C-section recovery brings a mix of physical changes and new routines, and many parents look for simple ways to support their scar as it heals. Silicone products offer gentle comfort while helping the area feel protected during movement. They rest softly on the skin and fit easily into everyday postpartum habits. This guide explains what experts say about silicone for C-section scars and how it supports smoother healing.
Many new mothers begin with silicone strips for scar reduction once the
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Technology
Prenatal Compliance: Solving SDOH Needs Builds Trust with Moms
Pregnancy is one of the most-expensive episodes for insurers, averaging about $19,000 for pregnancy, vaginal delivery and postpartum care, and $26,000 for cesarean births. Compared with other industrialized nations, costs in the U.S. are nearly eight times higher.
And what do mothers in the U.S. get in return for this high-priced care? They get the highest death rate per 100,000 live births in the developed world, with 18.6 deaths recorded in 2022, compared with 5.5 deaths per 100,000 in the
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Auxira Health Raises $7.8M to Solve the Cardiology Shortage with Virtual Clinical Pods
What You Should Know:
- Auxira Health, a virtual cardiology company co-developed by MedStar Health, has secured $7.8M in seed funding to address the growing cardiologist shortage and clinician burnout crisis.
- Unlike standard telehealth platforms, Auxira embeds dedicated "clinical pods" of nurses and advanced practitioners directly into existing practice workflows, training them on-site to ensure seamless integration.
- The funding will fuel the company's expansion,
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The VBC Paradox: Why Hospitals Are Doubling Down on Value-Based Care While Revenue at Risk Lags
What You Should Know:
- A new report from Sage Growth Partners reveals a striking disconnect in the healthcare industry: while only 20% of C-suite leaders believe progress has been made in value-based care (VBC) recently, 77% plan to increase their participation in these models over the next two years.
- The "plot twist" indicates that despite operational hurdles and low revenue exposure today, hospital executives view VBC as essential for long-term financial survival. The data
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Healthcare Costs vs. Wages: Why Premiums Are Absorbing Your Annual Raise
Healthcare costs are consuming an increasingly large share of household budgets. A RAND study found that payments to finance healthcare averaged $9,393 per person, or nearly 19% of average household income. For many families, that means more than a line item on a paycheck. It shapes the way people decide when to see a doctor, whether to fill a prescription, and how secure they feel in their jobs. A benefit once seen as a cornerstone of compensation is now a source of financial stress. For
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The $4,000 Deductible Era: Why Employer-Sponsored Insurance is Breaking the American Worker
What You Should Know:
- A new 50-state analysis reveals that over half (51.7%) of U.S. private-sector workers are now enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) as employers struggle to manage rising costs. The report shows that annual family premiums jumped to $24,540 in 2024, outpacing inflation, while average family deductibles surpassed $4,000 for the first time.
- The trend exposes millions of Americans to greater financial risk in medical emergencies, signaling a
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ACOG Declares Telehealth an “Ethical Imperative” for Obstetric Care
The maternal healthcare industry has been divided over the use of telehealth since the early days of its use for obstetrics.
Concerns about losing the personal connection of the physician-provider relationship, compromising the quality of care, and adding more work to a strained labor force initially complicated the adoption of telehealth. However, a growing body of research and on-the-ground experience slowly dispelled those concerns, and the COVID pandemic accelerated an emerging clinical
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More Safe Days at Home: A Call to Redesign Pediatric Care
For children with special health care needs, the line between stability and crisis is razor-thin. A quiet day at home can quickly spiral into an unplanned hospital admission. Even during moments of calm, families live with constant anxiety that a small change in condition could trigger the next emergency.
It shouldn’t be that way.
Time at home should be safe and supported, not a fragile pause between hospitalizations. Yet today’s healthcare system still defaults to crisis response,
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The Organ Shortage Solution: Why Living Kidney Donation is Better Than Waiting for Xenotransplantation
Over 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and over 85% of those are in need of a kidney. As the demand for organ transplants continues to far outpace supply, increasing the number of organ donations remains an urgent priority. Most people are familiar with checking the box on their driver’s license, opting in to become an organ donor after death; but few realize that only three in 1,000 people pass away in circumstances that make organ
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ACA Open Enrollment 2026: Why Integrated Health Tech is Key to Navigating 23.4% Premium Spikes and Subsidy Uncertainty
The upcoming Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment (OE) period presents at least three major challenges for health plans: Legislative changes, double-digit premium increases, and potentially expiring subsidies. To maintain membership and a positive user experience, health plans must carefully evaluate their approach to enrollment, engagement, and retention.
New rules are reshaping OE workflows, while price increases create affordability concerns for members. It’s difficult for
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