Lauren Stockwell

We are so excited to see the changes to the Colorado End-of-Life Options Act, SB24-068 go into effect! In our most recent blog post, Dr. Barbara Morris expounds on these changes and what this will mean for the entire state of Colorado. #MedicalAidInDying #endoflifeoptionscolorado #deatheducation #colorado #dyingwithdignity #deathpositive #MAiD #blogpost

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Did you know? Montana's "Right to Try Act" empowers patients with access to investigational treatments that have cleared Phase I safety trials — even before FDA approval. This legislation, championed by Ken Bogner and the Montana State Legislature, opens the door for earlier real-world data collection and patient-centered clinical research. At Big Sky Science Center, we’re creating more than #laboratory space — we’re fostering an environment where #science moves faster and companies can test and refine novel treatments in a practical, supportive regulatory framework. Montana is paving the way for the next generation of #lifescience innovation. Join the New Frontier for Science.

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When it comes to community health, competition takes a backseat. Mercy and other health systems are teaming up to improve community health - from surveys to new initiatives. #CommunityHealth https://bit.ly/3ZC7mit

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TOMORROW June 18th at 4:30pm, register to watch this FREE talk with Arizona Oncology's Dr. Rachel Swart and several other doctors discussing their own journeys with #BreastCancer on BreastCancer.org. They'll share insights and tips, how to prepare for and get the most out of every appointment, how to navigate getting a #SecondOpinion, and how you can feel more confident in shared decision-making with your doctor. #DoctorTalks #Oncology #HealthcareTalks #PatientEducation 📺https://lnkd.in/epJB6Bdd

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File this under reason 1,227 to diligently work to capture malnutrition. Medscape recently covered a study published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. The study followed 319 patients aged 65+, hospitalized for the first time with COPD in Southwest China. Median age was 76 days and patients averaged five comorbidities. The punchline: The 180-day readmission rate was far higher in patients diagnosed with malnutrition than those without (30.38% vs. 10.56%). Which makes it imperative to capture severe and other forms of this diagnosis--not just for direct reimbursement, but for your organization’s performance in the CMS Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). As a reminder COPD is one of the six conditions/procedures included in the 30-day risk-standardized unplanned readmission measures in the HRRP. In fiscal year 2024, approximately 75% of eligible U.S. hospitals received a penalty under the HRRP. Most penalties were modest (0.43% of total Medicare revenues) but HRRP penalties top out at 3%--significant in an era of small margins. Takeaway messages from the study per Medscape: 1.       Early intervention on nutrition for patients with COPD may help to avoid these worsened outcomes. 2.       As clinicians target specific subgroups for more aggressive measures to treat severe exacerbations and reduce readmissions, older adults with COPD are a good group on which to focus. Nutritional intervention “can increase lean body mass in malnourished COPD patients, enhance their respiratory muscle function, and improve their overall health status,” the study said. A couple nuances here. First, patients in the study were diagnosed using Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. GLIM is less commonly used in the United States than AAIM criteria—updated Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy)/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), according to Ashley Strickland, adult clinical dietitian supervisor and an surgical/trauma intensive care dietitian at ECU Health, whom I recently hosted on Off the Record. AAIM has now also been fully validated, per a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Unfortunately auditors often use GLIM and AAIM interchangeably, whichever results in a more favorable denial rationale. Second, the HRRP is 30-days risk standardized, and these patients were evaluated over 180 days. Plus of course the study was conducted in China. Still worth considering, however. Compliant capture of severe and other forms of malnutrition is a huge topic, far beyond what I can squeeze into a 500-word LinkedIn post. I recommend you check out the recent podcast I did with Strickland below. Hospitals that effectively address malnutrition as part of their discharge planning and follow-up care can reduce readmissions and improve their HRRP performance. But it starts with good documentation and coded data.

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Want to get up to speed on state-level policy and advocacy? Check out COA’s recent webinar on the latest cancer care policy trends from across the country. During the event, Ted Okon, Nicolas Ferreyros, and James Lee highlighted three key issues: - White bagging, which causes treatment delays, increases unused medication waste, and burdens clinics - 340B, which increases cancer care costs, reduces patient choice, and drives health care mergers - Pharmacy benefit managers, which delay access, interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, and hike up prices Recap 2024 activity and learn what’s ahead for 2025: https://bit.ly/3VMy59t #340B #PBMReform #WhiteBagging

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There isn't a shortage of patients... And your sites are not failing to recruit patients... But there ARE a few things driving low enrollment in your trials: 🔹Overly complex protocols 🔹Lack of patient input 🔹No accessible participation options 🔹Confusing communication 🔹One-size-fits-all outreach materials Before you start blaming the sites, consider the role your protocol design plays. Actively involve patients in protocol development and 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. Just addressing these three areas can save you a significant amount of time and money in your clinical trials. 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡. #clinicaltrials #enrollment #patientengagement

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Did You Know About... Arizona's Abortion Laws? The recent vote to enshrine abortion rights in Arizona's constitution marks a significant victory for reproductive rights and justice. Arizona joins a growing number of states taking action to ensure that essential reproductive healthcare is available to those in our state who need it. The constitutional amendment did not automatically repeal the more than 50 abortion restrictions that are still the law in Arizona. I will be joined by our Arizona State Legislative District 5 Representative Sarah Liguori for this timely webinar on Thursday, January 23rd at 6pm MST. This webinar will: 1) Inform participants about the current state of abortion laws in Arizona. 2) Highlight the negative impacts of these laws on individuals seeking abortion care. 3) Provide tips on how participants can advocate for changes to these laws. Please join us for this free virtual education session. Register at https://lnkd.in/g5KZresK #JoinTheConversation #ArizonaAbortionRights #ReproductiveHealthAdvocacy

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Register today for BioGenerator Ventures' SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshop, which runs May 14-16, 2024. The 5-part series takes a deep dive into this funding source from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), starting with the basics -- such as which federal agencies participate and how funds can be used. Subsequent workshops examine each section of the proposal in detail, along with NIH commercialization strategy and IP protection. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dxCYug

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Donor IVF is gaining traction within the fertility community. As an REI, it’s imperative you help your patients understand the process so they can make an informed decision. Here’s three ways you can properly prepare your patients for 3rd party IVF. The Center for Family Building Illume Fertility Brought To You By: Bundl Fertility https://lnkd.in/eVJxH9yx

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Join Cerus at the Society for the Advancement of Patient Blood Management, Inc. (SABM) 2024 Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ, September 12–14, 2024! Be sure to attend Cerus’ Industry Workshop, “Protecting the Blood Supply with Pathogen Reduction: Current and Future Perspectives”, on September 12 at 3:00 p.m. The workshop features Nina Mufti, PhD discussing recent findings on the ReCePI trial, a Phase III trial evaluating the use of pathogen reduced red cell components in cardiovascular surgery patients¹ and Andrea McGonigle M.D. presenting on UCLA’s experience with Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex, commonly referred to as INTERCEPT® Fibrinogen Complex (IFC), in postpartum hemorrhage. Register here: https://ow.ly/ksJ150SV6BN Please visit us at Booth #17 in the Exhibition Hall to learn more! Find out why hospitals are using INTERCEPT treated blood components: https://ow.ly/y2Pq50SV6BM #INTERCEPT #pathogeninactivation #JOINTHEMOVEMENT #IFC #bloodsafety #patientbloodmanagement 1. The INTERCEPT Red Blood Cell system is in clinical development. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03459287). INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation for the manufacturing of Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex: INDICATIONS FOR USE •Treatment and control of bleeding, including massive hemorrhage, associated with fibrinogen deficiency. • Control of bleeding when recombinant and/or specific virally inactivated preparations of factor XIII or von Willebrand factor (vWF) are not available. • Second-line therapy for von Willebrand disease (vWD). • Control of uremic bleeding after other treatment modalities have failed. Limitations of Use: Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex should not be used for replacement of factor VIII. CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated for preparation of blood components intended for patients with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to amotosalen or other psoralens. Contraindicated for preparation of blood components intended for neonatal patients treated with phototherapy devices that emit a peak energy wavelength less than 425 nm, or have a lower bound of the emission bandwidth <375 nm, due to the potential for erythema resulting from interaction between ultraviolet light and amotosalen. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Only the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation is approved for use to produce Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex. For management of patients with vWD or factor XIII deficiency, Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex should not be used if recombinant or specific virally-inactivated factor preparations are available. In emergent situations, if recombinant or specific virally-inactivated factor preparations are not available, Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex may be administered. ©2024 Cerus Corporation. Cerus, INTERCEPT, and the Cerus logo are registered trademarks of Cerus Corporation. MKT-EN 00685-55 v1.0

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Did you know that asthma affects nearly 1 in 10 children? It is the most common chronic condition in children and also the primary reason children miss school – an average of 13.8 million lost days of school each year. Join expert Dr. Dave Stukus in a new webinar, to learn about childhood asthma, how to work with parents of children with asthma, and how to teach children about using their inhalers properly. 🗓Wednesday, Aug 21st ⏰4pm ET ➡️Register today! https://lnkd.in/ed5VDkFs Can’t attend the webinar? Make sure you still register to receive the webinar recording and resources!

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Join Us for an Insightful Episode of 'Cancer...Now What?' from Arizona Center for Cancer Care! Dive into the realm of lung cancer with three leading medical specialists as they discuss early diagnosis, groundbreaking treatments, and collaborative efforts in the fight against this disease. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about medical advancements, this episode provides invaluable insights into lung cancer. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gp9qdUfj or scan the QR code below. 📽️👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ #CancerAwareness #MedicalAdvancements #LungCancerResearch #AZCCC 🌟

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National Diabetes Awareness Month, which occurs every November, helps bring awareness about a disease that impacts over 38 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people. Blue Shield of California Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Nuovo talked to KUSI News' Lauren Phinney on #WorldDiabetesDay about the three different types of diabetes and what San Diego County residents can do to prevent Type 2 diabetes like getting 150 minutes a week of physical activity. She also shared how important it is to see your doctor every year, to get checked for diabetes and what early symptoms people can look out for when they get diabetes. Watch the news story below to learn more. #DiabetesAwarenessMonth #WellAhead

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Healey-Driscoll Administration awards $1.8 million to improve access to reproductive health care; funding to support five community-based organizations and clinical providers across the state: https://lnkd.in/eM9ggszS “This funding will help us build stronger, more resilient systems that prioritize racial justice and health equity under the overarching effort to preserve the fundamental right to make informed decisions about one’s own reproductive health,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “We must continue to lead the nation in safeguarding reproductive health care because the well-being and autonomy of our citizens are paramount. We will always stand strong in our commitment to reproductive freedom.” 

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If you’re looking for ways to expand access to the cancer care continuum, The American Cancer Society is offering two free webinars for cancer control professionals! On July 10, tune in for a discussion with the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable about equitable lung cancer care. Then, on August 15, learn the benefits of promoting non-invasive cancer screenings with the ACS National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT). Sign up for one or both of these informative discussions at the link below! https://lnkd.in/gHDsQAJt #TAPintoCancerControl #gwccTAP #AmericanCancerSociety #CancerControl #ColorectalCancer

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If you have a high-risk pregnancy, your baby needs the best possible medical care — and so do you. This includes the proper level of maternal mental health support for the emotions that often come with a difficult prenatal diagnosis. The Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children's Hospital Colorado offers a wealth of parental care and support so both you and your baby have everything you need. This video explains all the services they offer, from mental health care and social work to sibling support and much more. #MaternalMentalHealthAwarenessMonth https://loom.ly/DLUFmI4

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