2018 Best Innovation in Medical Technology Award – Bruin Biometrics
March 27, 2018 – The Health Service Journal has named Bruin Biometrics, LLC (“BBI”), as the winner of its 2018 Best Innovation in Medical Technology Award. The device is their SEM Scanner which has identified early detection of pressure ulcers. This same device was also awarded as the 2018 Most Innovative Product by Journal of Wound Care.

This new scanner is a portable handheld device that uses electrodes placed on the skin surface which assess electrical capacitance of the subdermal tissues. In doing so it is able to identify early subdermal tissue moisture which is a biomarker for early inflammation and the related damaged tissue. This then serves as a diagnostic indicator for the onset of pressure ulcers allowing early intervention.

The technology is new and ongoing. The website reports a new version that will allow the scanner to capture real-time data, transmit it to a BBI databank and then transmit an early report to the physician or other provider managing the patient.

Epidemiology cited in the BBI release suggests that pressure ulcers occur in 25% of patients in acute care and long-term care facilities in the United States. We all know that there is a significant disproportionality with much higher numbers in the elderly, stroke victims and others with limited mobility. The article reports that there are 60,000 pressure ulcers diagnosed in the US annually with an associated cost to the healthcare delivery system US $11 billion annually. In the USA, pressure ulcers account for more annual deaths than the opioid crisis.

FDA approval in the US has been applied for and now pending. Look for more information on this technology moving forward. APWH has contacted BBI for any updating information as it becomes available.

Those interested for more information can contact BBI Company, Media Contact: Amiad Finkelthal, Russo Partners; http://www.bruinbiometrics.com

APWH received BBI release on March 27, report by Steven Kravitz, DPM, FAPWHc, Executive Director of APWH.

Medscape-In Focus; March 28, featured an article “Should Patients Call You By Your First Name?”

I found the article and concept interesting as point of discussion. It pointed out that there has been many changes in the past 50 years with physician-patient relationship. 50 and more years ago it would be almost inconceivable for a patient to refer to their family physician or specialist by the physician’s first name. It was a day in which people went to the theater in formal dress, had dinner with jackets and ties. That formality has changed and today we have “Casual Dress Friday” in the workplace, casual dress in schools the theater etc. Rarely does anyone dress for dinner.

There’s also been changes with the practice of medicine with an increasing litigious society. The relationship the physician establishes with the patient is primary in decreasing litigious probability. Notwithstanding the quality of the practice of medicine, a poor “physician-patient relationship” has been well documented one of, if not the leading causes of miscommunication, unrealistic expected outcomes, the rejection of the concept that even with the best care sometimes unfortunately outcomes are not optimal and the resultant legal action.

In today’s environment that first visit is extremely important and if the patient feels better calling his physician by first name, my opinion is “so be it”. I don’t see it is a lack of respect rather as a differential with how different people relate to others.

We are open to comment so feel free to drop a line. I did not do further research on the subject so this is simply “one person’s opinion”

Steven Kravitz, DPM, FAPWHc, Executive Director of the APWH