health blog: October 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Business Insurance Now Offers Professional Liability Insurance for Allied Health Care Providers

New insurance option provides risk protection for audiologists, dietitians, nutritionists, music therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists/therapists

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) July 16, 2009

Business Insurance Now now offers professional liability insurance for allied health professionals (http://www. businessinsurancenow. com/allied_health_care. aspx), giving audiologists, dietitians, nutritionists, music therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists/therapists an affordable and easy way to get the insurance coverage they need. Information is located at www. businessinsurancenow. com/allied_health_care. aspx (http://www. businessinsurancenow. com/allied_health_care. aspx).

"We've partnered with the industry's leading carriers to offer top-quality professional liability insurance for self-employed allied health professionals at a price they can afford," says Jim Cochran, president of Business Insurance Now.

Also known as "errors and omissions insurance," allied health professional liability insurance protects an allied health care provider, or his or her company, against the financial devastation that comes from being charged with either a negligent act or failure to perform professional duties. Professional liability insurance (http://www. businessinsurancenow. com/professional_liability. aspx) generally covers claims alleging errors and omissions, negligence, or misleading statements made on the job.

With professional liability insurance for allied health professionals from Business Insurance Now, allied health care providers can be confident that they are protecting themselves and their assets with coverage that's a perfect fit for their needs.

"Allied health professionals who get sued face tremendous costs for a legal defense, whether they're found to be at fault or not," Cochran says. "The health care business is fraught with claims, and liability can be significant. Allied health care providers are taking a big liability risk when working with patients while uninsured."

Should an insured allied health professional (http://www. businessinsurancenow. com/allied_health_care. aspx) face a claim, allied health professional liability insurance from Business Insurance Now would pay for a legal defense, as well as damages that the provider or his or her business may be legally required to pay, up to the dollar limit specified by the policy.

Allied health professional liability coverage from Business Insurance Now features:
The expertise and stability of A. M. Best A+ rated carriers Coverage on an occurrence basis to protect against incidents that occur while the policy is in force, regardless of when the claim is reported Custom and triple aggregate limits No deductible $10,000 off-premises property coverage $10,000 premises medical pay coverage Blanket defined additional insured coverage Enhanced coverage for outdoor property Business interruption coverage Interest-free installment plans for accounts with premiums over $5,000 Available umbrella liability limits

Business Insurance Now provides affordable allied health professional liability coverage for a variety of specialities, including:

Audiologist Dietitian Nutritionist Music therapist Occupational therapist Speech pathologist/therapist

About Business Insurance Now

Business Insurance Now is a Web-based e-agent that offers office and professional groups fast, easy, one-stop shopping for all their property and liability insurance needs. Business Insurance Now offers free, no-obligation quotes and the option to implement coverage immediately. For more information, please visit www. businessinsurancenow. com.

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Number 1 Garden Decor Website Just Got Better by Adding More Than 700 Gardening Articles

The number one “garden decor” website on Google recently became even more popular with gardening enthusiasts with the addition of more than 700 garden-related articles. It is asserted that involving yourself in gardening and reading garden-related articles can help you feel happier and more alive and can also help you stop to smell the roses.

Bedford, OH (PRWEB) January 28, 2006

Denny Soinski, owner of the highly successful website entitled “Water Fountains and Garden Decor” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com)), recently decided to add hundreds of gardening articles to his website. According to Soinski “Adding garden-related articles to our website provides our customers with constantly updated and new content. It also provides our customers with ideas and information that is related to what they have a passionate interest in –gardening. And finally, gardening and reading garden-related articles also helps a person live a more healthy and happy life as he or she takes time to stop and smell the roses.”

Speaking of roses, more than 60 articles pertaining to “roses” can be found at Water Fountains and Garden Decor (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/rose-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/rose-articles. html)). For instance, would you like to learn more about black roses? Do you know how to dry roses? Would you like to know more about the history of wild roses? Would you like to know more about planting roses

Similar to the articles on roses, Water Fountains and Garden Decor features more than 20 articles about “orchids” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/Orchid-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/Orchid-articles. html)). For example, would you like to know more about silk orchids or flowers? Would you like to learn how to make artificial orchids or flowers? Do young orchids require special care? Would you like to discover some new Orchid Growing Tips?

Concerning flowers other than orchids and roses, Water Fountains and Garden Decor contains more than 100 articles about “flowers” such as chrysanthemums, daylilies, azaleas, geraniums, perennials, annuals, hibiscus, rhododendrons, marigolds, tulips, edible flowers, silk flowers, and wild flowers (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/flowers-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/flowers-articles. html)).

Water Fountains and Garden Decor also features numerous articles about “plants” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/plant-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/plant-articles. html)). For instance, do you want to learn more about silk or artificial plants? Do you want to learn more about water garden plants? Do you know the different plant hardiness zones?

Not unlike the articles on plants, Water Fountains and Garden Decor also has dozens of articles about “trees” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/tree-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/tree-articles. html)). Would you like to know how to prune apple trees? Do you know how to plant your own fruit trees? Do you want to learn more about the different types of palm trees? Are you interested in Growing Bonsai Trees?

Similar to the articles about plants and trees, Water Fountains and Garden Decor also has numerous articles about “vegetables” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/vegetable-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/vegetable-articles. html)). For instance, do you want to learn more about vegetable seeds? Would you like to know more about container vegetable gardening? Do you want to know more about organic vegetable gardening?

From a different perspective and for those who have a fondness for “birds,” Water Fountains and Garden Decor features more than 25 articles about hummingbirds, bluebirds, how to attract birds to your garden, bird feeder basics, and more (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/Bird-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/Bird-articles. html)).

Water Fountains and Garden Decor also contains more than 200 “How-To” garden-related articles as diverse as fashion tips for gardeners, building a garden fence, choosing garden furniture, how to grow bamboo, lawn care tips, planning a water garden, tips for windowsill gardening, transplanting tips, and winterizing tips for your lawn and garden (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/How-to-gardening-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/How-to-gardening-articles. html)).

From a different viewpoint, Water Fountains and Garden Decor has a nice selection of articles that focus on “herb gardening” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/herbs-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/herbs-articles. html)). For instance, do you want to learn about growing herbs indoors? Would you like to know about the fastest growing herbs? Would you like to learn how to grow cooking herbs? Would you like to learn about herb gardening?

For those whose passion is garden design, Water Fountains and Garden Decor also has numerous “landscaping” articles (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/landscaping-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/landscaping-articles. html)). For instance, would you like to know about landscaping terms and conditions? Do you want to know more about back yard landscaping design? Might you be interested in landscaping software?

For articles that do not nicely fit in other categories, Water Fountains and Garden Decor features more than 90 articles that fall into the “miscellaneous” category (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/garden-related-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/garden-related-articles. html)). In this section you will learn about window ledge gardening, asthma friendly gardens, the benefits of gardening for kids, gardening gifts for all occasions, horticultural therapy, pruning basics, and teaching gardening in schools.

Water Fountains and Garden Decor also contains a number of articles about “ponds” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/pond-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/pond-articles. html)). For instance, do you want to know more about home and garden ponds? Would you consider learning more about Garden Ponds Designs? Are home garden ponds your passion? Would you like to learn more about Small Garden Ponds?

As a way of emphasizing the essence of gardening, Water Fountains and Garden Decor has many articles that discuss “the meaning and joy of gardening” (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/The-meaning-and-joy-of-gardening. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/The-meaning-and-joy-of-gardening. html)). For instance, do you know that gardening can be considered a stress reduction technique? Did you know that gardening can lead to better health and increased happiness? Would you be surprised to learn that gardening is a form or experienced emotional happiness and also that gardening can be one of the key variables correlated with happiness?

Finally, Water Fountains and Garden Decor also has numerous articles about butterflies, composting, container gardening, fountains, garden decor and accessories, garden planning, the garden seasons, lawns, Japanese gardens, mulch, and organic gardening (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/garden-related-articles. html (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com/garden-related-articles. html)).

In conclusion, counteract the "rat race" and negative world events by taking time to smell the roses. Indeed, look for things that make you happy--things that make you feel energized and more alive. One way to insure that you stop to smell the roses is to involve yourself in gardening and to learn more about gardening by reading garden-related articles.

Water Fountains and Garden Decor (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com (http://www. water-fountains-and-garden-decor. com)) is an online retailer of home, yard, patio, office, and garden accessories, ornaments, and decor accents and is the number one ranked website on Google and in the Yahoo Directory for the terms “garden decor” and “water fountains.” Founded in 2003, Water Fountains and Garden Decor features water fountains, vases, sculptures, birdfeeders, planters, birdhouses, windchimes---and hundreds of wonderful gardening articles.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A Newly Revamped Web Site Called AblePlay Reviews Toys Based on their Relevance and Benefits to Children with Special Needs

Children's Health Study - The True Value Of Play - It may surprise parents to learn that the benefits of play could extend beyond fun and games.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) October 27, 2009

www. AblePlay. org reviews toys from the marketplace and evaluates them based on their relevance and benefits to children with special needs.

It may surprise parents to learn that the benefits of play could extend beyond fun and games.

According to Pediatrics in Review, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, play "offers children important developmental benefits and parents the opportunity to fully engage with their children."

Indeed, research continues to reveal that playtime helps build social and critical thinking skills in children, and that it may help with balance and dexterity. There's even evidence that playing can help bond parent and child.

Those benefits may be particularly important for youngsters who have special needs. An estimated 10 million families across the U. S. have a child with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities and chronic medical problems, according to Children's Hospital Boston's "Children's News."

Many of these families can tap into resources designed specifically to help their kids get more out of play. For instance, a newly revamped Web site called www. AblePlay. org reviews toys from the marketplace and evaluates them based on their relevance and benefits to children with special needs.

It features a rating system divided by disability category (physical, sensory, cognitive, etc.) and also lists toys by the possible benefits they may present. Additionally, parents can search toys by their manufacturer or their child's age.

Also important, the site may help save parents money by allowing them to more thoroughly evaluate a toy, and its alternatives, before buying. "Many parents purchase expensive adaptive toys without realizing that there are regular toys out there that work just as well or better for a fraction of the cost,"says Ellen Metrick, who evaluates toys for the site.

Parents who visit the Web site can also help support the National Lekotek Center, a division of Anixter Center. The nonprofit group provides family-centered, playbased services for children with disabilities.

For more information,
Visit www. AblePlay. org or call
(800) 366-PLAY, ext. 401.

The True Value Of Play
Did You Know? A newly revamped Web site called
Www. AblePlay. org reviews toys and evaluates them based on their relevance and benefits to children with special needs.

Visit the site or call (800)
366-PLAY, ext. 401.

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Hollywood NOW Celebrates Love Your Body Day, Real Women with Host Kim Coles in West Hollywood

Hollywood NOW, City of West Hollywood, Women's Advisory Board, Chenese Lewis Productions host community celebration, entertainment & "Real Women" Fashion Show

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 9, 2008

Hollywood NOW, the local Chapter of the 42-year-old national organization working to bring women and men into full equality, celebrates Love Your Body Day 2008. The Chapter seeks to turnaround the negative body image and stereotype created by Hollywood and the media to promote a healthy body image for women & girls. The pinnacle of the festivities - the "Real Women" Fashion Show - will begin at 3 pm. Models of all shapes and sizes will be flaunting the styles of various plus-size designers and retailers. Love Your Body Day is open to all ages, and will be hosted by Kim Coles - actress, comedienne, author, playwright, and TV personality, best known as "Sinclair" on LIVING SINGLE, with appearances on SIX FEET UNDER, IN LIVING COLOR, ONE ON ONE, and THE VIEW.

LOVE YOUR BODY DAY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
When: Sunday, October 12, 12:00-4:00 pm
Where: West Hollywood Park Auditorium
647 N. San Vicente Blvd. (between Melrose & Santa Monica, in West Hollywood)
Admission: FREE for ALL AGES

Love Your Body Chairperson Chenese Lewis, herself a former Miss Plus America, has dedicated her efforts on the local and national level to advocating a healthy body image for women, and celebrating women of all shapes & sizes. To learn more about her work with Hollywood NOW's Love Your Body campaign, go to www. LoveYourBodyDay. com.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. In its first two years, the Hollywood Chapter of NOW has brought a new face to feminism and tackled contemporary issues facing all women, including healthy body image, safety, and peace. "There's a lot of confusion surrounding the idea of feminism today," says Chapter President, 26-year-old Lindsey Horvath. "Hollywood NOW works to identify and address the concerns relevant to women today. Chenese's leadership for Love Your Body Day is just one way we show how feminist activism brings women together to create the world we all envision for ourselves, the world we know is possible for women."

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Power Wheelchairs and Scooters are Donated to WWII Veterans for Honor Flight Weekend

The Scooter Store's donations are to honor WWII veterans' gallantry.

New Braunfels, TX (PRWEB) April 27, 2007

The SCOOTER Store is proud to contribute dozens of power wheelchairs (http://www. thescooterstore. com/) and electric scooters to help disabled veterans attend a ceremony at the WWII Memorial site in Washington, D. C. "Honor Flight," is a project that provides America's WWII veterans an opportunity to visit their memorial.

The Honor Flight (http://www. honorflight. org) was conceived by Earl Morse, a Physician Assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. Several times a year, Mr. Morse transports veterans from their hometowns to Washington for an opportunity to visit the WWII Memorial. At Saturday's ceremony, former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, a WWII veteran, will be keynote speaker.

"Many of these senior heroes break down and cry when they are offered an opportunity to see their memorial," Mr. Morse said. "Many are in their 80s, their health is failing, and they don't have the resources to make the trip. They think that they will never get the opportunity to see the memorial and our donation of power wheelchairs and electric scooters makes it possible."

With many of the veterans suffering from mobility impairments, The SCOOTER Store (http://www. thescooterstore. com/) volunteered to provide 30 to 40 power wheelchairs and electric scooters for the events. When the veterans arrive, the mobility equipment will be available so they can have mobility throughout the ceremony and enjoy the memorial. The SCOOTER Store is the nation's largest supplier of power wheelchairs and electric scooters.

"These veterans have made great sacrifices and given so much for our country," said Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder of The SCOOTER Store. "We are proud to contribute to a project that allows them to visit their memorial. They fought for our freedom. We are showing our appreciation by helping them now. Honor Flight is a great project that allows us to show our veterans how much we appreciate their gallantry."

Employees from The SCOOTER Store locations in Baltimore and Richmond will volunteer their time on Saturday to attend the event and help the veterans.

Since their first flight in May of 2005, 905 WWII Veterans have realized their dream of visiting their memorial. "All of our heroes had a safe and memorable trip and we were able to raise sufficient funds so that every veteran flew absolutely free," Mr. Morse said. "Thanks to The SCOOTER Store, our WWII Veterans visit their memorial in style."

Moreover, Mr. Morse said the future is bright for Honor Flight program.

"A network of participating sponsors is forming to assist our senior heroes from all across the country," he said. "Resources are being pooled, experience is being shared and alliances are being formed throughout America to get WWII veterans safely to their precious memorial. Our goal for 2007 is to transport 5,000 veterans from across the United States to the WWII memorial (http://www. wwiimemorial. com/)."

As the program has progressed "Honor Flight has learned a lot over these last two years and one of the points that stand out is that our heroes, the veterans, aren't asking for recognition," said Mr. Morse. It is contemplated that in the coming years, a similar program for Korean and Vietnam War veterans will also be formed, reaching even more honorable veterans.

For more information about Honor Flight, please visit their website at www. honorflight. org.

About The SCOOTER Store
Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more than 285,000 people with limited mobility. The SCOOTER Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lift, ramps and accessories in 47 states, including Maryland and Virginia. The SCOOTER Store has worked with more than 100,000 physicians, providing expertise and quality service to their patients, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. For additional information, visit The SCOOTER Store website at http://www. thescooterstore. com (http://www. thescooterstore. com).

For more information, contact:
Mark B. Leita, Director of Public Affairs,
The SCOOTER Store
(830) 627-4717

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Monday, October 26, 2009

OmniMD launches Integration of Online Insurance Eligibility Check with its EMR Software

OmniMD, a leading provider of HIPAA-compliant Electronic Medical Record (EMR) programs and services has released its newest program for verifying patientÂ’s insurance data over the Internet to make the process more efficient while decreasing the rate of insurance denials and write-offs.

Tarrytown, NY (PRWEB) July 13, 2005

OmniMD of Tarrytown, New York announces an important advance in solving one of the most time-consuming and costly administrative burdens faced by most medical offices: Verifying patients' eligibility for insurance.

The Problem:

Three out of every four insurance denials are due to problems with eligibility verification: According the AMA Council on Medical Service, almost half of physicians surveyed reported that more than 10 percent of insurance claims are denied retrospectively and many more are down-coded.

On top of this, medical practice staff spend far too much time resolving insurance issues and on bill collection. Patient eligibility verification presents a huge administrative burden on medical offices requiring numerous telephone calls to and from insurance companies leaving stacks of unprocessed claims.

The Solution:

In fact, many providers are now offering access to their database of enrollees through the internet to help the medical office verify that a patient is actually covered.

OmniMD online insurance eligibility checking service enables the medical office to check a patientÂ’s current eligibility for healthcare benefits before he or she arrives at the point-of-care by linking the eligibility check with the appointment scheduler.

The system eliminates the need for paper transactions while providing an accurate determination of the patientÂ’s co-pay and deductibles, clarifying the patient's coverage expectations and reducing the risk of uncollected balances.

About OmniMD

OmniMD is a developer of HIPAA compliant Internet/Tablet PC/ PDA based Electronic Medical Records solution, designed to fully automate the work-flow of contemporary practices and healthcare organizations. The company is a division of Integrated Systems Management, Inc. (ISM), (www. ismnet. com) a leader in Internet consulting and e-business development since 1989. OmniMD suite of products and services empowers hundreds of clinics with the ability to efficiently automate and manage clinical processes and patient information electronically. With its comprehensive and flexible product modules, the suite allows you to choose a customized solution that grows with your practice needs and electronic readiness over a period of time.

Media Contact

OmniMD

Nelson Jain

Ph: 914-332-5590 x 414

Web: http://www. omnimd. com/ (http://www. omnimd. com/)

OmniMD is a registered trademark of Integrated Systems Management, Inc.

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

JUPITERMEDIA ANNOUNCES HEWLETT-PACKARD AND RESEARCH IN MOTION AS PREMIER CO-SPONSORS OF ITS ENTERPRISE WIRELESS FORUM CONFERENCE & EXPO IN BOSTON OCTOBER 28-30

(PRWEB) October 20, 2002 - Packard and Research In Motion as the Premier Co-

Sponsors for its upcoming Enterprise Wireless Forum Conference & Expo scheduled for October 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts Â– the leading event focused solely on enterprise wireless technology, networks, services and mobile business solutions.

Featuring the worldÂ’s leading experts, analysts, consultants and solution providers in a three-day conference and exposition, Enterprise Wireless Forum Conference & Expo will comprehensively cover all the critical enterprise issues that senior level business and IT audiences need to successfully evaluate, plan, implement and integrate their wireless and mobile roll-outs. The event includes a full day of in-depth tutorials headed by Conference Chair Iain Gillott, Founder and Principal of iGillottResearch, nearly 40 conference topics to choose from, break-out sessions, panels and analyst briefs, as well as two new educational tracks that have been added to the Fall program, focusing on wireless networks & 802.11 technology and on vertical wireless solutions for the healthcare industry. Rounding out the expert keynote line-up is IBM Wireless Services Vice President Norm Korey, Global Enterprise Mobility Solutions Leader at Hewlett-Packard Bob Simmons, Conference Chairman Iain Gillott, and a special executive and invite only Luncheon Keynote on October 29, hosted by Sun Microsystems. Please visit the event Web site for full details at www. enterprisewirelessforum. com.

Premier Co-Sponsors of Enterprise Wireless Forum Conference & Expo are Hewlett Packard and Research In Motion. Co-Sponsors include IBM, Sun, Nextel, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, Qualcomm, Bluesocket, Extended Systems, EDS, Foxcom, Funk Software, mFormation Technologies, Network Associates, Wireless Knowledge, traq-wireless and Foxcom Wireless. Media sponsors include Wireless Week, IT Toolbox, HostingTech Magazine, WirelessDeveloper. com and Capterra. Enterprise Wireless Forum Conference & Expo is hosted by internet. com, EarthWeb. com and Jupiter Research, and produced by Jupitermedia Corporation.

For more information and to register today visit http://enterprisewirelessforum. com (http://enterprisewirelessforum. com) or contact Cress O'Brien at registration@jupitermedia. com or call (508) 870-5858 ext. 126. For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities contact John Sellazzo at jsellazzo@jupitermedia. com or call (508) 870-5858 ext. 124.

About Jupitermedia

Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM), (www. jupitermedia. com) headquartered in Darien, CT, is a leading provider of global real-time news, information, research and media resources for information technology and Internet industry professionals. Jupitermedia includes the internet. com and EarthWeb. com Network of over 150 Web sites and 200 e-mail newsletters that generate over 200 million page views monthly. Jupitermedia also includes Jupiter Research, a leading international research advisory organization specializing in business and technology market research in 17 business areas and 9 vertical markets. In addition, Jupiter Events include nearly 40 offline conferences and trade shows focused on IT and business-specific topics.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties address a variety of subjects including, for example, the competitive environment in which Jupitermedia Corporation competes; the unpredictability of Jupitermedia Corporation's future revenues, expenses, cash flows and stock price; Jupitermedia Corporation's ability to integrate acquired businesses, products and personnel into its existing businesses; Jupitermedia Corporation's investments in international and venture fund investments; any material change in Jupitermedia Corporation's intellectual property rights and continued growth and acceptance of the Internet and information technology. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties, refer to Jupitermedia Corporation's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date of this press release, and Jupitermedia Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements after the date hereof.

Contact:

For Conference and Expo Information:

Rebecca Hodgkins

Marketing Manager

Jupitermedia Corporation (formerly INT Media Group, Inc.)

(508) 870-5858 x117

Rhodgkins@jupitermedia. com

For Jupitermedia Information:

Mary Ann Boland

Marketing and Public Relations Associate

Jupitermedia Corporation (formerly INT Media Group, Inc.)

(212) 547-7938

Mboland@jupitermedia. com

HealthcareSource Announces Performance Manager Version 3.0

Enhanced competency assessment capabilities highlight latest product version HealthcareSource showcases newest solutions to help hospitals manage talent at ASHHRA 2009, Booth # 611.

Chicago, IL and Woburn, MA (PRWEB) November 2, 2009

HealthcareSource® (http://www. healthcaresource. com/), the leading provider of talent management (http://www. healthcaresource. com/solutions/talent-management-solutions. html) solutions for the healthcare industry, officially announced today at ASHHRA 2009 the availability of the latest version of its Performance Manager® software. The enhancements are designed to help its hospital clients manage employee competencies easier than ever before.

Hospitals today are faced with increased pressure from many outside sources to improve patient care and decrease preventable medical errors. Employee performance and competency has been linked to patient safety and patient satisfaction, evoking the need for an efficient system to help manage a hospital workforce. To address these concerns and to help hospitals improve both the quality and safety of patient care through a competent and motivated workforce, HealthcareSource released Performance Manager 3.0. This leading performance management software (http://www. healthcaresource. com/solutions/performance-management. html), which supports The Joint Commission best practices, includes performance appraisals, competency management, learning management, and talent performance (http://www. healthcaresource. com/solutions/performance-management. html) measurement.

"We are in the trenches with our clients, so we know the stresses and challenges that they encounter every day," said Peter Segall, CEO of HealthcareSource. "Hospital patients expect the best care and in turn, hospitals are more focused on patient satisfaction and quality. Managing competencies and skills checklists is different in healthcare than in other industries, and with so many healthcare facilities using Performance Manager, we are now able to make improvements, based on real world experience and client feedback, that make this product so perfect for healthcare providers."

Performance Manager's latest product version is currently used by more than 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. In addition to the competency management improvements, version 3.0 features improvements to reporting, scheduling, and configuration.

Performance Manager 3.0 now supports:
Unique assessment forms for every hospital job

Competency assessments that are separate from annual performance appraisals

Age/population specific competencies

Initial and ongoing competency validation and assessment

Manager and preceptor collaboration

Automated, event-based scheduling (which can be used to trigger hire date, anniversary date, specific calendar dates, and more).

Online content and testing, in-service scheduling and rosters, and external training tracking through its integrated training module

"HealthcareSource has greatly helped us improve employee engagement, streamline processes, reduce time for paperwork, and reach organizational goals. With their newest Performance Manager release, the additional customization options and more intuitive environment make it by far the strongest product version we have seen to date in terms of usability for the end user," said Bonnie Gray, compensation manager at MaineGeneral Health. "We're very excited about the robust enhancements to competency, feedback routing, reporting, and appraisals, as these will ensure that we hire, train, and retain a productive staff that is committed to patient care. In addition, the new feature upgrades help us comply with The Joint Commission, making all of our documents readily available with the confidence they will be there when we need them."

HealthcareSource live at ASHHRA 2009 - Booth #611
Product and healthcare industry experts from HealthcareSource will be on hand at Booth #611 at ASHHRA 2009 to discuss and demonstrate Performance Manager 3.0 as well as Position Manager®, the Company's leading applicant tracking (http://www. healthcaresource. com/solutions/applicant-tracking. html) solution for healthcare. ASHHRA's 45th Annual Conference & Exposition is held in Chicago, Illinois on November 1-3.

About HealthcareSource
With more than 1,000 hospital clients, HealthcareSource is the leader in talent management for the healthcare industry. Through its software-as-a-service solutions, HealthcareSource helps hospitals acquire, develop, and retain the best workforce possible in order to maximize the quality and efficiency of patient care. The company's talent management solutions include performance management, onboarding, applicant tracking, and a leading healthcare job board. A private corporation, HealthcareSource focuses exclusively on the healthcare industry and consistently earns high marks for client satisfaction and retention. To learn more, please visit www. healthcaresource. com or call (800) 869-5200.

Contact:
Kevin Mullins
Mullins Communications for HealthcareSource
Kevintmullins(at)gmail. com
(617) 780-0439

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company
Listed above.

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

All Star Directories Ranked The 270th Fastest Growing Technology Company In North America; 17th In Washington State

ASD grows by 341 percent in five years and maintains its momentum as one of the region’s premiere companies

Seattle, Wash. (PRWEB) October 26, 2010

Deloitte has announced its annual Fast 500™ rankings and for the third consecutive year named All Star Directories one of the fastest growing technology companies in North America. All Star was ranked 270th out of 500 in the country and listed as the 17th fastest growing company in the State of Washington, one of the most innovative and tech-savvy states in the country. This also marks All Star’s third consecutive year among the Washington top 50 growth companies.

Rankings are based on percentage of annual revenue growth during the period from 2005–2009. ASD grew 341 percent during this period.

“All Star is in the midst of a very exciting time,” said CEO Doug Brown, recent recipient of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. “We are growing rapidly, and it’s important to our employees, customers and shareholders that we grow in a thoughtful manner and continue to provide our customers with the level of service they’ve come to expect from the All Star team. We’re here to help potential students find the post-secondary institution that works for them and it takes time and diligence to do that well. It’s wonderful to see our team’s hard work be rewarded in this way.”

This award comes on the heels of All Star being named the 32nd fastest growing private company in Washington by the Puget Sound Business Journal and marks a time of impressive growth and continued momentum for the company. In addition to revenue growth of 341 percent since 2004 during these tough economic times, All Star has increased its number of employees by 24 percent since 2007, including the recent addition of Mark Klebanoff as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

“All Star Directories and the other 2010 Technology Fast 500™ winners forged ahead in a challenging economic environment to realize exceptional growth,” said Phil Asmundson, vice chairman and Deloitte’s U. S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "Deloitte commends All Star Directories for this impressive accomplishment.”

Overall, Technology Fast 500™ award winners for 2010 had revenue growth ranging from 146 percent to 164,079 percent from 2005 to 2009, with an average growth of 2,361 percent.

About All Star Directories
All Star Directories, Inc. is one of the Internet's fastest growing publishers of online and career school directories matching millions of highly qualified prospective students with the schools that best meet their education needs. Recently, Inc. Magazine ranked All Star among the fastest growing companies in the country, and the Puget Sound Business Journal has recognized the company as one of Washington State's fastest growing companies for seven consecutive years. From leading research institutions to fast-growing online and for-profit schools, nearly 800 featured schools representing close to 60,000 programs trust All Star Directories as the authority in online student marketing. The All Star network of sites focuses on a wide range of fields, including All Allied Health Schools, All Art Schools, All Business Schools, All Education Schools, All Psychology Schools, All Criminal Justice Schools, All Computer Schools and All Nursing Schools. Please visit http://www. allstardirectories. com or call 1-888-404-8043 for more information.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP. Please see http://www. deloitte. com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

Media Contact:
Dana Pake, Corporate Communications Manager
(888) 404-8043x7509; danap(at)allstardirectories(dot)com

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The New "Great" Button Introduced by QBS, Inc. - The Latest Fun Way to Deliver Positive Reinforcement

QBS, Inc. has just unveiled the latest device to reward positive behaviors with the new "Great" Button.

Holliston, MA (PRWEB) August 25, 2007

Are you looking for a new approach to positive reinforcement for children and adolescents with difficult behaviors? QBS, Inc., www. QBSCompanies. com has just unveiled the latest device to reward positive behaviors with the new "Great" Button. Upon pressing the button a pleasant voice announces "Great Job." This button rewards good behaviors and actually becomes a favorite toy because it is fun to push the button. Young and old alike are sure to respond with a smile.

No newcomer to how best to deal with difficult behaviors, Dr. David Lennox has over 25 years of experience providing Applied Behavior Analytic consulting and training services to a wide variety of clients and settings. QBS's premier training program, Safety-Care Behavioral Safety Training Program, provides one of the only reinforcement-based crisis prevention and management programs available now used in many schools, residential programs and healthcare settings.

According to Dr. Lennox, "Teachers, parents, medical professionals and others are, in some cases, continuously exposed to behavioral risks with little or no training to prevent, minimize or manage these challenges."

Check out the "Great" Button at QBS, Inc., www. QBSCompanies. com], online store. QBS, Inc. is a behavioral consulting firm whose mission is to provide quality behavioral solutions to complex behavioral problems through consulting, education, software, and management of clinical, operational and marketing practices.

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Emerging Economies Fuel Growth in the World Chemical Industry, According to a New Report Published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc

Emerging Economies Fuel Growth in the World Chemical Industry, According to a New Report Published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

China, over the years, has emerged into the forefront of the industry with demand for fine and specialty chemicals posting healthy growth, as a result of strong economic growth and industrialization. Together with China, other developing economies in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and South East Asia are expected to drive growth in the world chemical industry in the upcoming years.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) January 19, 2009

Chemical industry worldwide is a mature industry characterized by regional pockets of growth, intensifying competition, fluctuating feedstock prices, overcapacity, poor margins, diverse end use sectors, tightening regulations and intense pressure to contain environmental damage. The industry has been witnessing a steady shift in production towards specialty chemicals and away from basic chemicals. Aggressive price competition from emerging economies is driving the switch to value-added products, specialty, and life science chemicals. In the developed markets, manufacturers, in a bid to remain competitive, are focusing on strengthening technical expertise in product development and innovation to meet increasingly complex requirements of end-use markets, such as, biotechnology, advanced materials and electronics. In developing markets, on the other hand, the focus continues to be pinned onto the production of basic low-end products.

Technological developments are poised to play a key role in bringing about significant changes in sectors such as specialty chemicals, and agrochemicals. In addition, chemical trade at global levels is outpacing chemical production. Regions with economical raw material/feedstock bounties and growing markets are becoming the centers of production, thanks to globalization. China has emerged as a key location for production facilities from where products are exported globally. In the chemical industry (http://www. strategyr. com/Chemicals_Industry_Market_Report. asp) raw material costs are a critical factor accounting for about 30%-60% of turnover. Feedstock -- natural gas or crude -- leave the industry open to be influenced by the vagaries of oil and gas prices and supply. It is therefore of little surprise that the focus of international chemical production is witnessing a marked shift towards low-cost developing economies. With emerging economies of China and South East Asia offering more competitive benefits in terms of price and costs, several European and US companies are increasingly setting up production bases in these countries.

The report titled "Chemicals: A Global Outlook" provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the world chemical industry, and identifies major trends, issues, challenges and growth drivers. Market discussions in the report are punctuated with 197 fact-rich market data tables. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, UK, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Middle East, among others. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of 2165 companies worldwide.

For more details about this research report, please visit
Http://www. strategyr. com/Chemicals_Industry_Market_Report. asp (http://www. strategyr. com/Chemicals_Industry_Market_Report. asp).

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) (http://www. strategyr. com/) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs more than 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of more than 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Email press at StrategyR dot com
Web Site http://www. strategyr. com/ (http://www. strategyr. com/)

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

5,000 senior personnel in Asia Pacific oil, power, petrochemical and gas industries listed

5,000 senior personnel in Asia Pacific oil, power, petrochemical and gas industries listed.

(PRWEB) August 6, 2004

Research and Markets announces the addition of the 2004 EnergyAsia Directory to its offerings.

This directory, covering energy companies in Asia Pacific and Middle East provides a listing of the key players in the Asia Pacific oil, power, petrochemical and gas industries. The directory contains a listing of more than 5,000 senior personnel, address of energy companies, their subsidiaries and branch offices in the region and a description of their business.

This latest edition covers the oil, gas and power industries and includes contacts from oil trading firms, refining companies, petrochemical manufacturers, logistics and storage operators, engineering firms, financial institutions, IT companies, legal firms, consultancies, the media and state agencies involved in supporting the activities of the energy sector. Included are the contacts of these organisations from the major countries of the Asia Pacific as well as some from the US and Europe.

Among the companies included in this directory are:

ABN AMRO Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

ABN AMRO Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

ANZ Investment Bank, Singapore Branch

Arab Bank plc

Asian Development Bank

Asian Infrastructure Fund Advisers Ltd

Bayerisched Hypo und Vereinsbank AG

BNP Paribas

Credit Suisse First Boston

ChevronTexaco International Sales Co Inc

Cockett Marine Oil (Asia) Pte Ltd

Consort Bunkers Pte Ltd

Cosco-Feoso (S) Pte Ltd

Cosmo Oil International Pte Ltd

Bunker House Petroleum Pte Ltd

Ceylon Petroleum Corp

Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan) Ltd

Empower Engineering Services

Energy Industries Training Services Pte Ltd

Energy Management Services Sdn Bhd

Energy Security Analysis, Inc

Energy Solutions (S) Pte Ltd

Falcon OTC Group - Engineering & Consultants Pte Ltd

Fesharaki Associates Consulting and Technical Services, Inc

Frontier Energy Solutions (Asia Pacific)

Gaffney, Cline & Associates (Consultants) Pte Ltd

Emirates Techno Casting LLC

Fengyi (Tianjin) International Trade Co Ltd

Flowcrete Group plc

Flowcrete Middle East FZCO

H Rosen Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd

Hempel (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

Hempel (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Jain Re-Engineering

Jotun NOF (S) Pte Ltd

Doosan Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Draeger Safety Asia Pte Ltd

Dredging International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Dresser Singapore Pte Ltd

Dresser-Rand Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (Asia Pacific Headquarters)

Dril Links Sdn Bhd

DTE Energy Technologies Inc

Dupont, Safety, Health, Environment

Durco Valtek (AP) Pte Ltd

Dynac Sdn Bhd

For a complete index of this report click on http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/220689 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/220689)

About Research and Markets Ltd.

Research and Markets Ltd. are Europe's largest resource for market research. R&M distribute thousands of major research publications from the world's leading publishers, consultants and market analysts. R&M provide you with the latest forecasts on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest market trends.

For additional information on ResearchandMarkets. com, their range of reports or their value-added services, visit their web site at http://www. researchandmarkets. com (http://www. researchandmarkets. com) or mailto:press@researchandmarkets. com

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Monday, October 19, 2009

The Pharmaceutical Elephant in America's Living Room

Illicit drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and addiction all tie into pharmaceutical companies.

(PRWEB) December 24, 2004

One need not look far to find a major source of trouble in America; drugs. There are approximately 22 million people in this country addicted to substances such as cocaine, heroin, alcohol and methamphetamine, which is the cause of innumerable other social problems. However, there is another group of drugs and their manufacturers that is causing an entirely new set of problems.

The 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports 6.3 million persons currently use prescription medications non-medically. The Drug Abuse Warning Network reported drug abuse-related emergency room visits involving prescription pain relievers increased 153 percent since 1995.

The legal drug industry is one of the most lucrative in the world, which is why it continues to grow. In fact, pharmaceutical companies make so much money off of the government and citizens of this country that they have easily been able to pay the more than $1.5 billion in fines for Medicaid and other fraud since 2001, according to an article in the New York Times, which included a recent law suit by New York City.

Since the profits of such drugs are huge, more companies are finding ways to sell them, such as online pharmacies. Many people now receive a daily barrage of spam e-mails selling a variety of drugs, which is why the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has set up a system to report online drug-pushers. Anonymous reports can be taken at 1-877-RxAbuse or can be made online at www. dea. gov by clicking on a link and filling out an electronic form.

Preliminary data from the Partnership for a Drug-Free AmericaÂ’s Attitude Tracking Study suggests that many adolescents do not consider pharmaceutical drug abuse to be risky. In addition, the DEA says that one out of every ten high school seniors now reports abusing powerful prescription pain killers.

Even more disturbing is that there are approximately 6 percent of kids in this country that are prescribed amphetamines, antidepressants or anti-psychotics, all of which are very powerful, addictive and mind-altering. Over the last 15 years or so the number of kids on psychiatric drugs has tripled, and the number of teens using RitalinÂ® or AdderallÂ® illegally is more than three times higher than the percentage of persons 12 or older that reported using cocaine in the past month.

The trend of pushing drugs for almost any symptom has spread its way into treating drug addicts, and millions of dollars are now being spent to develop anti-addiction drugs or studying existing drugsÂ’ effects on addicts. Of the addicted individuals that enter traditional treatment, many become frustrated with the lack of results, continued relapse or because they are being given replacement drugs.

One drug often used as a substitute for heroin addiction is methadone, which is a synthetic opiate, despite the fact that in Oregon methadone has become the stateÂ’s most deadly drug with 103 deaths in 2002.

This trend will continue until people take a stand against the pharmaceutical elephant in the living room.

Working to create safer and more successful ways of treating drug and alcohol addiction is Narconon Arrowhead, one of the nationÂ’s largest and most effective drug rehabilitation and education facilities. Narconon Arrowhead does not use any drugs in treating addiction, through the application of L. Ron HubbardÂ’s drug-free methodology, and has a success rate of 70% for helping individuals overcome addiction.

If you or someone you love is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, contact Narconon Arrowhead by calling 1-800-468-6933 today or log on to www. stopaddiction. com.

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Knill James - South East Payroll Bureau Launch

Using the latest technology to create a ‘state of the art’ system for businesses to pay their staff, accountancy firm Knill James has launched the http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk, offering companies a complete payroll service, with e-payslips and an easy-to-use web-based portal system which is far more secure than any other way of managing payroll.

(PRWEB) May 20, 2010

Using the latest technology to create a ‘state of the art’ system for businesses to pay their staff, accountancy firm Knill James has launched the South East Payroll Bureau, offering companies a complete payroll service, with e-payslips and an easy-to-use web-based portal system which is far more secure than any other way of managing payroll.

Kevin Powell, Partner of http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk (http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk), said: “It’s green, it’s secure and it’s convenient! Our secure portal technology puts us ahead of the game because, in time, we expect the law to follow the US where in some states it is prohibited for employers to transfer payroll information by email without encryption – so a web portal is an excellent and secure alternative, where details can be updated, downloaded and printed.

“Particularly for owner-managed companies, operating payroll can be time-consuming and burdensome, diverting energy away from the core activities of a business – and with the increasing amount of employment legislation and the growing complexity of taxation, coupled with penalties for non-compliance, it has become an even more onerous task.”

“However, help is at hand http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk (http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk) can relieve them of this burden with our comprehensive and confidential payroll service. We have a dedicated, specialist team to manage secure payslips, administration of PAYE, national insurance, statutory sick pay and maternity pay, incentives and bonuses, pensions and all the other related administration.”

Knill James is offering South East companies a confidential ‘health check’ to discover if employees or directors have PAYE or benefit irregularities which might put them on the wrong side of H M Revenue & Customs. For more information, contact Debbie Overy on 01273 484912 or debbieo(at)knilljames(dot)co(dot)uk or see http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk (http://southeastpayroll. knilljames. co. uk)

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Two Days to Build Rome

ENCODs press release on the EU Conference on Civil Society and Drugs, 26/27 January 2006

(PRWEB) January 26, 2006

Drugs and drug problems are among the issues that concern EU citizens most. Not only because they relate to public health and safety, but also because until now, citizens have had no possibility whatsoever to be consulted in the elaboration of drug policies.

Due to the fact that in 1961, a UN Single Convention on Drugs has prohibited a number of plants and related substances with mind altering effects, millions of citizens around the world have been killed, tortured, imprisoned, stigmatised and/or ruined for growing, trading or consuming them.

EU governments started to work out the concept of a European drug policy in 1990. Since then, several official commitments have been made to involve civil society in the design and implementation of drug policies. Yet these commitments have never been put into practice.

On Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January 2006, the European Commission has invited a limited number of EU civil society organisations to a Conference in Brussels, to discuss how civil society can contribute to the implementation of the present EU Action Plan on Drugs (2005-2008). This plan was designed and adopted (in July 2005) without any serious consultation of civil society.

According to ENCOD (European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies), a platform of 120 Civil Society Organisations from 24 European countries, the Conference means two days to build Rome.

ENCOD will present a statement to the Conference that calls for an independent body to supervise a dialogue process with equal conditions for civil society and authorities. ENCODs coordinator, Joep Oomen, says: "Until today, EU authorities have been trying to close the box of Pandora that has been created with the prohibition of drugs. By keeping the citizens away from the decision-making forums, they thought they could hide the truth about the war on drugs: that is a costly, failing and counter-productive affair."

According to Oomen, it remains still to be seen whether the Conference will mark the start of a sincere dialogue between citizens and authorities on drug policies. "It is now well understood by a growing number of EU citizens that legal regulation of the drugs market would improve the living standards of millions of people, while significantly diminishing one of the world's major criminal income sources. These ideas could start to challenge traditional ways of thinking drug policies at a European level, and it is not sure that EU authorities are willing to cope with this."

In December 2004, the European Parliament approved the Catania report, a set of recommendations towards future EU drug policy. This report proposes a radical change in EU drug policy and advocates harm reduction and a scientific and balanced approach in stead of maintaining drug prohibition. However, the report was completely ignored in both the EU Drug Strategy for 2005-2012, designed by the European Council of Ministers, and the EU Action Plan for 2005-2008, designed by the European Commission.

Since March 2005, ENCOD, that is funded entirely by the contributions of its members, organised a petition among EU citizens in favour of the integration of the Catania report in the Action Plan. In a few months, the petition collected more than 60.000 signatures.

"The two day Conference will be enough to get a clear indication if the EU Commission is serious about its commitments this time", says Oomen. "Citizens allover Europe are organising themselves to get rid of this absurd regime. At a time where the European Union has huge difficulties to bridge the democratic deficit with its citizens, its current drug policies are an extremely negative example of what kind of democracy the European Union pretends to be."

For more information please contact us at

European Coalition for Just & Effective Drug Policies (ENCOD)

Lange Lozanastraat 14

2018 Antwerpen

Belgium

Tel. + 32 (0)3 237 7436 (Joep)

Mobile: + 33 6 148 156 79 (Farid Ghehioueche)

Fax. +32 (0)3 237 0225

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Friday, October 16, 2009

New Informative Website Launched To Help People with Oral Mucositis and Their Caregivers

A new website titled Mouths Made Good was launched to help people suffering from Oral Mucositis. This condition is a painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatments which can cause dry mouth and mouth sores.

Langhorne, PA (PRWEB) March 4, 2010

When cancer patients receive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, there are often uncomfortable side effects that could potentially influence the success of the cancer treatment. Oral Mucositis (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com/about-OM. aspx)(OM) is one such side effect that patients and their healthcare providers struggle to control. The new website (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com)) is designed to provide many valuable tips on how to handle this severe condition.

OM is characterized by a red, swollen and ulcerated mouth and tongue. The mouth sores (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com/about-OM/what-are-the-consequences-of-OM. aspx) caused by this painful condition are associated with both chemo - and radiation therapy. This problem can prevent sufferers from talking, swallowing and even eating. In severe cases, a feeding tube is sometimes necessary so the patient can get the sustaining nutrients for their body to be strong enough to continue with cancer therapy.

In fact, in a survey of nurses, OM was identified as the most debilitating and significant problem associated with cancer therapy.¹

Jim Mitchum, President, Americas at EUSA Pharma Inc. said, "Oral Mucositis is a particularly common and often devastating side effect of cancer therapy. We hope we've provided a useful and informative website where people can learn how others have been successful in treating OM."

Caphosol® (supersaturated calcium phosphate rinse), an OM oral rinse treatment manufactured by EUSA Pharma, is the sponsor of the new website.

The new website provides sufferers and their healthcare providers a factsheet (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com/nurse-resources. aspx) and a list of Frequently Asked Questions that can help people better understand Oral Mucositis and what to do about the condition. Included is information on what OM is, what causes OM, what should be done to manage it and who is at risk.

The factsheets also provide helpful information regarding diet and nutrition for patients with Oral Mucositis. The factsheets suggest avoiding dry foods or foods that are rough and crunchy while relying on soft casseroles, eggs, ground meat served with gravy and mashed potatoes. Cooking tips are also provided.

Oral hygiene tips are also suggested like use of mouth rinses, gels and soft toothbrushes, to note a few. The factsheets can also be downloaded at the website or to the right of this article.

The Mouths Made Good website includes a video blog that provides additional information about nutrition and Oral Mucositis. Visitors to the website are invited to upload their own video story about their OM experiences to share with other OM patients.

Commenting on the video blog, Mitchum added, "We hope that people will share their own insights and help others overcome this lesser known side effect of cancer treatment. Finding a supportive OM community online can be very helpful to sufferers and their caregivers."

The website includes another helpful feature, whereby, a site visitor can create a "send a smile (http://www. mouthsmadegood. com/send-a-smile. aspx)" card and email to an OM patient or their caregiver. Hoping to cheer up the recipient, the tool lets the visitor add their choice of a smile on their choice of a photo or image.

About Caphosol and EUSA Pharma (USA), Inc

Caphosol® (supersaturated calcium phosphate rinse) was launched in the U. S. in 2007 by EUSA Pharma (USA), Inc. - a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing and marketing late-stage oncology, pain control and critical care products.

¹ Bruce SD and Quinn A. US Oncological Disease 2007.

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

EMR Experts Acquires Website Design Firm to Offer EMR Integrated Patient Portal Websites

EMR Experts, Inc. a leading provider of Electronic Medical Record software solutions to physician practices has acquired a small website development firm, enabling EMR Experts to offer doctors a one-stop shop for Electronic Medical Records, Online Patient Portals, and Websites.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 25, 2007

EMR Experts, Inc. has announced the offering of new EMR integrated patient portal websites (http://www. medicalwebexperts. com/webdesign. php) for doctors. This capability is brought to doctors through the recent acquisition of a high quality web design firm, now known as Medical Web Experts. Each website is custom built to suit the clients' exact needs, without using out-of-the-box templates which most of the competition uses.

With the ever-increasing need to automate physician practices, doctors across the country are looking to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software (http://www. emrexperts. com/electronic-medical-record-software/index. php) to help. One of the many benefits of the Electronic Medical Record packages is its online patient portal. The patient portal allows patients to complete their intake forms prior to their appointment, saving the patient from spending valuable time completing forms in the office. In addition having the intake form automatically populate the patients' chart eliminates double data entry, saving the practice countless hours. The other benefit of the patient portal is its ability to provide the patient with secure, HIPAA compliant access to their own medical record from anywhere in the world. The practice can define which elements the patient can access, typically including such things as lab results, current medications, health maintenance reminders, appointment requests, and prescription refill requests. Office staff spending countless hours dealing with these day to day issues over the phone becomes a thing of the past with the patient portal.

The websites can be purchased separately from an EMR or bundled with the EMR/Patient Portal solution of the clients' choice. Promotion pricing for these websites start at $99 per month plus a setup fee. If purchased with an EMR, this start up fee is waived. "Our goal is to provide physician practices with an affordable website that can integrate with their EMR and is not built using generic templates." says John Deutsch, founder of Medical Web Experts and Vice President of EMR Experts, Inc.

About Medical Web Experts
Medical Web Experts (http://www. medicalwebexperts. com) provides healthcare practices with customized, attractive, search engine optimized websites. Our highly skilled team of designers build custom websites that represent our clients' practice and specialty. With EMR reaching mainstream use in healthcare practices our websites are designed to easily integrate with the patient portal of most EMR systems. Our unique approach to internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensure that our clients achieve top rankings in all the major search engines. Our websites also feature advanced management controls, giving the client the ability to customize their content, check traffic statistics and check email, without the assistance of a designer. For more information and/or to view our client showcase please visit www. medicalwebexperts. com.

About EMR Experts
EMR Experts, Inc. (http://www. emrexperts. com) is a leading provider of turn-key practice automation technologies that enable healthcare practices to become paperless. We guide our clients through the Electronic Medical Record software selection process using unbiased vendor research. We manage the implementation process and ensure that our clients' investment is not comprimised due to after the sale costs. By appointing EMR Experts, clients gain a partner who has a vested interest in their satisfaction and continued success. Working with the top Electronic Medical Record (EMR) & Medical Billing Software vendors in the industry, we deliver quality EMR solutions our clients' practice, regardless of size or specialty. Our unbiased approach to helping our clients' find the right software, saves them hours of research time and thousands of dollars. EMR Experts also assists their clients with the hardware purchasing, installation, training and maintenance phases to help ensure a successful implementation and maximum return-on-investment. All our services come at no cost to the physician practice. Visit www. emrexperts. com for more information on our quality EMR and PM software solutions.

Media Contact
John Deutsch - Vice President
EMR Experts, Inc.
619-819-8610

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

M*Modal Adds Chief Medical Officer to Champion Innovative Speech Understanding Healthcare Technology : Dr. Nick van Terheyden brings Ideal Combination of Technology and Medical Expertise

M*Modal, pioneers of the most advanced speech understanding solution and providers of on-demand conversational documentation services, announced today that Nick van Terheyden, MD has joined M*Modal as Chief Medical Officer. A major contributor and innovator in the healthcare technology field, Dr. van Terheyden participated in the implementation of one of the first electronic medical records in the early 1990's and later, as a business leader in one of the first speech recognition Internet companies. He is considered a thought leader and lectures frequently on trends and future needs in healthcare technology.

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB) June 18, 2008

"It is the perfect time for Dr. van Terheyden to join the dynamic and innovative M*Modal team who share the vision of advancing healthcare technology to improve physician satisfaction and deliver higher quality patient care," said Michael Finke, M*Modal CEO. "Nick brings the ideal blend of medical practice and business strategy, on both a national and international level, to the realm of healthcare technology," he added.

Over the past few years, M*Modal's technology has been recognized for its ability to generate highly accurate, shareable clinical documentation directly from physician dictation. As a result, its flagship solution, AnyModal™ CDS, has been incorporated into the information delivery systems of partners such as GE Healthcare, Transcend, Spheris, Precyse Solutions, CBay and others within the dictation, transcription, PACS/RIS and EHR industry.

Dr. van Terheyden adds extensive healthcare industry experience to M*Modal. He was formerly the Chief Medical Officer at Philips Speech Recognition Systems/Philips Healthcare Informatics, SoftMed Systems and Speech Machines, helping build the companies' healthcare strategy and thought leadership positioning. Prior to that, he was Director of Communications at Mount Sinai Medical Centre where he created and implemented the information technology infrastructure acting as the main liaison between clinicians and emerging technology.

"I am intrigued by M*Modal's innovative and creative spirit. The more I learned about the company's ability to deliver meaningful clinical documentation through proprietary speech understanding technologies, which no one else has mastered, I knew it was the right fit for me," said Dr. van Terheyden. "The whole DNA of the company, from the team to the unique technology, is about evolving healthcare documentation to allow physicians to capture clinical information in a structured and encoded form directly from dictation. I'm thrilled to join the team and look forward to advancing M*Modal's position as a leader and a catalyst for the accelerated adoption of the EHR," he concluded.

About M*Modal

M*Modal, based in Pittsburgh, PA, offers on-demand conversational documentation services that help healthcare providers capture discrete clinical information from dictation to generate accurate, complete and timely electronic medical records. The company's unique speech recognition and understanding technology platform, AnyModal CDS, is a vital tool that empowers physicians to capture clinical facts and orders from dictation without requiring any change in their normal dictation routine. M*Modal's focus is on providing hospitals, healthcare IT vendors, and medical transcription service providers with the industry's most comprehensive yet most adaptable solution for creating highly accurate, structured, encoded, and shareable medical documents to increase patient safety, promote continuity of patient care, and reduce cost. For more information on M*Modal, visit its Web site at: www. mmodal. com

Sunday, October 11, 2009

SharedHR Releases List of Top Five SMB HR Trends for 2011

Increased Workplace Investigations, Performance Management, Independent Contractor Regulation, Cloud Computing, and Retention Top List of HR Priorities in the New Year.

San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) October 7, 2010

Increased workplace investigations, a tighter focus on performance management, compliance with independent contractor rules, use of cloud computing for administrative solutions and employee retention are the five key trends facing employers in 2011, according to SharedHR (http://www. sharedhr. com), an HR outsourcing, consulting and technology firm.

“Small and midsize companies will continue to be at the eye of the US economic storm in 2011, said Paul Finkle, CEO of SharedHR. “With healthcare reform requiring employers to serve as the enforcement arm for universal coverage while shouldering increased costs – along with a raft of other compliance and technology issues on the horizon -- it’s harder than ever for companies to keep their heads above water, let alone the create jobs that will lead to an economic recovery. With that in mind, we assembled our list of Five Key HR Trends for 2011 to help small and midsize companies keep a step or two ahead in the coming year.”

The list is based on a variety of industry indicators as well as a recent survey of SharedHR clients:

Trend 1: Increased Workplace Investigations
In addition to overall healthcare reform, there were also sweeping regulatory changes enacted for the financial industry. Embedded in this legislation are many new avenues for “whistleblower” complaints by employees. If employees suspect (or claim to suspect) unethical, or possibly illegal, behavior on the part of management, they now have new ways to make complaints both internally and externally. In either instance, these workplace complaints will require a careful investigation.

“Even casual observers of the employment law landscape recognize that when a complaint is made, realistically, an employer has a duty to investigate that complaint in order to protect itself. The more serious the complaint, the more detailed and professional the investigation will be required,” said Finkle. “This trend has already begun. For example, public institutions have already seen a spike in complaints according to a recent exchange among members of the California Association of Workplace Investigators (CAOWI).”

Trend 2: Employers will Focus on Performance Management
Staff reductions have tapered off in 2010 and some organizations may be ready to hire again, especially since they had to cut staffing levels to the bone since the recession began in 2008. Employers however, are under more pressure to maximize the return on investment in existing staff, especially since healthcare costs continue to increase. In fact, employee medical cost increases are continuing at double-digit rates toward the end of 2010; in many industries healthcare costs are now approaching 30 percent of total compensation.

“As the cost of adding staff (and maintaining a workforce) becomes ever more significant, employers are asking how to measure the ‘return on investment’ in employees,” said Finkle. “Such questions inevitably lead to conversations of performance management, metrics, and rewards based on productivity, not mere tenure. Setting goals, and translating those goals into simple, measurable and trackable systems, tied to compensation, will be on the top of many lists of HR initiatives in 2011.”

Trend 3: Regulatory Pressure will Pinch Independent Contractor Relationships
From a government regulatory perspective, employers are at the center of the universe because they represent a body of entities that can be controlled, taxed and regulated. Independent contractor relationships, however, represent an “escape hatch” that many regulatory agencies are stepping up efforts to close in 2011. The IRS, for example, has announced thousands of 1099 audits launched for the express purpose of identifying “misclassified workers”. Many small and midsize employers would be well advised to take a fresh look at their independent contractor relationships to be certain they are defensible.

Lack of written contracts, lack of invoices, limited business investment by the contractor, lack of distinction between contract work and employed work easily occur over the passage of time and are red flag indicators in a misclassified worker audit.

“With improved technology and data sharing between agencies, parameters can easily be set to flag employer tax ID numbers with high 1099’s,” said Finkle. “We have also seen a growing number of disgruntled contractors, unhappy with a contractor relationship and unable to find work elsewhere in a tight economy, suddenly joining forces with an investigative agent and attempt to convert the former contractual relationship to an “employment” relationship. We think these trends will increase significantly in 2011.”

Trend 4: Employers will Seek Administrative Efficiencies through Cloud Computing
Each individual employer, hitching up its administrative horse and wagon and finding its own plot of land to homestead may have been fine in the past, but it is grossly inefficient in 2011. Updating employee handbooks, keeping employment applications compliant, making certain all the appropriate updated forms and documents are available as well as connecting HR data with payroll and employee benefits has become a necessity. Yet purchasing and customizing software and tracking down compliance is cost prohibitive for most small to mid-size employers.

Progressive organizations will find an increasing number of HR offerings provided as software as a service (SaaS) and hosted on the Web. A growing number of applications can be seamlessly connected in a virtual environment to greatly streamline the administrative side of human resources. “Making these applications secure, yet visible over the Web, is sensible for many employers, even those with a single location, since managers and employees can access critical business information 24/7 with no special hardware or software required to connect the team,” said Finkle. “Just as business travel will be reduced in the future by virtual meetings, tedious HR functions and compliance updates will be handled over the Web in 2011 and beyond.”

Trend 5: Employee Retention Concerns will Dominate in 2011
It still takes people to run technology, make products and deliver outstanding customer service. Retaining outstanding employees -- particularly those that can adapt and perform well under changing circumstances – will be a critical success factor. Staying in touch with those key employees, keeping them engaged, adjusting rewards to meet their changing needs in exchange for achieving company goals, will all be increasingly important in 2011. In fact, in a recent survey of SharedHR clients, employee retention and maintaining staff morale were cited as a top concerns for employers.

“While we do not predict that there will be a large number of new-job options in general, the best employees always find jobs - even in a down economy and the investment in time and resources in top employees is worth protecting,” said Finkle.

ABOUT SHAREDHR
Based in San Rafael, Calif., SharedHR is a human resources outsourcing, consulting and HR technology firm - connecting HR, payroll and benefits. Services range from SharedHR Central(software); SharedHR Essentials (virtual HR and benefits administration); and SharedHR Custom (integrated outsourcing and HR/business consulting). SharedHR's web-based solutions enable employers to cost effectively build, manage and protect the institutional knowledge of HR function, including HR workflows, information management, employee self-service and benefits portal, risk management, integrated payroll, and multi-state HR compliance.

No other HR outsourcing and Web-based HR system offers SharedHR’s level of customization and professional support to make payroll, benefits and HR administration fit an organization’s culture and evolving needs. SharedHR clients agree: in a 2010 survey, 100 percent of clients said they found SharedHR solutions practical and effective, and 100 percent of clients would recommend SharedHR to colleagues.

More information is available at http://www. sharedhr. com.

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The Adverse Effects of Housing: Asheville Architectural Firm Works Towards a Solution

Several recent studies have shown that the houses we live in negatively affect our health and the environment. Carlton Architecture, of Asheville North Carolina, is one firm that is working towards a solution to those problems with sustainable housing.

Asheville, NC (PRWEB) August 14, 2008

Recent studies are showing that the houses we live in negatively affect our health, our environment, and our children's future. It is architects who adopt green building practices, who are beginning to lead us towards a greener, healthier future.

One such architectural firm is Carlton Architecture, who states on their website, "As architects, we are in a unique position to shape how the buildings we design will perform."

When you begin to look at the data that surrounds housing and our health, it becomes quite apparent how important firms like Carlton will be to our future.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, buildings are responsible for more that 50% of greenhouse gas emissions, and consume more than 75% of the power that is generated in the US.

When built using more traditional designs (and materials) a home is also more likely to cause health problems. In highly populated areas asthma, for example, is a growing problem. Between 1980 and 1994, cases of the respiratory illness increased by 75%.

In the past this increase was linked to automobiles and overall air quality. Although those are both contributing factors, the APHA is also beginning to see a direct correlation between building density and problems such as asthma and allergies. More buildings mean more pollution, and as the problem grows so do the cases of asthma.

There is also a link between the materials used to build a home and other health problems. Respiratory illnesses, allergies, and a few other issues have been linked to the homes that we live in.

The adverse effects of our homes do not stop there. There are economic effects brought on by housing as well. A recent study in Buffalo, New York showed that housing actually contributed to poverty. Poorer residents, who were unable to keep up with the large utility bills of their traditional houses, often went without heat and power. That same study led to an initiative to turn low cost housing into green buildings, thus reducing poverty in the area.

Another study, published in the International Advances in Economic Research Journal, showed that the price of a house was also affected by the quality of the air in the community. As building density increases in an area, so does pollution and particulate emissions. This leads to a drop in the actual property values in an area.

When you look at firms like Carlton Architecture, the solution to these problems becomes quite clear. With innovative approaches that use natural building materials, and include green measures like passive sustainability and energy conservation, Carlton is becoming a leader in the green housing initiative.

With all of the recent data, it becomes quite apparent that it is firms like Carlton that will lead us into the future. Designing houses that blend with the environment instead of ruining it, and homes that are healthier for those who live in them is an important first step towards a sustainable future.

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Proterra Brings Future of Green Commercial Transit to California Cities With Zero Emission Clean Bus Tour

Proterra, the leading innovator and manufacturer of clean commercial transit solutions from city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks, kicked-off its first ever California Clean Bus Tour in San Jose with the unveiling of its zero emission fast-charge battery electric bus. The EcoRide BE35 is designed to help communities significantly reduce air and noise pollution while cutting down vehicle operating costs.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2009

After the initial launch in San Jose, Proterra will make stops in selected California cities including Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. In each city, Proterra will meet with energy, environmental, and municipal stakeholders and introduce its clean transit solutions that help meet the state's emission reduction standards. The EcoRide BE35 results in up to a 400 percent improvement in fuel economy, and up to $310,000 savings in total lifetime fuel expenses as compared to a conventional diesel bus and over $15 million in savings for a bus fleet of 50.

"The fact is, emissions free transit is not a 'nice to have,' it is a must have for clean, healthy communities across California and the U. S.," said Dale Hill, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Proterra. "That is why we're thrilled to bring our clean transit solutions to California - where municipal agencies need an economical solution to meet recent emissions standards passed by the California Air Resources Board."

Proterra's Approach
Built from the ground-up as a battery-electric zero emission transit vehicle in Colorado, Proterra's transit solution boasts innovative advancements that significantly reduce the lifetime cost of ownership including:
TerraVolt Energy Storage System - the industry's only system that can be fully charged in less than 10 minutes; and the longest lasting energy storage system available for heavy duty applications. Flexible ProDrive system that can operate in battery-electric mode or with any small auxiliary power unit (APU) to extend vehicle range when needed; All-electric components optimized through vehicle management systems to minimize energy usage throughout the vehicle; Regenerative braking system utilizing the UQM PowerPhase 150 to recapture over 90% of the vehicle's kinetic energy available during braking, and Sophisticated battery management system operates at the 'cell' level to optimize energy efficiency and system life. Fighting Harmful Diesel Pollutants
Proterra's focus on the California market is directly related to the state's high pollution levels, much of which are tracked back to diesel engines. The Clean Air Task Force notes that by reducing diesel fine particle emissions 50 percent by 2010, 75 percent by 2015, and 85 percent by 2020 would save nearly 100,000 American lives between now and 2030.

"California is a high priority for us with five of the top 10 most polluted cities in America, according to the American Lung Association's 2008 State of the Air Report," said Jeff Granato, President and CEO, Proterra. "The solution is in our hands to help cities reduce air and noise pollution, and the state and federal policies are also in place to begin to take clean commuting from a vision to a reality in 2009. We're excited to show California the EcoRide BE35 as an important next step to emissions free transit."

About Proterra
Answering the international call for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible transit solutions, Colorado based Porterra has been designing and manufacturing the world's most efficient commercial vehicle technologies since 2004. With hybrid and battery-electric buses that are built from the ground-up in Colorado, Proterra has patented clean transit technology serving the commercial sector with solutions for city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks. For more information on Proterra and its technology please visit: http://www. proterraonline. com/company. asp (http://www. proterraonline. com/company. asp).

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GI Lab Acquires HALO 360 System for Ablation of Barrett's Esophagus

Baptist offers new procedure to remove diseased esophagus.

Jackson, MS (PRWEB) June 22, 2007

Baptist Medical Center's GI Lab has acquired the HALO 360 Ablation Therapy System, a device that provides tightly controlled ablation to circumferentially remove diseased esophageal lining referred to as Barrett's Esophagus (BE). The procedure involves a standard endoscopy technique under conscious sedation. BE is a pre-cancerous condition associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD.

Gastroenterologists Ronald P. Kotfila, MD; Makau P. Lee, MD; Paul B. Milner, MD; and Shawn W. Panzer, MD, are trained in the use of the device. According to Dr. Kotfila, the procedure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes including the time to sedate the patient. "It is very safe," he notes. "It only burns a 3mm depth of tissue and no more. This is just enough to get the Barrett's lining without burning into deeper tissue."

Traditionally, treatment for Barrett's esophagus has been careful surveillance, an option that has been less than optimal. "Most gastroenterologists I have known feel that watching BE is like watching a colon polyp," says Dr. Panzer. "All adenomatous colon polyps are dysplastic by definition, and thus have malignant potential. No one watches colon polyps and then removes them only if they progress. In Barrett's, that progression could be directly to cancer."

While ablation of the diseased tissue provides a more proactive treatment option, it has not been widely used due to the limitations of available technology to treat the disease without harming normal tissue. "The traditional ablative approaches--electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, photodynamic therapy--have shown an inability to completely ablate all of the pathological cells or caused significant postprocedure complications, such as perforation, strictures, photosensitivity, mediastinitis, etc.," notes Dr. Panzer.

"Previous endoscopic treatments made the esophagus lining look normal, but there were problems with Barrett's tissue 'hiding' under the 'normal' lining," Dr. Kotfila added. "Also, treatments for acid reflux disease such as medication and Nissen fundoplication have not been proven to eradicate Barrett's esophagus in most patients. So far, the HALO 360 is completely eradicating the Barrett's tissue. Long-term studies are still in progress."

The HALO 360 System makes broad use of endoscopic ablation of the esophagus practical by providing uniform and controlled ablation at a consistent depth. During the procedure, a sizing balloon is first used to size the esophagus. A correctly sized ablation catheter is then inflated within the area of the Barrett's. The energy generator is activated to deliver a burst of ablative energy that lasts less than one second. This removes a very thin layer of the diseased esophagus. New, healthy tissue replaces the ablated Barrett's tissue in three to four weeks for most patients. Following ablation therapy, patients resume acid suppression therapy.

"Over 5000 post treatment biopsies have found no buried glands under the regenerated squamous mucosa. The procedure is FDA-approved and is promising," said Dr. Panzer. "This approach is an extension of current technology and makes sense in regard to our approach to malignancy elsewhere in the body--colon, cervix, etc. The fact that it is minimally invasive, apparently effective, and a form of secondary prevention makes it one which could be potentially applied to all patients with BE. I plan to discuss and encourage this option with all of my patients who have Barrett's esophagus, based on current knowledge," Dr. Panzer concluded.

For more information, call the Baptist Health Line at 1-800-948-6262 or visit http://www. mbhs. org/med_serv/all_services/gi_lab. htm (http://www. mbhs. org/med_serv/all_services/gi_lab. htm).

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Monday, October 5, 2009

Premise Corporation Collaborates with Leading Hospitals and Microsoft Corp. to Develop New Care Management Solution

Premise Care Management Solution takes clinically focused patient flow to the next level by improving workflow, visual communications and care delivery

Farmington, CT (PRWEB) February 22, 2008

Premise Corporation, a leading provider of clinically focused patient flow solutions, today announced the launch of its new Care Management solution to facilitate high quality, timely patient care by providing clinicians with instant communication and relevant, contextual data from disparate sources. The solution improves patient flow in two ways: First, by pulling data from various clinical systems and devices such as RTLS (Real-time Location Systems) and "smart beds" to create highly intuitive visual displays improving care facility-wide. These real-time displays keep caregivers "in the know" about critical data such as the status of patient care activities and patients' clinical needs. Second, the solution automates and coordinates clinical workflow - replacing "resource chasing" and phone calls with a proactive alerting and communications platform.

The Care Management Solution is being developed collaboratively with Microsoft Corp.'s MS-ISV (Independent Software Vendors) Group. Premise was a 2007 winner of the MS-HUG Innovation Award and is currently a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. The relationship provides Premise access to Microsoft's latest technology innovations, development and architecture expertise, as well as use of Microsoft Technology Centers.

"Microsoft's mission is to improve health around the world. We recognize that optimizing patient flow is a critical industry need and can have a very positive impact on the quality and delivery of care," said Chris Sullivan, U. S. health industry solutions director, Microsoft Corp. "Built on Microsoft's familiar, easy-to-use and widely supported software platform, Premise Corporation's Care Management solution takes patient flow to the next level, and we're pleased to work with such an innovative company."

Premise is developing the Care Management solution collaboratively through its new Innovation Partner Program, drawing upon the expertise and patient flow knowledge of the nation's leading hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Banner Health System, UCLA Medical Center, and Westchester Medical Center. The Innovation Partner Program includes hospital executives as well as clinicians and supervisory staff, thus ensuring Premise solutions are strategic, clinically driven, and user-friendly.

"Through our long standing partnership with Premise, and their history of developing patient flow solutions that meet client needs, we're excited to participate in this innovation process and collaborate on a solution that will meet additional needs surrounding patient flow. We're certain that many hospitals will benefit from these collaborative efforts," said Laura Caramanica, RN, Ph. D., Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Westchester Medical Center. Premise Chairman and CEO, Eric Rosow, states, "From our inception, Premise has partnered with its clients to build solutions that address their needs, processes and challenges - our Innovation Partner Program embodies this tradition and will help us draw upon ideas, insights and expertise from many of the nation's best health systems. Further, our close collaboration with Microsoft will ensure our solutions utilize the best technologies and provide the most relevant capabilities to meet market needs."

Premise Care Management will be available either as a standalone solution with the ability to operate interoperability with existing systems or integrated as part of the latest release of the Premise Patient Flow Platform. Premise has also completed development of Premise Patient Flow Platform version 4.0, the next iteration of its leading comprehensive patient flow solution. Version 4.0's added capabilities include advanced integration between modules; expanded global isolation capabilities to better address issues with MRSA and other contagious diseases; new auto-dispatch capabilities for transport; and added reporting capabilities. Premise Care Management can operate independently, working with other data source applications; or integrate with Premise Patient Flow Platform version 4.0 to facilitate seamless patient flow through the entire continuum of care. Both new solutions will be demonstrated in Premise's booth, #2115, at the HIMSS Annual Conference on February 24-28, 2008.

About Premise

Premise Corporation (www. premiseusa. com) is a leading provider of integrated and clinically-focused software solutions that optimize patient flow, streamline communications, enhance operational efficiency, and empower knowledge-based decision making. Founded upon the idea that optimized delivery of healthcare services can be realized through the widespread use and visualization of real-time operating data, Premise delivers the industry's most intuitive systems for bed management, bed turnover, transport, and decision support, and has been serving the healthcare industry for 12 years.

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