Locked In, Left Out: Mental Health in Prison
This international series examines the mental health crises unfolding behind bars, from the solitary cells of Canadian detention centers to Spain's overstretched prison clinics, Germany's under-resourced psychiatric care, and Finland's efforts to balance punishment with rehabilitation. Many doctors working in prisons speak of the deep rewards of providing care in this setting. But structural change is needed. This series reveals not only how we treat mental illness in prison, but what that says about the values of our health systems — and our societies.
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Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
A Liver Ultrasound: What This Procedure Means
Your doctor may recommend a liver ultrasound to check for signs of liver disease, and knowing what to expect can help put you at ease. A liver ultrasound is one of a few tests your doctor can order if they want to check your liver. An ultrasound scan (also known as sonography) is a noninvasive procedure that captures live images of your organs using high-frequency sound waves. A liver ultrasound is an essential tool that helps doctors see your liver and its blood vessels in real time. It's a type of abdominal ultrasound. If your doctor has ordered a liver ultrasound, it might mean they want to confirm or rule out a liver condition. Keep reading to learn what conditions a liver ultrasound can detect, what to expect from the procedure, how accurate it is, how much you might need to pay for it, and other useful information. Why is an ultrasound needed to test for liver disease? Liver disease is a general term that refers to a group of conditions affecting your liver. These conditions may have different causes, but all of them can damage your liver and affect your general health. Some of the most common liver conditions are: hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver steatotic liver disease, formerly known as fatty liver disease, or a buildup of fat in the liver autoimmune liver disorders, which result from your immune system mistakenly attacking the cells in your liver liver cancer liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure, which involve scarring and damage from liver disease Doctors usually recommend liver ultrasounds for the following reasons: if you show symptoms of liver disease, such as jaundice or pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen (where the liver is located) if you have high liver enzymes on a blood test called the liver function test as a screening tool for liver conditions The purpose of a liver ultrasound is to visualize your liver and record its blood flow. This helps doctors confirm or rule out liver conditions. What should you see on an ultrasound for liver disease? Liver ultrasounds don't usually require special preparation, but your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink anything several hours before the procedure. During the scan, you'll lie still on a scanning table. An ultrasound technician will place a scanner in different spots around the upper right segment of your abdomen. The resulting images will show up on a computer screen in real time. After the ultrasound is done, a doctor will check the ultrasound images. They will look for the following signs of liver disease: liver inflammation, a sign of hepatitis a buildup of fat associated with steatotic liver disease masses or lesions, which can indicate liver cancer changes in the appearance of the liver, such as nodules, which can signify cirrhosis Is a liver ultrasound accurate? A liver ultrasound is a useful tool in identifying certain types of liver disease. It's often the first test your doctor will order if they suspect a liver condition. It's a quick, safe, painless, and relatively inexpensive test. In the past, doctors relied more heavily on liver biopsy to diagnose, stage, and grade liver disease. However, newer research indicates that new liver ultrasound technologies are able to accurately detect liver disease. What does an ultrasound cost for liver disease? On average, an abdominal liver scan can cost around $1,400. However, most health insurance providers cover this procedure. Liver ultrasound costs will vary based on: where you live whether you have medical insurance the type of ultrasound Frequently asked questions How do you diagnose fatty liver disease? A doctor can diagnose steatotic liver disease using a combination of the following tests: liver ultrasound X-ray, CT, or MRI scans of the abdomen transient elastography (also known as FibroScan), shear wave elastography, or acoustic radiation force impulse imaging, which assesses liver stiffness magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), which combines MRI with low frequency sound waves to create a visual map showing liver stiffness Can you get an ultrasound for alcohol liver disease? Long-term, excessive alcohol use can lead to a buildup of fat in the liver known as alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), or steatosis. Metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD), a form of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), refers to liver damage due to alcohol use along with other risk factors, such as obesity or diabetes. It causes liver inflammation and scarring and can eventually lead to cirrhosis. Liver ultrasound is one of the tests used to diagnose fat in the liver. Other tests may include: a complete blood count (CBC) a liver function test CT or MRI scans a liver biopsy Is there an ultrasound for liver disease in dogs? Similar to humans, abdominal ultrasounds are commonly used in dogs and cats when a vet suspects a liver condition. Symptoms of liver disease in pets can be subtle but may include: appetite issues orange urine jaundice weight loss excessive drinking or excessive urinating light colored stool Can an abdominal ultrasound check for chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance? Certain types of liver disease can increase your risk of developing liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of that, doctors recommend regular screening for HCC in people with cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C every 6 months.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
AI and Advanced Analytics Drive Transformation in Physician Revenue Cycle Management: Black Book's 2025 Vendor Rankings by Practice Size and Specialty
Survey findings underscore significant improvements in medical practice denial management, patient engagement, and operational efficiency driven by advanced technologies. DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / June 27, 2025 / Black Book Research, the independent authority on healthcare technology performance, today announced its 2025 rankings of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) vendors serving U.S. physician practices. Based on survey responses from 8,018 client users across group practices, MSOs, and solo physicians, Black Book assessed vendor performance from September 2024-June 2025 in these 19 essential RCM categories, segmented by practice size and clinical type: End-to-End RCM Software Platforms Primary Care / Medicine-Based Practices Top Vendor: Veradigm Payerpath Awarded for comprehensive RCM workflow automation, payer connectivity, and EHR interoperability. Specialty & Surgical Practices Top Vendor: ModMed BOOST (Modernizing Medicine) Excels in specialty-specific coding automation, surgical billing workflows, and ophthalmology/dermatology integration. __________ Financial Communications & Patient Satisfaction Tools Primary Care / Medicine-Based Practices Top Vendor: Phreesia Praised for large-scale patient intake, digital consent, upfront cost transparency, and patient satisfaction tools. Specialty & Surgical Practices Top Vendor: Luma Health Rated highly for referral communications, surgical prep education, and procedure-specific billing notifications. __________ Patient Engagement & Financial Communications Top Vendor: InteliChart Recognized for its comprehensive patient engagement solutions including portals, scheduling, intake, notifications, surveys, virtual care, and billing communication, significantly enhancing patient satisfaction and revenue collection. __________ Physician Clearinghouse Solutions Top Vendor: Waystar Clearinghouse Rated #1 for large-practice scalability, payer EDI integration, and advanced denial tracking. __________ Patient Financial Access Solutions Top Vendor: Experian Health Integrates financial clearance, ID verification, and prior auth into EHR systems at scale. __________ Outsourced RCM Services EHR System-Based Practices Top Vendor: Greenway Revenue Services Offers end-to-end outsourced RCM services designed specifically for ambulatory and primary care practices, with deep analytics, comprehensive denial management, and EHR integration. EHR-Agnostic RCM Services Top Vendor: R1 RCM Recognized for EHR-agnostic ambulatory RCM services, providing comprehensive outsourced revenue cycle management solutions across diverse physician practice environments. __________ AI-Driven RCM Solutions Top Vendor: IKS Health Specialty-focused, AI-powered RCM solutions excelling in coding automation, payer rule intelligence, predictive analytics, denial management, and scalable staffing augmentation. __________ Physician Practice Claim Processing and Billing Optimization Top Vendor: RapidClaims Recognized for its AI-driven claim processing efficiency, billing accuracy, rapid reimbursement cycles, and client satisfaction specifically tailored to physician practice needs. __________ Revenue Cycle Workflow Optimization Top Vendor: MedEvolve Awarded for its innovative workflow automation solutions, real-time analytics, productivity enhancement, and operational cost reduction specifically tailored for physician groups and practices. __________ Insurance Discovery Solutions Top Vendor: FinThrive Recognized for its efficiency in identifying missed insurance coverage and optimizing reimbursements. __________ Patient Financing & Medical Loan Top Vendor: CarePayment Awarded for superior patient-friendly financing solutions, zero-interest payment plans, flexible repayment options, enhanced patient satisfaction, and increased collection rates. __________ Patient Identifier Solutions & EMPI Top Vendor: Verato Praised for its advanced patient identification technology ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple practice locations. __________ Patient Revenue Intelligence and Analytics Top Vendor: Innovaccer Recognized for its AI-powered data activation platform (DAP), patient 360 insights, and advanced analytics, providing actionable intelligence to maximize revenue and support value-based care models. __________ Revenue Integrity & Billing Compliance Software Top Vendor: FinThrive Awarded for robust revenue integrity and compliance software tailored specifically for physician practices, proactively managing coding accuracy, compliance oversight, and reimbursement optimization. __________ Extended Business Office Services Top Vendor: Xtend Healthcare Recognized for scalable extended business office (EBO) solutions tailored for physician organizations and MSOs, Xtend Healthcare delivers high-performance A/R resolution, legacy system support, and end-to-end receivables management that accelerates cash flow and reduces administrative burden. __________ Government Reimbursement Services Top Vendor: AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions Rated highly for its expertise in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement processes, AdvantEdge supports compliance-driven billing services, encounter data integrity, and appeals management, helping physician practices and FQHCs navigate complex government payer landscapes. __________ Complex Claims Resolution Solutions Top Vendor: Knowtion Health Specializing in complex, denied, or aged claims, Knowtion Health offers robust resolution pathways for high-dollar or regulatory-sensitive A/R, with predictive analytics, payer intelligence, and denial remediation services specifically designed for physician practices and surgical centers. __________ Charge Capture & Price Transparency Tools Top Vendor: Vitalware (by Health Catalyst) Vitalware is recognized for its comprehensive charge capture and pricing transparency platform, enabling physician groups to ensure compliant, complete charge documentation and provide patients with real-time, accurate estimates aligned with No Surprises Act regulations. __________ Payment Processing & Merchant Services for Providers Top Vendor: InstaMed (a J.P. Morgan company) InstaMed leads in secure, compliant payment processing and digital merchant services tailored for physician practices, offering integrated point-of-service collections, online billing, and automated reconciliation across patient and payer transactions. __________ Key Findings from the 2025 Survey 81% of physician groups are actively replacing at least one RCM technology or service vendor in 2025 due to automation gaps or inadequate support for value-based care contracts. 87% of specialty practices report significant improvements in denial management after switching to a top-ranked clearinghouse or outsourcing vendor. 68% of small/solo physicians say that simplified, low-touch billing technology with live customer support is more important than EHR integration. 'No two physician practices are the same. Our segmented rankings by size and specialty give medical leaders the clarity they need to select the right-fit RCM partner,' said Doug Brown, Founder of Black Book Research. 'As value-based models expand and patient financial engagement becomes critical, vendors that serve solo family doctors must be evaluated differently than those supporting 100-provider surgical networks.' About Black Book Research Black Book™ is the leading source for independent, crowdsourced healthcare IT and services vendor performance data. Over 3.4 million healthcare professionals have contributed to Black Book's impartial scoring of over 1,000 RCM software firms and outsourcing partners. Competitive scorecard intelligence reports may be requested through [email protected] . Gratis Black Book industry research reports are available at for all healthcare IT stakeholders. Contact InformationPress Office 8008637590 SOURCE: Black Book Research press release
Entrepreneur
2 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
My Success Felt Hollow — Until I Made This Pivotal Leadership Shift
Over 50% of CEOs are struggling with mental health. Part of the reason is that they are chasing a version of success that doesn't resonate with their identity. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Four years ago, I hit a breaking point. On paper, I had everything — degrees from Harvard and Oxford, a Rhodes Scholarship, bestselling books and stood alongside icons like Oprah and Richard Branson. I had launched global movements and built international organizations. But inside, I was empty. A traumatic event in 2020 forced me to confront what I'd been ignoring: I was burned out, disillusioned and spiritually disconnected. I had followed the script for success — achievement, recognition, scale — but it had left me physically depleted and mentally adrift. And while the personal toll was staggering, the professional cost was even greater. I realized something many leaders quietly suspect: You can't lead well when you're running on empty. Related: How to Escape Entrepreneurial Burnout When You Can't Just Quit Fulfillment isn't a luxury — it's a leadership strategy Burnout among top leaders is more than a personal problem. A 2024 study found 55% of CEOs reported experiencing a mental health issue in the past year — a 24% increase from the year before. Leaders who feel unfulfilled make poorer decisions, struggle to build trust and drain culture. But when leaders feel connected to purpose, teams thrive. Engagement and retention go up. So does creativity, clarity and momentum. Fulfillment fuels everything. From breakdown to breakthrough What pulled me out wasn't another productivity hack — it was a deeper reset. I asked questions I'd been avoiding: Who am I without the work? What truly brings me joy? What do I want this all to mean? That journey led me through a full personal overhaul — biohacking, longevity medicine and deep self-reflection. But the biggest shift wasn't physical. It was internal. It was about redefining success — not as output, but as alignment. Here's what I now practice — and share with the leaders I mentor. Reclaim your morning Instead of starting the day in reaction mode (email, Slack, to-do lists), I protect the first 90 minutes for myself. Meditation, movement, reading — whatever connects me to clarity before the noise begins. Tip: Ask yourself each morning: What would make today feel meaningful, regardless of outcome? Start there. Audit your energy, not just your time Your calendar reveals what you truly value. If most of it drains you, no supplement or sprint will fix it. I started building "fulfillment time" into my schedule — mentoring, hiking, ideating. It made me a better, more present leader. Try this: Look at last week's calendar. Highlight everything that lit you up in green. Everything that drained you in red. Then, make one adjustment. Lead from purpose, not just pressure Metrics matter. But when pressure is your only motivator, burnout is inevitable. Purpose sustains you. Create a one-line purpose statement for yourself as a leader. Keep it visible. Let it guide how you show up for your team. Talk about fulfillment out loud For years, I kept conversations about meaning and mental health private. Now, I bring them into team check-ins and leadership meetings. When we normalize these discussions, we build more human, resilient cultures. Try asking your team: What part of your work has felt most meaningful lately? Related: How to Escape Entrepreneurial Burnout When You Can't Just Quit The wake-up call that too many leaders ignore If you're succeeding outwardly but feeling lost, it's not weakness — it's a signal. Your burnout isn't a badge of honor. And your fulfillment isn't a personal indulgence — it's a professional responsibility. Because when you're grounded, whole, and purpose-driven, the ripple effect is powerful: stronger teams, healthier cultures and companies built to last. You didn't come this far just to feel numb at the top. Do the work. Define what matters. And lead like it.
