In healthcare facilities, ensuring patient safety is a top priority. A significant but frequently overlooked aspect of this is the management of medical equipment and the repercussions mismanagement can have. This article investigates how purposeful and highly optimised asset tracking extends beyond simple logistical roles to become integral to improving patient care and safety, as well as many additional benefits to healthcare organisations.

The vital role of asset tracking in healthcare

Asset tracking in healthcare entails sophisticated technological systems to oversee the precise location, operational status, and readiness of medical apparatus. This includes a spectrum of instruments from rudimentary tools like scalpels and syringes to critical, life-sustaining devices such as ventilators and defibrillators. The overarching objective is to guarantee that essential equipment is readily accessible, in optimal working condition, and safe for use whenever required. So, what are the primary benefits healthcare organisations can expect to receive through optimised and organised asset tracking?

Assistance with managing continuous budgetary constraints

The NHS, like many healthcare systems, faces escalating costs driven by an ageing population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and rising prices of medical technologies. In this environment, finding areas where operational efficiencies can be enhanced without compromising patient care is paramount. Asset tracking systems stand out as a solution that can deliver substantial cost savings while simultaneously boosting the quality of care.

Lost or mismanaged assets represent a substantial financial drain for healthcare organisations. A study conducted by Nursing Times revealed that the NHS could save up to £1 billion annually through better management of medical equipment. Misplaced items not only need to be replaced, costing healthcare providers considerable sums, but also lead to operational inefficiencies and increased expenditures on urgent replacements and rentals.

For example, an audit in an NHS trust identified that approximately 10 per cent of assets were lost or stolen, leading to unnecessary and repetitive capital expenditure that could have been avoided with robust asset tracking protocols. Furthermore, a report by the Department of Health estimated that the NHS spends around £300 million each year just on locating and maintaining equipment — a sum that could be markedly reduced through improved tracking systems.

Asset tracking technologies such as RFID and IoT-enabled devices provide real-time data on the location, status, and maintenance needs of medical equipment. This capability not only ensures that medical devices are used efficiently but also extends their lifespan through timely maintenance, thus deferring the need for costly replacements. For instance, automated alerts about service requirements and usage patterns help manage device wear and tear proactively.

Enhancing patient safety through reliable equipment management

Optimal functioning of medical equipment, crucial for patient safety, necessitates meticulous maintenance and regular updates. Asset tracking systems play a critical role by automatically notifying healthcare staff when equipment needs servicing or replacement, thereby mitigating risks of malfunctions that could compromise patient health.

The integration of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology, for example, facilitates real-time surveillance of device conditions and operational patterns. This proactive stance not only prolongs the lifecycle of medical instruments but also ensures their reliability in exigent clinical scenarios, according to studies published in journals like Healthcare Management Science. This advanced approach supports healthcare facilities in maintaining continuous operational readiness and enhances the overall safety environment.

Reducing errors in surgical settings

Surgical accuracy hinges critically on the availability and readiness of sterile instruments. Advanced asset tracking systems ensure this by meticulously overseeing sterilisation processes and tool readiness, significantly lowering the risk of infections and procedural anomalies.

According to research conducted at a Boston hospital, the deployment of an automated tracking system reduced delays related to surgical instruments by 35 per cent. This decrease in delays is instrumental in minimising risks associated with prolonged waiting periods and errors in instrument setup. Further, these technologies enhance operational efficiencies, allowing surgical teams to focus more on patient care rather than logistical concerns, thereby elevating the overall safety and success rates of surgical procedures.

Optimising emergency response with precision asset tracking

In emergencies, the swift availability of operational medical equipment is vital. Asset tracking systems enhance hospital emergency responses by facilitating the rapid location and deployment of necessary equipment. For instance, in cardiac emergencies, the prompt availability of a functional defibrillator can be lifesaving. Asset tracking ensures these critical devices are not only immediately accessible but maintained in optimal condition, thus crucially impacting life-saving interventions, and improving survival rates during critical care situations. This efficiency in equipment management directly correlates with improved patient outcomes in emergency scenarios.

Conclusion

The integration of asset tracking systems in healthcare is more than a logistical enhancement —it is a crucial component in the overarching framework of patient safety. By ensuring that medical equipment is functional, properly sterilised, and available when needed, these systems directly contribute to reducing medical errors and enhancing patient care outcomes.

As technology advances and the adoption of smart healthcare solutions expands, asset tracking will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of patient safety in healthcare settings. Embracing these technologies not only supports clinical staff in their daily responsibilities but also safeguards the well-being of patients, ultimately fostering a safer and more efficient healthcare environment.

Charlie Green is the Senior Research Analyst at Comparesoft.

Back to Technology

Reliability cannot be achieved in a clinical laboratory through the control of accuracy in the analytical phase of the testing process alone. There are many potential sources of errors as well within preanalytical phase. The preanalytical phase plays a crucial role in laboratory diagnostic and blood collection is probably its most important aspect.

Awareness of pre-analytical variables is the key to identify potential gaps in quality and assurance of diagnosis and treatment. The application of quality systems to laboratory testing requires total quality management throughout the laboratory process and on-going process of continuous improvements. That is why adoption of both plasma (as better type of specimen) would improve specimen quality, decrease TAT, and optimise lab testing process in general at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC).

Heparin plasma and serum are commonly used matrices. Serum is the preferred specimen for the analysis of biochemical parameters, however plasma has some important laboratory advantages like a shorter turnaround time (TAT) due to both the absence of the 30-60 minutes time interval needed for the coagulation process and to a shorter centrifugation step and allows to obtain a larger volume of sample (about 15-20 per cent more) which increases the number of analysis that can be made on one sample.

According to the World Health Organization, plasma is preferred to serum because it reflects better the patients’ physiological condition by preventing the changes induced by the coagulation process which causes an increase in some analytes (e.g. potassium) and a decrease of others (e.g. total proteins). In addition, the use of anticoagulant prevents the variations induced by the coagulation factors activated when the needle is inserted. The use of plasma also minimises the formation of fibrin networks found very frequently in serum tubes for several reasons: the sample arrived quickly in the laboratory (e.g. through pneumatic mail systems) and is centrifuged before clot formation, or because the sample was from patients taking oral anticoagulants or heparin which delayed the formation of the clot.

The presence in serum of soluble fibrin clots causes, on highly automated analytical lines, frequent sampling alarms requiring re-centrifugation or manual re-run of the sample leading to a large increase of the TAT.

Blood collection tubes with a gel separator are often the preferred choice because serum (plasma) is physically separated from clotted whole blood (blood cells). However, some drawbacks may still occur like the non-specific adsorption of the molecule to be analysed or the release of interfering substances. A new blood collection tubes, BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes, containing lithium heparin as anticoagulant and an innovative mechanical separator has been recently developed. This newly developed BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes is a single-use, plastic blood collection tube with a sterile interior and a safety-engineered BD Hemogard™ closure.

The interior tube wall surface has a coating of Li-heparin anticoagulant, and the non-gel separator contains a surface coating of surfactant. The separator rests at the top of the tube and allows blood to pass through by its orientation. During centrifugation, the separator stretches and is launched into the blood column. The principle of differential buoyancy is used for proper positioning during centrifugation: an upward force exerted by the blood opposes the weight of the immersed separator.

Throughout the centrifugation process, channels are created around the stretched separator, allowing blood cells and fragments to sediment out of the plasma. When the centrifuge slows down, the separator returns to its original shape and forms a seal between the plasma (above) and blood cells (below), creating a stable and robust barrier. According to the manufacturer BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes will improve the quality of laboratory routine analysis in term of TAT and analytes stability.

Previously (before June 2020), in adult emergency department at KHCC (Amman, Jordan), blood collection procedures were performed for outpatients on a regular basis using serum gel tubes, plain tubes, EDTA, NaF and heparin tubes for Chemistry and Immunoassay testing. While there were some issues related to TAT, even if the department lacks a full tracking system to measure TAT, there was a noticeable delay and retesting due to sample rejections which, again have multiple origins (underfilled tubes, haemolysis, clotted samples, etc.). These causes of sample rejections were mainly due to lack of best practices but also the type of sample used (serum), which presents a challenge when it comes to respect to clotting time, not obvious in an emergency department, as well as fibrin, clots and gel globules that involve sample quality concerns and even instrument downtime.

For that KHCC facility has started to use a new tube called BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes, since June 2020. Considering its advantages of providing a better plasma quality with a unique separation technology, as well for the possibility to consolidate other tubes like heparin, NaF, plain and serum gel tubes in a single tube. In addition, there is a focus on the economic implications which will be a direct result of the advantages mentioned before (tube consolidation, improved turnaround time and sample quality).

In this study, our main objective is to highlight the main outcomes of implementing BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes regarding TAT, tube consolidation and sample quality. It is an observational retrospective study that compares the outcomes of the pre- and post-intervention of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes. In this study comparison needs to be done as below:

Pre-adoption phase: BD Vacutainer® SST II Advance (serum gel) tubes in use, July 1 to December 31, 2019

Post-adoption phase: BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes in use, June 1 to November 30, 2020

For each point of the study same aspects were measured and analysed to identify the impact of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes in three main aspects:

Tube consolidation impact of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes

Implementation of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes helped to consolidate almost all non-whole blood-based category of tests into same Lithium Heparin tube (including Lactic Acid, Parathyroid Hormone, Procalcitonin and Pro-BNP), decrease consumption of tubes with EDTA and Sodium Fluoride and reduce number of tubes from 3.29±0.98  to 2.14±0.96 and volume of blood from 14.98±3.53 to 6.87±3.29 ml collected from one patient through one venipuncture (Fig. 1).

BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes impact to TAT of blood collection

Adoption of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes led to decrease of total blood collection time from 147.16±40.85 to 118.35±41.13 sec (Fig. 2). Most time decrease was found for tube fulfilling with blood from 48.24±18.25 to 25.82±17.12 sec (Fig. 2) due to tube consolidation as mentioned above.

BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes impact to sample quality

Specimen quality was also improved following the adoption of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes. There was decrease of specimen rejection and number of specimens with haemolysis and clots (Fig. 3). Implementation of the new Lithium Heparin tubes helped also to decrease number of specimens with wall-oriented clots which might form once tubes are kept in horizontal position during blood clotting time (at the blood collection point or during transportation by porters or through pneumatic tube system).

Thus, adoption of BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Blood Collection Tubes at KHCC helped not only to consolidate non-whole blood-based category of tests into one tube and number of tubes and volume of blood collected from one patient through one venipuncture, but also decrease of specimen rejection rate TAT of blood collection procedure. 

References available on request.

Maher Abedelmonem Mahmoud Sughayer is the Chairman, and Abeer Al-Nuirat is the Supervisor of Immunochemistry section and Laboratory Manager, of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Administration at KHCC in Jordan.

Back to Laboratory

Globally, the healthcare industry is changing, with routine procedures now extending beyond traditional clinical settings. Retailers are seizing this opportunity, offering popular low-risk interventions like biometric screenings, prescription services and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. The widespread presence of retail spaces, coupled with challenges faced by declining footfall, offers the potential for a mutually beneficial partnership. As a result, the healthcare industry is experiencing a shift towards retail as patients start to bypass traditional intermediaries and directly engage with healthcare either online or in retail environments.

With most people still regularly frequenting shops, retailers, renowned for customer-focused approaches, can effectively cater to specific appointment requests, extending care beyond traditional clinic hours. Their adeptness in adopting technology also facilitates data exchange with healthcare entities. Advances in gene sequencing and AI open new care possibilities, with e-pharmacies delivering prescriptions, telemedicine platforms connecting patients with physicians, and home tests facilitating self-diagnosis.

Related: Overview of hospital associated infections and the role of POCT in disease management

Last year, a prominent UK supermarket chain ventured into advanced healthcare offerings by becoming the first major retailer in the country to provide self-diagnostic test kits. Tesco now offers affordable at-home kits for conditions such as bowel cancer, menopause and thyroid issues. The kits were introduced for sale in 500 stores in February 2023. The deal, with provider Newfoundland, marks the first time self-diagnostic test kits for widespread health conditions will be available with any major UK retailer.

Newfoundland co-founder, Frederick Manduca, said: “With long wait times for doctors and hospital appointments and the very high price point of diagnostic lab tests, we’re offering rapid at-home tests that arm people with vital knowledge that can alleviate pressure both on the NHS and patients themselves.”  However, chair of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Kamila Hawthorne said making self-testing products available over the counter without prescription, “comes with pros and cons”. 

“They can, of course, provide some peace of mind for patients – and for relatively minor conditions, with clear and easy-to-access treatment options, they may avoid the patient having to seek medical assistance. However, without the appropriate aftercare services, patients may not know how to properly interpret results, or safely and appropriately act on them. In the case of more serious conditions, such as cancer, people may not have the appropriate support in place to deal with what could be very distressing news.”

Elsewhere in Europe, other retailers, such as Boots, ASDA, and DA, provide similar services, emphasising low-risk interventions, while Boots stands out for delivering advanced services requiring specialised training. While Europe has been relatively cautious, the US has seen major retailers including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS Health, Costco, and Amazon entering the healthcare sector. This global trend showcases the evolving role of retailers in healthcare.

This surge in retail within healthcare is also being driven by wearable devices that provide real-time health monitoring and generate data that heightens our focus on well-being. These consumer electronics track various health metrics, from pulses and calorie counts to sleep cycles and blood pressure. They are progressing toward becoming validated medical devices, gaining approval under EU regulations and extending early diagnostics beyond traditional healthcare settings. Empowered by these technologies, connected consumers actively engage with clinicians through apps and online portals, responding promptly to health alerts and creating personalised and accessible healthcare. This trend offers patients greater control over healthcare access and utilises technological innovations for a more consumer-focused experience.

This shift signifies a departure from traditional models, with a renewed emphasis on understanding and meeting the unique needs and preferences of patients. From personalised treatment plans to enhanced communication channels, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting strategies that prioritise a consumer-focused approach.

Related: Pushing the boundaries of telehealth in hospitals and clinics

A new era of convenience in healthcare

One of the key aspects of the retail-isation of healthcare is convenience. Patients are now expecting healthcare services to be as accessible and streamlined as their retail experiences. This has led to the rise of virtual consultations, online appointment scheduling, and user-friendly mobile applications that empower individuals to manage their health with ease. The integration of technology into healthcare services is creating a smooth experience for patients, ultimately improving overall accessibility. This trend is breaking down traditional barriers to access by extending healthcare services into unconventional settings. Pharmacies, retail clinics, and even grocery stores are becoming hubs for basic healthcare services, offering vaccinations, health screenings, and routine check-ups. This expanded access not only caters to the needs of consumers but also helps alleviate the burden on traditional healthcare facilities, making preventive care more readily available to the wider population.

In a comprehensive study conducted by Deloitte, the receptiveness of European consumers towards healthcare interventions within retail settings was explored. The research delves into the willingness of consumers to undergo various healthcare interventions in retail spaces, shedding light on the potential convergence of healthcare and retail. The study aims to understand consumer attitudes towards receiving healthcare services in non-traditional settings, offering valuable insights into the evolving dynamics at the intersection of healthcare and retail.

The research indicates European consumers are open to changing healthcare behaviours for increased convenience. The alignment of healthcare, society, and retail interests therefore presents a compelling opportunity for collaboration and integrated solutions, promising improvement in patient lives, healthcare delivery and the purpose of retail professionals.

References available on request.

Back to Management

The rise in provider-payer partnerships highlights a fundamental transformation in the healthcare industry. It signifies a shift away from conventional, compartmentalised methods toward a more integrated, patient-centred model of care. These partnerships are changing the face of healthcare by enhancing patient experience, ensuring financial sustainability, and improving clinical outcomes. Patients today receive comprehensive, compassionate care that attends to their medical, financial, and emotional needs in addition to treatment in this era of collaboration.

This trend is not just a coincidence; it is a calculated reaction to the changing demands of the healthcare sector. Collaborations between providers and payers have become more popular because of their significant effects on raising overall patient satisfaction, maintaining financial viability, and improving clinical outcomes.

Building bridges between these stakeholders is not just a necessity; it is the basis of a more effective, efficient, and compassionate healthcare system. By fostering partnerships among healthcare providers, payers, and patients, we can revolutionise patient payment models, making healthcare more accessible, transparent, and patient-centred than ever before.

Related: Implementing sign language in healthcare

Here are steps and strategies that need to be implemented to enable the achievement of these objectives:

Put transparency on the frontline

A successful healthcare partnership depends on transparency, which is like the foundation of a strong building. The confusion clears up when patients, payers, and providers communicate openly. Imagine a situation where a patient receives a thorough explanation of their treatment options, associated costs, and insurance coverage. All parties are on the same page because of the trust that this clarity fosters among them. For instance, a cancer patient who is knowledgeable about the costs of chemotherapy and the insurance coverage offered can concentrate on their recovery without having to worry about money.

Customised payment options

Access to necessary medical services should not ever be restricted by financial issues. Collaboration leads to the creation of personalised payment plans that maintain universal access to healthcare. Examples of these initiatives include charity care programmes, interest-free instalments, and sliding-scale payments.

Consider a family with limited resources and a child who requires immediate surgery. Their financial burden is lessened by a personalized payment plan, which guarantees that the child receives the required care right away.

Leveraging technology for seamless interaction

A seamless exchange of medical records, bills, and insurance information should be made possible using digital platforms that enable secure communication. Convenience and accessibility have been redefined by telehealth services, mobile apps, and online portals. Consider a patient who lives far away managing their chronic condition with a mobile app, accessing their medical records, making appointments, and knowing the costs involved right away are solutions that need to be explored.

Value-based care

Quality always wins over quantity. Providers and payers need to redefine healthcare success together by focusing on patient outcomes. Imagine a healthcare system where physicians are compensated not for the quantity of tests they order, but rather for the improvement in their patients’ health. With this model, patients get the best, most economical care possible, lowering needless healthcare costs and guaranteeing a higher standard of care.

Related: UAE demonstrates progressive leadership in public health

Promoting patient-centric policies

Collaborative advocacy is the basis for effective policy change. Patients, payers, and providers should work together to promote changes that put the needs of the patient first. These combined efforts result in policies that limit out-of-pocket costs, increase insurance coverage, and safeguard vulnerable populations. Imagine a society where healthcare decisions are made based on the opinions of all its members, ensuring that everyone has access to care regardless of their socioeconomic status.

The future of healthcare is not a distant dream; it is a reality that we are shaping today. The steps and strategies outlined will serve as our roadmap to achieving these worthy healthcare objectives.

Jennifer Orisakwe is a health researcher and data storyteller with an interest in topics that affect healthcare stakeholders’ decision-making and outcomes.

Back to Management

The pandemic has shown us that healthcare demands can rapidly accelerate advancements in the industry. At a time of surging demand and cost-control pressures facing healthcare providers, the industry is undergoing a transformation made possible by technologies and innovation that are redefining healthcare for the future.

Hospital entities have begun to reevaluate their healthcare preparedness and how their healthcare systems work. The pandemic has highlighted that hospital infrastructure has not been built to sustain a large influx of patients for a long time, and this is a prominent concern today for healthcare providers.

According to the World Health Organization, it is projected that the proportion of the world’s population over 60 will nearly double from 12 per cent to more than 22 per cent over the next 30 years, which means that the industry is going to be further strained. There will be a larger population of people with chronic diseases going to hospitals for treatment. This type of demand is going to force hospitals to be more productive, more efficient, and make the best use of their resources and care settings. Operational excellence is going to hold core importance for the entire healthcare ecosystem.

Additionally, the healthcare sector in the MENA region is witnessing a phase of significant growth due to increased demand for healthcare services. A report suggests that the MENA region’s healthcare market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7 per cent from US$185.5 billion in 2019 to US$243.6 billion in 2023.

Related: Preventative healthcare market expected to hit US$605.3 billion by 2032

Already, there is a trend where patients, taxpayers and insurance companies are demanding improved efficiencies at hospitals to reduce costs and wait times across the healthcare landscape. Hospitals are seeking ways to eliminate redundant tasks, minimise wasted resources and streamline processes to become more effective in their delivery.

Today’s hospitals were built for episodic, acute situations for a short amount of time. Hospital leaders are now realising they need to adjust to providing long-term care for chronic diseases. Hospital stays for many complex diseases now require longer treatment, especially specialist elderly care where demand is set to soar in the next 30 years. This approach is not sustainable due to limited bed availability and shortages of nurses and doctors. Unsurprisingly, there is a significant trend to move certain care and therapies from the acute hospital setting to less acute point-of-care, closer to the doctor’s offices and in some cases, to the homes.

To enable and facilitate this substantial migration to the home, novel technologies will be necessary. This is where technology companies come into play that can enable healthcare providers to make that transition from the hospital to the home or the point of care.

As we look into the future, we can expect hospitals to increasingly utilize more remote therapy, remote patient monitoring, and real-time information gathered from outside the four hospital walls, which will eliminate the need for patients to be at hospitals as often. Streamlining the process for providers to effectively deliver patient care in this way will help to increase provider satisfaction and reduce the amount of non-value-added work on their plates.

Related: Improve job satisfaction of healthcare workers with virtual hospitals

Overcoming mental barriers to change and training hospital professionals on new processes will be a critical challenge to overcome for the industry. This is one area where innovative technology has a significant opportunity to bring about efficiencies and cost reductions. In the coming years, we expect more hospitals to adopt advanced technologies that will help digitalise the patient care ecosystem and plug the gaps to ensure effective and efficient care delivery. Accordingly, digital health centres and real-time monitoring systems, among other technologies, can improve healthcare outcomes.

Future improvements in diagnostic tools will be able to help diagnose some critical illnesses for patients and provide key information through remote devices to enable a level of information that patients do not have today. Additionally, with patient data and advanced data analysis, technology can help shed light on future health risks and play an important role in disease prevention.

Despite all the challenges and upcoming changes in the healthcare industry, it is an exciting time and opportunity to use novel technologies to help improve the health and well-being of patients worldwide. 

Charbel Rizkallah is the Senior Healthcare Director at Honeywell Sensing & Safety Technologies.

Back to Sustainability

Faculty members at St. George's University (SGU), School of Medicine — Dr. Rohit Mishra and Dr. Aishwarya Singh — recently concluded research that could impact heart health, and associated treatments, on a global level.

The research programme evaluated the benefits and risks of beta blockers – a class of medications used to manage abnormal heart rhythms and prevent heart attacks from recurring.

Related: Prioritising heart health for a healthier future

The results and findings offer hope to those suffering with heart problems, alongside other co-existing conditions, that beta blockers can be a recommended treatment option. However, the effectiveness of the medicine can differ from one person to the other based on factors such as medical history and gender.

Findings of the research were published in a book by the duo, titled "Beta Blocker: Its Effect and Safety" affirming the safety of beta-blockers, specifically in patients experiencing hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, anxiety, and other illnesses.

According to the Journal of Current Problems in Cardiology, the burden of cardiovascular disease has decreased in the region, but there remains a considerable death and morbidity rate, especially from ischemic heart disease (heart muscle weakening caused by reduced blood flow). The research findings from this book will help educate the public and patients on the effectiveness of different beta blockers in treating heart diseases on males and females of different age groups.

“The research, subsequently published in our book, helps give patients and doctors an idea of the medicine’s efficacy and benefits. I was diagnosed with hypertension at an early age and took beta blockers. That has inspired my journey into educating the public about this treatment option and its effectiveness on the different age groups and genders. However, patients should never use beta blockers without the supervision of a physician,” said Dr. Rohit Mishra, Assistant Professor of Pathology at St. George’s University, School of Medicine.

Related: Stroke care in MENA: challenges, progress, and promising pathways

Dr. Aishwarya Singh, Assistant Professor of Pathology at St. George’s University, School of Medicine said: “We wanted our efforts to also help bridge the gap between research on beta blockers and the pressing issue of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) being the leading cause of death globally, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While beta blockers are primarily used for cardio-related illnesses such as heart failure, they are also used for treating migraines and glaucoma (nerve damage causing vision loss), and we hope our book will stimulate further conversations among global medical professionals.” 

Back to Clinical