and water safe for 45 years, but we can't do that alone," McCarthy said. "Angie's List is setting a great example of leadership and consumer advocacy, and we're thrilled to expand our lead safety outreach to their members and the companies they review."

Health experts estimate about 500,000 U.S children ages 1 to 5 have elevated lead levels in their blood. Older homes are considered to be the most hazardous source of lead for U.S. children.

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, nervous system, kidney, hearing or other damage. Children age six and younger are at special risk because they lack the developed blood-brain barrier that protects older children and adults from more severe effects.

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Angie's List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than three million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of authentic reviews of local service, Angie's List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

07 Oct 2015

Healthy Relationships - 4-Week Series

By Rick Martin

October 7, 2015, Davenport, IA:   Imagine if all our relationship were free from conflict and deeply satisfying.  Finding the right mental attitude is the key to making this happen.

Healthy Relationships A 4-Week Series will be presented by Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center on Thursday evenings from October 29th to November 19th, 6:30pm-7:30pm.
Many of the meditations Buddha taught were ways to transform how we view ourselves, others and the world around us.  Without a fundamental shift in our often unconscious views about others, we will continue to be stuck in our well-worn relationship patterns.

In this four week series, uplifting meditations that will help us transform our personal relationships will be explained and explored.

This series is open to the public and no experience is necessary.

Class dates are Thursday evenings October 29th, November 5th, 12th & 19th.

Classes are held at Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center, 502 1/2 W. 3rd Street, Davenport, IA.  The Center entrance is on Scott St. which is closed from 3rd to 4th street for Davenport Central Fire Station Renovation.  Please park on 3rd Street and walk to entrance on Scott Street.

Cost is $10 per class or $30 for the series (no cost with class card).

For more information or to register call (563)322-1600 or email info@meditateiniowa.org, or visit www.MeditateInIowa.org.

About Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center:

Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center was founded under the guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso; Internationally renowned Buddhist meditation master and scholar.  Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center is a member of the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union, a worldwide network of Buddhist Centers that are located in over 40 different countries.

The purpose of Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center is to help people learn practical methods to solve their daily problems and to live a happy and meaningful life.  Lamrim Center offers meditation classes In Davenport, Clinton and Iowa City, Iowa and in Rock Island and Galesburg, IL.  The Center in Davenport also offers Buddhist studies, day courses, retreats, chanted prayers in English, community outreach and a chance to learn more about the Buddhist way of life. Classes and courses are designed to help those who wish to learn about or deepen their understanding of basic Buddhist thought and practice, as well as for those who simply wish to start a meditation practice or to meditate in a group setting.  Lamrim Kadampa Buddhist Center is a State of Iowa registered nonprofit.

07 Oct 2015

Anhalt Named Iowa's Outstanding Nurse Executive

By Rick Martin

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Oct. 6, 2015 -- Jackie Anhalt, Vice President, Patient Services, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport and Chief Nurse Executive, Genesis Health System, has been named the 2015 Outstanding Nurse Executive in Iowa by the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders (IONL).

The IONL award is intended to recognize an individual who demonstrates outstanding achievement in nursing leadership and holds the leadership position of Nurse Executive. IONL is an affiliate group of the Iowa Hospital Association.

Anhalt will receive the award in Des Moines on Oct. 7.

"The qualities of a transformational leader, as identified by Magnet, are many of the same qualities IONL was looking for in its Outstanding Nurse Executive," said Joan McCann, Magnet Program Supervisor, GMC-Davenport. "Jackie has always displayed a drive to go beyond what is expected and encourages others to strive for the same.

"As our CNE (Chief Nurse Executive) she has a strong vision for nursing and strategically understands what it takes to get us there. She is truly a transformational leader and has guided nursing at Genesis through many successes. The nursing team at Genesis is very proud to have her as our leader and recipient of this great award."

Anhalt has been an employee of Genesis for nearly 25 years, beginning as a bedside nurse on the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nursing Unit. Her experience also includes Care Coordinator for the Rehab Department, Nurse Manager of the Orthopaedic Unit and most recently, Director of Nursing Operations.

Anhalt was named one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses in 2007.

Anhalt is an RN, holds a bachelor's degree in Health Science from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.; a master's in Health Education and Promotion from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Ill.; and a second master's in Nursing from St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

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07 Oct 2015

Senior Star at Elmore Place Hosts Medicare Coverage Presentation

By Christina L. Maggio-Kellerstrass

Community is invited to learn about viable plan options available to senior adults

 

DAVENPORT, IA (October 7, 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place is pleased to invite the Quad Cities community to a Medicare presentation at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 15 at 4502 Elmore Avenue, Davenport.

This seminar will be especially helpful in addressing the sometimes confusing Medicare system and application process.  Attendees will be able to ask specific questions of a trained professional with experience in the complexities and misconceptions of the different coverage plans.

Richard Schillig of RJS & Associates will present information on the following points:

  • Basics of Medicare
  • Prescription Drug Plans
  • Medicare Alternatives (Advantage Plans)

For more than 37 years, Schillig has been offering trusted guidance and valuable financial solutions.  Among his diverse selection of service, Schillig provides explanations on the provisions of Medicare, helping his clients navigate the often confusing aspects of preserving existing assets while making important decisions.

Senior Star at Elmore Place understands that decisions regarding Medicare and prescription plans can be challenging and strives to provide pertinent information to its residents and senior adults in the Quad Cities area.  "We are proud to host local experts on diverse subjects such as Medicare planning, which contribute vital information to our community and neighbors," said Marc Strohschein, executive director at Senior Star at Elmore Place.  "Senior Star embraces all aspects of aging well including the opportunity to learn more about current health coverage options in order to make informed choices."

Please RSVP by October 14 by calling 563.359.0100 to reserve your spot.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.
07 Oct 2015

Genesis Introduces Video Remote Interpreters

By Craig Cooper
DAVENPORT, Iowa - Oct. 5, 2015 -- Healthcare terms and technology can be confusing and frightening in any language, creating possible gaps in vital communication between healthcare providers and patients. As the local patient population becomes more global, Genesis Health System is responding with a global solution.

Genesis is working with Stratus Video Interpreting of Clearwater, FL. to bridge communication gaps with patients, no matter what language is their "first'' language. Video Remote Interpreters (VRI) will be available throughout the health system.  When fully implemented, Genesis will have 44 Video Remote Interpreters available at the medical centers, convenient care locations, physician offices and outpatient care offices.

"These video interpreters will go a long way in bridging the gaps we had identified,'' said Tyne Rieck, service excellence coordinator, Genesis Health System. "Communicating with patients is an issue throughout healthcare. "We identified our needs and started researching solutions.'' Stratus is working with more than 600 hospitals and healthcare systems across the country.''

Video Remote Interpreters work like this:

If important information needs to be explained to a patient whose first language is a language other than English, the healthcare provider taps on an icon on the iPad screen to activate the language translation service.  From a list of 27 available video languages and 200 more languages available from Stratus with audio only, the provider selects the appropriate language.  Within 30 seconds to a minute an interpreter appears on the screen.

Accurate Information

The interpreter and healthcare provider exchange information such as department and patient name, and then the healthcare provider speaks. They pause after every sentence or two, to allow the interpreter to give the information in the patient's preferred language.  It's a little slower than a normal conversation, but the extra effort is worth it when a patient receives all of the necessary information and their questions are answered accurately. The iPad-based devices are mobile and adjustable to give a patient who is lying in a hospital bed a face-to-face look at the interpreter.

Genesis was already using a face-to-face language interpreter service and continues to use that service but in emergent situations or during non-business hours, it can take a period of time to get an interpreter where they are needed. "Live interpreters on site will always be best, and their use will not diminish. This is the next best thing,'' Rieck explained.  "The mobility and quick response we've experienced have really been a benefit to the patients.  We can get care started right away.  The response from patients has been good so far.''

Rieck explained that Stratus has call centers scattered throughout the country. If one area of the country was experiencing a loss of power, the service would still be available from other call centers.

Sign Language, Spanish Most Common Requests

Rieck said American Sign Language and Spanish are the interpreter services Genesis has used most often since introducing the devices a month ago. "One of the reasons we looked for new solutions is that in talking with the deaf community, we knew we needed something better,'' Rieck said. "That was what they were telling us. That started our research and search for a solution.''

Among the other video services available are Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cantonese, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali and Vietnamese.

Rieck demonstrated the system by activating a session in American Sign Language. A pleasant woman introduced herself as Aralyn and explained by voice and ASL how the system works. "Both of my parents were deaf and we didn't have anything like this,'' Aralyn explained.  "My parents either had to write down what they needed or we had to use sign language.  This is so much better.

"Most of us with Stratus have been translating for a long time ... in my case about 40 years ... and we have all received training in medical terms and procedures.'' Rieck said using family to interpret to a family member is usually a last resort and shouldn't  be necessary with the mobile video translators. "By using interpreters who are not family, we are making sure there is a literal interpretation of the information we need to share,'' said Rieck. "There is not as much paraphrasing going on this way. A family member might protect a loved one and tell them what they think the patient should know to make them feel better instead of what they really need to know.''

Genesis Health System continues to explore new technologies for the benefit of patients. Genesis has been named one of the nation's Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems for 12 consecutive years.

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06 Oct 2015

WACOAL CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIT FOR THE CURE® EVENT HELPS TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER

By Rebekah Margulis

REMINDER: Susan G. Komen Fit for the Cure Event in Davenport, IA - 10/9/2015

--Free bra fittings to help women look good, and do good--

 

WHAT: Join Wacoal in its mission to help end breast cancer with Fit for the Cure®! Participate in a Fit for the Cure event and receive a complimentary bra fitting from a Wacoal fit specialist. For every woman that participates, Wacoal will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen® for breast cancer research and community health programs. Wacoal will donate an additional $2 for every Wacoal bra, shapewear piece or b.tempt'd bra purchased at these events.

This season, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Fit for the Cure, Wacoal has begun a new initiative inspiring women everywhere to get fit!  Wacoal will donate an extra $1 for each woman who photographs themselves following their fitting with a special "I Got Fit" sign and shares on social media using #IGotFit.

For 15 years, Wacoal has dedicated its efforts to educating more than 741,000 women across 411 cities about the importance of bra fit, foundation and overall breast health. To date, through Fit for the Cure, Wacoal has donated over $4 million to Susan G. Komen® and continues to host more than 1,200 events across America each year.

 

WHY: Giving back is a major component of Wacoal's business philosophy and an important factor in the growth of the brand.  In 2015, Wacoal will reach two major milestones: 30 years of making women look and feel good and 15 years of raising awareness through Fit for the Cure.

 

Research shows that 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong sized bra. Wearing a bra should not be even slightly uncomfortable.  Women should be professionally fitted for a bra once a year to ensure their bra size has not changed as a result of natural fluctuations in their body.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women age 40-59 and accounts nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in the U.S.  By taking 15 minutes to meet with a Wacoal fit expert, you're helping to contribute to an important cause. Wacoal encourages women to visit their doctor for monthly breast examinations that could ultimately save their life.  

 

WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2015

10am-8pm

Dillards - Northpark Mall

320 W Kimberly Rd.

Davenport, IA

563-388-7954
06 Oct 2015

Tax-exempt hospital announces debt amnesty period, other steps to help low income patients

By Grassley Press

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has a long history of making sure tax-exempt organizations fulfill their obligations under the tax law, beginning with his leadership of the Finance Committee with jurisdiction over taxes. In addition to his oversight, Grassley authored additional accountability measures for nonprofit hospitals that were enacted into law in 2010.  Since January, Grassley has been asking questions of a tax-exempt hospital in Missouri.   Mosaic Life Care was the subject of an investigative journalism report over suing low income patients to force them to pay their hospital bills, even when those patients reportedly were eligible for financial assistance and discounted treatment under federal tax laws.  According to the news reports, the hospital, in conjunction with its debt collection arm Northwest Financial Services, filed thousands of lawsuits to seek legal judgment against patients and garnish their wages rather than work with them on financial assistance.  After the news reports emerged, Mosaic said it was reviewing its billing policies.  Over the last several months, Grassley has continued to press the hospital to explain how it would revise its practices to fulfill its legal and ethical obligations to low income patients.  Now, the hospital is announcing a medical debt grace period, running for three months, to allow patients with an outstanding balance to apply for financial assistance, even if the hospital has subjected the patients to collection action and legal action. The hospital also has released a new financial assistance policy.  It said it is more widely publicizing the policy and making it easier for patients to apply for aid, among other positive changes.  Grassley made the following comment.

"The spirit and the letter of the law are pretty clear.  Tax-exempt hospitals are supposed to be in business to help low-income patients.  That means offering financial assistance and helping patients apply for it if they're eligible.  It means working with patients instead of suing them.  It does not mean intimidating patients who should have received financial assistance with aggressive collection practices.  After a long period of discussion and correspondence with my office, and media coverage, Mosaic Life Care appears to be taking the right steps.  This is welcome, but results are what ultimately matter.  I plan to continue to talk with the hospital and ask for data after the financial amnesty period is over to check on the results."

A news account detailing the new policies is available here.
06 Oct 2015

Genesis Launches Move to ICD-10

By Craig Cooper

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Oct. 1, 2015 -- Betsey Tibbitts recalls first looking over ICD-10 medical codes in the early 1990s when they were already being used in some countries.

Nearly 25 years later, Thursday was launch day across the United States for tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

"Other countries have been using ICD-10 for many years but they don't use it for reimbursement purposes the way we will in U.S.,'' explained Tibbitts, information services administrator and corporate privacy officer, Genesis Health System. "The version we will use in this country had to be much more complex and took much more time to get implemented.''

There have been numerous delays to implementation in the U.S. Implementation was finally set at Oct. 1, 2015 after a number of extensions in the deadline.

Compared to other countries, the U.S. was late in introducing ICD-10. Australia has been using ICD-10 with its own modifications since 1998. Canada introduced ICD-10-CA, its modification, in 2000. Tibbitts said it has been eight years since the last country transitioned to ICD-10.

"The reimbursement piece is something that other countries aren't using ICD-10 for. That made it much more difficult to switch over to ICD-10 in this country,'' she added.

Genesis hired a consultant in 2012 to evaluate a successful transition to ICD-10. Ten teams have been working on implementation. Last spring, Genesis began dual-coding - using both ICD-9 and ICD-10 - to prepare for Thursday.

The transition to ICD-10 was necessary because ICD-9 was exhausting code possibilities with a five-character alphanumeric system to describe diagnoses. ICD-10 is based on a seven-character system.

Instead of about 18,000 codes for ICD-9, there are now about 139,000 with ICD-10.

"It has certainly made coding much more difficult and there are more jobs for new and experienced coders, which is a good thing for coders,'' Tibbitts said. "It is kind of like nursing positions right now. There is competition for experienced coders and they are being paid better.

"Each patient will take longer to code. There will be a loss of productivity, requiring more coders to handle the same volumes.''

What does ICD-10 mean to patients?

"There may be some initial delays from the time of care to the time when the patient receives a bill,'' Tibbitts added. "We expect the claims process to slow down.''

Patients and the general public may also be amused by the specificity of codes. A team at the World Health Organization, which develops ICD, must have had fun thinking of every possible diagnosis.

For example, code W56.22xA is Struck by orca, initial encounter.

V97.33XD is sucked into a jet engine, subsequent encounter.

V06.00xA is Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with other nonmotor vehicle in nontraffic accident, initial encounter. In other words, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.''

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