The projected value of the UK private healthcare market was ?16.18bn in 2003, increasing by 6% between 2002 and 2003. Although the private healthcare market is comparatively small when compared with the National Health Service (NHS) and private healthcare in other developed countries, it has been growing in importance in recent years.
April 18-24 has been designated as National Medical Laboratory Week to raise awareness of the clinical laboratory profession. Since medical laboratory professionals often work "behind the scenes," few people know much about the critically important testing that lab personnel perform every day.
Respironics, headquartered in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, USA, develops, manufactures and markets medical devices used mainly in the treatment of patients suffering from respiratory disorders. The company's principal product lines are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and bi-level positive airway pressure devices used in the home for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA); respiratory devices, including bi-level non-invasive ventilatory support units, critical care units that can deliver both non-invasive and invasive ventilation; non-invasive cardiorespiratory monitors; portable invasive volume ventilator units used in the home; home oxygen devices, diagnostic and monitoring systems, developmental care products used for premature infants; and asthma and allergy devices for both home and hospital use.
Stryker Corporation, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, US, develops, manufactures and markets surgical and medical products for the global market. Stryker's principal product area is orthopaedic implants which includes reconstructive products such as hip, knee, shoulder and spinal implants, trauma-related products such as fixation devices, spinal implants, bone cement and biologic products.
Soundview Healthcare Network has opened an Extended Hours Center that provides non-emergency healthcare for patients of all ages when regular medical clinics are closed or when individuals and families are unable to get a timely appointment with their own physician.
Dr. James White, Doctor of Chiropractic of Belleville and East Saint Louis, IL, has been accepted as a member of the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP).