(Bettendorf, IA- April 1, 2011)    Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities now offers a Diploma in Medical Coding and Billing. The program provides students with the skills necessary to seek entry-level employment in the medical business office setting. This program also prepares students to analyze information from patient records and combine it with knowledge of insurance reimbursement and coding guidelines to optimize physician payments.

Medical record coders and health information technicians specialize in coding patient records for health insurance purposes. They assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure. These technicians also are responsible for making sure that patient charts and forms are complete and accurate. They regularly communicate with healthcare professionals to clarify or obtain information.

For additional information about the Medical Coding and Billing program at Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities, call 563-344-1500, toll free 888.420.1652, or visit http://www.brownmackie.edu/pr.aspx?ID=BMC2302.

Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities is one of 26 school locations of the Brown Mackie College system of schools (www.brownmackie.edu), which is dedicated to providing educational programs that prepare students for entry-level positions in a competitive, rapidly-changing workplace. Brown Mackie College schools offer bachelor's degree, associate's degree, certificate, and diploma programs in health sciences, business, information technology, legal studies and design technologies

McCausland, IA / April 1, 2011 - A Scott County town, known as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, is celebrating its OTHER reason to visit.  Peaceful River Trading Co. in McCausland will mark its first year in business with a celebration and fundraiser Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   The trading-post style retailer will sell an array of fresh baked goods as well as hot dogs, chips and pop.  Proceeds from the sale will help fund McCausland's Labor Day fireworks display. Special anniversary discounts are being offered throughout the month of April.

Since opening in April of 2010, Peaceful River Trading Co. has grown into a unique and eclectic destination for those who love to 'hunt' for distinctive and original gifts and furnishings.  Peaceful River features a fun and quirky assortment of hand-made items, antiques and furnishings from around the region.  Peaceful River features the works of numerous local artists, including painters K.C. Barnes from Bettendorf and Billie Davids of Princeton.  Peaceful River also sells pottery and jewelry designed by Jerri Munson of Davenport, IA.

Founder and owner Sheila Bosworth, a former craft show organizer, had a vision of creating the perfect location for local artists to display and sell their works. "It has been wonderful to be part of bringing more people to McCausland," says Bosworth. Her vision caught the attention of Joanne Rumpza, who carves ornate images and designs into natural bird eggs.  "It's unique.  They have everything under the sun here." said Rumpza, who now sells her own works at Peaceful River.  "I was impressed that McCausland had such high-quality artists showing their works at Peaceful River."

Peaceful River brings visitors back to a simpler time, and is housed in a beautiful, circa-1916 bank building, formerly the home of McCausland State Bank.  Co-owner and McCausland City Clerk Sheila Bosworth admits she fell in love with the building, a setting that invites visitors to explore.  In tribute to its location, Bosworth turned the bank's vault in to a shrine to outdoor enthusiasts.  The store also has a "kid's room."  At Peaceful River the coffee is always on.

Bosworth runs Peaceful River Trading Co. with business partner Kit Gleason, a retired Army veteran and travel consultant.  Peaceful River Trading Co. is open from 10 am- 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday and 11 am to 4 pm on Sundays.   McCausland is located about 20 miles northeast of Davenport, just off Utica Ridge Road on F33, 5 minutes north of Scott County Park.   Explore Peaceful River Trading Company at www.peacefulrivertradingco.com.

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Fellowship Honors Superior Professional Achievement in GI Field

Quad-Cities, IL & IA (March 31, 2011) - Gastroenterology Consultants announced today that Dr. Linda Tong has been named Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the nation's oldest medical society dedicated to disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Through this fellowship program, the AGA honors superior professional achievement in clinical private or academic practice and in basic or clinical research. Fellowships are awarded to AGA members whose accomplishments and contributions demonstrate personal commitment to the field of gastroenterology. 

"It is a distinct honor to be named an AGA fellow and to be recognized for excellence and for my commitment to the treatment and study of GI disorders," said Dr. Tong, who is originally from West Lafayette, Indiana.  Tong graduated in 1991 from University of Michigan Medical School and served her residency at the University of Minnesota. She completed her fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Southern California.  Tong has been in practice with Gastroenterology Consultants since 1996.

The mission of the AGA is to promote the science and practice of gastroenterology through the support of research, education, advocacy and practice.

"We are pleased to announce the most recent inductees for the AGA Fellowship program," said Ian L. Taylor, MD, PhD, AGAF, AGA Institute President. "AGA Fellowship is an honor bestowed upon members who have been recognized by their peers and community for superior professional achievement in practice and/or research in the field of gastroenterology.

About Gastroenterology Consultants

Gastroenterology Consultants is an accomplished group of board-certified gastroenterologists and supporting physicians specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. GI Consultants' state-of-the-art facility in Moline, IL features an adjacent AAAHC accredited endoscopy center and proudly serves the Quad-Cities metropolitan area and surrounding communities.

Gastroenterology Consultants provides a wide range of endoscopic services in addition to routine endoscopies. GI Consultants' facility offers motility studies, 24-hr pH (Bravo), Lap, therapeutic ERCP's performed in a hospital setting, endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration, Celiac blocks, video capsule, endoscopic anti-reflux procedures, ultrasound guided liver biopsies and pathology. Most recently, GI Consultants became the first GI practice in the Quad-Cities area to treat patients with the HALO Radio Frequency Ablation system by BÂRRX, a minimally-invasive treatment for pre-cancerous Barrett's' esophagus.

About the AGA

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI medical community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from across the globe, who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization.  Learn more about the AGA at www.gastro.org.

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The Iowa Department of Transportation will use the funds to support highway safety programs.

According to the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 to carry out safety programs previously administered by the National Highway Safety Bureau.  The agency is charged with improving motor vehicle and highway safety.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 7, 2011 - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) will receive an additional $302,676  from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The funds are a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) State and Community Highway Grants to support state highway safety programs. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate panel that funds transportation initiatives.

"Iowa's highways play and important part in keeping our economy flowing and getting  people where they needs to go quickly, and it is important that people are safe when traveling on these roads," said Harkin.  "Today's funding will provide necessary funds so that IDOT can do its job and keep people safe when driving on Iowa's highways."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a division of the U.S. DOT and oversees all safety initiatives on the nation's highways.  Their mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce economic costs due to road crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity.

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