If you have ever endured a painful waxing, electrolysis, or laser treatment then you will appreciate the new technology now available for laser hair removal in Miami. The painless hair removal system, created by Alma Lasers, is a patented technology which uses gentle heat to safely, permanently,and painlessly remove unwanted hairs.

Elite Aesthetics, a part of the Elite Health Medial Group in Miami, is among the first offer the Alma Lasers to their patients. Laser hair removal is the most frequently performed aesthetic procedure and it is important to use medical equipment that is not only safe, but comfortable and effective. The Alma Laser technology works by sending low pulses of energy to the hair follicles, permanently destroying them. The low energy level in addition to a surface cooling mechanism reduces the risk of side effects including burns, blistering, bruising and scarring.

In addition to laser hair removal, Elite Health also offers a wide variety of other aesthetic procedures using the Alma Lasers. These include body contouring, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, skin resurfacing, and vein treatment,

For those interested in laser hair removal in Miami, Elite Aesthetics is offering for a limited time a 50 percent discount for their 6 treatment package on their website www.EliteCosmeticSurgery.com

Recent research and current trends in medical practice point to the paramount importance of obtaining a second opinion for cancer diagnoses. A number of studies conducted over the past five years have overwhelmingly found that not only is it crucial to obtain a second medical opinion from cancer specialists, but also from experts in related fields before beginning any type of cancer treatment.

In fact, an increasing number of medical centers have inaugurated second opinion boards where specialists from a variety of cancer-related fields convene to study patient cases, review treatment options, discuss possible interpretive differences regarding test results or diagnoses, or divergent medical opinions. For example, a very realistic diagnostic discord could consist in one surgeon electing a specifically aggressive and invasive treatment path, while another could perceive the cancer to be entirely inoperable. These types of divergent opinions are not uncommon in view of the fact that diagnosing cancer is not as explicit an exercise as is commonly perceived. Following a biopsy procedure, the difference between malignant cells and non-malignant cells is not necessarily dramatically different. This leaves a rather heightened possibility of discordant diagnoses delivered by physicians. A recent study reported in the journal Cancer found that about 12% of cancer patients in the United States are victims of an initial misdiagnosis. With rates of misdiagnosis being so astonishingly high, and new cases being reported every day, an independent medical review could be exceptionally vital in saving a patients’ time, money, or even life.

Even beyond the aforementioned case, obtaining a second opinion does not necessarily have to reflect a situation of disagreement between doctor and patient, but should rather be understood as an imperative precautionary measure. Requesting online medical advice with Activ Doctors is exceptionally simple, and means that a team of experts reviews all pertinent documentation related to the initial diagnosis, or lack thereof. When prompt intervention is prescribed by a physician, and patients find themselves with insufficient mobility or at an incapacitating geographical distance from any expert able to furnish an independent review, Activ Doctors Online virtually eliminates this concern. Additionally, patients can obtain a Second Opinion report within just 48 hours of submitting their medical records. If getting one can save a life, perhaps it’s time for people turn on their computers.
About Activ Doctors Online

Activ Doctors Online (Activ Doctors Consult, LLC) is a leading provider of online Personal Health Records. With an innovative Online Medical Records system and a Second Medical Opinion consultation network of over 700 international specialists, the individuals, physicians, and corporations they serve can enjoy improved health care beyond basic EMR. To learn more about Activ Doctors Online, visit activdoctorsonline.com

While basic human nutritional needs – lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer refined starches, and saturated fats and sweets in moderation – are similar for almost everyone, some individuals have special medical conditions that can actually be improved by modifying the diet with synergistic supplementation.  Careful dietary planning with an expert can significantly improve quality of life for a heart disease patient, in addition to addressing the symptoms of someone with chronic pain.

While having completely different causes, symptoms, and treatments, these two conditions share certain nutritional needs.  Board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Hector Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR holds a Masters degree in nutrition and has extensive knowledge of the human body’s needs for all manner of health-related situations.

Dr. Lopez describes heart health as very centrally dependent on the right intake of fats.  There are many fats that raise unhealthy serum cholesterol fractions and have a negative impact on the heart – such as the trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup and non-fibrous, high glycemic load carbohydrates in highly processed foods, and certain hydrogenated oils.  A healthy heart depends on limiting the intake of these bad fats and balancing the intake of essential fatty acids – the “good” fats necessary for life on a molecular level which cannot be produced by the body.

It is most important to balance the intake of omega-3 and -9 fatty acids (found in finfish, shellfish, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, dark leafy greens, and certain nuts, olives and avocado) and the intake of omega-6 fatty acids (found in refined vegetable oils, many processed foods, and meat).  The American diet tends to be deficient in omega-3’s and overloaded in omega-6 fatty acids, causing a number of chronic health conditions – including heart disease.  A good diet for heart disease prevention and treatment would attempt to rebalance omega-3 to 6 ratio.

Omega-6 fatty acids are also known to have pro-inflammatory properties, making them an equally poor dietary choice for a chronic pain patient.  Increasing the intake of omega-3’s, which have anti-inflammatory properties and can help supplement a more aggressive pain treatment program. Dr. Lopez describes a typical nutrition for pain relief program as comprehensive and optimized for the patient’s specific needs.    A patient being treated for pain or injury may be prescribed fish oil, increased vitamin D, flavanoid-rich supplements, like extracts of teas, herbs, spices, and botanicals.  Patients can also benefit from reducing their intake of soybean & corn oil, refined carbohydrates like, high fructose corn syrup, sugar and foods containing trans- fats.

Dr. Lopez offers nutritional counseling, regenerative injection therapy, transforaminal epidural injections, and PRP therapy at his practice.  By using nutrition to treat chronic pain, patients can enjoy fewer symptoms, better heart health, and a longer life.

About Dr. Hector Lopez
Hector L. Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR has advanced higher education in nutritional biochemistry and exercise science and takes an integrative orthopedic approach.  His comprehensive programs help ease pain, reduce recovery time, and enhance the recovery process.

The youth of North America have spent the past few months wrapped scarves and buried in snow, waiting for the ice to melt and the chance to leave the house without digging out their cars.  With the end of winter nowhere in sight, it’s time to start making plans to enjoy summer.

Starting this February, Canadian travel company Beach Travellers will be offering one of its Facebook fans a free summer 2011 trip to Bali, Brazil, Costa Rica, or Thailand with their online “Hunt for the Golden Ticket” contest.  The winner will receive a pair of sunglasses from Spy, clothing from skating line DC, and a free trip to the Beach Travellers’ destination of their choice.

Eager travelers can enter by “liking” Beach Travellers on Facebook, filling out a brief entry form, and giving an amazing answer to the question, “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  They’ll then be entered in a draw, from which ten finalists will be selected.  After sending in a photo and a write-up of why they should win, the public will vote on their favorite finalist and the winner will spend the summer du surf au costa rica, on the beach in Brazil, on exotic sejours thailande or exploring a whole new culture in Bali.  “We’re trying to see who our audience is,” says Costa Rica guide Mitch Martin.  The Beach Travellers team hopes that the contest will help them learn more about their followers.

So which trip is the best choice?  According to Mitch, Brazil is his hands-down winner.  “I’m a surfer, so there has to be good surfing,” he says, citing the food and the language as other top motivation.  “Plus, my best friend is the guide…I think it would be cool.  I’ve always wanted to go to the Amazon.”  Beach Travellers, which has just released a new Costa Rica surf camp video on their blog, offers amazing guide jobs for people with expertise in travel and an adventurous soul – and as a guide, Mitch loves showing people Costa Rica and “seeing the looks on people’s faces when they learn how to surf.”

Contest entries will be accepted until early April, with the winner’s dream trip kicking off in the summer.  And Mitch’s answer to the official contest question of “what’s most important to you while traveling?”  Short and immediate.  “Surfing.  And food.  And cheap beer.”

Gastroenterology Consultants of the North Shore are announcing the launch of their new website, http://www.gcnsmd.com.  Headed by six physicians to provide advice and treatment of gastrointestinal tract and liver disease, and perform a variety of procedures to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal disorders.

The physicians emphasis timely, personalized, and focused care, rendered with the highest quality in treatments including Upper endoscopy (EGD), Colonoscopy, ERCP, Capsule Endoscopy, Breath Testing and Intraesophageal pH testing.

Gastroenterology Consultants of the North Shore are conveniently located in three locations in Illinois.

Gastroenterologist Kenilworth IL, Dr. Yolandra Johnson, Dr. Mick Meiselman, Dr. Manoj K. Mehta and Dr. James Rosenberg have treated an assortment of different types of patients, including a large number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, liver diseases, colon cancer and colon polyps.

Gastroenterologist Glenbrook, Dr. Jonathan Williams and Dr. Thomas G. Neumann have offices conveniently located at Glenbrook Hospital’s Professional building and have dedicated patient following in the northwest suburbs.

Gastroenterologist Wilmette, Dr. Tat-Kin Tsang, interests include pancreatobiliary diseases, H. pylori, peptic ulcer disease, interventional endoscopy and colon cancer detection.

Gastroenterology Consultants of the North Shore have a number of special interests and come from a wide range of backgrounds.  The physicians are an exceptional group of gastroenterologists with dedicated training and unique experience in the management of diseases of the digestive system.

In working closely with law firms and legal software, legal web design firm Legal Web Experts is reporting an increased trend toward virtual law offices in recent years. A method of delivering legal services from anywhere the client or attorney can access the Internet, virtual law offices are joining a trend set by other industries in taking many primary business functions online.

While a traditional law office requires much face-to-face contact and constant in-person meetings, a virtual law office has the advantage of delivering legal services completely online and over the phone. This is done through an online client portal allowing clients to log in and communicate securely with their attorney. This portal affords the same amount of security as an online bank login, and a similar system (dubbed a “patient portal”) is becoming increasingly popular amongst physician practice and hospital websites.

The legal client portal allows for full interaction between client and attorney up through payment transactions. This is not only a more convenient system for clients; the online access means that they can consult with their attorneys and resolve legal matters without leaving home. Many portals also feature legal document storage, filing, legal forms, organization of legal documents, and other services. Clients of virtual law offices can access their legal documents through an online portal with no need to contact their attorney in advance.

The system also has many advantages for law firms. Virtual law firms are often completely paperless, which saves money, space, and has added environmental benefits. They also enjoy lower overhead expenses, more flexible hours and travel considerations, and the ability to reach out to clients in different locations. “Virtual law offices aren’t just a new opportunity for law firms who are in the market for more clients,” says Ryan Nelson, Director of Operations at legal website design firm Legal Web Experts. “They’re a way to increase the quality of your services and improve the way you run your practice.” With the growing trend of legal practices leveraging technology to improve and streamline services, Legal Web Experts predicts that the American legal community will see an increasing number of virtual law firms offering accessible, online legal services in the coming years.

A sex selection technique known as Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD gender selection, has become the most reliable way that couples achieve family balancing. With this technique, couples who seek to predetermine the sex a baby can do so with almost 100 percent accuracy.

Uses of Sex Selection and Family Balancing

For many years sex selection has been used in the United States as way to prevent sex-linked genetic disorders from being passed along in families. Couples who know they carry one of these disorders, such as hemophilia or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, have had access to this type of technology in order to ensure that their child will not receive these disorders. However, it has only been in the last 10 years or so that this gender selection technology has been made available to couples for purposes other than medial necessity. Family balancing is the most common alternative reason that couples seek gender selection. For example, they may already have a boy and they desire a girl or they have had multiple children of the same sex and would like to complete their families with gender of the opposite sex. Depending on the individual program offering these services, there may be certain requirements such as the couple must be married or already have a child of the opposite sex that is requested.

The PGD Gender Selection Procedure

The PGD procedure is done by using in vitro fertilization (IVF). During a normal menstrual cycle, a woman matures one egg for fertilization. However, with the IVF treatment the woman is given fertility medications so that she matures multiple eggs. Once the eggs are mature they will be removed from her ovaries in a surgical procedure. These eggs will then be fertilized in a petri dish using the partner’s sperm, which creates multiple embryos. A single cell is removed from each embryo for sex and other genetic testing. Once the testing is finished the healthiest one or two embryos of the chosen sex is implanted into the uterus for pregnancy.

Pros

There is a 99-100 percent guarantee that the desired gender will be selected. The embryos are tested for genetic abnormalities which greatly decreases the risk for miscarriage and ensures a healthy baby. Any left-over embryos can be frozen and used later in case of a miscarriage or future pregnancy. Embryos are selected prior to pregnancy, which avoids elective termination of a pregnancy if the desired sex is not achieved.

Cons

For some, the most significant disadvantage of PGD gender selection may be cost. Depending on the program, it could cost as much as $20,000. IVF is physically invasive. The medications can have uncomfortable side effects and, as with any surgical procedure, there is the potential for serious adverse events. There is a possibility of having multiples if two or more embryos are implanted. The couple must decide what do do with unused embryos. They have a choice between donating them, freezing them or discarding them. This may be problematic to those who view embryos as human life.

PGD gender selection is a safe and effective way for families to choose the sex of their child for medical reasons and family balancing. Couples should be sure to talk with a qualified individual who can help provide further insight to the many emotional, physical and financial factors that are involved in the process.

About Center for Human Reproduction

The Center for Human Reproduction is a leading center for infertility New York with world-wide patient clientele. CHR is well recognized for its extensive clinical research program, which over the years contributed a number of major breakthrough to the IVF process.

In the treatment of chronic pain, programs harnessing the healing power of food are becoming increasingly popular.  “Nutritional strategies may provide a safe alternative to other treatment methods in medicine, which may carry more risk” says nutritional medicine specialist Dr. Hector Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR.  “By strategically using diet and nutritional supplements, we address biomechanical mechanisms that contribute to further pain and injury…and fill in the gaps of a comprehensive treatment program.”

Rarely used as a stand-alone treatment plan, nutrition for pain relief is typically used to supplement more aggressive treatments.  This provides the patient a host of what Dr. Lopez calls “side benefits” – a reduced risk of certain cancers and heart disease, increased immune and nervous system function, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and improved mood and mental acuity.  Nutritional planning can be used as a tool to help expedite the recovery process and can also increase a patient’s tolerance to rehabilitation from an orthopedic injury.  The program is an excellent complement to medication management, often providing a safer alternative to painkillers.

Everyone, whether in pain or not, can benefit from good nutrition.  Each program is custom-designed and takes into account the patient’s medical history, lifestyle, and demands.  In addition to the location and type of injury or pain, the patient’s lifestyle (active or sedentary), age, medication list, occupation, short and long term goals, and current diet can have a huge influence on their nutritional needs.  “We look at the patient’s actual metabolic and hormonal profile to see if there are any deficiencies or potential therapeutic targets,” says Dr. Lopez.  “Using an integrated approach, I assess the patient’s physical functional and biomechanical status with a thorough history & exam, along with what is happening structurally using diagnostic imaging, and finally we look deeply on a biochemical and molecular level to uncover underlying roadblocks that may be keeping our patients from achieving the absolute best possible outcomes.”

A typical program begins with an evaluation of the patient’s needs and the introduction of key nutritional supplements for their condition.  After this first phase, many patients find the foundational dietary changes necessary to improve overall nutrition much easier to adopt.  Dietary changes consist of incorporating food with a high content of the specific vitamins, minerals and nutrients that they may be lacking, in addition to reducing intake of foods that may hinder healing and recovery.

Developing a diet for pain relief is a safe and therapeutic way to improve tissue healing, repair and reduce inflammation naturally.   An advocate of minimally invasive, safe and effective treatments, Dr. Lopez also performs minimally invasive spine procedures, injection therapy (such as regenerative injection therapy and transforaminal epidural injections), and PRP therapy at his practice.  He is developing his own line of nutraceuticals and sees nutrition as a way to “fill in the gaps in a comprehensive, integrated treatment program,” he says.  “It’s just one more tool we can reach for in our non-surgical armamentarium for pain and injury.”

About Dr. Hector Lopez
Hector L. Lopez, MD, MS, CSCS, FAAPMR has advanced higher education in nutritional biochemistry and exercise science and takes an integrative orthopedic approach.  His comprehensive programs help ease pain, reduce recovery time, and enhance the recovery process.

The following press release was put out by the Iowa Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center today:

West Des Moines, IA – On January 3, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opened registration for the Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive program. Within a few weeks of registration, incentive payments to two qualifying eligible professionals have already been made in Iowa. Providers are fortunate that the state is one of only eleven currently set up to process Medicaid incentive payments. Through the incentive programs, eligible health care professionals may receive as much as $44,000 over a five-year period through Medicare or $63,750 over six years through Medicaid if criteria are met.

The Iowa Department of Human Services is reporting that a total of 716 eligible professionals have registered through the CMS system. Of those, initial Medicaid EHR incentive payments have been approved for five eligible professionals, with two receiving payments this week in the amount of $21,250 each. Four hospitals have also registered for the program, and payments are expected to be processed soon.

“With the start of registration, patients, providers and the nation can begin to enjoy the benefits of widespread adoption of electronic health records,” said Dr. Donald Berwick, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator. “CMS has many resources available to help providers register and participate, and we look forward to working with eligible professionals and eligible hospitals to facilitate the process.”

One of the first hospitals in Iowa expected to qualify under both the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs is Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant, IA. “We have registered for the incentive programs with both Medicare and Medicaid. We did so on opening day of registration,” shares Stephen Stewart, chief information officer at Henry County. “Today we find ourselves running a certified meaningful use qualified EHR. The visions we had when we first implemented in 2004 have all come through. Ninety percent of this was accomplished before the incentive dollars were on the table. It remains our belief that this journey is only worth undertaking if it serves the patients.”

According to the most recent results from the National Center for Health Statistics Survey of IT adoption in physician practices, approximately 38 percent of Iowa office-based physicians have at least a “basic” EHR in their practices. With the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive program, CMS hopes that more providers will adopt EHRs.

“The changeover from paper to electronic records will be challenging for clinicians and hospitals but CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator have taken steps to ease the transition,” said Dr. Berwick. “We encourage eligible providers to sign up as soon as they have certified EHR technology and are prepared to participate. We are ready to help.”

There are government subsidized programs to help providers through the adoption and meaningful use process. In Iowa, IFMC Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center offers in-person assistance to area providers and hospitals. “Registration for the EHR Incentive Programs is an important step on the road to EHR adoption and reinforces our nation’s commitment to improving patient care,” said Susan Harr, program director. “At the local level, IFMC is here to help providers navigate through the entire process, from EHR selection to implementation to all stages of meaningful use. It’s all about improving care for Iowans.”

IFMC is one of 62 Regional Extension Centers designated as having the experience and capacity necessary to assist health care providers with the task of modernizing their practices with certified EHRs. By utilizing EHRs, providers can offer higher quality, safer care, and create tangible improvements to their practices, allowing them to make better clinical decisions, provide more coordinated care and increase efficiency in their offices.

In Iowa, IFMC works closely with partners such as the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Medicaid to ensure a statewide, coordinated approach to advance health IT and health information exchange. Kim Norby, State HIT Coordinator said, “The Office of Health IT at the Iowa Department of Public Health is also very excited about the kickoff of meaningful use incentives and is thankful for both the efforts of the Regional Extension Center and Medicaid toward this nationwide effort.”
Websites:
EHR Incentive Program Registration – https://ehrincentives.cms.gov/hitech/login.action
Iowa Medicaid Enterprise – http://www.ime.state.ia.us/Providers/EHRIncentives.html
Registration Guides – http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/20_RegistrationandAttestation.asp#TopOfPage
CMS EHR Incentives Website – https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/20_RegistrationandAttestation.asp

About Iowa’s Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center:
As the federally designated HIT Regional Extension Center for Iowa, IFMC will help at least 1,200 primary care providers and 87 critical access and rural hospitals improve care for their patients through the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs. IFMC’s strategy to successfully implement a self-sustaining Regional Center in Iowa builds on its practical experience, quality improvement expertise and high level technology support.  These competencies will help Iowa practices achieve meaningful use of EHRs and engage in health information exchange. For more information, visit www.iowahitrec.org or call 800-373-2964.