Category: Medical

Medical Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction

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The 1980s saw a progressive shift away from psychological treatments of sexual dysfunction to an emphasis on surgical and medical solutions for improving sexual health. Simultaneously, there was a progressive shift within the medical community and public at large, towards viewing the etiology of sexual dysfunction as organic, rather than the psychogenic understanding emphasized by sex therapists. Use of improved sophisticated diagnostic procedures, such as duplex sonography and cavernosograms (although not necessarily improving treatment) added credibility and imprimatur to the importance of organic pathogenesis. This was particularly true in the area of erectile dysfunction, where urologists established dominance, with the successful marketing and use of various intracavernosal and intraurethral systems. Although highly touted by urologists, the treatment efficacy of these products was offset by their intrusiveness into the patients bodies and reduction in spontaneity, their patterns of use required.

Initially, there were few oral treatments for erectile dysfunction, being used by urologists, such as yohimbine based products, trazodone, and bupropion. They had only modest proerectile capability. Pharmaceutical companies were inspired to pursue oral treatments with the promise of less intrusiveness and even greater profits. The first visible evidence of fulfilling that promise was the sildenafil launch. Subsequent to Pfizers success, multiple companies simultaneously pursued clinical trials of easy-to-use treatments for male sexual dysfunction. Among others, these included additional PDE-5 type compounds and other oral treatments, such as ixense (TAP Holdings, Deerfield, IL, USA), and topically applied compounds (MacroChem, Lexington, MA, USA). Additionally, PT-141 (Palatin Technology, Cranbury, NJ, USA) is a nasally administered peptide that is under development, which is presumed to work through a central nervous system mechanism.

Currently, there are three highly efficacious PDE-5, FDA-approved treatments for erectile dysfunction: sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil. Reviews of long-term extension studies and published accounts of use in clinical practice show that sildenafils effectiveness was maintained with long-term treatment. “Significantly improved erectile function was demonstrated for sildenafil compared with placebo for all efficacy parameters analyzed (P , 0.02 to 0.0001), regardless of patient age, race, body mass index, erectile dysfunction etiology, erectile dysfunction severity, erectile dysfunction duration, or the presence of various co morbidities. Long-term effectiveness was assessed in three open-label extension studies.” Vardenafil (launched in 2003) “is a potent, selective PDE-5 inhibitor, which improved erectile function in a broad population of men with erectile dysfunction and in characteristically challenging-to-treat groups such as diabetic and post prostatectomy patients.” Tadalafil also launched in 2003, when taken, “as needed before sexual activity and without restrictions on food or alcohol intake, significantly improved erectile function. It allowed a substantial proportion of patients to achieve a normal IIEF erectile function domain score, exhibited a broad window of therapeutic responsiveness and was well tolerated in a representative population of patients with broadspectrum erectile dysfunction.”

Medical Identity Theft – One of the Fastest Growing Crimes

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From keeping up with the latest technologies to providing top-notch patient care, there’s no doubt that healthcare industry professionals have a lot on their plate these days. But, would you imagine that one of their major concerns has nothing to do directly with patient care? Healthcare practices are spending large amounts of time and money keeping their practices compliant with the latest HIPAA regulations, and working hard to prevent a new trend in crime – medical identity theft. While it may not be making mainstream headlines, according to Javelin Strategy and Research, fraud resulting from exposure of health data has increased 112% year over year, from 3% in 2008 to 7% in 2009. To put this stat in perspective, medical identity theft is regarded as the fastest growing form of identity theft in America today and it is estimated that each year 250,000 to 500,000 people become victims of medical identity theft. Just like identity theft, medical identity theft is the act of stealing medical records or medical information of a patient. Both the medical facility and the patient suffer great losses once they are victimized by this type of crime. Imagine this scenario – when you check your mail one day, you find a giant bill from a hospital emergency room, yet you haven’t been to the doctor for anything other than a routine visit in years. So where did this five-figure bill with your name on it come from? The answer -someone stole your information and used it to obtain medical treatment and/or prescription drugs. Unfortunately, medical theft is a growing epidemic and is largely attributable to the large volume of paperwork medical providers are required to keep, in order to maintain 100% HIPAA compliance. Instances of medical identity theft are commonly reported when:

* Patients’ records are accidentally faxed or mailed to the wrong person * Medical records are stolen and misused after being disposed of improperly * Laptops containing confidential information or medical records are lost or stolen * Medical files left unattended in file rooms, on staff desks and in door folders; or unrestricted physical access to sensitive medical files.

While these security breaches might sound relatively innocuous, they are a huge concern. Not only does the medical facility face damage to their reputation and restitution fees, but also HIPAA has enacted legislation over the last year that makes such breaches very expensive – and on a punitive scale. Even worse, the victim may not realize the crime has occurred immediately due to lags in billing cycles so the theft is larger and potentially more costly. As if these scenarios aren’t nightmarish enough, add the fact that someone’s medical records could be tampered with, leading to improper medical care or misdiagnosis. With these costs to both victims and facilities in mind, preventing medical identity theft must be a high priority for medical facilities. It’s especially critical for smaller practices to take precautionary measures because they may have fewer internal protocols to protect patients…and shallower pockets to weather such an event. Ways to reduce medical identity theft include:

San Pedro Medical Marijuana Menu – Types of Products to Choose From

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If you suffer from any chronic medical conditions and live within the port city of San Pedro in the greater Los Angeles area, you may wish to visit your local dispensary to find out more about how medical marijuana could potentially help you. By visiting a co-op or legal dispensary, you can be sure that the selections on the San Pedro medical marijuana menu comply with the rules set forth by Proposition 215 and SB 420. There are a number of medical conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, including Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, HIV, cancer, and glaucoma.

These are just a few conditions, however, so if you experience pain or discomfort it’s best to speak to your doctor about whether or not medical marijuana may be right for you. Once you have received medical clearance, you can then take a look at the San Pedro medical marijuana menu to determine which product will be the best for your particular needs. There are many different types of marijuana strains, all of which have slightly different effects. Sativa, Indica, and hybrid strains are available at different weights, which you can purchase to be inhaled.

One of the first types of strains that you will see listed on any San Pedro medical marijuana menu is marijuana Sativa. This type of herb has an active profile, meaning that it is more stimulating than other options. It can be used to stimulate appetite, relieve pain, elevate mood, and reduce nausea. This makes it ideal for the treatment of depression, eating disorders, tension, or migraine headaches. Another option is marijuana Indica, which exerts a calming effect on the body. It can be used to help with insomnia, anxiety, stress, arthritis, or other problems of this nature.

Hybrid blends will have their own characteristics of these two primary strains. However, there are other options that you will find on a San Pedro medical marijuana menu. Those who don’t enjoy smoking marijuana can choose from an array of edible options, for example. Tinctures, oils, baked goods, and snacks that have been infused with THC can be used to control symptoms. Because these can be more potent than the herb when it is inhaled, it’s always a good idea to start out with the lowest dose possible and then move up if needed. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new program.

Lytec Medical Billing Software

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One of the most widely use software in the area of medical billing is the Lytec medical billing software. Many professionals completely rely on this software for assistance in billing, coding and insurance reimbursement.

Around for nearly two decades Lytec medical billing software, since 1989 have proved indispensable for thousands of medical billing pros who have found it to be a trustworthy tool to operate their businesses.

What is it that makes Lytec so trustworthy? It is not the brand reputation nor the marketing hype, but rather its unique combination of a proven technical superiority and personalized services which make the brand so popular amongst all other brands available in the market. The software not only hikes up profitability of the business, but also helps in economizing on costs as well.

Nearly 20 years after the first Lytec software hit the market a newer and improved system has been launched the Lytec 2005. As incredible as it may sound more than 40000 systems got sold out within the first few months of its introduction. Thus Lytec clearly emerged as the market leader in practice management and medical billing software segment. The software delivers exactly what is needed by its user, including patient accounting, insurance billing, claims tracking, accounts receivable, and appointment scheduling.

If you wish to smarten up yur business, there is no alternative to Lytec medical billing software. Thousands of users unanimously agree that it is not only an asset in the office but an invaluable tool for the entire healthcare management scenario.

The job of a medical billing person is strewn with attention to details and superior levels of accuracy. There is hardly any place for glitches or errors, however small they may be.

What are the additional value-added features of the trusted Lytec medical billing software? Firstly, it is HIPPA or, Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act compliant. Incidentally, this Act has certain laid-down guidelines which every medical practice has to abide by. This has been mandatory by the US government. With this software, because of its built-in HIPPA compatibility, you need not take the trouble of familiarizing yourself with all the complex systems as the software does all that for you.

The other features which this soft ware has and which make it stand out from the rest include: ApptBox, Electronic Claims Processing, AccuScrubber MX, Direct Claims, and more. The AccuScrubber is an additional program which can be loaded on to your computer which allows you to review any healthcare claim. It is perfectly compatible with the Lytec medical billing software and does not cause any errors or hurdles during its operation. It simply adds more value to the overall system.

The ApptBox is a type of automated communication system which permits any physician’s office to confirm a patients’ appointment and other communication related functions.

Perhaps the best in terms of functionality, value-additions and convenience, the Lytec medical billing software has proved to be an asset for the user and the using companies.