PRESS RELEASE: Patients Beyond Borders and Dental Departures Partner to Help Patients Find Safe, Affordable Global Dentistry Options
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- New collaboration with Dental Departures gives Patients Beyond Borders’ users access to appointment booking, financing, attractive package pricing on dental procedures worldwide
- Dental Departures has booked appointments for over 43,000 patients, with more than 20,000 patient-generated reviews of international dental clinics
Chapel Hill, NC, US; 19 July 2017-Today Patients Beyond Borders and Dental Departures announced a new service for patients seeking quality, affordable dental care, allowing visitors to the Patients Beyond Borders site access to Dental Departure’s 24/7 customer support, transparent pricing, free procedure quotes, financing, appointment booking, and extensive library of patient-generated clinic reviews.
Combined with Patients Beyond Borders’s unbiased content and clinic reviews, the partnership helps patients do the research necessary to identify high quality dentistry options with discounts as high as 70%.
Dental services are the leading reason patients travel for healthcare, with 55% of international patients seeking a range of dental services from simple check-ups to extensive restorations. “Millions around the world are struggling to affordably address dental health issues,” said Paul McTaggart, CEO and founder of Dental Departures and former Expedia executive. “Working with long-time industry leader Patients Beyond Borders helps us reach patients in their moment of need and underscores our commitment to quality.”
Launched with a pilot of the most prominent dental clinics in Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Hungary, the partnership highlights clinics that have been selected and reviewed by Patients Beyond Borders’ editorial team and have joined Dental Departures affiliate clinic program.
Partnered services are free to patients. “In a very short time, Dental Departures has become the go-to source for patients seeking to simplify the challenging process of vetting international clinics, comparing prices, and booking appointments,” said Josef Woodman, CEO of Patients Beyond Borders. “Working together we can help patients make more informed decisions and offer a broader range of support services.”
About Patients Beyond Borders
Established in 2005, Patients Beyond Borders ( patientsbeyondborders.com ) is the world’s authoritative source of information for healthcare consumers seeking quality, affordable options for international medical care. Patients
Beyond Borders publishes books, eBooks, and online consumer reference information on medical tourism and wellness travel, including vetted listings of hundreds of medical centers and clinics in 22 destinations worldwide.
About Dental Departures
Founded in 2010, Dental Departures ( dentaldepartures.com ) is the leading online service marketplace that helps patients find, compare, and book dental appointments around the globe. The company offers a wide inventory of pre-vetted dental and medical facilities, special discounts and treatment packages, 24-hour customer support worldwide, and medical financing plans. Users have access to more than 20,000 patient-generated reviews, which help patients identify leading clinics and make informed choices about their medical and dental care.
PRESS RELEASE: GE Healthcare Premieres Heroines of Health, A Documentary Highlighting the Courageous Women Who Tackle Some of the Toughest Challenges in Global Health
To improve and sustain the health of a nation, the world must tap into and unleash the power of women
A film by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Lisa Russell, MPH
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GE Healthcare announced the world premiere of Heroines of Health, a documentary by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Lisa Russell, MPH. The film follows three heroines, from India, Kenya and Indonesia, who are overcoming steep challenges and expectations to bring better health and hope to their communities.
Women comprise 75 percent of the global healthcare workforce, yet often their work is unrecognized. Heroines of Health brings to light the stories of women on the frontlines of healthcare who are quietly and humbly saving lives.
These are their stories.
Mrs. Rohani: A volunteer midwife’s assistant from a mountain village in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Mrs. Rohani wakes up at four a.m. daily to join her family in a morning prayer before walking expectant mothers to the nearest community health center, more than an hour walk by foot.
Mercy Owuor: A community health expert at Lwala Community Alliance, Mercy leads a team of rural health workers as they influence how one million people in Western Kenya access healthcare. Through a community-led approach, she is achieving her goal for every child to reach his or her fifth birthday.
Dr. Sharmila Anand: Dr. Sharmila was trained in the U.S., but brought her passion for empowering and educating youth and young women back home to Chennai, India, where she founded SEHPL, a social enterprise that skills students to become X-ray technicians, OT technicians, anesthesia technicians and more. The goal is to give them meaningful employment opportunities and bridge the healthcare skills gap in India. She says her vision is to create a million satisfied patient smiles by transforming healthcare delivery systems through upskilling and empowering healthcare professionals.
In 2015, GE Healthcare established Sustainable Healthcare Solutions (SHS), a business that partners with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the affordability and accessibility to quality healthcare in India, Africa and Southeast Asia. These regions also offer insight into the critical role women play in this effort, and that, when given the opportunity to lead in both community health and policy development, women have the ability to improve the health of millions of people.
This realization was the impetus for an effort to engage our partners, public, private, non-profit and NGOs, in a shared determination to unleash the economic and intellectual power of women to accelerate the development of sustainable healthcare systems globally. With this documentary, GE Healthcare seeks to take one step forward by recognizing three of the many women who are bringing better health to their communities.
“For the past six years, I’ve lived in India and spent time in communities here and across Southeast Asia and Africa, leading GE Healthcare’s emerging markets business. I have been deeply inspired by the passion and resiliency of the women I’ve met who, unofficially and despite great challenges, are on the front lines improving the health of their communities,” said Terri Bresenham, President and CEO, Sustainable Healthcare Solutions, GE Healthcare. “The heroines in this documentary are three such women. We hope that the film inspires recognition and opportunity for many more.”
As mothers, women are generally most impacted by disease and high mortality rates, yet they represent less than 25 percent of healthcare leadership roles globally. Studies show that when women are in healthcare leadership roles, neonatal mortality drops, adolescent girls receive significantly more education, and women are more likely to generate their own income. ¹
“As a filmmaker who has been telling global health stories in remote locations for nearly 15 years, I have come across many incredible, committed women working at all levels in the healthcare industry. With Heroines of Health, it truly is my honor to give viewers an inside glimpse into the personal lives of three remarkable heroines,” said Lisa Russell, MPH.
Heroines of Health premiered July 18th at 8pm ET / 7pm CT
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Watch 1 minute each day of the film @HeroinesofHealthFilm on Instagram.
¹Increasing Women in Leadership in Global Health (2014) Academic Medicine, Dr. Jennifer A. Downs, MD, MSc, Ms. Lindsey K. Reif, MPH, Dr. Adolfine Hokororo, MD, and Dr. Daniel W. Fitzgerald, MD
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE Healthcare (GE) works on things that matter – great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients. http://www.gehealthcare.com
About Lisa Russell
Lisa Russell is an Emmy-award winning filmmaker with a Masters in Public Health. She became interested in storytelling after working as a humanitarian aid worker during the 1999 refugee crisis in Kosovo and started a career directing, producing, shooting and editing films for UN/NGO agencies on pressing global health issues such as maternal health, girls education. HIV/AIDS, impact of war on youth, climate change and others. She is a keynote speaker (TEDxJNJ, SwitchPoint, Unite for Sight) and workshop facilitator with a focus on narrative justice and responsible storytelling and aims to change the narrative of global health through her work. In 2016, she launched StoryShifter, a new entertainment for the social good, powered by machine learning and data analytics. As a teaching artist, artist advocate and curator, she works to build institutional credibility around emerging artists as cultural diplomats within the global health and development community. For more information on Lisa’s work, visit www.lisarussellfilms.com.
Contacts
GE Healthcare
Jennifer Fox
External Affairs
[email protected]
Office: 414-721-3813
Cell: 414-530-3027
PRESS RELEASE: AALTO BIO REAGENTS LAUNCHES RECOMBINANT YELLOW FEVER VIRUS PROTEIN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
New protein will advance research in testing and treating the Yellow Fever virus globally.
New York, July 31, 2017 – Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government agency for the promotion of international trade by Irish companies, today celebrated the announcement of client company Aalto Bio Reagents in launching its first-to-market recombinant Yellow Fever virus (YFV) protein for diagnostic test manufacturers, vaccine developers and researchers globally.
Aalto Bio Reagents is a leading developer and provider of raw materials to the in-vitro diagnostics industry and to research laboratories. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, Aalto Bio intends to become a global leader in the tropical disease and emerging pathogen sector. The recent addition of the YFV recombinant antigen further expands the company’s range of tropical diseases, which already includes Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue.
This His-tagged, recombinant protein is expressed in HEK293 cells and is derived from strain 17D. YFV, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne flavivirus, is prevalent in tropical and subtropical locations in South America and Africa. It is the next flavivirus threatening the population of Brazil with local health officials reporting a sharp rise in cases this year. In January 2017, a public state of emergency was declared in Minas Gerais over the outbreak, which has already caused over 180 deaths in the area to date. The virus is currently endemic in 10 South and Central American countries with transmission continuing to expand towards the Atlantic coast. Recent outbreaks of YFV in Angola and the Republic of Congo have also been documented and a YFV vaccination certificate is now mandatory for all travellers to these countries that are ?9 months of age.
“There is an urgent need for a specific and sensitive serological YFV assay in countries such as Brazil, where co-circulation with other flaviviruses is high,” said Philip Noone, CEO of Aalto Bio Reagents. “Our industry has an unrelenting requirement for access to the most scientifically proven raw materials, a broader range of flexible controls and faster diagnostics. With our Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue Triplex and now our Yellow Fever solution we are truly building a comprehensive tropical product listing to meet this need.”
YFV is transmitted to humans mainly by sylvatic mosquito vectors of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, but has also been known to be spread by the sinister Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is responsible for the current Zika virus epidemic. In humans, the majority of YFV infections are asymptomatic; however approximately 15% of infected patients enter what is known as the toxic phase and this can lead to severe complications such as jaundice, multi-organ failure and even death. There is no specific treatment for YFV and, despite access to safe and effective YFV vaccines, the virus is still causing significant health problems in these countries.
Laboratory diagnosis generally is accomplished by means of serological testing for the detection of antibodies during the postviremic phase of the disease (i.e. from the 5th day since the onset of symptoms). YFV is difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages, as cross-reaction with other flavivirus infections is common. There are no validated IgM ELISA kits commercially available at present (WHO, February 2017) and in order for YFV infection to be confirmed by serologically techniques, a differential diagnosis with other flavivirus infections must be carried out.
Speaking of the launch, Sean Davis, Director of North America at Enterprise Ireland said, “Thanks to its unparalleled commitment to innovation, Aalto Bio Reagents has flourished in Ireland’s thriving life sciences industry and continues to excel in global markets. The availability of the recombinant Yellow Fever virus protein presents an exciting new opportunity for research and signifies an important milestone for Aalto Bio Reagents, and Enterprise Ireland is excited to continue to support their growth in North America.”
About Aalto Bio Reagents
Founded in 1978, Aalto Bio Reagents is a leading developer and provider of raw materials to the in-vitro diagnostics industry and to research laboratories globally. We serve the largest multinational companies in our industry with a broad range of purified human proteins; monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies; fungal, parasitic, bacterial and viral antigens; and disease state plasma for in- vitro diagnostic application. Since the company’s inception, we have built strong working relationships with our clients who trust us to provide them with the highest quality raw materials to meet the exacting standards of their own product development requirements. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the company is rapidly expanding both its product portfolio and customer base. For further information please visit: www.aaltobioreagents.com Contact: Technical Sales Tel: +353-1-4900685 [email protected]
About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development, and help create and sustain employment in Ireland. www.enterprise-ireland.com
PARADISE FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS-MINDED TRAVELERS IN PHUKET
tourism-review.com – Thailand is an amazing country that offers a whole array of nature at its best, rich culture, and stunning historic places to explore. It is one of the best countries to visit.
Phuket is the largest island in the country and is almost as large as Singapore. It is well known for its appealing culture and history that attract tourists from all around the world. You can visit the island to immerse yourself in its atmosphere and spend a grand time relaxing in this province. You can also complete your vacation by staying at a Phuket resort that will surely bring you the best sporting, health and wellness facilities in Asia Pacific.
Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort is a fifteen-minute drive from Phuket International Airport. Phuket city center is about a twenty-five-minute drive away.
Offering a wide range of sports training and wellness treatments, Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort features a 50m Olympic pool and 25m training pool and offers daily shuttle services to the area’s finest beaches.
Thanyapura’s Pool Wing, located inside the Sports Hotel, offers a vibrant and refreshing atmosphere for active guests with a 25-meter recreational pool, pool bar, and 24-hour front desk. Surrounded by green gardens, the Pool Wing offers 77 modern rooms of different types for guests looking for active, healthy holidays.
The Garden Wing with its 37 rooms is an oasis of tranquility. Guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding national park or gardens while relaxing on the outdoor terrace of their room. The Garden Wing is a perfect haven for guests who want to change their lifestyle. Wellness consultation to discuss individual programs, private detoxification room, yoga and meditation sessions – all that is available in the Garden Wing, together with private library as well as “Khun Khao,” a restaurant serving plant-based cuisine.
Balancing all activity with quality care is also essential. Pampering may be as simple as a pleasant nap, a hot shower, an ice bath, a massage, an excellent meal or any combination of them. It is about revitalizing, feeding and recuperating. Here at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, they have all of that on offer.
Thanyapura caters to upcoming and elite athletes with triathlon, swimming, cycling and tennis training programs. Health-conscious guests can optimize their lives to reach their health and wellness goals through program for detox, weight loss, hormone and de-stress. The programs are guided by medical, nutrition and wellness experts who provide recommendations and insights on how to change their lifestyles for better health. Well-designed packages for yoga, meditation, detoxification, weight loss, massages, and preventive and anti-aging treatments are available on site, with many opting to continue these afterwards via the use of liposomal glutathione supplements and additional yoga regimens.
Moreover, a tour desk is there to help all guests with sightseeing and travel arrangements. A business center and currency exchange services are also available. Adults and children can enjoy weekly group training such as Muay Thai, yoga, Pilates, mind training, aerobics, HIIT, boot camp, abs and stretching, core, aqua exercise and more.
Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort offers genuine services and first-class facilities to spearhead the movement of healthy lifestyles.
Anti-aging – A full range of anti-aging treatments and services, from diagnostic to individual treatment and supplement plans.
Mind Training – Support to educate clients to achieve his or her healthy goals.
Nutrition – A private evaluation with a certified nutritionist that includes a personalized nutritional plan designed to achieve individual goals. It also offers a farewell plan for clients to take home and continue their healthy habits and long-term goals after leaving the center.
Wellness – Offering functional, lifestyle, and holistic medicine combining physiotherapy, chiropractic, rehabilitation, mind, and yoga center. The Wellness Center aims to educate guests on how to nurture their health for the long-term.
Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort is where active people around the world come to optimize their lives and have fun doing so. However, you do not have to be a rock star or an elite athlete to be here, though you might run into one.
There is something for everyone as active or relaxed as you want to be. There are tennis, swimming, cycling, running, and group fitness, Muay Thai, yoga, meditation, cooking classes, a full-service spa, and much more. There is a wellness-mindful center, on-site medical services, chiropractors, and expert conferences.
Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort is the ideal place for anyone who wants to reset their bodies and minds with detoxification, to draw inspiration, to live a healthy lifestyle, to train extensively, to transform their life, or simply relax, disconnect and enjoy the many amenities of the resort.
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Dubai’s ‘Healthcare Tourism’ plan targets China, Russia and Africa
Tradearabia.com – Plans are underway to strengthen Dubai’s position in the health care sector, on the basis of sophisticated infrastructure and adoption of the latest equipment.
A team from Dubai Medical Tourism Council and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) met with the International patient team and other doctors from the Canadian Specialist Hospital – one of the DXH (Dubai Health Experience) Group members since the inception of the initiative – to discuss strategies to attract more patients into the city.
Dubai witnessed an influx of 326,649 international patients from various parts of the world in 2016, up 9.5 per cent from the previous year.
“It is a matter of pride that Dubai has come to be considered as a benchmark in healthcare, by many of our neighbors, in such a short time. Statistically, we have a strong influx from our neighbouring nations and the Asian region. Our strategies are being channeled into making Dubai a preferred healthcare destination in the other African nations, China and Russia among other countries,” said Dr. Layla Al Marzouqi, director of the Dubai Medical Tourism Project, DHA.
Close to 80 per cent of the hospitals in Dubai are accredited, marking it as the city with the highest number of accredited hospitals. This is further augmented with a team of 35,000 healthcare professionals from 110 nationalities greeting patients in their own language.
Dr. Yashar Ali, CEO, Canadian Specialist Hospital said: “Canadian Specialist Hospital has a fully functional department dedicated to international patients. We have been promoting Health Tourism since 2006 and are recognised as one of the leading health tourism centers in Dubai. We offer a variety of packages for people with different needs and resources including orthopedics, ophthalmology, dental, dermatology, wellness and preventive health check-up and assisted reproductive techniques.”
Dubai is currently placed 75th globally and first in Mena for providing quality of life to its residents. Medical care and health considerations are among the deciding factors taken into account in achieving this distinction.
Addressing the future of Dubai as a global Health Tourism hub, Hussain Anani, COO, Canadian Specialist Hospital said: “Support from the tourism, hospitality and aviation industry would be a boon in achieving the industry’s goals. Initiatives to set up dedicated channels with international and local travel agents, hotels and passenger carriers would be instrumental in providing a comprehensive package for those in need of medical attention.”
Canadian Specialist hospital has a full-fledged team that manages the necessary arrangements for international patients, starting from visa and accommodation till consultation and transportation, based on the requirements of the individual.
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When it comes to healthcare, U.S. once again ranks last in quality of care compared to other wealthy nations
fiercehealthcare.com – The United States spends more on healthcare than other wealthy nations, yet ranks dead last on equity, access, efficiency, care delivery and healthcare costs.
Despite progress made in providing coverage to previously uninsured Americans via the Affordable Care Act, the latest report from The Commonwealth Fund finds that the United States offers its citizens the least financial protection among the 11 high-income countries surveyed. It is also the only one without universal health insurance coverage.
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Global health investments could reach $371B a year by 2030
fiercehealthcare.com – An ambitious plan to achieve global access to healthcare could require national governments and donors to pay $371 billion each year by 2030, according to a new report.
The World Health Organization estimates it would cost $58 per person each year to reach all of its sustainable development goal (SDG) healthcare targets by 2030. For the “progress” scenario, where two-thirds of the goals are accomplished by 2030, investments would likely increase to $274 billion by that year.
The initial investment rate is $134 billion, according to the report, which was published in the Lancet. The analysis does not include the world’s wealthiest countries, and instead focuses on middle- and lower-income nations. Most nations can afford this level of investment, according to the WHO, but the poorest will require outside aid.
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Texas legislators take aim at high maternal mortality rates
fiercehealthcare.com – Maternal death rates are on the rise in some regions, pushing leaders in several states to investigate the trend and putting hospitals on alert.
Maternal deaths have been trending up since the late 1980s, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1987, there were 7.2 deaths per 100,000 births, rising to a peak of 17.8 deaths per 100,000 births in 2009 and 2011. In 2013, the most recent year recorded by the CDC, the rate was 17.3 deaths per 100,000 births.
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Mysterious Zika transmission confounds researchers
By Stephanie Soucheray
cidrap.umn.edu – The source of infection for a Utah man who became ill with Zika virus after caring for another patient last summer remains a mystery, but person-to-person transmission is the most likely culprit. New details surrounding the patient’s case from investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their partners in Utah appear in latest issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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