News

04/11/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

UTSW’s GammaPod Makes Breast Cancer Treatment More Precise

UT Southwestern Medical Center is home to the world’s second GammaPod, which delivers high doses of radiation to a targeted area for treating breast cancer. The technology allows patients to have fewer treatments in less time. A CT scan reveals the tumor’s location, and the GammaPod uses vacuum suction like a breastfeeding pump that immobilizes the breast so that the radiation can target the cancer to within three millimeters without damaging healthy tissue. Radiation is administered while the patient is laying face-down, avoiding radiation that may penetrate the heart or lungs.  Rather than the four to six weeks of treatment… Full Story

04/11/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post

Blockit Moves to Employ More Vets With Healthcare Experience

McKinney-based Blockit will be taking part in apprenticeship program for enlisted veterans through the Heroes to Healthcare mission. The medical technology company’s participation will address high unemployment and underemployment for former soldiers with healthcare experience. “Creating strategic partnerships with public and private organizations, the Heroes to Healthcare mission aims to address the critical employment challenges facing nearly 11,000 healthcare-experienced, mid-enlisted military medical professionals that transition out of the military annually,” said Dave Gregorio, co-founder of ImPowerQ Associates and executive director of social impact for the Heroes to Healthcare mission via release. “Not only is it about preparing our heroes for… Full Story

04/10/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post

StatiFi Health Saves Millions for State Employees with East Texas Network Partner

Plano-based StatiFi Health partnered with Strive Clinical Network to serve members of the Employees Retirement System of Texas. The East Texas network of 100 primary care physicians exceeded quality and cost goals at its 52 locations throughout East Texas. StatiFi Health’s integrated healthcare services partners with independent physicians to help deliver care to patients. For the fiscal year that ended in the September, Strive saved over $2.5 million for more than 5,000 ERS members and met 85 percent quality metrics. Strive also scored 80 percent on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. The partnership resulted in 93 percent of… Full Story

04/10/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Real Estate

Texas Neurology Moving From Lakewood to North Central Expressway

Texas Neurology is moving from Lakewood to a four story building near Mockingbird Station. The practice signed a 15-year lease in 40,252 square feet on the first floor of the building at 6080 North Central Expressway, and is expected to move in early 2020. Texas Neurology serves a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, and ALS. The new location provides better access to Texas Neurology satellite locations in Richardson, University Park, and East Dallas, as well as Dallas area hospitals. The facility is also a short walk from the restaurants and entertainment at Mockingbird Station. “As we… Full Story

04/10/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Fraud

Forest Park Fraud Trial Results in Guilty Verdicts for Seven

After four days of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts for seven defendants in the federal bribery case involving Forest Park Medical Center. Though a sentencing date has not been set, defendants face between five to 65 years in prison. Announced by U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater, the jury decided that Wilton Burt, Jackson Jacob, Douglas Sung Won, Michael Rimlawi, Shawn Henry, Mrugeshkumar Shah, and Iris Forrest took part in the conspiracy to pay or receive healthcare bribes. After the verdict announcement, the Dallas Morning News described how Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Pfeifle requested that all defendants be detained on… Full Story

04/9/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Government/Law

Opioid Lawsuit Says McKesson “Deliberately Betrayed” Duties

Last month, McKesson Corp. was named a defendant in a New York lawsuit aimed at some of the largest drug distributors and manufacturers in the country. McKesson, which was listed as six on the Fortune 500 list with $198.5 billion in revenue in 2017, is the largest pharmaceutical company in the country with 76,000 employees. The company moved its international headquarters from San Francisco to Irving last fall. As first reported in the New York Times, the New York Attorney General alleges that McKesson and other major distributors conducted a number of fraudulent practices leading to the proliferation of opioid addiction in… Full Story

04/8/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Mergers and Aquisitions

NTT Data Services Acquires Cognosante Consulting

Plano-based global technology company NTT DATA Services has acquired Cognosante Consulting, the consulting arm of health technology services company Cognosante. The consulting organization serves Health and Human Service agencies who are undergoing large-scale Medicaid and other business transformation. For nearly three decades, they have worked with 48 states and the federal government. More than 250 consulting resources and intellectual property will be added to NTT DATA Services “The acquisition of Cognosante’s consulting practice immediately establishes us as a leader in a growing health and human services market and enhances the value we can deliver to our clients in the public sector and… Full Story

04/8/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Government/Law

Bill to Allow Physicians to Distribute Medicine at the Office Takes a Hit

House Bill 1622, which would have let physicians distribute certain common prescribed medicines, has died in the public health committee in the Texas House of Representatives. Committee chair and Houston Democrat Senfronia Thompson has not allowed the bill to come before the committee, meaning there will not be public debate. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tom Oilverson from Houston, and advocates say it would get rid of the hurdle of finding a pharmacy and improve medication adherence. Nationwide, 46 states have passed legislation allowing physicians to distribute certain medications at their office, urgent care clinics, or worksite clinics. Supporters… Full Story

04/8/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

Medical City Women’s Hospital Arlington Opens

This morning marked the grand opening of Medical City Women’s Hospital Arlington, a $60 million facility targeting women’s health. The existing hospital will add two floors, 55 beds, and 125,000 square feet of new and renovated space. Physicians and specially trained staff will treat women at all stages of life, including high-risk pregnancies and deliveries. The new hospital is expected to increase the baby delivery capacity to 5,800 a year, up from 4,300 babies a year before the addition. The hospital will include a postpartum floor with 34 private patient rooms, four spacious women’s premier postpartum suites, 33 women’s services medical… Full Story

04/5/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

Medical City Lewisville Has a New COO

Allen Marsh is the new chief operating officer at Medical City Lewisville, where he will oversee operations at the 186-bed acute care hospital licensed that serves the Lewisville, Flower Mound, Castle Hills and southern Denton County areas. Marsh has been in the healthcare field for 13 years, and was Vice President of Neuroscience, Orthopedics, and Spine for HCA Healthcare’s Continental Division prior to his role in Lewisville. The division contained eight hospitals, 19 ambulatory surgery centers, more than 200 physicians and 12,000 employees across two states. “I am pleased to welcome Allen to Medical City Lewisville’s executive team,” said Sharn… Full Story