Author: Abhay Panchal

Vial, a tech-driven CRO focused on next-generation clinical trial management, has announced a strategic partnership with Documenso, an open-source digital signing platform. This collaboration aims to revolutionize document signing practices in the life sciences sector, offering an alternative to traditional platforms like DocuSign. The partnership will focus on meeting the stringent requirements of CFR Part 11 compliance, a set of FDA guidelines for electronic recordkeeping and signatures in regulated sectors. Simon Burns, CEO of Vial, emphasized the partnership’s potential to innovate document management in the life sciences, aligning with the demands of 21 CFR Part 11. On the other hand,…

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Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) leaders are currently observing several significant trends in the industry. One of the primary shifts is the migration of procedures from inpatient to outpatient settings, driven by advancements in surgical techniques and technology. This change offers a more cost-effective and convenient option for patients but requires ASCs to continually upgrade their facilities and skills. Another trend is the adoption of value-based care, focusing on patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness rather than the traditional fee-for-service model. ASCs are participating more in bundled payment programs and other value-based initiatives, emphasizing quality improvement and data collection to demonstrate value and…

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InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB announced that the positive results from their pharmacokinetic (PK) study with cobitolimod, targeting patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, will be showcased at the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). This abstract was distinguished as one of the best for poster presentation and will also be orally presented in a moderated session. Jenny Sundqvist, CEO of InDex Pharmaceuticals, expressed her satisfaction with the selection, emphasizing the medical community’s keen interest in their findings. The study’s results, presented by Professor Per Hellström, revealed limited systemic uptake of cobitolimod and a promising response rate among patients. InDex Pharmaceuticals…

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Patients who have ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease often report symptoms without showing endoscopic evidence of the disease, and their providers struggle to make sense of the disparity. In a new study, investigators used fecal calprotectin levels to assess symptoms most associated with disease activity. “A patient will say they’re having lots and lots of symptoms, but we don’t find inflammation during a colonoscopy, which means we need to investigate other causes,” said Kerri Glassner, DO, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City, who was not involved in…

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CHICAGO—While artificial intelligence is increasingly seen as a means of improving endoscopy, studies at Digestive Disease Week 2023 hinted at a potential flaw: It may not be as effective outside of the controlled environment of randomized trials, that is, in routine community practice. “We did not see an increase in adenoma detection rate [ADR] with CADe [computer-aided detection] over baseline and saw no improvement in any performance tertile,” reported investigator Uri Ladabaum, MD, who presented results of one large study in the community setting. “There was also no significant difference between the outcomes of endoscopists in the CADe study sites…

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Jamie M. Horrigan, MD, a chief resident in internal medicine at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), has been honored by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation New England Chapter as the 2023 Rising Community Leader in IBD. The recognition was given during the foundation’s annual “Stories from the Gut” event. Dr. Horrigan, who herself has Crohn’s, was nominated for her advocacy efforts, particularly her Instagram account and blog, “Sweetened by Nature,” where she shares insights to assist those with IBD. Through her advocacy, she successfully fundraised $8,000 for the foundation, surpassing her initial goal of $5,000. Dr. Corey A.…

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US Digestive Health has expanded its network in Pennsylvania by incorporating nine new physicians. The newly added physicians and their respective practice locations include Dr. Faiz Afridi in Langhorne, Dr. Maggie Cheung in East Norriton, Lansdale-Sumneytown, and Sellersville, Dr. Ashley Davis in Langhorne, Dr. Scott Douglas in Elizabethtown, Lancaster, and Oregon Pike, and several others in various locations. US Digestive Health, a management services organization, operates across Pennsylvania and Delaware, supporting 33 locations, 19 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), over 250 gastroenterology providers, and approximately 1,100 employees.

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An international group has introduced the first clinical guidelines for diagnosing and treating childhood eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) beyond eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) due to limited existing research. Collaboratively developed by European and North American pediatric gastroenterology societies, these guidelines categorize non-EoE EGIDs by inflammation location and offer diagnostic and treatment advice. Emphasis is placed on individualized care and the importance of discussing long-term treatment implications with patients and caregivers. The rise in GI eosinophil diseases is noted, and the guidelines aim to aid non-specialized professionals in patient management.

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Employed doctors have been very clear about how little they enjoy business responsibilities and how much they like a steady income. In our 2014 report on employed physicians, these two job features also were in physicians’ top three. “That’s fairly intuitive,” says Tommy Bohannon, VP of strategy for AMN Healthcare’s physician & leadership solutions division based in Dallas. “The two reasons that most physicians decide not to go into private practice are to avoid having to be a small business owner and to have a predictable income.” Bohannon doesn’t think most doctors focus on whether managers do their jobs well…

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