Health Care Job Search Tips: Health Is Wealth Indeed!

Nowadays, jobs falling under the health care category are one of the most in demand jobs. This is because more and more countries fall short with regards to their employees and staff in the health care industry.

In fact, aside from computers and information technology, heath care jobs are the ones that are greatly sought after by both the employers and applicants.

Aside from the increasing demand, health care jobs are also one of the best paying jobs all over the world....

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job, opportunity, employment

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Nowadays, jobs falling under the health care category are one of the most in demand jobs. This is because more and more countries fall short with regards to their employees and staff in the health care industry.

In fact, aside from computers and information technology, heath care jobs are the ones that are greatly sought after by both the employers and applicants.

Aside from the increasing demand, health care jobs are also one of the best paying jobs all over the world. For example, in the United States alone, physical therapist assistants get to earn $27,500 to $ 41,780 in a year. It is also expected to grow by 46% in the years to come.

For people who are dreaming to go abroad and land a job in the health care category, here are some tips that that can help:

1. Know your craft

The problem with most people who are looking for health care jobs is that they do not know the fundamental skill needed in this kind of job: care for others.

There are many instances wherein health care jobs do not necessarily require people who have a higher education diploma in health care. So, people who have a “caring” attitude, can have a lucrative job in the health care industry.

2. Health Information technicians and Medical Records rank six on United States’ 10 hottest jobs of 2005.

These positions can work well for people who are looking for health care jobs. These positions pay $19,700 to $27,400 annually.

3. Success is in the keywords, For people who are searching for specific health care jobs on the Internet, it is best to narrow down their searches with some more detailed keywords. In this way, heath care job searches will reap better results.

4. Aim for the best positions in the health care industry

For people who wish to land a good job in the health care industry, it would be better to do some homework first. In this way, they can get an overview on which position has the most demands for employees and which job entails higher salaries.

In the United States’ 10 hottest job of 2005, medical assistants are the top positions in demand in the health care industry today. In fact, surveys show that the demand for medical assistants will continue to grow and will increase by 59% in 2012.

Indeed, the health care industry continues to saturate the market with a continuous growth for the demands of its services. No wonder why most people are into health care jobs!

Canadian Immigration And Health Insurance

My purpose is to discuss the important information that you'll need to know if you are thinking about or planning on moving to Canada as a permanent resident. In this article, we're going to talk about some of the first things you need to do when you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident.

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insurance, travel, canada, immigration, law, canadian immigration, canadian

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My purpose is to discuss the important information that you'll need to know if you are thinking about or planning on moving to Canada as a permanent resident.

In this article, we're going to talk about some of the first things you need to do when you arrive in Canada as a permanent resident.

Health Insurance Card

One of the first things you'll want to do after arriving is apply for health insurance cards for every member of your family. Applications are available in many places, including doctor's offices and pharmacies. These cards allow you to receive care through the Canadian health insurance program for the following services:

- Examination and treatment by physicians and most specialists
- Many types of surgery
- Hospitalization
- X-rays and laboratory tests
- Immunizations

You will not have to pay for these services, these expenses are covered by the taxes that you will be paying as a working Canadian permanent resident.

In most provinces in Canada, you can begin receiving medical coverage as soon as you apply. In Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and British Columbia, however, you must wait 3-months from the date you apply for your coverage to begin. In the meantime, short-term health insurance is available through private companies.

You may also want to ask potential employers about their health coverage options as well. Many employers provide additional health insurance benefits that cover expenses, such as prescription drugs and dental care.

Social Insurance Number

Before you begin working in Canada, you need to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This 9-digit number is used to help you receive the social benefits you are entitled to as a Canadian permanent resident and to ensure that you are paying taxes to help support those benefits.

To apply for a SIN, you should visit a local office of the Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSD) to complete an application. You should also bring along your Permanent Resident card to proof your identity and your residency status.

The cost of application is $10, and it takes about three weeks for you to receive your card.

You can begin working before your receive your SIN card, however. You simply need to provide your employer with proof that you have applied.

Employment

In most cases, you will also want to begin searching for work almost immediately. It is possible to have a position lined up even before you apply for permanent resident status, but chances are that you'll be unemployed when you first arrive.

Depending on the type of work you are searching for, you may first need to apply for permission to engage in that profession. In Canada, some careers are classified as regulated fields. These fields included doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. In order to obtain work in these areas, you will need to contact the regulatory office in the province where you intend to work. The regulations vary from province to province.

The regulatory board will have to evaluate your experience and credentials then decide whether you need to take further steps to meet their standards.

Some trades, such as carpenter or plumber, are also considered to be regulated. Therefore, you must make sure that you have the appropriate licensing before attempting to work in those fields. Carpentry and plumbing, as well as 43 other trades, are considered Red Seal Trades. This means that the regulations for that trade are the same in all provinces. Therefore, if you are a licensed welder in Quebec, you can also do that type of work in New Brunswick without having to go through another assessment.

Fortunately, the majority of jobs in Canada are non-regulated, so you can begin searching for a position in your chosen field as soon as you arrive.

One of the best ways to find a position in Canada is to use the Job Bank service. This online site allows you to post up to 3 employee profiles that can be viewed by employers. You can also view postings placed by employers throughout Canada. The daily newspapers in all of the provinces also include job listings.

Health And Safety Is Most Likely To Be Outsourced

Research, based on polls given to small and mid-sized managers and owners, has found that health and safety risk management is most likely to be outsourced. The research has found that although only a minority currently outsource many are considering outsourcing key corporate functions and the health and safety is at the top of the list. Only one in ten managers and business owners will outsource the management of accounting function; over 50% of these managers would consider or are currently outsourcing health and safety management.

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safety, health, health safety, managers, program, safety program, management, effective, health safety program, outsourcing, –, owners, business, managers owners, insurance, cost, non, goals, risk, risk management,

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Research, based on polls given to small and mid-sized managers and owners, has found that health and safety risk management is most likely to be outsourced. The research has found that although only a minority currently outsource many are considering outsourcing key corporate functions and the health and safety is at the top of the list. Only one in ten managers and business owners will outsource the management of accounting function; over 50% of these managers would consider or are currently outsourcing health and safety management.

The main reasons for outsourcing, cited by respondents, is time saving, cost effectiveness, and allows managers time to focus on core business. Managers and owners of small businesses are considering outsourcing as a way of managing the very real risk of non compliance. Managers and owners may not also be aware of rules they need to follow or not have sufficient time or the right resources to comply with regulations.

Many companies are finding it an increasing burden to comply with the health and safety regulations and are facing an increase in employer’s liability insurance rates and penalties. Complying with the regulations relevant to the business is the solution for insurance reduction. Not having a proper health and safety program in place can cost tens of thousands of dollars in fines should an accident occur.

Each business is different and so each health and safety program should be customized as well. By starting with the basics, developing or even updating a health and safety program can be established. Maintaining compliance is made easier by establishing an effective safety management system.

A health and safety program is concerned with the prevention of occupational injury and ill health through pro-active strategy. It focuses on prevention through hazard assessment, risk management and pro-active controls and procedures.

Implementing these health and safety procedures will be done with behavioral change. Some programs can become weak and non effective because of:

No definition of safety practices – No written processes

No teamwork – Safety is communication from the top to bottom and vice versa. A well written plan will describe what roles everyone plays in safety policies.

No effective goals – The “accident free days” poster will come as a result of sound safety processes.

Wrong incentives – Money as a reward does not work well. Health and safety should be fun and worth employees effort. The right incentive plan can be cost effective and have obtainable goals. Incentive plans can include movie passes or simply “free coffee on the boss.” The insurance industry reports for a dollar spent on health and safety yields four to six dollars in savings.

Outsourcing the health and safety program will meet the goals on which the program was intended and overcome non effective measures. Monthly maintenance can be accomplished with little effort on the hosted company and can be completed in a timely fashion.

Earn Money While Helping Others Improve Their Health with Low Level Laser Therapy

Low level laser therapy home devices are growing in popularity, but there's still an untapped market that's inviting you to be a part of it. Discover how you can earn money while offering this amazing home health product...

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low level laser, laser therapy, cold laser, soft laser, therapeutic laser, quantum healing laser, scalar wave laser,

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If you've always wanted to start a unique business from home or earn some part-time income, you can do either of these by recommending low level laser therapy to others. Low level laser therapy is a growing trend that's helping many people to unleash their body's ability to heal itself.

Low level laser therapy provides a fresh approach to pain relief and cell regeneration, but there are striking differences between therapeutic lasers and other types of treatments or medications. One of the main differences is there are no known side effects of low level laser therapy. Also, low level laser therapy can now be administered at home instead of spending time and money to visit a doctor's office for therapy sessions. Low level laser home devices allow those with arthritis, back or neck pain, inflammation, tension and stress, and other ailments to reclaim their health and enjoy a more balanced life.

Low level laser home devices are also called cold lasers, soft lasers, and quantum healing lasers. There are also brand name soft lasers that are named for their innovative technology, such as the Scalar wave laser. The home devices are lightweight, handheld, and easy to use for everyone. Most companies will provide instructional DVDs or manuals to educate users about low level laser therapy and how to use the home device.

Earn Top Dollar with Cold Lasers for Home Use

With so many practical benefits of low level laser therapy, it's easy to recommend this product to others. The devices may seem pricey, but you can explain to others that the long-term benefits and savings are well worth it. They won't have to take time from work to visit a doctor's office for their low level laser therapy. They can keep the device for years to come, even after it's paid off. Their whole family can benefit from low level laser therapy. Not to mention there are numerous health benefits, and the therapeutic lasers help to relieve stress. Low level lasers can be a precious asset to anyone's health.

So, how will you earn money? Some companies that sell cold laser home devices will allow you to purchase the laser devices at discounted wholesale prices. Then, you can in turn sell the cold laser devices to others. This can work well if you already have an established business, especially one that sells natural healthcare products and vitamins. In this case, many of your customers may already be interested in unorthodox healing methods. Or, you can start your own business from scratch with only the cold laser devices. You might also want to visit other established businesses to see if they would like to sell cold laser devices to their clientele.

On the Cutting Edge of Technology

One advantage to starting your own low level laser therapy business is you will be on the cutting edge of technology. Low level lasers aren't new to the medical world, but the home devices are fairly new to the market. The soft lasers for home use have been years in the making and many people are ready for them, just like when personal computers for home use hit the market years ago.

Many people don't yet realize the tremendous benefits of soft lasers, and they certainly don't realize they can do their own therapy at home! This proposes an amazing opportunity for you to gain wealth while educating others about this powerful technology. Even if you don't have experience with low level lasers, it's an untapped market that's easily accessible for beginners.

Low Level Lasers as Gifts

Low level lasers make great gifts for any occasion - birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day, and so forth. You can earn money while advertising these as gifts when holidays roll around. Everybody knows at least one person who has a lot of chronic pain or other health needs. That person would be thrilled with a device that's going to alleviate or reduce their pain without side effects. A therapeutic laser home device would make a splendid gift that they will treasure for years to come!

Before choosing a company to work with, make sure the company is well established and up-to-date with the latest low level laser technology, such as the Scalar wave laser. There are many types of cold lasers, so study on the latest products before searching for business opportunities. Once you learn about low level laser therapy and how it works, you'll want one for your own personal use, and you'll definitely want to share this technology with everyone you know!

Home Based Business Ideas for the Health and Fitness Industry

If you’re considering your own home based business, the “health and fitness” industry is a great place to start. Here are some great ideas for starting a health-related home based business.

Keywords:

womans health, mens health, improve your health, lose weight, health, usana, true health, good health, improve health

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If you're considering your own home based business, the "health and fitness" industry is a great place to start. There are millions of people of all ages searching for good health tips, products, health advice, vitamins and minerals, etc. So, there's an ongoing need for health-related businesses - both online and offline. Here are some great ideas for starting your own health related home based business.

Focusing on a Woman's Health

A woman's health is very important to her. You can start a home based business based on health and fitness for women only. Women are always trying to lose weight, improve health, and discover the secrets behind true health. You can build a home based business that offers advice for women and "improve your health" products such as vitamins, minerals, diet foods, recipes, etc.

Men's Health and Fitness

Men are typically not as weight-conscious as women, but they do like to stay in shape. If you want to establish a home based business centered on men's health, focus on fitness and exercise. Offer exercise tips and products or vitamins that can help build muscle strength and increase energy.

Weight Loss

If it is weight loss that interests you, you can start an entire home based business about weight loss for men, women and children. You can promote only one weight loss program or a variety of weight loss programs. With a weight loss website, you can offer almost unlimited tips, recipes, articles, etc. Also, you can dedicate sections of your site to fitness and exercise. The possibilities are endless!

Start a Health Newsletter

You can also start your own newsletter about health-related issues. With a newsletter, you can offer it free to subscribers and charge for advertising. Advertisers might be retailers of vitamins and minerals, exercise equipment, health foods, weight loss products or programs, doctors, etc. You can also start a newsletter to promote your own health-related home based business. An online e-zine is even better!

Join with Experts in the Field

If you feel uneasy about starting a health home based business on your own, or simply don't have the expertise needed for such a venture, you can easily team with others who are knowledgeable about the health industry. Some companies, such as USANA, enable you to sell their products, and they do all the groundwork and research for you. So, you can start a home based business in the health industry with little or no prior knowledge.

Helping others to improve health, lose weight, or get in shape can be both a rewarding and lucrative home based business. Discover your rewards while the industry is still booming!

Customer Relationships And Your Financial Health

Customer relationships are what will determine the health and prosperity of your computer consulting business. In order to get paid on a regular basis you need to understand the dynamics of customer relationships.

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Customer Relationship, Customer-Relationship

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Customer relationships are what will determine the health and prosperity of your computer consulting business. It is critical to understand the different dynamics of customer relationships. By doing this you can identify places of risk in terms of non-payment.

Customer Relationships - Two Distinctions

There are two main customer relationship types:

Long-Term, Steady Clients

Your long term clients are your bread and butter clients. These people see you as an insurance policy: they have the ability to call you, the ability to pay you, and you're going to be there; pretty much right away to take care of things. The customer relationship you enjoy with these people is one of trust. They know that if they have a problem they can call you and you will fix it.

These clients pay on time. If they didn't they would undermine the customer relationship and this is too risky. Would you feel comfortable calling your accountant if you were 5 months late in paying him or her? No. Likewise these people will pay you on time, every time.

Stepping–Stone Clients

Stepping stone clients do not enjoy such a healthy customer relationship. These clients perceive you as a commodity. If you don't show up to fix something - Oh well. They'll just call the next company in the phone book. They're not interested in building solid customer relationships with you and therefore have no qualms whatsoever about stiffing you on an invoice.

The Bottom Line on Customer Relationships

If you want to get paid you have to understand the dynamics of customer relationships and use them to your advantage. The stepping-stone or cherry-picking clients think of you as replaceable. You want to build your business by building long-term customer relationships with steady clients on maintenance agreements. These are the sort of clients that will be almost offended by a past due notice and that’s a good thing for your billing and invoicing.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, PC Support Tips .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Health and Safety-It Makes Good Cents

For every 1 dollar spent 3 dollars can be saved. Health and safety programs not only make the workplace safer but also save money for the business.

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small business,insurance claims,insurance discounts, business insurance discounts,small business forums,safety, health and safety

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Health and Safety-It Makes Good Cents

Data shows that small businesses that have health and safety procedures in place reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 percent and even up to 40 percent. Nearly 95 percent of business owners report that health and safety programs have a positive impact on the company's bottom-line according to a recent survey. Of this group, 61 percent say their return-on-investment is 3 dollars for every 1 dollar they invest in improving workplace safety. In addition, companies that have working health and safety programs in place have seen employee absenteeism drop in half.

A well planned health and safety program is obtainable even for small businesses. For example in this worst to first situation, a small manufacturing company was forced into putting a health and safety program in place or be shut down. They started by doing an audit, identified and controlled hazards, showed working procedures, and had to keep their injury rates below the national average for their sector. After they had implemented their health and safety program, they had many years with not one injury and saved more than $45,000 on insurance premiums. The company was even recognized with an award for their safety record. The owner, Rick, said "Our health and safety program has helped us protect our employees, maintain compliance, keep our vital employees working for us, and has saved us real money to put back into our company."

Health and safety is no longer just viewed as a good idea, but a crucial investment in the business' long term success. Mounting costs of unhealthy employees and the expense and disruption of staff turnover is turning many small business owners to health and safety. The payback in health and safety programs comes in the form of: improved productivity, fewer insurance and worker’s comp claims, less absenteeism, decrease in accidents, reduced staff turnover, higher employee morale, and leads to a better business reputation and customer loyalty.

Unhealthy and absent employees are costly. Businesses incur direct costs such as worker's comp payments, disability costs, replacement employees, equipment damage, and even lost productivity.

By having a health and safety program in place, employers also protect themselves from liability in employee's injury in being exposed to unidentified hazards in the workplace. Employers can be charged in injuries caused to untrained employees. An unhealthy may also threaten the safety of others such as fellow employees, the business owner, and even the customer of the business.

In starting a program, there needs to be commitment. Employers must get a feeling of the seriousness of this new procedure. The planning should be a partnership between the business owner and employees. To be able to actively engage all aspects of the on-going process in the business, the program should consider all of the major health risks in all of the areas of the workplace to meet the needs of all employees.

Deciding on whether to have a health and safety program should be clear. Health and safety issues in the workplace cost the business owner directly and even in lost opportunity. A change to making the business safer will lead to a more positive bottom-line.

For any questions or even help in getting started, drop us an e-mail at abbsafetynet@gmail.com.

Health Club Owners: 4 Ways The Personal Training Department Can Improve Your Bottom Line

A well designed personal training department should be the "engine" of any health club. Not only should your personal training department be a profit center, but is should also promote member retention, drive referrals and lower the barrier of entry for new prospects.

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health clubs, personal training, personal training department

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Copyright 2006 The Fitness Consulting Group

In most health clubs the personal training department is viewed as a source of some additional cash flow and is focused on the affluent component of the clubs member base. Typically trainers will offer an assessment to new members and will only impact the club’s bottom line by selling packages to those members who can afford one, two or even three sessions per week training. Unfortunately, this is very shortsighted. A well-structured personal training department can be much more than a profit center impacting only a small segment of your club’s member base, it can be your club’s customer service center, referral and retention center and a source of as much as 25% of your club’s gross revenues all rolled up intro one. You just have to look for ways to maximize your trainers’ impact in your club. Here are four tips to get you started.

1. Generate Higher Usage Rates Among Club Members.

If you’re maximizing the role your personal trainers play in your club, invariably your usage rates will climb. By offering a complimentary personal training and program design session to all new members you will ensure that everyone that joins your club will feel more comfortable and have an initial “game plan” to get the results their looking for. When they feel comfortable in your club and feel they’re on the path to their desired results, regular attendance is a foregone conclusion. And that’s going to result in:

•Increased likelihood of them remaining a member of your club longer.

•Increased likelihood of them referring new members to your club.

•Increase the lifetime value of that member via peripheral purchases like cooler drinks, nutritional supplements, tanning sessions, fitness apparel and services like personal training and weight management coaching.

2. Improve Club Member Retention Rates.

In this market where there are new health club franchises popping up almost every other month, and new clubs opening at a break-neck pace, holding on to the members you already have has to be your first objective.

It’s much easier (and also much cheaper) to retain a current member than it is to gain an entirely new member.

You’ll have a much better retention rate if your members:

•Feel a sense of community in your club, which can begin with the personal trainers.

•Are consistently using your club. We discussed this in tip number one. If they are utilizing the services of a personal trainer or at least using the initial plan laid out during their complimentary session, their attendance will dramatically improve.

•Are getting the results that lead them to join your club in the first place.

3. Improve the Rate of New Referrals From Your Members.

If your members are getting all the things listed above, they are going to willingly provide more referrals to your club. And if your trainers are working with them on a one-on-one or small group basis, they are going to experience great results.

Your trainers can also systematically facilitate referrals by inviting clients to bring a friend, family member or co-worker to a session. This will allow the guest to experience the club as a member would rather than on a tour or by wandering around on their own during a trail membership. The guest will feel comfortable because they’re with a friend and in turn be far more likely to join you club.

4. More Clients = More Money.

If you want to reap the benefits listed previously, you need to have a higher personal training penetration rate among your members. In most health clubs the penetration rate is 2-4%. 2-4% of members utilize a personal trainer, therefore only 2-4% of those members are maximizing their results, being coached to make peripheral purchases and are great “referral champions.”

If you don’t already, begin offering one and two session per month personal training programs to members where the clients will receive monthly program design, body composition testing and goal setting. Consider offering small group personal training to bring the price point down and make it a viable option to more members. By implementing just these two strategies you should be able to push your penetration rates above 10% and start taking advantage of the benefits associated with a well-managed personal training department.

Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list of the numerous ways you can use your personal training department to improve your club’s membership and your profits, only a starting point. Take these tips, modify them to fit your club and add you own ideas to them. Before you know it, you’ll be viewing your personal training department as “control central” in your health club.

Experts Say the Allied Health Work Force Is in Jeopardy

From rising health care costs to an increase in the number of Americans who lack health insurance coverage, there are many health care issues that are attracting considerable attention in Congress.

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Experts Say the Allied Health Work Force Is in Jeopardy

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From rising health care costs to an increase in the number of Americans who lack health insurance coverage, there are many health care issues that are attracting considerable attention in Congress.

However, some say there's one key dimension that fails to receive sufficient notice: the adequacy of the allied health care work force. Apart from doctors, nurses and pharmacists, these professionals are the personnel engaged in patient care in hospitals. They also work in a wide range of other health care settings.

An increase in demand, retirements, technology advances and other opportunities for allied health graduates have placed a strain on the educational pipeline. According to the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, an organization representing allied health education in the U.S., a vivid illustration of this disturbing trend may be found among the allied health professions.

Currently, many sectors within the allied health professions are vulnerable. For example, although a high proportion of all treatment furnished in a hospital is accompanied by medical laboratory tests, the medical technologists who perform these procedures are experiencing a personnel shortage that is just as severe - if not worse than - what afflicts the national nurse shortage.

As a means of addressing the situation, ASAHP is working with several other organizations in the development of legislation known as S. 473, the Allied Health Professions Reinvestment Act of 2005, and H.R. 215, a companion bill. Introduced to Congress in 2005, this proposed legislation is designed to furnish a remedy for the allied health work force problems.

If something isn't done soon, the organization warns that there will be an alarming increase in adverse events affecting patients because of an inadequate supply of allied health caregivers.

The term "allied health" was coined by the federal government in 1966, when legislation was needed to remedy severe work force shortages among health and health-related professions such as physical therapy.

Health Care Worker's Employment Opportunities, Salaries on the Rise

The employment outlook for health care workers as well as salaries for almost all health care related positions is on the rise, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Job opportunities should be excellent in all employment settings because of high job turnover, particularly from the large number of expected retirements and tougher immigration rules that are slowing the numbers of foreign health care workers entering the U.S. Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 27 percent through 2014, compared with 14 percent for all industries combined"

Keywords:

search for classes, search for colleges

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The employment outlook for health care workers as well as salaries for almost all health care related positions is on the rise, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Job opportunities should be excellent in all employment settings because of high job turnover, particularly from the large number of expected retirements and tougher immigration rules that are slowing the numbers of foreign health care workers entering the U.S. Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 27 percent through 2014, compared with 14 percent for all industries combined"

While the baby boomer generation ages and hospitals cut expenditures and limit staffing, many of these new positions will come from the home health care industry. Traditionally, elderly individuals have relied on extended hospitals stays for post surgery care or ongoing illnesses. With many insurance companies limiting the number of overnight stays they will pay for, both procedurally and as a cumulative annual total per policyholder, as well as increased desire from seniors to stay independent in their later years, the shift in patient care has been dramatic.

"Employment growth is expected to account for about 3.6 million new wage and salary jobs—19 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 2004–14 period. Projected rates of employment growth for the various segments of the industry range from 13 percent in hospitals, the largest and slowest growing industry segment, to 69 percent in the much smaller home health care services."

The bottom line for those considering a career in the health care industry is a positive outlook for the near future. With economic uncertainty making other traditional career choices less attractive, enrollment for health care related educational programs is on the rise. Still, many health care professions require multiple years of training. While some industry needs for personnel can be quickly met, especially at the administrative level, not all positions will be accounted for. Whether the current supply of health care field graduates can meet the current and future demand, especially for positions in nursing, patient diagnostics and other highly technical areas, is truly anyone's guess.

Health Matters

I guess nobody likes thinking about what can go wrong with the recruitment process. We all like to think we are reasonable employers, offering a fair package in return for a professional job. Yet, we do operate in a market that is prone to certain complications. Think about it. We recruit mainly young teachers who travel a long way from their home and friends, perhaps to a country they don't know anything about. There you are: already you can see how emotionally vulnerable th...

Keywords:

Teach English, Teaching English, Teaching English Overseas, ESL Jobs, ESL, TEFL, TESOL

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I guess nobody likes thinking about what can go wrong with the recruitment process. We all like to think we are reasonable employers, offering a fair package in return for a professional job. Yet, we do operate in a market that is prone to certain complications. Think about it. We recruit mainly young teachers who travel a long way from their home and friends, perhaps to a country they don't know anything about. There you are: already you can see how emotionally vulnerable they are. And if all this causes them stress, they could more easily fall prey to physical illness, infection, be more accident prone.

Look, I'm not trying to be the pessimist here but I think we have to face the fact that the health of teachers is an important issue. At least, I believe a responsible employer should have health-protection measures in place as part of the recruitment package. Ideally, we should offer full health insurance together with provision to repatriate a teacher who needs to be back home for treatment and support.

Now I know that for some small schools this could prove expensive but that's no reason to duck the issue. If you genuinely can't offer this kind of protection as part of the deal, think of the alternatives. First make sure you explain to the teacher the kind of healthcare they will be entitled to from any national scheme that protects those working in your country. Secondly, advise them to look at insurances that are available in their own country. Maybe they can find inexpensive insurance to cover them while they are working abroad. But please don't ignore the issue. It is deeply unpleasant to find oneself sick or injured in a foreign country and if, on top of that, inadequate provisions exist for treatment and care. The whole situation can become a nightmare. We owe it to our teachers to ensure that they are fully aware of the risks they run and the protection that they can expect or should obtain.

Health & Safety - Ignoring It Will Close Your Business

Occupational health and safety and public health and safety are two areas that have become increasingly important, but also easier to manage, in recent years. There has been an increase in awareness of Health and Safety concerns in the general public and employees.

The increasingly litigious cultural atmosphere has brought health and safety to the forefront of most public and business decisions. This has been paralleled, however, by a growth in the availability of health a...

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Occupational health and safety and public health and safety are two areas that have become increasingly important, but also easier to manage, in recent years. There has been an increase in awareness of Health and Safety concerns in the general public and employees.

The increasingly litigious cultural atmosphere has brought health and safety to the forefront of most public and business decisions. This has been paralleled, however, by a growth in the availability of health and safety professionals, and also in better and more detailed health and safety information on the Internet. More help is available at http://www.health-safety-now.info.

Occupational health and safety measures can take many forms - from the management of physical risk in your place of work, to employee health and safety concerns about noise or stress levels.

The important thing for businesses is to have a plan for every possible health and safety situation that could arise, or that all could be feasibly predicted anyway.

Depending on your business area, there may be an organization that monitors the health and safety in your workplace - this particularly applies to dangerous locations such as railways, nuclear installations and mines, and to workplaces involved with vulnerable people, such as nursery schools, care homes and hospitals.

The occupational health and safety of these businesses will probably be monitored and checked regularly by an independent organization.

If such a group does not cover your place of work, it is recommended that you invest in a professional health and safety inspection. Alternatively you could appoint a permanent group of occupational health and safety experts, depending on the size and needs of your enterprise.

Public health and safety may be monitored by a government agency, or independent health and safety professionals may be employed to judge the health and safety of a prospective project or place of work.

Public health and safety should take into account both the health and safety of the public sector employees and of members of the general population whose health and safety may be affected by a project.

Health Care Education in the 21st Century

The health care industry and the Internet have always made uneasy bedfellows, although the relationship has improved dramatically in recent years. Initially, when the Internet was less regulated, health care professionals were crying foul at the proliferation of unlicensed pharmacies and unlicensed practitioners doing business via the World Wide Web. While those complaints have subsided coinciding with a new set of laws for e-commerce, many health care professionals are still wary of the influence of the Internet on the industry as a whole.

Keywords:

Search for classes, search for colleges, education online, online education, get a career online, get a career at home

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The health care industry and the Internet have always made uneasy bedfellows, although the relationship has improved dramatically in recent years. Initially, when the Internet was less regulated, health care professionals were crying foul at the proliferation of unlicensed pharmacies and unlicensed practitioners doing business via the World Wide Web. While those complaints have subsided coinciding with a new set of laws for e-commerce, many health care professionals are still wary of the influence of the Internet on the industry as a whole. Some medical practitioners lauded the onslaught of web sites that offer free medical information while others saw it as an intrusion to their authority. Health care education suffered the same fate for quite some time. While many in the medical community saw an opportunity to expand the opportunities for health care education, others were skeptical.

Today, it is accepted that an online education is just as viable for most areas of study as a traditional campus education. While there are some positions in health care that will always require hands on learning, many can be effectively taught online. Most universities that offer online curriculum are now making degree programs in health care available. Administrative programs are the most widely offered, although there are several that lean toward the clinical side of the industry. Nurses, in particular, have a variety of choices when it comes to online education. Several bachelors of Science degrees in nursing have become a popular way for nurses with LPN or RN licensure to advance their education.

The emergence of online educational opportunities for the health care industry will have a positive effect in the next several years. With an aging baby boomer population, positions in health care are expected to rise well above the average for all other industries. New positions will be created and both new and existing positions will need to be filled. Online degree programs offer many the chances to work in the health care industry that otherwise might not be able to because of scheduling conflicts that keep them from attending traditional universities.

Health and safety at work

Not many would be aware of this, but the government has legislation for health and safety of people at work. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires the employers to have proper health and safety management systems at work.

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Health and safety at work, health and safety, health & safety at workplace, health & safety

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Not many would be aware of this, but the government has legislation for health and safety of people at work. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires the employers to have proper health and safety management systems at work. The Act makes provision for securing the health of people at work, welfare and safety of the employees including the people who are not directly employed by the company like contractors and visitors.

While the law exists and it is mandatory for the employers to follow the guidelines, it is also necessary for the employees to know about their rights and duties regarding their own health & safety. Employers should conduct a General Risk Assessment to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

To create awareness about health & safety at work, the employers should have proper employee induction & health and safety training programs whenever new employees join the company. The induction program should educate the employees about the safety standards, procedures and policies of the company.

The basics of health and safety at work start with having proper First Aid. Every organization big or small must have proper First Aid Kits and systems. While at work, people can suffer an injury or fall ill. It is very important for the company / firm to have proper arrangements so that the employees can receive immediate medical attention. A person who has received proper training for administering First Aid should be appointed for this.

Fire safety is of prime importance at work. The potential hazards and sources of fuel, oxygen & ignition etc should be identified. Proper Fire detection and warning systems should be in place to prevent any mishaps. Fire extinguishers should be kept ready in different places throughout the building. There should be exit doors and escape routes in the building. Electrical equipments and wiring should be proper and checked at regular intervals. The employees should be given training on dealing with fire emergencies. Fire drill and Fire Risk Assessment should be done at regular intervals.

Stress at work place is common. But if it starts affecting the health of the employee then it is a problem. Employers should identify the factors causing excessive stress to the employees. A stress risk assessment should be done to identify the potential hazards and risks. Proper measures should be adopted to control excessive employee stress. Employees should be given proper training, support and care to help them prevent & relieve the stress.

Employers should follow the norms of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. They should assess the health risks faced by the employees from the chemicals or substances used at workplace. Proper control measures should be adopted and the same should be followed by the employees. Training and information about the health risks should be provided to the employees.

The employers are also required to have proper policies for disability health & safety. Employees with cognitive, physical, sensory, ambulant and other disabilities have a right to proper arrangements and facilities at the workplace. There should be proper access, lighting, signage, seating arrangements for the disabled. Other employees of the company should also be sensitized about the same.

New and expectant mothers have a right to proper care at the workplace. The employers should identify the potential hazards to the mother as well as the baby while at work. The employers can offer alternative work, different or less work timings or paid leave to ensure the health and safety of the mother and baby. Similarly, arrangements should be made for young persons at work and lone workers. A general risk assessment should be done for the security, health and safety of such employees.

It is important that the employer as well as the employee is aware of the rights and duties pertaining to health and safety at workplace. For details you can take the services of a health and safety consultant or just search for “health and safety at work” on any major search engine.

Considering A Career In Natural Health?

If you are exploring a career in natural health there are many choices and many directions. Often the most passionate students don't know where to start. School of Natural Medicine says - "Start with Self Healing - Start with the Highest Teachings - Start with Experience the profound height and depth of living Natural Medicine. With that as your foundation, studying information, theory and skills becomes a delight.

We also advise you to take care in choosing a teacher, cla...

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natural health,school,education,naturopathy,wellness,careers,carreers

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If you are exploring a career in natural health there are many choices and many directions. Often the most passionate students don't know where to start. School of Natural Medicine says - "Start with Self Healing - Start with the Highest Teachings - Start with Experience the profound height and depth of living Natural Medicine. With that as your foundation, studying information, theory and skills becomes a delight.

We also advise you to take care in choosing a teacher, class, seminar or school and take the time to connect with the teacher personally before comiting to a course of study. Without the personal connection how do you know if you will connect with a real teacher, not just a good promoter or someone who teaches on a superficial level without experience. Do you wish to repeat your high school style learning or university academia experiences or do you want to discover true learning with a mentor who will know you personally and support and guide you to attain your highest potential as a human being, healer, educator and living example? If you ask the question your receive the answer!

In the School of Natural Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, under the guidance of Naturopath & Director, Farida Sharan, students who discover our wonderful school are told that just as you seek a true teacher, a true teacher seeks a true student. If your dream is to become a healer or a professional naturopath, herbalist, iridologist, reflexologist, living food teacher, essential oils therapist, flower essence practitioner, a health counselor or educator, or just live in a healthy way with friends and family, the highest level of teachings is effort and challenge to live those teachings, to become a living example and authentic guide for others who seek truth.

We are students of life and the very act of becoming a true student of a true teacher creates our most noble opportunity to live up to our highest potential. Consider the following and decide whether you are ready to be an ideal true student and work closely with a true teacher.

Are you a true student? Are you ready to receive the highest teachings?

A student, as well as teacher, I have often thought about what makes a good student. These qualities are what I look for when I am interviewing a potential student, as well as the qualities I encourage and support during each student's course of study.

Instead of thinking only of information, success, money, and prestige when you consider making a living in the healing arts, consider the qualities you need to develop to help others.

Wisdom, success, abundance and respect will come to you naturally if you deserve them.

The flowering of virtues in consciousness allows the embodiment of wisdom through experience.

VISION - See clearly that you are more than you are. Envision your greatest dream and then live your life to make your dream real.

PASSION - Feel your dream so strongly that you know you can overcome any resistance, obstacles and challenges that stand in your way.

TRUST - Know that step-by-step, little-by-little the causes you make every day will create the future you want for yourself. Know that you don't always know how things will unfold and trust in the mystery.

COURAGE - Transform fear into creativity. Celebrate the risk by letting the vision, passion and trust move you into action that will create your dream. Have the courage to be yourself.

COMMITMENT - When you say, YES, I will do this and commit yourself 100% to your course of study, the universe moves to support you. You transform the energies within and without you to creative your vision.

PERSEVERENCE - Day by day, keep going, no matter what the ups and downs and changes. Make time. Ask for what you need. Don't give up, put off studies till some perfect time happens, or make excuses.

COMMUNICATION - Share yourself with words and feelings, taking the time to build a relationship with teachers and your clients. Speak your truth, ask for what you need as well as offer gratitude and appreciation. Your voice carries the vibration of your being and sends it into the universe.

COMPASSION - Understand that no one is perfect, not you, not your family and friends, not your teacher, your fellow students or your clients. From this understanding release the need to judge, blame, manipulate, compete, sympathize or resist. With appreciation, take what is offered from all relationships and transform everything into love.

CONFIDENCE - Know you will succeed. Work with what you know, from your experience, your love, your knowledge, and your instinct. Know that you serve the world and life in all forms and that your work is to live love.

HUMOR - Release the need for serious drama and open to the bigger picture, open to the cosmic humor of our true situation - of not knowing where we came from and where we are going. With this perspective we can open to making the best possible use of our life.

HUMILITY - What is there to be proud of? Pride separates and measures. Let go and let the divine play a beautiful tune through your being.

GRATITUDE - Be thankful for the gifts of each moment and the understanding to receive and respect what is being offered that serves your highest purpose, and the common sense to let go what is not.

HONESTY - Be willing to tune in to your deepest truest feelings and live from that place, releasing the fear that believes you will not be loved for who you are.

WILLINGNESS - Like a child who falls and then gets up again, let your willingness to evolve, grow, expand and become be like the sunrise of each new day.

Think about these qualities. You may want to add others to the list. Some of the qualities mirror and augment each other. Consider the ones that are more natural to you and which ones are more difficult. Make a determination to develop the qualities you are lacking.

School of Natural Medicine gives more than information. It supports and inspires you to be the very best you can be - in every dimension of being, so you can inspire others to join you in creating a garden of love on this planet earth.

Health, Wealth, & How To Reach The World: Network vs. Access Marketing

Network Marketing is here to stay. Whether you believe it, or whether you believe IN it, you need to give yourself a reality check right now. The “corporate” way of doing business is soon going to go the way of the dinosaur. If you think that your present job, contract work, or other financial opportunities are going to pay your bills for the rest of your life, it’s time to realize that there is a new and better way of doing business, and that you need to get educated in the ...

Keywords:

network marketing, access marketing, health, tahitian noni, tahitian noni international, marketing

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Network Marketing is here to stay. Whether you believe it, or whether you believe IN it, you need to give yourself a reality check right now. The “corporate” way of doing business is soon going to go the way of the dinosaur. If you think that your present job, contract work, or other financial opportunities are going to pay your bills for the rest of your life, it’s time to realize that there is a new and better way of doing business, and that you need to get educated in the new tactics if you want to survive!

The same corporate-type companies such as the one you may work for right now have realized that there is a cheaper and more efficient way to distribute their products and services. That way is – of course – Network Marketing.

Most people know about network marketing, but for anyone who doesn’t, here is the nickel tour:

Network Marketing involves a company selling their products to you at a wholesale price, and allowing you to then resell those products at retail price, thus pocketing the difference between the wholesale and retail price. In addition, when you share the lucrative opportunity with someone else who also wants to make some money, you get a piece of the income generated by that person. They tell someone else who also comes on board, that person tells someone else, and on and on it goes.

Here’s the best part: Depending on which company you decide to work with, you can get a piece of the action for each of those levels that come on board down to as far as EIGHT levels! In other words, you get to make money off of the work that you personally do, and also make money from what up to 8 other people do.

It gets better. As each of those 8 people bring people into the organization, you end up with a piece of the action from all of the people that THEY bring into the business as well! Eventually, you can be getting cash and other rewards from the work of literally tens of thousands of people. Pretty sweet deal, right? So what’s the catch?

Well, if you work for the right company, there really isn’t one. However, the definition of “right” is subjective at best, and if you want to make an informed decision about whether or not to get involved in this type of extreme money-making opportunity, you need to understand more about what exactly will be involved with distributing the products or services provided by your chosen company.

Now comes the major difference between almost every network marketing company out there, and 1 very special exception, which you will learn about in a minute. Let’s start with an example.

You go to a restaurant downtown and have one of the best dining experiences of your life. You can’t stop raving to anyone who will listen about how wonderful it was, and you recommend the restaurant to everyone that you talk to. You are now a network marketer!

However, would any of those people have heard about that restaurant if you hadn’t told them? Maybe, or maybe not, but they certainly wouldn’t have heard about it as quickly as they did since you couldn’t stop talking about it for days. That’s network marketing – except that you don’t get paid for it.

Now, let’s look at an example of “Access Marketing”. That same restaurant has advertised and gone out of their way to create an actual community around their presence downtown. They have representatives that do nothing all day but tell people how great the restaurant is. They get on the news and gain instant credibility when they do an interview with everyone’s favorite reporter on the 6 o’clock news. They sponsor a local charity event and give out samples of their food for free.

What this restaurant has done is create a huge amount of public awareness about their establishment. Not everyone has actually eaten there, but people have definitely heard about it.

Now, that same restaurant hires a group of network marketers and tells the marketers that they can eat at the restaurant for a nice discount, and all they ask in return is that the network marketers tell other people to come there and eat.

The network marketers then go out into the community and say, “Have you ever heard of “Such and Such” restaurant? You should go there and eat!” The people in the community -due to the previous efforts of the restaurant- say that they have in fact heard of that restaurant, and they would love to go there and eat! Now, when the people referred to the restaurant by the network marketers come in to eat, the restaurant pays the network marketers for the referral!

So what is the difference between network marketing and access marketing? In network marketing, you are trying to get people to use products or services that they have probably never even heard of, or if they have, they really don’t know much about the company. In access marketing, you tell people to use products or services that they have heard about, and they have also heard good things about those products or services! Do you see the difference?

In other words, the company that practices Access Marketing does the advertising FOR you. All you have to do is tell people they should use those products or services, arrange for the people to get them, and the company pays you – usually quite handsomely – for your efforts.

So, all of that being said, refer back to the beginning of this article where you learned that the only way to secure your future is to learn the ins and outs of network marketing. It’s a true statement. Now ask yourself if you want to work with a company that is going to make YOU do the advertising, or a company that is going to do the advertising for you. It’s a pretty serious no-brainer, right?

What if that same company was the only company in the industry paying you up to 8 levels deep, as opposed to the 5 levels paid by most other companies? What if that same company also had a Global Bonus Pool that literally allowed you to get paid on the work done by people all over the GLOBE? What if that same company cared more about you as an individual than it cared about how many sales you generated? Want to find out the name of that company?

Health Care Jobs Can Be Great

As a young person, it is never easy to narrow down the long list of possible careers to a few options that might be most suitable for them. There are so many options for both men and women these days that the process might be a little bit overwhelming. Many times kids end up studying and doing something that they are familiar with because of their parents or friends. Health care jobs are definitely some of the best jobs to be had today. Whether you are a young person lookin...

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health care jobs

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As a young person, it is never easy to narrow down the long list of possible careers to a few options that might be most suitable for them. There are so many options for both men and women these days that the process might be a little bit overwhelming. Many times kids end up studying and doing something that they are familiar with because of their parents or friends. Health care jobs are definitely some of the best jobs to be had today. Whether you are a young person looking for your first job out of college or whether you are much older and looking for a career change, it is important to be intentional about the job search process.

One of the best ways to get informed is to talk with people who are doing the jobs that might interest you. Getting first hand information will help immensely and give you a realistic picture of what the job will look like. If you are interested in health care jobs, talk to people in the health care profession in a variety of ways. Speak with nurses, doctors, massage therapists, receptionists, physical therapists or any other kind of health care job worker that interests you.

A great thing about pursuing health care jobs is that they are highly needed right now. Especially in urban areas, there seems to always be a demand for health care job workers. In today's society, having the job security that many health care jobs can bring is valuable. People who choose to enter the health care field rarely have trouble finding or keeping jobs. This is an important thing - one of the most important things perhaps - to consider when choosing a career.

Another great thing about health care jobs is that you get to help people in very tangible and real ways. If you are a person that loves to care for and help people than there can be no better profession for you than health care jobs. What a great way to get paid to do something you love. Health care jobs allow you to gain skills that meet the real needs of people. So many professionals cannot go home at the end of a day knowing that they have done something that clearly benefits society. Health care jobs give you a clear sense of helping society in positive ways.

Consider seriously a career doing one of many health care jobs. You will be busy doing something you love and that our world really needs.

Cut Health Plan Costs By Cutting Out the Managed Care Middleman

Cutting out the managed care middleman and contracting directly with medical providers may seem like a drastic way to cut health plan costs. Yet for employers whipsawed by relentless cost increases, it may be the only solution that works. The profit-bloated managed care industry, with much to lose, has propagated many myths why this sensible approach won't work. This article debunks the myths about direct provider contracting and sheds light on this ingenious cost-containment strategy.

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direct provider contracting,managed care,employee benefits,reduce medical costs

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Cutting out the managed care middleman and contracting directly with medical providers may seem like a drastic solution for reducing health plan costs. Yet for employers who've been whipsawed by relentless cost increases, it may be the only solution that actually works. The profit-bloated managed care industry, with much to lose, has propagated many myths about why this sensible approach won't work. But their solutions haven't worked. Costs continue to surge and employers are desperately seeking relief. It's time to debunk the myths about direct provider contracting and shed some light on this ingenious, innovative cost-containment strategy.

Myth 1: Employers cannot negotiate as good a deal with medical providers as can managed care companies. The truth is employers can often negotiate just as good a deal, or better. Providers welcome direct agreements for the very reason that they are not like conventional managed care contracts. Physicians have complained for years about adversarial agreements and poor reimbursements forced upon them by HMOs and PPOs. This negative perception has created a strong willingness among medical providers to do business directly with employers. These "win-win" agreements ultimately save employers money without shortchanging the providers. Unlike managed care companies, direct agreements disclose all contractual details so both employer and provider know the deal they're getting and nothing can be hidden by a middleman's "cut."

Myth 2: You need large numbers of employees to negotiate direct provider contracts. The truth is physicians and hospitals will often contract with employers for limited numbers of employees. When a direct agreement is fair and reimbursement terms are reasonable, providers quickly realize it's a smart business decision to work with employers in their own community. A local employer, regardless of size, represents an established group of existing lives as prospective patients, ready to use the direct network providers. Direct networks have been successfully developed in areas where the employer had as few as 30 employees.

Myth 3: Direct contracting won't work in areas where other PPO networks are available. The truth is doctors are sick of disadvantageous agreements and miserable reimbursements forced upon them by managed care companies. They actually welcome the opportunity to contract directly with employers. For many doctors, the very fact it's an agreement with the employer, and not a managed care company, is reason enough to participate in a direct network. A direct agreement establishes a true business relationship between provider and employer, one that promises the provider quicker reimbursements, better benefit payment levels, and easier access to the ultimate payer (the employer). It's also a gesture of good community relations for any physician, medical group, or hospital to demonstrate.

Myth 4: Direct networks create more administrative burdens and higher costs. The truth is once direct networks are developed, the advantages of "owning" a network quickly outweigh "leasing" one from a managed care company. There are no recurring network access fees; less physician attrition; fewer employee complaints; simpler self-renewing contracts; better provider relationships; straightforward plan design features; and the ability to choose the best contractors for utilization review, case management, claims processing, and other administrative tasks. Managed care companies have failed to contain employer medical cost increases, despite all their so-called network management efforts. Ironically, and coincidentally, managed care industry profits are at an all-time high while employers continue to suffer.

Myth 5: Direct contracting exposes employers to greater liability. The truth is direct contracting poses no greater risk of litigation than any other benefit program component and may actually offer greater protection against it. Direct contracting is intended only for self-insured employers whose plans are governed by ERISA, which offers built-in protection against liability. ERISA preempts state tort laws and limits the employee's ability to hold an ERISA plan liable for malpractice under state laws, which govern malpractice, not ERISA. Because direct provider agreements state the employer is not providing/directing medical care and has no role whatsoever in any medical decision, the protection offered by ERISA's preemption is safely maintained.

Myth 6: Managed care companies can't (or won't) process claims for direct networks.
The truth is that processing claims and administering benefits for employer-owned provider networks are well within the technical capabilities of managed care companies. Their feigned inability to process direct network claims is one of many ways that managed care companies hold their employer-clients hostage in networks that are owned, leased, or arranged by the managed care companies themselves. If an existing managed care company cannot or will not administer direct network claims, there are plenty of third party administrators (TPAs) than can handle it, usually at a lower cost per employee. For employers that want direct networks in select locations (but want to keep commercial networks elsewhere), using a TPA is a convenient and cost-effective way to get the job done.

Myth 7: Managed care companies do a better job containing costs and saving employers money. If that was true, employer medical plan costs would be falling instead of rising. The truth is employers who have implemented direct provider contracting are experiencing lower costs and higher savings. One national employer with 20,000 employees has used direct networks to keep their health plan cost trend flat for the past five years. Another major employer reduced its health plan costs by more than 20% without reducing benefits or shifting costs to employees.

Bottom Line: Cutting out the managed care middleman and contracting directly with medical providers can help savvy employers reduce benefit costs and regain control over their corporate health care plans.

3 Lessons From The Biggest Loser

All over the world, night after night, millions of people are riveted to their TV sets - but not to watch the latest soap, or CSI. Not to watch Jay Leno or Sex in the City. Not to see who outwits, outlasts and outplays others in Survivor. No - they are spellbound by the efforts of a small band of obese people trying to overcome the effects of years of overeating.

It's not surprising that for so many people this is compulsive viewing. Obesity is the new epidemic. Fat children lumber around school playgrounds while their overweight mothers fill shopping carts with wrong choices. Then... they sit down at night to watch The Biggest Loser. They see dramatic weight loss and startling new body shapes beginning to emerge. They want the same results - and they begin to think it might be possible.

But who has four or five hours a day to work out? Who can afford a personal trainer several times a week? And who has the luxury of their own personal adviser on calorie content and smart food choices? The answer is: not many people. But you have to remember that this is television: it's a false situation. As the players keep reminding themselves and the viewers: "This is a GAME. You have to make the most of your time here - it's going to be so much harder out in the real world."

IS it harder in the real world? Probably. But you can take lessons away from watching this reality show. You can make it work for you, as well as for the contestants. Here are three practical and useful lessons you can put to use immediately.

1. Put Weight Loss First.

In the Biggest Loser household WEIGHT LOSS COMES FIRST. Make it come first in your household, too. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It is. In fact, so simple that many people just overlook it. They try to fit exercise and meal planning around everything else in their lives, instead of making it a priority.

Think: what is most important: getting the weight off, and becoming fit enough to put years on your life - or watching another TV show? Sit down with a pen and paper and allot at least one hour a day to planning meals, recording what you eat, and doing some form of exercise. You've still got 23 hours left to do everything else!

2. E is for Exercise - and Enjoy!

What else do you notice in the Biggest Loser household? The more they exercise, the more they seem to enjoy it. Oh sure, they grunt and they groan; they sweat and they complain. But as the weeks go on, you'll hear them say things like: "I never thought I'd say that I look forward to working out - but now don't feel right if a day goes past without exercise!"

The secret to enjoying exercise is finding what's right for YOU. If you don't really enjoy the gym, look for other forms of exercise. You need a mix of cardio and resistance training - but it doesn't have to be on machines. Walk, swim, dance, climb hills, push a wheelbarrow in the garden... there are endless choices that can be fun for you. Research what happens to various muscle groups - and to your heart - when you exercise, and pick activities that you will enjoy.

3. Identify the Triggers.

Emotions run high when the contestants have to face their demons. Weight gain is rarely from just a physical cause. If you keep a food diary, and faithfully record not only what you eat but when (and why) you eat it, you'll soon see a pattern of emotional eating. What are YOUR triggers? Boredom? Tiredness? Family arguments?

Once you have identified these triggers, you can start working on strategies to defeat them. This can be as simple as challenging yourself every time you want food. ("Am I hungry - yes or no? If I'm not hungry, then why do I want to eat? Am I really just thirsty? If I'm running to the fridge because I'm upset, is there something else I can do to feel better? Is there a long-term solution that will fix this forever?" and so on.) If you're not yet ready to deal with the root cause, then be prepared with food that won't add to your problems with the resulting rolls of fat. Make sure that you have 'good' food at hand - but also food that you LIKE.

These are just three of the lessons that anyone can take away from watching The Biggest Loser. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it all by yourself.