Health Fair Topics

Seek student volunteers from local colleges as runners for your health fair.

A health fair is a chance for stakeholders from a particular sector of the health-care industry to network and share information. Determining a topic for your health fair is a first step in planning the event; once you have selected a key theme, market your fair to your target participants. Design a corporate sponsorship strategy and seek sponsorship from organizations within your niche market.

Research and Development

Make a name tag for each registered exhibitor.

A key topic in health is research and development. Focus your health fair on research and development. Invite research think tanks, academic institutions, private industry research entities and other key stakeholders to the fair. Market the fair to leaders in the research and development industry; these organizations should also be your focus when seeking sponsorship for the fair.

Allied Health

Center your health fair on the topic of allied health. Allied health workers are health professionals who support the work of dentists, physicians and podiatrists. Physiotherapists, radiologists and technicians are examples of allied health professionals. Tailor your fair to the needs of allied health workers, with booths focusing on professional development. Alternatively, tailor your fair to the needs of the industry with booths established by private industry, clinics, hospitals and professional associations.

Chronic-Disease Management

Make the theme of your fair chronic-disease management. Present information on chronic diseases, like HIV and multiple sclerosis, as well as diabetes and other long-term health conditions; do so by inviting the official society of each disease to the fair. Invite health professionals, researchers and private industries that focus on these chronic diseases to your fair. Seek a sponsor for a networking coffee break; participants will find high value in chatting with other chronic-disease stakeholders about issues and best practices.

Healthy Living for Families

Healthy living for families is another idea for the theme of your health fair. Have nutritionists present healthy menu tips for families on site. Ask recreation specialists to set up booths and provide information on the importance of physical activity. You could also have family medicine physicians on site to conduct routine blood pressure checks and share tips on health maintenance.

Tags: health fair, your fair, your health, your health fair, health professionals

Get Prescription Medications For Low Or No Cost

For those who do not have health insurance, purchasing the prescription medications they need can be nearly impossible. If you are prescribed a medication that has no generic form, obtaining the medication you need can be even harder. Fortunately there are options available for those who do not have the insurance or the money to cover the cost of their prescription medications.

Instructions

1. Check with your pharmacy. Many pharmacies, including those those located in Wal-Mart and in local grocery stores around the country, offer certain medications for a set price of four dollars per prescription. Not every medication is available at this price. It is necessary to obtain a list from your pharmacist.

2. Talk to your doctor. Many times. if you are being treated by a specialist for a specific condition such as Epilepsy or Fibromyalgia, your doctor may have samples to give you until you can purchase the medications yourself. Drug companies are always promoting themselves to doctors in an effort to get their business, often providing them with drug samples. While this may not be the case all the time, it never hurts to ask.

3. Go to your local health department. There are some health departments that offer specific programs designed to help those with little income obtain their medications for free. The catch is that the medications will be sent directly to your doctor, so you need to check with him and be sure he will sign for the medications before you apply. The process, from start to finish, usually takes between two to four weeks. If approved, you will receive a three-month supply without paying a penny.

4. Contact prescription mail order companies. There are some mail order companies that offer medications at an extremely reduced rate. For example, if a person is taking Klonopin for epilepsy, he can apply with Rx Outreach and receive a three-month supply for thirty dollars, versus a one-month supply for the same price. His income guidelines are extremely flexible as well, as someone who is single needs to earn less than $31,000 per year to be eligible. The limits increase by $10,000 for every extra person living in the household.

5. Contact foundations. Foundations like the Epilepsy, Alzheimers and Diabetic Associations may be able to help with the cost of prescription drugs as well. While many of the donations they receive goes for research and cures, they are also there for those who suffer from these conditions. If they can't help you, they can assist you by giving you contact numbers of organizations who can.

Tags: your doctor, mail order, mail order companies, order companies, prescription medications, receive three-month, receive three-month supply

Side Effects From Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer

According to the website www.breastcancer.org, breast cancer results from abnormal changes and uncontrolled growth in breast tissue. It is always caused by a genetic abnormality in the breast and is not necessarily hereditary. Treatments are available for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, from chemotherapy to radiation to holistic approaches. Each treatment has side effects, which vary with each individual.

Skin Reactions

Skin reactions sometimes arise at the site being treated with radiation. The reaction usually resembles a sunburn, and ends with some minor peeling. Sometimes a more serious reaction can occur, which can be anywhere from skin soreness to burning and itching.

Chest Pain

Some shooting pains may be felt in the chest after radiation treatment, due to the nerves being irritated and swollen. Tylenol and ibuprofen can be used to help ease the pain, but if the discomfort is more severe, the doctor may prescribe something stronger.

Fatigue

Fatigue can be overwhelming for some people going through radiation therapy. It is the most common side effect. For some people, it may take months for the fatigue to go away.

Heart Problems

Some people going through radiation treatment may experience chest pain or discomfort. They may have problems breathing or have an irregular heartbeat. Some people may even have heart attacks, so it is imperative that all patients undergoing radiation discuss with their doctors any chest pain they are experiencing.

Discomfort in the Armpit

Since the armpit is close to the breast, any person undergoing radiation may experience armpit pain or discomfort. Also, the fact that the arms rubs back and forth along the skin can lead to additional discomfort.

Tags: pain discomfort, breast cancer, going through, going through radiation, people going, people going through

Symptoms Of A Torn Pectoral Muscle

Symptoms of a Torn Pectoral Muscle

When you tear the fibrous tissue of your pectoral (chest) muscle, it is often excruciating. Since the pecs are used to help lift and move your arms, it's nearly impossible to avoid using these muscles. If you believe you have a torn pectoral, you'll need to take a lengthy break from exercise. Your practitioner might also recommend physical therapy or even surgery.

Severe Pain

When you rupture a pectoral muscle, the first thing you'll notice is severe pain in the chest, front shoulder and possibly the upper arm. Some people experiencing the injury might think they're having a heart attack.

After the initial injury, the pain of a pectoral tear can be exacerbated by arm movements, sneezing, coughing or laughing. If you think you have a pectoral tear, use ice and immobilization to manage symptoms until you're able to confirm the diagnosis with a physician.

Bruising and Swelling

Beginning shortly after the initial injury, you might notice mild to severe swelling and bruising in your chest, shoulder and upper arm. This is an indication of trauma in the pectoral region, and these bruising and edema symptoms can last several weeks.

Reduced Power and Mobility

Torn pectoral muscles greatly reduce your ability to lift weight in front of your body. You might experience severe pain and weakness when performing daily activities such as placing a gallon of milk in the refrigerator, opening a car door and picking up your child. You might notice pain and muscle weakness when lifting your arms to the sides of your body as well.

Causes

Torn pectoral muscles are most often caused by weightlifting past the point of muscle fatigue or stretching a cold or over-fatigued chest muscle. Weightlifters can also experience a pectoral tear if they are using improper form while bench-pressing. If you regularly bench-press, remember to squeeze your shoulder blades together, train the triceps to assist the chest and don't lower your elbows past the bench.

While a torn pectoral is usually a weight-lifting injury, the condition might also result from doing force-based activities such as tackling, chopping wood, pitching or batting.

Solutions

If you believe you've torn a pectoral muscle, immobilize the arm, shoulder and chest as much as possible, and apply ice every 20 to 30 minutes. It's important to make an appointment with your practitioner immediately because tears often require surgery or regular physical therapy. Treating the injury sooner rather than later minimizes the buildup of scar tissue and reduces chances of severe muscle atrophy.

Tags: pectoral tear, activities such, chest muscle, initial injury, injury might, might also, might notice

Prevent Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacks that form on or within your ovaries. Most ovarian cysts are harmless unless they rupture and many women will have at least one during their lifetime. While there is no way to prevent ovarian cysts, there are things you can do to diagnose them before they become problematic. Read on to learn prevent ovarian cysts.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms. Symptoms include menstrual irregularities, pelvic and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness and pressure on your rectum or bladder. If you experience any of these symptoms especially right before or right after your period, contact your gynecologist.

2. Schedule routine pelvic exams. Regular pelvic exams will allow your doctor to monitor changes in an ovarian cysts and will ensure diagnosis of problematic cysts as early as possible.

3. Take birth control pills. Birth control pills have been proven to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and reduce the risk of ovarian cysts developing during your menstrual cycle.

Tags: ovarian cysts, control pills, pelvic exams, reduce risk, reduce risk ovarian

Get The Best Price On Health Insurance (Affordable Health Insurance!)

Quitting smoking can help you lower your health insurance costs.

The average cost of an individual health insurance plan was $183 a month in 2011, according to a study by eHealth. That's a fairly sizable chunk to have taken out of your budget every month, especially if you're watching your pennies. Next time your medical coverage is up for renewal think smart about ways you can cut your premium.

Get In Shape

You'll typically pay more for your health coverage if you're in bad shape or live an unhealthy lifestyle. Insurers figure you'll be more likely to need care if you're overweight or indulge in unhealthy habits, so will charge you more for your insurance if you don't look after yourself. Quitting smoking, cutting down on the amount of alcohol you drink and losing weight can help you get your insurance premiums down. Insurance companies will usually only consider you to be a non-smoker if you've been off tobacco for 12 months.

Comparison Sites

Use price comparison sites to find the most competitive coverage on the market. Most comparison services allow you to specify the type and amount of health insurance you want and then show you a list of different products. If you're going to use a broker to help you compare the market, use one that deals with multiple providers. Be wary of choosing the cheapest policy without thoroughly reviewing its benefits and exclusions. Some plans are cheap simply because they offer very little protection. Low-premium policies often offer no prescription drug benefits and would require you to pay a high deductible if you had to make a claim, according to Forbes.com.

Basic Coverage

Take out a basic policy that only provides the protection you really need. Do away with expensive riders that offer additional coverage for benefits such as counseling or eye care if it's unlikely you're going to need them. As a rule of thumb, the more benefits the policy you take out offers, the more you'll wind up paying.

Work Coverage

If your employer offers group health insurance, take it. CNN Money advises that employer-subsidized health coverage programs will almost always be better value than any policy you could buy as an individual. This will be especially true if you're getting on a bit or are not in good health. Although you'll still have to pay for your coverage through your wages, you'll benefit from the discount your employer gets for buying insurance in bulk.

Tags: health insurance, health coverage, Health Insurance, more your, Quitting smoking

Proofread Better As A Medical Transcriptionist

Ask questions if you are unsure of a word's meaning or spelling.

Working as medical transcriptionist can be a stressful job. Hard to pronounce and spell medical terminology along with hard to follow dictations and problems with technology can lead to difficulty in providing your medical staff with accurate dictations. Accurate medical reports are necessary for a variety of reasons -- including accurate medical history reports for patients and insurance reasons. Proofreading your reports can help ensure accuracy. There are actions you can take to become a better proofreader while working as a medical transcriptionist.

Instructions

1. Take a medical terminology or medical transcriptionist class at a community college. Contact community colleges in your neighborhood for details. You may be able to enroll in a semester-long class or a daylong class that simply teaches you the basics.

2. Use a medical dictionary. Purchase a medical dictionary online or in your local bookstore. If you are not sure of the correct spelling of a word, use your dictionary to look up the word. Keep in mind that many word processors cannot accurately spell many medical terms.

3. Read a few sentences back to yourself at a time as you type. Review your document a few sentences or paragraphs at a time. This can help ensure accuracy along the way.

4. Leave blanks if you are not sure what word is supposed to be used. Never guess at the spelling or use a word you think belongs. This can create an inaccurate medical report -- which in rare cases can reek havoc for patients and their treating physicians. Mark the document in question and pass it off to the appropriate individual -- this depends on the policy of the office you work at but may include a resident, physician assistant, medical secretary or the attending physician -- to check for accuracy.

Tags: medical transcriptionist, ensure accuracy, help ensure, help ensure accuracy, medical dictionary

Schedule Doctor Visits

Have you had a physical in the past decade? When was the last time you got your cholesterol checked? It's easy to miss these important tests, especially if you rely on your overworked doctor to remember to order them for you. Before you make an appointment, call your insurance company: Some offer free or low-cost mammograms, cholesterol tests and eye exams.

Instructions

1. Schedule a physical yearly for men and women.

2. After the age of three, you should schedule a dental appointment twice a year/every six months.

3. If you have prescription eye glasses or eye problems, you should get used to seeing your ophthalmologist or optometrist once every two years to check for glaucoma, tumors or the brain and optic nerve, cataracts and retinal degeneration. If you're extremely nearsighted or over 65, you should go annually. If you have no symptoms, you should go every three to five years to be safe.

4. Starting at age 20, women should get a clinical breast exam each year and administer monthly self-exams. Get your first baseline mammogram between 35 and 40. Between 40 and 50, get a mammogram every other year; after 50, get one yearly.

5. For men, get an annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood-test screenings after age 50, or annually after 40 if you have risk factors like family history or being African-American.

6. If you're over 50, get screened for colon cancer annually. If you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, get tested more often. If you have a parent or sibling who had colorectal cancer or polyps before age 60, get tested 10 years before the age they were diagnosed. If you have had polyps at any age, start getting screened in your 40s. If you are at high risk, consider getting a colonoscopy first.

7. Women should start gynecological exams at age 18. Get a yearly pelvic exam with Papsmear (test for cervical cancer). Start younger if you are sexually active. If you have a history of abnormal Papsmears, ask for the new Hybrid II DNA test for chlamydia, a sometimes asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

8. Men and women should get a lipoprotein analysis every five years beginning at age 20. This test checks your total cholesterol.

9. Between ages 20 and 39, men and women should have a complete body exam every three years for skin cancer. Get an annual exam with a digital imaging screening if you have: A family history of skin cancer; many moles; fair skin; red or blond hair or freckles; had excessive sun exposure as a child or teenager; or if you are over 40. Do monthly self-exams to check for freckles, moles and suspicious lesions.

Tags: annually have, every three, exam with, family history, five years, have history, monthly self-exams

Social Concerns With Classroom Tracking

Educators are split over whether classroom tracking benefits or harms students.

Classroom tracking is the practice of separating students according to their abilities in each subject. Lower ability students are placed in one group, average ability students are placed in another and high ability students are placed in a third. Typically, this is done in the subject areas of math and reading.

History of Tracking

Classroom tracking originally began as a means to separate students who were expected to go on to higher education from the students who were expected to enter the work force upon graduating high school. Those who were on the university-bound track were offered academic-oriented courses such as foreign languages and advanced mathematics and sciences so that they would have the necessary requirements for college. Those on the vocational track were offered courses such as woodworking or engine repair so that they could learn a trade.

Reasons for Tracking

Classroom tracking is done today so that teachers may tailor their lessons to each student's individual needs. For instance, they give those with higher level reading skills more difficult texts to read while they give those with lower level skills easier ones. The hope is that students will be less frustrated if they are doing work at their own ability level.

Pros of Tracking

Research has found that, at least in the elementary school setting, students of both low and high ability do better when there is tracking. Teachers are able to provide a slower learning pace for students who are struggling; meanwhile, tracking lets students who are advanced continue their studies at a brisker pace. Test scores of elementary school students in classes with tracking have demonstrated that all ability groups show adequate gains in achievement.

Cons of Tracking

While studies have found that tracking in elementary school can be beneficial to all students, studies of secondary school students have shown a different finding. According to research, low ability students tend to do best in heterogeneous classrooms -- ones where students of differing ability are mixed together. In classes where students are tracked by ability, the low ability students do not show adequate gains in achievement. On the other hand, high ability students do worse in heterogeneous classrooms and better when they are tracked.

Tags: ability students, ability students placed, Classroom tracking, elementary school, high ability, students placed, adequate gains

Get Indigent Dental Assistance

Finding dental care when you have no dental insurance will mean searching for free or reduced-price services for your age group. Dr. Kimberley Harms, DDS, a licensed dentist since 1981, is a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. Harms said the ADA is concerned about access to dental care for everyone who needs it. "This is America and nobody should go to bed with a toothache anymore," Harms said. "We have the resources to take care of that."

Instructions

Sources of help

1. Contact your state dental association to find out where free or low-cost services are available. The state dental society has lists of who provides care. A list of state dental associations is available on the ADA website.

2. See if your income qualifies for Medicaid, a state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals and families.

3. Locate a federally funded health center that provides dental care. The Health Resources and Services Administration has an online search page to locate federally funded health centers. You can call the HRSA information center toll-free at 888-Ask-HRSA.

4. Get services at a dental school. Dental schools often offer reduced-cost clinics where dental students treat patients under the supervision of licensed, experienced dentists. The ADA website has a list of dental schools

5. Check into a nearby clinical trial that you might fit into. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research can help you find trials that recruit people with specific oral, dental, and craniofacial conditions.

6. Learn which dentists in your area participate in the Give Kids a Smile program by calling local dentists or your state dental association. The one program that is nationwide is Give Kids a Smile in the month of February. Dentists treat children for free.

7. Find out if your child's school participates in a school-based dental care program and how extensive are the services it offers. "Our mission is to create a dental home for underserved populations. We do this by coordinating site-based dental clinics," says Allen Hersh, executive vice president for ReachOut America. The program works in about 6,000 schools nationwide and welcomes inquiries from schools or organizations with an interest in children.

Tags: dental care, state dental, your state dental, dentists your, federally funded, federally funded health

Early Signs Of Shingles

Early Signs of Shingles

Shingles is a painful skin rash that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox--herpes zoster. In the United States, 9 out of 10 adults have had chickenpox. Once you have had chickenpox, the virus remains alive but lies dormant in your body. If the virus becomes active again, it can cause shingles.

Early Symptoms

Shingles appear as a painful blistering rash. The rash can appear anywhere on your body, however they usually appear as a band of blisters on one side of your face or body. Sometimes you can actually feel the symptoms before they appear. Typically, the rash will last up to 30 days. The early warning signs are isolated pain or tingling around the trunk or down the arm and leg, flu-like symptoms, headaches and itching.

Tingling

Numbness and tingling down the leg and arm or around your trunk is one of the first symptoms of shingles. You might feel a tingling sensation or numbness that will be uncomfortable and can occur anywhere on your body including the abdomen, neck, back, chest, and arm or leg. These are abnormal sensations and are also referred to as loss of sensation or sensory loss. The nerve root that supply sensation to your body runs alongside both sides of your body. When the virus is awaken it travels up the nerve roots, thus creating tingling and numbness.

Flu-like Symptoms

Flu-like symptoms are another early sign of shingles. These flu-like symptoms include diarrhea, chills, and stomachaches. These symptoms normally occur without a fever and usually appear before or along with the start of a rash. These flu-like symptoms can be misdiagnosed as something else, so check with your medical professional for a proper diagnosis.

Headaches

Headaches are another early symptom of having shingles. Headaches can increase with sensitivity of light. In some cases, shingles will produce severe to migraine headaches. This is especially normal in cases where shingles is in the scalp. To help relieve the pain, Tylenol or Ibuprofen may be taken; however check with your health care professional before taking any medications.

Itching

Itching is an early indication of shingles. Normally, itching will start before the rash appears. The itching will begin where the rash will normally appear. Shingles affect the nerve roots, therefore resulting in pain and itching. Itching from shingles can be relieved by applying hydrocortisone cream and/or taking Benadryl. In some cases, people will experience a lot of itching but no pain. Do not scratch the blisters or rash as doing so will increase the risk of the blisters or rash spreading.

Tags: your body, another early, anywhere your, anywhere your body, blisters rash

Gifts For Female Doctors

There are many good gift options for female doctors.

Whether you have a doctor in the family or you want to offer your doctor a gift for the holiday or as a thank you, there are many good options to choose from. Female and male doctors sometimes might appreciate similar gifts, but other gifts are more suitable particularly for female doctors.

Breast Cancer Donation

Doctors encourage and promote health. Breast cancer represents a significant health threat for women in the United States. Over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2010, according to the organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A donation to a breast cancer foundation in the woman doctor's name shows you care about her work, especially if she regularly treats women with the disease.

Topically Relevant Books

Some especially relevant books make appropriate gifts for women doctors. For example, "Fabulous Female Physicians", by Kathy Kacer and Florence Kirsh gives biographical history information for famous women doctors throughout history. These historical women may provide inspiration for your favorite female doctors.

Make-up That Supports a Charity

Donating money to a health awareness cause and make-up combine to make the perfect gift for a woman doctor. MAC Cosmetics has developed a line of cosmetics called "VIVA Glam". All of the proceeds from the line go to projects that support individuals afflicted with AIDS/HIV. The line includes several shades of lipstick, lipgloss and a small make-up bag.

Tags: female doctors, breast cancer, many good, woman doctor, women doctors

The Top Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs

Boston University has the top-rated gradutae program in occupational therapy, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people who are mentally, physically or emotionally disabled (either temporarily or permanently) improve their daily lives by aiding them in developing everyday skills. Becoming an OT requires a rigorous training and educational regime, including a higher, or graduate, degree in Occupational Therapy. While many universities around the world offer graduate programs in OT, the top hospitals and medical centers look first at students who come from the best-rated programs.

Boston University: Boston, Massachusetts

As of 2010, according to the popular college rating system published annually by U.S. News & World Report, the top-rated occupational therapy graduate program is at Boston College (see Reference 1). Boston University offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (usually completed in about two years) and a Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences (the amount of time it takes to achieve a Doctor of Science can vary). (See Reference 2.)

Washington University in St. Louis

Another of the top graduate programs in occupational therapy is at Washington University in St. Louis (see Reference 1). Washington University also offers a two-year Masters Degree and a highly individualized doctoral program (see Reference 3).

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

The University of Southern California also has a top-rated occupational therapy graduate program (see Reference 1). USC offers a one-year masters program, a two-year masters program and a doctoral program (see Reference 4).

Tags: Boston University, program Reference, Washington University, Doctor Science, doctoral program

Signs & Symptoms Of Invasive Breast Cancer

Invasive breast cancer is the stage of breast cancer where the cancerous cells have entered the milk lobules of the breast, and are starting to affect the cells around them. Further testing would be needed to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and what kind of treatment would be effective at that point.

Lump

The most common symptom of invasive breast cancer is a lump that can be found anywhere on the breast, or nearby in the underarm area. An early symptom lump may only be able to be found by a mammogram, or by touch. The skin of a breast cancer lump feels harder and tighter than the surrounding skin. Over time, a series of lumps may appear on the breast that give the skin a look similar to the skin of a grapefruit.

Redness

The skin around the nipple may start to become red, and it may even become warm to the touch. The redness could escalate to the point where it becomes uncomfortable and itchy. Small bumps may begin to appear, and the skin may start to swell or even become scaly. The nipple may also turn inward to the breast, which is also a common symptom of breast cancer.

Discharge

The nipple may begin to give off a discharge that could either be clear, or it could contain some color. It may be a yellowish discharge, or it could have a slight red tint to it from the blood that is mixing with it. Some of the discharge may be in the form of pus, which has a thicker consistency than the liquid discharge that the person may experience.

Breast Appearance

One of the symptoms of invasive breast cancer is that the nipple and areola may change in shape and appearance. They may become larger or smaller, and they may also appear to take on more of an oval shape. The breast itself may also appear to be larger, and this may become noticeable when comparing the size of the affected breast to the unaffected breast. If both breasts are affected, then they may grow at different paces.

Warning

The Mayo Clinic warns that any woman who finds a lump on her breast when doing a self-examination, even if a recent mammogram revealed no problems, should get checked out by her doctor immediately. It is important to do self-examinations at least once a month, and report any irregularities to your doctor immediately.

Tags: breast cancer, also appear, breast cancer, breast cancer lump, cancer lump

The Salary Of A Phlebotomy Technician In Minnesota

Phlebotomist salaries are lower in more rural areas of Minnesota.

Phlebotomy technicians, also called phlebotomists, draw blood from patients for health screening and diagnostics, and they also collect blood and plasma for donation purposes. Proper collection of specimens is vital because laboratory results contribute 70 percent of the data necessary to diagnose and treat patients, explains the website of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Salaries of phlebotomy technicians in Minnesota have a very wide range.

Comparisons

Small cities in rural Minnesota areas generally have very low pay rates for phlebotomy technicians. These techs in Marshall, for instance, had an annual median salary of about $21,400 in February 2011, and $21,700 in Bemidji, according to Salary.com. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians in Moorhead have a median annual pay rate of about $27,600. Phlebotomists in Duluth earn a median annual salary of $28,800, in St. Cloud $29,100, in Rochester $29,400 and in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area $31,700. The Rochester salary is closest to the nationwide median pay rate for phlebotomy technicians, which was about $29,400 per year in February 2011.

Salary Range

The middle 50 percent of phlebotomy technicians on the earnings scale in this group of Minnesota cities make about $19,300 to $35,100 per year. The top 10 percent earn more than $38,200 per year. The bottom 10 percent have salaries below $17,400 per year, or less than $8.40 per hour. That's not much higher than the federal and Minnesota minimum wage, which was $7.25 in February 2011. Nationwide, the middle 50-percent range for phlebotomy techs is about $26,500 to $32,600.

Specifics

The job search website Indeed.com lists about 100 job openings for phlebotomy technicians throughout Minnesota as of February 2011. Positions are available with hospitals, doctors' offices, mobile blood donation centers and the Red Cross. Full-time, part-time and per diem -- or work on an as-needed basis -- are available, as well as day and night schedules. Posted pay rates range from about $11.50 to $19.00 per hour, translating to about $23,900 to $39,500 per year.

Qualifications

The Indeed.com job listings indicate that phlebotomy technician candidates often need only a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers prefer applicants with formal training in phlebotomy, laboratory work or medical assisting. Phlebotomy training programs usually are part time and last for one semester, leading to a certificate or diploma. Hennepin County Medical Center offers a full-time, 12-week phlebotomy training program in which students learn medical terminology, circulatory system anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy quality assurance methods, legal concerns, safety and infection control procedures, venipuncture and other skin-puncture techniques and specimen processing. After the first four weeks, trainees spend at least 20 hours per week drawing blood from patients in various medical center departments. This internship makes the graduate eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification national exam to become a certified phlebotomist.

Tags: phlebotomy technicians, February 2011, about year, blood from, blood from patients

Get Health Insurance For A Home Care Provider

Changes in modern medicine affect the way health care coverage is deployed by insurance companies. Providing patients' in home care was once unheard of, but now it often proves more cost effective and convenient than a lengthy hospital stay. Knowing what your health insurance benefits cover will better prepare you to advocate for your insurance company to supply a home care provider for you or a loved one.

Instructions

1. Assess whether the patient meets the minimum requirements to receive in home care. To qualify for a home care provider under Medicare the patient must require at least one of the following services, according to your doctor: Intermittent skilled nursing care, speech-language pathology services, physical therapy or continued occupational therapy. Patients' requesting home care must also be either homebound or barely able to leave home unassisted. Most insurance providers will require that at a minimum the patient meets these conditions.

2. Determine the level of care the patient requires. For your insurance company to provide the patient in home care the patient must need less than full time care. This means a home care worker would spend fewer than seven days a week with the patient and attend to the patient's needs for less than eight hours per day. If a patient requires more intensive treatment or medical supervision it is unlikely that the insurance company will pay for a home care provider.

3. Develop a relationship with the treating physician and ask the doctor to write a letter on the patient's behalf to the insurance agency requesting a home care provider and delineating the medical necessity of the claim. Submit your request for an in home care provider to the patient's insurance company along with the doctor's letter.

4. Prepare to fight the insurance company for an in home care provider. Most non-HMO insurance claims are denied the first time they are submitted. If the patient's claim is denied request a second letter from the treating physician and re-submit the claim. You may have to do this more than once, but being persistent pays off.

Tags: home care, insurance company, care provider, home care, home care provider, home care provider

Get Health Care For Free

Get Health Care for Free

Access to affordable health care is a top concern for both families as well as those who are single. The inability to pay for treatment stops many people from seeking health care for chronic, transient and even emergent conditions. Since failure to treat minor health problems can lead to major troubles, access to suitable care is critical. You may be able to get free health care depending on factors such as financial need, residence and health condition.

Instructions

1. Gather supporting residence and financial documentation. Free health care programs have strict qualification rules that must be met prior to program acceptance. Waiting until the last minute to provide necessary documentation can delay access to the care you need. Although specific guidelines will be issued by each provider, certain documents are more requested than others. Making copies of current tax returns, pay stubs and state identification for each household member will place you ahead in the hunt for free health care.

2. Assess your overall health condition. Acceptance into some free health care programs is dependent on your current health status or disease progression. For example, some clinics provide free health care to pregnant women. Other clinics provide free health care to those diagnosed with HIV. Knowing your status makes searching for applicable free health care much easier.

3. Apply for government-supported health care programs. Programs like Medicaid and Health Choice provide free health care for those meeting age, income, residence and health condition requirements. Several divisions may exist within each program increasing your possibility of acceptance. For example, Medicaid assistance is divided into sub-groups including pregnant women, children and the blind. Assistance may also be available to cover medical costs associated with past bills if you're accepted into certain programs. Contact your local Department of Social Services for updated acceptance standards and procedures.

4. Visit free clinics in your area. Many communities have designated clinics to provide free health care to community members. These types of clinics usually operate on a limited schedule such as every other Friday afternoon, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Some free clinics may only accept doctor referrals or be available by appointment-only. Since there may also be residency and income requirements, call ahead for details. State operated health departments and community supported health centers often provide these services.

5. Attend free health fairs. Take advantage of periodic health screenings offered by both public and private health agencies. Blood pressure checks, flu shots and cholesterol screenings are among the many areas routinely handled in these free events. Referrals to treat problematic findings may even by free. Health fairs are usually scheduled weeks in advance and located at well-known community locations. Frequent community bulletin boards and newspapers to learn about these events.

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Keep A Tattoo Looking New

A tattoo is a piece of artwork that you carrying around with you every day for the rest of your life. As with every piece of art, their are certain steps that need to take place to keep your tattoo looking as new as the day that you got it. Follow these easy steps to keep your tattoo looking new. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Take Care of Your Tattoo

1. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to your tattoo everyday before you leave the house. You should be applying sunscreen to your entire body. However if you must try to get a tan, at least keep your tattoo safe from the sun's harmful rays.

2. Use a moisturizing body wash every evening to thoroughly clean your tattoo to keep it looking new. You will want to make sure to get the layers of sunscreen and dirt off of your tattoo at the end of a long day.

3. Apply an intense moisturizer to your tattoo to keep the skin well hydrated before heading to be every night. Dried out skin will cause your tattoo to look older then it is.

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Cures For Thyroid Metastatic Disease

Roughly 37,000 people are diagnosed with thyroid metastatic disease, or thyroid cancer, every year, according to the Mayo Clinic. The thyroid gland produces various hormones that help regulate your weight, blood pressure and heart rate. Although not one of the more common cancers, the metastatic aspect of the disease means it spreads to other parts of the body, the lymph nodes being the most likely area to be infected.

Surgical Options

One of the main options for treating thyroid metastatic disease is to surgically remove the cancer. This removes all or part of the thyroid. If the cancer is relatively contained, then only part of the thyroid will need to be removed. However, if it is widespread, then the whole gland will need to be removed. If the lymph nodes are infected, they will need to be removed also, to minimize the spread of the cancer. Other areas that may be infected by the disease include the lungs and the bones. If these are infected, therapy options will be necessary.

Therapy Options

There are several therapy options that can be used to try to cure the cancer. The first is chemotherapy, says MedicineNet. A drug is put into the body that kills existing cancer cells. Another way is to concentrate radiation on the outside of the body parts where the cancer is most prevalent. The remaining options focus exclusively on the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine kills any remaining healthy cells in the thyroid, along with any remaining cancer cells that may have avoided detection and treatment through other means. It may also be used to treat any other parts of the body where the cancer has spread. The remaining therapy option is to undergo thyroid hormonal therapy. This provides your body with the hormone that your body would normally produce and prevents the development of a thyroid-stimulating hormone (THS), which can can contribute to future cancer cells growing.

The Mayo Clinic has reported an increase in thyroid cancer diagnosis in recent years, mainly due to the fact that increased technology has enabled detection of smaller forms of the cancer within the gland. New cancer treatments are currently being developed, which in the future may provide cures for thyroid metastatic disease.

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Stage 3 Cervical Cancer Prognosis

Stage 3 Cervical Cancer Prognosis

Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other organs. According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer is responsible for more than 4,000 deaths in the United States. To gauge the spread and prognosis of cervical cancer, a staging system is used based on the spread of cervical cancer. Prognosis of the disease, how long the patient will live, is largely dependent on the stage of cancer at which treatment is started.

Cancer

Cancer is an uncontrolled proliferation of cells. As the cells continue to divide, they interrupt the normal functioning of tissues and organs nearby. There are many causes for cancer, yet some causes are unknown. Known causes include genetic mutations from chemical, radiological and biological exposures. Biological exposures include viral infections. According to the National Cancer Institute, two types of human papillomavirus infections account for more than 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.

Cervical Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2007 more than 11,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with cancer of the uterine cervix, the part of the uterus that comes into contact with the top end of the vagina. Part of the diagnosis of cervical cancer is staging, or grading, the spread of the cancer.

Cancer Stages

Staging cervical cancer helps in treatment and prognosis of cervical cancer. The staging is done by looking at the cancer cells and whether or not they have spread. In stage 0, only the topmost layers of cells in the cervix are cancerous. At stage 1, the cancer is minimally visible, but it has not spread beyond the cervix. At stage 2, the cancer cells have spread beyond the cervix to nearby tissues of the vagina or uterus. At stage 3, the cancer cells, now a solid mass called a tumor, have spread to the pelvic regions, many times blocking the flow of urine from the kidneys to the bladder. At stage 4, the cancer has spread to other organs or tissues in the body.

Prognosis

The prognosis of cancer is given by five-year survival rates. That is, what percentage of patients with a type of cancer will survive for five years with adequate treatment? As the stage number increases, the survival rate decreases. At stage 0 to 1, survival rates are higher than 95 percent. At stage 2, survival rates are about 75 percent. At stage 3, the survival rates drop to about 50 percent. At stage 4, survival rates are below 30 percent.

Considerations

According to the American Cancer Society, about 50 percent of women with stage three cervical cancer will survive more than five years, given proper treatment. These are average results seen in survival studies done by different researchers and put forth by the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Because everyone reacts to treatment differently, and cancer at any stage can be beat or placed into remission (dormancy), prognoses must be given by a health care provider on a case-by-case basis.

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Health Fair Activity Ideas

Free vegetables are a must at any health fair.

Health fair activities are often geared toward children, but many public health fairs cater to older adults as well. A health fair is typically set up during the spring and summer. Several booths are hosted by teachers, health officials and other educators, depending on the intent of the fair as well as who is hosting. Each booth focuses on health foods, nutrition, vitamins or even other health-related topics such as hand washing and brushing your teeth.

Dance Activity

Designate a large grassy area at the health fair just for dancing. Hire a dance teacher and ask people to participate in dance class periodically throughout the day. Give out information packets about the importance of physical activity. If the health fair is for kids, hire a clown to lead the dances.

Antioxidant Booth

Create a booth featuring the benefits of antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and A found in fruit. Give away free information packets and make fresh fruit smoothies for people to enjoy. Talk about the nutrients found in the fruit smoothie. For instance, bananas are loaded with potassium and strawberries are loaded with vitamin C. Discuss the importance of antioxidants in your diet.

Dental Care

Free toothbrushes are essential at a dental booth.

Set up a booth with a dentist or dental hygienist. Give away free dental packets that include toothpaste, toothbrushes and information about dental care. Demonstrate properly floss and brush teeth. You can also hire a face painter to paint a white tooth, toothbrushes or other dental-related themes on children's faces. If the fair is more geared toward adults, you can discuss the benefits of teaching your children brush their teeth or highlight the importance of dental care for adults.

Vegetable Booth

Create a booth just for vegetables. Teach people about the importance of eating eight servings or more of vegetables per day. Discuss the benefits of nutrients and fiber contained in key vegetables. Display vegetable trays with low fat ranch dip. If the fair is for kids, have a puppet show with vegetable puppets talking about the value of this food.

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Make Trifold Brochures

You can make tri-fold brochures yourself.

Tri-fold brochures are a great way to promote your business and are a must-have marketing piece. If you're just starting a small business or are on a tight budget, these brochures are easy to make and print on your own. Follow these easy steps and learn make tri-fold brochures for your business or venture.

Choose what software you would like to use to create your tri-fold brochure. Adobe InDesign is a powerful application, but you have to be a little more computer savvy to use it. If you aren't familiar with using graphic programs, you can easily create a brochure using a word processor, such as Microsoft Word. This tutorial will teach you make your brochure using Word.

Instructions

1. Download a template from Microsoft (Microsoft.com). Its website has free downloads and you can then update and adjust the template to meet your needs.

2. If you prefer to create your own template, launch Microsoft Word. From the "File" menu, select "Page Setup." Click the "Landscape" icon from the Orientation section and click "OK."

3. Separate your document into three columns so that you can enter information into each one. From the "Format" menu, select "Columns" and "Three" to set up your document for three columns. Click "OK." At the top of the page in the ruler area, there are blue stops. These indicate where your column breaks are.

4. Begin creating your tri-fold brochure. Bear in mind that you'll need two total pages to create the outside and inside of your brochure. If you start work on the outside of your brochure first, remember that the front page of your brochure will actually be the right column on the screen. The middle column is your back page and the left column is the first page that people see when they open your brochure.

5. Use tools like text boxes and pictures to format and create your brochure. You can use the "Insert" menu to insert text boxes and pictures.

6. After you are done creating the first page of your brochure, select "Break" and "Page Break" from the "Insert" menu. A new page will appear and you can then create the inside of your brochure. Remember that the inside of your brochure will appear just as it looks on the screen; the reader will read it from left to right.

7. When you are done creating your brochure, you can either choose to print it on your own printer or you can save the file to disk and bring it to a print shop. If you're printing it yourself, you should print one side at a time, unless you have a printer with double-sided print capabilities. When you print, print the first page first. Start by printing one copy to test the appearance. Then place the same paper back in the printer to print the second side. You may have to do this a few times to get the format correct.

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Minority Outreach Grants For Cancer

Scientists who are minorities can fund their research through a variety of sources.

Grants that target minority outreach research studies on cancer are efforts to increase funding sources to scientists who focus on servicing the health needs of minority communities. Many times research includes finding the factors that contribute to disparate health impacts. A disparate health impact means that higher numbers of certain racial or ethnic groups within society report developing diseases such as cancer. Grants may include both publicly and privately funded sources. Some grants are directed specifically to minority research scientists, while other grants can be applied for by any scientist involved in minority cancer research.

AACR Award Programs

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award programs aim to reach early career minority scientists. Three programs include AACR Minority Scholar Awards in Cancer Research, AACR-HBCU Faculty Scholar Awards in Cancer Research and AACR-WICR Brigid G. Leventhal Scholars in Cancer Research. According to the AACR website, candidates "must be full-time graduate students, medical students, residents, clinical or postdoctoral fellows, or junior faculty members"; from a minority group recognized by the National Cancer Institute; and a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award

Research grant funding for disparate health impact studies can be applied to cancer research.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health make research funding such as the NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, which is designed to increase the participation of members of underrepresented minority groups in scientific research. A visit to the U.S. federal government website Grants.gov provides search fields where government-issued research grants can be found.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Cigarette Restitution Fund Program

Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Cigarette Restitution Fund program awards Minority Outreach and Technical Assistance grants that are not specifically research grants, but may support field studies and screenings among minority populations with cancer disparities related to tobacco use. "Maryland's minority populations are disproportionately affected by tobacco-related cancers," said DHMH Secretary Dr. Georges C. Benjamin. "These grants, which will help us reach out to those communities, are critical in our fight against tobacco and cancer."

Cooperative Planning Grant for Cancer Disparities Research Partnership

The National Cancer Institute's Cooperative Planning Grant for Cancer Disparities Research Partnership program issued by the Radiation Research Programs aims to support oncology clinical trials to support the reduction of the "significant negative consequences of cancer disparities seen in certain U.S. populations."

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Get Free Prescription Drugs Or Lowcost Prescription Medication

Affording much needed prescriptions is difficult for many people.

Prescription drugs are necessary for many people to stay healthy, but they can be expensive. While generic drugs may offer respite from high prices in some cases, they aren't always available, especially for drugs that have been on the market only a short time. If paying for prescription drugs you need is a serious problem, there are some ways you can get medication for little or no money. Begin your search as soon as possible; many program applications include considerable processing time.

RxAssist Patient Assistance Program Center

The RxAssist Patient Assistance center website hosts a searchable database of public and private programs that can help low-income families and individuals find prescriptions for little or no cost. To use the database, you can search by drug name or manufacturer's name, and if you need to take multiple medications, there is a multiple drug search function. The RxAssist website also offers information about state drug assistance programs, coupons for co-pay assistance and a list of basic eligibility requirements for prescription assistance programs.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website for a list of patient prescription drug assistance programs provided by pharmaceutical companies. Many pharmaceutical companies offer medication for low-income individuals and families for little or no money. In many cases, pharmaceutical companies may require that you have no health insurance or no prescription drug coverage as part of your plan according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In order to use the database, you'll need to know which drug company manufactures your medication. Some pharmaceutical companies also require proof of financial hardship and consent from your doctor before you can apply for their assistance program.

Medicare

Medicare is a federally-funded, state-run program designed to provide health coverage for adults over the age of 65, though some younger individuals, particularly those with health problems and children may qualify. Medicare part D, which is the prescription coverage plan part of the Medicare program, can help seniors and other qualified individuals pay less for prescription drugs. However, you need to be enrolled in both part A and part B as of 2012 to take advantage of the prescription drug program. Medicare programs can provide up to 50 percent savings on brand name prescription drugs according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Prices vary on generic drugs. Visit the Medicare.gov website for more information about applying for Medicaid and Medicaid benefits.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are often conducted by research hospitals, universities and drug companies looking to test or develop a product. In many cases, you may be able to find prescription drugs you need by enrolling in a clinical trial program in your area if one is available. Use the ClinicalTrials.gov search function and the CenterWatch clinical trials finder to search by medical condition, therapeutic area or location. While clinical trials usually provide drugs free of charge, you'll probably need to visit the hospital or trial location regularly and be involved in basic testing. Talk to the trial administrator about qualifications and requirements before committing to a clinical trial.

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The Cause Of Abnormal Pap Smears

The pap smear is an early intervention screening test used to detect cellular cervical changes. Understanding the causes of an abnormal pap smear can help ease a woman's mind and help prevent a "false positive" result. It's important to understand the emotional effects and benefits of an abnormal pap smear.

Misconceptions

An abnormal pap smear does not always mean cervical cancer is present. Pap smears are used to detect abnormal cell changes within the cervix. Pap smears do not detect cancers of the fallopian tubes, ovaries or uterus. Pap smears may still be performed after a hysterectomy, and can be safely performed during pregnancy. Additional tests may be required to rule out STDs, as the pap smear does not.

Causes

An abnormal pap smear may be from the result of an infection or an inflammation due to herpes, trichomonas or the human papilloma virus. Menopausal cellular changes, yeast infections, the use of creams and/or suppositories, recent intercourse, carcinoma in situ (a non-invasive cancer), or invasive cancer, will also cause abnormal results.

Benefits

The benefit of an abnormal pap smear means early intervention, as long as a woman keeps up-to-date on her screenings. Early detection of non-invasive cancer cells can be treated in a doctors office with a cone biopsy or LEEP procedure, saving a woman from having to have a hysterectomy, and better yet, saving her life.

Effects

An abnormal pap smear does not necessarily mean invasive cancer. An abnormal pap smear may cause anxiety, worrisome fears, feelings of anger and/or denial. Most cases of abnormal pap smear results are not invasive cancer.

Warning

It is important not to ignore an abnormal result, and to follow up on additional testing that the gynecologist may order. Maintaining annual pap smears will significantly reduce the risk of receiving an invasive cancer result.

Prevention/Solution

Abstaining from intercourse for 48 hours, and not using deodorants, powders, medicines, creams and/or suppositories before the pap smear, will reduce the likelihood of a false-positive result.

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Smoking & Health Insurance

Smoking is an expensive habit for everyone covered under a group policy.

In addition to the multitude of health risks associated with it, smoking is also an expensive habit for the individual smoker, his family, employer and the nation as a whole. For individual insurance plans, premiums are often higher for smokers. For group policies, legal obstacles sometimes prevent the insurer from charging a premium differential. This usually drives up the insurance cost for everybody.

Risks

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the risk of lung cancer is 23 times higher among male smokers and 13 times higher for female smokers, compared to nonsmokers. The risks for mouth and throat cancer also rise significantly for smokers. Smoking also increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease two to four fold, while doubling the risk of a stroke. In fact, there is practically no organ in the body that isn't adversely affected by smoking. The risk for numerous diseases and complications, from peripheral vascular disease to abdominal aortic aneurysm, goes up drastically as a result of smoking.

Costs

The increase in health risks leads to an increase in costs for the individual as well as his employer and health care provider. In addition to the obviously higher cost of medical care that must be provided for smokers, such workers also have higher rates of absenteeism. According to an internal study carried out by the Union Camp Corporation, every nonsmoking worker saved the company $284 of sick pay.

Higher Premiums

Health insurance premiums often, but not always, reflect the higher cost associated with caring for smokers. The state of North Carolina, for instance, charges 10 percent more for health care premiums from smokers, compared to their nonsmoking counterparts. Quotes for individually purchased health insurance policies reflect a similar difference for smokers, which can add up to a substantial financial burden over the course of a year.

Nondiscrimination Laws

The reason not all employers can ask for higher health premium contributions from smokers is that a number of conditions must be met for such premium differentials to be considered nondiscriminatory. The differential in premiums cannot exceed 20 percent, individuals must be given a chance to qualify for the lower premiums at least once a year and the plan must provide some help in the form of quitting programs for the smokers. It is not always easy for employers to satisfactorily meet these conditions, which makes some employers reluctant to vary rates for smokers, due to the fear of potential lawsuits.

Quitting

Most employers, insurance providers and the government recognize the need for quitting the habit of smoking and help is available from numerous sources. Most major health insurers have educational materials as do many state governments. Numerous employers also offer financial rewards to quit smoking. The Centers for Disease Control has a program for smokers that can be accessed free of charge at 800-QUIT-NOW or 800-784-8669.

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Osha Safety Training

OSHA requires businesses to provide safety training for employees according to their industry's needs.

The Occupational and Safety Heath Administration (OSHA), a federal government agency, sets standards for workplace safety. Since 1970, when the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed, employers are required to adhere to certain safety regulations. Most companies provide safety training to employees in compliance with these rules on a regular basis. Employees and managers can take 10 or 30 hour OSHA training courses and receive a safety certificate in their industry.

History

President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational and Safety Health Act in 1970. This law set forth rules for safety in the workplace. On April 28, 1971, Secretary of Labor James Hodgson announced the formation of the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) to oversee job safety in American businesses. The agency introduced mandatory safety training for employees and required safeguards for workers in chemical and industrial jobs.

OSHA now required employers to post Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) informing workers of chemical hazards in the workplace Companies were now required to keep a log of job-related illnesses and injuries. OSHA was instrumental in regulating the use of asbestos in the construction industry in the 1970s. In addition to federal OSHA requirements, 26 states have their own occupational and safety program.

General Industry Training

OSHA training for general industrial and manufacturing jobs consists of basic safety reminders like exit the workplace in an orderly fashion in case of fire or other emergency, fire extinguisher usage and location of first aid kits. Fall prevention, safe placement of ladders, and provisions for walking and working surfaces are covered in CFR Part 1910. In-house company trainers (or outside companies providing OSHA specific courses), school employees in the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and new technology waste.

Maritime Safety Training

The OSHA Standards and Training Regulations guide (29 CFR 1915) outlines a safety program for maritime employees involved in shipyard building and maintenance. Shipyard workers can earn a safety certificate by completing training in prepare paperwork per OSHA guidelines, employee responsibilities and rights and general workplace precautions. Depending on the employee's job description, they may be required to study the proper procedures for painting and cleaning ships and other equipment, handling toxic solvents and flammable substances, protective measures used in welding and cutting during shipbuilding, and other matters pertaining to shipyard construction and repairs.

Construction Safety Training

Many companies provide OSHA sanctioned safety training for the construction industry with 10 or 30 hour courses. The comprehensive 30 hour course covers proper use of hazardous materials, from lead to formaldehyde to ionizing radiation. Safety standards for operating derricks and cranes, arc welders and cutters, woodworkers' tools, explosive devices and blasters, highlighted in OSHA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1926, are included in construction employee training. When and use personal protective equipment, respiratory protection in the workplace and accident prevention round out the topics covered in OSHA's official safety guidelines.

Agricultural Safety Training

OSHA mandates training for farm and agricultural employees, according to CFR Part 1928. It sets standards for use of farm equipment, such as tractors, cotton gins, and roll-over protective structures, including driving rules and proper repair of vehicles. Logging protocol, the set-up and health requirements for temporary labor camps and cadmium identification and safety are also covered, per OSHA general industry standards.

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About Uterine Fibroids During Menopause

Uterine fibroids develop 20 to 80 percent of the time in women aged 40 and up, as stated by Womenshealth.gov. Although they can form in women of any age, they are found most commonly in women who are entering the early stages of menopause, which generally happens around the early 40s.

Identification

Uterine fibroids are growths that form within the endometrial walls, located in the uterus. In medicine, they are often referred to as leiomyoma, or myoma, and are usually benign, although sometimes they may be cancerous. Fibroids may appear as a single growth or they may appear as many separate tumors. They vary in size, ranging from the size of a sunflower seed to the size of a grapefruit. Fibroids can grow even bigger, but this is extremely rare.

Causes

Researchers are not entirely sure what causes uterine fibroids, but they have a notion that two factors may be to blame--hormonal imbalances and genetics. Since they don't know what causes them, they also don't know how they shrink or grow. According to Womenshealth.gov, evidence has shown that they grow rapidly during pregnancy as hormone levels surge, and they shrink both when anti-hormone medications are given and during menopause.

Symptoms

The majority of uterine fibroid cases in menopause go without notice. Most women don't even know they have them at this point since the fibroids have already begun to shrink. Those who have symptoms may experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain, bloating, frequent urination, lower back pain and painful intercourse.

Testing and Diagnosis

In order to find out if your symptoms are attributed to uterine fibroids and not menopause, your physician may want to conduct a few tests, the first of which may be a pelvic exam. Your doctor will be able to feel whether your uterus or ovaries are enlarged and whether there are any lumps. Once this test is completed he may want to examine you by way of an ultrasound. This will give the physician a visual indication of any uterine fibroids or other growths. In the case of hard-to-find fibroids you may have to undergo keyhole surgery (laparoscopy). This will give the physician an inside view of your organs for a more accurate diagnosis.

Treatments

Doctors may prescribe medications to prevent further growth of uterine fibroids. If appropriate, he may prescribe low-dose progesterone medications such as Depo-Provera, birth control pills (which contain progesterone) or an intrauterine device (IUD, which contains a small amount of progesterone). Other treatments are used for fibroid removal. These include myomectomy, a surgical procedure used to remove fibroids, while leaving the uterine tissue intact, or a hysterectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the whole uterus.

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Cytomax Side Effects

Many medications and supplements on the market have side effects. Usually, potential side effects are classified into two main categories: general/frequent, and rare. To determine whether you should be using Cytomax, an exercise aid, you need to know the potential side effects.

Basic Information

Cytomax is an exercise and recovery aid. It is a combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates. The formula is designed, according to Cytosport, to provide the right amount of hydration and energy while helping to keep fatigue levels to a minimum. Cytomax is also supposed to reduce the burning sensation that you feel after an intense workout, protect the muscle cells from damage, and help increase oxygen delivery during exercise.

Usage

Cytosport recommends taking Cytomax with water. The package directions state that you should mix between one and one-half a scoop of Cytomax powder with 16 ounces of water. It is recommended that you drink this mix at least 15 minutes before you begin exercising, as well as frequently throughout your workout session. Cytosport advises that you finish your workout with another dose of Cytomax. You also can use ready-made sports drinks in the Cytomax line, following the same schedule.

Positive Effects

According to HGH Products, there have been numerous in-depth studies that showed that in athetes using Cytomax, lactic acid levels remained low and there was less muscle cramping. These studies also found that athletes who used Cytomax had less soreness after intense workouts.

Frequent Side Effects

According to Healthline, Cytomax contains complex carbohydrates that include maltodextrins and amylopectin starches, along with Alpha-L-Polylactate, fructose, and other ingredients. Because of the rather extensive ingredients list, it is common to experience some side effects. You can experience changes in your urine, which can include an increase in the alkaline level as a result of the potassium citrate. Healthline says that if you are diabetic or have other issues with sugar levels, you should seek the advice of your doctor because Cytomax contains fructose and dextrose, which can cause spikes in sugar levels. Some people experience minor stomach discomfort. These frequent side effects usually resolve within a few days as your body becomes acclimated to the formula.

Rare Side Effects

Rare side effects have occurred in some people who have repeatedly used Cytomax for exercise enhancement. These can include dizziness or fainting. Allergic reactions to ingredients in the formula are also rare. It is important to talk to your doctor about your desire to use Cytomax.

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Rent A Booth At A Fair

Renting a booth at a local fair is a great way to gain some exposure for your growing business, or as a launching off point for a new idea or craft. There are a few rules you need to know before renting a booth at a fair, though, so find out exactly secure your spot and get your booth up and running.

Instructions

1. Find out the particulars for the fair. There's usually a deadline when all booth applications and rent payments have to be in, and it's often several months before the event. Call or check out the fair website to find out the details and make sure to get your information to the correct person on time.

2. Plan for the fair well in advance. Prepare by creating a list of all the things you need to have done before the fair, and then doing it a little bit at a time. You may need samples or things to sell, along with business cards, table cloths and signage.

3. Show up at the fair several hours before it's open to the public to get your booth set up and ready to go. You should expect to stay late after the fair is closed as well, so make the appropriate arrangements.

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The Teacher Tenure Act In Alabama

The Teacher Tenure Act of Alabama protects teachers against unfair termination.

In some locations, teachers are hired and fired for reasons other than their job performance. Some are dismissed due to the personal reasons of school officials or the combining of classrooms or schools. In Alabama, the Teacher Tenure Act protects teachers from getting fired for arbitrary reasons. It removes political and personal motivations from the termination process. The law is found in Title 16 of the Code of Alabama of 1975.

Tenure Definition

According to Alabama law, tenure is "a property right granted by the Legislature to guarantee that a teacher cannot be arbitrarily or capriciously dismissed." The law grants teachers the "right" to a permanent "contract of employment." This right cannot be taken away by the school principal, the school board or any other entity without due process and a hearing.

Coverage

Alabama’s Teacher Tenure law protects all certified employees. This includes teachers, supervisors, librarians, counselors and instructors working in public schools and industrial schools. The law protects teachers working for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Principals employed in the principal position prior to July 1, 2000, are also covered. Alternatively, principals may be hired and covered under the Accountability Act. Principals hired under the Accountability Act cannot gain tenure. Vice-principals are covered if they have supervisory responsibilities.

Coverage Exceptions

Some employees are not covered by the Teacher Tenure Act. This group generally includes paraprofessionals, coaches and teacher’s aides. If a teacher’s aid performs the same duties as a teacher, has worked the necessary amount of time to gain tenure and is certified, she may be eligible for coverage under the Tenure Act. Non-tenured teachers are not covered under the tenure law. However, they do have the right to a notice of nonrenewal. School employees who are not covered by the Tenure Act receive protection from the Fair Dismissal Act.

The Tenure Process

To qualify for tenure, Alabama teachers must be certified and work for a school board for three consecutive years. She must be reemployed by the same school board for the fourth year. A break in the employment period disrupts the tenure process. Teachers who meet tenure qualifications receive tenure the last day of the school year of their third consecutive year of the first day of the school year of their fourth year.

Termination

A tenured teacher cannot be fired without cause. Reasons for termination include insubordination, incompetence, immorality, neglect of duty and failure to perform duties in a "satisfactory manner." In some cases, tenured teachers may be terminated if there is a "justifiable decrease in the number of teaching positions." To terminate a tenured teacher, the school board must provide the teacher with written notice and the reasons for the termination. A hearing is set 20 to 30 days after the notice is issued. At the hearing, the tenured teacher can contest the termination if she provided the board with notice of her intent to do so within five days of the hearing.

Tags: Teacher Tenure, school board, protects teachers, tenured teacher, covered under, employees covered

Vitrectomy And Post Operative Treatment For Eye Pressure

A vitrectomy is a common surgery that restores, preserves, and improves vision. This procedure comes with the risk of post-operative eye pressure, or ocular hypertension, that threatens to damage the optic nerve.

Uses

A vitrectomy is performed for retinal disorders and other eye conditions that affect vision ability, including retinal detachment, diabetic vitreous hemorrhage, and post-cataract surgery complications.

Features

A vitrectomy is performed in an operating room under local anesthesia with sedation. The vitreous gel of the eye is removed and replaced with a mixture of gas and air.

Recovery Time Frame

After a vitrectomy, the patient must cease all activity and lie face down for two to three weeks to avoid ocular hypertension. Full visual recovery may take a few months.

Maintaining Head Position

After surgery, the patient must avoid looking upward or lying on the back to avoid raising intraocular pressure.

Air Travel

Patients must avoid air travel for a few months after surgery. The change in atmospheric pressure could cause a gas bubble in the eye to expand, raising eye pressure.

Eye Drops

The surgeon may prescribe special eye drops to avoid elevated eye pressure.

Tags: must avoid, ocular hypertension, patient must, vitrectomy performed

Breast & Nipple Pain

Throughout a woman's life, problems with breast or nipple pain are sure to arise. Although these symptoms are often quite normal, they can sometimes indicate more serious problems.

The Female Breast: Identification

Understanding the anatomy of the breast, as well as the function of its various parts, may help to specify the location and possible causes of breast and nipple pain. The female breast is composed of fat, connective tissue, milk ducts, lobes, lobules and various blood vessels. The ducts, which link together the lobes and lobules, come to an end at the nipple.

Symptoms

Breast and nipple pain can manifest itself in different ways. Many women experience pain in the upper area of the breast. Pain can also be closer to the nipple, or even feel as if it is in the nipple itself. Often, breast and nipple pain is accompanied by lumps in the breast. Regularity of pain can vary.

Causes

Constant, dull aching pain in the outer extremities of the breast is a normal problem and often results from changes in the breast tissue, often referred to as "fibrocystic" changes. Pain in the nipple may indicate infection, or it could result from injury or friction. While nipple pain is not usually serious, see a doctor if you experience any nipple discharge. Other causes of breast and nipple pain include benign tumors, mastitis and cancerous tumors (although these usually do not cause painful symptoms).

Treatment

Treatment depends on the severity of the underlying cause. In the case of fibrocystic breast changes, there is no cure. However, pain relievers may help to lessen pain. Other treatments include antibiotics (for mastitis cases), other medications and surgery (for breast abscesses or cancerous tumors).

Considerations

During puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, changes occur in the breasts that may cause painful symptoms. These are normal, and usually no object of concern. However, if your symptoms are accompanied by fever, or become very serious, be sure to see a doctor.

Tags: nipple pain, breast nipple pain, breast nipple, cancerous tumors, cause painful, cause painful symptoms

Start A Craftpainting Business

Craft painting is an artistic hobby that has stood the test of time. For centuries people have used decorative painting to embellish items in the home. This art form is still popular today and spans several decorating styles, including country, primitive and cottage-chic. To turn your hobby of craft painting into a business, look at the big picture and break it down into a focused plan to ensure a successful start for your endeavor.

Instructions

1. Contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) to inquire if a business can be run from your home. Apply for a business license and sales tax number. Home-based craft businesses are usually allowed if there's not extra traffic or business signs outside the home.

2. Consider the products you'd like to make for your business: one-of-a-kind products using unique paint surfaces (such as those used on antiques and vintage pieces); products using surfaces you can purchase or produce yourself in quantity; personalized custom pieces for your customers, such as ornaments or home decor with names or monograms incorporated into the paint design; or a combination of all of the above. Write all your ideas in a notebook.

3. Research online and off-line businesses selling products similar to the ones you'd like to sell. You can find these types of businesses by using keywords and an Internet search engine; going to eBay.com, Etsy.com, ArtFire.com and other handcrafted-item marketplaces; attending local craft fairs; and visiting stores selling handcrafted products. Make notes of what types of products are sold, the prices of the products, the best-selling products and which painted products are oversaturated in the market.

4. Examine the notes you've made and decide which products you'll paint. Check with suppliers to make sure the supplies are readily available and at a reasonable retail or wholesale price.

5. Paint samples of the products and show them to a test group of people. Note their feedback about the items, prices and any other ideas they may have; adjust the product designs as you feel necessary before creating an inventory to sell.

6. Begin selling your products online by opening an account on an established site such as eBay or Etsy. Sign up for a booth at craft fairs to sell your products locally. As you market and sell your products, increase your inventory according to sales trends and new products you'd like to add.

7. Continue to market your products through craft shows, established online marketplaces and your own website. Continue marketing until your business and product line is established to market to retailers through a wholesale market show or through sales representatives.

Tags: your products, craft fairs, eBay Etsy, products like, products using