Welcome to the Liver Specialists of Texas newsletter of upcoming events, articles, and more from our membership.
December 2010
Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Patients of Liver Specialists of Texas:
I hope this message finds each and every one of you in good health, as we celebrate Christmas and the Holiday Season, with optimistic hopes for the New Year.
2010 has been an exciting year for our staff and patients. Earlier this fall, we had the addition of Dr. Saira Khaderi to our practice, a well trained and knowledgeable physician, committed to the care of our patients with liver disease. We also had the opportunity to enroll a large number of patients in various hepatitis C research studies, providing them the highest chances of eradicating this dreadful infection. For those with more advanced complications of liver disease, our liver transplant program at The Methodist Hospital continued to expand, performing life-saving liver transplants to the sickest individuals. Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis, we are all sobered by the reality that some patients became too ill to transplant, or a suitable donor organ was unavailable at the time it was needed most.
During this past year, we spoke with many of our patients regarding upcoming hepatitis C research studies. We have several studies that are going to begin soon after New Years. We have not forgotten about you, and you have all been entered into our research database. The studies will include several different classes of patients, including: those naïve to hepatitis C therapy (never treated before), those treated with no response to therapy (null responder), and those with partial treatment response who may have relapsed. Each study is for a specific population of patient, each with its own unique entry criteria specified by the sponsor and the Food and Drug Administration.
For those who are awaiting a research study, kindly communicate with us if there have been any changes in your status. You can call our research office or communicate with Herman Ortiz directly through this link and the form at the bottom of the page.
Later this winter, we plan to expand a satellite clinic in Sugar Land, Texas. We will be holding clinic on the campus of the Methodist Hospital-Sugar Land, conveniently at the intersection of US 59 and Sweetwater Blvd. This will allow easier access to our services for those living in Fort Bend County, and further south along the gulf coast.
We are very optimistic for 2011, and the care we continue to provide to our patients. A patient web portal will be available soon, allowing patients access to their medical records, and greater ease of communication with our staff. Our website, www.texasliver.com, is going through an upgrade that will offer a more interactive environment for visitors to the site. Expanded use of audio and video capability will increase the information shared on the site. The expanded blog will offer patients and visitors the opportunity to share in the discussion regarding health and wellness. Visit the site soon to experience these upgrades. Your feedback is welcomed.
All of us at Liver Specialists of Texas wish you the best of health and happiness for 2011.
Obesity, and all of its related complications, is more serious than most adults in America believe. More than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancer, are some of the leading causes of preventable death. We are seeing an increase in the number of young children and adolescents developing obesity, and all of the related complications.
The cost of obesity is staggering, with annual medical cost of obesity exceeding $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars. The medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.
Dr. Galati and the Liver Specialists of Texas team are dedicated to evaluate, treat, and manage all aspects of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD and NASH), including the complication of cirrhosis and liver failure. Developing a customized plan of care for each patient they see is their objective.
Dr. Galati has been involved in Liver Transplantation since 1989. As Medical Director for the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Houston Methodist Hospital, Dr. Galati has cared for thousands of patients with advanced liver disease. In those with the most severe form of advanced liver disease and cirrhosis, liver transplantation is a life-saving surgery. For more information on liver transplantation, click here.
From the comfort of your home, without the need to spend additional money on travel, lodging, and food, receive and expert second opinion from the expert physicians at Liver Specialists of Texas
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There are five steps in the process of requesting a second opinion. We anticipate the steps will take you about 30-65 minutes to complete.
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Have your medical records or those of your loved one on hand as you fill out the medical history questionnaire portion of the online process.
The medical history questionnaire is detailed so having medical records to quickly reference will help make the process more efficient.
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To start the process of an Online Liver Second Opinion, please fill out the initial contact form and fax back to our office. A representative from our office will call you for additional details.
