Latest news with #Koehler
Malaysian Reserve
21-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
OMRON Healthcare Evolves the Blood Pressuring Experience with AI-powered AFib detection
Number one doctor and pharmacist-recommended blood pressure monitor brand introduces blood pressure monitors with OMRON Intellisense™ AFib HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Heralding an evolution of the blood pressure monitoring experience, heart health leader OMRON Healthcare today introduced home blood pressure monitors with built-in AI-powered detection of atrial fibrillation. In a medical device first, OMRON blood pressure monitors which feature the company's new novel machine learning IntelliSense™ AFib algorithm will automatically check for AFib during every blood pressure measurement and can provide early detection for a high stroke1 and heart failure2 risk. 'OMRON Healthcare is evolving the blood pressure monitoring experience by making AFib screening an integral part of every measurement. AFib is a serious condition that is widely undiagnosed. With Intellisense™ AFib, we are working to help anyone who uses our blood pressure monitors detect this condition earlier so they can reduce the associated stroke, heart failure and dementia risks,' said OMRON Healthcare U.S. Managing Director Alice Koehler. OMRON blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib are compatible with the OMRON Connect app and clinical accurate. OMRON Platinum BP5465: Featuring a backlit dual display and storage for 200 readings for two users (100 readings each user), OMRON Platinum is ranked by The New York Times Wirecutter as the overall 'best blood pressure monitor for home use'. OMRON 10 Series® BP7465: This OMRON best-seller features a large, backlit display with TruRead technology, stores 200 readings for two users (100 readings each user), and is recommended by Consumer Reports for its accuracy and ease of use. OMRON 7 Series® BP7360: With a large, easy-to-read display, this compact monitor stores 120 readings for two users (60 readings each user) and is rated by Health & Living as one of the Best Blood Pressure Monitors of 2025. OMRON Gold BP5360: A favorite for its sleek design and bright display, this monitor stores 160 readings (80 readings per user) and is highly rated as a 'premium option' by BPM Reviews for its exceptional accuracy and ease-of-use. 'Our blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib automatically screen for atrial fibrillation with every single measurement,' said Koehler. 'With this breakthrough AFib detection, OMRON is setting a new high standard for the blood pressure monitoring experience.' AFib is the most common type of heart arrythmia3. Left untreated, the condition increases risk of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, and dementia4. AFib risk factors accelerate over age 40 and include high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, heavy use of alcohol, and sleep apnea5. Medical experts say AFib has become a health epidemic6. A study published in the September 2024 Journal of the American College of Cardiology7 found that AFib is three times more prevalent than previously estimated. The American Stroke Association estimates that millions of Americans with AFib are undiagnosed8 and many may not experience symptoms9. OMRON IntelliSense™ AFib incorporates over 300 mathematical indices into a machine learning algorithm that analyzes the Pressure Pulse Wave generated as the blood pressure monitor cuff inflates. A clinical study published in the October 2024 Heart Rhythm Journal10 found that OMRON blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib can detect disturbances specific to AFib with remarkable accuracy. The FDA granted OMRON Healthcare medical-device authorization for Intellisense™ AFib via the agency's De Novo classification11, a regulatory pathway for first-of-their-kind innovations.12 With the launch of blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib, OMRON introduced an AFib education hub that explains the condition, its risk factors, and common symptoms. OMRON's AFib education hub provides details on how Intellisense™ AFib works and how OMRON developed the innovation as part of its Going for Zero mission. AFib education extends to the OMRON Connect app, which syncs with every Intellisense™ AFib blood pressure monitor via Bluetooth to iOS® and Android® devices. OMRON Connect charts user readings by the day, week, month and year. The app analyzes a user's trends and habits, presents insights to explain data, and provides daily reminders and progress reports. With OMRON Connect, a user can send heart health readings to a doctor. 'Research shows ninety percent of heart attacks and strokes are preventable13. By evolving the blood pressure monitoring experience with Intellisense™ AFib, OMRON is providing unprecedented at-home access to technologies that can make a world of difference in heart health,' said Koehler. About OMRON Healthcare, Healthcare, Inc., is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of personal heart health products and an innovator in technologies supporting respiratory and pain management care. With over 50 years of medical device category leadership, OMRON is passionate about empowering people to take charge of their health at home through precise technology. Its market-leading products include a full range of home blood pressure monitors, nebulizers and TENS devices. The company's mission is Going for Zero, the elimination of heart attacks and strokes. With more than 350 million devices sold globally, OMRON provides the world's most recommended blood pressure monitors by healthcare professionals. OMRON Healthcare strives to improve lives and contribute to a better society by developing innovations that help people prevent, treat, and manage their medical conditions. The company provides products and services in over 130 countries. For more information, visit 1 CDC AFib and Stroke AFib and Heart Failure CDC About Atrial Fibrillation AFib and Dementia Risk NIH AHAIASA Journals JACC study American Stroke Association Cleveland Clinic Heart Rhythm Journal, October 2024 FDA De Novo FDA De Novo AI First Cleveland Clinic
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OMRON Healthcare Evolves the Blood Pressuring Experience with AI-powered AFib detection
Number one doctor and pharmacist-recommended blood pressure monitor brand introduces blood pressure monitors with OMRON Intellisense™ AFib HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heralding an evolution of the blood pressure monitoring experience, heart health leader OMRON Healthcare today introduced home blood pressure monitors with built-in AI-powered detection of atrial fibrillation. In a medical device first, OMRON blood pressure monitors which feature the company's new novel machine learning IntelliSense™ AFib algorithm will automatically check for AFib during every blood pressure measurement and can provide early detection for a high stroke1 and heart failure2 risk. "OMRON Healthcare is evolving the blood pressure monitoring experience by making AFib screening an integral part of every measurement. AFib is a serious condition that is widely undiagnosed. With Intellisense™ AFib, we are working to help anyone who uses our blood pressure monitors detect this condition earlier so they can reduce the associated stroke, heart failure and dementia risks," said OMRON Healthcare U.S. Managing Director Alice Koehler. OMRON blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib are compatible with the OMRON Connect app and clinical accurate. OMRON Platinum BP5465: Featuring a backlit dual display and storage for 200 readings for two users (100 readings each user), OMRON Platinum is ranked by The New York Times Wirecutter as the overall "best blood pressure monitor for home use". OMRON 10 Series® BP7465: This OMRON best-seller features a large, backlit display with TruRead technology, stores 200 readings for two users (100 readings each user), and is recommended by Consumer Reports for its accuracy and ease of use. OMRON 7 Series® BP7360: With a large, easy-to-read display, this compact monitor stores 120 readings for two users (60 readings each user) and is rated by Health & Living as one of the Best Blood Pressure Monitors of 2025. OMRON Gold BP5360: A favorite for its sleek design and bright display, this monitor stores 160 readings (80 readings per user) and is highly rated as a "premium option" by BPM Reviews for its exceptional accuracy and ease-of-use. "Our blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib automatically screen for atrial fibrillation with every single measurement," said Koehler. "With this breakthrough AFib detection, OMRON is setting a new high standard for the blood pressure monitoring experience." AFib is the most common type of heart arrythmia3. Left untreated, the condition increases risk of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, and dementia4. AFib risk factors accelerate over age 40 and include high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, heavy use of alcohol, and sleep apnea5. Medical experts say AFib has become a health epidemic6. A study published in the September 2024 Journal of the American College of Cardiology7 found that AFib is three times more prevalent than previously estimated. The American Stroke Association estimates that millions of Americans with AFib are undiagnosed8 and many may not experience symptoms9. OMRON IntelliSense™ AFib incorporates over 300 mathematical indices into a machine learning algorithm that analyzes the Pressure Pulse Wave generated as the blood pressure monitor cuff inflates. A clinical study published in the October 2024 Heart Rhythm Journal10 found that OMRON blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib can detect disturbances specific to AFib with remarkable accuracy. The FDA granted OMRON Healthcare medical-device authorization for Intellisense™ AFib via the agency's De Novo classification11, a regulatory pathway for first-of-their-kind innovations.12 With the launch of blood pressure monitors with Intellisense™ AFib, OMRON introduced an AFib education hub that explains the condition, its risk factors, and common symptoms. OMRON's AFib education hub provides details on how Intellisense™ AFib works and how OMRON developed the innovation as part of its Going for Zero mission. AFib education extends to the OMRON Connect app, which syncs with every Intellisense™ AFib blood pressure monitor via Bluetooth to iOS® and Android® devices. OMRON Connect charts user readings by the day, week, month and year. The app analyzes a user's trends and habits, presents insights to explain data, and provides daily reminders and progress reports. With OMRON Connect, a user can send heart health readings to a doctor. "Research shows ninety percent of heart attacks and strokes are preventable13. By evolving the blood pressure monitoring experience with Intellisense™ AFib, OMRON is providing unprecedented at-home access to technologies that can make a world of difference in heart health," said Koehler. About OMRON Healthcare, Healthcare, Inc., is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of personal heart health products and an innovator in technologies supporting respiratory and pain management care. With over 50 years of medical device category leadership, OMRON is passionate about empowering people to take charge of their health at home through precise technology. Its market-leading products include a full range of home blood pressure monitors, nebulizers and TENS devices. The company's mission is Going for Zero, the elimination of heart attacks and strokes. With more than 350 million devices sold globally, OMRON provides the world's most recommended blood pressure monitors by healthcare professionals. OMRON Healthcare strives to improve lives and contribute to a better society by developing innovations that help people prevent, treat, and manage their medical conditions. The company provides products and services in over 130 countries. For more information, visit 1 CDC AFib and Stroke AFib and Heart Failure CDC About Atrial Fibrillation AFib and Dementia Risk NIH AHAIASA Journals JACC study American Stroke Association Cleveland Clinic Heart Rhythm Journal, October 2024 FDA De Novo FDA De Novo AI First Cleveland Clinic View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE OMRON Healthcare Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers ask federal government to approve Medicaid work requirements
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio's Medicaid work requirements could soon change if the federal government gives the state the green light. 'Really, we need to get people back on the field,' Senator Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) said. Koehler is behind Senate Concurrent Resolution 5. It is a proposal to require Ohioans who are under 55 and 'able bodied' to go back to work if they want to stay on Medicaid. 'We're not trying to push people off Medicaid expansion,' he said. 'We're just trying to ask them to get back on the field and start contributing.' The resolution will go to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where it will need to gain approval in order for Ohio to put work requirements in place. Koehler said he thinks his proposal is flexible, giving an estimated 61,000 Ohioans the option to work, go to school, or participate in something like a drug dependency program 80 hours a month to stay on the health care plan. The proposal gives Ohioans a year to figure it out. 'It's not a big commitment, it's not a full-time job,' Koehler said. 'That can be getting a job at McDonald's. Learning to show up. Learning to be on time. Learning to work underneath the direction from a manager. Those are the things we want to see happen.' But Representative Derrick Hall (D-Akron) said he thinks this proposal is misguided. He said while he is not against the idea of work requirements, these ones won't help Ohioans get back to work. 'There is no empirical evidence to suggest that,' Hall said. Hall said there are 'multiple holes' to this proposal that state Republicans are not accounting for. 'Some examples would include scenarios around folks who have transportation issues, folks that are our caregivers, folks that have certain mental and physical health conditions,' Hall said. 'Are you going to go out and find this person a better paying job so they can afford better transportation? Are we going to go into rural counties and start passing out bus passes to everybody?' Hall said a year also does not give Ohioans enough time to figure out things like care for a disabled person they may be taking care of, transportation, or even the time to land a job that is sustainable. 'A year may sound like a long time. But folks who live in these circumstances, what I would ask you is what in their circumstances would we expect to change in that year,' he said. 'It isn't an issue of kicking people off Medicaid,' Koehler said. 'It isn't an issue of saving the state dollars. It is an issue of helping people move slowly from being dependent to independent.' But Hall said this proposal risks leaving at least 2% of Ohioans without Medicaid, in turn increasing costs on taxpayers in the long run and leaving those uninsured Ohioans in the lurch. 'To sit here and say that that 98% is good enough, I reject that idea. It's not good enough. This is health care we're talking about here and people's lives are at risk,' Hall said. ''61,000 people may lose health care.' My response is no, 61,000 people who currently aren't working can move back to the workforce and keep the health care they have,' Koehler said. Ohio did get Medicaid work requirements approved by the Trump Administration back in 2019, but those were ultimately put on hold and rescinded by the Biden Administration before going into effect, and in part as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Madness, murder and rape on the Batavia: new theory on Australia's most horrific shipwreck
An 'evil' man took advantage of a shipwreck to lead a mutiny that caused the death of more than 100 men, women and children. So goes the story of the Batavia, wrecked off the West Australian coast in 1629. Survivors of the wreck found themselves marooned on a reef and chain of islands about 60km out to sea. Far from help, in the 'harsh and unforgiving end of the earth', the murders and rapes started. 'More than 100 people died in the grounding but the carnage didn't end there,' is how the Australian National Maritime Museum describes it. 'What befell the survivors was sheer horror – anarchy, tyranny, madness, murder and rape, in a reign of terror where people were picked off one-by-one. 'Only about a third of the 340 passengers and crew would live.' It's one of Australia's most horrifying incidents. Researchers are still studying the mass graves found on the islands. While no one doubts the terror that unfolded, a Dutch academic has posed a different theory: that rather than a dastardly plot, ordinary men were driven to terrible acts by starvation. It has been said the Batavia story parallels the TV show Yellowjackets, and it has also been credited with inspiring hit UK reality show The Traitors – which was originally going to be called The Mutineers. But what if we've got it all wrong? The cultural psychologist Jaco Koehler says there's an alternative scenario that provides 'a better explanation for what happened'. His theory – The Batavia Disaster: A new scenario to explain the massacre after the shipwreck – has been published in the May edition of the International Journal of Maritime History. Koehler writes that bias in the reports from the time and the use of torture akin to waterboarding cast doubt on the theory that one man plotted a mutiny and oversaw a massacre. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads 'It is remarkable that an unlikely story about a mad heretic plotting a massacre has been repeated uncritically for almost 400 years,' Koehler says. The Batavia, with experienced commander Francisco Pelsaert in charge, more than 300 people on board, and cargo containing silver coins, left Holland for the East Indies (Indonesia) in 1629. Pelsaert was at odds with ship's captain Adrian Jacobsz from the start, for issues including drunkenness. Jacobsz was friendly with under-merchant Jeronimus Cornelisz, the third most important person on the ship. On 4 June 1629, the Batavia was wrecked on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, off the west coast of Australia. Pelseart rose from his sickbed to shout at Jacobsz: 'Skipper, what have you done, that through your reckless carelessness, you have run this noose round our necks?' Some of those who didn't drown stayed on the ship until it broke up completely. Others made their way to the surrounding islands. Most gathered on a small, waterless island that came to be known as Batavia's Graveyard. Pelseart and other senior officers left the survivors behind to search for water, and ended up sailing to Jakarta (then Batavia) to find help. More than three months passed before the commander returned. In his absence, Cornelisz took charge. He started ordering the murder of the remaining survivors in the hopes of taking the coins and treasures in Batavia's cargo hold. He tricked some into believing water could be found on another island, sent some on useless errands where his allies would push them overboard, and sent resistance soldiers off without weapons, not expecting them to survive. Those soldiers found food and water, and sent smoke signals to alert the others – but they were ignored. The soldiers didn't die, and eventually overpowered Cornelisz when he went after them. When Pelsaert finally returned, he took the mutineers prisoner, and heard confessions about the murders carried out under the orders of Cornelisz. He heard that Jacobsz and Cornelisz had always planned to kill any opposition and that they intended to 'throw the dead overboard and then go pirating with the ship'. Pelsaert sent Cornelisz and the condemned mutineers to the gallows. Koehler read Pelsaert's journals, which had records of the interrogations. Sign up to Five Great Reads Each week our editors select five of the most interesting, entertaining and thoughtful reads published by Guardian Australia and our international colleagues. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Saturday morning after newsletter promotion He writes that Pelsaert was 'both judge and prosecutor' in a case where he had abandoned survivors, which might not bode well for his career. Pelsaert's story was 'partly based on confessions obtained through waterboarding', he writes, and the accuracy of information extracted under torture should be questioned. Koehler's alternative scenario describes 'extreme violence driven by famine'. There were too many people and not enough food. With Pelsaert gone, there was a 'power vacuum'. Some formed a gang, thieving food, intimidating survivors, and raping women. Eventually people were willing to kill to survive, he writes. And since then, confirmation bias – 'the tendency to favour evidence that supports existing beliefs, while paying little attention to evidence that is inconsistent with those beliefs' – may have played a role in the enduring belief in Pelsaert's story, Koehler continues. The wreck was found in 1963. Today, researchers are still studying the artefacts and gravesites. They have welcomed this new theory on the Batavia massacre, although they did not necessarily agree with the alternative explanation. Prof Alistair Paterson, from the University of Western Australia's School of Social Sciences and the Oceans Institute, and Dr Wendy van Duivenvoorde, professor of maritime archaeology at Flinders University, are among those working on site alongside the WA Museum. The project is funded by the Australian Research Council. Paterson says the team is still studying up to 22 individuals buried in mass graves, and they still only partially understand what happened. 'We ended up finding a series of mass burials … which doubled down on the idea that what we now know as Beacon Island was really Batavia's Graveyard … it's akin to a church burial ground,' he says. 'We need to understand what social processes were occurring so that people were murdered, controlled, and contained to that island. 'We have the archaeological and the historical narrative and we will always need to hone our theories regarding how this event occurred.' Van Duivenvoorde says Koehler's theory was a 'fascinating' approach that she would share with her students. She said 'of course' there was bias in the records – but she does not agree with his conclusions. 'I've worked on those islands, as have a lot of other archaeologists and forensic specialists … there are some resources available that are accessible, especially on the bigger islands, the flora that's edible, fresh water sources, and so on,' she says. 'It was obviously a desperate situation … [but] if survival was the primary goal of the killings, why didn't they move to West and East Wallabi island? 'It's interesting, it has a lot of interesting new things in it, but I'm not convinced.' Corioli Souter, the head of maritime heritage at WA Museum, says the survivors would have suffered some deprivations, but the question is why the survivors did not follow the smoke signals to find those resources if famine was the rationale for the mutiny. 'Surely, moving the survivors to an area with resources would be the next step,' she says. Koehler suggests that people accept the narrative that Cornelisz was behind the massacres because 'we prefer the notion of an individual corrupted by evil'. 'It saves us from a much more disturbing thought: that mass murder does not arise from [the] monstrosity of a single individual, but from moral decay set in motion by the collapse of authority and the disintegration of social structures,' he says.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
No, Home Depot isn't charging parking fees: April Fools' Day prank sparks rumors
No, Home Depot isn't charging parking fees: April Fools' Day prank sparks rumors Show Caption Hide Caption What is the origin of April Fools' Day? April Fools' Day is celebrated annually on April 1. Here are some facts you probably didn't know about the unofficial holiday. unbranded - Lifestyle A recent rumor has fooled some Home Depot customers into believing they will soon pay before even entering a store. Online product outlet Pro Tool Reviews published a report Tuesday that alleged Home Depot will soon implement a parking fee to as part of a "surprising and unconventional response to rising inflation." The article reported that a parking fee structure would vary by location ranging from "$2 for up to two hours in central Florida to $5 for a full day of parking in Los Angeles." However, the post was part of an elaborate April Fools' Day prank that cited a fictional press release from a nonexistent Home Depot spokesperson. The article written by editorial staff was posted Tuesday, on the playful holiday known for pranks and listed an "April Fool's" tag at the bottom. "Inflation has hit us hard, from supply chain costs to labor shortages," fictional spokesperson Tucker Lotman said in the false press release. "By implementing a modest parking fee, we can avoid passing these costs directly onto our customers through higher prices on lumber, tools, and gardening supplies." Is Home Depot actually adding a parking fee? No, Home Depot is not adding a parking free. The rumor commenced after the Pro Tool Reviews article reported a fabricated press release claiming the store chain would begin to charge for parking unless a customer spent at least $250 in a single visit or enrolled in the store's loyalty program. The post succeeded in fooling some readers, with one X reader expressing frustration and vowing to no longer shop at the store chain. The store's official X account responded to several users to debunk the rumor with one reply reading, "Hi Rocky, this is an April Fools' post from a tool review website. We do not charge for parking." The outlet returned to reporting the truth on Wednesday, publishing a story on Home Depot's Spring Black Friday citing legitimate deals customers can use. Outlet does April Fools' articles every year Pro Tool Reviews Editor-in-Chief Kenny Koehler said the online publication does April Fools' Day prank articles every year, though they typically don't generate as much conversation. "As a team, we enjoy good-natured humor and love laughing with other people," Koehler said in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday. "The idea came about as we put ourselves in the shoes of these companies and wondered what might be an over-the-top response to inflation. As we batted around brands and ideas, the idea of charging for parking came up, and that's how Home Depot came into the story." Koehler called the article's high viewership "truly humbling" adding that the Pro Tool Reviews team hopes "people got a chuckle out of it when they realized they'd been fooled. We hope our friends over at Home Depot were able to laugh as well."
