Using a new technique referred to as high-throughput imaging flow cytometry, doctors now have a new tool at their disposal when it comes to identifying blood clots. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but it really is. Blood clots are responsible for a great deal of stroke cases, particularly ischemic strokes. By understanding these clots better, doctors can do a lot toward helping those who do suffer from a stroke or blood clots live a higher quality of life in the future.
Once images of the clots were obtained, they were analyzed by a machine learning tool. Over 25,000 clot images were used to help create this database of clot information. The tiny differences between clots were noted by the computer system, and the types of clots were identified by the software. The tool that these scientists created is currently called the intelligent platelet aggregate classifier, or iPAC, for short.
This new tool helps doctors not just to better identify the blood clot, but it also helps them to identify the cause of the clot. The hope is that with this enhanced information doctors will be better able to effectively treat individuals that suffer from blood clots. By having a better understanding of the type of clot and what has caused it, doctors can then prescribe the right medication and treatment plan with more accuracy. It’s a small step in the right direction when it comes to targeted care and a better long term health prognosis. It means that our elderly loved ones are a little bit safer than they were before, especially if they are prone to cardiovascular disease. It also means that we will be a bit safer in the future if we are to ever deal with these sorts of health issues.
Targeted care is important because people are individuals. Just because something works for one person doesn’t mean that it’s going to be an ideal type of care for all. Small differences in the medical issue from one person to another can make it so that a unique approach to care is best–and that’s exactly what this new tool accomplishes.
Senior care isn’t supposed to be one size fits all. We can’t expect great care for one situation to be ideal for all situations. That’s just not how people work. Just like medical treatment isn’t going to look the same for each person because of a variety of health, age, and risk factors, senior care isn’t going to look the same for each person–often for these exact same reasons.
We’d love to tell you more about our approach to senior care. Please give us a call to schedule a Zoom call or we can set something up over the phone, whatever works best for you. We firmly believe that individualized care is what’s best for each person, and we strive to bring this philosophy into the lives of every single person that we work with. It’s what makes the care the we give stand out from the crowd.
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