Discharge of First U.S. DuraHeart(TM) Patient

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Aug 22,2008

Terumo Heart, Inc. today announced the discharge of the first U.S. patient implanted with the DuraHeart(TM) Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS). The patient was discharged home on August 14th, from the University of Michigan Health System, 15 days after receiving the device.

The patient is a 62-year-old man from Livonia, Michigan, who has been suffering from heart failure for nearly 20 years. He is the first U.S. patient to receive a ventricular assist system that utilizes advanced magnetic levitation (Mag-Lev), a new, innovative type of technology.

Dr Pagani, National Co-Principal Investigator for the U.S. pivotal trial of the DuraHeart LVAS commented on the recent discharge. “We are extremely pleased with the performance of the DuraHeart and the recovery of our patient to an excellent functional state to permit discharge. We look forward to expanding upon our early experience with the DuraHeart in the near future.”

The goal of these devices is to return the patient back to a relatively normal lifestyle and to provide improved “quality of life.” “We are delighted that the FDA has allowed us to begin this trial with no restriction on patient discharge, which has not been true of some of the other devices currently conducting Trials in the United States,” said Chisato Nojiri, M.D., PhD, Chief Executive Officer for Terumo Heart, Inc.

Earlier generation Left Ventricular Assist devices are prone to hemolysis, blood clots and mechanical failure. Significant advances have been made in the DuraHeart LVAS to potentially overcome these problems. Dr. Nojiri explained: “We have a unique pump design that combines advanced “Mag-Lev” technology and a centrifugal pump. The “Mag-Lev” allows for the complete elimination of mechanical contact within the blood flow path, minimizing the chance of mechanical failure. This is expected to significantly improve the clinical performance and long-term potential of this type of therapy.” It has been used in more than 70 patients in Europe with the longest ongoing support over 3 years.

The DuraHeart Bridge-to-Transplant Pivotal Trial is a multi-center, prospective, non-randomized study of 140 patients and will include up to 40 centers. The device is intended to provide cardiac support for patients awaiting transplant who are at risk of death due to end-stage left ventricular failure. The National Co-Principal Investigators are Francis Pagani, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Michigan and Yoshifumi Naka, M.D., Ph.D., from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Terumo Heart, Inc. is a US subsidiary of Terumo Corporation with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company’s focus is the innovation and introduction of products to improve the quality of healthcare for heart failure patients. Terumo Corporation, located in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading developer, manufacturer and global marketer of a wide array of medical products.

For more information, please contact Carmen Fox, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist, Terumo Heart, Inc. at (734) 741-6345 or carmen.fox@terumomedical.com.

Source: Terumo Heart, Inc.


Nation’s Largest Benchmark Survey Cites Growth in Consumer Driven Health Plans and Wellness Programs

Health care coverage continues to be a huge financial burden to both employers and employees, especially in New Jersey, according to a new Health Plan Survey conducted by United Benefit Advisors (UBA). New Jersey employers pay 27.5% more ($9,344) per employee for health care coverage than their counterparts nationwide ($7,327). Average monthly premiums among the 352 New Jersey plans included in the survey were $444 for single coverage and $1,110 for family coverage.

“These plans are costing NJ employers a fortune,” says Scott Rappoport, CLU, ChFC, RHU, CEBS, President of Benefit Sources & Solutions in Bound Brook, NJ, “but employers must include healthcare benefits as part of their compensation package in order to compete for employee talent. As an employer, it’s important to have a plan that meets your employees’ needs, your operating budget and your long-range business goals and objectives.”

As health care costs continue to rise, more employers are looking to Consumer Driven Health Plans and employee wellness programs to help keep costs under control, according to the nation’s largest and most comprehensive benchmark survey of employer-sponsored plan design and plan costs, the 2008 UBA Health Plan Survey. Consumer Driven Health Plans, or CDHPs, are designed to have lower premiums, but typically have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for common procedures. Employers offset these higher out-of-pocket costs by offering employees a health reimbursement account (HRA) or a health savings account (HSA) and contributing funds. Nationally, CDHPs increased by 43 percent from last year, and now comprise nearly 13 percent of all plans offered by employers. The percentage of employees nationwide enrolled in these plans nearly doubled, from six percent in 2007 to 11.2 percent this year. In New Jersey, only 3.4 percent of employees are covered by CDHPs.

More than half (52.3 percent) of the state’s employees are enrolled in preferred provider organizations (PPOs), while participation in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) has slipped to just 2.2 percent and fee-for-service (FFS) plans have virtually disappeared from the market. Point-of-service (POS) plans represent the second most popular plan covering New Jersey employees, with 39.5% enrollment.

“Employers today are challenged by a host of issues relating to employee benefits,” observes Rappoport. “The rising costs of providing employee health benefits, employees’ lack of appreciation for benefits provided by the employer, the lack of knowledge about the true value of benefits, and the pressure of meeting ongoing government regulations.”

Benchmarking data from the annual UBA Health Plan Survey is valuable to large, mid-market and small employers in evaluating the effectiveness of their current plans and in planning future plan changes while keeping their benefits both competitive and cost effective, Rappoport noted.

With responses from more than 18,000 health plans sponsored by 12,860 employers nationwide, employing over 1.9 million people and insuring 4.4 million people, the 2008 UBA Health Plan Survey provides benchmarks for a greater number of specific industries, regions, and employee size categories than is available from any other single resource.

“The intent of the survey is to provide not only large employers with effective plan benchmarks, but most importantly, to provide the 96 percent of employers with less than 50 employees benchmarking data that is critical in managing their programs effectively,” added Rappoport.

Benefit Sources & Solutions, located in Bound Brook, NJ, provides a personalized and multi-faceted approach to managing employee benefit programs to business leaders and human resources professionals at companies ranging from 20 to 3,000 employees. From medical insurance to 401(k) plans, the benefit professionals at Benefit Sources & Solutions can identify how a client’s benefit program compares to other employers in their region and industry and size, determine appropriate benefit levels and develop the most cost-effective plan to suit the client’s needs. Value-added services include complete administration and compliance support, communicating all aspects of the benefits program to the workforce, and a host of technology-based systems designed to keep companies competitive in the marketplace, maintain the best possible rates and enhance employee appreciation and morale. For more information about Benefit Sources & Solutions, visit www.benefitsource.com.

United Benefit Advisors (UBA), (www.benefits.com) is one of the nation’s largest employee benefits advisory organizations with over 1,900 experienced benefits professionals located in more than 165 offices across North America. As an alliance of the nation’s premier independent benefit advisory firms, UBA members (such as Benefit Sources & Solutions) are better positioned to help employers and employees respond more efficiently and effectively to the challenges of an ever-changing employee benefits marketplace.

Source: Benefit Sources & Solutions


Free Online Health Tools Help Consumers Drive Their Own Health Care Needs

AARP announced today that it has added four new health tools to its Web site, to help consumers get trusted, reliable online health information. These tools will enable people to do everything from choose an excellent doctor or hospital, to better understand and evaluate their own health symptoms, conditions and medicines.

“Online tools like these truly empower those who may be seeking health information for themselves and family caregivers to more easily navigate today’s health care options,” said Nataki Clarke, AARP Director of Online Marketing. “Consumers can take advantage of these resources in order to maintain their independence as they age and live the most vibrant lives possible.”

The tools, which can be found on http://www.aarp.org/health, include the following:

  • Symptom Search provided by Healthline Networks: This highly regarded clinical application from Healthline Networks leverages Medically Guided(TM) search technology to analyze user symptoms and produce a ranked list of likely causes. Healthline Symptom Search features ten times more coverage than other online symptom checkers, with a relational database of more than one million diseases, symptoms and their synonyms, and easy-to-use personalization options so users can narrow or refine their searches for greater accuracy.
  • Health Illustrated Encyclopedia provided by A.D.A.M. (NASDAQ:ADAM) : Viewed by many as one of the best in the industry, this knowledgebase is continually updated, very comprehensive, and includes over 3,600 articles and 2,000 images spanning categories such as diseases & conditions; injuries; symptoms; nutrition; surgeries; tests; poisoning; and special topics. Readable and easy-to-use, the encyclopedia will clarify many aspects of health care for countless 50+ Americans.
  • Doctor and Hospital Finder provided by HealthGrades: This tool, from a leading healthcare ratings organization, has been specially customized to AARP’s demographic, enabling individuals to easily research doctors and compare the quality ratings of hospitals by specific location and medical condition or specialty. It includes a “map it” feature powered by MapQuest, which shows how many miles the doctor’s office or hospital is from the patient, and a “patient experience” feature, allowing users to view patient ratings on doctors and provide their own.
  • Drug Database & Interaction Checker provided by Gold Standard: This high quality, user-friendly database offers people continuously fresh information about prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, and alternative medicines. It also includes the MedCounselor Drug Interaction Alert, which reveals and ranks interactions between prescription medications, over-the-counter, herbal, and nutritional products, as well as lifestyle factors like caffeine, tobacco and grapefruit juice. Gold Standard’s Drug Database has been ranked #1 in the nation by two independent schools of pharmacy studies.

“AARP.org is confident that these tools will enrich the lives of our current and prospective members,” said Clarke. “AARP chose these four offerings because we believe they are among the best of online consumer health care resources.”

For more information about the new health tools, please log on to http://www.aarp.org/health.

Source: AARP


Most U. S. Measles Cases Reported Since 1996

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Aug 22,2008

Many Unvaccinated Because of Philosophical Beliefs

More measles cases have been reported in the United States since Jan. 1, 2008 than during the same period in any year since 1996, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, 131 cases were reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). At least fifteen patients, including four children younger than 15 months of age, were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

In the decade before the measles vaccination program began, an estimated 3-4 million persons in the United States were infected each year. Of these, 400-500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and another 1,000 developed chronic disability from measles encephalitis.

“Measles can be a severe, life-threatening illness,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat , director of NCIRD. “These cases and outbreaks serve as a reminder that measles can and still does occur in the United States.”

Of the 131 patients, 112 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Among the 112 unvaccinated U.S. residents with measles, 16 were younger than 12 months of age and too young for vaccination , and one had presumed evidence of measles immunity because the person was born before 1957.

Of the 95 patients eligible for vaccination, 63 were unvaccinated because of their or their parents’ philosophical or religious beliefs.

Although immunization coverage rates for measles vaccine remain high, unvaccinated persons are at risk for measles, and sizeable measles outbreaks can occur in communities with a high number of unvaccinated persons.

Measles is consistently one of the first diseases to reappear when immunization coverage rates fall. Increases in the proportion of the population declining vaccination for themselves or their children might lead to large-scale outbreaks in the U.S.

Currently, Israel and a number of countries in Europe — including Switzerland, Austria, Italy, United Kingdom — are reporting sizeable measles outbreaks among populations refusing vaccination.

“These cases resulted primarily from failure to vaccinate, many because of philosophical or religious belief,” said Dr. Schuchat. “The vaccine against measles is highly effective in preventing infections, and high immunization levels in the community are effective at preventing or drastically decreasing the size of outbreaks.”

Reports include cases from Illinois (32 cases), New York (27), Washington (19), Arizona (14), California (14), Wisconsin (7), Michigan ( 4), Hawaii ( 5), Arkansas (2), and Washington, D.C., and Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (1 each).

Nine of the importations were in U.S. residents who had traveled abroad, and 8 were in foreign visitors. An additional 99 of the 131 cases had evidence of importation or were epidemiologically linked to importations. These import-related cases have largely occurred among school-aged children who are eligible for vaccination but whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate them. The source of 15 cases could not be determined.

Of the 131 cases, 17 were importations from the following countries: Switzerland (3), Italy (3), Israel (2), Belgium (2), India (2), Germany (1), The People’s Republic of China (1), Pakistan (1), The Russian Federation (1) and the Philippines (1).

There were 55 cases of measles reported during 2006; 66 cases during 2005; 37 cases during 2004; 56 cases during 2003; and 44 cases during 2002.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Categories

Archives

Blogroll

Meta