31 Jan 2012

"Giving Means Living" Facebook app designed to help Organ donation Awareness

By Huff Strategy
Pop Star Justin Bieber and NFL Star Tom Brady inspiration for organ donation Facebook app.

(Sudbury, CDN. January 30/12) Over 100,000 North Americans are currently waiting for a lifesaving call about organ donations. Sadly many never get the call and pass away before a suitable organ donation is found.

Thanks to the efforts of the innovative website mysendoff.com, there is now a free Facebook app called "Giving Means Living" that will raise awareness of the importance of organ donations. The "Giving Means Living" app allows Facebook members to document and share their organ donation wishes with family and friends.

According to donatelife.net, nearly 90% of North Americans support organ donation, but only 30% actually take the necessary steps to agree to it and document their wishes. With the new "Giving Means Living" app people now have an easy way to express their organ donation wishes to Facebook friends and the app also offers links to organ donor registration sites in North America.

Colin Firth, founder of mysendoff.com, observed "Giving Means Living" is designed to get people thinking, communicating and encouraging them to commit to donating their organs so that others may live. If we can help even one person waiting for an organ donation or eliminate the waiting list then we believe our efforts will be worthwhile."

Explaining why the app was developed Firth says, "We decided to add our efforts to organ donation awareness after pop music star Justin Bieber and NFL Quarterback Tom Brady recently lent their voices to help friends in need of organ donations. We felt that the power and reach of Facebook could also be used to help build awareness of such a critical and important issue."

The "Giving Means Living" app is an easy to use social contract. Facebook members simply click on the app and choose which organs they wish to donate and click to post on their Wall. The "Giving Means Living" donation instructions will be displayed on the member's Wall and shared with Facebook friends.

Every person can save up to 10 lives with their organ donor agreement, which is essentially a gift of life to others. Notable celebrities who have gone on to lead productive lives after receiving organ donations include Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs, baseball great Mickey Mantle, comedian George Lopez and millions of other North Americans who are now living because of others' giving.

Mysendoff.com hopes that by making the "Giving Means Living" app available to Facebook's 175 million North American users, they will choose to engage, help reduce and ideally eliminate the organ donor waiting list. The first step is to communicate and share their organ donation wishes with family and friends.

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More information on the "Giving Means Living" campaign and Facebook app can be found at www.facebook.com/mysendoff
25 Jan 2012

AGING AMERICA-LONG DISTANCE CAREGIVING

By S Jacobsen
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Kristy Bryner worries her 80-year-old mom might slip and fall when she picks up the newspaper, or that she'll get in an accident when she drives to the grocery store. What if she has a medical emergency and no one's there to help? What happens if, like her father, her mother slips into a fog of dementia? Those questions would be hard enough if Bryner's aging parent lived across town in Portland, Ore., but she is in Kent, Ohio. The stress of caregiving seems magnified by each of the more than 2,000 miles that separate them. "I feel like I'm being split in half between coasts," said Bryner, 54. "I wish I knew what to do, but I don't." As lifespans lengthen and the number of seniors increases, more Americans find themselves in Bryner's perilous position, struggling to care for an ailing loved one from hundreds or thousands of miles away. The National Institute on Aging estimates around 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers. Aside from economic factors that often drive people far from their hometowns, shifting demographics in the country could exacerbate the issue: Over the next four decades, the share of people 65 and older is expected to rapidly expand while the number of people under 20 will roughly hold steady. That means there will be a far smaller share of people between 20 and 64, the age group that most often is faced with caregiving. By Matt Sedensky
25 Jan 2012

Broadlawns becomes the first hospital in Iowa to utilize breast tomosynthesis (3D) cancer screening

By Mikki Stiers
Broadlawns Medical Center Adds New Generation of Mammography to Women's Services

Des Moines, IA - January 24, 2012: Broadlawns Medical Center is adding another new, high-tech weapon to its arsenal in the battle against breast cancer. With this addition, the Mammography Center at Broadlawns becomes the first mammography provider in Iowa to offer breast tomosynthesis cancer screening with a full field digital mammography system.

With the key to survival being early detection, the new system provides women a state-of-the-art x-ray with a 3-dimensional view. The tomosynthesis cancer screening is the latest generation of equipment that uses very low x-ray exposure and high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers. These slices essentially provide a "3-dimensional" mammogram.

"This is a brand new mammography screening platform," says Dr. John Tentinger, radiologist. "Everything in the new system has been optimized for image quality, patient comfort and faster imaging."

The tomosynthesis cancer screening process makes the fine details of the breast imaging clearly detectable without visible interference from surrounding tissue. Lessening the amount of extraneous matter helps to identify very small cancers, thereby helping to rule out false positives and reducing the number of callbacks when there is a suspicious area.

"During the tomosynthesis part of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images in seconds. The computer then puts both together and the result is a 3D image of tissue in one millimeter layers," Tentinger notes.

This new technology is a direct result of Broadlawns' dedication to the goal of detecting breast cancer early, before it has spread. Early detection can help women achieve a five-year survival rate of 98 percent. Women aged 40 years and older should have regular preventative yearly mammograms as part of their proactive battle against breast cancer.

Women who have seen and experienced this new "3D" mammography technology say that it has changed their view of how mammography is used as a weapon against breast cancer.

On Tuesday, January 24, a group of women from central Iowa got a tour of the Patricia R. Grubb Mammography Center and viewed firsthand the advancements in 3D mammography technology at Broadlawns.

For more information about mammography options at Broadlawns, call 515-657-6615.

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25 Jan 2012

It's Not Too Late to Make Good on those Resolutions!

By Rick Martin
Let Your Spirituality Be Your Guide, Says Noted Doctor

The new year is already well under way. Job deadlines - or job searching - has begun anew, and the stresses of bills, kids in school again, and the sometimes endless treadmill of daily life can make us forget those New Year's resolutions we made not so very long ago.

Physician and healer Amnon Goldstein, who has earned an international reputation for his practice of both Western and Eastern medicines, says it's time to slow down and re-evaluate.

"You've heard it said before and you know it in your heart, but it's the external pressures  that leave us feeling stressed, depressed, disappointed and overwhelmed," says Goldstein. "Add to that the lingering economic troubles, families in flux and all of us working harder just to maintain our standard of living and it's easy to forget the most person to take care of first is - you."

Those resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier foods, meditate or otherwise tend to spiritual needs, they should be priorities, Goldstein says. They will ensure you're stronger, happier, and better able to manage the external pressures, maybe even with a smile.

Quiet contemplation and a focus on spiritual growth - no matter one's religion or beliefs - will lead to a clearer vision of how to accomplish the goals set for this year, Goldstein advises.

"Spirituality is no longer linked only to religion," says Goldstein, the author of the recently released book Screwed: The Path of a Healer (www.iuniverse.com), a title that reflects the twisting nature of his global journeys as a healer and his own experiences with depression, divorce and illness.

"More and more people understand that they must nurture both body and spirit, which is why they make the sorts of resolutions they do. No matter how difficult your life, it will become easier and more joyful if you keep to those goals."

Israeli-born Goldstein has practiced medicine around the world using conventional Western, traditional Eastern and less-familiar spiritual and mystical methods. In Screwed, he chronicles the path to wellness, understanding and enlightenment, a journey that takes the traveler to unexpected places.

Goldstein has known the horrors of war, witnessed the birth of new nations and experienced the mysterious healing powers of unconventional medicine. As a physician he has explored unconventional approaches to age-old physical and mental health challenges, embracing an over-arching philosophy that a life well-lived is not one which follows a straight or uncomplicated path.

Goldstein advocates proper nutrition as the basis for good health (no overeating, no dairy, no sugar), and exercise and meditation as the foundation of healthy living.

"We can live healthier and more fulfilled lives by looking inward," Goldstein says. "Most of us will find that we have everything we need to celebrate the holidays in one form or another - either a healthy family, a warm home or some aspect of our lives that brings meaning. Expectation of perfection at this time of the year is toxic to our minds and spirits. Every healing is self-healing, but we need to take the time in the midst of our busy lives to take care of ourselves."

About Amnon Goldstein, M.D.

Amnon Goldstein is a physician with more than 40 years of experience in conventional Western medicine and holistic and Eastern medicine. He has specialized in trauma care, vascular surgery and hypnosis, and has done in-depth study into the evolution of HIV and cancer research and treatments. A resident of Florida, Dr. Goldstein retired from medicine but continues to travel the world, learning, teaching and sharing with others the healing powers within each person. He is the father of three grown children.

24 Jan 2012

Governor Quinn Announces Federal Funding to Improve Nursing Home Safety

By Nafia Khan

Funding Will Support Landmark Nursing Home Reforms 

CHICAGO - January 24, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced $110 million in additional federal funding for enhanced safety, increased staffing and quality standards in nursing homes. Federal authorities approved a federal Medicaid funding match that will allow the state to fully implement the reforms designed to protect frail older adults and persons with disabilities living in long term care facilities. Today's announcement is the next in a series of steps to improve quality of care at Illinois nursing homes stemming from the work of the Governor's Nursing Home Safety Task Force.

Under the funding mechanism approved by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, nursing homes will pay a provider tax that will be pooled, generating the $110 million in federal Medicaid matching funds. The bulk of these funds will be redistributed to nursing homes to enable the homes to pay for the increased staffing and quality standards that are required under the state's nursing home reform laws.

"This is positive news for people who live in a nursing home or have a loved one living in a nursing home," Governor Quinn said. "It means that our nursing homes get the funds that they need to continue improving safety and the quality of services that I signed into law as part of our nursing home reforms."

The funding mechanism is being administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. It will also generate $20 million that will go toward increasing staff at the Illinois Department of Public Health, which will inspect and regulate nursing homes. A portion of the funds will also go toward expanded home and community-based services that serve as an alternative to nursing home care.

"Under the Governor's leadership, we partnered with state agencies and other interested organizations to bring this policy to fruition," Pat Comstock, executive director of the Health Care Council of Illinois, said. "Adequate funding for nursing home care will continue to be an important issue, and we must continually look for fair, creative solutions to ensure all nursing home residents in Illinois have proper care and a good quality of life."

Governor Quinn formed the Nursing Home Safety Task Force in October 2009 to respond to concerns about the safety and regulation of nursing homes. The Task Force held a series of public meetings and recommended legislation to address these concerns. This led to the passage of Senate Bill 326, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago). The legislation signed into law by Governor Quinn authorized the increased staffing and safety provisions, as well as revisions to the screening process for nursing homes to protect older adults from residents with a record of criminal violence.

A second law generated by the Task Force, Senate Bill 2863, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and then Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), was designed to crack down on fraud, abuse and neglect in nursing homes.

For more information about the Governor's Nursing Home Safety Task Force, please visit:  http://www2.illinois.gov/nursinghomesafety/Pages/default.aspx.

 

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23 Jan 2012

Nurse Anesthetists Celebrate National Nurse Anesthetists Week

By Armentia Snyder
Park Ridge, Ill., -- This week (January 22 - 28, 2012), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) and student nurse anesthetists, will honor the nurse anesthesia profession during the 13th annual National Nurse Anesthetists Week observance.

Touting the theme of this year's campaign: "Quality and Excellence in Anesthesia Care," nurse anesthetists and student nurse anesthetists across the country will organize educational programs and charitable events within their local communities as part of this year's promotional activities.

"Each year we look forward to taking our messages to the masses during National Nurse Anesthetists Week. Whether it is through hosting an information session about the quality of care CRNAs provide their patients, or hosting a food drive within nearby underserved communities, our goal is to make a contribution collectively to the lives of others both inside outside of the operating room," said Debra Malina, CRNA, DNSc, president of the 44,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

National Nurse Anesthetists Week was created by the AANA to encourage CRNAs to take the opportunity to educate the public about anesthesia safety, and the benefits of receiving anesthesia care from nurse anesthetists.

Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who administer approximately 32 million anesthetics in the United States each year. Practicing in every setting where anesthesia is available, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals, and have been the main provider of anesthesia care to U.S. service men and women on the front lines since World War I.

"This week serves an opportunity to emphasize the high standards in which CRNAs adhere to and the quality of care we provide when administering anesthesia," said Malina.

About the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA):  Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., the AANA is the professional organization for more than 40,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).  As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs administer approximately 32 million of the anesthetics delivered in the United States each year.  CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available and are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals. To learn more visit www.aana.com.
23 Jan 2012

IHT World Launches Medical Tourism Services Low Cost Health Care

By Pam Brammann

IHT World introduces medical tourism services to empower Americans with an alternative to the high price of health care, including non-emergency surgery.

Although many people have never heard the term "medical tourism", a growing number of Americans are finding it highly valuable to travel outside the United States for health care services. While medical tourism has been popular in many countries, Americans have only recently begun to understand the benefits of the medical tourism option.

Pam Brammann R.N., President and Managing Director of IHT World said, "As a nurse, I became extremely frustrated with our health care system. Upon discovering that American quality care can be obtained in other countries for a fraction of the cost in the United States, I decided to offer medical tourism as an option to save Americans a great deal of money on their health care costs."  Typical savings are 50 to 80 percent compared to medical costs in the United States - including travel expenses for two.

Individuals, employers and insurance companies are all experiencing the financial burden of American health care.  IHT World offers customized medical tourism services that will help reduce health care costs without compromising quality.

To discover more go to www.ihtworld.com

19 Jan 2012

IHT World Launches Dental Tourism Services For Low Cost Quality Dental Treatment

By Pam Brammann

IHT World announces the addition of dental tourism services as a practical alternative to the high price of dental care in the United States.

LeClaire, IA (PRWEB) January 18, 2012

Dental Tourism services are now available as an option that gives Americans the opportunity to have expensive dental services completed outside the United States, at a much lower cost.

Americans can potentially save thousands of dollars, yet enjoy the same high quality dental treatment they would receive in the United States.

There is no question that a multitude of Americans cannot afford the high cost of major dental services. That's why IHT World is adding customized dental tourism services that will help reduce treatment costs, without compromising quality.

For example: The average cost for a dental implant in the United States is around $2,800. If you needed four implants, the total price will be approximately $11,200.

Using the dental tourism option, the cost is reduced to an average of $1,000 per implant. If you add in the cost of airline tickets for two and hotel cost for four days, the total cost is approximately $5,700. This produces an estimated savings of more than $5,000 from what it would cost in the U.S.

Due to the growing popularity of dental tourism, IHT World expects many Americans who have inadequate dental insurance to take advantage of this cost saving opportunity.

For additional details go to http://www.ihtworld.com/dental_tourism.html

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17 Jan 2012

Obsessions and compulsions in children, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter

By Raquel Schott

BOSTON? It is normal for many children, at various stages of development, to be concerned about sameness and symmetry and having things perfect, to insist on certain bedtime routines, or to develop superstitions and rituals like avoiding cracks in the sidewalk. But when such beliefs or behaviors become all-consuming and start interfering with school, home life, or recreational activities, the problem may be obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

"Symptoms may appear as early as age three," notes Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. "Over the past decade, several randomized controlled trials and literature reviews have concluded that both cognitive behavioral therapy and medication can help youths better manage OCD?but that the combination of both is best. The ideal approach is to try this psychotherapy before turning to medication."

A version of cognitive behavioral therapy known as exposure and response prevention is typically used in treating OCD in patients of any age. During therapy, a clinician gradually exposes patients?either physically or mentally (through the imagination)?to the things, places, and circumstances that provoke obsessions. Eventually, if all goes well, the patient learns to tolerate the anxiety through habituation. In a sense, this detoxifies the stimuli and makes the compulsive behaviors unnecessary.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are the drugs most often used and studied in youths with OCD. SSRIs require two months or more to have an effect on OCD symptoms?a longer time than they usually take to relieve depression. Young people may need to keep taking an SSRI for at least a year and sometimes indefinitely. When the drug is the only treatment, youths usually relapse in a few months if they stop taking it.

Read the full-length article: "Obsessions and compulsions in youths"

Also in this issue:

  • Schizophrenia and epilepsy
  • Recognizing and managing delirium
  • Taming the frenzy in your brain
  • Updated guidelines for treating ADHD
  • Mindfulness training helps people quit smoking
  • Interpersonal therapy

The Harvard Mental Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $59 per year. Subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/mental or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

XXX

17 Jan 2012

Iowa State University Releases Preliminary Findings from "Walking While Working" Study

By Movement Revolution to Restore Health

Summary: Iowa has set a goal to become the healthiest state in the nation in the next five years. Scientists at Iowa State are helping to lead the charge by promoting an "Exercise is Medicine" campaign designed to educate Americans about the health benefits of exercise. The challenge is implementing solutions that initiate movement into the work and home environment.  Iowa State's Nutrition and Wellness Research Center has launched the largest study yet which will involve more than 1500 students and faculty members using an innovative tool that promotes movement: the TrekDesk Treadmill Desks. The Center has just recently reported preliminary findings on the first phase of this research.

Physical inactivity may be America's largest public health nemesis, contributing to a myriad of chronic diseases including obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression and anxiety, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Since the average American walks less than half the amount of steps necessary to maintain health and prevent disease, a major challenge is getting office workers and students moving in an increasingly sedentary work environment. Researchers at Iowa State University have just released preliminary findings of a large scale study designed to test the merits of one potential solution: TrekDesk treadmill desks.

The research project is coordinated by a team at Iowa State's Nutrition and Wellness Research Center (NWRC) led by Dr. Greg Welk, Director of Clinical Research and Community Outreach. The team launched a campus wide campaign to promote interest and involvement in physical activity and a key part of their programming involved re-engineering work/ study environments with the use of TrekDesk Treadmill Desks combined with Lfespan treadmills provided by 2nd Wind.

"We have TrekDesks in use at numerous universities across the country", stated TrekDesk CEO Steve Bordley, "many are conducting studies on a variety of health and productivity issues, however the scale of the Iowa State study, when completed, will be larger than all of the other studies combined. I think that shows extraordinary leadership and commitment to their goal of educating America about its current health challenges and offering life changing information and solutions."

The TrekDesk study is part of Iowa State's commitment to the national "Exercise is Medicine" campaign, an effort coordinated by the American College of Sports Medicine and other leading health and fitness organizations to educate the public and medical professionals about the need to view exercise as a vital sign.

The NWRC created a plan that enables the TrekDesks to be piloted in departments and office units across campus. Dr. Welk commented, "Our staff have really enjoyed the opportunities to use the TrekDesks in our facility so we worked out a way to promote shared use across campus." Over 35 other office groups are in line to participate in the three phased testing process.  "The interest has been incredible", Dr. Welk said. "We have a waiting list through April of next year which indicates that people are really interested in ways of being more active at work."

Logging the use of the TrekDesks over specific time intervals, Dr. Welk and his team has focused the study on evaluating patterns and perceptions of use as well as overall satisfaction with the concept of walking while working. Their hope initially is to gain an insight into how to effectively introduce physical activity and at what intervals into the workplace for maximum health benefits.

The study has completed two waves and is currently in the third wave.  The first two waves covered the following departments and offices: Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, College of Human Sciences Dean's Office, Kinesiology, President's Office, Administrative Services, Sociology, College of Design and Chemistry.

Approximately 82% of survey respondents indicated that they would recommend the TrekDesk and 73% agreed that the university should consider getting TrekDesks for their employees. It should be noted that the TrekDesks were placed in common areas of the offices so that many individuals could have access during the day as opposed to specific offices.  Some specific findings are highlighted below:

  • Frequency of use: The majority of survey respondents (57%) used the TrekDesk Treadmill Desks for 15-30 minute sessions. Approximately 27% used it for 30 minutes to an hour while an equal amount (8%) either used it for less than 15 minutes or for an hour or more.
  • Longevity: Over the initial 30 day test phase, 58% of the respondents reported that their use of the TrekDesk either increased in duration or stayed the same while 42% experienced a decrease in use over this time frame.
  • Ease of Use: A majority of respondents rated typical office duties ranging from typing, writing, and talking on the phone as easily accomplished tasks.
  • Overall Feelings: Respondents reported generally positive feelings after use (e.g. increased energy) and few negative side-effects (e.g. tiredness, , nausea and light-headedness).

The promotion of physical activity at work may help to counter the impact of sedentary jobs and lifestyles in our society. During the 1960's approximately 11% of Americans were overweight but that number is teetering close to 70% today.  At an estimated annual cost of $150 billion annually obesity is recognized as public enemy number one (contributing to more than 58 chronic diseases including the nation's top three killers: heart disease, stroke and cancer).

"The obesity epidemic gets considerable attention in society but the real problem is an epidemic of inactivity" says Dr. Welk. "People have emphasized losing weight but many health problems can be drastically reduced by increasing levels of physical activity and minimizing sedentary time". The study at Iowa State University demonstrates an interest in more active workstations and work environments. "There is clearly no silver bullet but efforts to promote more physical activity at work are certainly part of the solution."

For More Information:

Gregory Welk, Ph.D., Associate Professor - Dept. of Kinesiology

Director of Clinical Research and Community Outreach - Nutrition and Wellness Research Center

Iowa State University

2325 North Loop Drive - Suite 6100

Ames, IA 50011

515-294-3583

gwelk@iastate.edu

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