Schedulers That Use 3rd Party Synchronization With Mobile Devices Violate The HIPAA Regulations by Jim Peterson

If you are a medical practitioner that has been in business for a while, then you probably know that oftentimes due to the influx of patients, your staff might overlook some important details. This may be canceling an appointment, scheduling a patient or even fixing your schedule so that you may still be able to attend to the patients who are on your list even if you practice not only at your medical office but at other clinics or hospitals as well.

Because of the severity of this situation, program developers have come up with virtual medical receptionist software. This software serves as your receptionist's able helper. Through this software, a patient's medical appointment is well taken care of. How? Well, all the patient needs to do is create an account with your medical office's website. Once registered, he can then schedule an appointment through the integrated medical online scheduler. This medical scheduler allows him to set the date and time of his appointment, the reason why he's scheduling the appointment and the information then gets transmitted to your medical office in real time.

However, as efficient as it is, this virtual medical receptionist is not without any issues. Since patient information is very valuable and private, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA was passed in the United States in 1996. The HIPAA establishes rules for access, authentications, storage and auditing, and transmittal of medical records procured from medical online schedulers.

Now if the medical scheduler integrated in the virtual medical receptionist software you use in your medical office is on a 3rd party synchronization with some mobile devices, then there is a possibility that some provisions of the HIPAA are being breached. For example, under the HIPAA, it is stated that it is the patient's right to request that uses and disclosure of protected information be restricted. But this particular provision might be violated, not by your medical scheduler, but by the 3rd party service that performs the synchronization.

So if you do decide to use a virtual medical receptionist for your medical office, always make sure that everything integrated within the software, most especially the medical online scheduler, is in compliance with the rules of HIPAA to ensure smooth and free-flowing transactions between your clinic and your patients.

Switching From An Offline To An Online Medical Office. What Are The Benefits? by Jim Peterson

If one runs a medical office that is taking off, they should consider adopting certain measures to reduce the whole staff's stress.

It's not that we want to be pessimistic here, but it is undeniable that medical receptionists are subject to high levels of stress everyday, because patients don't show up for their appointments, people call insistently to schedule their visits, folders need to be piled up and so on.

Not to talk about people who are waiting in line, because even if they don't complain, the receptionist can sense their nervousness even from behind the desk.

This whole atmosphere is sure to do no good to anyone, and that is why every medical office should make use of an online medical receptionist, a program that has not been designed to replace the live receptionist, of course, but to help them perform their tasks more efficiently and make the medical office run more smoothly.

A virtual medical receptionist, in fact, is able to schedule and re-schedule appointments, to automatically call, text and mail patients to remind them of their upcoming visits and, believe it or not, it can even contact patients whenever they have to take the medicine prescribed by the doctor.

There is also another aspect that no medical office should ever ignore: communication with patients.

This is indeed a very important factor, because it will make people feel closer to the clinical staff, so that patients will become more affectionate and will even indirectly promote your medical office when talking to their friends.

But how can communication and interaction be improved?

Well, by simply switching from an offline medical office to an online practice that makes use of web forms, online schedulers and, obviously, of a well built website that contains all the information people need to know about your medical office.

For this particular purpose, IcyCRM/AssistMedic has developed a website that offers medical practitioners a virtual medical office.

The great thing about online medical offices is that patients will not have to wait in queue for hours, which will streamline your daily work and simplify everybody's life. Furthermore, the live medical receptionist will finally be able to dedicate their precious time to the tasks they are supposed to perform for the practice's benefits.

It may seem unbelievable that such few measures are able to change so many things, but do not forget that we are talking about well designed software, which means these в€œvirtual toolsв€ are meant to help us save a lot of time, so that we will not accumulate stress, which, as you surely know, weakens our immune system.

Of course, we are focusing on the medical profession, because it is widely known that running a medical practice implies a great effort, for not only doctors visit their patients and cure them, but have to administrate the medical office as well.

Use An Automated Medical Receptionist To Accept Appointment Requests During The Non - Working Hours by Jim Peterson

Following today's processes in the medical domain: reforming, competition, cost-cutting to be performed along with quality of service improvement the schedule of today's doctors and other clinics personnel will become really tough. And this tough schedule needs to be really precise and error free.

A single double booking could ruin the whole day's schedule for one or even multiple doctors of the clinic. That is why it is reasonable to take all endeavors to eliminate any errors in scheduling which are to be regarded as human errors. The easiest and the most reliable way is to introduce an automated medical receptionist into day-to-day work of the clinics. It will automatically process the appointment requests received by phone or through the web, be integrated with the electronic medical records (EMR) used by the doctors and will automatically create schedules of appointments.

In the situation of tough competition it is very important that you do not miss any appointment request, that all of your clients and potential clients are taken care of any time of the day. The virtual medical receptionist will take care of the appointment requests received out of regular office hours giving you additional benefit over your competitors letting you cover more communication channels and obtain new clients with minimum input from your side.

Being an automated system the virtual medical receptionist will save time of your live receptionist who will obviously become more dedicated to their other duties. One more point in your quality improvement strategy! Doctors will be sure about their schedules, will be able to analyze their timings in order to review and optimize their performance as per the reforming requirements. Medical forms completed by the patients themselves will make you a solid basis in the dispute in case of claims or complaints from the part of the patients.

Having all the schedules, medical forms, appointment applications all electronic will save you a penny and contribute into your general cost-saving. Being an automated system the virtual medical receptionist offers you automatic reminder and rescheduling options which will also contribute into time saving and will decrease the number of skipped appointments.

Having eliminated the human factor from this scheduling and handling personal information of your clients will make you comply with the HIPAA.

Thus, implementing an automated medical receptionist will save time, money and improve the quality of service and the level of performance of the clinic without great investments or additional personnel to be hired. You will easily fit into the current situation and comply with the modern requirements.

Allow Your Users To Print Custom Medical Forms Or Export Them As PDF Files by Jim Peterson

Behind every medical practice, there is an entire staff that works for you, trying to be productive and efficient. Let's start with the medical receptionist, who is the first person that both patients and visitors see as soon as they step into a medical office.

Their role is, in fact, very important, as they have to answer the phone, book the appointments and interact with the patients being kind and helpful all the time, in order to give a positive image of the practice.

Today, thanks to several software applications, the medical receptionist's duties and efforts are simplified. There are, for example, SMS and email reminders, as well as automated phone calls and websites, which provide a wide range of services that can really save your time.

It all starts when you sign up from the practice website. Then, you will be redirected to a medical web form that you need to feel, as your information will be automatically added to the doctor's EMR system.

However, many patients don't really feel comfortable with the idea of transmitting their personal information over the internet, even if these systems are specifically designed to keep people's data safe and to conform to the HIPAA requirements.

That is why, once you have signed up from a doctor's website, you may choose to go for a printable medical form. This option has been added for those people who prefer to export the web form as a PDF file and print it out. So doing, they may fill it and take the papers to the medical office, being sure that their personal information will not fall into the wrong hands.

In spite of that, a medical web form remains a secure way of transmitting your data and bridges a gap between the patient and the doctor, without having to go through a third part who might not get the information right or might not deal with the information correctly. An online medical web form can streamline your life and links with an appointment scheduler to make your life a lot easier.

This system is sure to make everybody's life easier, saving a lot of time and stress. Patients may even set an appointment for a future date, thanks to the online appointment scheduler that many doctors' websites offer.

One thing is sure: life today is very rushed and stressful and online schedulers along with medical web forms were designed to make life easier for the patient, the receptionist and the doctor.

Which Fats are Good Fats? by Kathryn Steed

It’s always been drilled into our heads that fat is bad and we should avoid it at all costs. But some kinds of fat can actually lower your cholesterol and improve your health. But what kinds of fats are they and how can we incorporate them into our diets? Here’s a quick breakdown of each type of fat you’ll find in your food.

Monounsaturated Fats

Good or bad?

Good.

Why?

Monounsaturated fats are healthy because they not only lower your LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind), but they may also raise your HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind).

Where are they found?

You can find monounsaturated fats in many kinds of oil, including olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, corn oil, avocado oil, tea seed oil, grapeseed oil, and more. You can also find them in avocados, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. Some whole grains contain monounsaturated fats, as well.

Polyunsaturated Fats

Good or bad?

Good.

Why?

Polyunsaturated fats can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. In addition, they often provide your body with important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Where are they found?

Polyunsaturated fats are found in oily fish, such as salmon and trout. Fish oil supplements contain polyunsaturated fats, as well. Besides fish oil, you’ll find these kinds of fats in sunflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil, amongst others. Some foods that contain monounsaturated fats also contain polyunsaturated fats, such as nuts and other oils.

Saturated fats

Good or bad?

Bad.

Why?

Saturated fats raise your LDL cholesterol levels, which can result in heart disease or stroke. Correlations between saturated fat and some types of cancer have been reported, as well.

Where are they found?

Saturated fats are primarily found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant oils, namely coconut oil and palm oil, contain saturated fat, as well.

How can I avoid them?

If you regularly consume red meat, try to cut down your intake. You could change the way you eat meat, as well. If you usually fry your food, try grilling it instead. Also, avoid food that is covered in cheese or cream- based sauces. Pick broth or tomato-based sauces or soups instead, and use reduced-fat cheese in your cooking.

Trans fats

Good or bad?

Bad.

Why?

Trans fats are created when liquid oils are hydrogenated. This kind of fat is very dangerous because it not only raises your LDL cholesterol levels, but it also lowers your HDL cholesterol levels. This makes it a double threat. Higher LDL cholesterol levels can result in coronary heart disease, the number one killer in America. Trans fats have also been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and infertility, but these correlations are still being researched.

Where are they found?

Because hydrogenated oils increase the shelf life of food products, you can find trans fats in many processed foods. You can find them in cookies, crackers, margarine, French fries, and pizza, amongst other foods. How can I avoid them? Read the labels on your food and try to avoid trans fats as much as possible. The American Heart Association says to limit the amount of trans fats you eat to less than 1 percent of your total daily calories. Also, do your best to cut back on the amount of processed or fried foods you consume.

How to Deal with a Hangover by Kathryn Steed

When you’re at a party having fun or hanging out at a bar on a Saturday night, it’s always difficult to remember that having a few too many drinks can lead to hours of misery the next day. We’ve all woken up with our heads pounding, our mouths dry, and our bodies weak. Many people head straight to the nearest drive-thru to load up on greasy food, hoping that they will be miraculously cured. But what are the foods that will really get your body on the road to recovery? We’ll fill you in.

Because consuming too much alcohol leaves you de-hydrated, the first thing you need to do is start drinking. No, not beer- water! Keep a bottle of water by your side throughout the day to replenish your body. Drinks like Gatorade contain electrolytes and sodium that may help re-hydrate your body quicker. Resist the urge to pop open another alcoholic drink, as it will merely dehydrate you further.

To help your body rid itself of toxins and increase your energy level, fructose is an important ingredient in any day-after meal. Fruit juices or honey on toast are quick ways to get some natural sugars into your system. The vitamins in juice will also help replenish your body, which loses some vitamins due to alcohol’s diuretic effect.

While your body may be begging you for greasy foods, they are more likely to upset your fragile stomach than anything else. Try to eat a healthy meal, instead.

The cysteine in eggs helps break down one of main hangover- causing toxins. So scrambled, hard-boiled, or sunny-side up, eating a couple of eggs the day after can make a big difference.

Juice Or No Juice....The Big Question! by Robert D. Franklin

There was a “retreat” at a friend's house a few months back where a few of us spent some time together. When entertaining guests, I tend to ask everyone “Can I get anyone anything? Some food or a drink?”

One person replied, “Yes, I would love some juice please.”

I replied “Uhhhh....we don’t have any juice. But how about water or a tea?”

Without going through the entire conversation, my friend couldn’t believe there was no juice in the house. She also could not believe that my son does not drink juice and only drinks water.

She of the fitness plan I promote, but she admitted that she really didn’t believe that I completely lived my life that way until she saw it with her very own eyes.

Going back to the juice…

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it’s labeled natural or organic and it says it is made from all natural ingredients. Let me clear this up right now…Juice is NOT part of a healthy eating plan unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your kitchen by your own hands or using a juicer.

“But I drink organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Isn't that fine?”

After reading significant amounts of labels of almost every juice container, juice box, and juice product, I found that they all came up the same…literally tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every gram of carbohydrate contained in the juice directly comes from sugar.

“But all the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?”

That's correct in saying fruits are almost entirely sugar (coming from fructose), but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for a time period.

“But my juice is fortified with calcium, Vitamin D and iron.”

When any food is “fortified” with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is smart enough to know that this is not the real version of the particular nutrient. So much so, that it will choose not to use it. Therefore, all of these fortified products are not giving you the vitamins and minerals you need. You must obtain these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables.

If you’re a juice lover like many people are or have fallen for the “juice is healthy” trap, here are a few strategies to help you get your juice fix while also following a healthy eating plan.

1. You could buy a quality juicer and make your own juice. There are so many different delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my favorite is carrot, apple and ginger. Be careful on your intake. So, suggested portions would be a serving of 4 oz or less or mixing your 4 oz with some water. Also, I suggest juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a great way to get in some serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (great option for kids). You should also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.

It is best to drink freshly made juice right away, as the longer it is stored, the more it will decline in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimal amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air will “oxidize” and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light because light damages the juice.

2. You can even make a “tea juice“. The recipe is as follows:

5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)

3 quarts boiling water

Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste

Pour water over tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount

according to the desired sweetness.)

Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.

Well, you might be asking yourself, "What did she serve her friend at the party?" Water, of course!

Now that you know why store bought juice is not good for you and how you can make your own healthy drink alternatives, you can learn more about these strategies by going to the website below.

Stress Counseling by Michael Logan

Stress counseling is a significant part of my practice, and you may ask what stress counseling means.

Stress is the internal physiological response we have subsequent to a thought about any event in the external world, and stress counseling would be the process of teaching a client how to pay attention to the subtle shifts inside the body, and deciding whether or not to keep them. Generating eustress rather than distress. The stress counseling process is a little like the process we go through when we steer a car, with lots of little shifts in speed and position of the vehicle on the road.

In my anger management workshops, I tell my clients that it is very possible to view even a windfall like winning the lottery as a problem and create stressful physiology by thinking the total winnings are "not enough".

Stress counseling needs to include information on how fast my perceptions happen, (1/18th or 1/25th second depending on whether you are reading Cszikszentmihalyi or Ekman, which is twice as fast as I can blink my eyes), and how we are built in terms of responding to nonverbal cues like tone of voice and facial expressions, such as contempt.

Paul Ekman has studied facial expression for 24 years I believe, and he reports that expressions like contempt are responded to with stress chemistry across cultures.

In other words, my response to contempt is a human response not mitigated by culture.

I really like the computerized tool of heart rate variability biofeedback as a stress counseling tool.

This heart rate variability biofeedback tool gives me information on my computer about the time between my heart beats, and how what I am thinking about and how I am breathing impacts my stress hormones or more importantly, my 'contentment' hormones.

So if you are thinking that you can begin to engineer your internal response to life situations by paying attention to your thinking and feelings heart beat by heart beat, you would be correct.

Seem like too short a time to slow down? After all, heart beats might happen once per second, but your central nervous system works at least 18 times faster.

The good news is that you have been successful at this process thousands of times over your life.

For example, my daughter who is four years old, meandered into my office last night while I was working, without my noticing, and when she spoke, I was startled way beyond the usual startle response, and I could feel even as I jumped in my chair, a recognition of her voice and a realization that I was not in danger, and the starting of a calming.

Most of our startle or stress responses are handled naturally by the body, quickly, efficiently, as we interpret our situation as non-dangerous.

Stress becomes problematic when I keep the "danger" interpretation of physiolgy going too long.

For example, I was reading in our local paper how restaurants are going to respond to increased beef prices. I laughed a bit, because I know this will be stressful for my wife and children who are big fast food folks. They will worry and fuss about how to get the msg laden fast food and still pay cheap prices. Cannot be done.

I will stress about the high cost of beef in my crock pot. But maybe I can learn to cook some soups and breads to fill up on.

That later thought helps me calm down, because I love baking my own bread and cooking stews and soups.

What has all that got to do with heart rate variability biofeedback? Stess Counseling on the computer or on the hand held emWave unit, gives me real time feedback about my stress response internally. I can see myself move out of coherence, which is a consistent amount of time between heart beats, and back into coherence, when I change my thoughts to something more pleasant and take a few deep breaths.

Most folks are pretty amazed to see the coherence information on the computer screen. They are amazed at how fast the internal change is, and how subtle the experience of moving into and out of coherence is, and how easy it is to manage, once one learns to pay attention to the inside more than the outside.

After all, my experience of reality exists only inside my head, and it is different than yours too. That is where all sensory data is processed.

My heart has a very sophisticated nervous system which can learn independently of my cranial brain.

That is amazing information which was unknown not too many years ago, and I can train heart intelligence to respond by regulating my heart beat with either deep breathing or pleasant thoughts or both, so once my heart intelligence learns this process, I can induce or cue the relaxation response associated with coherent heart beat for the heck of it, just to feel good.

I can make it a habit to cue the relaxation response every five minutes or so, for a couple of heart beats in order to feel good.

Oh, and the internal hormonal bath accompanying the heart rate variability biofeedback is DHEA, the anti-aging hormone.

Anti-aging is an inside job. Yes, it is, as is stress counseling, and I can learn to steer my heart beat so that it is on cruise control.

Coping Strategies for Anxiety by Michael Logan

Can following a strategy based on the pillars of brain fitness help you cope with anxiety? Absolutely, and not only do you cope with anxiety, you grow new neurons. Not sure about you, but when it comes to brains, I think bigger is better.

So what are the pillars of brain fitness and how can I implement them?

Those pillars are; physical exercise, nutrition including lots of omega 3 fatty acid and antioxidants, sleep, stress management, and novel learning experiences.

If you have a lot of stress in your life, learning coping strategies for anxiety can help you manage that stress. While some of the strategies cannot replace the care of a doctor or the relief some medications can give, these steps are ones you can begin right away.

The first step in handling anxiety is to make sure you spend some time every single day doing something fun. Laughter helps to loosen the tight bands of stress in the body and can help you relax. Whatever it is that you find joy in doing, seek that out. Go see a stand up comedian, head to the theater and watch a funny movie or have a night out with your friends.

When you have situations or people in your life who trigger anxiety, then you should avoid them if you can. Surround yourself with people who see the positive side of life and can laugh about the irritations rather than people who get down about them. Spend time with 'glass half full' kind of people.

It's true that if you're in the company of people who are down and full of negativity, it won't be long before that negativity transfers to you. The same works with being around people who have a zest for life-you'll pick up on their zest and it can help to calm anxiety.

One of the best coping strategies for anxiety is to exercise every day. Exercise promotes the release of endorphins. Endorphins have been called the body's way of combating pain. They're chemicals that can reduce pain within the body. So as you exercise, your body releases this chemical and you feel better.

Exercise, especially walking, can help to calm fear and stress and it improves how you view yourself as well. You'll gain muscle tone, lose inches and your self esteem will rise. Low self-esteem is a common factor in people who struggle with anxiety.

Exercise doesn't have to mean joining an expensive gym or working out with weights. You can take a walk around your neighborhood, build a flower garden in your yard, or volunteer to coach a children's sports team.

For a lot of people, exercise isn't something they enjoy the thought of doing. But you can turn any activity into a form of exercise. Decide what it is you enjoy doing and add it to your schedule as if you were making an appointment.

Consider it mental therapy that relieves your mind of stress. Another positive to exercise is that if you struggle with feeling down along with having anxiety, exercise can also help relieve certain types of depression too.

Some coping strategies for anxiety are simple to enact. Get enough sleep. Being tired and overwhelmed can lead to anxiety. When you feel tired and overwhelmed, sometimes the best thing you can do for your body is to take a nap. Twenty quiet minutes with eyes closed may be all you need.

Nutrition is vitally important for your body. Without enough omega 3 fatty acid, which is what most of your neurons are mostly composed of, neurons do not talk together very clearly, and poor decisions can result, leading to more stress. The best source of omega 3 fatty acid is fish, but you can supplement too.

Stress management the way I teach it too my clients means using a computerized heart rate variability biofeedback tool. I have been teaching it to my clients for about 10 years and I use heart rate variability biofeedback frequently over the course of each day. Stress management then becomes a heart beat by heart beat process, which means I am steering my body between eustress and distress very effectively.

Another very important pillar of brain fitness which is also an excellent coping with anxiety tool is the novel learning experience. Usually that involves the kind of learning we experience in learning a new instrument or a new language. If you do not have time for a new language, then I recommend some of the newly available brain fitness tools.

So if I am focusing on growing new neurons, called neurogenesis, then I will be taking care of the pillars of brain fitness which is a powerful strategy for coping with anxiety.

Benefits From The Virtual Medical Receptionist When Handling Online Appointments by Jim Peterson

When the customer is willing to book an appointment with a doctor of your clinics he might make a call and spend some of his time talking to your receptionist. Though you cannot be sure if he has these couple of minutes during the working hours, because it might not be convenient for him to talk on health problems in the office during working hours, or the concern might be a bit too embarrassing to talk about it on the phone at all.

The client might also be so very busy that looking for the phone number, dialing and talking to the receptionist trying to pick a convenient time slot in trial-and-error process will be too much for him and he would prefer to book his appointment elsewhere where he would not have to pass through this talking on the phone procedure.

Office hours covered by your receptionist are the least appropriate time to book an appointment for most of the working patients, and paying a 24/7 live medical receptionist might be unaffordable for your establishment.

Well, let's imagine the client has taken his courage, has found a refuge in his office and has actually scheduled an appointment with your medical receptionist. But here comes the human factor ∓ the receptionist has made a mistake! Poor our patient, he's sitting in the middle of the open space office and receives a call from the receptionist trying to explain she has confused the dates, double-booked or whatever and here we go through our favorite picking-the-slot procedure again.

None of these would have happened if you were using AssistMedic as a virtual medical receptionist. It does not make mistakes, it works 24/7 for no extra charge and it offers to pick one of all the available slots during the online appointment scheduling.

So here we go again! The client just goes into the online appointment scheduling section on your website, makes a couple of clicks to pick the right specialist and to complete the web form to schedule online appointment, gets the whole number of available time slots on your website and picks the most suitable one, a couple more clicks and everything is done! Appointment scheduled in no time with maximum comfort and effectiveness.

The client can schedule his appointment 24/7, whenever he has a minute for that. He's free to describe any of his health concerns, since he's less likely to get embarrassed by a web form than by a live receptionist. And of course he does not have to spend much time to finally pick a slot suitable for him and at the same time 100% available. And no mistakes at this point!

At the same time your live receptionist is not distracted from their day to day duties by these scheduling phone calls, is calm and dedicated to the issues that need their attention right away.

Stop Smoking With An Electronic Cigarette by Juan Valdez

There has recently been a very successful study carried out by medical professionals regarding the electronic cigarette's ability to help smokers quit smoking. The study was carried out in South Africa, where close to 350 heavy smokers were given an electronic cigarette. The results were quite outstanding. Within 6 weeks nearly 50% of all of the participants had completely quit smoking and moved over to the electronic cigarette.

The doctors who conducted the study took time to analyze the electronic cigarette, to check the medical effects. They found that the e cigarette was much healthier than traditional cigarettes, and a far better smoking alternative. Above 50% of the device users showed a noticable difference in their lifestyle, feeling more healthy, more active and generally having more energy. A lot of the respondents also gained a better physical appearance, an upshot of increased energy levels. Some of the respondents also quit smoking after just 2 weeks, long before others.

The electronic cigarette is a device that is used to emulate smoking. The device contains cartridges that contain small amounts of nicotine in a liquid form. These cartridges are easy to store and load into the device. When a user takes a pull on the cigarette the device vaporizes a small amount of the nicotine and delivers it to the user as a fine mist. This mist emulates the smoke of an electronic cigarette, and makes the user feel more comfortable smokind the device in public as it will draw less attention. Typically the device is much cheaper to run than a traditional cigarette, with the equivalent of 20 cigarettes costing on $0.70.

The medical community as a whole gave a huge amount of support for this research. A valued doctor has also stated that an electronic cigarette is the best method and product for quitting smoking that is available on the market today. Many doctors often recommend electronic cigarettes to their patients as a first port-of-call when they are trying to quit smoking, and is one of the few products that can work alone rather than complimenting other quit smoking products.

Another doctor, who also quit smoking after only 6 weeks of using an electronic cigarette, has validated that it only takes an average of 12 puffs from an e cigarette to give the same quantity of nicotine that a traditional cigarette does. With the e cigarette there is no waste like there is on a traditional cig, the device does not continue burning when you're not using it, so the nicotine is only used when the user pulls on it. Over the course of a few packets of cigarettes this will equate to quite a large loss, especially if you don't smoke cigarettes particularly quickly.

It is now known that it is not the nicotine in the cigarettes that damage the health, instead it is the tar and other carcinogens found within the tobacco that do the harm.

A totally different study was carried out several years ago, which included different medical professionals and was conducted by Health Canada. This study found that the electronic cigarette is not only found to be safe in relation to traditional cigarettes, but were found to be safe in all measurements.

The electronic cigarette is operated using micro electric technology. This unique device uses an atomizer to vaporize the liquid found in the cartridge, which contains water, nicotine and a harmless substance propylene glycol.

Self Hypnosis. What Is It? by Merleau Pointy

Hypnosis is a mental state (state theory) or set of attitudes and beliefs (non-state theory) usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. Hypnotic suggestions may be delivered by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject, or may be self-administered ("self-suggestion" or "autosuggestion"). The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as "hypnotherapy".

What do you think is the secret of successful self-hypnosis?

Only seven, that's 7, percent of the verbal communication is in the words.

A full thirty-eight, that's 38, percent are in the tonality (the message is delivered).

You can say the meanest things to your dog, but if the tone is pleasing to it, why, your pet pooch will be all over you.

And you're more like your pet pooch listening to audio CDs than you think. After all, you're usually wide open to hearing everything that's in the message. You want to hear something relevant to you, to get direction you don't always find for yourself, or don't know about. And, in a way, to have your belly rubbed, or at least to feel that you're being relaxed and/or soothed and stroked by the experience.

The other fifty-five percent of the verbal message is in the intention and presence of the speaker, the quality of the energy and the human being behind the energy that's being delivered to you.

But here's the BIG secret. It's what you say to yourself that's the most important variable. And the state you're in when you say it. You have to ant it and mean it. Does that mean you have to be parroting phrases and words? Absolutely not. The quiet, still small voice with barely a muscle movement is the real deal; the still small voice inside you. Otherwise you may be analyzing, criticizing, trying so hard to get it and so on, that your deepest self, the you that does the real learning, can miss the whole thing, the ideas and feelings that are especially right for you.

Now, wouldn't it be good if someone with a lot of experience, an incredibly wide and deep background in human relations and a voice that's so true and centered, doing this work?

Oscar Gillespie, the owner of OscarsVoice.com is raising the bar in the field of self hypnosis. With over twenty-five years in the psychotherapy and self-development field, and teaching all over the United States. One can imagine the amount of experience in this particular field. He also made the very first audio CD for Mehmet Oz's Cardiac Surgery, and the Hypnosis entry for the The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Body/Mind Disciplines. Not to mention he was on Oprah, Donahue, McNeil-Lehrer and most of the national radio shows.

Now include a music background and a Ph.D. in Psychobiology, studying the frontal loves of the brain, and he knows what music can and cannot do your brain, and your mind.

Why does OscarsVoice hypnosis MP3s work so well?

Much of what's out there really has little or no power at all. Perhaps there's some useful information, but so often, no real power to effect change.

Many of the OscarsVoice MP3s come with brain synchronizing music and beat tracks which naturally move you towards alpha and theta wave balancing. Others have custom tracks from established musicians, that match the material seamlessly. And there's beautiful artwork, so the whole productions come together like Feng shui.

Registered Nurse - How to Become a Registered Nurse by Karen Williams

The majority of the jobs located in the health care sector are occupied by registered nurses. This position is senior to that of nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses. As a registered nurse, you will be required to treat patients, educate both the public and patients about various kinds of medical conditions, and provide emotional support and advice to the family members of the patients. You will also be required to document the medical history and symptoms of patients; assist in performing diagnostic tests and analysis of results; operate various medical machines and instruments; provide medications and treatment and assist in rehabilitation and patient follow up. The job of a registered nurse can take you into the operating rooms, doctor's offices, intensive care, medical clinics, ambulatory care and many specialized practices. As a result there are many opportunities available to anyone considering a registered nursing career.

Credentials for becoming a registered nurse can be obtained by completing a nursing diploma, an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accepted nursing school or program. The diploma in nursing is the most popular program and is normally conducted by hospitals, with duration of up to 3 years. The associate degree generally last for 2 to 3 years and can be acquired from a junior or community college. Universities and colleges offer the Bachelor of Science degree and this requires 4 years for completion. Graduates of any of these programs are eligible for a position as a staff nurse at the entry level. However before making a decision, as to which educational route you will take to become a registered nurse, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of each program.

Opportunities for advancing in the medical field are more limited for nurses with an associated degree or a diploma in comparison with a nurse that holds a bachelor's or a higher order of degree. This is because, a bachelor's degree provide you with more training in fields such as leadership, critical thinking and communication, which are all critical for making it in the field of nursing. Also, to work in research, teaching, consulting and administrative positions a bachelor's or a higher degree is normally required. None the less, a diploma in nursing does have its advantage.

This being, that with a diploma in nursing, you could apply for an entry-level nursing position and take advantage of the tuition reimbursement benefits and then work towards your bachelor's degree in nursing. Whichever the route you decide to take, you will be required to pass a national licensing exam in order to become a registered nurse. Some states require that nurses do an additional local licensing exam. Therefore, depending on the state you desire to work, you may need to do some additional research.

The position of a registered nurse is a very lucrative one, with many career opportunities and jobs available. Most registered nurses after leaving school receive employment in the hospitals; others also receive employment in offices of doctors; healthcare services; nursing facilities; employment services; government agencies; educational services and social assistance agencies. The state will affect the availability of nursing jobs and the salary of a registered nurse. Nevertheless it is expected that job opportunities will always be available to registered nurses. You may therefore want to seriously consider becoming qualified to operate in this position.

Selecting the Best Pillow by Andy Johnston

Getting a good nights rest is important so that we feel rested and remain healthy. Many individuals find themselves in constant search for the perfect bed but may tend to overlook the importance of finding a quality pillow. The right pillow is essential to getting a restful sleep. While there is no perfect pillow for everyone, there are some considerations when purchasing your next nighttime head support.

The first problem is that many people use their pillows for far too long. Pillows need to be replaced every two to three years. Less expensive versions typically need more frequent replacement. To determine if your pillow needs replaced, fold it in half and see if it bounces back to its original shape quickly. If not, it probably needs to be thrown out.

The firmness of any pillow is very important. Too firm or too soft of a selection can cause discomfort or pain. The right one will adequately support your neck so that you are comfortable. The specific firmness or size of the pillow will depend on your particular body and sleeping position. For those who sleep on their stomach, soft pillow are often the best choice. Firmer options are ideal for those who sleep directly on their backs. High, very firm pillows are recommended for side sleepers.

The filling of a pillow can be either natural or synthetic. Regardless of which option you choose, make sure that you are investing in a quality pillow. If you wake up throughout the evening feeling hot, you may look for a pillow which is designed to reduce or displace heat throughout the night. Memory foam pillows are great for side and back sleepers since they mold to your body form and provide adequate support. Lastly, make sure the pillow case you select is not only fashionable and matches your bedding but it should also be comfortable. For a restful nights sleep, consider investing in your bedroom.

To help you sleep better, why not depend on a good alarm clock with soothing sounds? For such alarm clocks that obey your voice commands, visit http://www.moshilifestyle.com/.

Your Own Personal Stress Management Technique by Michael Logan

My personal stress management technique has got to be very powerful, whatever it is. Doesn't seem that there is any let up in stress these days, does there?

However, once I give some thought to where stress exists, or is experienced, and the sequence of events leading to the physiology of stress, a body full of hormones and neurotransmitters more appropriate to combating an attack than the board room or the living room, I can recognize that there are some interventions I can work on to change the chemistry inside my body.

I can change my thoughts, which will change my feelings, which will give me more time to make choices about my behavior.

And according to Dr. Daniel Amen, relaxation actually activates the higher perceptual centers of my brain for better decision making.

That is a good payoff for learning a stress management technique.

Perhaps the most important stress management technique to learn is that my thoughts, my interpretations of sensory data, are what brings the chemistry of stress into my body.

And that process happens very fast, about twice as fast as I can blink my eyes.

And one stressful thought can bring on another and another, and before a second has elapsed, (that is right, one second) I may have generated a sequence of thoughts that leave me filled with enough adrenalin and cortisol to move me into distress rather than eustress, and then I can keep myself there long enough to begin to impact my brain fitness, my heart fitness, and the rest of my body too.

My first really successful stress management technique was to say the phrase; "Gratitude is the attitude" to myself, and that worked, because someone always has it worse off than I do, but the relief I felt when saying that phrase to myself was short lived.

Somewhere I had picked up the idea that I was supposed to have long periods of contentment, sort of like a drug experience, and that is not how your body normally works.

In other words, I need to practice gratitude frequently, starting with thoughts (and/or breathing) and my body will eventually follow along and learn that the physiology of contentment is what I want it to learn, and stay near.

In my early days of seeking a seeking a stress management technique, I looked at many different tools, and there are a lot of good meditative and cognitive tools out there, including Open Focus, Transcendental Meditation, working out, but for my money, I want a tool that does not require me to stop what I am doing and sit quietly meditating.

In other words it has to be usable while I am going about my daily business, and of all the tools I have tried, the one that has worked best for me is learning how to do the heart rate variability biofeedback.

I can feel the change using heart rate variability biofeedback, and since I learned the skill on a computer, I know that my physiology changes when I do the Quick Coherence Technique.

So when I feel myself getting critical or judgemental or snappy, (and I still use gratitude thoughts by the way) I can switch my thoughts to the area around my heart, place my children's faces there, and feel my heart become more coherent, and since I have some experience with Heartmath heart rate variability biofeedback, my body switches back to a cooperative and affiliative physiology within a heart beat.

Not quite the speed of thought but close, and that tool has saved me a lot of regrets over the years. I have been able to operate from a heartfelt cooperation and affiliation more and more often.

In fact, the practice of heart rate variability has given me a felt experience of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy concept that you do not have to accept thoughts as truths. You can dispute them. In other words, I can fill myself with love and then think one distressing thought and fill myself with the feeling of stress or despair, and then think the loving thought, and feel the love come right back into my body. You can even dispute the thoughts that make you feel good, if you want.

So we have managed to move ourselves from the realm of the external making me feel stressed, because it is my thought about the external that brings on the adrenalin and cortisol inside my body, and using and some mindfulness coupled with some practice, I can steer my physiology like I steer my car with thousands of small adjustments.

In fact, I may get so good at heart rate variability biofeedback that it runs in the background of my brain, popping into the foreground for a heart beat's worth of attention on an as-needed basis.

It is important to recognize for some folks that heart rate variability biofeedback is a learned skill and does not override any basic biological process. In other words, I can still activate my fight or flight chemistry if needed for a real attack.

If you want to check out the benefits of having your own personal stress management technique for your neurogenesis, or the growth of new brain cells, then read Brainfit for Life by Simon Evans,Ph.D. and Paul Burghardt,Ph.D.

Hope you enjoy your coherence!

Medical Record Keeping While Using A Virtual Receptionist by Jim Peterson

Today doctor's time is one of the most precious things that the whole medical domain should protect from excessive bureaucracy. The more minutes we spare ∓ the more patients the doctor will be able to help. But what doctors are forced to do now is writing down so many things: patient's history, complaints, results of the examination, prescriptions, additional tests to be made, receipts, prescriptions and tons of other forms. And what an issue it is to get the needed files wading through the piles of paper documentation. Medical record keeping has become so time consuming that something should definitely be done about it!

What we propose is to use AssistMedic as a single application which will unload the doctor and let him do his own work instead of completing innumerable paper forms. AssistMedic is a single desktop application comprising a whole list of functions: medical record keeping, medical receptionist functions, online patient sign-up through custom medical forms, no-shows handling and many others!

Everything is working through a single desktop application, all the relevant information is always easy to find, form completion is almost automated ∓ what the doctor is required to do is just a couple of clicks in the application and the record is taken!

Virtual medical receptionist as a part of AssistMedic will free you from human errors in the appointment scheduling process, make you fully HIPAA compliant and will let your live receptionist focus on the day to day duties and current tasks requiring immediate attention. Appointment reminders will be automatically sent out to the patients according to the predefined schedule, error free and proposing to confirm, reschedule or cancel the appointment adjusting the schedules of the doctor automatically. So doing, the medical receptionist will finally be able to perform her tasks without being continually interrupted by nervous patients.

The doctor is not required to possess some special computer skills to keep medical records ∓ everything is simplified to just a couple of clicks. All the numerous paper forms are replaced by just one multifunctional application. The information is always very easy to find in just a few clicks again with no need to potter in the huge stands of files and folders.

Having at your disposal the time the doctor would have spent looking for the required information, browsing through the loads of paper documents, completing endless forms, keeping medical records gives you numerous options: cost-cutting, increasing the overall performance of each single doctor and the clinics in whole, improving customer satisfaction, overbeating your competitors by the superior quality of services you can now propose and an increasing number of patients you might have missed if you did not have a virtual medical receptionist available 24/7, perfectly polite, clear and error-free.

AssistMedic having a multilevel security system and 4 types of access makes you fully HIPAA compliant with almost no effort!

Does Water Purification Really Work? by Jeff Schuman

So that people can have safe water to drink water purification is being used all over the world these days. The process can be difficult to understand. However learning about it will help you understand why everyone should use this process for safe water in their own home.

There are many times that you will go to get a drink of water and believe that it is safe to drink because it looks clear. This is not always the case though especially in residential homes that has no purification for your water.

Water contains many unsafe particles which can cause many people to get sick. If you drink a lot of water over time that has not been purified then you could easily end up with a sickness caused by the particles in the water.

That is the main reason why purification is so important these days because you never know when water is safe to drink but with a good system you will always know it is safe to drink.

Now it is important to know that the whole purpose of the purification system is to rid your water of any impurities that it could contain. There are certain steps that this process follows and the best way for you to understand more about this process these steps need to be explained.

First you need to understand that the number of steps and the order of these steps that will be required to purify the water will depend on the number of impurities that is currently in the water you drink.

Now the first step in the process is known as settling. This is basically what it sounds like. Because they are heavier than the water is the contaminants that are in the water that will start to settle at the bottom.

Another step that is used is to help get rid of any contaminants that come from the air and ground because eventually it will all end up in the water you drink. To help remove fertilizer this step involves using another important chemical and iron.

It will also remove nitrites and other contaminants that have found their way to the water.

One last important step is to remove any microorganisms that are in the water by disinfecting the water using chlorination. This step may be repeated more than once and is usually one of the last steps to be sure the water is safe to drink.

These are the most important steps used in the purification process but the order they are used will depend on the system used and the contaminants found in the water.

Now that you know how water purification really works you can see why it is smart for everyone to have some form of purification. Without it anyone can get too many sicknesses.

What Is This Thing Called Addictions? by Helga Matzko

When I began working in the field of addiction 30 years ago, most clients were automatically labeled addicts, (yes, shocking but true) just as most clinicians were either recovered individuals or members of addiction-troubled families. Of course, the field has evolved and what was once held to be gospel truth has been modified and re-labeled. The purpose of this brief paper serves to highlight the confusion and complexities inherent when assigning the label “Addiction”.

Addiction may be:

• Disease/illness; Disorder DSM-IV-TR, (insurance reimbursement)

• Not illness but can create lots of physical illnesses

• Myth of Alcoholism (Herbert Fingarette; scientific data)

• Concept, not illness (Jellinek)

• Spiritual depravity, character defects – AA fellowship only salvation (AA)

• Hedonism – following the pleasure principle – feels good (our limbic system)

• Everyone is addicted (Andrew Weil, Harvard Conference presentation)

• Genetically programmed (unproven, research not universally validated)

• Big multi-billion dollar business

• Treatment and discomfort depends on the health care providers’ projection (Ellen Langer, Harvard)

• Resulting from abuse and trauma

• Life-style issues

• Once an addict – always an addict vs. once a human being – always a human being

• Organismic self-regulation, creative adjustment to what is

• My theory is better than yours philosophy !

The above bullet points are not inclusive and perhaps none speak to each reader. My heart goes out to clients and clinicians for both are, one might say forced, to give a diagnosis that pretty much will stay with an individual for life i.e. failed attempts to purchase life or health insurance etc. Are any of our noble attempts really helpful? Statistics vary hugely; it all depends on who provides them – each program is the best on the web. The questions really become: Can a label alone define anything? Who is the client? What is his/her experience; a good question because some will say addicted individuals can’t think clear enough for recall or have warped perceptions. Others will claim that there is no cure; what does that mean? Why bother? Who is the individual who has learned to overuse substances? Are they embodied in their drinking, drug-using activities?

In conclusion, my professional belief is that what is, is and whatever works, works. I see each individual as a wonderful, complex, highly unique individual who trusts or learns to trust me that s/he is deserving. Kierkegaard wrote that “if you label me you negate me”; a powerful statement that invites all professionals to have an open mind, an open heart, to see and experience the client/professional relationship not as two separate, isolated human beings but in an I/Thou co-created dialogical relationship. This is how we both experience our working together. Believe me, it isn’t always easy. You may see it differently and I would really love to hear your experience and position on the issue of “Addiction.”

How Dental Offices Can Benefit From A TMJ Diagnostic Questionnaire by Jim Peterson

If you are a cosmetic dentist, it doesn't really matter whether you have hundreds of patients or only a few. What really matters is how well and how effectively you carry on your job. That's because too much is demanded from cosmetic dentists. The same goes with TMJ dentists or dentists who specialize in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.

TMJ disorder is a condition that affects the joints in our jaws. These joints are located at the sides of the head near each ear and they play a pivotal role when we eat, speak and make facial expressions. The fact is, the TMJ is one of the most frequently used and complex joints in our body. Temporomandibular joint disorders are often the result of accidents which usually cause severe trauma or impact on the face of a person.

Since TMJ disorders are complex, TMJ dentists usually require or demand an extensive explanation from their patients in order for them to provide the best treatment. Because of this, TMJ dentists have worked with developers, particularly the AssistMedic system, to create a custom medical form known as the TMJ Diagnostic Questionnaire.

Let's say for example that you live in Toronto, Canada and you suffer from TMJ disorder. However, it could be that you don't know any qualified Toronto TMJ dentist or perhaps you're not sure if your Toronto family dentist can refer you to a TMJ dentist. You can then contact your family dentist and ask for the website of a Toronto TMJ dentist. Once you get the information you need, you can access the TMJ Diagnostic Questionnaire and start filling out the form. Sample questions range from the level of pain that the TMJ disorder causes you, how long you've had it, what medications you take to alleviate the pain and other questions pertinent to your condition.

You may ask what benefits are derived by accomplishing the TMJ Diagnostic Questionnaire. The AssistMedic system was developed to help both the patients and the TMJ dentists. The TMJ Diagnostic Questionnaire proves to be beneficial to TMJ dentists because apart from less paperwork, the information that their patients submit to them online will enable them to prepare proper procedures for their patients’ treatment beforehand. On the other hand, TMJ disorder patients will spend less time waiting in line at their dentist’s office and they no longer have to fill out the form manually since they already accomplished it right from the comfort of their own home. All they need to do is wait for their TMJ dentists’ dental staff to call them for the confirmation of their appointment time and date.

The introduction of the AssistMedic virtual medical receptionist to medical practitioners, in this case the TMJ dentists, is a win-win solution for both patients and dentists. TMJ dentists, in particular, can set up an automated website allowing them to keep track of their patients' records and other important reports with just a few strokes on the keyboard and they can also securely exchange information with other practitioners of the same profession.

Reducing Patient No-Shows Is Now Possible Thanks To Appointment Reminders by Jim Peterson

Patient no-shows is something all medical practices are quite concerned about. We all know that doctors contribute to making our society safer and more health conscious and that is why their profession deserves to be respected and supported.

For this purpose, it is important to note that a medical practice is much more than a place where patients are seen and cured: it is an actual business.

Provided this consideration, we should also keep in mind that the strength of a medical practice is measured upon the number of registered patients and daily visits.

That is why patient no shows is such a big problem, for this phenomenon interrupts the practice's work flow and does not allow the doctor to start the medical billing process, which is of vital importance to the practice. Furthermore, it causes a great deal of stress, considering that all patients will have to wait longer for their visits, hence they will get nervous and continuously approach the medical receptionist's desk to ask explanations.

Does it sound like an exaggeration? It really is not. Whenever you ask a medical receptionist what is the worst aspect of their jobs, most of them will say it is dealing with impatient patients.

So how can a doctor actually reduce patient no-shows?

There are, indeed, several solutions, but only one seems to be the most effective.

Some have suggested doctors should charge patients who miss their appointments, but it is not legal to make people pay for services not given. Moreover, the medical billing process takes time and, anyway, the practice will probably not get completely refunded for the sustained damage due to patient no shows.

So, since we are talking about sanity, the statement "prevention is better than cure" seems to suit perfectly our analysis.

And, in this case, medical appointment reminders are what doctors need to solve their problems once and for all.

Appointment reminders will let every medical receptionist perform their tasks without having to worry about patient no shows, for patients will be reminded of their upcoming appointments by an automated software. Furthermore, medical appointment reminders come in many different solutions, to meet everyone's needs. There are, in fact, appointment reminder calls, e-mails, text messages, along with the more traditional reminder letters and cards.

However, apart from medical appointment reminders, another effective strategy medical practices may adopt to streamline their daily work is analyzing patient no shows statistics. So doing, the medical receptionist will notice and record the types of appointments that are more likely to be missed and schedule them accordingly. For example, if most patients miss a specific appointment type, the medical receptionist could schedule all of them during a period when at least two or three doctors are on duty.

However, this particular strategy, which is called "overbooking", can be applied only after the medical receptionist or the healthcare service provider has observed and studied the practice's patient no show statistics, otherwise the medical office would risk being assaulted by dozens of patients.

Go With A Virtual Medical Receptionist That Allows Customization Of The User Interface by Jim Peterson

Medical receptionist applications are being used more and more by the medical profession. A virtual receptionist fields calls, books appointments and takes down patients' medical information allowing the receptionist and doctor in attendance to deal with their schedules adequately and attend to their patients individually with enough time spent on each patient. Gone are the days of overbooking, crowds in the doctor's surgery, and having to wait for ages to be seen.

When choosing a virtual medical receptionist it is important to opt for one that allows customization of the user interface. Each medical doctor, from the general practitioner to the neurosurgeon, uses a different approach to their patients and the virtual medical receptionist should have the same approach, and not be only a generic robotic receptionist that deals with all patients exactly the same. After all, each doctor has their speciality and patients obviously need to feel taken care of: the text message displayed will do this.

To a certain extent the processes might be the same, for form filling, and information, but the approach should be specific to each profession or clinic and be as though it was designed specifically for the general practitioner, or the psychologist, or the chiropractor, or neurosurgeon. This is where customization of the user interface is so important as it allows for this approach to be specialized for each professional using the medical receptionist software application.

Each doctor has their own special way of dealing with their patients, and this is what must come across on the virtual receptionist and reach the patient by the text message displayed. After all why would a patient choose one doctor over another, if not for the manner in which that doctor treats them. A patient will wait days and weeks just to see a specific doctor, as once a patient is comfortable and happy with a doctor, they will not change very easily.

A generic virtual receptionist will disorientate the patients, as they do not distinguish between patients, and patients might wonder whether they have dialed the right number. Nobody wants to be just a number. Patients need to know that they are going to be dealt with in a kind and caring manner, as they are accustomed to being dealt with and a customized interface of the virtual receptionist will allow you to make sure they will get what they want.

That is why choosing a virtual receptionist is of crucial importance and the user interface customization is a feature that you should not compromise on, if you do not want your patients offended by having to deal with a robotic response.

The virtual receptionist will simplify your workload allowing you to schedule your time more productively and plan for certain times that need scheduling on your calendar.

Why Hypnosis Is The Better Way To Lose Weight by Anadi Taylor

Many people's views of hypnosis are often based on what they have seen on the TV rather than being based in reality. It is unfortunate that 'clinical hypnotherapy' and 'stage hypnosis' share the same name. Stage hypnosis is based on entertainment, suggestibility and illusion. An impression is thereby given that being hypnotised is an external state which is the opposite of what it really is, an internalised state. Therefore people can be wary of hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy is a process that is aimed at helping to instil a superior form of physical and mental relaxation. Techniques are used by the practitioner that encourage the client to enter a "trance state" which bypasses the conscious mind and critical faculty. We unconsciously enter this state every day when driving a car, reading a book or when we become emotional. The difference is, hypnotherapy is a process which undertakes this state in a controlled setting. When in this state, hypnotherapy is able to realign feelings that stem form the subconscious to a more positive state and give an all-important edge when it comes to breaking habits. This is a powerful process that works with the right side of the brain. We therefore refer to it as "right brain coaching".

Whilst undergoing hypnotherapy, many clients may assume they are in a state of "sleep" and undergoing "therapy" both at the same time. In fact the word Hypnosis is derived from "hypnos", being the Greek term for sleep. James Braid coined "hypnosis" around 1840 from the Greeks who used "sleep temples" as far back as 4000 BC, and so "Relaxation of the conscious mind" would have been a more accurate description. Therefore the name hypnosis is really a misnomer.

Hypnotherapy has many uses, one of them being weight loss. Weight loss can be eternal. Unfortunately diets, or new re-cycled diets, work on a starvation principle of drastically reduced calories. Some work by eating solid protein, others by living off a boring liquid diet. None of them address the relationship to food, which is a lifetime one.

Diets slow down the metabolism. After 4 days the body shuts down and goes into starvation mode protecting the very calories you are trying to loose. When you start eating again the weight piles back on. This is due to the dieter having wrecked their metabolism.

Dieticians and so called experts do not tell you that the body likes and needs good old fat. It serves a useful propose. It supplies us with a food store in times of starvation and keeps us warm. The subconscious mind still acts as if we were in the cave. Diets do not address this in any way shape or form. The key is to work with the body. The body will accept weight loss of 2lbs a week. Any more is fluid and muscle tissue. If the weight is lost slowly, it will stay off. Therefore no more yo-yo effect.

Everybody knows what he or she should and should not eat. Unfortunately we live in an age where miracle diets offer absurd amounts of weight loss in a matter of days or weeks and this seems preferable to healthy eating. This, of course, does not work and can, in fact, do more harm than good. Hypnotherapy, however, can help people to lose weight permanently and healthily.

Hypnotherapy is a process where you work with the body and feel good about doing the things that you know you should be doing. Once you are into a rhythm the weight comes off slowly, naturally and safely. The final result being that the weight stays off. Psychologically you feel good as confidence in your ability to lose weight rises. You lose weight once not a hundred times!

Improve Your Fitness - By Gardening by John King

Anyone who has a TV or Internet connection must have seen publicity relating to the need for the British public to get fitter, eat healthier and generally to take better care of themselves. All the statistics point to the 'takeaway society' culture which stems from our busy lifestyles, long hours and daily commutes where a cheese roll at the railway station eaten quickly forms part of a daily diet for many Brits.

So what can be a better way of killing 3 birds with one stone by embarking on a hobby that relaxes the mind, tones the body and provides families with nutritious food throughout the year? We are of course referring to 'grow your own gardening' – a phenomenon currently sweeping the UK at such a rate that government statistics suggest that more people are now growing their own food than since the end of World War 2 and demand for allotments massively outstrips available plots.

Gardening can burn up to 300 calories an hour. This is the same as other forms of moderate exercise such as walking and cycling but you need to be active for at least 30 minutes at any one time for there to be any real benefits. Although that shouldn't be difficult, if like us, you think about how quickly the weeds grow during the warmer months! Once you have finished reading this article, weeding your flower beds will never again seem such an attractive prospect!

If you think about the type of work that you do in the garden, you can usually categorise each element into what part of the body it is helping to tone up.

For example, squatting down 'pulling' those really annoying weeds or digging your veg patch over will help tone your thighs and buttocks. Mowing your lawn, raking the grass or leaves will strengthen your upper arms and shoulders, as well as toning your abdominal muscles. However, this will be more beneficial if you use a manual mower rather than a petrol or electric type and it goes without saying that there is no benefit in using the sit-on mower. Finally, just think what benefits your biceps are receiving when you are trimming those hedges and pruning the shrubs. It's a win/win – a beautifully maintained garden and a beautifully maintained body.

Not only is gardening a really good form of exercise but it also has many general health and psychological benefits as well:

Research shows that if you spend between 30 and 45 minutes gardening most days, which is not really inconceivable during the summer months, there are health benefits to people such as decreasing the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.

There are also psychological benefits to gardening too. Studies show that looking at flowers and trees reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and relieves tension in muscles. Being outdoors and in touch with nature can remove the day to day stress of everyday life. Being outside can help give people a real sense of well being, especially when you consider the amount of time we spend indoors, or in cars, trains or planes getting to and from work,.

Some people suffer from a lack of vitamin D. The sun is the humans’ natural intended source of this vitamin so getting outdoors to work in your garden in the fresh air will provide you with more of the vitamin, just so long as you don't over do-it and over expose your skin to the sunshine. Getting out into the fresh air and sunlight can also improve your mood too, especially if you are one of the many people who suffer from the condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which affects people during the winter months when there is very little sunlight.

Of course there are the tangible benefits of what you actually grow in your garden. Many people find that growing their own fruit and vegetables is one of the best aspects of gardening, preferring this to having lovely flowers and an immaculate lawn.

Growing your own vegetables will cost far less to grow than buying them and, furthermore, your home grown vegetables are likely to taste a lot better too (try picking asparagus and cooking within an hour or harvesting and you'll know exactly what we mean). You will also have the benefit of knowing exactly where your vegetables have come from and what has been used in the growing process. Another point to bear in mind is that the greater the time between a vegetable being picked and being eaten, the more goodness it loses so produce grown at home beats supermarket 'fresh' foods hands down. Furthermore, your family are far more likely to be encouraged to eat the recommended 5 portions of vegetables a day if they have been 'home grown', as you will have grown all the fruit and vegetables that all the family enjoy. So for so many different health and economic reasons growing your own makes a lot of sense.

Therefore, if you want to feel fitter and healthier but are reluctant to join a gym, then enjoy your garden instead, and if you don't happen to have a garden but would love to take advantage of this fun, healthier way of life, then sign up for an allotment in your local area. These can be hard to come by currently, but more and more people with land are handing this over to the people in their community as way of utilising land that they are finding hard to maintain. Look up 'landshare gardening' on an Internet Search Engine for websites dedicated to this worthy cause.

All About Acai Berry by Kathryn Steed

You’ve seen it in your fruit drinks, your makeup, your weight loss pills, your vitamin supplements, and you’ve heard it called a superfood. It’s acai berry, and it’s the newest fad fruit that you know nothing about! Let’s do away with all the hype and take an honest look at this interesting fruit.

The Basics

Acai (pronounced “ah-sigh-EE”) berries grow in Central and South America. They are small, purplish berries that are about an inch in diameter. They somewhat resemble grapes, except acai berries have a large seed in their centers. They are grown on acai palm trees and are in the same family as cranberries and blueberries.

Health Benefits

Acai berries are loaded with antioxidants called flavonoids and anthocyanins. In fact, they have more antioxidants than cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Acai berries also contain a high concentration of vitamins C and E. These antioxidants and vitamins are essential to fighting and preventing diseases like cancer and heart disease. They do this by preventing blood clots, relaxing the blood vessels, improving your circulation, and blocking carcinogens. The antioxidants in these berries also help fight the aging process. Due to its anti-aging properties, acai oil can now be found in cosmetics and beauty products. In addition to their high antioxidant content, acai berries contain plant sterols that help reduce cholesterol, promote prostate health, and lower cholesterol.

Acai berries are now touted by many weight loss companies as the best dietary supplement around. While they cannot work miracles, the amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that they contain may help increase your energy, boost your metabolism, and suppress your appetite.

Fun Facts

1. In certain areas around the Amazon, acai berry juice is known as the “poor man’s juice.” It is incredibly affordable and often served from plastic bags.

2. The seed of the berry takes up about 80% of the fruit itself.

3. Many people say that acai berries have a chocolatey taste.

4. Oprah, Rachel Ray, and Dr. Oz have all publicly praised acai berries.

5. Brazilians believe that acai berries can boost your sex life and fertility.

3 Common Barriers to Workplace Fitness by Sarah Long

AT Calgary Corporate Fitness Inc, we work with small to major companies helping them implement effective fitness & wellness programs. In our dealing with companies who are new to these programs we have found there to be a common hesitation, or barrier, that can easily be overcome with the right perspective!

I thought I would share 3 of those barriers and provide some solutions;

Lack of interest, or low motivation to participate

Companies should include their employees in the organization and development of their corporate wellness programs to encourage interest and participation. If more employees participate, it will be easier to measure the effectiveness of the program and get ideas on how to improve future initiatives.

Lack of space to offer physical activity

The problem is we have been so condition to think regular exercise has to be inconvenient, time consuming and expensive. It’s actually completely opposite. On-site fitness programs do not require a lot of space, nor do you have to get grossly sweaty. Small workouts in 10 minutes spurts through out the day can help keep the metabolism up and keep energy levels high. Or a group workout in a conference room, open field or parking lot can be more effective and fun for employees to interact.

Hard to measure ROI

Many companies will take the initiative and implement small corporate wellness program, but many do not include a fitness element. It’s great to educate and motivate healthy lifestyle habits, but it’s the actual act of being physical-moving our bodies that is going to inspire more energy, more endorphins and less sick days! If your company is working with a small budget, We recommend prioritizing a fitness program first and then consider incorporating other services, otherwise the ROI will be small.

Contact Calgary Corporate Fitness if your require assistance with your workplace fitness program. We provide you with a free consultation and quote to help get you started on the right direction.

What to Look When Searching for a Rhinoplasty Surgeon by Jennifer levine

It is good that you have finally decided to do something about your nose which has been annoying you to no end. Now that you are ready to dig into your savings and brave the knife, you would surely want to get the most out of the procedure. While asking friends and acquaintances for reference is a good idea, choosing a Rhinoplasty Surgeon solely on the basis of suggestions made by them is not. Here are the few points that you should keep in mind as you search for the right surgeon for Rhinoplasty in New York.

Training and education is the first consideration that you should use to filter potential Rhinoplasty Expert. Make sure you go to a Rhinoplasty Surgeon who has been trained from a reputed medical school with good many years of experience.

Another criterion is to find out whether the potential Rhinoplasty Specialist has a board certification or not. While American Board of Medical Specialties means that he/she meets the minimum standards, American Board of Plastic Surgery ensures that they have superior training and experience. Remember, plastic surgeons generally practises all body plastic surgery, but only those who specialise in facial plastic surgery and has considerable experience in rhinoplasty procedures can produce better results.

Look for testimonials from previous patients along with their before and after pictures before you zero on any Rhinoplasty Specialist. You can expect a reputed Rhinoplasty Expert to have a website where you can not only find a lot of information about education, training and board certification of the surgeon but also testimonials and before and after pictures also.

In case you are looking for Rhinoplasty in New York, you should check out www.drjenniferlevine.com. Board certified in both facial cosmetic surgery and ear nose and throat surgery, Dr. Levine knows the face inside out. Her in-depth knowledge of soft tissues, nerves, muscles, cartilages and bones gives Dr. Levine a unique insight about how these structures interplay and change over the years. As one of the handful of female Rhinoplasty Specialists of New York, she successfully gives each patient result that stand the test of time by providing structural support to battle against the effects of gravity and volume loss that come with age, inevitably.

Helpful Tips in Managing Diabetes by Helene Glasper

Diabetes is one of the leading killer diseases in the world. In fact, in the Unites States alone, it is the seventh leading killer disease. In this case, a lot of people suffering from diabetes may have developed, especially in its most advanced stages, serious complications like heart diseases, kidney failures, loss of feeling both to feet and hands, end even extremity amputations.

Diabetes is all about too much glucose content in your blood. Take note that all of the food that you are going to eat is turned into glucose (a kind of sugar), and will be used by your body as a source of energy. In this case, it is the role of insulin, a hormone, to make glucose enter the cells of your body. However, in diabetes, it’s either a person does not have enough insulin, or his/her insulin does not function properly, making glucose piled up in a person’s bloodstream.

Unfortunately, a cure for this disease has not been discovered yet. Whenever you have this disease, it is better for you to manage it, rather than let it develop into serious complications which may prove to be life threatening. Here then are the different helpful ways on how to manage diabetes:

Always take your diabetes medication, according to your doctor’s prescription

The prescription that your physician made must always be strictly followed. Take note that one missed prescription may make your disease worsen. Therefore, all appropriate medication must always be taken note of, and must be made top priority in your list.

Choose a diet that is low in fats, salts, and sugars

High fat, high salts, and high sugar foods surely makes your glucose level high. Therefore, always avoid such kind of foods. Taking fiber rich foods is more healthful for you, for this will control your blood sugar. In addition, never skip your meals.

Check all blisters and scars

Different cuts, blisters, swelling, and red spots, especially on your feet, may be an indication that you are already suffering from diabetes-related nerve damage. Especially when such scars don’t heal for a long time, it is already a cause for concern, and it is wise to immediately consult your doctor. Preventing foot ulcers will surely make you avoid amputations in your extremities. For more information visit to our site at http://www.us-med.com

Finding Bladder Supplies That Can Remedy Your Situation by Helene Glasper

Finding bladder control supplies that can remedy your situation can be a challenge to people that struggle with bladder issues. Millions of Americans suffer from bladder-related issues. For those who struggle with bladder issues, there are ways to find bladder control supplies for your situation.


Bladder control products are sold at your local drug store, but the selection is often quite limited. If a person really wants to find a better selection of bladder control products, an individual can purchase those products online. It is possible for a person to find bladder control supplies online at various specialty sites.


There are sites that sell a wide range of bladder control products. The products sold through these suppliers include adult diapers, protective underwear, belted under garments, beltless under garments, underpads, reusable pads, wipes, and pad and pant systems. Several suppliers offer a complete product line of bladder control products that many of the drug store chains and grocery stores do not carry. Further, several of these suppliers offer home delivery services for their customers.


People that are unable to find bladder supplies for their bladder issues are encouraged to shop online for products not carried in their local stores. Finding bladder supplies that can remedy your situation is not at all impossible. Online retailers have made the process of accessing these supplies much easier. If you struggle with incontinence, make sure that you have the right supplies so you can lead an active lifestyle. For more information visit to our site at http://www.us-med.com

How Dental Offices Can Benefit From The Use Of AssistMedic To Create A Children Brushing Report by Jim Peterson

Even with the knowledge that brushing and flossing the teeth regularly will keep your teeth healthy, more serious dental issues can be avoided if regular professional dental visits and cleanings are maintained. However, if you are a parent, you probably know how hard it is to drag children to the dentists when it's time for their dentist's appointments. At times, parents would rather skip the regular visits than hear and contend with their children's whining.

It is with this concern that Toronto family dentists devised a way to monitor the oral health of children remotely. Through the help of AssistMedic/IcyCRM (where CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management), dentists in Toronto, particularly those handling children dentistry and paediatric dentistry, commissioned the creation of Brushing Report Cards.

We all know how vast the reach of technology is nowadays. Even young kids are well-versed when it comes to simple computer applications and even web surfing. With this in mind, dental offices have successfully promoted their business even to young ones via the brushing report cards developed by AssistMedic. The brushing report card is basically a custom medical form that can be accessed through the websites of dental offices. Since it was developed with children in mind, the form is written in its simplest form and even kids can use them.

The brushing report card is especially customized and will be filled up by kids with important information, like what time they brushed their teeth in the morning, afternoon and evening and other comments they would like their dentists to know. At the end of a certain period, they will have their parents or guardians sign the form and submit it to their family dentists. This way, dentists get to track their young patients without requiring them to go to the dental office every so often. Dental offices have even used these brushing report cards for on-going promotions that would without fail encourage young children to visit their family dentists for scheduled appointments.

The gap between children and their family dentists are definitely bridged because of this innovative technology which allows children to realize that maintaining oral health, and working alongside their dentists on that regard, is fairly easy. Not only do these brushing report cards let dentists know what they need to know as far as their young patients are concerned. Giving the kids enough freedom to accomplish the brushing report cards by themselves allow them to work on other activities as well as get a heads up on what treats are in store for them when they visit their dentists.

Clearly, AssistMedic's quest to help health providers, like dental offices, promote their business the automated way is reaping its fruits. Patients are given the chance to communicate with their dentists in the most convenient way and dentists are able to effectively endorse their businesses and at the same time, it lessens the need for them to maintain volumes of paperwork that can prove to be very time consuming especially if they have a lot of patients to attend to.

What Are The Benefits Of Medical Appointment Schedulers In Comparison To Generic Appointment Schedulers by Jim Peterson

Whether your medical practice counts thousands of patients or only a few, you probably don't like to waste your time on tasks you could have somebody or "something" else do for you. We are going to propose you a method which will help you streamline your day, simplify your work and save a great deal of time.

As we all know, a medical practice business relies on medical appointment scheduling, for a clinic's strength is defined by how many patients are registered with it. So, if a medical practice wishes to increase its profit, it will have to find ways to attract new people and then keep them. But, as we can imagine, as the practice patient flow will increase, the medical receptionist will find themselves dealing with more patients, more scheduling and much more stress.

For this purpose, a medical website, a registration web form and a medical appointment scheduler will surely relieve your medical receptionist's frustration and make people think that your practice is modern, up-to-date and, last but not least, will enable people to book appointments with you or another member of your practice from their pc or smart phone.

Besides the coolness of your services, however, it is important to see how you can benefit from them and whether they are practical. An appointment scheduler can be either a generic one or a specialized medical scheduler. Both of them allow patients(customers) to fill in web forms from your website, with the only difference that the first one will register only generic information, such as name, surname, date of birth, date of appointment, while the second one will as the patient many other details that you will, otherwise, have to manually write down during the patient visit.

These specific data, in fact, will automatically be saved on your data base for you to check them whenever you like and will include insurance and medical billing information, as well as the patient's address and so on... Practically speaking, should you opt for a generic medical appointment scheduler, your patients will book their appointment with you through a custom web form and all the information they have entered into the empty fields will be automatically transmitted to your practice pc, for your medical receptionist to add them to your database.

The fact is that, whenever a doctor visits a patient, they need to register their insurance and medical billing information so, if such details are missing, the doctor will have to ask such information directly to the patient, write them down and have their medical receptionist manually insert them into the database. On the other hand, the specialized medical appointment scheduler requires certain insurance and medical billing information in order to book a visit with the doctor. So, before the patient visit, the doctor will already know who they are going to see and what their personal details are.

Also, a medical appointment scheduler can interface directly with the EMR/EHR system, which saves patient information directly into the practice database, saving both the doctor and the medical receptionist a lot of time.

Weight Loss Goals Within Your Reach by Amy Twain

So you want to lose weight--you’ve set your own weight loss goals. The question is, do you have realistic weight loss goals? It’s easy enough to set your own targets and objectives, especially most people out there who are fat, chubby, or those…obese (ugh!) really and seriously make this as their topmost priority when it comes to making (and eventually breaking) their New Year’s Resolutions.

So how to keep your weight loss goals and gradually attain it? I can’t promise anything in this article, but I can only give you some effective tips or friendly bits of advice. Prior to getting too much excited about your weight loss goals and the results, bear in mind that you have to work hard for it and it won’t be as simple as just like pulling rabbits out of hats.

But first, for those who tried before, remembered that time you failed on your goal? It feels bad when you fail. If you just fall short of your weight loss goals, and what have you noticed? Yes, you’re more inclined to sway off the track and the worse thing is, you might get back some (or all) of the weight you have lost.

Therefore, why not start with a short-term weight loss goals instead? If, let’s say, you know that you’ve so much weight to shed, accept the fact that it’s not going to come off overnight. And no, not even on a 1-2 months time frame which most diet programs blab about.

I’m just being a realist here actually. And I’m saying that you have to have the patience, determination to want it that bad and the consistency to stick to it to the end till you see and feel results. So in a sense, you got to design your own blueprint to be healthy and to get the body you desire.

I know of several successful dieters out there and they shared some of their secrets with me; they say that it’s all about the improvements or progress they made—be it monumental or trivial. Seeing the outcome or results of your efforts and hard work will help you even more to feel motivated to keep going.

And how do you build that drive, that strong motivation to your realistic weight loss goals? Well, set small and attainable goals first. For instance, you want to drop those annoying 55 lbs? Narrow them down by realistic aims first. Try setting an objective that’s not entirely dependent on the scale alone.

Take note that the numerals on the scale will never mirror exactly how long we sweat it out in the gym or the slices of chocolate cake we declined. Therefore, a reasonable diet plan can be losing 5 lbs. Having weight loss goals can include minimizing your calories to 1600, saying goodbye to sodas, and try walking 6 days per week.

And most importantly, results or no results, still reward yourself for all those efforts and determination and hard work you exerted. The mere fact that you took on some plan of action is already a big deal.

The Automatic Medical Receptionist Is Much Less Prone To Error by Jim Peterson

The virtual medical receptionist will not only streamline your workload, make bookings and appointments for your patients, save you lots of paper, and time, it will also save you from legal lawsuits due to human error.

The medical profession, doctors and dentists are only human, and an error made on patient medical records leading to a wrong diagnosis could end up with the doctor, or dentist in the courts fighting a very expensive lawsuit.

This is where the virtual receptionist is really a doctor and dentist's best friend. Patients may enter their own information in the fields on the electronic medical record, or electronic health record. So any error is their own and not the real live receptionist's error who has to take down details of each patient, and sometimes might get it wrong. This being the case, then the doctor in attendance at the time of that error occurring at the practice is liable for the medical error, not the receptionist.

The virtual receptionist cannot get it wrong, only humans do sometimes. We are not saying that the real live receptionist cannot do her job, it is just that the virtual receptionist does it better, faster, more accurately, and streamlines your practice so much that you will wonder how you ever managed to run your business without it.

The way forward today for today's fast paced and stressful world of online communications is to use the virtual medical receptionist which incorporates web forms for patients to enter their medical information. The virtual medical receptionist complies with all HIPAA requirements, which means the safety element of ensuring that all client's medical information is securely protected.

Time-saving functions of the virtual medical receptionist: Appointment are booked for clinical visits or operations. The EMR, electronic medical record is generated and filled in by the patient with his details and insurance plan. A time and date is booked and the calendar entry is completed with all the details.

Your virtual medical receptionist also books meetings, lunch appointment, marks blocks of time where no appointments can be made, if you were in surgery, or away for instance, and books appointments for personal events.

There are three calendars provided for each medical practitioner within one practice.

One Calendar that is used for only practice visits. One showing all visits, practice and hospital, and personal events that are not medical related. Each system has a consolidated calendar showing all visits for all the practitioners in the practice. The virtual medical receptionist allows you to control who has access for viewing each of the separate calendars. This ensures security of information.

The virtual medical receptionist lets you choose the duration of each patient visit and any event you want to schedule time for, without errors.