There are two reasons for this trend, believes Theodore Stroukoff. First, he explains, is an aging baby boomer population that will require healthcare workers in larger numbers. Second is a workforce shortage that will occur as those same baby boomers begin to retire, many of whom are working as nurses today, Theodore Stroukoff points out.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for nursing will surge 22 percent in the ten year period from 2008-2018, according to Theodore Stroukoff. As is currently the case, this shortage will not occur evenly in all geographic areas, notes Theodore Stroukoff, with some areas of the U.S. and the world suffering extreme shortages. These shortfalls can be dangerous to the health and well being of the citizens of those areas, warns Theodore Stroukoff.

Theodore Stroukoff believes that this is one reason travel nursing has become such a popular occupation in recent years. A travel nurse takes on a short-term contract position with a hospital in a certain area in order to fill a demand, Theodore Stroukoff explains. This contract generally lasts for a couple of months, and is meant to fill a temporary need. Theodore Stroukoff says that the facility may need someone to help out until they can hire a permanent employee or a nurse may be needed to relieve someone on medical or maternity leave.

The experience Theodore Stroukoff has received as a nurse has been invaluable to his résumé. He has been able to work in ER and ICU units, correctional facilities, residence facilities, and more. Serving in these environments, Theodore Stroukoff has also been able to network and make contacts that are a great asset to his career as a nurse.

By the year 2020, a one million person shortage is expected in the field of nursing, Theodore Stroukoff points out. Not enough nurses are entering nursing school to meet this shortage, leaving medical facilities to try to fill the gap. Theodore Stroukoff believes that in hiring travel nurses, hospitals and other facilities have been able to employ experienced, skilled employees to get them through drastic shortages until a long-term solution can be found.

For the aspiring nurse, a career as a travel nurse can open up opportunities that might not otherwise be available, Theodore Stroukoff concludes. The pay, combined with the opportunity to travel the world, make travel nursing one of the most rewarding jobs in the field of nursing.

One thing a patient will notice as soon as he or she enters the Naperville dentists’ office is that each treatment room has a computer and TV monitor. But this technology isn’t just for your entertainment. As the Naperville dentists explain, this equipment is used to help Dr. Gibson and the staff better serve patients. By using the provided screens, the Naperville dentists at Smiles by Dr. Gibson can show you treatment options and help you plan future procedures.

The Naperville dentists at Smiles by Dr. Gibson and Associates also implement digital imaging to give you a preview of the planned results of your cosmetic dentistry. This digital imaging can show you how your smile will look before committing to a dental procedure, say the Naperville dentists. Using state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Gibson can show you how your smile has progressed from before to after using a series of digital photos.

The Naperville dentists at Smiles by Dr. Gibson use digital X-rays, which give more accurate, detailed results. This leads to more accurate diagnoses, helping the Naperville dentists catch problems in the early stages. Additionally, the Naperville dentists at Smiles by Dr. Gibson use laser technology to do such dental procedures as gum re-contouring and gum disease treatment. Laser re-contouring can help patients with gums that are aligned improperly, resulting in an imperfect smile. Some patients have gums that descend too far, covering a portion of the teeth. These patients may have a smile that shows far too much gum and not enough teeth as a result, the Naperville dentists explain, making them self-conscious about smiling. Through laser re-contouring, the Naperville dentists can use a soft tissue laser to trim away the excess gum in a process that is painless and can be accomplished without the complications of scalpel-created re-contouring.

According to the Naperville dentists, lasers can also be used to treat cold sores and perform biopsies. This procedure is used for recurring cold sore cases, wiping the cold sore away within one to three days. For patients that need biopsies, the Naperville dentists’ laser biopsy treatment can make the process low-pain with minimal recovery time. The laser gently removes the tissue sample so that it can be sent off for examination. Unlike traditional biopsies, laser biopsy treatment induces little to no bleeding, the Naperville dentists say.

As more technological advancements become available, the Naperville dentists at Smiles by Dr. Gibson will stay on top of them. Dr. Gibson and her staff are committed to providing the best possible treatment for patients, resulting in a healthier, happier experience for everyone who walks through the door.

Dr. Chiann Gibson is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she received awards for her abilities in operative dentistry and prosthodontics. She is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), one of only twelve dentists in Illinois that have achieved that level and the only female Illinois dentist. Through Smiles by Dr. Gibson in Naperville, Illinois, Dr. Gibson helps patients achieve award-winning smiles. A product of successful orthodontia herself, Dr. Gibson knows the confidence a winning smile can give a person and strives to give her patients confidence through cosmetic dentistry. For more information, visit drchiann.com

For too many South American and African residents, access to medicine is limited, Eloi Kummetz explains. In more remote areas of these countries, citizens do not have nearby hospitals, resulting in an increased mortality rate in those areas. By working with development companies in South America and Africa, Eloi Kummetz hopes Kummetz Corporation can build more hospitals in both of these countries, improving the quality of life for citizens.

By helping grow the educational system in South America and Africa, Eloi Kummetz hopes to create a better-educated workforce for both countries’ futures. Well-educated children become well-educated adults, Eloi Kummetz states, which leads to brilliant leaders with great ideas for economic development. South America and Africa need more schools, Eloi Kummetz explains, with talented teachers and tutors willing to work with children to help them learn. Through Kummetz Corporation, Eloi Kummetz believes he can use existing contacts to make a big difference in the educational infrastructure of South America and Africa.

Without access to food and water, however, Eloi Kummetz points out that none of the above issues can be addressed. The lack of availability of water in many areas throughout the world has gotten great attention in recent years. Many areas of both South America and Africa have little access to water, which poses not only a risk of dehydration but sanitation, as some residents drink and cook with water from dirty ponds out of desperation. Some residents in rural and poor areas must walk for miles to get water for families to use, carrying back heavy loads, Eloi Kummetz explains.

By improving agriculture in South America and Brazil, Eloi Kummetz hopes to enhance food production in both countries. This will not only provide exports that can help bring money into the countries, Eloi Kummetz explains, but will also provide basic essentials to citizens who so desperately need it.

Eloi Kummetz and Kummetz Corporation continue to work to build economic infrastructures while protecting the environment throughout the world. Whether this means meeting basic needs of residents or finding new opportunities to foster financial development in areas that need it, Eloi Kummetz holds that working to improve the world is Kummetz Corporation’s mission.

Aicube: Is Unifill Your Only Product?

Alan Shortall: We have a range of products that are available or ready for commercialization. In fact, every one of these products and their underlying technologies has been driven by the unmet needs of our pharmaceutical customers. We actually have them lining up at our front door asking us to try to come up with solutions for their therapeutic drugs so that they can take them to market.

Aicube: Why are pharmaceutical companies being driven to launch their drugs in innovative differential devices?

Alan Shortall: The change from chemical-type drugs to biological drugs—which are now driving the need for pharmaceutical companies to come up with novel devices. Oftentimes these drugs can be very viscous and so consequently to absorb them or inject them into the body (because they have large molecules and they’re complex) they must be injected. Give consideration to trying to inject a drug that is like honey. It’s not easy to inject. If that needs to be injected and it needs to be injected over a particular period of time, a standard syringe is not going to be able to do that. So there’s got to be new ways of actually delivering the drugs to specifically meet the requirements and the efficacy of delivering that drug. It will be linked with the regulatory approval process as well.

Aicube: Why are pharmaceutical companies seeking Unilife to develop their devices?

Alan Shortall: The pharmaceutical industry in particular has shifted towards biological drugs. Biological drugs by their nature are generally very complex compounds with large molecules. In many cases, they need customized devices or novel devices to actually be able to deliver them because they’re so complex. Commodity, off-the-shelf devices that are traditionally supplied by incumbent device manufacturers have been developed under a one-size fits all model. But this approach does not meet the specific needs of many of these biological drugs. Unilife has a completely different customer-centric model. We give the customer exactly what they need every time. And we bowl them over with service, agility and reliability.

Aicube: What are the benefits for Unilife in supplying unique devices to pharmaceutical companies?

Alan Shortall: We have a range of products but also we have variations of those products that have been customized for the pharmaceutical companies—specific for a particular drug. The beauty of that for us and for the Unilife shareholders is that as pharmaceutical companies actually get regulatory approval with our proprietary device it means the pharmaceutical company is locked in to using that device and purchasing it from us. So we will then be putting in place long-term supply agreements that will give us a very strong financial, robust financial model going forward.

The other thing in relation to that—what it does do is [that it] actually insures both the medium and long-term strategic value but also the financial opportunity which is enormous for our shareholders.

Aicube: What gives Unilife the capabilities to accommodate the needs of pharmaceutical companies?

Alan Shortall: First of all, we actually have the credibility because we’ve achieved the impossible by being able to manufacture the Unifill prefilled syringe. Secondly, with the industry innovation already demonstrated, we have the expertise on board. We’re nimble as a company, as an entrepreneurial company. We have the infrastructure in place. We have the operational capabilities. More importantly, we have the passion and the courage to be able to change the marketplace.

Aicube: Why wouldn’t a pharmaceutical company go to a larger established company?

Alan Shortall: Traditionally the incumbent, large, dominant medical device companies are driven by commodity products…. Large volumes and low margins. They’re me-too products. These products in many cases do not meet the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical companies.

Aicube: Do you have plans for expansion of the facility?

Alan Shortall: The facility that we’ve built would see us out to 400 million units of production capacity. We have a planning permission already in place for an extension to that factory section. So that would be basically like building on a concrete box—which we will then fit out the clean rooms for that extension. When we’ve done that we will then pull down the dividing wall so there will be no interference with our production capacity at that stage. The facility with the extension place will then see us out to a billion units. At that stage, we would be considering a secondary

Aicube: How long will it take to get other lines up and running once the demand rises post 2012?

Alan Shortall: The second line we bring in will have 150-million unit line capacity. That will become a standard size production line at that time. We expect to bring in basically one per year going forward up to 2016. So by the end of 2014 we should be producing approximately 400 million units a year. By the end of 2016 we should be producing close to 800 million units per year.

Now, that 800 million units by the end of 2016 would represent approximately 15 percent of the projected prefilled syringe market at that time. So we believe that is pretty much a conservative number in terms of the requirement that we will need. It takes about 12 months to actually get a line in place. We have the capacity to increase that production [inaudible] program if we need to—which will be a great position to be in.

Aicube: How will you pay for the development of new products?

Alan Shortall: We anticipate the development of those devices in many cases will be funded either fully or partially by collaboration agreements which we will be putting in place with these pharmaceutical companies. In fact, we already have two or three products that have been developed in collaboration with some of these pharmaceutical companies. The fact is, we’re moving so quickly that the pharmaceutical companies can’t keep up with the paper work in terms of the agreements we need to put in place.

Aicube: In what stage are companies soliciting Unilife?

Alan Shortall: We’re currently in communications and collaboration with a number of pharmaceutical companies developing new devices for specific—. These devices I’m referring to now will be customized devices. They will be customized specific to their requirements.

Aicube: What is the customization of devices for biological drugs offering pharmaceutical companies?

Alan Shortall: First of all, when we are talking about these complex biologics, they’re so complex. By way of example, water as you probably know has three atoms. Some of these biologics have between 50 to 100,000 atoms. They’re very complex; they have large molecules. Often times they’re actually very viscous. So in developing the drug, previously the pharmaceutical company would develop the drug, get regulatory approval, and then decide what device they’re going to use to deliver it in the marketplace. And they would have a number of choices.

But because of the complexity of these drugs, the pharmaceutical companies have actually now got to start thinking earlier in the process. So coming into Phase Two and Phase Three trials, they need to actually be planning what device they’re going to use to deliver the drug. Often times the customized device is an essential requirement to be able to administer the drug efficiently to be able to get regulatory approval.

As I said, the beauty for our shareholders going forward is that once our device becomes and gets regulatory approval as part of the device-drug combination, it means we are locked in with that pharmaceutical company into long-term supply agreements. That gives us a very robust financial model going forward.

Aicube: What is the process of taking your products to market?

Alan Shortall: We’re an advanced drug delivery systems business. . In effect, once we start to supply those pharmaceutical companies with our devices, they actually fill the devices and they deliver them into the marketplace.

So our business model is financially very attractive because we have no go-to-market strategies. We don’t need teams of sales people or distributors or anything else. The pharmaceutical companies take care of that for us.

Aicube: What is Unilife offering in comparison to major incumbent medical device manufacturers?

Alan Shortall: Excitement—involved in an entrepreneurial company that is changing the marketplace that isn’t commodity-driven but that they can actually contribute and do something that is going to make a significant difference to saving millions of lives potentially but also actually having a specific input and direction in where the market is going.

Aicube: Alan Shortall, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today.

Alan Shortall: You are welcome, my pleasure.

Founded in Australia, Unilife still has offices in Sydney although they moved their main production facility to the United States in 2008. The company’s roots in Australia began when two inventors approached the firm’s future CEO Alan Shortall with a revolutionary idea. Shortall helped to found the medical device company that designs and distributes syringes and other injectable devices to pharmaceutical companies across the globe.

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Under normal circumstances, reports Paul Perito MD, the kidneys are situated in the posterior of the abdominal cavity on both sides of the body and protected by the ribs. Occasional factors can interfere with kidney development, causing a condition known as renal ectopia, or ectopic kidneys. In individuals with ectopic kidney disorder the kidneys are not in their standard anatomical position, says Paul Perito MD. According to Paul Perito MD, renal ectopia is often discovered when a patient undergoes an x-ray or surgery for an unrelated condition. Commonly, patients seeking medical advice for urinary tract infections or abdominal pain lead to the diagnosis of an ectopic kidney, says Paul Perito MD.

Ectopic kidneys may be found in any position along the path they traveled during in utero development, says Paul Perito MD. Simple renal ectopia is defined as a kidney located on its proper side of the body, but in a nonconforming position. According to Paul Perito MD, crossed renal ectopia is when a kidney is found opposite its normal position resulting in both kidneys resting together on the same side of the body. Paul Perito MD notes that this condition is often associated with other congenital deformities.

Symptoms of ectopic kidneys may include frequent UTIs, kidney stones, versicouretal reflux (the back up of urine into the ureters and kidneys), and even kidney failure, says Paul Perito MD.  Even with the malorientation of the kidney, functionality usually remains normal, although obstruction can occur and lead to complications. Conventionally located kidneys can have the same abnormalities as ectopic kidneys and are also susceptible to obstructions and infections, notes Paul Perito MD.

Most cases of ectopic kidney do not need treatment. Paul Perito MD notes that if vesicoureteral reflux is causing chronic infections, it can be corrected with surgery. Badly damaged and scarred kidneys may lead to a nephrectomy, or removal of the organ. Generally, the body will compensate for the loss of one kidney by more efficiently utilizing the remaining organ.

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Urological surgeon Paul Perito MD has devoted his entire professional career to treating men suffering from Erectile Dysfunction. He is the founder and namesake of Miami’s Perito Urology, where he conceived and initiated the world’s first minimally invasive approach to penile implantation. Paul Perito MD has performed over 3000 of these procedures on men across the globe that enjoy a shorter recovery time and less scarring than traditional implantation methods. Since 1995, Paul Perito MD and Perito Urology have become synonymous with effective erectile dysfunction treatment and world-class service unparalleled anywhere in the nation. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School as well as a frequent contributor to text published by medical journals nationwide.

The information contained in this article is provided by Paul Perito MD for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, says Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD, approximately half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 in America suffer from erectile dysfunction. Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD points out that ED can result in a loss of self-esteem and relationship problems, as well as affecting a man’s overall happiness. With today’s treatments, including medication and penile implants, Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD states that men can resume fully productive sex lives.

A 2009 study tracked ED patients who had been given the drug Tadalafil, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. According to Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD, nearly half of all participants in the study reported having sex at night. Thirty percent of those in the study had no set time for intercourse at all, and most of the couples in the study had no pattern with intercourse on the weekend as opposed to weekday sex.

But the most important part of the study, Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD reports, is the increase in confidence and spontaneity that occurred after treatment with Tadalafil. As Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD’s patients have found, that increase in confidence was also reported to improve their relationships with their partners. In fact, the British Journal of Urology reported on a study of men who had penile implants over a twenty-five year period. According to Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD, the study found that most men who had the surgery were satisfied with sex after penile implant surgery. The majority of men today prefer treatment for ED to be as minimally invasive as possible, the study revealed.

Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD’s minimally invasive procedure inserts an implant via a small incision above the base of the penis. This not only causes less scarring, it also involves less dissection into penile tissues, Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD says. Through Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD’s procedure, patients are able to have easier surgeries and recoveries. Many of Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD’s patients are able to resume normal sexual activity within four to six weeks.

With erectile dysfunction becoming more of an issue, physicians like Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD continue to monitor patient satisfaction post-surgery. For more information, visit Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD online at www.peritourology.com

The information contained in this article is provided by Dr. Paul Edward Perito MD for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

Its medical innovation and research group is just one part of the financial investment group. Kummetz Corporation works with companies in Brazil, East Africa, and many other areas to develop housing, mine for gold, and seek out any resource that could provide economic growth to an area. By rejuvenating industry in these areas, Kummetz Corporation hopes to provide jobs and hope for residents.

But all of these things mean nothing if residents aren’t healthy, which is why Kummetz Corporation is also working to develop equipment that will provide immediate testing results of crucial health issues. By bringing these developments into areas that need it, Kummetz Corporation hopes to improve the quality of life for many people.

One of these ventures, according to management at Kummetz Corporation, LLC, is blood pressure testing equipment. Considered the number one risk factor for death worldwide, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a result of the blood pressure in a patient’s arteries being elevated, according to a spokesperson at Kummetz Corporation. According to Kummetz, if the pressure is too high, the patient’s heart pumps harder, which puts strain on the heart. This can understandably lead to elevated risks of stroke and cardiovascular problems, Kummetz Corporation management states.

In America, blood pressure testing is more easily available to the 73 million who suffer from it, points out Kummetz Corporation. Blood pressure testing is a routine part of any doctor’s visit, with patients often knowing far in advance that they suffer high blood pressure. Kummetz Corporation hopes to make this kind of testing available in other countries, thanks to its innovative equipment.

Licensed in Nevada in 2005, Kummetz Corporation, LLC participates in finance, construction, and business development ventures, among others. In Brazil, Kummetz Corporation took over Kummetz Construction and Projects, Ltd. and Kummetz Corporation is currently working to combine Brazilian sugar cane and Ethanol to produce biofuels that will both help stimulate Brazil’s economy and help the environment.

Aicube: Good morning, doctor. Can you tell our readers about your practice and exactly what we will discuss today?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: My name is Dr. Paul E. Perito and my practice is Perito Urology, located in Coral Gables, Florida. Today I will be discussing my novel minimally invasive approach to infrapubic placement of a penile implant.

Aicube: What happens immediately prior to beginning the case?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: It should be noted that the patient will be catheterized prior to the procedure and will not have a catheter during or after the procedure.

Aicube: What is the purpose of the artificial erection?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: I begin my procedure with an artificial erection using either normal saline or a mixture of saline and lidocaine. This helps identify pathologies which may or may not have been known prior to the procedure, in essence it acts as our dilation of the corpora precluding any further dilation, but also allows for the lateral placement of stay sutures.

Aicube: How much cutting is involved?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: The infrapubic incision is a 2 to 3cm incision; pulling down on the penis helps to eliminate any penile pubic tethering. A blunt finger dissection is used to take the dissection down to the level of the corpora.  Making sure to spare the small lateral vessels at the level of the incision will help to avoid postoperative penile edema.

Aicube: There are separate corporas; how do you differentiate each in surgery?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: The penis has two erectile bodies.  When placing the stay sutures, a small angulated Richardson retractor is used to expose and isolate each corpora. Stay sutures help to act as my form of a Scott retractor. It is very easy to go lateral to the dorsal nerves with the artificial erection.

Aicube: Are the glands damaged during the procedure?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: After performing nearly 4000 infrapubic penile implants I have yet to see one case of glandular hypoesthesia or anesthesia that could be attributed to an injury to the dorsal nerve.

Aicube: We know that you utilize a curved #12 blade.  Can you elaborate in the purpose?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: It helps to control the corporotomy size and helps keep it less than 1.5 cm. 1.5 cm corresponds to the largest diameter of the proximal portion of the Titan penile prosthesis. A 1.5 cm corporotomy usually precludes the placement of closure sutures beyond the previously placed stay sutures.

Aicube: You use a non-traditional instrument at the corporotomy stage, right?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: Yes, actually, the first thing up and down the corporotomy for me is not Metzenbaum scissors, but a Furlow inserter. The Furlow provides data on both the length and the health of the corpora. Retraction along the axis of the penis helps to preclude both proximal and distal perforations.

Aicube: What if any further dilation is necessary?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: If I use a dilator, I use one 12 Hagar dilator; curtailing dilation should eliminate any compromise to the spongy tissue thus hopefully precluding cold glands in the future.

Aicube: What about creating space for the reservoir?

Dr. Paul E. Perito: First, the transversalis fascia is perforated using a tonsil clamp in order to get my finger into a space which is then replaced with a 3 and one half-inch nasal speculum.  The nasal speculum runs from cephalad to the caudad- you do not want the lockout mechanism to be bent when placed because bending it renders the lockout mechanism incompetent. The lockout is unique to the Titan and has been successfully used for many years.

Dr. Paul E. Perito continues to explain exactly how the implant is inserted into the open cavity and elaborates in the finalization of the implant process. Click HERE for part 2 of the interview with Dr. Paul E. Perito.

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Dr. Paul E. Perito has traveled the globe teaching his minimally invasive approach to other surgeons. He is regarded as the foremost Erectile Dysfunction expert in the nation and, as head of Urology as Coral Gables Hospital, he has successfully performed over 3,000 penile implant procedures using his signature method.

The information contained in this article is provided by Dr. Paul E. Perito for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

What services does Perito Urology offer for their out-of-town patients?

Dr. Paul Perito and his staff offer many services above and beyond filing paperwork and scheduling visits. For his many out-of-town patients, Dr. Paul Perito offers a telephone consultation before their arrival in town. Their personalized concierge service can help with hotel reservations as well as restaurant recommendations. Perhaps most notably, the office provides car service between three key destinations: Coral Gables Hospital, Miami International Airport, and Perito Urology.

What procedures does Dr. Paul Perito offer?

Perito Urology was the first urology office to offer Dr. Paul Perito’s unrivaled approach to the surgery. His technique utilizes a small incision the size of a quarter above the penis to insert the implant. The procedure is safe and efficacious and offers most patients a return to normal sexual behavior between four and six weeks. Dr. Paul Perito also offers testicular implants, urinary incontinence surgery, and Peyronie’s Disease treatment.

Many physicians employ a Foley catheter during the procedure. Why has Dr. Paul Perito chosen not to do so?

In a study ending in 2010, six surgeons independently determined that a Foley catheter was not necessary during an IPP (inflatable penile prosthesis) procedure. Including in the study were Dr. Paul Perito’s results on 529 patients, along with 291 patients from a different physician using a different incision method. Dr. Paul Perito’s belief has always been that the fewer foreign bodies introduced to the body, the easier the surgery is on the patient. The study concluded that surgeons experienced in IPP procedures who did not use a Foley catheter have a low incidence of infection. There were no bladder or urethral injuries encountered in the study, regardless of incision method.

What forms of anesthesia does Dr. Perito favor?

Local anesthesia, specifically an injectable Marcaine and lidocaine solution, is Dr. Paul Perito’s preferred method analgesia during the procedure. His belief is that spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia have potential dangers that could be catastrophic to the patient. Local anesthesia avoids these hazards completely.

Dr. Paul Perito is a 1988 graduate of the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine. His practice, Perito Urology, is considered one of the foremost Erectile Dysfunction treatments centers in the world. Since 2005, Dr. Paul Perito has successfully performed more than 3,000 penile implants, establishing him as a leader in the field. He has streamlined the procedure, making it not only more efficient, but safer, by the development and actualization of a minimally invasive approach. Aside from contributing extensively to medical publication libraries, Dr. Paul Perito heads the training center at Perito Urology where his technique is taught to an audience of surgeons from across the globe.

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For more information on Perito Urology or penile implant surgery, please contact the office directly at 305.444.2920 or visit their website at www.peritourology.com  for FAQ and links to clinical abstracts supporting Dr. Paul Perito’s work.

The information contained in this article is provided by Dr. Paul Perito for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

The Balancing Act Lifetime Television Host Beth Troutman:  We all remember watching Picabo Street in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.  She took home a Gold Medal in 1994 and silver in 1998.  Today, Picabo is married and is the mother of three boys. Most recently she underwent a procedure that she wants women to know about.  Also here with us is Dr. Lisa Roberts who practices minimal-invasive gynecology in North Carolina.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: Picabo, you are such an idol to so many people. Now, with the Olympics finally here, has it gotten easier to watch from the sideline or do you kind of wish you were still competing.

Picabo- I don’t know. I guess it just depends on what day it is, honestly.  I think being a mom now, you easily step back away from it and watch it with a different set of glasses on.  But I think it’s always going to be difficult for me when the games roll around to not be re-living those feelings from start to finish.  I’ll always miss that but I truly enjoy my role as mom these days.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: Being in the Olympics and winning a medal, it’s got to be a rush like nothing else?

Picabo- Yes, it really is. It’s the kind of rush that is hard to explain because it goes above and beyond anything that you experience in your everyday life. It’s in a league of its own just like the whole Olympic Games as a whole are.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: I understand that after the birth of your third child you now have three beautiful boys.  You underwent a fairly new medical procedure. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Picabo- After Dax was born we felt that our family felt complete.  We knew that we were finished having babies, so we knew we were in a permanent-birth-control category so I got out there and started researching our options, hoping that there was something better available than a tubal for myself and a vasectomy for my husband.  That’s when I found Essure and it all seemed too good to be true. Honestly, when I first read it.  I went in and talked to my gynecologist about it and she explained that it is that easy and really is that noninvasive, nonsurgical and they don’t mess with your hormones. There was no recovery time.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: Dr. Roberts, can you explain how this works and tell us if there are any side effects or risks with this procedure.

Dr. Roberts- The procedure is very simple. Patients will come into my office and go into one of our regular exam rooms.  I will then place a soft, flexible insert through the vaginal opening and into each fallopian tube. It takes about 5-10 minutes to perform the procedure.  Patients will leave soon after the procedure and get back to whatever they had planned for the day.  The side effects are very minimal and few. Some patients feel some mild to moderate cramping either during or immediately after the procedure.  Beyond that, it is a very, very safe procedure. Much safer than a tubal ligation.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: Picabo, why are you actually speaking publically about your decision to get this procedure?

Picabo- Because of what the procedure offers us. It’s 99.8% guaranteed for the rest of my life and I don’t need an unplanned pregnancy so I am super excited about that.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: I wish I would have known about this procedure.  I had a tubal ligation years ago.  What are the differences between that and the new procedure we are talking about?

Dr. Roberts- The big differences are that you don’t have the risk associated with surgery or general anesthesia and then the recovery that follows.  With laparoscopic surgery, even though it is considered a minimally invasive procedure, recovery is one to two weeks and you’re going to have limitations in terms of lifting for another six weeks. With this Essure procedure there is really no recovery. Everybody like Picabo can get back to whatever it was they had planned to do, almost immediately.

The Balancing Act Lifetime Television: Going back to the Olympics, Picabo, who do you think we should be keeping an eye on during these Olympics?

Picabo- Obviously, all of Team U.S. A.  Anyone who has made it to Vancouver as a member of the U.S Olympic Team deserves our cheers. But I will be keeping a close eye on my girl Lindsey Vonn.  She is having a tremendous season and has got some pretty lofty goals set for herself in Vancouver.  She’s the type of role model we need out there for our next generation, so I am really hopeful that she’ll prevail and give us all something to smile about and some great visuals and memories forever.  And then there is Apolo Ohno. I am a big speed-skating fan and love watching Apolo.  He makes my palms sweaty.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: Thank you both for education us on this new procedure and Picabo, for sharing your personal story.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television is the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. Every morning, The Balancing Act on Lifetime hosts Danielle Knox and Kristy Villa tackle the issues that face today’s woman. Popular show segments include Live weather updates with Mark Mancuso, surprise celebrity visitors, and news about the latest trends affecting your life, home, career and family. The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television’s website at www.thebalancingact.com.