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A WORD FROM YOUR XCHANGE EDITOR: “FLU ALERT NEWS” |
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Hello … and welcome back to your monthly Henry Schein XChange e-newsletter.
This month, we are launching a new section — “Flu Alert News” — which will feature the latest information on influenza as we move into the flu season. There will also be Web links and Government news on the subject.
CDC Opens 2005-2006 Flu Gallery
Are you looking for educational materials about influenza and the flu vaccine? CDC’s Flu Gallery contains both patient and provider educational materials for use during the upcoming influenza immunization season. These materials reflect CDC’s vaccination recommendations and highlight the benefits of influenza vaccination. The Gallery contains print materials, such as flyers, posters, and brochures, in color and black-and-white, English and Spanish. Many of the materials can be reproduced on an office printer. You can also have the materials printed by a professional (offset) printer.
The CDC encourages doctors to visit the online Gallery often because, as vaccine supply information changes, it will upload new materials that address expanded audiences or new recommendations about which groups vaccine should be directed toward. Additionally, if vaccine supply is still strong toward the end of November, it will post “late season” promotion materials which will remind people that it is not too late to get vaccinated against influenza in December and beyond.
Meanwhile, remember that the purpose of this e-newsletter is not only to inform, but also to provide information that you may want to pass along to your patients and staff. The more we know about what interests you, the easier it will be to create an e-newsletter you’re anxious to read each month.
Please stay in touch,
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Your XChange Editor
Xchange.editor@henryschein.com |
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NEWS YOU CAN USE |
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Conserving Ovaries During Hysterectomy Benefits Long-Term Survival of Women |
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There is no clear health benefit from a bilateral oophorectomy.
Leaving both ovaries intact during a hysterectomy done for non-cancerous reasons benefits long-term survival for women until at least age 65, according to new research published in the August issue of “Obstetrics & Gynecology.” The study found that women younger than age 65 clearly benefit from retaining their ovaries and that there was no clear health benefit from a bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries) for any age woman.
According to the study, removing the ovaries before a woman reaches menopause causes an immediate and significant loss of ovarian hormones.
An accompanying editorial by David L. Olive, MD, says that the study is not definitive, but it “is sure to provide significant impact upon clinical practice.”
Over 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the U.S., 90% of which are performed for noncancerous reasons, including fibroids, endometriosis, and uterine prolapse. Removing the ovaries at the time of hysterectomy has been used as a preventive measure against ovarian cancer. The study’s authors conservatively estimate that, today, approximately half of all women have their ovaries removed during a hysterectomy.
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New Technology Reduces Unwarranted Lung Cancer Surgery |
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16% of thoracotomies could have been avoided using the dual-detection technique.
A new technique for taking tiny tissue samples from the chest reduces unwarranted surgery for people suffering with advanced lung cancer, Dutch surgeons report.
The method goes under the cumbersome name of transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration — abbreviated EUS-FNA. A study of 107 lung cancer patients showed that, when used in combination with another diagnostic technique, EUS-FNA identified cases in which surgery was unnecessary.
The findings appear in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the recent lung cancer deaths of ABC newsman Peter Jennings and “Dallas” star Barbara Bel Geddes, and Dana Reeve’s diagnosis with the disease, the National Cancer Institute has announced an aggressive plan to end lung cancer’s “suffering and death” by 2015.
The campaign will consist of three parts: more effective tobacco control, improving the likelihood of cure through early detection, and relying on cutting-edge “targeted therapies” to more precisely treat the disease. NCI officials are also calling for an additional $40 million to supplement the $380 million currently allocated to lung cancer research.
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Flu Vaccine Can Prevent Major Illness In Children And Adults With Asthma |
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October is “Healthy Lung Month.”
People with asthma should get a flu shot this month — during “Healthy Lung Month” — to help prevent asthma attacks during flu season, the American Lung Association recommends.
Although the flu poses a major health risk to people with asthma, only about 10% of people with asthma currently get a flu shot. Recent research conducted by the American Lung Association found that influenza vaccines are safe for children and adults with asthma.
“This flu season, people with asthma will have a safe, effective way to help prevent asthma attacks,” said Dr. Norman H. Edelman, M.D., scientific consultant for the American Lung Association. “If every adult and child with asthma receives a flu shot, we can prevent millions of asthma attacks, many of which would have been severe and resulted in hospitalizations.”
For more information, call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA or click here.
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Study Says Echinacea Has No Effect On Colds |
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The herbal supplement used by millions of Americans neither prevents colds nor eases symptoms.
Echinacea, the herbal supplement made from purple coneflower, will not pre-empt a common cold and it doesn’t treat an established cold, according to a study recently published in The New England Journal Of Medicine.
“We’ve got to stop attributing any efficacy to Echinacea,” said Dr. Stephen E. Straus, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the government agency that sponsored the new research.
The study involved 437 people who volunteered to have cold viruses dripped into their noses. Some swallowed echinacea for a week beforehand, others a placebo. Still others took echinacea or a placebo at the time they were infected. The investigators found that those who took echinacea fared no differently from those who took a placebo: they were just as likely to catch a cold, their symptoms were just as severe, they had just as much virus in their nasal secretions.
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ASK THE EXPERTS: About In-House Laboratories |
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Send in your medical-related questions to our panel of Team Schein experts at Xchange.editor@henryschein.com. |
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I’m considering how to generate more revenue for my practice. Is an in-house laboratory the right addition for my business?
— S.H. |
The addition of an in-house laboratory is a big commitment for any office practice today. It is an asset to have but needs careful evaluation and consideration before moving forward. Consultation with an expert on the subject will help formulate an appropriate office layout and plan of action. You want to be sure to get the maximum return on your investment (ROI). The process for decision-making includes the following steps:
First, your practice needs to itemize the laboratory tests currently being sent out to commercial labs on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis to determine the volume of tests currently being processed. A basic understanding of the costs associated with this external lab processing versus the cost of an internal facility installation can then be developed.
Then, the practice needs to consider (with an expert) the equipment required to run the laboratory cost-effectively and efficiently. The following items are basic components of a startup laboratory:
- Hematology Analyzer
- Chemistry Analyzer
- Immunoassay Analyzer
- Urine Chemistry Analyzer
These analyzers are usually set up and networked through an LIS (Lab Information System) software package. This system links all the analyzers together and allows for report generation and record storage. A laboratory technician will also need to be hired/trained as a new staff member to maintain the laboratory and run test results. Some space management is often required with additional purchases of cabinets, countertops, shelving, and other storage units.
Based on the size of your office and the volume of patients your practice manages on a daily basis, an in-house laboratory may be the logical addition. The investment you make in this new laboratory setup will provide faster test results and, over time, should produce the additional revenue you are looking to generate for your business.
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
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OCTOBER |
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October 8-12
Washington, D.C.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Booth #1019
October 15-18
Chicago, Illinois
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Booth #2048
October 23-26
Nashville, Tennessee
Annual Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
Booth #163
October 23-27
Orlando, Florida
American Osteopathic Association
Booth #1135
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NOVEMBER |
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November 9
East Rutherford,
New Jersey
Physician’s Expo
New Jersey
Booth #301
November 11-13
Boston, Massachusetts
Pri-Med North East
Booth #1060
November 30
New York City, New York
Physician’s Expo New York
Booth #417
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1st QUARTER, 2006 |
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January 26-29
Orlando, Florida
American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
February 24-26
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Pri-Med South
Booth #442
March 3-7
San Francisco, California
American Academy
of Dermatology
March 4-6
Miami Beach, Florida
American Academy of
Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology (AAAAI)
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| SHARE YOUR SUCCESS |
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Your professional success is undoubtedly due to many things, whether it’s your business prowess, your medical knowledge, or your personal philosophies. At Henry Schein, we believe in sharing, and so we’d like to give you a little something for sharing your success with your fellow readers.
Send in as many TIPS FOR SUCCESS as you’d like to xchange.editor@henryschein.com. We’ll print one of the stories in each issue … and send a token of our appreciation to the reader who submitted it (be sure to include your mailing address).
This month we’re thanking you with an
RCA MP3 PLAYER
The RCA Lyra is a small, sleek MP3 player that supports MP3/WMA/WMA DRM file types. It also has expandable memory functions, a multifunction 2-line LCD display, and USB 2.0 connectivity, with 256-MB, built-in memory. The Lyra lets you enjoy up to 20 hours of your favorite MP3 and WMA songs on a single AAA battery. |
Success Story Of The Month: Suffolk Pediatrics, West Islip, NY
Drs. Woletsky, Zanolin, and Lambert of Suffolk Pediatrics had a challenge. They wanted to update and refurnish their practice with new office equipment but incur the least amount of downtime in the renovation process, especially since this busy pediatric practice operates six days a week. After contacting their current medical supplier, they also called Henry Schein and inquired if it offers a renovation service.
The call came into sales rep Jim Lynch in New York and he consulted with Jim Loschen, who specializes in office equipment, set-ups, and installations. An introductory appointment was scheduled for later that same day, including a walk-thru of the office to discuss options in cabinetry, tables, file systems, digital scales, diagnostics, and lab. Maximizing storage within the exam rooms was a key issue. Besides Dr. Woletsky, the planning session included Kate Arso, the office manager; and Jodi Cohen, the buyer for the practice. All had great input on the needs of the office.
The scope of the project was a large one and included eight exam rooms, an equipment/testing area, a kitchen, and two waiting rooms.
A proposal was presented to the practice within 48 hours and the order was booked. The plan was to have the equipment delivered on a Friday afternoon, and work would continue through the weekend to get the office completely refurbished and fully operational by Monday morning. The Henry Schein Team worked with the Suffolk Pediatrics Team along with Island Pro Contracting.
Jim Loschen and Jim Lynch stayed with the doctors and the entire team from Friday through Sunday evening to completely disassemble the current office setup and to reinstall all the new equipment. That meant that installation continued during patient office hours on Saturday. Keeping on schedule was the goal and everything was finished and fully operational on Monday morning.
During the installation process, additional equipment was also ordered based on the needs of the physicians. The result was a completely new office environment for Suffolk Pediatrics, maximizing the storage area within each exam room with zero downtime for the practice. The doctors are now looking at Henry Schein to help them save money on all the office supplies they need on a daily basis.
This was a true value-added story — a new Henry Schein/customer partnership had developed through listening, understanding the customer’s needs, and going that extra mile.
Our thanks for this success story — and an RCA MP3 player goes to Kate Arso, office manager at Suffolk Pediatrics. We are waiting to hear YOUR success story.
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