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Quest Diagnostics Introduces Specimen Self-Collection for Common Genital Tract Infection Testing at Nationwide Network of Patient Service Centers

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First-of-its-kind service empowers discreet and more convenient access to testing and treatment for vaginitis and similar genital tract infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium

Self-collection option available at no extra charge at any of Quest’s 2,000 patient service centers with a physician’s order or through Quest’s consumer-initiated test platform at questhealth.com

SECAUCUS, N.J., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, today announced the availability of a new service aimed at increasing convenience and speed of testing and treatment of several common genital tract infections (GTIs). Quest is the first laboratory provider to offer patients experiencing vaginitis and symptoms of similar common GTIs the option to self-collect a swab specimen on a national scale, supporting patient care, the drive for greater patient choice, and empowerment in healthcare.

“Quest is constantly looking for ways to meet the needs of the communities we serve to empower choice and convenience as well as better health outcomes. Giving patients the option to self-collect in our patient service centers will increase access to important sexual health testing for many,” said Kathleen Valentine, Vice President and General Manager of Women’s and Reproductive Health Services at Quest Diagnostics.

The new offering utilizes the FDA-cleared Aptima® Multi-test swab for patient-collected vaginal specimens. The FDA cleared the swab for patient self-collection in clinical settings, such as those of Quest’s patient service centers or in traditional clinical settings like a doctor’s office. It is not FDA cleared for at-home collection, and self-collection is not intended to replace a pelvic examination provided by a clinician. Patients should inform their healthcare provider if they suspect that they are pregnant or if they have recently had symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (such as pelvic pain, pain with sexual intercourse, unusual vaginal discharge or bad odor).

When testing for genital tract infections in conventional practice, a healthcare provider collects a specimen from a patient in their office or clinic and forwards it to a laboratory for testing. With the new Quest self-collection service, patients with symptoms may, with an electronically placed physician’s order, vaginally self-collect in a private room at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center using a simple step-by-step guide. Collection directions will be provided for self-collections, however some patients may experience difficulty with self-collection and may require a visit to their healthcare provider to assist with the collection. The Quest Diagnostics patient service center will send the specimen to the testing laboratory. Test results are provided to the provider and patient electronically. The provider may review the results and provide treatment during a separate patient visit and provide further evaluation as needed. The self-collect option is available at no extra charge for the patient or health plan.

“Unidentified and untreated GTIs can lead to serious, long-term health issues, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, chronic pelvic pain or problems in pregnancy,” said board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Damian P. Alagia, MD, Senior Medical Director, Women’s Health, Quest Diagnostics. “Specimen self-collection has been shown to appeal to many female patients as an alternative to a provider-performed collection but with comparable accuracy. I am confident that our specimen self-collection option will help women feel more comfortable seeking out the testing they need.”

The new collection method may be used for laboratory testing of six common infections and causes of vaginitis, which affects one in three women in their lifetime1, including bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) and trichomoniasis. It may also be used to test for similar common GTIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Mycoplasma genitalium. Vaginitis is a highly common condition that can cause irritation and discomfort. It may be due to any number of factors that include certain sexually transmitted infections and similar genital tract conditions such as bacterial vaginosis/vaginitis and candidiasis.

The new offering provides more choice to patients interested in a discreet method of collection, improves access to testing and treatment, and reduces pressure on physicians and other healthcare professionals to accommodate patients requiring urgent evaluation. This capability comes at a time when emerging solutions allow for specimen collection in new and various settings, enabling more accessible care. In a recent survey, 51% of respondents cited convenience and ease of access as the most important factors in healthcare decision making.2

For more information on the company’s GTI clinical offerings for physician order, visit www.QuestWomensHealth.com.

Choosing the specimen self-collection option via questhealth.com

In addition to the physician channel, patients may also utilize the specimen self-collection option when ordering laboratory testing for one or more GTIs via Quest’s consumer-initiated testing platform, questhealth.com. Individuals who purchase testing through questhealth.com are able to discuss test results with a licensed physician from PWNHealth, an independent, third-party physician network. In addition, the physician may be able to provide treatment and prescribe medication for certain conditions based on test results.

With the availability of the new collection method at Quest’s 2,000 patient service centers, several existing questhealth.com offerings have been updated to include the option to self-collect a specimen, including the Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test, Trichomonas Test, Mycoplasma genitalium Test, the Basic and Expanded STD Screening Panels, and the recently introduced Bacterial Vaginosis and Vaginitis Test Panel Tests.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics works across the healthcare ecosystem to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We provide diagnostic insights from the results of our laboratory testing to empower people, physicians and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from one of the world’s largest databases of de-identifiable clinical lab results, Quest’s diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives and create a healthier world. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

1 Vodstrcil LA, Plummer EL, Doyle M, Fairley CK, McGuiness C, Bateson D, Hocking JS, Law MG, Petoumenos K, Donovan B, Chow EPF, Bradshaw CS; StepUp RCT Team. Treating male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (StepUp): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical effectiveness of male partner treatment for reducing the risk of BV recurrence. BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Nov 11;20(1):834. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-05563-w. PMID: 33176727; PMCID: PMC7661182.
2019 Healthcare Consumer Trends Report (nrchealth.com)

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MRO Starts 2025 Strong with Top CEO Award, Major Client Wins, and Record-Breaking Growth

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Latest successes underscore MRO’s legacy and leadership in clinical data exchange, setting the stage for another milestone year.

NORRISTOWN, Pa., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MRO Corp. (MRO), the leading clinical data exchange company in healthcare, is pleased to announce its CEO, Jason Brown, was named one of The Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2024, following several years of client expansion and growth.

This year’s Top CEO list features individuals whose leadership has been a driving force behind some of the most significant advancements in healthcare. MRO’s Jason Brown is one of those CEOs who has inspired his team to push boundaries, fostering a culture of innovation and transformative breakthroughs. This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical nomination process and careful consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions.

Over the last three years since Jason became CEO of MRO, the organization has experienced remarkable organic growth and innovation.   

“Technological innovation has been pivotal in driving our impressive results and our growth trajectory,” said Jason Brown. “MRO is undergoing a digital transformation, and as part of that transformation, we are enhancing every facet of our business to better serve our clients. This strategic utilization of technology combined with our world class services has enabled us to support our clients’ goals of exchanging secure, high quality, low latency clinical data at scale.” 

MRO is also pleased to announce a record number of new client partnerships. These include one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems and a provider-sponsored health plan, backed by a top five US research hospital, according to Statista’s World’s Best Hospitals 2024.

Just as the organization has for the last 23 years, MRO continues to support hospitals and health systems in protecting revenues and simplifying the exchange of information with patients and third-party requesters to reduce risk, increase compliance, and introduce new efficiencies. Additionally, MRO has expanded its solutions portfolio.

MRO successfully launched three new solutions in 2023 and 2024. These innovative solutions unlock new market opportunities for MRO while also deepening relationships with existing clients and further solidifying the organization’s position in the healthcare technology industry overall.

Today, MRO partners with 1,200 hospitals, 35,000 clinics, 78 Accountable Care Organizations and works with the top 50 payers in the US. These partnerships are vital as MRO continues to accelerate clinical data exchange between providers, payers and patients.

“We’re continuing to push boundaries in how clinical data is exchanged, setting the foundation for long-term partnerships that improve outcomes across healthcare,” said Matt Wildman, Chief Commercial Officer.

About MRO
MRO is accelerating the exchange of clinical data throughout the healthcare ecosystem on behalf of providers, payers, and users of clinical data. By utilizing industry-leading solutions and incorporating the latest technology, MRO facilitates the efficient management and exchange of clinical data for all stakeholders. With a 23-year legacy, MRO brings a technology-driven mindset built upon a client-first service foundation and a relentless focus on client excellence. For more information on how MRO is empowering healthcare organizations of every type and scale with proven, enterprise-wide clinical data solutions, visit www.mrocorp.com.

Press contact information:
Stephanie Kindlick
MRO
(610) 994-7500, ext. 1353
skindlick@mrocorp.com

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Happiest Minds collaborates with Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam to deploy an innovative GenAI conversational interface

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BENGALURU, India and SAN JOSE, Calif. and LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, Mindful IT Company, today announced the new association with Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, creating a series of GenAI solutions through their Generative AI Business Services (GBS).

In a consultative approach, Happiest Minds collaborated closely with the strategic team at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam during a discovery phase. This phase aimed to comprehensively understand the business requirements and explore how GenAI could effectively support them in achieving their goals.

Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam presented two business cases necessitating technology transformation to enhance organizational productivity and operational efficiency.

Augmenting HR Efficiency: The policy information across different business functions at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam was scattered across multiple documents, causing inefficiencies for employees searching for relevant information. This fragmentation impeded productivity and hindered effective decision-making processes within the organization.Monitoring Cooler Productivity: Sales reps and asset managers at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam must monitor cooler RoI nationwide, engaging with retailers to enhance productivity. Presently, they navigate multiple systems to assess customer performance, pinpoint focus areas, and identify outliers. Streamlining this process would optimize cooler productivity, fostering better retailer connections.

Happiest Minds harnesses GenAI bots, utilizing Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and open-source components, to develop a conversational interface that fulfills both critical business needs ― firstly, to create a GenAI-enabled HR assistant, and secondly, to develop a Cooler Productivity Monitoring System with an embedded layer of GenAI. The solution enabled users to access comprehensive information through a single interface and engage in natural language conversations with the underlying data. By integrating GenAI technology, this conversational interface enhances user experience, facilitating seamless interaction and efficient access to information. Users can now intuitively converse with the data, streamlining workflows and fostering a more productive and intuitive user experience for better HR enablement and augmented assistance for Sales reps and Asset Managers.

Implementing the GenAI solution at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam promises significant benefits for employees. Firstly, it enhances operational efficiency by automating tasks and streamlining processes, effectively reducing manual workload. Secondly, it fosters increased employee satisfaction and engagement, thereby boosting overall productivity levels.

Sridhar Mantha, CEO, Generative AI Business Services, Happiest Minds, said, “Our enduring partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam led to the exploration of unique business cases, igniting excitement at GBS to collaborate and craft a unique GenAI solution. Given our strategic alliance with Microsoft, we were able to leverage Microsoft Azure Open AI stack to deliver tailored solutions for Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam needs. In a short span since inception, we’ve already served over 20 customers and are actively engaging with numerous others, showcasing our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.”

Rahul Shinde, Vice President & CIO, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, said, “I am proud of the fact that we were able to create a tool that has the potential to make a real difference in unleashing the productivity of our employees and we are only scratching the surface with Generative AI. We had confidence to partner with Happiest Minds through this journey and the team didn’t disappoint us. They were able to work in an agile manner and their technical expertise coupled with deep understanding of Coca-Cola business helped us to launch this product within a few weeks.”

Rajiv Shah, Executive Director, Happiest Minds, said, “The advent of Generative AI is poised to revolutionize not only the tech landscape but also the business arena in the years ahead, offering a competitive edge to organizations that embrace it swiftly. At Happiest Minds, we collaborate closely with our clients, guiding them through their GenAI implementation journey. From identifying needs and conducting gap analyses to providing tailored solutions aligned with their business objectives, we ensure our clients leverage the full potential of Generative AI to stay ahead in their respective industries.”

Nathan Nash, Strategic Account Technology Strategist, Microsoft, said, “This deployment of Microsoft Azure AI solutions with Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam continues to build on the strong relationship between Happiest Minds and Microsoft in APJ. This solution has significantly bolstered operational efficiency, showcasing the robust capabilities of Azure AI in driving business transformation. By harnessing advanced analytics and AI tools, Coca-Cola Beverages has streamlined processes, reduced costs, and enhanced decision-making. This collaboration not only exemplifies the tangible benefits of Microsoft Azure AI but also stands as a glowing example of how technology can quickly deliver the business outcomes that customers need to compete in the new era of AI.”

Pioneering the field of Generative AI, Happiest Minds has strategically established a dedicated Generative AI business unit (GBS). GBS provides a comprehensive suite of Gen AI services spanning diverse sectors such as EdTech, BFSI, Healthcare, and more. Backed by a proficient team of AI engineering experts and a repository boasting over 120 use cases, Happiest Minds has successfully delivered bespoke Gen AI solutions for over 20 clients. This track record has firmly positioned Happiest Minds as a ‘Niche & Established’ leader in Gen-AI Engineering Services, a distinction acknowledged by Zinnov’s 2023 Zones Ratings for Digital Engineering and ER&D Services.

Happiest Minds is a recognized Microsoft AI Partner Council Program member. This program acknowledges partners’ expertise in various industries and their capability to facilitate business transformation through Microsoft Azure AI. Happiest Minds champions various Microsoft AI technologies to deliver innovative cloud-based AI solutions, drive innovation, and shape the future of AI-driven technologies.

About Happiest Minds Technologies

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/ augmented reality, etc. Positioned as ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, our capabilities span Product & Digital Engineering Services (PDES), Generative AI Business Services (GBS) and Infrastructure Management & Security Services (IMSS). We deliver these services across industry groups: Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI), EdTech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Hi-Tech and Media & Entertainment, Industrial, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, and Retail, CPG & Logistics. The company has been recognized for its excellence in Corporate Governance practices by Golden Peacock and ICSI. A Great Place to Work Certified™ company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bengaluru, India with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.

For more information, contact:

Kiran Veigas, 
Vice President and Head – Corporate Marketing, Branding & Communications, 
Media Contact: media@happiestminds.com

About Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam Ltd. (Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam)

Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam operates plants in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi, generating more than 2,200 indirect jobs through its supply chain and more than 1,400 direct jobs. The company continuously enhances and offers a variety of high-quality beverages, including low-sugar and sugar-free product lines, while diversifying designs and increasing business coverage globally. Coca-Cola’s beverage brands in Vietnam include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid Nutriboost, Minute Maid Teppy, Schweppes, Dasani, and Aquarius, as well as Fuzetea+ bottled tea, Georgia canned coffee, and Thumps Up Charge energy drink.

Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam is a member of the Swire Coca-Cola Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific Limited, since the completion of acquisition in January 2023.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is a global leader in technology, committed to empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. With a focus on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and productivity solutions, Microsoft is dedicated to driving digital transformation across

industries. The company’s innovations—including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365—enable businesses to harness data, streamline operations, and enhance collaboration. Microsoft prioritizes security, compliance, and sustainability, helping organizations navigate today’s complex digital landscape while fostering a culture of inclusivity and trust.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1812236/4024169/Happiest_Minds_Logo.jpg

 

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EPAM Expands Collaboration with Google Cloud to Deliver Scalable AI Solutions for Industry Transformation

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New AI-powered solutions address generative AI, legacy modernization and data analytics to solve industry-specific challenges

NEWTOWN, Pa., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM), a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, today announced it has expanded its strategic partnership with Google Cloud to deliver innovative industry solutions for clients across the media and entertainment, energy and retail verticals. The enhanced collaboration will leverage Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform to drive measurable business outcomes for clients through generative AI, legacy modernization and data analytics capabilities.

Building upon EPAM’s existing strategic global partnership with Google Cloud, this strengthened collaboration will create repeatable, high-value solutions that address key industry challenges for clients. The collaboration enables marketing support and go-to-market strategies to deliver impactful digital transformation initiatives for EPAM’s Google Cloud clients.

To accelerate regional growth, EPAM will leverage its deep retail, energy and media industry expertise and regional talent footprint across Ibero markets through its acquisition of Neoris. The Company will also expand its financial services offerings across Europe, North America and APAC through its recent acquisition of First Derivative, delivering strong capabilities in banking and capital markets.

“We are excited to elevate our collaboration with Google Cloud, which enables us to deliver tailored, AI-powered solutions for our clients across top verticals such as energy, media and retail,” said Elaina Shekhter‎, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, EPAM. “By leveraging Google Cloud’s advanced AI technologies, enabled by the Vertex AI platform, we can drive measurable business outcomes and enhance customer value, making AI real for our clients. This expanded partnership not only strengthens our ability to create industry-specific solutions but also deepens our relationship with Google Cloud, enabling us to align more closely on delivering impactful, scalable results for our customers.”

EPAM’s expanded partnership with Google Cloud introduces four innovative solutions, leveraging the full power of Google Cloud and the Vertex AI platform. These include three new industry-specific solutions and one cross-industry capability:

Video Search and Indexing for Media and Entertainment: Transform unstructured video data into searchable, actionable insights using the Vertex AI platform, improving accessibility and audience engagement for both internal and external users.JenAii™ for Retail: Enhance customer satisfaction and boost sales with wayfinding assistance and customer education, while addressing staffing shortages and margin pressures for retailers.Geospatial Data Visualization for Energy: Drive better decision-making through intuitive visualization and analysis of complex datasets using EPAM and the Google Cloud Platform, powered by Gemini models.Talk to Your Data: Simplify data analysis with a horizontal solution that enables clients to interact with their data in plain language, transforming complex datasets into clear, actionable visualizations and reports.

“EPAM has helped global enterprises improve everyday operations with Google Cloud’s leading AI technology,” said Colleen Kapase, VP of Channels and Partner Programs, Google Cloud. “Through this next phase of our partnership, EPAM will provide customers with the expertise and services capacity required to successfully plan, deploy and optimize every stage of a generative AI project.”

For more information about EPAM’s partnership with Google Cloud and the new industry solutions, please visit: www.epam.com/services/partners/google-cloud.  

Discover how our expanded partnership is driving digital transformation and how we can empower your business to achieve lasting success: www.epam.com.

About EPAM Systems

Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM) has used its software engineering expertise to become a leading global provider of digital engineering, cloud and AI-enabled transformation services, and a leading business and experience consulting partner for global enterprises and ambitious startups. We address our clients’ transformation challenges by focusing EPAM Continuum’s integrated strategy, experience and technology consulting with our 30+ years of engineering execution to speed our clients’ time to market and drive greater value from their innovations and digital investments.

We make GenAI real with our AI LLM orchestration, testing and engineering solutions, EPAM DIAL, EPAM EliteA™ and EPAM AI/RUN™, respectively.

We deliver globally but engage locally with our expert teams of consultants, architects, designers and engineers, making the future real for our clients, our partners, and our people around the world. We believe the right solutions are the ones that improve people’s lives and fuel competitive advantage for our clients across diverse industries. Our thinking comes to life in the experiences, products and platforms we design and bring to market.

Added to the S&P 500 and the Forbes Global 2000 in 2021 and recognized by Glassdoor and Newsweek as a Top 100 Best Workplace, our multidisciplinary teams serve customers across six continents. We are proud to be among the top 15 companies in Information Technology Services in the Fortune 1000 and to be recognized as a leader in the IDC MarketScapes for Worldwide Experience Build Services, Worldwide Experience Design Services and Worldwide Software Engineering Services.

Learn more at www.epam.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes estimates and statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Our estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on our current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect our business and operations. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. Those future events and trends may relate to, among other things, developments relating to the war in Ukraine and escalation of the war in the surrounding region, political and civil unrest or military action in the geographies where we conduct business and operate, difficult conditions in global capital markets, foreign exchange markets and the broader economy, and the effect that these events may have on client demand and our revenues, operations, access to capital, and profitability. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions, the risk factors discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the factors discussed in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, particularly under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made based on information currently available to us. EPAM undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

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