Adult stem cell infusion to treat MS - collaboration trial between Cleveland Clinic and Case

Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University are collaborating on a clinical trial designed to treat the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis by using a patient's own adult stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, are found in the bone marrow. More than 150 clinical trials are currently testing MSCs' ability to encourage tissue repair as a way to treat a variety of conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, emphysema and stroke.

In this trial, a patient's MSCs are harvested at Case's University Hospital, cultivated in a special laboratory and then injected intravenously back into the patient at the Cleveland Clinic.

See the two videos below that describe the project - the first is from the Cleveland Clinic and shows one of the patients, the second is from Case and focuses on the researchers:





Multiple Sclerosis Overview - Mayo Clinic YouTube http://bit.ly/181FCi4



References:

Clinical trials using adult stem cells to treat MS. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab helps patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) (Lancet, 2011).

Related:

Ads for Target in-store clinic

Target pushes hard the ads for its in-store clinics - 4 of them in the Sunday edition of The Chicago Tribune:



Walmart is also entering the field of NP-staffed clinics in a major way, followed by CVS Pharmacy:



Walmart has been adding health clinics to its stores during the last 3 years as part of its drive for "one-stop shopping." There were 100 in-store clinics in 21 states in 2010.

In fact, Minute Clinic is the largest retail clinic chain in the country, with 600 clinics in CVS stores in 24 states. Almost half of Minute Clinic's clientele don't have a primary-care doctor of their own.

Comments from Twitter:

@napernurse: Pharm son works for #Walgreens. Costs them $5 to be seen by NP for whatever :) Can just walk-in & now WAG on "Blue Button" campaign.

Related:
"The Clinic" at Walmart - Operated by "Family Medicine Specialists"
Minute Clinics: The McDonalds version of healthcare?

Are you addicted to social media? Cleveland Clinic video

Clinical Pearls in Gastroenterology from Mayo Clinic (video)

The social media department of Mayo Clinic combines journal articles and videos by the lead authors. This is a useful approach that should be followed by other journals, in addition to Mayo's own journal, Clinic Proceedings.



Dr. Amy Oxentenko, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, discusses "Clinical Pearls in Gastroenterology" (article abstract). Here is the 2009 edition of the same project.

References:

Clinical Pearls in Gastroenterology 2011. Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, John B. Bundrick, MD, and Scott C. Litin, MD

Cleveland Clinic calls "Code Lavender" to improve patient satisfaction

From the WSJ:

How patients feel they were treated has always colored their opinions of a hospital. Now, those feelings are being factored into how hospitals get paid.

The Cleveland Clinic CEO, Dr. Cosgrove, says that in his own days as a top cardiac surgeon, he focused so intently on reducing complications from cardiac procedures that he gave little thought to the feelings or experiences of patients.

Times have changed dramatically since then. The Cleveland Clinic has launched a program known as HEART - for hear the concern, empathize, apologize, respond and thank—that empowers employees to handle patient concerns from the moment they arise.

It developed a Healing Services team to offer complimentary light massages, Reiki—a laying on of hands—aromatherapy, spiritual care from a clergy person or lay practitioner and other holistic services, and it will call a "Code Lavender" for patients or family members under stress who need immediate comfort.

Since 2008, the Cleveland Clinic's overall hospital ratings have increased by 89%.

"Code Lavender" has a Twitter account too (@CodeLavender), managed by the former Cleveland Clinic Chief Experience Officer who popularized the term.

From the Cleveland Clinic Twitter account: Efforts to improve patient satisfaction were featured in a NBC Nightly News story (see the video below).



References:

A Financial Incentive for Better Bedside Manner. WSJ.
Image source: Lavender Farm, Wikipedia, public domain.

Disclaimer: I was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic from 2005 to 2008.

Comments from Twitter:

@TanyaPRpro (Tanya R. Walton): Clever and meaningful hospital care

@scottRcrawford: Brand medicine

@gruntdoc: How sad. Condolences. RT @DrVes: Cleveland Clinic calls "Code Lavender" to improve patient satisfaction goo.gl/X4Jtt

@MGastorf (Melissa Gastorf): concerns about satisfaction basis for payment- i.e. if you refuse to write narcotic and patient angry, physician payment suffers.

iPad app tests athletes for concussion - Cleveland Clinic video

An iPad app tests athletes for concussions (a Cleveland Clinic video). The players perform a series of balance, memory, vision, and reaction time experiments to obtain a baseline reading. If they receive a blow to the head during a game or practice, these tests can be redone to determine when it is safe for the athlete to return to action.

References:

Concussion Center - Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic Treats Concussions With iPad App. Fox News.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): Brain bank examines athletes' hard hits - CNN, 2012.

Comments from Twitter:

@DrVes: Why are some doctors and nurses giving back their iPads? http://j.mp/Hq15aD - Easy: iPad works great for pt education, NOT for data entry. Only 10% of doctors currently use an iPad at work http://j.mp/Hq15aD - I use iPad daily to discuss these diagrams: http://j.mp/Hq1k5v

iPad is a great teaching tool @CraigCCRNCEN was able to explain to Vietnamese family AFib and clots by showing them animation from YouTube.

Brian S. McGowan PhD @BrianSMcGowan: so is the best option for docs still a touch screen laptop? teach w/ touch screen, work w/ full keyboard? #hcsm

@DrVes: iPad works well for discussing DDx, Tx options with pts. Much more portable than laptop. Full-keyboard COWs best for typing.

Jeff Bray @jeffkbray: I have been scanning all my medical reference books and store them on my iPad for quick use and no weight - great tool and mobile

Risk of heart attack and stroke goes up during holidays - Mayo Clinic video

From the Mayo Clinic YouTube channel: Are you at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke? Studies show the incidents rise during December and January, but particularly on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Stay safe.

Jon Lord (70), a Hammond organ player, and a founding member of Deep Purple, who is currently recovering from cancer, says it very well: "Party hearty but look after yourselves. I wish you success and happiness, and above all I wish you health."



Jon Lord - Child In Time, 4 March, 2009, Palace of Arts (MÜPA), Budapest, Hungary.

Happy New Year!

References:

Jon wishes you a Happy New Year

Why Mayo Clinic is a power user of social media: "Our patients are doing it, so this is where we need to be"

Mayo Clinic's first-ever Social Media Residency took place October 20-21, 2011. At the end of the first day, the attendees went out on a video interview assignment. Check out some of the videos they returned with.

The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered

The Mayo Clinic CEO, John Noseworthy, M.D., pointed out recently that Mayo intends to be the leader in social media in healthcare but this is not about competitive advantage, it is about the patient. The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered. Social media makes the union of forces more broadly practical than at any time in human history.

Social Media and Medicine is a Good Marriage, says Mayo Clinic director for social media: We're judged more by how well we listen, than by what we say (http://goo.gl/0ECin).

If you work for Mayo Clinic, social media is not an option, it's a job requirement http://bit.ly/IHf3lM - Others will follow.

References:

Social media in medicine: How to be a Twitter superstar and help your patients and your practice