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Is Irhythm Technologies Inc (IRTC) a leader in the medical instruments and supplies industry?

By
John M. Price
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0


Irhythm Technologies Inc (IRTC) stands in the middle of the medical instrument and supply industry according to Investors Observer. CRTI received an overall rating of 41, which means it scores over 41% of all actions. Irhythm Technologies Inc also achieved a score of 35 in the medical instruments and supplies industry, which places it above 35 percent of inventories of medical instruments and supplies. Medical Instruments & Supplies is ranked 58 out of 148 industries.

IRTC has an overall score of 41. Find out what that means to you and get the rest of the rankings on IRTC!

What do these notes mean?

Trying to find the best stocks can be a daunting task. There are a wide variety of ways to analyze stocks to determine which ones are performing the best. Investors Observer makes the whole process easier by using percentile rankings that make it easy for you to find stocks that have the strongest analyst valuations. This ranking system incorporates many factors used by analysts to compare stocks in more detail. This allows you to find the best stocks available in any industry with relative ease. These percentile scores using both fundamental and technical analysis provide investors with an easy way to visualize the attractiveness of specific stocks. The stocks with the highest scores have the best valuations by analysts working on Wall Street.

What is happening with the Irhythm Technologies Inc share today?

Irhythm Technologies Inc (IRTC) stock was up 1.57% while the S&P 500 was down -0.88% at 1:33 p.m. on Friday, September 17. CRTI rose $ 0.97 from the previous closing price of $ 61.93 on volume of 401,186 shares. Over the past year, the S&P 500 is up 32.09% while the CRTI is down -72.37%. CRTI has lost $ -2.04 per share over the past 12 months. Click here for the full report on Irhythm Technologies Inc.


Meet Vincent Sifiso, a skilled nurse who owes his success to mom’s humble work as a housekeeper

By
John M. Price
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0
  • Vincent Sifiso grew up in a rural town with very few resources but was able to succeed thanks to his mother
  • Vincent’s mother worked as a housekeeper and did her best to provide a high quality education even though she was earning a low income
  • It all paid off because her son recently graduated as a nurse and he can’t stop singing her praises for everything she has done

PAY ATTENTION: Click “View First” under the “Next” tab to briefly see the news on your News Feed!

Vincent Sifiso is living his best life thanks to his domestic worker mom who worked hard to provide for the needs. He is now a nurse and could not be prouder to serve the medical world. But, his praise goes to his mother, who made sure he had the best education from high school to senior level.

In a recent Varsity World Facebook post, Vincent was quoted as saying:

Read also

Woman proudly shows off her work and inspires thousands: “Well done, scientist”

“My mother was a domestic worker but she took me to Best High School in Nelspruit to learn from the bottom up. Diploma Belt, License Belt, Post Grad Belt and soon a Masters Loading Belt. young nurse and rural boy. I am a PROUD NURSE. “

Discover his current position filled with emotion:

Vincent Sifiso, graduate, country boy, inspiring, nurse, domestic worker, independent mother
A country boy, Vincent Maseko is living his best life thanks to his mother who worked hard and allowed him to study and attend university. Image: Academia / Facebook
Source: Facebook

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In less than a day, the post received around 1,600 likes, nearly 50 comments and 40 shares. The comments are full of congratulatory messages for this inspiring young man.

Brief News chose a few of the latest comments for the newly qualified nurse:

Michael Towner:

“I’m from the United States. Congratulations to Vincent Sifiso for becoming a nurse. You are on your way to becoming a world leader in healthcare. The sky’s the limit!”

Read also

Happy birthday Khotso! Cassper Nyovest’s son just turned one

Sanele Mpathœnhle Mahlase:

“When someone is motivated by passion this is what happens, congratulations.”

Ndindi Bhanisi:

“Beautiful, sir. Congratulations.”

Vincent is a great example of the possibilities that open up when a parent wants to see their child succeed. Even though her mother had a low paying job, she still found a way to provide him with the best quality education. We wish Vincent all the best as a doctor and hope his mom can rest well when he starts bringing home the bacon.

“Congratulations”: Woman celebrates her engineering degree in bags, Mzansi praises

In related news, Brief News previously reported that Mandy Dlamini recently graduated as an Electrical Engineer with a BEng Tech qualification. The Facebook page, @varsityworldSA, announced its success to the world in a post that garnered thousands of likes.

The message read:

“BEng Tech in Electrical Engineering, UJ Alumni – Mandy Dlamini.”

Read also

“Black Girl, White Coat”: medical student stops her with beautiful iconic photos

The page celebrates academic excellence and empowers students to become the best versions of themselves. Mandy sums up everything @varsityworldSA stands for and is an inspiration to those who meet her.

The image used in the post shows Mandy with a beaming smile and an excited expression as she poses in her graduation gown. It’s really inspiring and we hope the young people will follow in his footsteps.

There were over 2,000 positive reactions as Mzansi prepared to raise his glass to the deserving athlete. Brief News scanned comments to provide feedback to readers.

Xolani Skosana:

“?

Rochelle Brink:

“.

Babalolation B-man:

“Beauty with the brain. Congratulations and all the best for the future.”

Apostolic Khomotso:

“Congratulations, I want to get married [an] educated woman. ”

Source: Briefly.co.za

Supply fears drive European vaccine industry to seek the comforts of home

By
John M. Price
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0


An employee of the pharmaceutical and chemical group Merck KGaA lines up outside a vaccination center at the Merck plant in Darmstadt, Germany on May 4, 2021, as Germany launched projects involving company doctors helping to the state vaccination campaign against coronavirus disease (COVID-19[FEMININE)ArneDedert/PoolviaREUTERS[FEMININE)ArneDedert/PoolviaREUTERS

  • Merck KGaA to diversify geographically to avoid vaccine conflicts
  • Entrepreneur Rentschler wants to source more locally
  • Protectionist moves amid rush for vaccines, “wake-up call”

FRANKFURT, Sept. 17 (Reuters) – European companies playing key supporting roles in COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing are working to bring production and supply chains closer to their customers to guard against restrictions that cut off supplies during the pandemic.

Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE), whose Life Science unit is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of bioreactor equipment and supplies, told Reuters it is working to geographically expand its production network so that fewer shipments have to cross customs borders.

U.S. regulations in particular, which prioritize companies performing contracts with the U.S. government, have posed a challenge for Merck as it seeks to meet growing demand for supplies such as sterile fermentation bags and filters.

But the United States is not the only country to engage in what some call vaccine nationalism. India banned vaccine exports in mid-April to focus on its national vaccination campaign as infections exploded across the country, upsetting vaccination plans in many countries in Africa and South Asia . Read more

Following production shortfalls at AstraZeneca (AZN.L) earlier this year, the European Union imposed an export surveillance program and accused Britain of withholding volumes of COVID-19 vaccines which, according to it should be shared with the EU. Read more

“Every forward-looking decision we have taken has incorporated the geographic dimension,” Managing Director Belen Garijo told Reuters. “Against the background of the trade constraints that we have seen, we have increased our global diversification whenever we have had the opportunity,” she added.

At Rentschler Biopharma SE, a German subcontractor for large pharmaceutical companies that is helping produce CureVac’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate (5CV.DE), the pandemic has sparked a review of its supply routes.

“The coronavirus crisis has given us an important boost to bring our supply chains closer to home. We have decided to source most of our equipment from Europe in order to no longer be so dependent on the United States,” a said CEO Frank Mathias, naming sterile bioreactor bags as an example. He would not name the suppliers.

Mathias said supply chains collapsed earlier this year when the United States requisitioned certain volumes for domestic vaccine producers.

The U.S. Defense Production Act, with its listed order system that prioritizes U.S. crisis response, has also hampered Merck’s ability to serve vaccine makers elsewhere in the world.

In response, Merck announced in March its intention to invest € 25 million in France to manufacture disposable plastic materials for bioreactors, a critical input for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines.

The new site, Merck’s first such facility in Europe, will likely come on stream at the end of 2021, adding to similar serial production lines in the United States and China. Read more

This followed the $ 47 million investment in its U.S. facilities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in December, at the time touted as boosting global production to meet unprecedented demand.

“The pandemic has been a wake-up call,” said Garijo of Merck. “You want to have a global footprint so that you can cope with potential business constraints. “

Family-owned Merck also manufactures prescription drugs and chemicals for semiconductor production, but its Life Science unit, primarily made up of companies formerly known as Millipore and Sigma Aldrich, has become its primary revenue engine.

Its competitors are Thermo Fisher (TMO.N), Danaher (DHR.N) and Sartorius (SATG.DE).

In another move to avoid long transport routes and any consequences of international feuds, German family-run vaccine maker IDT Biologika announced earlier this year plans to invest more than € 100 million to produce the COVID-vaccine. 19 from AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Anglo-Swedish drug manufacturer. Read more

The production line, which is currently scheduled to enter service in 2023, is said to be designed to produce Astra vaccines or other vaccines of the same class of viral vectors, at a rate of at least 360 million doses per year. .

IDT would manufacture the active ingredient and mix, bottle and package the final product, combining in one place a series of production steps that are currently widely dispersed.

IDT said the project was on track but declined to comment further. The company said the German Federal Ministry of Health helped with the project but the investment was not subsidized.

Re-equipping production networks in a pharmaceutical sector that has relied for decades on cross-border trade and the international division of labor can only be done in gradual stages, warned Merck CEO Garijo.

“You can’t move a factory overnight, it takes time,” she said.

Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss; Editing by Hugh Lawson

Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


Nurse shines dark times with vaccine chandelier

By
John M. Price
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0


Laura Weiss, IA, remains positive. A retired nurse who partnered with the Boulder County Public Health Department in February for their vaccination effort, Weiss recalls times like vaccinating the parents of a man who transported them from Venezuela to Colorado, determined to get them vaccinated.

Weiss recounts how a woman, in tears as she received the vaccine that would allow her to celebrate her next marriage, told her, “You are now part of my marriage, because you are allowing this to happen.”

“It’s times like that, that were just beautiful,” Weiss said. She channeled some of that beauty into an impromptu piece of art that went viral when Boulder County Public Health posted it on her Facebook page. It is a chandelier composed of 271 vials containing doses of vaccines, mainly Moderna.

Weiss dubbed it the Light of Appreciation, “to represent the hard work of all those nurses and volunteers and health care workers and people who have been vaccinated.”

“I just noticed all of these empty vials and thought they were pretty. They were beautiful and I wanted to do something creative with them if I could,” she said.

Of course, the process has not been without obstacles. Weiss, a nurse for 33 years, said: “I had to ask permission, and of course it had to go through two or three different people, to use the vials and clarify what I was going to do with them.”

But once her supervisor approved (in an email to Weiss, the supervisor wrote that she did not believe the vials “posed a communicable disease threat”), Weiss found a gold chandelier frame on Craigslist for $ 20 and got to work.

She washed each bottle, punched holes in the bottom, and threaded them upside down with glass beads and crystals in a creation that wouldn’t be out of place at Versailles. It sparkles with small bulbs and the red beads match the red type on the neatly hanging vials.

picture

But then there were the comments. When Boulder County Public Health posted an article about the chandelier on its Facebook page, the inevitable trolls and skeptics arrived.

“This is a positive for me and for many others,” Weiss said, “and the positive reviews definitely outweigh the negatives. The negatives are really disturbing and unexpected.”

With over 3,000+ comments, it was a lot for Weiss to understand: “I stopped reading them because it’s just too much.”

Weiss’ own pandemic experience was not without challenges, either. She was unable to see her newly born granddaughter for the first 6 months of her life. She has also given up on seeing her husband’s parents. “It was hard,” she said, though she was quick to notice that it wasn’t much compared to the suffering of others.

Weiss did another COVID-related piece of art before this one, stringing together 20,000 small American flags in August 2020 in an effort to get a feel for the number of American lives lost to the pandemic after learning that 200 000 people had died.

“Every flag I touched wasted 10 lives… a loss like this was so overwhelming,” she said. “It definitely helped me understand a little more the magnitude and what we were looking at here.”

She wrapped the chain around a kiosk at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder.

picture

The act of building the chain of the flag and the chandelier, and the physical handling of the vials was, according to Weiss, also a way for her to personally deal with both the human toll of the pandemic and the lifeline of the vaccine.

“Each of those vials, most likely, contained 10 vaccines each,” she said. “I like to think, you know, that it saved half of that life because everyone got two doses, so it feels good to know that at least that represents lives saved and hope for the future. “

Due to her contemplative crafting practice, Weiss says she now has a small platform that she intends to use. The Boulder Community Hospital wanted to exhibit the light, she said, as did the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

But the biggest opportunity, she said, could come from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Moderna has been in talks with the museum to display the chandelier.

Weiss has one demand, however: that the company that has made millions from the vaccine launch a scholarship program for nurses.

“If I can get Moderna to set up a scholarship fund, that would only close the deal,” Weiss said. “I’ll be a happy nurse.”

  • author['full_name']

    Sophie Putka is a corporate and investigative writer for MedPage Today. His work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Discover, Business Insider, Inverse, Cannabis Wire, etc. She joined MedPage Today in August 2021. To follow



The Republic of Minnesota | No Exceptions – Texas Senate Bill 8 Avoids Supreme Court Deadlock

By
John M. Price
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0


Last September, the state of Texas took the issue of an abortion law into its own hands by drafting a controversial bill on the issue. Last May, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which bans abortions as early as six weeks pregnant. Senate Bill 8 also leaves no exceptions for sexual abuse, rape or incest, causing even more disagreement on the subject.

Spokesman for the bill, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (right) said the purpose of the bill was to ensure that no abortions take place after the term of an early pregnancy in due to “fetal heartbeat”, when the fetal heartbeat is usually detectable in the embryo.

While this bill strives to rid the state of abortion beyond the heartbeat stage, it ignores the overwhelming number of calls neighboring states receive to their clinics over time. it often takes to realize pregnancy for the average woman.

Hospitals in neighboring states, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, have all received their fair share of calls from panicked Texan patients. Those calls in Texas ranged from minors and survivors of sexual assault to patients with cases involving fetal abnormalities, according to a recent Justice Department court file. A minor from Galveston, Texas, who was also recently raped, was forced to drive for more than eight hours into Oklahoma state to terminate her pregnancy. In doing so, she feared at the same time that her family would face legal liability under this new ban.

A full report on the exact number of women who were actively seeking or needing an abortion just before this bill was passed and approved is still unknown, but according to Texas Health and Human Services, the state performed more than 19,000 abortions during the month of April alone. Neighboring states have had to turn away many fleeing patients because they do not have staff capable of accommodating the number of patients requesting services.

Six weeks for most women is barely enough time to realize that they have just missed a menstrual cycle. For women with irregular cycles, this duration could be even longer. While most home pregnancy tests take around ten days after conception for an accurate result, there is always a risk of a false negative. For the most reliable results, it is recommended that a woman wait past the first day of a missed period to avoid a false negative, and with this new Texas abortion law, which only provides for a maximum of two weeks for get appointments. scheduled and allow recovery.

While the state has no problem implementing this law, very little has been mentioned of any form of support for these young women who are forced to give birth, especially those who have been raped or sexually abused. . Rape is not a woman’s choice. Rape is illegal. While illegal, the pressure to have a child, even after an unwanted incident, is legal thanks to the recently passed Texas state abortion law.

Many others will say that abortion is an easy option, but what they forget is the stress that pregnancy puts on a woman’s body at any age and the loss of opportunities resulting from pregnancy. . Pregnancy consists not only of the painful act of childbirth itself, but also of the continuation of doctor’s appointments, the pain and mood swings that preceded the event itself. The costs for these appointments and the drugs to help the process come out of the pockets of the patients, regardless of whether they can support the child or not.

The reason it is becoming such a big problem now is that the Supreme Court decided not to block this new law. This quickly resulted in public scrutiny and numerous comments from health experts opposing the response. Many other states are currently leaving their ban at twenty or twenty-four weeks.

There are also a lot of medical contingencies that revolve around the issue which is decided primarily by politicians. The majority of people in politics have not earned a doctorate in the medical profession, let alone a political science degree from their alma maters. Politicians without the proper training could lead to a whole new epidemic of women’s health.

The Supreme Court’s decision to avoid blocking this new law simultaneously puts great pressure on other Republican-controlled state legislatures. This question being taken lightly, it leaves room for more adaptability and probability of adoption on future highly controversial bills. The Supreme Court was supposed to be a non-partisan government institution and the passage of this bill shows that partisan biases could further divide American society.

Despite this problem in the South, the people of Minneapolis have even started to worry about the future of their own state. The state of Minnesota has remained largely inactive on anti-abortion laws; however, citizens do not believe this should be taken for granted.

Monday, September 13e, about 250 Minnesotans gathered in Saint Paul in the state capital of Minnesota to protest Senate Bill 8 and the position the Supreme Court chose to take when it passed the ban on l abortion for six weeks.

Dr. Sarah Traxler, Chief Medical Officer of the North Central State Planned Parenthood Program, recently said, “We are still in a battle over protecting access to abortion. You look across the country – every state is on an election cycle of potentially severe and extreme restrictions, just Texas. And Minnesota is no different.

“

We are still in a battle over protecting access to abortion. You look across the country – every state is on an election cycle of potentially serious and extreme restrictions, just Texas. And Minnesota is no different “

– Dr Sarah Traxler

The future implications of Texas Senate Bill 8 on the rest of the United States, particularly the anti-abortion states, are still unknown, but it likely opens a door to more biased and partisan political decisions within our community. government – both locally and federally on either divided side of the political aisle. Today is abortion. Tomorrow, other controversial topics on women’s health could join this one in a debate or a legislature.


The 30 Fastest Growing Jobs and Careers for the Next 10 Years

By
John M. Price
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0


If you are just starting out in your career or have been in the workforce for a while, it is important to look to the future. Hockey star Wayne Gretzky said, “I skate where the puck goes, not where it has been. It’s the same with your career. You have to look ahead. Anticipate emerging trends. Find out how you can leverage your skills to steer you into a fast-growing career instead of finding yourself stuck with a job that gets nowhere.

I write in the monthly employment report compiled by the United States Department of Labor. Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows how many new jobs have been created or lost. Data captures a moment in time. This division, as you can imagine, has access to a wealth of information and statistics on jobs and careers.

While most economists, Wall Street professionals, and nerdy guys like me pay attention to monthly job reports, the BLS offers compelling reads for proactive people who have a strong desire to advance their careers. He brought together Fastest Growing Jobs and Careers Lists. In addition, the BLS shares how much these roles pay.

Before we get to jobs, let’s take a look at the sectors that offer rapid growth. For starters, the BLS predicts that overall employment in the United States will grow from “153.5 million to 165.4 million in the decade 2020-30, an increase of 11.9 million jobs.”

Employment in restaurants, bars, travel, hotels and the so-called “hospitality and leisure sector” as a catch-all is expected to grow at the fastest rate. This will happen in response to the reopening and recapture of the country. During the pandemic, workers in the recreation and hospitality space were one of the first to lose their jobs or be put on leave. Now, due to almost insatiable demand, jobs are back in force. The rebound has been so huge that restaurants and businesses are complaining about not finding enough workers. Large companies, such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target, have had to respond by offering sign-up bonuses, salary increases, and free tuition to entice people to join their businesses.

As you can imagine, in the current and potentially post-pandemic environment, healthcare will take priority. Naturally, concerns about our health and safety will propel the continued growth of the health care and social assistance sector. This space should “add the most jobs of all industrial sectors, or around 3.3 million jobs over the period 2020-30”.

Within health care, employment in personal and family services is expected to grow the fastest, with an annual growth rate of 3.3%. Some of the rapidly growing health professions include nurse practitioners, physiotherapy assistants, and medical assistants.

Growing demand for care for an aging baby boomer population, longer life expectancy, and continued growth in the number of chronically ill patients will require a constant need for health care providers.

Technological advancements are expected to continue to grow at a rapid rate. We are seeing an acceleration in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, cryptocurrencies, games, virtual reality, collaborative online video platforms and the metaverse. There will be needs across the gamut, from big tech giants to rambling startups. As business continues to move online, the demand will outstrip the supply of suitable candidates.

According to the BLS, “Computer and math occupations are expected to experience rapid employment growth as high demand is expected for computer security and software development, in part due to the increased prevalence of telecommuting spurred by the pandemic. of Covid-19. The downside is that technological changes facilitating increased automation are expected to result in fewer jobs for clerical and administrative support jobs.

Tangentially, there will be a great need for people to interpret the vast amount of data to help business leaders make smart and informed decisions. The demand for new products, such as the Internet of Things, and the analysis and interpretation of large data sets is also expected to contribute to rapid employment growth for statisticians, security analysts information and data scientists.

We are likely to see a retirement boom. This will open up opportunities for young workers. Demographics show that by 2030 baby boomers will be at least 65 years old. As they age, many will begin to retire or leave the workforce. The BLS says: “The growing share of people aged 65 and over is contributing to a projected rate of labor force growth that is slower than much in recent history, as well as a Continued decline in labor force participation rate, as older people have lower participation. compared to younger age groups.

Other trends, such as the move towards eco-friendly initiatives, the massive adoption of pets during the pandemic, a mental health crisis, working from home and the desire to improve our health and our life, will create all kinds of new opportunities.

Here are the jobs that the U.S. Department of Labor and Project BLS will be the fastest growing jobs through 2030, along with the median annual salary:

  • Wind turbine maintenance technicians: $ 56,230
  • Nurse practitioners: $ 111,680
  • Photovoltaic solar installers: $ 46,470
  • Statisticians: $ 92,270
  • Physiotherapist assistants: $ 59,770
  • Information Security Analysts: $ 103,590
  • Home help and nursing assistants: $ 27,080
  • Responsible for medical and health services: $ 104,280
  • Data scientists and mathematical science professions, all others: $ 98,230
  • Physician assistants: $ 115,390
  • Epidemiologists: $ 74,560
  • Logisticians: $ 76,270
  • Speech therapists: $ 80,480
  • Animal trainers: $ 31,520
  • CNC tool programmers: $ 57,740
  • Genetic counselors: $ 85,700
  • Crematorium operators and attendants for personal care and services, all others: $ 28,420
  • Operational Research Analysts: $ 86,200
  • Actuaries: $ 111,030
  • Teachers in health specialties, post-secondary: $ 99,090
  • Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists: $ 42,150
  • Interpreters and translators: $ 52,330
  • Sports trainers: $ 49,860
  • Respiratory therapists: $ 62,810
  • Addiction, Behavioral and Mental Health Counselors: $ 47,660
  • Workers involved in the preparation and service of food, all others: $ 27,080
  • Nursing instructors, post-secondary: $ 75,470
  • Carpenters, all others: $ 33,630
  • Phlebotomists: $ 36,320
  • Software Developers and Software QA Analysts and Testers: $ 110,140


Snakebites and human rights | Pursued by the University of Melbourne

By
John M. Price
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0

I have never been a fan of snakes. I focus on the people and communities they impact. It was this interest in humanity, perhaps the influence of growing up in a medical family, that prompted me to pursue a career in neuroscience, proteomics, and clinical research.

I joined the Australian Venom Research Unit, based at the University of Melbourne, in 2017 as a junior medical researcher. I use epidemiological data to make clinical improvements for snakebite patients in Australia and around the world.

Dr Andrew Watt (pictured) focuses on strategic growth and public engagement with the Australian Venom Research Unit. Image: Supplied

Now I co-lead the unit with Dr Timothy Jackson, an evolutionary toxinologist. He investigates venoms and antivenoms and I focus on strategic growth and audience engagement. Both positions require the other to be successful.

We learned to work together and leading a research unit that combines international research and a medical distribution program in a low- and middle-income country, all during a global pandemic. The collaboration fostered not only a great friendship, but also one of the University’s largest health service delivery programs.

We started working on the Papua New Guinea Snakebite Partnership (PNG) 2018. It is an initiative, which has just been extended until 2023, of the National Department of Health of PNG, the Australian High Commission and vaccine supplier, Seqirus Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of CSL. It is managed and operated by the Charles Campbell Toxinology Laboratory (CCTL) in Port Moresby, which is a collaboration of the University of Melbourne with the University of Papua New Guinea.

PNG is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse nations in the world. It is also home to some very poisonous snakes, most notably the Papuan Taipan and the Death Adder.

Every year, around 1,000 people in PNG die from snakebites, compared to about four Australians. Before the PNG Snakebite Partnership, antivenom could cost up to AU $ 2,000 per vial, a fortune in PNG. And with snakebites particularly affecting people in their most productive years, families often faced significant medical debt or the loss of loved ones and their primary source of household income.

A snakebite ambulance travels through central PNG province to distribute antivenoms. Image: Supplied

The PNG Snakebite Partnership distributes up to 600 vials of antivenom per year across PNG. Seqirus donates the antivenom and the Australian government is providing financial support for the management and distribution of the antivenom in addition to training healthcare workers on the management of snakebite patients.

Our team helped distribute 1450 vials of snake and poisonous sea creature antivenoms and train hundreds of healthcare workers with specific clinical training in snakebites. We also visited 60 health centers to provide training on snakebite management and snakebite reporting, as well as to help the government of PNG build the capacity and sustainability of organic supply. Across the country.

The success of the program is in large part due to the outstanding work of our team in the country. In the field, our pharmacist and project manager, Geno Roalakona, and our nurse and clinical educator specializing in snakebites, Andrew Maru do an incredible job in a difficult and ever-changing environment. To say that this work has been rewarding is an understatement.

The snakebite particularly affects the poorest members of society. The World Health Organization defines snakebite as a Category A neglected tropical disease. When the poor are bitten, the luxury of modern health care is usually far removed from its reality.

Those lucky enough to survive a poisonous snake bite are often financially crippled by the cost of treatment, as well as physically crippled by the effects of the venom. Since the majority of bite victims are among the most productive members of society – young men and women of working age – disability from a snakebite can prevent survivors from earning an income, resulting in puts a lifelong financial burden on their family members.

From left to right: Dr Timothy Jackson, Mr Owen Paiva and Ms Krutika Wikhe working in the laboratory of the Australian Venom Research Unit. Image: Supplied

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our work. There are logistical challenges, including delays in delivering vials to vulnerable and remote communities, and ventilators typically used for snakebite patients are being redeployed to COVID-19 clinics. We are also working with health authorities to ensure that all of our nurses and clinical staff in the field in PNG can access COVID-19 vaccines.

Our mission is to become a center of excellence in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite the hurdles, Tim and I, along with our team of lab, clinical and support staff, continue our innovative and strategic research and information analysis on this neglected problem of poisoning by poisonous animals.

– As said to Harriet Edmund

Banner: Geno Roalakona collects antivenom from refrigerators at the Charles Campbell Toxicology Laboratory (a collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the University of PNG) / Supplied

Democrats’ fall on drug prices shows industry power

By
John M. Price
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0


House Democrats writing the health care provisions of their big social spending bill were aiming high: new coverage for poor Americans without insurance; additional subsidies for people who buy their own coverage; and new dental, hearing and vision benefits for older Americans thanks to Medicare.

To pay them, they also aimed high when it came to lowering drug prices. A measure that would tie the prices of certain prescription drugs to those paid abroad was designed to save the government enough money to offset the costs of these other priorities. House approach, estimates could save government around $ 500 billion over a decade, that money coming out of the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry.

But it is risky to bet against the pharmaceutical companies.

Three House Democrats on a key committee voted against the measure on Wednesday. There are still ways for House leaders to keep the provision in the final bill, but the House Democratic majority is so slim that these three lawmakers, if determined, could pose a significant obstacle to l adoption of the wider package.

The dynamic is familiar to lawmakers who have worked on health issues: The health industries are big and powerful lobbies, and they don’t like their revenues being cut. As with measures that could reduce payments to hospitals, doctors and insurance companies, the House’s attempt to take a bite from the drug companies has generated a backlash.

“I don’t think paying for a lot of things by crippling investments in the life sciences is really the way to go,” Representative Scott Peters, Democrat of California, one of the three dodgers, told me on Tuesday. colleague Emily Cochrane. “Losing the investment in the pharmaceutical industry is too high a price to pay. “

Mr. Peters’ district in the San Diego area has tens of thousands of workers in medical research and drug development. Some could lose their jobs if pharmaceutical profits decline, investment in research shrinks, or businesses shut down. Mr Peters co-sponsored a competing drug pricing bill, which he said would better target inefficiencies and market failures. The budgetary effects of this legislation were not measured – and the House committee did not vote on Wednesday – but it is similar to a Senate bill that is expected to generate a fifth as much savings.

Without the drug pricing provision, Democrats will struggle to fund their other priorities. They pass their bill using a special budget procedure to avoid Republican obstruction. But this process means their invoice must meet specified budget targets. If the money saved through drug price regulation is reduced, so too is the pot of money that can be spent on other purposes. Democrats have already abandoned plans for other income-generating policies, such as a wealth tax.

The United States pays higher prices for prescription drugs than any of its peers – about 250% of the price paid on average by other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to a report recent report of the RAND Corporation. And those high costs spill over into the federal budget and the economy, pushing up insurance premiums and putting life-saving drugs out of the reach of some patients.

Democrats in Congress want to lower the prices of the drugs Medicare and other insurers pay, both to generate a way to pay for other things and also for the benefit of consumers and businesses in general.

But with falling drug prices come trade-offs. The operations of pharmaceutical companies are based on assumptions of high margins in US markets, and investors in early stage companies make choices based on their expectation that an effective drug will generate a big payoff. The Congressional Budget Office – the same non-partisan agency that told the House that such a policy could save the federal government a lot of money – recently released a report indicating that substantial reductions in drug prices would have corresponding negative effects on the number of new drugs developed in the future.

Of course, the pharmaceutical industry is not happy with the prospect of major price cuts. Steve Ubl, CEO of industry trade group PhRMA, called the measure last week “existential” for his industry. He also said it was unfair that drug companies alone were being asked to shoulder the costs of such a massive expansion in healthcare. “We are being asked to pay a disproportionate share of the bill,” he said.

The pharmaceutical industry has spent years donating to political campaigns, lobbying members of Congress, and developing allies in business. They are now urgently taking advantage of these relationships. PhRMA on Wednesday announced a “seven-figure” ad buy and published an open letter in several Washington publications, in addition to television ads aired on national news programs and football shows.

It’s a playbook that other powerful health lobbies have used. Groups representing doctors, hospitals, and private equity firms launched a massive campaign in 2019 to defeat bipartisan legislation banning the practice of surprise medical billing. Their efforts ended the ban, although Congress eventually passed a more industry-friendly version a year later.

Senate leaders have indicated that they want to continue their own approach to drug price regulation. It remains to be seen whether their measure will differ in the fine print of policy or in the magnitude of the reduction in pharmaceutical benefits. But the House was generally seen as more aggressive on the issue. Its struggles this week could signal a smoother approach, and perhaps a smaller budget for Congress and other noble White House goals.

Emily Cochrane and Alicia Parlapiano contributed reporting.


Nurses stressed and exhausted by pandemic while others find ways to stay motivated

By
John M. Price
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0


MID MICHIGAN (WJRT) – The latest increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations is leaving some nurses exhausted and stressed, and even considering leaving the profession altogether.

But for a mid-Michigan nurse, even in these incredibly difficult times for many, including herself, she still finds the motivation to do what she loves.

“It’s kind of an unprecedented thing. I have never seen something so out of control and take so much control, ”said Lisa Ross, a 33-year registered nurse and employee of Great Lakes Bay Health Centers.

Lisa Ross is a 33 year old registered nurse. She works in one of the health centers in the Great Lakes Bay area.

She sees it every day, including sick patients, patients who want the COVID-19 vaccine, and patients who want to get tested.

We are 18 months away from this pandemic – some days are good for Ross – while others are not so.

“It’s caught in that political context – and so most people only listen to what they hear through hearsay. Nobody’s really investigating the details, so we’re repeating a lot of things about the vaccine, ”Ross said.

A recent national survey by the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 62% of healthcare workers said COVID-related stress negatively impacted their mental health, 55% felt exhausted and nearly three in 10 were expected to leave the profession.

Of course, it will depend on who you ask, but for someone like Ross, her motivation comes from the very people she helps every day saying two words to her.

These words? Thank you.

“When someone is scared of dying to get the shot, or scared of dying because I made a lot of COVID-19 calls, talked to people who were positive and they said thank you a lot – I was so scared – – you made me feel better, she said.

Copyright 2021 WJRT. All rights reserved.


Harris and Yellen push child care spending

By
John M. Price
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0

Stephanie Lane is a nurse by profession, but looking after her four children is her current full-time job – in large part because childcare has been financially out of reach, and has been for decades.

First of all, she was the single mother of a daughter. After remarrying and having her second child, who is now nine, she struggled to keep the day care schedule working. When the couple’s third child from Pennsylvania arrived, a girl with special needs, it was too much.

“We both earn the same amount of money, so it seemed like we had to decide who was staying at home because we couldn’t afford to babysit – because that basically takes all of a person’s income.” , Lane said.

Her husband was diagnosed with cancer, which meant she had to stay home and look after active children. Their fourth child is now 3 years old.

If cost wasn’t an issue, Lane would put her kids in daycare and work. With the family of six living on her husband’s $ 50,000 annual income, they could use the money, she said.

An average family with at least one child under 5 should spend about 13% of their income on child care, a price unaffordable for most families, according to a new report from the Treasury Department. Only 20% of children eligible for one of the largest federal assistance programs for low-income families actually receive financial assistance.

The administration’s report came out as Biden officials attempt to include child care services as part of a massive $ 3.5 trillion spending program that is heading to Congress.

“Child care is what keeps millions of Americans working,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at an event Wednesday alongside Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Suppliers are also struggling to make ends meet, the report says, managing to keep costs low. The workers – many of whom are women of color – earn low wages and some have to rely on public services themselves. The turnover is high. And more than half of Americans live in what are called child care deserts – especially families in rural or low-income areas.

The United States lags behind most developed countries in spending on child care and early childhood education, ranking 35th out of 37 countries tracked by the Organization for Cooperation and Development. economic development. Meanwhile, female labor market participation in the United States has remained stable for more than 20 years, while other countries have seen it continue to increase. The Treasury report indicates that child care may be one of the likely factors.

The Biden administration is pushing for a range of policies to help families with children, including providing access to more affordable child care services to lower and middle class families. The goal is that families do not spend more than 7% of their income on childcare, through grants and tax credits. They are also pushing for a universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and extending tax credits for children.

But House legislation puts the cost of affordable child care and universal preschool alone at $ 450 billion. The Build Back Better Act that is making its way to Congress faces many hurdles with Democrats at odds over the bill’s provisions, its scope and how to pay for it in addition to the Republican opposition.

“The free market works well in many different industries, but child care is not one of them. It doesn’t work for caregivers. It doesn’t work for parents. It does not work for children. And because it doesn’t work. for them it doesn’t work for the country, “Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday.” It’s high time we treated child care for what it is – something that contributes to economic growth is as essential as infrastructure or energy.

Yellen said adopting the administration’s proposals is “the most important thing we can do to build a stronger economy over the next decades.”

The Treasury report cites multiple “market failures” to explain why the current system is “unworkable”. Parents of young children, who often have limited work experience and other expenses like mortgages and student loans, are urged to pay for child care when they can least afford it.

In Colorado, Jessica Rapp and her husband struggle to decide whether it’s worth paying for child care for her one-year-old. Even with her master’s degree, her husband earns more. Her part-time job is equal to that of her son’s part-time daycare. The couple also have a mortgage and student loans.

“Right now we’re deciding if it’s a good role model and if it’s sustainable, or if I should quit and stay home – or try to come back full time, and try to find a different position that would potentially bring more than the cost of full-time child care.

The report says access to high-quality care is important to keep parents – usually mothers – in the workforce.

At the event on Wednesday, Yellen, the first female Treasury secretary, stressed the importance of the date: 40 years ago, she was returning to work after having had her son. She said she wasn’t sure she’d be in the job she’s in today, if it wasn’t for a great babysitter.

More than a shortage of nurses: a “skills gap” too

By
John M. Price
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0


During the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals have closed beds, closed elective surgeries, and appealed for federal help due to a shortage of an essential health resource – nurses.

Shortages of nurses and other healthcare workers plague hospitals across the United States, especially those in COVID hotspots. Mississippi has 2,000 fewer nurses in early 2021. Even before the Delta surge, Louisiana had 6,000 vacant nursing positions. In Tennessee, the shortage of healthcare workers prompted the state to National Guard to support health systems in difficulty.

But the current nursing shortage isn’t just in the numbers. The exodus of experienced nurses leaving the front lines, along with the turnover of nurses early in their careers, has led to a growing skills gap, creating major implications for a healthcare system in need.

A permanent concern

Experts had raised awareness of the shortage of highly qualified nurses long before the pandemic. The Institute of Medicine published a report in 2011, calling for more training of nurses to meet the demands of health care. The report recommended that 80% of nurses have a bachelor’s degree by 2020, as well as a doubling of nurses who pursue doctorates.

In addition, an article in Economics of Nursing estimated that from 2010 to 2030, over a million RNs would retire from the workforce, taking years of knowledge with them.

As the United States grapples with an expected nurse shortage over the past decade, many believe the pandemic has accelerated the rate of nurses leaving the workforce. More recently, the American Nurses’ Association asked the Department of Health and Human Services to “”declare a national nursing crisis“, offering workforce retention strategies and more training opportunities, among other solutions.

In an August survey of 6,000 critical care nurses, 92% said they believed the COVID-19 pandemic had exhausted nurses at their hospital. Two-thirds said their experiences during the crisis led them to consider leaving nursing.

“These are very concerning numbers,” said Beth Wathen, MSN, RN, president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the organization that conducted the survey.

“I think COVID has really made a difference,” she said MedPage today. “It is almost impossible to describe to those who do not work in our environment the level of death and despair that nurses and other frontline health workers have witnessed over the past 18 months.”

What explains the skills shortage?

The pandemic has created unprecedented working conditions for nurses and other healthcare workers, said Shawna Butler, RN, MBA, a Texas-based nurse economist.

Nurses have been working with reduced staff, which has increased their caseload. The influx of critically ill patients has overwhelmed intensive care units and emergency departments, creating untenable and even dangerous work environments. Additionally, many nurses took on the increased emotional burden of becoming unique support systems for patients in their final hours, many of whom could not see their families. These intense working conditions have prompted seasoned nurses – many baby boomers – to retire earlier than they perhaps expected, Butler said.

“The pipeline of new nurses is not keeping pace with retirement – and with so much retirement experience from the workforce, much of the operational, safety, clinical and operational knowledge, history and wisdom. institutional are lost, ”she said. MedPage today.

As nurses with 20 or 30 years of experience retire, hospitals are struggling to find qualified nurses to replace them. Instead, early career nurses can be thrown into overwhelming and stressful critical care environments.

“I am deeply concerned when I see new graduates starting their careers in the emergency department or new graduates starting in one of these critical care spaces,” said Butler. “I really worry about them. I worry about the people who have to train them. And I worry about the patients.”

As seasoned nurses leave the workforce, new nurses are also leaving clinical settings at higher rates. Wathen said turnover is high, with early-career nurses only staying at the bedside for a few years. “We are starting to lose this depth of experience that we had before,” she noted.

Some of these early-career nurses are also returning to earn advanced practice degrees – which could take away from the current workforce, according to Peter Buerhaus, BSN, PhD, who studies the nursing workforce at the. ‘Montana State University.

From 2010 to 2017, the increase in the number of nurse practitioners reduced by approximately 80,000 nurses, according to a study by Health affairs, which was co-authored by Buerhaus.

“You have a lot of nurses who are younger in their careers moving into advanced practice roles, which is a good thing,” Buerhaus said in an interview. “But, that made the shortages even worse.”

The skills required depend on the acuity of the patient

Experienced nurses provide the critical thinking skills and clinical acumen needed in intensive care units and emergency departments, Wathen said. It’s not just about performing basic procedures, but also examining a patient and determining when something is wrong.

In intensive care settings, the skills needed for a nursing team are highly dependent on the acuity and complexity of the patients, she added.

For example, nursing staff on a 10-bed floor of patients who are not intubated may require less support and expertise than a 10-bed floor with patients requiring mechanical ventilation, resuscitation, extracorporeal oxygenation by membrane or other complex therapies.

“That’s a whole different number of nurses and expertise that you need to manage these patients,” Wathen said. “It’s a very important concept to understand that it’s not just about numbers.”

Stop the shortage

The current shortage of nurses has created a dire picture for the future of health care. Health systems must attract new nurses, as well as retain those with experience, to meet the growing health needs that will result from the pandemic, Buerhaus said.

“The good news is that our estimates of the future growth of our profession before COVID suggested that we would increase the workforce by one million nurses,” he added. This figure includes the replacements of baby boomer nurses leaving the field, as well as 1 million additional practitioners.

However, it is not clear whether the effects of COVID on nurses can alter these projections.

Solutions to attract and retain nurses may include promoting better teamwork among healthcare leaders to involve nurses in high-level decision-making, increasing compensation, and improving performance. educational opportunities for nurses who wish to stay at the bedside. Another solution is to improve the public image of nursing and therefore continue to attract people to the profession, Buerhaus said.

“Right now, nursing is entering a very dangerous period,” he noted. Workforce issues should be highlighted and addressed, he added, but more positive messages about the profession are needed.

  • Amanda D’Ambrosio is a reporter on the MedPage Today Corporate and Investigative Team. She covers obstetrics and gynecology and other clinical news, and writes articles on the US healthcare system. To follow



MSU and UM Receive $ 1.9 Million for Mental Health Care Training | Montana State University

By
John M. Price
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0



With more doses, Uganda launches vaccination campaign in markets | Voice of America

By
John M. Price
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0

KAMPALA, UGANDA – At a taxi rank near a bustling market in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, traders simply cross a road or two, are shot in the arm, and rush to work.

Until this week, vaccination centers were mainly based in hospitals in this East African country which faced a brutal wave of COVID-19 earlier this year.

Today, more than a dozen tent sites have been set up in high-traffic areas to facilitate vaccination in Kampala as health officials partner with the Red Cross to administer more than 120,000 doses that will expire at the end of the day. September.

“All of this we could have done earlier, but we weren’t sure about the availability of vaccines,” said Dr Misaki Wayengera, who heads a team of scientists advising authorities on the pandemic response, said talking about vaccination points in city centers. “Right now we are getting more vaccines and we need to roll them out as much as possible. “

In addition to the 128,000 doses of AstraZeneca donated by Norway at the end of August, the UK donated nearly 300,000 doses last month. China recently donated 300,000 doses of its Sinovac vaccine, and on Monday, a batch of 647,000 doses of Moderna donated by the United States arrived in Uganda.

Suddenly, Uganda must speed up its vaccination campaign. The country has faced hesitation at times, with some questioning the safety of the two-shot AstraZeneca vaccine, which is no longer in use in Norway due to concerns about unusual blood clots in a small number of people who have had it. ‘have received.

Africa has only fully vaccinated 3.1% of its 1.3 billion people, according to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health officials across Africa have complained loudly about vaccine inequality and what they see as hoarding in some wealthy countries. Soon, hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine will be delivered to Africa through donations of excess doses from rich countries or purchases from the African Union.

Africa aims to vaccinate 60% of the continent’s population by the end of 2022, an ambitious target given the global demand for doses. The African Union, representing the 54 countries of the continent, has ordered 400 million Johnson & Johnson doses, but the distribution of these doses will be spread over 12 months because the supply is simply insufficient.

A nurse administers a coronavirus vaccination at the Kisenyi Health Center in downtown Kampala, Uganda, September 8, 2021.

COVAX, the UN-backed program that aims to provide vaccines to the most needy people around the world, said this week that its efforts continued “to be hampered by export bans, the prioritization of bilateral agreements by manufacturers and countries, the current challenges of scaling up production by some key producers and delays in filing regulatory approval applications.

Uganda, a country of more than 44 million people, has recorded more than 120,000 cases of COVID-19, including just over 3,000 deaths, according to official figures. The country administered 1.65 million vaccines, but only about 400,000 people received two doses, according to Wayengera. Uganda’s goal is to fully immunize up to 5 million of the most vulnerable people, including nurses and teachers, as soon as possible.

At the Red Cross tent in downtown Kampala, demand for jabs was high. By late afternoon, only 30 of the 150 doses remained, and some people who arrived later were ordered to return the next day.

“I came here with a safe deal, but it didn’t happen,” trader Sulaiman Mivule said after a nurse told him it was too late for an injection that day. “I’ll be back tomorrow. It’s easy for me here because I work in this field.

When asked why he was so anxious to get his first shot, he replied, “They’re telling us there might be a third wave. If it comes when we are highly vaccinated, it might not hurt us as much. Prevention is better than cure.”

Mivule and others who spoke to the AP said they did not want to go to hospital vaccination sites because they expected to find crowds there.

Bernard Ssembatya said he was passing by when he spotted the white Red Cross tent and entered for a spur of the moment. Subsequently, he texted his friends about the opportunity.

“I was demoralized by going to health centers,” he said. “You see a lot of people there and you don’t even want to try to enter.”

Yet despite the enthusiasm of many, some still left without getting vaccinated when told their favorite vaccine was not yet available.

The single-injection J&J vaccine, still unavailable in Uganda, is frequently requested, said Jacinta Twinomujuni, a nurse with the Kampala Capital City Authority who monitored the scene.

“I tell them, of course, we don’t have it,” she said. “And they say, ‘OK, let’s wait for that. “”

South Carolina healthcare organizations to pay $ 140 million to resolve uncontested claims by FCA whistleblowers

By
John M. Price
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0


A group of South Carolina healthcare providers, labs and testing facilities, all owned or managed by chiropractor Daniel McCollum, will pay a total of $ 140 million to the US government after failing to defend itself against accusations of bribery and unnecessary testing resulting from a whistleblower complaint. . According to a September 3, US Department of Justice (DOJ) press release, Oaktree Medical Center PC (Oaktree), FirstChoice Healthcare PC (FirstChoice), Labsource LLC (Labsource), Pain Management Associates of the Carolinas LLC (PMA of the Carolinas) and Pain Management Associates of North Carolina PC (PMA of North Carolina), allegedly provided illegal financial inducements to providers considering using their services. The government also alleges that ProLab LLC (ProLab) and ProCare Counseling Center LLC (ProCare) billed federal medical programs for unnecessary drug urine tests.

The Stark Law and the Anti-Recoil Law prohibit “offering or paying for anything of value to induce the return of items or services covered by federal health care programs, including blood testing services. laboratory ”. These laws are designed to ensure that any type of medical test or service provided to patients is medically necessary and is not based on a pre-existing financial or gift relationship.

In a related default judgment dated July 20, 2021, the courts ordered ProLab and ProCare to pay $ 4,269,084.78, which is part of the total of $ 140 million for the unnecessary testing aspect of the judgment. .

Bribery programs in the medical profession are not victimless crimes. When organizations are allowed to successfully get away with schemes that falsely incite false billing, the entire medical system suffers. Trust between doctors and patients is often irreparably damaged, and organizations are encouraged to expand fraudulent operations based on the success of past schemes.

“Patients shouldn’t have to wonder if their doctor has recommended a test or procedure for personal use,” said Acting US Attorney Rhett DeHart for the District of South Carolina. “For years, these companies have used inappropriate financial incentives to generate referrals from healthcare providers. The $ 140 million judgment is a warning about why healthcare fraud doesn’t pay. “

The five whistleblowers involved in the final settlement filed three qui tam against organizations owned or managed by McCollum. Donna Rauch, Muriel Calhoun, Brandy Knight, Karen Mathewson and Tracy Hawkins will collectively receive 15-30% of the total $ 140 million, which will be divided among whistleblowers. The amount of the reward has not yet been determined by the government. Carrying out cases under the False Claims Act as a whistleblower has benefits for individuals and has been proven to effectively encourage people to report fraud when they fall victim to it. In the last two weeks alone, WNN reported on 3 separate regulations related to the Medicine-Related False Claims Act, with more being announced weekly.

Read the DOJ press release here.

Read more Misrepresentation Law /qui tam news on WNN.


Lymphoma expert and doctoral student discover that gender bias upsets work-life balance

By
John M. Price
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Celebrating Outstanding Women on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus? No problem.

The women on this campus teach tomorrow’s health experts, advance science with groundbreaking discoveries, and care for patients in the most difficult times. They are pioneers of medicine, wives, daughters, sisters, friends, mothers, role models and heroes.

Throughout September, in recognition of American Medical Association (AMA) Women in Medicine Month, we honor some of the amazing women who work in all aspects of medicine on this campus. They will share the importance of being a woman in medicine and the challenges of fulfilling their many roles during a global pandemic.

Lymphoma expert Manali Kamdar: Pandemic highlights gender gap

Manali Kamdar, MD, is the clinical director of lymphoma services in the division of Hematology to University of Colorado Cancer Center. She is a clinical researcher in malignant hematology with a focus on lymphomas and autologous transplantation. She is conducting clinical trials with new agents and / or chemotherapy in the hope of improving outcomes in the area of ​​lymphoproliferative malignancies.

What does it mean to you to be a “woman in medicine”?

I see it as an opportunity to harness the potential of all women in medicine to accelerate overall improvement in medicine. It means inclusiveness, fairness and creating a level playing field for all. Women generally end up taking a back seat in their professional life in order to manage their personal commitments. For me, “women in medicine” also means the ability to lean on each other to find a way to balance the two – personal and professional life. It means advocating for more leadership roles for women everywhere and inspiring each other along the way.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you personally?

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted society’s enormous dependence on women at home and at work. Sadly, it also brought to light the lack of equity and support for women in medicine. I have witnessed many female colleagues who have had to stop their professional trajectories in order to manage their families during the pandemic. Working mothers have been significantly affected as they have had to take care of children in addition to their professional duties. The pandemic made me realize that huge changes will have to be made in the future in order to correct the disparities so that we can ensure equal representation of the sexes in all fields.

How has this affected your career in medicine?

I am a clinical trial specializing in the development of new chemotherapy-free agents that may improve the outcome of relapsed lymphoma. During the pandemic, registration for clinical trials was halted by drug companies, preventing patients with difficult-to-treat lymphoma from being enrolled in these trials. Patients traveling to Colorado from out-of-state for breakthrough therapies were unable to travel, limiting their ability to get potentially life-saving treatment. However, with the help of modern technology, we have been able to provide online consultations to our patients and keep in touch with our peers.

Despite these challenges, there were also unexpected opportunities. The pandemic has led to a huge pivot towards virtual meetings. This has enabled us to provide online consultations to our patients. Many elderly patients who were extremely reluctant to travel for their appointments found this format extremely useful. The virtual web conference also allowed us to stay in touch with our peers, allowing us to continue ongoing collaborations.

Olivia Zarella fights COVID-19 and advocates for gender equality

Olivia Zarella, MPH, is a DrPH environmental and occupational health student at the Colorado School of Public Health. She received her MPH in Global Environmental Health from Emory University with previous experience working on infectious disease projects in international and national spheres. During the first year of the pandemic, she worked as an infectious disease specialist for Environmental health and safety at the CU Anschutz medical campus.

In her role, Zarella managed the campus COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program, oversaw BSL-3 laboratory safety protocols and provided recommendations to campus leaders regarding infectious disease preparedness and response policies. She now devotes her time to her doctoral thesis.

What does it mean to you to be a “woman in medicine”?

In almost all types of professions, women are still in the minority. While there has been a marked increase in the number of women pursuing careers in public health and medicine, the majority of these teaching courses, writing the literature we learn from and serving on steering committees are men. Even more, gender inequalities are further exacerbated by existing racial inequalities. These inequalities leave aside more than half of the world’s view on such important subjects which inevitably define our personal approach to our professions.

Being a “woman in medicine” is an opportunity to open the door and mentor other women to do the same. More specifically, I hope to support a change that prioritizes opening the doors of education to women from minority populations. I am extremely privileged to pursue a doctorate in public health and have a personal responsibility to help other women do the same. As women in medicine and public health strive to bring other women to the table, decision-making at the top level will become more gender-equal.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you personally?

The pandemic inevitably changed my personal life. Juggling my doctoral work, COVID-19 response work, and my personal life was more than a challenge.

At the onset of the pandemic, I found myself in a robotic survival mode and focused my efforts on making sure I took whatever steps were necessary to keep myself and others in my life safe. Immediately, I became a resident “expert” to my friends and family regarding COVID-19, which inevitably most of the questions I couldn’t answer due to being so early in life. pandemic and with little data to refer to. My innate social responsibility drove me to help my friends and family the best I could, but with my professional work related to COVID-19 going on around the clock, I quickly became exhausted. In other words, I have found it extremely difficult to end the pandemic after work, and it has impacted my work-life balance.

Sadly, I find that burnout has become a common challenge for those working in public health and medicine during this pandemic. In the end, I had to make some tough decisions in my professional life to ensure the sustainability of my personal life, and vice versa. The good news is that thanks to the pandemic, I have learned to better divide my personal and professional life and to spend more time focusing on personal care. I’ve learned that you can’t be your best professionally without investing in your personal well-being.

How has this affected your career?

The pandemic has changed a lot in my career. Prior to the pandemic, my training included a Masters in Public Health from Emory University and various infectious disease response application experiences in international countries. More specifically, I worked on prevention projects for waterborne diseases and vector-borne diseases. During the onset of the pandemic, I focused on airborne viruses to help support Colorado during the inevitable healthcare burden of COVID-19. This pandemic created career opportunities in my field, and I quickly became the infection prevention specialist in CU Anschutz. I have been fortunate enough to use my public health background to create our campus contact tracing program, identify and investigate outbreaks on and off campus, and help with COVID-19 testing along the way.

To pursue the infection prevention position, I became a part-time doctoral student. As the pandemic had unfortunately become a part of our daily life, I decided to refocus my priorities on completing my PhD and quit my post in Infection Control promptly after about a year. Someday I will graduate from Colorado School of Public Health with my Ph.D., and I intend to apply the lessons I learned during this pandemic to help identify and control epidemics as a epidemic intelligence officer with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. At the end of the day, I’m very grateful for the experiences I gained during this pandemic, but if I could turn the clock around and prevent this pandemic somehow, I would.

This story originally appeared in CU Anschutz today.


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Derek Jeter’s 10 Most Memorable Hall of Fame Yankees career moments, including flip play and 3,000th hit

By
John M. Price
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0


On Wednesday afternoon, New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The induction is a long time coming for Jeter, who was one vote away from being unanimously selected in January 2020. The 2020 induction ceremony has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller will join the greats at Cooperstown this week. Here is how to look.

Jeter has won five World Series championships (1996, 1998-2000, 2009) with the Yankees, and is sixth all-time with 3,465 career hits and seventh all-time in WAR among shortstops. fulltime. Here is the career WAR rankings among players who have played at least half of their shortstop matches:

  1. Honus Wagner – 113.8
  2. Cal Ripken Jr. – 95.6
  3. Robin Yount – 77.0
  4. Ozzie Smith – 76.6
  5. Luke Appling – 74.2
  6. Arky Vaughan – 72.4
  7. Derek Jeter – 71.8
  8. Alan Trammell – 70.7
  9. Barry Larkin – 70.2
  10. Pee Wee Reese – 66.4

Oddly enough, considering how much he’s accomplished in his career, Jeter doesn’t have a single “signing moment,” so to speak. He has a signature moments. Plural. Jeter’s career was truly a storybook. You couldn’t script it better. The championships, the distinctions, the history. Throwing was the last real face of baseball, I would say.

So, with all of that in mind, let’s take a look back at the most iconic moments of Jeter’s Hall of Fame career. Here are his signature moments – again, in the plural – listed chronologically.

1. October 6, 1996: Jeffrey Maier’s home run

Before the days of instant replay, on-court referees ruled the field and their appeals were upheld. There were arguments. Boy, were there any arguments. But good luck for a referee to change his decision.

In Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, Jeter hit a solo homerun in the eighth inning to tie the game 4-4. The ball did not cross the fence. A young fan by the name of Jeffrey Maier reached the fence and caught the ball before he could settle into the glove of right fielder Tony Tarasco. Right-field referee Richie Garcia ruled it was a home run. Tarasco and O’s manager Davey Johnson has gone mad.

The home run was maintained and the Yankees won the game in 11 innings on a home run from Bernie Williams. They would later win the series in five games before beating the Atlanta Braves in six games in the World Series.

An incorrect call? Absoutely. But there was no rerun at the time, so the appeal stood.

October 2, 25 and 26, 2000: Subway series circuits

The 2000 World Series was big business in New York. A bigger deal than most World Series. The Yankees and Mets met at the Fall Classic that year, so bragging rights in the city were on the line. Fans ate it. The Yankees had won three of the previous four World Series, and the upstart Mets were trying to dethrone them as world champions.

The Yankees won the first two games of the series before the Mets rallied to win Game 3. The Mets had the momentum going into Game 4 at Shea Stadium. Jeter then took it all by hitting the opening pitch of the game over the wall for a home run.

The Yankees won Game 4 by a score of 3-2 to take a three-game-one lead in the series.

A day later, Jeter hit the tying home run in Game 5 in Game 5. The Mets never led again in the series.

The Yankees won Game 5 4-2 and the series for their third straight championship. New York would remain a city of the Yankees.

October 3, 2001: The flip play

It was perhaps the most memorable individual game of Jeter’s career. It is certainly the most memorable defensive game.

In the seventh inning of Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS against the Oakland Athletics, Jeter ventured to the right side of the infield to serve as the emergency cutoff man. He pulled Shane Spencer’s fly throw from right field and returned it to Jorge Posada at home plate. Posada has scored Jeremy Giambi at home.

Jeter and the Yankees insist they play this game. It’s been part of their regular spring training activities, even to this day, so Jeter hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary. He was where he was supposed to be, as far as they were concerned. Of course, you never see it shortstop, that’s what makes it so special.

Context is also important. The Yankees had lost two games to zero in the best-of-five series at the time, and they had a 1-0 lead in Game 3. Jeter’s flip play reduced the point equal to home plate. The Yankees won the game 1-0. They came back to win the series in five games.

4. November 1, 2001: Mr. November

For the first time in history, baseball was played in November 2001. The September 11 attacks pushed back the schedule and people across the country turned to baseball as a coping mechanism.

The Yankees were down two games to one heading into Game 4 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they were one short of a three-to-one deficit when Tino Martinez scored two points at equality. home run off D-Backs closer Byung-Hyun Kim. This sent the game into extra innings.

Minutes after the clock struck midnight and October 31 became November 1, Jeter finished Game 4 with a home run.

It was the last pitch of a nine pitches at bat. The Yankees tied the series at two apiece, although they lost the World Series to Luis Gonzalez’s single in Game 7.

5. July 1, 2004: The crash in the stands

To this day, it remains one of the most exciting regular season games I have ever seen. The pitching showdown was lopsided (Pedro Martinez v Brad Halsey), but the Yankees took a 3-0 lead early on. The Boston Red Sox eventually rallied to level things and send the game into extra innings.

With the green light on second base and two outs early in the 12th, Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon lifted a pop-up into foul territory, a pop-up Jeter crashed before crashing into the stands.

An overrated room? Yeah, maybe. I’ve seen some call it a good take with a bad exit. That said, this one is memorable not only because Jeter crashed into the stands, but also because he blocked the green light in goal position. The Yankees won the game in 13 innings thanks to a brace from reserve wide receiver John Flaherty.

6. September 16, 2008: Yankee Stadium of All Time Strikes the King

The former Yankee Stadium closed in 2008, and in the last homestand, Jeter overtook Lou Gehrig as the stadium’s all-time hit king with a left-field single.

Here is the ranking of all-time successes at Old Yankee Stadium:

  1. Derek Jeter – 1,274
  2. Lou Gehrig – 1,269
  3. Mickey’s coat – 1,211
  4. Bernie Williams – 1,123
  5. Joe DiMaggio – 1,060

It’s a series of names, isn’t it? Three Hall of Fame members, a future Hall of Fame and one of the most productive hitters in recent baseball history.

7. September 21, 2008: Farewell to the old Yankee Stadium

Days after becoming the stadium’s all-time king of hits, Jeter and the Yankees said goodbye to old Yankee Stadium. The final game took place on September 21, 2008, and after the Yankees beat the Orioles, Jeter and the team took a tour of the field as everyone said goodbye to the historic baseball stadium.

Jeter then took a microphone and addressed the fans with a heartfelt speech.

“While things are going to change next year and we will be moving across the street, there are a few things with the New York Yankees that never change,” Jeter said. “It’s the pride, the tradition, and most of all, we have the biggest fans in the world. We are counting on you to take the memories from this stadium and add them to the new memories we are creating at the new Yankee Stadium and continue to make them. passed down from generation to generation. We just want to take this moment to say hello to you, the biggest fans in the world. ”

September 8, 2009: All-Time Yankees Hit the King

A year after overtaking Gehrig for the most hits in Yankee Stadium history, Jeter passed him on another list, this time becoming the all-time leader in franchise history. He did it with a single the other way around, a Mark Jeter, against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman.

It was the 2,722nd hit of Jeter’s career. Here is the ranking of the franchise’s all-time successes:

  1. Derek Jeter – 3,465
  2. Lou Gehrig – 2,721
  3. Babe Ruth – 2,518
  4. Mickey coat – 2415
  5. Bernie Williams – 2,336

Basically a who’s who of the all-time great Yankees.

9. July 9, 2011: 3000th hit

Surprisingly, the Yankees didn’t have a single player with 3,000 career hits in their history before Jeter. Hard to believe given all the greats of all time who have worn stripes, right?

Jeter became the 28th player in baseball history to reach the 3,000-hit plateau, and he did it in style. He smashed a home run, then Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price. At the time, he was only the second player to go deep for his 3,000th hit, joining former Yankees teammate Wade Boggs.

Jeter hit a single in his first inning before hitting the home run for the second time. His 3,000th hit was part of a five-hit game. The fifth and final hit resulted in the go-ahead in the eighth inning. It was a throwback game for Jeter at the end of his career.

10. Sep 25, 2014: The grand finale

Could it end otherwise? In the last home game of his career, Jeter gave Yankees fans one last special moment, this one against the Orioles. (The Orioles seem to be on the wrong side of a lot of Jeter’s signing moments, eh?)

Here’s how Jeter said goodbye to Yankee Stadium:

Classic upside down swing by Jeter. He has done this a few thousand times in his career. Jeter announced his intention to retire earlier that year, so everyone knew it would be his last game, which made him even more special. The anticipation had been building up for months.

It should be noted that this moment was made possible by a blown stop. The Yankees took a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning, but closest David Robertson allowed a two-run homerun (Adam Jones) and a solo homerun (Steve Pearce), allowing the O’s to tie the game. This set up Jeter’s start in extra innings.

Best stop in baseball history? I guess Yankees fans don’t care at all. Jeter’s farewell was a truly amazing baseball moment, one of many in Jeter’s rich career.

Derek Jeter Hall of Fame memorabilia, jerseys now available

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Berkshires Receive $ 235,000 to Address Licensed Practical Nursing Shortage | Local News

By
John M. Price
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PITTSFIELD – The state agency that oversees workforce development in the Berkshires has received a grant of $ 235,000 to provide additional training opportunities in the county’s largest employment sector.

The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board plans to use the funding to support the development and management of healthcare training programs in Berkshire County over the next two years. Health care and social assistance is Berkshire’s largest employment sector, with 11,500 employees, according to the Workforce Council website. Berkshire Health Systems is the county’s largest employer.

Funding through the State Executive Office for Labor and Workforce Development will be used for the Berkshire Healthcare Hub, a global partnership that involves healthcare employers, educators, healthcare professionals. county workforce, social service agencies and career development agencies. The aim of the hub is to increase opportunities in the healthcare employment sector for workforce training and development by aligning employment opportunities with the needs of employers in the region. .

Plans call for the creation of a certified practical nurses program based in North County and the continuation of an online blended CNA program, which aims to address the shortage of practical nurses in the county, an issue that the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board calls a “growing and persistent problem” in a press release. In 2018, the Workforce Board received a state grant of $ 218,000 over two years to address the same shortage

All training is free and should start in October. Sessions are aimed at unemployed and underemployed state residents. The funding will also be used to support the pipeline of medical assistants by supporting the state’s training opportunities. For more information on which programs are currently accepting applications, visit tinyurl.com/t4akerfh.

The project is funded by Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly’s Workforce Achievement Grant, a Fiscal Year 2020 Workforce Competitiveness Credit. It is managed by the Executive Office of the State for Labor and Workforce Development, administered statewide by the Commonwealth Corporation and locally administered by the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board.


Purdue Pharma Dissolves, Sacklers Pays $ 4.5 Billion to Settle Opioid Claims

By
John M. Price
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Another fund will compensate 130,485 individuals and families of people suffering from drug addiction or who have died of an overdose, for amounts ranging from $ 3,500 to $ 48,000. Guardians of approximately 6,550 children with a history of neonatal abstinence syndrome can each receive approximately $ 7,000.

“It was take it or leave it,” said Ryan Hampton, who resigned Tuesday as co-chair of a federally appointed plaintiffs oversight committee.

OxyContin hit the market in 1996, at a time when doctors were urged to recognize and treat pain, a symptom that the medical profession tended to ignore as psychological or fleeting.

Purdue’s sales teams have spread across the country, preaching the new gospel of pain relief to thousands of physicians, who have started prescribing OxyContin for acute and chronic pain. In 2000, sales of the new drug had reached nearly $ 1.1 billion.

But soon after, reports began to surface of OxyContin pills stolen from drugstores, crushed and snorted. In 2007, the company and three executives pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges, paying a total of $ 634.5 million for downplaying the risk of drug addiction to doctors, regulators and patients.

The nation has been hit by a growing epidemic of opioid abuse and overdose deaths. In 2014, local governments began to file lawsuits against Purdue. Other plaintiffs followed, eventually suing other companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Members of the Sackler family have become the personification of the villains of the epidemic. The Sacklers withdrew $ 10.4 billion from Purdue between 2008 and 2017, about half of which went in taxes.

In September 2019, Purdue, facing 2,900 lawsuits, including 628 against the Sacklers, filed for bankruptcy restructuring, which stayed all claims.


Verona students return to class in person at Sugar Creek Elementary

By
John M. Price
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VERONA, Wis. (WMTV) – Eager students and staff arrived for the first bell at Sugar Creek Elementary School in Verona to start a new school year on Wednesday.

Officials from the Verona area school district say it is the second largest primary school in Dane County, with many new arrivals this year from other districts and even countries.

“We have 50 children who have moved from grades 1 to 5 from Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela and the United States because Verona is a growing district,” said the principal of Sugar Creek Elementary School. , Todd Brunner.

Only nine of the schools’ 675 students have chosen to learn virtually this year, with the rest returning for five full days of in-person instruction each week. About 29% of these students have not been to school in the past 17 months.

The staff have used the last few days to form a team and create an environment that welcomes and supports all students.

“We start with the kids, then we build our schools and build our systems around the kids and their families, rather than being a school and forcing kids to fit in,” Brunner said.

Masks are required for all students and staff in school districts in the Verona region inside school buildings and on buses, in addition to other COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

“We are a pro-vaccination neighborhood. So what that means is that even though I’m not a politician I’m an educator and what we know is that vaccines work, ”Brunner said.

Rapid COVID-19 tests will be available at school for students and staff, in the event of an outbreak of the virus. Although planning the COVID mitigation plan has at times been difficult, Brunner feels supported by his school community in the decisions they have made to minimize the spread of the virus.

“What I have found is the overwhelming majority of families, they love their children and they want them to be safe and they support us while we teach them,” Brunner said.

Sugar Creek now has a full-time school nurse and a nursing assistant. These positions have been added for the purpose of tracking and managing all cases of COVID.

Teachers are focused on supporting the socio-emotional well-being of each student, knowing that there will be major adjustments for many of their learners after more than a year of dealing with COVID.

“This year, I really want to make sure my families and students feel supported and safe. I think they might have some questions coming up this year or different concerns and comfort levels and I want to make sure that all of those feelings are taken care of and everyone feels safe for the year to come. come, ”said kindergarten teacher McCaley Laube.

Laube said that while the past year has been difficult in many ways, she expects her young students to start school on a high note.

“At the end of last year, we learned how resilient kids really are and I anticipate my kids will come in with a whole different skill set. An experience of browsing a virtual world and browsing a new world in person, ”said Laube.

Transportation to and from the school remains a challenge for the district. Like many other schools, VASD lacks bus drivers.

This caused them to shift the start and end times from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on grade level. Each bus driver now takes three different loads of children, on separate routes, to and from school each day.

VASD offers enrollment bonuses of up to $ 5,000 for CDL licensed drivers and encourages students to walk, cycle, or carpool to school.

The district also has a new superintendent, Dr. Tremayne Clardy. His vision for the year is “a time for healing”.

“We understand that the emotional toll of the pandemic has been dramatic for some of our students, but we also have some of the most resilient students in the region. We are very optimistic for a great school year and we will take care of our students, ”said Dr Clardy.

Dr Claridy said success will require equity among students. Its goal is to ensure that every learner has access to the resources they need to thrive, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, abilities, language, family background or income.

“We want to make sure that no matter the demographics and whatever the case, that every student has access to the education they deserve,” said Dr Claridy.

Copyright 2021 WMTV. All rights reserved.

After video of abusive nurse, overhaul of Indigenous health in Canada

By
John M. Price
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MANAWAN, Quebec – As Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old native and mother of seven, moaned in pain in a Quebec hospital, in the last hours of her life, the torrent of insults began.

“You are stupid as hell”, good only for having sex, and “better to die”, reprimanded a nurse at the Joliette hospital in Quebec, who a few minutes earlier had started recording a Facebook Live video , asking her husband to come get her because, she said, the hospital was over-medication.

By the time Ms Echaquan, who suffered from heart problems, died – about two hours later, on a Monday in late September 2020 – the video was starting to spark outrage across Canada. It ended up reverberating around the world, becoming a powerful symbol of how Canada’s much-vaunted universal health care system treats Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous leaders and health experts say Canada’s 1.7 million Indigenous citizens are rocked by healthcare crisis, fueled in part by racial prejudice, shortening life expectancy, exacerbating disease chronic and compromises their quality of life.

A 2019 report by retired Quebec Superior Court judge Jacques Viens, concluded that stigma in Quebec’s health care system had “dire consequences” for Indigenous people, including delayed diagnoses and physicians who in some cases refused to do medical assessments or order examinations and diagnostic tests needed as well as “appropriate medications”.

Indigenous people in Canada have an average life expectancy of around 70 to 75 years, compared to 82 years for non-Indigenous people, according to a 2019 report by the Federal Public Health Agency, while infant mortality rates are on the rise. minus twice as high. They also suffer from a higher incidence of diseases such as diabetes, asthma and obesity, according to the report.

“Imagine having to explain to your children that they no longer have a mother,” said Carol Dubé, Ms. Echaquan’s husband, in an interview from the Atikamekw First Nations reserve in Manawan, about 150 miles north of Montreal.

Amid a nationwide outcry over the video, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons it was capturing “the worst form of racism at a time when someone needed help most.”

“This is another example of systemic racism, which is simply unacceptable in Canada,” he said.

Following the broadcast of Ms. Echaquan’s video, the nurse was fired. A coroner’s public inquest in Quebec examines the events leading up to his death on September 28, 2020, and the findings are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

During the investigation, the nurse in the video apologized to Ms Echaquan’s family and testified that she had reached a breaking point, exacerbated by the pandemic. She insisted that she had not insulted Ms. Echaquan because she was indigenous.

Maryse Poupart, who in April became director general of the regional health authority responsible for the hospital in Joliette, in southwestern Quebec, said in an interview that what had happened to Ms. Echaquan was “unacceptable”. She declined to comment on the details of her case, but pointed to recent efforts to build bridges, including the hiring of a member of Ms. Echaquan’s Atikamekw group as a senior deputy and increased training. cultural sensitivity for medical personnel.

But the broader changes that Indigenous peoples sought have been elusive.

On the day of her death, barely breathing and probably in a coma, Ms. Echaquan remained at least 11 minutes without being properly monitored, before going into cardiac arrest, Dr. Alain Vadeboncoeur, emergency physician at the Montreal Heart Institute , written in an expert report submitted to the investigation.

Stigma is so rampant in the health care system, said Alisha Tukkiapik, an Inuit social worker from Nunavik, a remote region in northern Quebec, that she tried to “pass for white” during her visits to the doctor. Before the hospital exams, she said, she took off her traditional pearl earrings.

She recalled that when she was pregnant with her daughter, doctors stereotyped her as a drug addict or alcoholic, asking her five times during the same visit if she had a drug addiction problem. “When I answer ‘no’ then they will ask me, ‘Are you sure. Not even a little? ‘”

Disguising her Aboriginal identity, she said, “can be the difference between receiving or not receiving treatment, between life and death.”

Indigenous citizens of Canada often live on remote reserves with inadequate access to clean water, medical care or emergency services.

According to Indigenous leaders, the health care problem is exacerbated by the intergenerational trauma suffered by Indigenous peoples.

Dr Samir Shaheen-Hussain, assistant professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal, who has written a book on colonial policies against Indigenous children, said distressing experiences, including the forced sterilization of Indigenous girls and women between 1920 and the 1970s, had fomented a “deep mistrust” of the health care system among Aboriginal communities.

Manawan, the Atikamekw First Nations reserve, where Ms. Echaquan lived, sits at the end of a 50-mile unpaved dirt road on the shores of Lake Metabeskéga.

The image of Ms. Echaquan is omnipresent in the reserve – on hats, posters, paintings – often accompanied by the words “Justice for Joyce”. Mourners pay homage to his grave, which is marked by a simple wooden cross covered with necklaces and purple ribbons.

Sipi Flamand, deputy head of the Atikamekw First Nations community, said there have been several outbreaks of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, with around 39 cases and two deaths linked to Covid.

Mr Flamand said the lack of access to healthcare in Manawan has been a problem for a long time. The nearest public hospital – the Joliette hospital where Ms. Echaquan died – is at least two and a half hours away by car. After two decades of lobbying the provincial government, the reserve gets its first ambulance but not before 2018, two years after an 8-year-old girl drowned while her parents waited in vain for an ambulance to arrive.

Francine Moart, a nurse who is director of health services on the reserve, said the community has 24-hour nursing services and family doctors rotate three days a month there. But she lamented that there is no full-time doctor, no gynecologist and no radiology department.

Budgets were also stretched to the limit, she said, with federal and provincial governments arguing over who was responsible for paying bills. Although the health care of Canadians is the responsibility of the provinces or territories, the 19th century laws that still govern the lives of Indigenous peoples stipulate that their health care is a federal responsibility. As a result, she said, the two governments attempted to “pass the buck”.

In 2007 Jordan River Anderson, a 5-year-old Cree boy from Manitoba with a rare muscle disorder, died in a hospital after his discharge was delayed for two years because the federal and provincial governments could not come to an agreement. on who would fund their home care. In response, Parliament passed a 2007 law requiring that helping a child be given priority over who paid the bill.

Mr Dubé said Ms Echaquan, one of seven siblings, was a dedicated mother who loved to cook moose meat stew for her family and loved nature and fishing. She loved animals so much, he said, that he avoided hunting in her presence.

There were also struggles. People who know the family said the couple were in serious financial difficulty. Mr. Dubé had quit his job as a firefighter to take care of the children. After Ms Echaquan’s brother drowned in 2012, they said, she became depressed and turned to amphetamines, but overcame her addiction.

Ms. Echaquan had been afraid of the Joliette hospital, where she had already suffered prejudices, including pressure to have an abortion in 2013 and 2017, said Mr. Dubé. Mr Martin-Ménard said that following a pregnancy, she was sterilized at another hospital in 2020, without free and informed consent, further fueling her mistrust of hospitals.

Mr. Dubé said he was unable to accompany his wife to hospital due to pandemic restrictions, and learned of his now viral video from a neighbor. As word of the video spread across the reservation, he said one of his teenage sons saw her at school. Then his 20-year-old daughter, Marie-Wasianna, rushed to Joliette hospital, where he said the receptionist refused to help him.

When she finally found her mother after frantically searching the emergency room, she was pale and unresponsive, and under the care of a student nurse, according to Martin-Ménard.

He said that under Quebec health regulations, a nursing student should not have been responsible for an unstable patient.

Following Ms. Echaquan’s death, Indigenous community leaders called on the province to adopt policies promoting equitable access to health care for Indigenous peoples, which they detailed in a document titled “Joyce’s Principle”. But the government of the premier of Quebec, François Legault, rejected the document because it explicitly mentions “systemic racism”.

Ewan Sauves, spokesperson for Mr. Legault, said the government is committed to tackling racism and, among other measures, has invested $ 15 million to train health workers to ensure that people Aboriginal people feel “culturally safe”.

He said the government did not believe systemic racism existed in the province.

Vjosa Isai contributed reporting from Toronto.


For workers who lose their unemployment benefits, jobs not always easy to find

By
John M. Price
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0


The impending cut in benefits reveals a Massachusetts economy that, now more than ever, is a picture of extremes between the haves and have-nots, an economy that breaks racial lines and prevents low-wage workers from rising through the ranks. The pandemic has sharpened people’s desire to improve their lives by moving away from dead-end jobs, but long-standing barriers are once again holding back low-wage workers, just as they are on the verge of losing the only safety net. security they have.

Many of those on the sidelines work in still struggling service industries, including hotels with empty rooms, restaurants, and cleaning companies that cater to office workers still working from home. Daycare closures have made it difficult for parents to do their jobs, as has the increased use of technology for virtual job fairs and online applications, especially for immigrants with limited English skills.

Additionally, the pandemic has prompted some unemployed people to reconsider returning to low-paying public service jobs that could put their families at risk as the highly contagious Delta variant rages on. Some of these jobs pay just enough to lose their MassHealth medical benefits, but not enough to live on.

“Reopening the lower end of this economy is hell,” said John Drew, chief executive of Action for Boston Community Development, an anti-poverty agency that itself can’t find enough childminders. to equip all of its Head Start classrooms. For unemployed people who have used the time and benefits to pursue a new career, Drew said, the mindset seems to be, “Maybe I can do better than go back to this lousy job that I had. “

The vast majority of the country’s unemployed will lose their extra income of three temporary federal programs that in Massachusetts expire Sept. 4: extended benefits for the long-term unemployed, special aid for gig economy workers, and a weekly supplement of $ 300.

Many of those affected in Massachusetts will be people of color, who have already suffered disproportionately during the pandemic; the unemployment rate in the state over the past 12 months for whites is 6.3%, but 9.8% for blacks and 11.8% for latinos.

Such high rates for people of color would be considered a “national emergency” if they applied to the general population, according to Andrew Stettner, a senior researcher at the Century Foundation who has closely studied unemployment.

When the pandemic hit, Kamal Elkarfa was driving for Uber and installing surveillance cameras. With a home baby in Everett born with breathing problems, Elkarfa felt he had no choice but to stop working. Helped by unemployment checks, as well as free child care and groceries from the federal nutrition program, SNAP, Elkarfa and his wife, Zainab Hmito, began taking online classes at the Bunker Hill Community. College – Elkarfa pursuing a certificate in web development and Hmito taking the course prerequisites for a nursing degree.

The couple, originally from Morocco, were looking for a job to compensate for the loss of $ 600 per week in unemployment benefits. But the plan is for Elkarfa to finish her last two classes and find something better.

The couple decided ‘let’s use this time, let’s go back to school,’ said Hmito, 38, who worked at Dunkin ‘Donuts. before the birth of their second child. “Once it’s over, we can get better jobs with financial stability, and maybe it comes with extra time to spend with the kids instead of working two shifts making coffee and sandwiches. .

Massachusetts has the sixth highest number of unemployed people expected to lose their benefits, according to the Century Foundation. And, in line with a national trend, it is the low end that is hit the hardest. Employment rates for people in Massachusetts earning below the national median salary – about $ 37,000 per year – have fallen 11.1% from just before the pandemic, when they Pink 2.6 percent for those earning above the median, according to Opportunity perspectives, a research organization of Harvard University.

There’s no shortage of jobs: more than 237,000 vacancies in Massachusetts, according to the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The agency recently hosted a week-long virtual job fair – the largest in state history – and plans to use federal COVID relief money to retrain 52,000 people.

With unemployment below the national level at 4.9% and high immunization levels, Labor Secretary Rosalin Acosta said in a recent briefing that overall, Massachusetts’ economy is in a good position. relatively good, but she recognized that getting people back to work would be a long process.

The increased use of technology to train and hire workers, and the lack of assistance for non-English speakers to access this technology, is a major concern, said Karen Chen, executive director of the Chinese Progressive Association.

“I think the digital divide is going to continue to be a problem,” she said.

At the same time, more and more people want jobs that can be done from home, said Caroline Koty, senior mobility mentor at the Boston Poverty Alleviation Association Economic Mobility Pathways. But not everyone has the experience to do it. Koty is currently working with 15 households, five of which will soon be completely cut off from unemployment benefits, several of them headed by single mothers who worked in hospitals, nail salons, restaurants and security jobs.

“It’s so competitive,” Koty said. “Everyone in the world wants remote job opportunities right now. “

Even people with years of experience and advanced degrees are struggling. Linda Eknoian, a 50-year-old former federal government entrepreneur in Boston who was laid off in December, has a master’s degree but is frustrated by the lack of response to her job applications.

“I think it has a lot to do with age,” Eknoian said, who will lose $ 300 per week after the deadline but is still eligible for regular unemployment.

Meanwhile, some frustrated employers are hoping that expiring benefits will solve their labor shortages.

South Boston’s Amrheins Restaurant recently posted a Remark at his door asking customers to be patient as he battles staff shortages: “Unfortunately, because of government handouts, no one wants to work anymore.

Neil Abramson, owner of Cutie Patuties and Cutiques consignment stores and a warehouse in Leominster, recently hired a few people, including several who were previously working in education and health care and were tired of the “mad rush”, and a woman who was fired from a nursing home for refusing to be vaccinated. But he still has to close a store earlier each day due to understaffing.

As September 4 approaches, however, he sees more interest: he posted advertisements for two jobs and received 16 applications in the first 18 hours; in July, similar publications received only 12 applications in an entire month.

But Abramson is picky – and not interested in hiring someone who “is willing to stay home just to collect the check,” noting that “these people usually don’t make great workers.”

Employers generally prefer to hire people who are still working; thus, those who have been unemployed since the start of the pandemic, by choice or not, may be less attractive to recruiters.

Plus, just because benefits disappear doesn’t necessarily mean that the unemployed will flood the labor market, studies have shown. Arindrajit Dubé, an economist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, found that in 12 states that ended UI in June, the number of people in paid employment actually declined by about 1.4% at the start. July.

The labor shortage may have less to do with extended benefits than the large number of employers trying to hire workers at the same time, said Peter Cappelli, professor of management at the Wharton School of the ‘University of Pennsylvania. That, and the widespread fears about the virus, are what make the current situation unusual, he said.

Improved unemployment benefits have also made job seekers more demanding. “It just means people are not that desperate,” he said.

But now that that extra income is disappearing, some people are starting to feel that way.

Delmy Martinez, 36, who lost his job in downtown Boston’s cleaning offices at the start of the pandemic, has just found out that his $ 460-a-week unemployment check is ending. “That’s why I think I always have a headache,” she said, speaking in Spanish through a translator.

Her husband is still working on the parquet floor, but the loss of his benefits means that Martinez may not be able to pay his cell phone bill or buy rheumatoid arthritis medicine for his mother in Guatemala. . Martinez sought employment in restaurants and a tortilla factory, but still hopes to return to her job as a housekeeper, which allowed her to work nights while her husband stayed home with their children in Revere.

She has earned more from unemployment than she earned from working, but she fears that being out of work for so long will hurt her claim for political asylum.

“I don’t want to sound like a burden on the state,” she said.

Ishwar Lamichhane applied for over 300 jobs with no results even after taking computer courses to expand his options. Lamichhane, 46, from Nepal, was deputy director of Out of Town News in Harvard Square for 11 years when it closed in fall 2019, and has been looking for work ever since, mainly in IT customer service and technical support. It has been a frustrating experience. Lamichhane said he saw entry-level entrepreneurial positions that still required years of experience and found so few opportunities at the recent state career fair that he considered the just like a “mirage”.

He and his wife, who have returned to work part-time at a spa in Newton, are on the verge of being “abandoned” by the government when their unemployment benefits run out, Lamichhane said. If he can’t find a job soon, Lamichhane isn’t sure how he’s going to pay off the mortgage on their house in Medford.

“Only God knows,” he said.

Katie Johnston can be reached at [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @ktkjohnston.



TikToker Breaks Down Cost Of Its Cookies To $ 10, Dividing Viewers

By
John M. Price
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0

A pastry chef on TikTok explained why she would charge $ 10 for a single personalized cookie, but her price divided viewers.

In the video, user @thegracefulbaker, or Grace, responds to a comment that says “$ 10 / cookie is actually crazy!” The initial comment concerned another video Grace made in which she stated how much she could potentially charge if she sold her cookies.

For two dozen cookies that cost $ 10 each, she would earn $ 240. And to help explain why she would charge so much, she breaks down the cost of labor and supplies. Since its publication, her video has received over 19 million views.

Immediately, she explains, she would deduct about $ 10 from her income to pay for supplies and ingredients, leaving her with $ 230.

The real cost comes from the labor, however.

Grace says communicating with her customers, designing a set, dough making and baking, frosting and decorating, cleaning and packaging takes about 8 hours in total. This means that she would earn just over $ 28 / hour for her job.

And if she does the same amount of work each year and takes two weeks of vacation, she would earn around $ 57,500.

“Is $ 57,500 an insane salary? ” she asks. “Take into consideration that I live in New York; one of the most expensive cities to live.

She explained that if she only charged $ 5 per cookie, her annual salary would be less than $ 30,000. While that number is far lower than the median individual income for New York City, some viewers still thought it was too expensive.

“It’s a great job, but $ 10 is very expensive for ONE cookie,” someone wrote. “Don’t say YOU aren’t worth it.”

“Cookies shouldn’t cost $ 10, especially when they look like this,” said another.

“I’m so confused because these aren’t like cookies… special or unheard of?” Said a third. “And no one made you live in New York … Way too expensive.”

To one of those comments, the TikToker replied that the $ 10 cookies are for special occasions.

“Is this something I would pay?” She said in a follow-up video. “Yes, but only for very special occasions because that’s the trick. Personalized royal icing cookies are meant for special occasions. Not for everyday. Oreos are for everyday.

Some commentators were more sympathetic to the baker.

“I’m so confused,” one person wrote. “If you think it’s too much, don’t buy it?” Why are you all mad? ”

“She needs to make a profit yk,” said another.

In an email to The Daily Dot, Grace explained that her main job is to create content. She usually doesn’t sell her cookies, but explained what she would charge if she did.

“The video in question illustrated the hypothesis: if I sold these cookies for how much would I sell them,” she wrote. “So what do I think of all the (negative) comments?” I say keep talking 🙂 I’m here to entertain and educate, and I’m glad I started this conversation. “

Grace also told The Daily Dot that she doesn’t take negative comments to heart.

“You might be surprised to know that I don’t take offense at any of the negative reactions to this video,” she said. “As a content creator, I’ve heard worse and developed thick skin because of it, but mostly because a person’s reaction to something is a reflection of their own sense of self and self-esteem. self… it’s not a reflection of me. “

She thinks the responses to her video highlight bigger issues. She knows her worth and talks about it, which she explained has likely sparked some viewers.

“One of the damning responses to this video is that the cookie woman shouldn’t earn more than a nurse or teacher (none of whom earn more than a living wage), and the consensus is that to resolve this problem, the cookie lady should earn less, “she told the Daily Dot.” Shouldn’t nurses and teachers earn more? “

Top cultural stories on the Dot

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* First published: August 28, 2021, 3:05 p.m. CDT

Alexandra Samuels

Alexandra Samuels is a national political reporter and contributor to The Daily Dot, where she started as an intern covering politics in the summer of 2016. She loves all things Marvel, keeps up with the latest TikTok trends, long walks with her puppy and reading. murder mystery novels.

Alexandra Samuels

Want to be a more holistic healthcare business? Add ginger – TechCrunch

By
John M. Price
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0


When Headspace merged with the on-demand mental health care platform Ginger, I was surprised. After all, Ginger raised $ 100 million in Series E financing just a few months ago – and the last time I spoke to CEO Russell Glass, he stressed the importance of integration into employer-paid health plans. To me, Headspace’s meditation app is about as straightforward as it gets to the consumer, so what business has Ginger had to do with it? Fragmentation, a lot?

It appears that, there is a precedent, and, according to a large number of investors and health tech technicians, there is more consolidation and commodification to come in behavioral health. I like to learn things!

As we discussed in a Twitter Spaces on Fusion, Headspace has been pursuing clinical validation of mindfulness for some time. This validation could help him introduce his somewhat new benefits package and compete with his closest rival, Calm. By merging with an on-demand mental health care platform such as Ginger, Headspace can now offer a more holistic approach to mental health. Ginger, for those who don’t know, specializes in helping people access care when they need it, from text-based assistance to escalation to real-time trainers.

But beyond the news, what does this mean? There are a few take out I had after the Spaces. First, at the best of times, the merger of Headspace and Ginger could show us what a holistic and integrative approach to mental health could look like. As Chrissy Farr of Omers Ventures said, some patients might use a combination of approaches that vary over time. The industry is changing so that users have more options when it comes to mental health care; from meditation to texts through Zoom therapy sessions. Second, and this came out throughout the chat, parts of behavioral health are going to become mainstream as the industry grows. From now on, it is no longer sufficient to connect a user to a specialist. How do platforms more thoughtfully link nuanced patients to nuanced options? It’s more than holistic, it’s integrative, says Deena Shakir of Lux Capital.

Finally, 2021 is all about consolidation – and that includes digital health. Alyssa Jaffe of 7WireVenture noted that 80% of the cost and complexity of mental health is related to severe mental illness, but 80% of startups start with less acute care. The new combined entity could become more acquired in what he aspires to address, now, beyond the non-acute conditions.

In the rest of the newsletter, we’ll cover the friendly enemies of fintech, edtech turning into SaaS, and a must-see deep dive in Latin America. As always, you can support me by following me on Twitter @nmasc_, where I post all my work throughout the week.

For the love of fintech

Image credits: Malta Müller (Opens in a new window) / Getty Images

On Equity this week, we talked about how fintech startups Ramp and Brex are doing in their massive valuations. The conversation erupted because Ramp raised funds at a valuation of $ 3.9 billion, while Brex announced the launch of a $ 150 million venture capital firm a few days apart.

Here’s what you need to know: Ryan Lawler and Alex Wilhelm looked at the diverging merger and acquisition strategies of Brex and Ramp to better understand how to differentiate themselves in business management.

Of the history :

While Ramp seems primarily interested in providing clients with a detailed view of the company’s finances for the sake of controlling costs, many of the big Brex announcements and initiatives have recently focused on helping small businesses – especially e-commerce sellers – faster access to cash flow through payments.

Personal finance for startups:

Hiring is (still) difficult

Image credits: alashi (Opens in a new window) / Getty Images (Image has been modified)

I wrote two stories this week that highlight two realities regarding the hiring landscape today. First, I reported that the Flockjay tech bootcamp had cut at least half of its workforce as it moved away from its original placement goal. Second, Workstream raised $ 48 million for its text-based recruiting platform for hourly workers.

Here’s what you need to know: Flockjay’s entire premise was to help non-tech workers break into tech through sales jobs. Its recent pivot to a B2B SaaS tool tells us how difficult a work placement can be, even in high-demand roles such as sales operations. A day later, Workstream raised funds for their hourly worker recruiting software. The $ 48 million Series B explains how employers facing high turnover are willing to spend money on recruiting tools that meet candidates where they are, which can be their cell phones.

While one story tells us that recruiting is a difficult business to do on a large scale, another shows that existing gaps still require special attention.

Dear seedlings, take note:

Around TC

TechCrunch Disrupt is less than a month away. And I am shaken.

Use “Mascarenhas20”For a sweet discount code when purchasing your ticket. It’s a series of candid speakers and questions without BS. But, in case you need more conviction on why it’s worth attending, check out this:

The best choices of the press room

TechCrunch Favorites

Extra Crunch favorites

Finally, a friendly reminder that it is still difficult for most people to raise capital these days. The boom, my friends, is uneven.

See you next week,

NOT



Masks and vaccines encouraged but optional as University of Texas at Austin classes begin

By
John M. Price
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0


AUSTIN (KXAN) – Under the orange glow of the tower, thousands of students from the University of Texas at Austin gathered in the main campus mall to celebrate the new school year.

The biggest back-to-school event, Gone to Texas, featured music and speeches from college officials on Tuesday night. Some students wore masks, others weren’t. Still, the lively event was a stark contrast to last year’s Gone to Texas, which was held virtually.

Masks and vaccines were optional but encouraged at the event, and similar protocols will be in place when classes begin Wednesday morning.

While faculty have the option of offering hybrid courses online and in person during the first few weeks of school, university officials expect classes to be back to full capacity by the next month. September 20.

“I haven’t been in a face-to-face class for almost two years,” Jordan Tran said. “I feel like I didn’t learn as much as I should have in my first year, because it was all online.”

  • For the full COVID-19 safety guidelines at the University of Texas, click here.

Tran got an internship with the UT football team, which means she has more COVID-19 testing requirements than most students. Still, she said she was prepared to take all necessary safety precautions to keep the campus open and maintain capacity for 100% football games.

She said she expects to be emotional in Game 1 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

“I could cry,” she laughed.

Louisiana State University announced on Tuesday that fans would be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine or documentation of a negative COVID-19 test to enter their stadium.

UT Athletics has not made any announcements regarding similar protocols.

Students are all encouraged to record their symptoms on the Protect Texas Together app and take regular COVID-19 tests through the Proactive Community Test program, but all of these efforts are voluntary.

Screenshots of the Protect Texas Together iPhone app, where students can record symptoms and get resources (Photo KXAN).

University officials have asked all students to get tested by Friday, August 27.

Meanwhile, students living on campus were required to take a COVID-19 test before arriving to move in. A spokesperson for the university said 5,960 students had already registered.

All those who arrived at the central check-in have either provided proof of a negative test or tested on site. None of the students tested there tested positive, so all were able to move in.

spokesperson for UT Austin

51 students contacted the university to delay their move, and the university spokesperson said he worked with the students to find a new move-in date after their period of isolation.

New freshman Orlando Lugo said he’s thrilled to be on campus, but nervous about getting a positive test before his move-in date.

“It would have been horrible,” he said.

Several online petitions for mask or vaccine warrants have started to gain traction within the UT community. A group posted online about plans to assemble outside the tower on Wednesday, calling for more security protocols required.

UT Austin has launched a new vaccination campaign to Tuesday encouraging people to get vaccinated. (Photo courtesy University of Texas)

A spokesperson for the university said, “We remain nimble in monitoring the situation and if any adjustments are made we will let the UT community know.”

UT Austin launched a new vaccination campaign on Tuesday, encouraging people to get vaccinated and offering prizes and other incentives to those who have been vaccinated.



Medical Writing Market Size To Exceed $ 3.25 Billion By 2025 At 10.1% CAGR | Global Industry Share, Future Growth, Technology Trends, Regional Analysis, Top Key Companies

By
John M. Price
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0


Medical Writing Market Research Report, Size, Share, Trends, Industry Analysis by Type (Clinical Writing, Regulatory Writing, Science Writing, Disease & Drug Related Writing), Application (Medical Journalism, Medical Education , medical marketing) and end user (Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract research organizations) – Forecast to 2025

Overview of the medical writing market

The medical writing market is expected to grow by $ 3.25 billion by 2025, growing rapidly at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. The global medical writing market is driven by increased R&D investments in different verticals. These factors have helped shape the medical writing market and are expected to drive growth. Businesses in the medical writing market might also face challenges such as strict government regulatory policies. The details covered in the Medical Writing Market report cover all aspects of the industry. Medical writing market analysts also shared growth projections in the report and suggested that medical writing market players plan growth strategies accordingly.

Segmentation of the medical writing market

The global medical writing market has been segmented on the basis of application, type, and end user. On the basis of application, the medical writing market is segmented on the basis of medical education, medical journalism, and medical marketing. Additionally, the market, based on type, is segmented into disease and drug related writing, regulatory writing, scientific writing, and clinical writing. The global medical writing market is also covered based on the end user segment which is further divided into contract research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Get a free sample of this report at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8370

Factors such as increasing number of patent expiries and increasing demand are supporting the growth of medical writing market. The performance of the medical writing market has also been studied for the past and current years. Additionally, the Medical Writing Market report provides analysis of these segments. The segmental analysis of the medical writing market provided in the report provides significant details about the performance and future of the medical writing market.

Regional Overview of Medical Writing Market

The companies in the medical writing market are spread all over the world. The Medical Writing Market report provides significant insights into the regional markets in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and the rest of the world. The North American medical writing market has many companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Europe has companies in the medical writing market in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK. A detailed analysis of the India, China, and Japan medical writing market in the Asia-Pacific region is also presented in the report. The medical writing market in the Middle East, Africa and other regions has also been studied by analysts. The regional analysis of the Medical Writing Market can be found in the market research report.

Competitive landscape of the medical writing market

The medical writing market is supported by a growing demand for regulatory documents. The growth of the population in the world and the increasing demand for services and products based on the medical writing market are also supporting the growth of the market. However, the growth of medical writing market may be affected due to unfavorable regulatory standards for the healthcare industry. The report covers all these details which will help companies in the Medical Writing Market to strengthen their business plan and improve their product portfolio. The Medical Writing Market research report also provides company profiles of leading companies. Company profiles of numerous organizations operating in the medical writing market highlight crucial details such as company size, revenue growth, and details of mergers and acquisitions taking place in the medical writing market. medical. New and established businesses can plan their strategies based on this data provided in Medical Writing Market Research Report.

The full report is available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=8370

News from the medical writing industry

In early 2021, the search for effective treatments for solid tumors intensified with such a chain of biotechnologies pushing massive investor testing and brand partnerships to drive out certain hard-to-manage masses. Today, with one of its candidates already in a leukemia clinic, Mana Therapeutics adopts a new round of table to enter the battle. Mana has announced a $ 35 million Series A funding round that will help move the Boston-area company’s flagship product through a Phase I trial that could see companies win an IND during the next year for an autologous molecule treating AML ineligible for transplantation. and solid tumors.

Contents

1. PROLOGUE OF THE REPORT

2. PRESENTATION OF THE MARKET

2.1. Definition

2.2. Scope of the study

2.2.1. Research objective

2.2.2. Hypotheses

2.2.3. Limits

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1. Overview

3.2. Primary research

3.3. Secondary research

3.4. Market size estimate

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Overview

4.2. Conductors

4.3. Constraints

4.4. Opportunities

5. MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS

5.1. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

5.1.1. Bargaining power of suppliers

5.1.2. The bargaining power of buyers

5.1.3. The threat of new participants

5.1.4. The threat of substitutes

5.1.5. Intensity of rivalry

5.2. Value chain analysis

… .TOC Continued….

Browse the full report with table of contents at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-writing-market-8370

For more information, see the healthcare reports:

Facial Injections Market
Immunosuppressive Drugs Market
Laboratory Equipment Market
Stem Cell Banking Market
Pharmacovigilance market
Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market

About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, providing comprehensive and accurate analysis with respect to various markets and consumers around the world. Market Research Future has a distinguished goal of providing high-quality research and granular research to customers. Our market research by products, services, technologies, applications, end users and market players for global, regional and national market segments, enables our clients to see more, learn more and do more, which helps answer your most important questions. questions.

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Diane L. Shoemaker | News, Sports, Jobs

By
John M. Price
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0


Diane L. Shoemaker, 66, of Lewisburg and formerly of Hughesville, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 23, 2021 at the Milton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born October 12, 1954 in Muncy, she was the daughter of the late Richard Sr. and Joan (Burkhart) Shaylor. She was married to Donald E. Shoemaker on October 25, 2003 and they celebrated 17 years of marriage.

Diane graduated from Hughesville High School in 1972. She worked at Country Cupboards in Lewisburg for many years.

She loved gardening and crochet. She was a happy, free-spirited person who loved to dance and laugh. Diane cherished all the time she could spend with her family and loved her grandsons deeply.

Besides her husband, Donald, she is survived by her son, Bradley Andrews and his wife, Autumn, of Pennsdale; one daughter, Dolly Hafner and her husband, Chuck, of South Williamsport; four grandsons, Charlie and Danny Hafner and Anthony and Braden Andrews; three brothers, Richard E. (Angela) Shaylor Jr., and Donald (Debbie) Shaylor, both of Muncy, and James (Missy) Shaylor, of Tivoli; three sisters, Jean Winder, Shirley Johnson and Janet (Fred) Nichols, all of Hughesville; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to a visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday August 28 at Hughesville Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc, 5069 Route 220 Hwy, Hughesville, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dave Harman of St. Mark’s Church, officiating Lairdsville. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hughesville.

To share a memory or condolences with the family, please visit www.hughesvillefuneralhome.com.


Figs and other brands are transforming the $ 10 billion medical scrubs market

By
John M. Price
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0


  • DTC brands are transforming the scrub industry with stylish fits and easier ways to shop online.
  • The medical scrubs industry is valued at $ 10 billion and growing rapidly.
  • As Figs leads the way, emerging companies like Mediclo and Jaanuu are on his heels.
  • See more stories on the Insider business page.

The medical scrubs industry has long been awaiting an overhaul, and a host of emerging brands are rising to the challenge.

For decades, doctors and nurses looking for medical clothing have been forced to go to big box medical supply stores to stock up on unflattering boxy scrubs. But just as e-commerce has transformed the way Americans buy everything from breakfast cereals to formal wear, it’s also starting to make its mark in a rapidly growing market estimated at $ 10 billion.

Today, the boom in direct-to-consumer sales is paving the way for brands offering high-end products in a range of styles and colors. Beyond reinvigorating a tired model, these companies have become vital to medical staff on the frontlines of the pandemic by increasing the ease with which they can replenish their uniforms and get to work, thanks to fast shipping times.

Figs has become one of the first companies in the industry because “investors see a huge total addressable market” and a “huge” long-term opportunity for cash flow and growth, Cowen analyst John Kernan told Insider . But competition is intensifying as brands demand new versions of scrubs suitable for a diverse population of healthcare professionals.

We took a look at six of the most popular companies selling medical scrubs online.


First-year medical students wear white coats in historic year

By
John M. Price
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0


As a child, Noelle Desir suffered from severe eczema. She and her family tried everything to get the condition of the skin under control, but without reassurance all they could do was go to the emergency room when she had a flare-up. Finally at the age of 12, his father, an immigrant from Haiti, obtained health coverage through his work, which allowed him to consult a dermatologist.

To Desir’s surprise, the doctor was black and feminine, like her.

“It didn’t occur to me that a black woman could be a doctor. I had never seen a black doctor, let alone a black female doctor, growing up on Long Island, ”she said. The doctor explained the eczema to Desir and advised her on managing the condition. Not only has it improved, but the experience of having a doctor who looks like him and who spent time educating him as a patient has changed the course of his life.

First-year medical students celebrate getting their cropped white coats at the annual white coat ceremony, held outdoors on August 20. From the right: Sofia Dimitriadoy, Noelle Desir and Daniella De Freitas.

“I made the decision on the way home by car that I was going to be a doctor, and I haven’t changed my mind since,” she said. “Too often you have a very diverse patient population being treated by doctors who all look the same or speak the same way. The population of physicians should reflect the population they treat.

Desir is now working towards this goal as a freshman medical student at Weill Cornell Medical College. On August 20, she and 105 of her classmates in the class of 2025 received their cropped white coats at Weill Cornell Medicine’s annual white coat ceremony. They were joined by 10 faculty members, who helped the students put on their coats, on the terrace of the Starr Foundation-Maurice R. Greenberg Conference Center of the Belfer Research Building, for an outdoor in-person ceremony while family and friends were watching live, due to ongoing physical gathering restrictions.

The ceremony officially marked the start of their medical training, which comes at a unique time for healthcare.

“You, the class of 2025, are entering medical school at a pivotal and unprecedented moment in history,” said Dr. Augustine MK Choi, Dean Stephen and Suzanne Weiss of Weill Cornell Medicine. “You have been selected with great care, and we believe you have what it takes to tackle the health challenges we face today and make an impact. As you learn more about the pathophysiology of disease and the social determinants of health, I urge you to think about ways to make our health care system more equitable, so that we can provide better and better care for everyone. more suited to culture.

“The white coat itself is a symbol of our profession, but more importantly, the white coat is a symbol of a commitment to humanism and patient care,” said Dr. Yoon Kang, Associate Dean. principal for education and Richard P. Cohen MD, associate professor of medical education at Weill Cornell Medicine. “And in the era of COVID, it’s so clear that humanism in medicine, and active listening and real understanding of the lives and stories of individual patients, is more important than ever.”

When 22-year-old Jalen Matteson and his brother began interpreting for their two deaf parents during medical appointments, he discovered how much translation was lost in healthcare facilities, where sign language translation was no longer available. was often not available. His father did not find out he had diabetes until Matteson became his interpreter.

“A lot of deaf people learn to nod and say yes,” said the Rochester, New York native. “I saw at a very young age their struggle to get treatment from doctors who did not take the time to help my parents fully understand what they were saying.

This experience prompted him to become a doctor. Weill Cornell Medicine’s Expanded Scholarship Program, which provides debt-free education to all medical students with proven financial need, will enable Matteson, a first-generation college graduate, to realize this aspiration.

“After I finish my studies and start practicing medicine, I hope to work with the deaf community and I will not need to ask for the best insurance or to be in a high paying specialty – which is important because often times deaf patients are under treatment. Medicaid, Medicare or uninsured, ”he said. “I can be a doctor who can help people like my parents understand their condition and navigate the health care system. “

The 2025 class joins the diverse community of Weill Cornell Medicine. Its students come from 15 different countries. Women make up more than half of the class, a quarter belong to under-represented groups in medicine, and 14% are first-generation university graduates. Four students have graduated from the institution’s summer research programs, which provide undergraduate students from underserved racial and ethnic groups or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in science and medicine. . Collectively, the incoming class attended 52 different colleges; six are former Cornell students.

Although white coat ceremonies in medical schools did not begin until 1993, they represent the importance of starting your journey in medicine, the keynote speaker said. Dr Anthony Hollenberg, Weill Chairman of the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.

“Putting on the coat is a privilege, and with that comes a great responsibility,” he said. “Indeed, the importance of the education you are starting or the career you are about to embark on cannot be overstated. It is a career and profession steeped in tradition, but which embraces change based on new science, understanding the mistakes and inequalities of the past, and seeking innovations that will challenge and address unmet medical needs.

Ana Paola Garcia, 25, knew from an early age that she wanted to work in medicine in her community of Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border. Growing up, she helped her parents – who trained as doctors in Mexico and worked in health care when they immigrated to the United States – with a makeshift clinic they ran from home. There, they provided care for uninsured or underinsured people. While in school, Garcia participated in Weill Cornell Medicine’s Summer Traveler Fellowship Program, which exposed her to mentoring physicians who worked in underserved communities.

“I don’t think I knew what standing up for a community in medicine meant until I made up for the traveler,” she said. “It was nice to see people who looked like me who were doctors.”

Now a first-year medical student at Weill Cornell Medical College, she plans to get involved in the Traveler’s Program, this time as a mentor, and eventually hopes to return to her hometown to work in her community.

Garcia said: “I feel like that would bring my story to a close.”

Kathryn Inman is associate editor for Weill Cornell Medicine. Elaine Meyer is a writer and editorial consultant for Weill Cornell Medicine.


Woodbridge Quadruplets Are Qualified As Hospital Staff

By
John M. Price
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0


A Woodbridge family is thrilled after a group of quadruplets follow in their mother’s footsteps by qualifying as hospital staff.

Mum Joby Shibu Mathew saw her joy quadruple after her daughters completed their training at Ipswich Hospital this year, where she works as a nurse.

The quadruplets, 21, completed training courses at Ipswich Hospital after starting their studies in 2018, all feeling inspired by their mother’s selflessness.

Aleena, Anjel, Aneetta and Aneesha
– Credit: Joby Shibu Mathew

Three of them are now fully trained nurses, while the fourth daughter Aneesha has graduated in physiotherapy.

Aneesha has now secured a job at Kettering Hospital, while her sisters Aleena, Anjel and Aneetta work at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.

You can also watch:

Three of the sisters studied at the University of Suffolk – where their mother also studied – while Aneesha studied physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.


From left to right: Aleena, Anjel and Aneetta Shibu Matthew Photo: UNIVERSITY OF SUFFOLK

From left to right: Aleena, Anjel and Aneetta Shibu Mathew
– Credit: University of Suffolk

Aneesha said it’s funny how she and her sisters have all followed the same path in the medical field.

She said: “When she (mom) graduated it was a huge inspiration to all of us.

“We had grown up in an environment where we saw how hard she worked and why she liked it.

“It’s funny, my sisters and I have had the same career, but I think we often try to be different and we seem to end up choosing the same thing. It happens with a lot of things in our life.

“I was drawn to physiotherapy because I wanted to help people recover and get their lives back on track. “

Ms. Shibu Mathew had previously worked as a caregiver before starting her nursing training in 2014.

She believes her history in the profession has set an example for her daughters.


Joby Shibumatthew and Nurses Feloow cut the ribbon for the brand new Somersham Ward in Ipswich Hospit

Ms Shibu Mathew, center, cutting the ribbon at Somersham Ward at Ipswich Hospital in 2018
– Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown

Ms Shibu Mathew, qualified in 2017, said she hoped her children would be an inspiration to others their age.

She said, “They told me they saw my passion for nursing and being a nurse and they wanted to do that too.

“Nursing options are great for them and that’s how it turned out they all wanted to do the same – with Aneesha the slight difference to physiotherapy.

“They have always been very close and love each other very much. It was so moving to say goodbye to each other when they moved.


Shibu Mathew sisters all got jobs in hospitals

Shibu Mathew sisters all got jobs in hospitals
– Credit: Joby Shibu Mathew

“I really enjoy my job and being part of the team – it’s an amazing opportunity for everyone and I know they are going to love it.

“My husband Shibu and I are very proud of them all.”


winners announced for West Chester Champions of Change event | Local News

By
John M. Price
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WEST CHESTER – The Fund for Women and Girls will host its fifth annual Champions of Change event on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light and Theater. The event will honor JoAnne Reifsnyder, Phd, MSN, MBA, FAAN, for her efforts to support and uplift women in nursing and healthcare. Reifsnyder is Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Genesis HealthCare. MacElree Harvey law firm will also be honored for its commitment to the development and career growth of female employees, and its efforts to advance gender equality in the workplace.

Dr. JoAnne Reifsnyder will receive the Fund’s fifth annual Gladys Black Woman of Distinction Award, named in memory of the Fund’s late friend and dedicated board member Gladys Black. As a business leader and supporter of the women and girls of Chester County, Gladys has left a lasting impact on our community. This year, we honor Dr. Reifsnyder’s dedication to supporting, mentoring and uplifting women in nursing and healthcare throughout her career.

In her role at Genesis HealthCare, Dr. Reifsnyder is responsible for leadership development, nursing strategy and clinical quality, safety and efficacy. She joined Genesis in 2011 as Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Implementation, and previously was Senior Vice President of Care Transitions at CareKinesis, Inc. Dr. Reifsnyder sits on the Board of Directors of the Hospice Foundation of America and is the past chairman of the board of directors of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), the National Gerontological Nurses Association (NGNA) and Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. Dr. Reifsnyder was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2015. She was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychosocial Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and holds a Doctorate of Nursing from the University of Maryland, MBA from George. Washington University, a master’s degree in nursing from Thomas Jefferson University, and a BSN from Holy Family College.

As the only female member of the Genesis HealthCare Board of Directors, Dr. Reifsnyder is a true champion for women. She oversees the Department of Nursing, Social Services and Quality – which includes six vice presidents, more than 200 directors of nursing and thousands of nurses and social workers, the vast majority of whom are women – and is responsible for the leadership development and career growth of over 20,000 female clinicians. Through her leadership, Genesis HealthCare provides employees with access to local universities, onsite training, virtual training, and career advancement opportunities. In addition, Dr. Reifsnyder led the development of nursing career ladders and the achievement of the Pathway to Excellence designation at an affiliated center in Pennsylvania, one of more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide to achieve this recognition. .

“JoAnne is never too busy to meet young women who are just starting their career path, whether it’s nursing, allied health or business. She has met many aspiring professionals in the region, ”said her nominator and colleague Lori Mayer, vice president of marketing and communications at Genesis HealthCare. “She has dedicated her life’s work to caring for those who cannot take care of themselves and are at the end of their lives… through her leadership, she has helped other women develop their own careers. and thrive in a very difficult industry. Along with the 20,000 other Genesis clinicians, I thank Dr. Reifsnyder for his support, dedication and leadership.

As an advocate for her employees, MacElree Harvey recognizes the importance of gender balance in a team and the important benefits it brings to the organization. The firm encourages female employees to pursue professional and leadership opportunities, providing them with training and resources to support their professional growth. For example, the firm’s educational assistance program has been used by female staff and lawyers to advance their careers. MacElree Harvey also offers flexible work hours, including the ability to work from home, to promote work-life balance among its lawyers. Its paid medical leave plan offers paid time off for maternity, sickness or injury leave. Finally, MacElree Harvey is partnering with the Chester County Bar Association to promote its diversity program, designed for first-year law students who identify with groups historically discriminated against on the basis of gender, disability, race. , ethnicity or gender identity.

“MacElree Harvey has a history of advancing and promoting women in the firm. Most notably, our current CEO, Michelle Foster, has been promoted several times during her 19 year career at MacElree Harvey… Eight of the current female Associates started their careers at MacElree Harvey as Associate Lawyers and were promoted partners, ”said the cabinet administrator. Nicole Castafero. “The Cabinet promotes women from within, enabling their career advancement.

“Now more than ever, we need leaders who will wear the mantle of gender and race equity in the workforce, education and all institutions,” said the Executive Director of the Fund, Michelle Legaspi Sánchez. “The Fund is proud to recognize the longstanding commitment of Dr. JoAnne Reifsnyder as well as MacElree Harvey. Because of their leadership and courage, many women in Chester County and beyond have more opportunities to move forward.


The households of Hungry Mass. doubled during the pandemic

By
John M. Price
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“A lot of people in low-paying jobs assume they’re not eligible,” McAleer said. “This is frankly not true, there are a lot of people who work and who don’t earn enough to get by.”

Even though SNAP registrations increased during the pandemic – they were 27.5% higher in June 2021 than in May 2019 – they remain significantly underutilized, according to the study.

There is still a pool of 659,340 eligible but unenrolled people, largely made up of people who do not know or understand the program, assume they are not eligible, fear stigma, or think they are withdrawing from it. advantages. someone who might need it more, the study showed.

As for those who might think that reaping the benefits is depriving someone else who may need them most, the program was designed to expand during downturns and retract when the economy improves. , McAleer said.

The study proposes two immediate policy changes.

At the federal level, SNAP benefits should be increased to allow people to cope. At the state level, people eligible for Medicaid should automatically be eligible for SNAP.

In response to “food insecurity fueled by the pandemic,” this week the USDA announced the largest permanent increase in benefits since the program’s inception. Starting in October, more than 950,000 Massachusetts residents will see their benefits increase by an average of $ 36 per person each month.

“Food insecurity is a silent problem,” said Catalina Lopez-Ospina, director of the Office of Food Access in Boston. “We need to normalize this conversation. “

Acting Mayor Kim Janey recently announced $ 1.9 million in community grants as part of the federal stimulus package to improve access to food.

Before the pandemic, 8.2% of Massachusetts households were food insecure, according to Project Bread. The hunger crisis peaked at the start of the pandemic, with 19.6% of households estimated to be food insecure in spring 2020, the study showed.

“The coronavirus pandemic has fueled a hunger crisis like no other in our lifetimes,” according to Project Bread.

Being hungry has lasting consequences, especially in growing children, McAleer said. From February to June of this year, the average percentage of food insecure households with children was 15.9 percent. In July, it had risen to 17.2%.

The pandemic has made it harder for Amber Holden, a mother of three who lives in Jamaica Plain, to feed her family because schools that provide meals were not always open.

“At school, they ate breakfast and lunch, so the food would last longer in the house,” Holden said by phone Wednesday.

But now, the $ 535 she receives in SNAP benefits each month runs out by week two, Holden said. Things will improve when school resumes – Holden may share the duty of providing meals and having time to find a job – but in seeking employment, Holden will have to find childcare for his 4-month-old son.

“Ideally, I would like to spend more time with him,” she said, “but it gets to the point where I have to go to work so my baby has a roof over our heads.

“As a mom, I have to put my desires aside to take care of [my children’s] needs, ”she added. “Right now, they need food in their stomachs. “

Hungry children don’t concentrate well in class, visit the nurses office more, have lower test scores, lower graduation rates and less success as adults, said McAleer of Project Bread. .

Hungry adults face more chronic disease and higher mortality, the advocate said.

Not just people of color in Massachusetts disproportionately affected by food insecurity, but minority households recover from the pandemic much more slowly than white households, according to the study.

From December to May, one in seven white households with children has experienced food insecurity. For black and Latino households with children, the rate was one in three.

Jessica Hernandez, 44, of Lowell, relied more on pantries during the pandemic, in part because the conventional shopping experience has become more difficult for people with low incomes.

“Everything is more expensive. What was a dollar is now worth $ 3.4, ”Hernandez said. “And sometimes you need pasta, and the pantry is more likely to have it than the store.”

It is difficult for some to admit that they are struggling to feed their families, and others believe they will be seen as the system’s living picnics or as immigrants who failed the American Dream, said. the defenders.

Several first-time visitors to the Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield seem uncomfortable asking for food, said Charles Cox, 52, a visitor to the pantry for years.

“It’s more of a shame that they are getting on their own,” the Greenfield resident said over the phone. “It’s something they didn’t want to do.”

The majority of people who started using the pantry during the pandemic are still showing up for food, Cox said.

In Boston, the new community grants will fund “de-stigma activities” and “a fairer food system”.

“In Boston, we know that access to food is essential for the well-being of our residents,” Janey said in a statement. “As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge local nonprofits and Boston residents to apply for this grant to help expand access to food, as well as support education on food aid resources. “

Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected] or 617-929-1579. Follow her on Twitter @talanez. Jack Lyons can be contacted at [email protected]

Almost a third of American workers under 40 have considered a career change during the pandemic

By
John M. Price
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When Orlando Saenz was fired at the end of January, he was devastated. For nearly a decade he worked as an executive assistant at an Austin law firm and it was hard to envision his next steps. But then he realized: this setback could be the boost he needed to finally finish his associate degree and seek a better career.

A few days later, Saenz, 40, enrolled in community college. He is considering getting a paralegal license. The improved unemployment assistance gave him the financial cushion to “see school as my job,” he said, for a few months.

“If you come out of the pandemic the same way you were, you’ve missed an opportunity to evolve and grow as a person,” Saenz said. “I just realized I had to do better.

Saenz is not alone. Nearly one in three American workers under the age of 40 has thought about changing their profession or field of work since the start of the pandemic, according to a survey by the Washington Post-Schar School, conducted from July 6 to 21. About 1 in 5 workers overall considered a career change. , a signal that the pandemic has been a turning point for many, even those who have not contracted the coronavirus.


Many people have told The Post that the pandemic has changed their perception of what is important in life and their careers. It gave them a better understanding that life is short and now is the time to make the changes they have long dreamed of. The result is a great re-evaluation of work, as Americans fundamentally reinvent their relationship with their work.

This is translating into record numbers of Americans leaving their jobs and a wave of retirements and people starting new businesses.

Some, like Saenz, are looking for a more interesting or better paying career, while others want a new location that allows a different way of life. Since the start of the pandemic, 28% of American adults say they have seriously considered moving, according to the George Mason University Post-Schar School of Policy and Government survey, and 17% say they have already moved, either temporarily or permanently. Adults under 40 are the most likely to have considered moving or have already moved.


In parts of the country with easy access to hiking and outdoor activities, house prices are skyrocketing. Austin, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Spokane, Washington; and a Phoenix suburb called Sunrise saw the biggest rise in prices, according to real estate website Redfin. These towns are more affordable than many large coastal towns and are easy places to have a physically active lifestyle.

Saenz said he and his wife, a teacher, had also discussed leaving downtown Austin and moving to the countryside for a different pace of life and the chance to fish more – what he calls the ” Cabela lifestyle ”, in reference to the outdoor equipment retailer. Nearly half of adults say it’s “extremely” or “very” important to have easy access to hiking, fishing and camping, compared to 34% in a 2019 survey conducted by the Harris School of Public Policy of the University of Chicago, The Associated Press and NORC.

Viktoria Pavic, 25, had the opposite reaction during the pandemic: she wanted to be in a bigger city and saw it as a chance to make that dream come true. She moved from Poughkeepsie, New York, to Brooklyn, taking advantage of lower rent prices in the city as many young people left temporarily.

“Right before the pandemic, I was planning to move and travel more. I wanted to live my life as fully as possible, ”said Pavic. “The pandemic ended a lot of travel, but at least I was able to move to Brooklyn. You cannot put your life on hold forever.

Pavic works as a hostess in a restaurant but says she has had plenty of time to think about her future. She started investing during the pandemic and plans to turn to corporate or nonprofit work.

“I did a bit of journaling,” she said. “I hope that one day I may be able to start a non-profit organization, something where I can do more for my community.”

Demands for new businesses have exploded in 2020 and 2021, according to census data, likely fueled by people being laid off or wanting a change. In May, the share of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs reached the highest level recorded by the Department of Labor, another sign that American workers are rethinking what they want to do in their careers and are confident they can find something else. thing. Retail workers have quit at a particularly rapid pace this year; quits in retail hit a record high in June.

Recruiters say they hear time and time again that people want more flexibility. They say workers are reluctant to return to jobs in industries such as retail, restaurants and manufacturing that require a fixed schedule with in-person work, often at irregular hours.

“People want a work-life balance,” said Angela Muhwezi-Hall, co-founder of QuickHire. “A woman I was talking to yesterday told me that she works in a restaurant and sometimes comes home at 3 am and doesn’t want to do that anymore. She wants to be able to see her children, especially after spending a year at home with her children. She still really wants flexibility. Line cooks have been particularly difficult to hire, Muhwezi-Hall said.

The United States recorded a record 10.1 million job vacancies in June. Employers are raising wages, offering new benefits like mental health care, and allowing more workers to at least partially stay at bay in an effort to attract people to their businesses.

The Post-Schar School poll found that a majority of workers – 59% – say they want to return to their workplace all or most of the time after the pandemic ends. Slightly less than 2 in 10 say they want to work mainly (10%) or always (8%) remotely, while 2 in 10 want an equal distribution between home work and occasional travel. White men are more likely than other workers in general to want to return to work. Remote working is more popular among workers who do most of their work on a computer and those who have telecommuted in the past month. Both groups prefer working fully or partially remotely to work that takes place mainly outside the home.

Jobs and education entirely online have been difficult for some. Tais Davis of Richmond was halfway through college when the pandemic hit. She had planned to become a doctor, but found online classes alone much more difficult than learning in person. She is now opting for a nursing diploma in the hope that she will be able to have a more flexible schedule, including the possibility of working as a “per diem” nurse who replaces in different medical establishments.

“The pandemic has taught me that nothing is guaranteed now. Everything can change in a matter of months or even weeks, ”said Davis. “Just being able to spend time on my own made me realize which path I had taken that I did not want to take.”

The poll was conducted July 6-21 by the Washington Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University among a random national sample of 1,000 adults, 75% of whom were contacted on cell phones. and 25% on fixed lines. The overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Emily Guskin of the Washington Post contributed to this report.

Learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic

This story originally appeared on washingtonpost.com. Read it here.


Mask debates rage in western Pennsylvania as schools return to class

By
John M. Price
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Debate over whether students should wear masks to school this fall shows no signs of cooling off in districts across the region, with the start of classes coming as the rate of covid-19 transmission rises in the region.

Harrisburg officials have recommended local districts follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has recommended masks for everyone inside schools, whether or not they have received a covid vaccine. But the lack of a firm mandate from the state has put local school boards in the hot seat of the mask debate.

Many boards have approved mask option policies that allow families to decide whether their children should wear face coverings in school buildings. But, reflecting the hidden division between those they represent, the decisions have not always been unanimous.

Dr Michael Zorch, a retired emergency physician and member of the Grand Latrobe School Board, heads the council’s health and safety committee, which is responsible for examining local pandemic conditions. But he was among those outvoted in a July 27 6-3 decision to make masks optional for students, staff and visitors in the 2021-22 school year.

Zorch acknowledged the pressure local councils are under when implementing covid-19 protocols and noted that his stance on masks has evolved with the recent increase in cases.

“When we first talked about this, cases were on the go in (Westmoreland) County,” Zorch said. “My initial thought was, ‘Our kids don’t need masks at school.’ Then all of a sudden the numbers went up.

Zorch said the school board should not ignore advice offered by organizations such as the CDC that focus on public health.

“If to keep the community and our children safe, we have to wear a mask for a while, that’s what we have to do,” he said. ” It’s my opinion. I think by doing that we keep the kids in school.

“The harm for the children was that they weren’t in school. There is nothing that I have seen anywhere that says putting a mask on children hurts them. “

When the Highland School Board met on Monday, member Kristie Babinscak passionately advocated for the district to demand masks, but could not find support from any of the other six members in attendance.

“They don’t want to take a stand,” she said. “Everyone on this board has a right to do whatever they want to do. I somehow knew I was making a bold statement.

“I’m going to do what I think is in the best interest of these kids and the community, and I’m going to do it every time,” she said. “If I have people who hate me, I have people who hate me. No one said it would be an easy job.

Since Highlands has chosen to stick with the optional masks for students and staff, and has made its position clear, Babinsack said community feedback was mixed.

“There are worried parents in the community who fear that their children will go back to school and be infected with covid or be quarantined, or in the worst case, that the school will shut down as it has. did last year, ”she said. “I want the children to go back to school. This is not the problem for me. I want them to come back safe and sound.

Dr Rhonda Laughlin, a local optometrist, was among the majority who approved the Grand Latrobe’s optional mask plan. She noted that the school board will continue to assess any new information related to the pandemic that presents itself. The health and safety committee was supposed to do just that on Friday.

“We’re just going to take all the information, like we always do, and make the best decision out of it,” Laughlin said. “We have a lot of smart minds in this school.”

Because Governor Tom Wolf allows mask decisions to happen locally, the state teachers’ union, like parents, is seeking a desired outcome from school boards. In his case, the Pennsylvania State Education Association is advocating for a mask requirement in schools.

“We hope that school districts with optional masking policies will re-evaluate their positions, in light of the recent increase in covid cases, and put in place more stringent masking requirements before the start of the school year,” said Chris Lilienthal, Assistant Director of Communications for the PSEA. “Students under the age of 12 still do not have access to any of the covid-19 vaccines available in the United States.

“The last thing we want to do, as we fill public school classrooms with enthusiastic young learners, is to throw caution to the wind. This could cause many students to become infected with the virus, take it home to their families, and make themselves and other sick. Keeping students safe while they learn in school must be our top priority, and that means hiding in school. “

The audience at recent Greensburg Salem school board meetings included strong opponents of the masking as well as advocates for the mask, but the debate among the board members was more nuanced.

On August 12, the board voted 6-3 to adopt a policy recommending but not requiring masks inside school buildings. District administrators said the description of the masks as “recommended” mirror language issued by the CDC, but board member Robin Savage was among three dissidents who argued that the use of the word could force parents to feel compelled to make the pupils wear masks. Instead, they suggested that the policy state that masks are “optional.”

Savage said her stance didn’t mean she was anti-mask. She noted that the district’s optional mask plan should give way to any mask warrant that may be ordered by a higher authority.

Greensburg Salem has a pandemic committee that includes school administrators and nurses, but Savage has expressed frustration that local districts have not received clear direction on mask use from senior levels of government.

“I think we’re all trying to do our best,” she said. “We’re getting information from the CDC, but it should come from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of Education. The governor’s office should come up with something.

Until that happens, she said, the decision to hide in school should be up to every family.

“For me, it’s the parents’ decision until a warrant is issued by the federal or state government,” she said. “I don’t think a local council should issue such warrants without having a long conversation.

Greensburg Salem board members Ron Mellinger Jr., Lynna Thomas and Frank Gazze all voted for the “recommended” language regarding masks, which Mellinger said was favored by the pandemic committee.

Mellinger, the chairman of the board, said he made sure mask advocate Dr Dakota Peterson, a 2010 district graduate who works at the UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, had the opportunity to address the board of directors.

“There are two sides to this,” he said. “In a world as divided as ours, I have always wanted to hear from both sides. “

“Greensburg Salem takes this very seriously,” Gazze said of the mask policy. “We will always monitor things and try to make the best decision that will keep everyone safe. “

Barring a government directive, Thomas said, the board should look to experts in science and medicine for advice on covid protocols.

“Following these recommendations is the most consistent and fair way to make decisions,” she said.

The Fox Chapel area school board faced an angry and noisy crowd on August 9 when it voted to demand masks. In addition to the boos, one person appeared to give a Nazi salute to the board.

Some residents said the council took away their freedom, but Eric Hamilton, a council member, said the decision preserved everyone’s freedom to be in school full time.

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has approved its plan requiring masks without discussion, debate or a lot of public comment one way or the other. Board chairman Tim Beckes said he was a bit surprised, given what has happened elsewhere in the region and across the country.

“We didn’t have a lot of problems last year with the masking. The kids were great to accept the masks, ”Beckes said. “I think it helped the parents to accept it, the community and everyone as a whole. They didn’t really turn out to be a problem for us last year.

New Kensington-Arnold will post a poll on its website by Tuesday asking parents whether their children will come to school or learn remotely, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. The district expects most students to come back and prepare for it, he said.

Whether or not masks are necessary in New Kensington-Arnold schools is linked to the rate of transmission of the virus in the region. The big unknown now, Beckes said, is the delta variant.

“It’s the safest decision we can make,” Beckes said. “I would be devastated if we didn’t and someone who didn’t have access to the vaccine got it and got seriously ill, and I didn’t do everything I could to keep them safe.”

The Penn-Trafford School Board voted unanimously on Monday in favor of an optional mask plan. The action came after asking parents in the district about the issue and hearing comments from both sides at two public meetings.

According to district administrators, the survey generated more than 1,900 responses, with a majority at all grade levels in favor of optional masks. The maintenance of the optional masks was also supported by the school doctor.

“We wanted to get the big picture” of the covid masking problem, said Jim Matarazzo, member of the board of directors of Penn-Trafford. “People had very deep and passionate opinions on both sides of the ledger. We want to respect everyone.

Another board member, Toni Ising, listened to “the people we have put in place to medically guide us through this.” She also “listened to everyone who spoke at these meetings and followed the research they talked about. Then I draw my own conclusions.


UPS Store Expands Program to Encourage Minority Ownership

By
John M. Price
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After practicing medicine for over a decade, Dr Rami Michael decided it was time for a change.

The Egyptian-born immigrant, who moved to the United States in 2008 after spending most of his life in various parts of the Middle East, chose to leave the highly stressful medical profession and become a homeowner. independent business.

During his search for the most promising opportunity, Michael came to the conclusion that the types of services offered by The UPS Store best meet his needs and would also thrive during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I researched the market and found that the UPS brand is sort of immune to the pandemic. While many businesses were struggling, shipments were increasing, ”said Michael, who opened his own The UPS Store in Greenville last May. “I applied for the franchise and got approved – and here we are now; I own a UPS store. It makes me very happy. “

Another incentive for Michael was The UPS Store’s innovative minority incentive program, which lowered his franchise acquisition costs. In an effort to help members of underserved groups become entrepreneurs, The UPS Store is further expanding its Minority Incentive Program to include the LGBTQ + community.

“The Minority Assistance Program was great news and helped me get involved,” said Michael. “Every time you start a business, you take a risk. “

The expanded UPS Store initiative, which will begin in August, has been renamed the Diversity Ownership Program and will further support the company’s commitment to help grow minority-owned businesses. The program offers eligible new homeowners a 50% discount on franchise fees of approximately $ 30,000. The UPS Store is the world’s largest franchisor of shipping, mail, printing and retail business services.

“Anytime we can inspire or help someone achieve their dream of becoming a small business owner, that’s what keeps us going,” said Steve Chambers, vice president of retail and business development. “The UPS Store is committed to supporting and strengthening diversity, and the LGBTQ + community has felt like the next natural fit for this path to business ownership. “

Michael, who is called Mike, became a US citizen in 2013. He graduated from medical school in 2004 and practiced medicine until 2018. He then worked at two UPS stores in the upstate. – mainly during the pandemic – before acquiring his own store across from Legacy Park. His store is the first in the upstate to feature The UPS Store’s new Blue Horizon design, a contemporary look designed to be fast, efficient and user-friendly. Bright colors, open spaces, and enhanced digital elements showcase services that go beyond packaging and shipping.

The UPS store

“I can’t tell you how much customers appreciate Blue Horizon’s new design and layout. This encourages them to go from one-time customers to loyal customers. It makes me happy, ”said Michael, who lives in Greenville with his wife and two children. “I loved practicing medicine, but it was very stressful. Running this store is a full time job, but the hours are fixed and to me it’s like heaven.

All of The UPS Store’s more than 5,000 franchises are individually owned and operated. In addition to traditional retail storefronts, the business offers non-traditional opportunities such as being located inside a hotel, convention center, college campus, or even a grocery store. . Now more than ever, more entrepreneurs of color and the LGBTQ + community can join a network fueled by the shift from consumers to e-commerce.

“Expanding this program to be even more inclusive is something our retail leadership team was passionate about,” Chambers said. “The UPS Store has a long history of diverse corporate ownership among its franchisees, and since launching this initiative last year, we’ve seen a strong response. “


Fight against “mental exhaustion” of health personnel in the context of a persistent pandemic

By
John M. Price
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0


The best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on Apple Podcasts or PodcastOne.

You’ve seen the footage for a year and a half, hospitals and health clinics almost overwhelmed with COVID patients. Nurses, doctors and their assistants reach the point of burnout. In some areas, these conditions are returning. Now the Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, which is part of health and social services, wants to do something about health worker burnout, specifically a grant program of over $ 100 million. . For more details, Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to Deputy Assistant Administrator for Health Workforce at HRSA, Dr Torey Mack.

Tom Temin: Dr Mack, good to have you.

Torey Mack: Great to be on Tom. The pandemic has had a huge impact on the mental state of health workers. And the efforts we’re making here at the Health Resources and Services Administration to tackle burnout and ensure our workforce is capable of providing care is truly needed now, more than ever.

Tom Temin: Okay, and what is your metric for when a particular unit, hospital or region has these mental health issues? I mean, it’s one thing to say it on TV, but you’ve got to have better metrics than that.

Torey Mack: Absoutely. Even before the pandemic, when you even look at the 2019 studies, depending on the discipline, 35 to 54% of nurses and doctors across the country had substantial symptoms of burnout. And that was due to several factors, right? There are high patient volumes, long working hours, demand in the workplace. So this is nothing new. But sadly, COVID-19 has really turned that into an uptrend. So some of the things we look at when we talk about burnout are increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, you may see increased medical errors and breaches of safety, more claims and, of course, high turnover rates.

Tom Temin: Moreover, it must also be bad for the patients to have to deal with people who are exhausted and ready to suffocate the patient instead of helping him.

Torey Mack: Yes you are right. Empathy is one of the first things to do, isn’t it, when it comes to how well they are able to provide quality care. This is why this support is so necessary for our healthcare workers. And those stressors that I mentioned were there already, but when you add a pandemic, you can just think about it. There is uncertainty about the ultimate magnitude, how long will this last? The effects. Providers are concerned about the readiness of their organizations and the readiness of the public. You worry about whether they will have the right equipment and just think about the potential threats to their own health, right? And the risk of contagion for their loved ones and their co-workers. I am a doctor by training and have worked in both primary and specialist care. So I know firsthand what it’s like to really have this personal experience of burnout. And, of course, still have colleagues and friends struggling with this. So, it is much needed and especially at this time.

Tom Temin: Alright, we’ve got to do more than just drop off a few dozen donuts at the nurses’ station. You have three grant programs. Tell us about these.

Torey Mack: Absoutely. And you are so right about it. The data shows us that we can’t just focus on an individual, right? The resilience of one person. To face these challenges, we also need to have a coherent strategy. It is therefore important but it is not all. So an organizational culture of well-being is really necessary to truly combat burnout. And so I’m happy to say that we have three funding opportunities. The American Rescue Plan has made funding available of approximately $ 103 million over three years. And so, the first program we have is promoting resilience and mental health among health professionals. It’s fantastic, because it’s going to really touch on this organizational culture that I was talking about. This will help organizations establish, improve or expand any evidence-based program or protocol to truly promote and implement organizational cultural well-being. And that includes the resilience as well as the mental health of their employees. So that also includes that. The second program we have is actually to think about interns. So at the Bureau of Health Workforce, we have our education programs, our training programs, as well as commissioning in areas that need it most. And so, our second program is actually going to have up to 30 awards. And that has to go to educational institutions and other state, local, tribal, public or private nonprofits that train those early in their careers in health care. And so, again, this will provide informed evidence, but this questioning will be used in planning, development and training in the activities of the health professions to reduce burnout, prevent suicide and promote self-improvement. resilience in the workforce. And our third program is actually a technical assistance center. This is the Technical Assistance Center for the Resilience of the Workforce in Health and Public Safety. And it will be a prize that will provide tailor-made training and technical assistance to these beneficiaries of these programs, because we know that they are going to be able to learn from each other. In this area, while there is a lot of data on what to support suppliers, it will be great for our beneficiaries to be able to share this information and hopefully put together something that we can translate through. the country.

Tom Temin: We speak with Dr. Torey Mack. She is Deputy Assistant Administrator for Health Personnel in the Health Resources and Services Administration. And that was really my next question, because a limited number of organizations will get these grants and be able to develop these training and resilience programs, but is there a way to expand it to all places because? you never know where the next disaster might strike and overwhelm, say, a particular area and not necessarily the whole nation?

Torey Mack: Absoutely. And again, while the pandemic has certainly highlighted the need to focus on provider well-being, this is not just a pandemic-related topic for us, we certainly considered well-being. providers as an important element of our work in terms of training and ultra-competent workforce. And so, for a number of years, we’ve built that into our subsidy language. It’s really fortunate that we have this additional funding to focus on this. And you are absolutely right, we have to think beyond our beneficiaries, how is this going to be sustainable? So really, this tech support center is going to be a key part of this overall effort to make sure that we get all of this information and provide a way to get it out.

Tom Temin: And without giving any clues on how to get a grant, do you have a general idea of ​​what a resilience program looks like that would be acceptable to HRSA as something to fund?

Torey Mack: Absolutely, we don’t want to be too prescriptive, and we really want organizations to focus on their needs. What we have seen in the literature shows that a concerted effort really needs to be based on the needs of your individual institution. So whether it is something like a call center, right, there are also supports in terms of consultations, referrals to mental health services and other services. support to encourage professionals who encounter these difficulties in their personal professional life. ask for help. But there are also some unique strategies you can consider that don’t necessarily have to do with this sanity as well. Whether it’s specific support your organization might need. Even when thinking of things like babysitting. So this funding, we really want organizations to be able to focus their efforts, and we want them to be able to really look at what they have available to support frontline health workers, and really look forward to applications.

Tom Temin: And I’m curious if, for example, the defense health system or the veterans health administration, do they have any programs that could be models? Because obviously they can’t get federal grants from HRSA, but it’s big healthcare organizations that get stressed out every now and then. Do they have any programs that could be modeled?

Torey Mack: They do. They do. There are programs across the country. We can learn a lot from our federal partners about what they have been really successful in accomplishing. And we can also learn a lot from our academic health centers and our health workforce research centers that have done a lot of work on this topic. There are a lot of studies looking at this, and I think there are a lot of things that organizations can learn from. And I really think they can really learn from each other too.

Tom Temin: And just give us the timelines and deadlines and so on for that particular three-part program that we just described.

Torey Mack: Absoutely. To apply for these vendor resilience workforce training programs, you can visit grant.gov. And nominations are due on August 30 of this year.

Tom Temin: Very well. Dr Torey Mack is Deputy Associate Administrator for Health Personnel at HRSA – Health Resources and Services Administration. Thank you very much for joining me.

Torey Mack: Thank you very much for having me, Tom.


How much does home care cost? – Forbes Health

By
John M. Price
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0

Home care can be expensive, and many people find it confusing to navigate the different payment options. Here are some of the most common ways to pay for home health care.

Health Insurance

Medicare covers intermittent and skilled home health care, provided that a person meets all the eligibility requirements. Services must be prescribed by a physician and the person must be confined to the home.

What counts as being confined to the house? As Johnson says, “Does this have to do with being able to get you out of bed?” Can you reasonably go to a doctor or a therapy clinic without endangering yourself? When a senior meets this definition of homebound, Medicare will pay in full, with little or no deductible, for a home health agency to provide skilled care. This coverage includes skilled nursing care such as wound care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, medical social services and speech therapy.

As soon as a patient is no longer confined to their home, they are no longer eligible for this coverage. At this point, most people turn to private payments or use long-term care insurance to cover the costs of their ongoing needs, Johnson explains.

Advantage of Medicare

Medicare Advantage (Part C) offers plans for the elderly that cover unqualified care, such as bathing and cooking assistance. “But basically you always pay for it,” says Johnson, as these plans, which are sold by private insurance companies, come with varying premiums, deductibles, and other payments. (That said, there’s usually a limit that plans must adhere to.)

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may also need to purchase your home health services from specific agencies. Call your plan provider to find out what you qualify for and who can provide it to you.

Medicaid

Medicaid, which is the federal and state health insurance program for low-income people, offers variable coverage. “Some states are very generous and have good Medicaid programs,” says Johnson. “Some states don’t.”

All Inclusive Care Programs for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE is a government program that provides medical and social services to frail elderly people who are doubly eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits. It is designed for people who are at least 55 years old and who would otherwise need nursing home care.

PACE services include adult child care, meals, nutritional counseling, transportation and physiotherapy.

However, it is not available everywhere. “The big limitation of PACE is that it is not available in many jurisdictions,” says Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, Certified Clinical Social Worker, author of Cruising Through Caregiving: Reducing the Stress of Caring for Your Loved One and trainer in gerontology. at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

For example, New Jersey has six PACE agencies and you must live in their specific coverage areas to participate. To find out if there is a PACE program in your neighborhood, visit npaonline.org.

Long term care insurance

Long-term care insurance helps you prepare for the costs of care for the elderly. Every long-term care insurance policy is different, says FitzPatrick, but many help cover home health care.

“Some are really liberal and you can use it for anything – assisted living, retirement home, home care, adult child care,” she says. “Then there are some who have limits. “

Once your coverage is approved, you start paying the premiums. The policy begins to pay once you become eligible for benefits, which is based on criteria such as the inability to do certain activities of daily living (ADL) on your own.

Lots of people buy long-term care insurance when they’re young enough, but FitzPatrick says it’s still worth considering even if you’re in your 60s. “Don’t assume you can’t get it,” she says, noting that it’s important to read the policy carefully so you know what it covers and what it doesn’t.

Veterans Assistance Options

Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care can take advantage of benefits that help pay for home care. There are certain eligibility requirements based on clinical criteria, and some veterans have a co-payment.

Home health services are based on the needs of each veteran. An assistant may come several times a week or just occasionally to help with eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, or shopping.

The VA also offers online resources, such as Veteran Decision Support for Home or Community Care, which can help seniors decide if home health care is the right choice for them. .

Tax deductions

There are valuable tax deductions that can help offset the costs of home health care, says Kari Brummond, tax preparer at TaxCure, a directory of tax debt professionals.

Taxpayers can claim a deduction for medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income, according to Brummond. They should use Schedule A of the IRS to itemize their deductions, which may include medical expenses for themselves, their spouse, or their dependents.

Lung cancer will never define me: my story

By
John M. Price
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0


I could never have imagined where my diagnosis of EGFR positive stage 4 lung cancer would lead. Oh, the things I’ve been through, the places I’ve been, and the people I’ve met.

Since my diagnosis, I have experienced some of the most difficult challenges of my life.

I had a collapsed lung and five brain metastases. I had a craniotomy to remove a brain tumor, several radiation treatments, tumor removal (back surgery) and several procedures on my lungs.

I participated in a clinical trial and tried several targeted cancer therapies.

I have also traveled across the United States to attend lung cancer conferences and patient advocacy groups.

And I’ve befriended some of the toughest, smartest medical professionals and fiercest cancer fighters I know – whom I call my lung cancer siblings – over the course of my journey to defend the rights of all.

In the summer of 2016, after experiencing respiratory spasms, tightness and chest pain, I knew something was wrong.

I have had asthma since 1982 when I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, but this summer in particular my rescue inhaler was not helping me with the heavy breathing I was experiencing.

My doctor informed me that it was probably nothing but asked to see me 6 months later. I swept it up and thought it was just the result of the South Carolina summer heat.

A few weeks later, I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night with severe chest pain. It was the classic pain some describe in a heart attack – like an elephant standing on your chest.

Pain went through my back and arms. Although it eventually went away, I knew I needed to see a doctor.

I decided to change my general practitioner. After a thorough review of my medical history, my new doctor ordered a simple chest x-ray.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sequel. The scans showed a mass on my right lung. Although the healthcare team did not know exactly what it was at the time, they suspected it was lung cancer.

I also learned that lung cancer has a 5-year survival rate of about 21 percent.

In September 2016, a PET scan confirmed that I had stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer. My outlook was much worse, as stage 4 lung cancer only has a 5-year survival rate of about 6 percent. Shortly after, a brain MRI revealed a tumor near my right ear.

The hardest thing my wife and I had to do was tell our kids about cancer. They didn’t necessarily understand all the details, but they were all crying.

I knew I had to be there for them, so that night I told everyone to take pillows and blankets, and we slept in the same room.

I wanted to show the children that I was okay and that I would wake up in the morning.

Treatment started with radiation therapy to my tumor in the T2 (spinal) vertebrae to relieve chest pain, brain radiation therapy, and a targeted oral medicine called Gilotrif (afatinib).

Although I initially responded well to my treatment plan, I developed radiation lung disease – inflammation of my lungs caused by treatment. Several months later, I developed swelling in my brain.

The swelling did not respond to steroids, so in July 2017 I had a craniotomy, an operation in which a piece of my skull was removed. I responded so well to this procedure that I cut the grass from my lawn the following weekend.

I was in fairly good health until the end of 2018 when I developed a chronic cough and wheezing. Tests of my lungs, including a bronchoscopy and a biopsy, confirmed a cancerous mutation. I then needed another change in treatment.

I chose to participate in a clinical trial. During the trial I saw a 20-25% decrease in tumor size which was amazing. However, I had to stop taking the clinical trial drug when an MRI revealed five new brain metastases.

So far I’m on my third targeted therapy drug and I’m doing fine!

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Mike joins Pierre and Heidi Nafman Onda, founders of the White Ribbon Project, a grassroots movement to raise awareness about lung cancer; Chris Draft, founder of Team Draft; and others with lung cancer to cut ribbons in the greater Charlotte area. Photograph courtesy of Mike Smith

During my journey, I have researched other people with lung cancer for a number of reasons:

  • learn and understand the disease
  • be part of the lung cancer community
  • to mentor people newly diagnosed with lung cancer
  • get involved in advocacy

Through this, I have met many lung cancer survivors, patient advocates and dedicated healthcare professionals, all with the sole purpose of advancing lung cancer efforts.

I also learned early on that you have to stand up for yourself. If you don’t, who will defend you? Lung cancer does not discriminate. People of all races and origins, smokers and non-smokers, can be affected.

Lung cancer, although it is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, is grossly underfunded for research, according to 2019 research.

We can raise awareness about lung cancer, we can donate money to good causes, and we can participate in fundraising activities. But no knowledge of research is gained unless people with lung cancer participate in clinical trials to help evaluate new treatments to provide better options in the future.

If you or a loved one has lung cancer, consider getting involved in ongoing research. This research, along with new technologies that detect lung cancer earlier, will help change the narrative, making lung cancer a terminal illness one day a very curable disease.

Mike Smith is an advocate for patients with stage 4 lung cancer. He lives in Fort Mill, SC with his wife and three children. September 2021 will mark the 5th anniversary of Mike’s lung cancer diagnosis. Mike is still in treatment, works full time, and advocates for all people living with lung cancer through his volunteer work with the American Lung Association, the Congress-led Medical Research Program for Lung Cancer. , from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer., Levine Cancer Center, Lungevity, Livestrong, Live Lung, EGFR Resisters, Wind River Cancer Retreats, Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina, and South Carolina Cancer Alliance.


Boston, MA Resident Physician – Money Diary

By
John M. Price
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0
Occupation: Resident doctor (pediatrics)
Industry: Medication
Age: 28
Place: Boston, Massachusetts
My salary: $ 65,440
My husband’s salary: $ 67,500
Net value : – $ 282,796.28 (All loans for medical schools – I had the privilege of making my parents and grandparents pay for my undergraduate degree.)
Debt: $ 282,796.28 medical school debt
Amount of my paycheck (2x / month): $ 1,677.69
Amount of my husband’s paycheck (1x / month): $ 5,625
Pronouns: she she

Monthly expenses
To rent out: $ 2,200 for a two bedroom apartment, shared 50/50 between me and my husband.
Car loan: $ 255.50 (my other half, shared with my husband)
School loan: $ 346 (10% of my take-home pay) as of September.
Electricity / Utilities: $ 80-120, equally divided 50/50
Pass T: $ 58.50
Gym membership: $ 22
Medical insurance: $ 0 (My residency plan is amazing – my employer completely covers my husband and I with no withdrawals from my paycheck.)
Dental insurance: $ 67.70 for my husband and I, taken automatically from my paycheck. I haven’t been to the dentist for five years (no dental insurance in med school), so I’m really glad I have dental coverage now!
Malpractice Insurance: $ 15.02
Pension saving: $ 345.14 (10% of my take-home pay)
Spotify: $ 9.99
Hulu: $ 4.99
Netflix, Disney +, HBO Max: My husband pays for all of this.
Cellphone: $ 0 (Embarrassing, I’m still on my mom’s plan! I really should change that.)
The New York Times: $ 4

How many COVID cases will it take to quarantine a classroom or close a school? Here are the rules.

By
John M. Price
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0


No one wants to think about closing schools before they even reopen, but with the Delta variant resulting in an increase in positive tests, it is worth considering. What will it take for a school to send a student, an entire class, or even an entire schoolhouse this school year?

Here’s a look at how some schools plan to handle COVID-19 exposure this fall.

Travel quarantines

Let’s start with the travel-related quarantines. Currently, there are no restrictions on travel to or from New Jersey, but parents should always check with their schools before booking this Disney World ticket as some districts may have quarantine policies. for people returning from a trip.

The Garfield public school district, for example, follows the Centers for Disease Control recommendations on travel. According to the district’s 2021-2022 Safe Return Plan, unvaccinated travelers should get tested for COVID-19 with a viral test one to three days before travel, and then get tested again about three to five days after their trip. return. These people must also self-quarantine for seven full days and only return to school on the eighth day if the test is negative.

Fully vaccinated travelers or those who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months will not be required to follow these steps. Perhaps this is why Garfield Public Schools have followed the CDC’s lead in recommending community members completely delay their travel until they are fully immunized.

Close contact with COVID cases

Now say your child has come into contact with someone who is HIV positive and is now showing symptoms – so what? The New Jersey Department of Health still recommends that individuals quarantine themselves after prolonged close contact with someone with COVID-19, unless they are fully vaccinated or have clinically recovered from the virus. in the past three months.

Recommended minimum times for quarantine vary by level of community transmission, but the Centers for Disease Control and NJDOH continue to approve 14 days as the preferred quarantine period – and as such, the preferred school exclusion period – regardless of community transmission level.

But in the case of multiple positive reports, how will a school district determine if broader action is needed?

What is considered an “epidemic”

The state has very specific criteria for what is considered a school-based epidemic. According to the NJDOH and the New Jersey Communicable Disease Service, an outbreak is defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff, with onset within 14 days.

The cases must also have an ‘epidemiologic link’, meaning that in both incidents, the person was either exposed to a confirmed case or had the same exposure as a confirmed case, as defined by the CDC and the World Health Organization.

Additionally, if students or staff who test positive do not share a single household and have not been identified as close contact with each other in another setting during standard case investigation or research contacts, they are part of an epidemic.

If this happens, the NJDOH recommends that schools and local health departments act quickly to control the spread, which may involve the transition of one or more classes or cohorts to distance learning (at least temporarily). Next, schools should coordinate with their local health departments to determine if the outbreak is originating in the school setting.

Of course, these are just recommendations on behalf of the state – not warrants. Ultimately, it will be up to school administrators, in consultation with their local public health department, to determine when an outbreak warrants a return to distance learning for entire schools, cohorts or individual classes.

The NJDOH provides a “regional COVID-19 risk matrix” to inform this decision-making process. For example, if a school finds two or more cases within 14 days, related to each other by activity at the school, but which are in different classrooms, the regional risk matrix suggests that the school remains open. with restricted activity. However, if the school identifies a significant outbreak involving a local event or a large local employer that impacts multiple staff, students and families in the school community, it should consider a short-term transition to learning at school. distance.

In the 2020-21 school year, 281 outbreaks and 1,263 cases of coronavirus were linked to schools in New Jersey. All 21 counties have experienced an outbreak at school.

After switching to distance learning due to an outbreak in the school or in the local community, districts are advised to wait at least 14 days before bringing students back for in-person learning.

With just four weeks to go before school starts and the number of COVID-19 cases increasing every day, it seems increasingly likely that schools will have to refer to these guidelines. Some districts are already preparing for how they will approach school-based COVID-19 cases this fall.

“We are currently working with our nurses and the local health department, as well as our school principals, to plan for quarantine and isolation situations,” said Nancy Dries, communications coordinator with public schools. of the Township of Millburn.

New Jersey reported 1,249 more confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday, as well as seven more confirmed deaths. The Garden State’s seven-day average for new confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1,109, up 36% from a week ago and 423% from a month ago.

According to the CDC, although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can still be infected with the virus, get sick from COVID-19 and pass it on to others. As such, they recommend that anyone 12 years of age and over get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the spread. Although children under 12 are not yet eligible for the vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna recently announced that they are expanding their trials for children aged 5 to 11.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Jackie Roman can be reached at [email protected].


Virus-free New Zealand plans to reopen border due to labor shortage

By
John M. Price
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0


WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Under pressure from businesses and public sectors facing a labor shortage that policymakers say will fuel inflation, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is due to unveil this week her intention to reopen the country’s borders.

FILE PHOTO: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National Leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall / Pool via REUTERS / File Photo / File Photo

Ardern has garnered praise around the world for containing local transmission of COVID-19 through an elimination strategy, imposing strict closures and slamming the closure of New Zealand’s international border in March 2020.

However, this tactic is now straining an economy heavily dependent on immigrant labor, resulting in higher costs and lower output.

The dairy industry, horticulture, housing, services, health and the wider public sector have all reported serious staff shortages and called on the government to increase border lockdowns.

The pressures were visible on Monday when around 1,500 hospital midwives quit their jobs, citing overwork due to “critical shortages”. More than 30,000 nurses are due to strike later this month for the second time since June, seeking better wages and working conditions here amid staff shortages.

“We rely on internationally trained nurses to meet our staffing needs, but with the borders closed we are not getting any more,” said Glenda Alexander, Industrial Services Manager, New Zealand Nurses Organization. .

“The Kiwis don’t come to nursing because they are put off by the workload and the low salary,” she added. “Nurses get burned out, they get sick themselves and are constantly worried about making mistakes that could affect their patients.”

The hospitality sector has also been stretched. About 2,000 restaurants halted service and turned off lights here last month as part of a two-month campaign to bring government attention to serious shortages of chefs and other skilled workers.

Ardern has indicated she will remain cautious when she presents her government’s six-month plan for public health and border control on Thursday.

“Any changes to the border parameters will be carefully considered in phases, depending on the risks,” she said on Monday. “We have gone too far and gained too many freedoms to rush to this next step and go back. “

Ardern last week opened a one-way no-quarantine for seasonal workers in Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, all countries with no active COVID cases, to address labor shortages in the horticulture industry.

New Zealand has recorded around 2,500 COVID-19 cases, including 26 deaths, among the lowest in the world and a toll that has helped Ardern hold on to power in a resounding election here last October. The last reported case of local transmission was in February.

The roadmap will be based on the findings of a report by experts, including epidemiologists, titled “Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World”.

Still, companies are pushing for the plan to include the resumption of labor imports, as soon as possible.

The country’s unemployment rate is at pre-COVID levels, with more jobs than skilled workers. The underutilization rate, a measure of the number of people working less than they would like, is at an all time high.

Labor shortages drive up costs as employers pay more to keep staff. Annual inflation hit a record 3.3% in the second quarter, well above the central bank’s forecast.

CHANGE OF TRACK

Economists believe the pressures will force the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to tighten monetary policy next week to avoid overheating the economy.

“Monetary and fiscal policy has most likely been overtaken in creating demand,” said ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner.

The government injected stimulus through wage subsidies while the RBNZ distributed a NZ $ 100 billion quantitative easing package into pandemic-induced policies that caused inequality to rise here and aggravated a housing crisis.

A major concern for Ardern and policymakers is the variant of the Delta coronavirus, which is raging in neighboring Australia and around the world.

Delta-fueled epidemics across Australia led Ardern last month to suspend the so-called “travel bubble” that allowed quarantine-free travel between the two countries.

Experts have warned that Delta’s arrival in New Zealand will lead to longer lockdowns, especially as only 21% of the country has been fully vaccinated.

“It (Delta) is much more dangerous than the other strains of COVID,” Ardern said. “It changes our calculation of risk the same way it changed everyone’s risk calculation.”

Reporting by Praveen Menon; edited by Jane Wardell


Recommendations from a pediatrician for COVID-19 safety in the classroom

By
John M. Price
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0


Posted:
/ Updated:

LIVERPOOL, NY (WSYR-TV) – After a bit of a wait, schools have been granted reopening guidelines, but there are still many unanswered questions.

Donna DeSiato, the superintendent of East Syracuse Minoa Centrals schools, says some of these issues have to do with vaccines.

“We know that children under 12 cannot be vaccinated, so we will look to the medical profession to help us determine what protocols are expected for the health and safety of all as we reopen the school. this autumn. “said DeSiato.

Dr Kathy Rovall is a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates in Liverpool. She said she was busy with medical exams and asks all of her patients if they are vaccinated. She said whether they are or not, the districts should be careful.

“Each school is going to come up with a plan that works best for them, but I think at this point, with the delta variant going around, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest that everyone in the schools working there and who goes there is wearing a mask, “Rovall said. She also recommended social distancing and for anyone who is eligible for the vaccine, get the shot.

DeSiato said she was delighted to be reunited with the students. “Having all of our students in person is our goal and our systems ready to do it. “


As Covid rises in Florida, DeSantis refuses to change course

By
John M. Price
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0


Of particular concern is the Memorial Health System in Broward County, north of Miami. This week, it had more than 1,600 patients, a record, including nearly 600 with Covid-19. The hospital system typically does not support more than 1,400 patients at a time.

The crush of the sick has forced Memorial Hospitals to make room for beds in a cafeteria, conference center and auditorium, Chief Medical Officer Dr Marc L. Napp told a press conference. “So far I am happy to say that we have been able to provide this care, but it is not without stressing the system,” he said.

Four conventions have already canceled plans to meet in Orlando, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said, an economic impact of nearly $ 44 million.

Reports of overwhelmed hospitals and the more contagious Delta variant have at least prompted more people to get vaccinated, according to state and local authorities. In Jacksonville, the area hardest hit by the latest wave, Berlinda Gatlin, 55, received her first dose on Thursday, fearing that one of her three children would bring the virus home once they start the disease. school next week.

“I’m not happy with the governor,” she said of Mr. DeSantis’ opposition to masks in schools.

Gabriel Molina, 30, said he waits for other members of his family to get vaccinated first. Once he saw that they had no side effects, he got the vaccine himself, to reduce the risk of making his young son sick.

“I have a 3 year old boy who worries me,” he said.

He was also concerned about the growing antipathy of other people towards the masks and now fears that the virus would go away.

“I think this is going to be a new normal,” he said.

Andrew Pantazi and Mitch smith contributed reports.


New Illinois data shows high rate of unvaccinated nursing home staff

By
John M. Price
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0


Long-term care facilities were among the hardest hit by COVID-19 in McLean County last year. Nursing home workers were also placed on the front line to receive COVID vaccines when they became available in late 2020. But many nursing home workers passed on the vaccine.

Recently recorded posted online by the Illinois Department of Public Health show that three long-term care facilities in McLean County – Bloomington Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Luther Oaks and Arcadia Care of Bloomington – have staff vaccination rates below 25% as of July 25.

Some facilities have shown much higher vaccination rates. The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing in Normal reported that all staff were vaccinated. The village of Westminster had a 94% vaccination rate and 86% of McLean County nursing home workers were vaccinated.

An advocate for nursing home residents said facility operators need to understand why some staff are reluctant to vaccinate. Angie Baker, regional ombudsman for the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, said unvaccinated staff pose health risks to nursing home residents as the Delta variant is fueling a new wave of coronavirus infections.

“I think there is growing concern that we are all powerless to force them to do this,” Baker said. “The only thing I can think of is having honest conversations about barriers. Why aren’t they getting this vaccine?

Baker suggested that some healthcare workers may not have been able to take time off to get vaccinated or to recuperate if they react badly to the vaccine. She said transportation could be a barrier for others.

Baker said she would like to see more nursing home staff get vaccinated against COVID. Many have hesitated to demand it.

Vaccine mandates

Heritage Operations Group is one of the few to have issued a warrant. Heritage operates senior care facilities in Bloomington, Normal and over 50 other locations in Illinois.

CEO Ben Hart said Heritage “Modified” vaccine requirements it was implemented in June. Heritage will require unvaccinated personnel to wear an N-95 mask from September 6. Hart said Heritage will make the vaccine a condition of use after the Food and Drug Administration gives full approval to the vaccine. It is cleared for emergency use now.

Hart said some staff resigned during the tenure and others opposed the requirement. He wants state or federal governments to force all healthcare workers to get vaccinated. He said it would prevent employees from jumping to other facilities.

“People can walk down the street and go to another health care provider where these vaccine mandates and protections are not in place,” Hart said.

Hart said there was already a severe shortage of healthcare workers. He said some heritage facilities had lost more than 2% of their staff due to their vaccination mandate, but he did not have a specific number.

The Westminster Village of Bloomington made COVID vaccination a condition of employment earlier this year.

COO Matt Riehle said he was concerned some staff were leaving.

“That was probably the first, second, third and fourth question as soon as we started these discussions. Hopefully Westminster has always tried to take the lead in doing the right thing, ”said Riehle.

The retiree community allows religious and medical exemptions. Riehle said two staff members have left due to the warrant.

Luther Oaks did not mandate the vaccine. Executive director Doug Rutter said management has tried to encourage and educate its workers to get vaccinated and have provided incentives to get vaccinated.

“We respect the decision to receive the vaccine is a private decision that each team member and resident must make for themselves,” said Rutter, noting that the vaccination rate among residents of the retirement community is 95%.

The Biden administration plans to withhold federal funds from various institutions to get more people vaccinated. California is the only state in the United States to have imposed the vaccine on healthcare workers.

“Fight against disinformation”

Heritage Health of Normal recorded one of the highest COVID death rates in the county last year, with 20 residents having died. Its staff vaccination rate is 35%, while Heritage Institution in Bloomington has a staff vaccination rate of 88%.

Ben Hart of Heritage Health said he held listening sessions with staff to hear their concerns about the vaccine. He said some had been misinformed through social media and unreliable websites.

“Some of them are reasonable in nature and some of them are very honestly unfounded and unreasonable,” Hart said. “They believe that the vaccine causes death and that it causes all kinds of other negative medical results. He fights a lot of misinformation that goes around the world and tries to communicate with people to explain to them what the scientific data and facts are. “

Baker said long-term operators should do everything possible to prevent more outbreaks that put residents at risk and force them to self-isolate.

“Residents are the people who suffer the most when a facility has to close,” Baker said. “They have already endured a year and a half. Even for a few days, it’s unfair.

Representatives for Arcadia Care and Bloomington Rehab owner Petersen Health Care did not respond to requests for comment.


Inmate pleads guilty to killing Anamosa prison nurse and correctional officer during escape attempt

By
John M. Price
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ANAMOSA, Iowa (KWL) – One of two inmates charged with killing two correctional staff during a March escape attempt at Anamosa State Penitentiary pleaded guilty to all counts of ‘charge.

Thomas Woodard appeared in Jones County District Court in Anamosa on Friday in a plea hearing. He entered the courtroom in what appeared to be a bulletproof vest.

Woodard is charged and has now pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder, second degree kidnapping and attempted murder. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As part of the guilty plea, Woodard will be transferred to Nebraska custody to serve his sentence and has waived his right to a trial.

He admitted to repeatedly hitting Correctional Officer Robert McFarland on the back of the head with a hammer, who died of the blow. He also admitted to intentionally hitting nurse Lorena Schulte repeatedly on the head with a hammer.

Woodard said his intention was to kill McFarland, but said he had no intention of killing Schulte and was trying to prevent her from sounding the alarm as she tried to call for ugly. He admitted to acting maliciously and foresight in the two deaths.

Woodard admitted to aiding and abetting Michael Dutcher, the second inmate charged with the deaths of Schulte and McFarland, who grabbed staff member Lori Mathis against her will as she attempted to provide aid to correctional staff.

Woodard said he also hit inmate McKinley Roby in the head with a hammer with the intention of killing him. Roby was trying to help Schulte and McFarland and was seriously injured as a result of the blow.

With the two counts of first degree murder, Woodard will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. The remaining counts are classified as Class B felonies and each carries a mandatory 25-year prison sentence. A sentencing date has not been set.

Investigators say Woodard and Dutcher attempted to escape using tools they acquired as part of the prison labor program.

Dutcher was scheduled to begin a bench trial in Jones County earlier this week. This trial was postponed last week. A new trial date has not yet been set. Dutcher was back in court on Wednesday for a trial set-up conference. KWWL has asked when the trial will begin, but has not received a confirmation of a date.

Court documents show that Dutcher will claim he killed Schulte and McFarland in self-defense, or in defense of others despite being an escape attempt. Dutcher previously pleaded not guilty to the murders and also waived his right to a jury trial.

Click here to find all of our previous covers on the case.


Doctor, 33, banned from profession for inventing babies she did not have for child benefit fraud

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John M. Price
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Doctor, 33, banned by profession for inventing babies she didn’t have and pretending to be eight different people to help scam her lover’s £ 35,000 child benefit scam

  • Kiyo Adya, 33, pretended to be eight different people to apply for child benefit
  • Complete benefit claims and complete supporting physician statements
  • Court found Dundee doctor only stopped the scam once it was discovered

By Lydia Catling For Mailonline

Posted: | Updated:

A doctor has been banned from practicing medicine indefinitely for claiming to have pretended to have babies in order to obtain benefits.

Dundee nurse Kiyo Adya was found to have filled out fraudulent papers and made phone calls to HMRC officials about bogus claims before her businessman boyfriend was jailed for a scam family allowance of £ 35,000.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found a series of allegations against Kiyo Adya to be proven – determining that the 33-year-old was guilty of dishonesty by pretending to be eight different people in order to claim child benefit.

The MPTS hearing was informed that Adya had completed family allowance applications and completed supporting doctor’s statements, between May 2015 and August 2015.

On July 1, 2015, she wrote a letter under an assumed name, which was submitted along with an application for family allowances.

Kiyo Adya, 33, of Dundee, (pictured) was convicted of dishonesty by pretending to be eight different people in order to claim child benefit

She attached a birth certificate for “her daughter” and requested that the payment of family allowances be backdated to the date of birth, it was said at the hearing.

Between July 15, 2015 and October 9, 2015, during telephone conversations with the Family Allowance Center, Adya pretended to be eight different people in order to discuss family allowance applications.

Adya’s ability to practice was found to be compromised due to her misconduct.

The court was informed by General Medical Council lawyer Harriet Tighe that Adya had committed “serious violations of good medical practice”.

She said Adya’s dishonesty was “persistent, for her own financial gain, and had occurred over a significant period of time.”

The court also found that Adya only stopped her scam once it was discovered.

“So he found Adya’s actions to be at the top of the dishonesty ladder,” Ms. Tighe said.

His actions “undermined the integrity of the family allowance application process,” the court was told.

President Laura Paul said on behalf of the MPTS: “The tribunal found that Dr. Adya’s conduct and level of dishonesty was inconsistent with maintaining the registration.

“He considered that Dr Adya had failed to maintain standards and public confidence in the medical profession.

Adya's fraudulent boyfriend Rory McWhirter (pictured) was jailed for more than two years in 2017 after registering the birth of 26 non-existent babies in a benefit fraud.

Adya’s fraudulent boyfriend Rory McWhirter (pictured) was jailed for more than two years in 2017 after registering the birth of 26 non-existent babies in a benefit fraud.

“He determined that a sanction of deleting Dr. Adya’s name from the medical register was appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest.”

Adya’s fraudulent boyfriend Rory McWhirter was jailed for more than two years in 2017 after registering the birth of 26 non-existent babies in a fraudulent benefits scam.

McWhirter concocted the complicated plan while living with Adya in Dundee. She had all criminal charges against her dropped.

He tricked people into applying for bogus jobs at a Glasgow hotel, then used their and other couples’ credentials to get copies of their marriage certificates.

He then forged letters claiming the children were born at home.

McWhirter used non-existent children’s birth certificates to claim tax credits, family allowances, and maternity allowances.

His scheme was scolded after he returned to the scene of one of his recordings at the Aberdeen registry office and was acknowledged by staff.

Around the same time, an “organized attack” on HMRC’s computer systems – which showed that around 350 tax credit claim forms had been received from an address in Dundee and others. in Campbeltown linked to McWhirter – raised further alarms.

In the end, it was McWhirter’s BMW car he was using to get to registrars across Scotland that drove the police to his door.

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COVID-19 nurse who contracted the virus talks about her experience

By
John M. Price
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – At the start of the pandemic in 2020, masks, gloves, gowns and shields were the only barriers between healthcare workers and COVID-19.

Thousands of people, in many cases, literally risked their lives and continue to do so over a year later. This includes a nurse from Tallahassee, who after months working in the COVID-19 unit at her hospital, contracted the virus.

Now, eight months later, she is still struggling to shake off the lingering effects of COVID.

“I was going up and down eight flights, two or three times a night,” Pamela Beavers-Simmons said.

In 2020, it was routine for Pamela Beavers-Simmons.

Beavers-Simmons said she climbed and descended several flights of stairs, several times a night, working as a night nurse in the COVID-19 unit at the Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee.

“I was very dynamic and everywhere,” Pamela said.

Most of the time, Beavers-Simmons cycled tens of kilometers. The single mother of two college-aged sons was always on the move.

“I had heard that Pam was in our unit and I was like ‘oh my god she is visiting’ and then I found out she was a patient and my heart sank. I was like “Oh my God, not Pam,” said Maya Edwards, a CRMC nurse who works with Beavers-Simmons.

After months of treating COVID-19 patients and taking all precautions, Beavers-Simmons contracted the virus in December 2020. She said her symptoms were so severe that she ended up becoming a patient on the unit. even, where just a week before she had taken care of others.

In total, Beavers-Simmons said she spent a week in the COVID-19 unit at the CRMC.

“To me, it felt like I was sucking all the stuff out of my body,” Beavers-Simmons said.

And for a while, Beavers-Simmons said she wasn’t sure she’d make it out alive. Once home, her youngest son, Brandon, was by her side. The 21-year-old suspended college for a semester to come home and care for his mother.

“I need her now. There are still too many questions. Still too much. Nobody is going to hug me like my mom, ”said Brandon Beavers.

Her son’s support helped move Beavers-Simmons forward, even on days when walking a few steps felt like a marathon.

“My body is not the same. I want to say that. COVID has delighted my body. It took something from me that I don’t know if I will ever come back, ”said Beavers-Simmons.

And, for a moment, the 52-year-old wondered if that meant giving up her nursing career, a passion she’s had since she was six. However, weeks later, Beavers-Simmons returned to the CRMC.

“The staff here really took care of me. I would do two a day. I would work two shifts and be off work for several days, ”said Beavers-Simmons.

Today, months after her initial diagnosis and a COVID-19 vaccine, Beavers-Simmons said she only felt about 80% back to normal.

“My word to the general public is to take this very seriously. Go get the shot, protect yourself at all costs because I’m grateful that I survived it, but I’m not the same anymore, ”Beavers-Simmons said.

Now Pamela turns her breaks from work into mini physiotherapy sessions, knowing that she still has a long way to go.

“You saw me go up and down three flights of stairs and on the way up, I’m out of breath. I’m still not fully recovered, but I’m hopeful, ”Pamela said.

Once back at the CRMC, Pamela asked not to work in the COVID unit as it would be too mentally taxing for her.

Beavers-Simmons also said that journaling has really helped her bring out her emotions and keep talking with her sons about how they feel about her illness.

For mental health resources for those going through Long COVID or who know someone who is, you can check out the following websites:

Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.


Repayment Resources for Minority Student Loans Borrowers Ranger student loan

By
John M. Price
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The cost of college education has always been associated with a plus-minus balance sheet. To improve your career potential, you often need a degree, and getting one often means paying expensive tuition – something a lot of people struggle with.

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For many students, investing in their future comes with the price of student debt. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in debt forever, or that the investment isn’t worth it. All it takes is doing your research and understanding your circumstances to make positive, solid decisions about borrowing money to pay for college.

Overall, nearly 45 million Americans collectively owed about $ 1.71 trillion in student loans at the end of 2020, mostly federal student loans, according to the Federal Reserve. Statistics also show distinct racial disparities in who owes this record high level of student loan debt.

Black and Hispanic students tend to take out student loans at higher rates and for larger amounts than their white counterparts, and black borrowers on average owe the highest amounts and have the highest default rates.

Find the Best Student Loan Refinance Lenders

According to a July 10, 2021 report published by researchers at EducationData.org, black college graduates owe an average of $ 25,000 more in student loans than white college graduates.

In addition, over 67% of Hispanic and Latino student borrowers have student debt. This ethnic group is the second most likely to borrow private student loans – 69.4% of Hispanic and Latino students borrow $ 40,000 or more in private student loans – and it is the group most likely to delay marriage and to have children because of student loan debt, according to the report.

So how do minorities get past student loan debt and head for a better financial situation after school? There are various free resources to help them find scholarships and grants to reduce their dependence on loans and help them pay off student loan debt once they leave college.

For example, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, also known as HACU, provides Hispanic students with resources to find scholarships and grants to help pay for their undergraduate education.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund offers scholarship programs and special interest for black students, especially those at historically black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs. The United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, offers more than 10,000 scholarships each year to support minority students while also donating to 37 HBCU scholarship funds, according to the organization’s website.

Here are other scholarship resources for minorities:

  • Details of the 40 scholarships focused on Hispanics and Latinos are available at goingmerry.com, a free financial aid and scholarship platform.

  • The Jackie Robinson Foundation offers four-year scholarships worth up to $ 30,000 over four years as part of its mentoring and leadership development program for qualified minority students pursuing undergraduate degrees.

  • The UNCF STEM Fellowship Program offers up to $ 2,500 to $ 5,000 per academic year, depending on the recipient’s academic year, to qualified African American students interested in studying science, engineering, technology, or math and to pursue a career in a STEM field.

Depending on your profession, there are other possibilities to ease the burden of student debt after college that minorities should be aware of. Here are just a few:

Nursing Corps Loan Repayment Program. Although there are many state grants available to repay student loans for nurses, this program is nationwide through the Federal Administration of Resources and Health Services. It pays 85% of unpaid nursing education debt for qualified registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, or faculty of nurses who work full-time for at least two years in an area of ​​critical shortage or in an eligible nursing school.

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program. This program will reimburse up to $ 40,000 in eligible student loans to eligible health clinicians who register for two years of service in health facilities in Native American and Alaska Native communities. By choosing to stay longer, participants can renew their contract each year until their eligible student loan debt is paid off. American Indians and Alaska Natives who apply are given priority.

Teacher loan rebate program. Applicants approved for this federal program can earn up to $ 17,500 in rebate for federal subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans, including Stafford loans, if they agree to teach for five full consecutive years at a school or school. a low income educational service organization. In some cases, the unpaid portions of federal or direct consolidation loans may also be eligible for a discount.

While not an exhaustive list, these resources are good starting points for minority students looking to reduce financial barriers to college. With access to funding sources that can minimize student loans, black, Hispanic, and other minority borrowers can get the most out of their investment in higher education.

COVID nurse is delighted to be back on the professional bowling circuit

By
John M. Price
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0


NEW YORK – Nursing and professional bowling are not usually found on the same resume. In fact, Erin McCarthy is just one of the few people to claim this territory.

McCarthy, 31, overcame the pandemic as an intensive care nurse in Omaha, and she did so during the darker days of the coronavirus crisis without her usual dump valve – competing on the circuit of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association.

Now back on tour, McCarthy divides his time between work at the hospital and traveling to meetings to regain his momentum on the tracks.

“Bowling has always been a part of my life, but I didn’t realize how much it meant to me until it was taken from me,” she told The Associated Press in a report. recent Zoom interview from the house she shares with her fiancée, two future stepchildren and a few dogs.

“Bowling is definitely my outlet.”

McCarthy started bowling when she was 2 years old, when her parents let her bowling with both hands. She held onto it through the youth league game and attended college on a bowling scholarship while finishing nursing school. She has done both professionally since the relaunch of the PWBA in 2015.

A d

“At first I was pretty quiet about it, but eventually word got out that oh, I play bowling, and people realized that I don’t just do it for fun,” she said. said about his colleagues at the Methodist hospital. “Now they are following my events. The hospital has supported me a lot, so I feel lucky to be able to do both things.

And she did both things with characteristic calm.

The modest McCarthy saw her share of tragedy when the pandemic stormed Omaha last year. In the first few weeks, as other professional bowlers set up mattresses at home to train in the fashion, McCarthy decided not to train at all, focusing on his critically ill COVID-19 patients and helping her young stepchildren cope with distance learning.

“I have seen more deaths in 2020 than I have seen in my 7.5 years as a nurse. It was a pretty difficult time, but I think it allowed me to grow and learn more as a nurse and as a person, ”she said. “COVID kind of drained me physically and mentally. ”

A d

McCarthy sees similarities between bowling and nursing.

“Being in an intensive care unit you have to have a very sweet and laid back personality. It’s almost as if the chaos is calming me down, strange as it may sound. And bowling is a bit the same. You know, you have to be calm and think clearly. You can’t rush things. I think that’s probably why I enjoy doing both of them so much.

Before the pandemic, McCarthy spent 30 to 40 weekends each year in tournament play, with longer bowling trips. She’s been back in the groove since January, breastfeeding during the week.

Her hospital, along with one where she also works, remains firmly on her bowling team – and so does her nurse.

“She is a great spokesperson for our patients and a real team player,” said Tim Hoarty, the unit manager where McCarthy works at the Methodist Hospital. “She’s also incredibly humble. Her bowling prowess doesn’t surprise me or those who work with her, but she doesn’t advertise her successes.

A d

Those successes, since resuming competitive play, include a few top-five rankings, a remarkable achievement considering the training and practice time she lost.

“I wasn’t as good as some of the other women who devote all of their time to bowling, so I felt like I had to really work to prove myself,” McCarthy said. “I’m just happy to find him. ”

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The Associated Press religious coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment via The Conversation US. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Associated Press video reporter Emily Leshner contributed to this story.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


Shi’s Research on Healthcare Financing Takes Innovative Approach and Is Recognized

By
John M. Price
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0


New


A Morehead State faculty member is increasingly recognized for his research exploring the different facets of health care financing.

Associate Professor of Finance, Dr Bo Shi has carried out research on measures of healthcare quality, financial management of healthcare providers and insurers, relationships between providers and insurers, and the markets for providers and insurance. She recently published an article she co-authored, “On the Financial Superiority of Medicaid Specialty Insurers: A New Approach to Transaction / Supply Chain Costs”, which appeared in “The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance. – Issues and Practice “. The article is co-authored by Dr Etti G. Baranoff of Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr Thomas W. Sager of the University of Texas, Austin, and Dr Dalit Baranoff of Johns Hopkins University. The method that Shi and her colleagues used in their research is unique in that they used a model that treats insurance consumers as supply chain products, and she said her team encountered difficulties in the process. implementation of the model.

“It’s always a challenge to introduce a concept, a theory, an empirical method never used in a field,” said Shi. The approach stems from our previous research treating insurance products underwritten by health insurance companies as a portfolio of products. The challenge comes from adapting supply chain concepts to the process of delivering health services. ”

Shi’s research efforts are important because they could provide a more effective model for private healthcare providers.

“The observed difference has strong implications for health policy and may encourage adoption of Medicaid managed care practice. If insurance companies can provide health services to Medicaid beneficiaries more effectively under contract with the state government, this could be a better model for insurance coverage. This can ultimately improve the efficiency of the health care delivery system and contain health care costs, ”said Shi.

Another article by Shi, “Relation of Hospital Star Ratings to Race, Education, and Community Income,” recently received the Journal of Hospital Medicine’s Most Influential Article Award. In it, Shi and his co-authors, Dr Christopher King and Dr Sean Shenghsiu Huang of the Department of Health Systems Administration at Georgetown University explore the associations between star ratings for hospitality of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and community characteristics, including race / ethnicity, household income, education level, and regional difference.

To learn more about Shi’s research, contact her at [email protected] or 606-783-2475.

For more information on MSU’s School of Business Administration programs, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/business, email [email protected], or call 606-783-5025.


I quit my job as a nurse to start my own fashion business with £ 143 – now retired at 25 and earning a seven-figure salary

By
John M. Price
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0


A WOMAN who quit her job as a nurse to start her own fashion brand with £ 143 says she retired at 25 and is making seven figures from her multiple businesses.

American mom Isabel Sanchez has more than 40,000 subscribers on TIC Tac and has its own brand Resiliently Me – which sells slogan loungewear for women.

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Mother claims she ended up with $ 70,000 in student loan debtCredit: @ isabelsanchez.r / Tiktok
Mom says her multiple businesses allowed her to retire at 25 and have a dream vacation she never thought possible

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Mom says her multiple businesses allowed her to retire at 25 and have a dream vacation she never thought possibleCredit: @ isabelsanchez.r / Tiktok

At the same time as this adventure, the former nurse claims to have earned her money by marketing beauty products for Monat.

In a video, the mother explained that she was left with $ 70,000 in student debt after training to be a nurse.

While at nursing school, Isabel said she “lived on a paycheck” working part-time as a waitress and missed precious time with her son.

After graduating, the mom spent a year working in her favorite field before starting her online business.

She now claims to earn a seven-figure salary from her multiple businesses and has moved into her “dream penthouse” in Miami with her partner Shane and their son.

Giving her subscribers a glimpse into her lavish lifestyle, Isabel said she was on “several dream vacations” in Costa Rica and even saved enough for her son to one day go to college. .

In another video, Isabel responded to some of the most common criticisms she faces online.

I spent the last 200 dollars in my bank account to start my online business.

While most people assume that her parents gave her money to start her business, Isabel said: “I spent the last 200 dollars in my bank account to start my online business.”

What’s more, she also hit back at the assumption that she must have been “well connected” to create such a successful brand.

She added, “No, I started with 300 followers and grew organically.”

When asked why she had stopped breastfeeding, Isabel replied, “My passion has changed.

“I have made a lot more money working my business online and have the freedom to do whatever I want with my day.”

She now lives in Miami with her partner and son

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She now lives in Miami with her partner and sonCredit: @ isabelsanchez.r / Tiktok
She hit back at common misconceptions she faces online

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She hit back at common misconceptions she faces onlineCredit: @ isabelsanchez.r / Tiktok

For truer stories, this mom fell in love with her son’s best friend when he was 16 – she’s double her age and called pedo but they’re madly in love.

And this woman explained how her neighbor left her son with her for shopping and never came back, so she raised him as her own.

In addition, this woman was humiliated after being ordered to cover herself in flight because of her “inappropriate” crop top and shorts.

Founder Susia Ma on Success, Inspirations and Achievements with Tropic Skincare Companies


A UB study to examine the relationship between the body’s insulin response and food choices

By
John M. Price
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0


What is the relationship between the foods people eat and their body’s insulin response? The behavioral medicine laboratory at UB is launching a study to find out.

Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, the UB study is now recruiting people 18 years and older who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, a condition where A patient’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetic.

Participants will be compensated. To learn more about participating in the study, visit http://bit.do/UBGIR, email [email protected] or call 716-829-2445.

The aim of the study is to understand what might be different in the way people at risk for type 2 diabetes experience and respond to certain foods, especially those with a high glycemic index, which cause a faster rise. blood sugar levels than foods with a low glycemic index.

It is designed to determine whether the reinforcing value (VRR) of foods, that is, the power of a particular food to motivate an individual to consume more of it, is related to the insulin resistance status of people. with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and / or the glycemic index of foods.

“In general, we know that foods that have a higher glycemic index, that is, foods with more sugar, tend to be more strengthening, motivating people to eat more, which is why so many people struggle to remove them, ”says Matthew Biondolillo, study coordinator and postdoctoral associate at the Behavioral Medicine Lab.

“We are trying to understand if there are physiological differences that make it harder to avoid these foods for people with type 2 diabetes or at risk of developing it,” he says.

The study requires participants to make three lab visits, which will take a total of about three hours in total.

They will need to make two visits to the Behavioral Medicine Lab on the South Campus and one visit to the Western New York State Diabetes Endocrinology Center, located at 705 Maple Road in Amherst, for a blood test to determine blood sugar and insulin levels, as well as their A1C, which measures an average blood sugar over 90 days.

On their first visit to the Behavioral Medicine Lab, participants will receive two flavors of yogurt to taste and evaluate at home. Upon their return to the lab, they will be asked to complete decision-making tasks where they can earn additional yogurt samples and complete questionnaires on enhancing both flavors.

Participants can earn up to $ 60 for completing all parts of the study.

The principal investigator of the study is Leonard H. Epstein, Professor Emeritus of SUNY and Laboratory Director of the Department of Pediatrics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. For decades, Epstein, an internationally renowned obesity expert, pioneered groundbreaking studies in behavioral medicine and nutrition.


Bay County Florida’s Goodwill reopens vocational training center

By
John M. Price
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0


PANAMA CITY – The nonprofit Goodwill reopened its vocational training center in Springfield on Friday after it was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the reopening, community members were able to tour the facilities and find out what the Vocational Training Center has to offer. The center offers courses and certifications ranging from computer basics to healthcare to financial literacy.

Goodwill provides certifications for Certified Practical Nurses (CNA), Restaurant Waiters, Microsoft Office and others.

Panama City:Panama City area businesses hire more young workers as labor shortage continues

Following:Bay County COVID cases are up 41.9%. How does this compare to other counties in Florida?

Goodwill reopened its vocational training center in Springfield on Friday after it was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the rooms in the center is set up for CNA training, with a test patient.

One of the services offered by the center is Career Express. As Career Express Specialist Catherine Tarrant says, you learn how to get a job, keep a job and find a better job in Career Express.

“We have online courses, Zoom right now, we have courses that discover your career path, which gets them started by looking for a job or moving to another job,” Tarrant said. “We have courses in resume writing, interview skills, and all the skills you need in your toolkit.”

Tarrant added that they also provide services to help people in a job that is not suitable for them, teaching them to leave gracefully. She said this part is important to get a good referral from supervisors to this job.

Goodwill reopened its vocational training center in Springfield on Friday after it was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stacy Larkin, vice president of human resources at the center, says she is happy with the reopening of the facility.

For Stacy Larkin, vice president of human resources at the Career Training Center, she is happy to reopen the facility.

“Right now, employers are looking for workers and workers are out there, but everyone is looking to retool after the pandemic,” Larkin said. “It’s the perfect place to retool. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Even Ron Sharpe, executive director of The Arc of the Bay, which helps people with disabilities find employment, was on the tour. Larkin said it was great to see him attend the tour.

Goodwill reopened its vocational training center in Springfield on Friday after it was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The center has classrooms that allow distance learning with instructors at various locations.

“We work with similar populations and we’re both community partners and I think Ron is fantastic and he’s done fantastic things in this community,” Larkin said.

Larkin said she was eager to see people walk through their doors again and help them with various issues they face after the pandemic.

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Low-income Colorado patients can’t get specialist care

By
John M. Price
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0

Longmont’s Hopelight Medical Clinic treats all of the usual primary care ailments that low-income, uninsured patients bring to a safety-net health practice: strep throat, stitches, tooth decay, anxiety.

Hopelight also regularly sees an urgent need to tackle much bigger issues, including a patient’s schizophrenia. But referrals and appointments for specialist care such as cardiology or geriatrics can be nearly impossible to line up for low-income patients. Often, specialists do not register to take Medicaid. Spaces for charitable care are extremely limited and spaced out, if at all.

A systemic solution would be good. In the meantime, Hopelight has benefited from a clinic 100 miles away, whose executives said at a networking meeting, “We know a guy.”

The Summit Community Care Clinic in Frisco, another provider of safety nets, had found a nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatric care to handle cases involving mental health prescriptions and treatments. Try it, Summit tells Hopelight.

They did it. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner now shares clinical time between the Summit County and Hopelight County offices in Longmont and is available for telehealth and consultation via a patient’s electronic medical record when needed. The schizophrenia patient not only has regular treatment and medication, but also a home and a job.

Having specialist psychiatric care on-site has been a transformation for some Hopelight patients who typically saw “a two to three month wait before making an appointment,” said Carey Kercher, a registered social worker and director of clinical and clinical services. social networks of Hopelight. People can now get them in a matter of days.

Peaks outside Frisco are pictured through the office window of Summit Community Care Clinic Patient Referral Coordinator Alejandro Baltazar on July 30, 2021 (Andy Colwell, Colorado Sun Special)

“So sometimes it makes all the difference when people are really struggling with depression, anxiety,” Kercher said.

The challenge for low-income Colorado patients is that sharing a psychiatric specialist with a friendly clinic three counties away is probably not a scalable solution. The Colorado Health Institute reported in a 2019 study that “specialized care remains inaccessible to many.”

That year, the CHI said, 634,000 appointments needed for specialist care never took place, mainly because many underinsured patients could not afford a visit or too many specialists failed. were not accepting Medicaid insurance from Health First Colorado.

Medicaid patients were nearly three times more likely than commercial insurance patients to be excluded from specialty care because of a lack of a provider willing to accept payment.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado provided grants and organized a group of low-income clinics and primary care providers in 2018, to network and experiment with possible solutions to the problem of specialty care.

Kaiser’s family doctor Dr Chris Fellenz, co-organizer of the group, had previously worked in low-income clinics in Colorado and Vermont that could not find specialist appointments for their primary care patients.

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“So I should send these patients to the emergency room, hoping that they would get specialist care that way,” Fellenz said. “Which often doesn’t work, and it’s just the wrong way to provide this kind of care.”

The three-year Kaiser-sponsored study brought clinics together to establish a baseline of their specialty referral challenges, and then collaborate on potential solutions. The clinics worked together on everything from finding a software vendor for new “online consultation” sessions with volunteer specialty providers, to communicating with state health finance officials on issues. policy changes that would stimulate specialized networks for low-income patients.

Colorado Health Institute director Alex Caldwell, who assesses the work of the cohort, praised study members who come up with creative solutions, like sharing a psychiatric specialist. But the extraordinary of their efforts highlights just how difficult it is to scale up these kinds of solutions for hundreds of thousands of patients in hundreds of places across Colorado, she said.

“Is it sustainable? No, ”Caldwell said. “It’s sustainable in the sense that this person is paid. But is this kind of a sustainable option to meet the broader needs of psychiatry in the state? No.”

E-consult is one of the most promising potential solutions. According to this concept, the local primary care provider of a low-income clinic uses a shared electronic medical record to request an external specialist provider to review the case. In many cases, the specialist is able to offer ideas to the primary care provider without making a formal in-person specialist care appointment. In other cases, the electronic consultation will result in a more focused specialist appointment for the patient, which everyone in the system knows is actually needed.

But Colorado’s Medicaid system does not yet have a sophisticated mechanism to pay the specialist provider for these online counseling services, Caldwell said.

“The best scenario would be if these specialist care providers are incentivized and have a clear set of payment mechanisms and a sustainable way to integrate this type of care for Medicaid registrants into their business model,” said Caldwell. “At the moment, it’s just not a sustainable business model for them. ”

Medicaid will also likely need to consider increasing specialist payment rates to attract more into the system, and also convince prospects that the state has improved the speed with which it pays bills and reduced the paperwork involved for network members. Medicaid, cohort members said.

At the Summit County Clinic, some patients can use Medicaid. But others may be working and earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, when they are not enough to afford good private insurance or stable housing, said clinic CEO Helen Royal. . When these patients need specialized psychiatric, orthopedic or oncology care, she said, “there’s just a shortage of specialists everywhere.”

“And so some of the things we have done is pull some of the sore cords with specialists, and have them come to our clinic for a few days or allow a number of patients to see them at a reduced rate.” , Royal mentioned. “But that just can’t cover the needs.”

Helen Royal, CEO of the Summit Community Care Clinic, at the Frisco Clinic, July 30, 2021 (Andy Colwell, special for the Colorado Sun)

Each of the clinics involved in the study received a Kaiser Permanente grant to work on local solutions. Summit used part of its grant to help pay for a dedicated referral coordinator who would fight for a patient once a specialist appointment was recommended.

“It was an intervention to make sure we really have someone who can navigate and hold hands throughout the process,” said Royal. “And I don’t say that in a humiliating way for our patients. I mean, I have a hard time navigating health care on my own, trying to find specialists, where they are and when you can see them. “

The cohort study noted limited success. Completed referrals increased by just under 20% between the reporting period and the final report in January. And 82% of online consultations were completed in five days, up from 74% at the start of the study; 62% of in-person visits were made within a month, compared to 56%.

Over a longer period, however, the work of the cohort did not have such a large impact. Only about half of the appointments required for specialist care were actually made and completed by the patient, both before and after the study. The main problem was the lack of available specialist appointments – causing 65% of incomplete referrals.

“Significant political obstacles to the creation of a comprehensive safety net for specialized care

remain, ”concludes the CHI study.

Kercher of Hopelight confirms that while the cohort has been helpful and encouraging for clinic directors accustomed to solving problems in isolation, each medical specialty poses its own problems. Hopelight has made progress in psychiatry, but is now looking for a good rheumatologist.

And, she added, “Dermatology is a real area of ​​need. We might have connections there starting now, but it’s been a tough specialty. ”

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Oregon Hospitals Offer Big Bonuses To Alleviate Staffing Shortages

By
John M. Price
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0


Faced with a debilitating shortage of nurses and other caregivers, hospital systems across the region are offering significant incentives and bonuses in hopes of attracting new employees and retaining existing ones.

Kaiser Permanente pays $ 8,000 in signing bonuses to newly hired emergency department nurses willing to work nights. Oregon Health & Science University pays $ 5,000 to nurses who do not take sick leave during the summer months and to part-time employees who agree to fill full-time vacancies.

Providence Health & Services will pay signing bonuses of up to $ 6,000 to nurses with experience in the intensive care unit and certain other specialties who accept positions at one of the Portland hospital giant’s facilities.

In smaller towns, where recruiting may be more difficult, the bonuses may be greater. Providence Medford Medical Center offers bonuses to nurses with acute care experience of up to $ 12,000 – $ 4,000 on enrollment, $ 4,000 after one year and the final $ 4,000 after two years.

Salem Health implemented permanent pay increases for some employees and paired them with an increase in paid time off.

Earlier this month, Salem Hospital handed out one-time “thank you for dedication” bonuses of up to $ 1,000. Only frontline caregivers were eligible, not executives or administrators, said Sarah Horn, head nurse at Salem hospital. The bonuses cost Salem Health $ 4.8 million.

After 18 months of the pandemic, hospital caregivers are exhausted and fed up. Some are leaving the profession, others have moved on to less stressful jobs. And just as the pandemic appeared to be on the wane, the new delta variant could mean further lockdowns and send hospitals back into panic mode.

“They need a recovery period and they’re not getting it,” said Jana Britton, chief of the Oregon Nursing Center. “The pandemic is relentless. They have to be in an emergency state of mind all the time.

Some hospitals in Oregon are facing more difficult conditions now than during the worst of the pandemic. A wave of patients, some seriously ill, are clogging the region’s emergency rooms and overloading staff.

Salem Health has seen several months of record patient volumes this spring and summer. “Times have been tougher lately than they were during the pandemic,” Horn said. “People’s reserves are low. We are all in trouble.

Dana Bjarnason, chief nurse of OHSU, admitted that it was an unprecedented time. “I’ve never had to deal with a nursing shortage like this,” she said. “Our intensive care and emergency department were particularly affected. It’s because of stress. This is the first time in my career that I feel behind the eight.

There are more than 42,500 practicing nurses in Oregon. That number has been stable for the past few years, said Anna Davis, health facility survey and certification program manager for the Oregon Health Authority. But that may not last.

“Hospitals wouldn’t function without nurses,” Davis said. “And it’s a workforce that has been running at full speed for over a year. The nurses are suffering.

Kimberly Jones, dean of the Linfield University School of Nursing, said the problem was not the lack of new nurses. Applications for nursing schools have increased 20% nationally and 25% in Linfield. The problem is convincing a disgruntled nurse to stay, she says.

“A lot of our students are college graduates,” Jones said. “They are coming back for a second career – something that fills their soul. They want to do good. They are the ones who are there 24 hours a day. It’s really frustrating to see them disillusioned.

Nothing bothers nurses more than what they see as an intentional understaffing on the part of hospital management. This can improve hospital outcomes, but it causes long delays which are distressing for patients, their families and hospital staff. Patients can wait three, four or six hours before seeing a doctor. If they’re sick enough to be admitted, they can wait even longer in the emergency department for a staffed bed to open.

Jones worries his graduates won’t have the benefit of an experienced mentor to show them the ropes. She is also worried about the patients.

“Things like connection bonuses and incentives to work extra shifts are not sustainable,” she said. “It’s a small symbolic effort. For me, it comes down to patient safety. If there are not enough staff, patient care suffers.

Some employees are wary of the sudden generosity of their hospitals. Just over a year ago, after the first wave of COVID-19 cases shut down elective care, most Portland hospitals laid off staff, implemented time off and cut wages. Legacy, OHSU, Providence and PeaceHealth have said they need to cut costs due to a significant drop in business.

Salem Health officials say they gained some goodwill when they chose not to lay off any staff, including nurses, during the COVID-19 lull last spring. It was “financially costly,” Horn said. But it “has paid off in terms of loyalty and dedication as other health systems struggle to reinvigorate their workforce.”

OHSU employs approximately 4,000 nurses, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalents. He has set up several incentive programs for nurses to accompany the hospital until the fall. “Summers are a tough time in hospitals,” Bjarnason said. “Everyone, regardless of their seniority, takes vacation”.

Part-time nurses who accept 13-week full-time work to fill a vacant position, scheduled absence or other gaps in the schedule will receive a bonus of $ 5,000. Those who agree to intervene for six weeks will receive $ 2,000.

He also proposes to increase the salaries of any nurse who agrees to work during his scheduled vacation. Under this so-called “critical needs incentive shift” program, nurses will be paid on time and a half plus an additional $ 20 per hour.

Providence offers temporary salary incentive increases to certified nursing assistants, food and nutrition workers, transportation, emergency service technicians and its 4,000 nurses. Those working a specified number of additional shifts by September 25 will receive an incentive payment of up to $ 2,500.

Legacy has also implemented incentive compensation to encourage employees to work extra shifts. Approximately 8,200 employees are eligible for the incentive compensation program, including nurses, laboratory technicians and clinical social workers.

“There is no doubt that the past 16 months have been extremely tough for our healthcare staff as they have gone beyond caring for our patients during the pandemic,” said Melinda Muller, Senior Vice President of Legacy and Interim Chief Medical Officer. “Despite declining infection rates, hospitals in the region are often still at full capacity as people treat health issues they did not seek attention to during the height of the pandemic. “


judge rejects request to suppress evidence in drug case | Local News

By
John M. Price
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CLINTON – District Court Judge Mark Fowler has rejected a motion to remove a Clinton woman.

Fowler has ruled on deletion motion filed in March by attorney Eric Dale on behalf of Jodi L. Williams, 37, 720 1/2 S. Fifth St. Williams is charged with one count of possession of a substance controlled with intent to deliver, namely methamphetamine, over five grams, a Class B felony; failure to affix Iowa drug tax stamp, a Class D felony; and one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin, third offense, a class D felony.

According to the affidavit, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 10, 2020, an officer was dispatched to Block 500 of Eighth Avenue South for an unconscious woman sitting in a vehicle. An officer arrived and saw an unconscious woman in the driver’s seat. She was turning blue and her lips were blue, according to court documents. The woman had a good pulse at the time but appeared to be suffering from a heroin overdose.

Officers began to search the bags near the woman to try to find identification. The Clinton Fire Department removed a black drawstring bag the victim was carrying. An officer, while searching for identification, found a gold and silver zipper bag. There were several bags containing suspected methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine contained in the four bags weighed more than 53 grams, according to court records.

The officer found a bag containing a brown, chalky substance which he believed to be heroin. The alleged heroin weighed 1.07 grams. The officer also located a bag with a white and green squeezed pill that was an unknown substance, a THC vape cartridge attached to a vape pen and a black digital scale with methamphetamine residue, according to court documents.

The affidavit indicates that, based on the officer’s training and experience, the officer believed that over 49 grams of methamphetamine was far more than a heavy user could possess. The large shards, wrappers and other controlled substances found with the methamphetamine, in addition to the large amount of methamphetamine, indicated an intention to dispense the controlled substance, the affidavit states.

The officer called the emergency room of MercyOne, where Williams was transported by the Clinton fire department. The nurse said Williams left the hospital and told her she had to leave before the police arrived.

The question before the court was whether the search by law enforcement fell within the Community Guardian’s exception to a warrant requirement, with the ruling on the motion to suppress the states. The community guardian exception involves an analysis of whether there has been a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and, if so, whether the conduct of the police was a genuine guardian activity. community and whether the public’s need and interest outweighed the intrusion into a private citizen, the ruling states.

It is clear from the situation that Williams was in great distress, Fowler says in the ruling. Emergency medical technicians wanted to know his name, according to the ruling. The information may have helped them collect information for Williams’ care at that time or in the near future, Fowler notes in the ruling. Searching him in his purse and bags was done to aid in Williams’ present and future care, Fowler adds in the ruling.

“Officers had tried various ways to identify the unresponsive woman,” Fowler said in the ruling. “When these attempts failed, they went to search the bags in or near the possession of the unconscious woman. In addition, emergency medical technicians instructed officers to search the backpack the unconscious woman was carrying so that they could obtain identification. Obviously, the actions of the agents were carried out with the aim of helping the emergency health professionals. I believe we want our officers to act that way in these situations. This falls under the exception of community custodians.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin on August 2.


Contract doctors will get two-year extension and paid study leave, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin, SE Asia News & Top Stories says

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John M. Price
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PETALING JAYA (THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The Malaysian government has agreed to extend the contracts of all junior doctors, dentists and pharmacists for two years after their compulsory service ends to ensure they can become specialist doctors. , said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said on Friday July 23 that the Cabinet had also agreed to extend the contracts of officers accepted for specialist studies. Those accepted for specialist studies during their first two years of service will have their contracts extended for up to four years.

The announcement comes amid a planned protest from junior contract doctors, who said the current contract system in the civil service was unfair to them and blocked their career progression.

Thousands of young doctors – many of whom are on the front lines of the battle against Covid-19 – are expected to go on strike next Monday over demands for permanent employment and other benefits, which they say have not been satisfied by the government.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin said on Friday that contracts should be in line with the career of a permanent chief medical officer.

They should be offered fully paid educational leave as well as sponsorship similar to fully paid educational leave and federal training grants.

“The government understands the demand of contract health workers and recognizes their contribution and role as the front line to deliver the best health care to the population, especially in the current climate of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“To ensure that the matter receives full attention and that it is dealt with fully and effectively, I have ordered the Ministry of Health and all relevant agencies to form a comprehensive and inclusive plan which involves immediate actions to be taken as well. long-term and long-term plans, ”he said.

The Cabinet also agreed that there will be an enhancement of benefits such as special medical leave, TB leave and home visit allowance that will be offered to contract doctors, dentists and pharmacists.

“These decisions will provide space for the government to finalize the ongoing health system reform study, reviewing the existing 1971 medical law and to form a long-term plan for the medical profession,” he said. .

Junior doctors who join the public health system after 2016 have been offered only contractual positions, which have been periodically extended. Malaysian medical graduates must have spent at least 4.5 years in the public health system before they can move into private practice.

Contractual positions imply lower salaries than permanent doctors. They are also not entitled to the many benefits granted to civil servants.

Besides job security, doctors are also being denied a viable path to becoming specialists in their chosen field, as the government only grants paid study leave to permanent doctors.


Mark Powell says affordable housing is needed for teachers, police and nurses –

By
John M. Price
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SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A recent editorial in the San Diego Union-Tribune… discusses the skyrocketing median house prices in San Diego and suggests that your average teacher, nurse, or police officer is “not earning” enough each year to allow buying a house in San Diego.

The article continues to suggest that affordable housing may be needed in San Diego to help these essential people in our community.

Parents For Quality Education President Mark Powell joined Good Evening San Diego to discuss his Op-Ed.

Mayor Todd Gloria on Monday announced a package of initiatives to produce more housing across the city than residents of all income levels can afford.

A working group on middle-income housing made up of resident volunteers will formulate and assess ways to encourage the construction of more housing for families earning 80 to 120% of the median income in the region.

Other initiatives include housing in city facilities, on underutilized commercial sites, updating the city code to allow affordable housing in all neighborhoods, a housing accessibility program for disabled and elderly residents of San Diego, encouraging housing construction on existing automotive-oriented locations, such as car washes or repair shops, in areas close to buses or trolleys and in need of new projects at residential sites to replace all affordable units and provide affected residents with improved protections and affordable housing options.

NHS diversity hits record high as racism continues to plague staff, new study finds

By
John M. Price
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0


Diversity in the NHS is at an all time high as discrimination continues to mar the experiences of ethnic minority staff, according to an inaugural report on race in health services.

According to the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) report, ethnic minority physicians (BMEs) are almost twice as likely as white physicians to have personally experienced workplace discrimination from a manager, a team leader or other colleagues.

In addition, the screening and interview process discriminates against ethnic minority candidates for consultant appointments, according to the study.

BME physicians also have a worse experience with exams and regulations – including revalidation, referrals or complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC), and the annual skill progression review, when physicians-in-training postdoctoral fellowships are evaluated annually.

This discrimination begins early in careers, with BME students less likely to secure a place in medical school than white students.

Commissioned by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens following the Black Lives Matter movement last summer, the report also says doctors from ethnic minorities are more likely to have experienced harassment, intimidation or abuse from staff in the past 12 months and are more likely to be investigated for complaints against them

Meanwhile, the number of black and ethnic minority people working for the NHS is the highest on record, according to the same study.

More than 53,000 doctors working in the health service were from an ethnic minority, up to more than 9,000, an increase of about a fifth since 2017.

However, despite this increase, doctors from ethnic minorities are currently still under-represented in managerial positions, including consultancy and academic positions.

Prerana Issar, Head of Human Resources for the NHS, said: “As part of our People Plan, we are committed to supporting NHS organizations to make workplaces even more inclusive and compassionate, as we It is also important that our partners in medical schools, royal colleges and other organizations take the necessary steps to improve the experience of BME staff

“While it is gratifying that an ever-increasing number of people from BME are choosing to become doctors and join our NHS, the NHS and other health organizations can do a lot more to improve people’s representation and experiences. BME. “

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the report showed “the devastating scale and scale” of discrimination against ethnic minority doctors working in the NHS.

BMA Chairman of the Board, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: “These data highlight the huge gap between the experiences of ethnic minority doctors compared to their white counterparts and the unacceptable level of discrimination that continues to exist. permeate the medical profession.

“It also shed light on the devastating scale and extent to which ethnic minority physicians are unfairly disadvantaged throughout their careers, from training to appointment to representation to managerial positions and higher incidences. intimidation and harassment.

“There is a clear need for systemic and large-scale change across the NHS as the government should be embarrassed and encouraged to act by this report.”

The report contained a number of recommendations for tackling racial disparities within the NHS, including improving the diversity of leaders in Royal Colleges and independent bodies and undertaking research to identify effective methods to address differences in the level of education. training and assessment.


Why Pennsylvania Nursing Home Workers Will Hold One-Day 21-Site Strike

By
John M. Price
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0


After workers at a dozen nursing homes across Pennsylvania voted last month to authorize a strike, about 1,500 workers will hold a day of strike action next week to draw attention to the understaffing and other ongoing issues in the industry.

Union workers will strike on July 27 at 21 facilities, according to SEIU Healthcare PA.

“When workers decide to go on strike, it is a very clear sign of just how bad things are,” Matthew Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare PA, said in a statement.

“They have been asking for change for decades, then saw their residents, colleagues and their own families die from COVID,” he said. “We need to reform our long-term care system to make it a people-centered system, both those who need care and those who provide it. “

Among the striking workers are nurses, orderlies and other caregivers, the union said, adding that the workers are also negotiating separate contracts.

The number of striking workers and the number of nursing homes involved have both nearly doubled since SEIU Healthcare PA announced at the end of June that around 800 employees had voted to authorize strikes at 12 sites.

A full list of affected nursing homes was not available on Tuesday, but a partial list of sites provided by the union included:

  • Riverside Health and Rehab, Taylor
  • Uniontown Health and Rehabilitation, Uniontown
  • Beaver Elder Care, Aliquippa
  • Saunders House, Wynnewood
  • Powerback, Philadelphia
  • Blue Ridge Gardens, Harrisburg

SEIU Healthcare PA said workers will picket sites from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, with “Enough is enough” rallies held at noon and vigils at 4 p.m.

After:Workers at 12 nursing homes in Pennsylvania voted to allow strikes. Here’s why they did it

After:Pennsylvania budget passes with more money for schools, retirement homes, no tax increases

Negotiation tactics?

Guardian Healthcare, which owns several nursing homes that could be affected by a strike, said in a statement that the safety of residents, patients and workers is its “top priority” and that it has plans in place emergency in the event of a strike.

“We are disturbed that the SEIU is using our valuable team of caregivers in an attempt to manipulate the negotiation process,” the company said in a statement.

“It is important to remember that a vote to authorize a strike does not guarantee that a strike will take place.”

Guardian also said it tried to avoid a work stoppage, but the union failed to cooperate.

“We have offered to negotiate with the SEIU around the clock to avoid any disruption in the provision of quality care at our sites, but the SEIU continues to decline all of these offers at this time,” the company said.

Under-staffed and underpaid

Members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania have said they want the one-day strike on July 27 to draw attention to understaffing, low wages and outdated healthcare regulations.

SEIU Healthcare PA said workers were on strike to highlight several issues facing nursing homes, including low wages, unsafe staff, lingering issues with the pandemic and nursing home regulations, such as staffing guidelines, which have not been updated in decades and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID has ripped the bandage off what we’ve been going through for 20 years,” said Shelly Lawrence, identified only as a certified nursing assistant in western Pennsylvania in a statement.

“The staff are terrible and the salaries are too low to recruit the staff our residents need,” she said. “Going on strike was a difficult decision, but we need to send the strongest message possible today that will bring about the real change we need. ”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, nearly 13,400 deaths from COVID-19 happened in nursing homes, which the union said last month was “the result of a broken system that does not prioritize care or caregivers.”

Amanda Sanders, a registered dietitian at Uniontown Health and Rehab, said she hopes the strike will serve as a “wake-up call” for the nursing home industry.

“We love our jobs and take care of our residents, which is why we stay,” Sanders said in a statement. “Some of us have spent our entire lives here and we want to provide the best possible care. But we are understaffed and our residents are suffering. “

The union said current staffing guidelines only provide for 2.7 hours of care per day for each resident, but workers want the state health ministry to change the minimum to 4.1 hours of care and that employers join the reform efforts.

After:PA Nursing Homes To Receive More COVID-19 Vaccines Thanks To New State Initiative

State government response

Zach Shamberg, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, told the USA TODAY network in June that institutions recognized the lingering problems and that the association was seeking $ 396 million for nursing homes from federal COVID relief funds and $ 52 million for assisted living and personal care homes.

SEIU Healthcare PA said the state legislature approved $ 247 million for nursing homes in the budget passed in June.

“These funds can help bring and keep caregivers at the bedside – current staff turnover rates average 128% – but employer offers ignore low starting salaries that make recruiting impossible. a sufficient number of caregivers, ”the union said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Democratic State Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh on the “health workforce crisis” and issues such as staffing, wage increases, expanding protections for caregivers, occupational safety, union security and increasing “positive patient outcomes.” ”

Click on here register to watch a live broadcast of the audience.

A plea not to go on strike

Pennsylvania Health Care Association president and CEO Zach Shamberg said his association is asking workers to stay on the job and continue caring for nursing home residents.

Echoing comments he made in June, Shamberg said the planned strike “is the unfortunate culmination of two long-standing issues that have impacted long-term care for much of the past decade. : A crippling labor shortage and financial crisis caused by inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates for residents, both of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. ”

Shamberg said there were “a few” association members who would be affected by the strike and that they “have been in constant negotiations with union representatives to meet demands which are, quite simply, unachievable in this post environment. -current pandemic “.

Her association, Shamberg said, is calling on union leaders and workers to “stay on the front lines” and work with nursing homes and industry advocates to resolve issues.

“While a one-day strike may grab the headlines, it will in no way solve the challenges associated with finding and sustaining a strong labor pool and a sustainable reimbursement model. which can help invest more in workers and residents, ”he said.

Shamberg said nursing homes plan to have additional staff and resources if a strike occurs so that there is continuity of care for residents.

After:Guest Opinion: Pennsylvania Nursing Homes Still Struggle With COVID, State Funding Desperately Needed

JD Prose is a reporter with the Pennsylvania State Capital Bureau of the USA TODAY Network. He can be contacted at [email protected]


Nationally Recognized Oklahoma Military Veteran For Leadership While Helping Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic

By
John M. Price
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0


OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A decorated military veteran from Oklahoma is nationally recognized for supporting residents and nursing home staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA / NCAL) have selected Diakonos’ director of human resources, Todd Beesley, to participate in the Future Leader program for long-term and post-acute care.

A press release from the Diakonos Group describes the Future Leaders program as a one-year program that provides training and guidance to industry professionals.

Beesley, a Marine Corps and Army veteran with nearly 30 years of service, had a decorated military career that included combat in Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

“He commanded a company of special troops of 200 people in a light infantry brigade combat team and then served as an operations officer in a support brigade of 1000 people responsible for providing logistical support to the military. in the Pacific Theater, “the press release said.

Beesley began to wage a new but different battle when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged – helping residents and nursing home staff overcome the challenges and hardships brought on by the pandemic.

“Outside of his work at the Diakonos Group, he led efforts to help other long-term care providers find qualified and dedicated staff when their facilities experienced COVID-19 outbreaks,” says the press release. “His colleagues often praise him for setting up one-on-one meetings with staff to refine operations and improve services.”

Diakonos COO Kimberly Green described Beesley’s work as a “godsend.”

“In many ways, fighting COVID-19 in a skilled nursing facility is like fighting a war,” Green said. “We are creating a battle plan to contain this virus; we train to execute this plan; and we face a tremendous amount of personnel, logistics and supply chain issues along the way. Lives literally depend on our success. What better person could we have by our side than Todd, who has seen it all and done it all in the service of this country? We are really lucky to have him on our team, and I know our residents and staff feel the same way. “


DJ Doctors Add New Twist to Regional Medicine

By
John M. Price
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0


A trio of siblings strive to change how the healthcare landscape in parts of South Australia works – all while mixing firecrackers.

Dr Esther Lam is one of three siblings who mix their regional doctorate with the DJ.

The family of Dr David Lam, Dr Nathan Lam and Dr Esther Lam have established GP practices in Pt Lincoln and Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula while sharing their time playing across Australia.

“I see a lot of similarities between medicine and music – creativity and human bonding is just as important as raw technique,” says Nathan, who last performed at the Day Dance festival in McLaren. Vale in June.

But David says no matter how good you are at your profession and music career, you can never be in two places at once, so the traveling trio often alternate week by week, with a sibling in the area. South Australia and the others on stage.

“It is vital that we stay together because we all have different strengths and weaknesses. I’m a bit louder in my style of music and doctor, Nathan is more intellectual and Esther is classier and more refined, ”says David, who was named InDaily 40 Under 40 in 2020 for his medical service in the Peninsula. Eyre. .

“Strangely, what makes us good musicians is what makes us good doctors, practically there are different skills involved, it’s about reading people.”

From left to right: Dr Nathan Lam and Dr David Lam.

David and Nathan recently received the Advanced Rural General Practice Fellowships; accreditation, according to David, is held by about 700 of the 40,000 general practitioners across the country.

The three siblings graduated from the University of Adelaide Regional Medical Student Program and then expanded their practice by working in the South Australia region.

In 2018, David won the Faculty of Medicine Award for Best Regional Teacher as a Keynote Speaker and Rural Medicine Coordinator for the University of Adelaide.

Experience has shown him that Adelaide being the only major city in South Australia, there is a lack of resources in regional cities to provide the appropriate measures to health systems.

“We all live in Australia, we all have the same health care system, supposedly it shouldn’t be fair that the outcome of your care and your health depends on where you live,” says David.

David’s concerns are supported by the chairman of the Association of Rural Physicians of SA and Murray Bridge general practitioner Dr Peter Rischbeith.

He says there has been a sharp decrease in the number of generalist registrars applying for regional placement, from 72 in 2021 to 26 in 2022.

Dr Rischbieth says several regional hospitals and facilities are under threat, such as the Kangaroo Island delivery area due to a severe shortage of rural doctors.

David thinks one solution is for state and education policies to target young doctors and attract them to the benefits and growth of regional healthcare, but he doesn’t wait for this policy change. .

During the pandemic, the siblings created an educational podcast called “GP Lyf Hacks” to help young medical practitioners and interns who lacked face-to-face education.

“I found some medical students walking down the hall looking lost, and I felt sorry for them because that’s been me for so much of my life,” says David.

The nationally acclaimed podcast is a free 20-minute audio tutorial available on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple based on real-life cases the trio have experienced that will help young doctors communicate better with their patients.

David says social media platforms also help regional physicians connect with patients hundreds of miles away and have used them to mentor students interested in regional medicine.

Having previously worked for the Port Lincoln Indigenous Health Service, David says communicating and listening to people who are not recognized by the health system is a critical part of understanding what is missing in the community.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance, regardless of gender or background, and that includes our rural populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as people of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. “

If you have a story to tell or know of one, contact us at South Australian regional showcase.

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Does Cincinnati need it anymore?

By
John M. Price
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0

Cincinnati – City Councilor Chris Sirbach announced plans to amend the Charter earlier this month to raise money to support local affordable housing.

The proceeds of the proposed 0.1% (1.8% to 1.9%) income tax hike will be used to build, develop or maintain Cincinnati homes. He believes a tax will generate around $ 170 million over the next nine years.

2017 Xavier University Community Building Institute report It showed a gap of 40,000 units in Hamilton County.

But what does “affordable housing” really mean? And who will benefit?

What would you like to know

  • Councilor Chris Sirbach proposed a constitutional amendment to raise funds for affordable housing.
  • Affordable housing is designed to keep people from “paying” and keeping housing costs below 30% of rent and mortgage income.
  • Hamilton County has an affordable housing deficit of approximately 40,000 units
  • The “affordable” one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati costs $ 696. The 2 affordable bedrooms cost $ 916

Margaret Fox, executive director of the Religious Union of Metro Cincinnati, said there are many misconceptions about affordable housing and supportive programs such as housing selection voucher credits.

Part of this turmoil revolves around who needs and is eligible for help.

This includes people who experience homelessness or who may be absent from work. Then there are a lot of people who are qualified and have a fairly traditional job.

School cafeteria employees, janitor, school associates, clerk, home health workers, local recreation center staff, etc. can benefit from it.

They can work 9 to 5, but they don’t make enough money to pay the current market price for houses and apartments.

This is perhaps the most difficult for parents.

The Federal Government If a person or family has to spend less than 30% of their income on a home, consider the home affordable. The price includes rent, mortgage payments and utility bills.

Spending more can make it difficult to pay for other daily needs such as food, transportation, and medical care. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, this is called the “cost burden”.

Those who spend more than 50% are considered “high costs”.

The CBI reports that Greater Cincinnati has approximately 44,000 dependent families.

One way to find out the relative affordability of a home or rental property is fair market rent calculated by the HUD. The Cincinnati region spans parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

The HUD uses the FMR to set payment standards for federal housing assistance programs. The price includes major utilities such as water and electricity. Optional services such as cable and Internet are not included.

The average price for a room in the Cincinnati area is $ 696 per month. RentData.org .. The two bedroom average is $ 916. Both numbers are slightly higher than in other parts of Ohio.

Using FMR as a guide, to buy a two-bedroom apartment you need to earn $ 17.61 an hour and work 40 hours a week. That’s about $ 36,628 per year.

By this standard, the majority of employees occupying the 10 most common jobs in Ohio 2021 report out of reach. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition and Ohio’s Homeless and Housing Coalition released a report on Wednesday.

Top 10 Ohio Jobs by Employees. It also shows income from these jobs (courtesy Ohio Homeless and Housing Coalition).

Only the RN will earn sufficient time base ($ 32.49) to purchase a two bedroom apartment using the FMR numbers.

The minimum wage in Ohio is $ 8.80 an hour. At this rate, you must work at least 80 hours per week to purchase a room at the FMR monthly rate ($ 698). The situation has only worsened due to COVID-19.

“But people in Ohio working in many other widely available jobs, such as retail salespeople, cashiers, restaurants, hotel workers, etc., have already struggled before they were laid off or reduced during the pandemic. I was doing it, ”the report said.

Bill Faith, executive director of COHHIO, said the situation facing tenants in Ohio was “definitely worse” than the report shows because he collected the data used in the report before the pandemic. ..

“Rising house prices are pushing up rents in many areas, further exacerbating the lack of affordable housing for those who are already struggling to pay their rent,” he said.

Relief measures such as emergency rental assistance and the eviction moratorium have helped prevent homelessness caused by COVID-19. But these efforts are not at the heart of the affordable housing problem.

Residential rights advocate Brian Griffin says implementing an affordable housing solution will provide stability for people who “literally walk away from the homeless and have a terrible morning” on just one paycheck. It was.

“It’s an issue that affects people across the map. I mean it both literally and figuratively, ”he said.

“There are different reasons, and there are different reasons why people need affordable housing… these are the people who are doing their best, and a lot of them are just trying to put food on the table. table. They have a full-time job with their family, ”he added.

Sirbach is still working on his proposal. He planned to use the city council’s six-week summer vacation to work with the community to polish.

The city council vote will likely take place in August. If you get 6 votes, it will be a vote in November.

Georgia to allow six companies to legally produce and distribute medical cannabis oil – WSB-TV Channel 2

By
John M. Price
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0


ATLANTA – The state of Georgia will grant special licenses to six companies on Saturday that will allow them to produce and distribute low-THC cannabis oil to nearly 14,000 legally registered patients statewide.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission has reviewed more than 70 applications from companies seeking the right to manufacture medical cannabis oil.

It will reduce the scope to two Class 1 production license contracts at companies with a production capacity of 100,000 square feet and four Class 2 production license contracts at companies with a production capacity of 50 000 square feet.

The contracts come after years of lobbying from parents and families of children and others who need the low-THC oil to help control and relieve debilitating and incurable conditions.

Jimmy Wages’ daughter Sydney needs the oil to control seizures. He has been lobbying state Capitol lawmakers for seven years to get oil legalized and at this point on Saturday.

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“It’s been a long road of fighting on Capitol Hill,” Wages said from his home in Paulding County. “I really see how politics works one way or another. We had excellent representatives and senators there who saw our fight and said, let’s help these people. Let us help these people to help their children.

Even though lawmakers legalized cannabis oil for medical purposes, it was illegal to produce it in Georgia or to bring it across state lines.

Parents like Wages had to risk jail time to get oil into Georgia. These license agreements will change that.

“I want to be able to walk into a store, deposit my money, take my daughter’s medicine out and come home,” Wages said. “This is the thing that we have been working on for the past seven years.

The commission will announce the contract recipients at a meeting in Rock Springs on Saturday.

They estimate that it could take six to eight months for companies to get their operations up and running and make the low-THC oil available to patients on the registry list.

© 2021 Cox Media Group


Supporters of the Quality Nursing Home Jobs Initiative testify at the hearing

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John M. Price
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0


Living the COVID-19 pandemic in a retirement home, confined to his room without visits or organized activities, “was a nightmare,” Rose Marie Pardo recalled on Tuesday.

But Pardo described the four certified nursing assistants who care for her at the Hancock Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Quincy as her “dream team.”

Pardo told the Legislative Assembly’s Healthcare Finance Committee that she contracted COVID-19, spending two weeks in a dedicated unit, and said her roommate “died a terrible death” from the virus . She said CNAs “put their lives at risk” to treat their patients and “go through hell day in and day out.”

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Rose Marie Pardo lived at the Hancock Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Quincy for almost six years.

“These NACs provided care, comforted our fears, listened to our needs and they were there when no one else could be there,” she said. “I am grateful to my dream team every day, but especially now, after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time to recognize the commitment and dedication of the essential CNAs who work in our nursing homes. “

Speaking alongside Hancock Park administrator Adam Ernst, Pardo was one of the few people to video testify in support of bills dubbed the Nursing Home Quality Jobs Initiative, which were tabled by Senator Julian Cyr and Representative John Lawn, Chairman of the Committee.

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The bills (H 1287, S 759) would require MassHealth to “fund a living wage supplement each year for direct care staff in licensed nursing homes,” including CNAs and housekeeping staff, laundry, dietetics, factory and office operations. They would also create a supervisory and leadership training grant program for nursing facility workers, a “long-term care career ladder grant program” and a tuition reimbursement program for nursing home. CNA training.

Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Tom Golden have also introduced bills (S 742, H 1268) aimed at stabilizing nursing home finances. These bills, said Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, seek to modernize the funding formula for state nursing facilities to better reflect the current cost of resident care, including investments. in the workforce.

“Today’s nursing homes urgently need to hire 6,000 nurses and nursing assistants,” said Gregorio. “Nursing facilities are simply unable to compete for applicants, primarily due to their inability to offer competitive salaries. As a result, 40% of direct care staff are working overtime and more than half of Commonwealth nursing facilities refuse or limit admissions due to what many have described as the worst staffing crisis in our history. “

After:A GOOD AGE: Finding New Lifelines for Nursing Home Residents During COVID-19

Dr. Larissa Lucas of the North Shore Physicians Group, a geriatric team that provides care at multiple nursing homes, said nursing home staffing levels were “near a point of crisis” before the pandemic, ” and this crisis is now fully arrived ”.

“This is an issue that is directly linked to government funding for nursing home care,” she said.

Along with the nursing home bills, the committee is also reviewing legislation that addresses the process of setting rates for health and home care services, again with a view to recruiting and retaining staff. .

In written testimony, Mass Home Care Executive Director Lisa Gurgone said bills from Senator Patricia Jehlen and Representative Carmine Gentile (S 774, H 737) would establish a new two-year process for setting prices for services. home health care MassHealth.

She said direct care workers are paid close to the minimum wage and workforce issues have long existed in the service and long-term support industry.

“Our inability to keep pace with the real inflationary impacts of the home and community-based service system is slowly but steadily deteriorating our ability to deliver,” Gurgone wrote.

Jehlen said there was a direct care workforce shortage “across the continuum from home care to assisted living to nursing homes.” Meanwhile, she said, the demand for home care is increasing as people get older.

“There are all kinds of things we can do to get people to choose home care as their profession, and we should, but if home care pays less than Burger King and you have to travel between jobs with erratic schedules and unpredictable, we can’t really wait for people to enter this workforce, ”she said.


Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to Pay $ 5.5 Million Settlement in Nurses Class Action

By
John M. Price
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0


Washington healthcare system to pay $ 5.5 million to settle class action lawsuit in which thousands of nurses claim they were not paid properly for lunch and other breaks, reports The Kitsap Sun.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health – the byproduct of an official merger between CHI Franciscan, based in Tacoma, Washington, and Virginia Mason, based in Seattle – has been charged with violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and the law of the Washington State. The case, brought by Hana Etcheverry, a registered nurse at the former Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Wash., Of alleged nurses who worked 12-hour or longer shifts, “suffered clockwork, including unpaid duty time, preparing for their days before clocking in, as well as completing patient charts and papers after clocking in. “

The lawsuit included more than 7,000 employees claiming that nurses “cannot take full and timely meals and rest periods, due to a lack of breaks and their obligation to uphold their ethical responsibilities to remain accountable. patient care at all times throughout their lags. “

The average payment a nurse will receive from the settlement is $ 510, reports The Kitsap Sun.

“Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is committed to fair compensation for our employees,” said Cary Evans, vice president of communications and government affairs, in a statement cited by The Sun Kitsap. The system is currently advising staff of the settlement.

“We strongly deny that we have violated the laws on wages and hours,” said Evans. “However, we believe the best use of our resources is to go ahead and focus on providing high quality patient care, rather than further prolonging a costly and time-consuming legal case.”

Carolyn Cottrell, a lawyer representing nurses, did not respond to The Kitsap Soleil ‘s requests for comments.


Parking Problems: Neighbors Oppose Seniors Housing Development Project on N. 6th Street

By
John M. Price
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0

The proposed site of Bethel Village at Herr and N. 6th Streets.

At a Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Council meeting on Monday night, residents’ hands rose one by one to voice their opposition to an affordable housing project for the elderly.

Local development group RB Development, along with several partners, presented their plans for Bethel Village, an affordable housing community for seniors in N. 6e and Herr streets.

The proposed development was discussed at a community meeting a few weeks ago with little opposition from residents, with most of the comments coming from supporters of the project. However, during Monday’s meeting, many residents waited almost four hours for a chance to voice their concerns.

“I have spoken to many neighbors, and no one is against affordable housing,” said Ted Hanson, a longtime resident of Herr Street.

However, Hanson presented board members with a petition signed by 60 neighborhood residents. Their main concern: parking.

The Bethel Village Project offers a 49-unit apartment building for qualifying low-income seniors on land that once housed, in part, the historic Bethel AME Church, which burned down in 1995. Last week, Bethel Village purchased the field of Bethel AME, a project partner.

Bethel Village offers four parking spaces for their building, 15 less than the number required by the zoning code, explained Esche McCombie, a lawyer at McNees, Wallace & Nurick, the law firm representing Bethel.

However, developers at Bethel Village don’t see this as a problem, explained Ava Goldman of Gardner Capital, another partner in the project. Based on her experience working in the development of affordable housing, she expects a large majority of their seniors to not own a car.

But residents who spoke at Monday’s meeting painted a picture of a crowded neighborhood with little room for the vehicles of people already living there, let alone those of 50 newcomers.

“There are nights when I come home from the hospital at midnight and I can’t find a parking space,” said Allison Deturk-Malia, a nurse, a resident. “You mean four parking spaces are going to be suitable for our neighborhood?” I do not think so.

McCombie reiterated that they don’t expect most residents to have cars, and for visitors and family members, they referred to the new on-street parking recently added at 6e Street. They also plan to integrate bicycle racks on their property.

Some residents have raised concerns about the building’s facade, saying it will not fit into the historic district. Others commented on the traffic in the neighborhood, explaining that it can already be dangerous for pedestrians with cars stopping at 6e on Herr at high speed. They suggested that the development would make the situation worse.

“We want to work with the neighbors,” said Blane Stoddart of RB Development. “We would not do anything to endanger you or to endanger your children.”

Despite the neighborhood’s concerns, Stoddart stressed that they fully plan to move forward with the project, saying they have already received more than $ 11 million of the total project cost of $ 15 million in credits. low state income tax. Financially, the developers at Bethel said they couldn’t provide more parking.

“It is a project that will come true,” he said. “Seventy-one percent of Harrisburg residents qualify, in terms of income, to live on this project. “

Zoning council members voted to continue the discussion on the village of Bethel in a special hearing on August 3 at 6 p.m.

Also on Monday night’s program, several other projects have been renewed.

At the June zoning meeting, Harrisburg-based D&F Realty Holdings presented plans to convert a 16,500 square foot building located at 423 Division Street into an apartment building. The building previously housed the Chisuk Emuna congregation before it was damaged by fire in 2009. In recent years, the building has remained dilapidated.

D & F’s proposal did not include on-site parking, but the developers said they had spoken to the Scottish Rite Cathedral about the use of their land, a few blocks away.

Zoning board chairman Thomas Leonard said he needed to make a formal deal with the cathedral and continued with the project until the August 16 meeting.

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Singapore rower trained for the Olympics between nurses’ quarters

By
John M. Price
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0


As many of his competitors spent their days preparing for the Olympics, Joan Poh has spent much of the past year working long hours in a Singapore hospital.

Ms Poh, a 30-year-old rower who will represent Singapore at the Tokyo Games, had trained and competed full time. But she put that on hold in April last year when she resumed her job as a nurse after the government called for frontline medical backup.

“During a pandemic, going back to work was like a call,” she said. “When I’m at work, I’m 100 percent a nurse. When I train I am a 100% rower. It’s always about finding that balance and making it work.

After resuming eight- to ten-hour shifts in the hospital in the Kidney Unit of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Ms. Poh looked for ways to continue training. She trained before and after work, sometimes skipping meals. To make up for lost time, she spent her entire weekend on the water.

Although Ms Poh did not work in a Covid ward, she was one of a handful of specially trained dialysis nurses at the hospital. She often had to treat patients suspected of having the coronavirus and feared contracting it herself.

Ms Poh will also need to be wary of the virus at this year’s Games, which are unlike any other, as organizers try to minimize the risk of transmission. Spectators will be excluded from most events and athletes are discouraged from hugs, greetings and handshakes. Of around 20,000 people traveling to Japan for the Games, dozens have tested positive for the virus, including three people inside the athletes’ village.

But as a nurse, Ms Poh plans to take precautions. Her manager, Koh Yu Han, who is with Ms Poh in Tokyo, said that despite being eye-catching, they both make a point of wiping down equipment and tables. They wear their backpacks at all times to avoid putting them down and being contaminated. On a trip to a qualifying race in Tokyo in May, Ms Koh said that she and Ms Poh were the only passengers on a bus full of athletes to disinfect their seats with alcohol.

Only 23 athletes will represent Singapore at the Olympics this year, and Ms. Poh is the only rower. She is only the second Singaporean rower to reach the Olympics, placing 12th in the qualifying regatta.

Her event, the women’s single scull, will take place on Friday.

Ms Poh didn’t get on a boat until she was a teenager, but she quickly fell in love with being on the water. Her parents couldn’t afford sports leagues or professional coaches, but she still found ways to practice.

She joined a dragon boat team at the age of 17, honing her paddling skills on a traditional long boat before learning to sail and scull rowing. In 2019, she took an extended leave of absence from her hospital job in order to train and compete full time in Australia.

Splitting time between the gym and the hospital last year, she said, only increased her driving.

“I understood when I was young that sport is a luxury,” she said. “Being able to pursue your dream is a luxury. And so, if you can, then you must. “


Brooke Group Wins National Awards for Professional Skills | News, Sports, Jobs

By
John M. Price
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0


Contributed SILVER MEDAL – Sidney Felouzis wears a hard hat that is not out of place in the simulated workplace classrooms at Brooke High School, which won a silver medal for his performance in the interview competition d hiring at this year’s National Skills USA conference.

WELLSBURG – It has been a very good year for the Brooke High School Skills USA Chapter.

The group is one of 24 Skills USA chapters to be named a National Model of Excellence by Skills USA, which encourages young people to develop personal, professional and technical skills that will benefit them in their future careers.

And one of the Brooke Chapter members won a silver medal after attending Skills USA’s national conference held virtually in June.

On Monday, the Brooke County Board of Education recognized the chapter and Sidney Felouzis, a recent Brooke graduate, for winning the silver medal in the job interview competition.

Felouzis underwent two mock job interviews, one involving an interviewer and the other a panel of five, and was judged on everything from completing her job application to her initial reception.

She noted that she was no stranger to the interview process, having helped instructor Thomas Bane interview freshmen interested in entering the high school engineering program during each of the last three years.

The interviews are part of the simulated workplace approach adopted by the school district’s career technical department. They are intended to expose students to the job application process, not to block their enrollment in a program.

Felouzis was also among Skills USA members who prepared for the competition by going through mock interviews conducted by Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Crook, Tim Pannett, Director of Vocational Technical Education for the school district; and Stephanie Duffy-Zimmer, its director of technology and communications.

Daughter of Jamie Fabian and Mike Bateman, the teenager from Weirton received a full scholarship to Bethany College, where she plans to study international business, entrepreneurship and acting.

State-level and national-level Skills USA competitions test students’ knowledge of chosen career paths and the job search skills they have acquired as members.

Skills USA members Thomas Packer and Ethan Robey also placed ninth in a competition at the national event testing their knowledge of additive manufacturing, which involves 3D printers.

Felouzis, Packer and Robey each won gold medals at the Skills USA state conference in March.

For such efforts and the active involvement of members in leadership training, the group was the only chapter in West Virginia to be named the Gold Chapter of Distinction.

Bane, who advises the club with Autumn Beatty, said the honor reflects a lot of hard work on the part of its members and especially its leaders.

The group was led last year by Jason Polgar, its president since 2018; Kendrick Fish, vice-president; Brooke Ohler, secretary; Packer, treasurer; Felouzis, chaplain; Madison Ely, journalist; Rylie Winters, historian; and Robey, parliamentarian.

It was among several “wins” for the group at the state conference, which was held virtually in March.

Fish and Logan White also became the first chapter state level gold medalists for their performances in the mobile robotics competition.

Krysten Myers was the section’s first state-level silver medalist after placing second in a competition testing her knowledge of early childhood education, her chosen field; while Ely and Joseph Fluharty placed second in TV / video production and Jason Polgar, the chapter president, placed second in improvised speeches.

Many of the officers last year graduated, leaving a new roster of officers to take over.

Bane said that in addition to recent accolades, he is proud that Polgar and the others have been able to attract students from various technical career programs to the club.

While members initially came largely from engineering courses, Polgar noted that the group now includes students in nursing, carpentry, early childhood, and business, among other programs.

Alexis Woodling, a junior, became the second member to be elected to a Skills USA state office. She will also serve as Chapter Vice President, with White serving as President.

Woodling, who plans to pursue a career in nursing, said she encouraged other students to join the group.

“I advertise all the time” She said, adding that joining it looks good on a resume and prepares her for college and the job market.

Robey, who is one of the recent graduates, said he joined because he was interested in Skills USA’s robotics search and rescue competition.

He said the club offers “a way to learn things you might enjoy and are good at.”

Packer said he was drawn to the opportunity to work as a team.

“I really enjoy working with other people”, he said, adding that he also made new friends through it.

Polgar noted that the group has also been active in community service.

Her efforts last year included collecting over 1,000 non-perishable food items and toiletries for the Steubenville Urban Mission and working with the school’s Technology Students of America chapter to pick up trash along Cross Creek Road as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

(Scott can be contacted at [email protected])

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Doctor advocates for change after 36-year-old radiologist sibling commits suicide

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John M. Price
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A family doctor in Minnesota is campaigning for a change in the profession after the recent suicide death of his radiologist brother.

Gretchen Butler, MD, a 36-year-old mother of three, died on March 5. Older sister Michelle Chestovich, MD, recently said Butler was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety and her role as a radiologist likely added extra pressure. .

“We face death every day. We have to give people bad news every day, “Chestovich told NBC’s Minneapolis affiliate KARE 11 in an interview published on Friday, July 16.” If there is no way to deal with it , it kind of burns inside and it’s not good for your sanity.

The TV report highlighted a 2018 literature review, which estimated more than 40 physicians per 100,000 suicide deaths, a rate of more than double the general population. With around 300 to 400 deaths per year, the United States loses “nearly two full classes of medical schools each year to suicide,” she said.

Chestovich, who has two other medical siblings, is arguing for limits on the number of hours radiologists and other doctors can work on each shift. She also wants routine mental health checks for those working in the medical profession.

“I was shouting it from the rooftops before,” Chestovich said. “Now I’m like, give me the megaphone. Who needs to hear that? Everyone needs to hear that.

John Benson, MD, a former classmate, also wrote about Butler’s passing earlier this year at Clinical imaging, calling burnout a major contributor to her death, while urging others to pay attention to signs of burnout among their colleagues.


Dr Paul Auerbach, father of wild medicine, dies at 70

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John M. Price
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0


Dr Auerbach said it was imperative never to be too comfortable with the vagaries of nature. “You have to be afraid when you go to work,” he says. “We must remain humble. “

Paul Stuart Auerbach was born January 4, 1951 in Plainfield, NJ. His father, Victor, was director of patents for Union Carbide. Her mother, Leona (Fishkin) Auerbach, was a teacher. Paul was a high school wrestling star and grew up spending summers on the Jersey Shore.

He graduated from Duke in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in religion, then enrolled in Duke medical school. He met Sherry Steindorf at UCLA and they married in 1982. (In the 1980s he was working part-time as a swimsuit model for a swimwear company.) Dr Auerbach studied at the Stanford Business School shortly before joining the university’s medical school in 1991..

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Brian and Daniel; one daughter, Lauren Auerbach Dixon; his mother; one brother, Burt; and a sister, Jan Sherman.

As he grew older, Dr. Auerbach became increasingly dedicated to expanding the field of wilderness medicine. In revising his manual, he added sections on environmental disaster management and, with Jay Lemery, wrote “Enviromedics: The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health,” published in 2017.

Last year, shortly before being diagnosed with cancer, the coronavirus pandemic started to set in and Dr Auerbach decided to act.

“As soon as it all happened for the first time, he started working on disaster response,” his wife said. “Hospitals lacked PPE. He was calling that person and that person to learn as much as he could. He wanted to find out how to design better masks and better ventilators. He never stopped.


Otto Bowless, lost to COVID, came from Guatemala to become a US Navy

By
John M. Price
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0


This story is part of Loved and Lost, a statewide media collaboration that works to celebrate the lives of every New Jersey resident who has died from COVID-19. To learn more and submit a loved one’s name for profiling, visit loveandlostnj.com.

Otto Villalovs Bowless arrived in the United States from Guatemala as a young man to enlist in the Marines. He was training for a deployment in the Korean War when an injury to his finger on the trigger changed the course of his life.

Bowless, the seventh of eight children, was inspired at the age of 21 by the sight of the US Marines guarding the US Embassy in Guatemala City in 1947. His first step was to get a job as a heavy equipment operator for the US government on a project in Mexico City. Then he moved with friends from that job to Denver, where he volunteered to be drafted. He was accepted as part of the Marine quota among conscripts.

“Guatemala Reaches Target, Join Marines,” read the headline of an article in the Denver Post on November 16, 1951.

But a few months later, the injury resulted in his release from service, much to his regret. Instead, he built up a life of adventure, travel and hard work before returning to Guatemala to care for his ailing mother.

Otto Bowless as a US Navy in the 1950s. The man from Elmwood Park died of COVID-19 at the age of 93 in November 2020.

He dug tunnels. He worked on ships that towed oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. He got a job at a Denver hotel. He even ran a barbershop in Pasadena for a while. The floats of the Rose Parade raced down the street in front of his store.

“Wherever the wind took him, that’s where he went,” said his only daughter, Sofia Burke.

Bowless met Sofia’s mother after returning to Guatemala City in the 1970s, and Sophia was born in 1977. She was eight years old when she and her mother immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Prospect Park. His father stayed.

When he returned to the United States, his daughter was 29, lived in Elmwood Park with her mother, and was studying to become a registered nurse. She noticed his paleness and low energy and took him for a heart exam almost as soon as he arrived.

Bowless underwent emergency surgery, triple bypass surgery. Sofia, with the consent of her mother, who had remarried, brought her father home to recuperate.

From that day in 2006 until last November, he shared the big house in Elmwood Park with an extended family that ultimately included Sofia’s mother, half-brother, husband and three children. As he slowed down, a home aide helped take care of himself. He has never been to a retirement home.

“He was very good with everyone,” she said. “He went to the store, did some shopping, took care of the children. He loved strawberry milkshakes, pancakes (“hotcakes” as he called them), apple pie and black beans. He loved to sit on the deck and enjoy the fresh air.

Otto Bowless as a young US Navy in the early 1950s. The Guatemalan immigrant died of COVID-19 in November 2020 at the age of 93.

Her life was full of family and love. He had “a good 93” when he was infected with the coronavirus, Sofia said.

“We are proud to have called him a New Jerseyan,” Governor Phil Murphy said at his weekly press briefing on Monday, as he mourned those who lost their lives in the pandemic.

Last fall, the entire extended family contracted the virus. Sofia’s mother, who had taken an elderly friend with the virus away, was the first. She was hospitalized for 10 days.

On the day of his discharge, Otto Bowless was admitted to hospital. At first he did well.

“I was hoping he would get out of this,” Sofia said. But then he got worse and was intubated so that a ventilator could help him breathe. Sofia called Bowless’s son Fernando Villalovs, his older half-brother in Mexico, so he could talk to his father before intubation.

Bowless lasted for almost two weeks. But then his oxygen levels plunged.

At the time, Sofia herself was in the hospital with complications from COVID-19. Nurses allowed her to be with her father when he died, a gift she cherishes.

She often thought of her father during his long recovery. She wants to be able to share with him the moments she cherished with her children.

Her words echo in her memory and give her strength: “I live for you, my daughter.

Lindy Washburn is a senior health care reporter for NorthJersey.com. To stay abreast of the impact of changes in the medical world on you and your family’s health, please register or activate your digital account today.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @lindywa



Happy 50th Birthday to Idaho’s First Nurse Practitioner – and More | Health

By
John M. Price
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A pioneer and leader, Marie Osborn has the distinction of being Idaho’s first nurse practitioner. From 1872 to 1999, Osborn, who ruled over Stanley, the Idaho Clinic and Ambulance, was the sole licensed provider of primary care and emergency services for the country of Sawtooths and the headwaters of the Salmon River. .

Today, at the age of 90, Osborn celebrates the 50th anniversary of nurse practitioners in Idaho’s healthcare system, which began in rural healthcare – and simultaneously highlights healthcare challenges that continue for Stanley and other rural Idaho communities.

“Fifty years ago, at the National Lieutenant Governors Association meeting in Sun Valley, Idaho Hospital Association director John Hutchinson and I discussed inequalities in health care for rural communities.” Osborn wrote in an email. “We focused on the virtual absence of emergency services in the sawtooth country of Idaho. A registered nurse and mother of five, I found myself challenged to find solutions. The result: more training, becoming Idaho’s first nurse practitioner, and opening the Stanley clinic and ambulance service. “

According to Osborn, Idaho was the first to issue a nurse practitioner license in 1971-1972. “The Council’s physician-legislator, Dr John Edwards, has led this effort,” she said. “A 50-year anniversary is a time to look back and look ahead. The contributions of NPs over the past half century should inform decisions to improve health care in rural Idaho.

The Salmon River Emergency Clinic in Stanley opened on Father’s Day in 1972. Later that year, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (NRA) opened in September. “More visitors created more requests for emergency services.

Our first EMT class graduated in 1972. We purchased our first ambulance at Mountain Home Air Force Base for $ 300: a surplus Pontiac ambulance from 1958.

In the mid-1970s, “we had a new clinic building, a new ambulance, a new emergency radio system connected to Idaho EMS ‘State Com’, Idaho’s first local 9-1-1 system. , a vibrant volunteer EMT and internship program through the College of Idaho.

In the 1980s, medical students and training came, air ambulances from Mountain Home Air Force Base and Forest Service, and LifeFlight emergency calls to sawtooth country. All adding “stories of incredible stops and horrific losses,” said Osborn, who wishes to express his gratitude to all who have helped for five decades.

“Thank you to the many people who supported Stanley’s clinic and ambulance. Our ability to respond often makes the difference between living and dying.”

During his tenure Osborn was on call 24/7 and “for almost 30 years I covered 6,000 square miles of backcountry. I focused on responding to emergency calls and providing primary care to my patients.

She also fought to keep the lights on – and health care on. “The Stanley Clinic was in the crosshairs of larger political battles whose outcomes defined (nurse practitioners) as a profession,” Osborn said. “Not all of the more recent NPs were interested in rural health care, which created tensions between the roles and scope of practice of urban and rural NPs. Pharmacy and nursing. “

His own “voters” also fought. “At pivotal times, almost the entire Stanley community testified before the Legislature to protect Stanley’s clinic and Stanley’s ambulance – and Stanley’s (nurse practitioner) ability to provide patient care.”

And the struggles and challenges continue today, Osborn said, and she hopes entities that have supported the cause in the past will do so again. “In 2021, the NRA Sawtooth expects 3 million visitors. Yet the Stanley ambulance is in trouble, with the number of paramedics able to respond to emergencies dwindling to a few. For the Stanley clinic and ambulance, the Forest Service and Idaho Fish and Game should renew their support, ”she said. Together, the Stanley community has made an impact on healthcare in the country of Sawtooth and far beyond. The 50 years of the Stanley Clinic, Sawtooth NRA and Nurse Practitioner as a new profession in the ‘Idaho are linked. “

Osborn hopes others will add their voices to be heard for future generations. “I ask you whose life has been touched by the Stanley Clinic and the Stanley Ambulance: send your personal stories to the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association. Your recorded memories will be part of the story of the 50th anniversary of the Stanley Clinic and the nurse. practitioner in Idaho.

Jeanne Huff is the community engagement editor for Idaho Press. You can reach her at 208-465-8106 and follow her on Twitter @goodnewsgirl.


Nursing Shortage Highlighted in Public Health Care Inquiry | News from the region

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John M. Price
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0


news, local news,

The local health district of Murrumbidgee had more than 100 nursing vacancies earlier this year and it took up to 245 days to fill one, according to a survey. MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford said as of May 21 of this year there were 179 vacancies in various positions across the district. She was responding to advance notice questions that were asked during the ongoing NSW Rural and Regional Health Care Outcomes Survey. The average length of vacant positions for nurses and midwives, as well as registered nurses, is approximately 59 days in the MLHD. However, the longest time it took to fill these positions was 216 days and 245 days, respectively. “Longer-than-average vacancies occur for difficult-to-fill geographic locations and highly specialized roles,” Ms. Ludford said. “Vacant positions are re-posted when there are no suitable candidates during the recruitment phase. Ms. Ludford said staffing levels at the 33 MLHD hospitals are reviewed annually. Each site is assessed with similar facilities and minimum staffing requirements, but local managers can staff above that level if necessary, she said. The NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) conducts an annual health workforce needs assessment, which identified both a nursing shortage in rural NSW and an increased demand for nurses in health facilities and care for the elderly. Since 2012, there has been an increase in nursing job postings of over 50 percent, as well as a 34 percent increase in senior and disabled care listings in regional regions. “It is estimated that a third of all current vacancies occur in rural areas despite the recent end of subsidies to job guards,” said RDN CEO Richard Colbran. “The disproportionately high general vacancy rate in rural areas is likely to impact the workforce available to support elderly residents in rural New South Wales.” The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said that “the pay and standard conditions for nurses and midwives in NSW have lagged behind those in other states,” arguing that workers can “earn more by working in other states” and look for a job there instead. READ MORE The association also said safe workloads and working environments are needed to attract staff and prevent burnout and increasing attrition rates. “Nurses and midwives are not attracted to services that do not provide safe care and they describe a growing reluctance to submit to the risk of being involved in an unwanted incident by working in an understaffed service. “said the association. “They know that the right staff and the right mix of skills provide better patient care and limit adverse events.” Ms Ludford said eight of the 33 MLHD hospital sites have security staff, who are engaged in a risk assessment. In the past two years, six staff members have been injured by aggressive or violent patient behavior – four at Wagga Base Hospital, one in Deniliquin and one in Holbrook. Wagga and Deniliquin have security personnel on site, but Holbrook does not. “All staff receive the appropriate training in violence prevention and management to ensure they can help their colleagues in the event of an incident,” said Ms Ludford. “All staff working in the emergency services wear personal duress alarms to call for help from both co-workers and the local police if needed.” Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can access our trusted content:

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Growing numbers of advanced practice providers play a critical role in rural health care

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John M. Price
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Along the way, she began to consider another path that would require fewer years of training and offer personal and professional benefits.

Brooks decided to pursue a career as a medical assistant and enrolled in the medical assistant degree program at the University of North Dakota.

As part of her degree requirements in the program, which emphasizes family medicine and rural health care, Brooks completed a two-month rotation at the Nelson County Health System in McVille, ND. She obtained a master’s degree in 2018 and joined this health system in July that year.

“I really like the flexibility that comes with being a childminder,” she said. “PAs have this great ability to have the flexibility to enter any specialty they want. … It was something that was very important to me.

And there are benefits to family life, Brooks said. She and her husband welcomed their first children, twins, in February.

“I also like the flexibility in the sense that I can have a family and be present at home, but also have a full-time career at the same time.”

She is one of three advanced practice providers who work with the sole physician, Dr. Erling Martinson, at the Nelson County Health System, based in McVille, ND. The healthcare system includes a clinic, hospital, emergency room, and long-term care facilities, and operates a satellite clinic in Michigan, ND

Growing field

Brooks is one of a growing number of medical professionals joining the ranks of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in North Dakota and Minnesota.

These professionals – commonly referred to as “advanced practice providers” – fill a significant health care need, many of them in rural areas where it is often difficult, if not impossible, to attract and retain physicians. .

In North Dakota, to date, 890 medical assistant licenses have been issued, according to the state Board of Medicine. The board cannot report the number of active licenses at certain times, said Sandra DePountis, executive director, and the number of licenses issued does not match the number of licensees actively practicing in the state. By the end of 2001, a total of 274 had been issued, and by the end of 2011, 472 had been issued.

In addition, in North Dakota, the number of registered nurse practitioners stands at 1,464, according to the North Dakota Board of Nursing. This compares to the 812 listed in the board’s 2019-2020 annual report and 329 in 2006-07, said Stacey Pfenning, executive director.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the number of healthcare professionals licensed as advanced practice nurses has more than doubled since 2010, from 4,846 to 10,312 today. These health care professionals are licensed as registered nurse midwives, registered nurse practitioners, registered registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists.

The number of registered nurse practitioners in Minnesota has increased from 2,682 in 2010 to 6,061 in 2020, according to the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

The number of PAs authorized in Minnesota increased from 305 in 2000 to 1,209 in 2010. Today, that total is 3,682, according to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.

This growing pool of advanced practice providers is a trend that rural health care leaders are pleased to see.

“The pool of applicants has grown significantly,” said Gabriel Mooney, CEO of Kittson Health Care in Hallock, Minn. Four years ago, when he was an Altru employee, “we were begging for COVID physician assistants and nurses, things have changed; now there are some who are looking for work. The terrain has changed. I attribute most of this to schooling; there are more schools (and they) are removing more providers than before.

Kittson’s health care system serves the whole of Kittson County. Its service area has a population of about 4,300 people, some from outside the county, Mooney said.

Kittson Health Care employs five advanced practice providers – two nurse practitioners and two physician assistants who provide family medicine care and a psychiatric nurse practitioner, whose practice focuses solely on behavioral health in areas such as anxiety. , depression and bipolar disorder.

Employing a behavioral health professional “has been a great addition for us,” Mooney said.

The primary role of these advanced practice health professionals is clinical practice, he said, and as “extension physicians they can do a lot of what a physician can do.”

The system employs a 24/7 physician for emergency room monitoring and another full-time physician for the clinic.

The advanced practice providers, who provide “a great opportunity to be able to see someone faster than a doctor and (can take care of) some of those less serious and less complex patients than a doctor would see,” said Mooney said.

They fill the role of the primary care provider – the patient’s first contact with the system – so the more complex cases would go to the doctor, Mooney said. “And we just don’t have the doctors like a larger system would. “

While their knowledge base, education, training and scope of service are similar, NPs can act more independently than MAs, Mooney said. “It’s really bloated over the last few years that I’ve seen, in a positive way, (and MAs) can act more independently, which really takes the weight and stress off doctors.”

In Minnesota, MAs and NPSs can now practice independently, without physician supervision, and can be lead practitioners in clinical practice, according to a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Health.

Recent changes in North Dakota law have also allowed greater independence in the way a PA operates.

Motivated to “give back”

At the Nelson County Health System, which serves a population of nearly 3,000 people, advanced practice providers are driven by a desire to “give back to the community,” said Chris Haseleu, CEO. “There’s a lot more personal involvement with (health care). The people who work here want (to make sure) that the people they know here are well looked after.

The system operates the only hospital – a level 5 trauma hospital – in Nelson County; the others closest are to Northwood and Cooperstown.

The advanced practice providers “are truly improving the state of healthcare and the quality of life for the people in the community we serve here,” Haseleu said, “and with this commitment to individuals, they advance medical services. and are aware of (new medical developments and technology). ”

The presence of these providers on the front lines of health care delivery has been vital for many small rural communities.

“Without advanced practice providers, the rural healthcare landscape would change dramatically for the negative, and this would impact patient care – and that’s where I focus and my role is: what’s the point. better for our patients and the care they receive. We have to have these intermediate levels there, ”Mooney said.


Influx of medical students could overwhelm Montana’s resources | Education

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John M. Price
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Opening two new medical schools in Montana would stretch and possibly overwhelm the state’s physicians who provide the clinical training students need to become physicians, according to leaders of a medical school program in Montana. the University of Washington which relies on these teaching physicians.

The WWAMI program at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Montana requires its students who have completed their academic work to complete internships and clinical placements to graduate, and then these graduates must be matched with residencies. WWAMI – an acronym for the five states participating in the program: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho – uses hundreds of Montana doctors for this hands-on training, in addition to doctors from the other four states.

This is why plans by the for-profit Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine to build a campus in Billings and the non-profit Touro College and University System to build a school of osteopathic medicine in Great Falls worry WWAMI officials. .

“Everyone’s biggest concern is clinical resources,” said Dr. Suzanne Allen, associate dean of academic, rural and regional affairs at UW Medical School. “At some point, there aren’t enough of these clinical resources for everyone to have a good learning experience. “

The University of Washington is a school of allopathic medicine, graduates of which are MDs, while the proposed schools in Montana would train doctors of osteopathic medicine. Both types of physicians are fully licensed physicians. Students study the same program and participate in the same clinical training, but they take different licensing exams, and schools are accredited by different panels: the Liaison Committee on Medical Education for Allopathic Schools and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation for Osteopathic Schools. .

Dr Jay Erickson, associate dean for regional affairs and rural health and associate clinical dean for Montana WWAMI, criticized the lax accreditation standards of osteopathic schools for creating a potential blockage for medical students Montana that could affect its program.

“The LCME which accredits allopathic medicine schools would never approve two new medical schools in a state of 1 million people with limited clinical teaching opportunities that are widely used by Montana WWAMI and existing residences,” said Erickson said in an email.

Rocky Vista, which has schools in Colorado and Utah, announced in May that the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation had approved its plan to build a Billings campus. Touro’s request, which has campuses across the country, for a facility in Great Falls is expected to be considered at the committee’s August meeting.

Opening new medical schools would provide more places for students in the state who might otherwise be rejected due to WWAMI’s thresholds. Montana WWAMI only accepts 30 students per year. In Alaska and Wyoming, it’s 20 students per year. In Idaho, it’s 40, and in Washington, it’s 160 split between Seattle and Spokane. All WWAMI students must be residents of the state to which they are applying.

These in-class slots do not necessarily guarantee more on-the-job training opportunities. This work represents about half of the training of a medical student.

During the first two years, students in the WWAMI program receive classroom instruction at affiliated universities, such as Montana State University in Bozeman. Then, in their third and fourth years, WWAMI students are required to complete internships and clinical placements with physicians the program uses as clinical professors or teaching physicians, statewide.

Approximately 230 WWAMI students from the five states participate in internships in Montana as well as internships in the other four states. Other medical schools, including the College of Osteopathic Medicine of Idaho and the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Pacific Northwest University, also use Montana for the clinical training of their students.

The concern of school officials and some of these teaching physicians is that the influx of students that the two new medical schools would bring could lead to increased competition and hamper the hands-on training that clinical placements are designed to provide.

Dr KayCee Gardner, a 36-year-old WWAMI graduate, practices family medicine in Miles City and trains WWAMI students.

“I just hope that with the construction of more medical schools, there will be enough teachers and enough places for them to get a good rotation and not just watch the back,” he said. Gardner said.

Another point of concern is how the new Montana schools will affect residencies, which all medical students must complete after graduating to become certified physicians. Internships in residence are already very competitive, depending on the hospital and the specialty. WWAMI students are encouraged to search for residences in the Five State area.

Since many physicians end up staying in the region where they perform their residency, it is important for the goal of training physicians for rural and underserved communities, such as Montana and Idaho, which schools encourage. students to perform residencies in the state.

Four years ago, Idaho went through the uncertainty that Montana is now going through. This was when the for-profit Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded, which raised concerns that the school would hamper the clinical training opportunities for WWAMI students there.

Dr Tracy Farnsworth, President of ICOM, said the school has created more than 50 clinical affiliations and hundreds of affiliations with private physicians to avoid conflict.

Now, Farnsworth and WWAMI Idaho Director Dr Jeff Seegmiller say their schools are united by a goal of increasing the number of physicians per capita in Idaho, the second worst ratio in the country.

“In our opinion, we need WWAMI, but we also need the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. To become something other than the last in the nation for physicians, you need more resources, more ability to generate physicians, ”Farnsworth said.

ICOM has 486 students compared to 160 for WWAMI Idaho, and about three-quarters of the for-profit school’s students come from states outside of Idaho and the region.

Of the more than 800 physicians who have been trained through the Idaho WWAMI program, 51% of graduates return to practice in Idaho, according to Seegmiller.

ICOM’s first class will graduate in May 2022, so it’s unclear how many of its students will return to the state.

Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is awaiting approval from accrediting agencies, plans to accept 125 students each year and train them with affiliates in Montana, as well as send some students out of state for their internships and rotations, according to Dr. Alan Kadish, president of the Collegiate and University system of Touro.

He said Touro plans to give preference to Montana residents but does not have a quota on how many in-state and out-of-state students he will accept.

“With our [osteopathic] model and augment primary care residences, we believe we will encourage students to enter primary care and stay in the state, ”Kadish said.

To see what else is happening in County Gallatin, subscribe to the online journal.


in the chair with Mabel Payne | In the chair

By
John M. Price
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AGE: 74.

OCCUPATION: Registered nurse.

RESIDENCE: Where is.

BORN, RAISED AND GROWN IN: Radcliff, Ky. (Hardin County).

AT THIS TIME I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF: Being a grandmother of five and being a volunteer coordinator at Westerly Hospital … a group that provides such a valuable service to our hospital community.

I FACE THE PANDEMIC IN: Watching Hallmark movies, which made it worse for everyone in the house.

MY MOST PROUD ACHIEVEMENT: With the support and dedication of the staff at Westerly Hospital, as Nurse Manager, and under the leadership of the former Westerly Hospital Medical Director, Dr Dick Lain, we helped open the clinic. Westerly Hospital Women’s Health. Dr Lain not only supported and encouraged the hospital to bring ‘single room maternity care’ to the hospital, but we also became the second hospital in the state to have midwives on staff and the 56th hospital in the country, out of 6,000 eligible hospitals, to become accredited as a “baby-friendly hospital”.

TOP ON MY BUCKET LIST: Paris, France.

I ALWAYS WEAR / WEAR: Smart watch.

WHAT I WANTED TO BE BIG: A nurse.

MY HEROES ARE: Jackie Desmond and Tricia Barber. They are the most compassionate nurses and always put the needs of their patients and the community first.

FAVORITE AUTHORS: Barbara Delinsky, Mary Higgins Clark, Danielle Steele.

BOOKS ON MY NIGHT TABLE: “A Year by the Sea” by Jane Anderson, “A Week by the Sea” by Barbara Delinsky.

THREE BEST MUSICIANS ON MY PLAYLIST: Neil Diamond, the Beach Boys and Elvis.

THREE FAVORITE FILMS OF ALL TIME: “White Christmas”, “Pretty Woman” and “Titanic”.

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: “Law and Order”, “NCIS” and “Jeopardy!”

FAVORITE RADIO / SHOWS / PODCAST STATION: Sirius XM 50 out of 5 and 60 out of 6.

TOP COMFORT FEEDING: Chocolate.

SOCIAL MEDIA SITES I MAINLY USE: I still use the phone to communicate.

PETS : When someone says “It’s not my job.”

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Don’t ask me a question if you don’t want an answer.”

MY FAVORITE THING ON OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD: The dedicated members of our community who are selfless in giving of their time and resources.

CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT: Family and friends.

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT ME: My uncle drove the Indianapolis 500 race car.

BEST TIP I EVER RECEIVED: From Walter Panone, Director of Nursing: “Think outside the box.

TIPS I LIKE MOST TO GIVE: You can be whatever you want to be.

I DRIVE TO: Blue Audi.

I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE A: Same.

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE: Sweet tea.

IF I COULD INVITE A SPECIAL PERSON TO JOIN ME FOR DINNER AND CONVERSATION, I WOULD INVITE: Jack Payne, my husband for 53 years.

– Interview arranged and edited by Nancy Burns-Fusaro


Students in the Granville area obtain diplomas and places on the dean’s lists of universities

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John M. Price
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Musson graduates from Clark University

Camille B. Musson, of Granville, Ohio, graduated from Clark University in the 117th University commencement exercises on Saturday June 12 and Sunday June 13. Musson received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Asian Studies with distinction. Musson is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

The University awarded 490 bachelor’s degrees, 501 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates, and conferred three honorary degrees during the two ceremonies.

Students Make President’s List at University of Miami

University of Miami students who are ranked in the top three percent of undergraduate students within each division for the second semester 2020-21 have been named to the President’s List for Academic Excellence. They include:

McKenna Fuhrman graduates with Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing

Grace Petryk graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Premedical Studies

Jake Stone graduates with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting

Nate Stone graduates with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting

Purvis and Wolfe on Findlay’s Dean’s List

The Dean’s List for the Spring Semester 2021 at the University of Findlay has been announced. To achieve this achievement, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.0.

Students from the Granville area who were on the list include Lacey Purvis and Thomas Wolfe.

Granville residents are on the Dean of Alabama’s list

A total of 11,813 students enrolled in the spring 2021 semester at the University of Alabama made the Dean’s List with academic records of 3.5 or greater (on a scale of 4.0), or the President’s list with academic records of 4.0 (all A’s).

The AU Dean’s and President’s Lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or to undergraduates taking less than a full course load.

Granville residents who made the list include: Jonathan Brower, Julie Patton and Alexis Van Winkle.

Ohio University announces spring 2021 graduates

Over 4,800 students graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate for the 2021 spring semester. Students in the Granville area included:

Elle Dickerman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University.

Wyatt Caravana graduated from the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication with Honors in Communication Studies.

Amanda Gottfried received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University.

Tyler Melcher received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Applied Plant Biology from the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University.

Sarah Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University.

Emma Petryk graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Justin Thompson received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a major in Journalistic News and Information from the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.

Green Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University

Noah Green of Granville graduated this spring from Ohio Wesleyan University. Green graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Cum Laude and was majoring in Music Composition.

McGonagle graduated from the University of the Capital

Abby McGonagle was one of nearly 550 graduates who received their undergraduate degrees from Capital at the University’s 171st launch ceremony in May 2021. McGonagle earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Neumann obtains his Stanislas State diploma

After spending their final year at Stanislaus State in virtual and online spaces due to the pandemic, graduates of the Class of 2021 gathered on campus last week for the ultimate in-person event: the 61st Stanislaus Launch. State.

Kara Neumann from Granville graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences.


Republican anti-vax delirium | The Economist

By
John M. Price
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0


INEAR MAY, with the Food and Drug Administration slated to approve the first covid-19 vaccine for teens any day, Michelle Fiscus found herself answering questions from Tennessee vaccine distributors about what that would mean in practice. Could 12-15 year olds be vaccinated without parental permission, for example? Dr Fiscus, the government official in charge of vaccinations, deferred the official legal opinion on this matter. Referring to a 34-year-old Tennessee Supreme Court ruling, he noted that any reasonable 14-year-old could apply for a vaccine on their own. What happened next, according to Dr Fiscus, “can only be described as bizarre.”

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His note was shared on social media, seized by angry conservatives and the Tennessee Department of Health duly accused of plotting to destroy families and subvert children. Sensing an opportunity, the Tennessee Republican legislature summoned state public health officials to explain why they were “targeting” young people and the innocent in this “reprehensible” manner. A lawmaker has called for the dissolution of the health department.

The department is committed to making less effort to vaccinate Tenness̩ens against covid-19 and other diseases. According to reports and internal emails presented to Lexington by Dr Fiscus, this meant the end of all adolescent vaccination campaigns. Any teenager in Tennessee who received a first covid jab no longer receives a reminder to show up for the second; the department has stopped sending information about vaccinations Рagainst measles and meningitis as well as covid-19 Рto schools. This week, Dr Fiscus was asked to resign. When the veteran pediatrician refused, she was fired.

America has a long history of anti-vax conspiracy theories. But the vaccine denial that has gripped the Republican Party in Tennessee and everywhere is unprecedented. Past anti-vax movements have been disparate, marginal and, at least on an individual basis, sensitive to patient deterrence. Their followers included wealthy suburban California mothers, duped by misinformation about the risks of immunizing babies, and poor African Americans, with a partly justified suspicion of the medical profession. The results, on the whole, have been small outbreaks of measles and a marginal contribution to the ill health of black Americans.

Anti-covid vax sentiment on the right, on the other hand, is fueled by the country’s deepest divisions and the conservative entrepreneurs, in media and politics, making them worse. This explains why the U.S. vaccination rate has slowed in recent weeks, despite the availability of vaccines, an increase in infections and deaths, and the fact that a third of adults have not received a first dose. Polls suggest that this large minority is predominantly Republican. He represents half of the party’s voters, predictably dominated by its most pessimistic and conspiratorial groups, the white evangelicals and the rural: the Trumpian base.

The problem looks even worse – politically, economically and healthily – where these voters are concentrated. Vaccination rates are lowest anywhere Donald Trump won last November. In Tennessee, where he garnered 61% of the vote, 43% had a first dose. In Ohio, a more divided state with a pragmatic governor like Mike DeWine, that’s just over 48% hope. But in Ohio’s more conservative counties, the rate is plummeting. In Holmes County where the former president won 83% of the vote, 15% of people had a first dose. The chances of succumbing to the virus in such places are also high; 99% of recent deaths from Covid-19 in America had not been vaccinated.

It’s tempting to see this calamity as a predictable shift in the politicization of American identity, be it race, sexuality, or attitudes toward health care. However, it was not inevitable. The one thing Mr. Trump has had in an impressive way in his handling of the pandemic was his early investment in vaccines that his constituents now see as unnecessary or part of a Democratic plot to spy on their guts. Poisoning the minds and endangering the bodies of so many Republican voters took a concerted campaign.

Mr. Trump is primarily responsible for this. Analysis by political scientist Shana Gadarian suggests skepticism about covid-19 vaccines is largely a consequence of her efforts to downplay the virus and mitigation measures such as mask wear. As often with Mr. Trump, it was an approach that blended conservative ideology, demagoguery, and personal strangeness. The Conservatives favor freedom of choice over the common good; demagogues reject expert advice to propagate their own reality; and Mr. Trump, a conservative demogogue but also a longtime conspiracy theorist, likely believed some of his own misinformation.

Just a little prick

He was once a well-known anti-vaxxer, which may explain why he didn’t make his own covid jab known until weeks after it took place. By playing down his role in vaccinations in this way, he allowed like-minded entrepreneurs like Tucker Carlson to disparage and blame the beating – one of the Republican government’s biggest hits in years – on Joe Biden. Fox News’ biggest star calls an effort by the Biden administration to scale up local vaccination campaigns “the biggest scandal of my life.”

This extreme politicization has encouraged vaccine-hesitant Republicans to dig in. To be conservative is now to be largely against the vaccine against covid-19. And interviews with senior officials in Ohio and Tennessee (including Mr DeWine, who recently completed a tour of statewide vaccination centers) suggested there was little confidence that it can be reversed.

Some public health experts have questioned whether the Delta acceleration variant might tip the scales. But that seems unlikely. Tennessee, like other states, has seen so many deaths already. “It’s a mystery to me why watching your loved ones die from an infectious disease that we can easily prevent doesn’t make more people reconsider,” said Dr Fiscus, revealing, once again, the feeling pro -insidious life that brought her kicked out. â– 

For more information on Joe Biden’s presidency, visit our dedicated hub. All of our pandemic and vaccine related stories can be found on our coronavirus hub.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the title “The Anti-Vax Illusion”


SOMC internship program gives nursing students a head start in their careers

By
John M. Price
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0


PORTSMOUTH – As a nursing student Taylor McQuay was learning to be a nurse – but it wasn’t until she joined SOMC’s nursing intern program that she felt like she really was. .

“I had a semester under my belt before I started the internship program,” she said. “I felt like it really improved my education. It also showed me where I wanted to take my nursing career.

SOMC’s Nursing Internship Program helps nursing students gain this advantage by taking them through various departments where they gain hands-on, real-world experience. It is designed to give them a better idea of ​​the profession, improving what they have received from the classroom and helping them find the right place they would like to work after graduation.

“The program really helps them gain confidence,” said Amy Fraulini, director of intensive care and cardiac and vascular services at SOMC.

Fraulini, who oversees the nursing internship program, added that “it improves their critical thinking skills, helps them learn to prioritize their work and strengthens their communication skills. It also allows them to see how the different departments of the hospital are functioning. They better understand the care provided in these areas and see the patient populations they serve.

Nursing interns are assigned “hip to hip” with a nurse, which gives them a clear idea of ​​what it’s like to work in this field.

For McQuay, one of the biggest benefits of the program was the opportunity it gave him to learn about the equipment used by nurses. In addition, she felt more comfortable interacting with patients than students who had not participated in the program. It also made it easier for her to decide where she wanted to work after graduation.

“I really think going through each department gave me a more complete view of each area,” McQuay said. “It has allowed me to appreciate healthcare as a whole and has helped me understand the unique challenges facing the different units. I was also able to build relationships on each unit before deciding where I wanted to start my career.

McQuay eventually accepted a full-time position in SOMC’s intensive care unit before he even graduated. She credits the internship program for making this possible. Stories like McQuay’s have helped the nursing internship program grow dramatically since its inception about five years ago.

“When we started our first year, we had less than 20 interns,” said Fraulini. “Now at one point we have about 80 students in the program.”

To be eligible, the nursing student must have completed the first nursing school basic care course. The SOMC program rotates students in medico-surgical and specialized units. Interns can work as little as four – or up to 40 – hours per week and tailor their hours to their school schedules. Interns are also eligible for SOMC’s Tuition Assistance Program to help cover the cost of their studies. Visit somc.org to apply.


Best Disc Golf Course: Aval 2021 | Recreation

By
John M. Price
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0


Photo of young Kwak

Of the city’s three 18-hole courses, Downriver falls squarely into the Goldilocks area.

On a stifling summer day, the shade of tall and old ponderosa pines can only bring some relief. However, a cool, fast body of water can do a lot more to beat the heat. The Disc Golf Downriver course on the northwest side of Spokane has both.

Nestled along a bend in the river just downstream from the TJ Meenach Bridge and wedged between Downriver Golf Course and Riverside State Park, Downriver Disc Golf is surprisingly close to nature even if you don’t. are just a few jets from town.

“It seems there is a lot less foot traffic from non-players than High Bridge [Disc Golf Course]”Says Patrick O’Brien, Spokane disc golfer.” I also love that you have a view of the water, although some of my records have been claimed. ”

The river is a magnificent sight, but it is also a giant and omnipresent water trap. Soon, however, this will no longer be the only water trap for players. Following a modernization of Spokane’s stormwater runoff system, Downriver is on the verge of a serious facelift. Twenty years after its development, the disc golf course will soon be modified and modernized as the water filtration basins are installed.

How much of this will change the course remains to be seen, but it likely won’t be enough to dispel the haunting rumors about the location.

“It’s a tough course with really fun workouts,” says local disc golfer Dylan Worlock, “and a scary story, if this concrete foundation really has to do with an institution.”

Ask anyone who regularly plays on the course and you’ll hear variations on a story about what was there. While not a haunted graveyard, the course’s past life is certainly ghost story material. It housed the Riverpark Convalescent Center until 1992, when the nursing home was closed by state regulators after inadequate medical care resulted in the deaths of several residents. Built in 1902, the four-story structure lay abandoned for a year before burning to the ground in an alleged arson attack. What little remains of the installation has been incorporated into the course itself.

Of the city’s three 18-hole courses, Downriver falls squarely into the Goldilocks area. Not as easy or crowded as High Bridge, but not as difficult or demanding as Camp Sekani. It will be interesting to see what happens to Downriver after the town renovations, but for now it’s in a situation where it’s fair. And just being in fact the best of the inner northwest.

2nd PLACE: High Bridge disc golf course; 3rd PLACE: Jamboree at Camp Sekani; BEST OF NORTH IDAHO: Corbin Park, Post Falls, Farragut State Park, Athol (tie)


RCN Temporarily Suspends Board Member Pending Investigation

By
John M. Price
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0


The Royal College of Nursing has announced that Dave Dawes has now been formally suspended from his duties on the board pending an investigation into his conduct.

It was revealed yesterday that Mr Dawes will be voluntarily stepping down as chair of the RCN’s governing body while the college investigates the complaints that have been made against him.

In addition to being chairman of the board, Mr. Dawes had also been a member of the MRC’s board for the Northwest region – a position he was to retain during the investigation.

However, in an update released today, the RCN said Mr Dawes has now been suspended from both functions.

A declaration on the college’s website, read: “Dave Dawes has been temporarily suspended from the board and his seat in the Northwest region, pending the outcome of the external investigation.”

Mr Dawes is replaced as Interim Chairman of the Board by the current Vice-Chairman, Carol Popplestone. It has not yet been confirmed if anyone will take their seat on the Northwestern board.

“I remain optimistic about the outcome of the process and intend to clear my name”

Dave dawes

In response to the latest update, Mr Dawes said Breastfeeding time he was “disappointed that the NCR is releasing all the details of an allegedly confidential process”.

He said he feared internal policies were “not being followed”.

“However, I remain optimistic about the outcome of the process and intend to clear my name,” he added.

The RCN told staff members in an email on Tuesday that several “concerns and complaints” had been received about Mr Dawes’ conduct, following a live question-and-answer session at the college last week. .

Sources at the college said Breastfeeding time that Mr. Dawes allegedly made “disparaging and inflammatory remarks” about colleagues.

Tuesday’s announcement was greeted with calls from some nurses to have Mr Dawes suspended while the investigation unfolded, as reported Care time.

Mr Dawes had served as chairman for less than a year, having been appointed last September following the resignation of Dee Sissons.

The news comes shortly after the resignation of RCR board member Dr Joan Myers, who urged the board to make “sweeping changes” and raised concerns about diversity.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the college’s executive director and general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair also announced that she was stepping down.


OKC Nursing Program Offers Guaranteed Employment and Experience for Students

By
John M. Price
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0


A new program built in Oklahoma City may soon help get better-trained nurses into local hospitals faster.

The program, called Integris Health University, is designed to streamline the process between school and full-time employment for Oklahoma nursing students. Students receive work experience and can secure a contract at a local hospital after graduation through the program.

“This program, I think, helps us, as well as Oklahoma in general, because I know there has always been a shortage of nurses,” said Masen Neifing, a certified practical nurse who was among the 20 students. of the pilot group of the program. “And getting into this program is just an amazing opportunity because I can go to school without being in debt, first of all, and I have the opportunity to have some hands-on experience while learning nursing.

Students like Neifing earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Oklahoma Christian University while providing full-time or part-time patient care at Integris Baptist Medical Center.

The worker-focused college program is an attempt to increase the number of nurses in the state and stem the flow of healthcare workers leaving Oklahoma for jobs elsewhere.

After:What you need to know about COVID-19 home testing

Governor Kevin Stitt visited Integris on Tuesday morning to speak with students and staff while learning more about the courses.

The idea for the program came from Brandon Tatum, director of strategy at OCU, who began discussing with Integris two years ago the possibility of moving more nursing assistants and technicians to clinical settings to provide long-term care.

Implementing a hybrid model of online courses and in-person work, the program started as a pilot project last year, and participants said the unique challenges during the pandemic highlighted the urgent need to more nurses.

“As you work in the unit, you can really see that there are no nurses present,” said Alyssa Hamill, another member of the CNA program. “There is a huge patient load on these nurses, and every time you have such a heavy patient load, it’s so difficult for them to give each patient the care they really need to be healed. “

After:Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health offers sports physical exams for children

Burnout is one of the main reasons nurses leave the profession in Oklahoma and across the country. The drastic increase in the number of patients due to COVID-19 has opened the eyes of students to the harsh realities of the profession.

The cost to participate in the program is $ 7,500 per year, with books and other supplies costing an additional $ 3,000.

“It’s so profitable,” CNA Lesley Mora said. “I was excited and relieved, just because, being first generation, it’s very difficult to get into college because of the cost. And maybe the notes are there, but the financial picture is not there, so it’s really good to have a program that is profitable.

In addition to being offered health benefits as employees of Integris, some program participants are eligible for tuition reimbursement, and full-time students like Hamill receive $ 2,500 per semester to help cover. the costs.

Once their time in the program is over and they have passed the licensing exam, students are immediately hired.

“One of the things we’re seeing is that nurses in these units are investing in students because they know they’re going to be their peers,” said Jennifer Gray, dean of the College of Professional Studies at the ‘UCO. “They’re going to be working with them in a few years, so they have a real commitment to making sure they learn what they need to learn. “

Approximately 100 students will participate in the fall semester of the program, and OCU is looking to expand similar programs to other healthcare institutions outside of the metro area.


Tissue engineering matures

By
John M. Price
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0


The field of regenerative medicine recently reached a remarkable milestone when four women regained their full sexual function after the successful implantation of lab-grown vaginas created from their own cells. The women, aged thirteen to eighteen, were born with a rare condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) which left them with an abnormal or missing vagina. Each woman underwent a newly designed procedure that involved taking samples of the patient’s own cells and growing them into tissue. This fabric was then placed on a hand-sewn scaffolding with collagen-like fibers and uniquely shaped to fit each woman’s vaginal cavity. Once the organ reached full maturity, it was implanted in a canal in each woman’s pelvis, with the scaffold sewn by hand. Within six months, the biodegradable scaffolding dissolved, and in each of the four women, lab-grown vaginas began to function as native working organs.

This procedure is a major advance in the field of regenerative medicine and signifies the importance of using a patient’s own cells to grow new organs to eliminate the need for organ donors and immunosuppressive drugs. Until now, treatments for MRKHS have only involved surgical reconstruction. In the future, these lab-grown vaginas may also have the ability to help women whose genitals are destroyed or disfigured due to trauma and injury.

To build these personalized vaginas, researchers remove a small piece of vulvar tissue from each patient. The cells are grown in several dishes in a federally accredited laboratory before being transferred to a scaffold. Since vaginas are made up of two layers of specialized cells, researchers then extract muscle cells and vaginal epithelial cells from each tissue sample to strategically place them on a customizable 3D biodegradable scaffold. Researchers create these layers by placing one type of cell on one side of a scaffold, made of a hand-sewn fabric-like fabric, and placing the other type of cell on the other side of the scaffolding. The structure is placed inside a bioreactor, an oven-like device suitable for growing human cells, until the organ is mature.

Once ready for the transplant, doctors surgically construct a cavity in each patient’s body and sew one side of the vaginal organ to the opening of the cavity and the other side to the uterus. After implantation, nerves and blood vessels naturally form and cells expand to develop new tissue. During this time, the original material is absorbed by the body and the permanent connective tissue replaces the designed scaffolding. In total, the process of creating an organ ready for transplantation takes around five to six weeks.

For the next five to eight years, researchers ordered annual check-ups of organs using x-rays and biopsies to monitor their structure. These follow-up tests proved that lab-grown vaginas were almost indistinguishable from those of a healthy native organ, and the scaffolding had fully developed into three-layered vaginal tissue. All four women are now sexually active and report normal vaginal function. Two of the four women, born with a healthy uterus but a missing vagina, also reported having their period normally. While wishing to remain anonymous, one of the subjects states: “When I found out that there was this possibility for me, I was very happy. It is important to let other girls who are having the same problem know that it doesn’t end in knowing you have the disease because there is a cure and you can have a normal life.

Dr Anthony Atala, MD with whom I co-founded the Society for Regenerative Medicine and the Journal for Regenerative Medicine in 2000. Our hope was to catalyze the rapid development of a new specialty to be pursued in new universities. and research centers around the world. Over the years, we have hosted an annual seminar series on the importance of regenerative medicine, which includes cell therapy, protein therapy, tissue engineering, and biomechanical prosthetics, among others.

When I coined the term regenerative medicine for the first time at a conference in Lake Como, Italy, in 1999, I explained its promise: to restore the body to normal, whether it is injured by a trauma, damaged by disease, or worn out over time. Regenerative medicine, however, is not limited to the use of stem cells. The original definition includes all interventions that restore the body to normal function. It was and is my belief that the desire of people for medicine lies in the reestablishment of a normal state of health regardless of the mode of intervention. Tissue engineering, as illustrated here, is proving to be one of the most exciting new developments in this field.

Throughout the intervening years, progress has been slower than we initially expected. The world of tissue engineering suffered a major setback in 2011 and 2012 when researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden claimed to have successfully transplanted synthetic tracheae in three patients, prepared from the bone marrow tissue of each individual. . The first of them died within 30 months of the operation, the second patient within four months and the third after experiencing major complications from the operation and undergoing treatment for nearly five years. This high-profile failure was a serious setback for the field and led to increased doubts about the availability of these new techniques. It is in this context that Dr Atala’s work at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine can be seen as a big step forward.

After successfully implanting the first lab-grown organ, a bladder, to instill in humans, Dr Atala assembled a team of over four hundred employees who are now recognized as international leaders in translating scientific findings into clinical therapies. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is currently working and successfully replacing four categories of tissues and organs – flat structures, tubular tissues, hollow organs, and solid organs – and fifteen different applications of cell / tissue therapy technologies that have been used. in human patients such as skin, urethra, cartilage, bladder, muscles, kidneys and vaginal organs. This, along with other recent advances, proves that tissue regeneration and transplantation is progressing successfully through the persistence and diligence of researchers.

Bentley Higby, a summer intern at the foundation I chair, ACCESS Health International, recently received a tour of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine facilities, located in the heart of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was able to see first-hand the evolution of new treatments being developed in the laboratory. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine infrastructure is state-of-the-art with an FDA-approved in-house clinical manufacturing center that accelerates discoveries to accelerate from the lab to the bedside. The visit included a hands-on approach to printing mini-organs for drug testing. Bentley also had the opportunity to see various scaffolding such as an ear and various bodies on chips which are slides on which a miniature organ of choice is printed to be used for drug testing.

When asked where he sees regenerative medicine advancing over the next ten years, Dr Atala said he was confident there would be a continued transition of technologies from bench to bedside as well as more advanced technology that reaches patients. Speaking about his greatest accomplishments in the lab, he summed up his work by adding: “The bottom line is to try to improve patients and, ultimately, if we can improve the lives of patients through technology. regenerative medicine, it’s a good day for us. He also noted that an important step for the public is to educate themselves about the processes behind regenerative medicine and to keep abreast of recent discoveries. Without the help of the public, there will be no one to fund these medical discoveries or to have open and honest conversations about the limits of ethics.

It is clear from this published work as well as from Bentley Higby’s visit to the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine that we are on the cusp of a new era in medicine – one where we can regrow complex organs. It is still difficult to predict how long this will take but hope is clearly on the horizon. In a closing statement, Dr Atala said it will take patience to make this dream come true. He concluded: “Please temper the concept of regenerative medicine with the fact that these technologies take time in terms of development. It’s important to educate yourself about the technologies, but also to be patient with them as they advance.


Picayune clinic responds to lack of health insurance

By
John M. Price
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0

PICAYUNE, Miss. (WLOX) – Health has been one of the most talked about topics over the past two years due to the pandemic.

Many Mississippians depend on drugs for their health needs, but, in 2019, there were only 12.3% of people in the state without health insurance, according to the US Census Bureau.

People in Mississippi without health insurance.(WLOX)

As for the state’s coastal counties, 14 to 17 percent of those under the age of 65 do not have health insurance, according to the US Census Bureau.

Coastal residents under 65 do not have health insurance.
Coastal residents under 65 do not have health insurance.(WLOX)

Jameye Martin has been a registered nurse in Picayune for over 40 years.

Martin said she noticed the lack of health resources in the area, which is why she established Manna Ministries Health Clinic in 2005.

“The heart behind opening the medical clinic is that I wanted people to have access to quality care and to have access to the drugs they needed,” she said.

However, Martin said there is a great need for health insurance in the community due to the lack of jobs offering health insurance.

“Our biggest employer is probably the hospital itself as well as the school systems. There really isn’t a lot of industry here in Picayune, ”said Martin.

Martin explained that the clinic launched the Patient Assistance Program months after it opened to help those without health insurance.

Qualifications for the program include being a patient of the facility without health insurance and having the required income according to the pharmaceutical company.

Martin said Manna Ministries has a team that is specifically looking for grants to fund the program.

She also said the clinic receives drug donations from AmeriCares and Direct Relief International, two nonprofits that focus on finding solutions to health care limitations in poorer communities in the United States. United and in the world.

“They came to help us set it up. Direct Relief would give us what they call “Hurricane Packs”. That would be 12 bins full of supplies and drugs that we get from them, ”Martin said. “I have to buy some medicine that we can’t get. For example, if a doctor wanted to introduce his patient to a new drug, then I would have to buy him samples that could support him for up to a month.

The clinic receives on average between 4,200 and 4,500 visits per year.

Last year, Manna Ministries connected her patients with approximately $ 900,000 in free prescriptions.

Martin points out that you don’t have to be a Pearl River County resident to be part of the Patient Assistance Program.

Copyright 2021 WLOX. All rights reserved.

5 job opportunities for medical students

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John M. Price
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0


The pandemic situation is closing off opportunities in many employment sectors due to the crisis in generating new vacancies for new graduates, but the medical field has opened up a formidable new avenue for students. The career chosen in this field has been a blessing in the pandemic situation to save people’s lives; it’s just the doctor’s hand that has become a boon to the covid warriors for the lives of those infected. The various courses include MBBS- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, B. Pharma- Bachelor of Pharmacy, BPT- Bachelor of Physiotherapy, BNYS- Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, and BMLT- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory is in high demand during COVID 19 .

Therefore, a new graduate of these medical courses is placed earlier than any other course in this pandemic crisis.

In a recent report, the Prime Minister of India seeks help from last year’s medical science students at MBBS, BSC. And GNM qualified nurses deployed for covid tasks. There is also extra-easy foresight for last year’s students who complete 100 days of covid duty will be awarded a future regular recruitment by the government. The global crisis has drawn attention to healthcare professionals as they continue to fight on the front lines to protect everyone.

The different opportunities for medical science students eager for a career in 2021 are as follows:

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science (MBBS):

Admission to the MBBS is obtained through the national entrance examination organized by the NTA; this course duration includes a 5.5-year UG study program. MBBS graduates are placed in the hospital as a doctor after completing a one-year internship. One can opt for graduate studies, i.e. a degree of PG after MBBS for MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Masters of Surgery) to improve the job profile.

Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma):

Pharmacy studies is the field of medicine that deals with the study of health and chemical sciences. During these 4 years of undergraduate program, students become aware of various drugs and medications, their use and side effects. The different job opportunities for pharmacy students are: pharmacist, drug inspector, pharmaceutical marketing, quality control and production, medical underwriting, own business or self-employment. Pharmacy graduates are also known to counsel patients and guide them for their misdeeds.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT):

It is the study which includes the diagnosis, treatment, advice and instruction provided to patients with health problems such as movement disorders, bodily dysfunctions, physical disability, healing, traumatic pain, etc. . The job of physiotherapists is to bring the patient back to life. to normal without the use of drugs, but thanks to their technique involving the exercise method, manual therapy, rehabilitation techniques and physical activity. BPT graduates can do the job in various places like consulting physiotherapists in hospitals, NGOs, retirement homes and sports associations etc. with a good package at the initial level of their career.

Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS):

The naturopathic course involves the theory of the body’s healing ability, hormonal immune, nerve and detoxification of the body. BNYS graduates work for patients by giving advice on alternative medications such as Reiki, homeopathy, acupuncture, exercise. Qualified students of BNYS 4-year degree can pursue careers in AYUSH Ministry, National Naturopathic Institute, Ayurvedic Retail Pharmacy, Yoga Shiromani, Naturopathic Marketing are some of the jobs created for this medical program.

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory (BMLT):

The Study of Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) is a three-year undergraduate program in the paramedical sciences that includes sample testing, analysis, preparation of solutions, examination of cells, manipulation of equipment, report writing and documentation. New graduates as a medical laboratory technologist may seek an opportunity among CT technicians, anesthesia technicians, MRI technicians, X-ray technicians, theater technicians, pathology technicians, technicians orthopedics / plaster technicians in hospitals, medical testing laboratories and forensics. Science laboratory.

Written by Dr. Rana Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Sanskriti University

Read more | How important is NEET for entering the medical world?


She started nursing school at 45, then wrote a book

By
John M. Price
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0


Lenora Daniel McWilliams dreamed of being a nurse since she was a child, and after raising her children, that’s exactly what she did.

“I started nursing school on my 45th birthday,” says McWilliams, now 83. “I had wanted to do it all my life, but my kids came first.”

She didn’t say anything to her family when she applied for nursing school.

“When I was accepted, you could hear me screaming all over this place,” says McWilliams, whose youngest child had started high school by then. “I was shocked when I started hearing them all say, ‘We’re going to help you. “”

She took a bus from the depot near her home in Prescott to Hope’s vo-tech school each morning and often returned to her car in the parking lot at night to find a hot meal, ready to be served on the table.

“My windows would be fogged up. I can barely talk about it,” she said, choking. “My daughter took our supper in my car when I got home from school, even though she too had been working all day.”

This gesture of love gave him more time to study at night.

McWilliams achieved the second highest score in his class on the final exam.

“I’m not bragging,” she said. “It was with the help of the Lord that I did it.”

She had been a good student in high school and had maintained strong study habits into adulthood, despite financial difficulties earlier in life.

In her book, “A Sharecropper’s Daughter: Born and Raised in Nevada County Arkansas”, published in 2019, she recounts her childhood, when her family moved from one place to another in Nevada County, picking cotton for them. landowners and reporting only a third. of the money they brought back for the crops.

“Anytime Dad thought he could find a farm with better land to cultivate or better tools to cultivate, we would move again,” she says. “But we had very little in our house.”

She once found the broken head of a porcelain doll. She stuffed an old tobacco bag with discarded cotton and tied its cord around the neck of the doll’s head to make the doll’s body – one of the few toys she had as a child.

The whole family helped pick the cotton during the harvest season, McWilliams wrote in her book, although she didn’t have to start working in the fields until she was 5 years old.

She was the youngest of eight children, two of whom died before the age of 2.

The Danieles used outhouses and bathed in pools filled with drawn well water, even after purchasing their own land just outside Prescott. Three or four siblings used the same water on bath day, with the water getting dirtier with each successive use.

“We didn’t delay it,” she said. “We each wanted to be the first.”

McWilliams remembers going with his older sister to spend the night with a woman who lived “in town”.

“We had never seen a tub or a dresser,” McWilliams says of their outing. “I have pretty vivid descriptions of her bathroom.”

She also wrote about her love of coffee, a precious commodity in the Daniel household. Her father let her sip sips from his saucer while her mother was not looking. He was a man of few feelings, but she found that by doing this he was showing her that he loved her.

McWilliams’ mother was sick most of the time.

“We tiptoed around the house and kept things calm,” she says. “It was a different life, to say the least, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

She was only 15 when she married John L. McWilliams in 1953.

“We were madly in love,” she says.

In 1954, she miscarried and, shortly after, her mother died.

She went on to have three children: Johnny, who lives in Northwest Arkansas, Margie from Prescott, and Gary from Caddo Gap. She has 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Her children encouraged her to write her autobiography.

“I don’t type, so I wrote it by hand in pencil and my daughter typed it for me,” she says. “She contacted her brother in Oklahoma, who is quite computer savvy, and before I knew it I received 100 copies of a book. I was only going to make one for each of them.”

McWilliams spends much of his time this summer working in the garden of his home in Prescott. She and her husband have had a big one every year since their marriage, taking a break only the year she spent working on her book.

McWilliams’ first nursing job was at the Nevada County Hospital in Prescott. When that facility closed, she went to work for Hillcrest Care and Rehabilitation in Prescott.

She retired in 2007 at age 70, but her daughter, who was a retirement home administrator, asked her to teach a certified nursing assistant. She did this for another four years.

“I always wanted to be a nurse or a teacher,” she says. “I ended up doing a bit of both.”

If you know an interesting story about an Arkansan 70 or older, please call (501) 425-7228 or email:

[email protected]


This cardiologist turned entrepreneur has created an environmental technology start-up to fight air pollution

By
John M. Price
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0


Prevention is better than cure says the adage, and this perhaps presupposes the mission of environmental technology startup Devic Earth.

The Bengaluru-based startup was founded in 2018 by cardiologist Dr Srikanth Sola – a Graduated from Stanford University – who wishes to reduce air pollution in the workplace thanks to an innovative device.

Dr Srikanth is a cardiologist who has previously worked at Cleveland Clinic. However, his desire to serve his country led him to return to India in 2008.

While working in the Department of Cardiology at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences in Bangalore, Dr Srikanth had a heartbreaking revelation.

Log in to Devic Earth

“I used to see a lot of patients who were relatively young but had heart problems. After a few studies, we realized that it was largely due to the high air pollution, ”he says. Your story.

In fact, in some cases the cardiologist has seen younger people succumb to this disease.

The beginning

“I can keep doing angioplasty all day, but that won’t solve much. So I decided to build something that will improve the air quality in the great outdoors, ”says Dr Srikanth.

He started working on the idea of ​​building a device that would reduce air pollution in large indoor workplaces, including factories, warehouses, educational institutions, etc. In addition to working on this project with a team, he also performed his duties as a cardiologist.

Log in to Devic Earth

The environmental technology startup has its research and development (R&D) teams based in India and the United States.

The inspiration to build this device came from his medical profession. Ultrasonic devices used in hospitals use the generated pulses to obtain the images, and he applied the same principle to identify pollutants.

In addition, the way nature removes pollutants from the air, where all the particles coagulate into a larger mass, which can be swept away, also served as a principle for Devic Earth to develop an air purification device. .

It took about 10 years for Dr Srikanth – who also has a background in biomedical engineering – to develop Devic Earth’s Pure Skies product. Finally, he left his office to devote all his energy to fighting air pollution.

“We wanted to make sure that the technology is efficient, safe and robust, which can work in all conditions,” says Dr Srikanth.

Product

Pure Skies from Devic Earth uses wi-fi compatible technology to treat gaseous and particulate pollutants suspended in the air. it can help removes 40-50% of nanoscale particles (over 20 µm), including PM2.5 and PM10 air.

According to him, Pure Skies is different from its competitors because it uses a artificial intelligence-based pulsed radio wave technology, which allows air pollutants to settle on the ground and dissipate.

Pulsed radio wave technology has been around for some time and has found applications to combat soil, water and air pollution. However, the high power consumption of these devices has not led to much progress.

According to this startup, its product has lower operating costs and the technology allows it to cover a wider area. From now on, the startup focuses on the B2B market segment.

The price of the startup’s product is between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, depending on the model and requirement.

Devic Earth – which identifies itself as “Clean air as a service” – recently set up a subscription service with prices depending on the area to be covered.

The startup competes with many players in this segment, including Honeywell, Sharp, Dyson, Philips, etc..

Impact

Devic Earth has its product installed at 40 locations in India, and the founder claims it has led to higher workplace productivity due to better health through lower air pollution.

“The reception of our product has been very strong from companies in segments such as power plants, cement, mining, etc. There are also a few others, but not in the same segments, that install our devices, ”says Dr Srikanth.

In 2021, Devic Earth raised Rs 10 crore in a pre-series A round of Blue capital of Ashva.

The Singapore and India-based investment firm supports sustainable and profitable businesses, which solve real challenges in key sectors including agriculture, decarbonization, circular economy and SMEs.

As part of its future plans, Devic Earth plans to add approximately 150 installations of its product this year. In addition, it also plans to expand into other markets like the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the United States Next year.

Devic Earth is also planning to start treating water pollution with the same technology.

“We want to be a leading global green technology company with products that are easy to use and affordable,” says Dr Srikanth.

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New Fujifilm CEO Focuses on Drug Ingredients Unit After Avigan Fall

By
John M. Price
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0


Teiichi Goto, Chairman and CEO of Fujifilm Holdings, speaks in an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan, July 7, 2021. REUTERS / Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO, July 9 (Reuters) – Fujifilm Holdings Corp (4901.T) is banking on its fast-growing drug ingredients business to generate future profits, the company’s new chief executive said after stumbling in the certification of its own antiviral drug Avigan for the treatment of COVID-19.

CEO Teiichi Goto leads a three-year, $ 11 billion investment plan to make healthcare Fujifilm’s largest revenue and profit center as the company continues to diversify from its photo business. ‘origin.

“Businesses like healthcare are like a deep blue ocean,” Goto, 62 and a nearly 40-year veteran of the company, told Reuters on Wednesday. “It’s not going anywhere.”

Goto said supplying other drugmakers as a so-called Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) would provide predictable contracts with multiple buyers and provide a lower “magnitude of risk” than full development. of the drug.

“In the pharmaceutical industry, making a drug is a huge investment, and there is no guarantee of success,” said Goto, who became CEO on June 29.

Revenue from the CDMO segment exceeded 100 billion yen ($ 906 million) last year, 1.7 times the previous year, and is expected to double again by 2024, Goto said. The segment is a major growth engine for the entire healthcare segment, which currently accounts for a quarter of all revenue and is expected to grow to 32% over the next two years, Fujifilm said in April.

The company said in April that it expects the focus on healthcare to help push operating profit to a record 260 billion yen in fiscal year 2023. Healthcare healthcare accounts for 103 billion yen of that total, eclipsing all other segments, including materials and imaging.

Fujifilm’s experiment with Avigan, at one point Japan’s greatest scientific contribution to the fight against COVID-19, shows the pitfall of betting on the development of individual drugs.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered Fujifilm in April last year to triple national stocks of the drug, known by the generic name of favipiravir, and pledged donations to countries in need. Based on early studies showing that it relieved symptoms of COVID-19 and reduced hospital stays for severe cases, the drug was approved as a treatment in India and Russia.

However, studies in Japan have not been conclusive on its effectiveness and regulators have delayed approval of the drug. Read more

Goto said a new Phase III trial in Japan is expected to provide data by the end of October.

“I would be happy if it’s approved,” Goto said. “But that’s not my decision. It’s up to the Ministry of Health to decide.”

Besides Avigan, Fujifilm had 11 drugs in its research pipeline as of May. The company has also performed high-speed diagnostic tests for various strains of COVID-19 and has partnered with US biotechnology VLP Therapeutics to make a self-replicating mRNA vaccine against COVID-19.

As part of this change, he has invested billions of dollars in European and American factories that make pharmaceutical ingredients. It also makes bulk chemicals for use in COVID-19 treatments made by Eli Lilly (LLY.N) as well as ingredients used in Novavax Inc’s coronavirus vaccine (NVAX.O).

VACCINE PHOTOS

While still widely known for its photo business, the company’s imaging solutions segment, which includes film, now only accounts for 13% of total revenue.

Goto was one of the early leaders at the start of the pivot to healthcare in the mid-2000s under former CEO Shigetaka Komori, whose previous push into digital technology saved the company from bankruptcy that toppled its analogue cinema rival Eastman Kodak Co.

A remaining challenge is whether Fujifilm can successfully integrate the medical imaging business it acquired from Hitachi Ltd (6501.T), JPMorgan analyst Seiji Wakao said.

However, Wakao said the company’s stock price, which is currently trading at around 8,197 yen, may have room for improvement, depending on the performance of the CDMO segment which “is attracting a lot of attention in the market. “.

Still, Fujifilm has no intention of leaving the “film” behind, either in terms of name or strategy. Decades of experience in photo chemicals and overlay technology are still paying off in other industries, Goto said, adding that the film would remain a cornerstone for the company.

($ 1 = 110.3500 yen)

Reporting by Rocky Swift; edited by Jane Wardell

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


Milledgeville nurse uses her own money to start a youth center

By
John M. Price
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0


It also started an adult homestay orientation program and supplied playrooms for children before and after school.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia – The COVID-19 tragedy has turned into a blessing for children in Baldwin County.

Last year we spoke with nurse Arlene Simmons who spent two months in New York City battling the coronavirus.

On Thursday, we went to Milledgeville to hear about Simmons’ plans to help the kids in his hometown.

A native of Milledgeville, Simmons has always loved children.

She has three and she would do anything for them.

“Who I am is just who I am,” Simmons said. “I go where I am needed.”

However, she has also been a nurse for 20 years, so she would do anything to help others.

In March 2020, Simmons traveled to New York City to help during the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

“After seeing what I saw, it brought me to a whole new perspective, a whole new state of mind,” Simmons said, as she thought about ways to use her income from New York. to help the children of Baldwin County.

“So many children are being left behind,” Simmons said.

With no loans or commercial debt, she bought a 6,000 square foot building and opened a youth development center.

It has a 6-week pre-employment program for 16-24 year olds.

Simmons said, “I am happy to take them off the streets and keep them occupied! After.”

She has also started an adult foster care orientation program and has stocked playrooms for children for before and after school help.

Jessica McCormick, mother of seven, is grateful.

McCormick said: “She does a lot of things out of pocket, and the best thing about Arlene is that she doesn’t want any recognition for it!”

“By the grace of God and the money I made in New York, this is where I put it,” Simmons said, “So I’m excited!”

Simmons is planning a ribbon cut on July 24.

There will also be a job fair at 12 noon on the 24th.

They are looking for pre-K teachers and a chef.

The preschool, before and after school program begins in the fall, in September.

The preparation for employment program begins August 1.

Orientation courses with host families also start on August 1.

The preparation for employment program and the orientation courses on host families both take place once a month on weekends.

Baldwin County Youth Services is located at 127 Blandy Road, Milledgeville, GA 31061.

For more information call 478-452-9488 or email [email protected]


Babette Ann Robertson | Obituary

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John M. Price
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0







DELTA JUNCTION, AK — Babette Ann (Drinkwine) Robertson, 70, of Delta Junction, Alaska, passed away April 10, 2019 at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, Alaska. She returned to her Heavenly Father with her loving husband, Bob, and her daughters: Colleen and Jennifer by her side. Among the nurses who looked after her were registered nurses whom she had received from years past.

She was born on April 5, 1949 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Arbor E. and Lena E. (Beckman) Drinkwine. She was baptized and confirmed at the Synod of the Lutheran Church of Missouri. Babette graduated from Falls Senior High School, International Falls, Minnesota, in 1967. She then trained as a nurse at the Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She worked as a nurse for almost 50 years. Her dedication to serving others has allowed her to develop expertise in many areas of nursing, including becoming a nurse midwife in Alaska. She did not choose to retire from nursing until she fell ill with ALS.

Babette has lived a busy life surrounded by many friends and family. She loved being in nature and having a cup of coffee while watching whales cross the ocean water from her living room window when she lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as watching wildlife wander around. her yard wherever she lives. She often sent a photo of a particularly beautiful sunset. She also made beautiful quilts and loved to sew clothes, crochet and knit. In addition, while living in Alaska, she became a licensed pilot.


Alex Yampolsky, PharmD – Verywell Health

By
John M. Price
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0


Strong points

  • Registered with the New York and New Jersey State Boards of Pharmacy
  • Co-Founder and Responsible Pharmacist, Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding

I have always viewed the role of the pharmacist as that of a health care bridge. In the community setting, the pharmacist is the face of each patient’s daily healthcare experience, often supporting patient understanding and ensuring medication safety and adherence. In institutional settings, pharmacists are integral to communicating up-to-date, real-time information to members of every clinical profession. It is this fundamental truth that makes the profession of pharmacist perfectly in line with Verywell Health’s mission.

– Alex Yampolsky, PharmD

Live

Alex Yampolsky, PharmD, is a pediatric clinical pharmacist at one of the East Coast’s largest pediatric long-term care facilities, the Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers, New York, where he optimizes the comfort and care of his patients.

In addition to his clinical pharmacy experience, Dr. Yampolsky has consulted with technology companies focused on healthcare. In these roles, he has supported projects in the areas of clinical information, medical and scientific writing, understanding the pharmaceutical landscape, strategic partnerships and new product development.

In 2012, he co-founded and was the responsible pharmacist of Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding in Hoboken, New Jersey. As a responsible pharmacist, Dr Yampolsky engaged with his community and created a holistic healthcare experience, preparing compound medications specific to the patient. His mission was to individualize the care for each patient who came into his store. He takes this holistic approach with him in whatever environment he finds himself in.

Education

Alex Yampolsky received his doctorate in pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2011. His interest in patient-centered care also led him to obtain a certificate in pharmacogenomics from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Verywell Health Medical Review Committee

Verywell Health is an award-winning online resource for reliable, understandable, and up-to-date health information on the medical topics that matter most to you. We take a human approach to health and wellness content and reach over 300 million readers every year.

The Verywell Health Medical Review Board is a team of certified physicians who ensure our content is medically accurate and reflects the latest scientific research. Our advice of experienced healthcare professionals verifies that our content is complete, so you can be sure that the information you read here will help you take the next steps in your health journey, whether for yourself or for a doctor. to be expensive.

Meet our review board


Nurses protest outside CM KCR camp office after being fired

By
John M. Price
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0


Protesters alleged that a total of 1,640 nurses working in the state’s public hospitals on an outsourcing basis were taken out of service.

Tensions reigned near the official residence of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad on Wednesday, as large numbers of contract nurses whose services were terminated attempted to stage a protest . Nurses alleged the government fired them after using their services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demanding their reinstatement, the nurses attempted to march towards Pragati Bhawan, the official residence of the Chief Minister in Begumpet. When the police stopped the protesters, they sat on the roads waving slogans against the government. Police personnel struggled to control the situation as some nurses attempted to run towards Pragati Bhawan. Policewomen chased protesters to arrest them for breaking in. They were physically lifted up and taken away in the police vehicles.

The nurses were then transferred to different police stations. Protesters alleged that a total of 1,640 nurses working in the state’s public hospitals on contract bases were taken out of service. Some of the protesters were seen crying while addressing reporters. They said the government’s action had put them and their families in crisis.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government said nurses were like gods. Now they have left the gods on the road, ”said a nurse.

“Despite the risk to our lives, we have served patients with COVID-19. We rendered the services when even their family members were away from them. After using our services, the government dumped us, ”said another protester.

Nurses were recruited specifically for Covid-19 duties in March of last year. They had organized a demonstration on Tuesday at the office of the director of medical education (DME). Dr Ramesh Reddy, the EMR, however, said nurses are well aware that their positions are temporary.

(With IANS inputs)

LILY: Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad register dramatic increase in NO2 emissions: report


Doctor, nurse imprisoned for organ trafficking, illegal surgeries

By
John M. Price
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0

Photo: VCG

A criminal gang in central China’s Henan Province has been sentenced to up to two years in prison for trafficking in organs and performing illegal surgeries in a private hospital, media reported on Wednesday.

A nurse named Xue, who worked at the Rongkang Bone Trauma Hospital in Jiaozuo, a city in Henan, participated in several illegally conducted kidney transplants at the private hospital, and was in charge of caring for organ recipients. between March and May. 2019, according to a statement released recently by the Jiaozuo District People’s Court on China Judgments Online.

Because she only played a minor role in the common crime and returned all illegal income, she was sentenced to six months in prison with probation, the statement said.

Gang leader surnamed Liang was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 15,000 yuan ($ 2,317), and all of his illegal 100,000 yuan income was confiscated after he surrendered and confessed to his crimes in October 2019.

Between late March and early May 2019, Liang took advantage of the operating room and ward of the bone trauma hospital that was contracted by another criminal named Feng and arranged about six illegal kidney transplants.

Liang was responsible for organizing surgeons and finding organ providers and recipients while Feng was responsible for organizing medical staff, including anesthesiologists, assistant surgeons, and nurses. One of the kidney recipients surnamed Jiao paid 700,000 yuan for a kidney transplant performed in April 2019.

To combat the dark zone of organ trafficking, in July 2020, China’s National Health Commission released a draft revised human organ transplant regulation to seek public opinion, which includes rules on procurement, fair distribution of organs, legal age for donation and related charges to combat trafficking and illegal transplants.

The draft regulations specify that the NHC must regularly review and certify hospitals that perform transplants and give specific rules on how donor organs are to be acquired and allocated to recipients, stipulating that living organs can only be donated. ‘relatives of the donor.

World time

Unemployment hits new low since 1998, as CHI Health seeks to fill more positions

By
John M. Price
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0


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Department of Labor hopes to fill more than 40,000 jobs in Nebraska. But according to NDOL, only 26,000 Nebraskans are technically unemployed.

The profession that needs people the most is nursing.

CHI Health has more than 1,100 jobs open across the system, according to NDOL.

CHI Healthcare Vice President of Nursing Tim Plante said: “I think by the very nature of our size, we will have the most open positions. “

CHI officials said they employed about 15,000 people in Nebraska, including 3,500 nurses.

Even with a shortage of nurses in Nebraska already, health officials expect it to only get worse.

“By 2030, it is predicted that there will be a shortage of approximately 5,000 nurses in Nebraska,” said Plante.

The Nebraska Department of Labor is pushing for unemployed people to take H3 jobs. This includes food service, real estate, truckers, and health care.

NDOL Re-Employment Services Administrator Bobbi Jo Howard said: “We have also worked a lot with employers who need help and are helping them with on-the-job training, personalized training, grants. training of workers. “

For CHI Health, the problem is not only getting employees in, but also preventing current employees from leaving.

Plante said, “The number of new nurses entering the profession will not match the rate of nurses leaving the profession. There is a shortage of instructors, so in our nursing colleges we don’t have enough instructors.

Nebraska’s unemployment rate may currently be at its lowest since 1998, at 2.6 percent, but labor officials say not only health care, but all industries need more workers.

CHI Health wants to assure people that they have all the staff they need to take care of everyone in their hospitals.

They use creative incentives for future healthcare professionals, including monetary incentives and loan cancellation programs.

Copyright 2021 KOLN. All rights reserved.


Tom York on business: San Diego lags other cities in job recovery after COVID

By
John M. Price
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0


A help-seeking sign is displayed at a taco stand in Solana Beach. REUTERS / Mike Blake

Personal Financial Services Website WalletHub unveiled a list of cities experiencing the best recovery in terms of unemployment reduction. It’s disappointing to report that San Diego isn’t near the top at all. In fact, we’re at the bottom of the rankings, coming in at 117th on the 180 cities list.

The local unemployment rate in May is 6.2%, close to the national average of 5.8%. This compares unfavorably with the No.1 city on the list, Manchester, NH, which posted an unemployment rate of 1.6%.

Despite the delay in terms of returning to work, the region is still expected to rebound as our economy emerges after COVID. Tourism, one of the most important sectors in the region, is expected to do well.

“About two-thirds of Americans plan to take a trip this summer, which should inject a lot of money into the travel, hospitality and entertainment industries,” said Jill gonzalez, WalletHub analyst, in a press release.

Compared to other neighboring cities, San Diego’s situation is not that bad. Los Angeles, for example, experienced a doubling of unemployment from January 2020 to May 2021, according to the report, posting an overall unemployment rate of 10.1%.

* * *

Meanwhile, despite the delay in terms of job recovery, some sparks of good news are circulating. For example, San Diego law firm Tyson & Mendes LLP said it needed to hire 100 attorneys this year to meet demand for its insurance and civil litigation services.

Despite a national economic downturn in the wake of the pandemic, the company has grown 17% in the past year, adding new offices in Chicago, Connecticut, New Jersey and Tennessee, and recruiting 10 business partners competing since early 2020.

The firm, which now has 100 lawyers, is 60% owned by women, according to a press release.

A nurse is holding a Gales shoe. Courtesy of the company

Local shoe entrepreneur Rob gregg present Gusts of wind, a new shoe for healthcare workers, especially nurses, that helps protect against threats like the coronavirus.

Gregg said the shoe, which has antimicrobial, waterproof and slip-resistant properties, was named after famed Florence Nightingale, who is considered the initiator of modern nursing practices.

Gregg said he was inspired by a recent experience involving the coronavirus pandemic.

“At the start of the pandemic, a family member fell ill with COVID-19 and was rushed to hospital where his condition worsened,” Gregg said in a statement. “Thanks to the incredible care provided by the medical staff, he recovered from a critical condition within five days.”

“There are 20.7 million nurses in the world, but… not a single supplier of PPE protective footwear,” he said. “We put so much emphasis on masks, gloves and scrubs, but what about the feet?”

Gregg said he would start shipping the PPE work shoe in August. He has over a decade in the footwear business and founded Rob McAllan, a luxury footwear line, in 2014.

* * *

After a year and a half of planning and construction, a new restaurant with a focus on Filipino cuisine White rice opened at the Liberty Station Public Market. Chief Philippe Esteban is the owner-operator.

Esteban was originally from Craft Meals Catering, which delivered meals to corporate clients, which had to close in March 2020 due to the pandemic. But it quickly recovered, expanding its operations and launching a new breakfast service offering Filipino rice bowls in southern San Diego County.

White rice is the result of this experiment.

* * *

Finally, this element to note. Danielle Dietz Livolsi, who started the Del Mar Heights-based company NuttZo ten years ago, says she will add two new products to her line of nut and seed butters this summer – Five Seed Tahini Fusion and Chocolate Keto Crunchy.

Since the first batch of butter was concocted over a decade ago, NuttZo has grown into a nationally recognized consumer product, sold in over 10,000 grocery stores, including Walmart and Costco. The company donates some of the beers to its nonprofit sister, Project Left Behind, which funds orphanages around the world.

Tom York is a Carlsbad-based freelance journalist who specializes in writing about business and economics. If you have any tips you would like to share, send them to [email protected]


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Who Won the COVID-19 Vaccine Lottery?

By
John M. Price
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0
Peter Vegas of Boulder accepts the third check for $ 1 million from the Colorado Comeback Cash Lottery. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

New

To help achieve collective immunity, Governor Jared Polis launched Colorado Comeback Cash, turning vaccinated people into millionaires overnight. But will it work?

Reilly capps •

Last week, Stephanie Sharp thought she was dealing with one more annoyance in an already difficult year: a phone scam. The phone rang incessantly with someone claiming to be from the governor’s office, swearing that Stephanie was the fourth million dollar Colorado Comeback Cash winner. The state had started awarding $ 1 million to five randomly vaccinated adults from June 4 to July 7 – and 25 vaccinated adolescents with $ 50,000 scholarships – to encourage vaccination.

Friends urged her to ignore the crook.

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Before COVID-19 made Stephanie a millionaire, it scared her. Even suspicious of her own husband, Craig, an intensive care nurse who comes face to face with contagious patients on ventilators. Considering her autoimmune disease, Stephanie avoided hugging Craig and slept in a spare bedroom. “Our whole world has turned on its own,” she said. The Douglas County child psychologist even packed a multi-colored suitcase with clothes and toiletries she kept as a bug out bag. If Craig had a fever or lost his sense of taste or smell, Stephanie would run away to her aunt in the blink of an eye. After a day of “scam” calls, Stéphanie decided to make them happy. It turns out she had, in fact, won.

Colorado Comeback Cash is a real thing. The June winners also included Sally Sliger, clinical data analyst at Mead; Stephanie Ward, a Littleton real estate agent; and Boulder business owner Pete Vegas.

If the virus came down like a plague, that money flowed just as brutally into the lives of the winners. The winners were called up on Wednesday and taken to the posh Governor’s Mansion on Friday to pick up a giant novelty check, pose with Jared Polis, and answer questions from the press. After telling the cameras about a year filled with canceled birthday parties, homeschooling, and deceased relatives without a proper funeral, many winners seemed happy.

Stephanie Sharp
Craig and Stephanie Sharp with their son Isaac. Photo courtesy of the Sharp family.

“We are still in shock,” says Stéphanie. His winnings will not go towards a swimming pool or a luxury car. She vows to set aside a little for her son’s school fees, replenish the income she lost on leave during the pandemic, and donate it. Best of all, she’s filling that bug out bag with swimsuits and sunglasses for her 10th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. (She and Craig plan to stay in the same room.)

Play the numbers

To hell with the side effects, when the vaccines were first approved, thousands of people rushed to sign up. Today, the vaccine is free and open to anyone 12 years of age and over. Until now, three million Coloradans received at least one dose of the vaccine, about 70 percent of adults. Yet millions of recalcitrant remain. Some fear potential side effects and others see dark conspiracies in the serum.

Health officials say herd immunity requires vaccination rates of 80 to 90 percent. They say vaccines are safe: put the vaccine under a microscope, you will see that there is no microchip. While the arguments for immunization are scientific and technical, money is a language everyone speaks. So in the spring, health officials were like parents trying to get children to take their medicine, brushing them with sweeteners.

States from Ohio to California, from North Carolina to Washington, and from Illinois to Massachusetts have opened million dollar lotteries for vaxxes. In Colorado, anyone who has been vaccinated is eligible. (Colorado’s money comes from the federal government’s COVID-19 response money, with winners chosen by the Colorado Lottery.) Critics call the vaccination lotteries fanciful, gaudy, silly, wondering if a lottery vaccine would work or not. None of Colorado’s million dollar winners were vaccinated to win a million.

Polis doesn’t expect money to attract diehard anti-vaccines. At a conference announcing the fourth winner, he said 10 to 20 percent of people consider getting the shot, but push it back, like you delaying a root canal or an oil change. The COVID-19 lottery may, according to Polis, “drive a few percent more to get it now rather than September.”

Does it work? Polis says he can’t be sure until “a graduate student crunches the numbers,” but suspects a lottery has worked better than, say, spending millions more dollars on advertising. the Los Angeles Times analysis California vaccination rates and concluded that the California COVID-19 lottery “may have reaped rewards” and “sparked renewed interest in the shots.” “My take is that it had a modest effect,” says Dr. George W. Rutherford, professor of epidemiology at the University of California at San Francisco who studies COVID lotteries. “It will never be easy to go hardcore without getting vaccinated, so every little bit counts. “

Pay next

Whether or not the lottery increased vaccination rates, money changes the lives of winners. Stephanie Ward is considering leaving one of her two jobs. With the university costing more than ever, 17-year-old Clara Smith of Loveland was planning to apply to Fort Lewis College in Durango, which she sees as an affordable school. But armed with a $ 50,000 scholarship, she is considering art schools, which can cost twice as much, to pursue drawing, painting and sculpture. Bay Norrish of Nederland, 15, is still considering going to business school to become an electrician, a path he believes will pay off. But with his $ 50,000, Bay could study archeology just for the fun of it.

Boulderite Pete Vegas won’t pocket his million dollars. (The businessman points out that it’s only $ 600,000 after tax, anyway.) Vegas wants to save the Earth. His company, Sage V Foods, makes frozen organic rice dishes. He says he will pay some of his suppliers to experiment with regenerative agriculture, a type of agriculture that goes beyond organic farming, treating the soil as a breathing entity. Vegas money could be a cascade of positivity: paying its suppliers to grow cover crops, which nourish the soil and extract carbon from the air, which mitigates climate change, which, according to Vegas, ” will allow us to survive as a species “.

And on that survival note, there is still time to get vaccinated and qualify to become the latest COVID-19 lottery millionaire (or the last five teen scholarship winners). The last draw is July 7 and there are still some big checks to be won.

For years, education options in the state for Alaskans seeking careers in nursing were limited. This is starting to change.

By
John M. Price
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0


For decades, there were only a few education options in the state for Alaskans considering a career in nursing.

These options have widened in recent years – and local health experts say the growth is a sign of hope for a state that has relied in the past on a transient, non-resident workforce as a solution. fragile to a nursing shortage that is predicted get worse over time.

“There just weren’t enough nurses in Alaska to fill all the vacancies,” said Marianne Murray, director of the nursing program at Alaska Pacific University.

But last year, a new, predominantly virtual program began enrolling students from across the state. The University of the Pacific in Alaska graduated its second cohort of nursing students this year. And a local charter college nursing program was also recently launched. This is in addition to an existing nursing program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

These recent developments mean that “there is finally more availability of access to nursing school, which I think has been lacking in the past,” Murray said.

The problem is not a lack of interest in the field of nursing.

Alaskan nursing school principals say interest in their schools has generally gone beyond the niches they’ve opened up.

“We probably have three or four times as many applicants as we have places for,” said Carla Hagen, principal of the School of Nursing at the University of Alaska Anchorage. “There are more people who want to be nurses than we have the capacity to teach. “

Likewise, the Alaska Pacific University program had about twice as many applicants as places, Murray said.

“There is a surplus of students who want to get into health care, but we don’t have places for them,” she said.

One of the reasons schools have been limited in their capacity to expand is the lack of qualified nursing teachers, Hagen and Murray said.

“I would say – and it’s true nationally – that there really is a shortage of nursing faculty,” Hagen said. “One of our biggest challenges is recruiting and retaining qualified nursing professors. “

To teach nursing, you need at least a master’s degree in nursing or doctorate, Murray said.

“The lack of resources to stay in Alaska and get these (degrees) is sometimes difficult,” she said.

Still, the UAA School of Nursing offers several options for students: an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a graduate degree in nursing.

An associate’s degree in nursing is the minimum education required to become a registered nurse. A bachelor’s degree in nursing typically takes a few more years of study and is associated with higher paying jobs.

The latest UAA nursing cohort included students from Anchorage, Homer, Bethel, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Petersburg, Sitka and Valdez, Hagen said.

The APU also offers a few degree options: one that allows RNs with an associate’s degree to continue their education and earn their bachelor’s degree, and a new program for licensed practical nurses that will start in January. next year in Bethel.

The scope of practice of an LPN is a little less than that of a registered nurse and it takes less time to get certified.

One of the newer training options for nurses in Alaska is Nightingale College, a primarily remote school that also offers a bachelor’s degree program, a licensed practical nurse program, and a master’s degree in nursing and education.

The school, which is based in Utah and has students across the country, began enrolling students from Alaska last year.

Administrators at Nightingale College say they see their predominantly distance education option as part of the solution to Alaska’s nursing shortage.

“There is definitely a shortage here, and our program is looking to address that problem,” said Jonathan Tanner, executive vice president of the school. “We are specifically trying to meet the demand from local health partners who tell us they need more nurses.”

Tanner said the distance learning aspect of their program allows them to enroll more students than schools with physical classrooms. The school has offered nationwide online courses for a decade and opened its nursing programs to Alaskans last year, Tanner said.

When the pandemic hit, the school’s distance learning experience made it a good choice for students who had to switch to online courses.

Tanner said the school has also developed solutions to meet the need for physical and practical nursing training. Nightingale students receive home lab kits that include the same materials that would be found in a lab or classroom.

Students also undergo virtual simulations that allow them to do things like listen to the sound of a heartbeat or a lung and respond to what they hear.

“All of this can be performed very efficiently through virtual simulations,” Tanner said.

All of Nightingale’s students also participate in real-world rotations with local healthcare facilities, where they have the opportunity to work with patients and physicians, much like other nursing programs, did. -he declares.

Snow Yang, 25, who lives in Anchorage, enrolled in Nightingale’s licensing program for registered nurses last year. She is a mother of three young children and works shifts at the Alaska Regional Hospital three days a week. Nightingale appealed to her because of her flexibility, she said.

“I work nights,” she said. “I do the three (shift) days and four days off, so I have four days to split between clinics, online meetings, homework and exams. And whatever I have left, I try to adapt it over time to my children.

Yang is passionate about nursing and says she is happy with the distance learning program, although it can be difficult at times.

“It’s not in person, so if you want to ask questions and get answers right away, it’s a little difficult unless you set up a meeting with your teacher. And sometimes it can be difficult because everyone has different time zones, ”she said.

Yang said she has learned to manage her time to fit everything in and is expected to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in nursing next year.

Despite the challenges of becoming a nurse in Alaska, local Alaskan health experts say they are seeing a number of positive trends in the world of nursing and nurse education.

“I think the job market here is very promising,” Hagen said. One of the regional sites where UAA nursing students complete their hands-on learning requirements has just been hired by the majority of their graduates, she said.

At Providence Alaska Medical Center, there are currently a large number of nursing jobs, said Florian Borowski, director of human resources at the hospital.

At the Alaska Native Medical Center, hospital administrator Dr Robert Onders said there are currently many job opportunities for nurses, especially for entry-level positions.

There also appears to be a high retention rate in the state for local students studying to become nurses in Alaska: around 75% to 80% of UAA graduates chose Alaska as their state to graduate, which indicates a desire to remain in the state. , she said.

It’s an encouraging sign, Tanner said.

“What we’ve seen is that the more you can educate someone in their hometown, the more likely they are to stay and continue to benefit from local health systems,” he said.


Global Tilt Tables Market 2021 – Top Industry Players Like SPOMC, SEERS Medical, STERIS, Getinge, Hausmann – The Manomet Current

By
John M. Price
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0


MarketandResearch.biz said a new market research titled Global Tilting Tables Market 2021 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2026 which includes information regarding significant opportunities that have occurred or are currently occurring in the trading space. The report explains the current state of the market in the world. The study begins with the outline of the market and the key components of the market. The report assesses business enterprise solutions, assesses, studies and improves, application, benefits, benefit, scope and operations. The study further offers the main avenues for improving development in the global Tilting Tables market.

The report focuses on estimating the size, share, growth, emerging trends, and market area analysis of the market. The objective of this report is to describe, segment, and project the market on the idea of ​​product types, applications, and regions. Global Tilt Tables report gives an assessment and improvement in intensity of the company’s fundamental producers, key drivers, restraints, opportunities, global vendors, further challenges a thorough examination of dangers and entry barriers. In this report, the market growth prospects have been shown to be very promising all over the world with immense growth potential in terms of revenue.

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The market research is categorized by major geographic areas with a country-level breakdown that includes:

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Alaska has long struggled with a nursing shortage. The pandemic has made the situation worse.

By
John M. Price
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0


Long before COVID-19 arrived in Alaska, the state was plagued by a shortage of nurses. Today, healthcare industry professionals say the pandemic has drawn attention to the problem – and, in some cases, perhaps even made it worse.

“There’s a lot of burnout, a lot of stress,” said Jared Kosin, president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association.

Many nurses in Alaska who were older and more susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19 chose to retire earlier. Others have left the profession altogether.

Kosin and others have also described how Alaskan health workers has long relied on passing workers from Lower 48.

During the pandemic, they said, some nurses from out of state left in search of higher pay or to help in places where the need was greater while many of those who did not had no close ties to Alaska returned home to be closer to their families and loved ones.

Some of the nurses who have remained in the profession have described the current climate as a kind of crossroads.

Carrie Doyle, Business Development Manager for Surgical / Cariology Services at the Therapeutic Garden at Providence Medical Center, June 30, 2021 (Anne Raup / ADN)

“Now that we are hopefully at the end of the pandemic, we are starting to come down from that adrenaline rush of last year, a year and a half,” said Carrie Doyle, RN and currently director of Providence Alaska. Medical Center.

“Now that nurses have the time, they’re really starting to ask, ‘Where am I in my career? ‘Am I where I want to be?’ ” she said.

One measure of the current shortage is the number of nursing jobs available statewide.

A quick search for nursing jobs in Providence will likely generate more than 100 openings, said Florian Borowski, the hospital’s director of human resources.

“There are many opportunities for people with the registered nurse certificate,” he said. This was true before the pandemic, and is especially true now as the demand for nurses to fill these jobs increases, he said.

At the Alaska Native Medical Center, Dr Robert Onders, the hospital administrator, said that while the demand for nurses has remained relatively constant during the pandemic, he has recently seen a change across the board. hospital in terms of vacancies – and types of jobs remaining. unfilled.

More and more vacancies appear to be opening up, especially for entry-level hospital positions, which has resulted in an increase in starting salaries for these jobs, he said.

“We feel this tension: CNAs, CMAs, lab technicians, respiratory technicians, surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians – these are all positions that are essential to this care as a health care team,” he said. he declared.

“It’s a challenge right now, as there are many opportunities in several industries that need people to fill these positions,” he said.

Alaska health experts say the potential for a worsening nursing shortage in the state and nationwide has been a major concern for years.

In 2017, a large-scale study conducted by the Federal Health Services and Resources Administration found that there would likely be a significant nursing deficit by 2030 across the country – and particularly in Alaska, said Marianne Murray, director of nursing at Alaska Pacific University. in Anchorage.

One of the roots of the problem was that most of the nurses surveyed were from a larger generation of baby boomers who were around five to ten years away from retirement, according to the study. One Alaska-specific piece of the puzzle involved the state’s geography and education options, Murray said.

Marianne Murray is Director of Nursing at Alaska Pacific University. Photographed July 1, 2021. (Anne Raup / ADN)

It’s more difficult to travel to and from Alaska than other states, and Alaska doesn’t have as many nursing schools as other states, according to Murray. “This makes it more difficult to replenish these latter posts,” she said.

Alaska has also long been a temporary home for large numbers of traveling nurses who come to the state on short-term assignments, she added.

“It’s kind of like that kind of constant hamster wheel trying to fill the gap,” Murray said.

During the pandemic, the salary and demand for mobile nurses also increased nationally as COVID-19 increased. At various times throughout the pandemic, this demand has moved the state’s traveling nurses away to places where the number of cases and deaths are higher, or more competitive wages, said Donna Phillips, chair of the labor program of the state. the Alaska Nurses Association and nurse in Providence.

“There is a lot of competition for travel nurses,” she said in a recent interview. “The money started flowing for these travel nurses because people were desperate.”

The pandemic has also drawn attention to existing staff shortages.

“I think even before COVID-19, healthcare workers were an issue and a priority, I think across the state,” Onders said. “COVID has compounded this underlying challenge,” he said.

During the pandemic, a constant focus on the number of available hospital beds served as a reminder that it was never just physical beds, Kosin added: the main concern was staff. The number of staffed beds was the true measure of hospital capacity, he said.

For nurses, the high-risk, high-stress months of the pandemic have also taken their toll. Workers had to make choices related to their personal risk factors, Onders said.

“When COVID patients were at high volume in hospitals, some people chose to potentially change or leave healthcare staff,” he said.

Nationally, “we have lost a number of healthcare workers to COVID who died after contracting it on the job,” Phillips added. “People got nervous about it. “

She is part of the Providence Nurses Union which she says now has around 70 fewer staff nurses than before the pandemic.

“I don’t know how many of these people were full time,” she said. “But it’s still a fairly large number of people that we don’t have working at the hospital anymore.”

In June, with around half of eligible Alaskans vaccinated and COVID-19 generally down statewide, many nurses are finally able to catch their breath – and many see this as an opportunity to reflect on their priorities and challenges. types of work environments they want. .

For Phillips, this sounds like a plea for better working conditions and lower patient-nurse ratios. She and her colleagues are currently in negotiations with Providence to try to have fewer patients per nurse and enough nurses to monitor patients during meals and breaks, she said. Phillips has been a nurse in Alaska for over 20 years, and she said long days and long hours can take their toll.

Doyle, one of Providence’s nurse managers, said she sees her leadership role as helping nurses “reconnect with why they got into the nursing profession.”

She said she hopes more Alaskans, after the pandemic, will continue to recognize how meaningful and important the work of nurses is.

During the pandemic, “everyone saw how nurses contributed to the health of society,” she said.

Murray, director of the APU nursing program, said she recently read a study showing that applications for nursing schools had “skyrocketed” nationwide during the pandemic. She hopes the renewed interest in the field can begin to help solve the Alaskan shortage.

“I think what happened is people saw nurses make a huge difference,” she said. “I mean, they were at the bedside, they were your frontline workers – fearless and always there. So I think people have recognized that it’s a great job.

Upcoming: For years, education options in the state for Alaskans seeking careers in nursing were limited. This is starting to change.


7 things to consider when giving your elderly parents the care they need

By
John M. Price
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0

For many people, it is very difficult to watch their parents get older every day. This is because all your life you have seen your parents as dynamic, independent, strong, among many other things. But as they get older all of these changes and they become more dependent and vulnerable.

At this point, you need to make a plan for how you can take care of them while still maintaining your personal life and busy schedules. However, there are a few things that you need to consider when looking after your aging parents to make the experience easier for you and them.

They include:

1. Their needs

When caring for your elderly parents, you should consider their needs and the best ways to meet them. For this reason, be sure to list all of their needs and rank them from most urgent to least.

This allows you to design different methods to take care of them and meet their needs in the best order possible. You don’t want to focus on minor things when there are issues that are life threatening.

Some of the needs you should consider include home security, hygiene, mobility, medical problems, cognitive health, daily meals, among others.

2. Living options for adults

If your parents need intensive care, you may need to consider options other than home care. If you can’t be there for your elderly parents all the time, you might consider moving them to a retirement home. Arcare is a rated five stars nursing home for the elderly recognized worldwide for the creation of living environments conducive to the elderly. This translates into an ideal option if you ever need to make the transition from your aging parents to an adult living community.

3. Your life and your needs

7 things to consider when giving your elderly parents the care they need

Whenever your parents need attention and help, you might feel pressured to do it yourself. However, before embarking on such a task, you need to think it over and consider all the factors involved.

Indeed, taking care of your elderly parents takes time and skills. If you lead a busy life or have health issues yourself, you might not be of much help to your parents as you might think.

If you have children yourself to care for, you may not be around to regularly care for your elderly parents. Before you start taking care of them, be sure to consider all aspects of your life and be honest with yourself.

4. Hold a family reunion

Another thing you should consider when looking after your parents is a family reunion. Chances are, you’re not your parents’ only child, and even if you are, other family members might want to take care of your parents as well.

For this reason, try to have a family reunion to determine the best approach to take and proceed. It is important that you understand that caring for aging parents is a team effort and that everyone interested in participating should be included.

5. Finances

7 things to consider when giving your elderly parents the care they need

Finances play a huge role when it comes to taking care of your aging parents. For example, if the family is considering hiring a nurse, there are additional expenses to consider. For this reason, it is important to consider all of the available options and choose the most suitable.

Before embarking on such an important task, you need to consider your income and that of your parents. If the family members are willing to help with the finances, it is even better because you have to take advantage of all the financial sources that you can get in these situations.

6. Security measures

If you are looking to provide home care for your parents, their safety must come first. You need to make sure that the house they will be staying in has all the necessary safety devices that they will need.

You can start by installing grab bars in the house if the floor is slippery. You can also install smart cameras to help you monitor them wherever you are.

7. An emergency plan

7 things to consider when giving your elderly parents the care they need

When looking after your parents, you should consider developing a emergency plan for them. This is intended to help your elderly parents know what to do in an emergency or natural disaster. This emergency plan should include first aid kits and emergency numbers they can contact for help.

Conclusion

Whatever approach you decide to take when taking care of your parents, their safety and comfort should always come first. This is the only way to guarantee a better quality of life for your parents in old age.

Allen brown

A father of 3 and a passionate writer covering a range of topics such as Internet Marketing, SEO and more! When not writing, he finds himself behind a battery.

3 residents work in Beth Israel Boston emergency room

By
John M. Price
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0


By Michael J. DeCicco

BERKLEY – Three Berkley natives are proof that the motivation for great achievement cannot be confined to the roots of a small town.

The emergency room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston currently includes Laura Burke as an attending physician who performed her residency there a decade ago and her brother Ethan Burke, who began as a physician in residence, that is to say in training, over there. two weeks ago.

William Fyfe, a native of Berkley, has just graduated from third year as a Doctor-in-Residence in the same department.

Left to right, Laura Burke is an attending physician in the emergency room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, William Fyfe has just completed his third year as a resident physician in the same department and Laura's brother Ethan Burke, started out as a doctor. in residence there in June. All three are from Berkley.

Laura Burke said that when Fyfe was starting her residency she didn’t know he was from Berkley as well until he saw his bio on the hospital residency website.

Then she learned that Fyfe had some of the same teachers that she and her brother had when they were students in the Berkley school system.

No wonder all three cite similar influences that make them be where they are today.

Laura Burke, 41, said her family was the first influence that led her and her brother to medical careers.

Their parents were teachers who decided to start an insurance company selling life, home and auto insurance from their homes, and they encouraged them to get a good education. Their older sister Jacqueline Egan became a doctor.

Influencing them in another way, their younger sister Mary had an intellectual disability, Angelman syndrome.

“It got us both interested in a career in health care after going with her medical appointments and seeing her struggles,” said Laura Burke.

“And our parents really supported us. They taught us that we can go there with whatever we want to do with our life. And they stressed that we need to receive a solid education.”

Laura said she knew at a young age that she wanted a medical career. Then, when her sister became a doctor at Morton Hospital in Taunton, Laura followed her. She said that’s when she became even more confident about the career she wanted.

Ethan Burke, 39, initially did not pursue a medical career. He became a teacher.

Left to right, Laura Burke, an emergency room doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and her brother Ethan Burke, who started as a resident doctor there in June, are two of three Berkley natives who work in the same department.

“Then I got to see Jackie and Laura and their progress in their careers,” he said. “It was always on my mind. Then I followed Laura. And that gave me the reason to go.”

“I finally got to see the day-to-day work. I have seen doctors and different specialists come together to create a health care plan for one person, combining their talents. It confirmed what I wanted to do. This is what motivated my decision. . I was mostly teaching at the time. At 34, I was probably the oldest in my class. But that’s what I wanted to do. “

Ethan added that his experience in an emergency room residency position has been far more encouraging than disheartening.

“It’s very encouraging,” he said. “It’s a hands-on experience. It’s what I’ve been working on all this time. It’s a lot of work. But it’s a job I’ve been working on for a long time. I’m very happy and grateful to ‘be here.”

All three of Berkley’s doctors were graduates of Berkley Public Schools, Somerset High School, and UMass Worcester School of Medicine.

Laura and Ethan, however, both say that the hands-on, real-world experience they received at Beth Israel was their most valuable education, especially in the harsh emergency room conditions they had to deal with. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If I hadn’t seen with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have known, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge that I have today,” Ethan said.

After:Family tragedy inspired Taunton student’s passion for healthcare

Growing up in Berkley, they said, they also both had several excellent inspiring elementary and middle school teachers who guided them to where they are today.

The science teacher at Henry Botelho College is the one that stands out in Laura’s mind.

“He was so passionate about teaching,” she said. “His enthusiasm for science and his role as a teacher stood out. He had great control over his lessons and you learned so much from him. We were motivated by the passion he had. “

William Fyfe, 34, describes a similar origin story.

He lived in Berkley from birth until he was 18, when he left for college. He said his parents were probably his biggest inspiration. They are both career nurses and their stories inspired her initial interest in the medical field.

When it comes to the inspiring teachers at Berkley, he said two names immediately spring to mind.

Jennifer Francisco, who is now principal of the Berkley Community School, was her fourth grade teacher.

“He was someone who was clearly passionate about his job,” Fyfe said. “She was always engaged and made us feel that she was thrilled to be there with us every day. I think when someone brings that kind of enthusiasm and dedication to their job, it rubs off.”

The second is a name he shares with Laura and Ethan: his seventh and eighth grade science teacher, Henry Botelho.

“When I’ve met other Berkley School alumni over the years, it’s always the first name that comes up,” Fyfe said. “Her class was perpetually difficult, but never monotonous. Her ability to identify with, challenge and engage her students was truly unprecedented in my experience.”

Fyfe graduated from Somerset High School in 2009 and attended the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut for his undergraduate degree. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in government in 2009 and paid off his academy time with five years of service in the Coast Guard, two on a ship out of Seattle and three at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington. DC.

While in Washington, he attended classes at the University of Maryland to complete the medical school prerequisites, before moving to the University of Massachusetts Medical School at Worcester, where he graduated. in 2018.

Soon it will be time for Fyfe to leave his ties to Berkley while working at Beth Israel. He accepted a post as a doctor in the emergency department at Falmouth Hospital from July.

But he will always remember the training he received at Beth Israel.

“Residency can be a stressful and difficult time, and you depend on the people around you, the faculty, other residents, nurses and certainly your family and friends to help you,” he said. .

“I think the most important lesson I have learned from my training is to practice humility. There are so many talented people in all areas of health. Use their knowledge and skills to increase yours. will always translate into better patient outcomes and a much more rewarding and enjoyable career. ”

He will also always remember that his time as a resident included the year of COVID, as he met his wife Vanessa, a nurse, during his residency and they got married amid COVID last November.

“She and her daughter Norah have enriched my life in ways that I could never have foreseen. We are expecting our first child together in October,” he said.


Cook County nurses approve contract for understaffing and patient care after strike, union says

By
John M. Price
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0


CHICAGO (WLS) – Cook County Health nurses approved a four-year employment contract “overwhelmingly” on Friday after a strike last week.

The nurses’ union, National Nurses United, said the contract addresses staff shortages and improves patient care.

More than 1,200 Cook County nurses are scheduled to resign for a day of strike on June 24.

They said the hospital is understaffed.

“When you are understaffed, you are not able to take care of your patients the way you need them,” said Ishante Norris, intensive care nurse at Stroger Hospital. “You can’t give them their meds on time.”

They lined Damen Avenue in solidarity, as many cars passed, honking their horns in support.

“There are other issues on the table,” said Stroger Critical Care nurse Falguni Dave. “You know, obviously, as health care workers, we also need our health care; we need to make sure that our mental and physical state is in the right place so that we can take care of others. “

RELATED: 153 Employees Who Refused COVID-19 Vaccine Resigned Or Were Fired, Houston Hospital Says

In a statement from the nurses’ union, they said:

“We have far too few nurses working in our hospitals and clinics and we have seen a reduction in services over the past 10 years that have left many patients with few – if any – options… Cook County must resolve our personnel crisis now. “

Cook County Health, which operates Stroger and Provident hospitals, has postponed some elective surgeries and postponed appointments. It has also increased nursing staff in priority areas like emergencies in anticipation of the strike.

Cook County Health released its own statement without addressing the nursing sticking point, saying:

“Cook County Health remains committed to providing safe, life-saving care during this professional endeavor and beyond to meet the needs of our patients. “

RELATED: 2,500 Cook County Employees Go On Strike To Demand Better Pay, Health Care Bonuses

Many striking nurses said they did not feel respected by the negotiations, stressing that they were not speaking out just for themselves.

“We want our voices to be heard because we are standing up for our patients,” said Stroger’s nurse responsible, Bernadine Okeh.

But the nurses union believes the new contract will improve recruitment and retention of nurses. CCH has agreed to hire 300 additional RNs over the next 18 months.

Cook County Health has also agreed to convene an infectious disease task force for infectious disease emergencies. This working group will be made up of registered nurses and managers who will meet regularly to make recommendations on how best to provide safe patient care and create a safe working environment for nurses and other healthcare workers. , the union said.

Salary increases are also included.

The vote was counted Friday evening and obtained after nine months of negotiations.

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.


Advocates hail Victoria’s salary theft law which has now come into force

By
John M. Price
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0

A registered nurse in Thailand, Anchalee Suwan came to Australia ten years ago to gain work experience in an English-speaking country.

She found herself undertaking studies in Melbourne as an international student while working several jobs to make ends meet, many of which are underpaid.

Over 10 years, she estimates that she has been underpaid $ 100,000 in lost wages and pension rights.

“I was younger – 26 – and at that time in your life when you have so much vitality,” she told SBS News.

Ms. Suwan ended up working six days, first as a cook’s helper, then in elderly care and community care after graduating. She supplemented her income by working as a singer and massage therapist.

“I didn’t know I had so many skills to survive. Whatever opportunity was presented to me, I just took it. When I got the babysitting job, I was working. from 6 to 9 to help people put on shoes, wash them, then I go to school.

“In the evening, I go to work as a cook’s helper [$50 per shift], sometimes I have a singing job from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evening. I get paid $ 80 per shift. And then Monday at 7 in the morning, I have to start all over again. “

Instant noodles have become a staple meal.

“As a nurse, I know it’s really bad to live on instant noodles,” she said.

“But somehow we [my flatmate from Thailand and I] try to be creative on how to eat – add meat, add vegetables – to get nutrition. We’ve become addicted … but it’s the cheapest way. It’s cheaper than take-out coffee – $ 1 per pack. And it will save you money. “

She left Australia for Japan just before the pandemic and is building her life there with her partner and child.

She never recovered the lost wages and said it was difficult to talk about while she was in Australia.

June 28, 2021: No tax, super holiday or cancellable “no protection at all”

“I was so stressed. Being alone in a new country, trying to pay rent and go to school. I was in survival mode all the time.

“I didn’t know who to talk to. It seems all international students face the same problem. And we don’t know how to handle this. If we complain we lose the job, the employer will find another student for you. replace right away It’s not easy to find a job, you try to keep it.

A new law came into effect on July 1 in Victoria making it an offense for an employer to deliberately underpay employees.

Last year, in June, the state became the first jurisdiction in Australia to pass so-called salary theft laws in parliament.

These crimes are punishable by 10 years in prison for individuals. There are also hefty fines of nearly $ 200,000 ($ 198,264) for individuals, or nearly $ 1 million ($ 991,320) for companies that break the law.

The legislation also establishes a new independent statutory body, the Victoria Wage Inspectorate, to initiate criminal proceedings under Victorian law. Salary Theft Act 2020.

Queensland changed the definition of theft under its Criminal Code to make wage theft a criminal offense last year in September. Violations can carry a sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

Other Australian jurisdictions have used amendments to administrative law or industrial relations law to increase penalties for employers for wage theft, but the Victorian stand-alone bill goes the furthest by imposing criminal penalties and an enforcement regime.

“An insidious crime”

Victoria Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said the laws target deliberate underpayments and do not target employers who make honest mistakes or exercise due diligence in paying wages and employee rights .

“Wage theft is an insidious crime that often benefits vulnerable employees who may be too afraid to speak up – these laws send a strong message that Victoria takes the exploitation of workers seriously and that wage theft is intolerable and will be punished. “

“While willful underpayment is an element of salary theft, forgery or failure to keep records to cover up underpayments is just as serious and also targeted by Victoria’s laws.”

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari said he welcomed the change.

“Look, I think this could be another Australian first. Australia has a great history – especially Victoria, in leading the way in labor reforms. We are the first place in the world to offer the eight hour day. “

“This is just another step in which we are leading the world, we say, ‘actually when someone goes to work they deserve to be paid for every hour they are for.’

Victoria’s Wage Inspectorate Director Robert Hortle said the agency would actively prosecute employers for wage theft under the new legal framework.

“This is a historic day for Victoria,” he said in a statement Thursday. “(The) Victoria Wage Inspectorate was created to protect vulnerable employees from exploitation and to hold employers to account if they steal wages.”

Ms Suwan said she was trying to put the past behind her, but said she hoped others wouldn’t have to go through what she did, especially now underpayment of wages is criminalized. in Victoria.

“I feel like a jerk. It was 10 years of my life in Australia. These employers – how can you do that to people?

“Some restaurateurs are from the same country as me. We should support each other. You didn’t expect that – they would lie to you, smile and use you like that.

June 28, 2021: Who is to blame for salary theft in South Australia’s Chinese community?

She urged others to speak up and know their rights in the workplace.

“There are a lot of people I imagine who are underpaid or not paid at all right now. I encourage them to speak up.”

Plans to create a federal criminal offense for wage theft with stiff civil penalties were ultimately unsuccessful under changes to the federal omnibus industrial relations bill revealed in December.

The bill at one point proposed up to four years in prison for the most serious cases of salary theft – and fines of up to $ 1.1 million for individuals and $ 5.5 million. dollars for business.

Last week in New South Wales, a Sydney couple were convicted of forced labor offenses involving a Filipino woman who was detained for a period of three years working almost six days a week without being paid as a nanny, maid and saleswoman.

The couple have both been sentenced to prison terms and will be forced to repay the woman $ 70,000.

Beginning July 1, most industry rewards dictating the minimum wage will be subject to a 2.5% wage hike, raising the minimum hourly adult wage for the first time to over $ 20 (20, $ 33 per hour).

A 2019 PwC report – titled “Australia Matters” – estimated that 13% of Australia’s workforce is underpaid and the economic cost to the nation is $ 1.35 billion per year.

Industry Super Australia said the amount of unpaid retirement pensions owed to almost 2.8 million Australians equals $ 5.9 billion.

Media medics deal with lies

By
John M. Price
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