MDNews - Greater Kansas

BY STEVE BARRETT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Artifi cial Beta Cells RE SE A RCH AT THE University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University could lead to more patient-friendly treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Scientists have created artifi cial cells to handle the job of beta cells in the pancreas that ordinarily secrete insulin. The hope is that the artifi cial cells could be introduced into diabetes patients by use of a disposable, painless skin patch and triggered to release insulin automatically when patients' glucose levels rise, according to a UNC news release. Diabetic mice that lacked beta cells saw rapid normalization of their blood glucose levels during testing. Those levels were sustained up to fi ve days. More than 6 million Americans treat diabetes with insulin via mechanical pump or injec- tion, according to the release. The fi ndings appear in Nature Chemical Biology. ■ EksoVest W ITH WORK ER S W HO perform certain overhead tasks up to 4,600 times per day, Ford is testing a new exoskeletal technology designed to reduce the likelihood of injury or fatigue. Vehicle assembly line workers are testing the EksoVest, a lightweight, wearable device developed as a result of a partnership between Michigan-based Ford and Ekso Bionics, based in California. The EksoVest raises and supports an employee's arms during overhead work and fi ts workers ranging in height from 5 feet to 6 feet 4 inches, Ford notes in a news release. Adjustable lift assistance ranges from 5 to 15 pounds per arm. Workers retain freedom of arm movement while wearing the EksoVest. Pilot testing has been conducted in two American manufacturing plants and is planned in Europe and South America as well. ■ SimpleMed+ PATIENTS W HO TA K E multiple oral medications daily may benefi t from using Israeli company Vaica's now commercially available medication dispenser SimpleMed+. The telehealth-enabled dispenser allows loading of a week's worth of medications by insertion of a multiple-medication blister pack prefi lled at a pharmacy. This approach reduces the chance of incorrect loading and the need for caregiver or nurse supervision. Visual and auditory alerts prompt patients to take their medications at the correct times. The service provider is alerted if the patient does not take his or her medication, and an alarm sounds if the patient opens the wrong dispensing compartment. Visual and audio alerts cease once the patient opens the correct compartment and takes the medication. A cloud connection eliminates the need for Wi-Fi or an internet connection. The company notes that approximately 40 percent of hospital readmissions are related to medication non-adherence. ■ CORE BY STEVE BARRETT PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Artifi cial Beta Cells RE SE A RCH AT THE University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University could lead to more patient-friendly treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Scientists have created artifi cial cells to handle the job of beta cells in the pancreas that ordinarily secrete insulin. The hope is that the artifi cial cells could be introduced into diabetes patients by use of a disposable, painless skin patch and triggered to release insulin automatically when patients' glucose levels rise, according to a UNC news release. Diabetic mice that lacked beta cells saw rapid normalization of their blood glucose levels during testing. Those levels were sustained up to fi ve days. More than 6 million Americans treat diabetes with insulin via mechanical pump or injec- tion, according to the release. The fi ndings appear in Nature Chemical Biology. ■ EksoVest primary care physicians, with a nearly 2-to-1 ratio between the states with the highest and lowest concentrations. • Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut have more than 200 primary care physicians per 100,000 people, compared to fewer than 100 physicians per 100,000 people in Utah and Idaho. • Similarly, the concentration of dentists varies by al - most 2-to-1 across states. • Massachusetts and New Jersey have more than 80 dentists per 100,000 people. Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Delaware have fewer than 45 dentists per 100,000 people. VIA CHRISTI'S NEUROSURGERY AND SPINE PROGRAM AMONG NATION'S BEST Via Christi Hospital St. Francis was recently named to Becker's Healthcare 2017 list "100 hospitals and health systems with great neuro- surgery and spine programs." To make Becker's list, it says, providers "must have extensive neu- roscience and spine programs, providing treatment and cutting-edge research into neurosurgical disorders." To develop its list, Becker's Healthcare's editorial team examined national rankings and awards for neurosurgery, neurological care and spine surgery. "This recognition is the result of professionals in all disciplines coming together to collaboratively care for and provide the best outcomes for pa- tients both in our immediate community and around the state who are in need of spinal and other types of neurological care," says Kevin Strecker, the senior leader responsible for Via Christi's Neuroscience service line. "I am pleased to see the talented providers who provide care to patients at Via Christi acknowledged for being among the best of the best." KMGMA SPRING CONFERENCE SLATED The 2018 Kansas Medical Group Management Association (KMGMA) Spring Conference will be held April 18 to 20 at the Wichita Marriott. Topics of interest include physician engagement, provider compensa- tion risks and considerations, growth through telehealth, healthcare hot topics, and the exceptional leaders playbook "Coach Them Up or Coach Them Out — Developing Your Personal Brand." On April 18, the Kansas Association of Rural Health Clinics (a committee of KMGMA) will offer a one-day workshop focusing on areas pertaining to rural health clinics billing, cost reporting and Medicaid/KanCare — coverage for care management services in rural health clinics. You do not have to be a member of KMGMA in order to attend the conference or workshop. For registration information, visit kmgma.org beginning Feb. 1 or contact Claire Daniels at cdaniels1@cox.net. ■ "News from Around the State" continued from page 20 2 2

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