Thomas J. Kaled

The Iranian Conflict’s affects to Louisiana’s O&G industry. Today, Chairman Brett Geymann asked the state’s industrial trades to speak on the topic above at the House Natural Resources Committee. Whenever discussing our industry, whether it be with the media, at schools, or with legislators, I like to break things down to the simplest terms as possible. And of course open their eyes to how important the products we provide to the world are. https://lnkd.in/e62upzBf

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Texas Attorney General Sues Epic??? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Dec. 10 against EHR vendor Epic, accusing the company of monopolizing the EHR market and engaging in deceptive practices that restrict parents’ access to their minor children’s medical records. The lawsuit claims Epic uses exclusionary tactics to maintain dominance in an industry where its software manages more than 325 million patient records, covering about 90% of U.S. residents. According to the complaint, Epic interferes with hospitals’ ability to use their own patient data and employs practices that prevent partners, customers and employees from developing competing products. Mr. Paxton alleges those actions hinder competition, raise costs for Texas hospitals and patients, and may result in physicians receiving incomplete or outdated records. The lawsuit also challenges how Epic handles minors’ health information. According to the complaint, the company automatically restricts parental access to medication lists, treatment notes and provider messages once a child turns 12. Mr. Paxton argues that this practice violates Texas Health and Safety Code §183.006, which grants parents full access to their children’s medical records. #epic #texasag #accessmedicalrecords

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🎯 Texas is investing £39m into ibogaine research to explore its potential in treating PTSD and addiction—especially for veterans. This groundbreaking move could reshape how we recruit for future clinical trials & behavioural research. The demand for relevant participants may soon surge. Are your recruitment strategies ready? 🧠📊 #ResearchRecruitment #ClinicalTrials #PsychedelicResearch

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1. Research from UT Health San Antonio links blood lipid levels to Alzheimer's disease risk, indicating potential for predicting and preventing the disease. 2. Higher levels of small dense cholesterol particles are associated with increased Alzheimer's risk. 3. Conversely, higher levels of markers for small fat-carrying particles correlate with a lower risk of developing the disease. 4. Individuals with the lowest levels of "good cholesterol" (HDL) have a decreased risk of Alzheimer's compared to others. 5. The study involved over 800 older adults from the Framingham Heart Study, revealing an overall trend of decreasing Alzheimer's incidence in higher-income countries due to better cardiovascular risk management. 6. Participants in the study were monitored for Alzheimer's incidence from the mid-1980s until 2020, with 128 developing AD 7. An increase in small dense LDL cholesterol was linked to a 21% higher risk of AD,while a rise in ApoB48 (a lipoprotein) corresponded with a 22% lower risk 8. Those in the lowest quartile of HDL cholesterol were 44% less likely to develop AD than those in higher quartiles 9. Lower small-density bad cholesterol &higher ApoB48 were associated with reduced AD’s risk, emphasizing importance of lipid profiles in dementia prevention strategies

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Texas – Mid‑2025 Physician Salary Ranges (25th–90th percentile) 💸✅ Based on Medscape regional data, salary transparency platforms (Marit, ZipRecruiter), and verified reports from clinicians: Anesthesiology: ~$550k (range $400k–$700k depending on pain focus) ENT: ~$459k (national average trend) Radiology: ~$498k (national avg from Healthgrades) Gastroenterology: ~$512k Rheumatology: ~$286k (national avg from Healthgrades) Emergency Medicine: ~$373k Ophthalmology: ~$417k General Surgery: ~$402k Dermatology: ~$479k Heme/Onc: ~$464k Cardiology: ~$525k Vascular Surgery: ~comparable to national top surgeons $558k+ Orthopedic Surgery: ~$558k Plastic Surgery: ~$536k Radiation Oncology: not state-specific; national average ~$569k (likely similar) Urology: ~$515k Neurosurgery: national range $350k–$705k Thoracic Surgery: comparable to top surgical subspecialties ($556k+) OB/GYN: ~$336k Pathology: ~$334k Pediatrics: ~$260k Physical Medicine & Rehab: ~$322k Endocrinology: ~$257k Nephrology: ~$329k Neurology: ~$301k Family Medicine: ZipRecruiter: $200k–$326k (25th–90th percentile), avg $254k Marit/Medscape: ~$276k–$303k (25th–75th percentile) Internal Medicine: national avg ~$282k Notes: ZipRecruiter’s "Medical Doctor" general category shows $200k–$326k; specialized roles (e.g., hospitalists) skew higher . Texas ranges mirror national trends, with urban centers like Houston/Dallas paying toward upper percentiles. Disclaimer: Ranges reflect 25th–90th percentiles; actual earnings vary widely based on experience, city vs. rural setting, productivity models, and employer type (academic vs. private practice). Sources: Medscape National & Texas estimates, Apr–Jun 2025; Healthgrades/Medscape national compensation ranking; ZipRecruiter Texas; Marit Salary Transparency; Reddit clinician reports. #IMGs #Doctors #DoctorLife #Medicine #Medicos #USMLE #NRMP #ECFMG #Salary #Texas #USA

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👏Today marked the kickoff of the 3rd Annual North Texas Chapter of Nuclear Medicine & Theragnostics Symposium! The presenters delivered radiating educational content, earning a five-star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Vicki Larue presented an overview of nuclear medicine’s scope of practice, institutional roles, and career paths. Her experience as an undercover police officer added humor, while her insights on becoming a physician extender (NMAA) highlighted a proven way to extend services that support radiologists. Dr. Umesh Oza explored Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET-CT (PSMA PET-CT), showcasing case studies and pharmaceutical tracers in this rapidly growing field. Dr. Orhan Oz discussed post-therapy infusion imaging, emphasizing patient-centered data discussions and the impact of these medications. Dr. Asha Kandathil discussed how CT in SPECT/CT fuses radionuclide and cross-sectional imaging, enabling precise localization of pathology. The case studies and imaging provided were phenomenal! Kathleen Johnson presented Pylarify (F18) PET/CT for prostate cancer, with clear explanations of Gleason scoring in case studies. Craig Vriesenga shared insights on targeted precision in lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsies, covering injection techniques and dosages. Christopher Hall walked us through Radiopharmaceutical Development: Trial Phases from Investigational to Approved, beginning with the FDA’s history to show the importance of oversight in patient safety. A huge thank you to John Fortner, Tonya Pigulski, Julie Eberting, MS NMAA Tarrant County College volunteer nuclear medicine students, sponsors, and attendees for making this the third successful year! Active participation in #medicalimaging events like this symposium is vital for staying at the forefront of innovation, building expertise, and connecting with community thought leaders.

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💆‍♀️ Empty treatment rooms cost more than you think. No-shows. Missed consultation calls. A rating stuck under 4 stars. Sound familiar? You didn’t open your Med Spa to chase down appointments and beg for reviews. 😤 Here’s how NXM-Ai.dev is changing the game for wellness businesses 👇 ✅ SMS reminders & confirmations that cut no-shows by 50% 📲 ✅ AI Voice Agent books consultations after hours — zero missed revenue 🤖 ✅ Automated review requests turn happy clients into 5-star advocates ⭐ ✅ Recaptured leads drive revenue up 60% 💰 ✅ Average rating jumps from 3.9 → 4.8 stars — automatically Your clients deserve a premium experience. Your business deserves to run like one. 🌿✨ 📲 See how it works → NXM-Ai.dev #MedSpaMarketing #WellnessBusiness #MedSpaAutomation #AIforMedSpa #NXMAi #AestheticBusiness #MedSpaTech #BookingAutomation #ClientRetention #NoShowSolution #MedSpaOwner #WellnessIndustry #BeautyBusiness #SMSMarketing #AIReceptionist

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“In this biological “Lego” set, one material is fibrin, the protein the body uses to form blood clots immediately after an injury. The other is collagen, the primary structural protein found in bones and other tissues. Seeding the scaffold with MVFs and MSCs To turn these protein gels into living tissue, the research team “seeded” the hydrogels with two critical types of biological starters: microvascular fragments (MVFs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The MVFs have the capacity to grow into blood vessels, while the MSCs can, with the right environmental cues, grow into bone. The researchers integrated these components by mixing the living MVFs and MSCs directly into the liquid protein solution before it underwent gelation. This 3D encapsulation ensured the cells were suspended throughout the entire depth of the scaffold rather than just sitting on the surface.” ALLUMIN8 #MSC #Fibrin #regenerativemedicine

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🚨 The #1 reason dental practice transitions fall apart? Poor due diligence—and even worse communication. This morning’s MAR #2 Newsletter pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes during a transition: ⚠️ What buyers uncover after the LOI that can change everything ⚠️ Why delays and missing information raise red flags fast ⚠️ How sellers can protect their deal (and valuation) with transparency If you're even thinking about buying or selling, this is the insight most dentists don’t get—until it’s too late. 🔥 Don’t be that deal. 👉 Get the full breakdown & connect here: https://lnkd.in/ewW8zYcN #ddsmatchnyandwesternpa #dentalpracticeforsale #transparencyinpracticetransitions #ddsmatch #leaderindentalpracticetransitons

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The real cost of a vacant dental hygienist position in Houston? Way more than you think. Most practice owners see the empty chair. What they don't see: $800-1,200 in lost production per day (and that's conservative) Overtime costs as your existing team scrambles to cover The 40+ hours your office manager spends screening unqualified resumes Patient goodwill erosion when you reschedule appointments weeks out Team burnout from picking up slack (which leads to MORE vacancies) Multiply that by the 6-12 weeks it typically takes to fill a dental position in Houston's competitive market, and you're looking at $30K-50K in real costs. Per opening. Here's what makes Houston's dental staffing market uniquely brutal: You're not just competing with 5,000+ other dental practices. You're competing with the Texas Medical Center pulling healthcare talent, exploding suburban growth creating new practices monthly, and a bilingual workforce requirement that cuts your candidate pool in half. Oh, and when your lead hygienist calls in sick on a Monday morning? You have about 90 minutes to solve it before your first patient arrives. The 3-hour miracle: A multi-specialty practice in The Woodlands had their lead hygienist go on unexpected medical leave. Within three hours, they had a replacement who knew their practice management software and was already seeing patients. That's not luck - that's having the right network activated. What most practices don't realize: The "staffing problem" is really three separate problems: Emergency coverage (hours to solve) Short-term flexibility (weeks to months) Long-term team building (career placement) Generic recruiters treat these all the same. Specialized dental staffing treats them like the completely different challenges they are. For dental professionals: If you're a RDH, RDA, or dentist in Houston wondering why your LinkedIn is full of generic recruiter spam, it's because most agencies don't actually understand dental workflows, software, or specialty requirements. They're keyword matching, not relationship building. I wrote a deep dive on this: How Houston dental practices are solving the staffing crisis with strategic partnerships instead of panic hiring. 👉 Full article: https://lnkd.in/g7yKQ5it Worth a read if you: Run a dental practice and your schedule is held together with duct tape and prayer Manage a dental office and spend more time recruiting than running operations Are a dental professional tired of navigating terrible job listings Think "I'll just post on Indeed" is a viable staffing strategy (narrator: it's not) Houston dental professionals - what am I missing here? What's the biggest staffing challenge nobody talks about? #dentistry #dentaljobs #houstontx #dentalstaffing #dentalhygienist

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PBMs don’t usually lose 2026 RFPs on price. They lose them on how rebates are explained. I’ve seen this happen more than once. The numbers line up. The model is defensible. The proposal should win. Then the rebate discussion starts and the room quietly shifts. Because many employers are still operating on assumptions that no longer hold. Here are five rebate myths employers still believe, and why they’re becoming a problem for PBMs. 1. “Higher rebates mean lower net cost.” Rebates look backwards. They don’t control next year’s exposure, especially when specialty spend is concentrated. 2. “Rebates are dependable savings.” They’re conditional. One utilization shift or one high-cost claimant can erase the expected value. 3. “Rebates smooth volatility.” They don’t. They delay clarity until reconciliation, which is often when sponsors feel most blindsided. 4. “All PBMs treat rebates the same way.” They don’t. Timing, pass-through, exclusions, and true net visibility vary and employers are asking sharper questions now. 5. “Rebates fix an expensive drug.” They can’t. If one medication is driving six-figure spend, rebates don’t change the underlying math. Here’s where PBMs start losing ground: Employers aren’t anti-rebate - they’re simply anti-surprise. And rebates, by design, explain why something cost less last year, not whether it will be affordable next year. That’s why more PBMs are pairing rebate conversations with direct cost-reduction tools that actually change unit economics. In many cases, international pharmacy from Tier 1 countries like Israel can reduce drug costs by 40%+ compared to Canada & 80% compared to US. And of course, that’s pricing upfront, not reconciled later. The PBMs winning 2026 RFPs aren’t anti-rebate. They’re just honest about what rebates can and can’t do. P.s. Any rebate myths to add?

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💥 Production Update from Lonesome Dove Energy 💥  October's production Our Tidwell lease and Stewart Title wells in Galveston Counties are producing real results: 12,500+ barrels of oil → ~$812K revenue at $65/barrel 40 million cubic feet of natural gas → even more as prices rise toward $5/MCF These wells aren’t just numbers they generate monthly income for our partners. Proof that smart energy investments pay off. 🔥

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In 2025, a leading frac sand supplier in West Texas didn’t just execute a maintenance transformation – they set a new bar for how transformation should be led. A huge part of that success came from Erin Lawson, Senior Consultant at YZR Enterprises, LLC, and the disciplined, people-centered approach she brought to the Sand Company. Here’s what stood out 👇 🔧 SOPs that actually worked in the field Erin led the development of standardized operating procedures designed around how work is really performed in a sand plant. These weren’t shelfware documents - they were: • Clear, visual, and technician-friendly • Aligned to safety, reliability, and production goals • Immediately usable on day one The result: faster adoption, fewer interpretation gaps, and consistent execution across crews. 🗣️ Proactive stakeholder engagement Rather than reacting to issues, Erin drove regular, structured stakeholder meetings with maintenance, operations, and leadership. These touchpoints: • Maintained transparency on progress and risks • Enabled rapid course correction • Kept frontline teams engaged in the why, not just the what This proactive approach was a key reason the transformation finished on time - without the burnout or disengagement that often accompanies large initiatives. 📈 Real transformation, not just change By pairing strong SOP development with intentional stakeholder engagement, Erin ensured this was more than just maintenance improvements - it was a true capability upgrade for the organization. This is what effective maintenance transformation leadership looks like: • Clear standards • Relentless communication • Respect for the people doing the work 👏 A great example of how operational excellence is built - one SOP, one conversation, and one decision at a time. #MaintenanceTransformation #Reliability #OperationalExcellence #Leadership #AssetManagement #FracSand

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🩺 Texas Private Practices: Are you ready for the shift in 2026? The landscape for independent medical practices in Texas is shifting fast. Between the new non-compete regulations (SB 1318) effective Sept 2025 and the tightening reimbursement squeeze, "business as usual" isn't enough anymore. If you are running a practice in Austin, Dallas, or Houston, you are likely facing a "perfect storm" of challenges right now: 📉 Reimbursement Pressure: With looming Medicaid cuts and Medicare shifts, margins are thinner than ever. ⚖️ Regulatory Changes: SB 1318 has changed how you hire and retain talent—your old contracts might not hold water. 👩‍⚕️ Staffing Gaps: The physician and nursing shortage in Texas is driving up labor costs, making efficiency critical. The Solution? Agility. Successful practices in 2026 aren't just cutting costs; they are optimizing revenue cycles, embracing AI for admin tasks, and rethinking patient retention. Don't let the changing tides wash away your margins. Let's future-proof your practice together. 👇 Drop a comment "TEXAS" below for our free 2026 Practice Health Checklist, or DM us to discuss your strategy. #TexasHealthcare #MedicalPracticeManagement #PrivatePractice #HealthcareAdministration #TexasDoctors #RevenueCycleManagement #HealthcareTrends2026

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