Latest news with #MassGeneralBrigham
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Best Buy restructures health unit
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Best Buy reported $109 million in charges primarily linked to restructuring at the electronics retailer's health unit in its first quarter, the company said in earnings released Thursday. The company began restructuring its health business after it recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $475 million in its fourth quarter ended Feb. 1, linked to a downward revision in the long-term financial projections for its health segment. The retailer partners with healthcare organizations to provide in-home health services, but the business has taken 'longer to develop than we initially thought,' as providers grapple with financial challenges and the future of the federal government's hospital at home waiver seems uncertain, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said during a call with investors Thursday. Best Buy Health offers technology and logistics to support home care, including services for seniors aging in place, remote patient monitoring and hospital at home. The retailer has notched several health technology acquisitions in recent years, including buying emergency response firm GreatCall in 2018 and senior remote monitoring company Critical Signal Technologies the following year. In 2021, Best Buy acquired home care platform Current Health. The company has also inked deals with health systems like Mass General Brigham, Geisinger and Atrium Health to support home care programs. Now, Best Buy seems to have hit some snags with its health unit. Although the company's active aging services, Lively senior cell phones and medical alerts, and parts of its care at home business 'remain very viable business models for the future,' its in-home health has been slower to scale, partly due to inconsistency in how long the federal government's hospital-at-home waiver will last, Barry said on an earnings call. The CMS' Acute Hospital Care At Home program, first enacted during the pandemic to boost hospital capacity during COVID-19 surges, allows approved Medicare-certified facilities to provide inpatient level care in patients' homes. But the program has only been extended for short bursts. In March, Congress extended the waiver through September, shortly before the program and Medicare telehealth flexibilities were set to expire. Another challenge for scaling hospital-at-home programs includes financial struggles among providers, Barry said. Hospitals have recently reported headwinds linked to market volatility and tariffs, as well as potential policy changes in Washington, like Medicaid cuts. Still, Best Buy expects benefits from 'ongoing efficiencies and effectiveness work streams,' including at the health unit, CFO Matthew Bilunas said on the earnings call. The company didn't respond to a request for comment for more details on its restructuring. 'I think all of us would agree we absolutely see a future where more of your healthcare is taken into your own hands using technology and technology devices,' Barry said. 'You can already see it across our assortment and across how people are choosing to take care of their own health and we will continue to lean into that part of the strategy.' Recommended Reading Best Buy inks third health system product development deal, with Mass General Brigham
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Massachusetts high school baseball player celebrates end of cancer treatment with teammates
The baseball field at North Reading High School has been getting a lot of use this season. They've made it to the playoffs after all. But their inspiration to play better and practice harder has come from a teammate who was not on the field this year. Brady Cullen is a 16-year-old sophomore at NRHS who would normally be finishing a spring season in his position on third base. Last August, he and his family got a devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor (pilocytic astrocytoma.) The non-cancerous tumor was too close to his brain stem to be operated on. After months of appointments, his medical team at Mass General Hospital recommended radiation to stop it from growing. Brady rings bell after six weeks of radiation This week, Brady finished his 30th session. Six weeks of radiation, five days a week. When Brady rang the bell in the halls of MGH he wasn't alone. "It was unbelievable. It was hard not to just break down right there in the hospital," Brady recalled. When he turned around, he found his entire baseball team lining up in the halls. Cheering him on as he left his last appointment in his months-long battle. North Reading sophomore Brady Cullen is greeted by his baseball teammates after completing his cancer treatments at Mass General Brigham. Mass General Brigham "They are my brothers and to see that combined with my family, it was so special," he said. "It just made me realize I am at peace with myself. I am at peace with my journey. I am where I want to be I am where I need to be and that will never change." Team makes trip to Boston Eric Archambault is the head coach of the North Reading High School baseball team. Coach Arch, as he's called, said it wasn't a question of whether the team would make the trip to Boston on Thursday. He said Brady never missed school and rarely missed practice or games as a team manager during his treatments. "We are seeing a kid with our very eyes attack a situation that nobody wishes for, and he takes it head on every single day," said Archambault. "Everyone wasn't supporting Brady just because of the diagnosis. We are supporting Brady because of who he is. He has touched everyone on the team throughout the years, and we look up to him." Brady said he plans to work with a physical therapist and get back out on the field. Overwhelmed and thankful for the army of support he had from his team and community. "Life is the most precious and beautiful thing, and it can be taken away so fast and I want them to realize that, embrace hardships because hardships build your character and they build who you are, and they make you stronger than ever," Brady said. "I know for damn sure I am stronger than ever from this. I am proud to say I came out on top with a whole new perspective on live and a new appreciation for it."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Doctors sound alarm over massive spike in Americans suddenly dropping dead from unexplained heart attacks
Americans are dropping dead from heart attacks at home at alarming rates, doctors warn. Researchers at Mass General Brigham, a Harvard-affiliated hospital, found that heart-related deaths gone up to 17 percent in the years following the Covid pandemic. And while the exact number is unknown, in many of these cases heart attacks have been at home, despite deaths in hospitals decreasing. This suggests patients are being 'missed' — until it is too late. Dr Jason H Wasfy, study author and director of Outcomes Research at the at Massachusetts General Hospital, said: 'Lots of reports have shown that there have been fewer heart attacks in hospitals since 2020 — but something seems to be missing from that data. 'We now show that if you account for deaths at home, cardiac deaths are going up and have stayed up for years. Today there are a lot more people having cardiac deaths at home, which also raises the concern that people with heart disease haven't been getting the care they need since the pandemic.' The Covid virus — which is thought to have infected over 100million Americans — has been shown to cause damage to the heart and blood vessels which may be a factor. But doctors say more factors must be at play, which are still being understood — including diet and lifestyle factors. For example, a study this week found smoking marijuana or consuming edibles may raise the risk. Though the full findings have not yet been released, the experts believe the pandemic could also be linked to a mystery rise in young Americans suffering heart attacks. The study, published Friday in JAMA Network Open, looked at 127,746 death certificates from people who died in Massachusetts between January 2014 and July 2024. The average age was 77 and about 52 percent were men. The researchers then made population estimates based on US Census data from 2014 to 2023. Using death certificate and census data, the team set an expected cardiac death rate for 2020 to 2023. They found cardiac deaths were 16 percent higher than expected in 2020, 17 percent higher in 2021 and 2022 and six percent higher in 2023. The amount of monthly cardiac deaths at home also exceeded expected levels between 2020 and 2022 and in hospitals between 2020 and 2023. However, they cited additional data showing heart attack hospitalizations decreased by 20 to 34 percent after the start of the pandemic. This suggests many of these excess deaths occurred at home. The researchers wrote: 'In this population-based cohort study of Massachusetts decedents, we found cardiac deaths increased substantially starting in 2020, with exaggerated seasonal patterns and increases in deaths at home. 'While numerous other studies have found fewer admissions for cardiac emergencies in countries across the world, these studies may have missed events occurring outside of hospitals.' The researchers suggested this increase could be due to more people avoiding hospitals during the pandemic or being dismissed by doctors. CDC research from 2020, for example, found 40 percent of Americans delayed or avoided seeking medical care at the start of the pandemic, and 12 percent stayed away from emergency rooms. However, emerging research also shows the Covid virus itself may cause long-term heart issues, increasing the risk of cardiac deaths. Data shows that heart attack cases are on the rise in young Americans Covid has been linked to myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, inflammation of the sac-like lining surrounding the heart. With myocarditis, it's thought that Covid causes the immune system to attack itself and cause inflammation of the myocardium, the heart's muscle. This same mechanism has been linked to pericarditis. While most cases are mild, in rare instances, myocarditis can damage the heart and make it difficult for it to pump blood, eventually leading to heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. In cases as rare as one in 200,000, the mRNA in Covid vaccines may trigger a similar immune response and cause myocarditis or pericarditis. Covid-induced inflammation also alters the heart's electrical signals, leading to irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. Research released this week also pointed to smoking weed or taking edibles at least three times a week as a potential cause of heart attacks. That team found endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and regulate blood flow, released less nitric oxide in people who regularly smoked marijuana or took edibles. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels dilate and deliver vital oxygen throughout the body. This impaired function affects the blood vessels' ability to dilate, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Dr John Hsu, senior study author of the new study and director of the Program for Clinical Economics and Policy Analysis at Mass General, said: 'Healthcare systems around the world have experienced multiple shocks since 2020. Our findings suggest that both patient choices about seeking care and outcomes after experiencing a cardiac emergency also have changed. 'Had we not examined mortality using death certificate data, the increases in population cardiac mortality could have gone unnoticed.' There were several limitations to the study, including the lack of data on the causes leading to cardiac death. It's unclear when the full findings will be released. The study was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
New Study Reveals Long Covid Symptoms In Children: What To Watch For
Several countries around the world including India are witnessing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. While the infection leads to respiratory symptoms for a few days, some serious consequences may last longer than expected. Long Covid is one of the serious complications of Covid-19 that can affect you for weeks and even months. For the unversed, long Covid is a collection of symptoms that you might experience after your initial Covid symptoms. Long Covid symptoms usually last for three months and even longer in some cases. Symptoms may stay the same over time, get worse, or go away and come back. Long Covid can cause extreme fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, problems with taste and smell, sleep issues, shortness of breath and frequent digestive issues. Symptoms of long Covid in children Symptoms of long Covid can affect people of all ages including children. A recent research, published in the JAMA Pediatrics has listed down the symptoms of long covid in children. However, these symptoms may vary depending on the child's age, whether they are an infant, toddler, preschool-aged child, or an older child. Researchers evaluated 472 infants/toddlers and 539 preschool-aged children across the US. Researchers at Mass General Brigham have mentioned that in children younger than 2 years old, symptoms may go unnoticed. Therefore, it is crucial for parents and caregivers to not ignore symptoms like fussiness, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, cough and stuffy nose. A dry cough along with daytime fatigue or low energy are signs observed in preschool-aged kids (3-5 years). The study also mentioned that children with these symptoms often had worse overall health, poor quality of life and delays in development. "This study is important because it shows that long COVID symptoms in young children are different from those in older children and adults," co-first author Tanayott (Tony) Thaweeth associate director of Biostatistics Research and Engagement at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School said in a release. Who is at risk of long Covid? Females Individuals who have had severe Covid-19 Those who had multisystem inflammatory disorder (MIS-C) during or after having Covid Individuals with pre-existing conditions like lung disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure Unvaccinated individuals If you have long Covid, seek help from an expert to prevent further consequences.
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
More than 55% of people hit the snooze button daily — here's how it impacts your brain and body
Indulging in a little extra sleep in the morning courtesy of the snooze button is something many of us will be familiar with. But now, a new study has shed light on just how many people have this habit. Looking at more than 3 million nights of sleep data from 21,000 people, the researchers found that more than 55% of sleep sessions ended with people pushing their snooze alarm for a few more minutes of shut-eye. If that doesn't apply to you and you're someone who jumps out of bed at the first sound of your morning alarm, I take my hat off to you. Because even as a well-rested sleep writer with a full-time job in learning how to optimize my sleep, I still find myself hitting snooze at least once in the morning. Maybe its because I sleep on an oh-so comfortable top-rated mattress so I can't resist an extra few minutes snuggled up in bed. But whatever the reason, hitting snooze is a habit I want to kick this summer. So, as well as exploring this latest research, I spoke to Dr. Leah Kaylor, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in sleep and trauma, about the risks of consistently hitting snooze, and what you should do to make that button less tempting. Pressing snooze in the morning happens in over 55% of sleep sessions, according to a new study by scientists at Mass General Brigham. Using data from the sleep analysis app Sleep Cycle, researchers analyzed the sleep habits of more than 21,000 people around the world over a six month period. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. They looked at more than three million night's of data and found 55.6% of sleep sessions logged ended with a snooze alarm. The researchers also found that the average snooze time was 10 minutes and 48 seconds, and that "of the sleep sessions ending with snooze alarm, snooze alarm was pressed on average 2.4 times." Those who slept nine hours or more were more likely to hit snooze (compared to those who slept for 7-9 hours or less than 7 hours), while people who went to bed earlier weren't as tempted to snooze as late sleepers. 45% of participants hit the snooze button for 80% of their sleep sessions The study revealed that the majority, 45%, of participants hit the snooze button for 80% of their sleep sessions, classifying them as 'heavy snooze alarm users'. Snoozing activity varied between days of the week. Overall, more people hit snooze on typical working days (Monday through Friday), while the snooze button got more of a rest on weekends. The researchers also found women are more likely to snooze than men, which could indicate further evidence of the gender sleep gap. The data showed women spent an average 11 minutes 30 seconds snoozing, while men spent an average 10 minutes 12 seconds. A recent study showed that around one third of people don't reach the recommended sleep target of 7-9 hours a night. So it's not surprising that many of us appear to be trying to cram in an extra few minutes when our alarms sound in the morning. But snoozing isn't the best way to handle a lack of sleep or sleep deprivation, as it causes more disruption in our natural sleep-wake cycle. According to the new study, experts say the sleep we get after hitting the snooze button is likely to be of poor quality. "While it feels comforting in the moment, hitting snooze disrupts your natural waking process and can lead to sleep inertia — that groggy, heavy-headed feeling that lingers after getting out of bed," explains Dr. Kaylor. This is because you're not getting "meaningful rest" during those extra 5 to 10 minutes, just "fragmented sleep that confuses your brain," she says. So, what happens to your brain and body when you press snooze? While you might think an extra few minutes kip is a good thing, the reality is likely to be the opposite. "Each time you snooze, your brain reinitiates part of the sleep cycle — often entering light or REM sleep, depending on timing," says Dr. Kaylor. "But because you're not asleep long enough to complete a full cycle, your brain is abruptly interrupted." The result? You may experience sleep inertia, reduced cognitive sharpness, moodiness, and even elevated blood pressure as your body keeps restarting the 'wake-up' process. Rather than hitting snooze, these expert recommended tips can help you get out of bed with energy to take on the day... Placing your alarm, be it your phone or a traditional alarm clock, across the room from where your bed is puts physical space between you and the snooze button, making it impossible to turn it off and roll over back to sleep. You'll have to get up to turn it off, and once you're out of bed it's much easier to feel alert and get on with your morning routine. The authors of the new study also noted that sleep experts suggest "setting an alarm for the last realistic wake time to allow for as much consolidated, uninterrupted sleep as possible." One of my key sleep tips will always be sleep with your blinds open. As your bedroom slowly fills with light, you gradually wake up. This allows you to reach the end of a sleep cycle, completing all essential sleep stages, without being jolted awake by a loud alarm. This way, you're more likely to wake up with energy as your sleep will have been more restorative. If your schedule requires you to wake up before the sun, consider investing in one of this year's best sunrise alarm clocks, which simulate a sunrise inside your bedroom, creating a more gentle wake-up call. Another way to help you wake up on time without hitting snooze is sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. This is where you wake up and go to sleep at roughly the same time each day. Doing so helps to align your natural circadian rhythm so your body gets used to releasing sleep and wake hormones at certain times of day. A healthy circadian rhythm should see melatonin production drop off towards the morning, so you feel less sleepy.
