Last summer , Marshall Health and Intermed launched Kneedle LLC , a company introducing a medical device designed to enhance the detection of infections in joint replacement surgeries .
“ The most common complication after hip and knee arthroplasty is infection ,” says Oliashirazi , co-inventor of the device . “ Despite all our advances , there are still false negatives , meaning some tests could be negative even though there is infection present . Our hope is that this device will improve detection rates immensely .”
The creation of this device has many positive implications . First , its ability to improve infection detection rates could lead to fewer delays in treatment and post-surgical complications and reduce the need for additional surgeries . Second , this technology highlights the potential of collaboration in driving medical advancements , marrying clinical insight and technology .
At the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute ( RNI ), there is special focus on health care innovation in developing and implementing new methods , processes , technologies and treatments that improve the quality , efficiency , accessibility and outcomes of neurological conditions . Over the last several years , RNI ’ s team of expert clinicians and scientists has developed many new medical technologies , health care delivery systems , therapies and procedures — including minimally invasive surgical techniques and noninvasive neuromodulation — optimizing clinical practice to serve the needs of patients and advance health care . One such development is the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ( TMS ) program .
The program , comprised of a stateof-the-art clinic and research facility , is the only multidisciplinary specialty clinic of its kind in West Virginia . It specializes in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in combination with neuro-navigation — or using brain imaging to create 3D models for treatment — as an alternative or complementary treatment for conditions like treatment-resistant depression , obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD ), stroke rehabilitation and chronic pain .
The implications of this work are invaluable as multiple teams of neuroscientists work in this facility to study
Revolutionizing Health Care Education with careLearning
By Kenzie Dye
careLearning is revolutionizing health care training through its innovative learning management system ( LMS ), designed to meet the unique compliance and educational needs of health care organizations . By leveraging technology , careLearning makes it easy to assign and monitor the completion of content that is compliant with current regulations and tailored to the specific requirements of various health care settings . Its Essentials program is particularly impactful , offering cost-effective training solutions for smaller facilities .
The company ’ s commitment to personalized customer service distinguishes it from competitors . Clients are assigned a dedicated support person , ensuring prompt and personalized help . This approach fosters a close relationship with clients . careLearning also emphasizes the creation of high-quality educational content , which is regularly updated in response to new guidelines and regulations .
Additionally , careLearning ’ s services extend beyond traditional LMS functionalities . It provides innovative solutions like the Course Center , which allows facilities to create and manage their own training content , and the Information Security Series , which educates health care workers on safeguarding against cybersecurity threats .
Founded through a collaboration of hospital associations , careLearning ’ s mission is to offer affordable , high-quality training to health care providers . Its focus on small and rural health care facilities , which often face financial constraints , demonstrates a commitment to improving health care standards across the Mountain State . By continuously evolving and expanding its product offerings , careLearning ensures that health care providers are wellequipped to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry .
new treatments for Parkinson ’ s disease , Tourette ’ s syndrome , Alzheimer ’ s disease , opioid use disorder , smoking cessation and chronic pain .
“ TMS is a noninvasive and targeted neuromodulation therapy that uses short pulses of magnetic energy to stimulate nerve cells in the brain . These magnetic pulses are directly delivered to a desired area in the brain that can help normalize brain activity and lead to improvement in clinical symptoms ,” says Umer Najib , M . D ., FAAN , vice chair for operations and director of the RNI TMS program . “ TMS is completely noninvasive and does not require medications , sedation or anesthesia . It only targets the area of the brain involved in the condition being treated . Patients are awake and alert during the treatments and can immediately return to normal activities . TMS is very safe and has very few side effects . In contrast , the pharmacological therapies for depression or OCD are often associated with significant side effects commonly leading to intolerance to treatment .”
According to Najib , during treatment sessions , which last between 20-45 minutes , patients are seated in a special chair and an electromagnetic coil is placed on their head . The coil generates a series of brief , rapid , repetitive magnetic pulses that feel like a tapping on the head . These magnetic pulses activate nerve cells in the brain and alleviate clinical symptoms . Once the treatment is complete , the patient can leave on their own and go back to normal activities with minimal side effects .
As West Virginians continue to lean into their revolutionary spirit and disrupt the health care space , the reason behind their hard work is mutual and clear — they are committed to creating a better future for their families , friends and neighbors . •
WWW . WVEXECUTIVE . COM WINTER 2025 57