Protecting your church with insurance

Even though church is a religious building, it does not mean that it is free from the thieves who will steal anything from anywhere. This is why there are so many pastors and missionaries buy Pennsylvania church insurance to protect the church from damages. If you want to buy the insurance program, it will be good if you can find the most valuable one.

You can always check the church insurance rates on the internet. There are a lot of websites that can help you to get information about the cheapest insurance for your church. Do not forget to check the program offered by the church insurance PA!

A Great Opportunity to Improve Your Appearance and Relax Your Body

If you have always wanted to visit a spa but never thought you could afford it, with some spas offering discount and reduced prices, you really cannot afford not to visit one. If you or a family member is involved in any type of sport where you have experienced injuries, pains, and chronic aches, a sports/medical massage offered at one of these facilities can help you heal faster and promotes improved sports performance. This type of massage is also a great way to prevent injuries with the use of several types of massage techniques and stretches. This type of massage can also be used by and individual immediately following a strenuous exercise session.
You may also receive a massage designed to relieve you of specific tension points in the lower back, shoulder, and neck regions. A massage therapist performs a deep tissue massage by applying a firm pressure to relieve pain, muscle adhesions, and loosen up tissue in the deep-rooted knots. This procedure will eliminate your body kinks, one by one, at specific trigger points. There are additional massage therapy treatments offered at a day spa where most are beneficial in relieving muscle tension, lowering heart rate, improving mobility, regulating blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and much more.
Not only are there treatments for the body at a day spa, but there are also treatments for the face. The laser acne treatments are FDA approved for the treatment of controlling acne. This procedure uses an intense pulse light that is painless combined with a vacuum for deep pore purification. The acne laser treatment purifies your skin from the inside out by eliminating bacteria, blackheads, oil and dirt from deep beneath your skins' surface. The light on the laser destroys your acne causing bacteria to help reduce your oil production, skin discoloration, and even improves the texture of your skin. You will have no down time with this safe procedure is safe and it is fast enough that it can be performed during your lunchtime break. Additional treatments you may be able to receive at a day spa include:
• Micropeels
• Microdermabrasion treatments
• Specialty facials
• Permanent makeup
• Laser Vascular therapy
• and much more
If you are interested in visiting a spa to get a thorough massage, or you want acne treatments, skin rejuvenation treatment and more, call and schedule a consult with one of the professionals. If you need a skin treatment, the professionals at the spa can start you off with a skin analysis to find out the condition of your skin. Whatever your desires and needs are from a day spa, it is a great place to relieve the stress of the day and enhance your appearance at the same time.

When to Visit the Medical Clinic Instead of the Hospital

In some situations, a visit to the medical clinic in your community is a faster and easier solution than heading to the hospital for the type of treatment you need. These facilities offer a faster service level to you while still offering the type of care you would expect in most minor situations in a hospital setting. Add to this the fact that you do not need to worry about the higher costs of a hospital and it may seem like heading here makes a better decision than going anywhere else. That's not always the case.

When a Hospital Is Best

There are times when going to the hospital is a good idea. If you have a condition in which you are experiencing life threatening complications or injuries, it is best not to waste time and instead to head right to the hospital for the care you need. Any type of trauma situation in which there is a risk of death is best helped at an emergency room situation. You should not go to your family doctor for these types of urgent needs either. The hospital setting will have the necessary tools and professionals to help to save your life.

When Other Locations Work

In other situations, a medical clinic may be a good idea for you. These facilities can provide you with fast service but they also handle many of the needs you have. Here are some examples of when it is a good idea to go here rather than to any of the area hospitals.

• You have a cold or other illness that is making you feel bad but you do not believe it is life threatening or urgent.

• You need a physical to turn in for sports or for work-related needs and you do not want to wait for your local doctor.

• You need to get a minor injury taken care of and you want to make sure it is done sooner rather than later.

• If you need to have blood work or other lab tests run, some of these facilities can help to make that possible.

• You may be able to have broken bones set in these areas, too.

• If you need medical advice but do not want to wait for a doctor's appointment and it is not urgent for a hospital, these facilities have licensed professionals on staff to help you.

A medical clinic is a good idea in many situations. Do not worry about going to the hospital for non-life threatening conditions when you can get help from a professional at a medical facility instead.

Are You Ready for a Breast Enhancement?

You may not think so, but getting a breast enhancement is a big deal. Not only are you going up a few breast sizes, you are changing the appearance of your body. Since this type of procedure requires that you are in good health and shape, you may want to review a few things that will help make your operation a success. Many people who get breast enhancements seem to think that since it is their breasts that are being operated on, they don't need to do anything to the rest of their body. Since surgery is involved, the condition of your body as a whole can greatly affect the outcome of your breast enhancement. If you don't want to suffer from any complications or have an incredible long recovery, take some time to pamper and care for your body in the weeks leading up to your procedure.
Rest is very important. It is completely different from just going to sleep. During the week or so before your appointment, you want to make sure that you are getting enough rest, so that on the day of your procedure your body is able to withstand your procedure. If getting rest means you have to give up a few leisure extracurricular activities or stop working overtime for a few days, do so. Rest is the only time when your body is able to rejuvenate itself.
Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet. Remember, you want your body to be in good shape for your breast enhancement. If you feed yourself garbage, then you are going to feel like garbage before and after the procedure. This includes giving up alcohol and recreational drugs. You can always resume eating unhealthy things and junk after you have finished healing.
If you were not an avid exerciser before you scheduled your appointment, you may want to wait until after you have completely healed from your procedure before you decide to start any exercising. When you exercise, you are working muscles and causing them to move and stretch in ways that they may not be accustomed to. If you weren't an exerciser before, to start any new routines now will leave you feeling sore and fatigued. You need to be in tiptop shape for your surgery. You are going to be sore after your surgery, and you don't want to add another reason to be even more uncomfortable during your recovery. It is understandable that you want to have a sexy body to show off, but it would be best to lay off the fitness routines until the doctor gives you approval. However, if you were someone who exercised on a regular basis, you can continue to do so. Just don't overdo it. Any strenuous activities should be avoided until after your doctor has given you the go ahead once you have fully recovered.

Pruritus Ani

What is Pruritus Ani?
Pruritus Ani, also known as itchy bottom or anal itching, describes a persistent irritation in the anal region causing a strong urge to scratch the area. The itch can be so severe so as to cause sleep problems. The more the irritated area is scratched, the worse the symptoms get. This condition can occur in anyone, but is most common in people between 40 and 60 years old. Symptoms are strongest after using the toilet and at night.
Causes of Pruritus Ani
Pruritus Ani is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom. Its underlying causes can be many and sometimes no cause is identified - in this case the condition is called idiopathic pruritus ani. Possible causes are:

• Eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions
• Irritation by soap, detergents, colored toilet paper, etc...
• Excessive moisture in the area, such as from excessive sweating
• Dry skin, as tends to happen in older persons
• Fungal or bacterial infections
• Laxative abuse - these can irritate the anus
• Threadworms - these cause itching mostly at night
• Damage to the area, for example due to excessive cleaning
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures and anal abrasions
• Anal tumors
• Stress and anxiety
• Irritants in food and beverages. Common examples are coffee, tea, beer, dairy products, tomato products, chocolate, nuts

Pruritus Ani Treatment
Treatment of itchy bottom will depend on the cause. If the cause is a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be used. If the cause is hemorroids, specific creams will be used, and so on. However, some advice is applicable to all cases. In particular, the area needs to be kept clean and dry as much as possible, to prevent further irritation and infection. You should wash your anus after passing faeces and before going to bed. After showering, dry with a hair dryer or a soft towel (pat, don't rub). Avoid scented soaps as these can cause irritation. If you tend to sweat a lot during the day, use a tissue in your underwear. Avoid or limit the foods mentioned above. Try not to scratch but if you find yourself scratching anyway, make sure you cut your nails as much as possible to lessen the damage.
You should always consult with your doctor if itching is persistent. You may be prescribed creams and medications to bring down the inflammation - always use these exactly as recommended by the doctor. Seek urgent medical advice if in addition to itching you also have bleeding or lumps.

Pruritus Ani should not be taken lightly and a visit to the doctor is highly recommended.

5 Ways To Ease Depression When It Feels Like Nothing Will Help

Anyone who suffers from depression occasionally, or worse, regularly, knows the feeling that nothing will help them feel better. People who live with depressive illness understand how crippling a depressive episode can be, and want to find ways now to get through the next tough period.

Following are five things someone struggling with depressed mood can do now to get through the next depressed mood faster and more easily, or even prevent a depressive episode in the first place.

1. See a Qualified Doctor.

Anti-depressants tend to work very well and prevent crippling depressed moods in people who have a mood disorder which causes depressive episodes. An individual suffering from depressed moods, for the first time or over a long period, should seek medical help as soon as possible.

For those already diagnosed with depressive illness or bipolar disorder who currently take medication, a depressive episode should prompt a visit to the doctor. If the current medication regime is not preventing medication, a physician will typically adjust or change medications.

Most family doctors are conversant with the various anti-depressant medications. Consulting a primary care physician is always a good first step. If this physician feels more care is required, he or she can refer the patient to a psychiatrist for evaluation and medication.

2. Take Prescribed Medications.

Many people take their antidepressants only when they feel depressed. Unfortunately, this leads to far more depressive episodes because antidepressants are not like pain relievers. They cannot be taken as needed and produce results. It is crucial to take antidepressant medication on a daily basis. If the medication is appropriate and prescribed in the correct dosage, daily use should relieve most or even all major depressive episodes once the medication reaches its effective level in the body.

3. Exercise Regularly.

Exercise is the best antidote for depressive moods. Unfortunately, during the middle of a depressive episode, no one wants to get up and go for a jog or even a walk. This is where prevention and habit come in. Creating a regular exercise program and habit makes individuals less likely to become depressed. Having a habit ingrained helps the depressed person take the action to get out and exercise even when they don't feel like it, because that is what they do. They have an exercise habit.

4. Have a Lifeline.

Anyone who struggles with depressed moods should have one person they can call at any time, day or night. This may be a therapist or a friend, but it must be someone completely trusted and someone who understands what depressive illness is and how it works.

The lifeline should agree to listen and encourage without criticizing. A lifeline should understand that suicidal thoughts often accompany major depressive episodes, and handle these thoughts calmly and in a caring manner, without panicking or condemning the thoughts.

Above all, a lifeline should simply allow the depressed person to talk and cry, and perhaps talk and cry along with them.

5. Make a No Suicide Pledge.

In the midst of a serious depressive episode, thoughts of suicide often appear tempting. In fact, these thoughts often crowd out real solutions to getting through the pain. Many people focus on the suicidal thoughts because these thoughts are louder than anything else in their head.

Most people, when not depressed, do not want to die, and in fact want very much to live. Suicidal thoughts are not rational, well-processed thoughts that just happen to be stronger during a depressive episode. They are irrational, depressed thoughts that serve no real purpose.

If a depressed person can acknowledge those suicidal thoughts, but has determined in advance that suicide is not an option, it is easier to set those thoughts aside and consider other options which might help with the depressive episode. For instance, if the depressed mood is related to a certain situation, eliminating the option of suicide might allow room to consider other ways out of the situation. Similarly, ruling out suicide and moving on from those thoughts allows even a very depressed person to be more rational and make the call to the doctor for a medication check or go to the hospital emergency room and ask for help.

When a person feels depressed, none of these solutions make very much sense. However, if they are set up in advance, they will help reduce the severity and frequency of depressive episodes and make getting through the remaining episodes easier.

Preparing for Your Abdominoplasty

Everyone knows just how hard it is to get rid of that belly fat that has been plaguing you throughout most of your life. It seems as if no matter what you try, nothing ever seems to work. You have tried countless diets and tons of exercises, only to end up sore and frustrated. If you are finally tired of running a race that seems to have no end, you should make abdominoplasty your next choice. You won't be disappointed that you did.
Abdominoplasty is a procedure that involves a plastic surgeon cutting away that stubborn bulge of fat. Excess skin that contributed to the bulge and rolls in your stomach area can be removed as well. There is no risk to your abdomen muscles. In fact, you will be able to see more tone and definition after the swelling has gone down from the procedure.
Getting prepared for this type of surgery will make your recovery much easier for you to handle. After the procedure, you may notice some discomfort, so it is import that you do some things in advance to prepare and minimize your discomforts.
Drink a lot of water. The cells in your body all need water in order to rejuvenate themselves. The better equipped your body is, the better you will be able to heal. Now is not the time for you to become dehydrated, this can make you ill or cause some serious complications with your abdominoplasty.
In the weeks leading up to your procedure, try to minimize your activities and put a halt to any strenuous activities for a while. Anything that requires you to do any heavy lifting or will wear you out should be something you ask your friends or family to help out with. You will never know how much you use your abdominal muscles until after your surgery, when you are not really able to use them. This can cause you to appreciate your body more while you are recovering from your tummy tuck.
Enlist the help of your friends or family to provide assistance to you while you are healing. You don't want to do anything that will cause complications with your body's healing process. The less you do, the better your results will be, and the less scarring, inflammation, and irritation you will have to deal with.
One common problem that many people seem to run into after their abdominoplasty is that they don't give themselves enough time to heal. They are in such a rush to show off their new body that they don't heed all of the doctor's orders.
Give yourself enough time to make a full recovery before you start back with your normal routine. This means that you will need the doctor's approval before you get back on track. If you do everything that you are supposed to do, you will be pleased that you can now show off your stomach.

Microtia Treatment: Looking At Surgical Options

Microtia treatment can take a number of forms, both surgical and otherwise. The condition being treated is somewhat rare-estimated to occur in one out of 10,000 births. It consists of a deformity in either or both ears which manifests as underdeveloped cartilage. In many cases, it is associated with other disorders, such as Treacher-Collins Syndrome. While it does not always cause hearing loss, that is a distinct possibility. Sometimes the deformity extends to the eardrum and the canal, which can cause issues with hearing. If your child has been diagnosed with the condition, here are some of the surgical options available to you.
Rib Graft
One of the most popular forms of microtia treatment, the rib graft includes taking cartilage from the ribs of the patient and using that as a replacement for the ear's natural cartilage. While invasive, the doctor should be skilled enough to reduce the risks considerably. This surgery can be intensive, however, and it often takes several stages to complete. The rib cartilage has to be harvested and molded and then sewn into a flap beneath the skull. From there, the surgeon must create the earlobe. Finally, the surgeon has to release is from the scalp skin, giving it that natural, pull-away appearance and perform a skin graft. The end result may not look like a perfect ear, but it will be a much closer approximation.
Medpor Surgery
Instead of using cartilage from the patient's ribs, the Medpor technique does the same thing using synthetic materials which can then be carved and molded to match the existing tissue. This material is made from polyethylene, a substance that has been used in various forms of reconstructive surgery for years, in addition to being utilized to treat microtia. The major benefits of choosing this operation is that it can be done in just a single stage and is, of course, much less invasive. The cons, of course, are that the material is not natural. Though even this is mitigated by eventual vascularization, which can allow the patient to feel sensations such as pain in the ear.
Non Surgical Options
There are non surgical options for anyone with microtia. The most obvious of which is, of course, the choice to do nothing. Some forms of the condition will not affect the hearing, in which case the choice is purely cosmetic. If your ears are merely underdeveloped and small, as opposed to markedly disfigured, this may be a viable option. Prosthetics are also an option that many people choose. These prosthetic ears can look extremely real. Talk to your doctor about choosing one of these options if you don't like the idea of surgery.

The "New Rules" of Fitness

Everyone knows what Fitness means right? Fitness is being Cut aka being Defined, aka Getting in Shape aka Getting Shredded aka Getting Jacked aka Getting Ripped (not in a drunken sense).
Fitness
Fitness, as something that we must strive for physically to improve our aesthetic appearance, and by virtue our internal functions and overall health, is a relatively recent concept. Here in the United States, circa the 17th-19th centuries, our country was an agricultural nation, with the vast majority of its residents involved in farming. Most everyone worked hard on the farms, and thus most everyone was in shape or fit in some way or another.
The relatively recent societal technological innovations have served to make us a society where convenience and expedience is the norm; the rapid rise and advances of technology have also led to an explosion of population migrations from the agricultural heart lands to our cities, transforming them and leading to a consequent rise much of what we know of today including concentration of wealth and humanity in centralized hubs of wealth and industry and in effect, office jobs where we sit around all day staring at a computer monitor (and smartphone/tablet screens). This has lead to more and more of our citizens becoming much less fit, due in large part to the sedentary nature of our jobs and our home lives.
Thus, we now have a majority of our citizenry that is out of shape and not at all fit by any person's definition. As a result of this, a need for an industry to meet the needs of our out of shape and overweight citizens was created and continues to adapt and flourish. This is of course out of necessity - our population is aging, our children are increasingly out of shape, and their parents are obese.
Today, when we see someone who is in shape or fit, we marvel at them, mainly because they are more the exception than the rule. As you can see, the idea that everyone starts off fit and in shape, as would have been the case at least a century ago, is contrary to the norm that is today.
Old Rules of Fitness
Our old "modern" rules of fitness would have you simply eat less and exercise to achieve a semblance of fitness, or at least a modicum of weight loss. The mantra would be to eat 3-5 meals per day, workout at least 1-2 hours per day, performing 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions at some sort of weight for single muscle groups. Very formulaic, generic, and inefficient. The old rules were not bad - they just were too generalized and accomplished only the basics. They were decent guidelines to form a foundational understanding of exercise and offered a simple glimpse as to the work it takes to achieve a certain standard of fitness. Not a bad start - That was then.
The New Rules of Fitness
Welcome to the new rules of fitness, where there is a focus on achieving maximum results as efficiently as possible. There is much less focus on "general standards" for sets and repetitions and a greater focus on intensity and duration, as well as the incorporation of multiple dynamic modes of exercise such as plyometrics, yoga, pilates, resistance training, dancing, and other aerobic and anaerobic modes which can be used and blended to promote maximum muscular recruitment in effect causing more energy to be utilized in a more compact time frame. This is a much more effective and efficient way of getting things done. Indeed we are in a golden age of invention and achievement as it pertains to creation and adaption of exercise systems for fitness. Everyone who is embracing this movement should be applauded.
Today is an era where P90x, Insanity, and other similar type of fitness approaches are being attempted and embraced on a large scale. Why is this? There really isn't only one simple reason - it is because they are dynamic, fun, and most importantly these methods produce results - and not just simply standard results, timely, efficient results.
As exercise evolves, changes, and becomes adapted by practitioners and participants alike, the practice and promotion of nutrition as a partner with fitness will adapt to meet the needs of athletes and participants. Of course biologically nutrition won't change one bit, a calorie will still be a calorie, etc., however the ideas and principles of when someone should eat in relation to exercise, how much should they eat, and how often throughout the course of the day, will become variables of understanding and concepts of teaching that everyone will start to consider and incorporate as they start to embrace these higher intensity bouts with more frequency. Practitioners and participants alike will HAVE to incorporate both aspects since they are two sides of the same coin - you cannot be considered fit if you solely rely on exercise or nutrition, one in absence or to the exclusion of the other, to get you to your ideal aesthetic and internal goal since it is imperative for optimal results to understand and incorporate both. As activity increase, the need for (quality) nutrition/energy spikes as well, especially post activity/exercise.
Here's to the new rules of fitness and those practitioners and participants that have embraced them, and to those that will embrace them in the near future.

Otoplasty: A Guide To Ear Reshaping Concerns

Otoplasty surgery is often implemented when an individual has problems with the shape of their ear. These problems could be as minor (surgically speaking) as prominent lobes or as major as malformed cartilage. Whatever the case, the surgery can make a big difference in not only the patient's appearance, but in their self esteem. This is especially true in younger patients. As adults, we forget how serious "sticking out" can be when it comes to getting teased in school. While it's easy to say, "Oh, it will build character," there are few studies that say being tormented in school produces a well balanced adult. Here are some things you should know about the procedure.
Weighing Factors
The results of otoplasty is based not only on the skill of the surgeon, but on weighing a number of factors prior to moving forward with surgery. Not everyone is a great candidate for the procedure. By taking the time to adequately determine who is and who isn't a good candidate, a doctor can vastly improve the success rate of their practice. Don't be angry if it is determined that you or your child isn't appropriate for a procedure. While it's your right to seek out a second opinion, you could be doing more harm than good by charging forward in spite of advice to the contrary. Some of the factors to consider include size and symmetry, pliability of the cartilage, age, and physical health.
Age
One concern at the forefront of many a parent's mind is how old their child should be when considering otoplasty. While social concerns dictate that any procedure be handled as soon as possible, this time is rarely before the age of five or six. This is because the ears will not reach their full maturity until that age. It makes little sense to make surgical adjustments to the ears before they have finished growing. Consider taking the child in for an initial consultation around this age and the plastic surgeon will be able to make a determination about whether or not it is appropriate to move forward with treatment.
Changing Your Look
One of the concerns people-especially adults-have when considering otoplasty is whether or not it will drastically alter their appearance. Everyone has seen people go in for a nose job and come out looking like an entirely different person. That's because the nose is a central feature. Making dramatic adjustments to its shape and size can have a significant effect on how we perceive that face. The ears aren't the same. While the problem will be addressed, you will still look like the same person after surgery.

Thrombocytopenia: Symptoms Of Low Blood Platelet Count

Do you suspect that you may be suffering from low blood platelet counts? If you do, you join millions of people across the globe affected by this very treatable problem.
The simple symptoms of thrombocytopenia (low platelets) start with visual cues such as excessive bruising, or bruising very easily. This is caused by blood "leaking" into the skin after trauma. There is no obvious time frame regarding the development of the symptoms of low platelets, and can appear suddenly or gradually become more apparent with time.
Obvious symptoms of the conditions present themselves in much more sever ways. If you bleed excessively after becoming injured, then you could very well have a low platelet count. Note that if you are on medication such as blood thinners and aspirin, then you may be more susceptible to the effects of having a low platelet count. If you suspect you suffer from the condition, then you should speak to your doctor about what the medication you are taking would have on you if you did indeed suffer from the condition.
Thrombocytopenia may also cause spots on the skin red or purple in colour, usually on the forearms or on the legs. This symptom generally presents itself on areas of the skin where there are lots of capillaries and where the skin is thin. These spots are a direct result of the fact that low platelet sufferers' blood clots at an impaired rate when injured. These spots are called petechiae.
This bleeding condition also causes easy bruising of the skin, and can present themselves seemingly on their own even without obvious trauma. Obviously, the more sever the trauma, the more severe the bruising. The medical name for this is bruising purpura, and can be purple, brown or red in colour.
More severe forms of thrombocytopenia may manifest themselves in much more affecting ways. Bleeding from the mouth or nose, or excessive bleeding after you've brushed your teeth may indicate that you have low amounts of platelets. For women, if your menstrual cycle's flow seems to be much heavier than normal than you should definitely look into treatments for the condition.
Often, the indication that a person suffers from low platelet counts is more prevalent when that person has had an operation. This is thought to be due to the more invasive nature of surgery and the large amount of healing required by the body. This extends into dental work and oral hygiene practices, where gums may bleed and seem to stop very slowly. If you present these symptoms you should get yourself checked out.
If you are seeing blood in your urine or stool then you could also be a sufferer, and before immediately jumping to the conclusion that you have low platelet amounts in your blood, get checked out by a doctor as these symptoms could point too much more sever medical conditions. If you suffer from immense headaches and are concerned that there may be something wrong with you, low platelets could be a contributing factor.
If you suspect or are experiencing any symptoms of thrombocytopenia mentioned in this article, get checked out by your doctor. As with any medical condition, low blood platelet counts should be treated wisely and as non invasively as possible, where possible.
Try seeking treatment through a modification of your diet, and do further reading on what exactly contributes to low blood platelet counts and how you can restore them to healthy levels safely and as naturally as possible.

If you suspect you are suffering from thrombocytopenia or low platelet counts, then you should get treatment as soon as you can. These treatments don't need to be medicinal though, and in fact you would benefit from keeping them as natural as possible.
Head on over to thrombocytopeniadiet.com for more information on changing your diet to rid yourself of low platelet counts, it's a simple change that could make a massive difference to your life!

Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups

The National Institutes of Health, more commonly referred to as NIH, is a federal government agency operating under the purview of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is primarily responsible for supporting the nation's biomedical and health-related research studies.
The grants and programs of the NIH are all magnanimously engineered to assist in the realization of its primary agency mission which is to "seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability."
In line with this mission, the National Institutes of Health has recently collaborated with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in an attempt to establish the Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups (MBCCOP).
The primary purpose of the program is to support research initiatives involving physicians who are participating in the care of minorities and who are eligible to participate in NCI-sponsored cancer prevention, control, and treatment clinical trials.
In addition, the program also serves as an opportunity for practicing oncologists who serve large racial/ethnic minority populations to participate in clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.
Essentially, this program is designed to cater to minority populations and to bring forth state-of-the-art cancer clinical trials to minority individuals in their own communities.
The MBCCOP Groups will work by providing patients with access to clinical trials in cancer centers, major university centers, and community programs. And in this manner, this access will be realized through another, separately funded, arm of the program called "Research Bases," which are comprised of participating NCI Cooperative Groups and Cancer Centers.
As a result, the linkages that will soon be developed as a result of this access is expected to facilitate the transfer of advances in cancer prevention/control/treatment practices to minority communities and their physicians.
The National Institutes of Health is ready to administer funds in the amount of $5,500,000 to support the Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups.
The institutions and organizations who will be deemed eligible to submit an application under this program are the following:
a) Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
b) Native American Tribal Governments
c) Federally recognized Native American Tribal Organizations
d) Nonprofit Organizations
e) Private Institutions of Higher Education
f) For-profit organizations
g) Small businesses
The United States Department of Health and Human Services, the mother agency funding the program, is the nation's premiere agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services to everyone, especially to those who are medically challenged and financially vulnerable.

Easier Medical Billing

With little to no extra time on their hands doctors have to work smarter not harder and that is when they turn to the assets of a medical billing service company. As they work around the office day in and day out, the time to really create the bills and send them out is just too time consuming. Getting medical providers paid is often nothing more than having the time to send out the proper documents but so few providers grasp what documents or how to document them. Medical billing companies are more efficient at establishing all the documents necessary to get providers paid not only by the insurance companies but by the patients as well.
Different companies make different guarantees to doctors about their services, but then always go back on it. The best companies will honor their word, will look as if to charge more but in reality collect far more than the lower cost competitor and will offer a money back pledge. Not only can the best company deliver everything with precision, but they also can find the best ways for the doctors to earn the maximum amount of money available without ripping off the customers. The values of each office are going to be different, so every billing services should look to please the needs of the practice not the needs of the billing company. Honoring one's word is important. A competent company will ensure that all payments go to the provider and not to the billing company.
There are many different options out there for medical offices, but very few can actually make the doctors money and save them time. The doctor's time is valuable and cannot be replaced so it is imperative that the right company be selected. Summarizing the previous line simply means that time is money. You can replace money but you cannot replace time. Only those companies with a track record of ten to 15 years will be able to do what they claim. Otherwise they would have collapsed long ago. Doctors should make keen decisions when looking for which one can do the best with what specifications they set for the provider medical services to complete.
Basically, the only companies that can help, are the ones that give it there all and get consequences. Not only should they be trained to make the money, but they have to be able to make both customer and office happy and at ease with the work done. Such companies will develop a relationship with you that will create a bond showing a duty to your needs. Only one company in the end can come out on top in every qualification, and that company deserves the be the one that is trusted above the rest. Any company that has a long track record and a list of pleased customers should rise to the top of your list.

Motion Sickness Prevention Tips for Children

It can be distressing for parents to see their children not feel well and have frequent motion sickness. Children from 5 years to 12 years are more susceptible to motion sickness.
What is Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is caused by a disturbance of the inner ear where there is a conflict between the vestibular inputs and visual inputs. These conflicting messages are sent to the brain which results in imbalance and thus leads to motion sickness.
Motion sickness can occur in air, sea, bus, car, roller coaster or from playing video games.
Symptoms and Signs

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Pale skin
• Cold sweat
• Fatigue

Remedies for Motion Sickness

• Always ask the child to look at a distant point, at the horizon or focus his attention somewhere out of the window.
• Have a plastic bag ready. Wiping your child's face with wet towels will also make him feel better. While traveling in air keep the air sickness bag ready for the child.
• If traveling by car, let your child sit in the front seat. This helps him to focus and keep his eye in tune with the motion of the vehicle. If in a bus, choose the middle seat.
• Give your child a pillow or use the head rest to avoid unnecessary head movements. Your child should keep his head as still as far as possible.
• Calm your child. Anxiety can make the problem worse. Tell your child that he is not the only one and he will get over it as he grows a little older.
• Always carry lots of liquids while traveling. Frequent vomiting can cause dehydration in children.
• Give your child small sips of water or electrolytes if he's vomiting.
• Motion sickness can get worse if your child is on empty or full stomach. Avoid giving big or greasy meals to your child before travel. It is a good idea to have a light snack before the motion.
• Avoid drinking and eating during short trips.
• Make frequent stops. Take short breaks when the child starts complaining about feeling sick.
• If you are flying, request for a seat near the airplane wing. This helps to reduce the turbulence.
• Try covering the windows as bright sun can make nausea worse.
• Fresh air can also help prevent nausea. Try and open the windows whenever possible.

Useful herbs and medicines
Before starting any therapy make sure you consult a health care professional or doctor about the exact dosage and method of treatment.
Herbs
-Ginger
-Peppermint
-Black Horehound
Homeopathy
-Cocculus
-Sepia
-Tabacum
-Borax
-Petroluem
-Nux Vornica
Other Medicines
-Promethazine
-Antihistamines
-Scopolamine

According to psychologists parenting begins even before the child in unborn. A mother talking, reading and singing to the unborn child creates a mother-infant bond early on. Even after the child is born, parent's interaction plays a very very important role in child's brain development. This goes a long in shaping the child's brain and affecting his psychological state. Some studies have also shown that children who have received responsive and sensitive care from their parents in their early years grow up to be more confident and successful individuals in their lives. Recent advances in brain research has shown that the brain development in children is not only dependent on genetics but is also determined by the child's experience.

Value of the Pre Nursing Home Admission Visit

The Pre-Admissions Visit Does Have Critical Value Before Nursing Home Admissions
If you talk to Diana Waugh, a registered nurse from Ohio, long-term care quality advocate and former director of nursing she would tell you she believes in the value of the pre-admission visit. What is that? It is when nursing home personnel visit a hospital and gain an in-depth understanding of a referred patient's needs before accepting this person for admission.
Of course this typically does not happen in our age of electronic referrals and stiff competition among skilled nursing facilities. Plus hospitals are gun-shy, afraid that facility reps will come in and try to market to other patients.
Unfortunately post admission many skilled facilities are finding there may be a financial and clinical incompatibility with this new admission and it becomes almost impossible to undo the process without infringing upon the patient's and their family's comfort level and dignity. Typically the discharge, whenever it is time for it to occur is a complicated one.
Of course there is also the convenience factor. Many nursing home personnel rarely leave the building for anything, except for business development staff. Many are simply in a rut and that can be hard to break away from.
However, Diana's concerns are very legitimate. Accepting certain admissions without really feeling confident this patient is an appropriate behavioral, clinical and psychological fit can open a can of worms that can be hard to manage and hard to close.
Further, when the dominant pre-admission questions center around insurance coverage and skilled days already consumed that calendar year, it is easy to slip into that "cattle herding" mode where we start to move away from the human side of care delivery and care management and focus solely on reimbursement.
Of course location plays a role since the hospital referring the patient may be 30 miles away and even if the pre-admission visit became an industry wide rule we still cannot escape the reality that no admission is perfect. Additionally this can never become a system wide practice unless everyone gets on board or the more aggressive marketers will keep accepting anyone who can pay regardless of the lack of person-centeredness involved.
Maybe there is another solution. If you have it we hope you will share. Let's talk about it. In the meantime may families and patients take a more active role in ensuring that every admission is as close a match as possible in order to ensure quality care delivery remains the priority.
Thanks for allowing us to share.

Candidate Physical Aptitude Test

As an increasing number of Municipalities across Canada and the United States make the CPAT their official physical test as part of the firefighter hiring process, recruitment candidates should familiarize themselves with this test, as well as understand how a metabolic and strength conditioning program can properly prepare them for it.

The CPAT began in 1997 as a result of what the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) and IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs) viewed as a need to standardize the physical testing of candidates being hired into fire services all across North America. The rationale was that candidates who were incapable of achieving the physical requirements of fire fighting were slipping through the cracks. A task force consisting of the IAFF / IAFC and ten leading fire services and their unions created the Fire Service Joint Labor-Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative. In turn, the CPAT was developed.

Using 1000 randomly selected fire fighters from the ten fire services, various standards were developed based on averages. Averages such as; what kinds of tasks fire fighters are required to complete, how much the average gear and tools weigh, the average height and weight of the fire fighters, and even the average weight of patients entering the ER departments of the cities where the ten fire services were located. Using these averages, an 'obstacle course' was created that the task force felt best replicated what the average firefighter would experience at an average fire ground scenario. After running their fire fighters through it, they also came up with an average time that candidates should pass.

Municipalities that decide to run the CPAT as their official test must be licensed accordingly by the IAFF in order to do so. This results in an across-the-board baseline whereby every CPAT is essentially the exact same thing. All distances, weights, instructions, and sequence is the exact same. The individuals manning the test have received recognized training as well. Because the CPAT is a recognized standard that has been developed with such an excellent attention to detail, candidates are essentially unable to legally challenge the results as being 'unfair' - since thousands upon thousands of applicants and hires have set precedence before them as to the universal acceptance of this test.

The general rules of the CPAT are pretty straight-forward. Every step of the CPAT has a particular aspect to it that can constitute an instant fail. Sometimes you get to have a 'warning' before you fail, again, this depends on the step you're on. There is a set time you must complete all eight steps in to pass.

The CPAT starts with a candidate being 'loaded' with a 50lb weighted vest. They are asked to make their way to a stair-climbing machine and given an extra 25lbs (12.5 add-ons on each shoulder). A 20 second warm-up at 50 steps per minute is quickly followed by a 3 minute, 60 steps per minute set. You cannot touch the rail twice, or you will fail. This is the only part of the whole CPAT where you cannot go more quickly than the time allocated for it.

Step 2, the hose drag, involves grabbing a nozzle on 200 feet of 1 ¾ hose and running with it 75 feet to a drum then turning 90 degrees and running another 25 feet. You then get on one knee and drag the hose until the first coupling, at 50 feet, crosses the finish line. This is the only part of the CPAT that you can run as fast as you can. If you fail to go around the drum, it's an instant fail. If one of your knees is outside the finish-line 'box' you get a warning. The second time it's a fail.

Step 3, the equipment carry, involves carrying two saws around a cone and back to the starting point. This starts by picking up each saw from a shelf and placing it on the ground, one at a time. Once both saws are on the ground, they are picked up at the same time, one in each hand, and carried around the cone and back. They are then returned to the shelf in the reverse sequence as they were removed, one at a time. If the saws fall or touch the ground during the carry in any way, it's a fail. If you run at all, it's a fail.

Step 4, the ladder raise and extension, involves raising a 24 foot aluminum ladder from a lying position to a vertical one against a wall. You then move to the side and extend the fly-section of an identical ladder to its limit, then lower it back down to the ground in a controlled, hand-over-hand manner. Any loss of control during any part of this step, including having the rope slip in any fashion, will result in an instant fail.

Step 5, forcible entry, involves striking a 10lb sledge-hammer against a mechanical measuring device which is meant to simulate the resistance of a typical front door. Once the buzzer sounds, signalling that a successful amount of force has been applied, the step is concluded. Dropping the sledge hammer will result in an instant fail. Stepping outside of a marked box that you are standing in to swing the sledge hammer will result in a warning. A second warning is an instant fail.

Step 6, search, involves crawling through a darkened 64 foot u-shape maze (two 90 degree angles) with obstacles in your path requiring you to feel and make your way through it. Any event that results in the candidate requiring assistance out of the maze, either by panicking or running out of time, will lead to an instant fail.

Step 7, rescue, involves dragging a 165lb dummy around a drum and back to the starting line, totalling 70ft. If the candidate fails to drag the dummy around the drum, or the candidate touches or rests on the drum, they instantly fail.

Step 8, ceiling breach and pull, involves using a pike pole to perform four complete sets of three repetitions of pushing up a hinged door, followed by 5 repetitions of pulling down on a hook attached to a ceiling device. Both the hinged door and the ceiling device provide a weighted resistance. Stepping outside the designated area will result in a warning. A second time will result in an instant fail. Candidates are allowed to drop the pike-pole once, a second time will result in an instant fail.

Even without failing any of the eight steps, you must still complete them in a set time. If you go over the set time unfortunately this results in an instant fail as well.

Like most fire fighters, I spent a few years working hard to get hired. This resulted in my having done more CPATs than I care to remember. Because most of these CPATs were out of town, I spent numerous hours sitting around waiting for my turn, and this enabled me to see hundreds of other candidates perform the CPAT. While the majority passed, a surprisingly large number also failed - I would never have guessed that the failure rate was as high as it was unless I saw it for myself. I saw people pretty much fail at every single step. While many people failed for technical reasons such as dropping the ladder, panicking in the maze, not running around a drum, running when not supposed to, dropping a sledge-hammer (pretty much every failure mentioned in the steps above I've seen happen!) - The majority of people failed because they simply were not in proper shape to undertake the CPAT, plain and simple. I've seen people give up after less than a minute on the stair-climber! What on earth were they thinking the job entailed? A lot of people managed to make it through the CPAT, but not under the amount of time allocated.

Passing the CPAT requires that you get yourself in fire fighter shape. Fitness programs such as the metabolic and strength conditioning combined with powerlifting workouts are perfect for the particularities of becoming a fire fighter. I've seen my share of body-builder types (the stereotypical types that you would have to assume are in excellent shape if you didn't know better) who made it off the stair-climber with rubber legs looking like they just got off a boat that completed a 6 year journey at sea. They had no gas left in their tanks and couldn't complete the rest of it in time.

The fact of the matter is that unless you train for all aspects of fitness, you will lack the strength, endurance, cross-training, recovery, and general conditioning required for not only passing the CPAT, but performing your job as a fire fighter. Barely passing the CPAT is also not enough. Most fire services one you get hired and are in their drill school have their own physical tests which are much more demanding than the CPAT and have no problems cutting you if you can't handle it. The days of getting instantly hired for the rest of your life are behind us and recruits are at an ever increasing chance of being let go due to poor physical conditioning. Even more challenging than the drill school physical tests are dealing with an actual fire. Ask any fire fighter with actual experience what the difference is - it's pretty much day and night.

The CPAT should be seen as an absolute bear minimum of fitness level. If you can't smoke the CPAT in under 7:30, you may get a nasty wake-up call in drill school or worse, on the fire ground. You shouldn't be walking around with your head high if you barely passed. Use the time between the CPAT and getting hired to increase your physical conditioning! Being in excellent physical condition is your responsibility once you get hired - and if you are not willing to put in the sacrifice to achieve a high level of fitness, this job simply isn't for you. There are numerous programs out there that can take you to the next level, so look around and do your homework. We like to think our program, which takes you safely and effectively from beginner to advanced is great, but we're obviously partial since we've seen great results from it and have been perfecting it for over 4 years now. Whatever fitness program you come across, give it your best. As a fire fighter, doing nothing is never an option.

General tips for passing the CPAT are as follows:

• Get in shape!
• Follow all directions
• Familiarize yourself with all the steps
• Hydrate yourself properly prior to starting
• Eat a healthy breakfast on testing day (as you should every day)
• Get a goodnight sleep
• Don't stress out - Getting in shape, knowing what to expect, and being fueled will result in your success!