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Zika Virus – Top Docs Radio

May 12, 2016 by angishields

Top Docs Radio

Zika Virus - Top Docs Radio

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Zika Virus

The Zika virus has been making news over the past year as we approach the coming Olympics in Brazil, a known location heavily populated by the species of mosquito known to carry the virus. I sat down with Dr. Patrick O’Neal of the Georgia’s Department of Public Health, and Dr. Cherie Drenzek, Epidemiologist for the State of Georgia to talk about what we need to be thinking about here in Georgia.

Dr. Cherie Drenzek grew up in Detroit and received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and her Master’s degree in Food Microbiology from Wayne State University. She attended Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and received her DVM in 1995. She then entered the Epidemic Intelligence Service program at CDC and was stationed in the Rabies Section. Following EIS, Dr. Drenzek was employed as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Drenzek has been employed at the Georgia Department of Public Health since 1999 and has served in a variety of roles, including infectious disease medical epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian. She served as Director of the Acute Disease Epidemiology Section and Deputy State Epidemiologist since October 2005 and was named State Epidemiologist and Director of the Epidemiology Program in 2011.

Dr. Patrick O’Neal is the Director of Health Protection for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), where he has oversight responsibility for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Trauma, Emergency Preparedness, Epidemiology, Infectious Disease, Immunizations, and Environmental Health. For 29 years prior, he practiced

emergency medicine at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur. He received his medical education at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Zika virus (pronunciation: zee-kah) is a viral disease that is primarily transmitted to people by infected Aedes species mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

However, there can be more severe clinical outcomes, and Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Prior to 2015, outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia, and islands in the Pacific Ocean. In May 2015, Zika virus transmission was confirmed in Brazil and outbreaks are currently occurring in many countries in the Americas and worldwide.

No local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the continental U.S., but there have been travel-associated cases, as well as cases associated with sexual transmission from travelers to affected areas. These imported cases could result in local spread of the virus in areas of the United States where the Aedes mosquito vectors are found. A list of countries where Zika virus is currently being spread can be found at the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html. Zika is an unprecedented public health emergency that poses significant risks to pregnant women.

This is the first time in more than 50 years that a virus has been linked to serious birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes (and the first-ever mosquito-borne cause!). Georgia has not documented any local transmission of Zika virus, but as of the end of April 2016, has confirmed more than a dozen travel-associated Zika infections.

For general information about Zika virus and surveillance for mosquito‐borne diseases in Georgia, call your District or County Health Department or the Georgia Department of Public Health at 404‐657‐2588. You may also visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website at dph.georgia.gov. Also go to the CDC website at cdc.gov/zika/index.html.

Special Guests:

Dr. Cherie Drenzek, Epidemiologist, Georgia Department of Public Health

Dr. Patrick O’Neal, MD, Director of Health Protection, Georgia Department of Public Health

Brain Monitoring Headphones

May 12, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Brain Monitoring Headphones

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Karol Hatzilias

Brain Monitoring Headphones

We host Karol Hatzilias, Chief Science Officer of United Sciences, the company that has developed custom-made, personally-fitted brain monitoring headphones. Karol talked about how he had helped to develop a device that gives 3D mapping of the features of the outer ear and canal. Using the data from the 3D scans, his company could print perfect-fitting, custom made ear pieces, which proved to be very useful to hearing aid manufacturers.

After selling his initial company he wanted to build on the 3D imaging capabilities he had developed. United Sciences is using the technology to design wireless headphones that, while providing excellent stereo sound, also contain numerous sensors that can monitor a host of physiologic activities.

The Aware headphones, as they’re called, can provide pulse oximetry, monitor brain wave activity, report steps taken, heart rate, activity of the muscles of the jaw, and potentially others. Because of the secure fit, the headphones provide significant sound protection for the wearer. To provide situational awareness when desired, the user can activate mics on the exterior of the device that allow them to listen to audio and also hear approaching cars or other activity around them.

The Aware hearable can track brain waves through EEG and provide real-time feedback about focus, stress, sleep patterns, and relaxation. This enhanced awareness may help users increase focus, lower stress levels, understand their sleep patterns, and help guide them to be more mindful.

Karol and his team are collaborating with academic institutions to conduct research that may enable these devices to be deployed for a variety of clinical studies, facilitating real-time, real-life monitoring of key biodata. United Sciences is currently raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign, where contributors can pre-purchase a set of the Aware headphones at a discount in exchange for their investment support.

Special Guest:

Karol Hatzilias, Chief Science Officer, United Sciences

Cyber Security

May 10, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Cyber Security

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Cyber Security

Breaches to enterprise data and information are making news with troubling regularity these days. Businesses of all sizes need to be aware of their security status, plans for handling breaches if they occur, and how to mitigate the risk of exposure for the company if it happens. I talked to two experts on the subject, David Katz, partner with Nelson, Mullins, Riley, and Scarborough, and Brian Mikes, VP with Marsh USA, a highly-regarded insurance company that has expertise in cyber security.

David and Brian shared information on the importance of having a plan of action in place for businesses large and small, for the necessary steps to take in the case of an actual breach of an enterprise’s network or data. They emphasized how vital it is to have such a plan in place well in advance of problems occurring. Given the variations in legal requirements for how to handle information breaches when they occur it is essential that the enterprise secures the expertise of a legal consultant familiar with the various laws affecting such data breaches.

Brian explained some of the nuances of risk reduction and policies designed to protect the business in the event data breaches do occur. We also got into the steps to take if it is discovered that a company’s network or data has been compromised.

David and Brian discussed some of the typical areas of weakness they discover when engaging businesses to evaluate their cyber security plan, policies, and procedures. With the extent of the internet of things, devices connected to the internet via networks, and vendor portals, there are a host of points of entry for hackers and other bad guys looking to engage in nefarious activities by penetrating an enterprise’s network.

Special Guests:

David Katz, Partner, Nelson, Riley, Scarborough, and Mullins

Brian Mikes, Vice President/Advisor, Marsh USA

Cyber Security

May 9, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Cyber Security

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Cyber Security

Jay and I hosted Steve Robb, SVP of Security Marketing & Product Strategy of ControlScan, a firm that specializes in information and network security for enterprises, including healthcare organizations. With the rise of “smart” devices of all kinds that have sensors that communicate with applications via networks and/or internet, there are now a myriad of entry-points for persons intent on nefarious activity to access a company’s network.

We’ve all heard the news stories about major firms, including the US government, who have had their networks and data compromised by hackers, causing millions of people to be exposed to identity and financial theft. As technology has continued to evolve rapidly, it is difficult for enterprises to be able to afford to recruit and retain security experts with sufficient breadth of knowledge to truly secure a business’s information as well as it could be.

Atlanta-based ControlScan brings a unified approach to security and compliance solutions, enabling organizations

to better protect sensitive data while making compliance easier to achieve and maintain. ControlScan’s combination of professional services and Managed Security Services delivers a full security lifecycle – from Security Risk Assessments to identify gaps, through HIPAA and PCI compliance analysis, to ongoing management and monitoring of security measures.

Steve shared some great information about some of the various sources of risk to networks that exist today, along with things the enterprise should be considering regarding how secure their information actually is. The ControlScan team can provide thorough evaluations of security protocols and measures and identify weaknesses that can be shored up. Additionally, the company provides outsourced security managed services that gives the client access to a high-level security team for less than it costs to employ one outright.

Special Guest:

Steve Robb, SVP Security Marketing & Product Strategy, ControlScan

Azalea Health – Top Docs Radio

May 6, 2016 by angishields

Top Docs Radio

Azalea Health - Top Docs Radio

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Azalea Health

This week we started our twice-monthly series with Tanya Mack, CEO of Women’s Telehealth. Her first guest was CEO and Co-founder of Azalea Health, Baha Zeidan. Azalea Health is an EMR company that launched in 2008 in Valdosta, GA. Since then the company has enjoyed steady growth and has been recognized as one of Inc. 500 Nation’s fastest growing private companies, Georgia Top 40 Innovator, and 2014 Emerging Company of the Year Phoenix Award Winner.

Healthcare IT is at the forefront of revolutionizing trends that will change the way healthcare is delivered and patients’ health and wellness outcomes. Healthcare providers and patients who are resistant to technology may be left behind. Today- EMR’s, patient portals, mobile health apps and wearables, cloud computing, and interoperability are not fringe applications but active advances that allow the patients to become more a part of the healthcare team.

Technology makes that possible. Currently, the global EMR market is $11 Billion and the US remains dominant in EMR adoption. As we move to electronic medical records, EMR’s hold a lifetime of health data and can be used to predict our individual health future through modeling.

Today’s guest, Baha Zeidan, CEO of Azalea Health will be discussing his company’s

EMR and Practice management platform and how it is evolving to incorporate these new technology advances.

Special Guests:

Baha Zeidan, CEO of Azalea Health

Tanya Mack, President, Women’s Telehealth

Migraine Again

May 3, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Migraine Again

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Migraine Again

This week, Jay and I hosted Paula Dumas, Founder/CEO of MigraineAgain.com. As the leading Migraine Wellness website for patients, Migraine Again helps patients and their families suffer less and live more — until there’s a cure. Migraine Again helps bridge the access to care, bringing evidence-based healthcare content to migraine

warriors in 45 countries.

It’s a genetic neurological disorder that hurts over 1 billion people worldwide, 37 million in the US alone: 1 in 6 women, 1 in 10 kids and 1 in 18 men. Migraine Again helps spread awareness and increase funding for one of the most disabling, invisible disorders on the planet.

Providing information on research and lifestyle changes migraine sufferers can make that can sometimes help mitigate frequency and severity of migraines, migraineagain.com reaches over a million patients worldwide each month. When the website shares information about promising treatments or options available for migraine sufferers, Paula explained they focus on those where a significant body of reputable evidence is available to support them. This helps to prevent making recommendations that are unproven or have little likelihood to actually provide relief.

A lifelong migraine warrior, Paula struggled and juggled through her career with CNN, Apple and Disney, and then shifted gears to devote herself to non-profit work and health advocacy. Under her direction, Migraine Again offers hope and help to people who suffer with this chronic, disabling condition, while raising awareness and funding for a cure.

A member of the American Headache Society electronic media team and an advisor to Migraine Research Foundation, Paula has been nominated for a WEGO Health Advocate Award, and a featured expert speaker at the Migraine World Summit. She’s authored over 250 articles and research papers, and conducted interviews with the world’s top migraine and headache doctors, all of which can be accessed for free on MigraineAgain.com.

Special Guest:

Paula Dumas, Founder/CEO of migraineagain.com

Value-based Payments – Top Docs Radio

April 29, 2016 by angishields

Top Docs Radio

Value-based Payments - Top Docs Radio

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Value-based Payments

Kimberly J. Rask, M.D., PhD is the chief data officer at Alliant Health Solutions, which is a nonprofit companythat supports quality improvement in public sector health care programs under Medicare, Medicaid and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks across the Southeastern U.S. Dr. Rask is a primary care physician andhealth economist.

She also holds joint appointments in health policy and management and medicine at EmoryUniversity. Dr. Rask has published book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on primary care practice, quality improvement, and outcomes measurement. With more than 20 years of experience in quality research and practice, she also serves on national expert panels on value-based purchasing programs and quality measurement.

The Value-based Payment Modifier (VM) is a relatively new pay-for- performance program that is being used by CMS to pay physicians in part based on how their quality and cost compare to other physicians. It is similar to other pay-for- performance initiatives for hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies – and it is part of a larger effort by public and private payers to control health care costs.

Although the VM started as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more recent federal legislation has expanded its reach. Medicare uses the VM program to adjust physician pay based on quality and cost measures, which vary by specialty. The reimbursement rates for 2016 are based on 2014 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) data.

There are more than 250 quality metrics. Eligible providers are required to select a number of metrics –typically nine – to report. Failure to report PQRS measures can result in a penalty that is applied to all Medicare payments for the entire year. The program is revenue-neutral, so physicians who score well receive higher payments while physicians who have relatively lower scores receive lower payments.

In 2016, only medical groups with 10 or more eligible professionals will be subject to the program. In 2016, all eligible groups could receive a bonus – but only groups with 100 or more eligible professionals face a penalty in 2016. By 2017, the program is scheduled to apply to all Medicare physicians. Of the nearly 14,000 physician groups that will subject to the VM program in 2016, less than one percent – only 128 groups that include about 4,300 physicians – will receive Medicare bonuses of either 16 or 32 percent; the higher increase will go to the practices with the most high-risk patients.

Meanwhile, more than 5,400 groups that include more than 130,000 physicians will see a two percent pay cut for failing to submit their data. And nearly 60 groups that include more than 10,000 physicians will see a pay cut of one percent or two percent because their quality measures were too low. Under the MACRA legislation that passed in 2015 that permanently replaced the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, the VM will become one component of a new consolidated performance score. There will be two payment options for physicians.

Physicians who participate in Alternative Payment Models (e.g., some types of ACOs) will be eligible for an automatic five percent incentive payment every year. Physicians who are not participating in an APM will receive incentives or be subjected to penalties of up to nine percent based on how they perform relative to other physicians on PQRS measures, their use of EHR, quality improvement efforts, and the cost of care for their patients. Since this “new” payment program is similar to the existing VM program, preparing physician practices for success with today’s VM will position practices for success in the future.

There are several programs that available to assist physician practices with accurate quality reporting and quality improvement, which includes Alliant Quality (www.alliantquality.org) in Georgia.

Special Guest:

Dr. Kimberly Rask, MD, Alliant Health Solutions

Harrison Ray and Aaron Avers

April 26, 2016 by angishields

Midtown Business Radio

Harrison Ray and Aaron Avers

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Harrison Ray of Pace Academy

Harrison Ray and Aaron Avers

On this episode I featured Pace Academy senior and Integrity for Life Award nominee, Harrison Ray, and Aaron Avers, Executive Chef of The Establishment’s new Midtown location in Colony Square, along with VP Professional Relations, Dr. Gilles LaMarche, of Life University.

Harrison Ray is a graduating senior at Pace Academy. At Pace, he has participated in the theater program, both appearing on stage in fall musicals and backstage as a member of tech crews. He has also played French horn in the concert and pep bands. Harrison earned varsity letters in cross country and swimming and was a member of the AA State Championship swim team in 2016. At Pace, Harrison was a peer leader, the president of the PASS club, a member of the National Honor Society and was a delegate to Georgia Boys State.

Since 2012, Harrison has been actively involved in Teen Corp, a program sponsored by the Emory Medical School’s physician’s assistant program and led by Jodie Guest that provides free health care to migrant workers in south Georgia. For more information on how to participate in the Teen Corp program contact Jodie Guest at jodie.guest@yahoo.com. In the fall, he will attend Georgia Tech on a four-year Naval ROTC scholarship. Harrison intends to major in nuclear engineering and hopes to be commissioned in the Navy after graduation.

Aaron Avers has been passionate about cooking since before he was 10 years old. He has spent his professional life since graduating high school to pursue a career in culinary arts. Aaron worked at a number of well-known establishments over the years before ultimately deciding to formalize his place as a professional chef and attended culinary school to get his degree.

For a number of years, The Establishment was well-known as a great meet-up spot in Buckhead to hang with friends and share high-quality cocktails. This year, the owner, Brandon Lewis, decided it was time to elevate the business’s focus on its food offering as well. The restaurant relocated to Colony Square and Aaron was given the opportunity to serve as Executive Chef, crafting and designing the full menu with selections from a variety of global influences. Aaron also described their premier burger called “The Chub” and showed us some mouth-watering pics of it as well. We can’t wait to try it!

Special Guests:

Dr. Gilles LaMarche, DC, VP of Professional Relations at Life University

Harrison Ray, Graduating Senior, Pace Academy

Aaron Avers, Executive Chef, The Establishment

Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

April 21, 2016 by angishields

Health Connect South

Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

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Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center

Jay Shaffer and I sat down with Maribeth Gandy, Principal Research Scientist, and Director of Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center. We talked about research the university is conducting in conjunction with ShareCare to look at how wearable and mobile technology can impact stress levels for individuals using these devices.

Check back soon for more information!

Special Guest:

Maribeth Gandy Coleman, Principal Research Scientist/Director, Georgia Tech Wearable Computing Center