M2S® and SVS® Establish a Qualified Clinical Data Registry for Participants in the Vascular Quality Initiative®

Chicago, IL and West Lebanon, NH May 28, 2015 – The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and M2S, Inc., a leader in providing clinical outcomes data, have announced today that M2S has been accepted as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). M2S, as the exclusive registry provider to the SVS Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI), has provided information on quality reporting to CMS on behalf of VQI participating physicians since 2009. The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is a CMS program that uses payment adjustments to promote the reporting of quality information by providers. In the past, this has provided a bonus payment to physicians who satisfactorily reported quality measures, but going forward, it will impose a penalty on those who fail to report. The importance of the new QCDR program is that it allows the SVS and M2S to develop additional vascular quality measures that can be used by physicians with different practice profiles to report their quality.
PQRS was originally designed to improve quality of care by initially rewarding physicians for simply reporting quality measures. Effective with 2015 reporting for 2017 payment adjustments, it has transitioned into a penalty only phase for failure to report quality measures, and eventually it will reward or penalize physicians based on quality performance, not just for reporting. VQI data has been used by its members since 2011 to improve quality, reduce variation and reduce costs. It is aligned with the CMS goals of PQRS reporting, and the acceptance of M2S as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry will provide additional opportunities for VQI participants to demonstrate their commitment to quality and value going forward.
During the past year, SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee has worked with VQI members and M2S to create 15 new quality measures that assess appropriate care of patients with carotid, aortic, lower extremity and venous disease. Combined with 8 existing vascular PQRS measures, this creates a total of 23 potential quality measures for physicians who treat vascular disease, making it more likely that they can meet their PQRS reporting requirements. Physicians who fail to report will be at risk for reductions in their Medicare payments of 2% in 2017 based on their 2015 quality reporting. The new QCDR measures report not only immediate in-hospital outcomes, but also outcomes during one year follow-up, such as appropriate imaging after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. This is the first example of the use of longer term outcome measures for PQRS reporting, which is only possible because of the one-year follow-up data collected in VQI. Long-term outcomes are critical to the assessment of vascular treatment, and create a unique opportunity for physicians and centers who participate in VQI.

HealthTronics Invests in Additional Mobile Medical Technologies As Cost Efficient Solution for Hospitals, Doctors

HealthTronics Expands Portfolio, Acquires Mobile Laser Solutions Company
Austin, TX May 27, 2015 — In today’s healthcare landscape, where costs are growing and margins are getting tighter, it can be challenging for doctors and hospitals to keep up with the latest technology for cutting edge treatments.
Austin-based HealthTronics, Inc. is offering a solution to that problem, with minimally invasive, mobile medical therapies for clinically sophisticated applications. The company has now broadened its mobile medical portfolio with the acquisition of Laser Ventures, Inc., a mobile laser technology company based in Woodstock, Georgia. The company’s lasers are used for a wide variety of procedures, including urology, orthopedics, gynecology, neurology and many other indications.
“By mobilizing more technology, we can effectively and efficiently accommodate the needs of any size health care provider, from comprehensive medical centers to remote and rural communities,” explained Russell Newman, president of HealthTronics.
For over 25 years, HealthTronics has focused on providing mobile medical technology for urology indications. Since becoming an independent company in February 2014, HealthTronics has been acquiring companies and technologies to serve more specialists, including interventional radiologists and oncologists.
Newman says medical providers and healthcare facilities benefit from mobile technology because there is no large capital payment required, there is little to no risk of the device becoming obsolete, and there are no administrative headaches of maintaining the technology or training support staff to help operate it.
HealthTronics’ mobile medical technologies allow doctors and hospitals to access a device for individual procedures so that they can provide a wide array of clinical treatment options without purchasing and servicing big pieces of equipment. Current applications include lithotripsy, microwave ablation, nerve monitoring, laser treatment and cryotherapy for urology and interventional radiology.
HealthTronics delivers the mobile device to the medical facility where the physician conducts the procedure. A dedicated, highly trained HealthTronics technologist assists with operation of the equipment, and studies show that experienced technologists can directly impact the overall treatment success rates.1
HealthTronics is able to accommodate any size healthcare provider, from comprehensive medical centers to those in remote and rural communities.
Said Newman, “HealthTronics’ mobile health solutions can be used for treating cancerous tumors to breaking up kidney stones to nerve monitoring during delicate prostate cancer surgeries. And we’ll continue to listen to physicians and health industry experts to expand our minimally invasive treatment options moving forward.”

Penlon Staffers raise money for CLIC Sargent

Abingdon, UK May 21, 2015 — Staff at Penlon headquarters took part in Wig Wednesday yesterday raising money for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.
Colourful wigs, celebrity wigs, and simply outrageous wigs, we had a hair-lairious day, and all for a good cause!
CLIC Sargent was formed in 2005 through merger between CLIC and Sargent Cancer Care for Children. They provide clinical, practical, financial and emotional support. From diagnosis onwards their aim is to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement.

HealthTronics Announces Presentations at American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting

HealthTronics announces cryotherapy abstract presentations from urologists from around the country and the world at the American Urological Association annual meeting held May 15-19.
Austin, TX May 20, 2015 — HealthTronics, a leading provider of mobile medical treatments and services, announced that various urologists from around the country and the world presented abstracts relating to cryotherapy at AUA2015, the American Urological Association annual meeting held May 15-19 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cryotherapy is a technology that uses small ice crystals to destroy cancer, rather than drugs or radiation.
“HealthTronics is committed to working with some of the top urologists in the country toward the advancement of treatments for prostate and kidney cancer,” said Russell Newman, HealthTronics’ President. “The new research illustrates the important role of cryotherapy for these potentially deadly diseases.”
Cryotherapy treatment devices are among the top mobile medical technologies that Austin-based HealthTronics manufactures and distributes.
The cryotherapy presentations were as follows:
“Salvage Ultrasound Guided Targeted Microcryoablation of the Peri-Spermatic Cord for Persistent Chronic Scrotal Content Pain After Microsurgical Denervation of the Spermatic Cord.” Abstract number: PD40-04
“Outcomes of Salvage Prostate Cryoablation After Primary External Beam Radiation or Brachytherapy: Is There a Difference?” Abstract number: MP82-12
“Long-Term Morbidity and Oncological Outcomes of Salvage Cryotherapy of Radio-Recurrent Prostate Cancer.” Abstract number: MP78-08
“Prospective Quality of Life Impact Analysis Following Localized Prostate Cancer Treatments: Brachytherapy, Cryotherapy, and Radical Prostatectomy Long-Term Follow-Up.” Abstract number: MP14-02
“Comparing Oncologic Outcomes of Different Definitive Treatments for Prostate Cancer after a Period of Active Surveillance.” Abstract number: PD30-04
“Laparoscopic versus percutaneous cryoablation for T1 renal masses: an Italian multicentric study.” Abstract number: MP57-13

Quantum Health Named One of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Four Years Running

Columbus, OH May 12, 2015 – Quantum Health, the nation’s leader in care coordination and consumer navigation, announced today that is has been named one of the fastest growing women-owned/led companies in the U.S. by the Women President’s Organization (WPO). This is the eighth year the WPO has released its rankings, the second year nominations were open to global entries, and the fourth year that Quantum Health has made the list.
Founded in Columbus, OH in 1999 with just five employees, Quantum Health has grown to almost 500 employees serving more than 400,000 plan participants. The company manages over $6 billion in health plan spend on behalf of its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Health’s groundbreaking consumer behavior research led to the creation of the care coordination and consumer navigation segment, a rapidly growing healthcare sector.
“It is an honor to be recognized among such a distinguished group of women entrepreneurs,” said Kara J. Trott, chief executive officer and founder of Quantum Health. “Quantum Health’s remarkable growth is fueled by the dedicated and passionate team of professionals who work every day to deliver an exceptional member experience.”
The WPO award, in partnership with American Express Global Corporate Payments, ranked companies according to a sales growth formula that combines percentage and absolute growth. From this list, the 50 Fastest were selected. To qualify for the ranking, businesses must be privately held, women owned/led, and have reached revenue of at least $500,000 in 2010 and $2 million in 2014.