The Apple of your ear; detecting an inaccurate medical test; physician fraud allegations – Morning Medical Update

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Apple app vs. apnea

“Apple Watch acts as an intelligent guardian for users’ health,” according to the tech company you might have heard of. That’s why Apple is introducing new features such as the AirPods Pro with active Hearing Protection, with a clinically validated hearing test and over-the-counter hearing aid features. A new Breathing Disturbances metric will add sleep apnea notifications to Apple Watches. Availability is expected in more than 150 countries and regions, including the United States, European Union and Japan.

Inaccurate tests

Gestational diabetes mellitus happens when previously healthy women begin having high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It’s treatable and most women with it deliver healthy babies. Left untreated, it can cause complications for mother and child. How do women know they have it? Often by a test that’s wrong 70% of the time, according to a new study and accompanying news release. More accurate tests are complicated and more time-consuming, but researchers say physicians and patients need education on the condition and the best ways to test for it.

Physician facing federal charges

A physician faces federal charges for allegedly using urine drug testing services to defraud Medicare of more than $32.7 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Michael W. Dole, MD, 59, of Alexandria, Louisiana, allegedly pocketed more than $11.7 million from 2010 to 2023, using the money for personal expenses. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each of a count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud.