E-DMN - August 27, 2007

August 27, 2007

HFHS Studies Genetic Testing
American Doctors Work Harder
BCBS To Pay $131 Million
St. John Hospital Surgeon Pioneers Spine Disc
SEMCME Salutes Leadership
St. John Health: A Good Place To Work
Arab-American/Chaldean Cancer Forum

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HFHS Studies Genetic Testing

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), parts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have teamed with Group Health Cooperative in Seattle and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit to launch a study to investigate the interest level of healthy, young adults in receiving genetic testing for eight common conditions. Called the Multiplex Initiative, the study will also look at how people who decide to take the tests will interpret and use the results in making their own health care decisions in the future.

The test being used is designed to yield information about 15 different genes that play roles in type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and malignant melanoma.

“The Multiplex Initiative will provide insights that will be key to advancing the concept of personalized medicine,” said NHGRI Scientific Director Eric Green, MD, PhD “As genomic technologies are introduced for wider use, researchers and clinicians will need to know how genetic susceptibility tests will be received by patients. This study will be an important first step in understanding how such testing can be practically used in primary care settings.”

Researchers at Henry Ford Health System have randomly selected individuals between the ages of 25 and 40 to participate in the study. Participant selection is randomized through Health Alliance Plan, a nonprofit health plan based in Detroit, owned by Henry Ford Health System and the Henry Ford Medical Group, the health system’s group medical practice of more than 900 physicians and scientists. A total of 1,000 participants who meet the study’s eligibility requirements will be offered free multiplex genetic testing.

Multiplex tests, such as the one being used in this study, can detect common variants of genes that slightly alter the chances of acquiring particular diseases. The term “multiplex” refers to performing multiple genetic tests using the same blood sample. On average, those who get tested in the Multiplex Initiative will receive results indicating that they carry four to 10 risk versions of individual genes.

However, having a risk version of one of the 15 genes on the multiplex genetic test does not mean that a person is certain to get the condition-only that he or she might have a greater chance of developing the disorder. Researchers also note that many things other than genetics contribute to the risk of common diseases and that, for most people, lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, smoking, and sun exposure are major contributors to developing common diseases.

“The Multiplex Initiative will give us an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the public’s receptivity to genetic susceptibility testing and give insights into the added role this testing might play in improving health,” said lead investigator Colleen McBride, Ph.D., senior investigator and chief of NHGRI’s Social and Behavioral Research Branch. “We are looking at a prototype of multiplex testing in a research context first to see if we can effectively communicate what these tests mean for health risks and begin to evaluate how these tests might be used to inspire healthy people to stay healthy.”

In addition to McBride and Lawrence Brody, PhD, a senior investigator in the NHGRI Genome Technology Branch, the team includes researchers from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle. Epidemiologist Sharon Hensley Alford, MPH of Henry Ford Health System is leading the Detroit-based team, while the Seattle group is headed by Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, executive director of the Group Health Center for Health Studies, and Robert Reid, MD, PhD, Group Health Cooperative’s associate medical director for preventive care. The Seattle group organized the survey, developed survey instruments and are administering the baseline phone interviews to recruit subjects.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-The Nation’s Medical Research Agency-includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.

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American Doctors Work Harder

Editor’s Note: The following is a blog response by Dr. Victor Bloom to a column from Dr. Joseph Weiss that appeared in the Aug. 20 DMN E-edition. The column was titled: No Thanks, We’ll Just Resubmit the Bill. It referenced a Wall Street Journal article comparing American and European physicians. Here’s the link to that column: http://www.wcmssm.org/dmn/2k7/e-edition/dmnaugust202007.htm

You are encouraged to respond to any story in the E-edition simply by clicking on the link provided at the story’s end.

Joe, I am glad you spoke out on this matter. You were polite in not pointing out that in general American physicians are superior to European physicians, and work harder and longer. We deserve more than they do. They are into European lax standards, short hours and long vacations, not to mention superficial histories and physicals. As employees they must submit to being underpaid in a national health plan, but in America, where we still have free enterprise, there is still the marketplace, competition, innovation, creativity and, in most cases, a strong doctor-patient relationship.

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BCBS To Pay $131 Million

Physicians who provided covered services to any patient enrolled in or covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans at any time between May 22, 1999, and May 31, 2007, may be entitled to a payout as part of a class action lawsuit settlement agreement.

The group of BCBS settling parties has agreed to distribute $131,209,507—with accrued interest since June 30—among eligible physicians who file a claim form by Oct. 19. One form can be prepared for an entire practice. However, a list of every physician as well as the number of shares to which each physician is entitled should be attached.

Visit http://www.hmosettlements.com to download the mailed notice, claim form and claim form instructions that were mailed to physicians on July 27.

Visit http://www.hmosettlements.com/pages/contact.html or call (877) 893-2643 with questions about the settlement.

View http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17555.html for more information regarding this and other settlements.

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St. John Hospital Surgeon Pioneers Spine Disc

A neurosurgeon at St. John Hospital & Medical Center is among the first in Michigan to use the first ever FDA approved artificial disc for the cervical spine.

The procedure, performed by Daniel Elskens, MD, SJH&MC neurosurgeon and WCMSSM member, offers some patients a chance to maintain motion in their necks following surgery for cervical degenerative disc disease. Medtronic's PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc System is designed to maintain motion and flexibility while replacing a diseased disc that is removed from a patient's cervical spine. Currently, the most common form of surgery for treating cervical degenerative disc disease is cervical spine fusion. More than 200,000 cervical procedures are performed each year to relieve compression on the spinal cord or nerve root and to implant a metal plate to fuse the vertebrae together.

"What excites me the most about this disc is that my patients who want to maintain motion in their necks have this new option," says Dr. Elskens. "This disc may revolutionize treatment options for surgical patients who normally would have only the option of a motion-restricting process of spinal fusion."

In the United States. clinical trial of the PRESTIGE Cervical disc, patients who received the disc showed improved neurological success at 24 months and improved overall success. The clinical trial is the largest, completed, prospective randomized controlled study of its kind in the cervical spine enrolling a total of 541 patients.

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SEMCME Salutes Leadership

A special “Salute to Past Presidents” was held in conjunction with this year’s annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education. Dr. Mark Hannis, senior vice president for Medical Education, and Dr. Michael Geheb, division president, hosted the evening reception and program at Oakwood Hospital July 18.

Fourteen of the 16 past presidents of the board attended. Dr. Allen Silbergleit, a longtime member of the SEMCME Surgery Committee, Board member and historian for the organization, recognized the “extraordinary leadership and commitment” of the past presidents and highlighted some of the accomplishments that occurred during the past 33 years.

WSU School of Medicine Dean Robert M. Mentzer, Jr., and Executive Vice Dean Robert Frank attended. Dr. Frank thanked the organization for its continued commitment to quality medical education in southeast Michigan.

SEMCME was established for the purpose of coordinating and assisting in the education of medical students, medical residents and other health professionals. Its primary mission is to stimulate the delivery of quality care through excellence in graduate medical education and faculty development. SEMCME is the largest community based medical education consortium in the Midwest. The WSU School of Medicine is the academic partner for SEMCME.

Participating hospitals are:

Bon Secours Cottage Health Service
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Detroit Medical Center Hospitals
Henry Ford Hospital
North Oakland Medical Centers
Oakwood Hospital
Providence Hospital and Medical Center
St. John Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland
William Beaumont Hospital

The Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education has established a process of pooling ideas for innovative medical education. Cooperation among member hospitals and universities along with the exchange of knowledge and experience achieves educational benefits that no single institution can obtain alone.

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St. John Health: A Good Place To Work

St. John Health was named one of "Metro Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" by the Michigan Business and Professional Association and the national Association for Business Resources, for the second year.

"This award reflects the caliber of individuals who have chosen to bring their talents, medical expertise and passion to St. John Health," says Elliot Joseph, President and CEO, St. John Health. "Providing a great work environment in which our physicians, associates and leaders can grow and thrive ensures that St. John Health will be a vital community resource for generations to come."

The "101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work for" award measures qualities such as:

Effective communication
Community initiatives
Diversity
Employee education and development
Employee engagement and commitment
Recognition and retention
Recruitment and selection
Work-life balance

In all categories, the panels of judges are looking for a unique thought process with top support from senior management and policy makers. They are looking for above average programs, services and solutions for employees. Also, the judges are looking for adaptation to various new factors in the marketplace.

St. John Health will be honored among the other companies committed to exceptional business practices on Thurs., Oct. 4, at the Conference and Events Center in Dearborn, Mich. The 8th annual symposium and awards gala emphasizing human resources will be emceed by Murray Feldman of FOX 2 News and Amyre Makupson, former news anchor for UPN50 Ten O'Clock News and 62/CBS Eyewitness News.

Winning 101 companies compete for nine elite awards, one granted for each category. An overall winner, who has excelled in all categories, is honored with a "Best of the Best" award. The 10 winners of these awards will be announced during the luncheon. An independent research firm evaluates each company's entry based on a number of key measures.

The Michigan Business & Professional Association is a business organization that represents over 20,000 members who employ over 120,000 persons throughout the State of Michigan. We are the fastest growing business association in the Midwest and are known for the Service, Education, Advocacy, and Solutions we provide our members.

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Arab-American/Chaldean Cancer Forum

Beaumont Cancer Institute &
The Arab American & Chaldean Council (ACC)
would like to invite you to attend:

3rd Annual Arab American and Chaldean Cancer Prevention, Early Detection
and Treatment Forum

Guest Emcee:

William Saliata

Radio Host "Maa Aljailia" Arabic Radio Talk Show WNZK-690 AM/Tuesdays 3-4pm

Guest Speakers:

Muhyi Al Sarraf, MD, FRCPC, FACP

Samer Ballouz, MD

Samir Jamil, MD

Thursday, September 20, 2007, 6:00 – 8:00 pm St. Joseph Catholic Church

2442 E. Big Beaver Road

Troy, Michigan 48083

Please join us for this very important symposium

To Register: Please call
(248) 551-1219 or (248) 559-1990

Dinner is free and included for our registrants

*Please note, there is no cost to attend this symposium

This publication brought to you by Natinsky Publishing Network.

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