Medical Care Review: Specials Magazine
A single appointment. One location. Same-day results. SIGO is setting the benchmark for integrated diagnostics by replacing prolonged uncertainty with timely answers that provide clarity and peace of mind. This approach is revolutionizing women’s healthcare by providing imaging services, laboratory work and specialist guidance in one location. SIGO offers a seamless care experience that prioritizes medical accuracy and patient comfort. SIGO’s mantra of ‘everything in one place, at the same time—made for you,’ embodies its deep understanding of female psychology. Recognizing that every woman lives many roles—professional, mother, daughter, partner, entrepreneur—it approaches care with empathy and respect. The team understands that diagnostic appointments can be an emotional journey and often cause anxiety. It addresses this by creating a warm, welcoming environment where compassion and clinical care work side by side. “At SIGO, we walk alongside patients, offering efficiency and medical excellence with genuine empathy in a holistic, human-centered approach that defines our leadership,” says Dr. Sandro Strubing, medical director. It structures the services around three interconnected pillars—preventive check-ups, in-house diagnostics and advanced obstetric care. A team of experienced radiologists, gynecologists, breast specialists and perinatologists implement this model, focusing on clinical accuracy and continuity. This interdisciplinary approach is supervised and coordinated by the medical director, who ensures consistency, quality and a complete view in every case. Every element is planned to offer comfort, diagnostic precision and continuous support. Preventive and routine check-ups occur in a space designed to complete all studies in one coordinated appointment, using digital mammography, colposcopy and specialized ultrasounds. An on-site laboratory focused exclusively on gynecology and obstetrics handles hormone panels, tumor markers and PCR tests for HPV DNA and other STIs, helping streamline results and maintain continuity. For women navigating pregnancy, it delivers comprehensive obstetric care with an emphasis on prenatal diagnostics, including fetal echocardiography and full-spectrum monitoring. This approach is augmented by an advanced digital platform integrating imaging and laboratory data in real time. With upgraded systems like tomosynthesis and high-resolution ultrasound, it improves traceability, diagnostics safety and speed, allowing specialists to simultaneously access each patient’s data.
Hearing Aids Service
In the heart of Clearwater, FL, a quiet revolution in hearing care is taking place. RxHearing, under the leadership of CEO and co-founder Chuck Ottaviano, is reshaping the accessibility and affordability of hearing health solutions across the U.S. With more than three decades of experience in the hearing aid industry, Ottaviano brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His vision is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge hearing technology and underserved communities, particularly in rural America. “For too long, hearing care has been out of reach for millions. With over 43 million Americans experiencing hearing loss, many have faced prohibitive costs and limited access to solutions. Our goal is to make hearing care accessible to everyone,” Ottaviano says. “By partnering with local pharmacies, we bring hearing health solutions directly to the communities that need them most.”
Audiology Center
Hearing loss is one of those things that creeps up on people. It’s gradual, often going unnoticed for years. The average person takes seven to ten years to acknowledge that their hearing isn’t what it used to be. By the time they do, they often assume a simple hearing aid will fix everything But that assumption is part of a larger misconception about hearing loss and treatment—one that Vasilike Rauch, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA, is determined to change. As the CEO of Professional Hearing Management, she has built her practice on a philosophy that stands in stark contrast to the transactional approach of many hearing aid providers. “We’re not a hearing aid sales shop,” she states emphatically. “We are a treatment center. Every patient is different, and their hearing loss needs to be approached that way.” For many patients, a quick fix isn’t the answer. At Professional Hearing Management, hearing care isn’t about selling a device—it’s about understanding the root cause of hearing loss and how it effects the brain, and offering comprehensive, long-term solutions. Under Rauch’s leadership, the practice has established itself as a treatment center rather than a hearing aid sales shop, offering comprehensive audiological evaluations, personalized care, and a commitment to improving patients’ quality of life and decreasing their risk of cognitive decline, falling and loss of independence. Understanding Hearing Loss Hearing loss isn’t as simple as turning up the volume. It involves complex interactions between the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and brain. Each part plays a role in processing sound, and when any part of this system breaks down, the ability to hear and understand speech diminishes and the consequences of untreated hearing loss include tinnitus, increased risk of cognitive decline, increased fall risk and increased risk of loss of independence. Many people assume all hearing loss is the same, but Rauch emphasizes that a personalized diagnostic process is crucial for effective treatment. Many people also believe that all hearing aids are the same. They are not. Advanced hearing aids do not just amplify all sound. They provide different algorithms and outputs for soft, average and loud inputs. The technology enhances hearing in specific listening situations. It compresses loud noises, improves clarity of speech, boosts volume for soft speakers and increases cognitive function as indicated through many studies. Why One-Size-Fits-All Hearing Solutions Don’t Work Walk into any big-box store or browse online, and you’ll find a range of over-the-counter hearing devices. These amplifiers promise to enhance sound, but they’re far from an actual treatment. Many patients who come to Rauch’s office have already tried these devices and found them ineffective or even frustrating.
CXO INSIGHTS
Contribution of Nursing in Patient Care
Sandra Marcela Cortés Gómez, Chief Nursing Officer, Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogotá
The Changing Facets of the Healthcare Space
Vincent Green, Corporate Chief Medical Officer, Pipeline Health System
Integrating AI and Technology
Sadie Wangler, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Tahoe Forest Health System
Primary Health Care Management in the Latin American Region
Daniel Greca, Director of Population Health and Innovation, Business Unit Director, Hospital Sírio-Libanês
Trends in Consumer-Centered Medicare Benefits
Dr. Steven Angelo, Chief Medical Officer, Medicare and Retirement - Northeast Region, UnitedHealth Group
Laboratory Medicine: Efficiency as A Critical Factor For Market Survival
Justine Montalvão, Team Leader Enterprise Services Consulting LAM, Siemens Healthineers
Strategic Approaches in Clinical Case Management
Kim Bautista-Hernandez, Senior Clinical Case Manager, Surgery and Transplant Services, UCLA Health
IN FOCUS
Sound Solutions: Enhancing Hearing Health in Latin America
Advancements in audiology in Latin America are improving access to hearing health services through technology and training, which is vital for an inclusive healthcare system.
EDITORIAL
Innovation Driving Care Excellence
The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by the need for faster, more accurate diagnostics, integrated care pathways and enhanced patient outcomes. With rising patient volumes and more complex conditions, precision, speed and reliability define success. Diagnostic centers and laboratories are streamlining collaboration among physicians, technicians and staff to ensure timely, data-driven decisions. Diagnostic imaging, once a supportive tool, has become central to accurate and proactive care. Today’s imaging technologies, ranging from high-resolution MRIs and CT scans to advanced ultrasound, deliver unprecedented clarity and speed. Whether detecting early-stage disease, guiding interventions, or monitoring treatment, modern imaging systems are enabling clinicians to act with confidence and precision. Laboratory services complement imaging by providing vital biochemical, hematological and molecular insights. From rapid diagnostic tests to advanced molecular analyses, laboratories are helping healthcare providers make informed decisions, personalize treatments and monitor patient progress with accuracy and efficiency. Audiology centers, often overlooked in mainstream healthcare narratives, are essential to maintaining overall well-being. Comprehensive hearing evaluations, early detection of auditory disorders and personalized interventions, including hearing aids and auditory therapy, restore communication, enhance cognitive health and improve quality of life. This edition of Medical Care Review Latin America explores how the synergy between diagnostic imaging, laboratory services and audiology care is raising the standard of patient-centered healthcare. Featured thought leaders include Scott Bosch, director of clinical engineering at HealthPartners, who explains how structured tools that weigh both costs and intangible benefits help stakeholders create a value equation for smarter, balanced contract decisions. Sadie Wangler, director of diagnostic imaging at Tahoe Forest Health System, highlights the need for security in new technologies and strong vendor relationships to ensure timely upgrades, prevent obsolescence and stay ahead of market trends. We hope this edition inspires fresh perspectives on the emerging trends transforming healthcare delivery and diagnostic excellence throughout Latin America.
