Preventive healthcare is an approach to healthcare that focuses on preventing diseases before they occur and detecting diseases or health issues early. This contrasts with the traditional approach of treating diseases after symptoms have developed.
Ezra is playing an important role in increasing accessibility to preventive healthcare services. It offers advanced imaging technologies to empower the early detection of diseases, enabling early treatment and more successful outcomes.
This article will discuss why preventive healthcare is so important, Ezra’s role in making preventive healthcare widely accessible, and how Ezra works in Orange County.
Preventive healthcare is a growing approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying health conditions or health warning signs early. This allows action to treat diseases as soon as they are detected or to prevent the development of diseases before they occur. Treating diseases early not only increases the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome but also improves the quality of life as less intensive or aggressive treatments are necessary. For example, when diagnosed at stage 1, breast cancer has a 99 percent 5-year survival rate. However, this decreases to 31 percent when diagnosed at stage 4.
In addition, when cancer is caught early, tumors are smaller and haven’t spread as far, necessitating less extensive treatment or surgery. Early intervention can also allow for implementing manageable lifestyle measures, decreasing the risk of developing diseases. For example, the early identification of a cardiovascular problem enables lifestyle modifications, such as a heart-healthy diet and exercise program, to be initiated and preventive medication, such as statins, to be taken to reduce the risk of development.
Traditional methods of healthcare involve reactive healthcare. This is where health issues are treated as they arise. This approach is often short-term and lacks the ability to detect and treat diseases early - for many diseases, symptoms become more obvious as the disease progresses, resulting in diagnosis only once the disease has substantially progressed.
Silent diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and some forms of cancer, produce no symptoms or non-specific symptoms, and, as such, reactive healthcare is often ineffective at treating them. These challenges can be overcome through the use of preventive healthcare methods, such as the use of screening tests to check for the development of diseases before symptoms have even appeared. Ezra offers one such method - full-body screening using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
MRI scans are a popular technique for preventive healthcare. Scanning methods are commonly used for screening and diagnosis due to providing a visual, internal exploration of the body. This allows the identification and exact localization of anomalies. Full-body MRI scans offer particular benefits as the whole body is scanned instead of a very specific area, allowing the ability to observe whether the disease has spread (for example, identifying cancer metastases in other areas of the body).
MRIs also provide a more detailed image than other scanning techniques through their ability to distinguish between fat, water, muscle, and other soft tissue. In addition, MRIs are non-invasive and do not use ionizing radiation, making them particularly popular for preventive medicine, where the goal is to minimize risk as much as possible.
Ezra's full-body MRI scans screen for potential cancers and other health conditions in 13 organs. These scans provide healthcare professionals with a detailed image of the body allowing the identification of anomalies and the earliest signs of cancer, thus providing the opportunity for early (and therefore more successful) treatments. The WHO estimates that 30-50 percent of all cancer cases are preventable with early detection and intervention, Ezra is consequently playing an essential role in screening for cancers.
Ezra further utilizes AI to improve the speed and accuracy of screening. AI can enhance MRI images to improve the identification of anomalies, reduce the risk of false positive or false negative conclusions, and acquire images at faster speeds. For example, Ezra uses an FDA-cleared AI to assist radiologists in prostate cancer screening.
The information obtained from an MRI scan can be complicated and incomprehensible to the person who has undergone the scan. Ezra partners with experienced radiologists to get the best possible scan quality and detailed scan interpretations. Reporter AI is then used to assist medical providers in generating easy-to-understand reports. These reports provide personalized insights into your health and can lead to personalized preventive measures and lifestyle adjustment recommendations to maintain long-term health.
Due to technological advancements, MRIs are becoming more affordable. Companies like Ezra can lower costs even further. The median charge of a hospital-based MRI is approximately $2200, whereas Ezra’s Full Body Flash package costs only $1495. In addition, Ezra coordinates with imaging partners across the US, providing widespread access to high-tech imaging facilities.
High-quality MRI scans and expert post-scan interpretation are essential to getting the correct information from an MRI scan. Ezra has recognized this necessity and, therefore, partners with top imaging centers and radiologists using advanced imaging technologies and techniques to ensure that their customers have the best experience and gain the most accurate insights. Ezra has identified Orange County as an area where preventive healthcare is growing in popularity and, as such, has multiple locations across Orange County.
Preventive healthcare allows individuals to maintain their long-term health and is crucial not only for people with existing health conditions but also for those endeavoring to become more proactive about their health. Medical professionals and many health-conscious individuals recognize the need for preventive healthcare in Orange County, with over 76% of adults having attended a recent preventive care visit.
High levels of health engagement have led to Orange County ranking 6th in California for health outcomes. In addition, county recognition of demographic diversity (particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic) has led to funding being directed to initiatives, such as the Equity in OC initiative and the Healthier Together initiative, with aims including encouraging preventive health solutions. Ezra has, therefore, partnered with imaging centers around Orange County to increase access to full-body MRI scans as a vital form of preventive healthcare.
Preventive healthcare is growing in popularity among medical professionals and health-conscious individuals as a method of maintaining long-term health. Detecting disease as early as possible increases the chance of successful treatment outcomes and reduces the necessity for aggressive treatments. Full-body MRI scans, like those carried out by Ezra, can screen for cancer and other diseases before symptoms have even occurred. In addition, the identification of anomalies may allow preventive lifestyle and medication systems to be put in place to prevent the disease from occurring.
Ezra is widening access to full-body MRI scans, with increased affordability and advanced imaging centers around the US. The people of Orange County are recognizing their need for preventive healthcare, and as such, Ezra has opened multiple imaging centers in Orange County. These provide many with access to essential screening services and are contributing to high health engagement within Orange County.
If you want to be proactive about your health and start preventive healthcare for yourself, why not book an Ezra full-body MRI? Our annual scan catches potential cancer earlier, leveraging AI through the screening process to make it more efficient, affordable, and faster.
