Health

Public Health Still Not an Option

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:31:58 +0000

Senators Charles Schumer D-NY and Jay Rockefeller D-W.Va huffed and puffed but could not blow the private health insurance market down. This article, written by the Associated Press, found on Yahoo News, outlines how the Senate Finance committee panel rejected agovernment-run insurance option.

Though I am thankful that a Public Health Option still does not seem to be realistic possibility, this AP article only further displays the complete lack of understanding thatUS lawmakers have of the root cause for the HealthCare Crisis,COST!!!!

Im not trying to pretendHealth Insurers have done anything to help mitigate premium costs. What I am saying is that Health Insurers are not the ONLY bad guys and girls.

I recently went to a broker conference for a regional not-for-profit health insurance carrier. At that conference this carrier broke out exactly where every penny of every premium dollar is spent. Did you know that for every dollar you and/or your employer spend on health insurance premiumsover 61 cents of that dollar goes to hospitals and doctors? Did you know that 26 cents of that same dollar goes to home health care and pharmacy?

That means 87 cents of every health premium dollar you and your employer spend goes directly to health care!!!

So13 cents of every dollar goes to the Health Carrier. Now to be fair, 11 cents was going towards Administration costsand 2 cents towards surplus, so its not like the carrier was just banking all that cash.

What I want you to take away from this article is that COST is the infection creating the American Health Care Crisis. A Public Health option does nothing to cure our cost problem. With a Public Option, Health Insurance Premiums go down, Taxes go up

I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue!

Thank you,

Ryan H.

Public Health Still Not an Option is a post from: Health

Government Grants To Promote Health Services Among Men From Minority Communities

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:15:48 +0000

In midst of the diverse socio-cultural land of America, experience of minorities with their historical visages has always been rendered execrably pathetic with their health rates deteriorating with each passing decade.

Many social factors like racial subjugation, poverty and inaccessibility of government resources are rendering them more vulnerable as compared to people belonging to other communities.

In-spite of having highest level of health problems, members belonging to minority racial groups are least inclined in utilizing health services. Recognizing this fact, National Institute of Health time and again announces grants to induce organizations dealing with the health related issues among minorities to reach their doors imbibing in them importance of health care and maintenance. Promotion of health among males was one of their initiatives making racial and ethnic minority males as their target.

This funding opportunity was opened for those who proposed to expand the research towards the health of minority men. The research had to be conducted to increase understanding of socio-demographic, social and cultural factors responsible for the deteriorating health rate among males and their subpopulations. Its other purpose was catering to the applications, which had been imploring upon the development and testing of health promoting devices to reduce health disparities among the racially and ethnic diverse populations.

The total project period announced was of two years with direct costs allowed up to

$275,000 over an R21 two-year period, with not more than $200,000 as direct costs was allowed to spend in one year.

Applicants could also request for the direct costs of up to $25,000 modules, with the direct costs limitation of $275,000 in a combined two-year award period. Applicants had to follow the policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Any public/State Controlled sectors or institutions of Higher education referred as Nonprofit status with 501(c)(3) IRS Status or Nonprofit without 501(c)(3) IRS Status and many small businessmen or profit oriented organizations, any state government, tribal government or any other organizations or institutions working for the upliftment of the minorities were deemed eligible for the grants to carry on with the said project.

Even individuals having skills or knowledge and necessary resources to move forward with the proposed project were also invited to work along with his/her organization and individuals having disabilities were also applicable to apply.

For the sex related diseases too, there was a grant proposal to evaluate Locally Developed (Homegrown) HIV Prevention Interventions for African-American and Hispanic/Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM). The grant for the same was announced on 27th January 2009.

Government Grants To Promote Health Services Among Men From Minority Communities is a post from: Health

Five All Natural, Hot Weather Health Safety Tips For Your Pets

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:13:51 +0000

As a proud pet owner, most people naturally want the very best for their furry, four-legged friends. It is likely your emotional investment began the moment you, and your new found companion, looked into each others eyes for the first time.
If you happen to be a stickler in keeping high, physical health care standards for yourself and your family, then ensuring that your pet has a safe, healthy, and happy life is certainly going to become a top priority too. With a return to summer, which everyone enjoys, including our pets, it can also bring to mind some seasonal health concerns regarding our extended, family members.
This does not have to wreak havoc on your personal finances, however, as five important common sense strategies can head off several unnecessary, and expensive trips to your veterinarian. These natural approaches should leave everyone in the household feeling happier, especially your pet! And, they are economical in the long-term.
Safety Tip 1
Keep pets cool
Hot temperatures combined with high humidity interferes with an animal’s natural ability to pant, which is how they cool themselves. This kind of weather is very hard on your pet. Unlike humans, who can cool themselves by sweating through pores in the skin, canines and felines only have sweat glands in noses and paw pads. Hence, a dry nose is a warning sign of a feverish or dehydrated animal.
Always provide your pet with a daily, fresh water supply. This applies to any season, but it is especially important in the summer months. If your pet is recovering from surgery, illness, or has become severely dehydrated, there is even special electrolyte-enhanced water available for dogs. Search for those in larger pet or health food stores.
Your pet will be happier, and much more comfortable, being left at home on a shopping trip. If you feel you must take them out on a hot day, never leave them in a vehicle with the windows down, even for a few minutes.
Getting wet in a creek, lake, or child size wading pool can help keep your dog cool. Be mindful, though, to rinse off your dog’s fur after a swim in the ocean, or a chemically treated pool.
Long-haired animals need daily brushing or combing to avoid heat-trapping matting or tangling of coats. Regular hair cuts or trimmings during hot weather, can help keep pets cooler. Just be careful, if your doing it yourself though, don’t shave the animal. Skin that has never seen sunlight will burn easily!
Safety Tip 2
Pest control
Stinging, biting, and blood sucking insects can affect your pet’s health, happiness, and behavior. A bee sting can inflict as much pain and swelling on your pet as it can you. Pull stingers out with fingernails or tweezers. You can dab the affected area (except around the eyes) with a diluted solution of half apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil, water mix. Exception: do not use these disinfecting mixtures on a small dog, puppy, or cats.
When it comes to repelling, and protecting, your pet from common parasites like fleas, ticks, lice, mites, and mosquitoes, look for safe non-toxic products containing ‘neem’. Most of these products are a bottled liquid mixture. There are several creative ways of using them from mixing them up to use as a dip, mix in your dogs shampoo, or even soaking a cloth collar can repel the health hazards of external parasites, naturally.
Safety Tip 3
Exercise
Both owner and pet benefit, tremendously, from a mentally and physically active lifestyle. Regular physical interaction with your pet provides not just physical benefits, but emotional ones as well. All kinds of physical activity can be incorporated as game playing with your pet friend. It will promote healthy muscle stimulation, and sharpen cognitive mental functioning.
Just remember, in hot weather months, use the keep your pet cool rule. Schedule these types of activities in the cooler parts of the day.
Safety Tip 4
Control ear infections
Ear infections can be a common problem in the summer with long-eared dogs, or water loving ones. Most ear infections are caused by yeasty types of bacterias.
An ounce of prevention technique, that works rather in humans too, is mixing up a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Store in a dropper bottle and dispense a few drops into each ear after water exposure to the ears. The alcohol helps dry out the ear canal, and the vinegar lowers the pH, making the inside of the ear a less than ideal environment for bacteria to thrive in.
Safety Tip 5
Improve Diet
Whether you wish to increase an older pet’s energy and vitality, get better control of internal (worms) or external parasites, or relieve problem allergies, all of these can be done from the inside out through diet improvement.
Powdered probiotic and enzyme supplements can be added to your pet’s food. There are several quality brands available, exclusively, for dogs and cats. Both, good bacteria and enzyme nutrition supplementation, help to strengthen your pet’s immune system and stimulate better digestion, assimilation, and elimination.
Most commercial brands of processed pet foods, either dry or canned, provide a minimal amount of basic nutrition, due to over processing or are missing many different nutrients entirely. The same is true if you are feeding your pet home prepared food. If you are going to feed your pet real food, it will be much better tolerated if it is fed raw. Raw meat, milk, or eggs is best.
Many alternative health care strategies that are available to humans, also exist for pet health. Health care specialties such as acupressure, massage, and spinal manipulation, that work well for people, can also help your pet, just search for a practitioner who specializes in animal therapy.
Several of these, seasonal, all-natural safety tips just make good common sense to be implementing on your pet year round. As a responsible pet owner, remember, your pet solely depends on you to keep them healthy, happy, and safe. And, now you know how to do this just a little bit better.

Five All Natural, Hot Weather Health Safety Tips For Your Pets is a post from: Health

The Importance of Having Health Insurance

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:25:39 +0000

We all know that there are several types of insurance exist like General Insurance for family, Health insurance, Tax benefits, insurance on vehicles and homes and many more which have benefits at their own places. We all have are most lovable and caring family which are special to us and we care for them most and we want to ensure a security and happiness for them. Now a day every working man is busy and sometime due to this we are not able to manage all personal work that is necessary.

For all these problem to get sort out many financial institutes and insurance companies provide insurance both public and private that shares your responsibility toward your family. Health insurance gives a benefit of covering your entire family under a policy there are many different insurance come under health insurance like health of includes compressive health insurance, personal accidents, compare plans, health renewal, health advantage plus, health claims and many other.

Compressive health insurance takes care of medical expenses during sudden illness, surgeries, accidents and accidents against terrorism. All these are the general actions which cause anytime which no one knows. Health insurance is insurance that pays for all or part of a person’s health care bills. Health insurance can be further classified into fee for-service (traditional insurance) and managed care. Different health insurances are individual plans, group health plans, workers’ compensation, and government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid. Both group and individual insurance plans can be either fee-for-service or managed care plans.

The main purpose of health insurance is to help people cover their health care costs which include doctor visits, surgery, procedures, tests, home care, hospital stays, and other treatments and services. Medicare and Medicaid are two health plans offered by the U.S. government. They are available to individuals who meet certain age, income, or disability criteria. But in some condition Insurance may not take effect immediately upon signing up for a policy.

Sometimes a waiting period exists, during which time premiums are not paid and benefits are not available. Health care services received during this period are not covered. Every person has the right to be assured of proper medical attention and everybody needs health insurance coverage. But then again, providers are always faced with the constant clash of giving excellence coverage against the ever-increasing medical care, hospitalization, and health maintenance costs.

Health care insurance is expensive now a days because for one, there have been big gains on medical science over the past few years. Health insurance will guard you and your dependants against any economic constraints arising on account of a medical emergency. Basically, the customer pays an amount of money called the Premium and in turn the Insurance firm would commit to pay a predetermined sum of money to meet up the customer’s claims. Non medical life insurance cover up is not accessible for those people with serious health problems like AIDS, HIV, heart and lung disorders, cancer, liver disease and stroke, and mental or nervous disorders. Therefore choosing a best one according to our need is important.

The Importance of Having Health Insurance is a post from: Health

Free Rx Discount Cards Donated to Fulton County Health Department

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:39:48 +0000

Charles Myrick the President of American Consultants Rx announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project. ACRX donated over 20 million ACRX discount prescription cards throughout the country. One of the main locations in the Canton,IL area that received an initial donation of ACIRX free prescription cards,is the Fulton County Health Department . The ACRX cards are to be given free to anyone in need of help curbing the high cost of prescription drugs. Please contact the Fulton County Health Department at 309-647-9545 for additional information and a free card .

Due to the rising costs, unstable economics, and the mounting cost of prescriptions, American Consultants Rx Inc. (ACRX) a.k.a (ACIRX) an Atlanta based company was born in 2004. The ACRX discount prescription card program was created and over 3 million discount prescription cards were donated to the community across the country free of charge between 2004-2005.

The ACRX cards will offer discounts of name brand drugs of up to 40% off and up to 60% off of generic drugs. They also possess no eligibility requirements, no forms to fill out, or expiration date as well .One card will take care of a whole family. Also note that the ACRX cards will come to your organization already pre-activated .The cards are good at over 50k stores from Walgreen, Wal mart, Eckerd’s, Kmart, Kroger, Publix, and many more. Any one can use these cards but we are focusing on those who are uninsured, underinsured, or on Medicare.

ACRX made arrangements online for the ACRX card to be available at ACIRX where it can be downloaded as well. This arrangement has been made to allow organizations an avenue to continue assisting their clients in the community until they receive their orders of the ACRX cards. ACRX made it possible for future request to be made from online as well. ACRX also developed a unique marketplace at 2Spendless where you can also click on the ACIRX blue banner and download your free discount prescription card as well as find other key discounts.

With a backorder of over 40 million cards ACRX is working diligently to assist as many people and organizations as possible. ACRX will be working over the next few months to fulfill as many backorders as possible. It should be noted that while many other organizations and companies place a cost on their money saving cards, ACRX does not believe a cost should be applied, just to assist our fellow Americans. ACRX states that it will continue to strive to assist those in need.

Free Rx Discount Cards Donated to Fulton County Health Department is a post from: Health

Orange County Unified School District Uses New Strategy to Help Obese Students

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:58:49 +0000

Tesoro High School Gym Teacher Helps Teens Stay Fit

John Gipe used to be overweight in high school. He heard his teachers call him heavy and he knows how obese students in the Orange County Schools feel. Gipe has been teaching physical education for over twenty years and was preparing for retirement but was concerned about the increasing number of overweight teens at Tesoro High School, part of the Orange County School District. He knows from personal experience that being overweight in your teen years can have lifelong affects on your health, such as knee and back problems as an adult.

He made a decision to try and do something to help these students. Gipe saw that the traditional focus on team sports in physical education was not keeping students fit. Gipe and a local Rancho Santa Margarita pediatrician created the Body Composition class. This class isn’t just for the obese but is a response to the increasing sedentary lifestyle lead by today’s teens. The class is based on and uses the same type of techniques and work as modern health clubs. This includes learning about maintaining a nutritional diet, learning proper stretching and strengthening techniques. Counselors in the high schools are taught how to quietly recommend obese students to the class. The class has proved successful and is now being implemented in six other Orange County School District high schools.

Health Spa Techniques

Gipe’s Body Composition class offered in some Orange County School District high schools is often more intensive and personalized than the volleyball or badminton played in the average physical education class. The students engage in crunches, push-ups, work with medicine balls, and use equipment designed to improve balance. This is all done to pumping music and Gipe’s constant encouragement. This environment makes the students an active part of the process. A lack of motivation is one of the main reasons that the traditional physical education class does not keep the students fit.

When the exercises are over, the students gather to practice yoga style breathing and cool down. The music is turned off and Gipe takes on a different role. He doesn’t yell but speaks softly and tells the students about what it takes to accomplish the goals they’ve set to improve their health.

Why Student Health is so Important

Unhealthy students are not just hurting themselves but can have a negative affect on the schools. Students who do not eat properly are often absent more, have lower test scores and may have trouble concentrating. There are more than nine million overweight students in American schools. This has caused an increase in childhood heart disease and diabetes. Absenteeism can affect the federal and state funding that a school receives. This is not intended to be insensitive but to illustrate the pressures that can be placed on large school districts like Orange County School District. The average student absences can cost a school between $10 and $20 dollars per day, which can add up to millions per year. Additional costs can be incurred by the school because of extra staff or overtime needed to help students with weight or nutrition related sicknesses.

Orange County Unified School District Uses New Strategy to Help Obese Students is a post from: Health

Rx Assistance Donated to Nw Alabama Mental Health Center

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:42:34 +0000

ACRX announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project of where arrangements have been made to donate over 20 million ACRX discount prescription cards throughout the country. One of the main locations in the Fayette ,AL area that received a donation of ACIRX free prescription cards,is Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center. The ACIRX discount cards are to be donated to anyone in need of help in defraying the high cost of prescription drugs.

The ACRX cards will offer discounts of name brand drugs of up to 40% off and up to 60% off of generic drugs. They also possess no eligibility requirements, no forms to fill out, or expiration date as well .One card will take care of a whole family. Also note that the ACRX cards will come to organizations already pre-activated .The cards are good at over 50k stores from Walgreen, Wal mart, Eckerd’s, Kmart, Kroger, Publix, and many more. Any one can use these cards but we are focusing on those who are uninsured, underinsured, or on Medicare.

ACRX made arrangements online for the ACRX card to be available at acirx org site where it can be downloaded as well. This arrangement has been made to allow organizations an avenue to continue assisting their clients in the community until they receive their orders of the ACRX cards. We made it possible for future request to be made from online as well. We also developed a unique marketplace at 2spendless com site where you can also click on the ACIRX blue banner and download your free discount prescription card as well as find other key discounts.

With a backorder of over 40 million cards ACRX is working diligently to assist as many people and organizations as possible. ACRX will be working over the next few months to fulfill as many backorders as possible. It should be noted that while many other organizations and companies place a cost on their money saving cards, we do not believe a cost should be applied, just to assist our fellow Americans. ACRX states that it will continue to strive to assist those in need.

Rx Assistance Donated to Nw Alabama Mental Health Center is a post from: Health

Public Health And Bed Bugs

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:03:22 +0000

Bed bugs have been very common in the industrialized world. There are lots of people who are having devastating experience with bed bugs. New Yorkers called 311 with 9,213 bedbug complaints in the last fiscal year, up 33.7% from the year before, according to the reports of a group known as Corea. Bed Bugs are one of the greatest travelers of the world and are transported via luggage, clothing, bedding and furniture. Well, the first thing that you need to know about is that bed bug bites are itchier than mosquito bites. This is because of the anesthetics in bed bug’s saliva. Bed bug rash will appear an hour after you were pierced. But to some people, the bed bug rash appear only after some days or week from being bitten. This depends upon the body’s reaction to chemicals being secreted by bed bugs. A bed bug bite appears as a small, itchy red bump and may form a line or cluster, revealing multiple bites from the same insect. Signs of an allergic reaction include larger bumps -about 20 cm wide -red, tender and small swollen sacs of pus or hive-like rashes. Bites generally disappear in a week or two and you can treat the itchiness with an ointment or cream. If you develop an allergic reaction, see your doctor, who may prescribe an antibiotic. Now, the next question that comes to your mind is how to avoid infestation? Bed bugs are effective hitchhikers. Check your wooden items with bed bugs. Bed bugs like wooden items, cloth and paper. These are the material in which they create their habitat. Public health concerns have set rules to be followed by hotels, apartments and other lodge services. It requires sanitary procedures. The suggested answer for such bed bug invasion is to have furniture’s treated. It may be costly but like the case of termites, you will not regret it. So prevent the breeding of bed bugs in your home or surroundings and keep yourself and your family safe!

Public Health And Bed Bugs is a post from: Health

Regular and Alternative Career in Health Services

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:01:09 +0000

An alternative career in health services can be pursued in a quality institution after a lot of search. Established in 1825 the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services has been functioning as one of the oldest teaching hospitals in the country. For building up a blooming career in health services the institute offers various avenues. Seeking an alternative career in health services requires searching through a number of quality institutions to find out the best avenues offered in the line. Established way back in the year 1825, the George Washington University School of Medicine and health services academics was granted the use of Washington Infirmary by the Congress in 1844. Standing as one of the oldest general teaching hospitals in the country, the school is now a part of the George Washington Medical Center. Component Institutes for medical service aspirants With the university hospital, health science library highly experienced medical faculty associates as well as the school of public health and health services there are ample opportunities for building up the career in health services for the aspirant students. Course Structure supporting health career Four years semi traditional course is followed in the school helps gradual build up of health career. Introduction to clinical setting in the first two years besides teaching on basic science helps providing a platform for future improvements. The focus of building up health career would be on – Studies in normal human biology and function including basic medical science courses in the first year itself become a good learning ground for students. Focus on abnormal human biology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, and psychopathology. Initial studies carried on in core curriculum and thereafter the students migrating to interdisciplinary organ system. Adequate clerkship in the major clinical disciplines as well as primary care clerkship. Studies including compulsory acting internship in medicine, pediatrics or family practices courses in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and neuroscience Studies in urology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, as well as ophthalmology. Carrying out a course in medical decision making including one didactic course. Additional training is provided in affiliate institutions in United States and abroad. Unique Programs for alternative health care career It grows in conjunction with mainstream health care needs. Energy healing, herbal medicine, acupuncture, aromatherapy, naturopathy are particular areas of alternative health care. Combined studies like MD-PhD and GWBS programs help build up an alternative career of the student in the field of medical science.

Regular and Alternative Career in Health Services is a post from: Health

Health & Safety Insurance

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:16:23 +0000

A lot of people have found enormous success in freelancing. To such an extent thattheymake the transition from being a self-employed’freelancer’ to operating aa fully fledged consultingbusiness with permanent offices and a small number of employees. Ifyou make this transition its importantyou have the right business insurance in place. Its more than likely now you employ staff and have customers or members of the publicvisiting your offices,the risk profile of your businesswill of changed. Without proper insurance we all know one’s business could be wiped out by one big lawsuit so it makes sense to guard againstevery possiblerisk. Onetype of insurance that is often overlooked, but very necessary is health & safety insurance. Every business has a legal responsbility to provide a safe working environment, not just for employees but anyone else who may come into contact with their business – customers, suppliers, tradesmen etc. Its easy to think accidents or injuries will never happen in your workplace but reality is different. Each year over2 million people in Britain suffer from ill-health caused, or made worse by work. Additionally 150,000 injuries are registered annually. Sadly, 200 people a year loose their lives at work. In office environments, staff can suffer from back problems, repetitive strain injury or other musculoskeletal disorders due to continual use of computers, poor design of workstations and insufficient space.These problems may become serious if no action is taken. The financial consequences severe if it is found that you are responsible. The key for business owner’s is to prevent people becoming ill or harmedby taking the right precautions. Theeasiest and most cost effectiveway of doing this is by implementing health & safety measures. Many insurers offer a Health & Safety guidance policy outlining the steps you shouldtake to implement a safe and acceptable work place. By complying with HSE regulations you have a much stronger case of defence ifa H&S related claim is made against you.

Article Resource:-

http://www.coulsonpritchard.com/articles/article-health-safety insurance.asp

know more about Professional Indemnity Insurance:-

Professional Indemnity|Professional Indemnity Insurance

Health & Safety Insurance is a post from: Health