Nursing Opportunities

Ugandan attempts to con Australian millionaire

2008-11-01T13:59:00.002-07:00

Douglas J. Rathbone is the Managing Director, Nufarm Australia Ltd, one of the world’s leading producers of crop protection drugs. He is an industrialist with vast experience in the agrochemicals, an international businessman, and one of the richest men on earth. He is also philanthropist.

Sometime between August and September this year, Mr. Rathbone received a request from a Ugandan named Namugenyi Christabell begging him to finance her course in nursing and midwifery. She presented supporting documents from the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery and a list of her requirements. The total bill was US$ 20,000 (about Shs 33 million).

Before receiving this request, Rathbone had neither known Namugyeni nor heard from her. As a philanthropist, however, this was not the first time he had received calls for financial help from strangers. Touched by this e-mail, Douglas Rathbone decided that he will help Namugyeni.

From past experience Mr Rathbone knew that he needed to ascertain the authenticity of this request. He contacted Mr Andrew Mwenda, Managing Editor of The Independent magazine. The revelations Mwenda and his team dug up were shocking. Douglas Rathbone could have lost US$20,000 to Ugandan internet fraudsters.

A visit to the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery revealed that the admission letter sent to Mr. Rathbone was a forgery. The layout of this letter, its logo, and the website provided for further reference (www.msonm.com), the names and signatures of the so called dean and principal of the institution, the postal address, e-mail addresses and phone numbers did not belong to the institution.

On the site are photographs of people purported to be members of its staff, information about courses offered, and a contact postal address together with a mobile phone number.

When The Independent called on one of the number, a female voice answered. She however hung up as soon as she was asked if this was the school of nursing. In another attempt, nobody could pick the phone.

At the genuine Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery, the administrators said the Namugyeni incident is not the first of its nature. Last year, seven people reported to the school ready to study, complete with fake letters of admission. The school, which is under the stewardship of the Ministry of Education and Sports, said it has lodged several complaints to the police about these incidents.

Mr. Rathbone’s experience is just the tip of the iceberg. Recently, a mobile phone technician was arrested in Kampala with networking equipment that had been stolen from MTN and allegedly used in internet, ATM, bank, and phone airtime fraud.

Cyber or internet fraud comprises use of one or more online services - such as chat rooms, e-mail, message boards, or websites - to either present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims or conduct fraudulent transactions.

It thrives on illegally acquired information of potential victims, who may be individuals or organisations.

Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala Extra Region Police Spokesman says: “Fraudsters at times connive with the secretaries of busy people who leak information from their bosses’ inboxes to these fraudsters.”

In other cases the fraudsters collaborate with people who work in banks to give them clients’ account information.

Mr Nsubuga said a cyber-criminal was arrested after impersonating a bishop to get money from the bishop’s friend in the United States of America. He claimed the bishop’s wife was seriously injured in an accident and admitted to hospital. After a week, the bishop’s friend called the bishop in Uganda, to inquire about how the wife was doing. They discovered the fraud and, together with the police, trapped and caught the conman.

The local CID often works with the International Criminal Police Organisation, (Interpol) to investigate such crimes but Nsubuga says it is very difficult; it involves only two people without witnesses, is complicated by the distance between the two parties, and the victims often cannot travel to give evidence.

He also cites the weak laws that haven’t been amended to incorporate the ever changing technology. “We know the fax machines where these people send their messages from, but you can’t go and ask its operator that who sent and received such a message because that the law doesn’t oblige him/her to record the details of who receives what and who sends what,” he laments.

Simeo Nsubuga says fighting this crime is very complicated because under the Penal Code, the crime invites only a five year prison sentence and bail can also be sought from the magistrate’s court. He suggests that such crimes be tried only in the High Court.

The police may also lack incriminating evidence against the culprits because it lacks personnel competent in cyber crime.

Internet fraud in Uganda has steadily risen since 2005. In 2006, this form of crime had become so prominent that the police decided to train an elite squad to track it.

Meanwhile, cyber crime may appear distant when heard of but it’s actually next door and your money may no longer be as safe like you may think. To avoid falling victim, try protecting your personal information. If that fails, do what Mr Rathbone did – check the authenticity of that SMS, letter, email, fax, or website.

Is satisfactiona direct predictor of nursing turnover

2008-11-01T13:59:00.001-07:00

The theory of planned behaviour states that attitudinal variables (e.g. job satisfaction) only have an indirect effect on retention, whereas intentions have a direct effect.

This study uses secondary data from a longitudinal cohort of newly qualified nurses to test for the direct and indirect effects of job satisfaction (client care, staffing, development, relationships, education, work-life interface, resources, pay) and intentions to nurse on working as a nurse during the three years after qualification.

Methods: A national sample (England) of newly qualified (1997/98) nurses (n=3669) were surveyed at six months, eighteen months and three years . ANOVA and MANOVA were used for comparison of mean job satisfaction scores between groups; intentions to nurse (very likely, likely vs.

unlikely, very unlikely and unable to say at this stage); working (or not working as a nurse) at each time-point. Indirect and direct effects were tested using structural equation and logistic regression models.

Results: Intentions expressed at six months to nurse at eighteen months were associated with higher scores on pay and relationships, and intentions at three years were associated with higher scores on care, development, relationships, work-life interface, resources, and pay respectively.

Intentions expressed at eighteen months to nurse at three years were associated with higher scores on development, relationships, education and work-life interface. Associations with actual nursing were fewer.

Those working as a nurse had higher satisfaction scores for development (eighteen months) and relationships (three years). Regression models found significant associations between the pay and staffing factors and intentions expressed at six months to nurse at eighteen months, and between pay and intentions to nurse at three years.

Many of the associations between intentions and working as a nurse were significant. Development was the only job satisfaction factor significantly associated with working as a nurse and just at eighteen months.

Conclusions: Results partially support the theory of planned behaviour. Intentions expressed by nurses are stronger predictors of working as a nurse than job satisfaction.

Retention strategies should focus on identifying nurses showing early signs of departure with emphasis on developmental aspects, mentoring and support.

Author: Trevor Murrells, Sarah Robinson and Peter Griffiths
Credits/Source: Human Resources for Health 2008, 6:22

Nursing home probe nets mixed results

2008-11-01T13:58:00.001-07:00

A federal agency investigating allegations of unfair labor practices at Iroquois Nursing Home in Jamesville has determined some of the complaints may have merit and others are unfounded.

The National Labor Relations Board launched its probe after 1199 SEIU filed several complaints accusing the nursing home of disciplining or harassing employees for their union activities. Workers voted to join the health care workers union in March. The union and management began negotiating a contract in May.

When the NLRB conducts an investigation and determines a violation may have occurred, it gives the parties time to settle matter. If there is no voluntary remedy, the NLRB issues a formal complaint and the case is heard by an administrative law judge.

"We have decided if the case doesn't settle, we will issue complaints on some of the allegations," said Rhonda Ley, the NLRB's regional attorney.

She would not discuss which allegations may trigger complaints.

Ross Andrews, a lawyer for 1199 SEIU, said the allegations include accusations that the nursing home denied weekend shifts to an employee because of her union activity and denied employees their right to have fellow union members present while being questioned by supervisors.

Andrews said the NLRB is prepared to issue complaints on most of the union's charges.

In a memo issued to Iroquois staff, Iroquois administrator Sonya Moshier said the NLRB dismissed allegations that Iroquois improperly disciplined two employees for neglect of resident care and allegations that the home denied union representation to two employees.

The NLRB has determined a trial is necessary to determine if some disciplinary actions and scheduling changes were appropriate, she said in the memo.

" . . . the NLRB has decided that a trial must be held so a judge can decide who is telling the truth," Moshier said.

The union contends Iroquois has continued to intimidate and harass workers since they voted to join the union. Iroquois says the union is waging a smear campaign against the nursing home as a bargaining tool.

Students flood nursing programs

2008-11-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Marissa Perry was only 16 when she discovered her purpose in life.
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It's unfortunate, she says, that a drunken driver had to crash head-on into her car for that purpose to be made clear. But the months of therapy that followed instilled in her a calling.

Now 19, the 2007 Tate High School graduate is in her first semester at Pensacola Junior College earning a degree to be a registered nurse.

"I had to spend a lot of time in rehab," said Perry, who was injured while heading home from a baby-sitting job. "Being around nurses during that time made me respect what they do. I wanted to be able to give people the same care I was given."

Perry is just one of more than 500 nursing students who move about campus, work in simulation areas and study in classrooms at PJC's Warrington Campus, the home of the school's nursing program.

The University of West Florida offers a bachelor's degree in nursing, which is also gaining momentum.

Programs at both the UWF and PJC remain immensely popular with students.

Judy Bense, interim UWF president, said during a recent presidential address that the school turned has away about 360 nursing applicants over the past two years.

PJC turns away even more students annually.

"We have 1,273 applicants for 110 slots in January," said Marcia Williams, provost of PJC's Warrington campus. "We could take all 1,200 of them, but we don't have enough spaces in clinic for them to go to the hospitals and practice."
A popular field

With the promise of a starting salary upwards of $35,000, area college students are packing school nursing programs in the hopes of filling the national nursing shortage gap.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing says the nation is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and health-care needs grow.

But some local health-care officials say the number of nursing jobs awaiting area students may be decreasing. Some, in part, cite the slowing economy as a factor in more closely matching supply and demand.

Daphne Scordato, vice president of patient care services at Baptist Health Care, said the recent influx of new graduates found a little bit tighter job market than they found in the past.

"We were able to be a little more selective for the first time in years," she said.

But that doesn't deter students like Brandy Hines, 30, from signing up. Hines, a UWF nursing student, will finish her degree next spring.

"The program has prepared me as far as introducing me to all aspects of nursing, wherever I go from here," she said.

And though the need for additional faculty remains high, local nursing programs are filled to the brim with students — and they could take more, but area hospitals cap the number of students receiving clinical training at a given time.

PJC offers seven nursing programs, including a two-year registered nursing Associate of Science degree. The school also offers several advanced certificates for students who want to specialize in operating room or critical care nursing.

UWF alone graduates between 50 and 60 students with bachelor's degrees in nursing each year. PJC's numbers are even higher.

"On any given day we have somewhere between 450 and 500 nursing students in the pipeline somewhere," Williams said.
Tough job market

Scordato said market projections show that hospitals nationwide should experience a nursing shortage through 2010.

"We're pretty much on target with that except those projections may have not factored in the downturn in the economy," Scordato said. "Due to the economy the demand is catching up with the supply."

Nursing officials at area hospitals say they are well staffed at the moment.

"Right now we're in a very good situation, better than we've been in the past three years," said Gail Ewing, director of associate health and employment at Sacred Heart.

"This past year we've probably had an excess of 500 applicants a week," she said. "Probably 50 to 100 are nursing applicants.

"Our current needs are our critical-care areas," Ewing said. "Those positions require experienced nurses."

Heather Phillips, 21, a senior UWF nursing student, is optimistic about her job prospects after graduation.

"I've been really impressed with our cultural competency training," said Phillips who plans to serve on a mission trip after completing school. "Every course we've taken has introduced different cultures and what our response should be as nurses."

Perry feels confident that in two years when she completes her degree she won't have a problem finding a job.

"I feel pretty confident in being able to get a job pretty much right when I get my licence," she said. "It probably won't be where I want to build my career. But you have to work your way up to where you want to be."

Hickory Creek nursing facility showed caring

2008-11-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

The family of June Blaich would like to thank the employees, nursing staff, administration of Hickory Creek nursing facility for their dedication, knowledge, care giving and being kind to each and every one of us on behalf of my mother. She wasn't with you very long, but you picked up the pieces the other nursing facility neglected to detect of her health.
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The nurse at the other facility refused to help me put my mother in the car. The clerks were asked to help me. Little did I know I was transporting her myself to your facility with her having pneumonia. You picked right up on what was wrong with her and dealt with the circumstances. All of you work so hard to take care of your patients with love, kindness and understanding of your patients' needs. Words just can't sum up to how thankful we are she was in your hands.

Unfortunately she was with you only two weeks. You became part of our family in a short time. We are grateful she was in your care at the end of her life

Jean And Ric Edelman Honoured By The American Journal Of Nursing

2008-11-01T13:55:00.002-07:00

The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) announced that this year's AJN-Beatrice Renfield Caring for the Caregiver Award is being given to Jean and Ric Edelman, founders of Edelman Financial Services, for their commitment and generosity to nursing. The Award, recognizing individuals or organizations that have provided generous financial support for nurses and excellence in nursing practice, was presented on October 25 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tyson's Corner, Virginia. AJN is the largest circulating nursing journal in the world, and is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.

"The Edelman's generosity has been instrumental in our efforts to help create an environment of caring, learning and opportunity for nurses," said John Fay, vice president, Inova Health System Foundation. "While Jean and Ric frequently speak about how much they appreciate the daily role of nurses, we would like them to know how grateful we are to them for caring so much about us."

The commitment and generosity to nursing by the Edelmans began in 2004 when they donated $250,000 to the Inova Health System Foundation for the Edelman Nursing Career Development Center. More recently they contributed $1 million to expand the Center's services. During that time, Jean Edelman has represented and supported the Center by serving on the Inova Nursing Advisory Council for five years, volunteering at numerous nursing events and presenting at Inova nursing conferences. Ric Edelman, who with his wife founded Edelman Financial, has given presentations to the Center where he shared his expertise on financial planning with nurses to help them plan for secure futures.

The Edelman Nursing Career Development Center fosters the professional development of Inova nurses and nursing students, through staff development, conferences, mentorships, academic planning, scholarships and funding for continuing education. The Center provides Inova nurses with a place to go for career counseling, advice on certification and rejuvenation. In three years, more than 2,500 nurses have benefited. The Center also supports a summer camp for middle and high school students to explore career options in nursing.

The AJN-Beatrice Renfield Award

The AJN-Beatrice Renfield Award is named in honor of the late Beatrice Renfield who donated millions of dollars to various nursing programs and was a patron and trustee of the Beth Israel Medical Center and Visiting Nurse Service in New York City. Philanthropist Beatrice Renfield was committed to "caring for the caregivers" after witnessing the impact nursing care had on her husband, who had struggled for years with the debilitating effects of a stroke. As she became more familiar with the scientific underpinnings of nursing and the potential for research to inspire nurses, she supported several small studies by nurses at Beth Israel Medical Center, and later provided significant funding for clinical research initiatives at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Yale University School of Nursing.

The annual award, created in 2003, honors a recipient selected from nominations submitted to the AJN by institutions across the country. The selection committee is composed of AJN editorial staff members, registered nurses in New York City, and representatives from the Beatrice Renfield Foundation.

"AJN salutes Jean and Ric Edelman for their steadfast efforts and support as philanthropic leaders in health care," said Diana J. Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN, editor-in-chief of the AJN. "Philanthropic efforts supporting nurses are relatively rare, yet those individuals and organizations who do make an effort can dramatically improve the quality of life for nurses and quality of care that patients receive."

UNMC Prepares For New Nursing Building That Will Help The School Train More Nurses

2008-11-01T13:55:00.001-07:00

Preparations have been made for a new building project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha that will help the school train more nurses.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was recently held for the new Center for College of Nursing Sciences, next to the campus' current nursing facilities.

Plans for the 43,000-square-foot building include space for classrooms, research labs and faculty offices. It's expected to open in March 2010.

The $14 million project is being funded through private donations.

UNMC officials say the facility will allow the campus to enroll more nursing students.

Council slated over handling of nursing home closure

2008-11-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

RELATIVES and community leaders are calling for a public inquiry following a report which criticised East Lothian Council's handling of the closure of a troubled nursing home.
The Scottish Labour leader, Iain Gray MSP, has joined the calls, saying the council's lack of communication was "shocking", and that the report leaves significant questions unanswered.

Cockenzie House Nursing Home closed in April this year, after critical reports from the Care Commission. The council rejected owner Jim McDonald's offer to lease the home, and instead moved residents to other homes.

He had said he was unable to keep it open for financial reasons due to the ban on new admissions.

A local GP has said the stress and disruption could have contributed to the death of 21 residents leading up to and following the move.

The independent consultant, Peter Daniels OBE, former chief executive of East Renfrewshire Council, made eight recommendations in his report, including ensuring there are adequate staff in the adult social care department and changing the way the council gives contracts to private homes. He also called on the council to "urgently revisit" its communication strategy.

The review covers the period from 2001 until 2008. It involved face-to-face interviews with the owner and staff at Cockenzie House Nursing Home, relatives, doctors, NHS staff and the Care Commission.

Councillor Ruth Currie, the council's adult social care leader, said: "We will be making sure that the recommendations contained within the report are implemented as appropriate."

Mr Gray, who represents East Lothian, said "significant questions" had been left unanswered.

He said: "The Daniels report still leaves me wondering how it can be that East Lothian Council and the Care Commission between them could not find a solution whereby Cockenzie House residents continued to receive care without being moved.

"Why were residents moved to another nursing home with similar Care Commission concerns outstanding, and what was the impact on the wellbeing of residents who moved?

"I think relatives of residents are entitled to answers and further investigation. Services for the elderly in East Lothian seem to be descending into chaos."

Many relatives and community leaders said they were unsatisfied with the report. Local GP Dr Jonathan Turvill has already said there were an "unusually high" number of deaths around the time of the move, although it was impossible to say they were as a direct result of the switch.

Donald Sowden, of Port Seton, whose wife Dorothy, 83, was moved from Cockenzie House Nursing Home, said: "This is too little and too late. The damage is now done."

Although satisfied with his wife's care at her new home, Greenfield Park Nursing Home in Musselburgh, he said he would like to see a public inquiry.

"No-one has ever answered our questions about closing the home," he said. Reverend Robert Glover, who organised the Cockenzie House Action Group, said "A lot of people are very angry because councillors never visited the home when this was all happening. They refused to come to the public meetings. 'Ignorant' and 'arrogant' are the words that people are using."

Deputy council leader Stuart Currie, who represents Preston, Seton and Gosford, said he had decided it would be inappropriate to attend public meetings, as he could not disclose commercially sensitive information about the finances of the home.

Compromise Reached on Nursing Center

2008-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

THE survival of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank may still be in jeopardy, but the parties who control the future of the nursing home, which Suffolk County owns, have at least agreed on a course of action.

Earlier this year, Steve Levy, the county executive, proposed cutting the nursing home from the county’s 2009 budget, saying it is losing $12 million annually. The plan was opposed by residents of the 264-bed center, the union that represents its 283 employees and some county legislators, including the presiding officer, William J. Lindsay.

After heated negotiations, Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Levy have reached a compromise. Still, there have been conflicts, including the cancellation of a news conference last month at which the two were supposed to announce an agreement and disagreement Wednesday over a new report by the Legislature’s Office of Budget Review on the costs to close the nursing home.

Mr. Levy said he has left it to the Legislature to find “real money” to finance the nursing home without a tax increase. He has also agreed to the Legislature’s issuing a request for proposals for a new management team to upgrade the nursing home’s operations.

Meanwhile, public hearings will be set to allow the county to issue a request for proposals to sell the center.

Mr. Levy said he had already pitched the sale to local medical facilities, including the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation in New Hyde Park, which, he said, would consider a partnership with the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System to privatize the Foley nursing center.

Initial discussions indicated that they would keep all of the patients, Mr. Levy said, “so why would we not consider an arrangement with reputable local hospitals if they could preserve continuity of care?”

Mr. Lindsay, a Democrat from Holbrook, said he was concerned that new ownership would no longer accept the types of patients the nursing home has traditionally cared for.

According to an October report by the Budget Review Office, the Foley center has a high percentage of patients who need considerable and costly care and who are on Medicaid. County facilities generally lose money from Medicaid admissions, the report says. The Foley center has the highest Medicaid reimbursements in Suffolk, Mr. Lindsay said.

“My fear is, moving forward, the mission of our nursing home is going to change,” he said. “The mission has always been that we take the difficult cases that a lot of other for-profit or not-for-profits don’t want.”

But Mr. Lindsay said he agreed with Mr. Levy that the Foley center had been mismanaged.

“We’re not doing a good job on billing — you have to bill for every service provided,” Mr. Lindsay said. “On the revenue side, I think there is more money that could come in. On the expense side, some of the things we’re doing there are just incredibly stupid.”

Mr. Levy said Suffolk was not the only county struggling to keep its nursing home afloat. “There’s not a single public nursing home in the black,” he said. “The State of New York is seeking to get county nursing homes out of the business, giving millions of dollars in grants to downsize or close their facilities. With the advent of private institutions and Medicaid, the public nursing homes are no longer the places of last resort.”

Mr. Levy said that state law prohibits privatization unless every patient is cared for, and on Tuesday he guaranteed that all Foley patients would be able to remain in their beds if the home is sold or leased to an outside operator. “There’s a myth that people will be out on the street, which is nonsense,” he said.

Still, the October Budget Review Office report noted that no laws require that relocated patients be placed within a specified distance of their family home or former nursing home.

Fresenius SE, Parent Company of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc., Announces Date for Third Quarter Earnings

2008-10-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

Fresenius SE, parent company of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: APCVZ - News), will announce third quarter earnings on November 4, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. CET/8:00 a.m. EST/ 7:00 a.m. CST. Fresenius Kabi is a business segment of Fresenius SE.

Fresenius Kabi acquired the Schaumburg, Illinois-based APP Pharmaceuticals on September 10, 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, Fresenius acquired the outstanding common stock of APP for $23.00 in cash per share (the "Cash Purchase Price") plus a Contingent Value Right (CVR) that could deliver up to an additional $980 million, or $6.00 per CVR in cash, pending achievement of certain financial targets (payable in Q2 2011).

Holders of CVRs and other interested parties may listen to the Fresenius earnings call at www.fresenius.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Fresenius Web site following the live presentation.

About Fresenius SE

Fresenius is a health care group with international operations, providing products and services for dialysis, hospital and outpatient medical care. In 2007, group sales were approximately EUR 11.4 billion. On June 30, 2008 the Fresenius Group had 117,453 employees worldwide. For more information visit the company's website at www.fresenius.com.

About Fresenius Kabi

Fresenius Kabi is the leader in infusion therapy and clinical nutrition in Europe and in its most important countries of Latin America and Asia Pacific. Fresenius Kabi's core product range includes infusion solutions for fluid substitution, blood volume expansion and parenteral nutrition, as well as products for enteral nutrition. Furthermore, the company provides concepts for ambulatory health care and is focused on managing and providing home therapies. With its philosophy "Caring for life" and a comprehensive product portfolio, the company aims at improving the quality of life of patients all over the world. On June 30, 2008 the company had 18,323 employees. In 2007, Fresenius Kabi achieved sales of EUR 2,030 million and an operating profit of EUR 332 million. Fresenius Kabi AG is a 100% subsidiary of the health care group Fresenius SE.

About APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

APP is a fully-integrated pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets injectable pharmaceutical products with a primary focus on the oncology, anti-infective, anesthetic/analgesic and critical care markets. The company offers one of the most comprehensive product portfolios used in hospitals, long-term care facilities, alternate care sites and clinics within North America and manufactures a comprehensive range of dosage formulations.

Rigel to Host Update Conference Call

2008-10-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK - News) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of US$.14 per share on all of the outstanding common stock of the Company held of record as of the close of business of the Company's transfer agent on January 2, 2009. The dividend will be paid on January 30, 2009.

Also, Torchmark's Board reaffirmed its continued authorization of the Company's stock repurchase program in amounts and timing that Company management, in consultation with the Board, determines to be in the best interest of the Company. Torchmark has repurchased its common stock every year since 1986 except for 1995, the year following the acquisition of American Income Life. Since 1986 the Company has repurchased 159.2 million shares for a total cost of US$3,965 billion.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These prospective statements reflect management's current expectations, but are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, please refer to Torchmark's cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements, and the business environment in which the Company operates, contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and any subsequent Forms 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and on the Company's website at www.torchmarkcorp.com on the Investor Relations page. Torchmark specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Torchmark Corporation is a holding company specializing in life and supplemental health insurance for "middle income" Americans marketed through multiple distribution channels including direct response, and exclusive and independent agencies. Torchmark has several nationally recognized insurance subsidiaries. Globe Life And Accident is a direct-response provider of life insurance known for its administrative efficiencies. American Income Life provides individual life insurance to labor union members. Liberty National Life, one of the oldest traditional life insurers in the Southeast, is the largest life insurer in its home state of Alabama. United American is a consumer-oriented provider of supplemental health insurance.

Pediatrix to Present at Oppenheimer's 19th Annual Healthcare Conference

2008-10-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., (NYSE:PDX - News) today announced that it is scheduled to make a presentation on Monday, November 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, to investors attending the Oppenheimer 19th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York, NY.

The presentation by Pediatrix’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger J. Medel, M.D., will be broadcast through a live audio Webcast and will be available for replay at www.pediatrix.com.

About Pediatrix

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. is the nation’s leading provider of neonatal, maternal-fetal and pediatric physician subspecialty services and recently expanded to include anesthesiology services. Pediatrix physicians and advanced practitioners are reshaping the delivery of care within the maternal-fetal, neonatal intensive care and pediatric cardiology subspecialties, using evidence-based tools, continuous quality initiatives and clinical research to enhance patient outcomes and provide high-quality, cost-effective care. Founded in 1979, its neonatal physicians provide services at more than 250 neonatal intensive care units, and in many markets they collaborate with affiliated maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric cardiology physician subspecialists and pediatric intensivists to provide a clinical care continuum. Combined, Pediatrix and its affiliated professional corporations employ more than 1,200 physicians in 32 states and Puerto Rico. Pediatrix is also the nation’s largest provider of newborn hearing screens. Additional information is available at www.pediatrix.com.

'Get Screened' Video Contest Throws a Spotlight on the Importance of Colorectal-Cancer Screening

2008-10-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center today announced a video contest called "Get Screened" -- a creative challenge to movie makers to help shine a spotlight on the importance of colorectal-cancer screening. The contest is part of the Hutchinson Center's ongoing awareness campaign -- "Your colon. Your life. Your call." -- to increase colon-cancer screening rates and reduce deaths from the disease in Washington state.

Colon cancer is the third most-commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. An estimated 49,960 Americans, including 940 Washington state residents, will die of the disease this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Most of these deaths could be prevented if the disease were caught early. We're launching this video contest to help increase awareness about the importance of early detection and motivate people to get screened," said Lee Hartwell, Ph.D., president and director of the Hutchinson Center.

The contest is open to movie makers age 18 and older. Film or video submissions must be either 30 seconds or 60 seconds in length and can be in any style or genre, including animation, drama, still art, imagery, comedy or documentary. Entries will be judged on five criteria: originality, creativity, concept, information and overall presentation. All entries are due by Jan. 15, 2009.

The top 15 entries will be posted to YouTube.com in February and the public will be allowed to view each finalist's submission and to post comments. Each finalist will be evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges.

In mid-March five winning entries will be announced: one grand prize ($2,500), two first-runners-up ($1,000) and two second-runners-up ($500). The winning videos and finalists will also be posted on the campaign Web site and be screened at a public event.

The winning videos will incorporate some or all of the following messages:

* Getting screened for colon cancer can save your life
* The risk of colon cancer increases around age 50
* Ask your doctor about the importance of colon-cancer screening
* Encourage anyone you know around age 50 to get screened for colon cancer

Screening and early detection are crucial because people with colon cancer may be asymptomatic for many years, and precancerous lesions or polyps may take 10 years to transform from benign to malignant. If routine screening via colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy detects a precancerous polyp, it can be removed immediately.

For more information about the contest, please visit http://www.endcoloncancernow.org/video/

In addition to the contest rules, the site provides a tool for calculating one's risk for colon cancer and information about the latest recommended screening options and guidelines, among many other life-saving resources.

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more information, please visit fhcrc.org.

3SBio Inc. Announces Preliminary Third Quarter 2008 Results

2008-10-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

3SBio Inc. (Nasdaq: SSRX - News; "3SBio" or "the Company"), a leading biotechnology company focused on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products primarily in China, announced today that it expects to recognize a one-time impairment charge of approximately RMB19.0 million (US$2.7 million) in the third quarter 2008 and affirmed its 2008 full year guidance.

Preliminary Third Quarter 2008 Selected Unaudited Financial Results

The Company's financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2008 have not been finalized and are subject to completion of its normal quarter-end closing procedures. Therefore, the preliminary selected unaudited financial data set forth below may be subject to adjustment. As a consequence, actual results could differ materially from the expected results provided.

For the third quarter 2008, 3SBio expects total net revenues of approximately RMB68.2 million (US$10.0 million), representing an increase of 21.6% over the third quarter 2007. For the same period, 3SBio expects to recognize a one-time impairment loss of approximately RMB19.0 million (US$2.7 million). This impairment loss was related to a US$3.0 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Credit Linked Notes due on January 21, 2009 (the "Notes") held by the Company. As a result, net income for the third quarter 2008 is expected to be approximately RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million), or US$0.01 per ADS.

The Notes, issued by UBS AG, Jersey Branch (the "Issuer"), are linked to credit of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Lehman Brothers") and mature on January 21, 2009, subject to certain conditions. Subsequent to Lehman Brothers' Chapter 11 filing for bankruptcy protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, 3SBio was notified that a credit event under the terms of the Notes had occurred. As a result, the Company expects to recognize an impairment loss of approximately RMB19.0 million (US$2.7 million) after determining the fair value the Notes to be approximately RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million) based on the value of the cash redemption for the Notes offered by the Issuer based on results from the ISDA settlement auction for Lehman Brothers' credit default swaps held on October 10, 2008.

There are no other similar Notes in the Company's investment portfolio, which is primarily made up of investment grade bonds with an expected aggregate fair market value of approximately RMB58.7 million (US$8.6 million) as of September 30, 2008. In addition, as of the end of the third quarter 2008, the Company had an expected cash balance of approximately RMB675.4 million (US$99.5 million) and generated an expected operating cash flow of approximately RMB43.0 million (US$6.4 million).

Management Commentary and Outlook

Following a thorough assessment of its investment portfolio and treasury and cash management infrastructure, the Company has taken immediate and appropriate steps to implement additional risk management measures, including the formation of an Investment Advisory Committee. In addition, 3SBio has engaged Mr. Bo Tan as a consultant to advise on capital markets initiatives and oversee the Company's treasury functions. Mr. Tan has extensive experience in private equity, equity research and commercial practice in the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, he served as the Executive Director and a member of the Investment Committee for Bohai Industrial Fund Management Company, a private equity fund in China. Earlier in his career, he spent six years in the pharmaceutical industry with Eli Lilly & Company and EMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in North America and went on to serve as a China healthcare and consumer analyst at Lehman Brothers Asia and Macquarie Securities in Hong Kong.

In addition, Kevin Teo will return to his role as the Company's Director of Finance, no longer serving as Chief Financial Officer of 3SBio. Mr. Teo will continue to be responsible for the Company's accounting and controlling functions. Mr. Tan will facilitate the search for an experienced and qualified replacement Chief Financial Officer for 3SBio.

Dr. Jing Lou, Chief Executive Officer of 3SBio, commented, "While we continue to benefit from robust growth opportunities and increased demand for our products, we recognize the need to be especially prudent in the current macro environment. We are actively working to better manage our mark-to-market valuation levels and preserve our treasury and cash assets. We have formed an Investment Advisory Committee and are pleased to welcome Bo Tan to join our efforts in risk management and other initiatives. I am confident that the collaboration between these two parties will better align our investment portfolio allocations for the best interest of our shareholders."

"Despite the one-time impairment charge that adversely affected our bottom-line for the third quarter, 3SBio remains fundamentally strong. On the operational front, we continue to demonstrate market leadership within our core product areas and our pipeline drugs are on track for SFDA submission. From a financial perspective, we continue to deliver top line growth with a strong balance sheet and sufficient free cash flow. As we maintain our strategic focus and execute on our growth initiatives, we are confident in our ability to meet our full year total net revenue guidance of US$34 to US$35 million."

Conference Call

3SBio senior management will host a conference call at 5:00 am (Pacific) / 8:00 am (Eastern) / 9:00 pm (Beijing/Hong Kong) on Monday, November 3, 2008 to discuss details of its pre-earnings announcement. The conference call may be accessed by calling (US) +1 480-629-1990 / (UK) +44 (0) 20 7190 1596 / (HK) +852 3009-5027, Passcode: 3938278. A telephone replay will be available shortly after the call until November 17, 2008 at (US) +1 303 590 3030/ (UK) +44 (0)20 7154 2833, Passcode: 3938278#; and (HK) +852 2287 4304, Passcode: 137110#.

A live webcast of the conference call and replay will be available on the investor relations page of 3SBio's website: http://bbs.3sbio.com/en/News/xShowInfo_nnnn1.aspx?ID=129 .

Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set forth above is subject to adjustments that may be identified when audit work is performed on our year-end financial statements, which could result in significant differences from this unaudited financial information.

Currency Convenience Translation

For the convenience of readers, certain RMB amounts have been translated into US dollars at the rate of RMB6.7899 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate for US dollars in effect on September 30, 2008 for cable transfers of RMB per US dollar as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

About 3SBio Inc.

3SBio Inc. is a leading, fully integrated biotechnology company focused on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products, primarily in China.

For more information, please visit 3SBio on the web at: http://www.3sbio.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this release may contain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon 3SBio management's current expectations, and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause 3SBio's actual results to differ from what the company currently anticipates may include adjustments as a result of the completion of our closing procedures for the third quarter 2008; competition from other domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies; the expected market growth for pharmaceutical products in China; market acceptance of 3SBio products; expected hospital or patient demand for our products; the completion of 3SBio's ongoing clinical trials as planned; receipt and timing of regulatory approvals for 3SBio's new products and uses; 3SBio's ability to expand its production, sales and distribution network and other aspects of its operations; its ability to effectively protect its intellectual property; changes in the healthcare industry in China, including changes in the healthcare policies and regulations of the PRC government and changes in the healthcare insurance sector in the PRC; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China. For additional information on these and other factors that may affect the 3SBio's financial results, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov . 3SBio undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Tens of Thousands View DressLikePalin Web Site

2008-10-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

More than 62,000 viewers have viewed the http://www.DressLikePalin.com website this week, scores offering their views on other uses that could have been made for the $150,000 the Republican National Committee famously spent on the wardrobe for Gov. Sarah Palin.

The internet game sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, presents its suggestions on alternatives to the spending spree for what CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro calls the real Marxist in the Presidential race -- "the Neiman Marxist adorned in that fetching $150,000 wardrobe,"

The same $150,000 could buy 15,000 nurses scrubs, for example. The $22,800 the RNC spent on makeup alone would pay for 224 mammograms, 651 flu shots, or provide a supply of cholesterol lower Lipitor for one person for nearly 14 years.

Those viewing the internet game are invited to present their own opinions on how the $150,000 could have been better spent. Among the comments:

-- I would make a donation to my local university's scholarship fund.
-- I would buy my mother a new home for which she very much needs.
-- Shelter for thousands of homeless across the country.
-- A college education for my daughter.
-- I would pay off my credit card, save for 2 kids to go to college, give
some to charity, and whatever is left, stuff in my mattress.
-- I could get married....
-- Food for the food bank for 5 years...
-- A house or perhaps donate to a transplant hospital. My husband needs a
kidney and I don't think he will get one with Medicare only!
-- Health care for families where the parent(s) work at WalMart.
-- I would be able to pay off my house and half of my student loans, which
cause me to live pay check to pay check.
-- A modest home and property where my husband and I could retire.
-- 150,000 would make a really great computer lab in the local public
school or library.
-- I'd start a foundation for at-risk high school students.
-- A house and I would pay for health insurance for myself & daughters
since I am currently self employed and do not have
insurance...partially because I worry if I ever used it they would
cancel it anyway.
-- Dr. visits for as many as possible!
-- I'd give it all to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food bank.
-- I would buy back my neighbor's house who lost it to foreclosure due to
predatory lending.
-- I would give the $150,000 to the Mother, Child, and Adolescent HIV
program for which I work. That money could keep a child on medication
for 12.5 years. Most of our families live on less than $10,000 per
year!
-- I'd buy healthcare coverage for a month for, yikes, just 10 or 11
families ...
-- I would by 15000 warm winter jackets for the homeless at about 10
dollars each.
-- A nice school outfit for a foster child with a very limited budget.
-- Dental care for myself and all my other self-employed, self-insured
workers.
-- I would pay off medical bills. One from a thoractomy from two years ago
for me, one also from two years ago and my son was uninsured because he
had a "pre-existing condition" from when he was born nine years ago.
Someone decided since I was induced due to toxemia that he was
premature. Now I have to pay $5,000 for his broken arm because someone
decided it was bad that he needed speech therapy at 3 yrs old, he was
"premature" at 8 1/2 months and takes Ritalin...
-- Textbooks for inner city children.
-- Membership in Environmental organizations opposed to Drilling in the
Alaskan natural Wildlife Preserve.
-- Five full time case workers at our local domestic violence program, for
a year, with benefits.
-- Food for refugees in Darfur.
-- My husband just had to close his business after 22 years of hard
work--I would have used the money to help him keep his business or to
help my two sons finish college. I also would have my husband use the
time off to get his bachelor's degree. He went to trade school and was
a successful business owner (like Joe the plumber) until "W" got hold
of this country and ruined it. It is too bad Sarah is not a nurse-we
all could think of millions of humanitarian ways to spend that kind of
money.
-- Pay for the experimental cancer treatment that would help my daughter
live longer.
-- Her boots cost almost as much as my rent! Good thing I get food Stamps!
-- I would donate it to the children's cancer community my non-profit that
helps families with a child with cancer.
-- Body armor for ALL our troops overseas.
-- The Lobbyist Lunch Special for Two at Jack Abramoff's favorite
restaurant.

American Media Inc. Names Chris Lockwood, Mike Carlson, and Allan Donnelly to Lead Editorial Teams at Enthusiast Group of Fitness Titles

2008-10-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

David J. Pecker, Chairman and CEO of American Media, Inc.(AMI), today announced that Chris Lockwood, Mike Carlson, and Allan Donnelly have joined the editorial staffs at Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Muscle & Fitness Hers magazines, reporting to Laya Clark and Chris Scardino, Executive Vice Presidents & Co-Publishing Directors of AMI's Enthusiast Group. The Group includes these three publications, their web sites, Mr. Olympia, and other related events and brand extensions.

In making the announcement, Mr. Pecker said, "One week after naming Laya Clark and Chris Scardino to head our Enthusiast group, we've completed our team by bringing in Chris Lockwood as editor-in-chief of Muscle & Fitness with Mike Carlson as his #2, and promoting Allan Donnelly to be executive editor of Flex. This gives us the most forward thinking, authoritative editorial staff of any publication that targets serious fitness enthusiasts."

Mr. Clark said, "Chris is one of the most knowledgeable writers on the planet on the subject of fitness and nutrition and his vision for Muscle & Fitness will make it the primary source for cutting edge information in these areas. With Mike Carlson as executive editor, we now have two of the most sought after editorial talents in the industry together at one magazine."

Mr. Scardino added, "As senior editor at Flex, Allan showed us he was ready for bigger and better things. Flex has always been the voice of the hardcore bodybuilding community and Allan will give that voice greater resonance than ever."

Mr. Lockwood holds an M.S. in Sports Science and is in the process of obtaining his PhD from Oklahoma University in Exercise Physiology. He has been a contributor to Muscle & Fitness since 1998 and has also held executive positions or served as a consultant to a variety of sports nutrition companies including GNC and Weider Nutrition. Mike Carlson most recently launched and served as editor-in-chief of Real Fighter, one of the first magazines to recognize the MMA explosion, and has also been senior editor on the GNC publications Get Active and Physical. Mr. Donnelly has been with Flex since 2006 and had been an editor for Men's Fitness and a writer at Muscle & Fitness.

Mr. Clark said that he and Mr. Scardino are currently conducting a search for an editor-in-chief at Muscle & Fitness Hers who will report to Mr. Lockwood.

Collectively, Muscle & Fitness, Flex and M&F Hers reach over 8 million readers a month. They are the leading titles for serious fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. is the leading publisher of celebrity journalism and health and fitness magazines in the U.S. These include Star, Shape, Men's Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, and The National Enquirer. In addition to print properties, AMI manages 14 different web sites. The company also owns Distribution Services, Inc., the country's #1 in-store magazine merchandising company.

Grand Canyon University Sending Clear Message: We Have Room for Nurses!

2008-10-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

In light of heightened news coverage of limited capacity for nursing students at the state universities, Grand Canyon University (GCU) wants prospective nursing students to know that there's plenty of room, and financial aid is readily available.

"To put it simply, we have the capacity, and we can meet the demand," said GCU CEO Brian Mueller.

GCU has an academically rigorous nursing program, focusing on pre- and post-licensing, with a major focus on continuing education. The University offers fast-track nursing programs and an expanded curriculum in health sciences to serve prospective students interested in pre-med, pre-vet, pre-pharmacy and allied health professions including medical technology and radiation therapy. The University's nursing program was recently recognized by Nursing Online Educational Database (NOEDb) as having the number two online nursing program in the country. It is also ranked number seven on the list of most popular nursing schools by Payscale.com.

Over the past few years, Grand Canyon University has developed innovative programs to help nursing students obtain bachelor's and master's degrees within the hospital setting, working collaboratively with hospitals to increase capacity and help hospitals offer a higher caliber of care. In the face of continued decreases from state universities and cutbacks in nursing faculty, private institutions such as GCU are thriving and leveraging the lack of space in state universities' nursing programs to build their own programs.

"Our universities have a choice in which programs they cut. Arizona is already facing a public health crisis with our alarming shortage of registered nurses. I can't believe nursing being put on the block during this time of incredible shortage," said Fran Roberts, Grand Canyon University Vice President of Strategic Business Alliances for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

"As a private institution, we're equipped to work with our state leadership to increase our capacity for new nurses and we are not dependent on the state's budget to do this. We stand ready to move quickly," Roberts said.

Student advisors are readily accessible to work with prospects to ensure they have the adequate pre-course work completed, and that any and all financial assistance options are researched.

"Students who are interested in pursuing a healthcare career shouldn't have to wait to start caring. As spring enrollment deadlines approach we want prospective students to realize that there are options beyond the state universities -- and that there is plenty of room in our programs," Roberts said.

GCU has established partnerships with local, regional, and national healthcare institutions to place its students in the workforce while obtaining their clinical and didactic education. Partnerships include St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Banner Healthcare, Abrazo, Scottsdale Healthcare, Carondelet Health Network, the Hospital Council of Southern Arizona, John C. Lincoln Health Network and AMN Healthcare and others.

More information about spring classes is available at http://conhs.gcu.edu/ or by calling 888.226.7320.

About Grand Canyon University

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a traditional regionally accredited, private, Christian university offering campus-based and online bachelor's and master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts. The Phoenix-based school is ranked as having one of the top online education programs by OEDb (Online Education Database). With an enrollment of approximately 16,500 students, GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. For more information visit http://www.gcu.edu.

San Diego Hospice Targets Better Access to Quality Healthcare During National Hospice Month in November

2008-10-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

For many Americans living with a serious, progressive illness, the goal is to remain and die at home -- not in a hospital, nursing home or other facility. But statistics show that nearly 75 percent of all deaths occur in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

However, 90% of hospice care patients do remain in their homes to realize their wish. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that patients on hospice care live longer and better lives.

In San Diego County, only half the individuals who could benefit from hospice care and palliative medicine receive it. As part of their mission, and as the focus for National Hospice Month in November, San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine urges healthcare professionals and consumers to learn about the many benefits that hospice care can provide to seriously ill patients and their family members.

"Every individual and their family who could benefit from hospice care that doesn't is a missed opportunity to radically change their experience for the better," said Jan Cetti, President and CEO of San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. "There are far too many of them."

San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine was established as the original hospice program in San Diego County in 1977. Today, the organization has become one of the 10 largest and most well respected not-for-profit hospices in the nation. One thousand patients ranging from children to seniors receive care in the region every day. In addition, San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine offers bereavement support to 11,000 community members and advanced education and research programs in palliative medicine for 1,400 physicians and clinicians each year.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders commended San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine for its ongoing leadership. "San Diego's science and medical communities are part of the foundation of our economy. The research, education and innovations they provide create jobs and link our region with the world. San Diego Hospice and Institute for Palliative Medicine is an important member of this business sector. Now, on behalf of all San Diegans and during National Hospice Month, it is my pleasure to recognize the hands-on care and other benefits that the organization offers to our region."

"We exist to make a difference: to relieve suffering, to restore dignity and to teach other medical professionals and organizations how to make a difference in their own communities," said Cetti. "I'm extremely proud of our employees and volunteers who are devoted to what they do. Our work brings constant reminders that every moment of life is a fragile miracle to be cherished. We're honored to be involved with people at such a special and critical time in their lives."

Easy Ethnic Election

2008-10-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

With the country's mind on the election and the economy, there isn't much time to think about what to eat, let alone cook an entire gourmet meal. Kohinoor Foods can help people take their minds off everyday stress with their delicious and easy gourmet Indian cuisine that can be made in minutes. Kohinoor makes cooking easy with their gourmet Heat & Eat line, allowing everyone to have a healthy, flavorful meal that is also affordable.

With an already established foothold in the shelf stable, ready-to-eat food category with their line of microwaveable Heat & Eat Curries, Rice & Curry Meals, Rice Treats, Curry Pastes and Simmer Sauces, Kohinoor brings a range of traditional, gourmet quality, mouth-watering, ready-to-eat Indian delicacies and carefully prepared accompaniments to homes across America. Distinguishing themselves as the foremost experts on authentic Indian and Asian cuisine offerings, Kohinoor's gourmet line provides instant access to restaurant quality, healthy ethnic fare in mere minutes.

Increasingly popular with the budget-conscious gourmands are Kohinoor's Heat & Eat Curries, a line of tasty and ready-to-eat restaurant quality meals -- perfect at election time when times are stressful and cooking is not at the top of the list. Bursting with a healthy mixture of garden fresh vegetables, vegetarian-based protein and rice, Kohinoor Heat & Eat Curries are the perfect addition to every health and budget conscious diet. Unlike many ready-to-eat food products, Kohinoor Heat & Eat Curries are all-natural and contain no artificial ingredients, flavors or colors, preservatives or harmful monosodium glutamate (MSG) -- just pure, delicious authentic Indian Basmati rice, vegetables and spices.

Kohinoor Heat & Eat Line includes:

-- Kohinoor's Pindi Chana Masala: Mildly spiced, highly nutritious blend
of whole chick peas, ginger, garlic, cumin, and other delectable spices

-- Yellow Dal with Peas Pulao: A simple, authentic preparation of Indian
basmati rice that compliments a range of curries made of lentils and
vegetables cooked with aromatic herbs and spices

-- Aloo Palak: Delicious mild blend of spinach gravy and chunks of potato

-- Dal Mahkani: Black lentils and red kidney beans cooked in a mild creamy
sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onion and ginger

-- Kashmiri Rajma: Red kidney bean curry flavored with coriander,
cinnamon, cumin and bay leaves

About Kohinoor Foods

Kohinoor is the leading producer of premium gourmet packaged food in India and is the best-selling brand in the country. Prepared in a state-of-the-art fine food production facility, Kohinoor is shipped around the globe to bring the authentic flavors of traditional Indian cooking to consumers in over 25 nations. Committed to sharing the principles of family values, Kohinoor makes both fiscal and in kind donations in support of Mother Teresa's Orphanages throughout India.

Houston-Area Couple Gives Thanks Early This Year With Arrival of Quintuplets at The Woman's Hospital of Texas

2008-10-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

When Bill and Kelly Phillips first met over a game of dominoes at Texas A&M, they could never have predicted just how full their lives together would be. The Phillips are giving thanks for five new bundles of joy after Kelly delivered quintuplets at The Woman's Hospital of Texas (Woman's) in Houston this past week.

The quintuplets were delivered via C-section on October 25 by Dr. Brian Kirshon, OB/GYN and Maternal/Fetal Medicine specialist with Houston Perinatal Associates, P.A. -- a specialty group at Woman's. Although contractions began at only 18 weeks, Kelly didn't deliver until 33 weeks into her pregnancy -- a remarkable accomplishment since the average gestation for quintuplets is 27.4 weeks. In fact, Kelly's pregnancy duration nearly equaled that of the longest gestation for quintuplets on record: the Wilson quints, born at 34.3 weeks.

"When we found out we were having not one but five babies, we were in shock but once we were through the first trimester and started picking names, we were ecstatic," said Kelly Phillips. Kelly spent her final month of pregnancy at the Antepartum unit at Woman's, even receiving a surprise party from the nurses once she hit her 32nd week -- a benchmark for the babies' development. "This has been such an exceptional experience all the way around and the remarkable care and attention we've received from everyone at Woman's has only added to our joy," said Phillips.

With the health of her five babies as her priority throughout the pregnancy, Kelly began limiting her activities and lowering her stress levels once she made it through her first trimester. She followed Dr. Kirshon's instructions to the letter, all the while maintaining the power of positive thinking and prayer to keep her babies safe and strong in utero. The result: John, Becca, Ali, David and Kate ranging in weight from 3 lbs. 3 oz. to 4 lbs. 12 oz. and growing steadily in Woman's Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

"It's a tremendous feat for the Phillips' quintuplets to get to 33 weeks gestation and have such exceptional birth weights," said Kirshon. "That is certainly a testament to what a remarkable patient Kelly is and her absolute commitment to her babies' health and well-being."

Bill and Kelly join a very select group of parents with high order multiples. According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, the number of quintuplets and other higher order births in 2005 totaled only 68 nationwide, and in Texas, only 0.1 percent of live births were triplets or larger. Woman's delivers more than 9,000 babies each year, including a high number of multiples; quintuplets, however, remain a rarity.

"It's not every day that quints are delivered, but our team has the experience and know how to care for multiples -- even high order multiples like these babies," said Dr. Jayne Finkowski, a Neonatologist with Medical Center Neonatal Associates, P.A. -- a specialty group at Woman's. "All five are doing exceptionally well and are being cared for in our Level II NICU where we will monitor their progress until they are ready to be released."

While the Phillips may not yet be "Jon & Kate Plus 8," -- TLC's hit series -- they are well on their way. With an 18-month-old at home, the latest additions to the family expand their kid count to six: three boys and three girls. While it will likely be a tight squeeze in their three bedroom home in The Woodlands, Texas, when they bring the babies home, both parents agree there is more than enough room in their hearts for all of their children. To keep track of the Phillips' family, visit their blog online at Phillipsmultiples.blogspot.com.

About the Woman's Hospital of Texas

Established in 1976, The Woman's Hospital of Texas (Woman's) is a nationally recognized, specialty hospital in the Houston area dedicated exclusively to the care of women and infants. Woman's staff, including cutting-edge Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and one-on-one labor and delivery nurses, are dedicated to excellent, personalized service and education. Woman's helps women at every stage of life get well and stay healthy. Since 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked Woman's in their top 50 hospitals nationwide for gynecologic care. The Woman's Hospital of Texas. Every Woman. Every Baby. www.womanshospital.com

Cook to a Tea

2008-10-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Full-flavored, Single Origin Dilmah Tea is the ideal complement to crisp autumn mornings and frosty winter evenings -- for sharing with friends or drinking while curled up with a book. What could be more pleasing and relaxing than the rich and satisfying hand picked "tea lover" classics from the Dilmah Gourmet Series -- Earl Grey, English Afternoon, English Breakfast, Ceylon Supreme? It's also a festive way to spice up the holidays with baked treats made with the wonderfully authentic flavors of Dilmah.

Dilmah's Holiday Seasonal Baking Recipe

Oatmeal Tea Muffins

3/4 cup milk
3 contents of Dilmah Teabags (Preferably the English Breakfast Tea or
Ceylon Supreme from Dilmah's Gourmet Series)
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup raisins

In a small saucepan, heat milk just to the simmer. Off heat, add the teabags, submerging them completely. Set mixture aside to cool. When cool, remove teabags, squeezing them to remove liquid. Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats and brown sugar. In a small bowl, combine the steeped tea milk, oil, and eggs. With a rubber spatula, make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir the ingredients together just to moisten and combine. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough and coarse in texture. Spoon thick batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each one 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes or until muffin springs back when lightly pressed in center. Cool on wire rack for about 5 minutes before carefully removing from pan. Serve warm, if desired.

"As the weather turns cooler, tea lovers everywhere relish the delights of full-bodied classics like the varieties offered in the Dilmah Gourmet Series," said Merrill J. Fernando, founder of Dilmah and widely acknowledged as the patriarch of the Ceylon tea industry. "Each of Dilmah's classic teas -- Earl Grey, English Afternoon, English Breakfast, Ceylon Supreme -- is created according to tradition and from decades of experience."

"My father had a dream to bring back the age-old growing, harvesting and curing techniques which had been squeezed out of the tea industry in favor of 'fast track' processes," Mr. Malik Fernando commented. "At the same time, he wanted to reward his growers and their families with a better deal for their work while investing in the community to make tea growing more sustainable. By packaging at source and through the activities of the MJF Foundation, we like to say that Dilmah goes beyond fair trade -- we call it 'Ethical Trade'."

Product Availability

Dilmah 100% Pure, Single Origin Ceylon Tea is now available at over 1,000 retailers throughout the Eastern Seaboard and Southeast, including Stop & Shop, Giant Food of Maryland, Hannaford Bros., Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Sweetbay Supermarkets, Top's Market, Shoppers Food, Jungle Jim's, Acme Markets (Ohio) and Online at Amazon.com and teadog.com.

NO on Prop 8 Campaign Slams Dishonest Mailer Targeting African-American Voters

2008-10-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

The NO on Prop 8 campaign today condemned an official Proposition 8 mailer clearly targeted to African-American voters that completely misrepresents and lies about Sen. Barack Obama's position on Proposition 8. In fact, the Obama campaign felt compelled to release a new statement tonight making it absolutely clear that he and Joe Biden oppose Prop 8 in the strongest terms.

The mailer, from the Proposition 8 campaign, twists Sen. Obama's comments about marriage to suggest support for the unfair initiative -- when just the opposite is true. In a June 29 letter to the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Sen. Obama wrote that he opposes the "divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution."

The mailer drew a strong reaction from San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.

"It is despicable that the Yes on 8 campaign would send out a last minute mailer to the African-American community in a clear attempt to mislead voters about Senator Barack Obama's position on Proposition 8," said District Attorney Harris. "The leadership of this campaign should issue an immediate retraction and apology for this transparent attempt to deceive the public."

The Obama letter reads in part:

"As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law...And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states. For too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. This is no less than a core issue about who we are as Democrats and as Americans."

Tonight, in response to the mailer, the Obama campaign released the following statement:

"Senators Obama and Biden have made clear their commitment to fighting for equal rights for all Americans whether it's by granting LGBT Americans all the civil rights and benefits available to heterosexual couples, or repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said a statement issued by campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt. "Senator Obama has already announced that the Obama-Biden ticket opposes Proposition 8 and similar discriminatory constitutional amendments that could roll back the civil rights he and Senator Biden strongly believe should be afforded to all Americans."

Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN

2008-10-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Here at Maxim, our clients demand the best from our nurses. If you consider yourself to be a compassionate, caring LPN that puts the patient first, I encourage you to submit your resume. You may also contact me at 205-942-6331! Under the supervision of a registered nurse, the licensed practical nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for the application of the nursing process and the delivery of patient care. Consistently performs according to nursing standards and is accountable in managing patient care and assisting others in the management of patient care.

Responsibilities include: Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care. Performs focused interview to identify specific patients needs. Assess signs and symptoms indicating physiologic and psychosocial changes in the patient's condition. Collects, analyzes, and interprets data and information from health care members and documents actual and/or potential nursing diagnoses. Qualifications include: Current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License. Full command, verbal and written, of the English language. Current Health Certificate (per facility). Current PPD or Chest X-Ray. One year prior professional nursing experience Preferred. Current BLS card. Successful completion of the screening tests Maxim employees are our greatest asset. We offer the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance 401k Program Competitive Pay Flexible Scheduling Direct Deposit Positive Work Environment and Friendly Staff Bonuses Travel Benefits (as applicable) 24 hour on- call service Since 1988, Maxim Healthcare Services has become one of the largest employers of clinicians in the nation. At Maxim Staffing Solutions, a division of Maxim Healthcare Services, we're known for our quality of patient care, commitment to employee development and emphasis on customer service. Maxim knows that you deserve great benefits, flexible scheduling and rewarding assignments, so our Healthcare Recruiters will match your skills, experience and schedule in order to find you the best assignments in top medical facilities. Maxim Recruiters are always available to provide you with the assistance you need to get your job done, so call us today; Maxim has a solution for you. EOE/AAE Related Keywords: medical, medical care, health, health care, nursing, er, emergency, practical nurse, medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, intensive care unit, lpn, l.p.n, icu, i.c.u., E.R.
Apply

Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN

2008-10-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

Specific skills include NRP and ability to labor a baby. Skilled Registered Nurse / RN is needed to work in local facility to provide direct patient care. Registered Nurse / RN will observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients; assist physicians during surgeries, treatments, and examinations; administer medications; and assist in rehabilitation. Registered Nurse / RN will also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. Qualified nurse should be an advocate and health educator for patients, families and communities.

Maxim Healthcare Services is one of the largest employers of clinicians in the nation; we make our employees a top priority. As an employee, Maxim will provide you with the same level of care and dedication that you provide your patients. We know that you are entitled to great benefits, flexible scheduling options and rewarding assignments in some of the best medical environments. Our Healthcare Recruiters will work hard to accommodate your career preferences. As a member of our dynamic healthcare team you will choose from prestigious assignments in top medical facilities. Our supportive staff will match your skills, experience and schedule to find you the best long-term, short-term or travel assignments. Maxim Recruiters will be available around-the-clock to provide the assistance that you need to get your job done. Whether you prefer day, evening or night shifts, Maxim has the solution for you. Maxim employees are our greatest asset. We offer the following benefits: -Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance -401k Program -Competitive Pay -Flexible Scheduling -Direct Deposit -Free Continuing Education (CE) Program -Positive Work Environment and Friendly Staff Bonuses -Travel Benefits (as applicable) -24 hour on- call service Related Keywords: medical, medical care, health, health care, hospital, clinic, r.n., rn, registered nurse, nursing, nurse, er, emergency, practical nurse, medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, intensive care unit, lpn, l.p.n, icu, i.c.u., E.R.
Apply

Speech Language Pathologist - Speech Therapist

2008-10-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

Position Type: Othe...
Position Title: Speech Language Pathologist - Speech Therapist
Ad Number: 10928749
Category: Office / Agency / Clinic Jobs
Location:Alabama
Visit Our Site:www.maximhealthcare.com
Date posted:10/24/2008
Placed by:Maxim Staffing Solutions - Nurse Staffing
Job Code:72827
An individual who is licensed under the laws of the state as a Speech Pathologist. In collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, develops a plan of care for each speech pathology patient. Provides skilled speech pathology services to patients with speech, language and/or hearing deficits in accordance with physician's orders.

Responsibilities include:

* Provides skilled speech therapy services/interventions in accordance with physician orders.

* Assesses patient needs; plans for, evaluates and modifies care to meet goals of the speech therapy interventions.

* Collaborates with all disciplines to plan and evaluate team goals for each patient.

* Instructs patient/family/caregivers on patient's total speech therapy program.

* Advises, consults and instructs members of the multi-disciplinary team in specific speech therapy modalities and interventions.

Qualifications include:

* Current state license as a Speech Pathologist.

* Graduate of Speech Pathologist program accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association, and holds or is eligible for a certificate of clinical competence granted by the American Speech and Hearing Association.

* Minimum of one year experience in an acute care facility, out-patient setting, community health service, home health agency or private practice in the past two years preferred.

* Current CPR card.

Maxim employees are our greatest asset. We offer the following benefits:

* Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

* 401k Program

* Competitive Pay

* Flexible Scheduling

* Direct Deposit

* Positive Work Environment and Friendly Staff Bonuses

* Travel Benefits (as applicable)

* 24 hour on- call service

Since 1988, Maxim Healthcare Services has become one of the largest employers of clinicians in the nation. At Maxim Staffing Solutions, a division of Maxim Healthcare Services, we're known for our quality of patient care, commitment to employee development and emphasis on customer service. Maxim knows that you deserve great benefits, flexible scheduling and rewarding assignments, so our Healthcare Recruiters will match your skills, experience and schedule in order to find you the best assignments in top medical facilities. Maxim Recruiters are always available to provide you with the assistance you need to get your job done, so call us today; Maxim has a solution for you.

EOE/AAE

Related Keywords: medical, medical care, health, health care, pathologist, speech, speech language pathologist, speech pathologist, speech pathology, speech therapist, speech therapy, MA/MS CCC-SLP, MA/MS CCC-AUD, CFY, speech language therapist
Apply

Research Oncology andHematology Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN

2008-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Position Type: LPN/...
Position Title: Research Oncology/Hematology Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN
Ad Number: 10928790
Category: Office / Agency / Clinic Jobs
Location:Alabama
Visit Our Site:www.maximhealthcare.com
Date posted:10/24/2008
Placed by:Maxim Staffing Solutions - Nurse Staffing
Job Code:72927
Are you an energetic go-getter? Do you feel that you could be an asset to an expanding research clinic in Birmingham, Alabama? If so, I welcome you to apply for this coveted position. To be eligible, the LPN will need to have either Oncology experience or Research experience. Ideally, the candidate will have both, but this is not a pre-requisite for consideration.

Under the supervision of a registered nurse, the licensed practical nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for the application of the nursing process and the delivery of patient care. Consistently performs according to nursing standards and is accountable in managing patient care and assisting others in the management of patient care.

Responsibilities include:

* Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care.

* Performs focused interview to identify specific patients needs.

* Assess signs and symptoms indicating physiologic and psychosocial changes in the patient's condition.

* Collects, analyzes, and interprets data and information from health care members and documents actual and/or potential nursing diagnoses.

Qualifications include:

* Current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License.

* Full command, verbal and written, of the English language.

* Current Health Certificate (per facility).

* Current PPD or Chest X-Ray.

* One year prior professional nursing experience Preferred.

* Current BLS card.

* Successful completion of the screening tests

Maxim employees are our greatest asset. We offer the following benefits:

* Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

* 401k Program

* Competitive Pay

* Flexible Scheduling

* Direct Deposit

* Free Continuing Education (CE) Program

* Positive Work Environment and Friendly Staff Bonuses

* Travel Benefits (as applicable)

* 24 hour on- call service

Since 1988, Maxim Healthcare Services has become one of the largest employers of clinicians in the nation. At Maxim Staffing Solutions, a division of Maxim Healthcare Services, we're known for our quality of patient care, commitment to employee development and emphasis on customer service. Maxim knows that you deserve great benefits, flexible scheduling and rewarding assignments, so our Healthcare Recruiters will match your skills, experience and schedule in order to find you the best assignments in top medical facilities. Maxim Recruiters are always available to provide you with the assistance you need to get your job done, so call us today; Maxim has a solution for you.

EOE/AAE

Related Keywords: medical, medical care, health, health care, nursing, er, emergency, practical nurse, medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, intensive care unit, lpn, l.p.n, icu, i.c.u., E.R.

Research Oncology and Hematology Registered Nurse - RN

2008-10-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Position Type: Registered Nurse
Position Title: Research Oncology/Hematology Registered Nurse - RN
Ad Number: 10928793
Category: Office / Agency / Clinic Jobs
Location:Alabama
Visit Our Site: www.maximhealthcare.com
Placed by:Maxim Staffing Solutions - Nurse Staffing
Date posted:10/24/2008
Job Code:72931

Are you an energetic go-getter? Do you feel that you could be an asset to an expanding research clinic in Birmingham, Alabama? If so, I welcome you to apply for this coveted position. To be eligible, the RN will need to have either Oncology experience or Research experience. Ideally, the candidate will have both, but this is not a pre-requisite for consideration.

Skilled Registered Nurse / RN is needed to work in local facility to provide direct patient care. Registered Nurse / RN will observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress in patients; assist physicians during surgeries, treatments, and examinations; administer medications; and assist in rehabilitation. Registered Nurse / RN will also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care, and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. Qualified nurse should be an advocate and health educator for patients, families and communities.

Maxim Healthcare Services is one of the largest employers of clinicians in the nation; we make our employees a top priority. As an employee, Maxim will provide you with the same level of care and dedication that you provide your patients. We know that you are entitled to great benefits, flexible scheduling options and rewarding assignments in some of the best medical environments. Our Healthcare Recruiters will work hard to accommodate your career preferences. As a member of our dynamic healthcare team you will choose from prestigious assignments in top medical facilities. Our supportive staff will match your skills, experience and schedule to find you the best long-term, short-term or travel assignments. Maxim Recruiters will be available around-the-clock to provide the assistance that you need to get your job done. Whether you prefer day, evening or night shifts, Maxim has the solution for you.

Maxim employees are our greatest asset. We offer the following benefits:

-Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
-401k Program
-Competitive Pay
-Flexible Scheduling
-Direct Deposit
-Free Continuing Education (CE) Program
-Positive Work Environment and Friendly Staff Bonuses
-Travel Benefits (as applicable)
-24 hour on- call service

Related Keywords: medical, medical care, health, health care, hospital, clinic, r.n., rn, registered nurse, nursing, nurse, er, emergency, practical nurse, medical, surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, intensive care unit, lpn, l.p.n, icu, i.c.u., E.R.

Looking for Flexibility and Stability? Now Hiring Many Specialties!

2008-10-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

Interim HealthCare is the nation's largest combined provider of home care and healthcare staffing. We offer one of the most comprehensive selections of career opportunities in the industry - including home care and facility staffing. From RNs to Physical Therapists, LPNs to Caregivers, Interim offers a variety of positions in healthcare ranging from per diem to full-time.

If you're looking for a stable career opportunity, look no further. We offer the freedom of a flexible work schedule combined with the security of working for an established company. We've been providing great jobs to great people for over 40 years and have more than 300 offices across the country. That kind of stability combined with our commitment to integrity makes us your perfect career partner.

We offer great benefits - including free continuing education courses - in a rewarding work environment. If you're considering a career change or would like to earn additional money with a part-time position, consider Interim HealthCare.
Apply

Nursing job in Medical College and KEM Hospital

2008-10-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

Nursing education in India is hot and glittering with its multi-million dollar prospects. Nursing career holds the greatest employment potential in the world. It is one of the hottest disciplines with job prospects and ever increasing, never diminishing demand.

The Indian Nursing education has achieved a level of advancement in the standards of nurse training so to establish India a hub of qualified nurses with excellence in nursing education. This section of the site aims to list the resources for nursing training in India, which is termed variedly as Nursing colleges wherein degree and postgraduate courses are held, School of Nursing associated with hospitals wherein Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery training are imparted, Online nursing education, Nursing distance education, Nursing education loan in India, Nursing education journals, Nursing vocational training, Top Nursing Colleges in India, Colleges with nursing program and Continuing nursing education centers. Here you will find nursing institutes in Indian cities and states. A registered nursing degree enables you to secure good jobs in India or fabulous career abroad.

K.E.M. Hospital, Nurses Quarters, Parel, Mumbai
Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel
Mumbai - 400012.
India
Phone 91-22-2413 6051
Fax: 91-22-2414 3435
Email: kemrad@vsnl.com

Nursing job vacancy in new cross healthcare

2008-10-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

Nursing jobs in Bristol, United Kingdom is one of the greatest attractions for many international job seekers around the world. There are some of the best organizations and agencies which provide the best task force to all most all major government and private health care centers and hospitals in the city. This page of NaukriHub gives information on various nursing job vacancies available with these agencies. Job seekers around the world will be linked to the recruitment pages of these organizations where they can view all the nursing job opportunities available.

NEW CROSS HEALTHCARE
Newcross Healthcare Solutions, one of the UK's leading providers of quality professional health staff has been in the service of the people of Bristol for years. Customer service is at the peak of the organization’s agenda and it has been continuously trying to achieve the same with its efficient work force.

Newcross employs the best talents in the industry and nurture them. The above official link of the organization gives information on various nurse vacancies available.
Apply

Jobs in Aqaba

2008-10-24T17:53:00.002-07:00

Economy of Aqaba, Jordan is a diversified economy. The industries of Aqaba, Jordan many operating units which are into different fields of manufacturing like Accessories for Bicycles, Plastic Products, IT Disaster Recovery Infrastructure and Electric Motors and Gears. Other industrial outputs include Gift Items and Promotional Products. The units which deal into the following lines of business are Kinetek, Gram Tel, Deflecto, Valmark and Welcome Home.

It is the main dealer and manufacturer of Oral Hygiene Products. Various job agencies in Aqaba offer different jobs to the people with relevant knowledge in the various industries and its sectors and Oral Hygiene Products Industry. Search through NaukriHub job site for various emerging job opportunities in Aqaba, Jordan.

Jobs in Ankara

2008-10-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

Ankara is the capital city as well as one of the major commercial cities of Turkey. The economy is fast growing with the industry, banking, transport and communication playing the lead roles. The diverse economy of Ankara largely supplemented by its tourism as well as industrial sectors. Services play a major role in providing jobs in Ankara. The food production industry has been playing an important role in the economical position of Ankara, Turkey. Its thriving banking sector, communication and transport also contribute to the economy of city.

The prominent agricultural products include apricots, figs, cherry, hazel nuts, pomegranate and egg plant green pepper. The industrial Sector has been making its mark in the textile and
clothing industries and has large contribution in the economy. The city is also a centre of automobile industry. It is also the home of the largest TV manufacturer, Vestel Electronics. Job opportunities in Banking, Transport, Communication and Agricultural Industries are published in various media including job sites of Ankara. Job opportunities are also arisen in clothing, textile and automobile companies of Ankara. Production of manufactured goods like television, electronic gadgets and home appliances also add significantly to the economy of city. The sectors also provide ample jobs in Ankara.

Ankara has a well developed educational and cultural infrastructure and it generates many job opportunities. The city is world famous for medieval and modern universities. The headquarters of the State Opera and Ballet and other state theatres along with private theater companies are instrumental in promoting tourism and thereby contributing to the national exchequer. They are also a major source of job opportunities to the people.

Jobs in Amman

2008-10-24T17:52:00.001-07:00

Tourism and Banking are the main industries in the economic revolution of Amman, Jordan. Other prospering industry which has a strong base here is the construction industry. The Industrial Sectors of Amman, Jordan include Mining and the Engineering and Manufacturing of the exported products. The industrial Sector is the main key for the economical progress of Amman, Jordan.

Many job agencies in Amman, Jordan offer good job Opportunities in the industries of mining, Tourism and Banking. Skilled and Unskilled workers with a sound knowledge and experience have good job offerings in Amman, Jordan.

Search through NaukriHub job site for various emerging job opportunities in Amman, Jordan

Jobs in Al Hofuf

2008-10-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

The economical Industries of Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia have set a strong foot in the oil companies. It is regarded as the world's biggest petroleum reserve and is also the prime exporters of petroleum. Ai-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia is a leader in OPEC (Organization of Petrol Exporting Countries).It also has a flourishing Agricultural sector and the main outputs of this industry are Barley, Wheat, Tomatoes, Citrus, Mutton, Chicken, Dates, Eggs and Milk. Textile Industries, Food Processing, Copper and Brass Products, manufacturing of Swords and Draggers and Arabian Horse Breeding also form a contribution to the economy of this city.

Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia offers great job opportunities in the Petroleum and Agricultural, Textile and Food Processing Industries and
Manufacturing Units, to both skilled and unskilled labors. Different job agencies in al-Hofuf have great job offer for the experienced and educated people in the related fields of their work. Search through NaukriHub job site for various emerging job opportunities in Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia

Jobs in Abu Dhabi

2008-10-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

Abu Dhabi is one of the Emirates in the UAE situated in the Persian Gulf region. The city is oil-rich and strategically located in the Arab territory. About 70 per cent of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate professionals and workers from various contries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Philippines and many other African and European countries. Naukri Hub provides the comprehensive Jobs and career solution for exploring the best employment opportunities in Abu Dhabi. If you are looking for a job in Abu Dhabi, you have reached the right place of Internet.
We try to list the most employment opportunities in the cities of Abu Dhabi in fields such as Petroleum, Natural gas, Engineering, Information Technology, Finance, Accounting, Construction, Hospitality, Healthcare, Administration, Management, Sales & Marketing, etc. We serve to help professionals find their best job opportunities in Abu Dhabi.

We also provide information on recruitment services in Abu Dhabi to all industry career levels and categories like Engineering, Computer, Sales and Marketing, manufacturing, customer service, Media, Architecture, administration, Real estate, shipping, technical, medical, entertainment, legal, human resources, accounting, Banking, Oil, Insurance, advertising, consultant, events and telecommunication sectors of Abu Dhabi.

CBaySystems to Give Away $1000 Gas Cards at AHIMA 2008

2008-10-12T23:39:00.000-07:00

CBaySystems, a leading provider of transcription and healthcare BPO services, today announced that it will be giving away three $1,000 Gas Cards at this year's AHIMA conference.

"This is a opportunity for us to give away something everyone really needs these days," said Chris Foley, President, CBaySystems and Services, Inc. "It also reinforces to HIMs that CBay understands the tough economy we live in and that we're always looking for ways to add value and savings for our customers."

AHIMA's Conference, the premier event for HIMs, is being held in Seattle, Washington from October 11-16, 2008. CBay will be exhibiting throughout the show at Booth #125.

Details on the "Savings for your bottom line, and at the pump" drawing itself:

-- All entrants need to do is stop by the CBay booth #125 and enter to win.

-- All entries must be submitted by 5:00 pm each day of the show.

-- A drawing will take place each day of the show at 5:30 pm. Entrants must be present at the drawing to win.

About CBaySystems

CBaySystems is a leading provider of medical transcription and healthcare technologies to large hospitals, healthcare networks and physician practices throughout the United States, and is a leader in patient financial services to hospitals and hospital-based physician practices in the United States. The company utilizes secure Internet technologies combined with its global-based delivery model to deliver its service and product offerings to healthcare providers.

Since it was founded in 1998, CBaySystems has been acknowledged by some of the industry's leading publications and ratings institutions, including Forbes.com - Ten to Watch, Healthcare Informatics 100, Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and Inc. Magazine - One of the Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America.

CBay is headquartered in Annapolis, MD, and Atlanta, GA. CBaySystems Holdings Ltd joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on June 18, 2007 and trades under the ticker symbol CBAY. For more information, visit www.cbaysystems.com.

Report Reveals Registered Nurses Least Satisfied in Hospital Setting, Offers Solutions to Improve Satisfaction

2008-10-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Among health care professionals, nurses are the least satisfied with their jobs according to a new Press Ganey Associates, Inc. report, which examines the perspectives of more than 200,000 employees and 45,000 nurses nationwide. The 2008 Employee and Nurse Check-Up Report: Employee and Nurse Perspectives on American Health Care Organizations cites the actions of senior leadership as a major influence of nurse loyalty and retention.

Nurses being the least satisfied employees is troubling for an American health care system struggling with a nursing shortage crisis, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Press Ganey's report includes the National Nurse Loyalty and Retention Opportunity Index, which shows nurses prioritize the following concerns:

1) Senior leadership really listens to employees
2) Senior leadership responds promptly to most problems
3) Senior leadership can be trusted to be straightforward and honest
4) This organization has enough staff to provide quality care
5) Satisfied with level of involvement in decision making

"In light of concerns about maintaining adequate nursing staff, it is particularly important that senior leadership increase employee involvement to help re-build relationships and trust, and form true partnerships," said Debbie Paller, vice president of Physician and Employee Services at Press Ganey. "Not listening to or excluding them will lead to more frustration, and frustration leads to more vacancies."

The annual report presents employees' and nurses' greatest concerns with their organizations and identifies improvement opportunities. The report also found that employees report the lowest overall satisfaction with:

-- Compensation; salaries should match inflation
-- Participation; limited encouragement to share new thoughts or ideas
-- Recognition; hard work should be better rewarded

Solutions

According to the 2008 Employee and Nurse Check-Up Report, organizations can improve employees' perspectives and loyalty by creating a partnership between employees and administrators. Employees need to feel that they are contributing and valuable to the organization, therefore organizations should:

-- Implement regular communication between employees and leadership
-- Ask for suggestions or improvement for overall patient care and
employee needs
-- Grow relationships with staff at all levels

Organizations that take steps to partner with their employees can see not only increased employee retention, but also increased patient volumes and satisfaction, and healthier bottom lines. The health care industry is constantly changing, and greater changes are on the horizon, but there is incredible potential for organizations that partner with their employees.

The 2008 Employee and Nurse Check-Up Report: Employee and Nurse Perspectives on American Hospitals is available at http://www.pressganey.com/galleries/default-file/Employee_Nurse_Check-Up_10- 08-08.pdf. Debbie Paller is available for comment upon request.

Case Study

Lowell General Hospital (LGH) in Lowell, Massachusetts is a 200-bed, independent, not-for-profit community hospital serving Lowell and its surrounding communities. Located in the competitive New England market, LGH is always struggling for patients, employees, and physicians. In 1999, LGH learned the overall satisfaction and engagement of its employees ranked in the 14th percentile. Their employees wanted more participation, recognition, and supervision from senior management. They knew drastic improvements had to be made in order to provide a successful culture for its employees.

Determined to make a change, LGH launched a new plan to improve employee engagement and satisfaction. The new plan included:

-- A vision to make employees a priority
-- Increased staff involvement through a weekly internal newsletter
-- Intranet communication tool where employees are connected to senior
leadership
-- Employees in improvement initiatives to reward and recognize staff
members

These efforts led to a turnaround for LGH. Employee satisfaction increased from the 14th percentile in 1999 to the 58th percentile in 2007, and turnover decreased from the 30th percentile in 2002 to the 13th percentile in 2007. LGH now provides an environment where employees feel valued and appreciated, and will better serve physicians and patients.

Press Ganey Associates, Inc.

For more than 20 years, Press Ganey has been committed to providing insight that allows health care organizations to improve the quality of care they provide while improving their bottom-line results. The company offers the largest comparative customer feedback databases, actionable data, solution resources, and unparalleled consulting and customer service. Press Ganey currently partners with more than 7,000 health care facilities -- including over 40% of U.S. hospitals -- to measure and improve the quality of their care.

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) to Present at Three Upcoming Investor Conferences

2008-10-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) has been selected to present at three upcoming investor conferences. The conferences include the 7th Annual BIO Investor Forum in San Francisco in October, the 19th Annual Oppenheimer & Co. Healthcare Conference, and the 9th Annual Acumen BioFin Rodman & Renshaw Healthcare Conference in November, both in New York City.

Lender Support Systems, Inc. (LSSI), a provider of compliance and loan servicing software, announced it is sponsoring employee and challenged athlete Chris Kinnee to compete in the San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC) at La Jolla Cove, on Sunday, October 26th, 2008.

The San Diego Triathlon Challenge is a half-Ironman distance event that features world-class challenged athletes, professional triathletes, celebrities and other able-bodied participants on one of the most breathtaking courses in the country.

Chris Kinnee became an amputee at the young age of 6 years old. While going to the doctor with a simple ear infection, an injection of penicillin was incorrectly administered into his artery. Gangrene set in his foot and it almost took his life. With crutches under his arms and not yet fitted with his first prosthesis, Chris competed with other children who had physical disabilities and continues his athletic quest today.

“This will be Chris’s first triathlon and his first ever competition on a road bike,” said Cary Burch, president and CEO of LSSI. “LSSI is proud of Chris’s determination and we are proud to be part of this special event,” Burch concluded.

Through LSSI’s donation, The Challenged Athletes Foundation has purchased a racing cycle for Kinnee. When asked what keeps him going, Chris Kinnee stated: "Stay positive and never give up on your dreams!"

About The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)

Established in 1997, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a unique organization that recognizes the athletic greatness inherent in all people with physical challenges and supports their athletic endeavors by providing grants for training, competition and equipment needs. Grants are awarded for a wide range of physical challenges, across the entire spectrum of sport. The hundreds of athletes assisted by CAF range from world class athletes competing on an international level to those who are recently disabled and are intent on becoming more active. For more information, visit www.challengedathletes.org

About LSSI

Founded in 1982, Poway, Calif.-based Lender Support Systems, Inc. (LSSI) provides a suite of compliance solutions to mortgage lenders and service providers as a platform for building more streamlined, cost effective and profitable loan services. The company’s technology solutions include: compliance services, mortgage closing document preparation software, and loan servicing software. For more information, visit www.lendersupport.com.

AllscriptsMisys to Drive Healthcare Transformation

2008-10-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. (AllscriptsMisys) today begins its first day as a combined company with an ambitious plan to connect healthcare in order to improve quality, reduce errors and lower costs for the American healthcare system. Formed by the merger of a subsidiary of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. and Misys Healthcare Systems, LLC, the newly integrated company is among the largest providers of Electronic Health Record and Practice Management solutions in the United States, with a client base of nearly one-third of the nation's practicing physicians. AllscriptsMisys also provides information and connectivity solutions to more than 700 US hospitals and nearly 7,000 post-acute and homecare organizations.

By virtue of its size and ability to connect providers to stakeholders across the healthcare community, AllscriptsMisys is uniquely positioned to support the increasing focus on the health of patients and the healthcare organizations that deliver services to them.

"AllscriptsMisys is the perfect marriage of two great companies," said Jess Kupec, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Francis Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) in Hartford, Conn., which represents over 650 physicians in 300 locations. "We were already using software from both companies to help our physicians automate clinical and financial tasks while at the same time connecting them to critical information they need to improve the quality of care. This combination makes it easier for Allscripts and Misys clients to select and connect the best products."

AllscriptsMisys aims to be the clear leader in providing innovative software, connectivity and information solutions that empower physicians and other healthcare providers to improve the health of their patients and their bottom line. Every day approximately 150,000 physicians across the United States utilize one or more of the company's portfolio of Electronic Health Records, Practice Management, ePrescribing and other ambulatory solutions. Additionally, hundreds of hospitals and thousands of post-acute facilities -- including home care agencies and hospices -- utilize the company's Emergency Department, Care Management and Homecare solutions.

The brand name of AllscriptsMisys is Allscripts.

"AllscriptsMisys has the size and scope to bring real transformation to healthcare by using our software to connect physicians and other key healthcare stakeholders to the information they need to deliver higher quality outcomes," said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of AllscriptsMisys. "We want to eliminate the paper, the waste, the errors and the patient inconvenience associated with today's healthcare delivery system and, working with our clients, we know we can. Our goal is to empower the best physicians and caregivers in the world with the information they need to deliver world- class care, while at the same time supporting them with Revenue Cycle Management and EDI platforms to help them better manage their own bottom lines."

Mike Lawrie, Executive Chairman of AllscriptsMisys and Chief Executive Officer of Misys plc, commented, "Today marks a historic day in the movement towards transforming healthcare in the US. By merging two healthcare technology powerhouses, we've created a company capable of delivering the quality and cost improvements that healthcare providers and patients have long sought. Working together with our customers, AllscriptsMisys will deliver on the promise and potential of healthcare technology."

By seamlessly integrating information across its product portfolio, and across the continuum of care, the combined company is focused on delivering the benefits of connected communities and enabling providers to Connect To Health(TM). Examples include:

-- Connecting physicians outside the hospital with real-time information on their patients who visit the Emergency Department or are admitted to the hospital, ensuring continuity of care and better outcomes

-- Connecting Emergency Department personnel with their patient's medical history, prescriptions and other information that is vital to providing safe, effective emergency care

-- Connecting hospital care management teams with Emergency Department physicians to drive significant improvements in patient care through collaborative management

-- Connecting hospitals and physicians with the post-acute care community -- such as extended care facilities -- to cut length of stay, increase throughput and improve patient outcomes

"This industry has been talking for years about the value of connecting the isolated silos of healthcare information, but with AllscriptsMisys, it's no longer a vision -- we're doing it right now in hospitals and clinics across the nation," said Tullman.

The launch of AllscriptsMisys also makes it easier for the 90,000 former Misys Practice Management clients who lack an Electronic Health Record to adopt the Allscripts Electronic Health Record best suited to their practice size and specialty, Tullman added. "Our objective is to offer safe and easy choices to the existing Misys base and to the market in general. Practices that are pleased with their current practice management systems can simply add the Allscripts Electronic Health Record that fits and feels best. Others may choose to upgrade to a new suite of products. And, beginning today, basic interfaces between AllscriptsMisys products will be included at no charge."

AllscriptsMisys clients who have experience using both Allscripts Electronic Health Records and Misys Practice Management solutions confirm that the products are already seamlessly integrated. Renee Bomar, a nurse practitioner at Georgia Pediatric Pulmonology Associates (GPPA), whose 14 providers run two clinics in Atlanta, said the interface between the two solutions is "so seamless we don't even think about it. The two systems are so familiar with each other that it doesn't matter which support team you call with an issue, it will be resolved. And that was before the merger."

Visit the AllscriptsMisys Online News Center (http://www.allscripts.com/press) for more information including client video testimonials and case studies.

About AllscriptsMisys

AllscriptsMisys (Nasdaq: MDRX - News) uses innovation technology to bring health to healthcare. More than 150,000 physicians, 700 hospitals and nearly 7,000 post-acute and homecare organizations utilize AllscriptsMisys to improve the health of their patients and their bottom line. The company's award-winning solutions include electronic health record, electronic prescribing, revenue cycle management, practice management, document management, medication services, hospital care management, emergency department information systems and homecare automation. Allscripts is the brand name of Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc. To learn more, visit http://www.allscripts.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events, developments, the Company's future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are outlined below. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: the volume and timing of systems sales and installations; length of sales cycles and the installation process; the possibility that products will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; the timing, cost and success or failure of new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade releases; competitive pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional activities; our ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships; undetected errors or similar problems in our software products; compliance with existing laws, regulations and industry initiatives and future changes in laws or regulations in the healthcare industry; possible regulation of the Company's software by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the possibility of product-related liabilities; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our ability to identify and complete acquisitions, manage our growth and integrate acquisitions; the ability to recognize the benefits of the merger with Misys Healthcare Systems, LLC ("MHS"); the integration of MHS with the Company and the possible disruption of current plans and operations as a result thereof; maintaining our intellectual property rights and litigation involving intellectual property rights; risks related to third- party suppliers; our ability to obtain, use or successfully integrate third- party licensed technology; breach of our security by third parties; and the risk factors detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Catholic Healthcare West Posts Stable Financial Performance in 2008

2008-10-11T02:50:00.000-07:00

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the eighth largest health system in the nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in California, today announced the results of its 2008 fiscal year, posting a net income of $170 million for the year ended June 30, compared to $891 million in the 2007 fiscal year, which included the effect of a change in accounting for unrealized gains and losses. This change in reporting rules for unrealized gains and losses on investments resulted in additional investment income of $194 million in FY07 that related to prior years.

Operating income for the not-for-profit hospital system in FY08 was $160 million compared to an operating income of $300 million in FY07. Revenues for FY08 increased 12 percent to $8.4 billion, compared to $7.8 billion in FY07. Across the 41-hospital system, adjusted admissions increased by 5.4 percent during the fiscal year, bringing its three-year increase to 12 percent. Results were released following a standard audit of financial statements.

CHW's income statement was impacted during the year by a non-recurring item -- a mold remediation project at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, Calif. -- and several non-cash accounting entries, including the cost of restructuring debt and the aforementioned change in reporting rules for unrealized gains and losses on investments. Without these events, net income for the 2008 fiscal year would have been $485 million.

Lloyd H. Dean, CHW's president and chief executive officer, said CHW will continue to focus on the core of its healing ministry: delivering quality, compassionate patient care and improving the health and wellbeing of the communities it serves.

"CHW remains fundamentally strong in these challenging times," Dean said. "Our results demonstrate the soundness of our investment and diversification strategies; but most of all they are testimony to the continuing commitment of our employees and physicians who deliver excellent care and compassionate service to the communities we serve across three states."

All three major bond rating agencies affirmed the ratings on CHW's bonds -- Fitch Ratings (A+), Standard & Poor's (A), and Moody's Investor Services (A2) -- in April 2008, reflecting confidence by bondholders in the organization's present operations and its future.

As a not-for-profit system, CHW reinvests its operating and investment income in hospital improvements, technology enhancements, charity care and community health programs, and employee wages and benefits (including an employer-paid dependent health care coverage option).

During FY08, CHW provided $508 million in community benefits and free care for the poor, including charity care, community grants, and free primary care, up from $501 million in FY07. Based on guidance from the Catholic Health Association, CHW does not count its Medicare shortfall as part of community benefits. The Medicare shortfall to CHW in FY08 was $459 million, bringing the total FY08 unreimbursed expense to $967 million for both patient care and proactive health improvement efforts.

CHW also reinvested nearly $800 million in capital improvements and technology, including the continued roll-out if its clinical information system to a number of facilities; construction of a new hospital in Merced, Calif.; new patient towers at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, Calif., and St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, Calif.; and expansions at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, Ariz., and Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif.

"CHW is a vital partner in all of the communities we serve and is growing to meet the needs of all who come to us for care," Dean said. "Our ongoing stability amidst a broken national healthcare system positions us to be part of the solution to the nation's healthcare crisis. We are actively working at the local, state, and federal levels to build a national system that delivers quality, compassionate care to all in need."

CHW believes that comprehensive healthcare reform is vital for the growth and stability of the nation. In the three states where CHW operates, there are nearly eight million people without health care insurance. Meaningful healthcare reform must include universal access, a viable and stable financial system, increased attention to the quality of care, and across the board accountability. Over the past year, CHW has taken a leading role in the healthcare reform debate.

About Catholic Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a system of 41 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona and Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit healthcare systems and the largest Catholic healthcare system based in the Western United States. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 53,000 employees provides health care services to more than five million people annually. In 2008, CHW provided $967 million in charity care and unsponsored community benefit. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.

Bayer HealthCare LLC announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved routine prophylaxis with Kogenate

2008-10-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

Bayer HealthCare LLC announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved routine prophylaxis with Kogenate® FS Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes and the risk of joint damage in patients aged 0-16 years with severe hemophilia A with no pre-existing joint damage. This important approval provides these patients with the only factor VIII treatment that the FDA has determined safe and effective for routine prophylaxis -- a treatment regimen recommended by the National Hemophilia Foundation's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC).

"The FDA approval of Kogenate FS as the first factor VIII treatment product in the U.S. to be used to replenish factor VIII levels in a prophylactic manner marks a significant milestone in the care of patients, especially young children, with hemophilia A," said Craig Kessler, M.D., Georgetown University Hospital and Chair, MASAC. "The results from the pivotal clinical study confirmed that the administration of Kogenate FS to prevent bleeding into the joints was more beneficial to joint health and function than 'on-demand' treatment of acute episodes of joint bleeds."

Dr. Kessler added, "The data justify the consideration of prophylaxis treatment for children with severe and moderate severity hemophilia A, uncomplicated by pre-existing joint damage, to be the medical standard of care. The FDA's recognition that Kogenate FS is an effective prophylactic FVIII replacement product has 'jump started' the standard of hemophilia care in the United States so that it is now on par with other developed countries, especially those in Western and Northern Europe."

The FDA approval of Kogenate® FS for routine prophylaxis in children without pre-existing joint damage is based on the clinical data from a multicenter trial in the U.S. that included 65 boys with severe hemophilia A less than 30 months of age at study entry. Study participants were followed for up to 5.5 years. This Joint Outcomes Study (JOS), conducted over a 10-year period, was led by Marilyn J. Manco-Johnson, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Professor of Pathology in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Science Center, and Director of the Mountain States Regional Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center at the University of Colorado. Key findings from the JOS study, published in the August 9, 2007 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine(2), include:

* 93 percent of the participants in the routine prophylaxis group showed normal joint function, in contrast to 55 percent in the episodic group.
* Kogenate FS prophylaxis treatment was able to preserve the joint even if the child had less than or equal to two bleeds per index joint.
* Patients from the prophylaxis group were eight times more likely to have damage-free joints than those from the episodic group.
* The prophylaxis group had an 81.5 percent reduction in annual bleeding frequency compared to the episodic group.
* Overall, there was an 83 percent reduction in the risk for joint damage in patients receiving prophylaxis from an early age.
* Ten percent of the patients treated episodically experienced life-threatening bleeds compared to zero patients treated prophylactically.
* The most common adverse events were related to central venous access, such as catheterization and catheter removal, central line infection and pyrexia.

The study was designed with special emphasis on the "index joints," including the elbow, knee and ankle joints, which are most prone to bleeding in severe hemophilia patients. Joint structural outcomes and functioning were measured at 6 years of age by radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and physical exams.

"The value for prophylaxis for hemophilia A patients has been understood for many years, but until today we have not had the combination of clinical evidence, pharmaceutical indication and the alignment of healthcare professionals, patients and regulators needed to ensure this treatment option is available," said Val Bias, CEO, National Hemophilia Foundation. "Bayer HealthCare's pursuit of this approval shows leadership and commitment to providing the scientific evidence that proves the benefits of prophylactic use for joint health in pediatric hemophilia patients."

This U.S. FDA approval may positively affect the prophylactic use of Kogenate FS in certain developing markets, including countries in Asia and South and Central America, where the product is approved based on the U.S. label.

"Today's announcement is a milestone in Bayer HealthCare's continuing commitment to advancing the science and treatment for the hemophilia community," said Paul Bedard, Vice President, General Manager, Hematology Business Unit, Bayer HealthCare. "From the beginning, our goal in pursuing this indication was to provide treatment options that would reduce bleeding episodes and protect the joint health of children with hemophilia A, which are the everyday concerns of patients."

About Kogenate® FS

Kogenate® FS, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), is a recombinant factor VIII treatment indicated for the control and prevention of bleeding episodes and peri-operative management in adults and children (0-16 years) with hemophilia A. Kogenate FS is also indicated for routine prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes and the risk of joint damage in children with hemophilia A with no pre-existing joint damage. The most serious adverse reactions are systemic hypersensitivity reactions including bronchospastic reactions and/or hypotension and anaphylaxis and the development of high-titer inhibitors necessitating alternative treatments to AHF. The most common adverse reactions observed in clinical trials (frequency greater than or equal to 4% of patients) were skin-associated hypersensitivity reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria), inhibitor formation in previously untreated or minimally treated patients, infusion site reactions, and central venous access device (CVAD) line-associated infections.

Kogenate FS is contraindicated in patients who have manifested life-threatening immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to the product or its components, including mouse or hamster proteins.

Please see the full prescribing information for important risk and use information at www.kogenatefs.com.

Help Support Breast Cancer Awareness With Lifespring Health

2008-10-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

October is breast cancer awareness month! In honor of this, Lifespring Health is having a promotion to support breast cancer awareness and throughout the entire month, they will donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation each time you shop online through the Lifespring Health website.

About 182,460 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year. To increase, as well as fund, breast cancer awareness, Lifespring Health is offering members a unique way to shop for the cause. When you shop online with select partner retailers for pink ribbon products, those exclusive retailers will donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations helping raise awareness. In addition, Lifespring Health will donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for each online transaction made throughout the month of October. Help support the cause that helps so many affected women worldwide just by shopping online with Lifespring Health this month!

"We at Lifespring Health want to do a little something to help support breast cancer awareness. Every little bit counts, and awareness is the first step to curing this serious disease," said Mark Pearson, CEO of Lifespring Health.

About Lifespring Health

Founded in 2005, Lifespring Health offers a free cash-back reward solution to help people afford to stay healthy. Lifespring Health is committed to helping individuals reduce the burden of spiraling health care and fitness expenses. Mark Pearson, CEO & founder, was inspired to start Lifespring Health based on media reports of 47 million uninsured individuals. He developed an innovative solution that works much like a frequent flyer program, except members are awarded cash back to use towards any health or fitness expense instead of air travel. The company's patent-pending free rewards program is the first loyalty program in the healthcare sector that provides individuals with options for funding health and wellness-related costs. Participants in Lifespring Health's free Cash Back Rewards Program earn cash back by using the Lifespring Health Everyday Rewards Visa, through online rebate shopping, or by inviting friends and family to join their Cash Cluster.

For more information, go to: http://www.lifespringhealth.com

Critical Care Nursing Director

2008-10-10T03:13:00.000-07:00

Company: BE Smith Associates – B. E. Smith, Inc. – Providing Healthcare Leadership Solutions for 30 Years.
Title: Critical Care-Director of Nursing
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Description: Opportunity to Build Academic Medical Center in Dubai

Join a progressive team of healthcare leaders to build and open a new academic medical center in the most talked about city in the world - Dubai, UAE.

In affiliation with Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education, the University Hospital, as part of the Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, will function as the main tertiary care facility within Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The University Hospital, a 400-bed, state-of-the-art facility, will open its doors early 2011 and will establish a new standard for healthcare excellence in the region.

Seeking nursing leaders to collaborate in designing and operationalizing strategies and systems that will support the organization in achieving nursing and patient care excellence, based on international standards.

The first of its kind in the Middle East, the University Hospital has established a Center for Nursing Excellence to address the growing demand for high caliber nursing professionals. The Center focuses on advancing nursing practice and professionalism in the region through exceptional educational resources, a strategic international workforce development approach, partnerships with global leaders in nursing, and a strong nursing research program.

Critical Care Nursing Director

This world class medical center seeks a Critical Care Nursing Director to serve as a key member of the leadership team and establish three, high performing, large critical care units.

The position reports to the Chief Nursing Officer, and in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team, will design and establish critical care nursing systems and processes. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative and strategic critical care expert to be part of an innovative team.

This position will develop and operationalize a comprehensive critical care services plan, including patient care delivery, workforce development and staffing solutions, practice and process design, capital and equipment planning, departmental budgets, quality and regulatory compliance, professional development and other aspects.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is one of the world's fastest growing destinations. It's year-round sunshine, coupled with its luxurious lifestyle, has not only turned it into a popular tourist destination for sports and leisure, but is also an essential place to do business - -all of which combine to make living and working in Dubai a pleasure.
Pam Sime, MS, SPHR, GPHR
Vice President, International Consulting and Placement Services
Phone: 800-397-2078
Fax: 888-238-4276
E-mail: psime@besmith.com

Perioperative Services Nursing Director

2008-10-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

ompany: BE Smith Associates – B. E. Smith, Inc. – Providing Healthcare Leadership Solutions for 30 Years.
Title: Perioperative Services-Director of Nursing
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Description: Opportunity to Build Academic Medical Center in Dubai
Join a progressive team of healthcare leaders to build and open a new academic medical center in the most talked about city in the world - Dubai, UAE.

In affiliation with Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education, the University Hospital, as part of the Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, will function as the main tertiary care facility within Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The University Hospital, a 400-bed, state-of-the-art facility, will open its doors early 2011 and will establish a new standard for healthcare excellence in the region.

Seeking nursing leaders to collaborate in designing and operationalizing strategies and systems that will support the organization in achieving nursing and patient care excellence, based on international standards.

The first of its kind in the Middle East, the University Hospital has established a Center for Nursing Excellence to address the growing demand for high caliber nursing professionals. The Center focuses on advancing nursing practice and professionalism in the region through exceptional educational resources, a strategic international workforce development approach, partnerships with global leaders in nursing, and a strong nursing research program.

Perioperative Services Nursing Director
This world class medical center seeks a Perioperative Services Nursing Director to serve a as a key member of the leadership team and establish a high performing perioperative and interventional department - with 18 state-of-the-art OR suites serving all specialties.

The position reports to the Chief Nursing Officer and collaborates with the Chairman of Surgery and with all other relevant professionals to design and establish perioperative nursing systems and processes. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative and strategic perioperative expert to be part of an innovative team.

This position will develop and operationalize a comprehensive perioperative services plan, including patient care delivery, workforce development and staffing solutions, clinical operations, capital and equipment planning, quality and regulatory compliance, professional development and other aspects.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is one of the world's fastest growing destinations. It's year-round sunshine, coupled with its luxurious lifestyle, has not only turned it into a popular tourist destination for sports and leisure, but is also an essential place to do business - -all of which combine to make living and working in Dubai a pleasure.
Pam Sime, MS, SPHR, GPHR
Vice President, Executive Search
Phone: 800-397-2078
Fax: 888-238-4276
E-mail: psime@besmith.com

Hank's Heralds National Health Education Week

2008-10-10T03:06:00.000-07:00

Healthy Aging, Live Long, Live Well is the theme of this year's National Health Education Week on October 12-18. To encourage awareness and action toward healthier living, Hank's Gourmet Beverages will launch its new line of vitamin-infused, sparkling beverages during the same week.

Launching at the Natural Products Expo on October 16 - 18 in Boston, Hank's will introduce boomers and their kids to Hanks Gourmet Infusions. This line not only meets consumer's rising demand for beverages that taste good and are good for them, but that are infused with natural Vitamins B12, C, and E, calcium and antioxidants.

Hank's Gourmet Infusions come in four unique flavors appealing to palettes both young and old. Its Berry and Green Apple are reminiscent of kids' favorite hard candy flavors, while its Orange Cream and Root Beer Float respectively re-create the sensation of many baby boomers' favorite treats: the Creamsicle® Pops and the ice cream/root beer float.

To maintain the authenticity of these traditional flavors and to create a sweet treat that is healthy, Hank's has infused all natural ingredients only, including real sugar, skim milk and small amount of cream. Combined with its light carbonation, these sparkling gourmet beverages deliver a refreshing taste with a rich texture that appeal to kids and parents alike.

"Parents today are looking for alternatives to traditional soda; they want beverages with benefits," says President Bill Dunman. "A lot of families grew up on our traditional root beer soda. We wanted to deliver a product with the same great taste, but infused with all natural vitamins, calcium and antioxidants. We're pleased that our Hank's Gourmet Infusions line delivers it all; good taste and health benefits."

Additionally, with its individual and four-pack, 12 ounce, slim, aluminum can package, this line is portable, safe and convenient. Hank's Gourmet Infusions are available through select distribution and online at www.hanksbeverages.com.

To learn more about Hank's Beverage Company, receive samples and/or schedule an interview with Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Bill Dunman, contact Renee Cooper at Christie Communications at (805) 969-3744 or rcooper@christiecomm.com. You may also visit www.hanksbeverages.comh.

Companies Save Average of $5,000 Per Diabetic Employee by Using Abacus Incentive-Based Health Management Program

2008-10-10T03:05:00.000-07:00

nitial financial data released today by Abacus Employer Health Solutions (Abacus) found U.S. companies can save an average of over $5,000 per year on medical claims for each diabetic health plan member who participates in Abacus’ new incentive-based health management program.

“Chronic conditions drive the majority of health plan costs for employers,” said Ed Aberger, Ph.D., executive vice president of Abacus. “Many companies already provide employees with wellness and disease management programs, but they often fail due to lack of participation. Now, we have clear data which shows that adding incentives, such as eliminating the co-pay for prescription drugs, motivates employees to follow health regimens and saves the company money right away.”

Abacus’ unique incentives offered through its Good Health GatewaySM Diabetes Program have resulted in over 50% participation by members with diabetes within just 8 months. This program not only reduces health plan costs to the employer, but it also reduces the out-of-pocket costs to the employee who is proactive in self care. Other benefits of the program include a dramatic reduction in hospital admissions and length of stays for participating employees and a striking increase in the utilization of the available health coaches.

Diabetes is a very serious disease, and when not properly managed, may lead to severe and life-threatening complications. This may end up costing companies, plan members themselves, and the health care system considerable money. According to the American Diabetes Association, the total annual economic cost of diabetes in 2007 was estimated at $174 billion. The average expense for an in-patient hospitalization is $2,281 per day when diabetes-related chronic complications are involved.

Abacus has developed and launched condition-specific health management programs for employers seeking to control high costs related to employees with diabetes and other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression, prenatal care, and more. Abacus utilizes the expertise of its behavioral scientists to engage employees and drive behavior change in value-based benefit plan designs.

About Abacus Employer Health Solutions

Abacus Employer Health Solutions (Abacus) and its principals are nationally recognized behavioral scientists and health experts who have been providing cost-containment solutions for over two decades. Abacus has developed numerous evidence-based e-health tools financed in part with grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Today, Abacus provides employers with an array of unique programs and services to address their wellness and chronic condition management, specializing in integrating behavioral science principles into modern benefit plans and providing incentive program design and administration. Visit

http://www.abacushealth.com

for more information.

MedLink Partners With HealthBanks for Patient Education on MyMedLinkChart.com

2008-10-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

MedLink International, Inc. (OTC BB:MLKNA.OB - News) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with HealthBanks, Inc., an innovative industry leader in internet based physician-patient communication and health education programs, to provide patient education and physician communication tools through MyMedLinkChart.com. Patients utilizing MyMedLinkChart.com will have access to the award-winning Healthwise Knowledgebase, which contains more than 5,000 evidence-based topics on health conditions, medical tests and procedures, medications, and everyday health and wellness issues.

Ray Vuono, CEO of MedLink International, Inc.: "We are really excited about the launch of mymedlinkchart later this month. The site will have unique features that will separate it from the competition by giving patients the ability to share their CCD (continuing care document) bilaterally with a physician that utilizes a CCHIT Certified® 08 EHR, connectivity to Microsoft's HealthVault, and now a comprehensive patient education database provided by HealthBanks' technology along with Healthwise information that will truly help patients understand their conditions and treatment options, while allowing them to directly communicate their questions with their physician."

The agreement will also make available to physician users of MedLink's TotalOffice EHR 3.1 and EHR Lite a weekly health eNewsletter customized for the medical practice and each physician, a professional physician and practice website, extensive patient education, and practice marketing tools. These services have achieved extraordinary engagement and stickiness with patients, physicians and practice managers in multiple specialties throughout the country.

About HealthBanks

Since 1993 HealthBanks has provided patient education and e-marketing services to the healthcare sector. Its first products (pre-Internet) were interactive patient education kiosks which resided in physician offices and hospitals (including the Mayo Clinic). Today, HealthBanks generates measurable results for its customers through its award-winning patient education and e-marketing platform designed specifically for healthcare. HealthBanks, Inc. is a privately held company based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

About MedLink International, Inc.

MedLink International, Inc. is a full service healthcare IT company that provides physicians, imaging centers, labs and patients with products and services designed to help create, manage and share medical information. Our state of the art flagship product, MedLink Total Office EHR 3.1, a CCHIT Certified® 08 Ambulatory EHR, and its companion practice management application, provides physicians with the ability to provide superior patient care, enhanced regulatory compliance, and efficiency tolls to help promote a profitable practice by utilizing one solution to handle all of their clinical support and practice management needs in one easy to use application. For more information regarding MedLink's products and services please visit www.medlinkus.com

MedLink International markets its line of Healthcare IT products and services through several unique partnerships in the medical community. MedLink International is publicly held, trading on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board (OTC BB:MLKNA.OB - News).

Financial Bailout Includes Critical Legislation to End Discrimination and Improve Healthcare Coverage for More Than 113 Million Americans

2008-10-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

The phrase “All men and women are created equal” took a new and significant meaning late last week with Congress’ approval of mental health parity legislation that will outlaw health insurance discrimination against Americans with mental health and substance-abuse conditions in employer-sponsored health plans.

It is estimated that roughly 67 percent of adults and 80 percent of children requiring mental health services do not receive help, in large part because of discriminatory insurance practices.

“This long-overdue legislation is a victory not only for mental health advocates, but for all Americans,” said James Gresham, president and CEO of Timberline Knolls, one of the country’s leading residential treatment facilities for mental disorders, including eating disorders and substance abuse. “This legislation not only gives those in need access to life-saving treatment, it also reduces the very stigma against mental illnesses that has caused millions of Americans not to seek treatment in the first place.”

Included in last week’s Wall Street bailout bill, the new mental health parity legislation will require insurance plans to provide coverage for mental illnesses, eating disorders and addiction disorders equal to what they provide for physical illnesses.

“Mental illnesses, eating disorders and addiction are real and treatable diseases and should be covered just as equally as conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” said Kimberly Dennis, M.D., medical director at Timberline Knolls. “This is a milestone in the quest to end discrimination against those living with a mental illness.”

According to federal officials, the parity law will improve coverage for 113 million people, including 82 million on employer-sponsored plans that are not subject to state regulation. The effective date, for most health plans, will be Jan. 1, 2010 and includes insurance plans sponsored by businesses with 51 or more employees.

About Timberline Knolls

Located just outside of Chicago on 43 beautiful acres, Timberline Knolls offers a spiritually nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. For more information on Timberline Knolls and the services offered, visit www.timberlineknolls.com

Medline Announces Exclusive Distribution Agreement for abaqis(R) Nursing Home Quality Assurance System

2008-10-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

Medline Industries, Inc. announced today a strategic licensing agreement with Nursing Home Quality, LLC, granting Medline exclusive rights to market and distribute the company's abaqis® Nursing Home Quality Assurance System. The Web-based system allows nursing home providers to identify quality concerns and focus their improvement efforts using the same forms, analysis and thresholds used by state surveyors in the new Quality Indicator Survey (QIS).

"The long-term care survey process has changed dramatically with the QIS, and we're excited to align with a forward-looking company and product that gives healthcare providers a unique ability to improve the quality of resident care," said Shawn Scott, Medline vice president of healthcare corporate sales. "We are always seeking new technologies that provide targeted solutions, so aligning with Nursing Home Quality was a natural fit."

Quality assurance and evaluation of our nation's 15,000 nursing homes -- where more than 1.5 million people live -- is a growing matter of concern with providers, consumers and the federal government calling for a more consistent and resident-centered survey process. The new QIS process addresses this need through structured protocols that are fully automated on tablet PCs and by obtaining more information from direct questioning of residents and families. As a result, regulatory areas such as quality of life, which were not as fully investigated in the traditional process, are now receiving closer scrutiny.

As the only quality assessment and reporting system for nursing homes tied directly to the QIS, abaqis® gives providers the unique opportunity to use QIS tools and approaches for ongoing quality assurance and continuous survey readiness. Users are able to identify quality concerns in the same manner as surveyors and address those concerns before, rather than after, an evaluation. Rich reporting capabilities identify which care areas a facility should target for quality improvement, and drill-down capabilities provide root cause analysis on a facility-wide or individual resident basis, so healthcare providers can focus their interventions for maximum impact.

"Ensuring quality of care and quality of life for residents, as well as being continuously survey-ready, is a challenge for any healthcare organization," said Andrew Kramer, M.D., CEO of Nursing Home Quality. "With abaqis®, users will be able to build quality assurance, based on the federal code of regulations, into a nursing home's daily processes. The results of such an approach will not only be improved survey readiness, but also dramatic improvement in resident care."

To learn more about the abaqis® Nursing Home Quality Assurance System, visit www.medline.com/abaqis or call 1-800-MEDLINE.

About Nursing Home Quality, LLC

Nursing Home Quality assists nursing home operators and staff members in improving the quality of care and quality of life for their residents. Nursing Home Quality trains surveyors and certifies state survey agency trainers in QIS under contract to CMS and provides affordable and reliable QIS training and Web-based systems to nursing homes.

About Medline Industries, Inc.

Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.

Meeting the highest level of national and international quality standards, Medline is FDA QSR compliant and ISO 13485 registered. Medline serves on major industry quality committees to develop guidelines and standards for medical product use, including the FDA Midwest Steering Committee, AAMI Sterilization and Packaging Committee and various ASTM committees. For more information on Medline, visit our Web site, www.medline.com.

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center Selected to Conduct Clinical Trial for Device to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

2008-10-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center has been selected as one of only a few sites in the nation to participate in an FDA-approved clinical trial for a new device to treat persistent atrial fibrillation. TCAI, an international treatment, training and research center specializing in heart rhythm disorders, is a partnership between St. David's Medical Center and Texas Cardiovascular Consultants.

"This is just another example of how TCAI is leading the nation in pioneering new treatments for atrial fibrillation," Dr. Rodney Horton, electrophysiologist, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia, said. "We are proud to take part in this study that has the potential to greatly enhance the future treatment of A Fib."

Heart arrhythmias are very common, affecting more than two million people nationwide. Atrial fibrillation, or A Fib, is the most common heart arrhythmia. A Fib is a rhythm disorder that affects the electrical system, or "wiring," of the heart muscle. It is often treated with cardiac ablation -- a procedure that allows physicians to deliver energy directly to the heart muscle at precise points that trigger the arrhythmia, creating a lesion that blocks the pathway for the abnormal heart rhythm. The new study involves second generation software (Gen II) that uses a catheter believed to result in the formation of a more effective lesion.

"In the Gen II study, we are evaluating a revolutionary radiofrequency ablation catheter," Dr. Horton said. "This device is able to monitor the temperature at its tip, giving electrophysiologists the ability to better control the delivery of energy through the catheter and generate a more effective lesion." In traditional cardiac ablation, room temperature saline is injected through the catheter prior to the delivery of energy. Because standard catheters do not measure the temperature at the catheter's tip, overheating may occur, resulting in the generation of a less effective lesion.

"While many studies involve less complex cases, we were particularly interested in this one because participants must experience more severe atrial fibrillation," Horton said. "The study incorporates the technology that we already know is effective and advances it to an even higher level, helping us generate a consistently effective lesion in highly complicated cases."

The study is designed for patients who have persistent A Fib. Participants must also meet other specific criteria. To inquire about participation in the clinical trail, please call 512-544-2342.

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia, a division of Texas Cardiovascular Consultants, was founded in 1996 by Rodney Horton, M.D. The practice has grown to include nine clinical electrophysiologists specializing in the area of heart rhythm disturbances. Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research, a division of Texas Cardiovascular Consultants, is committed to providing opportunities for patients in Central Texas to participate in studies utilizing the latest technology in the area of cardiac electrophysiology.

St. David's Medical Center

Since 1924, St. David's Medical Center has provided quality medical care to the residents of Central Texas. Conveniently located in central Austin at 32nd Street and IH-35, St. David's Medical Center provides comprehensive care with special expertise in neurology and neurosurgery, cardiac services, bariatric surgery, orthopedics, maternity and newborn services and rehabilitation. The medical center includes St. David's Hospital (acute care) and St. David's Rehabilitation Center (physical medicine and rehabilitation). For more information, please visit http://www.stdavids.com/sdmc.aspx

Mii amo Honors Winter Solstice With Traditional Native American Celebration December 18-21

2008-10-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Join Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment Resort, for a four-day celebration in Sedona's red rock country honoring the winter solstice on December 21. Activities include a series of traditional Native American ceremonies facilitated by Native American Program Director R.J. Joseph and special guest, Elder George Goodstriker.

Goodstriker is a well-respected Blackfoot Elder from the Blood Reserve in Standoff, Alberta, Canada's largest reserve. He is a long-standing member of the First Nation's Wisdom Committee and a highly sought-after speaker. Joseph, a Northern Plains Cree who is originally from Alberta, works closely with a variety of Native American tribes to educate Enchantment Resort guests and staff about Sedona and Boynton Canyon's rich history and cultural traditions.

Winter solstice events will include the following:

Thursday, December 18:

-- Walk to the Ruins: Learn the teachings and history of the first people to inhabit Boynton Canyon, the red rock canyon which surrounds Enchantment Resort and Mii amo

-- Talking Circle: Join Elder George Goodstriker for this ceremony that has been used traditionally for communication, healing and spiritual purposes

Friday, December 19:

-- Solstice Orientation & Blessing: Learn about the program and receive a special Native American blessing

-- Native American Documentary: View this new documentary directed by R.J. Joseph which tells the story of the first inhabitants of Boynton Canyon

Saturday, December 20:

-- Pipe Ceremony Lecture: Experience a traditional pipe ceremony with Elder George Goodstriker

-- Native American Sweat Lodge Teachings: Learn authentic teachings and history

-- Apache Teachings: Listen to renowned Apache teacher, Bob Bear, as he shares the history of Boynton Canyon

Sunday, December 21:

-- Sweat Lodge: Join Native American Elder and Spiritual Advisor George Goodstriker as he performs a traditional sweat lodge ceremony in honor of the Winter Solstice. A sweat lodge is a circular structure built of supple willow or aspen branches, and is heated inside in a similar way to a sauna, providing a spiritual refuge to heal and cleanse mind and body.

This program is included in the cost of a regular Mii amo three-night Journey. Journey prices start from $2,178 single occupancy, and include luxury accommodations, spa treatments, fitness classes, art and nature activities, and three meals daily at Mii amo Cafe. To secure your spot, please call 1-888-749-2137, or visit http://www.miiamo.com.

Physicians Adult Daycare, Inc. Addresses Depression Among the Elderly

2008-09-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

“Depression is not a natural function of age,“ states Duane Starkey, CEO of Physicians Adult Daycare, Inc. “It often occurs as circumstances and relationships change for the aging, whether physical or mental.”

More than 6.5 million Americans over age 65, struggle with depression.

Many seniors and their caregivers deal with the problems of depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s on a 24-7 basis. They need to know that help is available in adult day care centers on a daily basis to overcome the struggle for a better life. As part of the company’s series of informative articles celebrating National Adult Day Care Week, Physicians Adult Daycare, Inc. calls for more attention upon the subject of depression among the elderly.

“I applaud KLRU-TV, Austin PBS for their recent program DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows, which is very informative,” continues Mr. Starkey.

“We need to talk openly about the problem of depression among the Elderly and take action to reduce it. People are living 7 to 10 years longer and are not prepared to deal with the depression that may come with it.

We realize that all too often, families and friends mistake depression for dementia or the onset of Alzheimer’s. At Physicians Adult Daycare Centers, we care for our clients on a daily basis and take the time to help them overcome the bouts of depression that attack the elderly and handicapped. We keep them busy, entertained, and we give them our undivided attention in conversations and listen to their needs.

“We know that aging often means having to depend on others and living with increasing disabilities which often begins depression for seniors. (Learn the symptoms of depression: http://www.webmd.com/depression/symptoms-depression.)

“I further wish to applaud SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, who earlier this week spoke to seniors about the importance of legislators and regulatory agencies assuring the continued smooth operations of the markets—an issue which affects retired person’s who have not the option of a second chance at building a nest egg.”

On Monday, Mr. Cox addressed seniors during the third annual Seniors Summit.

About Physicians Adult Daycare, Inc.

Physicians Adult Daycare provides needed services for an improved and extended quality of life for eldercare and the handicapped. We help seniors preserve their independent living lifestyle and bring relief to their caregivers. For additional information on Physicians Adult Daycare, Inc., please visit the corporate website, http://www.physiciansadultdaycare.com/. The Company has also been featured in recent articles on AudioStocks, Medical News Today, Commercial Property News (CPN) and OTC Reporter.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release may include forward-looking statements that may involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances or to reflect unanticipated events or developments.

Rhode Island Hospital First in the World to Treat Endometrial Cancer With New Form of Electronic Brachytherapy

2008-09-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Rhode Island Hospital is the first site in the world to treat endometrial cancer using the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System. The system, first approved for early stage breast cancer, is now approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of uterine cancer. The first patient received treatment on September 9 at the Providence, RI hospital.

The Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System by Xoft uses a miniaturized X-ray source to deliver localized and targeted radiation treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease. It is inserted into the tumor through a catheter to the tumor site and allows medical staff administering the treatment to be in the room with the patient. The new treatment requires fewer sessions than traditional radiation and eliminates the use of radioactive isotopes, resulting in better outcomes for patients, less exposure to radiation and fewer side effects. The system was designed to improve survival and reduce recurrence of cancer

Rhode Island Hospital, the first in the world to use the Axxent System for the treatment of endometrial cancer, was also among the first in the country to use the system in the treatment of early stage breast cancer, and has seen positive results since it was FDA approved in 2007.

Endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant cells grow in the lining of a woman's uterus, affecting about 40,000 women each year. It is the most prevalent gynecologic cancer in the United States, and is also the fourth most common invasive cancer. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of these cases are eligible for treatment with electronic brachytherapy.

The most common treatment is surgery, however, additional types of treatment are often used following surgery to prevent tumor recurrence or if it is considered to be an aggressive form of cancer. These treatments include traditional radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. When radiation therapy is determined to be the most appropriate course of action, women will undergo radiation treatments that can often last up to five weeks and then use vaginal cylinder implant treatment. In some patients we use vaginal cylinder implant treatment alone.

Yakub Puthawala, MD, a radiation oncologist with Rhode Island Hospital, says, "This treatment is revolutionary in the way we provide care to women with endometrial cancers. Vaginal brachytherapy for endometrial cancer is well accepted and we are excited to be the first cancer center to offer this wonderful new electronic treatment option." He also notes, "We believe our patients will find it comforting that we can be in the room with them, unlike other forms of radiation treatment. It allows us to provide more compassionate care."

For more information, call the Rhode Island Hospital Radiation Oncology department at 401-444-8311 or visit the web site at http://www.rhodeislandhospital.org.

Founded in 1863, Rhode Island Hospital (http://www.rhodeislandhospital.org) is a private, not-for-profit hospital and is the largest teaching hospital of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A major trauma center for southeastern New England, the hospital is dedicated to being on the cutting edge of medicine and research. Rhode Island Hospital ranks among the country's leading independent hospitals that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health, with research awards of nearly $27 million annually. Many of its physicians are recognized as leaders in their respective fields of cancer, cardiology, diabetes, neurology, orthopedics and minimally invasive surgery and radiation oncology. The hospital's pediatrics division, Hasbro Children's Hospital, has pioneered numerous procedures and is at the forefront of fetal surgery, orthopedics and pediatric neurosurgery. Rhode Island Hospital is a founding member of the Lifespan health system.

VIDEO from Medialink and P&G

2008-09-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

To celebrate in the name of great flavors, Crest Whitening Expressions is hosting the "What's Your Catch Phrase?" contest in search of the new catch phrase that best captures the essence of the flavor experience in Crest Whitening Expressions. Available in Wintergreen Ice, Extreme Herbal Mint, Cinnamon Rush and Vanilla Mint, Crest Whitening Expressions combines great flavors with a bold blast of freshness while brushing.

From Sept. 15, 2008 through Oct. 17, 2008, consumers 18 years of age or older can enter the contest by posting a video of their catch phrase online at crest.com/whatsyourcatchphrase . Submissions must be thirty seconds or less and capture the essence of Crest Whitening Expressions in ten words or less.

On Oct. 24, 2008 up to five finalists will be chosen, and America can vote to determine the winner. The winner will be announced during the week of Nov. 10, 2008 and the winning catch phrase will appear in an upcoming Crest Whitening Expressions TV commercial. In addition, the winner will be invited for an all-expense paid trip to New York for a behind-the-scenes visit to the production of the commercial and receive $5,000!

Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos for free and unrestricted use at http://www.mediaseed.tv .

US FDA probing deaths in J&J drug study

2008-09-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

U.S. health officials said on Friday they were reviewing a higher rate of deaths among patients treated with a Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) anemia drug in a study of stroke patients.

Three months after the German study began, 16 percent of patients who were treated with the drug Eprex had died, compared with 9 percent who got a placebo, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.

The study was testing if Eprex could improve brain function in stroke patients, an unapproved use of the drug. The patients were given either relatively high doses of Eprex for three days or a placebo. Most were not anemic, the FDA said.

Eprex is known generically as epoetin alfa. J&J also sells epoetin alfa under the name Procrit. Amgen Inc (AMGN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) sells a version under the name Epogen.

The FDA said it was aware of other clinical trials testing the potential neurological effects of epoetin alfa.

The higher death rate in the German study "suggests the need to closely monitor patients enrolled in other ongoing trials for adverse outcomes and to evaluate whether the potential benefits for enrolled patients outweigh the risks in these trials," the FDA said.

J&J reported last week that early data showed Exprex patients in the German study died more frequently than placebo patients, and said it was doing additional analyses to better understand the findings. The company alerted the FDA to the findings, J&J spokesman Mark Wolfe said on Friday.

J&J shares were down 25 cents at $69.11 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Continuum Health Care Inc. announces commencement of development of Drayton Valley and Camrose Facilities

2008-09-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Continuum Health Care Inc.is pleased to announce that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Continuum Health Care Holdings Ltd. ("Holdings"), have commenced the financing, planning, development and marketing of a 68-unit seniors supportive living facility in Drayton Valley, Alberta (the "Drayton Valley Facility"), together with Vantage West Development Corp. ("Vantage") and Sunrise Village (Drayton) Joint Venture ("Drayton Joint Venture"). Continuum and Holdings have also commenced the financing, planning, development and marketing of a 122-unit designated assisted living and supportive living facility in Camrose, Alberta , together with Vantage and Sunrise Village Joint Venture . Vantage is owned by three of the directors of Continuum, namely Patrick Hovan, Peter Allan and Evan Welbourn. Continuum has received regulatory approval from the TSX Venture Exchange and shareholder approval at Continuum's last annual general meeting held on June 13, 2008 for theses non-arm's length transactions.

The lands to be developed for the Drayton Valley Facility are to be owned by a joint venture between Vantage and Eldercare (Drayton) Limited Partnership. The joint venture is called the Sunrise Village (Drayton) Joint Venture ("Drayton Joint Venture"). The general partner of the Eldercare (Drayton) Limited Partnership is Evan Welbourn, a director of Continuum. The Drayton Joint Venture will own the Drayton Valley Facility through a trustee company, Sunrise Village (Drayton) Holdings Ltd. (the "Trustee") The respective interests of Vantage and Eldercare (Drayton) Limited Partnership, as the joint venturers, will be determined based upon their respective contributions to the Drayton Joint Venture.

The Drayton Valley Facility shall be developed under a Project Management Agreement between Vantage and the Trustee, which covers the planning, design, procurement and construction management services to be completed by Vantage for a specified fee of $236,693.00.

Under an exclusive Option Agreement, Vantage will grant to Holdings an option to acquire Vantage's interest in the Drayton Joint Venture in consideration for a loan of funds made by Holdings to Vantage under a separate Loan Agreement described below. As additional consideration for the Option Agreement, Continuum will provide guarantees on the construction financing for the Drayton Valley Facility. The term of the option will be 48 months. The right of Holdings to exercise the option is contingent upon occupancy of the Drayton Valley Facility being at or above 85% for three consecutive months. The price payable by Holdings for the exercise of the option is the aggregate of the actual cost contributed by Vantage to the Drayton Joint Venture, plus five (5%) percent of the total of all capitalized costs of the Drayton Valley Facility, less the principal amounts advanced to Vantage from Holdings pursuant to the Loan Agreement described below. Should the option be exercised, Holdings would replace Vantage as a participant in the Drayton Joint Venture.

Under a Loan Agreement, an amount up to $1, 396,508.00 is to be advanced by Holdings to Vantage to assist with the capital cost of the Drayton Valley Facility. The loan is to be funded by Holdings from the grant provided to Holdings by the Alberta Government through Alberta Seniors and Community Supports, under the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative ("ASLI"). Interest will accrue under the Loan Agreement at the rate of 6% per annum, and become due on the earlier of four years from the date of the Loan Agreement or thirty days following the date of exercise of the option under the Option Agreement. Should the option be exercised by Holdings, the principal amount owing by Vantage to Holdings under the Loan Agreement would be subtracted from the exercise price of the option and such would constitute repayment by Vantage, and any accrued interest otherwise owing by Vantage under the Loan Agreement would be forgiven.

Under a Facility Management Agreement between Continuum and the Trustee, Continuum shall be the sole and exclusive managing agent of the Drayton Valley Facility and shall also provide marketing and lease-up services. The Trustee will pay to Continuum a fee of $5,666.67 per month until date the first tenant occupies a unit in the Drayton Valley Facility, not to exceed $68,000 in the aggregate. In addition, during the five year term of the Facility Management Agreement, the Trustee will pay Continuum 5% of the total revenue from all of the Drayton Valley Facility's operating departments per month (the "gross revenue"), as well as 5% of net revenue (gross revenue less operating expenses) per year.

As the development of the Drayton Valley Facility proceeds, it is contemplated that further financing will be required by the Drayton Joint Venture and will be guaranteed by the joint venture parties and by Continuum.

The lands to be developed for the Camrose Facility are to be owned by a joint venture between Vantage and Eldercare (Camrose) Limited Partnership. The joint venture is called the Sunrise Village (Camrose) Joint Venture ("Camrose Joint Venture"). The general partner of the Eldercare (Camrose) Limited Partnership is Evan Welbourn, a director of Continuum. The Camrose Joint Venture will own the Camrose Facility through a trustee company, Sunrise Village (Camrose) Holdings Ltd. (the "Trustee"). The respective interests of Vantage and Eldercare (Camrose) Limited Partnership, as the joint venturers, will be determined based upon their respective contributions to the Camrose Joint Venture.

The Camrose Facility shall be developed under a Project Management Agreement between Vantage and the Trustee, which covers the planning, design, procurement and construction management services to be completed by Vantage for a specified fee of $412,250.00.

Under an exclusive Option Agreement, Vantage will grant to Holdings an option to acquire Vantage's interest in the Camrose Joint Venture in consideration for a loan of funds made by Holdings to Vantage under a separate Loan Agreement described below. As additional consideration for the Option Agreement, Continuum will provide guarantees on the construction financing for the Camrose Facility. The term of the option will be 48 months. The right of Holdings to exercise the option is contingent upon occupancy of the Camrose Facility being at or above 85% for three consecutive months. The price payable by Holdings for the exercise of the option is the aggregate of the actual cost contributed by Vantage to the Camrose Joint Venture, plus five (5%) percent of the total of all capitalized costs of the Camrose Facility, less the principal amounts advanced to Vantage from Holdings pursuant to the Loan Agreement described below. Should the option be exercised, Holdings would replace Vantage as a participant in the Camrose Joint Venture.

Under a Loan Agreement, an amount up to $2,444,310.00 is to be advanced by Holdings to Vantage to assist with the capital cost of the Camrose Facility. The loan is to be funded by Holdings from the grant provided to Holdings by the Alberta Government through Alberta Seniors and Community Supports, under the Rural Affordable Supportive Living program ("RASL"). Interest will accrue under the Loan Agreement at the rate of 6% per annum, and become due on the earlier of four years from the date of the Loan Agreement or thirty days following the date of exercise of the option under the Option Agreement. Should the option be exercised by Holdings, the principal amount owing by Vantage to Holdings under the Loan Agreement would be subtracted from the exercise price of the option and such would constitute repayment by Vantage, and any accrued interest otherwise owing by Vantage under the Loan Agreement would be forgiven.

Under a Facility Management Agreement between Continuum and the Trustee, Continuum shall be the sole and exclusive managing agent of the Camrose Facility and shall also provide marketing and lease-up services. The Trustee will pay to Continuum a fee of $8,714.28 per month until date the first tenant occupies a unit in the Camrose Facility, not to exceed $122,000 in the aggregate. In addition, during the five year term of the Facility Management Agreement, the Trustee will pay Continuum 5% of the total revenue from all of the Camrose Facility's operating departments per month (the "gross revenue"), as well as 5% of net revenue (gross revenue less operating expenses) per year.

As the development of the Camrose Facility proceeds, it is contemplated that further financing will be required by the Camrose Joint Venture and will be guaranteed by the joint venture parties and by Continuum.

Pursuant to each of these transactions, Holdings will provide a loan of funds to Vantage for the development of the facility by a joint venture in which Vantage is one of the two joint venture parties. In return, Holdings will have an exclusive option to buy out Vantage's interest in the joint venture, in certain events. Continuum will provide marketing, lease-up and facility management services for the facilities. This transaction structure is designed to protect Continuum from the majority of risks typically associated with the construction and development of seniors supportive living facilities, while allowing Continuum to maintain an exclusive right to purchase the facilities on favourable terms. Continuum also benefits by receiving a contract to provide the pre-leasing and operations management services for the facility. This structure allows Continuum to focus on its intended role as a seniors facility management company rather than as a development and construction company. The payment rates under all of the agreements will be determined based on current fair market value of the particular asset or service. These transactions are part of the Continuum's strategic plan to improve earnings and returns on common equity, and to enhance total assets by means of expanding its operations in Alberta.

Continuum owns, operates, manages and develops supportive living facilities in Alberta. It currently owns and manages, with its joint venture partners, 167 supportive living facility units in Olds, Lethbridge and Wetaskiwin. Continuum has joint venture interests in another 95 units that are currently under construction at the Wetaskiwin facility and at a project in Ponoka. The facilities under development in Drayton Valley and Camrose will add another 190 units. Continuum and its joint venture partners also plan to commence development of a 120 unit facility in High River, Alberta in the near future. These developments together will bring the total number of units managed by Continuum up to 572 Units.

Continuum is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV-CCF) and has a total of 17,854,283 common shares outstanding, 19,529,283 fully diluted.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning anticipated changes in Continuum's financial capital and anticipated development activities.

The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Continuum, including expectations and assumptions concerning the finalization and execution of the various transaction agreements and the ability and willingness of all of the parties to proceed with the development of the facilities as contemplated.

Although Continuum believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Continuum can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to: (a) risks associated with the assisted and supportive living industry in general, (b) the ability and willingness of operators, tenants, borrowers, joint venture partners and third parties, as applicable, to meet and/or perform their obligations under various contractual arrangements with Continuum, (c) Continuum's ability to successfully implement its business strategy and its ability to identify, finance, consummate and integrate acquisitions or investments, (d) the nature and extent of future competition, (e) the extent of future or pending healthcare and assisted living regulation, (f) increases in the costs of borrowing, (g) the ability of the applicable operators and managers to deliver high quality services and to attract residents, (h) changes in general economic conditions, (i) Continuum's ability to pay down, refinance, restructure and/or extend its indebtedness as it becomes due, and (j) uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to facility development, financing or expenditures. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Continuum. Certain of these risks are set out in more detail in Continuum's filings under applicable securities laws and can be accessed at www.sedar.com.

President Clinton Highlights Hesperian's Commitment to Improve the Lives of Three Million People

2008-09-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative's (CGI) New York summit, President Clinton highlighted Hesperian's commitment to empower communities in overcoming the death and disease that a lack of safe drinking water and sanitation cause. The Hesperian commitment brings together funding and support partners the Kind World Foundation, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and others to arm communities with vital water, health and hygiene education.

The commitment enables Berkeley, CA based Hesperian -- a highly respected non-profit publisher and distributor of easy-to-understand materials that enable communities to recognize, treat, and prevent most common health problems -- to increase the number of local editions of its A Community Guide To Environmental Health, expanding distribution of water and sanitation-related materials while also expanding the circulation of the updated guide Where There Is No Doctor.

Hesperian's life-saving publications are available in over 80 languages, and are currently used in over 100 countries. They are helping to train health workers in violence-torn areas of Colombia, create community-based care for refugees in Thailand, support children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa, combat toxic poisoning from mining in the Philippines, and answer urgent public health needs worldwide.

"Hesperian works by bringing together community leaders and other partners, and tapping into their local knowledge," noted Sarah Shannon, Hesperian's Executive Director. "That ensures its books are relevant, up-to-date, and community-appropriate. With this commitment, our network can greatly enhance the development and distribution of life-saving information in a powerful, collaborative way that reaches the largest number of people possible."

The commitment reflects CGI's determination to improve global health with existing tools and knowledge. Hesperian is ideally positioned to support this goal through the production and distribution of culturally appropriate, practical and powerful health information via its open copyright publishing model.

Hesperian will work with a partner network to update and test resources in the field, and through a collaborative online portal. It will make seed grants and technical assistance available to over 20 translation partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Resources developed will be distributed by PAHO, Populations Services International (PSI), Global Action, and others. http://www.hesperian.org

Patient-nurse ratio inaccurate mark of success

2008-09-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

The National Nurses Organizing Committee, a California-based nurses’ union trying to make inroads elsewhere, is once again calling for higher nurse-to-patient ratios in Texas hospitals.

This isn’t the first time the group has called for lowering the number of patients each nurse is responsible for. In the previous legislative session a bill was introduced but was not voted upon.

Some Texas nurses have taken up the cause, saying patient safety is compromised if nurses have to divide their attention among too many patients. They want a bill submitted in the 81st Texas Legislature, which convenes in January, mandating a 1-to-5 nurse-patient ratio in general hospital wings, with a 1-to-4 ratio in pediatric units and 1-to-2 ratio in intensive care units.

Lawmakers shouldn’t have to be reminded to be skeptical about efforts to mandate more workers made by unions, which gain money and strength when they have more workers to recruit.

They should, however, remember that mandates don’t matter if there aren’t enough people to meet them.

The American Hospital Association released a report in June 2007 that 116,000 existing nursing positions remained unfilled nationwide at the time because there were no nurses to fill them. Several studies have concluded the shortages will only get worse, as an aging population creates ever-growing demands for nurses and other health care professionals. The National Council on Physician and Nurse Supply projects the nationwide nursing shortage could be as great as 800,000 by 2020.

People with medical needs and their families naturally want the best care possible. It’s safe to assume those filling those needs also want to do the best job they can. Those desires, however, don’t magically make nurses appear. Hospitals here and everywhere frequently offer large bonuses to nurses who are willing to sign long-term contracts, just to fill their immediate needs.

It makes no sense to mandate nursing minimums when there is no way those mandates can be met.

Hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities deal with such shortages by hiring the nurses they can and using them as supervisors for larger groups of certified nursing assistants. The assistants generally provide most hands-on care, allowing nurses to focus on the more critical cases.

Health care institutions already face periodic reviews and audits that determine how well they are meeting the needs of their communities. Those reviews should be thorough enough to uncover deficiencies; facilities that provide good care with limited resources should not be penalized for their efficiency, just because they might not meet mandated nurse-patient ratios.

Everyone involved should place the priority on quality of care, not on how well a facility meets numbers targets. We trust Texas legislators will see the folly in considering quotas that are impossible to fill.

Love, hope and loss

2008-09-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Tom Sweitzer was just a boy when doctors told him his mother was dying. An only child, he struggled to cope with the impending loss.

Today, Sweitzer, a professional playwright and director, remembers how hospice care workers lifted his mother's spirits during her last days, while helping to bridge the emotional gaps the experience created between him and his father.

He's drawn from that mix of emotional trauma and redemptive hope to form the basis of his latest production, "Tootleloo."

It tells of a boy's journey toward manhood as he copes with losing his dying mother and the fear of being left behind with his distant father.

The family's life is forever changed when a hospice volunteer begins to visit their home. She brings support, love and most importantly, magic.

Presented by Home Nursing Agency's Foundation, the new musical drama is coming to the Halbritter Center for the Perform-ing Arts at Juniata College in Huntingdon at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and to the Mishler Theatre in Altoona at 8 p.m. Oct. 3.

''The musical drama is how do you say goodbye to someone you love,'' said Kim Kranz, said the Altoona agency's vice president of operations. ''We all, at one point in our lives, will experience the death of a friend or loved one. (The show) does take you through a journey, and it's also celebrating life.''

It was hospice nurse Connie Shatzer of Williamsburg who inspired the production, Sweitzer, 36, of Middleburg, Va., said.

'''Tootleloo' was created from my memory as a young boy in constant fear of losing my mother, and the powerful impact of Connie's support during my grieving process,'' Sweitzer said. ''Most of all, she allowed me to never say goodbye - hence, the name of the drama is 'Tootleloo.'''

Sweitzer learned of the agency's hospice services as a teenager in the early '90s, after his mother had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and sent home from the hospital, he said. She was given little time to live.

''She was sent home with congestive heart failure,'' he said. ''That's when the team from Home Nursing Agency started helping her with her physical care. Connie had a lot to do with keeping her spirits up.''

Today, Shatzer, 61, serves as a third-party payer specialist for the agency, approving hospice visits with insurance companies.

She was delighted, albeit a bit incredulous, to learn that Sweitzer cited her as the play's main inspiration.

''I was totally overwhelmed,'' she said.

''Whenever I heard that, I thought, 'These are things that hospice nurses in the agency do every day," she said. "I was just lucky enough to be taking care of the mom of a guy who would become famous. But I'm enjoying it.''

Shatzer said she tried to concentrate on the positive things during her time with Sweitzer's mother - things such as her ability to eat, read a book and sit up in a chair.

''That's what she wanted Tom to know - the positive things,'' she said. ''She didn't want him worrying about her, and coming home from school. She wanted him to stay in college.''

Sweitzer made Shatzer promise him that she would let him know when his mother was close to death, so he could be there in her final moments. It wouldn't happen that way.

''It happened too suddenly to notify him,'' she said. ''We told him right after she passed.''

Renowned media personality, Willard Scott, a personal friend of Sweitzer, is very passionate about hospice awareness and has become the spokesman for 'Tootleloo,' Sweitzer said. Scott introduces the play and gives a final monologue at the show's ending via audio recording.

The show includes a cast of eight and is 75 minutes long, he said. On the musical end, it includes one piano and one cello.

"Tom has written a beautiful play, and the music is lovely," said Anne Charlotte Robinson of Upperville, Va., who portrays the dying mother, Kathy. "I'm the mother of a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old, so I could really identify with my role ... I think people will find this show very moving."

Tutti Perricone of Middleburg, Va., plays Kathy's hospice nurse, Marilyn. She, too, could identify with her role.

"I lost my father about a year and a half ago," she said. "We had a hospice nurse take care of him, so I'm kind of taking inspiration from that."

Then there's the boy who's forced to grow up early - 12-year-old Teddy, played by Grant Salley, 12, also of Upperville. The Mishler and Halbritter shows will mark his introduction to full-fledged theatrical productions. He described the play as "very emotional."

"There's some parts, where if you don't understand what's happening, you won't get what's going on later," he said. "You really have to pay attention."

And there's a couple things he wants audiences to pay particular attention to.

"I hope people see that hospice workers do a lot to take care of a dying person," he said. "I also want them to see that the life of a 12-year-old is more complicated than most people take it for."

Proceeds from the show will benefit Home Nursing Agency's Hospice and Healing Patch, A Center for Loss and Hope for Grieving Children and Their Families. The Healing Patch is funded by the agency's Foundation and Highmark Healthy High Five.

Court trustee to watch over Access Medical Group

2008-09-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

A former manager of health clinics will observe the quality of medical care at a Lower Hudson Valley medical practice that filed for protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court last month.

Joseph J. Tomaino, a member of the board of directors of the parent company of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, was named last week by court Trustee Diana G. Adams to serve as patient care ombudsman in the bankruptcy filing of Access Medical Group.

Access Medical Group is headquartered in White Plains and has offices in Westchester and Orange counties. The practice, with more than 80 employees, filed for bankruptcy shortly after an arbitrator awarded $3.6 million to a medical practice management company with whom Access' principal had feuded bitterly in court for the past three years.

As ombudsman, Tomaino will interview patients and doctors at Access to monitor the quality of patient care and will report to the bankruptcy court no later than every two months on his findings. If he finds that patient care is declining significantly, he will notify the court "immediately," according to bankruptcy court papers.

The role of patient care ombudsman was created as part of the 2005 federal bankruptcy reform bill, said Jack Williams, a professor at the Georgia State University College of Law and a resident scholar at the American Bankruptcy Institute.

In addition to doctors' practices, the ombudsman provision also applies to nursing homes, hospitals and other health care businesses that find themselves in bankruptcy court, Williams said.

"The drafters of this provision were pretty wise in developing a system that works across all those entities," Williams said.

Tomaino is a former chief nursing officer and a director at RSM McGladrey Inc., a Manhattan health care consultancy. He will receive $320 an hour plus expenses for his work. He could not be reached for comment this week.

He said in a court filing that he had no relationships that would conflict with his work overseeing Access.

The medical practice's president and majority owner, Dr. Jeffrey M. Ambinder, stated in a court filing that he hopes to reorganize Access as a smaller business. It employs 15 doctors in offices in White Plains, Yorktown, Carmel, Yonkers and New Windsor.

Access' roots date back to 1982 when it was founded as an oncology service by Ambinder and Dr. Marc Straus, court papers said. Access does specialty work in cancer care and diabetes management. It had 55,000 outpatient visits last year, and revenues of $11.6 million.

But the practice lost $1 million in the first seven months of this year, and $3.5 million over 2006 and 2007, Ambinder's affidavit stated. He blamed the business's financial problems on a range of issues, but chiefly on his legal battles with his former partner Straus.

Ambinder, Straus and other doctors formed MDx Medical Management, a business to manage their medical practice, in 1997, court papers said. Last month MDx obtained an arbitration ruling against Access for $3.6 million. MDx is Access' largest unsecured creditor.

In his affidavit, Ambinder said Access' financial problems also included an unprofitable expansion in Westchester and Orange counties, as well as rising prices for malpractice and other costs, and reduced reimbursements.

Ambinder said his new business plan involved consolidating some offices and shedding unprofitable markets. Ambinder could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Joseph M. Gitto of Nixon Peabody in Manhattan, declined comment.

Williams said nine of 10 medical practices in bankruptcy fail in their attempts to reorganize. Among the problems facing such reorganizations are cash flow difficulties resulting from lengthy waits for insurance reimbursements.

Doctors in such straits must have the "ability to negotiate with a panoply of interests, including secured and unsecured creditors," Williams said. "They all have a different view of how this should go down."

Westchester Medical Center rejuvenates ICU

2008-09-25T00:12:00.000-07:00

Doctors and nurses at Westchester Medical Center yesterday not only transferred patients to a new unit, they took them to a new generation.

With the official opening of the hospital's $2.9 million medical intensive care unit, hospital staff and patients bid farewell to the cramped, 1970s-era space in favor of a bigger, brighter unit equipped with the latest technology and modern furnishings.

The project is part of a long-term, multimillion-dollar renovation to overhaul the medical center's main tower.

The new 11-bed unit - sometimes called the MICU, or "mic-U" - cares for the sickest patients in the hospital and, arguably, in the country. About 400 patients flow through the unit yearly, said the unit's medical director, Dr. Lawrence DeLorenzo.

"We take care of patients with multi-organ system failure," DeLorenzo said. "Folks cared for here are usually critically ill."

That's something Ruth Dapp of Highland, N.Y., already knows.

Dapp has practically lived in the medical intensive care unit since July. Her 27-year-old son, Joshua, who has cancer, struggles to breathe on a respirator in one of the rooms. Ruth Dapp spent most of the past 85 days sleeping on couches and lounge chairs.

"I promised him back when he was diagnosed that I was going to be with him until the cure," Dapp said.

Dapp appreciates the new unit, and the larger room her son is in, but she said the generosity and concern of the nursing staff are what has helped her through this difficult time. When nurses notice she hasn't eaten, she said, they buy her food, sometimes leaving it on her chair.

"I can't walk down the hall without somebody hugging me," Dapp said.

DeLorenzo said the new unit is meant to be a soothing place for patients and their family members.

Each large, single-occupancy room has a window allowing for more natural light. The halls are wide with earth-tone decor, a trend in hospital design.

It has four more beds than the old unit, which at times couldn't fit the overflow of patients. The larger rooms will help with infection control because bedding and other supplies are contained inside each patient's room, DeLorenzo said.

A broad and centrally located nurses station is flanked by smaller desks outside each of the rooms. Nurses are now able to monitor their patients using closed-circuit cameras affixed above hospital beds.

There is typically one nurse, sometimes two, per patient depending on how critical the patient's condition, nurse manager Kathy Longo said.

Longo said nurses are excited to work in a newer, more modern unit, which she says will be more efficient and help them deliver quality patient care.

Hospital officials plan eventually to renovate all of the hospital's six intensive care units for adults.

They expect four new ICUs will be completed within the next year.

The hospital recently installed a modular addition to its emergency department in order to renovate the original structure. Renovations on seven labor and delivery rooms are also in the works.

The hospital's main tower opened in 1977, and there have been few physical upgrades, said Michael Israel, chief executive officer of the medical center.

"You take a look at the older ICUs, and it is obvious that we need to do something," Israel said.

Hospital officials are in the process of putting together its budget and "don't want to bite off more than we can chew," Israel said in terms of the renovations.

Another challenge is an unfortunate fact of life: The hospital beds are always in use, making it difficult to work around the flow of very ill people, said Tony Mahler, the medical center's senior vice president for strategic planning.

"The demand for critical care is constant," Mahler said.

8-station dialysis clinic opens at St. Joseph's

2008-09-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

With an eye on the increasing number of people experiencing kidney failure, St. Joseph's Hospital on Wednesday officially opened an eight-station, 3,300-square-foot dialysis clinic that can treat up to 16 kidney patients a day.

The opening of the clinic coincides with the observance of the hospital's founding 100 years ago, and Sister Marie Castagnaro, president and CEO of St. Joseph's, said the founding sisters would be pleased to see the new service opening on the historic date.

"This dedication is a lesson in creativity and stubbornness," she said. "The credit has to go to those who worked through the paperwork and the politics to put it all together."

Dialysis is a medical process that filters the blood of a person whose kidneys can no longer perform the function. The risk factors associated with kidney failure include diabetes, hypertension and obesity, said Lisa Perry, the new unit's director.

The unit will be staffed by four registered nurses, two licensed practical nurses and two patient care technicians.

St. Joseph's has been providing dialysis treatments for patients who are already in the hospital since 2005. The new clinic, providing the same services on an outpatient basis, began treating patients on Sept. 10, she said.

Perry was hired by St. Joseph's in 2004 to oversee the clinic's administrative duties. Dr. Luis Tapia and Dr. Fadi Hijazi are in charge of the clinical side of the unit.

Perry said the biggest challenge for creating the new unit was obtaining the state Health Department's approval. There were several times during the process when hospital administrators thought they'd reached the end of the approval process, only to discover there were new requirements that had to be fulfilled, she said.

State approval was finally granted in March.

Castagnaro said 10 patients are in line to be treated in the new clinic, and two have already begun treatments. When the 16-patient capacity is reached, the hospital will seek approval to add dialysis machines.

The state Health Department will allow St. Joseph's to add another eight machines, which will boost the unit's capacity to 96 treatments a week.

Dialysis patients usually require three treatments a week.

Castagnaro also said that with the increasing senior citizen population in the area, opening the outpatient dialysis clinic made sense for the hospital.

"Our clinic will improve access for the many dialysis patients who wish to be dialyzed during the daytime, while at the same time enhancing the quality and continuity of patient care in our community," she said in a prepared statement.

States, medical groups oppose abortion rule

2008-09-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

Several medical associations and 13 state attorneys general voiced their opposition Wednesday to a proposed federal rule that they fear would open the door for hospitals and physicians to deny access to contraception.

In late August, the Bush administration proposed stronger job protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections. Abortion foes called it a victory for the First Amendment, but abortion rights supporters said they feared the rule could stretch the definition of abortion to include birth control.

The public comment period for the proposed rule ends Thursday. As the deadline nears, opponents have orchestrated a highly public call for the administration to rescind the rule. While the regulation states that it would not limit access to health care, groups such as the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics disagreed.

They said doctors and nurses are already not required to perform abortions or sterilizations. They can refuse to do so. But each health care professional is ethically bound to inform patients about all of their treatment options. If health care professionals cannot or will not provide a certain service, they are ethically obligated to refer patients in a timely manner to someone who can.

"Implementation of this regulation would effectively allow health care providers' personal beliefs to override patients' right to full disclosure of accurate information and available health care resources," the medical associations wrote.

Separately, 13 attorneys general complained the rule was too vague about what health care procedures may be withheld.

"The proposed regulation completely obliterates the rights of patients to legal and medically necessary health care services in favor of a single-minded focus on protecting a health care provider's right to claim a personal moral or religious belief," the attorneys general said in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS spokeswoman Christina Pearson said she would not "speculate" on the department's course of action.

"We have an open comment period, so I'm unable to comment on what will happen beyond here," said Pearson.

Pearson said that Secretary Mike Leavitt has written extensively on his views about the need for the rule in a series of blogs available through the department's Web site. Leavitt has said the rule is directly focused on the protection of practitioner conscience.

Merck & Co., Inc. and Japan Tobacco Inc. Sign Licensing Agreement for Novel Osteoanabolic Drug Candidate to Treat Osteoporosis

2008-09-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

Merck & Co., Inc. and Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) (TSE: 2914 - News) today announced a worldwide licensing agreement to develop and commercialize JTT-305, an investigational oral osteoanabolic (bone growth stimulating) agent for the treatment of osteoporosis, a disease which reduces bone density and strength and results in an increased risk of bone fractures.

Under the terms of the agreement, Merck gains worldwide rights, except for Japan, to develop and commercialize JTT-305. JT will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive additional cash payments upon achievement of certain milestones associated with the development and approval of a drug candidate covered by this agreement. JT will also be eligible to receive undisclosed royalties from sales of any drug candidates that receive marketing approval.

“Through this agreement with Merck, JT is well positioned to maximize the therapeutic potential for JTT-305 as a possible future option for patients with osteoporosis,” said Noriaki Okubo, President of JT’s Pharmaceutical Business.

JTT-305 is an investigational oral calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonist that is currently being evaluated by JT in Phase II clinical trials in Japan for its effect on increasing bone density and is in Phase I clinical trials outside of Japan. Most current available osteoporosis therapies reduce fracture risk by slowing bone loss – or bone resorption. Osteoanabolic drugs, such as JTT-305, may reduce fracture risk by stimulating the growth of new bone and thereby increasing bone density.

"Partnering with JT to develop this novel compound complements Merck's portfolio of musculoskeletal drug candidates," said Alan B. Ezekowitz, MBChB, D.Phil., senior vice president and franchise head, Bone, Respiratory, Immunology, and Endocrine, Merck Research Laboratories. "In the future, we believe that use of antiresorptive and osteoanabolic agents together may provide an effective way to reduce the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis."

The effective date of the collaboration agreement is subject to the expiration or earlier termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

About osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects more than 75 million people in the U.S., Europe, South America and Japan. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur at the hip, spine and wrist and the risk of having an osteoporosis-related fracture increases with age. One in three women over age 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture, as will one in five men. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the worldwide incidence of hip fracture is projected to increase by 240 percent in women and 310 percent in men by 2050.

About JT

Japan Tobacco Inc. is the world's third largest international manufacturer of tobacco products. Since its privatization in 1985, JT has actively diversified its operations into pharmaceuticals and foods. JT entered into the pharmaceutical business in 1987 and established the Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute in 1993. JT is currently engaged in the research and development of new drugs in various areas such as glucose and lipid metabolism, anti-virus, immune disorders and inflammation, and bone metabolism. The company’s net sales were ¥6.409 trillion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com.

MedImpact Appoints New Medical Director

2008-09-23T10:09:00.001-07:00

MedImpact has appointed Louis C. Tripoli, M.D., to the position of vice president and medical director. In his new role, Dr. Tripoli will further expand MedImpact’s health services programs, with a focus on innovations that foster new ways to approach complex health problems. He will direct health outcomes research as well as drug management strategy and clinical integration. Dr. Tripoli reports to Dr. Louis Brunetti, senior vice president and chief medical officer for MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.

Dr. Tripoli is a proven leader and brings a wealth of experience and capabilities in many significant areas of medical management,” said Dr. Brunetti. “By looking at the whole health care picture, both medical and pharmacy, MedImpact will continue to be a leader in delivering high quality clinical programs that benefit both the payor and the consumer. I am confident Dr. Tripoli will contribute significantly to our continued accomplishments in the health services arena.”

As medical director for MedImpact, Dr. Tripoli is responsible for all pharmacy and therapeutics activities related to the drug selection process and formulary development, as well as all clinical research. He also oversees the company’s prior authorization and utilization management programs.

Prior to joining MedImpact, Dr. Tripoli was a Captain in the United States Navy and served as senior medical officer for the Navy Personnel Command. He has also served in the United States Marine Corps as group surgeon and chief public health officer for the 4th Civil Affairs Group, First Marine Expeditionary Force.

Preceding his military service, Dr. Tripoli held various civilian positions with health plans and medical groups, including senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer.

Dr. Tripoli earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his doctorate of medicine from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and served as chief resident in internal medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and continues to practice in his medical specialty.

About MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.

MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. is the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company that does not sell drugs. Founded in 1979 and based in San Diego, California, the company currently serves more than 30 million individuals nationwide. MedImpact clients include Fortune 500 corporations, unions, managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, as well as local, state and federal employee programs. MedImpact bases its success on delivering innovative products and services designed to lower overall client cost while increasing member satisfaction and quality of care.

Industry Leader HealthPort Acquires ChartOne

2008-09-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Marking a significant development in its vision to be a leading provider of technology and strategic solutions for the healthcare industry, HealthPort will acquire its closest competitor, ChartOne, officials announced today.

The transaction was completed on Monday, September 22, 2008. Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed.

“This acquisition combines the strengths of two industry leaders and creates the widest selection of affordable, quality health information products and services available,” says Patrick J. Haynes III, Chairman of HealthPort.

“As the adaptation of technology continues to gain momentum in the healthcare industry, this announcement strongly positions our company to better provide a full spectrum of solutions that can improve business fundamentals and enhance patient care,” continued Haynes.

“In an increasingly complex and highly regulated environment, healthcare companies need customized electronic systems and technology solutions that address -- and improve -- their toughest challenges,” says Michael Labedz, President and CEO of HealthPort.

“We are committed to leveraging these benefits for our existing customers and look forward to pursuing new opportunities as the healthcare information technology sector continues to grow and mature,” said Labedz.

Today, the vast majority of healthcare companies still rely on paper-based systems and processes to manage critical information. Over the next decade, however, the industry is widely expected to shift to paperless, electronic technologies that create greater efficiencies while improving patient care.

SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS FOR EMPLOYEES, CLIENTS

With this acquisition, HealthPort has combined revenues of more than $230 million and serves more than 8,000 healthcare facilities across the United States. The company’s headquarters will be located in Alpharetta, Georgia and will be led by HealthPort CEO Michael Labedz.

Meanwhile, members of the ChartOne management team will work with leadership to continue business as usual while also ensuring a smooth transition for all of ChartOne’s employees and clients.

Combined, the company’s key service line products now include:

* Release-of-information “ROI” technology
* Electronic document and medical records management
* Electronic coding services
* Recovery audit contractor “RAC” services
* Revenue cycle management
* Cancer registry services
* Interim health information management and consulting

FUTURE GROWTH

Future advances in healthcare information technology will enhance these services and generate new solutions. The company’s core and continued focus will remain on access to real-time, online tracking of data, faster turnaround times, and successful transitions to electronic, versus paper, and processing of records.

More information about HealthPort and ChartOne, including a full list of each company’s current offerings, can be found at www.healthport.com and www.chartone.com.

About HealthPort

HealthPort combines technology and strategic solutions to continually improve fragmented business processes for the healthcare community. The company’s financial sponsors are the Thurston Group, a private merchant bank located in Chicago and ABRY Partners, a private equity firm located in Boston. The company offers revenue cycle management, electronic medical record, electronic document management, onsite conversion, practice management, release-of-information, and healthcare consulting services. HealthPort is the one-source provider, offering the widest selection of affordable, quality health information products and services in the industry. For more information, visit www.healthport.com or call 800-737-2585.

About ChartOne

With over a thousand customers, ChartOne is the leading provider of release-of-information (ROI) services and technology to hospitals nationwide. ChartOne has a long-standing reputation for helping hospitals overcome the inefficiencies of managing paper-based medical records to improve hospital productivity, profitability, and patient care. For more information, visit www.chartone.com or call 888.357.7737.

Carlsbad Dentist Wins $175,000 on Fox's "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"

2008-09-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Richard Allen, DDS, of Carlsbad's Avia Dental Care, won $175,000 as a contestant on Fox's "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" on Friday, September 19th.

Dr. Allen was assisted in victory by a class of 5th graders and five colleagues from his office, including Carlsbad residents Diana Lain, Susan Milch, and Jordan Davison as well as Amanda Phillips and Dorothy Davis from Oceanside. He opted to take the money and end the competition after being stumped on a question about the first names of early explorers Lewis and Clark.

"I still don't believe I actually did it!" said Dr. Allen. "I wouldn't have been able to make it without the help of my valuable team."

Team member Diana Lain said, "Being on stage was very nerve-wracking. Being so nervous definitely affected our answers! Dr. Allen did so great, though. He's a risk-taker by nature and was able to win a lot of money!"

When asked what he will do with the winnings, Dr. Allen said, "I will probably donate it to my favorite cause, the education of my two college-age sons!"

About Dr. Allen: Dr. Richard Allen is a 1980 graduate of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, CA. Currently practicing at Dr. Mark Nocera's Avia Dental Care in Carlsbad, Allen is the proud father of two sons, one at school at UCSD and one at Cal State San Marcos.

Fitch Rates Univ Health System of Eastern Carolina's (North Carolina) $246MM VRDBs 'AA-'/Underlying

2008-09-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Fitch Ratings has assigned an underlying 'AA-' rating on approximately $246 million of North Carolina Medical Care Commission (University Health System of Eastern Carolina's (UHSEC) f/k/a Pitt County Memorial Hospital) series 2008 A-1, A-2, B-1 and B-2 variable rate demand bonds (VRDBs). In addition, Fitch affirms UHSEC's outstanding debt at 'AA-'. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The affirmations are based on UHSEC' dominant market position as a Level I trauma center in Eastern North Carolina, solid operating performance, and manageable pro forma debt burden relative to operations. UHSEC had a dominant 78.8% market share in its primary service area (PSA) in fiscal 2007, up from 74.1% in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2007, UHSEC generated a 3.9% operating margin ($42.0 million gain), increasing from 2.3% in fiscal 2004, and in line with Fitch's 'AA' median of 4.1%. UHSEC operating profitability has been supported by positive utilization trends, successful negotiation of managed care contracts, and reduced losses associated with the employment of physicians. Two of the System's hospitals have received critical access hospital status (Chowan Hospital in 2004 and Outer Banks Hospital in 2006) which should support revenue growth going forward. Although days in accounts receivables remained somewhat high at 61.6 days at fiscal year-end 2007, it declined from 61.8 days at fiscal year-end 2006 due to favorable revenue cycle initiatives.

In fiscal 2007, UHSEC's pro forma debt burden was manageable with debt to EBITDA of 3.4 times (x), in line with Fitch's 'AA' median. Pro forma MADS coverage by EBITDA was 3.8x in fiscal 2005. Fitch expects UHSEC's debt measures to improve over the medium term as there are no major capital projects expected.

Primary credit concerns center on UHSEC's light liquidity position relative to debt, high Medicaid load, and rising bad debt expense. At Sept. 30, 2007, UHSEC' unrestricted cash of $371 million equated to 157 days cash on hand and 74.8% cash to debt, compared with 161.2 days and 91.9%, respectively, at fiscal year-end 2005. However, Fitch notes that UHSEC's overall unrestricted cash position has grown by nearly $83 million over the same time frame, lending strength to it's overall cash position relative to MADS, reflected in an improved cushion ratio of 13.0x in fiscal 2007, up from 10.1x in FY2005. Fitch had noted that UHSEC's exposure to Medicaid load was high relative to other credits, equating to 17.0% of gross revenues, which results in significant exposure to changes in government reimbursement. However, Fitch notes that UHSEC does receive cost-based reimbursement under the NC Medicaid program for its flagship facility, Pitt County Memorial, due to its affiliation with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Medicaid disproportionate share payments have been stable at $12.3 million over the past three years. UHSEC's bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues was high at 10.2% of revenues in fiscal 2007, increasing from 8.5% in fiscal 2004, which management attributes to a rising uninsured population, deductibles, and co-pays.

The Stable Rating Outlook reflects the expectation that UHSEC will continue to benefit from its dominant market position and post strong operating margins, which should be enhanced with the opening of 168-bed patient tower, scheduled to open in January 2009. Growth of UHSEC's liquidity position has been good over the past two fiscal years and should continue to improve as there are no significant capital plans over the next several years. Going forward, Fitch expects UHSEC' strong operating performance to support growth of cash reserves at a moderate rate.

UHSEC is a 1,116-bed hospital system operating six hospitals and several other related health care entities throughout Eastern North Carolina. UHSEC had total operating revenues of $1,065.9 million in fiscal 2007. UHSEC has covenanted to disclose annual audited financial statements to the NRMSIRs and provides Fitch with timely quarterly disclosure (including a balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and utilization statistics).

Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site

Highmark Inc. Recognized by National Committee for Quality Assurance for Efforts to Reduce Health Care Disparities

2008-09-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

By significantly increasing access to exercise programs and expanding its network of participating locations, Highmark Inc. saw membership by African American members in the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program grow from 3.4 percent in 2004 to more than 18 percent in 2008. For its efforts, Highmark was awarded the "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

For more than four years, Highmark has partnered with the SilverSneakers Fitness Program, the nation's leading exercise program for older adults, to offer an opportunity for seniors to participate, at no additional cost, in fitness activities and to improve their overall health. To date, more than 68,000 Highmark members have enrolled in SilverSneakers.

"Research has shown that consistent exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle for people from all demographics," said Judith Black, MD, medical director of Senior Products at Highmark Inc. "An initial analysis of SilverSneakers Fitness Program enrollment rates by Highmark Medicare Advantage members in 2004 identified a significant disparity in enrollment between African American and White members. It was imperative for Highmark to address the enrollment disparity and provide access to fitness programs for our senior members."

To increase enrollment rates among African American members, six SilverSneakers participating locations were added to the existing network. These centers were located in predominantly minority neighborhoods that were identified as having high concentrations of African American Highmark members: HealthStar Physical Therapy, Penn Hills YMCA, Aliquippa Community Hospital, Homewood-Brushton YMCA, Centre Avenue YMCA (in partnership with the Hill House Association), and the Sarah Heinz House.

In addition, to more fully engage potential program participants, Healthways, the parent company of SilverSneakers, revised its marketing materials to include more diverse images and incorporate a theme of "fitness, fun and friends." SilverSneakers also helped to increase the number of qualified instructors from diverse backgrounds, an important step in building relationships and increasing participation among the African American Highmark membership.

In the fall of 2007, Highmark and SilverSneakers partnered to offer a series of flu vaccine clinics at locations in minority neighborhoods. While the primary goal of these clinics was to increase the vaccination rate within the minority membership, the clinics were located at SilverSneakers sites in predominantly African American neighborhoods in order to increase awareness of the available fitness benefit to that particular population.

With the addition of the new participating locations and other outreach efforts, enrollment by African American members increased from 3.4 percent in July 2004 to 9.6 percent in February 2005 and 18.1 percent in March 2008. This rate is a four-fold increase over the enrollment rate for 2004. In addition, the March 2008 African American enrollment rate of 18.1 percent exceeded the enrollment rate of 17.5 percent for white members in the same time frame.

"Like many seniors, I do have hypertension and it's totally under control. I credit the combination of exercise and the medication I take," said Ann Kenderson, Highmark Medicare Advantage member, who is a SilverSneakers participant at the Kingsley Community Center. "Plus, my exercise routine has definitely helped me to control my weight and my stress. I am so thankful that Highmark understands the value of keeping me healthy by providing such a terrific fitness benefit."

Highmark was recognized at a ceremony in San Francisco, CA, on Sept. 18. The award, sponsored by The California Endowment with support from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Office of Minority Health, is part of NCQA's efforts to improve the quality of health care in the U.S. through development of a truly multicultural health care system.

For information about Highmark's initiatives and strategy to address health care disparities and improve quality of care, visit our Health Care Disparities press kit on http://www.highmark.com in the Newsroom.

About Highmark Inc.

As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com.

About the Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program

The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is offered by Healthways, an industry leader providing specialized, comprehensive Health and Care Support(SM) solutions to help people maintain or improve their health. Founded in 1992, SilverSneakers is the nation's leading exercise program designed exclusively for Medicare members and offers an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially-oriented programming that allows older adults to take greater control of their health. The unique program is available at no additional cost (other than any medical plan premium) to eligible Medicare members and is currently offered in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia at nearly 3,000 participating locations. For more information on SilverSneakers, call 480-783-9555 or visit http://www.silversneakers.com.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians in key clinical areas. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information through the Web, media and data licensing agreements in order to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices. For more information, visit http://www.ncqa.org.

U.S. Pet Owners can Double the Impact of Vaccinations to Help Reduce Rabies in Africa, Save Lives

2008-09-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

American pet owners and their animals can help save lives in Africa through vaccinations administered in the U.S. between now and December 31, 2008. Pet owners are invited to double the impact of the annual veterinary visit and give a global dimension to rabies prevention through the Afya Serengeti project.

Afya Serengeti, "Health for Serengeti" in Swahili, is seeking to control rabies in this region of Tanzania by vaccinating domestic dogs, responsible for more than 8 out of 10 cases of the deadly disease, with children suffering the greatest impact. To support this lifesaving work, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, a global animal health company, is donating a dose of its rabies vaccine for every dose of its Continuum® canine or feline vaccine given to pets through the end of 2008. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has committed up to 250,000 doses to the project. The company is also a sponsor of World Rabies Day on September 28, 2008, a global initiative to address rabies prevention and control.

In Africa, around 25,000 people die from the disease each year, most of them children. Kept as both pets and working animals, domestic dogs are an essential part of everyday life in the Serengeti yet they account for 84.2% of rabies cases. Controlling the disease in household dogs means reducing deaths from rabies in children. Afya Serengeti is a highly successful rabies control project that ensures widespread vaccination of domestic dogs in regions where many people cannot afford an annual rabies shot. A vaccination zone has been set up around the Serengeti National Park with regular clinics where dog owners can bring their pets to be registered, vaccinated and marked with a plastic collar to signify their protection from rabies.

Afya Serengeti has already had a massive impact in the Serengeti region of Tanzania. In its second year of operation, the number of people needing hospital care for bites from rabid dogs dropped by 82% and the control of rabies in domestic dogs has prompted the resurgence of the once-endangered African wild dogs in the park--a major attraction for wildlife tourists.

This year, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has increased its support in the fight to eradicate rabies by providing a new Land Rover to help with rabies vaccine distribution to the Afya Serengeti team. The company will also host events featuring African food at a number of its U.S. locations to raise awareness of the company's support of World Rabies Day and its commitment to rabies eradication.

Dr. Sarah Cleaveland from the Centre of Tropical Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, UK, who founded and leads the Afya Serengeti project says, "We are immensely proud of the success of our initiative in Tanzania. This is a campaign that has let people get on with their everyday lives by helping to eradicate one of the everyday threats. It's not about famine or war or any kind of disaster, it's about making everyday life safer in the Serengeti, especially for children."

Pet lovers who want to do more for the project can also visit the project Web site, www.afya.org, to make a donation, learn more about the issue and view videos about the impact of the project on the Serengeti region.

Pet owners are invited to contact their veterinary practice to ask about support for this lifesaving initiative.

About Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is a leader in research and dedicated to the development, production and marketing of innovative, high-quality animal-health products, such as Continuum®, Galaxy®, Eclipse®, Zubrin®, Vetsulin®, Panacur®, Tri-Heart® Plus, and Leventa®. For more information visit the following Web sites: www.continuum3.com, www.vetsulin.com, www.triheartplus.com and www.leventa.com.

Continuum, Eclipse, Galaxy, Leventa, Panacur, Tri-Heart, Vetsulin, and Zubrin are registered trademarks of Intervet Inc., Schering-Plough Animal Health, or an affiliate.

In addition to animal-health products, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health provides services through its wholly-owned subsidiary HomeAgain®, a leader in companion animal identification and lost pet recovery.

For more information about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health visit the following Web sites: www.intervetusa.com, www.spah.com and www.homeagain.com.

About Schering-Plough Corporation

Schering-Plough (NYSE: SGP - News) is an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development platform to human prescription and consumer products as well as to animal health products. Schering-Plough's vision is to "Earn Trust, Every Day" with doctors, patients, customers and other stakeholders served by its colleagues around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com.

New Medicare Website Provides Customized "Aetna Answers" for Consumers

2008-09-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Aetna announced today that it has launched a redesigned Medicare website, www.aetnamedicare.com. The site gives people a single online resource where they can go through the entire enrollment process, from researching and comparing plan options to receiving price estimates to submitting an enrollment form.

In addition to general information on Medicare, individuals can find and compare Aetna plans available in their geographic area. Each comparison is customized and unique, with users selecting the aspects of the plan that are most important to them, such as prescription drug coverage or making sure their primary care physician participates in Aetna’s network. Individuals can also estimate the cost for each plan before actually applying and even enroll online, a process that can be completed in about 10 minutes.

“This website gives consumers access to the same information they would receive from an Aetna Medicare specialist and allows them to simply walk through the various plan options to help them make an informed decision,” said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna’s Consumer Business Segment. “Choosing a plan that best fits their individual needs is an important way for people with Medicare to protect their health and financial well-being, and the Aetna Medicare website (www.aetnamedicare.com) can help with that process.”

Easy-to-Find Information

Through extensive consumer research, Aetna determined that the majority of Medicare consumers who were searching for information fell into one of three categories. These individuals were:

* Just becoming eligible for the Medicare program and starting their research;
* Looking for a specific piece of information on plan coverage for doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and prescription drugs; or
* Done with their research, aware of what they wanted, and trying to find the plan that best met their needs.

Based on these findings, the new Aetna Medicare website (www.aetnamedicare.com) provides targeted information to individuals in each of these situations – making it quick and easy for them to access relevant information. In addition, there is a fourth section specifically for individuals who may have Aetna Medicare coverage available through a current or former employer.

No matter what section individuals choose, they will have access to a number of different tools and resources. This includes a list of dates to remember, such as when individuals will start to receive marketing materials and when the actual Open Enrollment period takes place; a tool that allows individuals to find scheduled Aetna Medicare informational meetings in their area; important documents such as enrollment and claim forms, as well as the Summary of Benefits for plans; and additional contact information for general Medicare questions.

Designed for Medicare Consumers

Aetna’s research also influenced the new design of the Aetna Medicare website in a number of different ways. The site was simplified with a significant amount of white space and less scrolling on pages, for ease of navigation. There is also a strong contrast in the different colors used in the site and the option of increasing the text size, making the information easier to read.

In addition, the enrollment section of the website has the same format and design as the rest of the site, giving individuals the convenience of searching for information and enrolling in a plan in the same location.

“We are confident that this new website will help anybody looking for information on Aetna Medicare plans find what they need easily, and also smoothly transition to the application process,” McCauley said.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. www.aetna.com

Registered Nurse

2008-08-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Registered Nurse

Nursing Scrubs

2008-08-10T14:12:00.001-07:00

Nursing scrubs are the preset uniform worn by nurses during surgery. These scrubs are not only worn by nurses but also by people who are working as medical representatives. But the main emphasis is laid on nurses.

Nursing scrubs are mainly designed keeping in mind the job requirements of nurses. Nursing scrubs are generally loose-fitting and very comfortable, as nurses have to bend a lot and also continuously roam here and there. Most nursing scrubs are made of cotton, because cotton is absorbent and reduces bad smells.

Nursing is said to be a tough, responsible job that requires continuous alertness and monitoring. Thus, nursing scrubs are designed to be comfortable. Nowadays there are many types of nursing scrubs available in the market, in various designs and patterns. There are front-button nursing scrubs which are worn by the nurses helping outside the operating theatre, and back-button scrubs worn by nurses helping inside the operating theatre. These give them full comfort and complete mobility. It is advisable to do some market research before choosing a nursing scrub, as nursing scrubs should be able to resist germs and bacteria which are known to plague nurses.

These days you can also find colorful designer nursing scrubs, which are primarily worn by the nurses dealing in pediatric departments. These nursing scrubs make a pleasant atmosphere for the children, to ease their tensions when going in for surgery. So if you are a nurse and hunting for best nursing scrub, then surf the internet and find the best nursing scrub available in the market.

Travel Nursing Could Be The Most Fulfilling Thing You Will Ever Do

2008-08-10T14:11:00.003-07:00

I love travel nursing. With travel nursing I’m not stuck in one place, and my employment takes me places I wouldn’t be able to travel if I didn’t have a job to take me there. Travel nursing allows me to meet new people, and see new places, and the wonderful thing is that with this nursing job I get to decide how long I stay.

I love travel nursing. I get paid premium wages, excellent benefits, and I even get free quality, company housing with many of my jobs. I never have to pay the rent. I don’t have heating bills, electric bills, or any of the normal household expenses most people have, so travel nursing allows me to make good money, and also save it for the future when I do decided to settle down.

However, I love travel nursing so much, I don’t know if I will ever go to a regular nursing job where I am stuck at one place, basing my hours and vacations, and life on other people’s schedules. I love travel nursing because I can choose where and when, and the only thing that stops me is availability of the nursing position where I want to be.

The thing I love most about travel nursing is that it is so in demand these days. I can spend a week in California, by the beach, and the next month do a long stay in Vermont and ski the mountains. Travel nursing gives me flexibility I never dreamed of when I was studying to become a nurse, and that’s why I love that I made travel nursing my career choice.

Travel Nursing Could Be The Most Fulfilling Thing You Will Ever Do

2008-08-10T14:11:00.001-07:00

Nursing schools online:- a New Flight of Reaching New Heights

2008-08-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

Nursing is an important career nowadays. It opens a gateway for the new generation to reach new heights in the field of nursing. So, nursing degrees are associated with nursing careers. There are two types of taking nursing education. One is regular course and the other is online course. Both these courses are provided by various universities worldwide. They provide online associate nursing degree programs based on various nursing courses. These courses also provide post graduation courses in specialist fields of nursing.

Relationship of this degree with medical degree:

The nursing degree is virtually related to medical courses as one cannot fulfill with the other. Since these two aspects are related to each other. As nurse plays a key role in the field of medication and hospitality. They take care of patients in a very affable way providing each and every service from taking care to medical facilities. So has been a part and partial of medical life.

There are some other online nursing courses which are associated with nursing degrees commonly known as online associate nursing degree. These degree programs are indirectly associated with nursing but the main motive is to serve people through nursing and hospitality.
Nursing schools online:

There are various prestigious nursing schools worldwide and they have been providing online nursing programs to satisfy the urge of the youngsters who want to make their career in the field of nursing. These online nursing schools makes every wish come true on the part of students. Nursing degree provides well established careers to students through which they get mental satisfaction by serving people and earning good sum of money to enjoy life to its fullest.

Nursing Schools

2008-08-10T14:06:00.002-07:00

Nursing schools are specialized educational institutions, where are educated and trained to become a nurse. It prepares students to serve people of all ages from newborn babies to the aged. Job opportunities on completing nursing education are increasing and nurses are in great demand all over the world. The nature of nursing qualifications and nursing education differ significantly across the world.

Different nursing schools offer different types of courses including bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate degree, and associate degree. A high school diploma is essential to enter a nursing school. A good educational standing in high school English, biology, algebra, physics, chemistry, and psychology is also necessary. Some nursing schools require the National League for Nursing (NLN) pre-admission exam.

Major degree programs granted from nursing schools are Diploma in Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Science. Related majors include behavioral science, anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and physiology. Most courses comprise practical experiences in a variety of ambulatory and inpatient care settings, including community agencies, hospitals, industries, home health care centers, schools, and clinics.

There are a number of online nursing schools that provide courses in nursing. This is a great chance for registered nurses to expand their skills, as they already have medical experience. Many nursing schools offer part-time attendance and night classes according to students’ convenience. Off-campus classes are also available.

Accreditation from National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) is an important factor for nursing schools. Nursing schools provide scholarships and financial aids to assist students.

Barry University School of Nursing, Helene Fuld School of Nursing in Camden, Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing, Auburn University at Montgomery School of Nursing, and Boston College School of Nursing are some major nursing schools in America.

Top Nursing Schools

2008-08-10T14:06:00.001-07:00

The top nursing schools offer a superior education. As more and more hospitals and nursing homes are coming onto the scene, the importance of nurses has also risen. One can never deny the fact that nurses are highly in demand throughout the world. There are many schools that specialize in the training of nurses, but of course some schools are better than others. So it is always desirable to get into one of the few top nursing schools for a better education and a better future.

Top nursing schools will offer higher quality instruction, more one-on-one education, more advanced technology and equipment, an atmosphere of cooperation yet healthy competitiveness, and beautiful new facilities for the future professional top nurses of the world. Of course, this top-of-the-line quality in nursing education usually comes with a higher price tag, so be sure to check tuition rates as you shop around to the different schools. Decide what you can afford versus what your goals are.

The top universities giving education on nursing are as follows:

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee - College of Nursing

University of Wisconsin - Madison - School of Nursing

Marquette University - College of Nursing

Concordia University Wisconsin - Division of Nursing

University of Phoenix

Sanford-Brown College

Olympia College

and many others.

The courses these colleges offer include: advanced practice nursing, cardiac care nursing, cardiac lab nursing, case management nursing, clinical nurse specialist, critical care nursing, dermatology nursing, emergency nursing, genetics nursing, gynecology/obstetric nursing, hematology nursing, infusion nursing, labor & delivery nursing, including licensed practical nursing (LPN) and medical-surgical nursing.

Nursing Jobs

2008-08-10T14:05:00.001-07:00

Modern nursing, which developed in response to the World Wars, was founded by Florence Nightingale. Even though nursing jobs already existed, it is only in the recent years that nursing developed as a specialized profession. Full time nursing, part time nursing, contract nursing, hospital nursing, office nursing, permanent nursing, private duty nursing, public health nursing, health or industrial nursing, nurse practitioner, psych nursing, registered nursing, travel nursing, and licensed vocational nursing /licensed practical nursing are some of the different types of nursing jobs available.

Training for a nursing job involves extensive study of nursing theory and practice and training in clinical skills. Along with the changes in health care, the responsibilities of a nurse also continue to grow. Nowadays, nursing goes beyond hospitals. Anyone who has a degree in nursing can get jobs in the fields of public health, research, policy work, and consulting.

There are some points worth considering while choosing a nursing job. The nursing job seekers should find it convenient to work at night and during weekends. They should be assertive and confident in critical times. In addition, they should be responsible for the treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide range of health care settings. Moreover, they should be ready to relocate in order to pursue their career.

Nowadays, there are several nursing agencies that offer the opportunity of finding nursing jobs. In addition, there are several recruitment Web sites offering a wide range of placement opportunities to nurses. They offer a wide variety of nursing jobs in every specialty, posted by the employers all around the world. Besides, they list nursing jobs by area so that the nurses can search for jobs in a specific state.

In remembrance: The Flanders poppy

2008-08-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

Intricately bound with both national and local acts of commemoration for the war dead is the symbol of the red Flanders poppy. Adopted after the First World War as the official emblem of the Royal British Legion, which today is the nation's de facto custodian of remembrance, the poppy continues to encapsulate a conglomerate of ideas and strong sentiments. This article, which is partly based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out around Ypres, Belgium, the Somme region in France, and in London, seeks to explore the various factors that have enabled the poppy to become a lasting and universally respected symbol of remembrance for the war dead. It will also examine its current role in the rituals of remembrance and consider some of the debates and controversies that surround its cluster of values and continuing symbolic power.

San Juan Regional bids farewell to top nursing administrator: Smith to replace Gerber in lead role

2008-07-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

Deborah Gerber, San Juan Regional Medical Center's chief nursing officer, is retiring after nearly a quarter-century career at the facility.
The regional hospital's clinical director of nursing, Suzanne Smith, succeeds her Aug. 15.
"I've been under Deb's tutelage the
entire time, and it's prepared me to assume the role," Smith said. "I'm excited, but I'm nervous to step into her shoes and do a service to the community."
The position Gerber vacates oversees the nursing services to patients at San Juan Regional. The chief nursing officer also offers mentorship to the hospital's nursing staff and acts as a liaison among the physicians, nurses and with the hospital's board of directors.
"It's a leader for the services with a focus on quality, consistency and compliance," Smith said.
Gerber considers the change to be her retirement, but like many career workers, she will keep her hands in her profession.
"I'll be working for Herman Miller as a consultant," she said.
The national firm provides

health care products. Gerber said she will remain in Farmington.
"It's been a hard decision because I have spent a large part of my life here and I have a lot of friends in the organization," she said.
Her working career spans four decades, beginning in Wichita, Kan., and tailing off as citizen ambassador to China, a position awarded her by the American Organization of Nurse Executives last year.
Gerber watched the hospital grow from a two- to a four-floor facility with a tower during her years at San Juan Regional. The nursing administration offices occupy the hospital's original Labor/Delivery area.
Women's medical needs led the way for changes in how health care services are delivered.
"The national demand by families led the movement to health care delivery," Smith said, referring to the more family friendly options available to parents when a new baby joins them. "It's evolution."
Speaking to the liaison duties of the chief nursing officer, both women said another aspect of changes in the medical care delivery systems the hospital offers is the cooperative, collegial relationship between nurses and physicians, and the open lines of communication between the two groups.
"The hospital's medical staff has been very insightful in putting together guidelines that keep all of us to a higher standard," Gerber said.
Gerber's and Smith's nursing training taught them it is a privilege and an honor to care for patients. That training will go with Smith into her new position.
"Things change and evolve; I still get to do nursing and stay abreast of what's going on," she said. "Nursing administration is real nursing."
Reminiscing over her years at San Juan Regional, Gerber praised the hospital as a great organization that is progressing and filled with state-of-the-art equipment.
"I give a lot of credit to the hospital," she said.
San Juan Regional is San Juan County's largest employer, with more than 1,400 employees. Many of them — 475 total — are nurses.
Cornelia de Bruin: cdebruin@daily-times.com

Source :The Daily Times

Hospitals, nursing homes petition judge to slow Medicaid cuts

2008-07-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Attorneys for dozens of hospitals and nursing homes asked a Hinds County chancery judge today to slow the process of deep cuts planned for Medicaid, the health care program that serves hundreds of thousands of Mississippians.
Judge Patricia Wise said she would make a decision before Friday, when a hearing on the proposed cuts is scheduled.

Nearly 40 hospitals and 130 nursing homes want the hearing delayed until Medicaid officials provide proof of why they need to cut $375 million from a program that is not in immediate danger of running out of money. They also want more information on how the cuts would impact health care providers.

John Sneed, an attorney representing the hospitals, said Medicaid is in violation of state law because officials have not presented a detailed analysis of how the planned cuts would affect health care providers.

He said the impact of the cuts will be “devastating.” Providers have said the cuts will require some hospitals and nursing homes to shut down. They’ve also predicted that thousands of health care workers will be laid off, and doctors will stop seeing Medicaid patients.

“The consequences are so severe, the defendants must be required to do this right,” Sneed said.

Ricky Luke, a special assistant Attorney General representing the Division of Medicaid, said the agency’s summary of the impact of the planned cuts constitutes its analysis.

He also argued that courts are “not empowered to stop an administrative train wreck,” referring to the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ description of the planned cuts. Health care providers can legally challenge the cuts after they are enacted, he said.

Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, is threatening the cuts will go into effect next Wednesday unless lawmakers adopt a hospital tax plan as a long-term funding solution for Medicaid. Many Democrats want to include a cigarette tax hike, though, and the political stand-off has not been resolved.

Source :Hospitals, nursing homes petition judge to slow Medicaid cuts

Shortage in nursing field

2008-07-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

Recruiting efforts are underway locally aimed at middle and high school students.
In 2006, the UNC-Wilmington School of Nursing developed Camp Brigade of Nurse Exploring Seahawks – Camp BONES for short.
The camp is two weeks during the summer and allows the students to shadow nurses at work.
This year 33 local students are involved in the camp, and this week they are at New Hanover Regional Medical Center learning about nursing and career possibilities.

Hoggard High School freshman Andrea Age said, "I want to be a cardiologist, at least that's what I was thinking. Now, I may want to be a nurse practitioner or a labor nurse."
That is just the reaction camp counselors are hoping for.
For more information call the School of Nursing at UNCW at 910-962-3784.

Source :Shortage in nursing field

Resident Care Manager

2008-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

More about the job: Are you looking for a challenging, yet rewarding place to hang your hat? Do you enjoy working closely with people in a long term setting? Are you highly motivated yet want to have fun and enjoy where you work? If you answered yes to the above - we'd like to hear from you. Our newly remodeled skilled nursing facility is looking for an addition to their awesome team. Job duties including MDS Assessments, care planning, and some hands on as well. We are very proud of our wound care and the success of healing the most challenging wounds. Our rehab department is state of the art and our management team has longevity. If you are interested in joining our staff please contact us so we can talk. We are willing to train the right person for the job - it could be you! We look forward in hearing from you.

Vacancy information
Specialty GERIATRICS/LONG-TERM CARE Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $27.00 to $32.00
Job Location lebanon Type of Position Full-Time Permanent
Education Required ADN Years of Experience Required 2-5 yrs
Number of Openings 2 Overnight Travel Some
Job Code Resident Care Manager
Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Flex Time · Relocation Assistance · Sign On Bonus Vacation Time Negotiable / Other
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Alice Baskin Phone number 541-259-1221
Company name Lebanon Rehab Fax number 541-451-1349
Address 350 S 8th St.
Lebanon, Oregon 97355
USA Preferred Method of Contact Phone
Company type Long-Term Care Facility Contact email abaskin@avamere.com
Department Nursing Company homepage Avamere.com
Company Size (number of employees) 25-99

Source :Avamere.com

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

2008-07-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

More about the job: To perform advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner services in a community mental health setting. Provide assessment, medication management and community consultation for out-patient adults and children with mental health and/or developmental disability. Oregon License required. Possession of a valid motor vehicle license; US citizenship or right to work in US; Must be able to pass a criminal history check. This is a fast paced, caring clinic, multi- team environment.

Vacancy information
Specialty BEHAVIORAL / MENTAL / PSYCH Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $5511 to $7545
Job Location Albany Type of Position Full-Time Permanent
Education Required BSN/MSN Preferred Years of Experience Required 1 yr
Number of Openings 1 Overnight Travel None
Starting Date July 1, 2008
Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Flex Time Vacation Time 2 weeks / year
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Robert Vandiver, MD Phone number (541) 967-3866
Company name Linn County Mental Health Services Fax number (541) 926-6271
Address PO Box 100
Albany, Oregon 97321
USA Preferred Method of Contact No Preference
Company type Clinic Contact email rvandiver@co.linn.or.us
Department Medical Team Company homepage www.co.linn.or.us
Company Size (number of employees) 25-99
Company Profile: community mental health
Linn County Mental Health Services
445 Third Avenue SW
Albany, OR 97321

Source :community mental health

Charge Nurse

2008-07-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

More about the job: Are you looking for a challenging, yet rewarding place to hang your hat? Do you enjoy working with people in a long term setting? Are you highly motivated yet want to have fun and enjoy where you work? If you answered yes to the above - we'd like to hear from you. We are a newly remodeled skilled nursing facility and we are looking for charges nurse's that love challenge. We are very proud of our wound care and the sucess of healing the most challenging wounds. We are willing to train the right person for the job - it could be you! We are looking forward in hearing from you.

Vacancy information
Specialty GERIATRICS/LONG-TERM CARE Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $20.00 to $25.00
Job Location Lebanon Type of Position Full-Time Permanent
Education Required LPN/LVN Degree Years of Experience Required 1 yr
Number of Openings 2

Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Flex Time · Tuition Reimbursement Vacation Time Negotiable / Other
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Alice Baskin Phone number 541-259-1221
Company name Lebanon Rehab Fax number 541-541-1329
Address 350 S 8th st.
Lebanon, Oregon 97355
USA Preferred Method of Contact Phone
Company type Long-Term Care Facility Contact email abaskin@avamere.com
Department nursing Company homepage avamere.com
Company Size (number of employees) 25-99

Source :avamere.com

NURSE PRACTITIONER, PART-TIME, WOMEN'S HEALTH & STI

2008-07-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

More about the job: PLEASE, DO NOT SEND RESUME. GO TO: www.co.marion.or.us/bs/hr for job announcement and application form.

Full benefits package!! In addition to vacation and holidays, this position receives 3 weeks of compensation credits per year, to be used as additional pay or time off.

Assists the Health Officer with the development of STI protocols and standing orders.

Provides direct services to STI and Family Planning clients per standards of the Oregon Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practice Act; initiates intake screening and nursing assessments; conducts physical exams, lab tests and assures appropriate treatment to clients, utilizing standing orders; administers immunizations, injections and evaluates results; provides appropriate and up to date information verbally and in writing to increase client knowledge of his/her condition per established policy; initiates plans with clients for follow-up and treatment; provides consultation to STI treatment nurse as indicated.

Documents, reviews and evaluates medical records and data; enters client medical information into computer.
Maintains, inventories, orders and restocks drug supplies.

In the event of a public health emergency, reports to work as directed and performs role assigned by the Health Department Director or designee; may be required to work an extended or flexible schedule.

Specialty WOMEN'S HEALTH Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $27.45 hr to $35.03 hr
Job Location Salem, Oregon Type of Position Part-Time Permanent
Education Required BSN Years of Experience Required New Graduate
Number of Openings 1 Overnight Travel None
Starting Date Open until filled Job Code 509-5
Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Other Vacation Time 2 weeks / year
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Human Resources Phone number 503-589-3295
Company name Marion County Fax number 503-588-5495
Address 555 Court Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
USA Preferred Method of Contact Company Web Site
Company type Government Contact email humanresources@co.marion.or.us
Department Marion County Health Department Company homepage www.co.marion.or.us/bs/hr
Company Size (number of employees) 1,000-4,999 Division Public Health Services
Company Profile: Marion County, Oregon, is a growing community located in the heart of the Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley is one of the most fertile and agriculturally productive regions in the world. The area is dotted with cities, farms, and forests and is considered one of the most livable areas of the country, offering a low cost-of-living, quality schools, and mild weather. The county covers 1,175 square miles and has a population of approximately 302,135. There are 20 incorporated cities and 37 unincorporated communities in Marion County. Salem, the county seat and the state capital, is one of the valley’s oldest cities and the second largest city in Oregon. The principal industries are agriculture, government, food processing, lumber, manufacturing, education, and tourism. Marion County has both private and public schools, preschool through university level. There are four universities and two community colleges within a 30-mile radius.

Marion County is rich with parks, rivers, lakes, and recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, biking, boating, equestrian trails, organized children’s sports and activities, Saturday artisan markets, theatre, museums, art fairs, music fairs, and the State Fair. A short driving distance to the east there is world class skiing in the Cascade Mountains. To the west are many beautiful public beaches on the Pacific Ocean. To the north is Portland, Oregon’s cultural hub and largest city, and to the south are the rivers and canyons of the beautiful Rogue Valley and the annual Shakespearean Festival in Ashland.

A three-person, elected Board of Commissioners and a chief administrative officer govern Marion County. The county employs 1,550 full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, many of whom are represented by one of the four bargaining units. Marion County government provides community services and resources, including property assessment and tax collection, children and family resources, elections, licensing and recording, justice courts, district attorney’s office for criminal prosecution, support enforcement, and victims assistance, public and behavioral health, housing, juvenile programs, public works programs, jail, and law enforcement services.

Source :Marion County, Oregon

RN Care Manager in Oregon America

2008-07-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

More about the job: The RN Care Manager (RCM) is reponsible for managing the nursing care of their assigned residents. The RCM supervises and coordinates with all members of the health care team to develop and maintain a high quality of nursing care for their assigned residents to insure the physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of each resident.

Primary Responsibilities
1. Planning, organizing, directing and evaluating nursing care for each resident assigned
2. Supervision of all members of the health care team involved with the care of their residents and includes direct care staff, ancillary staff (rehabilitation, pharmacy, medical supplies, etc).
3. Serving as liaison between the resident, families, outside services and agencies.
4. Perform and participate in recruitment of qualified staff, hiring, scheduling supervision, performance evaluations, counseling and terminating, to assure adequate and consistant resident care.
5. Additional responsibilities include sharing or occationally assuming full responsibility for treatments, staff development or charge nurse duties.

Education/Licensure/Training:
1. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
2. Registered Nurse (RN) with current, unencumbered license to practice in the State

Specialty SUBACUTE Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $22.00 to $29.00
Job Location Woodburn, Eugene, Roseburg, Grants Pass Type of Position Full-Time Permanent
Years of Experience Required 1 yr
Number of Openings 4 Overnight Travel None
Starting Date Immediately
Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Flex Time · Relocation Assistance · Tuition Reimbursement · Offers Sponsorship for U.S. Visa · Other Vacation Time 2 weeks / year
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Melanie Martinez Phone number 541-746-1020
Company name Pinnacle Healthcare, Inc. Fax number 541-746-1021
Address 1077 Gateway Loop
Springfield, Oregon 97477
USA Preferred Method of Contact E-mail
Company type Long-Term Care Facility Contact email melaniemartinez@pinnacle-healthcare.com
Department Nursing Company homepage www.pinnacle-healthcare.com
Company Size (number of employees) 10,000-19,999
Company Profile: Pinnacle Healthcare Inc
http://www.pinnacle-healthcare.com
1077 Gateway Loop
Springfield, Oregon 97477

Facility Description:

The Mission of Pinnacle Healthcare is enhance and enrich every life we touch. We sincerely regard each of our facilities' individual and unique cultures, along with the local communities they serve. We are committed to communication, cooperation, promoting individual strengths, and resource development. By focusing on our customers, we strive to be the finest nursing facilities' in the communities we serve! New Grads Welcomed!

City Description:

Multiple locations through out Oregon.

Company Benefits:

Medical, dental, relocation assistance, continuing education, 401(k), education loan pay back program, flex plan, sign on bonus, and you have the option of picking and choosing your incentive options.

Relocation Assistance:

Pinnacle Healthcare offers many creative and generous incentive plans including relocation assistance! Be sure to ask about them all!

Source :Pinnacle Healthcare Inc

Staff Nurse - SURGERY in Oregon United State

2008-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Job Summary:

The Surgical Services RN Demonstrates compassion, respect and caring while working within his or her scope of practice to provide individualized, safe and efficient care to patients and assistance to their families and visitors. Works collaboratively with all other healthcare team members toward the best outcomes for the patient and the organization.

Required Specifications:

Candidates must be a graduate of an accredited nursing school, have a valid and current Oregon RN license, as well as have BLS, ACLS certification. CNOR is preferred. A minimum of 1-year current experience scrubbing and circulating general, gynecology, orthopedics, and urology services is required. Position is 40 hours per week with on-call shift rotation required.

Vacancy information
Specialty SURGERY Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr) from $25.96 to $37.97
Job Location Florence Type of Position Full-Time Permanent
Years of Experience Required 1 yr
Number of Openings 1 Overnight Travel None

Benefits Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Relocation Assistance · Tuition Reimbursement · Sign On Bonus
Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Margie Cooper Phone number 541-902-1671
Company name PeaceHealth Fax number 541-997-1478
Address 400 Ninth St.
Florence, Oregon 97439
USA Preferred Method of Contact Company Web Site
Company type Hospital Contact email mcooper@peacehealth.org
Department Surgery Company homepage www.peacehealth.org
Company Size (number of employees) 100-499 Division Siuslaw
Company Profile:
Center For Mission
"Ethics, Values, Mission, Spirituality"

The PeaceHealth Mission Statement
We carry on the healing mission
of Jesus Christ by
promoting personal and community health,
relieving pain and suffering,
and treating each person in a loving and caring way

The PeaceHealth Core Values

RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL HUMAN DIGNITY AND WORTH
We respect the dignity and appreciate the worth of each person as demonstrated by our compassion, caring, and acceptance of individual differences.

STEWARDSHIP
We choose to serve the community and hold ourselves accountable to exercise ethical and responsible stewardship in the allocation and utilization of human, financial, and environmental resources.

COLLABORATION
We value the involvement, cooperation, and creativity of all who work together to promote the health of the community.

SOCIAL JUSTICE
We build and evaluate the structures of our organization and those of society to promote the just distribution of health care resources.
Source :linkname

Job Outlook: The Growing Demand For Nurses

2008-07-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Registered Nurses (RNs) are in high demand. Nursing jobs, especially for RNs, are expected to grow faster than the average (increase 21 to 35 percent) for all occupations through 2012. In fact, more new jobs are expected be created for RNs than for any other occupation.

Financially, the shortage is good news for nurses. According to most salary surveys, the Average Yearly Wage for nurses rose 10 percent in the last two years. Employers are taking additional steps to retain the nurses they have by offering salary increases, bonuses and better benefits.

Employers across the country are reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs. Thousands of nursing jobs will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who will be leaving the occupation. The median age for an RN is 45-years old. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics approximately half of the RN workforce will reach retirement age within the next 15 years.

New legions of nurses will be needed to meet the demands of our aging population. Baby Boomers, those born between 1944 and 1964, are reaching the age where they will be putting increased demands on our nation’s hospitals, home health and assisted living systems. The 1990 census showed that there were 77 million Baby Boomers and only 44 million Generation Xers. One of the results of this disparity is the smallest pool of entry-level workers in generations. With regards to nursing, there are fewer nurses to replace those retiring and to provide care for the increased needs of an aging population.

Faster-than-average growth in nursing employment is also driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of medical problems to be treated, and an increasing emphasis on preventive care.

Employment of nurses in hospitals, the largest sector, is expected to grow more slowly than in most other healthcare sectors. While the intensity of nursing care is likely to increase, requiring more nurses per patient, the number of inpatients (those who remain in the hospital for more than 24 hours) is not likely to increase much. Patients are being discharged earlier and more procedures are being done on an outpatient basis, both inside and outside hospitals. Rapid growth is expected in hospital outpatient facilities, such as those providing same-day surgery, rehabilitation, and chemotherapy.

An increasing proportion of sophisticated procedures, which once were performed only in hospitals, are being performed in physicians’ offices and in outpatient care centers, such as freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers. Accordingly, nursing employment is expected to grow faster than average in these places as healthcare in general expands.

Employment in nursing care facilities is expected to grow faster than average due to increases in the number of elderly, many of whom require long-term care. In addition, the financial pressure on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible should produce more admissions to nursing care facilities. Nursing job growth also is expected in units that provide specialized long-term rehabilitation for stroke and head injury patients, as well as units that treat Alzheimer’s victims.

Nursing jobs in home healthcare are expected to increase rapidly in response to the growing number of older persons with functional disabilities, consumer preference for home healthcare, and technological advances that make it possible to bring increasingly complex treatments into the home. The type of care demanded will require nurses who are able to perform complex procedures.

In evolving integrated healthcare networks, nurses may rotate among various employment settings. Because nursing jobs in traditional hospital positions are no longer the only option, registered nurses will need to be flexible. Nursing job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for nurses with advanced education and training.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Stastics

Staff Nurse - SURGERY

2008-07-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

Assists the Director of Clinical Services in the planning, organizing and management of all aspects of nursing services at the main clinic and satellites.

Essential Functions:
1. Assist in the management of nursing services in accordance with clinic, governmental, and other regulatory standards.
2. Assist in the development of departmental goals and objectives in consultation with the Director of Clinical Services.
3. Coordinate with other departments to address operational issues, formulate plans, and implement new policies/procedures.
4. Assume responsibility for nursing department in absence of the Director of Clinical Services.
5. Supervise assigned nursing staff.
6. Review and update nursing policies and procedures. Formulate new policies as needed.
7. Review and monitor work schedules, hours and duty assignments.

8. Assist with the selection and hiring of departmental personnel. Facilitate staff development and continuing education programs.
9. Develop/oversee the nursing department orientation procedure for new employees.
10. Evaluate and administer staff performance appraisals. Administer disciplinary action, as needed.
11. Assist with reviewing departmental performance, and ensuring compliance with quality assurance, legal and other regulatory agencies.
12. Attend required meetings and participate in committees as requested. Facilitate department and other meetings, as needed.
13. Provide minutes to meetings, as directed by the Director of Clinical Services.
14. Regularly visit and communicate with satellite nursing staff.

Specialty	MULTI-SPECIALTY	Pay Rate (Yr, Mo, Wk, Hr)	from $DOE to $
Job Location	Salem	Type of Position	Full-Time Permanent
Education Required	BSN	Years of Experience Required	2-5 yrs
Number of Openings	1	Overnight Travel	None
Starting Date	Immediate
Benefits	Health/Dental Benefits · 401k, Retirement and/or Pension Plan · Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave · Life and/or Disability Insurance · Tuition Reimbursement · Day Care Services · Other	Vacation Time	3 weeks / year

Company Profile and Contact Information
Contact Name Margie Cooper Phone number 541-902-1671
Company name PeaceHealth Fax number 541-997-1478
Address 400 Ninth St.
Florence, Oregon 97439
USA Preferred Method of Contact Company Web Site
Company type Hospital Contact email mcooper@peacehealth.org
Department Surgery Company homepage www.peacehealth.org
Company Size (number of employees) 100-499 Division Siuslaw
Company Profile:
Center For Mission
"Ethics, Values, Mission, Spirituality"

The PeaceHealth Mission Statement
We carry on the healing mission
of Jesus Christ by
promoting personal and community health,
relieving pain and suffering,
and treating each person in a loving and caring way

The PeaceHealth Core Values

RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL HUMAN DIGNITY AND WORTH
We respect the dignity and appreciate the worth of each person as demonstrated by our compassion, caring, and acceptance of individual differences.

STEWARDSHIP
We choose to serve the community and hold ourselves accountable to exercise ethical and responsible stewardship in the allocation and utilization of human, financial, and environmental resources.

COLLABORATION
We value the involvement, cooperation, and creativity of all who work together to promote the health of the community.

SOCIAL JUSTICE
We build and evaluate the structures of our organization and those of society to promote the just distribution of health care resources.

Highland Hospital

2008-07-16T13:35:00.001-07:00

Nurses find a comfortable home at Highland Hospital, a medium-size community hospital known for programs including:

* Comprehensive women's services
* Geriatrics
* Regional gastric bypass
* Orthopedics, including the new Evarts Joint Center and a 20-bed inpatient orthopedic floor

At Highland Hospital, we take great pride in the warm, caring environment fostered by our nurses and other staff members. We go the extra step to make sure that each patient is treated with genuine thoughtfulness. Collaboration and the open exchange of ideas are key elements of the Highland Hospital approach.

Learn more about Highland Hospital:

* Nurse recruitment
* Job listings

Contact Highland Hospital Nurse Recruitment:

* Phone: (585) 341-8059
* Fax: (585) 341-6826
* E-mail: veronica_scott-bliss@urmc.rochester.edu

Strong Memorial Hospital

2008-07-16T13:30:00.001-07:00

Good nurses are in such demand that they can work nearly anywhere they want. About 3,000 nurses choose to work at Strong Memorial Hospital, a primary teaching hospital for the University of Rochester Medical Center and other health profession schools. Numerous nursing specialty areas are available.

Strong Memorial Hospital has been designated a Magnet Hospital because of the outstanding quality of its nursing care. Nurses are highly valued and active members of the interdisciplinary team. The Magnet designation has been granted to only 2% of the country's hospitals.

Learn more about Strong Memorial Hospital:

* Nurse recruitment
* Nursing specialties
* Job listings

Contact Strong Memorial Hospital Nurse Recruitment:

* Phone: (585) 275-3478
* Fax: (585) 756-5882
* E-mail: smh_nurserecruit@urmc.rochester.edu

PHSA Specialty Nurses Truly Make A Difference

2008-07-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Imagine being an integral part of an organization that touches every facet of specialty health care in British Columbia. PHSA and it agencies are recognized for their leading research and teaching facilities as well as being leading providers of patient care. From bedside nursing to nursing leadership, the PHSA is the health authority for specialty nursing at all levels. Please view our video clip from our most recent nurse recruitment event.

A specialty nursing career is no longer merely a dream. At PHSA, we are investing in talented nurses who want to build a stronger career and advance their skills in a specialty of their choice. Whether you are a new graduate or have several years of nursing experience, it has never been a better time to explore specialty nursing and take your career to a new level. Through in-depth clinical orientation programs which support learning and help you start your specialty nursing career off on the right track, our supportive environment is tailored to meet your goals through career-pathing that extends from bedside to leadership roles.

If you have been thinking about a career in Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing, please refer to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) leaflet for more details.

Looking for an Extraordinary Practice Opportunity?

2008-07-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers nurses extraordinary opportunities for providing comprehensive care in culturally rich communities. More than 2,500 IHS nurses play a leadership role in clinics, hospitals, and public outreach programs nationwide. They are vital to the health of individuals and entire communities.

Most IHS positions are in rural settings, where there is great demand for generalists as well as for specialists in hospital settings.

The ideal IHS candidate must be able to handle a wide range of medical cases. For example, a morning's patient roster might include an infant with Reactive Airway Disease, an adult diabetic, and a new mother needing basic education in child care.

An IHS nurse may choose to stay for an extended period of time in one location or periodically transfer to other locations to learn about other cultures and natural environments.
Source : www.ihs.gov

Want to be a Nurse? How do you start?

2008-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

NURSING OPPORTUNITIES will help you find a nursing job in your ideal practice setting. Whether that's nursing jobs in Oregon, nursing jobs in Washington, nursing jobs in Idaho, nursing jobs in Alaska, nursing jobs in Hawaii, nursing jobs in Montana, nursing jobs in Utah, nursing jobs in Wyoming, nursing jobs in California, nursing jobs in Nevada, nursing jobs in Arizona, nursing jobs in New Mexico or nursing jobs in Colorado you will find them all here. We are in the process of updating our site to include nursing employment opportunities throughout the United States. Presently, you will find jobs for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Nurse Practitioners throughout the western United States. Our Web site is continually updated with new jobs for nurses, so check back frequently.

Nursing Opportunities is also a monthly newspaper that is mailed free of charge to over 75,000 nurses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. If you would like a free subscription, fill out the subscription form and one will be mailed to you.

Nursing Opportunities and nurseops.com both feature Continuing Education opportunities for nurses. You'll find national nursing conventions, free continuing education for nurses as well as fee based continuing education for nurses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
Source : www.nurseops.com