Medical Journal November 2024 Digital Edition
November 22, 20241 min
Post Views: 1,277
CFOs embracing comprehensive approaches to improve profitability
November 22, 202421 min
BY Tina Wheeler, Partner, Health Care Leader, Bill Laughlin, Principal, Life Sciences and Health Care, Temano Shurland, Health Care Finance, Jason Barnes, Partner, Risk & Financial Advisory, Maulesh Shukla, Executive Manager, Madhushree Wagh, Senior Research Analyst, Deloitte The health care industry has struggled with profitability for the past decade, and these challenges have intensified since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has hindered organizations’ efforts to achieve their mission of delivering innovative, high-quality,...
New DOJ corporate whistleblower pilot program has implications for commercial insurance
November 22, 20248 min
BY Rossanna Madrigal, Esq. and Michael R. Alexander, Esq., Brown & Fortunato, P.C. On August 1, 2024, the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) rolled out a new Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program (the “Pilot Program”). According to the DOJ, under the Pilot Program, individuals that provide truthful and complete information that leads to a successful forfeiture exceeding $1,000,000 in net proceeds may be eligible for an award from the proceeds. An...
Acupuncture and cancer care
November 22, 20248 min
BY Samuel Mathis, MD, MBA, CPE One of the hardest parts of my job in primary care is to inform patients of their diagnosis of cancer or a terminal condition. These conversations are hard for the patient, their family, and the clinical staff who care for them. Fortunately, these patients often continue to see us for their primary care needs during their oncology treatment. It is important to have a collaborative care model with...
A healthier state: THA’s broad and ambitious priorities for the 2025 Texas Legislature
November 22, 20247 min
BY John Hawkins We’re now past the general election, and Texans across the state have cast their ballots, laying the foundation for the 89th Texas Legislature. We now know who will hold the 181 seats at our Capitol, meaning we’re one step closer to determining the next chapter of health care in Texas. With a clear layout of the new Legislature that will begin its work on Jan. 14, 2025, the countdown has...
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital appoints Dr. Jeffrey Wood as Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer
November 22, 20244 min
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital announces the appointment of Jeffrey Wood, M.D., board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Quality Officer (CQO), effective immediately. Wood has served as the interim CMO/CQO since May and has been a valued member of Houston Methodist Sugar Land since 2000. With over two decades of experience at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, Wood has established a reputation for clinical excellence and compassionate patient...
Jennifer Bickel, M.D., named MD Anderson Vice President and Chief Wellness Officer
November 22, 20246 min
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced the selection of Jennifer Bickel, M.D., as the institution’s inaugural vice president and chief wellness officer (CWO). She will begin on January 6, 2025. Working closely with the senior vice president of people, culture and infrastructure, as well as the chief academic officer, she will spearhead initiatives that prioritize employee well-being, professional fulfillment and community resilience. In her new role, Bickel will implement a three-component model...
UTMB researchers develop model to test patient blood for clotting risks
November 22, 20244 min
A new method of assessing patient blood by running it through a miniaturized device that mimics narrowed arteries could help doctors better understand a patient’s risk factors for developing blood clots in the arteries according to a study by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Arterial thrombosis, which describes the formation of disease-causing blood clots in the artery, is one of the leading causes of death and serious illness worldwide. Researchers...
Healthy women have cells that resemble breast cancer, study finds
November 22, 20246 min
A new study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center finds that, in healthy women, some breast cells that otherwise appear normal may contain chromosome abnormalities typically associated with invasive breast cancer. The findings question conventional thinking on the genetic origins of breast cancer, which could influence early cancer detection methods. The study discovered that at least 3% of normal cells from breast tissue in 49 healthy women contain a gain or loss...
Epigenetic targets and genomic stem cell pathways drive adult hair regeneration
November 22, 20241 min
Retrotransposons are interspersed repeating sequences that make up over 40% of the human genome. Proper tissue regeneration requires they be tightly regulated, but little is known about how this process is coordinated. To provide insights, researchers led by Yejing Ge, Ph.D., studied laboratory models of hair follicle stem cells in the skin. When injured, these stem cells change to help restore the skin barrier but eventually become exhausted. The researchers found an epigenetic regulator, SETDB1, driving...