Unmet Needs in Vestibular Care
Dr. Epley listening to
advisory team of neurotologists, an audiologist, neurologist,
and physical therapist.
Vesticon is living up to its mission of "Victory Over Vertigo" by dedicating itself to the research and development of a suite of interrelated solutions to make it easier, safer and more rewarding for healthcare providers to successfully deal with one of the most frustrating areas in medicine: the diagnosis and management of vestibular disorders.
Vesticon is well suited to this task because its technology is based on the proprietary technology and pioneering work of Dr. John Epley, universally credited for leading and popularizing some of the field’s most significant medical advances from the 1980s to the present. Dr. Epley’s lifetime of work and conservative approach to patient management create solutions that are definitive rather than palliative, and that are focused on putting the simplest and least invasive technologies in the hands of the clinician. By incorporating the latest technological innovation and scientific knowledge into these conservative solutions, Vesticon will exploit the trend away from complex and surgically-based solutions to simple and practical office-based solutions.
Dr. Epley speaking with a group of advisors about the demand for a comprehensive way to treat and diagnose vestibular disorders
Patient Demand: Direct costs related to injuries from elderly fallers with preventable vestibular problems exceed $10 billion annually in the US.
|
While some cases are minor, up to five percent of adults under age 65 are currently identified as experiencing chronic problems (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 1998). Among the elderly, 12.5 million, or about 30 percent, are identified as suffering from vestibular disorder that significantly interferes with their lives (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 1997). |
Balance or vestibular disorders, commonly referred to with the catchall phrase of “dizziness,” are among the most common complaints in health care. Until recently, healthcare providers didn’t know to look for it, let alone how to recognize it. And even when they did, there was not t much that could be done for patients. In fact, vestibular disorders are so common that about half of adults will experience them during their lifetime. They are the third most frequent complaint in primary care and emergency rooms, and the number one complaint in the growing elderly population. They are also the second most common reason for Medicare hospital admissions with an average of 4.3 days per stay.
