Dr. Samuel Joseph honored by HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital with Award of Distinction Nomination

27 Oct 2023 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine Foundation, Spine News , , , , ,

TAMPA, Fla. (October 23, 2023) – HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital recently honored their recipients of the annual Awards of Distinction, part of an HCA Healthcare legacy to recognize those who exemplify the values and commitment to the company’s mission, which is the care and improvement of human life. The 2023 recipients were selected from more than 30 nominations across the division and include:

• Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., Frist Humanitarian Award Physician Enterprise Finalist

• Mary Frances Holmes, Excellence in Nursing Award Facility Recipient

“Each of these recipients is remarkable in their commitment to our purpose and our patients,” said HCA Healthcare West Florida Division President Jyric Sims. “We are honored to have Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr. and Mary Frances Holmes as part of our West Florida Division team.

Named in honor of Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., the Frist Humanitarian Award was started in 1971 to honor individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer efforts and is given to one colleague, one volunteer and one physician each year. HCA Healthcare later added the Excellence in Nursing Award Compassionate Care, Excellence in Nursing Award Professional Mentorship and Innovators Award to recognize the importance these attributes play as healthcare has evolved.

Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., Frist Humanitarian Award Physician Enterprise Finalist

He is the living embodiment of another popular Dr. Frist statement according to South Tampa Hospital CEO Sonia Wellman: “Take care of the patient and everything else will follow.” Dr. Samuel Joseph has dedicated his career to improving the lives of individuals with spinal deformity, through pioneering endoscopic surgical approaches, specializing in surgical revision, serving as a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and volunteering his time and talents, first to the Butterfly Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to bringing deformity focused academic spine surgeons and surgical teams to developing countries and then launching the International Spine Foundation (ISF). Through ISF, Dr. Joseph raised funds and led a mission to the Dominican Republic where his group of volunteer doctors and residents completed 17 surgeries for patients who had no hope for treatment otherwise. He and his family are also active member of the Make a Wish Found where he was the recently presenting sponsor for the 10th Annual Walk for Wishes Tampa that raised $156,000 to grant wishes for 20 children in Tampa Bay.

About HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital

Located in the heart of South Tampa, HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital is a full service 374-bed acute care hospital focused on personalized care. Services include emergency care at HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital, West Tampa Hospital and Central Tampa Emergency, accredited Comprehensive Bariatric (weight loss) Center of Excellence, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, orthopedic and spine care, hyperbaric wound care, cardiac catheterization lab and advanced cardiac imaging. Its secondary campus, HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital, is recognized for the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery, a destination program dedicated to meeting the endocrine surgical needs of patients with tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. Additionally, the West Tampa campus provides emergency care, inpatient and outpatient mental health services and inpatient substance abuse care. HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital is proud to be recognized as best-in-class for bariatric surgery for two consecutive years by achieving the nationally recognized Top 5% for bariatric surgery by Healthgrades. The hospital is part of HCA Florida Healthcare, a family of more than 570 affiliated sites of care across the state, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. For more information, visit HCAFloridaSouthTampaHospital.com About HCA Florida Healthcare HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,000 experienced doctors and more than 79,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 8.6 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided $848.8 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A

Astounding New Developments in Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

23 Oct 2023 Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Endoscopy, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Revision Surgery, Sciatica, Scoliosis, Spine News , , , , , ,

Joseph Spine Institute, spearheaded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr. Is excited to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with Spineology, a leading innovator in spine surgery technologies.

Spineology’s Pioneer Project has brought forth a paradigm shift in the world of endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery, taking it to an entirely new level.
About the Pioneer Project:
The Pioneer project is the result of a cutting-edge partnership that has redefined the boundaries of endoscopic spine surgery. Spineology and Joseph Spine Institute, spearheaded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr. have united to develop innovative products and technologies, achieving a level of precision, minimally invasiveness, and safety previously unattainable in this field.

Key Achievements: Through the relentless dedication and shared vision of our teams, the Pioneer project has introduced ultra minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery to the forefront of medical science. This transformative achievement promises improved patient experiences, shorter recovery times, and reduced post-operative discomfort, setting a new standard for spine surgery globally.

The Power of Collaboration: Spineology’s reputation for excellence and unwavering commitment to innovation, combined with the visionary leadership of Dr. Samuel A. Joseph and the Joseph Spine Institute, has culminated in a revolutionary leap forward in the realm of spine surgery.

Expressing Our Gratitude: We extend our profound appreciation to the teams at Spineology, Joseph Spine Institute, and Dr. Samuel A. Joseph for their unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions. This partnership has not only advanced the frontiers of medical science but has also made a profound impact on patients seeking minimally invasive spine surgery.

A Legacy of Innovation: Spineology is consistently at the forefront of technological advancements in spine surgery. Testing and re-testing. Imagining and re-imagining. Continually enhancing what spine surgeons will be capable of tomorrow, by revolutionizing the tools they hold in their hands, today. Because when patients trust you with their spine, trusting in your hands is essential. And trusting what’s in your hands is absolutely vital. You can’t wait for the future to provide the latest and greatest. That’s why we have and always will bring you tomorrow’s tools, today.

The Future of Spine Surgery: The Pioneer project represents our shared commitment to reshaping the landscape of spine surgery. This achievement is not merely about cutting-edge technology; it is about transforming the lives of patients and setting a new gold standard in medical care. We invite you to celebrate this remarkable achievement and stay updated with our ongoing journey to pioneer the future of minimally invasive spine surgery.

4K Video Imaging Platform is a State-of-the-Art Visualization Solution for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

27 Jul 2023 Back Pain, Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Revision Surgery, Sciatica, Scoliosis, Spine News

New State-of-the-Art Platform for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery 

Joseph Spine Institute partners with pioneers of emerging spine care technology which brings state-of-the-art procedures to Tampa Bay and to our patients. Offering new hope and a transformative leap forward in spinal surgery.

Dr. Joseph continues to pioneer new techniques for minimally invasive spine surgery by implementing cutting edge techniques and utilizing a brilliant new 4K video imaging and integrated video recording to enhance the spine surgeon’s visualization experience. Viseon’s new 4k video platform, MaxView® 4K, improves surgical efficiency and safety across all minimally invasive spine procedures. 

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Understanding the Florida Tort Reform Act of 2023

17 Jul 2023 Spine News, Workers Compensation

Florida Tort Reform Act of 2023

The Florida Tort Reform Act of 2023 is a significant piece of legislation that has brought substantial changes to the state’s legal landscape. Aimed at overhauling the civil justice system, the Act is designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits, lower insurance costs, and promote fairness in the legal process. In this blog post, we will delve into the key provisions of the Act, its implications, and the reactions from various stakeholders.

Key Provisions of the Act

  1. Caps on Noneconomic Damages The Act places limits on the amount of noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) that plaintiffs can recover in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. This cap is intended to prevent excessively large jury awards that can drive up insurance costs.
  2. Changes to Comparative Negligence Florida has adopted a modified comparative negligence rule. Under this system, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. However, if the plaintiff is found to be more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover any damages. This replaces the previous pure comparative negligence rule, where plaintiffs could recover damages even if they were 99% at fault.
  3. Attorney Fee Reforms The Act introduces changes to how attorney fees are calculated and awarded. This includes limiting contingency fees and requiring more transparency in fee arrangements. These measures aim to reduce the financial burden on defendants and encourage fairer settlements.
  4. Product Liability Reforms The Act introduces stricter standards for proving product liability claims. Plaintiffs must now demonstrate that a product was unreasonably dangerous and that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings. This provision seeks to protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits and promote innovation.
  5. Statute of Limitations The statute of limitations for filing certain types of lawsuits has been shortened. This means that plaintiffs have less time to bring a claim, which is intended to expedite the resolution of disputes and reduce the backlog of cases in the court system.

Implications of the Act

  1. Impact on Plaintiffs and Defendants For plaintiffs, the caps on noneconomic damages and the modified comparative negligence rule may make it more challenging to secure large settlements or verdicts. On the other hand, defendants, particularly businesses and healthcare providers, may benefit from reduced litigation costs and lower insurance premiums.
  2. Insurance Industry One of the key goals of the Act is to lower insurance costs by reducing the frequency and severity of lawsuits. Insurance companies are expected to pass on these savings to consumers in the form of lower premiums. However, it remains to be seen how quickly and significantly these reductions will materialize.
  3. Legal Community The reforms to attorney fees and the statute of limitations will likely impact the legal community. Attorneys may need to adjust their practices and strategies in response to the new rules. Some may argue that the changes could deter attorneys from taking on certain cases, especially those with lower potential payouts.

Reactions to the Act

  1. Supporters Proponents of the Florida Tort Reform Act of 2023 argue that it will create a more balanced and predictable legal environment. They believe the reforms will attract businesses to the state, promote economic growth, and ultimately benefit consumers through lower costs.
  2. Critics Critics, however, contend that the Act unfairly tilts the scales in favor of corporations and insurance companies at the expense of individual plaintiffs. They argue that the caps on damages and stricter liability standards could limit access to justice for those who have been wrongfully injured.
  3. Neutral Observers Some observers take a more neutral stance, acknowledging the potential benefits of reducing frivolous lawsuits and lowering costs, while also expressing concern about the possible negative effects on plaintiffs’ rights and the overall fairness of the legal system.

Conclusion

The Florida Tort Reform Act of 2023 represents a significant shift in the state’s approach to civil justice. While it aims to reduce litigation costs and promote economic growth, its impact on plaintiffs, defendants, and the legal community will continue to be a subject of debate. As the reforms take effect, it will be essential to monitor their outcomes and ensure that the balance between protecting businesses and ensuring access to justice is maintained.

 

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Joseph Spine Institute Announces the Launch of a New Advanced Spine Center location in Wesley Chapel Florida in September 2023

19 Jun 2023 Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Endoscopy, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Revision Surgery, Spine News

Comprehensive Spine Care Center Open in Wesley Chapel Florida

Joseph Spine Institute will be located in the Florida Pain Medicine Location at 27810 Summergate Blvd, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

The opening of a new advanced spine center in Wesley Chapel, Florida by the Joseph Spine Institute, founded by Dr. Samuel Joseph, indicates an expansion of their services to reach more patients in the area. The institute’s focus on spinal health and advanced treatment will provide residents of Wesley Chapel and its surrounding areas the opportunity to additional access to specialized spine care.

Establishing a new center signifies the commitment of the Joseph Spine Institute to meet the growing demand for expert spine treatments. Patients in the region can now benefit from the institute’s expertise in diagnosing and treating various spinal conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis treatment and other complex spinal disorders.

State-of-the-Art Spine Care

The advanced spine center will offer state-of-the-art minimally invasive spine treatments/surgeries, including cutting-edge diagnostic equipment and modern treatment techniques. This expansion allows Dr. Joseph and his team to provide comprehensive evaluations, personalized treatment plans, and a wide range of non-surgical and surgical interventions to address spinal issues.

Patients in Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas will now have a convenient local option for receiving specialized spine care close to home. This new center will likely contribute to improving the quality of life for individuals dealing with spinal problems and will further solidify the reputation of the Joseph Spine Institute as a leading provider of advanced spinal healthcare.

About Joseph Spine Institute (JSI)
Joseph Spine Institute (JSI) was founded in 2016 by Dr. Samuel Joseph. He has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources.

JSI recently opened a new Endoscopic Spine Center. The center is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of spine conditions using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques.

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy.

Joseph Spine Institute’s Inspirational Patient Robert Zorn

14 Jun 2023 Spine News , , ,

The Importance of Meaningful Patient Relationships

. As spine doctors and surgeons, we have the great honor to make a profound difference in our patients’ lives, ease their pain and suffering and improving their overall health and wellbeing. That is our ultimate desire and focus. The fulfillment that comes from helping our patients cannot be overemphasized. Forming meaningful relationships and open communication with patients and their families can be profoundly rewarding and extremely inspiring.

Recognizing Our Inspiring Patient Robert Zorn

With that in mind all of us at Joseph Spine Institute would like to recognize and thank our inspirational patient, Robert Zorn. His resilience, optimism and desire to make others feel appreciated and recognized, even amidst his own challenges, is quite a beautiful and humbling experience. We appreciate you Robert, and the time you took out of your day to come by and let us know that we have made a positive impact on your life! Well, right back at you Robert! You have made a positive and motivating impact on all of us at here JSI. Your kind words encourage us to be even better, strive harder to incorporate new advanced spine care techniques, and most importantly make a strong connection with our patients and their families so we can deliver the ultimate in spine care.

Thank you, Robert, today we recognize you and the inspiration and kindness you have brought to us at Joseph Spine Institute!

The Great Communicator – The Human Spine

3 May 2023 Spine News , , , ,

The spine is a complex structure that is responsible for several functions, including providing support to the body, protecting the spinal cord, and facilitating movement.

The spine communicates with the body in several ways, including:

  1. Nerves: The spine contains nerves that run along its length and branch out to various parts of the body. These nerves are responsible for sending and receiving signals between the brain and the body, allowing for movement, sensation, and other bodily functions.
  2. Blood vessels: The spine is also connected to a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the spinal cord and surrounding tissues.
  3. Muscles: The muscles that attach to the spine also play a role in communication with the body. These muscles help to support the spine and facilitate movement, and they also provide feedback to the brain about the position and movement of the body.

Overall, the spine is an integral part of the body’s nervous, vascular, and musculoskeletal systems, and it communicates with the body in various ways to ensure proper function and movement.

Walk-for Wishes Tampa Bay Presented by Joseph Spine Institute, Raises Funds to Grant 20 Wishes for Wish Bay Area Kids

6 Apr 2023 Spine News

Joseph Spine Institute was the presenting sponsor for this special Make a Wish Foundation Southern Florida event at Water Works Park on Saturday, April 1st. The event raised enough money to grant the heartfelt wishes of 20 children battling critical illnesses in the Tampa Bay community.

The Walk for Wishes is an annual fundraising event organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which aims to raise money to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. The event typically involves participants walking or running a designated route, while also raising money through donations and sponsorships.

The Tampa Walk for Wishes event raised $156,000.00 in funds, which would be used to grant wishes for 20 wish kids. This means that each wish child would receive a unique and personalized wish, which could range from meeting their favorite celebrity to going on a dream vacation.

The success of the Walk for Wishes event in raising funds and granting wishes reflects the dedication and generosity of the community, as well as the impact that the Make-A-Wish Foundation has on the lives of children with critical illnesses and their families.

About The Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses, in order to provide hope, strength, and joy to the children and their families.

About Joseph Spine Institute

Joseph Spine Institute (JSI) was founded in 2016 by Dr. Samuel Joseph. He has assembled a comprehensive team of highly skilled spine specialists that are devoted to offering the highest level of spine care available today. He has also strategically partnered with some of the most innovative leaders in the spine care industry today in order to bring our patients the latest in technology, products and resources.

From state-of-the-art technology, to alternate therapies and interventional pain management treatments our industry leading spine care practice offers our patients a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of spinal conditions. Our highly-trained surgeons offer an integrated approach to patients that includes surgical and non-surgical options such as pain management and physical therapy.

Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr. Announces the Founding of the International Spine Foundation

10 Jun 2022 Spine Foundation, Spine News

Philanthropic Spine Care

The International Spine Foundation is a non-profit that endeavors to bring the healing power of technologically advanced spinal treatments and procedures to people of all walks of life. Through Dr. Samuel Joseph’s expertise, charity, and passion, lives have been indelibly altered and changed.

For that reason, Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine Institute is proudly announcing the opening of the International Spine Foundation. This opening comes at a time when the Joseph Spine Institute is celebrating over five years in business, establishing itself as the premier spinal surgery institution in the Tampa Bay area.

What means so much more than the innovative spine treatments, the pioneering surgeries, and representing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the charitable and philanthropic work that Dr. Joseph has undertaken.

“It felt amazing to have a direct effect on a child’s life and not only improve their appearance but improve their quality of life and life expectancy,” Dr. Joseph told reporters in 2019 when Dr. Samuel Joseph along with a dedicated team of volunteers traveled to the Dominican Republic to save the lives of children and young adults with severe spinal deformities.

“Thinking about how many people this child will then affect in their life makes you really take a step back and be humbled by what we as a team are so fortunate and blessed to be able to do.” The volunteers had a grueling schedule which included 4 to 5 surgeries daily for the week, along with patient screenings and lectures to orthopedic residents. This was one trip of many, a trip that inspired Dr. Joseph to find new ways to help the underserved.

Make A Wish Foundation

Dr. Joseph and his family are active members of the Tampa Bay community. They have taken a special interest in the Make a Wish Foundation and its goal of granting wishes and making life better for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Dr. Joseph, along with his fellow co-founders, Elizabeth Joseph and Dr. Uhuru Smith, hope to broaden his impact locally, nationally and internationally, helping people of all backgrounds get access to lifesaving spinal surgeries.

About Dr. Samuel Joseph
Dr. Joseph is the founder of the International Spine Foundation and the Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders.

Dr. Joseph has used his training and experience to become a nationwide leader on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area but from all over the state and the nation.

Dr. Joseph has published numerous articles in neurosurgical and orthopedic spine journals. His research on scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal surgery in the elderly has been presented at many international meetings including the International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques.

With the founding of this non-profit, he and his family hope to create lasting change for those affected by spinal issues.

About Dr. Uhuru Smith
Dr. Smith is a board-certified Anesthesiologist and is one of four founding partners of Intrepid Anesthesia which she launched in 2021. Intrepid Anesthesia not only focuses on providing anesthesia services for both inpatient and outpatient surgical environments, but also provides management, consultation and billing services for both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Further, Dr. Smith concurrently serves at the Chief of Anesthesiology and Chief Medical Officer at Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center. Prior to the inception of Intrepid Anesthesia Dr. Smith served as the Chief of Anesthesiology at The Advanced Surgery of Center for 7 years while building a comprehensive outpatient orthopedics, total joint and spine program. During this time, she expanded services in acute pain for complex outpatient spine, orthopedic surgery and pain procedures in chronically ill patients.

Dr. Smith nurtured her love of complementary medicine and entrepreneurship by opening the first and most successful IV wellness clinic in Tampa, RENEW IV Wellness. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Dr. Smith sold RENEW but continued to practice anesthesiology and critical care throughout her treatment.

After beating breast cancer and returning to full time practice, Dr. Smith has furthered her practice by improving surgical outcomes in complex outpatient surgery by utilizing innovative and complimentary approaches in order to provide treatment for both acute and surgical pain.

Dr. Smith has strong personal interests in research, education, regenerative, and complimentary medicine as adjunct to allopathic medicine. Dr. Smith aspires to use these interests to further improve the way we approach pain, orthopedic spine, and outpatient surgery.

Joseph Spine Institute Welcomes New Spine Surgeon

30 Aug 2021 Spine News

Joseph Spine Institute is proud to announce our new spine Surgeon Dr. Anthony Kouri. Dr. Kouri will be practicing in our St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor Florida locations.

Medical Education

Born and raised in the Midwest, Dr. Kouri grew up in Peoria Illinois, son to an internal medicine doctor and a nurse. When he graduated from high school he started his college experience by moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Creighton University. He graduated magna cum laude with highest honors in chemistry.
Upon graduation Dr. Kouri headed off to Chicago to attend medical school at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where he received his medical degree. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at University of Toledo Physicians, LLC, where he was Chief Resident of Orthopedic Surgery. As an orthopedic surgery resident he worked in the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as performing over 2200 surgical cases.

Dr. Kouri went on to receive advanced training in adult and pediatric spine surgery during his fellowship in the John Hopkins Spine Surgery Fellowship program. This prestigious program provided him comprehensive training in evaluation and management of: degenerative cervical and lumbar pathologies, and complex spinal pathologies, including: adult spinal deformity, tumor and infection.

Spine Fellowship

During his fellowship program Dr. Kouri was exposed to variety of traditional as well as cutting-edge surgical techniques, which trained him for technical proficiency in spinal decompression, spinal instrumentation (both free-hand and using navigation or robotics), and advanced spinal reconstruction techniques (PSO, VCR and multi-level corpectomies). He was also trained in novel techniques such as minimally-invasive spine surgery (MIS TLIF and robotic surgery), lateral access surgery (lateral interbody fusion and ACR) and laminoplasty.

Medical Publications

Dr. Kouri is published in major journals including Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and Spine Deformity, and delivered podium presentations at the annual meeting for the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).

Interests

Dr. Kouri enjoys all sorts of sports including golf and hockey, which he played for 15 years. He still loves to skate and play hockey with friends. He’s quite a hockey fan and has now begun following the Tampa Bay Lightning! He also loves to cook and spend time with his family.

Dr. Kouri will concentrate his time in our St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor locations.

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