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New Jersey Partners with Shatterproof® and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ to Launch Online Substance Use Disorder Treatment Reference Guide

Shatterproof

New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman announced today that New Jersey has launched a free, confidential, first-of-its-kind on-line tool to connect New Jerseyans in need with appropriate addiction treatment care and deliver user-friendly information about the quality of available programs. ATLAS, or Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards Platform, at www.TreatmentATLAS.org, offers an easy-to-use dashboard to allow individuals with substance use disorder and their loved ones to search for and compare participating programs using criteria such as location, services offered, and insurance accepted so they can find the best treatment for their unique needs. ATLAS was created by Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in America. ATLAS has been made possible in New Jersey through a partnership with Humane Services and funding from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. ATLAS evaluates addiction treatment programs’ use of evidence-based best practices and makes this information available to the public on its platform. Best practices are based on the Shatterproof National Principles of Care, which are evidence-based standards derived from the Surgeon General’s Report on Addiction, using data gathered through a combination of validated sources. “It’s vital to empower individuals and families confronting substance use disorder and help them make informed decisions,” Commissioner Adelman said. “This is yet another tool in our collective work to make addiction treatment as accessible as possible so individuals and families can get the help they need – because treatment works and recovery is attainable. Our goal, always, is to save lives. This is another way to do so.” ATLAS includes an assessment to help individuals understand the appropriate level of care they need. The platform also gathers and displays anonymous feedback from patients on their experiences at facilities. This feedback helps to inform others’ care decisions. Anyone who has received treatment from a facility in New Jersey can visit www.TreatmentATLAS.org to search for the facility and leave a patient review. ATLAS lists New Jersey addiction treatment facilities for various types of substance use disorder, including alcohol and opioid use disorder. “During a time when our nation’s addiction crisis is tragically at an all-time high and access to quality treatment is often hard to find, ATLAS is a critical new resource. When my son Brian needed addiction treatment, my family agonized trying to find him the right care. It was impossible to know who to trust,” Shatterproof Founder and CEO Gary Mendell said. “ATLAS is a sea change in the addiction world. It will give those in need and their families the transparent and trustworthy information my family never had and will help put more people on the path to recovery.” “Horizon is thrilled to be able to provide the funding needed to bring Shatterproof’s ATLAS to New Jersey,” said Suzanne Kunis, Vice President of Behavioral Health for Horizon BCBSNJ. “No one in crisis, dealing with substance use disorders, or worse, an overdose, should have to hope they guess right to find good care. The ATLAS Quality Measurement System gives New Jerseyans looking for treatment options the same kind of evidence-based quality and outcomes information they are used to getting about primary care doctors, specialists, and acute care hospitals. This is long overdue. We appreciate the providers who have joined us so far in sending a clear message that we are united here in New Jersey in our commitment to evidence-based treatment and to giving people meaningful information that helps them choose the right program and treatment partner.” ATLAS builds on existing efforts by New Jersey to connect individuals and families to treatment through the 1-844-ReachNJ helpline. ReachNJ is a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week addiction hotline where people who have substance use disorders (SUD) or friends and family of people with SUD can get immediate assistance and support from live, New Jersey-based, trained addiction counselors. An individual who calls the toll-free number will reach a live staff member who will help connect them to treatment, regardless of insurance status. ATLAS is fully available in English and Spanish and has several unique features including: • Feedback from other patients once a minimum threshold of 20 responses for the facility is met, updated every 24 hours; • An expert-approved Addiction Treatment Needs Assessment, created in collaboration with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and OpenBeds, to help guide the treatment search based on the individual’s needs and severity; • The ability to search and filter using criteria such as location, services offered and insurance accepted, as well as the opportunity to compare facilities. About Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. Shatterproof harnesses the models of business, the rigor of science and the power of a national movement to create change and save lives through three pillars of work: revolutionizing the addiction treatment system, breaking down addiction-related stigmas and supporting and empowering our communities. To learn more visit www.Shatterproof.org. Contact Details Shatterproof Lauren Lawson-Zilai +1 646-334-1024 press@shatterproof.org NJ Department of Human Services Tom Hester +1 609-292-3717 tom.hester@dhs.nj.gov Company Website https://www.shatterproof.org/

July 06, 2022 10:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

US Digestive Health Launches the Largest Installation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems for Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States

US Digestive Health

US Digestive Health (“USDH”), a network of top-rated gastrointestinal (GI) practices, today announced that it is now offering patients AI-assisted colonoscopy screenings with the country’s largest installation of GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy modules. In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most common form of diagnosed cancer and the second deadliest, with almost 150,000 new cases every year [1]. However, it’s also one of the most treatable cancers, with a 90% survival rate when it is detected and treated early. Colonoscopy has long been considered the gold standard for detecting polyps that can eventually lead to colorectal cancer. Now, patients at USDH have the strength of an AI-assisted option for screening with GI Genius TM — the first and only FDA-cleared, commercially available device that employs AI to help physicians detect polyps. US Digestive Health’s installation of GI Genius TM is the largest in the world and the first in Pennsylvania. The launch will give patients throughout southeastern, southwestern and central Pennsylvania wide-ranging access to the innovative technology and its enhanced capability. “GI Genius TM is a major breakthrough in colorectal cancer screening. In real time, it can help physicians identify hard-to-detect and potentially cancerous polyps,” said Dr. Dale Whitebloom, US Digestive Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “We begin our screening colonoscopies at age 45, which is the most up-to-date recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American Cancer Society. Adding GI Genius TM gives us yet another tool to help protect our patients from the scourge of cancer.” The GI Genius TM module uses advanced AI software to highlight suspicious areas with a visual marker in real time — serving as the gastroenterologist’s vigilant second observer with a sensitivity rate per lesion of 100% [2]. A study published on March 15 in Gastroenterology, the official medical journal of the American Gastroenterological Society, found that the use of GI Genius TM in conjunction with a colonoscopy can decrease polyp miss rates by nearly 50%, while other studies have shown that AI-assisted colonoscopy can increase detection rates by up to 14% [3],[4]. Jerry Tillinger, CEO of US Digestive Health, said, “Our mission is to prevent colorectal cancer, and AI-assisted colonoscopy is an incredible advancement in protecting the people of Pennsylvania from this terrible disease. We’re proud to collaborate with Medtronic, as well as our endoscopy partners, AMSURG and PE GI Solutions, to roll out the largest installation of GI Genius TM not only in the United States but also in the world. As a result, US Digestive Health patients now have access to GI Genius TM -assisted colonoscopies.” US Digestive Health was formed in 2019 by Amulet Capital Partners, LP (“Amulet”), a middle-market private equity investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, focused exclusively on the healthcare sector, in partnership with member practice partner physicians. For more information or to schedule a GI Genius TM -enabled colonoscopy, please visit https://usdigestivehealth.com/. ______________________________________________________________________________________ [1] Cancer.Net. Colorectal Cancer: Statistics. January 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/statistics. Accessed January 22, 2021. [2] Sensitivity calculated as true positive frame rate. GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module [instructions for use]. Mansfield, MA: Medtronic; 2021. [3] Hassan C, et al. New artificial intelligence system: first validation study versus experienced endoscopists for colorectal polyp detection. Gut. 2020;69(5):799-800 [4] Repici A, Badalamenti M, Maselli R, et al. Efficacy of real-time computer-aided detection of colorectal neoplasia in a randomized trial. Gastroenterology. 2020; 159:512–520.e7. About US Digestive Health US Digestive Health oversees a network of over 150 gastroenterology providers and has 26 locations, 15affiliated ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 800 total employees in Pennsylvania. They are at the forefront of the rapidly advancing science of digestive health, bringing new insight into the care, treatment, and prevention of digestive health disorders. The practices that have joined the US Digestive Health network are: Digestive Disease Associates of Berks and Chester Counties; Main Line Gastroenterology Associates of Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties; Regional Gastroenterology of Lancaster County; Carlisle Digestive Disease Associates of Cumberland County; West Chester Gastrointestinal Group of Chester County; Hillmont G.I. of Montgomery County; The Center for GI Health of Bucks and Montgomery Counties; and Gastrointestinal Specialists of Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties. About Amulet Capital Partners, LP Amulet Capital Partners, LP is a middle-market private equity investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, focused exclusively on the healthcare sector. Amulet seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation through privately negotiated investments in companies. Amulet Capital Partners focuses on those segments it believes have the most attractive long-term fundamentals with a target investment size generally between $25 million to $150 million. For additional information, please visit www.amuletcapital.com. INDICATIONS GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy module is a computer-assisted reading tool designed to aid endoscopists in detecting colonic mucosal lesions (such as polyps and adenomas) in real time during standard white light endoscopy examinations of patients undergoing screening and surveillance endoscopic mucosal evaluations. The GI Genius™ computer-assisted detection device is limited for use with standard white-light endoscopy imaging only. This device is not intended to replace clinical decision-making. ### Contact Details LevLane Lauren Stralo +1 484-747-9692 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://usdigestivehealth.com

July 06, 2022 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Kidney Transplants Continue to Rise Nationally

United Network for Organ Sharing

A new report shows continued increases in the number of lifesaving kidney transplants taking place across the country, according to data compiled by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS is the engine that powers the national donation and transplant system, serving as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under federal contract. Following changes in March of 2021 to how deceased donor kidneys were allocated, an early data report showed increases in the number of transplants and expanded equity, especially amongst historically marginalized groups. Now, with one full year of post-implementation data available, the new report shows a 16% increase in kidney transplants across the nation, including for the following groups: 23% for Black patients 29% for Hispanic patients 20% for Asian patients 36% for people with longer times on dialysis 63% for pediatric patients 79% for highly-sensitized patients, or those with more difficulty finding a compatible donor organ This data remains consistent with previous reports that showed similar, positive results for the same patient groups. “We continue to see positive results for patients and families following changes we enacted in 2021,” said UNOS CEO Brian Shepard. “Getting to this point means bringing together a diverse group of physicians, patients, advocates, donor families and others to develop policies that continue to improve the national system and save more lives. But even as we see transplants rise and equity improving, there is more work to do and we are committed to building on these and other successes.” The report also showed an increase in the number of kidneys that were not utilized. In keeping with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Math (NASEM) recommendations, UNOS and stakeholders across the nation are committed to working together to find new ways to incentivize the use of more kidneys. Ongoing efforts to achieve this goal include the UNOS-developed offer-filters tool for transplant programs, expanding the use of predictive analytics in decision making, and more. Additionally, the OPTN Kidney Transplantation Committee will continue to monitor the impact and results of this policy. About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 newsroom@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

July 05, 2022 01:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Vascudyne Receives BioBusiness Award from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota for Treatment of Nerve Injury

Vascudyne, Inc.

Vascudyne, Inc., a biotechnology trailblazer in regenerative medicine, announced today that it was awarded a grant from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota for a project titled “Development of a Peripheral Nerve Wrap Using Regenerative Engineering Tissue Tube”. The one-year, $100,000 grant will commence in June 2022 and utilize Vascudyne’s TRUE™ Tissue technology that is unique and 100% natural. The TRUE Tissue allogeneic biomaterial is completely biological, non-immunogenic and regenerates by the host. Nothing synthetic or artificial is ever used in the manufacturing process, in contrast to other regenerative medicine soft tissue biomaterials made from synthetic polymer-based scaffolds that slowly degrade in the body and may lead to adverse immune response. Chronic nerve compression is one of the most common peripheral nerve injuries with carpal tunnel syndrome being the most common type of nerve compression affecting 3-6% of the general population. Tissues isolated from the patient are used in surgery but have shortcomings such as donor site morbidity, limited availability, and risk of surgical complications. “We are excited to expand our TRUE Tissue platform technology to other soft tissue applications such as nerve repair,” said Rick Murphy, Vascudyne’s Chief Operating Officer. “The exquisite regenerative properties of our 100% biological biomaterial combined with its non-immunogenic properties and off-the-shelf availability are a perfect fit for addressing the challenging nerve injury applications. Demonstrating these benefits in a preclinical nerve injury model will greatly advance the field of peripheral nerve injury and offer a promising alternative to current treatments that often lack complete and functional nerve repair.” Vascudyne has prioritized commercialization of its cardiovascular products and recently announced the first clinical results of its regenerative vascular conduit for hemodialysis access. “While we are initially focusing on cardiovascular applications for our TRUE Tissue technology, we continue research and development efforts in other soft tissue applications such as nerve injury repair,” stated Dr. Zeeshan Syedain, Vascudyne’s Chief Scientific Officer. “This grant from the Regenerative Medicine Minnesota will help accelerate our preclinical animal study timeline and demonstrate safety and efficacy of the TRUE Tissue technology as a peripheral nerve wrap.” Vascudyne licensed its proprietary TRUE Tissue technology developed by world renowned tissue engineering leader Robert Tranquillo, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, and his colleagues from the University of Minnesota in 2017. TRUE Tissue products are not available for commercial sale. About Vascudyne Headquartered in the heart of Medical Alley in Minnesota, Vascudyne is on a mission to improve patient care with regenerative biomaterials that are inspired by nature. Vascudyne, a privately held company founded in 2014, uses the TRUE™ Tissue technology to develop TRUE to Nature™ biomaterials for soft tissue repair and replacement. For more information, please visit https://www.vascudyne.com/. About TRUE™ Tissue Technology TRUE™ Tissue is developed from cells isolated from donor tissue and is 100% biological. There are no synthetic materials or chemical fixation used, and implanted tissues are completely cell-derived and acellular. The TRUE™ Tissue technology can be readily shaped into tubes, sheets, and other geometries making it suitable for many soft tissue applications, is mechanically comparable to native tissues, and is a ready to use, off-the-shelf allograft. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements identified by words such as "projects," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "potential" or similar expressions. These statements relate to future events or Vascudyne’s clinical development programs, reflect management’s current beliefs and expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Vascudyne’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different. Vascudyne undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future presentations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Contact Details Vascudyne, Inc. Sandy Williams, Marketing Director +1 952-412-5975 swilliams@vascudyne.com Company Website https://vascudyne.com/

June 30, 2022 09:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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What Your Nails Say About Your Health

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/LI5F93klWMQ Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? Take a close look at your fingernails. Are they strong and healthy looking? Or do you see ridges, dents, or areas of unusual color or shape? Many in your audience might be asking, am I taking good care of my nails? Here's what you need to know to keep your nails in tiptop shape from Dr. Dana Stern, board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Stern is the only dermatologist who devotes her entire practice to nail diagnosis, treatment, and surgery and she’s a go-to dermatologist for patients seeking advice on how to treat nail conditions and gel damage, as well as how to keep their nails healthy and beautiful. Recently relaunched by Rare Beauty Brands and hailed by celebrities as a nail miracle, Dr. Dana’s famous Nail Renewal System is an easy-to-use botanically formulated product that utilizes plant-based science to exfoliate and hydrate nails to combat brittle, ridged, weak and over-processed nails within minutes of the first application. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: DRDANANAILS.COM Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 29, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Leader in LED Light Therapy Devices LightStim® Launches Elipsa™ Alongside BeautyHealth’s HydraFacial

LightStim

Poised for exponential growth in 2022, LightStim® launches its latest innovation in LED light therapy, Elipsa™, which seamlessly integrates with BeautyHealth’s next generation HydraFacial system, Syndeo. The new LightStim Elipsa elevates the provider experience and treatment results. Elipsa is available today for retail and professional use in the U.S., and will, in time, roll out internationally in conjunction with Syndeo, increasing LightStim’s national and global presence. “We are consistently looking to enhance the treatment experience for consumers and expand the range of service offerings for providers,” said Ben Baum, BeautyHealth Chief Experience Officer. “LightStim is a trusted leader in LED light therapy among our community, so it was only natural to partner with them for our next-generation delivery system. Now with Elipsa, our HydraFacialists can deliver a new level of personalization for consumers seeking the latest in LED light therapy.” Elipsa is the first LightStim device to offer dual treatment modes for both wrinkles and acne, allowing ultra-close proximity to the skin for the most effective and result driven treatment. Designed and engineered with more than double the number of LEDs in most comparable devices, Elipsa utilizes LightStim MultiWave® Patented Technology and medical-grade LEDs to deliver a soothing and relaxing experience that promotes meaningful benefits. LightStim Elipsa wirelessly connects to the HydraFacial Syndeo, providing treatment analytics to better address client needs. “The introduction of Elipsa marks a huge milestone for LightStim, rounding out our product portfolio and filling a much-needed gap for growth,” says Joniann Marchese, LightStim President. “Beauty and wellness have always been at the forefront of everything we do here at LightStim, and it is a common goal with HydraFacial. Together, our missions match up perfectly with the growing focus on health and wellness, and we look forward to building awareness and expanding across the U.S. and most excitingly, globally.” Beyond expanding to new providers in the U.S. and, eventually, global markets, this partnership encourages adoption of other LightStim products within the brand’s professional and consumer portfolios. LightStim offers FDA Cleared devices including its LED Bed, Professional ProPanel line, and at-home consumer devices that target specific areas of concern inclusive of LightStim for Wrinkles, Pain and Acne. For more information on Elipsa for consumers and licensed professionals visit LightStim.com and LightStimPro.com, respectively. About LightStim LightStim has been the global leader in both professional and consumer markets for over 20 years, with patented technology, certifications and FDA Clearances. The family-owned and operated company proudly designs, engineers and manufactures all LightStim devices inside their Irvine, California facility to ensure paramount quality, reliability and effectiveness of the entire LightStim collection. Touted amongst dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical doctors, estheticians, professional athletes, recovery and wellness clinics, and the beauty industry elite, the innovative brand continues to pioneer and revolutionize the face and body of beauty and wellness. Beauty editors and social influencers have joined the convergence of LightStim aficionados alongside industry professionals, propelling LightStim to earn kudos in hundreds of top publications including Vogue, InStyle, Women’s Health, Glamour and The New York Times. For more information, visit LightStim.com, and follow on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. About The Beauty Health Company The Beauty Health Company (NASDAQ: SKIN) is a global category-creating company focused on delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodies and their self-confidence. Our flagship brand, HydraFacial, created the category of hydradermabrasion by using a patented Vortex-Fusion Delivery System to cleanse, peel, exfoliate, extract, infuse, and hydrate the skin with proprietary solutions and serums. HydraFacial provides a non-invasive and approachable experience with a powerful community of aestheticians, consumers and partners, bridging medical aesthetics to beauty to democratize and personalize skin care solutions across ages, genders, skin tones, and skin types. HydraFacial is available in over 90 countries with an install base of over 21,000 Delivery Systems providing millions of experiences to consumers each year. Find a local HydraFacial at https://hydrafacial.com/find-a-provider/. For more information, visit www.beautyhealth.com. Contact Details Rell Marketing + Communications Linsey Tilbor ltilbor@rellmc.com

June 29, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Elsevier expands MedReprints service to Global Customers

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, announced today the global expansion of their new MedReprints service. The expansion, which extends the growing digital and print-on-demand service to customers globally, is in direct response to an increasing need from Elsevier clients, especially pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and their agencies. The announcement follows a successful pilot program targeting those industries. MedReprints will now supply printed and electronic copies of the latest research to health and pharma companies across all major markets. MedReprints accelerates and streamlines the reprint and ePrint order process by providing an automated online portal for corporate medical and marketing departments to order reprints of both Elsevier and non-Elsevier published content. Customers around the world can now quickly order and access credible and quality peer-reviewed research to use in their educational and promotional materials to distribute to their targeted healthcare networks. Elsevier’s offering affirms its position as a market leader amongst reprint and ePrint providers with enhanced platform features that include: 24/7 access to instant quotes and orders Access to easy ordering and rapid delivery of all reprints and e-reprints In-app communications and email alerts on customer delivery status ScienceDirect and SCOPUS integration for article retrieval Efficient access to reliable reprint services has been found to benefit the medical and research community. More than 80% of physicians read medical articles in reprint format, whilst 90% of physicians say reprints are useful for their practice and viewed as a reliable source of quality, creditable peer reviewed research. Customer experience is at the core of Elsevier’s MedReprints service which is supported by a round-the-clock, customer service team that can be contacted directly through the online portal. Darren Webster, Managing Director at Elsevier, said: “The launch of Elsevier’s MedReprints service will ensure the continued sharing of quality research to make meaningful innovation happen faster and go further. It will offer our global customers a seamless, more efficient service to get research shared amongst their audiences to help scientists make discoveries, researchers develop new medicines and healthcare professionals improve patient care.”. More information about Elsevier’s MedReprints can be found here, as well as frequently asked questions about the service. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,700 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our over 2,700 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our over 43,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com. Contact Details Andrew Davis +44 7393 242466 andrew.davis@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

June 29, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

OPTN Board Approves Removing Race-Based Calculations of Kidney Function for Transplant Patients

United Network for Organ Sharing

The Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) yesterday approved a measure that will require transplant hospitals to no longer consider race when estimating a patient’s kidney function. The action, which will take effect July 27, will ensure that all candidates are assessed more equitably. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the engine that powers the donation and transplant system, serves as the OPTN under federal contract. “This is an important step forward, in keeping with broad efforts to provide equitable healthcare for all,” said Matthew Cooper, M.D., president of the board. “Communities of color are disproportionately affected by end-stage kidney disease, so we must do all we can within our power to ensure that they receive the utmost access to lifesaving care.” The action will require all transplant hospitals to use race-neutral calculations when estimating a transplant candidate’s kidney function. For years, some calculations (known as eGFR) have included a modifier for Black patients based on outdated assumptions about race and biology. This practice has led to the severity of kidney disease in Black patients being systemically underestimated. It may have also negatively affected when Black patients get added to the national waitlist. The board is also developing a policy to address patients previously impacted by this measure. This new policy, which will soon come up for public comment, will correct the waiting time for Black patients who may have been affected by the race-based calculation. The OPTN Minority Affairs and Kidney Transplantation Committees co-sponsored the proposal that was approved by the board. The removal of race variables from eGFR calculations has been broadly supported by institutions, including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, as well as a joint task force of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Improving equity in access to transplant opportunities for patients is an OPTN strategic goal. About UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

June 28, 2022 05:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Know Your Back Story Campaign

YourUpdateTV

According to a new landmark survey, Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America conducted by Harris Poll, more than 72.3 million U.S. adults self-report they have chronic low back pain (CLBP)1 and 78% do not know that an enlarged ligament can be the cause. But there is hope for people who have been suffering with chronic low back and leg pain. Recently, Dr. Denis Patterson, specialist in neurological disorders and musculoskeletal issues and his patient, Lee Davis conducted a satellite media tour to talk about the “ Know Your Back Story ” campaign, a national health awareness campaign that educates and encourages millions of people with chronic low back pain, due to pain, numbness, heaviness, or tingling in back, legs, or buttocks when standing or walking, and their physicians to learn more about their “back story”, the potential cause, lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), the importance of looking for the enlarged ligament, screening, and potential treatment options. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/dokXFqXWQiQ Lumbar spinal stenosis, or LSS, is a condition in which the lower spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves in the lower back and up to 85% of spinal canal narrowing is caused by an enlarged ligament.2 People with LSS typically experience a variety of symptoms that affect daily life, including low back and leg pain and limited mobility. People with LSS often feel pain, numbness, tingling, or heaviness when standing or walking that is relieved by sitting, bending forward, or sleeping curled in the fetal position. While generally found in people over the age of 50, the likelihood of developing LSS increases with age. The Know Your Back Story campaign addresses the physical and emotional aspects of health and mobility as it relates to chronic low back pain and includes: · Landmark Survey - Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America - Harris Poll survey that reveals misconceptions about chronic low back pain and need for education about the impact on mobility, quality of life, and the right spine health doctor to go to who can diagnose and outline treatment options available. · The first-ever Mobility Index to demonstrate how people should be moving through the decades of their lives without chronic low back pain. · #LookForTheLigament Education and Experiential Mobile Unit tour visits New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Sarasota, and West Palm Beach to educate, engage, and increase awareness about the enlarged ligament as a potential cause for low back pain and encourage people to be screened for LSS. This experiential mobile unit includes: Visualization stations exploring why LSS symptoms occur, tips on how to identify symptoms, how an enlarged ligament impacts spine health, and potential for a mild® Procedure treatment option Immersive 3D journey down the spinal canal to the lumbar region that explores the enlarged ligament, spine degeneration and how mild works Interactive Ligament Kiosk features an animated Mobility and the Enlarged Ligament education program that demonstrates the spinal compression inherent with LSS and its effect on pain, posture, and mobility; a Look for the Ligament swipe engagement for people to view and compare MRI images of a healthy ligament against an enlarged ligament; and How Do Doctors Describe LSS? Module filled with a colorful list of analogies doctors often use to explain the condition to patients · Interactive Motion Memoir iPads, featuring our writing program developed with award-winning author, certified therapist, and founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW), Dr. Linda Joy Meyers, that provides tips and encouragement for people to write their own memoir vignette tracing their history of low back and leg pain so that their next chapter might be pain free. Also highlighted are mild patients telling their personal back stories · Campaign website: KnowYourBackStory.com is the online hub for all elements of the campaign including how to find a spine health doctor. How can people get help? Visit KnowYourBackStory.com for information about LSS and find a spine health doctor to have a conversation about the steps you can take to stand longer, walk farther, and get moving! Also, learn more about how to write/submit your personal low back story to address the physical and emotional aspects of your experience. How can healthcare providers get involved? Visit KnowYourBackStory.com for more information about how you can educate and identify patients, learn more about patient misconceptions when it comes to chronic low back pain, LSS, and potential treatment options such as the mild Procedure and more. --------------------------- About Dr. Denis G. Patterson, DO Board Certified Pain Medicine Board Certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists Reno, NV Dr. Patterson is a specialist in common and complex neurological disorders and musculoskeletal issues. He is an expert in electrodiagnostics (nerve conduction studies and electromyography) which aid in the diagnosis of nerve disorders. He utilizes non-surgical methods such as bracing, medications, physical therapy, spinal injections, and neuromodulation for the treatment of acute and chronic pain disorders. Dr. Patterson earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder and his medical degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He successfully completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. After residency, Dr. Patterson completed a comprehensive Interventional Pain Management Fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He became dually board certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2007. Upon completion of his medical training, Dr. Patterson moved to Reno, Nevada. Since that time, he has been helping patients in the greater Reno area with acute and chronic pain needs. About Lee Davis, Dr. Patterson’s Patient Lee is a retired former police officer, bus driver · Symptoms: Chronic pain, difficulty walking on hardwood stage, severe muscle spasms · Prior Treatments: Laminectomy discectomy, fusion, ESIs, nerve blockers · Procedure: September 2020 · After mild procedure: Only feels pain when it is cold due to arthritis, “mild has been a miracle, sleep is much better”. Now off anti-depressants. About Vertos Medical Inc. Vertos Medical Inc. is a medical device company committed to developing innovative, minimally invasive treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). mild®, its proprietary technology, is a safe and minimally invasive outpatient procedure designed to restore space in the spinal canal through an incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin. Vertos empowers healthcare providers and patients with minimally invasive treatments for LSS. After witnessing the impact that LSS has on millions of patients’ quality of life annually, it became the company’s mission to help patients suffering from low back pain reclaim their quality of life using the simplest, safest, most durable, and early treatment available. Allowing patients to get back to what matters most to them is what matters most to Vertos. From playing with their grandkids or golfing with friends to getting a better night’s sleep and doing it all over again, Vertos want to help patients find joy every day by increasing their mobility and reducing their pain — in the least invasive way. About the mild® Procedure The mild Procedure is an FDA-cleared early treatment option that addresses a major root cause of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) – primarily a degenerative, age-related narrowing of the lower spinal canal that causes symptoms of pain and numbness in the lower back, legs, or buttocks. mild® treats this condition by removing excess ligament tissue to restore space in the spinal canal. mild is the only treatment with a safety profile similar to an Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI), and the lasting relief expected from back surgery3 and an option to consider when conservative therapies such as physical therapy, pain medication, and chiropractic treatments are not providing adequate relief. Using specialized mild devices physicians remove excess ligament compressing the spinal canal, through a single, tiny incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin (5.1-mm). 1 Mobility Matters: Low Back Pain in America, Harris Poll Survey, 2022. View data and full summary at KnowYourBackStory.com. 2 Hansson T, Suzuki N, Hebelka H, Gaulitz A. The narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal during loaded MRI: the effects of the disc and ligamentum flavum. Eur Spine J. 2009;18(5):679-686. Doi:10.1007/s00586-009-0919-7. 3 Benyamin RM, Staats, PS, MiDAS ENCORE Investigators. mild® is an effective treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication: MiDAS ENCORE Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Physician, 2016;19(4):229-242 Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 28, 2022 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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