Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern professor Ralph DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D., was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) last week. One of the highest honors in health and medicine, the NAM announced one-hundred new members for outstanding professional development. DeBerardnis was recognized for his work in cancer metabolism and inborn errors and is now one of 17 UT Southwestern NAM members.
Medical City Fort Worth began offering robot-assisted spine surgery this month. The new minimally invasive platform is intended to enhance patient recovery and safety while minimizing radiation exposure that can accumulate over time. Real-time GPS imaging technology, a robotic arm, and full navigation capabilities will be utilized to improve efficiency and safety during the surgery.
For expanding efforts to care for stroke patients, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano was recently awarded the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Comprehensive Stroke Center certification. The national recognition is among the highest stroke certifications hospitals can receive, with less than one-hundred U.S. hospitals certified.
Global health services Cigna launched a new Medicare Advantage PPO plan last week. Featured in six different North Texas counties, the plan will be available to Medicare eligible customers and effective January 2021. Benefits include telehealth options, $0 premiums and copay, and other resources.
Radiologist-owned alliance Collaborative Imaging added new partner Catawba Radiology to its roster last week. The diagnostic imaging and radiology service provider will join Collaborative Imaging’s growing list of partners in over eight states. During the pandemic, the company saw a double-digit year-over-year revenue increase and tripled in size, according to CFO Preeth Hegde.
