Accelerating Lean and Process Improvement in Healthcare

U.S. hospitals are in for a transformative awakening. They are facing the most sweeping change to health care since Medicare was enacted in the 1960s. The Patient Protection Act recently signed into law, fundamentally alters the healthcare landscape for all hospitals and medical care facilities. Demand for services will increase astronomically, as 30 to 40 million individuals become insured, this demand will spike in 2013 and 2014.

Improving throughput in hospitals and medical care facilities will become a challenge, calling for improving process efficiency and labor productivity, at a time when most hospitals are already at their capacity limits. Experts predict that the Emergency Rooms will be the hardest hit, where non-critical wait times may be as long as four hours. Improving productivity will have even more meaning with the predicted shortfalls in nurses and doctors.

Five Facts About Health Care Reform

It’s time to tune out the misinformation mission when it comes to health care reform. The political battle is over and President Obama and the Democratic party won. Health care reform is now the law of the land. The important thing now is that all Americans become informed about what this actually means for them and that’s what this article aims to do with these five facts.

Fact #1: More Medicare Benefits

A big part of the Republican party’s fear campaign on this bill was that it would cut Medicare benefits for seniors (and of course there was the “death panel” lie but that’s too ridiculous to even consider.) The truth is actually the opposite. Because of this bill people on Medicare will have access to new benefits.

There will be an immediate $250 rebate for those who hit the “Donut Hole” this year and beginning next year there will be a 50% discount on all name brands in the “Donut Hole.” By 2020 it will be closed entirely.

But that’s not the only benefit, another big one is that beginning next year there will be no more co-pays for any preventative care visits! This will enable seniors to go to the doctor without having to worry about what it costs them because it will be free.

The bill also “balances the books” for Medicare through at least 2026.

Fact #2: This Bill Cuts The Deficit

Not only is this bill paid for, it actually cuts the deficit. It cuts the deficit by 130 billion dollars over the next 10 years and most impressively it cuts it by 1.3 trillion dollars over the next 20 years.

Fact #3: It’s The Biggest Tax Cut For Small Businesses In History

Current Health Care Issues

There are several health care issues that are in the news and in the minds of many people these days. Perhaps because of the push for universal health care, misuses of the current health care system have come to light. The health care issues that plague Americans need to be addressed with intelligent debate and understanding.

One of the health care issues is the overuse of emergency rooms by the poor. It is not their faults. They are simply responding to a situation in which they have no other recourse. For example, a low-income family may have a child with a cut finger. If they had insurance, the parents would take the child to a doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic to get the finger stitched up.

Since they have no such option, they take the much more costly route of going to the emergency room for the same service. This puts a strain on emergency rooms and costs taxpayers much more than if the poor families were given adequate medical coverage in the first place. Health care issues like this one are difficult to fathom when there are so many sources of cheaper medical care.

Care Of Roses – Diseases And Treatments Tips

By: Moses Wright

All your hard work put into cultivating your roses can be destroyed easily by fungus or rose diseases if you are not careful during the cold months. As roses become more frail in the cold, they will also be more susceptible to fungi when it becomes warm again.

Although they might not get infected in winter, they are weaker and can fall prey to diseases that abound due to the humidity of the warmer seasons. So, your roses could still be afflicted with fungus although you have done all you could.

You will probably find some common types of illnesses associated with your roses:

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungus. As its name suggests, a white powder is produced along the stems as well as on both sides of the leaves. If you neglect to see to the mildew, the rose will not mature fully as the leaves will drop off.

Rust

Rust on roses looks just like rust on metal will. It is seen on the underside of the leaves and it contaminates other plants.

Blackspot

Hybrid teas are completely resistant to blackspot, but other roses have been known to get it. If there are circular black spots on the leaves of the plant that are 1/16 to ½ inch in diameter, you might have the disease. Take action on the disease immediately before it has the chance to ruin the plant’s foliage.

Rose Mosaic

Unlike most of the rose diseases that are fungi, the Rose Mosaic disease is a virus. The signs of this disease have mosaic patterns of green and yellow that are discolored.

You can only stop the spread of disease completely by removing the plant. You will also need to remove all of the leaves and clippings from the affected plant to ensure that it does not get to your other species. If the disease cannot be contained by yourself, seek professional aid and get commercial solutions that can help.

How can you avoid giving your plants these diseases? There are a few things you can do. Always water the soil around the rose and not the rose itself. Do take care not to let dead leaves pile up underneath, so clear the beds of roses often. Snip off the stricken blooms and discard them immediately. Prune regularly. Close all cuts in the plant with Elmer’s glue. Giving your rose nutrients often will make them stronger and less susceptible to diseases.

And you should know that you can opt to grow disease-resistant roses if possible to prevent the problems from arising. If you grown plants that are resistant to diseases and fungus, there is less threat of promoting threats to your plants.

Abestos Related Diseases

By: Peter Wayne-16825

Asbestos derives from a Greek word which means “inextinguishable” and it was known by this particular group of ancient ancestors as the Miracle Mineral” because of its soft and workable properties in addition to its ability to withstand heat and pressure.

Although the roots of asbestos can be traced back to Ancient Greece, it was only in the late 19th century that builders and architects began using the material. It became very popular for a number of reasons – It was cheap, had a very high resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage and it was also a very sturdy replacement for concrete. These beneficial properties of asbestos were lent to other materials and it was often mixed with cement or woven into fabric. Brake shoes on motor cars have also been known to incorporate the material due to its high resistance to heat. It’s booming popularity with building manufacturers during the 1990′s has today had devastating effects on the health and well-being of many people from all walks of life. If inhaled, fibers from asbestos can cause mesothelioma (a form of cancer attacking the lining of the lungs) or asbestosis which is a chronic inflammatory condition also affecting the lungs.

There are different types of Asbestos which in most circumstances lend their names from the properties of the material (usually the colour). It has been suggested that blue asbestos is the most dangerous, however long term exposure to any form of asbestos fibers has been scientifically proven to be detrimental to health. A person’s risk of disease will increase by breathing in lots of asbestos fibers, or by breathing in not so much over a longer period of time. It is unlikely one will contract any of the asbestos related diseases following a one-off exposure to high levels of the troublesome fibers. Problems only usually occur after prolonged contact with the substance.

There are other asbestos related diseases linked with exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. These include asbestos warts, caused by the fibers become lodged in the skin causing rashes and calluses on the skin, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening which is similar to pleural plaques and is often associated with asbestosis. The last two conditions described here can potentially be very dangerous as there are quite often no direct visible symptoms until it becomes quite serious.

Today in Britain, the government are promoting strict controls on the handling of asbestos based on reports from modern history relating to a link between exposure to the material and deteriorating well-being. According to the office for national statistics, around 3500 people die every year from asbestos related lung cancer and the prediction is that numbers will continue to rise.

Despite the fact that people have always been aware of the health risks associated with asbestos – even the Romans and Greeks recognised that slaves wearing cotton with asbestos woven into the fabric would lead to work related diseases – it is only recently that legislation has been brought into protect unsuspecting victims from this deadly material.

Inborn Heart Disease

By: Hendrick Wilbur

You sure may have heard about ‘blue babies.’ But please don’t get it wrong. The ‘blue’ should not be in any way taken as a reference to their bloodline. Blue babies are not descendants of royal families and noble clans. Well, at least, not necessarily. Blue babies are actually infants inflicted with one of the many possible inborn heart defects. To your surprise, there are even cases of ‘pink babies.’

Congenital heart disease is the abnormal formation of the heart, usually of the large blood vessel. The word congenital means being present at birth. So congenital heart disease means a heart’s defect already present at the onset of birth. Since this kind of defect is already present the moment a human life is born, the condition is most prevalent, if not exclusive, among new born babies. Defects affecting the heart are actually the most ordinary birth defects, causing most of the inborn abnormality-related death cases. Just like most defects affecting the heart, inborn heart disorder is an abnormality to the flow of the blood. It may be in the form of obstruction or incorrect flow pattern.

Of all possible inborn abnormalities, inborn heart defect accounts for eight in every 1,000 cases, close to 1% of newborn babies. A major factor of this disease being congenital is genetic predisposition. Genetic influence accounts for the 5 percent of all babies with inborn heart defects. Genetic diseases such as Apert syndrome, Conradi syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Carpenter syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, and cutis laxa are identified by medical research and studies to increase the risk of having inborn heart defects. Mothers having diabetes mellitus, specifically those who have deficient glucose level in the blood during pregnancy, are very likely to give birth to babies with inborn heart defects. Also, pregnant women with phenylketonuria (PKU)and poor diet have high chances of having babies with inborn heart defects. Many pregnant women having retinoic acid treatment for acne increases the risk of their babies having inborn heart disorders. Anticonvulsant drugs (hydantoins or Dilantin) and valproate taken during pregnancy also increases the risk of babies having inborn heart defects.

Disorders in the chromosomes also contribute as high risk factors of inborn heart defects. This factor is known to account for the 3% of infants with inborn heart defects. Down’s Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder leading to inborn heart defects. On rough estimates, almost half of kids having Down’s syndrome also suffer from inborn heart disorders. Patau syndrome and Edwards syndrome are also chromosomal defects known to be high risks factors of inborn heart disorders. Turner syndrome, a disorder in the sex chromosome (having only one x chromosome), places 40 percent risk rate of inborn heart defects. Albeit its lower risk level than the others, environmental components are also contributory to risks of inborn heart defects. German measles and alcoholism of pregnant women can lead to their babies being born with heart defects.

It may be a great wonder for many why pre-birth detection cannot be done to diagnose inborn heart defects. This is so because the fetuses’ blood circulation inside the womb is different from how it is after birth. No need to further elaborate on how do they differ. The point is that the difference leads to bringing to light the inborn heart defects. Usually, inborn heart disorders are only detected once symptoms like shortness of breath, skin discoloration, fainting, dizziness, inferior appetite, and poor growth are observed.

‘Blue babies’ and ‘pink babies’ are the most common but just two of the many types of inborn heart defects. ‘Blue babies’ or cyanotic defect is the bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor oxygen supply in the blood. ‘Pink babies’ or acyanotic defect, on the other hand, is the abnormal shunting (left to right vasculature) or the absence of oxygen. Other types of inborn heart defect are Hypoplastic heart defects (underdeveloped parts), Atrial septal defect, Eisenmenger’s complex, Ventricular septal defect, endocardial cushion defect, Ebstein’s anomaly, and many others.

There exists no single, universal treatment for inborn heart defects. The kind of treatment needed depends on the particulars of each specific case. The type of the inborn heart defect, age, general health condition, and heart size will all matter in determining the necessary treatment. Surgery is the most common option, though.

Pet Diseases: Healthy Pets Make Healthy People

By: Subasree

Pets are prone to many illnesses. Hence, they should be taken care of very well and also monitored regularly for any symptom of ill health to keep their well being. A pet can be a happy companion to human being only if it is healthy.

Some of the symptoms of pet diseases causing ill health:

Loss of appetite, excessive gain or loss of weight, excess water consumption, abnormal discharges of the nose, eyes etc., abnormal, difficult, uncontrolled waste elimination, lethargy, abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, limping, abnormal lumps, finding difficult to get up or lie down, dandruff, open sores, dull coat or ragged coat, excessive head shaking, scratching, biting or licking any particular part of the body, tartar on the teeth, foul breath etc.

Common pet diseases:

Lyme disease: This is an infectious disease spread by a tick, which is not larger than the head of the pin in size. It is caused by a bacterium called spirochete transmitted to the pets and humans by the tick bite. If not treated properly it may lead to heart diseases or neurological complications or joint damages and kidney related problems in the pets.

Infestation due to internal parasites: Internal parasites like the hookworms, tapeworms, heartworms and roundworms rob the pets of important nutrients, causing fatigue, loss of appetite, anemia and even death. Especially puppies and kittens are very much susceptible to these kinds of infestations. This can be very well controlled and prevented.

Infestations due to external parasites: Pets are affected by external parasites like the lice, mites, fleas and ticks. They are found everywhere and can cause extreme irritation to the pet leading to skin disorders and skin diseases. Ear mites can cause severe diseases and annoyance in the pet commonly in cats and dogs. Hence, it needs to be treated well by taking the pets to the veterinarian.

Rabies: Rabies is one of the deadly pet diseases caused by a virus which attacks the pet’s nervous system. Normally rabies is transmitted by the bite from a rabid animal. It is not necessary that all rabid animals appear mad and foam at the mouth. Many infected pets can be very tame and calm. Rabies affects only mammals. It does not affect reptiles, birds, fish or amphibians.

Types of cancer in pets:

Cancer is a common pet disease and it accounts for almost 50% of the deaths of the pets over 10 years of age. Some cancer types like the breast cancer can be prevented to a large extent with early spaying, whereas other types of cancers are very difficult to be prevented since the causes are not known properly.

Commonly found cancer types are skin tumors – More common among older dogs, but lesser among cats, breast tumors are seen both in dogs and cats. Early spaying can reduce their incidence.

Head and neck cancer – The common disease is the mouth cancer more in dogs and lesser in the cats. Cancer in the nose also seen in dogs and cats, lymphoma is found in cats and dogs with an enlargement of one or more lymph nodes of the body, testicular tumors are seen in the dogs and rarely in cats and bone tumors are common among large breed dogs and rarely seen in the cats.

Common Feline Illnesses, Diseases and Viruses

By: Moses Wright

Felines, as with all animals have their share of common occurring illnesses and diseases. Many of these problems are non-fatal and can easily be treated by a veterinarian, while others have no cure and are often fatal. These diseases can be hereditary or contracted by exposure to previously infected animals.

First on the list of common illnesses a cat may acquire are hairballs. Hairballs occur as the result of cats performing their everyday grooming routine. Loose hair and debris collect in quantity on the cats tongue and are then swallowed into the stomach. There, the elements get stuck and will form a round ball of mucus over time.

Typically, a cat can dislodge the hairball by coughing, but on occasion one may become lodged in the intestines creating a serious and sometimes life threatening situation. Regular grooming, specialty cat food and cat treats along with visits to the veterinarian are all great ways to both prevent and treat this common ailment.

Similar to mankind, cats are susceptible to urinary tract infections too. Infections and the food that is low in quality can be the reason. The reassuring news is that such problems can be cured with medicine given by the local vets. It is also preventable by providing specially formulated cat food created to prevent this infection from occurring.

If a urinary tract infection is present, common symptoms are that your cat may show signs of infrequent urination, fowl smelling urine, and urinating in places other than the litter box. Males cats that have not been spayed are usually the ones that are most easily affected; however, female cats can be affected as well.

Common Cat Viruses – The three common viruses that felines are prone to suffer from; Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Immune Deficiency Virus. FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a very dangerous illness as it is related to the Corona Virus. Testing for FIP is also a problem as the results are not completely reliable. A positive test result has the possibility for being false as the same results appear for the Corona Virus. There is a vaccination available for FIP; however, many veterinarians and scientists believe its results to be inconclusive. With no known cure, it is extremely beneficial that this disease is not as easily contracted as some other diseases may be.

AIDS can afflict cats as well, although the feline version is called FIV and is not proven to fatal yet. However, many owners are left in doubts and fear that they are susceptible to catch the diseases as well. This belief is merely a myth.

Feline Leukemia Virus is another disease that is preventable. A vaccine is available from a veterinarian’s office and must be acquired before exposure to other infected cats has occurred. If you own a cat with FLV it is highly recommended that you do not expose him to other cats. Cats with FLV have a short life expectancy.

Common Cat Worm Problems – Other than the common issues related to hairballs, a cat can also suffer from worms. Problems such as roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are all issues for concern. Another worm that is not as frequently found in cats, but is also cause for serious concern is heartworm.

Medications are available from the veterinarian that will assist in preventing these nasty parasites from making a home in your cat. Signs of worm infestation cam come with flea infestation or as tiny white specs appearing in the stool, almost resembling a grain of rice. Loss of weight or inability to gain weight is also signs of a worm infestation. This illness is fortunately one that comes with a treatment and it is usually an affordable one. However, if this infestation goes without treatment, the results are most commonly fatal.

Fleas and ticks are another form of common diseases, cats that spend time outdoors are known for contracting. The tick however brings another illness to the table, Lyme disease. If a tick has been found on your cat’s body, symptoms of possible Lyme disease include lethargy, sluggish movement and acting as if in constant pain. Humans can get infected with the disease by ticks as well. If you suspect your cat has this disease or have found a tick on his body, a visit to the veterinarian will result in removal of the tick and treatment with medication.

Last, but certainly not least is feline obesity. The disease can afflict the other parts of the cat’s body and it is a potentially fatal illness. This is a number one factor for feline diabetes. As usual, prevention is the best cure in preventing such illnesses. Providing a proper diet in combination with exercise is essential in the fight to keep your cat healthy. Luckily, cats with diabetes do live, but need to be put on a special dietary supplement as well as medication.

The most important thing you can do to defend your cat against common illnesses and disease is to remember that prevention is the key.

Alternative Treatment For Childhood Diseases

By: Brain

Most Babies are born with at least temporary immunity to any infectious diseases that their mothers have had. The colostrum in breast milk adds to this protection so that breast­fed babies are protected until their own immune system develops and they are better able to cope with an illness. This is why most common childhood diseases tend to affect children as they get older. Many children get through them without any form of medical intervention. If treatment is required it is necessary to assess which one is most suited to the child’s symptoms. If concern about the child’s health persists, seek professional advice.

Coughs

Coughing helps to expel naturally congested phlegm or inhaled dust from the lungs. It may be caused by an infection or an irritant.

Treatment

Keep the child in a warm environment and offer a soothing linctus made from hot lemon juice, a teaspoonful of honey, and some glycerin (glycerol). Herbal Medicine Make an infusion of white horehound or wild cherry bark. Give half a teaspoonful three times a day.

Aromatherapy Add 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus, thyme, cypress, or sandalwood oil to hot water. Use as an inhalation for 10 minutes.

Glue Ear

A discharge of thick yellow mucus from the ear and some loss or impairment of hearing, usually after ear or viral infections, are symptoms of this condition. Cases of glue ear have increased over the last decade or so, and some alternative therapists believe that the condition is a side effect of immunization.

Treatment

Conventional medical treatment may include an operation to inserr small drainage tubes called grommets in the affected ear. If this becomes necessary, alternative therapies such as homeopathy can help support the child before and after the operation.

Diet and Nutrition

Mucus-producing foods such as cows’ milk and sugar are key culprits for this condition. Replace these foods with soybean milk or goats’ milk, and introduce more fruit and vegetables into the diet.

Herbal Medicine

Apply 2 to 3 drops of golden seal, Pulsatilla, or mullein oil three times daily to the ear.

Homeopathy

Glue ear responds well to Pulsatilla 30c.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Cranial Osteopathy This can be helpful.

Five Top Tips To Help People To Lose Weight

Author: Steve Hill

Here are some top of the range, sure to work, tips to aid people in their quest to lose weight. I hope they prove to be as useful and beneficial for the readers of this article as they have been for me.

Lose weight for charity

It is a good idea to lose weight not only for yourself but also to help raise money for charity. This is like a double edge sword, not only are you helping other people by raising money for charity but also the fact that you are will help increase your overall will power. If you fail you will not only be letting yourself down, you will also be letting down the charity.

Lose friend with a friend

Attempting to lose weight on your own can be quite difficult. Losing weight at the same time as a friend enables both parties to bounce off one another and to keep each other positive.

Write down everything you eat

There is a famous saying that you are what you eat. This is totally true. By writing down everything you eat should help you to stop eating so much of those fatty foods which you know you should be avoiding.

Watch those calories

Before eating any item always check how many calories is in the food as well as the fat content. You may be surprised; even some pasta dishes can have a high calorie count.

Exercise

You may not want to read this however exercise is an important part of any weight loss program.