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New high-tech health screening technology to detect COVID-19 symptoms

Ontario Tech University

As a research leader in the ethical deployment of new technologies, Ontario Tech University is working with data sensory and ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) company SmartCone Technologies to test a high-tech system capable of real-time multi-symptom screening for COVID-19. Making sense of scent loss Loss of smell is a common indicator of COVID-19 infection. Various research studies show loss of smell affects anywhere between 80 and 96 per cent of COVID-19-positive patients. U.S. agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health recognize and recommend smell testing for COVID-19 screening. SmartCone’s anonymous, two-step web-based health-screening process, dubbed SYMP2PASS, combines COVID-19 sense-of-smell testing with smart kiosks, thermal scanners, and other technologies to provide private, speedy, and reliable COVID-19 screening without accessing personal information: At home: In the privacy of their own home, a person uses their smart device to scan the QR code located on the company’s SYMP2PASS scent test packet, completes the smell test, and answers additional screening questions. They receive immediate confirmation of test results. In public spaces: If the person passes the at-home pre-screening, they will receive another QR code that provides a 24-hour ‘Day Pass’ to enter a SYMP2PASS Smart Kiosk set up at the entry point to the public venue they wish to access. The kiosk has a thermal camera with a sensor that tests for fever. The kiosk also uses mask-image recognition to ensure anyone entering a location is wearing a mask. SmartCone has a federal research contract with Innovation, Science and Economic Development's (ISED) Innovation Solutions Canada Sector to develop the technology. SYMP2PASS benefits SmartCone estimates onsite point-of-entry screening can reduce COVID-19 spread by up to 75 per cent, making the system ideal for any business or high-traffic location, such as professional sports stadium or a major amusement park. SYMP2PASS will: Help organizations follow current and future screening requirements mandated by various levels of governments and health authorities. Collate data from all access points and in-home measurements to ensure employers meet all privacy regulations. Support workplace contact-tracing capabilities. Warn participants of positive test results. Provide access control for visitors/guests and employees. Quotes “A crucial role the Ontario Tech University research enterprise plays is supporting lab-to-market initiatives. Our collaboration with SmartCone and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is an exemplar of this role and will be a model for future product research, testing and validation of new technologies.” - Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University "Innovation, Science and Economic Development was instrumental in being able to demonstrate our ability to fight COVID. They were very professional, organized and easy to work with. SmartCone is now selling to U.S. companies as a direct result of the demonstration." - Jason Lee, CEO, SmartCone Technologies About SYMP2PASS Powered By SmartCone SYMP2PASS, developed in conjunction with doctors and researchers, is the first anonymous end-to-end advanced health screening web process. Using our patent pending ScentsiBLE scent test paired with multi-symptom survey, SYMP2PASS will help reduce the spread of COVID and save businesses and countries millions of dollars. Learn more at www.symp2pass.com About SmartCone Technologies, Inc. SmartCone Technologies Inc. (SCTI) is a unique data sensory company that commercializes new Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies powering a wide array of sensors, edge computing, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence (AI). TheSmartCone™ solutions have been used most recently in " Return to Work " solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as securing dangerous work sites, controlling bicycle lane traffic, managing vehicle fleets, smart warehouses, crowd control, and more. Visit us at www.thesmartcone.com Contact Details Tenille Houston +1 613-617-7467 tenille@thesmartcone.com

June 16, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Survey Says 66% Of California Independent Physicians Have Optimistic Outlook, While COVID-19 Pandemic Spurred Re-evaluation of Their Work Lives

Altais

While clinician burnout following the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely documented, a recent survey of independent physicians across California, conducted by Altais, in partnership with California Medical Association and Brown & Toland Physicians, indicates that, in California, the news is not all bad: 66% of respondents characterized as “very or somewhat optimistic” their general outlook and attitude looking to the future, vs. 20% who feel “very or somewhat pessimistic.” 65% reported experiencing “excellent or good” overall physical and mental health right now, vs. 14% reporting “fair or poor” overall health. At the same time, the survey made clear that the last 16 months of the pandemic have had an impact on how providers view their professional choices: 56% of respondents reported that a primary source of work-related stress during the pandemic was the overall financial performance of their practice; 42% named reduced patient visits as a primary stressor. 44% responded that the pandemic “changed how I think about work-life balance.” 35% reported that the pandemic “confirmed my commitment to independent practice,” while 25% said they “question my commitment to independent practice.” 35% reported that the pandemic “confirmed my commitment to practicing medicine,” while only 14% say they question that commitment. Telehealth and other technologies played a significant role in helping physicians and patients navigate the pandemic, and they appear to be a permanent part of healthcare’s future. Respondents confirmed this shift as follows: 30% responded that the past year “made me want to use technology more to see my patients.” 47% had not previously used telehealth to see patients. 39% responded that telehealth “played a crucial role in my ability to continue to care for patients.” 46% see telehealth as “a staple” of future practice. 4% reported that telehealth “did not work for my practice” According to Medscape’s 2021 Physician Burnout & Suicide Report, 42% of physicians reported feeling burnout in 2020. “We’ve known about the challenge of physician burnout for a long time,” said Dr. Jeff Bailet, CEO of Altais. “Pressures are particularly keen for independent physicians, which is why Altais’ mission is to create business systems and solutions specifically for them. Physician gratification is the critical fourth element of healthcare’s quadruple aim. We’re encouraged by the survey respondents’ increased optimism and renewed commitment to the practice of medicine. At the same time, we hear their need for more support loud and clear.” Survey methodology and respondents The survey was conducted online, shared via email with 9,564 independent physicians throughout California, in April and May 2021. About the 318 respondents: Geographic distribution: 51% are located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area; 18% in the greater Los Angeles area; 11% in greater San Diego and 20% distributed throughout the rest of the state. Type of medical practice: 58% are a specialty practice; 42% are primary care. Size of practice: 83% are in small/solo practice (fewer than 10 practitioners). About Altais Altais is a healthcare services company that helps physicians and the clinical community maximize the health and well-being of their patients in an affordable and sustainable way. Altais has two divisions. Altais Clinical Services offers a range of affiliation and employment models for physicians, and high-quality, affordable care for patients. Altais Health offers a broad platform of clinical support tools and technology, along with high-touch support. Altais seeks to enhance the vibrancy of physician practice and strengthen the heart of medicine – physicians connecting with patients and providing personalized, high-quality care. For more information about Altais, please visit www.altais.com. Editors, please note: Photos and interviews are available by contacting Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or Altais@landispr.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 altais@landispr.com Company Website https://altais.com/

June 16, 2021 06:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time

NHS Test and Trace strengthen their cyber defences with Risk Ledger

Stockwood Strategy

NHS Test and Trace has selected British cyber security company Risk Ledger to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain as a proactive measure to mitigate the increasing risks the NHS and other critical national infrastructure organisations face from supply chain cyber-attacks. The Risk Ledger platform will give the UK government funded service all the tools they need to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain at speed for a low per-supplier cost - at least 60% cheaper than traditional solutions. Cyber security risks in the supply chain can include third parties failing to encrypt sensitive data when it is being transferred. NHS Test and Trace, established to track and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in England, will take advantage of Risk Ledger's key innovation which is its secure 'social network' allowing organisations to connect and share risk data securely, quickly, and easily. This gives organisations like NHS Test and Trace unparalleled visibility of their supply chain and a comprehensive set of data to identify, measure and mitigate supply chain security risks at scale. Major supply chain cyber security breaches at Solarwinds and Microsoft in recent months have put the challenge of securing supply chains at the top of the agenda for organisations around the world. Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman MP said: “The government is working tirelessly to secure the nation online and grow the UK's £8.9 billion cyber security industry as we build back better from the pandemic. We're helping SMEs develop innovative products and services and it's great to see Risk Ledger, one of the firms we've supported, win this contract to protect the Test and Trace system and support the national effort against coronavirus.” Risk Ledger's client base includes organisations like BAE AI, City of London Police, Telenor, Schroder's Personal Wealth and ASOS. Risk Ledger CEO and Co-Founder Haydn Brooks said: "NHS Test and Trace is essentially the biggest new start-up in the UK healthcare market so we are delighted they have chosen to take advantage of our ability to provide enhanced visibility of their supply chain risks. I am proud we will be part of the effort to secure this incredibly important supply chain. "Healthcare organisations and their supply chains handle lots of highly sensitive data and have a high rate of data breaches. We have already seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that bad actors are actively targeting supply chains to access data and cause disruption” added Haydn Brooks. Risk Ledger is a rising star of the UK's growing cyber security scene having won competitions run by the UK Government's National Cyber Security Centre, the tech industry body TechUK and most recently a winner in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition in May. The company is also a member of the UK Government backed LORCA programme (London Office of Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement). About Risk Ledger Risk Ledger is a British company that manages cyber security risks in supply chains. Th process of supply chain security risk management ensures third parties who deliver critical services, have access to data, corporate networks, or any other status of business trust, maintain a good base level of cyber security controls to prevent bad actors using the third party as an attack vector. In 2019, Risk Ledger won the ‘Cyber Den’ competition at the 2019 CyberUK event run by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). At the time, Ian Levy, Technical Director at the NCSC said: ‘Our mission is to make the UK the safest place to do business online. We run the Cyber Den competition with DCMS to identify and provide a springboard for the most promising cyber security start-ups in the UK. Risk Ledger beat some excellent competition at this year’s Cyber Den event because their platform approaches supply chain security in a novel way that could revolutionise the way organisations understand the cybersecurity of their supply chains which is at the root of so many security incidents.’ Notable achievements - Risk Ledger was a finalist in the 'Most Innovative New Technology Award' category at the 2021 Water Industry Awards. - In March 2021, Risk Ledger won the South Summit Industry 4.0 innovation competition. - In May 2021, Risk Ledger was announced as a runner up in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition. Contact Details Risk Ledger Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://riskledger.com/

June 16, 2021 05:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Living Kidney Donor Receives National Advocacy Award

United Network for Organ Sharing

Today, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the mission-driven nonprofit serving as the nation’s transplant system, announced the recipient of the 2021 National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence: Jon Lee, who donated one of his kidneys as part of a paired organ exchange at Medical City Dallas in Texas. UNOS established the National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence in 2010 to annually recognize exceptional advocates for organ and tissue donation. “Becoming a living donor is one of the most profound and transformative decisions someone can make,” said UNOS President David Mulligan, M.D. “Jon is the first living donor to receive this award and an inspiring example of what it means to give the gift of life. With his ongoing outreach to encourage more people to become living kidney donors, Jon Lee truly embodies the spirit of this award.” Previous award winners have included organ recipients, donor family members and a social worker. Lee became a living organ donor because his brother-in-law needed a transplant. In 2019, living donors made possible almost 30% of all kidney transplants performed nationwide. Lee, a 41-year-old husband and father from McKinney, Texas says that donating his kidney in August of 2019 was such a life-changing and spiritually fulfilling experience that he started the “Us For Them” movement with a mission to eliminate the kidney transplant waitlist. His goal is to “inspire people of faith to prayerfully consider living kidney donation.” His efforts have included developing a website, UsForThem.org, that provides information, data and facts about living kidney donation, inspirational videos and an opportunity for people to consider becoming a kidney donor. A Facebook page also provides a channel to enable donors and recipients to share their stories. As a result of these efforts, multiple potential donors have now begun the living donor evaluation process. "Jon Lee's passionate advocacy for organ donation exemplifies Medical City Healthcare's commitment to the care and improvement of human life," said Medical City Dallas Solid Organ Transplant Director Emilie Burgess, who nominated Lee for the UNOS award. "In 2020, the collaborative transplant programs at Medical City Dallas and Medical City Fort Worth performed 277 solid organ transplants, and Jon's outreach to potential donors can help make kidney transplantation a reality for so many more people in need of this lifesaving gift." After Lee decided to give a kidney to his brother-in-law, Jason Smith, Lee found out he was not a compatible match to donate directly. However, Lee was still able to help Smith receive a transplant through a paired kidney exchange coordinated by the transplant programs at Medical City Dallas and Medical City Fort Worth. A paired kidney exchange works this way: Many patients in need of a kidney have family members or friends willing to donate. But a patient and a potential donor must go through a series of tests, and sometimes a patient has a willing donor who is not an acceptable match. Transplant hospitals and paired kidney donation programs can identify and connect these non-matching pairs of patients and donors, so that the recipients end up with an organ that’s a match for them. Through this kind of “swap,” Lee’s kidney was transplanted into Jill Kolb of Fort Worth at Medical City Fort Worth, and Smith received a kidney from Kolb’s close friend Sara Holloway at Medical City Dallas. ### About United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the mission-driven nonprofit serving as the nation’s transplant system under contract with the federal government. We lead the network of transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and thousands of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the gifts of life entrusted to us and to making lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need. Working together, we leverage data and advances in science and technology to continuously strengthen the system, increase the number of organs recovered and the number of transplants performed, and ensure patients across the nation have equitable access to transplant. About Medical City Dallas Medical City Dallas is an 876-bed, acute care hospital located in Dallas, Texas. With a medical team of more than 1,700 providers, many of whom are top experts in their fields, Medical City Dallas offers nearly 100 specialties, including world-class programs for heart and vascular, brain and spine, women’s services, orthopedics, transplant (heart, kidney and pancreas), cancer, bariatrics and robotic surgery. Voted “Best Place to Have a Baby” in Dallas County by DFW Child readers, more than 4,000 babies are delivered annually at its dedicated women’s hospital, Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas, which includes a Level IV neonatal ICU (NICU). “A” rated for safety by the Leapfrog Group and Magnet® recognized for nursing excellence. Medical City Dallas is part of Medical City Healthcare. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Medical City Dallas Kelly Hanes Kelly.Hanes@MedicalCityHealth.com Company Website https://unos.org

June 15, 2021 12:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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AngelEye Health Introduces MilkTracker™ as the Newest Solution of Its TeleEngagement Platform

AngelEye Health

AngelEye Health, a leading provider of tele-engagement solutions for hospital neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, announces the introduction of MilkTracker, the fourth solution of the company’s tele-engagement platform. The comprehensive end-to-end feeding and milk inventory management solution is the industry’s most comprehensive and most cost-effective offering for breast milk inventory tracking. The application, designed by clinicians, incorporates patient safety and clinical efficiency as top priorities. Nurses in NICUs spend thousands of hours every year across 1,500 plus hospitals, managing milk for the nearly 500,000 babies in the United States that require special and often critical care in the first months of their lives. These efforts include not only feeding, but also monitoring, labeling, printing, and logging infant-specific nutrition data. The MilkTracker solution was purpose-built to address these resource challenges offering a simplified way to manage milk inventory while ensuring that the right feed matches the right patient every time, ultimately mitigating risk and enhancing safety throughout the feeding process. More and more hospitals are looking for a streamlined approach to feeding and milk management in their NICUs and pediatric units to keep their patients safe and stay current with best practices. MilkTracker also supports family-centered care allowing parents to be more engaged in their child’s feeding plan while they also gain increased access to additional lactation education support and resources that may have been previously unavailable to them. With family-centered care being a primary goal in NICUs, clinical teams benefit from new capabilities to improve the delivery and quality of care across the care continuum. “AngelEye is thrilled to announce the general availability of MilkTracker, our comprehensive end-to-end feeding and milk inventory management solution intended to streamline the logistics of feeding to make the process safer for patients, more efficient for staff, and more engaging for families,” said Christopher Rand, CEO of AngelEye Health. “Our suite of solutions was built specifically to address many of the unique challenges presented in a neonatal and pediatric care environments of which infant-specific, nutritional management is one. With this addition we now offer another layer of support to everyone involved in the care of a hospital’s youngest, most vulnerable patients.” The HIPAA-compliant MilkTracker solution offers unparalleled patient and family-centered care technology enhancing engagement, support, and education. With the ability to integrate into most major EHRs, the technology allows for automated data entry of feeding and fortiﬁcation statistics. Additional features of the feeding and milk inventory management solution include: Bar-code scanning and electronic medical record integration: Reduces human error, increase efficiency, and helps hospitals automatically track valuable breast milk data. Staff can access the software from both desktop and mobile devices, which flexibly supports bedside nurses as well as milk technicians. Parent application: Empowers parents to track milk production and visualize their milk inventory at home or in the hospital. Enhanced communication tools: Allows parents to communicate directly with lactation staff via two-way, HIPAA-compliant messaging to help support breastfeeding and milk production. MilkTracker is one of four independent solutions accessible on the company's comprehensive HIPAA-compliant platform that offers advanced communication and engagement resources for NICU clinical teams and the families that they support. Other AngelEye solutions include CameraSystem™ which brings live-streaming video of the patient to family members anywhere, anytime, on any device; OnlineEducation ™, a parental portal where hospitals can upload customizable education and monitor parents’ progress on the patient’s path to discharge; and PatientConnect ™, a one-way communication tool that allows care teams to easily engage with NICU families via text, photo, or video messages. Each product can be deployed independently or used collectively via a single tele-engagement platform. To learn more about AngelEye’s portfolio of resources for supporting the highly specialized needs of the NICU and PICU today and of the future please visit: www.angeleye.health/solutions/ About AngelEye Health AngelEye Health has a deep understanding of the value that both family engagement and family-centered care bring to the neonatal and pediatric intensive care environment. We provide a complete HIPAA-compliant tele-engagement platform to integrate parents simply and seamlessly into the child's care team. Our approach has a proven, positive impact on the quality of the family experience, care delivery workflows for the dedicated bedside team, and patient outcomes. From admission to discharge, AngelEye positively impacts staff, families, and patients along the journey and ultimately to a successful transition home. From bonding, patient progress and treatment communication, feeding, and focused education, AngelEye offers a portfolio of solutions for supporting the highly specialized needs of the NICU and PICU today and of the future. www.angeleye.health Contact Details SVM PR & Marketing Jessy Green +1 917-689-9295 jessy.green@svmpr.com Company Website https://angeleye.health/

June 15, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Printing Franchise in Bethesda, MD Celebrates Grand Reopening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Located at 8210 Wisconsin Avenue, Minuteman Press in Bethesda held its grand reopening event on May 15 th in conjunction with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Owner Leslie Klein was excited to celebrate the renovations of her center as well as the return of local community events to Bethesda. She says, “We redid our lobby, added a new envelope printer, and rearranged our layout to optimize our production and best serve our clients. It feels fantastic to celebrate our grand reopening!” As she reflects on her grand reopening as well as the past year, Leslie says, “The pandemic took its toll on everyone and we are just thrilled to be able to move forward. Last year, we remained open as an essential business and continued to support and serve our community in any way we could. For example, I reached out to all of the local school districts and we ended up printing and distributing 3,000 graduation yard signs, which was really gratifying.” Today, Leslie is happy to get back to business. “As soon as networking events opened back up, I jumped on board and attended all sorts of networking and speed networking sessions. This past week alone, I received two jobs for orders from people who referred me from those events. It feels great to get back out there and let people know what Minuteman Press in Bethesda is all about.” Some of the popular high-demand items that Leslie’s team provides to clients right now include bulk mailings, banners and signs (large format printing), promotional products, and custom printing for events and trade shows. Leslie says, “Community events are coming back and this summer is already heating up for us. We have already been selected to be the print supplier for two golf tournaments. For one of the upcoming golf outings, we are producing 60 double-sided yard signs, retractable banners, table tents, and promotional magnets.” Leslie adds, “As for bulk mailings, I’ve done my research on direct mail and I’ve really made it a point of focus at networking events. I talk about direct mail in Chamber groups, my BNI group, and to my customers. We are able to help them market themselves and our ability to design, print, and do the mailings for them makes it easy for our clients.” “Our clients will give us an idea of what they want and as marketing and printing professionals we’re able to help them figure out what they really need. We are a small business with a team that works really well together. What I’ve learned is that print is here to stay and we can assist our clients with customized products and services that make sense for their needs and their bottom lines.” -Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Bethesda, Maryland From Nursing to Printing Prior to buying Minuteman Press in Bethesda in November 2019, Leslie Klein worked 25 years as a nurse and also spent time raising her three children. She says, “I loved being a nurse but I always wanted to do something entrepreneurial for myself. My husband and I decided to go to the local franchise show in April 2019 because it was fun to see what opportunities were out there. I always thought I might end up with a business related to gardening since it’s a hobby of mine, and I also looked at other options such as an eyelash/cosmetics franchise. I met Minuteman Press Regional Vice President Bob Heimbuch at the show and learned about printing. We did our research, the price was right, and by the middle of May we put down a deposit for Minuteman Press in Bethesda.” “Minuteman Press provided me with a turnkey business where I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I love everything about the ongoing local support Minuteman Press provides as well as the business model where I have nights, weekends, and holidays off. I enjoyed being a nurse but the hours were hard and I left the field to raise my kids. I love what I am doing now and I feel my quality of life and work-life balance are far superior than when I was working in hospitals.” -Leslie Klein When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Leslie answers, “My staff is absolutely amazing and we work well together to best serve our customers.” She concludes, “Being able to fulfill custom orders and keeping my clients happy is such a great feeling. Being able to learn and grow with them is my ultimate reward.” Minuteman Press in Bethesda has been awarded the 2021 Best of Bethesda Award in the Commercial Printers, Designers & Marketers category. The award from the Bethesda Award Program recognizes Leslie and her team for working to “enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Bethesda, call (301) 656-1188 or visit https://www.mmpbethesda.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 15, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Velocity Global commits $1M to First Descents to expand adventure programs for young adults coping with multiple sclerosis

Velocity Global

First Descents (FD) has announced a transformative $1 million contribution from Velocity Global to support the expansion of adventure programs for young adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Funds will support program development and help reach more than 1,000 MS participants over the next 5 years. “First Descents serves people first to fill a gap in psychosocial supportive care for young adults living with MS. Velocity Global is honored to support the expansion of these programs through this donation and volunteer efforts from our global team,” said Ben Wright, founder and CEO of Velocity Global. “I have witnessed the healing impact of First Descents programs firsthand, and am proud our company is in a position to advance this important work.” Velocity Global and First Descents share a special partnership that transcends financial support. The two Colorado-based companies began as office neighbors at INDUSTRY Denver in 2014. Over the years, Velocity Global employees have volunteered on First Descents programs and fundraised while competing in the Ragnar Snowmass Relay and the TransRockies Run. In 2018, Velocity Global contributed $150,000 to pilot MS programming which began with a whitewater kayaking experience in Tarkio, Montana. “Velocity Global’s support will help us to serve more than 1,000 young adults living with MS in the coming years while investing in vital partnerships with patient advocacy groups and neurology clinics nationwide,” observes Ryan O’Donoghue, CEO, First Descents. “We want MS patients to learn about First Descents closer to the time of diagnosis and know that we are here for them. Velocity Global’s leadership support will make this vision a reality.” The National MS Society indicates there are approximately 1 million people living with multiple sclerosis in the United States with approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Typically, MS is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with a median age of diagnosis at 34. Young adults living with MS can experience significant physical, neurological and psychosocial changes that often disrupt important developmental milestones. In addition to the complexities of clinical treatments and lifestyle implications, the relapsing and progressive nature of MS can be daunting, and can result in significant psychosocial distress. According to the National MS Society, clinical depression ranks among the most common comorbidities associated with MS. These realities have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic where prolonged social isolation and apprehension for the future have taken a significant toll. First Descents is working with several renowned patient advocacy groups, including the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) to reach more people coping with MS. “There is an important need to support young adult MS patients with age appropriate programming that can improve their outlook and quality of life,” observes Gina Ross Murdoch, CEO, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. “Staying fit and active - especially with peers living with MS - can greatly benefit patients’ mental and physical health. We are excited to work with First Descents and Velocity Global on the launch of these programs.” First Descents’ all-inclusive programs are free of charge to participants. All programs ensure ADA lodging compliance, a tailored Wahls protocol nutrition program, and fully-accessible outdoor activities. Further, programs are designed with careful consideration to mitigate heat sensitivity, balance issues, and fatigue. Ultimately, First Descents creates an environment where young adults with MS can reclaim their physical agency, explore new activities, and nurture lifelong supportive peer relationships. ### ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform enables businesses to employ remote teams and expand internationally through global expertise, best-in-breed technology, and scale. More than 700 brands rely on its Employer of Record model and infrastructure, also called an International PEO (Professional Employer Organization), in 185 countries and all 50 United States to compliantly employ thousands of supported employees, access global talent, and grow revenue. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients through additional comprehensive services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore, with local employees in 16 countries. ABOUT FIRST DESCENTS First Descents (FD) is a leader in adventure-based healing. Through outdoor adventure, community building, and lifestyle development, FD improves long-term survivorship and quality of life for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions. Headquartered in Denver, First Descents has served more than 10,000 participants over the last 20 years. Beginning in 2020, First Descents launched programs for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. All services are fully-adaptive and free of charge. A Guidestar Platinum-ranked nonprofit, First Descents has been recognized on CNN Heroes and Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work. RESOURCES: First Descents MS Program Page Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com First Descents Ray Shedd +12034999633 ray.shedd@firstdescents.org Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

June 15, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Sophisticated Compensation Enhancements Added to SullivanCotter’s Innovative Provider Performance Management Technology™ Platform

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and technology and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, announces the addition of highly-anticipated new compensation automation enhancements to its growing Provider Performance Management Technology ™ (PPMT) platform. PPMT™ is an industry-first, cloud-based product that engages clinicians through transparent performance-based compensation administration, contract management, and analytical and reporting capabilities. With the new Clinician Pay feature, PPMT™ now enables users to streamline the compensation management process by automating clinical draw calculations and payments based on current performance and organization-defined criteria. It offers flexible and sophisticated rules for the draw calculations that are easily maintained by key administrative stakeholders and can be managed throughout the year. “Determining clinician draw for the upcoming year is a significant and burdensome time investment for compensation program administrators. Most often, these calculations are done manually via spreadsheets – which can greatly increase the risk of error. Using PPMT™, organizations can now automate the production of accurate and reliable draw and other pay calculations within one system”, said Shelly Slowiak, Director, Product Support, PPMT™, SullivanCotter. New split role compensation automation eliminates the need to manually determine clinical and non-clinical pay components by providing visibility into performance and compensation for different roles while also allowing administrators to view aggregate compensation for each individual clinician. “In order to provide the best care for patients, a growing number of physicians are specializing in multiple service areas with varying compensation arrangements. This often requires greater attention and additional analysis from an already overextended compensation team. PPMT™ can ease the administrative burden by effectively automating and providing consistent compensation calculations for each service area”, said David Schwietz, Chief Information Officer, SullivanCotter. Designed to address a spectrum of physician, leadership and other key stakeholder needs, PPMT™ combines years of health care compensation insight and expertise with an intuitive and automated technology platform to help drive provider performance and support the transition from volume- to value-based care. For more information on these enhancements or our entire suite of Provider Performance Management Technology™, visit www.sullivancotter.com/PPMT or contact us at 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights, expertise, data and technology products to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com

June 15, 2021 07:00 AM Central Daylight Time

Secta Finance innovates the £10b private school fees model, making affordable finance options for parents

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business Secta Finance has launched today to transform how private school fees are paid. Families are spending circa £10b every year to pay school fees for over 620,000 children and over the years there has been no innovation on the termly bill payments. Secta Finance has set out to change this and become an enabler for many more families considering private schooling but feel it is currently unaffordable. In collaboration with a number of financial institutions, Secta Finance has created a range of flexible and highly competitive finance plans that enable parents (and would-be parents) to spread the cost of private school fees over many years in a simple affordable way. The Secta Flexiplan enables parents to use the equity in their home to secure a facility that allows parents to draw funds flexibly within the first 5 years. Parents only pay interest on the amount they actually drawdown. If they don’t need to draw funds there is no cost. Parents can decide how much they draw; their monthly repayment amounts (subject to a minimum) and the term they repay over (up to 30 years). Also, there are no early repayment fees if they choose to repay in full. Below is an example* of how a Secta Flexiplan could be used to finance 5 years of private education. This example is based on one child, annual school fees of £15,000 per year and with the Secta Flexiplan being repaid over a period of 10 or 20 years. However, the amount borrowed, the term over which it is repaid and the monthly repayments can be adjusted to suit individual circumstances and preferences. Secta Finance has made it quick and simple for parents to get indicative quotes from their online platform. Thereafter they can engage with a qualified advisor to discuss their options and tailor a plan to suit their needs. Joe Hill, founder and CEO of Secta Finance commented: “How parents pay for private school fees is no longer fit for purpose. They are still paying large lump sums, sometimes, with expensive and inflexible means using credit cards or unsecured loans, that simply is not sustainable. Secta has set out to challenge this approach with a fresh lens and a clear pathway for parents to handle this significant expense. We want to create manageable and affordable finance solutions for school fees, much like the financial products people consider when buying a house or a car.” Contrary to popular belief, private education is not confined to the wealthy, but many middle class parents place a very high value on it and want to provide the benefits of a private education for their children. However, the costs can be prohibitive, especially for families with more than one child. Annual average school fees are in excess of £15,000 for day schools and in excess of £30,000 for boarding schools. Factoring in additional costs, a private education can cost an average of £325,600 per child for day school and £469,700 for boarders starting their schooling in 2019. Unsurprisingly, many parents find this a struggle. Research completed by Killik and Co suggests that private day school fees have increased by 403% since 1990. “Many parents make significant sacrifices to give their children a private school education. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It makes sense to have a solution whereby parents can spread the cost over a longer period of time if they wish (up to 30 years), to reduce the strain on their finances, but still be able to give their children a private education,” added Joe Hill. There are more than 2,500 independent schools in the UK catering for approximately 620,000 pupils. This represents about 7% of all UK school children and 18% of pupils over aged 16 years and older. The estimated school fee market value is approximately £11 billion. Secta Finance is working closely with schools who are keen to offer meaningful finance options for their parents. The company is also collaborating with independent financial advisors who are seeking flexible, efficient options for their clients. Parents are also directly engaging with the online platform to find out more about the options available to them. Looking ahead Joe Hill added: “We are creating opportunities for parents, for schools and for children. By offering finance solutions which are affordable, simple to understand, we will create a sustainable path for better outcomes. Our strategic aim is to expand the opportunity of private education to many more families and enable a sustainable relationship for parents and schools through the products that we offer”. ENDS *This is an indicative quote and does not constitute an offer or advice. Interest rate and solution terms will depend on your circumstances and the amount of the loan. Before you make a loan application, we will carry out a full review to establish your needs and preferences and if you meet the criteria, we will give advice and make a recommendation to you. All loans are subject to status. Please note that our product calculators show an indicative rate only and may not be suitable for you. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your repayments. About Secta Finance Our mission is to relieve the pressure of private school fees by providing innovative, affordable finance solutions to parents. In doing so, we bring the outstanding benefits of private education within the reach of many more families, everywhere. Secta Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Contact Details Secta Finance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.sectafinance.co.uk/

June 15, 2021 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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