Yorkshire Skin Centre

The New Rival to the Skin Clinics of Harley Street

Look out London, you’ve got a challenger on your hands. Yorkshire Skin Centre is making itself an outstanding player in the clinical aesthetics industry with its exemplary services, empathic staff, and a beautiful base of operations, earning itself the title of ‘2021’s Most Trusted Aesthetics Clinic’ for the region. With an increasing number of exemplary services and an expanding client list, this up-and-coming business is quickly becoming a diamond of its industry.

 

Led by the exemplary Dr Raj Tethi, Yorkshire Skin Centre is a Leeds based Clinic that was built on the ideal of providing healthy competition to skincare clinics in London. Offering botox, dermal fillers – both Teoxane and Ellanse – as well as thread lifting, Morpheus 8, Lumeca, Forma, laser treatments, chemical peels, and ZO Skin Health, it is a comprehensive and highly professional business. Having graduated from Leeds University with an undergraduate medical degree, Dr Tethi knew that his calling in life was to promote good skincare and to help people feel comfortable in their own bodies by providing such services.

 

This began a passion for the medical aesthetics and skincare business, bolstered by his existing knowledge of human health and physiology, earned from his separate first-class honours degree in anatomy and work as a junior doctor for the NHS, completing surgical training in west Yorkshire. By gaining such a width and breadth of knowledge, when he began his pursuit of medical aesthetic treatments, he already had an incredible foundation upon which to build, allowing him to progress quickly and efficiently through his training as an Aesthetic Doctor.

 

Before long, he had completed his full level 7 accreditation in Aesthetic medicine, something that he followed by becoming a trainer for two international derma filler companies. These companies, Teoxane and Sinclar Pharma, taught him much about how aesthetic service business operated from the inside, from the application of the treatments to serving the clientele that walks through their doors, sparking an intrigue in these workings. After this, he was invited to become a member of the National Editorial Board for Aesthetic Medicine magazine. By the time his hard work came to fruition in this invite, he was turning towards using his knowledge to open his own business, and this resulted in the Leeds clinic finally opening its doors; a place of prestige and luxury – but without the skyrocketing rent prices of Harley Street – Yorkshire Skin Centre is a clinic built to allow clients to step into a place of space, light, and decadence.

 

Dr Thethi completed research for this opening by visiting other clinics in the UK, of course. Crucially, this showed him just how many other clinics face issues with their use of space, often suffering from not having enough of it for the number of clients they wish to serve or the type of service they wish to offer. Therefore, Yorkshire Skin Centre has been developed to ensure that each practical treatment area has the space to be conducted without claustrophobia, allowing staff to move with confidence and freely. It is big enough that before long, Dr Tethi was able to incorporate a training facility, passing on the knowledge of good aesthetic practice to the new professionals.

 

The interior of Yorkshire Skin Centre is tasteful and beautiful, lending ‘a certain sparkle’ to a patient’s aesthetic journey that Dr Tethi is excited to bring to yet more people in the region as the word about the clinic continues to spread further. Additionally, the design of the clinic reflects the attitude of the founder. Every little element of the design has been carefully cultivated to improve the experience of the clients and the staff, reflecting Dr Tethi’s diligence and dedication to the aesthetic services offered within, and creating an atmosphere of warmth and welcome that a client can feel from the moment they walk through the doors.

 

Upon meeting Dr Tethi, a client will also experience this welcome. He prides himself on being empathic and understanding, able to work with his clients to create a plan for their aesthetic journey that will allow them a comprehensive understanding of the process, and an excitement for the more confident them that will come out the other side. When a client speaks to him, he lends them peace of mind and reassurance that they are in good hands, and it is the natural charisma of himself and his team, as well as the exemplary nature of their work, that has clients coming back time and time again.

 

For many clients in the Yorkshire area – and indeed, further afield – Yorkshire Skin Centre is the one-stop-shop for aesthetic clinical solutions. Thus, the list of customers and the waiting list is expanding by the day, with the team working diligently for each and every one of them; the popularity of it meant that at one time, the waiting list was over 2 months long. Dr Tethi is proud of this, and proud of the way his staff handle their work, saying ‘I think it just reflects better when a place is more beautiful’.

 

And indeed, that is exactly what Yorkshire Skin Centre is. People can immediately feel the love, care, and effort that has gone into every design decision and every piece of décor, immediately bolstering the client’s ability to put their trust in Dr Tethi and his team. Currently, Dr Tethi is in the midst of obtaining his CQC registration for the clinic; this, in another way that has set it apart from its competitors, will allow it to set up its operating theatre, where visiting plastic surgeons can conduct consultations and minor procedures for Yorkshire Skin Centre’s clients.

 

This is something that the team are incredibly excited to be able to bring to their loyal customer base. The minor operations offered will include blepharoplasties, mole removal, and lesion removal, and it is just one of the many upcoming additions that Yorkshire Skin Centre will be making to its current list of services. Soon, Yorkshire Skin Centre will be able to offer further women’s health services such as hormone treatment, vaginal rejuvenation, and menopause healthcare solutions, making this clinic even more of a comprehensive skincare and aesthetic services solution by the day. ‘I happily refer patients to other people if I think they’re better at something than I am’, says Dr Tethi; ‘Now, I can have all these experts under one roof’. This, in essence, shows Dr Tethi’s dedication to being able to provide his clients with only the best, and he thanks his capable and brilliant staff for every hour of hard work they have put into making his dream a reality.

 

For business enquiries please contact Raj Thethi at the Yorkshire Skin Centre.

People stood outside a private plane

Elevating Excellence in Private Healthcare Transport

With a team of seasoned professionals behind it and founders at the helm who have made sure every element of its operation is exemplary, Global Jetcare Inc is a global answer to private healthcare transport. With flights that traverse the entire world and the ability to rise to the challenge of serving a myriad of healthcare needs both in flight and with regards to the destination, it has earned notoriety as the ‘Best Medical Air Transport Company, 2021’ for the USA.

 

Global Jetcare is an international air ambulance service operating all around the world, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. Fundamentally, its pride in its services comes from the quick, efficient, effective nature of its services, which can reach a client and get them to where they need to go for their care as gently and safely as possible, in plenty of time for them to benefit from the most effective treatment. Whether the task at hand is transporting a family member injured whilst on vacation or moving someone who requires specialised care, Global Jetcare promises to be the best solution, as clearly portrayed by its motto; ‘when time is not an option, Global Jetcare can transport your loved one anywhere in the world’.

 

Moreover, it makes a commitment to treating a client’s loved one as though they are the family of a member of their own staff, treating every case with the urgency and diligence it deserves. This attitude, in essence, has allowed it to develop a stellar reputation for exemplary customer service and efficient operations that are emboldened by the care each staff member has for the people they transport, having as many people on hand as needed to ensure the safety of the patient and their family’s peace of mind. Furthermore, allowing Global Jetcare to reassure its clients that they are putting their faith in the right company, it has over 20 years of experience.

 

With such a depth and breadth of past knowledge in the aviation industry and a myriad of chartered successful flights under its belt that have spanned all corners of the globe – gaining the trust of hospitals, case workers, and assistance companies in the process – it has cultivated an earned reputation for the greatest heights of excellence. Additionally, each member of its team is trained in flight physiology and has benefitted from rigorous training across a multitude of skills, making for a full complement of outstanding staff.

 

In tandem with this, Global Jetcare can also bring aboard physicians and in-flight care for a patient – at any level needed – in order to ensure their safety whilst aboard the plane. This means if a patient wishes to do so, they can request to have their own personal doctor aboard with them. Coordinated from beside to bedside and facilitated by consummate professionals at every turn, Global Jetcare will never settle for second best when it comes to its patient’s care; in addition, it pays attention to the details so that every variable is appropriately prepared for, bolstered by its breadth of experience in the field.

 

This has earned them a long roster of impeccable reviews from its past patients and their families. From word-of-mouth referrals to written testimonials, it is raved about for its efficacy when it comes to planning, and the finesse with which it handles every case, ensuring that everyone is comfortable and that even in-flight challenges such as unforeseen bad weather are handled with ease. Therefore, since its beginnings in 2009, Bart Gray and his mother, Christina, have been able to make Global Jetcare a gem of its industry. Its stunning reputation has secured it a solid place in the niche it serves, with many of the medical institutes it regularly delivers patients to being able to laud it for the quality its work denotes across the board, adding an extra dimension to its clients’ own reviews.

 

Crucially, being set up by a family has meant that the business’s core has been developed around familial values. It cares for its patients and its staff with the diligence and empathy needed to work with a friendly, caring bedside manner, instilling each of these facets of its operation as the beating heart of the company that everyone can benefit from right from the first phone call with the client. Both founders take the running of the company very seriously and ensure that it is managed well at every turn due to this, encouraging and supporting their staff in their tasks so that everything gets done without overworking any of the team; they are the core of what makes Global Jetcare so exemplary, after all, and so they and the patients are its highest priority.

 

Alongside this, it is the Global Jetcare belief that it is its duty as a company to ensure that each team member makes the best paycheque it can give them, as well as working with them to create an environment in which they feel safe, appreciated, and like they make a true difference. Which they do. Patients experiencing the Global Jetcare way of working can instantly feel how much each individual deeply cares about their job, and as a result are transported in an environment of mutual respect.

 

This has been something that the company and its founders have been especially keen to continue displaying during the course of the pandemic. With so many of its staff encountering worries regarding the safety of their families, as well as a myriad of other difficulties such a significant other out of work and a sudden need to find childcare as schools were being closed across the board, it looked inward in order to help each individual within its ranks to find a solution that worked best for them.

 

In essence, Global Jetcare wishes for each team member to have a say in how the company is run, especially regarding their own career; due to this, it prioritised keeping all staff on board with no cuts to the team or their pay so that each person could be comforted in the knowledge that their role would still be theirs, come what may. It allowed those staff who needed to go home to their families to do so without fear, allowing those who wished to stay working to do so, gratefully accepting the help of those who did. No matter what choice an individual made however, Global Jetcare wishes to extend thanks to every single person who it employs for their continual diligence, professionalism, and dedication that has allowed the company to pull through the pandemic and support its clients and their loved ones.

 

Global Jetcare, as a result, is coming back bigger and better than ever as the dust of the pandemic begins to settle. It promises clients and patients that its work will be just as exemplary as it has ever been when it comes to looking after the people in their care, with an internal culture as strong as ever and a staff who are raring to go and get back into the swing of things. Over the course of 2020 and indeed, the first half of 2021, the old adage has indeed proved true that if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your company; and it will continue to operate with gratitude and perseverance as it continues to be a shining example of this ethos long into the future.

 

For business enquiries, contact Bart Gray via:

Phone: +1-352-799-7771

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://globaljetcare.com

Secret Rose products

The Secret to Looking Youthful

Founded by one of the most well-known faces in the UK aesthetics industry, Maxine McCarthy, Secret Rose helps professionals working within the industry to deliver the finest quality derma filler treatments, from minimising fine to deep wrinkles, to plumping lips. Global Health & Pharma magazine has recognised the expertise and quality provided by Secret Rose with the award for 2021’s Most Outstanding Dermal Filling Brand – UK. We take a closer look at what the company’s products can do for clients.

 

Brand-new to the UK market, Secret Rose is an award-winning dermal filler which has been carefully developed by leading South Korean manufacturer, Medi N Research Co. Ltd., formulated and tested under strict quality control which matches both Korean and international standards and ensures that the product is safe for use. The fillers are made using a formula of sterile, pyrogen-free, physiological gel of cross-linked hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin with the addition of 0.3% lidocaine hydrochloride which numbs the area where the filler is injected, ensuring that pain during the procedure is kept to a minimum. The product also has an improved visco-elasticity that allows an excellent flow and better moldability, and it provides natural-looking volume.

 

The Secret Rose development team has invested countless hours to achieve the perfect dermal filler products and aftercare. The final product is a long-lasting filler with great results, proven to hold its shape for up to 12 months. This is due to the filler being highly cross linked and with a high molecular weight, which slows down the degradation of the filler when it is injected into the body. Each Secret Rose product is made using approved, medical-grade ingredients, with all dermal fillers and threads CE kitemarked for guaranteed quality and results.

 

Looking good is a really important part of feeling good – Feeling confident in your own skin is the way to become a comfortable human being. Aesthetic treatments have seen a boom over the past decade or so, with dermal fillers being one of the main trends. They return that plumpness and hyaluronic acid to areas of the face that are wrinkling due to loss of fat and moisture which occurs during the ageing process, making patients look naturally youthful. The hyaluronic acid contributes to erasing the effects that time has on the skin.

 

Secret Rose Distribution is the only approved distributor of the Secret Rose dermal filler products and they are supplied to both beauty professionals and members of the public. The product range includes fillers and threads, aftercare creams and ice lip packs – everything needed to provide a full treatment package – and they are ideal for contouring treatments, Russian lip treatments, NS rhinoplasty, and lip enhancements. When clients order from Secret Rose, they will receive a branded consultation form, an aftercare card, and an icepack (unless otherwise stated), giving them the tools needed to deliver a full and professional treatment. Secret Rose’s experts are on hand 24/7 to assist with any enquiries regarding the products.

 

Founder, Maxine qualified in aesthetics in 2009 and spent a further three years perfecting her treatments. In 2012, she opened Cosmetic Couture, an academy that has grown to be the Number One Training Academy in the UK, as voted for in the British Aesthetics Awards 2020. Maxine herself was also named a runner up Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year 2020 in the same awards.

 

And not only has Global Health & Pharma magazine recognised the brilliance of Secret Rose and its products, but so have the company’s clients who have been sharing five-star ratings and positive comments on its website.

 

Dr Thomas Clint said, “I wanted to test out this new brand of dermal filler, so I ordered the Sample Box which comes with each type of fillers. My favourite is Deep, because it is a very versatile product and I have gotten great results with my clients!”

 

RGN Amber Taylor said, “Over the years of doing PDO and COG threads, I have felt like the market’s range of products have been quite limited. So when Secret Rose launched in the UK, I jumped at the chance to try out the threads. Incredible results from both the PDO threads and the COGS!”

 

Louise Gilbert said, “I have tried the Russian Lip Sample Box and it is amazing! This is by far the best product I have used to create the Russian lip technique and the extra 30G needles have come in so handy!”

 

Emma Rhys said, “My order was delivered very quickly. I have tried a lot of different products over the years as an aesthetic practitioner and after trying out Secret Rose, I can say that it is an incredible range! I will definitely be reordering!”

 

For business enquiries contact Maxine McCarthy at Secret Rose UK via email at [email protected] or online at www.secret-rose.co.uk.

Scientist testing food for dangerous chemicals

HACCP Plan 25 Years Later: Where We’re At

Twenty-five years ago, the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) issued its landmark final rule. Known as PR/HACCP, the “Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point” was created to lower the risk and numbers of pathogenic microorganisms forming on meat and poultry products. The rule also reduces the incidence of foodborne illnesses that result from consumption of these animal products. Finally, the rule offered a new framework that modernized the current system of inspection for meat and poultry products. The goal was to reduce the potential of contamination through proactive means rather than reactively. According to FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker, “Food safety is an ever-evolving process. HACCP marked a dramatic change in food safety and how FSIS approached its mission of keeping food safe and the role of inspecting processing establishments.”

 

Results From the Final Rule

The HACCP plan includes sanitation requirements that were motivated in part by the FSIS addressing the issue of harmful bacteria found on raw meat and poultry products. These bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, continue to be major food hazards that are associated only with meat and poultry. A study released in 2012 revealed that the HACCP final rule had achieved its goal. Statistics collected as part of the study research showed that Salmonella contamination on broiler chicken carcasses dropped 56 percent between 1995, before the HACCP final rule was announced, to 2000. In the same timeframe, the number of foodborne illness cases resulting from Salmonella on broilers had dropped by 190,000.

 

The Outbreaks of 1993

1993 was a turning point for the federal government in how it addressed pathogens and outbreaks. An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to a fast-food restaurant in the Pacific Northwest selling ground beef resulted in the deaths of four children. The outbreak also caused close to 200 others to develop serious ongoing health issues. The majority of those affected by this outbreak were less than 10 years old. The FSIS was already working on regulations that would require a systematic approach to food safety. These measures were to be used in food production and included preventative measures that would reduce the risks of illness to consumers. 

 

What The Changes Included

FSIS officials and the public requested different methods to ensure and improve food safety. The events of 1993 meant that the previously standard ways had to change.  What resulted was a science-based inspection system that caused a noticeable shift in the USDA’s regulatory philosophy. Instead of inspecting finished products for biological, chemical, and physical hazards, the HACCP rule required establishments to use preventative measures to avoid these hazards in the first place. Part of this process included the development and implementation of written sanitation standard operating procedures. Added to this were FSIS pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella, and record-keeping procedures. And finally, the PR/HACCP final rule altered and defined the roles of both the establishments and the federal government in the food safety inspection process. Establishments were given the flexibility to make decisions on food safety specific to their particular establishment. The previous system, which was command-and-control based, required approval of production-associated decisions from a government inspector. With HACCP in place, the industry is completely responsible for the decisions made related to food production and the execution of the decisions. The FSIS’s role under HACCP is to conduct inspections to verify compliance with food safety standards, and enforcement to address non-compliance.

 

What They Had To Say

“I had the privilege to see first-hand the most significant change at that time for both FSIS and the industry,” says Paul Wolseley an Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations in the FSIS Office of Field Operations. “By moving away from a command-and-control methodology of conducting inspection to a science-based approach for controlling food safety hazards in meat and poultry products, we greatly enhanced our ability to protect public health.” He added, “The shift to HACCP paved the way for innovations that continue today.” William Shaw, the FSIS Executive Associate for Laboratory Services weighs in on the changes made to microbial testing programs, saying, “The HACCP program was a paradigm shift for the Agency.” He goes on to state, “The need for verification led to the largest scale microbial testing program by the Agency. It’s evolved into the FSIS annual sampling plan we issue today.” 

 

The Process Has Since Extended To Egg Product Inspection

Since 1996, the HACCP regulations have been updated to address more establishments and other food products. In 2020, the regulations covering egg product inspections were amended so that egg processing plants must now develop and implement HACCP procedures. This will align them with other FSIS-regulated products. According to Agency Administrator Kiecker, “The evolution of our policies and inspection programs means FSIS can be more proactive instead of reactive when it comes to stopping an outbreak.” It is because of this ever-changing landscape that the FSIS keeps promoting and maintaining the highest standards found in the food production process. In doing so, the Agency has kept its mission of protecting the public through food safety as its top priority.

 

Final Thoughts

Food safety is a serious matter. It continues to be now that we are twenty-five years past the implementation of the HACCP final rule. The safe production and handling of food consumed by the public is the key behind the HACCP regulations. Foodborne illnesses can cause death, and outbreaks as recent as 1993 provided evidence that supported a change in the regulations. With new guidelines that are more science-based, the number of incidents related to bacteria and foodborne illnesses has dropped significantly. Plus, with better food safety standards in place, consumer confidence has increased and restaurants and food production facilities have seen some very good years in business. With these guidelines in place, and a proper inspection and enforcement program, the HACCP standards continue to lead the way in maintaining food safety for the US public.

Fujifilm

Growing Position in “Design, Build and Maintain” Market

PP4CE (Professional Partners for Control Environment) has been in existence for six years and is a collaboration between professional partners who are active in the controlled environment market, with one organisation in the Netherlands and one organisation operating internationally. The initiator of these strategic alliances is Geerd Jansen, board member within the Brecon Group, together with Paul Joosten, PP4CE partner from the very beginning and board member at Kuijpers. Global Health & Pharma magazine has recognised the collaboration for its Best Cleanroom Design and Engineering Specialists 2021 – Europe award, so we speak to the duo to learn more.

A strategic alliance of specialised companies in cleanroom market segments such as semiconductor, pharmacy, medical services and/or the food sector, PP4CE has the extensive experience in the field of control environment solutions.

Geerd Hansen said, “After having been internationally active in construction chemicals for 35 years on an executive level, I came into contact with cleanroom technology in 2014 as a consultant for the Brecon Group. A very interesting market in which Brecon had already been active for 25 years, primarily in the semi-conductor sector. When I was asked to write a strategic plan for this great company, I noticed that there were hardly any parties active that offered actual turn-key projects. Moreover, many small providers were (and still are) active with relatively little knowledge and experience in the various market segments. I believe that such an important facility as a cleanroom should be built with the best parties and that is why I started looking for truly professional partners within this industry; one of them was Kuijpers.”

As director within the Kuijpers organisation, Paul Joosten is responsible for controlled environments in the life sciences and high-tech industry. Kuijpers is a 100-year-old family business specialising in all disciplines related to technical installations in buildings and industry with over 1,300 employees and 14 branches in the Netherlands.

“At the time, Paul also recognised the importance of pooling expertise by serious partners, and that’s how the PP4CE concept was born,” said Geerd.

Many parties are now active as partners within the PP4CE alliance. Some examples from the first hour include Bolidt (floors), Assa Abloy Entrance Technology, WERO, Cleanroom Cleaning, Denios (safety), Mennens Cleanroom Cranes, but also the architectural office of AKEN and CMI (monitoring) in Eindhoven. Due to the division into three specialised segments, food, pharma and high-tech, specialised companies have now been added such as ELIS (cleanroom clothing), D&M (vacuum oven systems), TRIMO Group Sandwich panels and UNICORN Industrial Cleaning Solutions. With the division into three market segments, they were able to integrate more specialised disciplines as a partner and they are even better able to respond to all questions within these specific sub-markets.

Geerd said, “More and more people can talk to us about really all disciplines in cleanroom technology. As part of the Brecon Group, Brecon Clean Interiors is the contact partner for LAF cabinets, collision protection, safety workbenches and all other lab and cleanroom equipment.”

Paul Joosten said, “At the time of acquaintance with the PP4CE concept, Kuijpers had already realised some nice “controlled environment” projects. At the time, I also saw a development in the Dutch market in which clients increasingly wanted to enter into a “design, build and maintain” process based on turn-key construction concepts. This trend has developed strongly and for us as an organisation this was and is an excellent development because it allows us to optimally demonstrate our expertise and experience.

“Having worked on the ASML campus for decades, the Brecon Group was primarily a well-known partner for us at the time, which people thought of in high-tech assignments. Much has changed in recent years. We have now jointly built a series of complex GMP projects and the Brecon Group has developed strongly in the field of GMP regulations.”

Geerd added, “That is indeed a fact. Having been focused on the semi-conductor sector for decades, Brecon became more known as a specialist for the high-tech market. In the meantime, we have become a completely different company in our product portfolio, service and the existing GMP knowledge and experience.

“More and more quote requests are coming in across the entire width of the controlled environment spectrum and more and more are “design and build” projects. We handle the request together with Kuijpers and we often jointly introduce the PP4CE concept to the prospective client. We start the often-complex assignment together with the client in the stage of defining the URS and with all other PP4CE partners, we then work on the entire process from the initial phase up to the planning and realisation phase, including commissioning and qualification. Thanks to the integrated approach of the entire PP4CE team, we can work faster and at a high-quality level.”

The collaboration is now known (inter)nationally as a reliable partner for in time realisation of cleanrooms, containments and laboratories in the various market segments. Food, high-tech or life science projects, large or small, simple or very complex…. the partners within PP4CE are not afraid of a challenge and realise each project within the set time schedule, as they have repeatedly demonstrated in recent years. The list of GMP related “design and build” references is now long and impressive.

Paul said, “We started together in 2016 with the realisation of a big hospital-pharmacy for a group of hospitals in the Hague (AHZ). Immediately afterwards, the realisation of the hospital-pharmacy in the Princess Maxima hospital in Utrecht followed, followed by the construction of the APPO pharmacy in Roosendaal. We recently completed the construction project of the hospital-pharmacy for the Catherina Hospital in Eindhoven. We are proud to look at our reference list in which beautiful GMP projects, among other projects at MSD (Organon), ASPEN, FUJI and REPLIGEN are realised. To get a good impression of the quality we deliver, I would advise viewing the short impression film on our site in which we show the result of building a cleanroom for a worldwide leading pharmaceutical company at one of their locations in Amsterdam.”

Both entrepreneurs leave no doubt about it: the PP4CE group will strive for further (international) growth and will not shy away from a challenge to realise their objective together with their PP4CE partners!

For more information on the PP4CE alliance, please contact initiator Geerd Jansen by emailing [email protected] or calling +31 (0) 6 46 3573 46.

Doctor giving a patient an MRI scan

Biggest Problems in Medical Billing

Medical institutions all over are facing a serious problem when it comes to billing. In just about every healthcare system, there are issues surrounding the issuance, follow-up and payment of bills. Some of the problems are with patients, others with the medical establishments themselves. In any event, what they all really need are modern, effective and innovative medical billing and payment solutions.

What exactly are these problems in the world of medical billing? Let’s see some examples below:

 

1. Lost Revenue

We should start with the big worldwide issue first that is most in need of innovative solutions, and that is the amount of money that is lost by billing errors. The WHO has already called this problem “the last great unreduced health-care cost.” Billing errors apparently waste an amount equivalent to 7 percent of global health expenditure — US$ 487 billion.

One Australian study from 2018 showed that just educating people more about medical billing was able to save AUD 250 million in a single year from waste of AUD 1 billion in total. With so much money being lost to billing errors, smarter solutions that can remove human error as much as possible from the equation are the answer.

 

2. Late Payments

When systems rely on either patients to pay for services or insurance companies to come forward and pay for things, then delays in payment appear to be inevitable. Solutions focused on widening payment accessibility such as opening up online payments, credit card payments and other channels can help, but implementation proves tough for some.

 

3. Staying Up to Date with Patient Information

Verifying people’s personal and insurance information is an inseparable part of the billing process, and when the current software solutions are inadequate and information gets out of date, then many more steps have to be added to the process in order to get the right information and then confirm it before the original goal of getting payment for something can be completed.

 

4. Incompatible Medical Coding Systems

Some software solutions have proven unsuitable for the Australian market because of the differences in medical coding. With some systems being geared towards the US standard in medical coding, they remain woefully incompatible with the system used in Australia, namely ICD-10-AM, ACHI, ACS — International Classification of Diseases 10th edition Australian Modification, Australian Classification of Health Interventions, Australian Coding Standards.

That’s quite a mouthful, we know, but it’s absolutely crucial in the seamless sharing and understanding of information. When the digital system doesn’t understand the standard coding, then there is a serious communications breakdown.

 

5. Quality Control – Dealing with Errors and Complaints

A smart billing solution will actively help to eliminate errors across the system. What’s more, if and when errors do occur, accurate and complete information is needed within a log that records the patient’s name, account number, cash reimbursement amount, etc.

These logs form a trail that allows healthcare providers to keep full track of all cash flow and revenue payments. This is an indispensable tool in the war on medical bill waste that already costs the world billions of dollars.

 

6. Assistance with Tech Implementation

Finally, one other big problem is that when high-tech solutions are employed by medical establishments, they frequently don’t include enough support in implementation, which leads to further problems. Establishments and their teams need sufficient training and tech support right up to the point where a matured and experienced in-house team is in a position to take over that role.

 

In short, the medical world is in sore need of real and innovative billing solutions. With so much still slipping through the cracks, no one can afford to wait any longer.

Pharmaceutical lab

4 Ways to Protect Yourself From Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne pathogens (BBP), as its name suggests, are pathogenic microorganisms that cause diseases when transferred from an infected person to another through blood. These microorganisms are capable of causing serious illnesses and in worse cases, death.

Bloodborne pathogens can enter the human body through accidental punctures and abrasions on the skin, or through mucous membranes found in the mouth, nose, or eyes. Some of the most common diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens include HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis.

You are likely to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens in places such as medical offices, dental offices, clinics, hospitals, restrooms, nursing homes, and funeral homes. But you can take measures to avoid infection. Here are ways on how to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens.

 

1. Educate Yourself About BBPs

The first defense against bloodborne pathogens is to learn everything there is to know about them. This is especially true if you’re working in the healthcare and cleaning industry. 

For example, if you are working in a hospital as a nurse or a janitor, you should know that your employers are legally required to provide proper equipment, training, and education to ensure your protection against exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

You may also opt to enroll in bloodborne pathogens courses or training programs to get clearer instruction and information on the best ways to keep yourself and others safe against these microorganisms.

 

2. Be Equipped

The safest way to protect yourself against bloodborne pathogens is to never come into contact with blood or any bodily fluids from an infected person. However, that is not always possible. 

You can never avoid getting exposed to BPPs especially if you’re working in a hospital and you are required to provide medical assistance to someone who is bleeding or if you are tasked with cleaning up blood spills and stains of bodily fluids. In these situations, the best way to protect yourself against bloodborne pathogens is to use effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

It’s also important to remember that PPEs come in different varieties. Each of these varieties is designed to protect certain parts of the human body. Most importantly, the hands, face, and body.

  • Hand Protection – For hand protection, gloves are always the go-to option against BBPs. You should always wear gloves whenever you plan on coming into contact with blood or any body fluids. Gloves are designed to protect your hands from bloodborne pathogens. They should also be used only once and should be properly disposed of right away.
  • Face Protection – As for face protection, eyewear and face shield are always recommended to prevent exposure to BPPs. Eyewear usually includes safety glasses or goggles which are designed to protect your eyes from pathogens that can be transmitted through the mucous membranes found in the eyes. Face shields should also be worn in addition to eye protection as they increase the level of protection by being a protective barrier for your face. 
  • Body Protection – Gowns and aprons are always recommended to be worn in hospitals to protect your body and clothing from BBPs. Clothing contaminated with bloodborne pathogens is also dangerous and a serious health hazard. 

Knowing what type of PPE to use when working around with blood can help keep you safe. In most cases, gloves are the only PPE required for working around with blood or other body fluids, but for more extreme situations or risky medical procedures, you may need to use all of the PPE listed above. 

 

3. Always Observe Handwashing Protocols

Besides using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields, goggles, gloves, and lab coats, handwashing is also one of the most effective ways of keeping yourself safe from bloodborne pathogens. 

Handwashing should never be an optional thing to do. Instead, it must be a habit that must be developed, especially if you are working in an industry where there is a high potential for exposure to other person’s blood or body fluids. 

Always make sure that you wash your hands immediately using an antibacterial soap right after removing your PPE. Using a hand sanitizer can also be very helpful in ensuring that you are maximally protected against BPPs after washing your hands. 

 

4. Practice Safe Disposal

This goes without saying. You need to dispose of contaminated materials, especially your PPE after using them. Knowing how to dispose of PPE is just as important as knowing how to use them. Your PPE, especially the gloves and face masks, should only be used once and should be disposed of right away after using them. 

Before you leave the area you’re working, be sure to remove all the PPE you used and properly dispose of them. Also, get rid of any materials that have been contaminated with blood and body fluids even if it is your own clothing.

The place you’re working with should also provide an appropriate place, storage area, or containers where you can clean, decontaminate, or dispose of all potentially infectious materials and wastes. If you’re working as a cleaning staff in clinics or hospitals, make sure to follow the proper way of disposing biomedical wastes.

 

Conclusion

Knowing how to protect yourself and prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens can make a lot of difference. However, all the equipment, training, and information in the world will do you no good if you’re not going to put them to use. Prevention is better—and simpler than cure. 

Cancer

Cancer From Zantac: 5 Things to Know About Ulcer Medications

The advancements in the medical industry helped many people get treatments for their illnesses. Various medical procedures and medications were developed to help individuals recover from their health complications. 

Some common problems like ulcers and acid reflux are easier to manage with the help of medicine. One well-known drug that became popular in recent years is Zantac. It’s an accessible and affordable oral tablet that can be purchased by individuals dealing with gastrointestinal issues or ulcers.  

Although the drug’s benefits seemed promising to many consumers, it quickly became a potentially harmful substance that can cause long-term health complications.  

Here’s some information about the medication:  

 

1. It Was Sold As An Over-The-Counter Medication 

Ranitidine products under the brand Zantac were initially sold to consumers as a histamine-2 blocker. It’s an over-the-counter drug for heartburn and ulcers. It works by preventing the stomach from producing too much acid which causes problems in the digestive system. Additionally, the medication also helps treat and manage other conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. GERD is a chronic digestive disease that can cause various symptoms like dry cough, frequent heartburn, and pain in the neck and jaw. On the other hand, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a more serious medical condition where tumors may form in the pancreas and duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). 

People who often experience discomfort in their gastrointestinal tract and digestive process take the medicine to keep their stomach acid under control. They can easily purchase the drug in pharmacies and stores with or without a prescription from a physician.  

 

2. Zantac May Cause Health Complications  

Although the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved the medicine’s safety, it was later ruled as unsafe for consumption. The N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) content of the drug can become a combustible substance and cause health complications. When exposed to heat, volatile levels of NDMA may cause illnesses like liver cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, leukemia, and other life-threatening diseases.    

NDMA is known to be a carcinogenic chemical that can be manufactured through industrial processes. It’s found in various sources like tobacco smoke, foods like smoked meat or cheese, pesticides, and detergents. Exposure to low levels of NDMA is considered non-life-threatening. However, if a person takes high doses of the chemical, they may eventually develop certain illnesses.  

People who take the ranitidine regularly to manage their condition were at risk of developing cancer from Zantac. Additionally, the drug may also cause various side effects like vomiting, liver failure, stomach pain, and hepatitis.  

 

3. Its Manufacturing Process May Have Been Unsafe  

The manufacturing and delivery process of Zantac and other ranitidine products may have exposed the drug to high temperatures and affect its contents before it gets sold to consumers.  

Some of the ulcer medications sold in the market are from Australia and India where temperatures can go as high as 139 degrees Fahrenheit. The environmental conditions during the manufacturing stage of the drug may have affected its composition and made it unsafe for consumption.  

In addition, the medication gets transported in cargo containers where the temperature may not be stable. There are also no instructions indicated on the packaging stating that the drug must be kept in cold storage at all times.  

This means that before a consumer gets their hands on Zantac, it could have already been exposed to various temperature changes. If they take it regularly to maintain their health concern, they may become more prone to developing cancer and other health complications. Many reliable sources like Drug Injury News released information regarding the medicine to keep the public updated and warned about the potential long-term effects of the drug.  

 

4. The Drug Was Recalled  

Valisure Laboratories examined the drug in October of 2019 to determine whether its contents were safe for consumption. They also investigated to see the changes in Zantac when exposed to various external conditions. Their findings indicated that the NDMA content of the drug is within normal levels. However, when exposed to elevated temperatures, it increases and may potentially become harmful to a person’s body.  

In April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a request to pull out all ranitidine products from the market. People who purchased the drug for health maintenance reasons were also advised to stop taking the medicine since it may increase their chances of developing cancer and other health problems.  

Those who take the medicine to help manage their health condition were also instructed to consult with a physician before stopping their drug intake. Some patients were given alternatives to ensure they won’t experience adverse effects from suddenly discontinuing their intake of ranitidine.  

 

5. Patients Who Developed Cancer Filed Lawsuits  

Patients who were prescribed the drug to manage their health condition eventually filed lawsuits and claimed that the drug caused various types of health problems including 12 forms of cancer. Some individuals sued Zantac manufacturers due to misinformation. They claimed that the people behind ranitidine knew its potential health risks but chose to withhold it from patients and proceeded to sell the medicine.  

Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim are two of the manufacturers that received various lawsuits from patients who developed cancer. One of the cases was from Joseph Galimidi, a patient diagnosed with breast cancer. He has been using the drug to manage his heartburn and acid reflux for a long time before it was even declared unsafe. He claimed that Zantac was the cause of his illness and requested compensation.  

Furthermore, class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers of Zantac and other ranitidine products were also filed in California’s Northern District in 2019. The individuals who submitted the case claimed that leaving out crucial data about the drug put their lives at risk. They wanted the manufacturers to pay compensation for moral damages, medical expenses, death, disability, and other adverse effects of the drug on their lives. 

 

Final Thoughts  

The initial formulation of Zantac made by Sanofi was recalled and no longer available. It caused various complications to many patients who simply wanted to treat their ulcer and manage their gastrointestinal condition. It led to long-term effects and changed the lives of many people.  

Woman sitting in front of her car after an accident

One Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer is Helping Victims Get The Right Healthcare

A car accident is one of the most debilitating experiences you can have in your life. If you are in a car accident, one of the most critical issues is receiving adequate medical attention to address your injuries. 

 

You need to get medical attention after a serious car accident. There may be life-threatening injuries that need to be immediately addressed. The greater danger is often unseen injuries that lay latent until their manifestations become serious in the future. 

 

A car accident attorney can help the victim of a car accident get the right healthcare in the following ways:

 

Noticing Symptoms

According to atlcaraccidentlawyer.com, you should choose an experienced car accident attorney who deals with car accident cases often. If they are keen, they will notice the symptoms of car accidents even if the victims say they are okay. 

 

In this regard, a lawyer can help you notice the symptoms you cannot and direct you to a doctor to get the necessary medical attention. These symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, stuttering speech, and headaches.

 

It can take hours, days, weeks, or even months for the negative symptoms of a car accident to manifest themselves. You will probably be dealing with a car accident attorney during that time who will be better placed to notice your symptoms and help you get proper healthcare. 

 

Auto Insurance Coverage

Another way an Atlanta car accident attorney can help you get the right healthcare is by dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf. As you probably know, it can be challenging to get an insurance company to give you compensation for medical bills after a car accident

 

Insurance companies will send adjusters and other professionals to offer you deals meant for the company’s advantage. When all you want to do is recover from your injuries and finish the insurance hassles, it is easy to take a bad deal. 

 

A qualified car accident attorney can be your defender in this regard. The attorney will deal with the insurance companies repelling their advances and negotiating in your stead. It is the best way to ensure you get adequate medical attention for your injuries and the insurance companies pay for as much of the bills as possible. 

 

Dealing with the Guilty Party

There are some countries and states that have no-fault car accidents. However, for those places with at-fault accident laws, the guilty party should compensate the victim for their actions. Responsibility, in this case, is often paying the victim’s medical bills. 

 

The guilty driver’s auto insurance is supposed to pay for the accident’s damage and the subsequent medical costs to address injuries resulting from the accident. However, the insurance company may refuse to pay, or the medical expenses may exceed the policy’s limit. 

 

In such a case, an attorney will help you get adequate medical care by helping you file a personal injury lawsuit against the guilty party. You can take them to court and have the law require them to pay your medical bills. 

 

Payment Arrangements with Healthcare Providers

Various doctors and medical specialists understand that some people do not have health insurance or have auto insurance policies that will not cover specific bills. Such medical professionals offer patients their services and are willing to work on various payment plans. 

 

A car accident attorney is the ideal person to negotiate such payment arrangements for you. Moreover, they will most likely be the ones who direct you to them because of the experience and connections they develop with time. 

 

Some healthcare providers may agree to provide treatment based on your lawyer’s guarantee about the settlement agreement. Therefore, a lawyer can help you get the healthcare you need after a car accident, regardless of your situation. 

 

Getting medical attention after a car accident is paramount, and you should prioritize it at all costs. An attorney can be beneficial in the above ways in helping you get proper healthcare after a car accident. Get a good attorney and follow their instructions to get the help you need.

Electronic Health Records

Why Is Electronic Health Record a Good Idea for Health Care Organisations?

Health care organizations all over the world have been switching to electronic health records in recent years, and with good reason. EHRs are real-time, patient-centred documents that provide authorised users with instant and secure access to patient information. The records contain information like patients’ medical histories, medications, diagnoses, allergies, lab results, immunization dates, and treatment plans.

EHRs make it easier and quicker for health care professionals to make decisions regarding patients’ care, but they have many other advantages too. Here is a look at why electronic health records are a good idea for your health care organization.

 

Information Can Easily Be Shared Between Different Organisations and Professionals

One of the key features of EHR interoperable software systems is they can be shared between authorized health care providers across more than just one organisation. Patient info can be shared between labs, pharmacies, medical imaging facilities, specialists, workplace clinics and more, which means workflows become much smoother and efficient and patients can get better care. So, EHRs can transform the way in which care is delivered and compensated. In addition to improved patient care, EHRs help to increase patient participation and improve care coordination, diagnostics, and patient outcomes.

 

Greater Efficiency Means Lower Costs

When processes become more efficient via using EHRs, it means your health care organisation can in turn save costs. After all, time is money. When health care professionals are able to speed up things like diagnostics and new data can be entered into the EHR system to ensure all health care professionals and organisations in the network can access up-to-date information quickly, you can reduce the costs of your health care organisation’s operations substantially. Things like decreased paperwork and reduced testing duplication also enable health care organisations to reduce their costs.

 

Patients Can Beneficially Access Their Own EHRs

EHRs are not only beneficial to health care organisations and professionals. They are also advantageous for patients. With an EHR, a patient can access his or her own record and see things like the trend of the last year’s lab results. With access to such data, a patient can become more motivated to keep up with his or her medical recommendations, such as lifestyle changes, that have helped to improve the patient’s results.

 

Other Benefits of EHRs

It should already be clear why EHRs are a good idea for health care organisations. For instance, with more complete and up-to-date patient information, health care professionals can make well-informed decisions quickly, which means patient care is improved and safety risks are reduced. Other benefits of using EHRs include:

  •   Being able to automatically transmit patient data upon completing common data entry tasks.
  •   Enabling quick access to patient records for more efficient and coordinated care.
  •   Improving patient and health care provider interaction and communication.
  •   Improving the convenience of accessing records.
  •   Enabling more reliable and safer prescribing.
  •   Improving the security and privacy of patient data.
  •   Improving billing procedures.
  •   Helping health care professionals and organisations to improve their efficiency and meet goals.

 

Are electronic medical records and electronic health records the same?

If your health care organization is still running on paper documentation, it is about time you changed with the times and start using digital records. But you could be a little confused about the difference between electronic health records and electronic medical records. EMRs are different to EHRs. An EMR is a digital version of the paper charts found in clinicians’ offices. The document contains the medical and treatment history of the facility’s patients. There are obvious benefits of EMRs over paper records. For instance, they enable health care professionals to track data over time and easily identify which patients are due for check-ups or preventive screenings.

The problem with EMRs is they are confined to the individual health care organisation using them. For other health care professionals to access the records, they could need to be printed out and sent in the mail, thus not adding any advantage to paper records when it comes to sharing data with others. That is why EHRs are so much better. They do all of the things that EMRs do and much more. Taking all of the above considerations and benefits of electronic health records into account, it should now be obvious why your health care organisation should switch to EHRs.

Doctors holding an MRI scan result and a tablet discussing treatment

Why Pharma Needs Digital Health Solutions in Oncology Now More Than Ever

The medical and pharmaceutical communities have understandably been preoccupied with battling the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 18 months. But this massive reallocation of resources hasn’t come without a cost.

Pandemic-fuelled disruption to healthcare systems risks causing cancer death rates to rise for the first time in decades; while authorities have exacerbated the situation by urging patients to stay away from hospitals and emergency care, and delaying or cancelling scheduled surgeries.

Indeed, 24% of Americans with cancer delayed at least one in-person visit, while in the UK, an estimated 40,000 people are living with cancer without knowing it. Across both regions, delaying the first line of treatment risks leading to worse patient outcomes and a greater percentage of metastasis.

Fixing this imbalance will take a concerted effort from all parties. There’s an urgent need for the pharma and digital health industries to collaborate, improve patient monitoring and deliver more effective cancer treatments, now more than ever.

 

Why digital health tools?

So how do digital health tools play a role here?

Put simply, they play a key role in remotely monitoring patients, most commonly by giving them prompts to report any symptoms they suffer. These may be associated with a relapse, when a patient whose cancer had originally been targeted with localized surgeries but reappears, or side effects of any drugs they may be taking.

This allows healthcare professionals to intervene and prescribe more serious treatments if required, such as immunotherapy, chemo, hormonal therapy, or a combination of these, as well as prescribing medications or altering the treatment to mitigate any side effects reported. Studies show health-related quality of life improves more significantly (34%) in patients whose treatments include digital solutions than in patients who receive the usual care (18%).

With the availability of healthcare professionals often stretched – and drug-based therapies becoming simpler and easier to self-administer at home – digital tools can effectively supplement the role of existing healthcare providers, ensuring patients are successfully onboarded to their treatment and can help ensure that their treatment is optimized.

The data these solutions provide can also guide decision-making around further treatment, pharmaceutical or otherwise, providing data that can assist patients and healthcare professionals in both short and long-term decision-making, helping set realistic patient expectations around treatment. FDA Oncology Drug approvals are rising exponentially, with guidance from digital tools increasing to support new options.

Finally, more broadly, digital health solutions can promote patient engagement and a clear understanding on how they can manage their condition. They can drive efficient and actionable communication with relevant healthcare professionals, while timely interventions based on patient-reported data can reduce hospitalization, keep patients on treatment longer and lead to progression-free survival.

 

More complex problems need comprehensive solutions

Although the clinical benefits of remote patient monitoring have been demonstrated in clinical trials, achieving optimal supportive care in these trying times requires solutions that go further still.

Existing ‘generalist’ tools tend to have the goal of educating patients, or gathering data. While effective in enabling better care – and better continuity of care – more ambitious tools are now available that offer faster, more optimized, bespoke care to patients.

There’s scope to use these digital solutions to motivate and engage patients as well as target the specific unmet needs and side effects that can lead them to abandon treatment prematurely. This means turning to more complex tools to complement existing treatment, and gain a more detailed understanding of the patient journey in a medical world where interventions are growing exponentially due to combination therapy.

 

Combining digital and pharmaceutical treatment provides the most effective care

For pharma, innovation in oncology brings to mind drug-based treatments most often prescribed in the event of a relapse. While drug efficacy is vital, monitoring the patients’ symptoms and quality of life is equally important and is deeply entwined with prognosis and symptom alleviation.

Tracking patient-recorded outcomes (PROs) is one way digital health solutions can contribute to improving patient quality of life. Not only do these tools prompt patients to report symptoms associated with signs of relapse, identifying any need for drug treatments; they also empower patients to communicate and manage their existing treatment’s side effects to ensure they stay on medication, subsequently improving outcomes.

Research confirms this type of monitoring and reporting has a demonstrable impact on patient quality of life: a study by Basch et al (J Clin Oncol 34:557-565) shows health-related quality of life increased by 34% among those patients who reported common symptoms via tablet computers, compared with an 18% increase among control patients. The study also saw reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and improved survival rates.

While drug treatments focus on achieving specific clinical targets and increase survivorship, they do not always equate to improved quality of life for patients. Whereas standalone digital solutions or digital therapeutics (DTx) may improve patients’ wellbeing but have no impact on survival rates. It’s the combination of the two-drug treatment and a digital solution – that increases the likelihood of patients surviving and can lead to a better quality of life.

 

Examples of complex digital health tools in oncology

There are several digital health solutions already on the market that build on research in the space to offer a holistic, needs-specific approach to cancer treatment.

One example is the NCI PRO-CTCAE (STAR) study, which prompts nurses to respond to patients whenever one of 12 patient-reported symptoms worsens significantly.

Elsewhere, the COMPASS eHealth app builds on PRO data by using sensors and heart rate monitors to capture and analyze patient data, facilitating speedy intervention if required.

There’s certainly potential to further improve home monitoring by detecting biomarkers with sensors and capturing data with digital solutions to provide better feedback and more prompt support for disease progression.

 

Digital tools improve patient care and boost competitiveness

We’ve seen the potential and impact of digital tools across many therapy areas, and oncology is no exception.

But the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in require new, innovative, more impactful solutions that provide further functionalities on top of educating patients and gathering data.

Tools that combine with pharmaceutical care to provide a holistic, needs-based approach to treatment, at the different stages of a cancer patient’s journey, offer the best care and address all the different issues they may face in course of their illness.

Not only will increased focus and investment in this area help pharma and healthcare professionals provide the best treatment possible, it will enable pharma to remain at the forefront of oncology treatment and research, too, ensuring they lead the pack and differentiate from the competition.

Kevin Hanley

By Kevin Hanley, MD,  Clinical Engagement Director, S3 Connected Health

Mental Health technology

16 Million Reasons Why Health Tech is a Win for Mental Health

The UK government has pledged an ambitious programme of revolutionising mental health over the next three years, seeing all mental health service providers becoming digitised and fully integrated with other health and care services by 2024. The scale of a mental health epidemic is real — with the UK’s population of 67 million, one in four people will experience a mental health illness at least once in their lives, that’s 16 million people. The Mental Health Foundation estimates that by 2030, over two million people will experience mental health problems in the UK alone. Mental health problems already stand as one of the main global causes of overall disease.

One thing is certain, mental health tech that is deliverable on a large scale is both desirable and necessary. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits of the healthcare system becoming more digitised and the impact this will have on mental health care.

 

Focusing on areas of high unmet clinical needs

In 2016, Jeremy Hunt, the then health secretary, acknowledged that child mental health services are the “biggest single area of weakness” in the NHS —  less than 1% of all NHS spending is on the mental health of children and young people. And it isn’t just young people that are suffering. Mental health charity Mind conducted research across 42 regions in the UK and found that mental health spending varies widely across regions in England, with a two-fold difference in spending between regions.

The vast need for mental health services means that waiting lists are long, which for some people’s mental health can be devastating, or even in some cases fatal.  According to the Independent last year, over 122,000 patients seeking mental health care are being kept on ‘hidden waiting lists’ for over eight weeks to see a doctor again after their initial appointment, described as a ‘hidden sucker punch’.

In order to help support those on long waiting lists, health tech like myGP, an app providing various online healthcare services such as NHS prescription delivery, can be essential for those who might not have capacity or may struggle to leave their house. Such technology is also beneficial for:

  • Repeat prescription services for those suffering mental health issues taking medication on an ongoing basis
  • Booking physical doctor’s appointments online when they need medical advice
  • Video consultations when patients might not be able to make a physical appointment or are scared

 

It can also be useful for signposting to alternative community points of care when there is availability, rather than to your usual GP. This can reduce these waiting times by allocating appointments in a smart and efficient way, particularly in areas of high unmet clinical needs as well as offering alternative digital therapies so that mild and manageable cases can be removed from the waiting lists to make way for more severe cases, fast tracking patients with higher need who perhaps require specialist or more intensive treatment.

The development of this health tech app can help people access mental health services that they might not have been able to prior — this is particularly beneficial for hard to reach communities including ethnic minorities, locations with a geographic disadvantage, older individuals, and young people who are particularly affected by the mental health services operating at almost full capacity.

myGP commented: “Online repeat prescription ordering is up 225% since May last year as well as transaction volume and overall features by 167%. This peaked in March at almost 27 million transactions.

“Demand for healthcare will always exist and a demand for easily accessible healthcare will remain. However, moving forward, it is about patient choice as each patient is different — many will adapt and be comfortable with a digital first healthcare approach whereas many others may prefer in person GP visit. Our platform delivers options to both healthcare professionals and patients for how they’d prefer assessments and appointments to take place.”

 

Beneficial for psychological support

Digitally enabled modes of therapy and online resources can be effective in supporting mental health and contributing to recovery in the population. According to the NHS, digital delivery of psychological remedies can be particularly suited to talking therapies, peer support, and psychoeducation. Big White Wall provides a safe place to seek anonymous support 24/7. Users can share their experiences and express themselves in images by making a ‘brick’ in the wall, as well as accessing guided group support courses on topics including managing anxiety and depression, positive thinking, and problem solving. There is also a selection of self-administered clinical tests and trained counsellors. According to statistics by the app, 95 per cent of users felt better and 73 per cent shared an issue when using the app for the first time.

These effective platforms offering 24/7 access to support ranging from one-to-one therapy sessions and peer communities as well as. This brings us to our next point.

 

Effective and encouraging

Mental health tech can also help reduce levels of distress by providing a clinically safe online space. It’s been long established that there is stigma around mental health, with a constant battle to normalise illnesses and seeking treatment. This combined with mental health services being historically underfunded, stigmatised, and fragmented can many patients feel discouraged, embarrassed, or frightened to seek help, which can cause a lot of harm to the individual in question.

According to annual Google search data, there were many regions attempting to self-diagnose depression and anxiety, searching for terms such as ‘am I depressed?’ and ‘do I have anxiety?’, with 12.4% of Canterbury, 10.7% of Cambridge, and 9.4% of Oxford searching for variants of self-diagnosis terms. As mentioned before, health tech like myGP offering video consultations makes health care more accessible and increases the probability of someone who is struggling to reach out — would these statistics of regional searches be as high if health tech was developed further?

Appointments and services can take place anywhere at any time and might be a milestone for people who’ve previously avoided seeking care in the past.

 

Helps the development of other apps

With health tech proving beneficial to society, this will encourage more innovative apps covering a wider range of needs for different mental illnesses to get funding and be created. For example, there’s a myriad of apps existing that incorporate proven techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT). PanicShield was created as a visual aid to help someone cope in an anxiety or panic attack by breathing in time to calming patterns; notOK is a suicide prevention app which allows users to activate a notification when their support network is needed; and apps for people who suffer obsessive compulsive disorder such as nOCD, which includes mindfulness and exposure response prevention treatment with clinically-supported guidance, weekly tests to assess the severity of the disorder, and motivational support.

With the success of existing apps, we’re certain to see new and imaginative ways to help people suffering mental illnesses.