AspyreRx is a digital therapeutic that has shown potential in helping patients with Type 2 Diabetes manage their condition more effectively and economically. The study suggests that integrating digital therapeutics like AspyreRx into clinical practice could be a cost-effective approach to diabetes management. Functionality of AspyreRx: AspyreRx is a prescription digital therapeutic that uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients with diabetes lower their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). It features interactive lessons, skill-building modules, and weekly goal setting and tracking, enabling patients to connect changes in behavior to improvements in blood sugar and other biometrics. FDA Authorization: The FDA authorized AspyreRx…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Prior authorizations are one of the biggest roadblocks for gastroenterologists to secure reimbursements. Eugenio Hernandez, MD, senior vice president of clinical affairs for Miami-based Gastro Health, joined Becker’s to discuss how prior authorizations affect colonoscopy reimbursements. Question: What payer trend is affecting ASCs the most right now?Dr. Eugenio Hernandez: The most challenging payer trends affecting ASCs right now are the policies that require prior authorization or advanced notification for colonoscopies and other relatively routine endoscopic procedures. While these policies place an additional administrative burden on ASCs, the bigger issue is that they could potentially harm patients because of limited, delayed,…
In this edition of Sharma’s Endoscopy Insights, I focus on high-quality endoscopy. We continue to miss lesions during endoscopic examination, highlighting the need for improved quality in surveillance. Phone apps may be able to help with that, especially in improving adherence to recommended surveillance guidance. Finally, keep an eye out for patients who have positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results—some also may harbor upper GI cancer. Gastric cancer can be missed. In the first study, approximately 4% of patients undergoing endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer had previously missed gastric cancer. This finding again highlights the importance of a high-quality…
The study highlights the importance of CRC screening in patients diagnosed with cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess, given the significantly higher incidence of colorectal cancer in this group. Higher CRC Incidence in PLA Patients: The study observed that a greater proportion of patients with pyogenic liver abscess were diagnosed with colorectal cancer compared to controls (1.9% vs. 0.8%). Timing of CRC Diagnosis: The incidence of CRC was highest within the first three years following a PLA diagnosis. The hazard ratios (HR) for CRC diagnosis were significantly higher during this period, decreasing gradually over time and becoming nonsignificant after three years. Study…
The article underscores the urgent need for action to address the crisis of physician burnout, emphasizing that improving work conditions and mental health support for healthcare workers is crucial for the sustainability of the healthcare system. CDC’s Warning on Burnout: Debra Houry, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science at the CDC, issued a warning about the critical levels of burnout among healthcare workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified long-standing challenges for health workers, leading to increased compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Significant Increase in Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction: A…
The new AGA guidelines represent a significant shift in the management of Crohn’s Disease, emphasizing less invasive methods for disease monitoring and potentially improving patient comfort and care efficiency. New Guidelines for Crohn’s Disease: The AGA has introduced new evidence-based guidelines for managing Crohn’s Disease. These guidelines emphasize the use of specific biomarkers for disease management, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures like colonoscopies. Role of Biomarkers: The guidelines recommend using the C-reactive protein (CRP) biomarker in blood and the fecal calprotectin (FCP) biomarker in stool to measure inflammation levels. These biomarkers help assess whether Crohn’s Disease is in…
Partnership Overview: Allied Digestive Health, a leading provider of gastroenterology services in New Jersey and New York, has partnered with Provation, a software and SaaS company specializing in clinical productivity and workflow automation. This partnership is aimed at enhancing patient care through improved clinical processes. Provation’s Role: Provation, a Fortive Corporation operating company, will provide ADH with its leading cloud-based procedure documentation and charting solutions. These solutions are designed to be used by ADH’s 150+ board-certified gastroenterologists across over 30 office-based surgery (OBS) and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) facilities. Benefits of the Agreement: The agreement focuses on implementing Provation Apex,…
There is a long-standing belief that patients with a presumptive diagnosis of diverticulitis may instead be harboring colon cancer, but what is the real risk? In an analysis of a large database, patients whose diverticulitis is considered complicated—with abscess or perforation—had nearly a fourfold increased likelihood of having cancer or an advanced adenoma found on colonoscopy compared with the average-risk screening population. However, those with less severe diverticulitis had a decreased likelihood. “Colon cancer can be misdiagnosed as diverticulitis, and for this reason colonoscopy is often recommended to exclude a missed cancer after patients recover from an episode of diverticulitis.…
Therapeutic strategies employing a combination of advanced therapies, specifically dual biologics or biologic–small molecule combinations, are starting to reveal promising outcomes in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. At the 2023 annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Christopher Ma, MD, MPH, FRCPC, an associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, highlighted several studies that have demonstrated superior results with a combination treatment approach, particularly in patients who have refractory IBD or high-risk phenotypes. However, Dr. Ma also underscored the need for more data to determine safety and efficacy conclusively. “It’s evident from…
AMIE, based on large language models (LLMs), is designed to enhance diagnostic medical reasoning and conversations. Here are the key points: Purpose and Challenge: AMIE aims to replicate the physician-patient conversation, a critical aspect of medicine where communication is essential for diagnosis, management, empathy, and trust. The challenge lies in approximating the expertise of clinicians, a task made difficult due to the unique aspects of medical dialogues. Development of AMIE: AMIE is developed as a research AI system optimized for diagnostic reasoning and conversations. It was trained and evaluated on various dimensions reflecting real-world clinical consultations. The training involved a…