1. Philips HeartStart FRX AED with Wall Mount Box

A must-have for emergency preparedness, the Philips HeartStart FRX AED ensures rapid response during cardiac emergencies.

• Key Features:
  • Infant/Child Key: Use adult pads on pediatric patients (unique to this model).
  • Durability: Rugged, lightweight design with IP55 dust/water resistance.
  • Wall Mount Included: Promotes visible, accessible storage.
  • 1-Year Warranty: Backed by Philips’ reliability.
• Applications: Schools, gyms, offices, and public venues.
• Condition: Refurbished, with new battery, pads, and accessories.

2. GE MAC 5500 HD ECG System

Elevate cardiac diagnostics with the GE MAC 5500 HD ECG, renowned for precision and efficiency.

• Key Features:
  • Advanced Algorithms: Detects Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and paced rhythms.
  • Barcode Workflow: Integrates with hospital systems for error-free patient data.
  • 10.4″ Display: Full-page printouts and clear 12-lead reports.
• Applications: Hospitals, clinics, and cardiology departments.
• Condition: Refurbished, includes leadwires, electrodes, and operator manual.

3. Allen Yellofin Lift Assist Stirrups

Enhance surgical positioning with the Allen Yellofin Stirrups, designed for versatility and patient safety.

• Key Features:
  • Pneumatic Lift Assist: Effortlessly adjust leg positioning mid-surgery.
  • Squeeze Grip Handle: Sterile-field adjustments without contamination risks.
  • 350 lb Capacity: Supports diverse patient sizes.
• Applications: Orthopedic, gynecologic, and urologic surgeries.
• Included: Legholders, bootpads, and table clamps.

4. Medfusion 3500 V6 Syringe Pump

Deliver precise medication with the Medfusion 3500 V6, featuring advanced safety protocols.

• Key Features:
  • PharmGuard Integration: Reduces dosing errors with drug library support.
  • FlowSentry™ Technology: Detects occlusions in real time.
  • 10-Hour Battery: Ideal for transport or power outages.
• Applications: ICUs, oncology units, and pediatric care.
• Condition: Refurbished, with a bright LCD and horizontal syringe loading.

5. Valleylab Force FX Electrosurgical Unit (ESU)

Achieve precision in surgery with the Valleylab Force FX, a leader in electrosurgical innovation.

• Key Features:
  • Instant Response™ Technology: Adjusts power automatically for consistent cuts and coagulation.
  • Multiple Modes: Three cut, four coag, and three bipolar settings.
  • Lightweight Design: <18 lbs for easy mobility.
• Applications: General surgery, laparoscopy, and ENT procedures.
• Condition: Refurbished, with reduced capacitive coupling risks.

Why Choose Auxo Medical?

1. Comprehensive Refurbishment and Quality Assurance: All devices undergo inspection, rebuild and refurbishment, calibration, and testing.
2. Cost Savings: Save 30–50% vs. new equipment.
3. Warranty & Support: 1-year warranty, with maintenance and repair services available.
4. Sustainability: Reduce e-waste with refurbished solutions.

Industries We Serve

• Hospitals & Surgery Centers
• Emergency Care & Clinics
• Long-Term Care Facilities
• Outpatient Surgery Units

Order your Biomedical Equipment from Auxo Medical

From AEDs to x-ray machines, Auxo Medical is your premier supplier of new and refurbished medical and lab equipment with nearly 1500 products available in our online equipment catalog. In addition view and request a quote or purchase directly from the featured biomedical equipment below:

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PixelShine from AlgoMedica is a new deep learning CT scan processing software that overcomes
the limitations of standard Iterative Reconstruction techniques. It automatically improves the
quality of any CT scan by reducing image noise without reducing the conspicuity of fine details
or changing the appearance of the image, even for ultra-low dose studies. PixelShine improves
the image quality of CT studies acquired at any dose level, such that lower dose scanning is
possible for all CT studies. In addition, because PixelShine is vendor neutral it can harmonize
image quality across the healthcare enterprise the benefit of radiologist productivity.
“We look forward to leveraging AUXO Medicals strong regional relationships and their deep
understanding appreciation good customer service and technical know-how in the refurbished
CT market.” explains Mikael Strindlund, CEO of AlgoMedica Inc.

PixelShine from AlgoMedica can provide a number of benefits:
• Harmonize image quality across all CT scanners within an organization
• Dramatically improved image quality of low dose screening and pediatric studies
• Enables increased radiologist diagnostic confidence
• Facilitates greater use of thin slice imaging
• Extends the clinical utility of older CT scanners

Auxo Medical is extremely excited about the partnership with PixelShine. Greater image quality
at lower doses is something that we feel parallels the healthcare industry’s emphasis on patient
safety while observing cost reductions, explains Jay Crabtree, CEO, AUXO Medical.
About PixelShine from AlgoMedica PixelShine by Algomedica was developed using machine learning. It can improve the quality of any CT exam by reducing the inherent image noise during the image reconstruction process.
This is particularly applicable to ultra-low dose CT scanning applications such as lung screening.
Pixelshine empowers healthcare providers to acquire high-quality CT scans using substantially
lower radiation dose. PixelShine is vendor agnostic and can enhance the quality of noisy CT
scans acquired by all types of CT scanners, including older and refurbished models. PixelShine is
fast, requires no user interaction and can be remotely installed. Learn more at
www.algomedica.com

About AUXO Medical
Auxo Medical, LLC is a national medical equipment supplier and repair service provider that
specializes in new and refurbished value-based medical equipment solutions. With the addition
of nationwide service locations, Auxo Medical provides the personal support most expect from
a local business, but with several of the efficiencies of larger suppliers. The company regularly
works with healthcare systems, outpatient imaging centers, ambulatory surgery centers,
laboratories, Veterans Affairs, private physician practices, and more. Learn more at
auxomedical.com.

Contact Information:
AlgoMedica, Inc.
Mikael Strindlund
516-448-3124
Mikael.strindlund@algomedica.com
Media Inquiries:
Algomedica, Inc.
Dean Kaufman
Dean.kaufman@algomedica.com
Sales:
AUXO Medical
Tanner Seese
804-233-4424
tseese@auxomedical.com

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The benefits of using refurbished medical equipment are extensive. As we’ve outlined in our blog — affordability, reliable/trustworthy products, and eco-friendly are among some of the top perks.

Once you’ve made the decision to take advantage of leasing or purchasing refurbished medical equipment for your practice, the next step will be to procure them… taking into consideration budgets as well as preferences.

The following are key areas you should evaluate when making those important decisions.

What exactly is considered ‘refurbished’ equipment?

First things first is understanding what exactly refurbished means.

Refurbished medical equipment is classified as used healthcare devices, restored by the manufacturer or an expert in repair; the final product is an as-good-as or sometimes better than the original unit’s condition, per the manufacturer (OEM) specifications.

The refurbishment method may be different depending on the type of equipment and its condition, but invariably it should include:

• Thorough inspections
• Replacement of worn down parts
• Recalibration
• Cosmetic preservation
• Testing equipment

How can I guarantee that the equipment was adequately refurbished?

When investigating a piece of refurbished medical equipment, there are many questions you should get answered, including whether or not the company has extensive experience in this industry.

• How long has the business been operating?
• What type of technicians refurbish each unit?
• Does the business have expertise in a certain type of equipment?
• Is there any type of warranty or a company promise in place on the refurbished equipment?

In other words, become very familiar with who is behind the equipment before acquiring it.

How much money do you want to invest in this equipment?

Establish a budget to spend on the device. The beauty of a refurbished piece of equipment is that you can enjoy quality, without the hefty price tag. Refurbished equipment is generally marked down anywhere from 30 to 70 percent less than brand new equipment.

What aspects do I prefer about our current equipment?

If you are replacing an existing piece of equipment within your business, you’ll want to evaluate characteristics that you enjoy about it.

• Do you like the way the equipment functions?
• Is the maintenance/upkeep relatively easy?
• Is the cleaning process free of headaches?

Or, you can lower the learning curve of new technology, as well as reduce disrupting workflow processes, by simply choosing to get a more recent model of the medical equipment you already have, but it has been refurbished.

Partnering with the pros

Auxo Medical is a small business that provides personal service, along with several benefits that larger medical suppliers offer. Our refurbished and reconditioned medical equipment is second to none, and our service is something we are incredibly proud of.

We provide medical equipment and services to ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, laboratories, private physician practices, and more. We have the expertise to provide the equipment you need, the reliability to build a lasting relationship, and the responsiveness and services you need and deserve.

Over the years, we’ve developed our refurbishing processes that address both the cosmetic and functional sides of each unit. We refurbish a wide range of equipment, from patient monitors to infusion pumps, surgical tables, electrosurgical units, and anesthesia machines.

The post A Guide on Procuring Refurbished Medical Equipment appeared first on Auxo Medical.

As a follow-up to our recent Section 179 blog post, explaining the ins and outs of the tax code, it’s also important to understand updates for this calendar year.

2019 Limits for Section 179 Tax Code

For 2019, the deduction maximum cap was increased to $1 million, a significant incentive. This allows businesses to deduct the full expense of their medical equipment off of their taxes this year, which can be quite impactful for the end of year financials.

This deduction is valid toward acquiring new and used equipment, as well as software that is “off the shelf.” It also must be financed or purchased, and put to use between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 by midnight.

Here is a Section 179 free download of the Form 4562 needed to utilize this deduction.

Tax Breaks for Small and Medium Sized Business

The 179 tax code originated to help support small to medium-sized businesses. While the cap for total deductions is $1 million in 2019, the limits for the total amount of equipment purchased this year is $2.5 million. Deductions ultimately go away completely once reaching $3.5 million in purchases.

The Future Looks Bright

Historically, Section 179 has had a lot of twists and turns. However, in the past few years, the U.S. Congress put an end to the ongoing changes and mandated that the Tax Deduction limit is now permanent. The limit was increased to $1 million indefinitely beginning in 2019. This is comforting for small and medium sized businesses, so they can plan accordingly and take advantage of the deductions earlier in the year.

Section 179 Qualified Materials

Nearly all types of business equipment that a business buys or finances should qualify for the Section 179 deduction. The equipment itself does not need to be new, but it must be new to the business for the calendar year when it is being used as a deduction.

Here is the list of material goods that generally qualify, according to the official Section 179 website:

• Equipment (machines, etc.) purchased for business use
• Tangible personal property used in business
• Business Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 6,000 lbs (see Section 179 Vehicle Deductions)
• Computers
• Computer “Off-the-Shelf” Software
• Office Furniture
• Office Equipment
• Property attached to your building that is not a structural component of the building (i.e.: a printing press, large manufacturing tools and equipment)
• Partial Business Use (equipment that is purchased for business use and personal use: generally, your deduction will be based on the percentage of time you use the equipment for business purposes).
• Certain improvements to existing non-residential buildings: fire suppression, alarms and security systems, HVAC, and roofing.

Section 179 Financing

Many businesses are finding the Section 179 Qualified Financing  to be an appealing possibility, particularly with a variety of anticipated Federal Discount Rate increases on the horizon.

With reasonably priced monthly payments, and minimal or no money down needed beforehand, financing equipment and leveraging Section 179 can add value to your business’ bottom line now and into the future.

If you would like to talk about utilizing the tax code deductions on refurbished medical equipment, contact our team at Auxo Medical — we would be happy to help assist you.

The post Changes, Updates and Insights for Section 179 in 2019 appeared first on Auxo Medical.

There has been a worldwide increase in demand for refurbished medical systems over the last decade.

The global market for refurbished medical equipment is anticipated to grow more than $16 billion by 2024 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 10% in this forecast period.

More and more hospitals, especially new facilities, are opting for different options in order to shave down the costs of capital investments.

Specific components accelerating the market growth includes the pressure for better overall cost efficiency within healthcare organizations, sitting on a sizable amount of inventory including older or used medical devices, the popularity of medical tourism rising, and private healthcare organizations gaining momentum.

The trend of affordable buying and preventing waste is heating up, which is what is primarily driving the refurbished equipment market. From X-ray machines to CT imaging devices, to MRI machines, many businesses are choosing a refurbished unit vs. a brand new piece of equipment. The benefits of going with refurbished equipment are extensive, including more affordable prices without settling on lower quality.

 Major Players

As competition in the refurbished medical equipment landscape rises, many of the major medical device and equipment companies are creating alliances with small to medium size organizations.

Companies that hold a large majority of the market share include GE Healthcare, Stryker Corporation, Avante Health Solutions, Integrity Medical Systems, Inc., Agito Medical, Siemens Healthcare Systems, Soma Technology, and Koninklijke Philips N.V.

GE Healthcare reportedly holds the largest share in global refurbished equipment market, and has GoldSeal certified products, meaning that the equipment is high quality and trusted.

Stryker Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is the second leading refurbished medical devices provider. Their solutions as a sustainability provider include refurbished and remanufacturing services for single-use medical devices.

Here at Auxo Medical, we have the expertise to both service and refurbish all of these brands’ equipment. 

Auxo Medical — Mission & Vision

We are a small business that provides the personal service most expect from a small business, but with several of the benefits that larger medical suppliers also provide. Our refurbished and reconditioned medical equipment is second to none, and we know our service leads the rest.

We provide medical equipment and services to ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, laboratories, private physician practices, and more. We have the expertise to provide the equipment you need, the reliability to build a lasting relationship, and the responsiveness and services you need and expect.

Our vision is to encourage integrity, transparency, and value in Healthcare and Life Sciences equipment and service solutions. Our mission at Auxo Medical is that we are committed to focusing on sustainable quality, continual improvement and unmatched training in order to provide superior returns and opportunities for our customers, employees, and investors.

Refurbished Equipment — Definition & Demand

Refurbished medical equipment is classified as used healthcare devices, restored by the manufacturer or an expert in repair; the final product is an as-good-as or sometimes better than the original condition.

As mentioned earlier, the increase of private healthcare organizations, as well as hospitals and medical centers with smaller budgets, have contributed toward the demand for refurbished medical devices. Not only is increased awareness of refurbished medical devices fueling the market growth, but the desire to forgo paying hefty import taxes on medical equipment is too.

Refurbished medical devices are categorized by specialty, including diagnostic devices. These include monitors for patients, ultrasound systems, and ECG systems.

As far as therapeutic devices are concerned, those include defibrillators, infusion machines, and incubators for newborns.

The most substantial market share among global refurbished medical devices is patient monitoring devices. The reason for this is due to more widespread knowledge regarding chronic diseases, the nominal cost for these products, as well as the increase in technology for these monitoring devices.

Be sure to visit our next blog post, where we will cover environmental sustainability within hospitals.

The post Refurbished Medical Equipment: Forecasts and Trends appeared first on Auxo Medical.

Modernized clinical practices, shifting patient priorities, and monetary enticements are some of the driving factors in boosting outpatient services. According to Deloitte Insights, based on data from an AHA annual survey, hospital revenue from outpatient services increased from 30% to 47% between 1995 and 2016.

To gather a comprehensive understanding into what is steering expansion in outpatient usage and a decrease in inpatient care, using Medicare data of claims between 2012 and 2015, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions performed an analysis and discovered three valuable insights:

• Hospitals that acquire a major portion of their revenue from quality and value contracts had 21% more Medicare outpatient visits and 13% more outpatient revenue between 2012 and 2015, vs. hospitals that did not disclose revenue from these contracts.

• The connection between having contracts and larger outpatient services was more noticeable specifically among therapeutic services. But what is the connection between incentives and outpatient volume in therapeutic areas? Deloitte believes there is a powerful correlation between incentives and outpatient visits, and revenue for therapeutic areas that have experienced elevated physician-hospital affiliation and technological advancements. For example, of the physicians who charged Medicare in 2014, 53% of cardiologists and 35% of orthopedists reported an affiliation with a hospital or health system.

• All hospitals analyzed had a decrease in inpatient revenues, however, hospitals with greater revenues from quality and value contracts (i.e. incentives) did not experience a sharper reduction vs. other hospitals. Deloitte believes that the absence of a parallel between quality and value contracts, and inpatient care, could be because health systems are not yet proactively leading population health in order to lessen inpatient care.

Financial Incentives

Payment guidelines by government programs, as well as health plans allow services to be provided in settings that are more affordable, which includes outpatient settings.

Additionally, larger health system organizations are frequently acquiring and/or collaborating with physician practices, which is also a contributing factor in increasing the volume of outpatient procedures.

Hospital-owned physician practices are financially rewarded more than independent physicians for the exact same work; under Medicare’s payment policy, health systems are motivated to purchase physician practices.

In a MedPAC report, Physician consolidation: Rapid movement from small to large group practices, 2013–15, it was discovered that 39% of physicians who billed for Medicare were associated with a health system or hospital. Combining organizations could cause more services to be performed in hospital outpatient platforms.

In Deloitte’s data analysis, they extracted insights of hospital revenue from quality and value contracts, referred to here as incentives, and designated the hospitals into three specific groups.

• Hospitals with large incentives (above median)
• Hospitals with small incentives (below median)
• Hospitals that reported collecting no revenue from incentives

Hospitals grouped in the large incentive category had 21% more outpatient visits and 13% more outpatient revenue. Hospitals grouped in the small incentive category had 16% more outpatient visits.

Strategies for Outpatient Growth

Needless to say, health systems should be focused on creating smart strategies to grow and sustain their outpatient services, which includes increasing volume capacity as well as the framework to support growth. This generally will include:

• Adding physical and human capital, ironing out workflow, and improving operational systems. Fostering provider relationships through partnerships and affiliations can help grow the patient roster.
• Financing technology improvements, including virtual care services, can broaden outpatient services, which ultimately will enable hospitals to cut costs and increase revenue.
• Empowering physicians to leverage analytics with patients to determine which setting for their care is most effective and logical.

Conclusion

While Deloitte’s data examination discovered a higher use of outpatient care, they did not necessarily uncover lower use of inpatient care than for other hospitals. One possible explanation could be the minimal proportion of hospitals with any kind of incentive offered.

Despite that conclusion, it is still fascinating to know that hospitals with incentive programs have larger outpatient services being used. There is a good deal of hospitals who are trying to grow their outpatient services as a protective measure against fierce competitors, as well as to expand their revenue composition.

Health systems should concentrate on the trending demands to move treatment from inpatient to outpatient settings, particularly those who receive a high percentage of their revenue from value contracts.

The post How Value-Based Incentives are Surging Outpatient Care appeared first on Auxo Medical.

In this article we will cover initiatives to holistically improve the well-being of those who dedicate their time and talents to caring for others. But first, let’s review the hard truth about the state of our medical community’s wellness.

Provider Burnout

According to a 2011 national survey, 87% of providers pinpointed the preeminent reason for work-related stress and burnout as paperwork and admin duties. And in a 2014 survey, 43% of physicians reported administrative tasks taking up more than 30% of their day.

While with patients in an examination room, primary care physicians can spend anywhere from 25% to 50% of their time on a computer. The high quantity of incoming alerts often dominates their attention and time. Notifications create interruptions and distractions, which can lead to negatively impacting patient care.

Surveys have documented what is an obvious anecdotal observation — electronic health records has decreased medical staff’s satisfaction due to the time-consuming data entry and the amount of dedicated patient care being compromised.

In the Emergency Room, for example, physicians reportedly spend 44% of their shift performing data entry, and a mere 28% of the day is dedicated to patients.

Staff Burnout

Physicians are certainly not the only ones touched by workplace burnout; unfortunately it appears to reverberate across the entire spectrum of medical staff. Thirty-four percent of nurses in a hospital setting, and 37% of nurses who work in nursing homes have reported exhaustion. Receptionists and front desk staff also have tense roles, sometimes experiencing verbal abuse from patients and patients’ families. Some receptionists feel that physicians do not fully appreciate the difficulty of their work.

This stressful environment only perpetuates a full circle dynamic, where providers and medical staff’s unhappiness can feed off of one another. This can lead to high staff turnover, which only leads to more dissatisfaction among physicians. 

Strategies to Increase Employee Well-Being

In an effort to take control of what appears to be industry-wide point of concern, healthcare organizations are working to implement positive changes. These strategies include mental, physical, and emotional components.

1. Wellness and Meditation Rooms: Private areas for employees to recharge can make a world of different for morale. Many healthcare staff are known to work long shifts, often times handling delicate situations that include life or death circumstances. In a study by HealthLeaders Media, over 56% of participants stated that their hospital overlooks policies of rest time periods. Much like healthcare facilities that work with designers to make the hospital’s esthetic soothing and calming to promote patient-centered care, the same should be done for staff. Having a special room or area for employees to stretch, meditate, relax and take a few minutes to center themselves from the trauma surrounding their workplace can make a positive difference in their well-being.
2. Emphasizing natural light and fresh air: The quality of air as well as poor lighting at work can take a toll on the brain’s ability to function at a superior level. Substandard lighting can lead to migraines, put stress on the eyes, and promote tiredness, which can then lead to added stress and apprehension. Being able to access natural light and see nature from a workplace has been known to outrank other work environment perks — including fitness facilities and treadmill or standing desks. Sunlight is what our eyes evolved to see, so it’s only natural to prefer it over manmade light. Healthcare facilities can find creative ways to promote increasing more natural light in the workplace, whether incentivizing employees to take breaks outside, or coordinating scheduled walks with employees who would like some fresh air.
3. Physical Health Activities: Inactivity is now comparable with smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths. Workers in America spend more hours at their jobs, 1,700 hours annually, than anywhere else. Sedentary offices promotes inactivity, so it’s important for employees to encourage physical activity and support overall employee health. Facilitating group activities will help build connections with fellow staff, along with promoting physical well-being.
4. Access to healthier onsite food options: When an employer offers its employees the ability to make smarter food choices, it can influence their overall well-being. Eating healthy can reduce the risk of heart disease, elevate moods and energy, and lower stress. Hospitals need to offer healthier choices in vending machines, and offer discount pricing through wellness programs. Some additional ideas include hosting lunch ’n learn sessions for workers; teach how to read and understand food labels, provide cooking tips and healthy recipes, and have rotating health themes to focus on for the month.

Healthcare employees who are provided with — not only support and education — but an environment to enhance their physical, mental and emotional well-being, are more likely to positively influence others in their lives. This will ultimately lead to healthy staff and healthier patients.

The post Strategies to Improve the Well-Being of Healthcare Employees appeared first on Auxo Medical.

Reducing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a widespread medical condition, over 10% of Americans — 25 million people — battle it daily, and use pain medications in search of relief and a better quality of life.

Opioid addiction has become an epidemic in the United States, and takes the lives of nearly 100 people every single day. Healthcare professionals are in search of alternative solutions that are safe and non-habit forming.

Virtual Reality is one possible therapy that could offer relief, as it has been documented to help reduce pain by 25 percent. Evidence shows that “Medical VR” — virtual reality therapy — can prohibit the brain from processing pain, particularly for patients who are admitted in the hospital. The domino effect is that patients can have a shorter stay, continue healing at home, which ultimately reduces the cost of healthcare.

The digital research team at Cedars-Sinai tried addressing this concern by using VR with patients. In an uncontrolled case series completed at the Medical Center, preliminary findings included a 24% reduction in pain after only 10 minutes of using a special visualization called “Pain RelieVR,” created by AppliedVR and administered via Samsung Gear goggles.

Calming Hospital Patients

Being in the hospital has a way of instilling anxiety, fear, and boredom. Sitting in a hospital bed for days, or even weeks, only exacerbates those feelings.

The Cedars-Sinai team studied a variety of patients, over 150, using a range of VR visualizations. The findings were published in a peer-reviewed study and they are now initiating the largest controlled trial to date of VR — testing its impact on pain management, narcotic usage, length of stay, and satisfaction of care among hospitalized patients.

Talks of a ‘rehab revolution’ are underway, as companies drive the use of VR in managing pain and a variety of therapies. This technology provides new and effective remote therapy options, distracting the minds and alleviating stress of chronic patients who can virtually leave the barricade of hospital walls and instead swim in the ocean… on the beaches of Hawaii…from the comfort of a couch.

 Improving Care to the Elderly

Virtual Reality is improving the quality of life for the elderly population who have limited mobility. Virtually ‘traveling’ allows older folks to experience new opportunities that they wouldn’t normally be able to participate in.

As cited by Next Avenue, a journalism service for America’s booming older population, shared that in 2017 a team of scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas conducted trials with more than 300 people ages 60 to 100, in four states. They were looking to confirm that VR would be a medium this population would adopt, and also to determine which types of content would be most suitable to them. Based on the trial’s outcome, which included favorable results, they created a combination of both recreational and therapeutic content.

“One might think that a trip to Paris or a video that’s focused on pets might be recreational, but those things can turn therapeutic very fast, especially if they reach the right memories of past experiences,” says Chris Brickler, CEO and co-founder of Texas-based MyndVR, “This medium has shown promise to really have an impact on this level.”

Accelerating Brain Trauma Recovery

According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a “common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States with its sequelae often affecting individuals long after the initial injury. Innovations in VR technology may offer potential therapy options in the recovery from such injuries.”

The expanded utilization of immersive VR technology offers the possibility for engaging therapy in TBI rehabilitation. However, its application remains unclear since there are finite studies available right now. Researchers are hopeful that this is an opportunity for improvement and continued discovery.

Advancing Vision

It is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO), “that 246 million people have low vision, which includes blurry vision, tunnel vision or blind spots that can’t be corrected.” The WHO also estimates, as cited by CNET, “that 90% of those who have vision problems, not just low vision, tend to have low incomes.”

Frank Werblin, a professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, recognized that VR could play a significant role in delivering lower-cost vision options to the population who suffers with compromised vision.

Werblin was not alone in his foresight to leverage VR within the realm of vision improvement. James Blaha lived his life with a condition called amblyopia, also known as lazy eye; he discovered that he could strengthen his weaker eye using VR. It was during his own research of the ailment using a VR headset, that he uncovered the technology could be used as a therapy. Blaha ultimately started a company called Vivid Vision who develops options using VR technology for people with amblyopia.

The post 5 Ways Virtual Reality is Enhancing Healthcare appeared first on Auxo Medical.

Improving the patient experience is imperative in the competition for healthcare market share. Organizations must improve levels of convenience, access, and the overall customer service in order to thrive — no pressure, right? Here are the most relevant patient experience trends that will persist throughout 2019, and what can be done to make the most of them.

1. The Online Patient

The provider-patient relationship starts long before meeting in-person for the first time.

The unending amount of information available over the Internet easily allows prospective patients to find insights and answers about healthcare providers. Something as simple as finding out the distance from their home to the facility, to deeper questions such as determining if a physician can meet a patient’s individual needs. Online resources allow important decisions to be made on choosing caretakers, in a sea of provider options.

Procuring healthcare providers online is practically the norm these days. In a 2018 report, 80% of patients used the Internet to make a healthcare-related search in the past year, and 76% of patients over 60 years old made a healthcare-related search online in the past year. Since the patient journey begins online, your organization’s online brand must be consistent, current, and approachable.

How to Leverage this Trend

Your digital presence must be a top focus for the organization, from social media activity and engagement (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to insurance provider website links being accurate, to building location addresses and phone numbers being correct and easy to navigate. Additionally, sharing valuable content updates, and being a helpful resource for the community, will set your brand apart as competent and trusted.

2. Virtual Reputation

The availability of provider information online, in addition to how easy it is to access reviews/ratings, has empowered today’s patients more than ever before. A prospective patient may have been given a referral from a friend or colleague, and that certainly goes a long way, but the patient will likely still do their own research online to confirm they’re making the right decision. Everyone’s time is precious, and the last thing they want to do is waste it on a poor healthcare experience.

Truth be told, your online reputation has a direct correlation of patients’ experiences. Reportedly, 81% of patients read reviews about a referred provider occasionally, frequently, or always – and that’s after being referred. In addition, 53% of patients will occasionally, frequently, or always change their mind about a provider with a rating of fewer than three stars.

How to Leverage this Trend

Don’t just encourage patients to write an online review, incentive them too. If a patient is sincerely happy, they will be willing to take the time and do so, however, providing something in return is a nice gesture.

For example, a chiropractic center hung call-to-action signs around their office, emailed, and texted patients with their request to leave a review on Google, Facebook, and Yahoo. For each review left online, as a thank you, the patient had their choice of picking a free wellness product.

Why is this important? Generally speaking, the majority of people only take the time to write reviews if they have an exceptionally bad experience or an exceptionally great experience.

Make sure there is someone who is committed to reading, replying, or responding to online reviews, whether it is positive or otherwise. Negative reviews should be handled with respect, honesty, and compassion.

3. Booking Online

We live in a microwave society — we want what we want, and we want them now. Our patience is limited. With that said, it’s not uncommon for patients to be unwilling to delay being seen by a provider for weeks, or even months.

For this reason, offering the ability to book appointments online is a nice service to offer patients. In fact, according to the Doctor.com report, 45% of patients are partial to using digital methods to request an appointment (i.e. non-voice interaction including online tools, mobile apps, or email). Third-party scheduling through Yelp, Google, and other platforms can effortlessly integrate with your organization’s calendar, making it easier for front office staff to oversee.

Since we know that many patients prefer an online booking management system, it’s not a surprise to learn that 42% of patients will select a healthcare provider, due to the ability to use online scheduling. Online appointment booking is widely offered, but it’s not quite the norm yet. This service will help solidify relationships with existing patients and influence new patients to your organization.

How to Leverage this Trend

If your organization has not already started to offer online appointment booking, it is important to implement this trend sooner than later in order to keep up with the consumer demand. By the end of 2019, 66% of U.S. health systems are predicted to offer digital self-scheduling and 64% of patients will book appointments digitally, delivering $3.2 billion in value and a competitive uptick for health systems.

Researching software options will be an important step before choosing which one to use, as the variety of options available are not apples to apples. Utilizing the best appointment booking software for your organization will make life easier on your employees and increase their productivity vs. wasting time troubleshooting software nuances.

4. Texting with Patients

Patients expect a text message confirming their appointment once it’s been made. With 71% of patients preferring appointment reminders via digital contact (i.e. email and text) and 53% of patients preferring reminders via text, it’s important to incorporate text communications into your practice.

Text messages are the perfect vehicle for a variety of communications, such as:

• Appointment reminders and annual checkups
• Prescriptions ready for pickup, or a reminder to order a refill
• Test results
• Vaccination reminders
• Raising awareness about outbreaks and diseases

The proverbial price of implementing this technology is a worthy one, as 42% of patients report that text and email appointment reminders influence their loyalty and likelihood of returning to a provider on multiple occasions.

How to Leverage this Trend

Many companies provide both online appointment booking and SMS messaging capabilities, so choose a software vendor that provides comprehensive solutions. Bonus: with one partner, you can leverage two patient experience trends.

It goes without saying, but taking into account HIPAA compliance and privacy will need to be addressed. If done appropriately, text messaging is HIPAA compliant. Working with an SMS provider who has knowledge in the healthcare space will help with compliance as well.

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The post Top 4 Trends in Improving the Patient Experience appeared first on Auxo Medical.