Prepare to lead the way!

Bellingham, Washington (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

Western Washington University is currently accepting applicants for its 24-credit online Emergency Management certificate program, which provides the academic background established at the Emergency Management Institute at FEMA and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IEMA). Registration is currently open for spring classes.

The online Emergency Management Certificate Program ensures participants meet a base level of training and understanding, and prepares them to sit for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exam administered by IAEM.

This spring, in additional to an internship and research project, three classes will be offered, ranging from two to six credits each; including Impact of Disaster, Practical Applications of Emergency Management, and Group Dynamics and Facilitation of Emergency Management Systems.

“The field of Emergency Management is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States and Western’s certificate is a valuable credential to add to a person’s skill set and resume. Certified Emergency Managers or working professionals teach each of the courses and provide real world information and scenarios based on their unique experiences,” said Ariel Cleasby-Heaven, Program Manager.

During the program, students will learn about disaster and hazard mitigation, business continuity (keeping a business running in a time of crisis), and emergency response planning using the model “Mitigate, Plan, Respond, Recover.” In addition, students will learn how to respond to hazardous materials and bio-terrorism, determine critical infrastructure, define vulnerable populations in a disaster, and understand the roles of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Western Washington University is an accredited university and is consistently ranked as one of the top public regional universities in the western United States. The online Emergency Management classes are taught over a 10-week period corresponding to the University’s quarter schedule. Up to three courses are offered each quarter. Because classes are taught asynchronously, attendance is not required on any specific day or time.

Prompt registration is encouraged to reserve your space in the course. Register online at http://www.EmergencyMgmt.wwu.edu. For more information contact WWU Extended Education at (360) 650-3308 or eesp(at)wwu(dot)edu.

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(PRWEB) May 14, 2012

Intestinal obstruction, or the blockage of the digestive tract, is responsible for 20 percent of acute surgical admissions, according to an article in the Vol. 8, No. 1 issue of “Perspectives in Nursing,” a publication of Saxe Healthcare Communications. Out of these admissions, up to 80 percent are related to an obstruction of the small bowel, or the upper intestinal tract. Author Vicky P. Kent, RN, PhD, CNE notes that the majority of these admissions begin in the ER with patients who report with abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and other symptoms of obstruction.

Karen Steward, an author who dedicates her time to working on behalf of patients who suffer from Adhesion Related Disorder, or ARD, expressed concern today that ARD sufferers who report to the ER with acute abdominal pain are not being evaluated for small bowel obstruction. Steward’s daughter Melissa, who suffered from adhesions for 14 years before having surgery in Germany to remove the scar tissue, reported to the ER on numerous occasions with abdominal pain before a small bowel obstruction related to intra-abdominal adhesions was accurately diagnosed.

“ER doctors are on the front line when it comes to diagnosing adhesions and preventing dangerous complications like small bowel obstruction,” Steward said. “But the American medical community is failing people like my daughter Melissa, who report to the ER with severe abdominal pain only to be given pain medication and sent home. Because adhesions can’t be visualized with CT scans or X-rays, ER doctors have to be aware of possibility that these internal scars exist.”

Steward and her daughter reported to their small local hospital in the early years when Melissa’s severe abdominal “attacks” began. Time and again, emergency room personnel suggested Melissa had the flu. Each time, Steward insisted the pain her daughter was suffering was not the flu, yet emergency room personnel refused to listen. Steward soon learned it was senseless to take her daughter to the local hospital when Melissa’s stomach attacks came on, rather she drove thirty minutes to a larger emergency department where Melissa could receive a thorough diagnostic evaluation.

“The emergency personnel in the larger city always responded to Melissa’s symptoms, but oftentimes she would have to wait in a room for an hour or more before being treated,” Steward says. “Meanwhile, she was suffering excruciating, unnecessary pain. I recall two different occasions when the ER doctor profusely apologized for leaving Melissa to suffer an extended time after arrival, stating they had no idea she had a bowel obstruction until the results of the X-ray were delivered. Perhaps doctors become accustomed to the involuntary moans emitted from someone suffering immense abdominal pain; however, given the fact that a bowel obstruction can certainty be life-threatening, ER doctors should be more carefully trained to recognize these type of patients and assess their condition as quickly as possible.”

While surgery is the most common reason for abdominal or intraperitoneal adhesions, internal scar tissue formation may be caused by inflammatory conditions or infections like peritonitis or appendicitis. Scar tissue in the abdominal organs may cause the intestines to twist or kink, creating a blockage in the bowel. Patients with small bowel obstruction may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Abdominal cramps or colicky abdominal pain
Abdominal bloating
Altered bowel sounds
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation, diarrhea or both
Failure to pass gas

If left untreated, bowel obstruction may damage the intestinal tissue, leading to an internal infection, tissue death or bowel perforation. Early detection and prompt intervention are imperative for preventing death. As Kent notes, the mortality rate for intestinal obstruction decreases significantly with prompt intervention. Medical malpractice expert Dr. Jack Sacks, Esq. states in a February 2012 article on small bowel obstruction: “There is no reason anyone presenting to the emergency room with a small bowel obstruction should die in the hospital.”

“Even after Melissa’s intestinal obstructions were diagnosed, her doctors never told us what was causing her symptoms,” Steward says. “As Kent points out, 20 percent of acute surgical admissions are related to intestinal obstruction, and many of these patients come through the ER. Yet my daughter’s experience and the experiences of many of the patients I work with indicate that many adhesion sufferers whose intestines are obstructed aren’t receiving prompt care or accurate diagnosis in the ER. Unless you know you have adhesions, you are likely in the dark as to why you are in such excruciating pain. Emergency doctors should know the signs and risk factors for adhesions and apply this knowledge when they assess a patient with abdominal symptoms. People who suffer from adhesions shouldn’t have to wait until they have an acute bowel obstruction to find out why they are living with debilitating pain.”

Karen Steward is the author of the book Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims: Bound By Pain! Steward’s daughter, Melissa, suddenly became ill at age thirteen. Originally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and sent home to live with the excruciating abdominal “attacks,” Steward became convinced her daughter had been misdiagnosed. Uncovering the truth behind the illness, however, was a nightmare. Fourteen years passed before Melissa was properly diagnosed, yet a mere four-hour surgery relieved her daughter of the agonizing condition. Steward now dedicates much of her life to ARD awareness.

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Care2Learn Now Approved to Report CE Completions for Delaware CNAs

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) May 18, 2012

Care2Learn.com, the leader in online continuing education and healthcare compliance training for the post-acute care industry, recently added to its extensive list of premier client services. The eLearning company is now approved to report CE completions for Delaware certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The distinction is an important one for Delaware facilities, who previously were required to follow a complex approval and reporting process.

“This is a huge benefit for our facilities in Delaware because it makes it even easier to assign and track required CE completions,” says Matt Casey, PhD, VP of Content and Accreditations for Care2Learn. “Earlier this year the Delaware CNA Registry announced all CNAs need 24 hours of approved CE biennially and set up a very complex system of facility requirements for approvals and reporting. Each facility was required to set up ‘instances’—internally created classes—and report completions to the board for each CNA. Now, Care2Learn takes care of everything.”

As of January 1, 2012 the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection began tracking CE units through a new electronic system: the Delaware CNA Continuing Education Website. Care2Learn has successfully negotiated a different process for Delaware facilities, whereby CNAs simply have to select ‘DE – Certified Nurse Aide’ from the ‘My Licenses’ list, pass the approved course material, and Care2Learn reports all CE completions to the Delaware CNA Registry twice monthly.

Among the first to offer a complete solution for online compliance training and healthcare CE to the post-acute care industry, Care2Learn provides a simple, flexible and affordable way to train healthcare staff, from front-line caregivers to management, with interactive and engaging courses available 24/7 from any computer with Internet access. In addition, Care2Learn is releasing online courses that are compatible with nearly all mobile devices, including the iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ platform and more.

About Care2Learn

Care2Learn sets the standard for excellence in online continuing education and training for the post-acute care industry and holds more than 70 state and national accreditations. Through our award-winning healthcare Learning Management System (LMS) we offer individual courses as well as large-scale corporate training solutions for healthcare organizations featuring customizable and easily accessible online universities with a full range of tracking and reporting features. With an online library exceeding 500 courses authored by more than 300 subject matter experts, Care2Learn serves more than 300,000 healthcare professionals in all 50 states. Founded in 2000 and acquired in 2007 by eLearning provider VectorLearning, Care2Learn is headquartered in Tampa, Florida and is the recipient of numerous community honors and industry rewards. For further information, visit http://www.Care2Learn.com or http://www.Care2LearnEnterprise.com.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

John Deere Skid Steer Loader

(PRWEB) December 15, 2011

To complement the John Deere D Series Skid Steer Loaders (SSLs), Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia (HCA) has released the complete range of John Deere D Series Compact Track Loaders (CTLs) to the Australian market. D Series SSL owners already appreciate the benefits of improved operator comfort, ease of service and high performance loader design. With the D Series CTLs, owners are also offered the benefits of a track undercarriage designed for long life and ease of adjustment.

“We’ve listened to what customers told us they wanted in skid steer and compact track loaders, and we’ve responded with nine models that incorporate their suggestions,” said Gregg Zupancic, John Deere’s Product Marketing Manager for skid steers and compact track loaders.

The spacious and quiet D Series cabs now have a large frameless door for easy access. The high-performance air conditioning is a true positively pressurised system that meets the Western Australian pressurisation mine spec. They also feature many comfort and convenience features such as suspension seats, a storage box, 12 volt power outlet, mobile phone/iPod holder, adjustable pull down padded lap bar and excellent 360 degree visibility.

In response to customer suggestions, John Deere D Series incorporate several industry firsts. These include auto idle to reduce fuel consumption and an innovative V-Plenum cooling system that provides significantly more cooling capacity and performance with the option of a reversing fan for easy cleaning.

With the optional EH Performance Package, operators can make adjustments to create a machine that perfectly fits their application and preference. It includes a creeper mode to make it is easier to control ground speed with big trenchers and cold planers, a switch to allow the operator to choose between ISO or H control patterns and the ability to vary bucket and boom speed.

Customers told John Deere that undercarriage life is a big part of the cost of owning a CTL. Based on John Deere dozer experience, the D Series CTLs use rubber tracks and solid steel sprockets, idlers and rollers. There is no rubber to chunk off or sprocket bolts to maintain or replace. To increase track life triple-flange rollers and large diameter double flange idlers and sprockets distribute the load over a wider area. Five rollers on the 329D and 333D and four rollers on the 319D and 323D provide better track support. It all contributes to a longer lasting track system.

D Series CTLs also use an easy to maintain track system. The open track frame design is easy to clean and less likely to clog with mud. Track maintenance is easy. Track tension only needs to be checked weekly or every fifty hours and can be done anywhere in minutes using only a spanner and a grease gun.

Daily servicing is also quick and convenient. Same side checkpoints are grouped and colour-coded. Easily removable side panels give access to coolers, battery, fluid and air filters. 500 hour engine oil change and long service intervals, as well as self adjusting hydraulic tappets and serpentine belt keep maintenance costs down. With an easy tilt cab, major components can be accessed in minutes.

To protect your investment, all John Deere SSLs and CTLs feature an auto shut down system that monitors hydraulic and engine pressures and temperatures, a PIN code anti-theft system to prevent unauthorised starting and DataDotDNA™ system as a theft deterrent.

HCA distributes the complete John Deere range of construction machinery in Australia. Hitachi and John Deere have a relationship extending back to the mid 1960s. John Deere is a world leader in providing advanced products and services for agriculture, forestry, construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.

For more information on this product phone 1300 HITACHI or visit http://www.hcma.com.au

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Denver, CO (PRWEB) May 18, 2012

The Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA) today announced that Kristin Caruso, Esq., McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, Gregg Rich, Esq., Lambdin & Chaney, LLP, Jane Mitchell, Esq., Hall & Evans, LLC, Brendan O. Powers, Esq., Spies, Powers & Robinson, P.C., Tanner Walls, Esq., Jaudon & Avery, LLP, have joined the Association’s Board of Directors. Ms. Caruso will serve on the Executive Committee as Secretary of the organization, Mr. Rich was elected as an At-Large Board member, Ms. Mitchell as Ex-Officio member, Mr. Powers was elected as the DRI State Representative, and Tanner Walls will serve as Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee.

“These appointments reflect CDLA’s continued commitment to find the best civil defense attorneys to lead and guide CDLA,” commented Teresa Seymour, CDLA Vice-President. “Their knowledge, professionalism and expertise will be invaluable to CDLA’s future as we collectively defend the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation”.

The appointments of, Mr. Rich, Mr. Powers and Mr. Walls will fill seats vacated by At-Large Director David McLain, Esq., Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC; DRI State Representative Janet Spies, Esq., Spies, Powers & Robinson, P.C.; and Young Lawyer Jody Haskins, White and Steele, P.C. CDLA thanks Ms. Salg, Harris, Karstaedt, Jamison & Powers, P.C. and for her contribution to our organization as Communications Director.

Kristin A. Caruso, Esq.

Ms. Caruso, Of Counsel, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, holds a B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, an M.B.A. from the University of Denver, and a J.D. from the University of Denver, where she served as an editor of the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy. She is also a Medicare Set-Aside Consultant, Certified. She practices litigation in the area of general civil litigation, including workers’ compensation defense. There is no issue or claim in Workers’ Compensation law or procedure that Ms. Caruso has not analyzed for employers and their insurers. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association (CBA), Denver Bar Association (DBA), CBA/DBA Interprofessional Committee, Cornell Hotel Society, the National Alliance of Medicare Set Aside Professionals, and the Defense Research Institute.

Gregg Rich, Esq.

Mr. Rich received a B.A. from California State Polytechnic University, and a J.D. from the University of Denver. His areas of expertise include construction defect, personal injury, employment and telecommunications. Currently, his practice focuses on litigation, with a special emphasis on the defense of general contractors and subcontractors in defect actions, representation of contractors in their pursuit of payment, and coverage issues. He has tried several bench trials, jury trials and arbitrations and has argued three times to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Mr. Rich is licensed to practice law in Colorado state and federal courts, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Colorado Bar Association (CBA), Denver Bar Association (DBA), Defense Research Institute and William E. Doyle Inn of Court.

S. Jane Mitchell, Esq.

Ms. Mitchell practices in the areas of medical malpractice defense, medical device and pharmaceutical products liability, and professional licensing. She obtained a B.S. from the University of South Florida and a J.D. from the University of Florida. Ms. Mitchell is trained and experienced as a critical care nurse, and applies her extensive knowledge of all aspects of medicine in her defense of medical professionals. She has successfully defended physicians, hospitals and nurses in medical malpractice cases throughout Colorado and Florida.

Brendan O. Powers, Esq.

Mr. Powers has served as lead counsel in state and federal trials involving insurance bad faith, arson, fraud, environmental hazards, personal injury and product liability. His commercial litigation practice focuses upon contract disputes, client ownership, non-competition, trade secrets, business dissolution and landlord-tenant issues.

While the bulk of this experience naturally involves fraud and arson in the area of property and casualty insurance, Mr. Powers has been called upon to resolve questions concerning errors and omissions, business losses, fidelity bonds, forgery claims, excess and umbrella coverages, theft losses, product failure and automobile claims. He has acted as a consulting expert, including the post-litigation defense of claim denials with attendant allegations of bad faith. Mr. Powers is a frequent lecturer on these topics throughout the insurance community.

Tanner J. Walls, Esq.

Mr. Walls received his B.S. from the University of Colorado and J.D. from University of Denver Sturm College of Law and graduated in May of 2009. The majority of his practice focuses on legal and medical malpractice defense, as well as other forms of complex civil litigation. Mr. Walls’ practice also includes defending attorneys involved in disciplinary actions in front of Attorney Regulation Counsel, and representing physicians in peer review proceedings and other professional licensing matters.

About Colorado Defense Lawyers Association:

CDLA is a statewide organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. CDLA provides numerous educational and informational resources to its members and offering many opportunities for connections among defense trial lawyers. The following are CDLA’s goals:

    Education: To teach and educate and to improve the skills of the civil defense law practitioner
    Justice: To strive for improvement in the civil justice system
    Balance: To be a counterpoint to the plaintiff’s bar and seek balance in the justice system
    Economics: To assist members in dealing with the economic realities of the defense law practice,
    Professionalism and Service: To urge members to practice ethically and responsibly, keeping in mind the lawyer’s responsibilities that go beyond the interest of the client to the good of society as a whole.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter @CDLAlaw and LinkedIn.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Banana

Mannheim, Germany (PRWEB) May 11, 2012

As part of its Pomological Crops category, the Pomological Magazine has upgraded its content with information on the cultivation and production of bananas including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, postharvest and storage.

Bananas (Musa, Musaceae) comprise the commercially most widely consumed fresh fruit cultivars including ‘Cavendish’, cooking bananas (plantains), as well as minor cultivars such as seeded bananas (Musa balbisiana). Fresh fruits for export are picked and shipped green, and then ripened with ethylene gas in controlled atmosphere (CA) facilities in the country of destination. The starchier plantains are consumed as a staple in many tropical countries.

Significant resources in the banana section of the site’s crops category include the Banana Page of the Center for New Crops and Plants Products of Purdue University which covers many aspects of this fruit of the warm climates. Another resource is that of the crop profile for bananas in Hawaii published on the National Site for the USDA Regional IPM Centers Information System. The category also includes an online book on “Banana Improvement: Cellular, Molecular Biology, and Induced Mutations” produced by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the homepage of the “Banana and Plantain” Section of Biodiversity International.

Besides links to governmental and commercial institutions working with Bananas, the Fruit Magazine also features a wide range of scientific information and links to papers, research articles and other scholarly literature on Banana Research. This section features resources on “Alternative Respiration and Heat Production in Ripening Banana Fruits”, a paper on “Oligonucleotide and Amplification Fingerprinting of Wild Species and Cultivars of Banana” which was published in the renown journal “Nature” and a study on “Within-bunch Variability in Banana Fruit Weight: Importance of Developmental Lag Between Fruits” published in the scholarly journal “Annals of Botany”.

Pomology.org was launched in 1996 and has emerged as a comprehensive aggregator of websites and science references in the applied life science pomology. The site is now under new management and has just been republished.

Users who wish to submit their own or their company’s website for inclusion in Pomology.org are welcome to submit their listing through the site. Furthermore, the site maintains a pomology research section number of Pomology RSS feeds which enables users to subscribe to their most favorite topics within the site. For better public exposure Pomology.org also maintains and continuously updates the Twitter account @Pomology_.

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Download the Free HRA 101 Whitepaper at bit.ly/HRA101

(PRWEB) May 17, 2012

Zane Benefits, which provides small businesses with comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional group health insurance, this week published a new article on the history of Health Savings Accounts. With the article, the company seeks to provide entrepreneurs with a fresh perspective on small business health alternatives.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Congress began discussing Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) where any consumer could (1) pay for all medical expenses with tax-deductible dollars and (2) spend or save unlimited tax-advantaged amounts for current or future medical expenses.

In 1996, Congress created the Archer Medical Savings Accounts experiment, named after Representative Daniel Archer who sponsored the MSA amendment to HIPAA, allowing a limited number of MSAs for a trial period. MSA eligibility was severely restricted to up to 750,000 self-employed taxpayers and, despite their enormous tax advantages, they were complex, and only 150,000 MSAs were eventually opened before they were made obsolete by Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in 2003.

Throughout 2003, with the existing MSA legislation set to expire on December 31, the federal government debated new legislation to expand the MSA experiment. The White House wanted universal Health Savings Accounts, similar to IRAs, that could be opened by any U.S. taxpayer and pay for any medical expense including health insurance premiums. Such an HSA could have become a universal employee, employer, and retiree health benefits vehicle.

However, Congress was greatly concerned about the budget implications of the White House request, particularly since the Congress was also debating the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) which was expected to alone cost $ 400 billion over 10 years (in 2005 the MMA cost was later revised to $ 1.2 trillion).

The end result was a watered-down version of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), created via an amendment to the overhaul of Medicare in the MMA bill, and signed into law on December 8, 2003. Importantly, the bill placed five restrictions on HSAs, which combined to make HSAs fall short of their potential.

(1)     Only U.S. taxpayers already covered by highly restricted “HSA-qualified” health insurance plans could open Health Savings Accounts.

Additionally, other supplemental insurance coverage by a spouse or employer could automatically disqualify taxpayers from making HSA contributions.

This made most of the U.S. population ineligible for HSAs until, and if, their employer modified their health benefit plan.

(2)     HSA funds generally could not be used to pay for health insurance premiums

HSA funds could not be used to pay for health insurance premiums, except when the account owner was legally unemployed, on COBRA, over age 65, or using HSA funds to pay for long-term care premiums.

This kept HSAs as supplements to a health benefits plan rather than as substitutes for an employer-sponsored health benefits plan.

(3) Taxpayers received tax-deductions only for “contributions” to their HSA and then received no further tax incentive (or disincentive) to take distributions.

Economically, this made HSA funds the “money of last resort” for taxpayers to use for current medical expenses. Money in a HSA continues to appreciate and accumulates interest and/or dividends tax-free, and can be taken out at any time, tax-free, to reimburse a medical expense—even one that may have been incurred decades earlier.

(4)     Total annual contributions to an HSA, regardless of the source, were capped. (In 2013 this cap is $ 3,250 for an individual and $ 6,450 for a family.)

Additionally, if employers contribute to their employees’ HSA accounts, they had to do so equally without regard to each employee’s actual medical expenses.

This destroyed the primary economic reason for small to mid-size employers to switch to HSA-qualified health plans: Cost Savings. By raising the annual deductible on a fully-insured employer-sponsored group health policy (e.g. from $ 500 to $ 3,500), an employer typically lower their annual premium by 30-50%. However, so that employees do not incur higher out-of-pocket costs, the employer would have to contribute $ 3,000 ($ 3,500 less $ 500) each year to each employee’s HSA regardless of whether they had any medical expenses.

(5)     Employers could not restrict (or, due to HIPAA, even know) what employees did with their HSA funds once the employer contribution was made.

This prevented employers from designing HSA-powered programs coordinated with the objectives (e.g. wellness, savings) of their primary group health plan coverage. HSAs thus became a “black box” for employers once their contributions were completed.

Thus, HSAs could not be the universal health savings vehicle to help people afford health insurance, help pay for medical expenses, or enable employers to create more effective health benefit plans. Instead, Congress converted HSAs into a healthcare retirement tool, much like 401(k)s or IRAs.

HSAs combine the benefits of both traditional and Roth 401(k)s and IRAs for medical expenses.

Taxpayers receive a 100% income tax deduction on annual contributions, they may withdraw HSA funds tax-free to reimburse themselves for qualified medical expenses, and they may defer taking such reimbursements indefinitely without penalties.

HSAs are unique—“IRAs on Steroids”—with triple tax advantages:

A) Tax-deductible contributions,

B) Tax-free accumulation of interest and dividends tax-free,; and

C) Tax-free distributions for qualified medical expenses.

Every U.S. taxpayer should have an HSA to save money for retirement healthcare expenses—even maximizing their HSA contributions before contributing to other retirement vehicles.

HSAs are NOT the optimal health benefit solution for employers, who:

A) Want employees to have proper economic incentives today to stay healthy and reduce their current medical spending,

B) Seek to reduce the ever-increasing cost of their group health benefits plan, or

C) Are looking for an affordable replacement to a group health benefits plan altogether for either current or formerly ineligible employees.

The best way employers can achieve all three of these objectives is by using Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or HRAs.

About Zane Benefits, Inc.

Zane Benefits, Inc, a software company, helps insurance brokers, accountants, and employers take advantage of new defined contribution health benefits and private exchanges via its proprietary SaaS online health benefits software. Zane Benefits does not sell insurance. Using Zane’s platform, insurance professionals and accountants offer their clients a defined contribution health plan with multiple individual health insurance options via a private health exchange of their choice. Learn more at http://www.zanebenefits.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Industrial Video Products

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 16, 2012

Skyrocketing and complex digital signage and the newly increasing use and demand for industrial dvd players and hd media players has made Videotel’s industrial video products an essential cost effection option for digital signage at leading companies around the world. To meet this growing demand, Videotel Digital today announced plans to unveil and showcase industrial video products and the Videotel Digital HD2600 Industrial DVD Player into the professional and enterprise markets. The announcement was made at the InfoComm12 Communication Marketplace for the upcoming annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 13-15, 2012 where Videotel will Exhibit for the first time.

Videotel Digital industrial grade HD2600 (newly UL listed) and audio/video products offer unique digital solutions with rugged industrial hd dvd players and commercial grade digital media players. Solutions that offer effortless system integration for any project. Technology designed and proven as reliable test lab equipment for video quality assurance projects. Business offers video conversion services in the areas of digital content management and customizable splash screens. Solutions trigger content with timer/scheduler to educate, entertain, improve communication, increase revenues and customer satisfaction.

Videotel, Inc. offers corporations, associations and government agencies an easy, cost-effective way to display and manage high quality digital content without the need for a PC, editing software or required expertise. Products may be used for continuous looping play 24/7/365 displayed on any monitor or screen.

“Our HD2600 Industrial DVD Player and media players are an easy and reliable way to display informative content to educate, advertise and communicate with your audience” said Mark Schneider, Owner and Executive Vice President of Videotel, Inc. “We see our Industrial video solutions changing the way our customers deliver information.” And now, with our newly added distribution model with authorized dealers, Videotel Digital products are recommended for system integrations with the most prominent solution providers today.”

About Videotel, Inc. aka Videotel Digital

Founded in 1980 and while successfully operating for 32 years, Videotel is a leading OEM and distributor of industrial grade video products within the United States, Latin America, Canada, and Spain. Tens of thousands of Videotel Digital products are currently and heavily deployed in hospitals, hotels, universities, retail stores, museums, casinos, restaurants, government agencies, QA labs for Facilities Services companies, consultants and system integrators.

For more information, visit http://www.videoteldigital.com

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La Jolla IVF – San Diego Fertility Center and Fertility Specialists

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 16, 2012

La Jolla IVF, a San Diego fertility center, was recently awarded with accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP)—a certification that is equal to or more stringent than the government’s own standards.

Laboratory Director Barry R. Behr, PhD, HCLD was informed of this national recognition and congratulated for the clinic’s continued excellence.

“It’s an honor to receive CAP certification,” commented Behr. “We see this as the gold standard for IVF labs. We really work hard to maintain our high-quality standards, success rates, and continued contribution to reproductive research,” he added.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors carefully examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. Inspectors also evaluate staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety programs and records, and overall management. The accreditation program began in the 60s and is recognized by the federal government for stringent adherence to the highest standards.

CAP certification enables La Jolla IVF to make pregnancy rates available to the public via national statistics registers. This is an important statistic for potential patients who are in the process of choosing a fertility center. By sharing success rates, La Jolla IVF will be able to extend their reach, thereby providing high-quality services and the gift of parenthood to even more patients.

About La Jolla IVF

Founded by David B. Smotrich, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., La Jolla IVF is a San Diego-based fertility center specializing in in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), blastocyst embryo transfer, surrogacy (including for single individuals and gay males), egg donation, PDG Micro Array technology, , gender selection, embryo freezing, egg freezing, sperm freezing and banking, and more. La Jolla IVF provides an award-winning facility and updates practices routinely to improve results for a wide variety of patients. La Jolla IVF welcomes all patients, regardless of marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. To learn more, please visit. http://www.lajollaivf.com.

About the College of American Pathologists

The College of American Pathologists, celebrating 50 years as the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, is a medical society that serves more than 17,000 physician members and the global laboratory community. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of board-certified pathologists and is the world-wide leader in laboratory quality assurance. The college advocates accountable, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care. More information can be found at http://www.cap.org.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Research Triangle Park, NC (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Heat Biologics, a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, and Colonial Technology Development Co., which grows and builds medical and technology companies, announced today that Taffy Williams, Ph.D., will transition from being Heat’s president to being its senior advisor. Heat CEO Jeffrey Wolf will take on the additional role of president from Williams, the founder of Colonial Technology who has helped guide Heat’s growth for the past four years.

“Colonial Technology’s stated goal with every client is to nurture their development to the point where our role becomes obsolete. We are exceptionally proud to have achieved that point with Heat Biologics,” said Williams. “It has been an honor to oversee the efforts that have gone into advancing Heat’s technology platform, and I look forward to continuing the relationship as a senior advisor working on strategic issues.”

Wolf, who formed Heat in 2008, brought in Williams to help build out the company’s infrastructure and advance its technology platform. During Williams’ tenure, Heat’s lead drug, HS-110, advanced to a Phase II clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under a commercial IND. Heat has also advanced development of vaccines for several other cancers. These are expected to advance to the clinic in the near future. Other notable milestones include the addition of a highly respected Scientific Advisory Board and experienced pharmaceutical staff.

While Heat’s core focus is on cancer, its scientists have also advanced vaccines for pathogens. Specifically, the company will be seeking partners for its HIV, malaria and hepatitis vaccines.

Nearly $ 20 million has gone toward development of Heat’s ImPACT technology. Funds have come from multiple sources, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), investors and service providers and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. The company also recently entered into a manufacturing agreement.

“The contributions Taffy and Colonial Technology have made to Heat Biologics over the years have been invaluable,” said Wolf. “Taffy’s deep understanding of the regulatory and business requirements for operating a clinical-stage company and his connections across the scientific and business communities have enabled Heat to build a world-class organization that is well on the way to bringing life-saving therapeutic vaccines to market.”

About Colonial Technology Development Co.

Colonial builds and grows medical and technology companies by providing the scientific and business expertise necessary to overcome a variety of challenges facing startup and spin-off companies, universities and investment firms. Our services, including business development, pharmaceutical and biotechnology startup management and financing, are focused on achieving the successful commercialization of technology and establishing profitable enterprises.

About Heat Biologics

Heat Biologics is a clinical-stage company focused on developing its novel off-the-shelf ImPACT therapeutic vaccines to combat a wide range of cancers and infectious diseases. ImPACT Therapy exploits the natural ability of antigens to activate the immune system by utilizing live, off-the-shelf, genetically modified cells injected into a patient to elicit a powerful immune response against the disease target. Heat’s ImPACT Therapy is based upon heat shock protein gp-96, a chaperone protein found in all human cells and normally tethered to our cells with a leash called the KDEL sequence. ImPACT Therapy removes this KDEL leash, thus transforming allogeneic living cells into powerful machines that continually pump out gp96 and their chaperoned antigens to activate the immune system against the full spectrum of antigens expressed by a patient’s disease. Heat is currently in Phase II trials against non-small cell lung cancer. Heat plans to initiate additional clinical trials against bladder and ovarian cancer in 2012.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.