The Allen School Blog

Racism, Healing and Our Future

Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The historic

Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Some of the reasons people lose their jobs can appear to be taken from the routines of stand up comedians. Unfortunately, they are truly nothing to laugh at. I have isolated what appear to be things that play a great part in employer decisions to fire certain employees. Any single one on the list is a major no-no and one would think that each of them is really a no-brainer. When it comes to getting fired, the reasons are usually pretty common, and not always within the employee’s control. People get terminated for reasons such as company reorganizations, company financial setbacks , downsizing and other unexpected company problems. There are, however, plenty of reasons that people get fired that are not related to the company’s troubles, but to shortcomings on the part of the employee. Check out the list after the jump and see if you find some of them as amusing and incredible as I do. If you know of any other reasons people can get fired, post a comment to add to my list : 1. Forgetting to take a bath. Each of us has had the terrible misfortune to have sat next to someone who has poor hygiene, whether on public transportation, or in the workplace. The offender may appear to be oblivious to the “assault” on co-workers. Clearly, employers and co-workers are not oblivious to it and it definitely impacts on job retention. It is necessary to bathe daily and use whatever personal products that will keep you fresh during the long workday. 2. Talking negatively about anyone - especially the boss. In the workplace, speaking negatively about anyone is a major mistake as it will invariably get back to the person of whom one speaks. Speaking negatively about the individual who signs your check is on or close to the top of the list when it comes to being selected for termination. Workplace information passes at lightning speed. It is essential to keep negative information out of the office “information pipeline.” 3. Drinking on the job.Drinking any sort of alcoholic beverage is absolutely not acceptable in the workplace or during the workday. It impairs judgment, slows down productivity, can make you short-tempered, unreasonable, depressed and overly emotional. It is inadvisable to drink at any juncture of a business day, on your lunch hour or at business lunches, even if offered by one’s employer. 4. Sleeping at one's desk on a regular basis. Baby up all night? Someone snoring? Financial problems preventing sleep? These are legitimate reasons for being very tired when arriving at work. There are, however, no possible legitimate reasons for sleeping on the job, no matter what the personal circumstances. It is preferable to lose a day’s work to stay home and catch up on rest than to be showcasing oneself in such a compromised, unacceptable and truly unforgettable manner in a professional environment. The employer hires a worker to do a job. Sleeping is, in essence, taking money in exchange for a day’s work and then not delivering the work and one of the most clear cut reasons one can possibly provide to an employer for terminating employment. 5. Coming in late and leaving early. If one is chronically late and repeatedly leaving early, they may feel that it goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, they are incorrect. It surely is noted by co-workers and will be used at some point to discredit that person at a time, perhaps, when they are seeking a promotion, a raise, a special favor. This insidious form of stealing time multiplies on a daily basis and accumulates many hours of diminished productivity. 6. Complaining about the job. If one doesn’t like one’s job, it is recommended that they quit or that they keep that information to themselves. Once someone has agreed to take a job, they have entered into an agreement, irrespective of whether they have it in writing or not. They have made a tacit arrangement to accept payment for services rendered. If one cannot render the services in good faith and feel compelled to disparage the employer, the company, co-workers, patients, clients or customers, they are committing an act of irresponsibility, at best, and being unethical, at the very worst. 7. Falsifying information on a job application. Remarkably, this is a common occurrence and, given the global nature of the internet, one likely to backfire, sooner or later. It makes sense to provide honest information across the board, in terms of resume, job application, interview and on-the-job. No one wants to destroy their personal credibility with a lie that can come back to haunt them. 8. Conducting personal business at work. The average worker, according to a new survey by America Online and Salary.com, admits to wasting 2.09 hours per an 8-hour day, not including scheduled break times and lunch. Surprisingly, accordingly to a poll of 10,000 people, the older an employee is, the less amount of time wasted on the job. (Those born from 1930-1949, waste 0.50 hours a day at work, as opposed to those born from 1980-1985, who waste 1.95 hours a day on personal activities.) Those who are likely to retain employment would clearly be those who fall into the lowest end of the spectrum in relationship to time spent on non-work-related tasks. 9. Talking too much or gossiping. Employers take great issue with troublemakers and the surest way to be labeled a troublemaker is to be a gossip. Office politics have always existed and always will. Those who stay out of the line of fire, by being unwilling to carry stories from one person to another, no matter what the temptation, will protect their own reputation and keep out of the line of fire, so to speak. Getting involved in gossip is a sure-fire way to come under scrutiny by one’s employer and set oneself up for possible termination when cutbacks are necessary. 10. Sharing confidential company information.Whether or not instructed to keep company information private, it goes without saying that all information about one’s employer and the company are considered to be confidential. Not only is company information confidential outside of the business, it is also confidential within the various departments. It is a given, although a frequently unspoken rule, that one keeps all information obtained in the workplace as confidential, even after ending employment, either voluntarily or involuntarily. With the HIPPA laws in the medical field regarding patients’ privacy, it is also a natural progression to keep all information about one’s company and employers and co-workers under one’s hat.

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Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Good List of Reso

Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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Donna.Atkins — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Billing/Coding Students: Making a Difference

Anthony — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have been reading the comments in some of the recent posts about the sputtering recovery in the jobs market. Several posters

About

Anthony — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:43:19 +0000

This is an example of a WordPress page, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many pages like this one or sub-pages as you like and manage all of your content inside of WordPress.

Welcome to the Allen School Online Blog!

Anthony — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:07:52 +0000

Greetings and welcome to the inaugural of the new Allen School Online Blog. We’ve created this blog to serve as a sounding board for the Allen School Online community. We’ll be working hard to find and digest information of interest to students of medical billing and coding as well as those entertaining a career in this growing field. Check in regularly to see what your community is thinking and talking about. We encourage dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Please leave your own comments on any topic that strikes your interest or in which you have experiences you’d like to share. We’re glad to be here and look forward to engaging conversations with the greater Allen School Online community!

Imminent Spike in Demand for Medical Office Professionals?

Anthony — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:29:18 +0000

Opinion polls show that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans support some form of universal, public sponsored healthcare. With the confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius as Health & Human Services Secretary, the President’s party approaching a supermajority in Congress and the outbreak of Swine Flu shining a light on the importance of ensuring a basic level of healthcare for all Americans, the political environment seems perfect for the passage of comprehensive healthcare reform in 2009. The effects on the medical industry would be profound.Consider the following: According to a report from the National Institute of Healthcare Management, one in six Americans in 2008 lacked health insurance. That’s more than 43 million people, greater than 15% of the US population. Already in high demand, professionals supporting medical office billing and coding will be in even greater demand if legislation reform passes bringing tens of millions of Americans into the ranks of the insured. Yet, even in the absence of insurance reform, the Obama administration has made it clear that updating the medical records system transitioning to electronic record from the current paper based system is a priority. Whether this ambitious agenda is executed completely or partially, the outlook is positive for those seeking careers in the realm of billing and coding. Stay tuned for updates on this important public policy initiative.

The Upside of Losing a Job

Anthony — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:46:50 +0000

It has been said that no occurrence is inherently “good” or “bad” until one decides to apply one of these qualifying labels to it. Now, I know that it is awfully hard to feel good about being handed a pink slip for any reason, especially when it’s due to economic factors beyond one’s control. Yet, those who make the decision to approach the loss of a job less as a tragedy and as more of an opportunity will avoid the fear, sorrow and uncertainty typically experienced by those who automatically decide that losing their job was categorically bad news. If your job was in a sector especially hard hit by the current recession – real estate, finance, automotive – now may be the best time to strike out in a new career direction. Recent surveys indicate that the top 10 hottest careers in today’s economic environment are comprised of 50% in the healthcare industry and 50% in the computer field. A career professional whose training incorporates elements of both these industries is practically guaranteed to be in high demand for the foreseeable future. So instead of lamenting the loss of a job, divert the time and energy you might have invested in worrying and stress into working toward an online certification in a field poised for continued growth. The opportunity to begin a new career, with new skills and exciting new challenges should be an invigorating proposition. Chose to view it as such and you’re quickly on the road back to success and security!

Swine Flu and the Need for Medical Professionals

Anthony — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:39:48 +0000

There are many forces driving the ever accelerating need for professionals in all medical fields. The exponential growth in human population continues to drive demand higher. The imminent retirement of an aging Baby Boomer generation is just beginning to show us what the future will look like for healthcare providers in all disciplines. But the biggest imminent demand driver is more ominous. Occurring regularly throughout history, pandemic illnesses strain the abilities of governments and society to provide care. The current emergence of potentially pandemic Swine Flu is only the most contemporary episode of a very old show. The jury’s still out on whether or not this will turn into a global pandemic like the 1918 flu that killed 30 to 50 million or if it will just be a typical flu season. But it is a certainty that as the globe becomes more crowded, diseases will strike and it is up to everyone – inside and outside the medical community – to make sure the healthcare system is up to the challenge.

Best Job Markets in the US - Part 1

Anthony — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:07 +0000

The current economic challenges have had the unintended consequence of spurring a lot of media coverage regarding employment figures nationwide. The upside of this focus on job data is – if you’re starting a new career – you have access to a wide array of data on where you can find a good job in an area projected to enjoy continued growth. Since lately I seem to be stumbling across a lot of state-by-state lists of “Top Growth Jobs”, I have decided to write a series of posts detailing the career environments in different areas of the country for people with medical billing and coding expertise. This virtual tour of great American destinations (and their respective job markets) may be as close as this writer gets to a vacation this year, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to. Today, let’s look at the data from California, a State I once called home and a great place to be if you’re working towards a career in the healthcare field. The current recession has spurred significant job losses and a lot of coverage about California’s unemployment. Yet, less reported are the thousands of new job openings filled in the Golden State every day. According to labor statistics, California's total employment is predicted to approach 20 million or more by 2016. That’s good news! What’s even better is that the healthcare sector is number one on the list of “growth industries” and medical billing is included in the list of “25 Jobs to Increase through 2016” in California. That makes the Golden State a good place to consider living and working. This blogger lived in San Francisco during and after the Internet boom/bust and even in the dark economic days, post-bubble, I always found it a great place to find gainful and rewarding employment. It also has the added benefit of being a truly beautiful place to live. Pristine beaches, majestic mountains, acclaimed wineries, world-class golf, diverse music, innovative cuisine...***sigh***. Great place to begin your own Gold Rush. Have a look at the full report on California’s employment environment here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Top_California_Jobs

Best Job Markets in the US: Part Deux - NJ's Monmouth-Ocean Counties

Anthony — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:01:06 +0000

Today, let's examine the career environment in the Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey. These two coastal counties just south of New York City are home to many of the famed New Jersey Shore communities. Offering summertime visitors and residents alike sun, surf and proximity to the cultural and economic powerhouse that is New York City, Monmouth and Ocean Counties also rank very high in terms of their career potentials for those seeking employment in healthcare related industries. Monmouth-Ocean is among the top 25 "medium sized" cities for jobs and business in the US and ranks 57th out of the top 100 largest metropolitan areas. The Department of Human Services has significant resources in this area and provides services in a number of relevant areas such as aging, mental health, addictions and others. No less than 3 of the top 10 source industries in Monmouth-Ocean are in healthcare related fields. And there are plenty of large organizations to support solid job growth in this field including:

Southern Ocean County Hospital
St. Barnabas Healthcare System
CentraState Healthcare System
Monmouth Medical Center
Bayshore Community Health Center

Besides strong opportunities for stable employment, this area also boasts great quality of life. Strong green community development initiatives and the spectacular natural beauty of famous shorepoints like Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island and Springsteen's favorite, Asbury Park, make this coastal area a wonderful place to be during work hours and during play time too! As a young man, I spent many summers traveling to the New Jersey Shore. Etched into my memory are the sounds and smells of the beach boardwalk commingling salt air, coconut oil, sausage & pepper heroes, corn on the cob and salt water taffy. Add to these intoxicating aromas the delighted squeals of rollercoaster riding kids, the perpetual throb of the surf and the cries of maritime birds. The relaxing vibe of the sleepy coastal towns always helped tranquilize me and wash away the stresses of life. How great would it be to live and work in such a attractive and prosperous environment? For more detailed info on Monmouth-Ocean demographics and job data, visit: http://hubpages.com/hub/Monmouth-Ocean-NJ

Did You Know that Billing and Coding Specialists are Health Information Management professionals?

Margie — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:31:37 +0000

So who are health information professionals? We are credentialed professionals who manage individual health records as well as aggregate data. We carry expertise in health care databases, medical classification systems, flow of clinical information, medico-legal issues, uses of health information, and data security systems. Our common purpose is to provide reliable and valid information that drives the healthcare industry. We are specialists in administrating information systems, managing medical records, coding information for reimbursement and research. We are uniquely qualified to:

Provide expertise on compliance issues and the integration of clinical documentation and coding with the billing process.
Provide assistance and function as a key resource/project manager for the development, transition, and maintenance of an electronic health record
Assist with implementation and function as a key resource on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) including information system security issues and privacy.
Develop, implement and monitor health information department policy and procedures and job descriptions.
Provide training and orientation to health information personnel on functions of the department and facility staff on documentation.
Develop and maintain health information systems and processes that meet regulatory requirements (both state and federal), professional practice standards, legal standards, and management/corporate policy.
Establish a process for systematically reviewing documentation on an ongoing basis for both quality and quantity of documentation.
Complete documentation/medical record audits and monitoring with an ability to assess the quality of documentation.
Recommend corrective actions for findings on medical record audits/monitoring.
Initiate clinical record systems and indexes.
Assist with forms development and forms analysis/flow.
Support compliance process of facility/organization.
Support quality assurance/quality improvement process of the facility/organization.
Train staff on quality assurance/quality improvement process related to health information management and appropriate methods for the collection of data.
Provide resources to the facility on health information, documentation, regulations, standards of practice, etc.

Not only do we have diverse roles we work throughout the continuum of care. So if you are thinking of an exciting new career this is the place to come!

File Under: Easier Said Than Done

Anthony — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:01:17 +0000

Of all the individual ideas for healthcare reform proposed by President Obama, the notion of transitioning to a fully electronic process for the maintenance of medical records would seem to be the most obvious. It also seems like one of the easier things to accomplish, given the other, more ambitious reforms on the agenda. After all, its clear that the technology for such complex electronic record keeping already exists and is currently in use by other industries. Yet nearly two decades after the beginning of the information revolution, while the technology has grown exponentially there has been little will to apply it to medical record keeping. President Obama was not the first inhabitant of the White House to suggest that enormous savings could be captured through the application of information science and Internet technology to replace old, paper based data management. Maximizing efficiency is one, legitimate way the insurance industry could keep the climbing costs of healthcare down without cutting service levels. Presidents G.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also supported moving in this direction. So what are the obstacles? Among the roadblocks to adoption of widespread Electronic Medical Records or EMRs in the US are such issues as: Interoperability – the ability (or inability) of disparate computer systems to “speak” with one another. Doctors' offices, hospitals, labs, insurers, public health institutions, etc. Privacy – developing protocols for transfer of data among the numerous providers in a way that protects personal information (partially addressed in HIPAA) Legacy Data Capture – the logistics involved in scanning and entering existing patients' medical histories into the system to avoid discarding valuable, historical, medical perspective Change Management – the process of fostering adoption of new technologies and practices across entire enterprise level industries is challenging Other obstacles to adoption include: cost of implementation, unclear standards across all programs, problematic legal issues (digital signatures and data preservation procedures etc.). Everyone seems to agree that implementing EMRs in the US is a worthy goal. Yet, as with so many goals worth achieving, this one is easier said than done.

Best and Worst Cities for Healthcare Jobs

Anthony — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:26:44 +0000

I found this excellent piece of research via website www.nursinglink.com outlining the top 5 best and worst cities for seeking employment in the healthcare field. As part of my series on job markets across the country, I will explore these top 5 best cities, one by one, in subsequent posts. Here's the list of the best and worst from NursingLink: 5 Best Cities for Healthcare Job Hunters

Sioux Falls, SD
Madison, WI
Ft. Walton-Crestview-Destin, FL
DesMoines, IA
Boston, MA

5 Worst Cities for Healthcare Job Hunters

Yuma, AZ
Fresno, CA
Dalton, GA
Waterbury, CT
Monroe, MI

I know a little something about both Madison Wisconsin and Boston Massachussetts having spent some time in both those fair cities. So I am looking forward to providing some more detailed info on those two markets as well as the three other top 5's in subsequent posts in this Job Market series.

Friday Follies

Anthony — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:32:40 +0000

Making it through another week is always an accomplishment worth noting. Whether its a school week, a work week or both, strong effort Monday through Friday deserves to be rewarded with a little levity and fun. With the "TGIF" spirit at heart, let's take a look at a place you might want to one day visit to celebrate your graduation from Allen School Online and entry into the medical field. The blogmaster at one of my favorite cocktail recipes blogs, recovering from a recent appendectomy, came across this medical-themed restaurant and bar room while websurfing in his hospital bed. At "The Clinic" restaurant in Singapore, the food and drinks are served in surgical pans, syringes and other hospital themed vessels by waitstaff clad as nurses and surgeons. My favorite has to be Nitro Sangria served in an IV drip bag. (Well, that and being able to afford a trip to Singapore!) And if that didn't make you laugh, perhaps you need to take a step back from studies and work (after school or work today) and get back to your primal roots. Just take a page from our primate cousins, who, according to recent research, laugh just the same as humans. If you want to smile on this Friday, take a look at this amazing video from National Geographic showing researchers tickling gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and others while recording their laughter.

Transition from Manufacturing to Heathcare

Anthony — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:10:25 +0000

With the closure of hundreds of Chrysler and GM dealerships across the country, there are going to be thousands of folks joining the ranks of the unemployed. And its not just dealers that will be out of work. Decreased demand and closures will have a rippling effect throughout the workforce as parts manufacturers, detailers, shippers, and other ancillary automotive support industries are pared back in tandem with the closures. Even non-automotive industries will suffer from the maleffects of these closures. I know that the bagel shop, newsstand and lunch counters adjacent to my local automall will all be suffering from fewer salesmen, mechanics, detailers, etc., there each day to buy coffee, newspapers, lottery tickets, bagels and lunches. The sad part is, many of these jobs will be lost for good. When manufacturing plants close, and large numbers of skilled workers are dumped into the labor pool, it is near impossible to find new positions for these workers. These jobs simply dry up. As painful as this is, it is this function of the business cycle that prompts displaced workers to seek training in industries where there is greater opportunity for growth and job stability. Traumatized by the loss of a lifelong career path, folks seeking job training typically seek fields that they believe will insulate them against falling victim to this kind of cataclysmic collapse ever again. The medical billing and coding field is a natural match for those seeking to retrain and redeploy into a growing field. With the Baby Boomer generation entering retirement age, the need for healthcare is projected to continue to rise dramatically. As the population continues to age, the security in this field should rise in direct correlation. So if you're a victim of the collapse of the US auto industry, you might consider a new career in a secure and growing field. We are sorry for your hardship and loss, but we offer you the hospitality of our community and the opportunity to grow with us.

Early Draft of Healthcare Bill Reveals Imminent Changes

Anthony — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:51:22 +0000

On Friday a partial draft of the healthcare legislation currently wending its way through Congress was released. While the bill is likely to undergo significant revision, there are several sweeping changes proposed that are likely to be included in the final legislation. One of the more interesting of the proposed changes involves the creation of a health insurance exchange. Known as the American Health Benefit Gateway, this portion of the proposed legislation would mandate that each state create and manage a gateway to help individuals and businesses purchase health insurance. According to the draft, the proposed Gateway will not allow the denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions. It would also guarantee the availability of health coverage in group and individual markets while eliminating lifetime or annual limits on the amount of care a provider will cover. This part of the bill would certainly help those uninsured with pre-existing conditions to gain access to coverage. And the creation of gateways in every state will almost certainly boost employment among those in the field of medical record keeping. In fact, whatever shape the legislation ultimately takes, the goal of providing healthcare coverage for all Americans can only have a positive effect on employment in health related fields. It will be interesting to see how this historic reform bill ultimately pans out.

WHO: Swine Flu Pandemic Official

Anthony — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:34:22 +0000

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Swine Flu has covered enough of the globe to qualify as the first pandemic in over 40 years. The formal announcement made this Thursday doesn't mean the flu strain has become any more lethal, just that it has spread beyond any ability to contain it across the globe. Swine flu has afflicted 29,000 people so far across nearly 80 countries worldwide. Luckily, the strain isn't hyper-virulent and most folks who contract the illness require conventional medical treatment for their mild symptoms. The WHO have urged pharmaceutical maufacturers to produce stockpiles of anti-viral medication and governments have been working on developing vaccination programs to protect populations from easy transmission of the virus. Although the first pandemic of the 21st Century seems to be mild by historical standards, the sheer number of people infected across the globe represents a serious burden on healthcare systems and underscores the insatiable demand for healthcare and healthcare support providers in a world with a burgeoning population.

Best US Job Markets - Part 3

Anthony — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:39:48 +0000

In a recent post, I listed out the top 5 best and worst job markets for healthcare related jobs in the country. I promised I would explore some of the areas in the "bests" portion of the list to continue my earlier series on "Best Job Markets in the US". A man of my word, I am pleased to delve a bit into what makes Madison, Wisconsin such a great place to live and work. About 75 miles west of the shores Lake Michigan, this beautiful city of 228,000 people is a youthful and vibrant place to live. For career minded singles or young couples seeking a great place to put down roots and start a family alongside their new career, Madison is an excellent choice. Almost 57% of the young population (median age 33 years) is single which is great for those seeking a new romance in addition to a new career. Yet housing and overall cost of living is attractive to those who are seeking to build a home alongside their career. The average home in Madison sells for $220,000 which is far more affordable than in areas such as New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles. The cost of living index in Madison is below the national average too. With a median annual income of nearly $50,000, the potential for good living in this Wisconsin gem is high. Having spent a little time in Madison, I can say from experience that the city and surrounding metro areas are clean, attractive and inviting with excellent food, social activities, parks and music.

Balancing Work and Studies

Anthony — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:58:04 +0000

My cousin is currently working a full time job and going back to school for some retraining after losing her job in an industry heavily impacted by the recession. Watching her struggle with keeping both her job performance and her studies from flagging, prompted me to look online for some ideas from others on how to balance work and studies. I will share with you what I recently shared with her. Here are some pretty common strategies for work/study balance that I encountered among the experiences of others posted online. 1) Be Organized -Whether you prefer an oldschool notepad, a traditional day planner or a fancy new PDA, it is critical to keep track of your obligations to both job and school. 2) Take an Incremental Approach - Don't begin by trying to handle overtime at work and a full course load. Start out with a little less and see how you're able to handle the load. If you have the bandwidth you can add more work hours or credits to your course load. 3) Balance the Difficulty of Your Classes - Select your classes wisely each semester. Mix some harder classes with some easier ones and you'll find working and studying to be more sustainable. Taking all the tough classes together at the same time can lead to burnout! 4) Transcript Management - Keep on top of your credits. Especially if you're attending different schools in pursuit of your educational goals. Even some credits you may have earned 10 years ago may still be transferable. And if you're currently a student of Allen School Online, then you're on the right track because you're already doing the last frequently mentioned strategy: 5) Consider Online Schools - The freedom and flexibility of taking online courses can really help out if you are working full time, taking care of children or both.

Nancy Drew, Girl Detective

Margie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:27:27 +0000

Some of you may already know this about me … others maybe not. At one time, I was just like you, believe it or not. I always knew that one day I go back to school and finish my education. Early on I thought I really wanted to be a nurse, even started nursing school. However, life did get in the way and I needed to drop out for a while. I had a problem pregnancy and lost a child. Eventually, I found my way back to school. By that time, I decided I no longer wanted to be a nurse. I had spent many years taking care of others so I wanted something new. I knew I wanted to stay in healthcare but what could I do that would let me help people? I discovered the world of Health Information Management … coding to be exact! It was a like a dream come true! I could become the girl detective I always wanted to be growing up. My heroine years ago was Nancy Drew. I wanted to be like her. Remember the “Secret of the Old Clock?” Well, that was me!! As a young girl, I thrived on those books and becoming my own girl detective. I made my own secret code, used invisible ink, and spied on my brothers and their friends! Oh, how they hated that! You get the picture, I am sure! Well, I found medical coding is a lot like that except someone else made up the secret code! You must learn a brand new language, the language of the medical field, and transfer that language into codes! You must dig deep sometimes in the patient’s medical record to determine the patient’s diagnoses and procedures the physician carried out in treating the patient! It is a lot of fun! It can be frustrating when you don’t find the right code or information. Once you do though there is a feeling of Eureka! I found it! I did it! So tell me what you are discovering? What your thoughts? <>

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Anthony — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:45:40 +0000

For so many of us who are working hard to just stay afloat in our personal lives -- between debt, family obligations, relationships, careers and more -- it is awfully easy to forget that we are indeed living in some historically interesting times. I recently got an interesting message in my fortune cookie after a plate of extra spicy Kung Pao chicken. The wise and crunchy confection communicated, "May you live in interesting times - Chinese Proverb". This got me to thinking about the wisdom of this bit of ancient Chinese thinking. For so many of us who are working hard to just stay afloat in our personal lives -- between debt, family obligations, relationships, careers and more -- it is awfully easy to forget that we are indeed living in some historically interesting times. Centuries of human history stretched out for countless generations of folks who lived lives veritably unchanged compared to their forebearers. But in the last 100 years, the pace of advancements have radically reorganized the nature of life from one generation to the next; sometimes with transcendental effects and othertimes with nightmarish consequences. Consider the advances in medicine and humanity's delight at the doubling of average life expectancies. Yet we all face the terrifying realities of a world that grows more overpopulated amidst dwindling resources. Ponder the rise of global travel and information science; how it brings our world together in unprecendted ways. Yet we all grapple with the confrontations that come with increased interaction amongst tribes of humanity. We all grapple with the impact our growth and movement has upon the ecology we all must share. So today, whether you're consumed with studies, job hunting, mortgage payments, child rearing or any of the myriad concerns that keep you focused on the tasks at hand, take a pause for one moment to consider the unprecedented times we live in and some of the amazing things transpiring around our world today. We truly live in the most interesting of times!

Students Sound Off

Anthony — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:48:03 +0000

I have activated the "Student & Alumni" category in advance of what should be a wave of student postings. So check back soon to read what your fellow classmates are thinking and blogging about. If you are a student or alumnus and you have a post you'd like to see on the front page, email it to me, along with your name, to blog@online.allenschool.edu and I will post the best of your submissions on the front page.

Riding the Age Wave

Professor Gulliford — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:20:04 +0000

There has never been a better time to enter the world of medical billing and coding. Let me explain why. Healthcare professionals and healthcare students need a solid understanding of the “Age Wave” which will soon hit the United States.

The Age Wave will impact everything which you do as a healthcare professional, and will have key importance to your own healthcare organization and your own career.

The US population over age 65 will grow from its 2000 census level of 34.6 million persons to approximately 82 million in 2050, a 137% increase! The most rapid surge in our senior population will take place between 2011 and 2030. During that 19 year interval, seniors will expand from 13% of our population to 22% of our population. (Source: US Census Bureau).

There really are three converging factors which produce the Age Wave:

1. The Senior Boom

2. The Birth Dearth

3. The Aging of Baby Boomers

Until recently, the US senior population has really been small, in fact smaller than many developed nations, but that is changing rapidly. Medical advancements, new technologies and improved public health information have all contributed to this growth in our aging population.

The good news is that Americans are not only living longer but staying well longer. Aging no longer means that an individual will necessarily be unproductive and unhealthy. It does mean, however, that he or she will utilize significantly more healthcare resources than in younger years. The utilization of medical services increases predictably with age, and likely always will.

The “Birth Dearth” reflects the dramatic drop in present birth rates as compared to the Baby Boom years between 1946 and 1964. Experts feel that there is not likely to be a repeat of the Baby Boom, ever.

The aging of the Baby Boom generation dominates our society and has for decades. The boomers impact every economic and political foundation of our culture. It is interesting to note the business, health, literature, media, television, and civic impacts of the boomers as they move through life. Lobby groups among older adults have increased in number, size and effectiveness, and senior citizens are represented on more community boards and committees then ever before. Their access to legislators and political party organizations has never been better.

In short, the Age Wave will challenge and shake every aspect of our communities, our personal, social and political dynamics. How we respond to this challenge in our own communities will clearly affect the quality of life for our citizens. We will need excellent senior facilities to care for the boomers, including hospitals, clinics,medical equipment services, home health programs, assisted living centers, senior centers, transportation, and senior activity programs. We will need far more allied healthcare professionals -- medical assistants, respiratory therapists, nurses, coders, billers, medical office managers, radiographers, medical technologists, physical therapists, nursing assistants and so many others than ever could have been anticipated. A healthcare professional, seeking to plan for the future, should consider this question.

"Am I entering a field of business or an industry which will cater to and serve the booming senior population which is ahead?"

If the answer is yes, then your chances of success are greatly enhanced. Selecting a profession in healthcare which addresses the needs of seniors will give you a tremendous advantage over decades ahead. Medical billing and coding fits that bill exactly.

I listened to an interesting presentation at last year’s American Hospital Association Convention. The speaker was saying, “resist any temptation to decrease the size of your hospital, clinic, nursing home or senior services. Even if you are not as consistently busy as you want right now, just wait, the boomers are coming!”

The time to act is now. You will never be sorry to have entered the medical field at this point in American history. There has never been a better time to study medical billing and coding.

Wellness Care - Preventative Medicine

Anthony — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:18:18 +0000

The departure of two American cultrual icons yesterday - Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson - demonstrates just how tenuous our grasp is upon life. Both these legendary figures passed away years before their natural time. Their untimely demise provokes some thought surrounding the immense benefits of wellness care and other preventative medical strategies. While Congress debates the particulars of how to reform our healthcare system, there is a good deal of debate surrounding how to pay for bringing the 70 million currently-uninsured Americans into the system. To me, the solution seems obvious. With a focus on preventative medicine - enabling everyone the ability to enjoy regular check-ups and well visits to their doctor - we as a society could seriously reduce the reliance of the uninsured on Emergency Room visits for treatment of preventable illnesses. The enormous costs currently incurred by ER visits by the uninsured could be saved and applied to providing basic coverage to the same uninsured folks. Simply put, it seems cheaper to subisdize wellness visits than to cover the high costs of emergency care. So this week, as we say farewell to Farrah and Michael, we should take the opportunity to consider the fleeting nature of life and the value in protecting our health in a proactive way instead of the costlier, reactive way.

Nutritional Literacy - It Does a Body Good

Anthony — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:17:38 +0000

Debate rages over questions like, "Can taking vitamin supplements offset the damage we inflict on our bodies through eating a less-than-healthy diet?" As many of you are studying anatomy and physiology as part of your curriculum at the Allen School Online program, you are likely focusing a bit more on the processes that support our amazing human organism. Just like any other engine, our bodies perform at better levels in correlation to the quality of the fuel we put into them. But with so many demands on our time, it can be hard to find the time to focus on making sure we are eating the best possible diet. Plus, there are competing perspectives regarding what constitutes "good nutrition". Debate rages over questions like, "Can taking vitamin supplements offset the damage we inflict on our bodies through eating a less-than-healthy diet?" In a post at one of my favorite blogs, Dr. Mark Hyman, Founder of the Ultra Wellness Center lays out a clear roadmap for nutritional health and wellness. His unbiased look at what people can do to optimize their nutrition can be seen at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/how-to-optimize-your-nutr_b_221541.html. For those of us who mean to eat right but don't have much time to spare to do the research, this piece, readable in about 5 minutes, lays out all you need to know. Your new knowledge of physiological processes will enable you to corroborate the claims Dr. Hyman makes in this piece. This blogger and his family already make a practice of buying locally grown fruits and veggies. We also try to eat only good carbs, like beans, nuts and whole grains. How does your diet measure up?

Have We Turned The Corner?

Anthony — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:13:01 +0000

Since employment figures are what's called a "lagging economic indicator' - meaning that new jobs don't appear until after economic activity has increased for a few quarters - it can often be frustrating to hear that "recovery has begun" when you're still out of a job and looking. Living through the worst economic collapse in modern times has made pessimists of many of us. I know it can be difficult to believe that things are beginning to improve when the outlook at the ground level is still so bleak. And while no one but the banker/investor class can be too excited about the oxymoronic "jobless recovery" that we saw after the last recession in '02-'03, there is still optimism that the pain Americans have been experiencing may soon diminish. Since employment figures are what's called a "lagging economic indicator' - meaning that new jobs don't appear until after economic activity has increased for a few quarters - it can often be frustrating to hear that "recovery has begun" when you're still out of a job and looking. Now I am no Pollyanna and I am not suggesting that the economy is going to come roaring back this week. But there have been some more positive indicators starting to trickle in. Today, the US Labor Department announced that jobless benefit claims fell by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 614,000. Further, the number of ongoing claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 53,000 to 6.7 million, bucking analysts' expectations of a small rise. The continuing claims figure lags initial claims by a week. We're certainly not out of the woods yet. After all, the US economy has shed more than 6.5 million jobs since this downturn began. And hardest hit areas like California and Michigan may see things worsen before they improve. But we may be slowly turning the corner. Dontcha feel smart for studying for a career in a field that will be relatively insulated from these kinds of economic gyrations?

Legislating Healthy Behavior

Anthony — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:37:08 +0000

New York's Governor, David Patterson recently proposed a tax on non-diet soft drinks. No doubt it would succeed as a revenue generator for the state, but would it work as a way to sway behavior? Its been widely reported that healthier food choices - fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, organic dairy products, etc - cost significantly more to buy than the more heavily processed "unhealthy" foods. As a guy who does his own grocery shopping and in-home meal preparation, I can tell you this is true. This disparity in the cost of "good" foods versus "bad" foods is why statistical rates of obesity are higher in lower income populations than in wealthier populations. But this inequity alone isn't the sole culprit behind obesity. The growing pervasiveness of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in prepared foods and soft beverages is another likely culprit, packing far more caloric punch than its predecessors in the sweeteners department. New York's Governor, David Patterson recently proposed a tax on non-diet soft drinks. Full sugar sodas, packed with HFCS , are another acknowedged contributor to the obesity epidemic; especially among children/teens. Although Governor Patterson positioned this proposal as a means for "encouraging more healthy food choices" amongst New Yorkers, it is clear that as the executive of a state teetering on bankruptcy, any new tax tied to a rosy, public-health cover story would be an attractive idea to float. No doubt it would succeed as a revenue generator for the state, but would it work as a way to sway behavior? Significant taxes have been levvied by both New York and New Jersey on the sale of tobacco. Cigarettes now cost close to $10 per pack. And while greater public awareness campaigns publicizing the health risks of smoking have contributed to the reduction of smokers' ranks, there are still plenty of folks willing to pony $10 for a pack of cancer sticks. Did overweight folks embarrassed into paying for a second seat on Southwest Airlines flights decide to lose weight as a result? Or did they simply find a different airline to patronize? I am not sure whether or not it is sensible to try and legislate good behavior or even to promote monetary penalties on those whose behavior doesn't meet some nebulous standard of "good" -whether in terms of health choices or in any other way. What do you think?

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2009 Graduation Photos

Donna.Atkins — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:03:06 +0000

On Thursday, June 6^th, 2009, at the Queens College Colden Auditorium, a ceremony was held honoring the largest Allen School graduating class in its almost fifty year history - a full 1400 graduates - which included graduates from the Medical Assistant and Nursing Assistant programs and the first group of graduates from the Allen School’s new Online Medical Insurance Billing & Coding program. The online graduates who attended with their families were not only from New York, but also from such distant places as Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio. [gallery]

online-student

Anthony — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:00:21 +0000

Happy Online Student

Four Tips for Successful Online Education

Anthony — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:01:29 +0000

The field of online study has grown in the last decade as the convenience of online education has attracted more students with flexibility that traditional brick-and-mortar institutions cannot offer. Yet, with greater freedom comes greater responsibility. Here are four tips on how to optimize your online educational experience. Tip #1 Avoid Procrastination That's right, I said it. I can say it because I am personally the King of Procrastinators. When you don't have to be at a classroom at a specified time in order to study, it can become easy to put things off. The flexibility of online classes can be a double edged sword and can negatively impact your ability to pass. Recommend developing a schedule that works for you and doing your best to stick to it. Tip #2 Take Advantage of All Online Resources School sponsored online lectures, forums, tutorials and even this blog are all offered to you to enhance your experience. These activities, while frequently optional, are great opportunities to be exposed to knowledge outside of the textbooks. Recommend taking full advantage of them all. So we'll see your comments here on the Allen Blog yes? Tip #3 Monitor Your Progress Regularly Without the daily, face-to-face with your professors, it can be easy to miss slippage in your academic performance. Make a point of checking your personal progress with regularity. If you notice a dip in performance, you can revisit your study techniques or explore additional online resources to help boost your output. Tip #4 Manage Time Wisely Related to Tip#1, time management is more than simply avoiding procrastination. It also requires that the time(s) you set aside as study time be properly chosen. You want to find time for study when you're not too tired or otherwise occupied. In order to ensure good comprehension and absorbtion of the materials, avoid studying at times when you cannot be focused or when you're too tired. Choose a time when you can fully concentrate.

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Anthony — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:55:57 +0000

Resume Writing Resources

Anthony — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:56:57 +0000

Writing resumes is intimidating for many and with today's exceptionally competitive employment environment it can be even more daunting. I have searched the volumes of sites offering resume writing tips and advice and compiled the following list of online resources for navigating the resume writing gauntlet. Click through to read some of the latest strategies for drafting resumes and cover letters that can help heighten your profile in the toughest employment market in generations. The Damn Good Resume Worksmart Resume Tips ResumeTips.net

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Anthony — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:06:16 +0000

The MRSA/Industrial Farming Connection

Anthony — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:07:27 +0000

I recently had a beloved aunt pass unexpectedly and well ahead of her time, after contracting MRSA while in the hospital for a routine outpatient surgical procedure. So I did a little research and found out an uncomfortable truth. Follow me over the fold. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA for short is a recently emergent antibiotic-resistant form of Staph infection. Initially, it was accepted conventional wisdom that this tough-to-kill bacterial strain found commonly now in US hospitals, had arisen due to folks not completing their courses of antibiotic treatment for the regular bacterial infections they contracted. Remember how your doctor always said, "Make sure to continue the full 10 days of treatment with this antibiotic, even if you're feeling fully healthy after 5 days"? The reason he or she always insisted on completing the course of treatment was because stopping halfway through the course of antibiotic treatment (once your symptoms cleared) allows the strongest strains of the infectious bacteria in your body -- that the antibiotic had not yet eliminated -- to grow stronger and mutate into super-bacteria. Simple right? Logical to be sure. However, there is more to the story. Did you know that modern livestock farming techniques are heavily dependent on antibiotics? Its true. And not just to treat sick animals. Modern techniques for industrial agriculture, by design, herd thousands of heads of cattle, pigs, chickens and other animals together in very small spaces. In this way, the industrial farm optimizes the output required to feed the Earth's skyrocketing population. Since the animals are held unnaturally close to one another, it is very easy for infection to spread. So industrial farms have taken to the practice of keeping all animals on a regular course of low-dose antibiotics - to prevent the outbreak of infection. According to recent studies, this practice is much more likely to be to blame for the rise of MRSA. After all, millions more Americans eat meat each day than visit hospitals. And it is believed that the introduction of low levels of antibiotics into the daily food supply of millions of people worldwide is the primary driver behind the spread of MRSA. FDA research confirms that 49% of pigs and 45% of pig workers in the US harbor MRSA bacteria. Here's the troubling part. In April 2008, a high profile commission of farmers, doctors, scientists and veterinarians recommended that the FDA phase out the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals. The FDA agreed and announced it would prohibit the use of one antibiotic that was in widespread use on industrial farms. Five days before the ban was set to take effect, the FDA quietly reversed its position. While no official statement was released explaining this inexplicable about face, it is widely believed that the powerful farm lobby on Capitol Hill was behind the reversal. The decision to protect a narrow set of interests over the public health of the world's population is a shortsighted one and one that may have been involved in the death of my sweet, departed aunt. Have any of you or your friends/relatives been stricken by MRSA? Share your stories below in the comments.

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Anthony — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:11:55 +0000

The Nancy Drew continues ....

Margie — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:13:50 +0000

You grow up, run from high school as fast as you can, get married, start having children and one day you wake up and wonder if this is all there is …. It hits you that you want more than just a job; you want a career that makes going to work a whole lot more interesting and maybe even fun! I wrote before how I found coding to be much like my girlhood days of reading Nancy Drew; however, there is a bit more to the story. I worked for years as a nurses’ aide in a hospital and a homecare/hospice. I loved my work taking care of patients but in time I grew tired and knew that I wanted more. I also knew that nursing was not the career for me. One day I received a flyer in the mail talking about medical records. I did not know that I could stay in the healthcare field working with medical records! The more I researched, the more fascinated I became. The American Health Information Management Association started out years ago as the Association of Record Librarians of North America established by the American College of Surgeons. It has undergone several name changes since those early days but the early mission is still relevant today: “to elevate the standards of clinical records in hospitals and other medical institutions.” The most recent name change came in 1991 to the American Health Information Management Association as it “captures the expanded scope of clinical data beyond the single hospital medical record to health information compromising the entire continuum of care.” As the AHIMA website states …. “In the 21st century, HIM professionals today occupy a variety of roles, from HIM directors to privacy officers and beyond, in a variety of settings. The profession is working to address the issues that affect healthcare today, from implementing electronic health records to adopting and implementing ICD-10 clinical coding systems to contributing to emerging issues like the creation of a national health information network. AHIMA's founders couldn't foresee all the changes that the nation, the healthcare industry, and the profession would encounter, but they doubtlessly would agree that it remains poised to meet the challenges ahead. Today, AHIMA serves 53,000 members and 52 affiliated component state associations. It is recognized as the premier source of "HIM knowledge," a respected authority for rigorous professional certification, and one of the industry's most active and influential advocates in Congress. Historically, medical records have been a paper-based business. Now we're working to advance the implementation of electronic health records by leading key industry initiatives and advocating high standards. We strive to keep our members one step ahead through accreditation of cutting-edge academic programs and professional development opportunities, including comprehensive continuing education.” Talk about exciting!! I have never regretted my decision to become an HIM professional. It has served me well over these years first as a medical record clerk for a small nursing home to the position of a Director of HIM and now as an educator. Take the leap! It is worth your time and your money.

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Anthony — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:34:17 +0000

Internet Archive: An Amazing Online Resource

Anthony — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:37:31 +0000

Whether you're doing research for your studies, recalling your most favorite Saturday Night Live skit or wishing you had some great Maceo Parker music to listen to while you're studying, you will be glad to learn of the Internet Archive. Let me share with you, one of my most favorite online resources. From their website: "The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library, with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, historians, and scholars to historical collections that exist in digital format. Founded in 1996 and located in the Presidio of San Francisco, the Archive has been receiving data donations from Alexa Internet and others. In late 1999, the organization started to grow to include more well-rounded collections. Now the Internet Archive includes texts, audio, moving images, and software as well as archived web pages in our collections." The site contains terrabites of data that are of enormous value and it is all absolutely free. I myself visit frequently to listen to some of my favorite musical groups whose music is there to stream for free. Also of great value is the "Wayback Machine" which allows users to enter the web address of any site. - even sites that have long been taken down off the Internet - and view the sites as they were in past iterations. Just a phenomenal resource for study and recreation. Visit www.archive.org

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Anthony — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:07:57 +0000

Sound Off on the Healthcare Reform Debate

Anthony — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:15:20 +0000

The debate is in full swing in our nation's capitol over how to fix the skyrocketing cost of healthcare that is bankrupting many families and pushing 14,000 people every day into the ranks of the uninsured. There are, broadly speaking, three main schools of thought regarding the challenges we face. Where does your thinking fall in this continuum? Follow me over the fold to read the prevailing thinking. In general terms, most of the folks I have spoken to on this subject fall into one of three categories regarding how they feel about the state of modern healthcare in the United States. Group One : Folks who believe that the current system is acceptable and that while more should be done to assist the 50,000,000 uninsured Americans find ways to gain coverage, no significant, legislative changes should be made. The folks in Group One are essentially satisfied with the status quo and represent one end of the spectrum of thinking. On the other end of the spectrum are the folks in Group Two. Group Two: Folks who believe that the "for profit" nature of the private health insurance industry results in the concern over profits outweighing concerns over people's health. These folks cite insurance industry practices like recission and denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions as evidence that the industry puts profit above the wellbeing of its customers. These folks typically support what is known as a Single Payer system. Effective in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, single payer plans cover all citizens and are funded by taxes collected from all citizens. The provision of healthcare is government regulated and not-for-profit. Somewhere in between the status quo thinking of Group One and the single payer overhaul favored by Group Two, lies the folks in Group Three. Group Three: There is a middle ground between allowing the insurance industry to continue to do business unchanged and eliminating them altogether by enacting single payer. People who advocate for the "Public Option" are the majority of folks in Group Three. These folks argue for legislating a government administered healthcare plan available to anyone who wishes opt for the government plan. No American could be denied coverage through the public plan. Their argument holds that a government adminstered, non-profit health plan could operate far more cost effectively than the private insurers. This would make the low priced public coverage very attractive to those paying high premiums for their private plans. As more people begin to take advantage of the public healthcare option - so the logic goes - the private insurance companies would have to work to match the price or lose customers. Thus, the overall cost of healthcare would be driven down for all Americans. Of course there are many variations on each of these three, broad ideas. The debate is fierce. There are many competing concerns. The insurance industries are making record profits and argue that the system is not the problem. Taxpayers are concerned about the spiraling debt that our government has accrued over the last 9 years and are concerned about how a public option would be funded. Advocates for those in poverty ask how in the United States with all our abundance, 50,000,000 of our countrymen are completely without medical coverage. What do you think is the answer? As healthcare industry professionals-to-be, this is an issue that will effect your career greatly. Are you a Group One, Two or Three thinker? Sound off in the comments.

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Anthony — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:13:07 +0000

Environmentalism, Now a Public Health Issue

Anthony — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:16:12 +0000

Its not just for vegan, birkenstock-wearing, tree hugging, hippies anymore. While many are concerned about environmental degradation on a global scale and its impact on the world's ecology, it may be locally encountered health problems that spur people to action. Humans are hard wired through aeons of evolutionary development, to respond to imminent threats. Yet longer-term threats do not similarly spur our "fight or flight" adrenaline reaction. Since ancient times we have been wired to fight or flee from the sabre-toothed tiger in our path. But for threats that may arise in the next six months to a year, we are not so immediately motivated to react. This is perhaps why there is far more interest paid to short term economic pain than the far more devastating effects of something as dramatic as the effects of global warming. However, as environmental degradation begins to have real, immediate, negative effects on people in the communities where they live, we may begin to see a more urgent reaction from people who have been largely unmoved by the dire global warnings of the scientific community. After all, it is difficult and honestly, unpleasant to even try and contemplate what life will be like in the majority of coastal communities should the sea level rise by 5 feet in the next 50 years. However, for folks in communities like the eastern Tennessee town recently buried under a sea of coal ash from a failed coal burning power plant, the realities of serious, environmentally triggered health emergencies can be strong motivators to act and act swiftly. In residential neighborhoods adjacent to industrial areas, where residents report abnormally high levels of asthma and other respiratory ailments, folks are being spurred to action. And while they may not consider themselves "environmentalists", they find themselves aligned closely with those who would proudly adopt that "crunchy" categorization. The more people begin to make the correct correlation between degradation of air, water and food quality, the more they will be inclined to reexamine the ways we live, work, and produce and consume food.

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Anthony — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:29:06 +0000

Following the Money

Anthony — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:29:18 +0000

The fate of healthcare legislation will have a profound impact on the industry you, as Allen School students, are poised to enter. So the historic battle for the future of the American healthcare system is one you should be watching very closely. Say what you want about the bankers on Wall Street and the way they manipulated their positions to derail the global economy while raking in record profits. They have always found a way to get paid, whether they were wildly successful or disastrously unsuccessful. That's a neat trick and it's great work if you can get it. Just like the full-scale reproductions of the Luxor pyramid, the New York City Skyline and the Eiffel Tower built in the deserts of Nevada, the fortunes of Wall Street were not built using their own money. That "sucker's bet" would be far too risky and why risk it when so many unsuspecting rubes line up to willingly put their own hard-earned cash on the line? Just like Vegas, Wall Street bankers have built a system where win or lose, the "house" winds up with all the money. Now this is a frustrating reality and there doesn't seem to be too much that a regular person such as you or I can really do to change it. But what we can do is understand it and capitalize (no pun intended) on this understanding to better predict (and hopefully preempt) how this unfair advantage is used to divert benefits from the majority of average Americans to the select few who game the system for enormous personal gain at our expense. Case in point: The current legislative battle over healthcare. As I outlined in my last post, the three main lines of thought about what to do for healthcare are: 1) do nothing, 2) a single payer plan and 3) the middle ground position, a public coverage option to work in concert with the existing insurance industry. Two of these three options will have a significant effect on the profitability of the health insurance industry (who is incidentally experiencing record levels of profit). A single payer plan would effectively take healthcare to a full non-profit status and essentially do away with the existing for-profit system. The public option would allow the private, for-profit insurers to continue to do business, but would force them to compete with a non-profit, government regulated coverage plan. It is acknowledged that the for-profit insurers stand to lose marketshare to a public option. This is because consumers would likely drop their expensive private coverage for non-profit public plan coverage which - in the absence of the need to be profitable - would certainly be able to offer coverage at far lower cost. So what does this all mean to understanding the scam Wall Street has successfully set up for itself? Consider the following data from the New York Times.

"Shares of U.S. health insurers rose broadly on Tuesday on hopes a health reform bill would not include a government-run option, which has drawn strong opposition from insurers who fear it would destroy the private marketplace.

The S&P Managed Health Care index of large U.S. health insurers closed 6.5 percent higher.

Aetna rose 12.6 percent, Coventry was up 12.7 percent and Cigna was 7.7 percent higher, all on the New York Stock Exchange. Centene rose 7.9 percent."

As rumblings from Capitol Hill suggest support for the public option is flagging, Wall Street interprets this as signal to buy health insurance stocks whose price had been driven down by talk that a public option would indeed be included. Now I am not blaming Wall Street for the eventual actions that Congress will or will not take with regard to healthcare reform. I am just saying that Wall Street cuts throught he rhetoric and static, with its greedy eyes fixed permanently on the money. That they see the for-profit insurance industry and the status quo as an increasingly attractive investment tells me the chances for a non-profit alternative are growing slimmer by the day. The fate of healthcare legislation will have a profound impact on the industry you, as Allen School students, are poised to enter into. So the historic battle for the future of the American healthcare system is one you should be watching very closely. I will continue to bring perspectives on the battle as it plays out. I would love to hear from you about your thoughts on the issue. Sound off below in the comments.

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Anthony — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:51:32 +0000

Single Payer Simplified by Local Fellow

Anthony — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:53:36 +0000

Now, I realize that as online students, many if not most of you hail from locales far removed from Brooklyn, New York. But the Allen School has historic roots in Brooklyn. Brooklynites ought to be proud of the representation they elected for themselves in Congress. Wherever you come down on the issue of healthcare reform, you should value the integrity of honest dealers. That is, no one is served by being subjected to distortions or mischaracterizations promoted by partisans on either side of the issue. Lobbyists, ideologues and other special interests have been pumping the public discussion over heathcare reform full of deliberate misinformation and distractions. While there are legitimate ideological arguments to be made, finding a solution that works for everyone will be difficult enough without insincere players making disingenuous arguments. This is why the clip below of Congressman Anthony Weiner from Brooklyn, NY was so wonderful to me. On the 40th anniversary of Medicare, Congressman Weiner cut through some of the bogus arguments of those who are unwilling to even admit that the current healthcare system is broken. Whether or not you support the single payer option Rep. Weiner clearly does is not the point. It is just refreshing to see someone pull back the layers of lies and distortion piled on by so many on every side of the argument and make a very simple point. Enjoy!

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Anthony — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:14:21 +0000

Favorite Summer Recipes

Anthony — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:18:44 +0000

Juggling online classes, family and career can be a daunting task. It can feel like there is little room left for taking the time to cook and enjoy slow foods. Yet we know just how badly the modern diet of convenient, pre-manufactured and/or fast foods can be for your physical well-being. But slow foods don't have to live up to their title in terms of preparation time. Follow me over the fold for an excellent, quick recipe using some of summer's best produce. Here's a great, quick and easy meal using two of my favorite summertime ingredients: sweet corn and vine ripened tomatoes. If you live in the northeast like me, these two items are just coming in from local farms and they are so full of flavor. Grilled Chile-Lime Chicken Soft Tacos with Corn and Black Bean Salsa Ingredients: 1 pound boneless chicken breast 1 lime 2 tomatoes 2 ears of corn 1 small, fresh Jalepeno pepper 1 medium yellow onion 1 can black beans 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional) Salt - Pepper - Chili Powder 1 package soft flour or corn tortillas Directions: 1) Fire up your grill and while its heating up, in a mixing bowl, bathe the chicken breasts in the juice of half a lime. Add salt, pepper and chili powder to the bowl and toss the chicken around so that it is evenly coated with the lime/spices mix. Once your grill is heated up, begin grilling chicken. While it is cooking prepare the salsa as described below. 2) Dice the tomatoes and onions. Place in separate mixing bowl. 3) Cut jalapeno stem off and then cut it in half lengthwise and remove seeds (unless you like hotter salsa - then leave the seeds intact). Mince the jalapeno well. Add to tomato and onion. 4) Shuck the ears of corn and cut it off the cob carefully using a sharp knife. (some prefer to cook the corn first, but it is equally yummy raw). Add kernels to the bowl with tomato, onion and jalapeno. 5) Drain black beans and add to the mixture. 6) Add salt to taste and the juice of the remaining half of the lime 7) Add optional cilantro. (We grow some in our little garden. But it is easy to find at the market too.) 8) Mix well Assemble the meal 1) As the chicken is done grilling, place tortillas on the grill, two at a time and grill them lightly for about 30-40 seconds on each side. This will make them soften up and become more pliable. 2) Slice cooked chicken breasts into pieces and place in serving plate. Pile a stack of grilled tortillas on a plate next to the chicken and bring the bowl of salsa to the table too. 3) Let your family or other dining companions build their own soft tacos. If you're so inclined, add these other items to the table to be used in taco building: --Sour cream --Avocado chunks --Shredded cheddar --Hot sauce (we like Cholula brand) What are some of your favorite summer recipes? Share with others in the comments below.

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Anthony — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:13:28 +0000

The March of Progress in Medicine

Anthony — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:14:21 +0000

Students of Allen School Online ought to be very proud of themselves for being at the forefront of change in the medical industry. The next decade will usher in radical changes in the way medical billing and coding are performed. The inevitable transition from paper-based procedures to electronic medical filing will allow you to be one of those who "remembers the old way we used to do this". The advancement of human understanding in all areas, from agriculture to energy to communications to medical science, has been in an acclerating loop for the last 500 years. The pace of progress seems to double and redouble. Its hard to believe that less than 100 years ago, there was no air travel, no global telecommunications (heck, not even local telecommunications), and the cutting edge of surgical medicine (no pun intended) looks like something from a horror film. Have a look at this fantastic posting about 1800's era surgical tools that appeared on one of my favorite blogs, boingboing.net, "A Directory of Wonderful Things". http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/1800s-surgical-kit-u.html The skills you're mastering today will prepare you to take the quantum step forward into the electronic future of medical billing and coding.

Electronic Health Records

Margie — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:24:58 +0000

There is a lot of talk these days in healthcare about Electronic Health Records. Seems we are starting to move in that direction more and more. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), was signed into law on February 17, 2009 by President Obama. According to the AHIMA, “Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the development of Regional Extension Centers (regional centers) offers unique opportunities for HIM professionals to be at the forefront of electronic health record (EHR) implementations. HIM professionals provide critical and essential skills as providers and entities are going through the transition to a more electronic environment to become meaningful users of EHRs. AHIMA has developed a concept paper outlining the benefits and opportunities of engaging HIM in the process and aligning them with key stakeholders to achieve meaningful use and improved use of EHRs.” “How HIM Can Help Given the task that regional centers are trying to accomplish, HIM professionals can provide support in a number of ways: A. EHR and personal health record (PHR) knowledge and experience • Implementation – HIM professionals have expertise and experience with EHR implementation lifecycle from workflow analysis and impact assessment to go-live support and post go-live support. • Data use expertise – HIM professionals are experts in the use of electronic data for coding; billing; release of information; privacy, security and confidentiality of health information; providing data for research, quality measurement, public reporting; clinical documentation improvement programs; and computer-assisted coding. HIM professionals are also committed to data integrity, particularly as it impacts patient care. • Record custodians – HIM professionals are trained to be and are considered to be the lawful “custodian of the record,” regardless of the media. • Community education – AHIMA has an established community outreach program (www.myphr.com) designed to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of PHRs, patients’ rights regarding access to health information, and the benefits of EHRs.” Source: http://www.ahima.org/arra/ For more information about AHIMA and the Health Care Reform and Health IT Stimulus: ARRA and HITECH, please visit: http://www.ahima.org/arra/ Tell me do you think an electronic health record is the right thing to do? What issues and barriers do you see with implementing an EHR? Let’s talk about this.

ehr

Anthony — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:30:37 +0000

vacation

Anthony — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:08:23 +0000

Take a Vacation - Doctor's Orders

Anthony — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:11:11 +0000

Well it is officially the dog days of summer. Scorching heat and in the Northeast, stifling humidity have come to call reminding us all that back-to-school time is just around the corner. Since August is typically a big month for family vacations, I thought it would be timely to reveal a recent study performed by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, showing that there are tangible health benefits to taking a break from your daily grind. With the economy weighing on so many people's minds, it is understandable that folks may be opting to skip this year's vacation. But doing so may wind up costing you more than money. The study, published Thursday in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine illustrated that engaging in enjoyable leisure activities can lower stress hormones and blood pressure, make you feel better all over, and reduce your waist circumference and body mass index. (That last part is probably only true if you skip a few of those midnight buffets on the cruise ship.) 1400 people participated in the study which monitored their leisure activities such as vacationing, playing sports, going dancing or just sofa surfing. As you might expect, the folks that participated in the most leisure activities seemed to reap the most health benefits. Karen Matthews, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, epidemiology, and psychology and a co-author of the study said, “When you’re under stress, the usual thing is to cut back on enjoyable activities because you’re feeling uncomfortable and you need more time to deal with the stress. But these data suggest that’s the wrong thing to do, and that continuing enjoyable activities can be helpful." My anecdotal evidence seems to support these claims. So as your online "Blog Doctor", I order you to take yourself a vacation. Even an overnight trip to the beach will do wonders for your stress levels and perspectives. When you get back, we can talk about my bill for medical services rendered. ;)

listening_device

Anthony — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:39:07 +0000

User Feedback

Anthony — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:39:25 +0000

In an effort to generate content that will be useful to the user community, I would like to take this opportunity to open the discussion to all of you who visit this blog. Please take a moment to leave comments for me, your humble moderator, regarding the kind of information you would find the most useful, interesting and engaging. As you can see, I enjoy covering stories about government, healthcare, travel/leisure, and career. But I wish to make the blog more perfectly tuned into the needs and interests of you, the Allen School Online student body. So please, leave your comments below with suggestions for me or email me direct at blog@online.allenschool.edu.

firing-squad

Anthony — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:26:27 +0000

End of Life Planning Doesn't Kill Granny

Anthony — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:26:41 +0000

Whichever side of the healthcare debate you come down on, everyone can agree that premeditated lying is never cool. I was especially saddened this week to see so many people - broadcasters, politicians and private citizens - repeating the ridiculous claim that the current draft of the healthcare bill in Congress contains provisions that establish "death panels" to decide if elderly folks in poor health should be treated or be euthanized to "save costs". Look, regardless of how you think healthcare should be improved, every American needs to have clear, factual information about the proposed legislation to use in formulating an informed opinion. Otherwise, folks'll be making their decisions about issues based on flawed assumptions. Where did this "death panel" story come from? Well, the specific piece of the legislation that spurred the death panel story was a section that deals with End of Life Planning. End of life planning is something that Americans have been doing for decades. It is essentially sitting down with your family doctor and a lawyer to spell out what your wishes would be if you were too sick or injured to tell them yourself. The doctor advises you of your medical situation and your lawyer drafts a document - sometimes referred to as a "living will" - which puts it in writing. This way, when you're 94 and in failing health, the doctor will know that if you slip into a coma, or have a seizure that leaves you brain dead, or you are in any way unable to communicate your wishes, your doctor will know that you chose earlier to decline resuscitation or artificial life support. Or the doctor will know that you choose to be kept alive in any circumstance. The point is, that it is YOUR choice and it is exceedingly good planning to make a Living Will. This is why for more than 20 years, end of life planning has been covered by Medicare. The Republican senator from Georgia, Senator Isakson was the person who wanted the end of life planning to be covered under any new healthcare bill and inserted the language into the draft. End of life planning has never been a controversial issue until this week. Why? I am afraid the answer is that folks who are promoting this story are flat out lying. Why? Because the health insurance companies are trying anything they can think of to stop the passage of healthcare reform that will level the playing field, bring down costs and force them to reap less profits. They know that senior citizens are very sensitive to the idea of changes in the healthcare system too, beacuse seniors rely heavily on the medical community. Seniors also are the most politically active demographic in America. So the insurance industry's logic is, scare the seniors into opposing the bill and it will not pass. This is why they made up the story about the legislation calling for death panels that will decide if the elderly are "too sick to treat" (read too expensive to treat) and should therefore be left to die or wore, be "put to sleep". Don't believe me that this story was the product of a calculated strategy to lie to the American people? Check out this link to an article in the NY Times for the details on the exact origins of the story. Lastly I was saddened because as a citizen, these kinds of bald-faced lies insult my intelligence and should insult yours too. I mean really, regardless of how our elected leaders disappoint their constituencies on both sides of the political spectrum - no matter how corrupt or unfaithful or compromised we believe them to be - do we really believe any of them would vote in favor of allowing our grandparents to die of neglect or be killed for profit?

Colossal Cupcake

Anthony — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:51:08 +0000

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Carl Saville measures the girth of the 1,224 pound cupcake at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Mich. on Aug. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, Brandy Baker) NO SALES; NO MAGS; TV OUT; DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT

Obesity and the Latest in Weight Loss

Anthony — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:51:23 +0000

This weekend in Royal Oaks, Michigan, officials from the Guinness Book of World Records were on hand to certify the "world's largest cupcake". The 1200+ pound gargantuan snack-cake with bright pink frosting was made using more than 800 eggs, and 200 pounds each of sugar and flour. Is it any wonder that 75% of Americans are either overweight or obese? But have no fear! Modern medical science continues to chip away at the mysteries surrounding weight loss and our apparent inability to slim down. Your humble moderator himself was tipping the scales at nearly 365 pounds before finding a program that works for weight loss. I am proud to say that I shed nearly 65 pounds since beginning the Medi-Fast meal replacement program about 5 months ago. I will admit too, that after shrinking from a 4X to a mere double X, I decided to take a little break from the program to enjoy my favorite season for meals -- BBQ season. But I plan to re-engage my plan in the fall once the dog days of summer are behind us. For those of you interested in weight loss, I highly recommend the medi-fast program. But there is a new product that is just hitting the market which intrigues me. Called "Sensa", the new weight loss product is a flavorless crystalized powder that you sprinkle over your meal just befiore you eat, like salt or pepper. It is supposed to work on t he olfactory center (your sense of smell) and the satiety center of the brain, to make users feel the sensation of fullness before they overeat. Knowing that the diet industry has made skeptics of most of us through decades of bogus claims about "the latest breakthrough in weight loss products" the folks at Sensa are giving away a sixty-day supply, trial offer for nothing more than the cost of shipping. I am inclined to try it to see if it really does work as they claim it does. If I do end up testing the product, I will definitely post here with my review of the product. If any of you have tried it, I would be interested to know what you thought of it. In fact, it would be valuable to the community to share any success stories you may have with regard to weight loss. At 75%, it is a safe bet that three out of four of folks reading this post would be interested in learning what has worked for others seeking safe, affordable methods of shedding the unwanted pounds. Also, for full disclosure, I must include the fact that I gave up my crown as the King of Couch Potatoes and began taking a 2.5 mile walk every day (or every other day) around my neighborhood. In the end more physical activity is the only true ingredient for losing weight and becoming healthier. Well, that and avoiding 1200 pound cupcakes.

nyc-population-map

Anthony — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:34:51 +0000

traffic

Anthony — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:43:22 +0000

Another Reason to Love Online Education

Anthony — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:45:23 +0000

Allen School's brick and mortar campuses are in the greater New York Metro area. So many of us in this community are well aware of the logistics of getting around in one of the world's most densely populated areas. But if you live in any major city, you know what it is like to drive or take transit during peak hours. It ain't pretty! For most, online students, convenience is the primary motivator in choosing online study over on-campus study. The ability to focus on studies according to one's own schedule, making time for work and family is one of the key drivers of a decision to study in a virtual classroom. I know for many, avoiding spending hours in commute traffic to get to and from campus is a huge deal. When I saw the graphic below, it really struck me, the insane volume of commuters that go in and out of New York City everyday. It made me feel very grateful for my "work from home" job.

The map on the left shows population density in Manhattan and Brooklyn during business hours Monday through Friday. On the right, it shows population density after business hours. It is unbelievable how many folks flood into and out of the city every single day. But I guess if you've ever sat in traffic trying to get through the Lincoln Tunnel or on Canal Street trying to get across town to the Brooklyn Bridge, then you know what a nightmare this can be. Yet another reason to pat yourself on the back for choosing to study online. Not only are you saving time by avoiding these horrible commutes, but you're not using fossil fuels to get to and from class and probably enjoying a lower blood presure too by avoiding gnarly traffic jams.

goldpanning

Anthony — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:07:55 +0000

Unemployment Spawns New Gold Rush

Anthony — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:08:08 +0000

With a promising future in a growth field, most Allen School students are not fretting over their long term employment prospects. Yet the overall poor state of employment in the US driven by the recession has left many without any solid prospects in the near term. While most will wait it out, some have taken to a different type of "prospecting" - panning for gold in California. Yes it is true. According to this article in today's Washington Post, the mountains of California have seen a resurgence of Gold Fever at levels not seen since the famous Gold Rush of 1849. It seems that for some folks, whose unemployment outlasted their unemployment benefits, the idea of panning for gold was a brilliant (ugh sorry for the bad pun) idea. Typically in times of economic uncertainty, there is what investors refer to as "flight to security". This is when investors, spooked about the safety of traditional yet intangible investments like stocks and bonds, sell their equities and securities and reinvest the money into precious metals like Gold, Silver and Platinum. The thinking is that if the economy gets dangerously bad, these metals will always have inherent and more importantly, tangible value. This explains why today, gold is selling at better than $1000 per ounce and rising steadily. It is not a stretch then to understand why folks might be inclined - perhaps after losing job, home and possessions - to think panning for gold is a viable plan. After all, you get to work outside in California's beautiful mountains. There is also a camraderie among prospectors and the potential (as slim as it is) to strike it rich. But in the end, it seems far more prudent for those who may have lost a career in a hard hit industry like the finance or automotive sector to retrain and gain new skills to be used in industries poised for decades of growth. Medical billing and coding is just such a vein to mine. Your prospects for striking it rich are pretty good right here.

icd-10factsheet2009

Margie — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:36:33 +0000

sleeping

Anthony — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:29 +0000

The Importance of Sleep

Anthony — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:16:09 +0000

I probably don't need to tell people who juggle online studies, work and family that it is important to make sure you carve out enough time for sleep. We all know how spacey and "out of it" we feel when we miss sleep. Sleep deprivation can be very dangerous. Yet, recently, UCLA professor and sleep expert, Jerome Siegel questioned whether sleep had any correlation to physiological and neural functions. In short, do we really need to sleep? Siegel points out that many species of animals experience periods of sleeplessness as part of their normal lives. And he questioned whether sleep may be more necessary for some species than others. Because, Siegle postulates, if some animals can endure long periods of sleeplessness while others simply cannot, there must not be one single purpose for sleeping that is the same across all species. He points to baby dolphins and whales that migrate for months without sleep. Yet on the other side of the coin, the Brown Bat sleeps roughly 20 hours a day. Both species do not seem to differ in their ability to survive and propagate in spite of the dramatic difference in sleep intake. Siegel's best guess is that each species sleeps in accordance with cycles that best correlate to their interaction with their environment and that sleep cycles are dictated by how they best help the individual species to be efficient in their habitat. Thus, nocturnal animals like coyotes and raccoons sleep all day and awake at night when the hunting or foraging is best. Similarly, humans - with eyes that work far better when it is light - sleep at night when the sun is down because they operate with greater efficiency in the light of day to cultivate crops and hunt. But in today's modern world, where we are not all involved in cultivating crops and hunting, and where we have developed artificial light sources, humans are not so tied to the daytime/nightime cycle of sleep and awakening. Does this mean we will slowly grow to need less and less sleep? Ask someone who is studying online while working and raising a family!

sleeping1

Anthony — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:17:16 +0000

networking

Anthony — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:39:15 +0000

Good List of Professional Resources

Anthony — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:40:40 +0000

For professionals in the field of medical billing and coding, there are a wide range of resources to help you seek employment as well as to keep yourself abreast of changes to the industry. I found the excellent list below on an industry website. Some of these sites have links to other online courses, but readers here are already involved with Allen School and on the fast track to a top quality education. Yet, all of these sites offer employment advice. Some offer resume boosting tips and great networking opportunities. Enjoy! The organizations for Medical Billing Specialists, Claims Assistance Professionals, Coders, and the like are listed below. It is recommended that you join at least one, but research them beforehand, to find the appropriate one for your career goals. Keep in mind that these organizations may have a local chapter as well, so check your local Telephone Directory for local groups. Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals (ACAP) - 25500 Hawthorne Blvd #1158, Torrance CA 90505. (http://www.claims.org/, capinfo@claims.org). American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) - 2480 South 3850 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120; 800/626-CODE. (http://www.aapc.com/, info@aapc.com) Certification and extensive information for Coders, Office Managers, Claims Examiners, Hospital Outpatient Coders, Experienced Reimbursement Specialists and Coding Educators. The web site job ad section lets you post your résumé and receive job alerts by e-mail. American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) - 100 Sycamore Avenue, Suite M, Modesto, CA 95354; 800/982-2182. Their Web site at http://www.aamt.org has career information, employment opportunities, networking, local associations and approved education programs. You can post your résumé online and receive e-mail job alerts. American Medical Billing Association (AMBA) - 4297 Forrest Drive, Sulphur, OK 73086; 580/622-2624. Their web site presents information about online courses, networking opportunities, and information on preparing for the examination to become a Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist. Visit (http://www.ambanet.net/AMBA.htm). Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) - 230 East Ohio, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611-3269; 312/664-4467. (http://www.himss.org, himss@himss.org). Includes a membership directory, résumé posting, job alerts, and you can research potential employers and Career Development Resources with résumé and interviewing advice and more. Members only. Health Professions Institute (HPI) - PO Box 801, Modesto, CA 95355-0801; 209/551-2112. (http://www.hpisum.com/ , hpi@hpisum.com) Publishes many books, periodicals and conducts seminars for the medical transcription community. HPI has a free Student Network and information on medical transcription courses. Perspectives magazine (an e-zine) is free to medical transcription professionals. Medical Coding and Billing - Information about coding and billing careers on http://www.medicalcodingandbilling.com includes certification, education, and also medical office management career information. Lists of professional associations. Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) - 104 Inverness Terrace East, Englewood, CO 80012, 303/799-1111or 877/275-6462. (www.mgma.com) This organization is designed for the supervisors of medical group practices. The Web site has job ads, networking, internship information and a Core Learning Series for education. Jobs ads are in monthly publication MGMA Connections. Medical Records Institute - 425 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116; 617/964-3923. This organization’s web site (http://www.medrecinst.com/index.shtml, cust_service@medrecinst.com) promotes electronic health records, mobile health, and related applications. MT Jobs - http://www.mtjobs.com/ Sponsored by MT Daily, this site provides free job searches, résumé posting. email job alerts and employer profiles. National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - 134 Evergreen Place, 9th Floor, East Orange, NJ 07018; 800/499-9092 or 973/678-9100. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers education, training and certification for many health care jobs, including Certified Medical Trans-criptionist (CMT) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).(http://www.nha2000.com/) Professional Association of Health Care Office Managers (PAHCOM) - 461 East Ten Mile Road, Pensacola, Florida 32534-9714; 800/451-9311. (http://www.pahcom.com/) Web site has information on education, local chapters, and on the Certified Medical Manager exam. The Benefits page of the web site posts job openings.

get-in-touch

Anthony — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:57:33 +0000

Alumni Open Thread

Anthony — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:57:47 +0000

This is an open thread for Allen School Alumni to gather, get back in touch, share post-graduation experiences and more. Topic of discussion is open to all users. Begin your conversations in the comments section.

tedjacko

Anthony — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:19:33 +0000

The Lion and the King

Anthony — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:32:16 +0000

In the last month, the world lost two iconic figures: Michael Jackson and Senator Edward Kennedy. The King of Pop and the Lion of the Senate, both these beloved figures left behind a message that has at its core, wisdom for those in the healthcare field. Follow me over the fold to discuss the thread that ties these two stories together. Senator Ted Kennedy was a staunch proponent of healthcare reform and spent his lifetime of service in the US Senate in pursuit of the goal of an American universal healthcare system. If the current legislation under consideration makes it through the process with a robust public option offering affordable coverage to all Americans, then Senator Kennedy's life's work will have been properly commemorated. Michael Jackson was an inspiration to music fans on all seven continents and his work touched millions. While he brought so much joy to so many, it was clear that - as is often the case with the most sensitive and talented artists - he suffered with deep emotional troubles and dealt with these issues through substance abuse. His untimely demise, the likely result of the powerful operating room anesthetic that he had been using as a sleeping aid, is a reminder to us of the place of ethics in the administration of medical counsel and treatment. That the LA coroner's office has ruled Jackson's death a homicide speaks to the failure of his medical advisors to take a principled stand in the face of their patient who, although one of the entertainment industry's most powerful people, was pressuring his doctors to further enable his dangerous addiction. This ethical lapse on the part of Jackson's doctors likely cost the star his life. So as a nation mourns the loss of the Lion and the King, let's take a moment to learn the lessons these lives have to offer.

tedjacko1

Anthony — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:34:48 +0000

obama

Anthony — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:27:21 +0000

Historic Healthcare Speech Tonight

Anthony — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:03:53 +0000

Tonight, President Obama will address a full session of Congress in prime time on the topic of the healthcare legislation currently being debated on Capitol Hill. Rarely do presidents address the fully assembled Congress outside of the annual State of the Union Address. So this unusual step is designed to underscore the importance of this topic. What will the President say? Since the Presidential campaign, Obama has been pretty consistent in stating that he believes health care reform has to do two main things: lower costs of care and provide coverage to all Americans. He has also long contended that the provision of a public option, to offer an alternative to the private health insurance companies, would be the best way to drive the competition that will lower costs across the board. Through the August recess, the powerful health insurance lobby spent millions of dollars to send "astroturfers" (phony protestors so named because they are meant to appear as "grass roots" protestors) to town hall meetings held by Congress members in every state. The insurance industry lobby was also supported by the President's ideological opponents on the far right who wish to see his agenda derailed. Not because they have any legitimate problem with lowering the cost of healthcare, but instead because they wish to see the President, and the Democratic Party fail. Rabid rightwing radio personalities like Rush Limbaugh (who has made clear that he wants to see the President fail), Glenn Beck and other hyper-partisans, have muddied the waters on the debate by using blatant scare tactics to whip up fear and frenzy among their lower-information listeners. Broadcasting demonstrably false assertions like, "the bill contains provisions to euthanize the elderly" and "the public option will set up death panels to decide who is worthy of life saving medical treatments", these corrupt "partisans in journalists' clothing" have been successful in mobilizing the uninformed. They have succeeded in changing the debate from "which strategies are best to lower healthcare costs and improve access to care" to "the public option is tantamount to Communism, Socialism, Nazism, etc." The President's ideological foes have been so successful in whipping up the fear that the central truth of the message has been lost. A clear-eyed assessment of what is being proposed shows that injecting competition into the insurance market will force private companies to bring their administrative costs down to remain competitive. The Republican Party, typically the party of free marketeerism, shouldn't have a problem with competition. Yet, the insurance industry is dead set against any idea that would result in lowering their record-breaking profit margins down from the currently overinflated 20% to 25% figure. Simply put, it is the greed of these companies that is providing the financial support for the campaign of lies and disinformation to protect their outsized profits. If the President's plan was really a step towards socialism, wouldn't part of it include returning the health insurance industry to the non-profit status it enjoyed up until the 1980's when the law was changed to allow them to be for profit? The President is not taking that bold action. His plan is merely to provide competition to the nearly monopolistic health insurance industry by offering an alternative option. Because the public option would be government sponsored, it would not be for profit. Therefore, it would be able to offer coverage at a significantly lower costs than private plans. This is the core of the message that the Obama administration wants to refocus upon in the speech tonight. The forces of the status quo have spent enormous sums of money to distract and sow seeds of fear and doubt. Many on the Left have fretted that the President has waited too long to push back against some of the worst lies and campaigns of misinformation coming from the insurance lobby and the President's most radical ideological foes (who would rather see Americans continue to suffer than to see the President succeed at anything since it would invalidate their closest held beliefs). Tonight, we will see if the President can wrestle control of the debate away from the partisans, lobbyists, hate merchants and fear mongers. We'll see if he can reframe the debate as the moral and financial imperative that it truly is. In closing read the following quotes from the President about how we have arrived at the current state of the debate:

"For twelve year this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away . . . Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent . . .

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob."

Now read this quote from the President about why the anti-reform forces have put so much money into derailing this reform"

"Those who used to have [access to the White House] are not happy. Some of them are desperate. Only desperate men with their backs to the wall would descend so far below the level of decent citizenship as to foster the current . . . campaign against America's working people"

Don't recognize these Presidential quotes? That's because they are not from President Obama, but from President Franklin Roosevelt in a speech delivered in 1936. The general election was less than a week away. Roosevelt was wrapping up his re-election campaign at the end of his first term, a term in which he had enraged certain moneyed interests - enraged them to the point that they actually plotted a coup against him. But Roosevelt knew that the people of the United States were behind him. And the speech he gave that night in New York reflected his certainty. Polls indicate that 70% of Americans support the public option. Tonight, Obama gets a last chance to make clear why Congress should support it. You can help by contacting your Congressmen and Senators by phone or email to urge them to support a public option. Below are links to the House of Representatives and Senate websites. At the tope of each site is a search function where you enter your zipcode to get the contact info for your Congressman or Senators. Call, email, fax. Let them know its time to fix this broken system. http://www.house.gov/ http://www.senate.gov/

Alumni Open Thread

Anthony — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:14 +0000

911-attacks

Anthony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:47:54 +0000

Where Were You?

Anthony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:49:12 +0000

On the 8th anniversary of the horrific attacks of 9/11, the nation mourns the loss of life and the loss of innocence. On this day in 2001, I was living in California and working in the investment industry at a private firm. I woke up just before 6AM Pacific (just before 9AM eastern) and turned on my TV just in time to watch the second plane plow into the World Trade Towers. Where were you when you learned of the attacks? Tell your story in the comments.

we-the-people

Anthony — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:56:56 +0000

Constitution Day Reminds Us, Why Healthcare Reform?

Anthony — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:07:30 +0000

September 17th is Constitution Day and will fall on this coming Thursday. This holiday, sometimes referred to as Citizenship Day recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787. But this year, it takes on a new significance as our nation debates whether or not to provide universal healthcare to all citizens. I have heard many opponents of universal healthcare ask, "Where in the Constitution does it say that we're entitled to universal healthcare?". Follow me over the fold for the answer to this, and other questions about the amazing document at the core of our Democracy. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution says the Congress must provide for the general welfare of the United States. Can it truly be said that Congress is fulfilling this mandate when fifty Americans die each day due to lack of health coverage? Granted, providing for the general welfare cannot be interpreted to mean that Americans are entitled to have the Federal government buy them a house, groceries or a new pony. This broad interpretation would give government powers beyond what the Constitution's framers ever envisioned and would certainly be closer to Socialism than Capitalism. However, Congress's obligation to provide for the general welfare under the Constitution, along with the Constitutional provision of equal protection under the law DOES suggest that Congress has an obligation to ensure that people who work hard and save responsibly have an opportunity to secure those necessities. The current system for healthcare in the US has been effectively rigged over the years so that many Americans are one emergency or illness away from having their coverage dropped by for-profit insurers who will then deny them any new coverage due to "pre-existing conditions". Many of our countrymen are given no options but death when extensive, expensive treatment is necessary. This reality cannot be seen as consistent with the role of government as defined by the general welfare clause and equal protection clause of the Constitution. With so many important debates taking place at this time in our history, and with so much at stake - from environmental degradation and green energy production to healthcare to allegations of torture sanctioned by the last administration, we will undoubtedly need to refer to the Constitution to guide us through these thorny issues. This is why it is really a civic responsibility for all Americans to know what this founding document of our Democracy contains. I have always re-read the Constitution on a yearly basis to reacquaint myself with the wisdom it contains. I urge all Americans to do the same. Here is a link to a fantastic Powerpoint slideshow provided with permission byAES (retrieved on 09/14/09 ) that does a great job as a primer on the history and content of the US Constitution. Enjoy and Happy Constitution Day!

beach_closed

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:05:13 +0000

MRSA: A Day at the Beach?

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:05:24 +0000

A few months ago, I wrote a post about the spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic resistant pathogen. The probable result of over use of penicillin in humans and in factory farm animals, this devastating illness was rarely contracted outside of hospitals. But alarming and newly released studies show the presence of MRSA on US beaches - in the water and in the sand! Perhaps a result of offshore dumping of medical waste, this is a disturbing development. Especially as this blogger prepares to spend a week's vacation at the beach! More details on this story and some positive developments too, after the jump. According to a new study, "Researchers tested 10 beaches in Washington along the West Coast and in Puget Sound from February to September 2008. Staph bacteria were found at nine of them, including five with MRSA. The strains resembled the highly resistant ones usually seen in hospitals, rather than the milder strains acquired in community settings." Further, scientists don't believe that the contamination is restricted to these West Coast beaches. This belief is supported by the results of a University of Miami study which found MRSA in four out of ten samples of sea water taken from South Florida beaches. Does this mean going to the beach will grow so hazardous that we may have to forgo enjoying this simple pleasure in the future? Marilyn Roberts, a microbiologist at the University of Washington in Seattle said, "We don't know the risk, " for any individual going to a beach. "But the fact that we found these organisms suggests that the level is much higher than we had thought." So this is dreadful news right? Well, hold on because medical researchers are on the case and had some very heartening news to report this week too. Evgeny Nudler, professor of biochemistry at New York University Langone Medical Center, published findings of h is research into ways to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens in Science magazine. Apparently, according to Nudler's findings, a small molecule composed of one atom of oxygen and one of nitrogen plays an important role in helping pathogens resist antibiotics. Nitric oxide was initially considered to be a toxic gas and air pollutant until 1987 when a Nobel Prize winning study showed that it played a physiological role in mammals. Nitric oxide has subsequently been found to participate in a range of bio-physical activities, including learning and memory, blood pressure regulation, penile erection, digestion and the fighting of infection and cancer. Nudler's new study supports the idea that many antibiotics cause the oxidative stress in bacteria, often resulting in their death, whereas nitric oxide counters this effect. This work suggests scientists could use a nitric oxide-synthase to make antibiotic resistant bacteria more sensitive to available drugs. Now if they could just hurry up. I am going to the beach this Saturday!

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Anthony — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:30:56 +0000

FactCheck.org:Another Great Resource

Anthony — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:31:33 +0000

With passions running so high in the healthcare debate, and with so many powerful forces trying to manipulate the process to suit their own agendas, it gets really hard to believe anything we hear. How does one separate the truth from the lies, the policy positions from the propaganda, the facts from the noise? Let me tell you of an excellent resource for cutting through the static and getting some answers from reputable sources. There has been much misinformation and worse, disinformation about what the various healthcare proposals would mean for Americans. Lots of nasty rhetoric and a health insurance lobby spending $1.4 million dollars a day to advertise against real reform. And this is just the beginning of the circus. With several other crucial and controversial legislative items on the horizon - a sweeping environmental bill, the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), immigration reform, etc. - the volume of the distortion will grow deafening. If you hear a statistic on TV or get an inflammatory email forwarded to you from a partisan friend or relative, check out the veracity of the claims it contains at www.factcheck.org. The non-partisan groups mission as taken from their website:

Our Mission

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg in 1994 to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels.

The APPC accepts NO funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbying organizations or individuals. It is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation.

Follow my simple rule of thumb when reading any material. If it seems too unbelievable to be true, it likely is. I run down all kinds of stories on FactCheck.org and am able to formulate my views rooted in the basis of facts. As students preparing to enter a field that rises and falls on science, empirical data and cool, clinical assessment of the facts in the pursuit of answers, this resource will serve you well.

cigarettes

Anthony — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:39:05 +0000

Smoking Bans Credited with Lower Rates of Heart Attack

Anthony — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:39:16 +0000

I was living in California when the smoking ban went into effect there. Smokers and barroom patrons were very upset about the law's passage. I recall, as a musician playing in many bars and clubs, the friction caused by this switch. But folks got over it. Then I moved back to New York and remember being incredulous that folks still smoked in the bars there, until the Empire State passed its own ban. Then the wailing among bar goers began again. And again, in time, folks got over it. It seems all the friction was worth it in the end. Follow me over the fold for the latest. According to a report by Reuters:

One team found smoking bans in the United States, Canada and Europe had an immediate effect that increased over time, cutting heart attacks by 17 percent after the first year and as much as 36 percent after three years, they reported in the journal Circulation.

A second team found such bans reduced the annual heart attack rate by 26 percent. Their report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology estimates a nationwide ban in the United States could prevent as many as 154,000 heart attacks each year.

Both research teams said the findings support the adoption of widespread bans on smoking in enclosed public places to prevent heart attacks and improve public health.

"Public smoking bans seem to be tremendously effective in reducing heart attack and, theoretically, might also help to prevent lung cancer and emphysema, diseases that develop much more slowly than heart attacks," said Dr. David Meyers of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, who led the study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"Even breathing in low doses of cigarette smoke can increase one's risk of heart attack," he said.

Smoking bans have been enacted in countries all over the world. In the United States, 32 states ban smoking in public places and workplaces, and many cities and other localities do, too.

Sometimes I guess, the best medicine is difficult to swallow, but once we take it as a society, we all feel the positive health effects.

Yet Another Reason to Love Online Education

Anthony — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:27:19 +0000

It keeps your pooch or pootie from freaking out at "back to school" time. According to Betsy Saul, founder of petfinder.com (link below the fold), back to school time frequently means empty houses once students return to classes and parents return to focus on work. Man's best friend can often feel left in the lurch and anxious. Details over the fold. Betsy Saul is the co-founder of Petfinder.com, one of the busiest Web sites on the Internet. With a vision to change the way the public views shelter pets, Betsy and her husband, Jared, harnessed the infant technology of the Internet in 1996 and molded it into one of the most successful e-businesses to date. Petfinder.com, which Betsy describes as a Social Profit company, is on a mission to see that no pet is euthanized for lack of a home. Read Betsy's full article entitled, "Going Back to School can Cause Pets Separation Anxiety" at the Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/betsy-saul/going-back-to-school-can_b_296980.html. Then feel excellent about your choice to study online at Allen School Online and give your own special furry buddy an extra scratch behind the ears. I hope our cats are doing well during our absence this week while we vacation in Montauk. Our seventeen year old, original gangster cat Harley has been known to pull his own fur out when we travel out of anxiety. But we left instructions with our next door neighbors to go into our house and give him some tummy scratches for us while we're gone!

kitties2

Anthony — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:29:10 +0000

olympics

Anthony — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:38:53 +0000

Obamas and Oprah Stump for Chi-Town Games

Anthony — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:39:02 +0000

This week, the President, his wife and Oprah Winfrey are making a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark to lobby the International Olympic Committee to bring the 2016 Summer Games to their shared hometown of Chicago. This is the very first time a US president has personally lobbied the IOC for this purpose. The other nations vying for the honor - and the billion dollar economic booster shot that hosting the games delivers - include Madrid, Spain, Rio De Janiero, Brazil and Tokyo, Japan. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will also be in Copenhagen to advocate for Rio. King Juan Carlos of Spain and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will be there also, talking up Spain, and new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will be there to represent Tokyo. Some have criticized the President for making this trip while he is so occupied with many other critical issues from the healthcare debate to the environment, to the economy. From my perspective, I think that it is important for him to spend a little time on seeking to host the games. The Olympics is one of those rare events that helps citizens of all nations take a step back from the trials and tribulations of the very serious challenges of government and society. It provides us all with a vehicle for looking at humanity in a more noble light. It reminds us all that we share the same human condition regardless of socio-economic status. The field of athletic competition is level, unlike the fields of commerce, trade, battle and others where some nations have significant advantages over others. So for this reason - for the Games' ability to get the world to focus on a more pure sense of competition and human camraderie - I support President Obama's decision to make a quick trip for this purpose. What do you think?

Denmark Olympics 2016 Bids Chicago

Anthony — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:47:42 +0000

U.S. President Barack Obama kisses his wife the U.S. first lady Michelle Obama after she made an address during the Chicago 2016 bid presentation at the 121st International Olympic Committee session at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are competing for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday in Copenhagen. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)

Breaking: Chicago, Tokyo Eliminated From Olympic Bidding

Anthony — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:48:09 +0000

AP reports that despite President Obama's trip to Denmark, the cities of Chicago and Tokyo have been pushed out of the running leaving only Madrid and Rio to compete for the honor of hosting the games.

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Anthony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:58:06 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:39 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:04:04 +0000

Seeger Plays Health Care Reform Rally in Nyack, NY

Anthony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:11:12 +0000

Last night, I attended a pro-reform rally at Memorial park in Nyack, New York along the banks of the Hudson in the shadow of the picturesque Tappan Zee Bridge. Nearly 1000 people turned out to support reform of the broken healthcare system and several musical acts donated their performance to rally the crowd. The top act was none other than the legendary proponent of social justice, Pete Seeger. Follow me over the fold for more details about the evening's events and photos taken by yours truly. Aside from perhaps a dozen "astroturf" protestors (the opposite of organic grassroots activism) bussed in from communities many miles away, the crowd was enthusiastically supportive of the reform proposals including many proponents of the public option and single payer plans. The speakers included US Congressman, Elliot Engel as well as a woman who has been a health insurance company executive for twenty years. While I cannot remember what her name was, her insider's perspective was invaluable as she ran down why the proposed "compromises" such as health insurance co-ops and exchanges would not accomplish the goal of bringing healthcare costs down to acceptable levels. She also explained how President Obama's seeming support of "mandates" which would require all Americans to purchase insurance or pay a yearly fine for failure to do so (think auto insurance) would be a boon to the insurance industry while doing nothing to lower costs. Her point was that mandates alone, without at least a strong public option to force private insurers to compete, would be nothing more than a giveaway to the insurance companies. This is exactly what the state of Massachusetts has in place right now. The Bay State is often held up by the critics of healthcare reform as an example of why "universal healthcare" cannot work. In this instance I agree with them. Mandates, without providing an affordable, government subsidized option, are coercive and boost the wellbeing of private insurers at the expense of the hardworking taxpayer. The highlight of the evening came beneath a full, harvest moon rising over the Hudson, when Pete Seeger arrived, about a half hour late. The 90 year old folk icon - a man who sang and played with Woody Guthrie, served in WWII, helped restore the environmental health of the Hudson River, and championed countless causes of environment, civil rights, human dignity, social justice, peace and love - was late because he had performed two other events the same day. One in his hometown of Beacon, New York (about half an hour north up the Hudson) and a second one in New York City's Central Park (about an hour south down the Hudson). Even for a spry, 90-year old, this is something a a feat. Donning his trademark banjo and hat, Pete brought the crowd to its enthusiastic feet with songs that all knew and sang along to including Woody Guthrie's American anthem, "This Land is Your Land". It was a marvelous event and it was excellent to see so many people gathered in support of health care as a basic human right. Here are some photos I took at the event.[gallery]

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Anthony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:15:00 +0000

unemployment_office

Anthony — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:43:39 +0000

Why Job Training Is Essential

Anthony — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:45:05 +0000

It may surprise you to learn that even as layoffs mount and unemployment has passed the 10% mark, there are employers who are having a hard time filling positions that pay $50,000 to $60,000 plus benefits! How is this possible? Join me after the jump to find out. According to a recent Associated Press (AP) article, good paying jobs in the fields of nursing, engineering and energy research have been hard to fill. According to the AP story,

"Ask Steve Jones, a hospital recruiter in Indianapolis who's struggling to find qualified nurses, pharmacists and MRI technicians. Or Ed Baker, who's looking to hire at a U.S. Energy Department research lab in Richland, Wash., for $60,000 each.

Economists say the main problem is a mismatch between available work and people qualified to do it. Millions of jobs with attractive pay and benefits that once drew legions of workers to the auto industry, construction, Wall Street and other sectors are gone, probably for good. And those who lost those jobs generally lack the right experience for new positions popping up in health care, energy and engineering."

"A mismatch between available work and people qualified to do it" is the key phrase from this article. Simplified, it means that folks who lost jobs in fields where the jobs are gone for good, like manufacturing for example, are not able to easily make the transition to another highly skilled career. At least, not without significant retraining in fields such as healthcare where there are jobs sitting available and unfilled. I believe the problem goes deeper than just the shift in the economy that has caused the destruction of so many manufacturing and financial industry jobs. I suspect that there is a fundamental weakness in the education system in our country. Public primary and secondary education is in a woefully underfunded state. Ask any teacher you know if this is true. The deficiency of primary and secondary education is leaving our young people unprepared for success in the realm of higher education (college/university). In an article on the Huffington Post, blogger Hillary Pennington cites information from the conservative American Enterprise Institute that highlighs the shockingly poor success rate of American students in college level education.

"A new study from the American Enterprise Institute reports that fewer than 60 percent of students in four-year institutions graduate within six years, with many colleges posting graduation rates below 40 percent. Even more stark is the difference between the highest and lowest performing institutions: At the nation's most competitive universities, the average graduation rate is 89 percent, while the least competitive universities graduate an average of 12 percent of their students. Students and families have a right to know this information. We as a nation, including policymakers, educators and students, must work together to dramatically improve postsecondary completion rates." (Emphasis mine)

If government was doing a better job at funding education at all levels, we would be turning out plenty of graduates with the requisite skills to capture the jobs of the 21st century which require far more specialized expertise than jobs in the last century. Clearly, our collective inability to invest in education as a societal imperative is coming home to roost. Its maleffects are magnified by the current economic stress. How else to explain the inability of companies in the US to fill positions for between $50k and $60k plus benefits? For those motivated folks like yourselves who have taken the initiative to purchase specialized, supplemental educational and professional training, the rewards promise to be great. Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-pennington/getting-people-to-college_b_210914.html Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/04/as-layoffs-persist-good-j_n_309232.html

nobel-prize

Anthony — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:41:47 +0000

Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Anthony — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:42:24 +0000

In an unforseeable turn of events, President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace this morning. Not as surprising, folks on the left were proud and folks on the right were incensed. Jump to read my take and then leave your own comments behind to share with the rest of us. While I generally support the President and think he's been doing an admirable job despite the horrible state of affairs he inherited, I was not entirely clear what he had done - only 9 months into his term as President - to truly deliver peace. He campaigned on ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but that hasn't happened yet. While I am certain that his strategies with regard to Iran's nuclear program and the broader relationship between the US and the Muslim world are far more peaceful in their posture than John McCain and Sarah Palin's would've been, I am still not sold that he has completed anything yet worthy of this award. I think he has great potential in this regard. So perhaps that is what the Nobel committee was hoping to underscore and reinforce. Glen Greenwald at Salon does a much better job of articulating this feeling in his article here. I recommend reading it. What do you think about this story?

multitasking

Anthony — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:05:47 +0000

Multi-tasking Is Self Defeating

Anthony — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:05:56 +0000

Ok, I know I will likely raise the ire of readers here who are, by definition, likely multi-taskers. I mean, online students typically choose the online methodology for learning precisely because they're too busy with jobs and family to devote so much time to on-campus classes. So while you're here reading, toggling back and forth between this blog and your course work, feeding the baby, balancing the checkbook and getting your things together to go back to work tomorrow morning, let me tell you why such multi-tasking is bad for you. **Ducks and covers to avoid hurled projectiles** Professor David Meyer of University of Michigan recently completed a study where he asked students in a math class to perform two mathematical problems at the same time. He asked a control group to perform the same two equations one after the other. Categorically, the group that was working both problems at the same time took longer to complete both than the control group who did them in succession. I probably don't have to tell anyone how distracting incoming emails can be while working. I know for me, as I write this blog, every time an email hits my inbox making that little electronic jingle noise, my blogging is interrupted as I toggle over to see who has emailed me. And don't get me started on Twitters, IMs and other electronic "pokes" emanating from friends and co-workers. My best advice -- and a growing consensus among the people who study such things -- is to schedule your tasks in order of priority and tackle them one at a time. Clean up your work area, both your actual desktop and computer desktop. Close all applications but the one for the project at hand and focus on one task at a time. I think you'll find that you get more done. And more importantly, the quality of the work you do, and the attention to the details therein will rise. What are your thoughts? Do you stand by your ability to successfully multi-task? Or does it make you more distracted?

23493

Anthony — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Solar and wind farm. Rostock, Germany Accession #: 0.95.195.002.01

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Anthony — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:46:59 +0000

Solar and wind farm. Rostock, Germany Accession #: 0.95.195.002.01

Investing In Green Energy

Anthony — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:47:57 +0000

OK so I am DEFINITELY not the next Warren Buffett. However, I feel pretty smart for having liquidated some poorly performing mutual funds in my 401k account about 5 months ago and using the money ($400) to invest in some 25 shares of General Electric (when it was at $3.56 a share) as well as 100 shares of AIG (when it was 44 cents a share). I also bought 10 shares of a stem cell research company as I figured that was a sector sure to grow in the future. Today, my $400 investment into these stocks is worth almost $2000, five short months later. I bought these things at the bottom of the market when everyone had been selling furiously. And it got me thinking about where the next "big" investment sector would be found. I think green energy is it. Now I wasn't smart enough (and I also was dead broke) when the Tech boom started so I didn't buy Google stock for pennies when it first went public. Not that I have so much extra money now to invest either. But, what I do have, is the perspective of a fellow who has been around long enough to see that a great deal of money can be made by investing ahead of the curve in areas where furious growth hasn't yet taken place. Today, Google is trading over $500 a share. So obviously, its way past time to make a killing owning it. But I have a theory. You see, we can wage wars, killing each other over oil. We can keep destroying the environment for the time being by burning fossil fuels for transportation, heating, electricity, etc. But one thing is unavoidable. Whether it is that we run out of fossil fuels or that we damage the environment so badly that we cannot conscion using whatever oil is left, we WILL reach the point when alternative energy is the ONLY option. I am betting that it happens sooner rather than later too. Right now the US is lagging countries in Europe and Asia in investment into renewable energy production from things like wind and solar. I think the companies that are doing this kind of research now are available for affordable prices. Not if but WHEN the world turns from fossil fuels to wind or solar, those companys' stocks are going to soar. I feel like it is a very wise idea (for me anyway, no investment advice implied) to slowly park some money in some of these emerging energy companies. Anybody have any stock suggestions for promising alternative energy companies? I'd be happy for some good info on companies with promising green energy prospects. Any other armchair investment gurus out there?

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Anthony — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:25:14 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:05 +0000

Following the Money Part Deux

Anthony — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:14 +0000

Back in July, before the screaming town hall silliness of Congress's August recess and before the slow as molasses delivery of Max Baucus's Senate Finance Committee health care bill, I wrote a piece about how to gauge the progress of health insurance reform legislation. I pointed out that insiders on Wall Street, who have paid for unfair access to our legislators, would know ahead of the curve which way the reform would go. This way they could nearly guarantee that they would not lose money from their investments into the healthcare sector whether reform passed or was defeated. If it looked like reform was imminent, Wall Street would sell their holdings in healthcare companies driving stock prices of insurers down. If the "Street" figured reform would go down in defeat, they'd buy more of the insurers' stocks as it would be a safe bet that the gravy train would continue for the highly profitable insurance companies. Back in July, the prices of insurance company stocks were surging. The bankers on Wall Street seemed convinced that the public option - the only serious reform device being considered - was all but dead. What does the insurance sector look like today three months later and weeks from the bill's eventual passage? Follow me over the jump to see. Well, if like me, you're a proponent of a strong public option to act as a check against monopolistic price fixing currently perpetrated by the insurance industry for extreme profit at the expense of American lives, you will be pleased to learn this. The stocks of health insurance companies are down and falling as Wall Street believes that a robust reform bill is likely to be passed. Interestingly, the White House had negotiated with the pharmaceutical industry early in the process. Their deal was basically, in exchange for pharma companies agreeing not to spend millions of dollars on scare campaigns designed to torpedo reform, the government would not include any provisions in the bill allowing price negotiation on drugs. So drug makers will still be allowed to gouge the public even if insurers can't. As you might expect, the stocks of drug makers have continued to grow. Have a look at this chart from the Wall Street Journal that shows clearly the current trend in stock prices bewteen pharma and insurers. It tells the story clearly. [caption id="attachment_470" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Source: WSJ Market Data Group"][/caption] What I find particularly satisfying about the nearly 20% drop in insurers' stock price is the fact that their profit margins as an industry are estimated at between 20% and 30%. As one who believes that healthcare should be not-for-profit, I am not troubled by watching this industry knocked down a few pegs. Typically, I support free market capitalism. But in this case, these insurers who for some inexplicable reason are exempt from anti-trust laws, have been allowing Americans to die in order to protect their 30% profit margins and ridiculous executive compensation packages. Since it doesn't appear that the final legislation will be a single payer plan which would take the profit motive away completely, I can live with a for profit industry balanced against a non-profit public option. And it seems that Wall Street believes that the imminent passage of reform with a likely public option will bring the greedy insurers' profits back down to earth. So while the media wrings its hands and rends its garments over whether the legislation will include a public option and represent true reform that actually makes insurance accessible and affordable to all, I prefer to look at where the money is moving. The bankers -- as we have learned with great frustration of late -- get paid win or lose. Whether rocketing up or plummeting down, Wall Street gets paid. They are selling insurance companies off. I am feeling good about the prospects for significant reform.

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Anthony — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:50:16 +0000

Latest Neat-o Advance from the Field of Medicine

Anthony — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:51:14 +0000

I have always been amazed by how far medical science and technology has advanced in the space of the last decades and wrote a piece back in August illustrating how far medical technologies have progressed since the turn of the last century. Training for a career serving the healthcare field is really exciting because it is a field that will definitely be home to continuing innovation and technological breakthroughs. Take for instance the latest device dreamed up by the engineers at General Electric. GE CEO Jeff Immelt unveiled the handheld ultrasound machine recently at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Dubbed the Vscan, Immelt claimed the new device is destined to be the "stethoscope of the 21st century". According to one report filed by the Huffington Post,

"The device folds open clamshell-style to reveal a small screen on the top half and a circular button pad on the bottom. A small attached wand can be used to generate a noninvasive scan of a patient's organs or of a fetus. The Vscan is aimed in part at primary care doctors, who could use it instead of sending patients to get an ultrasound at a specialist's office. It could also be used by doctors in remote regions without access to hospital equipment. Immelt said that the device, which will be available sometime next year, will be "very digitally capable" but that it will not have Wi-Fi access to wirelessly transmit ultrasound images."

It is absolutely amazing to consider how far medical technologies have come since the turn of the 20th century. One can only marvel at the changes each of you will witness during the span of your careers in the healthcare field. One can only imagine what technologies will be coming to the market by the time you reach retirement age. Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/vscan-handheld-ultrasound_n_328355.html

WATCH: Absolutely Amazing Video

Anthony — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:40:38 +0000

As students and people engaged in utilizing cutting edge technologies to learn about rapidly advancing medical science, you will all likely be as astounded by this five minute video presentation. The perspective it provides on education and employment in the near term is mind-blowing. The presentation ends with a question: "What does it all mean?" Leave your impressions on what it all means in the comments.

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Anthony — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:52:36 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:10 +0000

One "Flu" Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Anthony — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:23 +0000

I don't know about you, but I have never been a proponent of the annual flu vaccine. I have always felt that it was really only necessary for the very young and the very old/infirm. But I also know that influenza became pandemic on a faily predictable schedule about once every 30 years or so. And since it has been nearly 40 years since the last pandemic of "Hong Kong" Flu killed 1 million people in 1968-69, I am thinking this year, I ought to at least get my 4 year old innoculated. So I called my pediatrician and they said, "No we don't have any H1N1 vaccine and no we don't have any info on when any will be available". Shocking! Here is a chart showing the last 4 flu pandemics and the death tolls each exacted on the world.

Hilleman M (Aug 19 2002). "Realities and enigmas of human viral influenza: pathogenesis, epidemiology and control".

With the outbreak of Swine Flu occuring last year, I cannot understand why it has taken so long for the vaccine to be produced and distributed. Have any of you had problems finding vaccine? Share your experiences in the comments bel0w.

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Anthony — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:55:19 +0000

Turmeric Kills Cancer

Anthony — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:18 +0000

If you like curry dishes as much as I do (big fan of Indian and Thai food here) you will be interested to learn that recent studies show that Turmeric, the spice used to give curries their nice yellow hue, has been shown to kill cancerous cells. According to a report from the BBC, scientists at the Cork Cancer Research Center have learned that Turmeric is successful in killing esophageal cancer cells. Rates of esophageal cancer, or cancer of the throat, have grown by 50% since the 1970s. This breakthrough may lead to valuable treatments for this deadly disease. So I will do my part to protect my health by visiting Taj Palace, my favorite Indian restaurant for a plate of Vindaloo and some Naan bread. A curry a day keeps the cancer away!

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Anthony — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:57:35 +0000

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Anthony — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:58:25 +0000

Hospital Worker? Direct Media Inquiries to Public Affairs

Zippi — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:59:19 +0000

Guest Blogger Zipporah Dvash - Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs and Development, Long Island College Hospital

Do you work in a hospital? It seems like they’re are always in the news. Remember that reporters don’t just speak to doctors and nurses – sometimes they wait for staff as they’re coming and going and aggressively demand answers to questions. When, if ever, should you speak to a reporter? Would you be violating patient confidentiality? Can you be fired for speaking to the media without permission? You’ll never go wrong if follow these Media Do’s and Don’ts below the fold.

DO

Direct any reporter to the Public Affairs Department for answers to questions.
Report any incidence of contact by the media to Public Affairs.
If you are permitted to speak to the media about a case or a procedure, remember that nothing is ever off the record when speaking to the media. Never make a statement to a reporter that you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with your colleagues and the general public.

DON’T

Conduct any media interviews without the consent and presence of a representative of Public Affairs.
Answer any media inquiry regarding a patient’s condition or acknowledge the name of a patient unless cleared by Public Affairs and/or Administration.
Discuss patient cases by name or identifying information in public with your colleagues – anyone may be listening!

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Anthony — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:06:48 +0000

snake-oil-salesmen

Anthony — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:30:12 +0000

McCarthy & Maher - If it Quacks Like a Duck

Anthony — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:30:23 +0000

There's an old expression used to convey the idea that what appears obvious is frequently the truth. The expression goes, "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck". Well, this bit of folk wisdom is not to be trusted. Especially when it comes to the claims of, well, quacks! That is, purveyors of bogus medical items. From phony H1N1 "swine flu" cures online, to aisles upon aisles of homeopathic "remedies", unregulated by the FDA on shelves in pharmacies across the country, people are frequently taken in by sales pitches that seem completely plausible. Now I am not saying there aren't some non-Western or other homeopathic remedies for certain ailments. I am certain that there are. However, there are many people out to make a quick buck by exploiting people's fears or taking advantage of their willingness to believe things which seem categorically believable. Any scientist will tell you that just because something makes sense doesn't mean it is true. It is the scientific process to test hypotheses, record the empirical data and draw ironclad conclusions based on the data. This is why it is a bit disconcerting to see TV personalities like commedian Bill Maher or MTV host Jenny McCarthy making statements against vaccines. While their "gut level" wisdom may seem quite easy to believe (in McCarthy's case, she draws the correlation between the innoculation of her young child and the onset of his autism), it is not supported by science. It is very damaging for them, with their wide broadcast platforms, to propagate such dangerous misinformation. It is the public at large who suffers when too many people decide to forgo vaccination against treatable illnesses. It leads to a more ready transmission of these illnesses amongst a less innoculated population. Worse than the Jenny McCarthy's of the world who likely believe in earnest, are the quacks who bottle up sugar pills and sell them on eBay to folks desperate to find actual protections against the flu. These quacks are the modern day equivalent to the "snake oil salesmen" of yore. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come out swinging against these charlatans, advising people to be wary of these scams. Even HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has had enough of the baloney slinging of quacks and other "well meaning" anti-vaccination voices. View this clip from her telling it like it is. Watch CBS News Videos Online If you want a great resource for "busting" this quackery and other medical myths, check out the Quackometer blog. Lots of straight information there.

polution

Anthony — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:58:45 +0000

Forbes Publishes "Most Toxic Cities in US" List

Anthony — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:59:27 +0000

Forbes Magazine published a list of the most and least toxic cities in the US to live in. As a New Yorker and something of an environmentalist, I was surprised to learn we are not on the "Most" list. Even more surprised to find us on the "Least" list. Anyway, for those considering a move after graduation or a new city to launch your new career, keep this in mind when weighing quality of life against availablity of employment. List after the jump... The most toxic cities: 1. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta 2. Detroit-Warren-Livonia 3. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet 4. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown 5. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 6. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor 7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 8. Jacksonville 9. Baltimore-Towson 10. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton The least toxic cities: 1. Las Vegas-Paradise 2. Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville 3. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 4. Austin-Round Rock 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 6. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos 7. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News 8. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 9. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island 10. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale For the full list, visit Forbes here. Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/the-most-toxic-cities-in_n_345417.html

capitol-bldg

Anthony — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:27:48 +0000

pelosi_gavel_350

Anthony — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:28:43 +0000

us-house

Anthony — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:20 +0000

House Passes HCR Bill - Women's Reproductive Rights Take Hit

Anthony — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:42 +0000

This past Saturday night, the US House of Representatives worked all day and into the evening (it felt good to watch these people work on a weekend for once) and narrowly passed a bill aimed at reforming the broken healthcare system. In the process though, they were forced to insert an amendment (the Stupak amendment) which disallows women who would be enrolled in the public option plan from getting abortions. I am fed up with people inserting their religious preferences into legislation that effects all Americans, religious or otherwise. I respect anyone's right to believe whatever they want about the issue of abortion. If their religion prohibits them from having an abortion or their conscience or for any reason, they are free to avoid the practice. But it is still a legal practice in all 50 states. And as such, it should not be up to any group of religious-minded people to make restrictions in any legislation that would infringe on the rights of others to make whatever decisions they wish to make regarding their own bodies, within legal limits. Now I have heard the screeching from anti-abortion foes that, "We don't want any federal money to go to support abortions because we have strong moral aversion to this practice and shouldn't be forced to subsidize it with our tax money." While I am pro-choice in this regard, let me first say that I think abortions should only be performed in rare circumstances. They should not be used as a method of birth control. That said, I find this argument to be a weak one. Here's why: I am very much against the war in Iraq and and to a large extent, I am against the war in Afghanistan. I hate that my tax money is sent in huge sums daily, to these two countries to kill people. I am against the warrantless wiretapping of US citizens signed into law in the Patriot Act by former president Bush as it too offends my sense of morality. I felt that the big investment banks should have been allowed to fail and not bailed out by over a trillion dollars of our tax money. I come down against the job destroying practices of so-called "free trade" agreements that our government signed at the behest of big corporations so they could legally outsource good American jobs to low-cost labor countries like China and Mexico. All these things take my hard earned tax dollars and spend them on programs and pratices that I find morally reprehensible. BUt guess what? They are the laws of the land for now and as an American, I am obliged to respect them. That doesn't mean that I cannot work to elect people who agree with me and work towards changing these laws. But to insert into a healthcare reform bill, an amendment limiting a women's right to choose to endure a legal medical procedure is a bastardization of the legislative process. And it shows the overall disdain for our American system of governance. Anti abortion forces have tried unsuccessfully for years to mount legislative and judicial challenges to Roe v Wade (the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion). Confronted with the majority of Americans opposed to such restrictions, they felt it was approrpriate to insert the amendment into the healthcare bill, knowing that reformers would swallow hard and vote in favor of it in order to secure the win on the important reform legislation. That is unfair. We are a nation of laws. If you believe that God's laws supercede the laws of man, that is your right. But if you choose to live in a pluralistic society, the rights of those who believe in no God at all are equal to those who believe in God. As such, if you wish to adhere to God's law over the laws of man, then you should move into the wilderness and start your own society based on the laws of God. I hear the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan are sufficiently wild and the folks there too practice slavish devotion to the laws of their God above the laws of society. What are your thoughts? I respect all viewpoints, even those with which I disagree. This is a thorny issue so please keep comments civil and supported by facts.

goldman_sachs_logo_0411

Anthony — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:50:23 +0000

Follow the Money Redux

Anthony — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:51:03 +0000

A while back I posted several pieces here and here about how an observer could gauge the relative chances of significant healthcare being passed by Congress, simply by looking at the share prices of publicly traded health insurance companies like Cigna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humana, United Healthcare and others. Well, if anyone doubted that Wall Street was actually in a position to influence these things, follow me over the fold for iron clad proof that Wall Street wants reform to fail. The largest investment bank in the world, Goldman Sachs, recently published a private report to stockholders. In it, they broke down their predictions on what would happen to health insurance company stocks under a number of hypothetical outcomes of the current debate. That document was leaked. Here's an synopsis of their four scenarios taken straight the pages of their cold calculation:

No reform (by far the best possible scenario, according to Wall Street). Insurance earnings are projected to increase by 10% from 2010-2019 while stocks rise an additional 59%;
The "base" scenario deemed most likely to pass by Goldman execs: a version similar to the Senate Finance Bill (no public option). Insurance earnings are projected to increase by 5% from 2010-2019;
The "bull" scenario (no public option): a more "optimistic" projection "for reform implementation, which might result from moderation of provisions in the current SFC plan, or result from changes prior to the major implementation in 2013." Earnings are projected to increase by 9.5%;
The "bear" scenario: a health care reform bill similar to the House version with strict regulations and a public option. Earnings are projected to decrease by 1%.

To the "Street" -- those wonderful people who through their greed and carelessness nearly destroyed the US economy and then kept their jobs and outsized bonuses thanks to the largesse of the US taxpayer -- the "bear" or "negative" scenario is the one in which Americans are protected from being abused by the insurance industry. The "best" scenario for the Street is the one where no reform at all is passed and insurance stocks rise by 59% over the next 10 years. If stock prices for insurers rise by nearly 6% per year for ten years, you can be sure that will be directly correlated to a similar increase in premiums for you and me. That is if you are lucky enough to have insurance and no pre existing conditions. This is why the Street and insurers are spending millions on lobbyists and advertising campaigns trying to scare Americans into believing that the public option is some scary socialist or communist takeover. What they really fear is that "bear" scenario wherein their earnings are predicted to fall by 1%. Shameful! Here's a link to a Huffington Post article that contains the ACTUAL LEAKED GOLDMAN SACHS DOCUMENT.

whisper

Anthony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:50:15 +0000

Students Open Thread

Anthony — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:50:50 +0000

This is your opportunity to steer the conversation here. It is a free discussion page or "open thread" for the regular readers of the Allen School Online Blog. Sound off in the comments about anything you may have on your mind whether its about learning, career, pop culture, movies, recipes or anything you'd like to bring to the community. Ask your fellow bloggers for their advice about things. You can learn from and help this community of folks, each of whom is involved in the same educational and career pursuits as you are. Or, share with me, your humble blogmaster, some ideas of what you'd like to see here on front page posts.

mammogram

Anthony — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:28:27 +0000

HHS Dept Commissioned Study Says Regular Mammograms Only Needed After 50

Anthony — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:29:38 +0000

Sweeping new U.S. breast cancer screening guidelines are calling for an end to routine mammograms for women in their 40s and for women 50 to 74 they suggest a mammogram every other year. This controversial new guideline was handed down by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a group of nongovernmental experts convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review published literature and develop recommendations for the use of clinical preventive services. Coming on the heels of the controversial Stupak Amendment limiting coverage for abortions that was inserted into the House healthcare bill in the eleventh hour at the behest of Catholic Cardinals, this new guideline seems to many to be a part of a broader campaign to hack away at hard won womens' rights. Up until this newly released report by the USPSTF, the American Cancer Society's approved guidelines called for women to receive annual mammograms beginning at age 40. For many, the news seemed to support an emerging pattern of sacrificing womens' health issues in the name of passing healthcare. After all, you can be sure the health insurers are happy to avoid paying for a decade's worth of regular mammograms for every woman in America. While this is a logical assumption, I think it is an erroneous one. For one thing, the USPSTF is not a partisan agency. Click here for information on the USPSTF and you'll see they are not promoting any agenda other than to weigh currently accepted preventative practices from all sides. Why is this necessary? The following quote from the Encyclopedia of Public Health kind of boils down the nature of such assessments:

"A recommendation to provide a preventive service establishes a policy that will apply to everyone. Airbags are a good example. All cars have them, yet very few people will have an accident in which airbags will function to save their lives. This situation is typical of most preventive services: The target condition occurs infrequently in healthy people. Therefore, many people are exposed to the risks of airbags for each person who survives an accident because of airbags. This example shows that a recommendation for a preventive service should have solid evidence that its benefits exceed any harms. This fact is the principal justification for convening experts to evaluate and using a systematic approach to this task."

It seems that the purpose of reviewing the recommended age to begin regular breast cancer screenings is to weigh the benefits of beginning such screening at age forty against the potential downside of such practice. Since the highest incidence of breast cancer begins in patients over 50 years old, the USPSTF is in essence saying that the risk to women younger than 50 is not sufficient enough to warrant screening through their 40s. In making its recommendations, the panel took into account the lower incidence of breast cancer in younger women and that screening younger women can lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies. In my opinion, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of the cure. So I fail to see what is gained by recommending women not be screened regularly at any age. The American Cancer Society agrees with me and they have not amended their recommendations in light of the new suggestions provided to Health and Human Services. What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.

senate-shield

Anthony — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:12:05 +0000

Senate HCR Bill Moves Forward Over Weekend

Anthony — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:12:14 +0000

Late Saturday night, the US Senate voted to allow debate over their draft of healthcare reform legislation to begin on the floor. This is another big hurdle that proponents of reform have overcome. The Senate version of the bill still contains some version of a public option. It will be interesting to see what amendments are added during the committee process. For supporters of reform who may be feeling that the reform has been too compromised and watered down, follow me over the fold for a great breakdown of what the current draft of the Senate bill includes for all Americans. Hat tip to blogger BlackWaterDog from dailykos.com for generating the list I quote below:

"1. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE - Reduces the donut hole by $500 and institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs, effective January 1. 2010. 2. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POLL) - Creates a temporary insurance program until the Exchange is available for individuals who have been uninsured for several months or have been denied a policy because of pre-existing conditions. 3. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE - Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. 4. ENDS RESCISSIONS - Prohibits insurers from nullifying or rescinding a patient's policy when they file a claim for benefits, except in the case of fraud. 5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENT'S INSURANCE - Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain in their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice. 6. ELIMINATES COST-SHARING FOR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES IN MEDICARE - Eliminates co-payments for preventative services and exempts preventative services from deductibles from the Medicare program. 7. IMPROVES HELP FOR LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES - Improves the low-income protection programs in Medicare to assure more individuals are able to access this vital help. 8. PROVIDES NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE - Prohibits Medicare Advantage plans from charging enrollees higher cost-sharing for services in their private plan than what is charged in traditional Medicare. 9. IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE ON PRICE GOUGING - Discourages excessive price increases by insurance companies through review and disclosure of insurance rate increases. 10. CONTINUITY FOR DISPLACED WORKERS - Allows Americans to keep their COBRA coverage until the Exchange is in place and they can access affordable coverage. 11. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM - Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled. 12. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES - Creates a $10 billion fund to finance a temporary reinsurance program to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64. 13. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS - Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. 14. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS - Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary doctors, nurses, and public health professionals."
Also included in the Senate version is language that would require all Congress to give up their current taxpayer subsidized health insurance plans and participate in the same exchanges that this legislation creates for all Americans. That really ought to ensure that our elected representatives make sure the deal is a good one. They'll be forced to use it too!

What are your thoughts about the legislation as it stands? Do you think the President will get a bill to sign before Auld Lang Syne? SOund off in the comments below.

Are you carrying cocaine in your pocket?

Donna.Atkins — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:47:11 +0000

A group of scientists from the University of Massachusetts tested banknotes from more than 30 cities in five countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, and Japan, and found what they termed "alarming" evidence of cocaine use in many areas. For the scary details, follow me over the fold. U.S. and Canadian currency had the highest levels, with an average contamination rate of between 85 and 90 percent which is nearly a 20 percent jump in comparison to a similar study conducted two years ago. The Chinese and Japanese currency had the lowest, between 12 and 20 percent contamination. Scientists and the government have known for years that paper money can become contaminated with cocaine during drug deals and directly through drug use, such as snorting cocaine through rolled bills. Contamination can also spread to banknotes not involved in the illicit drug culture because bills are processed in banks' currency-counting machines. The scientists did not test bills from New York but found that larger cities like Baltimore, Boston, and Detroit had among the highest average cocaine levels. Washington, D.C had the dirtiest bills with 95 percent of the banknotes sampled contaminated with the drug. The lowest average cocaine levels in U.S. currency appeared on bills collected from Salt Lake City. Cocaine adheres to the green dye on currency when someone uses it to snort the drug. Currency can also be contaminated when they come into contact with someone’s coke-laced hands.The drug then transfers onto clean bills in bank’s currency-counting machines or in people’s wallets or pockets. Despite the high percentage of cocaine-contaminated banknotes, the scientists pointed out that the amount of cocaine found on most notes was so small that consumers should not have any health or legal concerns about handling paper money. In other words, “you can't get high by sniffing a regular banknote, unless it was used directly in drug uptake or during a drug exchange. It also won't affect your health and is unlikely to interfere with blood and urine tests used for drug detection.” The scientists are not sure why tainted U.S. bills are up 20 percent, but suggest that “it could be related to the economic downturn, with stressed people turning to cocaine."

What do you think?

coke_dollars_0817

Anthony — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:01:12 +0000

thanksgiving

Anthony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:58:33 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Anthony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:59:13 +0000

What is your favorite part of the Thanksgiving tradition? This blogger LIVES for stuffing!

thanksgiving1

Anthony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:02:25 +0000

thanksgiving2

Anthony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:02:58 +0000

thanksgiving3

Anthony — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:05:26 +0000

black-friday-walmart

Anthony — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:02:16 +0000

Black Friday-Cyber Monday, Are You Spending?

Anthony — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:02:25 +0000

Today is "Cyber Monday" the Internet enabled, 21st Century equivalent to the post-Thanksgiving, dirt-world doorbusting shopping spree known as "Black Friday". The term black Friday, coined by retailers to describe the day after Thanksgiving, was so named because the deep discounts and sales they offered were supposed to draw enough consumers to the stores to enable retailers to recoup their investments into holiday inventory. This tsunami of Holiday season shopping was supposed to put the retailers' balance sheets into "the black" or positive territory. With the rise of e-commerce, there is now a second wave of shopping that begins (unfortunately for employers) on the Monday after Thanksgiving when many return to the office to "work" (read: shop online on the company's time). Online retailers put out their most attractive online sale prices of the year for Cyber Monday. But in this poor economic environment, are people buying? Are you? Follow me below the fold... Early reports from dirt-world retailers seem to indicate that sales have been strong over this first weekend of Holiday 2009 which is a welcome respite from last year's horrible sales season. Online retailers are holding their collective breath waiting to see if shoppers spend with the same fervor as they did in the brick and mortar stores on Black Friday. I for one believe that the overall holiday sales volumes for retailers will be nearly as miserable as they were last year. To my way of thinking, it would seem that Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales will be especially well trafficked this year because people really NEED the deep discounts these sales offer if they are going to be able to buy any gifts at all. With real unemployment above 15%, I don't think Americans have too much dough left to spend on non-essentials. Its just that we're so conditioned to consume at the holidays, it is hard for people to break the holiday consumption habit. But I suspect as the next weeks march on, the volume of sales will wither to a trickle. Once the early, deepest discounted sales of Black Friday and Cyber Monday have depleted the stores' stocks of loss leaders and "doorbuster" prices, I imagine the regularly priced goods will not be moving at such an impressive pace. IMHO, this will lead to another brutally poor year for retailers. I know, we are spending far less this year as a family. How about you? Are you planning to spend more than last year? Less than last year? About the same as last year? Or not at all? Sound off in the comments.

h1n1-vaccine

Anthony — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:56:51 +0000

Get Your H1N1 Vaccine NOW

Zippi — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:58:49 +0000

Guest Blogger - Zippi Dvash Asst. VP of Public Affairs Long Island College Hospital Young, healthy people don't get sick very often. But the flu is different. In fact, the difference between a little bit of fever and a flu is like the difference between a bird and a gorilla. This flu, the H1N1 virus, has claimed more young victims than any other in recent memory. So if you hadn't considered getting vaccinated before - think again. Follow me below to read why you ought to vaccinate and where you can get it today. Local pediatrician Stephen Turner, MD, who is affiliated with Long Island College Hospital, received sufficient quantities to vaccinate his patients with enough left over to promote community health. Come to his office on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd (see below for time and location) - children of all ages welcome! There is a $20 administrative fee.

Location: 185 Montague St., 4^th floor, Brooklyn

Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

No appointment is necessary.

Music Video Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

Anthony — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:39:33 +0000

Emily Somers created, directed and choreographed this awesome music video in Portland last week for her Medline surgical glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it. Follow me over the fold for a really groovy video... When the video passed the 1 million hits mark, Medline made a huge contribution to the hospital and offered free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer?

pink-gloves

Anthony — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:47:05 +0000

blood-drive

Anthony — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:29:08 +0000

This Holiday Season, Give the Gift of Blood!

Zippi — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:31:04 +0000

Guest Blogger - Zippi Dvash Asst. VP of Public Affairs Long Island College Hospital

Our blood supply needs constant replenishment, since the need for blood never takes a vacation. Statistics say that nine out of ten people will need blood some time in their lives and that one out of every ten hospital patients requires a transfusion.

Long Island College Hospital, in conjunction with the Brooklyn /Staten Island Blood Center will hold a blood drive on Monday, December 7^th, 2009. More information about times and locations after the jump.

TIME: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

PLACE: Avram Conference Center, Rooms C & D

Long Island College Hospital

339 Hicks St.

To donate blood, you must be between the ages of 17-75, weigh at least 110 pounds and have not donated blood within the last 56 days. Please bring a valid picture ID and know your social security number. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call Natasha Burke in the Community Affairs Department at (718)780-2860.

in-n-out-animal-style

Anthony — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:03:37 +0000

Vaccinated Burger With Cheese Anyone?

Anthony — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:04:37 +0000

According to the New York Times, the beef industry has initiated no less than 52 recalls of beef for contamination with E. Coli and other harmful bacteria. It seems like we hear stories with more startling regularity about how our food supply is inadequately monitored leading to sickness and death. Remember the tainted spinach last year? The deadly burgers from Jack in the Box the year before? Well, there are some interesting developments on the horizon that may make your double double "animal style" a little less likely to kill you. Follow me over the fold for the "meat" of this story (sorry, couldn't resist on a Friday afternoon). Large scale testing of a bovine vaccine to protect cattle against E. Coli is finally under way after bureacratic delays in Washington were swept aside. The New York Times reports: "In an effort to counter the threat, two vaccines have been developed commercially. One, made by a Minnesota company called Epitopix, received preliminary approval from the Agriculture Department in March, meaning it can be sold while research continues. Dr. James D. Sandstrom, general manager of Epitopix, said that about 300,000 head of cattle will get the vaccine in the coming months as part of a series of large trials. A second vaccine has been developed by Bioniche Life Sciences, a Canadian company. It was approved for use in Canada last year and is awaiting approval in the United States. Both vaccines spent years tangled in Washington red tape, largely because they straddle the border between animal medicine and human health. " Food poisoning from deadly strains of E. coli, mostly the O157:H7 variety, has become a recurring problem. The strain is responsible for an estimated 73,000 illnesses and 61 deaths across the country each year. Do you think the government is doing enough to ensure that food producers are doing enough to protect our food supply? Got a favorite burger joint to share with me? (As you can tell, this New Yorker MISSES In-n-Out Burger from California.) Sound off in the comments.

job-interview

Anthony — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:50:31 +0000

Avoid the Top 10 Job Interview Blunders

Anthony — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:51:16 +0000

Fortune Magazine and CNN Money recently put together a list of the top 10 blunders, screw-ups, missteps and SNAFUs made by candidates at employment interviews. The currently high unemployment rate has made it even more difficult than usual to land a job with about six job seekers for every available position. In normal economic times, there are about 2-3 seekers for every offered job. The list below the fold, adapted from the Fortune magazine list, was compiled by hiring managers from companies across a wide range of industry sectors. These are the folks who see hundreds of candidates each week. They see all kinds of applicants; the good, the bad and the ugly. Take their advice if you're currently seeking gainful employment. 10. Over-Explaining Why You Lost Your Last Job You can briefly explain that your last position was eliminated or downsized but don't go on and on about it. Focus instead on what you can do for this employer. 9. Demonstrating That You're Not "Over It" Hiring managers report that in some interviews, people act disgruntled, angry or sad. These emotions are to be expected after a layoff but they should be left outside of a job interview -- or you may come off as unstable and communicate that you don't grasp the business reasons for layoffs. 8. Lacking Personality, Humor or Warmth Anxiety about interviewing may lead a candidate to focus too much on getting their talking points across. They may come off as one-dimensional during interviews. Remember to show qualities that can be an asset to the decision-making process, including humor in good taste, warmth, and understanding. Besides your qualifications, interviewers are also sizing you up to see what it would be like having you around the place every day. 7. Not Interested or Enthusiastic Enough Companies want to hire people who are interested and engaged in the work and the industry. Don't go overboard or you may seem desperate. But do demostrate that you're interested and would be challenged by the work. 6. Insufficient Preparation - Research Your Potential Employer It's critical to be up to date with the latest company news, so be sure to Google the company ahead of your meeting. Have prepared well-informed, thoughtful questions about the company's products or services and its future plans. Not knowing enough about the company really shows in an interview. 5. Too Much Emphasis on What You Want Focus more on what the interviewer is saying. Listening carefully is crucial in steering the conversation toward how you would fit in and what you have to offer. 4. Trying to Be All Things to All People "Allocate most of your time in the interview to discussion what you know you do well. Don't try to "embellish" or oversell your actual qualifications. A good rule? Don't apply for any job unless you have at least 75% of the stated qualifications. 3. Don't Fake It. You won't make it! Many hiring managers report that candidates often aren't ready to answer difficult questions. So practice. Prepare and rehearse a 90-second oral resume, and some responses to possible quesries, so that you come across as succinct. 2. Failing to Differentiate from the Field of Candidates You have to make the most persuasive case possible for why you are the best person for the job. In particular, address what impact you can have on sales, profits, costs, or productivity within the next three to six months. Use quantifiable achievements from past positions to back up your performance promise. And the No. 1 "whoopsie" that most job hunters make according to hiring managers? 1. Failing to Ask For the Job If it has gone well and you are interested in the position, say so! Finish up the interview by recapping the assets you bring to the job, and ask for the opportunity to deliver results.

compromise

Anthony — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:11:34 +0000

compromise1

Anthony — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:12:09 +0000

The Compromise of the Compromise

Anthony — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:15:09 +0000

Late last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that a breakthrough deal had been reached on the contentious healthcare reform bill the President has been asking for. But have they compromised away the core of the reform in this bill? Did they deal away the part that really would have put some competition into the market to bring down the absurdly high rates people are faced with to maintain their coverage? Will it make an insurance option available to those for whom today's coverage is already priced beyond reach? The deal has not been disclosed in full detail. But according to Democratic sources, it essentially jettisons the government administered public option in exchange for a health insurance exchange which won't take effect until 2014 and for the agreement to allow people to buy into Medicare at age 55 instead of the current age 65 limit. This blogger's opinion is that this bill from the Senate does nothing to keep costs down. It does however mandate that all Americans buy some kind of insurance. And it shunts more older people into Medicare which will help the private insurers pay out less in benefits since younger people are typically in better health and make less claims. So who wins? I'd say the American public is getting the short end of the stick while the private insurers get a law that guarantees them a whole lot of new customers while simultaneously allows them to push more folks with real medical needs out the door. If you see it differently, sound off in the comments and let me know what your perspective is.

heartburn

Anthony — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:45:42 +0000

Don't Let Heartburn Hurt Your Holidays

Zippi — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:47:49 +0000

Guest Blogger - Zippi Dvash, Asst. VP of Public Affairs for Long Island College Hospital

Heartburn is a “burning” problem for over 60 million Americans each month. Recent surveys show that 66% of people experience heartburn symptoms after splurging on food and alcohol, such as the large meals, rich desserts and alcohol consumed around Christmas and New Year celebrations. Do you suffer from this problem? Follow me below the fold for some useful information.

“Over the years we have seen an increase in the number of patients complaining of severe heartburn, mainly triggered by excessive eating and drinking,” says Kirk Zachary, MD, a gastroenterologist at Brooklyn's Long Island College Hospital (LICH). “We recommend they reduce portions and spend extra time exercising – walk to and from the restaurant instead of driving or taking a cab.”

What Is Heartburn?

Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect the heart. It occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus (food pipe), causing a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. Most people experience heartburn after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours. The symptoms are hard to ignore.

“Heartburn is common, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about,” says Dr. Zachary. “Frequent heartburn, however, can be a serious problem, and it deserves medical attention, as it is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – a far more serious medical condition.”

What Triggers Heartburn

Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or when lying down. Simple medications such as aspirin can increase heartburn, as can everyday stress. The most common causes, though, are food and beverage. Dr. Zachary has created a list of foods and beverages that can aggravate heartburn symptoms:

Chocolate
Alcohol
Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated), caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks
Fatty foods, fried foods or spicy foods Onions
Red sauces such as ketchup and marinara sauce

How To Prevent Heartburn

In addition to reducing food intake at that special dinner with your loved one, Dr. Zachary also suggest the following prevention methods:

Don't overeat
Avoid deep-fried foods
Wait at least 2 to 3 hours after a meal before laying down. If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair.
Avoid tight clothes and tight belts.

“Over the counter medications such as antacids will take care of most heartburn,” says Zachary. “But the most important thing to love before the holiday is moderation.”

person-of-the-year

Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:21:24 +0000

TIME's Person of the Year

Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:21:38 +0000

This morning, managing editor for TIME magazine, Rick Stengel announced the short list of contenders for this year's TIME Person of the Year issue. As in the past, recipients of this recognition are not always recognized for good works. Sometimes they are recognized for the very damaging or disruptive actions they may have taken to propel themselves into the forefront of the collective psyche. Follow me over the fold for the list, my thoughts on each person named and the opportunity to share your thoughts. In no particular order: 1) Steve Jobs - Founder and CEO of Apple - A brilliant fellow who is responsible for my iPod Touch. IMHO a worthy recipient whose drive and creativity has impacted the way the world computes and listens to music. 2) Ben Bernanke - Head of the Federal Reserve Bank - A waste of oxygen who was either asleep at the switch while deregulation led to record Wall Street profits and the simultaneous collapse of the global economy or worse, was awake and complicit in the process; using his position at the helm of our banking system to enrich his former colleagues inside Goldman Sachs at the expense of just about everyone else in the world. IMHO he should be in line for a cozy prison cell for his ignorance/complicity, not Person of the Year accolades. 3) The Chinese Worker - One of the more esoteric possible choices for this year's award (like 2006 when TIME named "You" as the person of the year) this is a nod to the role played by the average Chinese worker whose ilk has just transitioned from an agrarian based society to an industrial based one as more and more Chinese enter the middle class by working to satiate Americans' unquenchable thirst for cheap crap at Walmart. IMHO not a truly compelling choice for person of the year. Even if it is 1 billion people of the year. 4) Nancy Pelosi - First Female Speaker of the US House of Representatives - A worthy candidate if for no other reason than for the gender barrier she broke by rising to this position. While I am a fan of Ms. Pelosi, her positions (mostly) and her politics, there are many on the conservative side who loathe and detest her. While I think those folks are wackos and reactionaries with very little basis of fact beneath their contemptuous arguments against her, IMHO, she is too polarizing a figure for the award. 5) General Stanley McChrystal - Leader of Allied Forces in Afghanistan - While I always have the utmost respect for those who serve their country in uniform, I think McChrystal is a flawed contender for two reasons. First, he has not shown much by way of success in Afghanistan to date. Granted it is a horrible mess and the last president allowed the Afghan conflict (the real source of 9/11 terrorism) to languish while he pursued conquest for oil riches or to avenge his father or whatever the insipid reason was for the war in Iraq. But secondly, I believe that General McChrystal has been working to undermine the civilian control of the military that our founders wrote carefully into the Constitution. His end run around the President, going to the media whining that Obama was taking too long to decide how to progress in this conflict, seemed too close to open insubordination for me. IMHO, he may be a great general, but he's not the Person of the Year. 6) Usain Bolt - Gold Medal Winning Jamaican Sprinter - I admire Olympic athletes and am always buoyed by the goodness of humanity that these games extract from our otherwise miserable species. But I am not sure why his athletic achievement is so much more noteworthy than anyone else's. IMHO, uplifting but an underwhelming choice. 7) Barack Obama - President of the United States - The first black president of these United States and for that reason alone is worthy of this recognition. However, just like the conferral of the Nobel Peace Prize, I feel like this recognition may be too premature. I am not really very happy with the extent to which Obama has delivered on his campaign promises of "Change". After all, we still have the fools who wrecked the economy in charge of the economy (see "Bernanke" above), we just escalated the war in Afghanistan, the healthcare bill has been compromised into oblivion and is now nothing more than a giveaway to the murderous industry that reform was supposed to rein in, the war criminals from the last administration who rewrote laws to legalize torture and spy on Americans were allowed to walk without answering for their crimes, and I could go on. IMHO, the jury's still out on whether Obama is a great president or just a great politician. So if I had to choose, I would probably go with Steve Jobs. I love my iPod! What are your thoughts on any or all of these contenders? SOund off in the comments. Don't forget to tune into the Today Show on wednesday when TIME's Person of the Year is announced.

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:22:23 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:23:35 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:25:30 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:07:44 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:10:48 +0000

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Donna.Atkins — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:47 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:25:51 +0000

Poem "Invictus" Inspires Movie

Donna.Atkins — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:26:28 +0000

There is a new movie out called Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The movie takes its title from a poem of the same name, "Invictus," the best-remembered work of British poet William Ernest Henley (1849-1903). Invictus is a Latin word meaning "unconquered," and the poem was written in 1875 as a demonstration of the poet’s resilience following the amputation of his foot due to tubercular infection. Freeman plays Nelson Mandela in the movie and the poem was recited by Mandela daily for motivation during the thirty years of his political imprisonment in South Africa. Click through to read more about the movie and the poem that was its inspiration. The movie revisits the time at which Nelson Mandela had been newly elected to president in a nation divided racially and economically in the wake of apartheid (a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and early 1994). Mandela felt that he could unite his people by rallying the country’s underdog rugby team and uniting people in the language of sports. In one scene of the movie, Mandela takes the captain of the rugby team played by Matt Damon to see the cell in which he was housed while in prison. It was during this scene that Mandela mentioned the poem to the captain and its impact upon him. Fascinatingly, a poem written to provide motivation for a poet a century prior provided motivation to a man who himself can be considered unconquerable! INVICTUS Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. -William Ernest Henley

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Anthony — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:46:53 +0000

Ben Bernanke TIME's Person of the Year

Anthony — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:47:20 +0000

So, TIME magazine has selected Ben Bernanke as their person of the year. Two posts down, I make my personal case for or against all the contenders. I wrote that I believed that Bernanke and others in the top echelons of the banking industry ought to be in prison for what they did to destroy the economy and the savings of so many average Americans; all while paying themselves record bonuses. I admit, I haven't yet read the issue to see what about this man was worthy of the recognition. Nonetheless, I doubt anything they write will change the contempt I feel for the man. How about you? What do you think of Ben Bernanke and his recognition as "Person of the Year"? Sound off in the comments.

pigs_trough

Anthony — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:40:30 +0000

Woefully Inadequate Healthcare Reform Bill Passes in Senate

Anthony — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:41:05 +0000

I am disgusted with the passage of the Senate healthcare "reform" bill over the weekend. Besides the inclusion of severe restrictions on womens' rights to abortions which sets back womens' rights by 25 years, it also passed without any public option or Medicare buy-in. What's left is a giveaway to the pigs at a trough that I like to refer to as the "death by spreadsheet" industry. Trying hard to believe the spin from Democratic leadership that this is an historic advancement and not a steaming pile of unmentionable garbage? Follw me over the fold for proof that the American people have just been royally screwed over. As I have been saying repeatedly in my past posts on the topic of healthcare reform, don't listen to the rhetoric from either side of the aisle. Instead, follow the money. Here are links to my past posts on this topic: Follow the Money http://blog.online.allenschool.edu/?p=292 Follow the Money Part Deux http://blog.online.allenschool.edu/?p=469 Follow the Money Redux http://blog.online.allenschool.edu/?p=537 All you need to know about whether or not the Senate's passage of their "reform" bill contains any real measure to lower the costs of health care for Americans can be derived from looking at the stock prices of the major insurers today after the passage of the bill this weekend. Aetna (AET) Today their stock is at its highest trading price of the year. Cigna (CI) Today their stock price is at its highest trading price of the year. Wellpoint (WLP) Today their stock price is at its highest trading price of the year. United Healthcare (UNH) Today their stock price is at its highest trading price of the year. If there was any chance that the "reform" passed by the Senate was going to rein in profits on this egregious industry, these stock prices would have been headed downward. Take any and all celebratory language emanating from Congressional Democrats with a huge grain of salt. Spin is spin. The stock market does not view the world through any lens besides the lens of profit and loss. Investors in aggregate understand that this sham of a bill does much more to boost the fortunes of insurers than it does to help the average citizen stay healthy or heal when sick (without going bankrupt). Plus, women get to lose more reproductive freedom. Contemptible!

mall-santa

Anthony — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:26:08 +0000

Mall Santas Report: Kids Want Socks This Year

Anthony — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:26:53 +0000

I am a reader/commenter on a number of social action blogs and other online communities. One of the best parts about blogging IMHO is that you get to really become a member of a community of people. As part of any community, you get to learn of the perspectives, thinking and experiences of other like minded folks. One recent peek into the actions of other Americans yielded a somewhat heart rending sign of the times in our United States. An informal inquiry of mall Santas uncovered the impact the poor economy has been having on children. Follow me over the fold for some of what Santa's Helpers have been hearing from the tots that cross their laps this year.

Here are some excerpts from interviews with Mall Santas: As a longtime Santa Claus at a suburban Chicago mall, Rod Riemersma used to jokingly tell children they would get socks for Christmas if they were naughty. This year, he stopped telling the joke. Too many children were asking for socks. "They've probably heard their parents say, 'Geez, I wish I had some money to get them clothes,' " says Mr. Riemersma, 56 years old. -- Wall St. Journal

Other things Mall Santas have heard from children across America...

Jim Lewis, a Santa at a Bass Pro Shop outdoor-goods store in Denver blanched when a blond girl in a red plaid dress recently asked for a pair of eyeglasses so she could see the classroom board. He recovered in time to motion over one of his elves, who told the girl's mother about the local Lions Club, which helps provide needy children with prescription glasses. _____________________________________________________

Sometimes even the best training can't keep Santa from being caught off guard. Mike Smith, who works as Santa at the Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio, says a 5-year-old girl wearing a Dora the Explorer sweat shirt last month hopped in his lap and asked, "Can you turn my daddy into an elf?" "Why?" he asked. "Because my daddy's out of work, and we're about to lose our house," she said. The girl's mother, standing by her little brother's stroller, burst into tears. ____________________________________________________

One 7-year-old boy recently asked for shoes. "Do you want Air Jordans?" Mr. Crais asked. The boy responded, "No, school shoes. My shoes have holes in them." Mr. Crais, a 67-year-old retired commercial artist, called over his photographer, who told the boy's mother about local charities. ______________________________________________________

"When we had the housing crunch, we saw, 'Please help us stay in our house,' " Mr. Brown says of the letters, which are forwarded to a nonprofit that works with charities in the children's hometowns. "This year, it's more job-related." I plan to purchase a few packages of children's socks to donate to a local church or charity. After all, as tough as things are for so many of us in this dark economic environment, there's no reason why any little ones in our midsts should be without something as basic as socks. I have also been helping collect new or gently used coats for One Warm Coat to distribute to the less fortunate. Check out their site here for more info on how to donate old coats. Does anyone else have a favorite charity or support group they'd like to share with our little online community during this Holiday season? Share in the comments.

2010-movieposter

Anthony — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:24:25 +0000

What Do We Call the Ending Decade?

Anthony — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:24:58 +0000

I was born at the beginning of the 70s. It was a time commemorated by super huge collars on orange paisley, polyester shirts and high heeled, white patent leather, zip-up boots for menfolk. We think of the Flower Power generation, Viet Nam and the Nixon years as the 60s. Gordon Gecko's "Greed is Good" ethos characterized the "Me Decade" known as the 80s and the 90s were the era of Bill Clinton, the OJ Simpson trial and Grunge Rock. So what do we call the first decade of the new millennium as we draw to the close of the 2000s? Follow me after the jump for some ideas and to leave some o' yer own! Seems odd that we have gotten through the entirety of the first decade of the new millennium without coming up with a moniker for it. Maybe we were too preoccupied with the large number of troubling challenges this past decade seemed to throw at us. 9/11, the ham handed, lie-us-into-war-with-the-wrong-country response of the Cheney Bush misadministration, Hurricane Katrina and the loss of New Orleans, Global Warming, erosion of civil liberties, banking crisis, housing bubble collapse, etc, etc. But we do need to settle on a handle for this decade, such as it was, so at least VH-1 will be able to make the next installment of their "I Love The 's" retrospectives. Some ideas for names I have seen whirling around the intertubes include: The Aughts The Aughties (or if you prefer, the Naughties) The Double Ohs The Zeroes (I like this one) Do you have any suggestions? Leave your ideas in the comments.

champagne

Anthony — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:19:39 +0000

Happy New Year From The Allen Online Blog

Anthony — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:20:06 +0000

Well, its time to break out the horns, blowers, and noisemakers. Crack open a bottle of Champagne and reflect on the year that was. Auld Lang Syne to you from your favorite online education blog. We'll see you here next year!!! Have a safe and happy New Year!

aids080

Anthony — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:52:34 +0000

Obama Lifts AIDS/HIV Immigration Ban

Anthony — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:53:13 +0000

It was announced today that President Obama has reversed a deeply immoral and perverse policy that has been in effect for the last 22 years. For the last two decades, if you had AIDS or HIV, you were precluded from entering the USA. This neanderthal policy, according to Obama, was at odds with our efforts at becoming thought leaders in the fight against HIV. In light of advancements in treatment of HIV and AIDS it was even more silly for the US to continue the ban. It kept us in the company of notoriously regressive countries like Saudi Arabia and Libya. I support this change. How do you feel about this? Sound off in the comments.

How And Where Did Kennedy Die? Your answer may provide insights into how you fit into the new workplace.

Donna.Atkins — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:56:25 +0000

In the current job market, there are four different generations working, the first time in American history that this is the case. Each generation has a different way of communicating and different values and expectations.

According to Greg Hammill, a human resources specialist, there are distinct attitudes, motivational "buttons," behaviors, habits and expectations identified within each generational group. Research has revealed that individuals communicate based on their generational background. Generational differences can affect hiring, the building of teams, motivating and managing people and, ultimately, increasing productivity. Generational differences can also result in misunderstandings, employee turnover, problems in attracting good employees and keeping employees loyal. Learning how to communicate with the different groups can eliminate a great deal of confrontations and misunderstandings in the workplace. Follow past the jump for profiles of the four generations sharing the modern workplace.

Some of the characteristics of the four generations as described by experts in the field, including Greg Hammill, are included in the breakdown over the fold:

Veterans, Traditionalists: 1922-1945 – value hard work, respect authority, believe in "duty before fun," work individually, desire specific requests for work to be done, look for handwritten notes

Baby Boomers: 1946-1964 – workaholic, competitive, feel that workers should "pay their dues," crusaders for causes, question authority, team players, curious, goal oriented, loyal, you can call them "day and night"

Gen Xers: 1965-1980 – improve efficiency, ambitious, inventive, individualistic, optimistic, skeptical, independent, resourceful, challenge others, able to balance work and family, technologically adept, adapt well to change, eager to learn new skills, celebrate diversity

Gen Yers: 1981-2000 – tolerant, goal oriented, multi-tasking, participative, seek meaningful work with other bright, creative people, like teamwork, feedback and technology, do not want any meetings at all, only communicate via email and voice mail

To demonstrate how one’s generation makes a difference, Hammill suggests that we think about how someone from each generation might respond when asked to recall where they were when Kennedy died. Veterans and Baby Boomers might say, "Gunshots in Dallas, Texas." Gen Xers might recall an airplane crash near Martha’s Vineyard. Gen Yers might even say, "Kennedy? Kennedy who?"

Good business is based on understanding others. Along with problems in the workplace that are the result of global competition, downsizing, greed, etc., are the problems inherent in generations colliding. A good manager is aware of generational differences and can help individuals modify their message for maximal effect, no matter what the task may be.

Many of us think that the only way, the right way, is our way which, of course, is not true. In business – as well as in our personal life – one needs to understand generational characteristics and how to use them correctly in dealing with each person as an individual, keeping an open mind to alternative opinions and ideas.

To begin to understand how different people act and react, we must first begin with understanding ourselves. Take a moment to identify which generational category you fit into and then see if you can identify generational characteristics of others in your workplace or family and see if you have a better understanding of them, now that you know about generational differences.

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Anthony — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:04:13 +0000

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Anthony — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:45:51 +0000

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Anthony — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:46:54 +0000

Move Your Money - Beat The Greedy Bankers

Anthony — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:47:33 +0000

I don't know about you, but I am disgusted with the banksters on Wall Street who wrecked the economy while laughing all the way to their Swiss Bank accounts with our tax-funded bailout money. Then, after all we as taxpayers did to save their entire industry, they thanked us by jacking up credit card rates and lowering limits. Even on some credit cards where I had never made a single late payment or carried any significant balance, the banksters jacked my interest rate to nearly 30%! If you have been similarly shaken down by these greedy weasels, I am happy to share with you a perfectly legal and very gratifying way to fight back. Interested? Follow me past the jump... The way to beat these predators is to take away the one thing they care about above all else - your money. But how you ask? Do what I did. I found a local credit union, became a member of the union and moved my checking and savings accounts there. Then, once I was a "member" I opened two new credit cards and transferred my balances from my Chase, Capital One and Citi (most of which had recently jacked my rates to anywhere between 22% to 30%) to the new Visa accounts from the credit union. My new cards had introductory rates of 1.9% and after six months they will reset to a much more manageable 6%. Credit unions are in operation in nearly every county in the US and they are NON-PROFIT. So I am no longer subsidizing ridiculous bonuses for people who have failed monumentally not just as bankers, but as humans. I am also no longer paying their extortion money ridiculous interest rates and punitive fees. Consider this short list of facts about credit unions.

They cannot charge higher than 15% APR on credit cards.
They typically provide between 15 and 25 days grace period for monthly payments. So if you miss the due date by a day or two, you don't pay the outrageous late fees or get automatically boosted to the usurious default rates the banks slap on you.
Credit unions are every bit as highly regulated as the banks are and deposits to Credit Union accounts are protected by the FDIC too.
Credit unions offer all the same types of financial products like auto loans, student aid, mortgages, retirement accounts, competitive auto insurance rates and more.
Credit unions are smaller, more grateful for your business and thus more responsive to their customers' needs.
Eligibility for credit union membership is often times very easy to meet requiring members to meet simple criteria such as "must live in a certain area" or "must be a student" or "must have a job in a certain field".
Credit unions are almost always affiliated with ATM networks providing members with convenient ATM services at many locations even if the union doens't have many branches.
There is much more to learn about the benefits of credit unions and community banking. Check out more info about it at: www.MoveYourMoney.info. Also see the Credit Union National Association website at: www.cuna.org.

This is an idea that has been recently gaining alot of steam as more and more Americans are realizing how we're being abused by the big national banks. Nothing feels better than knowing that they won't be making one more red cent from me now that I have voted with my feet and deprived them of their life's blood (my hard earned money). I strongly encourage everyone to do the research and if it is right for you, make the switch too. If you have questions, ask me in the comments and I am happy to help find the answers.

The Past Decade in Only Three Minutes-A Remarkable Video!

Donna.Atkins — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:18:14 +0000

The ABC-TV show, "Good Morning America," had a remarkable video recently that managed to overview the entire past ten years within three minutes. I was surprised by how many things I had forgotten about that were covered in the content and also surprised that we all survived the decade in light of all of the goings on. If you have not seen this video, you need to check it out and see how much you remember.

young-elvis

Anthony — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:14:33 +0000

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Anthony — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:14:55 +0000

I used to have a number of Elvis Presley LPs and 45's (you old folks know what those are) that I played on my little suitcase phonograph when I was a kid in the early 1970s. But, I was never a huge devotee of Elvis Presley until I stopped to visit Graceland, Elvis's home-turned-museum in Memphis during my third cross country trip; this time from California to New York in early 2003. The totality of his achievement in music and his impact upon popular culture is overwhelming when you see, first hand, the monumental display of his life's journey amassed in one place. A subsequent reexamination of all his music blew me up into a true believer. Alas the King is Dead - Long Live the King! Over the jump, enjoy a link to a fantastic slide show of a young Elvis on the cusp of superstardom in 1956, courtesy of Huffington Post. Enjoy! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/a-r-kara/amazing-photos-from-elvis_b_415316.html?slidenumber=0UUsNTv0d4g%3D&&&&&&&&&&&

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Anthony — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:15:48 +0000

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Anthony — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:14:17 +0000

Jobs Disappearing (But Not in Healthcare)

Anthony — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:15:02 +0000

An interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal discusses the likely permanent loss of jobs during the Great Recession of 2009. Obviously, fields closely related to the credit and housing bubbles at the root of the current recession - mortgage brokerages, financial industry, home building etc. - have shed jobs which may never return. Also, jobs in industries that can be automated by ongoing developments in IT - secretarial, mailroom, etc. - are also probably gone for good. Add to this mix, the increasing practice of offshoring tech-enabled jobs to emerging, low-cost labor markets like China and India and it becomes apparent that it may take years for the US to return to employment levels seen pre-recession in 2006. What was the one bright spot according to the US Labor Department? Jobs in the healthcare field. Training for service in the healthcare field puts you at the forefront of the career market for the next decade. Congratulations!

haiti-quake

Anthony — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:38:01 +0000

How to Help Haitian Earthquake Victims

Anthony — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:38:39 +0000

In the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake in the impoverished island nation of Haiti, some of the world's poorest citizens are dealt an ever more challenging hand than they had been faced with previously. With so little by way of resources in the best of times, folks in Haiti are now faced with having to rebuild whatever semblance of normalcy they might be able to regain with even less than the zero resources they had pre-quake. Follow me over the jump to a list of links to relief organizations where your help (either monetarily or voluntarily) is needed desperately. http://www.directrelief.org/ http://www.oxfam.org/en/getinvolved/donate http://doctorswithoutborders.org/ http://www.icrc.org/eng A great list of aid organizations courtesy of the Rachael Maddow Show A group that supports Haitian orphanages A Quaker Relief Organization Please do whatever you can to add to the international relief efforts for some of the least of God's children who are suffering beyond their fair share.

mlk

Anthony — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:50:21 +0000

President's Proclamation for MLK Day

Anthony — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:51:17 +0000

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., FEDERAL HOLIDAY, 2010

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., challenged our Nation to recognize that our individual liberty relies upon our common equality. In communities marred by division and injustice, the movement he built from the ground up forced open doors to negotiation. The strength of his leadership was matched only by the power of his words, which still call on us to perfect those sacred ideals enshrined in our founding documents.

"We have an opportunity to make America a better Nation," Dr. King said on the eve of his death. "I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land." Though we have made great strides since the turbulent era of Dr. King's movement, his work and our journey remain unfinished. Only when our children are free to pursue their full measure of success -- unhindered by the color of their skin, their gender, the faith in their heart, the people they love, or the fortune of their birth -- will we have reached our destination.

Today, we are closer to fulfilling America's promise of economic and social justice because we stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. King, yet our future progress will depend on how we prepare our next generation of leaders. We must fortify their ladders of opportunity by correcting social injustice, breaking the cycle of poverty in struggling communities, and reinvesting in our schools. Education can unlock a child's potential and remains our strongest weapon against injustice and inequality.

Recognizing that our Nation has yet to reach Dr. King's promised land is not an admission of defeat, but a call to action. In these challenging times, too many Americans face limited opportunities, but our capacity to support each other remains limitless. Today, let us ask ourselves what Dr. King believed to be life's most urgent and persistent question: "What are you doing for others?" Visit www.MLKDay.gov to find Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service projects across our country.

Dr. King devoted his life to serving others, and his message transcends national borders. The devastating earthquake in Haiti, and the urgent need for humanitarian support, reminds us that our service and generosity of spirit must also extend beyond our immediate communities. As our Government continues to bring our resources to bear on the international emergency in Haiti, I ask all Americans who want to contribute to this effort to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.

By lifting up our brothers and sisters through dedication and service -- both at home and around the world -- we honor Dr. King's memory and reaffirm our common humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2010, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service programs in honor of Dr. King's life and lasting legacy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

interviewdo

Anthony — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:59:11 +0000

15 Ways to Blow Your Job Interview

Anthony — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:01:59 +0000

This is an exceptionally funny look at some of the really stupid things people do or say at job interviews. Culled from professional recruiters, these are all things that actually happened and that should be avoided at all costs if you're lucky enough to land an interview in this tough employment environment.

wii-boxing

Anthony — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:22:58 +0000

Wii Fit. For Real?

Anthony — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:23:41 +0000

Well, I am a little late to the blog this morning because I have sore shoulders and elbows. I owe this soreness to the time I spent at the Wii Sports Resort over the weekend. We purchased Wii for our son this Christmas and it tripped my video game circuit which, while hardwired into every little boy, often switches off after about age 16 (right around the same time the driver's license/girls circuit switches on). Particularly, I found it viscerally gratifying to beat my video opponent mercilessly in Wii Boxing. After about 12 fights of three rounds each, I collapsed with heavy arms and a good sweat worked up, back onto the couch. Today, I am suuuuper sore. But is it really exercise? Follow over the jump for a report that answers the question. LA-based fitness professional Jill Brown has a post up over at the Huffington Post today about some of the testing she did on the Wii Fit. Wii Fit is the game and attachments Nintendo markets as actual, physical fitness-boosting games. Keep in mind, the boxing game I played is not for Wii Fit and is not really a "fitness" game per se. Yet, I still cannot decide who endured the worse beating. Me or my video sparring partner. Anyway, Jill Brown reports that the fitness value of Wii Fit is not commensurate with the real life fitness activities the game is designed to mimic. However, I feel like the amount of work my muscles did was significant (based on the relative level of soreness I now endure). Read Jill Browns article, "To Wii or Not to Wii" at Huffpo and then share your Wii experiences in the comments.

Great News If You Want A Job In Health Care...

JanetK — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:24:09 +0000

Great news for health care job seekers: According to an article written in The New York Times, health care employment has increased during the recession, while employment as a whole has declined. The article highlights that regardless of how the current health care reform ends up, industry jobs will likely remain abundant due to the aging population and technological advances in medicine. To access the entire article, click here.

newspaper

Anthony — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:36:25 +0000

taxes

Anthony — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:39:44 +0000

Take Advantage of New Tax Deductions This Year

Anthony — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:40:55 +0000

Ahh, a new year has begun and that means the new tax season is upon us. Like many, you may wait until the April 15th IRS deadline for filing. But this year, there are a range of new tax deductions and credits available to students, drivers, homeowners and home buyers. With so much of your money at stake, it may be a good year to start a little early on your taxes so you can spend some time investigating if you're eligible for any of the new credits or deductions available to taxpayers this year. Did you buy a new car? Are you a full time student? Did you replace appliances, windows or other energy saving items in your home? Do you have children? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is new information available that can help you make your return fatter. Click here for a good list of all the new credits and deductions.

Monday Funnies

Anthony — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:07:14 +0000

Is it Monday again? Ugh. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by school, work, life, etc. take a second out for a quick chuckle. Life cannot be so overwhelming when you consider that someone spent a considerable amount of time teaching this elephant to play basketball.

clock

Anthony — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:51:25 +0000

Time Management Strategies Essential to Work/Study Balance

Anthony — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:52:19 +0000

Developing time management skills, like any other worthwhile endeavor, requires planning and then lots of practice. But the benefits of mastering your own schedule can be felt in all areas of your life; personal and professional. The overall point of focusing on time management is to become more aware of how you use your time and break your days up between work, study, family, social activities and sleep. Follow me past the jump for some ideas on how to begin the process and practice of better time management. The strategy for deriving better time management skills is courtesy of Study Guides and Strategies' Joe Landsberger. First: try this exercise in time management: How do you spend your time each day? Strategies on using time: These applications of time management have proven to be effective as good study habits. As we go through each strategy, jot down an idea of what each will look like for you: Blocks of study time and breaks As your school term begins and your course schedule is set, develop and plan for, blocks of study time in a typical week. Blocks ideally are around 50 minutes, but perhaps you become restless after only 30 minutes? Some difficult material may require more frequent breaks. Shorten your study blocks if necessary—but don’t forget to return to the task at hand! What you do during your break should give you an opportunity to have a snack, relax, or otherwise refresh or re-energize yourself. For example, place blocks of time when you are most productive: are you a morning person or a night owl? Jot down one best time block you can study. How long is it? What makes for a good break for you? Can you control the activity and return to your studies? Dedicated study spaces Determine a place free from distraction (no cell phone or text messaging!) where you can maximize your concentration and be free of the distractions that friends or hobbies can bring! You should also have a back-up space that you can escape to, like the library, departmental study center, even a coffee shop where you can be anonymous. A change of venue may also bring extra resources. What is the best study space you can think of? What is another? Weekly reviews Weekly reviews and updates are also an important strategy. Each week, like a Sunday night, review your assignments, your notes, your calendar. Be mindful that as deadlines and exams approach, your weekly routine must adapt to them! What is the best time in a week you can review? Prioritize your assignments When studying, get in the habit of beginning with the most difficult subject or task. You’ll be fresh, and have more energy to take them on when you are at your best. For more difficult courses of study, try to be flexible: for example, build in “reaction time” when you can get feedback on assignments before they are due. What subject has always caused you problems? Achieve “stage one”--get something done! The Chinese adage of the longest journey starting with a single step has a couple of meanings: First, you launch the project! Second, by starting, you may realize that there are some things you have not planned for in your process. Details of an assignment are not always evident until you begin the assignment. Another adage is that “perfection is the enemy of good”, especially when it prevents you from starting! Given that you build in review, roughly draft your idea and get going! You will have time to edit and develop later. What is a first step you can identify for an assignment to get yourself started? Postpone unnecessary activities until the work is done! Postpone tasks or routines that can be put off until your school work is finished! This can be the most difficult challenge of time management. As learners we always meet unexpected opportunities that look appealing, then result in poor performance on a test, on a paper, or in preparation for a task. Distracting activities will be more enjoyable later without the pressure of the test, assignment, etc. hanging over your head. Think in terms of pride of accomplishment. Instead of saying “no” learn to say “later”. What is one distraction that causes you to stop studying? Identify resources to help you Are there tutors? An “expert friend”? Have you tried a keyword search on the Internet to get better explanations? Are there specialists in the library that can point you to resources? What about professionals and professional organizations. Using outside resources can save you time and energy, and solve problems. Write down three examples for that difficult subject above? Be as specific as possible. Use your free time wisely Think of times when you can study "bits" as when walking, riding the bus, etc. Perhaps you’ve got music to listen to for your course in music appreciation, or drills in language learning? If you are walking or biking to school, when best to listen? Perhaps you are in a line waiting? Perfect for routine tasks like flash cards, or if you can concentrate, to read or review a chapter. The bottom line is to put your time to good use. What is one example of applying free time to your studies? Review notes and readings just before class This may prompt a question or two about something you don’t quite understand, to ask about in class, or after. It also demonstrates to your teacher that you are interested and have prepared. How would you make time to review? Is there free time you can use? Review lecture notes just after class Then review lecture material immediately after class. The first 24 hours are critical. Forgetting is greatest within 24 hours without review! How would you do this? Is there free time you can use? Review your ten applications above. Select one, and develop a new study habit. Try something you have a good chance of following through and accomplishing. Nothing succeeds like a first successful try!

jobs

Anthony — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:13:28 +0000

Top 10 Places to Get Ahead

Anthony — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:14:06 +0000

Forbes Magazine did some interesting research on what areas of the US are best positioned for growth. They compiled a list of the top 10 locations for jobs, income growth and quality of life. With so many major cities taking a beating in this near-depression, the landscape has changed dramatically in terms of where the best prospects are for job seekers. Cities that used to be known for excellent prospects like San Francisco, San Jose, Atlanta and others are no longer at the top of the list. Many of the cities and towns on Forbes' new list are not even places you may have heard of. If you're about to finish studies and are looking for a great place to live and work, check this list out here.

SPORTS-US-NFL-SUPERBOWL-BREES

Anthony — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:21:55 +0000

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees shares a moment with his wife Brittany as he holds the Vince Lombardy trophy after his team defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the NFL's Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Florida, February 7, 2010. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Perseverance - Drew Brees, the Saints and You

Anthony — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:23:22 +0000

[caption id="attachment_803" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Drew Brees of the Saints Celebrates SuperBowl Win w/ Wife and Son"][/caption] Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on their epic Super Bowl win yesterday. There was a lesson in perseverance to be learned through the remarkable achievement of Saints' quarterback Drew Brees. In short, the lesson Brees's story teaches is to never give up working toward your dreams, no matter what the obstacles. Follow me over the fold for the story. Drew Brees worried his career was over after sustaining a significant injury to his throwing arm at the end of the 2005 season. Several clubs were not confident in his ability to recover and offered him less than he knew he was worth. But Brees kept his eyes on the prize. Some history on how Brees wound up in New Orleans courtesy of Wikipedia:

"In the last game of the 2005 season against the Denver Broncos, Brees injured his shoulder while trying to pick up his own fumble after being hit by Broncos safety John Lynch. Denver tackle Gerard Warren hit Brees while he was on the ground, causing the injury. Brees underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder on January 5, 2006. Subsequent reports mention additional rotator cuff damage. Brees was selected as first alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl team for the 2005 season. He would have played in his second consecutive Pro Bowl due to the injury to starter Carson Palmer, but his own injury dictated that the AFC Pro Bowl roster would have to be filled by second alternate Jake Plummer. After the season, the Chargers offered Brees a 5-year, $50 million contract that paid $2 million in base salary the first year and the rest heavily based on performance incentives. Brees took the incentive-based offer as a sign of no confidence by the Chargers and promptly demanded the type of money a top 5 "franchise" quarterback would receive. After the Chargers refused to increase their offer, Brees met with other teams. The New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins were interested. New Orleans made an offer that included $10 million in guaranteed money the first year and a $12 million option the second year. Miami was unsure if Brees' shoulder was completely healed and did not offer the money Brees was seeking. The Dolphins ended negotiations and traded for Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper instead. Brees signed a 6-year, $60 million deal with the Saints on March 14, 2006."

And the rest as they say was history. Drew Brees never lost faith in his own abilities. He stuck to his plan and found the best possible venue for his talents. He went from being someone whose career was supposed to be finished, to a national champion. The object lesson here is that no matter what career setbacks you may have sustained, you have chosen the right place to bring your talents. The Allen School Online and the medical billing and coding industry is where you can really apply your innate abilities and grow to your highest potential. It wasn't easy for Brees and it will often be difficult for you. But those who achieve the highest level of success always credit perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds in helping them to overcome and succeed.

medical office

Anthony — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:34:47 +0000

Surge in New US Medical Schools is a Positive Indicator

Anthony — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:36:40 +0000

The New York Times reported over the weekend on an imminent surge in new medical schools to open in the US this year. From that article:

"The proliferation of new schools is also a market response to a rare convergence of forces: a growing population; the aging of the health-conscious baby-boom generation; the impending retirement of, by some counts, as many as a third of current doctors; and the expectation that, the present political climate notwithstanding, changes in health care policy will eventually bring a tide of newly insured patients into the American health care system. If all the schools being proposed actually opened, they would amount to an 18 percent increase in the 131 medical schools across the country."

For some perspective on the significance of this development, follow me past the jump. What does this mean for you, a student of medical billing and coding? The implication is clear. That convergence of forces the Times referred to will ripple down through the entirety of the medical industry. More patient need means more doctors are needed. More doctors needed means more medical schools opening to accommodate that need. It also means many more physician's offices and practices will be coming online in the ensuing years. This all translates into more job openings in the field of medical billing and coding to keep up with the growing demand for healthcare. Do you have any friends or relatives who are also working toward careers in the health care field? Share with us in the comments.

credit-cards

Anthony — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:17:37 +0000

Know the New Credit Card Rules

Anthony — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:17:54 +0000

If you're like me, you probably rely on credit cards to some degree to plug gaps in cash flow between paychecks. Most Americans are in the same boat. US banks have been taking advantage of Americans' reliance on credit though downright usurious and predatory practices designed to juice as much money as they can from their customers through sneaky fees and unrealistic rules. Finally, Congress took some legislative steps to rein in the worst of these abuses and passed the the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. It takes effect on February 22, 2010. As you might expect, the credit card companies have been finding new and creative ways to sidestep these restrictions on their ability to rape their customers. Read this article at DailyFinance.com to acquaint yourself with the new rules and to learn how to avoid the banksters' new methods for fleecing you. Also, as I wrote about in an earlier post, consider moving your credit accounts away from Wall Street companies and into local, community banks and credit unions. Visit www.moveyourmoney.info for more info on how and why to do this.

10 Common Reasons People Get Fired! (A few are downright laughable, but people actually do things like this!)

Donna.Atkins — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:25:35 +0000

Some of the reasons people lose their jobs can appear to be taken from the routines of stand up comedians. Unfortunately, they are truly nothing to laugh at. I have isolated what appear to be things that play a great part in employer decisions to fire certain employees. Any single one on the list is a major no-no and one would think that each of them is really a no-brainer. When it comes to getting fired, the reasons are usually pretty common, and not always within the employee’s control. People get terminated for reasons such as company reorganizations, company financial setbacks , downsizing and other unexpected company problems. There are, however, plenty of reasons that people get fired that are not related to the company’s troubles, but to shortcomings on the part of the employee. Check out the list after the jump and see if you find some of them as amusing and incredible as I do. If you know of any other reasons people can get fired, post a comment to add to my list: 1. Forgetting to take a bath. Each of us has had the terrible misfortune to have sat next to someone who has poor hygiene, whether on public transportation, or in the workplace. The offender may appear to be oblivious to the “assault” on co-workers. Clearly, employers and co-workers are not oblivious to it and it definitely impacts on job retention. It is necessary to bathe daily and use whatever personal products that will keep you fresh during the long workday. 2. Talking negatively about anyone - especially the boss. In the workplace, speaking negatively about anyone is a major mistake as it will invariably get back to the person of whom one speaks. Speaking negatively about the individual who signs your check is on or close to the top of the list when it comes to being selected for termination. Workplace information passes at lightning speed. It is essential to keep negative information out of the office “information pipeline.” 3. Drinking on the job. Drinking any sort of alcoholic beverage is absolutely not acceptable in the workplace or during the workday. It impairs judgment, slows down productivity, can make you short-tempered, unreasonable, depressed and overly emotional. It is inadvisable to drink at any juncture of a business day, on your lunch hour or at business lunches, even if offered by one’s employer. 4. Sleeping at one's desk on a regular basis. Baby up all night? Someone snoring? Financial problems preventing sleep? These are legitimate reasons for being very tired when arriving at work. There are, however, no possible legitimate reasons for sleeping on the job, no matter what the personal circumstances. It is preferable to lose a day’s work to stay home and catch up on rest than to be showcasing oneself in such a compromised, unacceptable and truly unforgettable manner in a professional environment. The employer hires a worker to do a job. Sleeping is, in essence, taking money in exchange for a day’s work and then not delivering the work and one of the most clear cut reasons one can possibly provide to an employer for terminating employment. 5. Coming in late and leaving early. If one is chronically late and repeatedly leaving early, they may feel that it goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, they are incorrect. It surely is noted by co-workers and will be used at some point to discredit that person at a time, perhaps, when they are seeking a promotion, a raise, a special favor. This insidious form of stealing time multiplies on a daily basis and accumulates many hours of diminished productivity. 6. Complaining about the job. If one doesn’t like one’s job, it is recommended that they quit or that they keep that information to themselves. Once someone has agreed to take a job, they have entered into an agreement, irrespective of whether they have it in writing or not. They have made a tacit arrangement to accept payment for services rendered. If one cannot render the services in good faith and feel compelled to disparage the employer, the company, co-workers, patients, clients or customers, they are committing an act of irresponsibility, at best, and being unethical, at the very worst. 7. Falsifying information on a job application. Remarkably, this is a common occurrence and, given the global nature of the internet, one likely to backfire, sooner or later. It makes sense to provide honest information across the board, in terms of resume, job application, interview and on-the-job. No one wants to destroy their personal credibility with a lie that can come back to haunt them. 8. Conducting personal business at work. The average worker, according to a new survey by America Online and Salary.com, admits to wasting 2.09 hours per an 8-hour day, not including scheduled break times and lunch. Surprisingly, accordingly to a poll of 10,000 people, the older an employee is, the less amount of time wasted on the job. (Those born from 1930-1949, waste 0.50 hours a day at work, as opposed to those born from 1980-1985, who waste 1.95 hours a day on personal activities.) Those who are likely to retain employment would clearly be those who fall into the lowest end of the spectrum in relationship to time spent on non-work-related tasks. 9. Talking too much or gossiping. Employers take great issue with troublemakers and the surest way to be labeled a troublemaker is to be a gossip. Office politics have always existed and always will. Those who stay out of the line of fire, by being unwilling to carry stories from one person to another, no matter what the temptation, will protect their own reputation and keep out of the line of fire, so to speak. Getting involved in gossip is a sure-fire way to come under scrutiny by one’s employer and set oneself up for possible termination when cutbacks are necessary. 10. Sharing confidential company information.Whether or not instructed to keep company information private, it goes without saying that all information about one’s employer and the company are considered to be confidential. Not only is company information confidential outside of the business, it is also confidential within the various departments. It is a given, although a frequently unspoken rule, that one keeps all information obtained in the workplace as confidential, even after ending employment, either voluntarily or involuntarily. With the HIPPA laws in the medical field regarding patients’ privacy, it is also a natural progression to keep all information about one’s company and employers and co-workers under one’s hat.

bad employee

Anthony — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:14:17 +0000

Resume-Tee

Anthony — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:20:27 +0000

10 Resume Red Flags

Anthony — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:21:20 +0000

With unemployment high and so many candidates competing for so few positions, the strength of your resume is even more important than ever. I found this great breakdown of "don'ts" at Investopedia.com a great site for info on basic economic concepts and financial information. While we have done resume posts in the past, this list really gets into some of the mistakes folks have been making lately in their attempts to make their resume stand out against the sea of resumes that recruiters are swimming in.

Speaking 1,000 Words Without Opening One's Mouth...the remarkable aspect of nonverbal communication.

Donna.Atkins — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:23:00 +0000

In Argentina, the “thumbs up” and “okay” gestures we use regularly in America are considered to be really vulgar. In Cambodia, it is bad manners to meet the eyes of someone who is older than you. In Turkey, people routinely stare - at foreigners and at each other! In China, winking is considered to be highly offensive. In India, it is expected that one will allow an arm’s length of distance from another in conversation, to provide personal space. Similarly, in Britain. In Mexico, however, people who converse stand very close to one another as do people in Russia and backing away appears rude. In Thailand, a nod doesn't mean “yes,” but is merely a sign of respect. In Japan, one must point with the entire hand, as pointing with the index finger is rude. One of the most sought after transferable skills (a skill that can be taken from one job to another) for those who work in the medical industry, is the ability to perceive nonverbal messages. It is through nonverbal messages that people communicate their real feelings and their intentions become evident. Although we communicate through the spoken word, it represents only a marginal percentage of how we get a message across. We also send and receive signals using facial expressions, body language, gestures, and with our body posture and the distance we stand from others. These signals are read and interpreted, irrespective of our words. Understanding the body language of others provides an invaluable tool for those in the medical profession. Complicating the issue are the various interpretations of body language and gestures from country to country and the need for medical professionals to be culturally aware as they deal with patients from other countries. Just speaking a foreign language is not sufficient in terms of communicating with these patients, because there are additional cultural meanings being interpreted through nonverbal messages in body language and facial expression. One pretty much universal nonverbal message, however, is conveyed with a smile. Humans usually evidence happiness, amusement or pleasure by smiling. Studies have demonstrated that smiling is used as a way of communicating emotions all around the world. One study (Bernstein, et al., 2000) discovered that emotions are influenced by the faces we make. Persons instructed to make an angry face actually experienced increased blood flow to their hands and feet. In another study (Davis & Palladino, 2000), people reported more favorable impressions of others when they themselves were asked to smile. So, when you are unsure as to the cultural mandates of nonverbal communication with patients from countries around the globe, make sure to smile frequently. It may not only lift their spirits, but it may improve your own!

Dems Prepare to Pass Healthcare Reform

Anthony — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:29:58 +0000

After the President's televised, bi-partisan forum on healthcare reform, it still seems as if little has changed in terms of bipartisan support of reform efforts. Republicans still hew to their position that Democrats in the majority ought to start over from scratch after 60 years of debate and the last year of contentious debate on the Hill. This is a ridiculous assertion given the decades of debate that have been dedicated to this single, very important issue. It seems that the President held the forum specifically to give the minority Republicans the opportunity to take part in serious compromise discussions, offering to include tort reform - long a Republican issue - in the package. What has become clear is that the Republican party (and to some degree democrats in the Senate as well) are under the thumbs of a powerful insurance lobby that doesn't want anything to stand between them and the record profits they've been reaping by boosting premiums and cutting service. So it looks like the Dems are finally preparing to go it alone. Kudos to Obama for trying to seriously engage the minority in the planning. To their credit, the Republicans have done an excellent job spreading disinformation about the bill. However, when polled piece by piece, a plurality of Americans like and support the bill. What are your views? Do you think the President is doing the right thing? Sound off in the comments. (Posted by remote from family vacation in Miami. Limited internet access precludes images.) Full scale blogging to resume Wednesday March 3rd.

Privacy Concerns When Submitting Online Applications For Employment

Donna.Atkins — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:20:30 +0000

Sooner or later, most people will have to apply for a job online. The number of employers who utilize the online application method to find the best people continues to grow. Some people feel that the online application process limits their ability to showcase particular skills and stand apart from the competition. It really does not have to be that way. Here are some suggestions on how to use the electronic application process in an effective manner. 1. Do not be hesitant about providing your ethnicity, as information about it usually goes into a database that tracks sources of diversity, not directly to the recruiters. 2. It is okay to omit providing your year of college graduation, if you believe it would be used to eliminate you for age reasons. 3. Regarding your Social Security number, according to the Wall Street Journal, companies usually ask for it in order to do background checks when and if they are seriously considering you. Requesting them at the application stage is threatening to your privacy. They suggest that you leave it blank, if the system allows, or fill it in with a made-up number. You must, however, let the company know in your cover letter, that you supplied a false number because you are concerned about your privacy and that you will be happy to provide the real number later on in the process. The Wall Street Journal reports that a poll of attendees at a seminar for company HR and staffing professionals revealed that none of them had any objection to candidates supplying fictitious Social Security numbers on electronic job applications. 4. Including remarks in the comments section may be a way in which you can stand apart and show that you have done your homework and that you have researched and know something about the company. 5. Modify your information to tailor it to the specific position you seek. Don’t use generic information. Include statistics/numbers if you have them. For example: Processed 150 orders an hour; handled more than $10,000 each 8-hour shift; managed crew of ten agents at 3 locations, etc. 6. Use words and phrases from the ad, key words, industry terminology and buzz words. Employers who use online application methods search key words. 7. Be certain to complete all fields. You might even include ones that are not required. The only exceptions might be as stated above, the ones that require your Social Security number and date of college application. 8. If you are asked to attach your resume or paste it into the application, make sure it can make the transition via a very simple format. Fancy text, italics, bold and bullets do not convert ideally in an electronic application. Because a growing number of employers scan paper resumes into online systems, even if you are not required to apply online, your information may end up in the same place as if you had applied online. Therefore, keep your format as simple as possible, whether or not you are applying online. 9. If it allows, perform spell/grammar check of your application before you submit it. Make sure to submit a perfect, error-free application because the employer is judging you from the get-go.

thumb_up

Anthony — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:54:50 +0000

reid-obama-pelosi-0713-larg

Anthony — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:56:24 +0000

privacy

Anthony — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:58:20 +0000

small town

Anthony — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:32:33 +0000

Best Affordable Suburbs in the US

Anthony — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:33:08 +0000

Finishing studies and embarking on a new career is often accompanied by a move to a new city where one hopes to find good availability of jobs in the field they've chosen. However, beyond the availability of work, there are many other considerations to be made about where to live. In year's past, many of the "Best Places to Live" lists published by numerous magazines were focused on such things as access to luxury amenities; golf courses, nice restaurants, etc. Today, the calcuations are much more focused upon things like affordability and quality of life issues like schools and crime rates. This is why the recent "Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010" article published in Business Week caught my eye. Follow past the jump to read the article. The Business Week article looked at communities within 25 miles of larger city centers and reviewed them for such things as livability (short commutes, low pollution, green space), education (well-educated residents, high test scores), crime (low personal and property crime), economy (high job growth, low unemployment rate, high family income), and affordability (median household income, cost of expenditures). Affordability was most heavily weighted in their calculations. They penalized places with bad weather, a lack of racial diversity, high divorce rates, and few children. If you're looking for a place to set up a new life after finishing your studies, this list provides some excellent options in towns you likely have not heard of. For those of you in the New York metro area, two of the ten listed towns are within 100 miles of NYC (one outside Newark, NJ and the other in PA).

spring ahead

Anthony — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:57:41 +0000

Springing Ahead - Winter Draws Near Close

Anthony — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:59:54 +0000

I know not all of our readers are located as I am in the Northeast. However, if the news reports have been even partly accurate, this Winter season has been one of the more brutal ones in recent memory. Snow totals in the Northeast have been on the high side of the spectrum and my relatives in Southern California have been getting more rain there than they see in five years combined. So it is with great anticipation that I await the 14th of March. This coming Sunday, March 14th, at midnight, we all set our clocks one hour ahead. While we lose one hour of sleep in the transaction, we gain one more glorious hour of evening sunlight to use outside, after close of business hours. That's one more hour to spend walking, studying, reading or washing the car. Of course, it is still probably too cold in many parts of the country to spend much of this extra daylight time out of doors. But rejoice! For the last day of Winter is not far behind this Sunday's "Spring Ahead". The Vernal Equinox happens on March 21. This marks the first day of Spring and not a moment too soon. I dreamed last night that we were taking to cover off the swimming pool. Can you tell I am ready for swimming and barbecues? How about you?

pizza1

Anthony — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:15:11 +0000

Taxing Soda and Pizza to Combat Obesity?

Anthony — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:16:31 +0000

This courtesy of Reuters today:

"CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down U.S. adults' calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds (2 kg) per year. The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday, suggested taxing could be used as a weapon in the fight against obesity, which costs the United States an estimated $147 billion a year in health costs."

We had written about this proposal once before here at the Allen School Online blog, when the proposed tax was put forth in New York State. Now it seems the idea has taken hold nationwide. I can sort of see the value in taxing sodas, which contain ungodly quantities of sugar in a single serving. I might suggest taxing all items that contain high fructose corn syrup (but that will never fly because our government pays huge subsidies to corn farmers to produce this deadly sugar.) Furthermore, soda is sold by all restaurants and groceries so a tax on soda would at least be equitably distributed across all foodservice and sales businesses. However, I draw the line of fairness at singling out pizza for additional taxation. What, do obese people not overeat fried chicken? Chinese food buffet? Ice cream sundaes? Why discriminate against pizzeria owners for this new tax? Eating pizza specifically is not the only driver of obesity. I could live with a soda tax,but to start singling out individual foods for additional taxation is a very bad idea. What do you think?

Banksters

Anthony — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:21 +0000

Banksters Feeling Pain from "Move Your Money" Campaign

Anthony — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:33 +0000

Back in January, the Allen School Online Blog featured a post called, "Move Your Money - Beat the Greedy Banksters". In that post, I outlined options for people disgusted with their treatment by big Wall Street banks who survived the economic collapse thanks to taxpayer bailouts only to jack up credit card interest and withhold loans for school and small business. In essence, I advocated for others to do as I and many others had; "voting with our feet" by closing accounts held with Citi, Chase, BofA and other biggies and reopening them with local community banks and credit unions. At the time, many doubted this small action would have any significant impact on the "too big to fail" crew on Wall Street. Follow me past the jump to see just how successful this idea has been. From the Huffington Post:

"Those who wonder whether public anger at big banks and the Move Your Money sentiment sweeping the country is substantial enough to impact these giants need only look at the banks' own marketing over the last few weeks to see the proof. In a spate of new advertisements and PR maneuvers, the nation's largest banks are working hard to win us back. They are, in effect, standing on our doorstep, flowers in hand, trying to convince us they've changed.

They're using words like "local" and "community," because they know quite well that there's a rival for our affections. A recent Zogby poll found that nearly one in ten Americans had moved at least some of their business to small banks or credit unions." Read the whole post here.

It would seem that there has been a significant amount of flight from the big banks. So much so that they are preparing to spend millions this year on advertising to burnish their tarnished reputations. But lest we forget, their advertising budgets are still dwarfed by the volume of cash they are preparing to spend on lobbyist efforts to kill any substantive financial regulation that would protect average Americans from the mal effects of the Banksters' activities which torpedoed the US economy in the first place. So I would urge everyone reading this to (if you haven't already) move your accounts to local banks or credit unions. More importantly, don't believe the banks when they say they've changed. They haven't. At least not yet.

Banksters

Anthony — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:39:09 +0000

hamburger u

Anthony — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:31:53 +0000

In Case You Were Worried...

Anthony — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:32:23 +0000

Have you ever had to defend your choice of online education to less than supportive family or friends? Clearly, the Internet has upended many existing paradigms such as how we shop, socialize and study. And while no one is suggesting that online studies are out of the mainstream, there is a certain newness to the practice of learning via the "tubes" that can raise the eyebrows of those more enamored of the orthodoxy of brick and mortar institutions of higher learning. If you find yourself having to defend what is clearly a very savvy choice on your part, the following photo slide show can provide you with some truly unorthodox educational choices you can offer to provide some perspective to your debate opponent. Follow me over the jump to learn more about such schools as Hamburger University and Clown College. Cannabis College? School of Clowning Arts? Corpse College? A university with FREE TUITION?!? Click here to see a slideshow courtesy of the Huffington Post on some of the world's kookiest colleges.

getaraise

Anthony — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:39:04 +0000

soda machine

Anthony — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:42:01 +0000

US Food Producers Getting Healthier

Anthony — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:42:23 +0000

Several days ago, Pepsico announced that it has agreed to cease sales of high-sugar beverages in soda machines inside schools across the US. The soft drink giant could no longer turn a blind eye to the direct correlation between its super sugary drinks and the epidemic of childhood obesity. While I am sure that they were not super enthusiastic about losing this significant (but not critical) piece of their market, I imagine they felt the negative publicity surrounding soda in schools and childhood obesity was more damaging to their bottom line than agreeing to stop promoting the fattening of our children. Following the Pepsico announcement, Kraft Foods announced that they would be cutting back the levels of salt used in the manufacture of many of their food products for sale in the US. A nod to the growing numbers of health conscious Americans, Kraft has agreed to be more responsible in the production of foods consumed by millions. They plan to eliminate 10 million pounds of salt from 1000 products over the next two years. That's alot of salt! I feel like I need a Pepsi to quench my thirst. LOL

Health Care Overhaul

Anthony — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:11:29 +0000

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California gestures during a press conference after the House passes health care reform in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sunday 21, 2010. Standing with Speaker Pelosi are Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, left, and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

10 Immediate Effects of Health Reform Bill Passed Last Night

Anthony — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:11:58 +0000

The following was posted by Congressman John B. Larson, Democrat from Connecticut after last night's historic passage of health insurance reform. As soon as health care passes, the American people will see immediate benefits. The legislation will:

Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions for children in all new plans;
Provide immediate access to insurance for uninsured Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition through a temporary high-risk pool;
Prohibit dropping people from coverage when they get sick in all individual plans;
Lower seniors' prescription drug prices by beginning to close the donut hole;
Offer tax credits to small businesses to purchase coverage;
Eliminate lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits on benefits in all plans;
Require plans to cover an enrollee's dependent children until age 26;
Require new plans to cover preventive services and immunizations without cost-sharing;
Ensure consumers have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal new insurance plan decisions;
Require premium rebates to enrollees from insurers with high administrative expenditures and require public disclosure of the percent of premiums applied to overhead costs.

By enacting these provisions right away, and others over time, we will be able to lower costs for everyone and give all Americans and small businesses more control over their health care choices.Crossposted on the House Democrat's blog Are you satisfied or mortified by the bill's passage? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

drive-thru-speaker-and-menu

Anthony — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:59:41 +0000

New Healthcare Law Requires Chain Restaurants to Post Calorie Counts

Anthony — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:59:50 +0000

According to a report by the Associated Press: WASHINGTON – A requirement tucked into the massive U.S health care bill will make calorie counts impossible for thousands of restaurants to hide and difficult for consumers to ignore. More than 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants will have to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and even drive-throughs. Read the whole article here. It may be a bit onerous for these restaurants to have to do this, but if you've ever seen those popular "Eat This, Not That" books and website, you know that often, seemingly "healthy" menu items can be worse than things that have a reputation for being "bad for you". In this blogger's opinion, this step is a positive one because it will help American's make more informed choices about what they eat. Dietary choices are behind so many of the leading illnesses in our society from obesity to cancer. The more info we have as a society, the better off we will be as we choose what to eat.

loans

Anthony — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:20:05 +0000

Obama to Sign Sweeping Student Loan Reform Today

Anthony — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:20:13 +0000

Lost among the overheated rhetoric of the recently concluded healthcare debate was the following piece of legislation of significant import to students everywhere. Tonight, the President will sign the legislation that effectively removes Wall Street banks from their position as middleman on all student loans. The largest rewrite of federal college assistance programs in four decades, the legislation makes the federal government the originator of these loans. Before the anti-big goverment people get all scared about "takeovers" consider the following after the jump. Up until today, the private banking industry (or as I like to call them, the Banksters) originated these education loans (for a fee) but the loans were guaranteed by the Federal government. This meant that if a student defaulted on the loan, the government repaid this money to the bank. So the banksters had a sweetheart deal. They were getting paid to lend to students but they were assuming zero risk because all losses were repaid by the govt. Under the new law being signed today, the Federal Government will originate the loans and they fees generated by this lending will be wholly reinvested into programs supporting higher education for the American public, such as the Pell Grant program. Half of undergraduates receive federal student aid and about 8.5 million students are going to college with the help of Pell Grants. Since the government was guaranteeing these loans before, there is no new role for the Federal government here. No "socialist takeover". Simply, the Obama administration and Democratic Congressional allies have removed the parasitic middlemen on Wall Street from the equation. Instead of those loan fees going to pad the already swollen bank accounts of Wall Street execs and the investor class, the fees are now being recycled back into the very educational programs from which they were generated; helping to guarantee the availability of monies for the next class of high school grads to enter into the realm of higher education. I cannot think of a better example of why government is necessary and how it is the solution to society's problems, not (as many have been fooled into believing) the problem itself.

FEAST_inout

Anthony — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:02:09 +0000

In-N-Out in NYC? - April Fools!

Anthony — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:06:02 +0000

In what has to be among the cruelest April Fools Day pranks I have seen in years, some practical jokers dressed up as In-N-Out Burger employees appeared in Manhattan's Union Square this morning. They had a printed banner saying that In-N-Out was preparing to open its first New York outlet. For those uninitiated, NYC-based Allen School Students, In-N-Out Burger is about the very best burger joint ever! There is no East Coast analog to speak of. (Shake Shack is good, but not in the same ballpark I am afraid.) But to give you Northeasterners a point of reference, it would be like telling a West Coaster that Famous Ray's Pizzeria (or insert your favorite NY pizzeria here) was planning to open up outlets in Los Angeles. Did you know there is no New York style pizza to be had in California? I spent 10 years driving thousands of miles around the Golden State without finding any decent pie. Anyway, now that my burger dreams are crushed, Allen School Online students in California and Nevada: Do me a favor. Go have a Double Double animal style and animal fries for me please! Oh and chocolate shake!!!

black%20hole_qjpreviewth

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:13:13 +0000

blackhole

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:14:06 +0000

bikini graph

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:54:32 +0000

bikini graph

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:00:35 +0000

Jobs: Turning the Corner

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:01:14 +0000

They say employment figures are a "lagging indicator" which is stock market speak for measurements that we look back on for perspective. That is, economic growth happens first, then employment picks up. This makes logical sense because obviously, companies don't start hiring before new business picks up. But once new orders come rolling in for all manners of products and services, companies scramble to hire in order to accommodate the increasing demand. This is why it is so heartening to see the following chart showing the employment figures over the last two years. Follow me over the jump for analysis. The graph above, courtesy of Washington Monthly's Steve Benen shows the collapse of the employment market that began in January of 2008 as we began to lose jobs. The bottom of the collapse seems to have happened in January of 2009. Since that time, the market has continued to shed jobs, but the clear trend is that those losses continued to slow and have recently turned into net gains. Since these kinds of trends are very incremental, it is highly improbable that they will reverse course. Even more exciting is that the recently passed health insurance reform will bring 36 million new patients into the medical system in short order. This spike in demand for medical personnel of every stripe will certainly mean a commensurate spike in hiring in this field. The trend is now, officially, your friend.

Update: Non-Manufacturing Jobs Up

Anthony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:25:13 +0000

April 5 (Bloomberg) -- Service industries expanded in March at the fastest pace since in more than three years, a sign the U.S. recovery is extending beyond manufacturing and starting to create jobs. The Institute for Supply Management’s index of non- manufacturing businesses, which make up almost 90 percent of the economy, rose to 55.4, the highest level since May 2006, from 53 in the prior month. Today’s figure exceeded all forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey. Readings above 50 signal expansion. This is good news. Read the whole article here.

healthy_food

Anthony — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:36:22 +0000

More than 15 Grams and It's Dessert!

Anthony — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:36:31 +0000

With the legislature considering taxing so-called "unhealthy" food or beverage items as a way to raise revenues while encouraging better diet amongst Americans, each of us should spend some time focusing a little bit on how we eat and what we eat. As I have written here before, I think it is a mistake to single out individual food items (pizza and soda were recently singled out in one of these new tax proposals) as "unhealthy". For one thing, portion sizes are a larger problem than the nature of what we eat. If you eat one or two slices of pizza at meal time, you're not packing on the pounds. Eating 5 slices each time you eat pizza is much more likely to make you gain weight. Today, I read an article that blew up my conception of what is healthy to eat and what is not. Often, things we tend to think of as "healthy" foods are worse for us than things we think of as "no-nos". Follow me past the jump for the shocking details. Marion Nestle (unfortunate name for her) is a professor of nutrition at NYU and blogger at Food Politics. Nestle suggests that any food that contains more than 15 grams of sugar per serving is closer to dessert than anything else. So what does the 15 gram threshold look like? You'd be surprised. Here's a list (courtesy of Darya Pino's blogpost at the Huffington Post) of foods you are sure to recognize. You may be shocked to see which ones are the worst for your waistline and which ones are comparatively not so bad. Sugar Content of Common Food Products 1. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut ......10 g 2. Luna Bar berry almond .....11 g 3. Froot Loops breakfast cereal 3/4 cup......12 g 4. Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream ........16 g 5. Starbucks caffè latte grande 16 oz .....17 g 6. Godiva 2 truffles .......17 g 7. Subway 6″ sweet onion teriyaki chicken sandwich....17 g 8. Ms. Field's chocolate chip cookie ......19 g 9. Tropicana 100% orange juice 8 oz ......25 g 10. Yoplait original yogurt ....27 g 11. Craisins dried cranberries 1/3 cup.......29 g 12. Vitamin Water 20 oz bottle ........33 g 13. Oscar Mayer Lunchables crackers, turkey & American cheese.....36 g 14. Coca-Cola Classic 12 oz can ......39 g 15. Sprinkles Cupcake red velvet......45 g 16. California Pizza Kitchen Thai chicken salad .......45 g 17. Jamba Juice blackberry bliss 16 oz .........49 g 18. Odwalla SuperFood 450 ml bottle .........50 g 19. Starbucks caffe vanilla frappuccino grande 16 oz ....58g Just goes to show you that food choices are often not as easy as they would appear at face value. Alot has to do with portion size as well as how things are marketed. This is why I have trouble with the notion of identifying any foods as "good" or "bad" as the basis of a new tax. What do you think?

KFC-DOUBLE-DOWN-KENTUCKY-FRIED-CHICKEN-BUNLESS

Anthony — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:43:46 +0000

KFC's Double Down - C'mon Now!

Anthony — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:43:56 +0000

In case you haven't seen it, Kentucky Fried Chicken has launched its new "sandwich" called the Double Down. It is essentially two fried chicken breast fillets masquerading as bread. In between is bacon, cheese and special sauce. I imagine the name Double Down refers to the bet you make with yourself about whether or not you will suffer a myocardial infarction from eating this mother of all gut bombs. I cannot imagine who was responsible for the market research that supported the roll out of such a disgustingly over indulgent piece of processed junk food. Now don't get me wrong, my culinary sensibilities aside, I can enjoy some good ole fried chicken as much as the next guy. But this "sandwich" seems to revel in being obstinately opposed to being even the slightest bit health conscious when it comes to diet. What do you think? At the very least, it will certainly contribute to the volume of people who need to seek medical care. And that's good for people pursuing a career in medical assistance. Here's another, more scathing review of this monstrosity from the SF Gate newspaper in Frisco! Enjoy.

demo-mg

Anthony — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:37:33 +0000

Making a Difference

Anthony — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:38:14 +0000

Students of medical billing and coding, you are entering a field that holds enormous potential for you to do good works and make a positive impact on the lives of your fellow man. People like you who dedicate their course of study and their careers to advancing public health are to be commended and celebrated. It is a noble thing that they do. Here's the story of one student whose committment to study in the field of medicine has yielded an astonishing breakthrough that will surely help countless people in poor parts of the world struggling with wounds. Read how this student created a suction device that costs a mere $3.00 to manufacture and the impact this breakthrough will have on medicine worldwide. Then feel good about what you're working to achieve and know that every one of you shares the exact same potential to effect greatness through your course of study and the work you will be doing once you graduate.

healthy-fastfood-150

Anthony — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:05:08 +0000

Healthiest Fast Food Joints

Anthony — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:05:58 +0000

OK, so after blogging about the horrific KFC Double Down "sandwich" I wanted to follow up with some information about healthier fast food options. You know, I am not one of those folks who thinks no one should eat fast food (consider my pathological addiction to In-n-Out burgers as evidence). So I am happy to provide you all this Friday afternoon with a list of the top 10 healthiest fast food eateries which includes another one of my faves: Chipotle. Click here to read the list as published in Health magazine.

starbox

Anthony — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:09:46 +0000

To Land the Interview/Job: Think Inside the Box?

Anthony — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:10:27 +0000

Standing out from the competition is always a challenge in a job search. And, although it is said that “there is nothing new under the sun,” there are those individuals who come up with novel ideas for breaking through in terms of getting noticed by a hiring manager. Follow me over the jump for some truly innovative strategies for getting noticed in the sea of resumes. A man from the Midwest got hired for a job for which he had applied previously without success. In order to get himself noticed, he sent a copy of his resume in a box with his cover letter. Along with his resume, he enclosed a paper Starbucks cup and a note requesting that the hiring manager meet him for coffee. He followed up with a phone call. Although he had been completely ignored the initial time he submitted, he certainly was not ignored the second time. This strategy has now been trademarked as the “Coffee Cup Caper™.” (Of course, it goes without saying that your resume be perfectly written, formatted and concise and on excellent paper stock.) Taking the “caper” a step further, another job seeker had coffee mugs printed with the header graphics from his own website and the words, “Let’s Have Coffee.” He then sent his resumes out in a box with one of his mugs and, within three and a half hours of the first one he sent, he received a call back for a phone meeting. Another innovator sent a chocolate-covered apple with a hand-written thank-you note for an interview she had been granted. She had a friend who was not working that day hand-carry it to the employer. It was such a big hit, the employer called and arranged her much desired second interview, this time with the executive vice president! After the interview, she went home and prepared a 30-60-90 day plan using information she had garnered in the interview to create suggestions for what she would do in the first 30-60-90 days if she were hired. She sent that out Fed-Ex with yet another thank you note. And, guess what? She got a job offer! In a very extravagant manner, presented here just to show you the novelty of some people’s approach to creative job searching, a Connecticut woman rented a billboard along Interstate 95: It read: “Hire me! Unemployed and seeking employment.” Next to that was a picture of her in pearls and a blue button-down shirt. While not everyone can afford a billboard, the coffee cup in the box strategy seems like a creative, affordable and memorable way to differentiate yourself. Anyone have any creative ways to be noticed they'd care to share?

stressfuljobs

Anthony — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:46:56 +0000

Keeping Stress in Check

Anthony — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:47:28 +0000

Its difficult to work, study, take care of family obligations and find time to relax. As a result, each of us experiences stress and stress is bad for us. It is very important to your health to get both enough sleep and to find outlets that can help us vent or otherwise mitigate the stresses and pressures life often places upon us. But what about the people whose very careers are inherently stressful? Take a look at the slide show here to see the list of top 10 most stressful jobs and be thankful that the career choice you've made will not likely add stress to your life (although some of your future employers have a place on this list).

subway 1

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:45:58 +0000

subway 2

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:47:21 +0000

subway 3

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:48:00 +0000

subway 4

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:48:43 +0000

subway 5

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:49:23 +0000

subway 6

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:50:00 +0000

subway 7

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:50:52 +0000

File Under: Nothing New Under the Sun

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:52:00 +0000

I guess it was foolish to think that New Yorkers corner the market on poor subway/mass transit behavior. With transit services being cut back due to budget concerns, the already crowded New York City Subway system will likely see even greater numbers of people behaving badly. But guess what? It may make you feel better to learn that NYC isn't the only urban area to grapple with peoples' poor transit ettiquette. Follow me past the jump for some comical signs that prove New York is not alone in the annals of bad transit behavior. [caption id="attachment_979" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="From the Tokyo Subway in Japan"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_980" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="Also from Tokyo Subway"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_981" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="Good thing there's no bar cars on the NYC Subway"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_982" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="From the Toronto, Canada Transit System"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_983" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="Also from Toronto"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_984" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="What if one works in a cannery? Perfume-o-holics, you have no excuse!!!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_985" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="The NYC Subway Posted That Sparked This Post"][/caption] What are your biggest mass-transit pet peeves? Share in the comments section below.

JapanSubway4

Anthony — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:56:04 +0000

brazil

Anthony — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:09:45 +0000

Wednesday Humor: How Will This Be Billed?

Anthony — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:11:36 +0000

[caption id="attachment_990" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Brazil Discovers an Even Better Exercise Program than Soccer"][/caption] OK, so you've heard Wednesdays referred to as "hump" day because it is the middle of the work week and once it's over, the diligent worker has made it over the metaphorical hump and it's a downhill run to the weekend. Well, the Brazilian Health Minister has called for everyday to be hump day in his country in the name of public health. Follow over the fold for the best piece of legislation I have heard proposed by any government official in years. AP reports:

"RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil's health minister has a remedy for the nation's high-blood- pressure problem: More sex. Minister Jose Temporao says adults should be exercising more to help keep their blood pressure down — and he says a good cardiovascular workout includes sex, "always with protection, obviously." Temporao also recommends dancing, a healthy diet and regular blood-pressure checks. The minister made the comments Monday while launching a national campaign against high blood pressure in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.

The Health Ministry says that 21.5 percent of Brazilians had high blood pressure in 2006. That jumped to 24.4 percent in 2009." I would wholeheartedly support the same recommendation being made to Americans by our own Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. I think, what's healthy for Brazilians can be equally health for Americans as well. All this of course raises an interesting question though for students of billing and coding: Will my insurance cover this and how should it be billed?

danger

Anthony — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:28:29 +0000

Boardwalks Under Water?

Anthony — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:30:02 +0000

A few weeks ago, we had a freakishly hot, early Spring day. Maybe you recall. It was close to 90 degrees and had been predicted by the TV weatherman. So we decided to play hooky for a day and hit the Jersey Shore for a day of early beachery. I know many of our NY based student body probably considered doing the same. Let me tell you, it was sublime! Uncrowded (due to it being the 1st week in April) and gloriously warm. But I couldn't help noticing how much of the beach had been eroded over the Winter due to heavy storms and surf. It was as if half the beach was gone. The municipality of the little coastal town had a huge bucket loader on the beach, building up artificial dunes to stop the encroaching seas from inundating the town. Today, I read an article that quoted EPA expert Jim Titus explaining what will become of the Eastern Seaboard beaches. Read the fateful predictions here.

img_jobs2

Anthony — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:50:05 +0000

Good Resource for Job Seekers

Anthony — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:50:14 +0000

While we're still in a deep hole in terms of the huge numbers of jobs lost during the recession that began in 2008, we are definitely seeing unmistakable signs that the job losses have ceased. In fact, for the last two months, the US economy has added jobs. But we still have lots of lost ground to cover if we're to simply return to pre-recessionary levels of employment. For students of the Allen School Online who may be nearing the end of their course of study, thoughts are turning to where the jobs are in this very difficult environment. To help, I have uncovered a very useful resource that I want to share with our users. It's called the Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-2011. It is a website maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For hundreds of different types of jobs—such as teacher, lawyer, and nurse—the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you:

the training and education needed
earnings
expected job prospects
what workers do on the job
working conditions

In addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more. You can also view frequently asked questions about the Handbook. Have a look around this useful site for good, up-to-date info on ways you can supercharge your job search.

mother

Anthony — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:19:44 +0000

Happy Mother's Day: How Will You Honor Mom?

Anthony — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:21:02 +0000

Writing the blog for the Allen School Online poses a challenge as I must always weigh whether a given topic is going to be relevant to a large enough segment of our readers. Some very interesting topics are put aside if I determine that they would only be of import to a smaller percentage of readers. I am always seeking stories that will resonate amongst the largest common denominator. Alas, every single person who may read this post has one thing in common. Everyone has a mother. This weekend as you know (and if you're just reminded by my humble post then shame on you and hurry up with your planning) is Mother's Day. I have always felt that moms deserve more than just a single day each year for all the hard work and sacrifice they make on behalf of their children. But I guess the holiday all but ensures that even if we forget to honor them all year long, at least one day each year, we take the time to convey the gratitude and love we feel for all our moms have meant to us. In case there are laggers in the group here - too preoccupied with studies to have devised any plan yet to celebrate - I would like to ask our readers what they plan to do with or for their mothers this sunday. Share your celebration plans in the comments and help those who may still be seeking a good idea for how best to honor mom. And to my own mother who, as all good mothers do, proudly seeks out and reads just about everything I write in the public realm let me say, "I love you momma and have a fantastic Mother's Day!"

circadian

Anthony — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:22:06 +0000

Flexibility is a Blessing but Structure is Important

Anthony — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:22:33 +0000

Many online students point to the flexibility of online study as one of the main reasons they chose to go to school via the internet. It is true for folks who juggle work, family and studies, being able to allocate one's own time and formulate one's own schedule is invaluable to succeeding in all these important tasks. Sometimes, it is necessary to get creative with the schedule in order to accommodate the incidental issues that pop up in life. In these cases, you may find yourself pushing study time into the late night slot, or scheduling family breakfasts instead of family suppers. This may be a useful ability to have, but recent research seems to indicate that having a more stuctured daily routine is better for your mind and body. Follow me over the fold for a synopsis and links to the research in question. According to a new study just published in the journal Sleep, keeping a daily routine may be associated with a reduced rate of insomnia and improved quality of sleep. Human beings have a biological clock that regulates the natural rhythm of their daily activities. When to awaken, when to eat, when to rest - these are all things that our bodies regulate through something called Circadian Rhythm. Wikipedia defines the Circadian Rhythm:

"A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological, or behavioural processes of living entities, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria (see bacterial circadian rhythms). The term "circadian" comes from the Latin circa, "around", and diem or dies, "day", meaning literally "approximately one day". The formal study of biological temporal rhythms such as daily, tidal, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms, is called chronobiology. Although circadian rhythms are endogenous, they are adjusted (entrained) to the environment by external cues called zeitgebers, the primary one of which is daylight."

As is noted, the circadian rhythm is driven by the cycles of daylight to darkness at night. Although our modern, 24/7 existence frequently finds us at odds with the day-night cycles (think working the third shift or having a newborn baby in the home), it is still better for us psychologically and physiologically to maintain a regular routine. So, keep this in mind when trying to manage your busy life while integrating your course of online study. Structure and routine may make scheduling a little more difficult, but the extra effort may pay handsome dividends in terms of productivity and quality of information retention.

IMG_2883

Anthony — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:31:39 +0000

The Truth About Eggs

Anthony — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:36:51 +0000

How do you like your eggs? This is a question that for years, I always answered either, "sunny side up" or "over easy" and typically followed by, "with bacon, well done and coffee, black." But a few years ago, after landing a stable virtual office job, I moved to the exurbs and having lots of outdoor space and a young son, I decided to raise some chickens for their eggs. I did this so we would know more about the origins of the foods I was eating and feeding to my family. Let me tell you, I learned a lot of things I just didn't know before. For example, did you know that most fertile chickens lay one egg per day? Neither did I! I started off with 12 birds and was collecting a dozen fresh eggs every day! As a family of three, we couldn't eat our way out of the problem of having too many eggs. (We downsized to only 4 birds, but that's another story). Follow me over the fold for more egg-citing information including information you can actually use regarding misconceptions about the eggs most of you probably buy in the supermarket. Which is better for your health? Brown or white eggs? Why are eggs from free range chickens different? Are organic eggs any healthier than regular eggs? For answers to these questions and more, check out this article from Yahoo! Green entitled, "Four Myths About Eggs". If you have any other questions about chickens and eggs, ask me in the comments. I really know too much more about this than I ever expected I would.

shurttle

Anthony — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:50:31 +0000

Last Ever Space Shuttle Launch Today

Anthony — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:51:12 +0000

Because so much of modern medical science trickles into civilian use through the work done by NASA and the military, I thought it was fitting to spend today's post saying goodbye to the Space Shuttle program. Today marked the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis. It will be the last launch of the entire shuttle fleet. I remember being in the fifth grade in 1980 when construction began on the first shuttle at the beginning of the program. It was such an amazing innovation; a reusable launch and reentry vehicle where all prior space vehicles were non-reusable rockets and splash down capsules. So much excellent scientific advancement has been yielded by this program. So many advancements in medical understanding too. It is sad to see the fleet retired. One wonders what the next step into space will be for the USA?

diploma+cap

Anthony — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:26:03 +0000

Its Never Too Late to Learn

Anthony — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:26:39 +0000

The Great Recession of 2008-2010 has destroyed alot of formerly good-paying jobs. Many reports indicate that even once employment begins to pick up again, many of the lost jobs are not likely to return. Either rendered obsolete by automation technology or outsourced to lower cost labor markets overseas, some gigs are gone the way of the Dodo. This may be for some of our readers, the very reason they took the prescient step of seeking retraining in a new field; one that will not meet with the same fate. For those who may be considering striking out in this bold direction, the task may seem frightening. "Am I too old to learn a new career skill?" "How can I choose a new career when my whole adult life I have always been a ?" Well, buck up. Consider the story of Hazel Soares of San Leandro, CA who just graduated from Mills College at the ripe old age of 93! Read her story here and then gather up the courage that surely resides in every member of the human race and get going on your new career in medical billing and coding!

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Anthony — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:54:44 +0000

Gulf Oil Disaster: What Do You Think?

Anthony — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:55:36 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1022" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Click on image to see larger version"][/caption] I am not going to reveal my personal feelings with regard to the whole issue of energy policy and what it means to the future of our economy and ecology. This blog is not the venue for it. But I do think it would be interesting to use this post as a sort of informal poll of average Americans to see what the prevailing thinking is on this very complex and difficult issue. Have a look at this photo taken yesterday by a US satellite that shows the still gushing, underwater oil geiser. Notice how it seems very likely that the oil will be swept out of the Gulf of Mexico by currents that will take the deadly slick around the Florida peninsula and, via the Gulfstream current, throughout the Atlantic. Then answer the following question in the comments:

"Do you think this disaster - however unfortunate - is part of the price we must pay to continue to pursue our current energy policy which relies predominately on oil and fossil fuels? - Or - Does this disaster signal that we must immediately discard fossil fuels in favor of developing an entirely new, domestic energy market based on renewable sources like wind and solar - even if it means we must endure a good deal of economic disruption and upheaval in the short term? In short, do you think it is possible to make this difficult shift in policy before we've irreparably harmed the global environment or do you feel that we cannot afford to change our energy policies and must focus instead on making the best of the fossil-fuel driven economic situation?"

It should be interesting to see how your responses stack up.

Start Your Monday Like This Little Girl

Anthony — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:14:34 +0000

With all that's going on in the world, it can be hard to get up and hit the ground running some days. Especially Mondays! But we can all take a page out of precious little Jessica's playbook, spending 49 seconds in front of the mirror each morning to psyche ourselves up by listing all the things we do have to be happy about in our lives!

hot pockets

Anthony — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:58:02 +0000

Horrifying Ingredient List Artfully Presented

Anthony — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:58:35 +0000

You know I have an affinity for whole foods. Not Whole Foods the grocery store (which we refer to in my house as Whole Paycheck), but rather simple, healthy ingredients. So much of what our diet consists of is adulterated, processed and downright chemical. Case in point: the ham & cheese Hotpocket. Don't get me wrong, I will mac one of these at 2AM after a night of dancing and a few too many cocktails. But I may think twice about even eating it on those rare occasions. Have a look at this artwork, made of the ingredients in a single Hotpocket.

typewriter

Anthony — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:00:13 +0000

The Speed of Progress

Anthony — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:00:55 +0000

I came across this fascinating article in WIRED magazine that made me feel like a dinosaur. Sure, I am a "hip" blogger, using the latest technical application to produce my every-other-daily musings here at the Allen School Online Blog. But I am old enough to remember life as it was before the personal computer and the grueling nature of writing without the incredible convenience of the word processor. Before we could "process" words, we used to have to physically imprint them onto wood-pulp based sheets of something called "paper". To accomplish this task, we used a mechanized, manual, non-laser driven machine known as a typewriter. There have been two generations now born into a world without knowledge of this ancient writing machine. I suppose they would view the typewriter through the same purely historical lens as I might view the telegraph machine or the steam engine. Yet there are still some people for whom the clacking, white out fumes and ink stains of the typewriter era holds a special place in their hearts. This article in WIRED shines a light on the few remaining typewriter repairmen - the last of a nearly dead breed. Have a read of this fascinating article and then count your lucky stars that you don't have to run out and buy some more white out have the all the modern technology at your disposal when it's time to write your essays.

galarraga-joyce

Anthony — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:35:16 +0000

Remembering How to be American

Anthony — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:35:37 +0000

Our American society has been growing increasingly arrogant and ugly lately in this blogger's opinion. One need look no further than our politics, especially on the right, to see levels of disrespect ratcheting up to excruciatingly high levels. But it goes beyond politics to infect other areas of our society as well. From the wanton disregard we exhibit for our environment (see: BP oil-pocolypse) to the nasty stories about public figures captured by an insatiable papparazzi and a host of gossip TV programs and publications, our very American-ness seems to be coming somewhat unwound. Leave it to baseball, the great American pastime to remind us all what grace, sportsmanship and aplomb looks like as many of us have seemingly forgotten. The other day, Detroit Tiger's pitcher Armando Galaragga - an immigrant to the US - pitched what should have been only the 21st perfect game in the history of major league ball. In the last innings, the first base umpire blew a call, saying the runner was safe when replay clearly showed him to be out. As a result, Galarraga's perfect game was snatched from him. Did this humble pitcher curse and spit and fume at the umpire for erroneously stealing his glory away from him? Not at all. A true asset to the great American pastime, Galarraga smiled and shrugged it off, maintaining a philosophical coolness about it that clearly demonstrates to baseball's youngest fans (and really could serve to instruct many adults too) just what good sportsmanship looks like - American style. Perhaps our leaders, both political and societal, could take a step back from their mendacity, rhetoric and invective to remember that we're better than the pettiness and arrogance we've been exhibiting in the 21st century. Perhaps this act of good grace can serve as a model for us to find our way back to the country and society we used to be - one that placed people before personalities and the welfare of the group above the enrichment of the individual. Click here to read the entire uplifting story.

Summer Travel Season is Here - Run Away!

Anthony — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:38:05 +0000

With Memorial Day behind us, the summer travel season is officially in full swing. But before you decide to go "all in" on a big trip this summer, view the following video from website, www.titanicawards.com which chronicles the worst of the worst in travel. It may lead you to decide on planning an epic "staycation" instead.

interview

Anthony — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:48:34 +0000

More Resumé No-no's

Anthony — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:49:04 +0000

Every so often, I post on ways to enhance your resumé or to at least avoid some common job-hunting mistakes. These posts always generate alot of interest. So here's another installment in the "how not to botch your resumé" category. Below are some comical errors culled from hiring managers in diverse fields in an article by Maria Hanson at LiveCareer. Needless to say, none of these people were called back for an interview. Avoid Careless Mistakes like these: "Speak, read, and wright English/Spanish."--seen by Angie Beauchamp, Charm Factory manager. A candidate actually misspelled her own first name, writing "Barbara" as "Barabara."--Mark Gollihur, who managed a video store when he received that application. Bad Ideas Email address: Bostoncutiee22@example.com.--seen by Stacey Schmidt, a recruiter at Vistaprint. A job-seeker used a free return-address sticker from an endangered-wildlife nonprofit on his resume instead of typing his contact information out.--seen by Philip Farina. For the whole article and a longer list of resumé gaffes, click here.

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Anthony — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:58:56 +0000

zen garden

Anthony — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:00:26 +0000

Mindfulness: Take Time to Think Amid the Rush

Anthony — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:00:33 +0000

I had a teacher once who taught me the value and rewards of mindfulness. Mindfulness is a concept from eastern religion that simply involves the act of living in the moment and maintaining the clarity of though that so often is hard to achieve. As we live our frenetic modern lives, with work, family, online study and 24/7 connectivity through ever improving social and communication technologies, it is hard to ever take a moment to fully focus on the task at hand. When the task at hand is something important like driving safely on the freeway or something really important like interacting with the ones you love, mindfulness is key to avoiding unpleasant consequences. It also has the positive benefit of helping one achieve positive goals with less strife and effort. This teacher of mine wasn't a school teacher or spiritual figure. Rather this teacher was someone I encountered in my personal struggle to change my relationship to my own body. Learning to be mindful about my thoughts, words and actions (especially about eating and exercise) helped me to become significantly healthier than I had been. Lately, I had fallen out of the practice of mindfulness in my affairs and have seen the predictable return of some unhealthy results. But today, I have made the decision to again focus on being mindful in all aspects of life and I feel good about what this refocus will mean for me. I thought it would be valuable for me to share some basic info on mindfulness to readers of this blog, as much for their own benefit as for my own. Read this excellent, brief description of what mindfulness means and how it benefits mind and body, written by Soren Gordhamer; an author who counsels individuals and groups on ways to live with less stress and more effectiveness in our technology-rich lives. He has been featured in various media, including GQ Magazine and Newsweek.com, and has taught classes on stress reduction to such diverse populations as youth in New York City juvenile halls, trauma workers in Rwanda, and to staff at Google.

Do What You Love and Success Will Follow

Anthony — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:16:19 +0000

Okay. I know we usually keep the content on this blog toward the highbrow end of the spectrum. But I felt like being a little silly today. View this awesome video of a two year old Brazilian boy who Sambas better than I ever will. Beyond the cuteness factor and the giddiness of propagating a viral video sensation, it occured to me that this kid'll probably grow up to be a professional dancer. And if he doesn't, it'll be a shame because he could make a fortune doing something he so obviously enjoys. So let that be the lesson from today's blog post. Continue to study hard and develop your skills in this area you've chosen. If you truly love the work, you will most definitely succeed.

silibands

Anthony — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:38:35 +0000

How Job Loss Can Lead to Untold Riches

Anthony — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:39:03 +0000

Clearly, it won't happen this way to everyone. But there is a lesson to take from the story of Bob Croak, the man responsible for making "Silly Bands" a household name. You see, Croak was a bar owner/operator who ran afoul of the law. As a stipulation of the judgment against him, he was ordered to refrain from being in the alcohol sales business. In effect, he was pushed out of his career. Did this sink him? Did he end up destitute and living beneath an overpass? No. Quite the contrary, he struck off in a new direction and ultimately discovered what would become 2010's hottest kiddie craze, the ubiquitous "Silly Bands". If you haven't seen the colorful silicone bands in different shapes that adorn the wrists of nearly every American kid from ages 4-14, you should get your eyes checked. Croak is sitting atop a toy empire and is making far more money than he ever could as a bar owner. The moral of this story -- especially for those who decided to enter the field of medical billing and coding after losing their jobs in other fields -- is that the loss of a job is not always a negative occurrence. Sometimes, unscheduled changes on the career path are just what a person needs to give them the time and space to explore entirely new horizons. Sometimes, those horizons are at the edge of successes beyond their wildest dreams.

US world cup win

Anthony — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:29:38 +0000

Disregard the Naysayers

Anthony — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:30:47 +0000

Anyone who has tried to do something outside of the expectations of those around them knows how dispiriting it can be to be told, "you'll never succeed". Take it from the US national soccer team who has been categorically panned by the international sports community as having "no chance to achieve" in the World Cup. Well, again, our US team is proving the naysayers wrong. Today, in a storybook, last minute ending fit for a Hollywood movie script, the US team pulled it out against a heavily favored Algerian squad to advance in World Cup tournament play. So remember this team of underdogs when folks tell you that you cannot start a new career in a new field midway through life.

beachcomber

Anthony — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:33:55 +0000

How To Explain "Holes" in Your Work History

Anthony — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:34:28 +0000

We've all had periods of unemployment. We've all had to take time away from career pursuits, whether it was to tend an ailing loved one, return to school/training, deal with personal problems, support a family member's struggling business or become a quasi-homeless beachcomber in an exotic tropical locale. Whatever the reasons, inevitably, we end up with a gap in our history which can be a glaring weakness on your resume. In interviews, it can be awkward trying to call attention away from the gaps. How should you explain where you were when you weren't working for 11 months? Take a look at this excellent article from The Savvy Networker wherein it is explained exactly how to address these holes in the resume.

The Future is Now!

Anthony — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:18:41 +0000

How about the Terrafugia Transition? This vehicle, newly approved by the Federal Avaiation Administration brings to life the fantastic dreams of the "flying car" we all entertained as kids. With traffic growing ever more problematic in large cities, this new vehicle promises to rise above the gridlock - literally. Now all I need is $194,000 so I can buy one and soar to the grocery store.

Flying Car Video - Terrafugia @ Yahoo! Video

4th of july

Anthony — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:18:38 +0000

Happy Fourth of July - Time to BBQ Properly!

Anthony — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:19:14 +0000

Well, it's time again to celebrate American independence and I hope everyone has a healthy, happy, safe Fourth of July. I think of many things when I consider Independence Day. From liberty and justice, to fireworks, family and most importantly, Barbecue! I love me some barbecue and there is no more appropriate holiday to "cook-out" in celebration than the 4th of July. Many folks do not know the subtle but undeniable difference between grilling (like what you do to hot dogs and burgers) and actual barbecue which involves the slow, smoky roasting of pork, chicken, brisket, etc. So have a look at this article by Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn to learn the secrets of meats, properly smok-i-fied to fall-off-the-bone perfection. Enjoy!

chocolate

Anthony — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:37:14 +0000

A Day Worth Celebrating - Happy Chocolate Day

Anthony — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:37:32 +0000

First consumed by ancient Mayans in South America in a drink form laced with chili peppers and vanilla, Cacao beans (the primary ingredient in chocolate) were enjoyed for their unique properties for millenia. It wasn't until July 17, 1550 that Europeans got wise to the awesomeness of chocolate. Read this interesting piece from Wired magazine on the origins of chocolate as we all know it today and celebrate my favorite new global holiday, "Chocolate Day" by hoisting your favorite kind of cocoa laced treat along with me!

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Anthony — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:13:47 +0000

The Inside Info on What Hiring Managers Want

Anthony — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:14:18 +0000

One of my other jobs involves working with thousands of staffing companies. As a result, I have regular contact with hiring managers across the United States. When I saw this article in US News entitled, "21 Things Hiring Managers Wish You Knew", I was impressed with how spot on it was. Hiring managers have seen it all when it comes to people's ideas of what is appropriate behavior in the pursuit of that "perfect job". If you're about to embark on a job hunt, with your Allen School diploma in hand, have a quick read of this piece so you can get some idea of what hiring managers are looking for in today's difficult employment environment. Remember, there are 6 job seekers for every available job today. So it pays to be as well prepared for the critical interview process as you can be. Never before has it been so important!

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Anthony — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:37:10 +0000

But Can It Print Your EOB Statement?

Anthony — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:38:03 +0000

Scientists are closing in on perfecting a technology that will allow doctors to "print" new organs for ailing patients - organs made using their very own genetic material. Unlike organ transplants where there is a very real probability that - in spite of steps taken to find a well-matched donor - the recipient's body may reject the donated organ, this new process actually fabricates a replacement organ using genetic material from the recipient. Using an organic "printer" and some concoction of stem cells and other amazing stuff, the new technology known as "bioprinting" promises to enable the production of organs other body parts veritably on demand. Right now, the technology is still in its infancy. But they have been successful in printing veins and other circulatory tissues. Read the full photo essay at Wired magazine online. What I want to know is will the ink cartidges be as expensive as the ones I use in my printer?

miamicondo

Anthony — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:06:40 +0000

An Attractive Market to Consider

Anthony — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:07:19 +0000

If you're a recent graduate and considering a move to a different market to kick off your new career, consider South Florida. Now I know what you're saying. Yes, South Florida has been one of the hardest hit markets in the US. But according to an article from Bloomberg, the excessive build up of luxury condo towers in the vibrant, multicultural gateway that is Miami - the build up of inventory that was in part to blame for the collapse of that metro market - has had an unexpected consequence. It seems that the owners of those lavish, extravagant (but empty) towers are getting tired of taking a beating. Knowing they will not sell them anytime soon, many have taken to renting these beautiful, often ocean-view apartments at fairly affordable rates. As a result, the downtown area of Miami is experiencing a rebirth. Whole communities of renters have reinvigorated the neighborhoods there and the tropical lifestyle one can lead there is absolutley wonderful. I know because I have been spending time in the Miami metro area since 1975. It is a paradisical place to spend time. Why not consider renting a luxury condo unit and working amidst the azure waters of a tropical paradise?

miamicondo2

Anthony — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:10:52 +0000

jobsgraf

Anthony — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:26:18 +0000

Manpower Report Names top 5 Strongest Job Markets

Anthony — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:26:41 +0000

Manpower, a leading staffing services organization, released its report on the top 5 strongest job markets in the US. This year, with unemployment at very high levels, it is even more critical than ever to know where the jobs are. The top 5 markets are: No. 1 Strongest Job Market: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. No. 2 Strongest Job Market: San Antonio, TX No. 3 Strongest Job Market: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, S.C. No. 4 Strongest Job Market: El Paso, Texas No. 5 Strongest Job Market: Raleigh-Cary, N.C. For the details on each market including information on what sectors and individual organizations are hiring in each of these metro areas, click here to read the full report.

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Anthony — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:48:58 +0000

Spell Check Isn't Enough to Avoid These Grammar Blunders

Anthony — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:49:17 +0000

Kaboodle.com had this great list of common grammatical blunders that you really should avoid when writing resumes and cover letters. The takeaway message here is that spell check is not enough because sometimes misspellings form other actual words that are not spelled wrong, but mean something entirely different. Here (over the fold) are some examples from the Kaboodle.com article. While we can rely on a spell checker to catch glaring errors, a computer can’t pick up on all careless mistakes, especially if the word could be correct in a different context. Often word misuse is our mistake. The English language is full of homonyms, or words that have different meanings but sound and look similar, which makes it easy to confuse proper usage. For instance, verbally, you might not even notice the difference between “your” and “you’re.” But in print, the error can lead the reader to perceive you as less intelligent than you are. For this reason, it's important to spell check and proofread your documents, especially for the following common misuses, which are so easy to make, you might even have to check your document a couple times to catch them. Its versus It’s (and all other apostrophes): According to a copy editing instructor for California-based copy editing service provider Edicetera, confusing “its” and “it’s” is the most common error in the English language. That one minuscule apostrophe (or lack thereof) drastically changes the meaning of the entire sentence. “It’s” is a contraction of “it is,” whereas “its” refers to possession. Also, watch out for “your” versus “you’re.” Sales versus Sails Can you imagine writing on your resume that you “increased sails by 20 percent”?! Unless you’re applying to a job for a sail boat manufacturer, this careless mistake will probably get your resume sailing right into the recycling bin. Affect versus Effect There is a lot of confusion around this one but here’s the rule: “Affect” is a verb and “effect” is a noun. It’s as simple as that. Would Have NOT Would of The subtlety in pronunciation leads to the rampant misuse of this phrase; however “would of” is never correct and may make you appear as if you are not well-read. Through versus Threw “He threw the ball through the window.” “Threw” is a verb and “through” is a preposition. And speaking of “through,” be careful to make sure you don’t actually mean “thorough” or vice versa. The slight variation in spelling will not be picked up by a computer, but writing “I am through” when you mean “I am thorough” is quite ironic, don’t you think? Then versus Than Six is more than five; after five then comes six. “Than” refers to a comparison, while “then” refers to a subsequent event. Supposed To NOT Suppose To “Suppose” is a verb, meaning to think or to ponder. The correct way to express a duty is to write, “I was supposed to… Wonder versus Wander You can wander around while you wonder why “wander” and “wonder” have such different meanings, yet sound oh so similar. Their versus There versus They’re OK, once and for all: “Their” is possessive; “there” refers to distance; and “they’re” is a contraction of “they are.” Farther versus Further While both words refer to distance, grammarians distinguish “farther” as physical distance and “further” as metaphorical distance. You can dive further into a project, for instance, or you can dive farther into the ocean. We know we missed many common careless errors. What mistakes do you see most often?

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Anthony — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:17:28 +0000

Five Online Job Hunting Mistakes

Anthony — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:17:53 +0000

Most of our reporting on how to succeed in the job hunt has focused on resume writing and interview skills/practices. However, as many of you online students are all too aware, there is a lot of job hunting that goes on over the Internet. Wouldn't ya know it, there are etiquette mistakes to be made in the online job hunt just as sure as there are in the real world. Here's a link to a great article about how to avoid common online job hunting gaffes, SNAFUs and faux pas.

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Anthony — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:18:33 +0000

Surgical Hand Transplant Technology Takes a Step Forward

Anthony — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:19:28 +0000

Did you know that more than 40 people have successfully completed surgical re-attachment of their lost limbs with new human hands provided by deceased donors? Its true. The French first accomplished this miraculous medical feat in 1998 and since then more than 40 have been given back the use of a lost hand or hands. 10 in the US alone. Well, it seems that UCLA has announced plans to open a hand transplant facility in the US soon. They are seeking volunteers - returning war veterans or others who have recently lost their hands - to participate in this still very experimental procedure. Click here to read more about this amazing medical story.

I Want One

Anthony — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:25:11 +0000

Ok, so this isn't exactly cheap, but neither was the CD player, the cellular telephone or the personal computer when they first hit the market. Once more and more people buy a new product and demand grows, the price of the item drops for all consumers. This product, a very simple renewable energy generator/converter (solar or wind) requires virtually no installation and makes electricity for your home. I think I will save up for one and help drive the price down for everyone. (It costs $600-$900 for the smaller ones and up to $3500 for the larger one.) It is so simple, I cannot imagine that this product would not be in every home within 10 years. Whattya think? Could you plug your laptop into this and do your Allen School Online coursework?

sleeping2

Anthony — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:03:33 +0000

You Can't Make it Up on the Weekend

Anthony — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Like many people busy with life, work, studies, family and what have you, I frequently burn the midnight oil, staying up past my preferred bedtime to complete some obligation or another. Yet, I still must awaken the same time the next day to go to work. As a result, I am frequently getting less than 8 hours a night on weeknights. Sometimes, I make up for the deficit by sleeping a few extra hours on the weekend. But recent studies indicate that it doesn't work that way. Click here to read why it is important to make time for sufficient sleep on a regular basis and how "playing catch up" on the weekends is not the solution.

Are You a Bird Brain? You May Wish You Were!

Donna.Atkins — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:24:59 +0000

On those days when you start to feel that your coursework is taxing your brain, take a moment to think about Alex, an African grey parrot, who was the subject of a thirty-year (1977-2007) experiment by an animal psychologist named Irene Pepperberg, initially at the University of Arizona and later at Harvard and Brandeis University. Before her work, scientists believed that a large primate brain was needed to deal with complex problems related to language and understanding and that birds were not intelligent and only used words by mimicking. Pepperberg’s accomplishments found that birds may actually be able to reason on a basic level and to use words creatively. She reported that Alex had the intelligence of a five-year-old human and the emotional level of a human two-year-old at the time of his premature death (from an unexpected catastrophic event associated with arteriosclerosis) when he was about thirty years old (the average life span for African grey parrots is fifty years). At the time of his death, he could identify 50 different objects and recognize quantities up to six and could distinguish seven colors and five shapes. He understood the concepts of “bigger,” “smaller,” “same,” and “different,” and was learning “over” and “under.” Among a number of his skills, he had a vocabulary of 150 words and appeared to have understanding of what he said. He could label an object when asked about its shape, color or material. He could also add to a limited extent, and understood the concept of zero, answering “none” when asked the difference between two objects if there was indeed no difference! When the bird was tired of being tested, he would indicate that he wanted to go back to his cage by saying, “Wanna go back.” If he said, “Wanna banana,” and was offered a nut instead, he would stare in silence, ask for the banana again, or take the nut and throw it at the researcher before requesting the item again! And talk about “famous last words,”Alex’s last words to Dr. Pepperberg were, “You be good. I love you.”

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Anthony — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:47:47 +0000

AfricanGrey

Anthony — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:48:35 +0000

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Anthony — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:40:49 +0000

No Surprise - Healthcare Industry Among Top Recession-Proof Fields

Anthony — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:41:01 +0000

We continue to be unsurprised by report after report confirming what Allen School Online students already know - that jobs serving the healthcare fields are never in short supply. This is probably one of the main determinants that factored into your decision to pursue an Allen School Online diploma. True to form, the latest report, courtesy of Investopedia.com (which is one of my favorite investment/financial educational resources by the way) confirms that indeed, healthcare industry jobs top the list of safest, most recession-proof jobs. Read the full report here. We're #1!

Never Give Up

Anthony — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:27:13 +0000

The old saying goes, "I used to complain I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." Regardless of how tough your believe your circumstances to be, there is always a way to persevere. If you're struggling with unemployment and making ends meet while you study to get your medical billing and coding certificate, keep up the fight. Take a cue from this courageous, young, Chinese man on "China's Got Talent" (the Chinese equivalent of our "America's Got Talent" TV program). He plays piano WITH NO ARMS. Yes, you read it right. Pianist with no arms!!! The English subtitles are a little jilted, but you'll get the point. This video will renew your resolve to overcome whatever challenges you face.

fishing

Anthony — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:18:06 +0000

Unplug and Carve Out Some Free Time

Anthony — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:18:35 +0000

We're all just so busy. Working, studying, raising kids, planning for the future. Sometimes, for those of us tethered to all these activities by the computer, it can seem like we just don't get enough time to unplug - literally or figuratively. Here are a few tips on how to reclaim the spare time you may recall having once had to spend on yourself. These come courtesy of Kari Henley and you can read her whole article about Reclaiming Spare Time here. Kari says: Email Self-Control -- Declutter your inbox by unsubscribing to anything you don't need or read regularly, and try not to continue long email conversations that aren't necessary. One of Therese Borchard's tricks is to take weekend breaks from her computer. Imagine! This is a great way to scrounge up a ton of free time -- think of it as email Sabbath, (Reading this column, however, is an acceptable exception). Social Networking is junk food, plain and simple. Let's face it -- Facebook is the Doritos of friendships and Twitter is a super size box of Fries. Both are tempting, and both are ultimately not all that healthy. Take the time for some "slow food" -- home-cooked friendships that require face-to-face time. If you are IM'ing someone in your office, get up and try walking over for a change. Facebooking your best friend? Pick up the phone or stop by; imagine how you look from space, hunched over terminals sharing the daily chatter. Find the "in-between" moments of the day to embrace as spare time. Driving is a great opportunity to do some deep breathing, turn off the noise in your head, and notice the scenery around you, rather than listening to talk radio, eating, or talking on the cell phone. Find the moments in the shower, doing dishes or walking the dog to flatten out as buffer zones of nothingness. Force yourself to be bored. Remember being bored? It is the MacDaddy of spare time. Kids today think five or six seconds of spare time equals being bored, and many adults' tolerance for unfilled moments is not much better. Set aside several hours once a month with nothing particular to do and see how it affects you.

slipquit_9190

Anthony — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:19:56 +0000

Friday Funnies - Quitting a Job Made Easy

Anthony — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:20:58 +0000

By now, the whole country has seen the story of the disgruntled Jet Blue flight attendant who literally pulled the cord and ejected himself from his job after a particularly stressful day. I am sure he will be seeking a new job shortly. If you're about to graduate and ready to leave your crummy job behind to begin your new career in medical billing and coding, you might want to purchase this useful item - the Slipquit - when it's time to tell your current boss, "sayonara".

slipquit_9190

Anthony — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:22:26 +0000

people

Anthony — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:42:24 +0000

States With the Lowest Unemployment

Anthony — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:42:49 +0000

The Business Insider released an article this week listing the top ten states with the lowest unemployment rates. The lucky top 10 are: 1) North Dakota 2) South Dakota 3) Nebraska 4) New Hampshire 5) Vermont 6) Hawaii 7) Kansas 8) Wyoming 9) Minnesota 10) Iowa The article included information on the particular industries in each of these states that contributed to its position among the states with the lowest unemployment. And although medical industry was not featured as a key driver of employment in any of these states, there's no getting around the fact that wherever there are people, there will always be demand for medical services. So if you're setting out, new certificate in hand, looking for a new place to start your life and career, think about some of these places where the good employment outlook surely means the local economies are vibrant.

pollenworld

Anthony — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:42:15 +0000

Know Your Enemy

Anthony — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:42:57 +0000

Yes, it is war again. My yearly battle with seasonal allergies has erupted again into violence. Violent sneezing, gruesome coughing and a river of tears and clear liquid pouring from my eyes and nose. I am sure many of you readers are fighting the same battle I am these days. For some it is worse in the Spring. For me it's worst in the Fall. Well, like any good warrior will tell you, "knowing your enemy" is of critical importance to winning the war. And although knowing what these pollens actually look like (when viewed through and electron microscope) will not provide you any critical advantage, it will at least make you feel better about nuking these scary looking irritants with Claritin, Benadryl or whatever your favorite weapon of allergic destruction may be. Grab a hanky and have a look at this interesting pollen slide show from the Telegraph UK.

doctor

Anthony — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:36:33 +0000

ix2882 black professional woman doctor trust caring health afro american african healthy insurance gentle care instrument

As a Medical Office Professional, Stay Mindful

Anthony — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:36:38 +0000

I have written several posts on incorporating the eastern spiritual teaching of "mindfulness" into healthier patterns of living, eating and interpersonal relationships. Today, I found a very interesting article by author and health coach, Riva Greenberg entitled, "10 Tips For Mindfulness: The Healing Power Doctors Forget". The piece talks about the lack of mindfulness the author seems to find increasingly common in doctors' offices. As many of you will ultimately be working in these offices, I thought it was very pertinent to your education. Read the article to learn how you can infuse your work in the healthcare field with the benefits of mindful thought.

Think Innovative Thoughts

Anthony — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:17:19 +0000

Just because something has been done the same way for a long time doesn't mean it's the only correct way of doing something. As you embark on your careers in the medical field, never forget to keep your mind open to innovation. For some inspiration in this regard, check out this video of a man who looked at the large patches of plastic flotsam on the ocean's surface and saw something quite different than floating garbage. See how he turned garbage into an island paradise.



Constitution Day
Anthony — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:06:55 +0000
Today, September 17th is Constitution Day. This holiday, sometimes referred to as Citizenship Day recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787. This year, although historic health care legislation has recently been passed, many of the worst abuses of the insurance industry are still in effect as providers plan a double digit rate increase.  So even though major provisions of the newly passed bill won't take effect until 2014, there is still a moral imperative to make sure all Americans have access to basic healthcare.  I have heard many opponents of universal healthcare ask, "Where in the Constitution does it say that we're entitled to universal healthcare?". Follow me over the fold for the answer to this, and other questions about the amazing document at the core of our Democracy.

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution says the Congress must provide for the general welfare of the United States. Can it truly be said that Congress is fulfilling this mandate when fifty Americans die each day due to lack of health coverage? Granted, providing for the general welfare cannot be interpreted to mean that Americans are entitled to have the Federal government buy them a house, groceries or a new pony. This broad interpretation would give government powers beyond what the Constitution's framers ever envisioned and would certainly be closer to Socialism than Capitalism.

However, Congress's obligation to provide for the general welfare under the Constitution, along with the Constitutional provision of equal protection under the law DOES suggest that Congress has an obligation to ensure that people who work hard and save responsibly have an opportunity to secure those necessities. The new healthcare law in the US ensures that at least all insured Americans are not one emergency or illness away from having their coverage dropped by for-profit insurers who will then deny them any new coverage due to "pre-existing conditions". The pre-existing conditions excuse has been thankfully, outlawed.  However, many of our countrymen are uninsured and are still facing no options but death when extensive, expensive treatment is necessary. This reality cannot be seen as consistent with the role of government as defined by the general welfare clause and equal protection clause of the Constitution.

With so many important debates taking place at this time in our history, and with so much at stake - from environmental degradation and green energy production to healthcare to allegations of torture sanctioned by the last administration, we will undoubtedly need to refer to the Constitution to guide us through these thorny issues. This is why it is really a civic responsibility for all Americans to know what this founding document of our Democracy contains. I have always re-read the Constitution on a yearly basis to reacquaint myself with the wisdom it contains. I urge all Americans to do the same.

Here is a link to a fantastic Powerpoint slideshow provided with permission byAES (retrieved on 09/14/09 ) that does a great job as a primer on the history and content of the US Constitution. Enjoy and Happy Constitution Day!


strength
Anthony — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:44:07 +0000



Surprising Strength in Job Markets
Anthony — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:44:43 +0000
Career professionals (that's people who work in staffing and human resources) are reporting that the recovery in the job market is happening faster than people think.  According to recent reports from the NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) the technical data shows that recession ended last June.  "So where are the jobs?" cry out the 10%+ who are still struggling to find full time employment.  Read this article by noted jobs expert, John Challenger for some surprising answers.


newspaper_-_jobs
Anthony — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:07:11 +0000



Medical Support Jobs Up 20%
Anthony — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:07:23 +0000
Ready for some positive job news?  Especially for people studying what you're studying?  Popular online jobs portal  Monster.com compiles an employment index.  They report that in the last 13 months, job postings in the medical support fields are up 20%.  That's right!  Now, the overall employment outlook remains difficult so don't go out on a spree just yet.  But it is looking better for medical support fields than many other fields right now and that's cause for celebration.  From the Monster.com article:
"Fast Fact: A quick search of Monster shows 557 job postings for medical assistants. The Department of Labor sees a 34 percent jump in medical assisting opportunities from 2008-2018."


working+girl_
Anthony — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:42:01 +0000



7 Ways Your Resume Dates You
Anthony — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:43:24 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1170" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="You updated your business wardrobe and hairstyle. Don't neglect your resume!"][/caption]

As some of our student readers are enterring this career field mid-life, leaving other fields behind, the article linked below offers some excellent advice.  No one has to tell folks in this transitional space that the nature of the job market has been radically changed.  Between the rapid evolution of technology and the economic upheaval of the last few years, many of the rules of the jobs game have been re-written.  This is why today's winning resumé does not share so much in common with the resumés we all may have used not so long ago.   Porsche Moran's article "7 Ways Your Resumé Dates You" offers great tips on how to make sure your Curriculum Vitae is ready for action in the current environment.


hot-dogs
Anthony — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:08:15 +0000



Mmmmmmm.... Mechanically Separated Meat
Anthony — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:09:11 +0000
I publish stories here from time to time about different food products, recipes and dietary information because I think as professionals enterring the healthcare field, it behooves you to be aware of such things.  Also, it never fails to amaze me how poorly the general public pays attention to such issues.  In this installment of "Ewwww, Gross! Are You Gonna Eat That?" I link you to the story behind some of our society's favorite foods and the sickening process used to manufacture them.  I am talking about hot dogs, baloney and chicken nuggets.  Click here to see some appalling pics of the output of a process known as "mechanically separated meat", a moniker that I myself have laughed about seeing on food packaging in the past.  Let me also say by way of disclaimer, that I am overweight and enjoy (in sparing quantities) hot dogs, some processed meats and chicken nuggets.  However, I do try to keep them from being regular diet items.  For me, its good, fresh, locally produced foods - just in too much quantity - that are the problem.  Anyhow, these images and the article they adorn may finally dissuade me from any meats not locally procured.


Armless Pianist Wins "China's Got Talent"
Anthony — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:49:23 +0000
A few months back, I posted an inspirational bit about Liu Wei, the Chinese double amputee who was an accomplished piano player.  In the video I posted, Wei shared his conviction and personal thoughts on living within the constraints life saddles us with and still finding ways to persevere. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, this tale of heroic courage and determination prompted many comments from you, our readers.  Also not surprisingly, this inspirational man achieved what he set out to accomplish and was recently named the winner on this season's, China's Got Talent TV program.  Below is video of his win.  Enjoy!


thumbnail
Anthony — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:24:28 +0000



Pfizer Gets Bigger Yet
Anthony — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:24:56 +0000
As entrants into the medical field, I figured it may be of value to you to keep abreast of happenings in the pharmaceuticals field.  Pfizer, one of the world's largest drugmakers recently absorbed rival producer, Wyeth in a corporate acquisition.  Not content to stop there, and in an effort to bolster the "painkillers" portion of their impressive portfolio of pharma products, Pfizer announced it will be taking over painkiller maker, King Pharmaceuticals.   The $3.6 billion dollar deal makes Pfizer the largest drug manufacturer in the world.


man-frustrated
Anthony — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:23:33 +0000



MD Offers Tips on Minimizing Anxiety
Anthony — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:24:03 +0000
We're all very busy.  In this tough economic environment, normal stresses of life can become amplified by the extra efforts we all must make to protect our jobs, families and households.  Many of you are employed full time, parents and heads of households in addition to being online students.  It wouldn't be surprising to learn that your stress levels are higher now than they have ever been. 

Dr. Matthew Edlund is the Director of the Center for Circadian Medicine and the author of the book, The Power of Rest.  Dr. Edlund recently published a list of eight things each of us can do to better manage our stress levels.  I found it to be particularly helpful in helping me cope with my own frazzled existence.  I thought readers here would find it equally useful.  Read his article here.


Some Factual Information About Job Growth
Anthony — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:29:34 +0000
With the upcoming election, politicians are yammering on and on about the jobs picture in this country and how it should affect your choice on whom to vote for.  Needless to say, when listening to politicians, you're likely to hear more lies than truths.  However, the facts are out there if one wishes to seek them out.  Now, no one can say that the jobs picture is pretty and we are a far way away from returning to the full employment we enjoyed before the economy tanked.  However, it is an indisputable fact (as shown in the video below) that job losses have been shrinking and job growth has returned (albeit slowly) since 2009.  Also, you should give yourselves a pat on the back for chosing a career in an industry that is poised for significant growth.  Keep this video in mind when listening to the candidates talk about unemployment on the campaign trail.  And don't forget to vote on November 2nd!



777-Haiti_Disease
Anthony — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:14:06 +0000



In Haiti: Its Not Lack of Science, It's Poverty
Anthony — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:14:34 +0000
On top of the utter destruction wrought upon the island nation of Haiti by this year's earthquake, a cruel new misfortune is adding to the misery. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Haitians, people whose homes were destroyed in quake, are living in squalid conditions in temporary tent camps. Without adequate access to clean water or sufficient medical supplies, an epidemic of Cholera has broken out. BoingBoing blogger, Maggie Baker explains what Cholera is and does:
"The bug behind this devastation—the bacterium Vibrio cholerae—is a fascinating and frustrating creature. Fascinating, because of its role in the development of epidemiology and what we're still learning from it. Frustrating, because it ought to be relatively simple to treat and prevent infection. We know what to do to help a cholera victim survive. All it takes is access to clean water and the most basic medical supplies. The trouble here isn't science, it's poverty.

Cholera is, essentially, the worst food poisoning you can possibly imagine. In fact, it's related to Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that tends to infect people via undercooked seafood.

After you ingest the cholera bacteria, it'll hang out in your gut for a few days before symptoms kick in. Once they do, though, cholera can kill you within hours. How? I'll be blunt: Massive, constant diarrhea that drains the body of fluids and electrolytes and leaves victims looking like glassy-eyed, hollow-cheeked corpses before they actually are."
The problem isn't that medical science cannot beat cholera.  In fact all that's needed to beat cholera is clean water and antibiotics.  The problem is poverty - there simply isn't enough money to ensure clean drinking water and access to simple medical treatment for the Haitian population.  Over the jump is a list of places where you can contribute (even the smallest donation is HUGELY valuable) to saving the lives of people who simply shouldn't have to die.

How You Can Help:
• Donate to Doctors Without Borders and help get Oral Rehydration Therapy to people who need it.

• Donate to World Vision, which does both medical work, and helps bring clean, safe drinking water to communities around the world.

• Donate to Water.Org, a charity devoted to water infrastructure projects.

Some Other, Related Links:
• Fault activity indicates that Haiti is at risk of more, and possibly larger, earthquakes

• Fascinating piece explaining how cholera can hide, dormant in a population for years, waiting for a sanitation crisis to attack

• Cholera at The Bacteria Museum

• The Climate Connection: How warming oceans can influence the spread of cholera

• Interesting information on what the toxin produced by cholera bacteria does in the human body and why it causes diarrhea


researchteam
Anthony — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:29:46 +0000



It's Not What You Know, It's How Well You Interact
Anthony — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:30:22 +0000
You know the old saying, "it's not what you know, it's who you know" that is the key to success.  Well, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have recently published findings in Science magazine that confirm this old adage.  In school we always wanted the "brainy" kid to be our lab partner right?  In the job world, we always seek to engage the smartest/most experienced people to work on our project team.  The thinking being that having the smartest people in our work groups would ensure a good grade or superior job performance.  But it seems that intelligence is not the essential ingredient to success in the group format.  Rather, it is social sensitivity - the ability to pick up on emotional clues from others - that makes for the most effective groups.    Read a good synopsis of the findings of this fascinating study that was published here in Wired magazine.  Remember it when your employer asks you to team up with others to handle a task or project.


thumbnail
Anthony — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:20:37 +0000



Tomorrow Is Election Day - Get Out and Vote
Anthony — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:21:20 +0000
Unless you've been under a rock for the last few months, you've seen the unbelievable amount of money spent on campaign advertising.  This year a record $4billion is being spent on campaign ads.  I know of a million ways (at least) that the $4billion could have been spent better.  But alas, this is the system we have.  So let's make it worth it for all the cash that would otherwise be a complete waste and get out there and  VOTE!  Don't forget, many generations of Americans laid down their lives to protect your right to vote.  So honor those who have fallen by exercising your franchise and make your voice heard.  Tomorrow, November 2, is Election Day.  Go and pull the lever for the people you feel best reflect your values.  Or at least, vote against those whose values run counter to you own.  It is your most precious right as an American!


Seeing is Not Always Believing
Anthony — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:47:59 +0000


Watch this fascinating video about the McGurk Effect.  It deals with the way our brains interpret the vast quantity of stimulus we absorb every minute.  From sounds to visual images, our amazing noggins are able to separate out all the different input and make sense of it.  However, just like optical illusions trick our eyes, there are also "auditory" illusions that can dupe our ears.  This is important as you enter (or re-enter) the career world.  Remember, you may hear your employer or supervisor say one thing, but the boss may have actually said something completely different.  The moral?  Listen carefully!


medical%20record
Anthony — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:25:10 +0000



medicalrecord
Anthony — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:26:04 +0000



medicalrecord
Anthony — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:26:40 +0000



Medical Assistant is #1 Job for Work-Life Balance
Anthony — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:27:25 +0000
According to this article from Yahoo! entitled, " Jobs that Let You Flex Your Freedom", medical assistant is the best job for work-life balance.  The number four job on the list is medical transcriptionist.  Read the article at Yahoo! for the details.


pens
Anthony — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:14:56 +0000



More Ways to Improve Your Resumé
Anthony — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:15:18 +0000
One of our regular themes here at the Allen School Blog is resumé help/tips/ideas.  As our students graduate and make their way into new careers, the resumé takes on greater significance.  So here's another in that series courtesy of Monster.com and Yahoo! Hot Jobs.  For the details on each of the eight tips below, click here for the full article.

1. Analyze the job post's wording. 
2. Weed out fibs.
3. Get rid of the "objective statement."
4. Get rid of redundancies.
5. Cut unnecessary resume "stories." 
6. Look for ways to use exciting language.
7. Turn your resume upside-down.
8. Write a draft in a different format.



steakdinner
Anthony — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:22:17 +0000



Is Fast Food "Less Delicious" than Slow Cooked Food?
Anthony — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:22:25 +0000
Science has been looking into the causes of obesity in the US population.  One interesting idea is that society has grown less interested in preparing its own food.  As both sexes in the modern world typically work out of the home, food technology has improved to shorten the time it takes to prepare meals.  As a result, the meals themselves are less satisfying and Americans try to regain the satisfaction by consuming more.  When we take our time to prepare a meal from scratch, our brains perceive it as "more delicious".  Maybe they've never tasted my wife's cooking!  (Just kidding honey!)  These are interesting ideas, but really, is there any evidence to support these conclusions?  Yes!  The article linked here appeared in Wired magazine and it discusses some of the experiments scientists performed to try and get to the bottom of this question.  You'll be surprised to learn what they've found.  Read it and form your own conclusion.


Portrait of medical healthcare workers.
Anthony — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:25:05 +0000
Full-length portrait of African-American man and Caucasian women medical healthcare workers smiling in uniforms standing against white background.


Top 20 Industries Where Jobs Are Returning
Anthony — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:25:13 +0000
Well, no one here will likely be surprised, but according to US News & World Report the healthcare field is near the top of the list of industries where jobs are returning fastest.  According to their article linked here:

"Healthcare. There was barely a recession in healthcare--employment has been rising consistently in almost every specialty. This is one of the few fields in which there are more jobs today than before the recession began. A lot more, in fact.

Jobs gained in 2010: 204,000

Change since 2007: 738,000 jobs gained"

Mining, warehousing and oil extraction also made the list.  But aren't you glad to be in healthcare rather than digging, lifting or drilling?


SOUTH KOREA METEOR SHOWER
Anthony — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:16:45 +0000
Leonids meteors are seen streaking through the sky in Muju county, 300 kilometers, southwest of Seoul, South Korea Monday, Nov. 19, 2001. (AP Photo/Yonhap)


Meteor Shower Tonight
Anthony — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:17:03 +0000
If you live in the Northeast (as many Allen School students and faculty do) and if you wake up early to start your day, you may be treated to an amazing sight.  The next few pre-dawn mornings will host the annual Leonid Meteor Shower.  Every November, the Earth passes through the tale of comet, Tempel-Tuttle.  The bits of frozen debris in the comet's tail enter into the Earth's atmosphere and burn up forming streaks of fire across the sky.  The shooting stars, as many as 20 per hour, will be most visible Thursday and Friday AM between 3AM and dawn.  So if you're up early to make the coffee, and if you're far enough away from city lights, have a look up at the dark, pre-dawn skies for an awesome celestial show.  For more about the Leonid Meteor Shower, click here for Wired magazine's article on the subject.


job cookies
JanetK — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:25:12 +0000



Gift Yourself a Job for the Holidays - Step Up Job Search in December
JanetK — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:06:37 +0000
While Others Bake Holiday Cookies, Your Job Hunting Chances Improve 

If you buy into the myth that holiday job searching is a waste of time, you are losing one of the better job searching seasons of the year. During this holiday job searching season, you enjoy reduced competition for jobs, easier access to decision makers who are actually in the office, and the opportunity to help people spend their budgets before year end.   Careerbuilder.com has an article up explaining exactly why job seekers should NOT take a few weeks off for holiday merriment.  Click here to read the story.




cliche
Anthony — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:09:11 +0000



50 Worst Resumé Clichés
Anthony — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:09:17 +0000
US News and World Report published the 50 most overused phrases job seekers include in their resumés.  Trying to avoid them all seems like a difficult challenge.  However, if you succeed in avoiding them all, your resumé will be undeniably different and that is exactly what catches the eye of the recruiter!  Make the jump to see the full list:

1. Team player

2. Detailed-oriented

3. Proven track record of success

4. Experienced

5. Excellent communication skills

6. Leadership skills

7. Go-to person

8. Managed cross-functional teams

9. Exceptional organizational skills

10. Self-starter

11. Results-oriented professional

12. Bottom-line orientated

13. Works well with customers

14. Strong negotiation skills

15. Goal-oriented

16. People-person

17. Dynamic

18. Innovative

19. Proven ability

20. Top-flight

21. Motivated

22. Bottom-line focused

23. Responsible for

24. Assisted with

25. Skilled problem solver

26. Accustomed to fast-paced environments

27. Strong work ethic

28. Works well with all levels of staff

29. Met (or exceeded) expectations

30. Savvy business professional

31. Strong presentation skills

32. Looking for a challenging opportunity

33. Cutting-edge

34. Multi-tasker

35. Proactive

36. Seasoned professional

37. Perfectionist

38. Highly skilled

39. Functioned as

40. Duties included

41. Actions encompassed

42. Best-in-class

43. Strategic thinker

44. Trustworthy

45. Flexible

46. Works well under pressure

47. Quick learner

48. Partnered with others

49. Results-focused

50. Out-of-the-box thinker


encore-neon
Anthony — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:08:10 +0000



Encore Careers
Anthony — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:08:30 +0000
In an article by Chris Kyle for Yahoo! Education, medical assistant and medical manager are two of the five top "encore" careers.  That is, fields for people wishing to retrain and re-enter the workforce, perhaps after losing a job in an industry hard hit by the recession.  The relative safety and immunity from economic downturn enjoyed by the medical field played a large part in vaulting these two jobs to the top of this particular list.  Click here to read all the details!


The Power of the Sun
Anthony — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:01:57 +0000
There is a new hotel in Vegas whose curved, reflective glass facade is focusing sunlight into a "death ray" that beams down onto a certain area on the hotel's pool deck and giving sunbathers serious burns. Link to that story here.  Well if you thought that was cool (no pun intended) watch the video below where scientists have focused two square meters of sunlight in such a way that it can melt ROCK!  Explain to me why we are not using this simple, clean technology to fire steam turbines for emissions-free electricity?


seinfeld
Anthony — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:55:29 +0000



The Small Talker, The Box Checker & The Unprepared
Anthony — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:56:20 +0000
Doug White of renowned staffing firm, Robert Half International says to be prepared for the different personalities of hiring managers. In terms that remind this blogger of Seinfeld episodes (remember the "Low-Talker" or the "Re-Gifter"?) he outlines three typical HR managers' personality types and provides information on how to prepare yourself should you run into one of them in your next job interview.

Click here to learn how to address "The Small Talker", "The Box Checker" and the "Ill-Prepared" varieties of hiring manager.


spinners05
Anthony — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:44:24 +0000



Many Jobs Can Be Automated (But Not Yours!)
Anthony — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:44:52 +0000
Here's proof that nearly any job can be automated rendering the human being obsolete.  Be thankful that they haven't yet been able to build a robot to do medical billing and coding. 


spinners05
Anthony — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:47:49 +0000



spinners05
Anthony — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:50:01 +0000



spinners05
Anthony — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:54:01 +0000



cold
Anthony — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:56:56 +0000



5 Tips for Avoiding the Common Cold
Anthony — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:57:23 +0000
Well, cold and flu season is upon us again and no one hates being sick more than I do.  So I have been looking for some ideas on how to minimize the probability of catching a cold this season and I came across this. An article by dietician and nutitionist Susan Dopart offers 5 tips for avoiding the sickness this time of year.  Click here to read the useful suggestions she offers.


IHOPBigCountry
Anthony — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:18:03 +0000



Worst Food Awards for 2010
Anthony — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:19:06 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1271" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="IHOP's Big Country Breakfast "][/caption]

David Zinczenko produces the "Eat This, Not That" books which show readers what foods are particularly unhealthy and what satisfying alternatives to each dish might look like.  He has published the annual list of "Worst Foods" for 2010.  Some of the big winners are dishes from P.F. Chang's, Pizzeria Uno, Cheesecake Factory and IHOP.  I was shocked not to see my favorite culinary abomination - KFC's Double Down - make the list.  But with the holidays fully upon us and lots of dining out for holiday parties, I thought our readers might arm themselves with this knowledge before they hit the restaurants.  Enjoy!


anonymoussm
Anthony — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:11:00 +0000



An Innovative Use for Medical Records
Anthony — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:11:52 +0000
Science News reports of an innovative new way that researchers are using medical records for genetics research.  Obviously, patients' medical records, in aggregate, contain a treasure trove of useful data to researchers seeking patterns that can be used in the study of genetics and disease.  However as you're fully aware, privacy is of eminent concern when it comes to patient records.  

According to the Science News article, "Databases that link thousands of people’s DNA profiles to their medical histories are a powerful tool for researchers who want to use genetics to individualize the diagnosis and treatment of disease. But this promise of personalized medicine comes with concerns about patient privacy. Now scientists have come up with a way to alter personal medical information so it’s still meaningful for research, but meaningless to someone trying to ID an individual in a database."

To learn how they rendered anonymous the information contained in medical records read the entire article here courtesy of Wired Magazine.


handshake
Anthony — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:57:13 +0000



How to Be More Persuasive in Interviews
Anthony — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:57:56 +0000
Convincing someone that you're the best candidate for a position requires that you engender in them a good feeling about you personally.  You need to find subtle ways to make the interviewer feel as though they really like you.  Senior editor at HotJobs, Charles Purdy recently wrote an article offering tips on how to make yourself likable to an interviewer without coming off as a creepy stalker or a clowning ham.  The tips are:

	Mirror the Interviewer
	Master the Handshake
	Use Vivid Language
	Say "Yes" to a Drink - of Water
	Create Soundbites
	Practice Silence

To learn the details of these activities, click here for Purdy's article.


Peace Offering in War on Christmas
Anthony — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:12:48 +0000

With so many different religions living side by side in the US, it was only a matter of time before there was some friction regarding the celebration of holidays.  Some folks have lately been complaining about the "secularization" of what used to be known as the Christmas holiday.  They protest the use of the term "Happy Holidays" saying that it is an attack on the Christian values system.  Opponents like to point out that more than one religion has a high holiday in December.  The Jews of course celebrate Chanukah and some of African descent celebrate Kwanzaa.  Yet, for all the arguing about this, no one ever considers the feelings of those who adhere to no religion - the Atheists.  That is, until now.  One of my favorite comedians, Steve Martin, has written this hilarious "Atheist Hymn" which he perfoms with the Steep Canyon Rangers.  In this holiday season, perhaps we can all enjoy some comedy and lay down the differences that divide us in favor of the similarities that bind us all as humans.  However you celebrate this time of year, have a happy, healthy, joyous time of it!


xmas
Anthony — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:21:14 +0000



Happy Holidays To All!
Anthony — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:21:49 +0000
The Allen School Blog wishes you and yours the happiest, healthiest, holiday and a most prosperous New Year.  We are looking forward to a 2011 full of promise and potential.


new_year_hat
Anthony — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:53:41 +0000



5 New Years Job Hunt Resolutions
Anthony — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:54:13 +0000
Lydia Dishman of www.payscale.com wrote this interesting piece of 5 New Years resolutions that job hunters owe it to themselves to make.  They are:

	Hone your elevator pitch
	Brush up on your hard skills
	Solidfy your soft skills
	Work better with others
	Treat each failure as an opportunity

Click here to read the full article and learn why each of these resolutions can help you to be more effective in your job search for 2011!


1111
Anthony — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:18:26 +0000



Predicted Winners & Losers in 2011
Anthony — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:18:52 +0000
Along with just about every other outlet, US News & World Report recently published some end of the year prognostications about the rapidly approaching New Year.   In a set of twin pieces, US News made some pretty salient predictions on where things are headed for different groups of readers.  I have included a link to each article here and here.  True to conventional wisdom, those in healthcare and related fields made the list of those who would do well in 2011.  The articles are an interesting read, but if you're strapped for time, the relevant quote is below.
"Workers in growing industries. Healthy companies in stable industries are starting to get back to normal, with profits up and hiring beginning to resume. Healthcare is probably the most well-known recession-resistant industry, with hiring up in virtually every field even during the recession. But other industries like energy, mining, Web publishing, high-end IT work, public transportation, and even waste management have been growing as well. And other industries that cut back during the recession--such as retail, hospitality, and warehousing--are starting to replace some of the jobs lost."
 

 


1111
Anthony — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:20:43 +0000



CANCER BLOOD TEST
Anthony — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:13:26 +0000
HOLD FOR RELEASE for 12:01 A.M.; graphic shows how circulating tumor cells are captured for analysis


"Liquid Biopsy" One Step Closer to Reality
Anthony — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:14:23 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1295" align="alignleft" width="399" caption="Graphic Courtesy of Massachusetts General via AP"][/caption]

File under, "awesome emerging medical technologies": Johnson & Johnson's prototype blood test for cancer is being fast tracked to the market.  This ingenious new technology is a blood test so sensitive that it can detect even a single cancer cell from a sample taken from a patient.  Performed simply in a doctor's office, this blood test promises to be a boon in the early detection of breast, prostate, colon and lung cancer.  

Dr. Daniel Haber, one of the test's inventors and chief of Massachusetts General's cancer center says, "This is like a liquid biopsy" that avoids painful tissue sampling and may give a better way to monitor patients than periodic imaging scans. 

For more information on this intriguing medical development and plans to bring it to market, read the AP report about this story here.


Recession-Facts
Anthony — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:32:15 +0000



Growth in Jobs & Economy: Illusion or Reality?
Anthony — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:32:51 +0000
By academic measures, the US economy has been technically out of recession (defined as two or more quarters of consecutive GDP decline) since the end of 2009.  Tell that to all the folks who remain unemployed through 2010 and now into 2011.  However, there are several recent signs pointing to the more tangible kind of recovery that can be seen and felt by the average worker.  Follow me past the jump for the promising details.

Today in a report from Reuters in conjunction with payroll processing giant ADP, the US economy added some 297,000 jobs in December.  Since employment figures are what economists call "a lagging indicator" (meaning that jobs figures don't show improvement until after economic activity rebounds because employers typically don't hire until recovery seems solid) it would make sense that we're starting to see some significant hiring taking place.  It is after all, a full four quarters since GDP began growing again instead of falling.

Another positive sign is the return of confidence in the stock market which has been surging lately.  Understandably, this is not a direct benefit to those without stock investments.  However, it is a clear signal that investors are feeling more confidence in the health of the economic picture.  So it follows suit that we should begin to see an uptick in hiring.   Bureau of Labor Statistics data confirm that in spite of the deep economic troubles we've endured, job growth in the healthcare field has remained strong.


taxes2
Anthony — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:27:48 +0000



2010 Tax Deductions for Students
Anthony — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:28:16 +0000
Its officially the beginning of tax season and with that in mind the Allen School Blog will be including some posts on ways that students can maximize their returns.  In the post, we link to a a short piece explaining how students between the ages of 19 and 24 can take advantage of the Hope Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.  Click here for more detailed information on how to claim these deductions and hopefully recuperate a portion of your tuition expenses courtesy of ehow.com.


AZ shooting
Anthony — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:20:57 +0000



Tone It Down! Folks Are Getting Killed Out There!
Anthony — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:21:13 +0000
As a blogger and a regular contributor to the online dialogue in this country, I would call on our leaders to tone down the violent, angry, hateful rhetoric they have engaged in over the last few years.  As the famous saying goes, "Politics ain't beanbag" and as President Harry Truman once quipped, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."  So we know its bare knuckle brawling.  But, when rhetoric overheats and calls for violence (even if meant metaphorically) those with a loose grip on reality - like this Jared Loughner maniac - are encouraged to take it seriously.  Today, this blogger's thoughts are with those gravely injured or killed and their families in the Arizona shootings.  Remember, in life, in the job hunt and in workplace interactions, in family matters and in friendships, at work, play and school, words have meaning and often, consequences.  Let's all dial it back a notch and deal with our undeniably difficult national differences without calling for violence.  Its not the American way.


first-impressions1
Anthony — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:20:30 +0000



Tips For Making a Good Impression at Your New Job
Anthony — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:20:47 +0000
Staffing company, Robert Half International published this excellent article on how to start a new job off on the right foot.   The five suggestions are:

	Get a read on the company. 
	Pay attention to the unwritten rules, too.
	Practice proper diplomacy.
	Pace yourself.
	Finally, cut yourself some slack.

Click the link above to read the detailed recommendations for each of these tips and be prepared for your first day on the job as a medical billing and coding worker.


wired how to wiki
Anthony — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:36:14 +0000



Wired's How-to Wiki - An Excellent Resource
Anthony — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:36:33 +0000
Need to know how to supercharge your resume?  Use Skype?  Learn how to speed read?  Get paid more for your work?  Open a bottle with a cigarette lighter?  You should know about an excellent resource I recently found.  Propellor-head that I am, I love reading Wired Magazine every day online.   It always has lots of interesting information about science, technology and tech culture that appeals to my inner nerd.  Well, imagine my delight when I found the Wired How-to Wiki pages.  A wiki is a site where the users generate and moderate the content.  Famous wikis include Wikipedia, the user-maintained, online encyclopedia and the infamous Wikileaks in the news these days.  The Wired How-to Wiki is home to numerous articles on how to do many useful and interesting things.  Have a look and learn how to do things you've always wondered how to do (and even some things you've never even thought about doing).   Lots of great information for students to be found there in the "work" category especially.   Enjoy!


allnighter01
Anthony — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:35:55 +0000



All Nighters Make Your Pants Tighter
Anthony — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:36:01 +0000
As an online student, chances are you have lots going on besides studying.  This is why you likely chose online education in the first place.  But between work, family, friends and studies, it can be hard to get everything done.  As a result, we often find ourselves having to pull an all-nighter to get caught up.  Now, this is ok once in a great while, but if it becomes your regular habit, you may be in for a rude awakening (well, if you're up all night, you're already awake, but I digress).  University of Colorado researchers have completed a study that shows burning the midnight oil actually prompts your body to STOP burning calories.   Chronic all-nighters can have an explosive effect on your waist size.  Click here to read the details on why it probably makes more sense to go to sleep tonight and pick up the work where you left off the next morning.


Historic Moments in Super Bowl and Canned Beer
Anthony — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:30:49 +0000
The playoffs are over!  So this year's Super Bowl will be between Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburg Steelers.  The Packers are a historic team and were in the very first Super Bowl back in 1967.


26-27EARSmanufacturing
Anthony — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:12:11 +0000



Motivation and Success
Anthony — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:13:14 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1326" align="alignleft" width="275" caption="Tal Golesworthy's Invention - A New Artificial Heart Valve"][/caption]

A favorite song of mine has a lyric that says, "You ain't gonna learn what you don't wanna know".  Isn't that the truth?  Nothing is as essential to success as motivation.  Case in point, check out this engineer who suffered from a congenital heart defect.  He knew his heart would one day fail.  So he struck out to find a better alternative to the existing, mechanical heart implants on the market.  With his very life as the motivating factor, he engineered a solution that saved his own life and the lives of others who suffer from the same defect.  What do you think you could achieve if failure was not an option?


job-interview-process
Anthony — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:12:02 +0000



How to Promote Yourself
Anthony — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:12:29 +0000
With so much competition for jobs these days, a good resume and cover letter alone aren't enough to seal the deal with a hiring authority.  You may have studied to become a medical billing and coding professional, but what you really need to be a salesperson.  Your product?  Yourself!   Here's a link to some excellent advice on how to sell yourself to employers.


Top10ListClipart
Anthony — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:56:15 +0000



Medical Billing/Coding - Cutting Edge Job
Anthony — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:56:36 +0000
Need more convincing that a career in medical billing and coding is a wise pursuit?  Kiplinger's released a list of 10 jobs that didn't exist ten years ago.  These are jobs that have been enabled to a large degree by information technologies and the Internet.  These are positions that are just now coming to the forefront of the career world and are not in any danger of being outsourced or downsized out of existence.   Sure enough, medical billing and coding jobs made Kiplinger's top 10 list.  Click here to see the full list and marvel at the other careers on the list alongside yours.  Give yourself a pat on the back for being such a trendsetter.


groceriesDM2111_468x461
Anthony — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:23:05 +0000



Rising Food Costs Will Affect Public Health
Anthony — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:23:33 +0000
Up for the seventh month in a row, the closely watched Food and Agriculture Oganisation Food Price Index on Thursday touched its highest since records began in 1990, and topped the peak of 224.1 in June 2008, during the food crisis of 2007/08.  Several factors contribute to this rise in costs.  We now use food stocks such as corn to make ethanol to burn in our cars.  The logic of using food to make fuel is dubious at best.  The other major factor has been a year fraught with severe weather phenomena from floods, to droughts to frosts which have all decimated crops in many parts of the agricultural producing world. 

With the price of food skyrocketing, people all over the world will struggle with less food in terms of both quantity and quality.  The effects of a global population eating less (and less nutritious) food and more of their diets being comprised of filler and processed ingredients will have a definite impact on health.


facebook1
Anthony — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:22:40 +0000



Free Speech Protected, but Discretion on Facebook Still Wise
Anthony — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:23:14 +0000
The National Labor Review Board won its court case on behalf of an Emergency Medical Technician who was fired from her job for disparaging comments she made about her boss on Facebook.  The NLRB proved that the speech in question was protected under labor laws allowing employees to openly discuss their compensation, work conditions and hours.

While the case was won, it still bears noting that what you post on Facebook and other social media sites is available for the world to see pretty much forever.  This case was won but it took a long and expensive legal challenge to prevail.  This is not something that every worker is in a position to accomplish.  More often than not, workers are fired without recourse for what their employers see on their social media pages.  So even though the law is on your side, you may still want to weigh the wisdom of posting anything your boss would be upset to read online (unless you're prepared to defend it in court).  I generally limit my expressions of job disatisfaction on social media sites to statements I would be comfortable communicating to my superiors in person.  If I wouldn't say it to their face, I won't post it on my wall.


happy-valentines-day-heart-valentine-day-demotivational-poster-1231398527
Anthony — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:32:23 +0000



Happy Valentine's Day from Allen School Blog
Anthony — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:32:49 +0000
Here's a little medical Valentine's Day humor.  Here's hoping all our students find love in their lives as much as in their chosen careers.




modem
Anthony — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:14:22 +0000



Ancestors to Online Learning
Anthony — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:14:51 +0000
Courtesy of Wired's "This Day in Tech" feature, this piece on the anniversary of the world's first Computer Bulletin Board System or BBS.  If you're as old as I am, you may remember the awe you experienced in the early 1980s when you learned you could purchase something called a "modem" that would conect your Apple II or Commodore 64 computer terminal to your telephone (shown in illustration).  This connectivity was the early precursor of the modern Internet.  Early users created Bulletin Board Systems where other users could dial in and share textual messages.  I remember reading a version of the Anarchist's Cookbook on one such BBS.  We were absolutely smitten as kids, with the idea of being able to communicate computer to computer.  Today, this telecommunication framework has grown into full maturity and the modern website is the great,great,great grandchild of the humble BBS.  Without which, you wouldn't be reading this post or studying medical billing and coding from the comfort of your own living room or favorite coffee shop.


cash2
Anthony — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:39:14 +0000



How to Get Paid What You're Worth
Anthony — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:39:41 +0000
WIRED magazine's DIY section brings us another excellent piece.  Today's topic is how to get paid what you're worth when seeking a job.  Follow these easy steps to increase your chances of not only landing a job, but one in which you'll be compensated commensurate with your abilities and experiences.

1 Use an online salary calculator
2 Schmooze, schmooze, schmooze
3 Commit to negotiating
4 But don't be a jerk
5 Negotiating Strategy
6 Discount future earnings
7 Above all, be flexible
8 Keep your eyes open
9 Finally

Click here to read the details of this strategy and get paid what you're worth!


whatnottowear
Anthony — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:31:16 +0000



How You Look Affects Your Paycheck
Anthony — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:32:02 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1361" align="alignleft" width="155" caption="This guy ALWAYS gets passed over for promotions!"][/caption]

For those of you getting ready to graduate and enter the workforce in your new career, consider the article here from the Business Insider courtesy of Yahoo!.   In this piece, we are shown the statistics illustrating that how you look has a material impact on how you're treated and how much you earn in the market.  Cleanshaven men without any balding earn higher than their analogs who are losing hair or growing it on their faces.  Conservatively dressed women earn better than their more revealingly dressed counterparts.  Read the entire piece to learn how you can present yourself to earn the most on the job.


mocha
Anthony — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:23:28 +0000



Coffee That Breaks You
Anthony — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:23:59 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1365" align="alignleft" width="293" caption="Caramel Mocha Macchiato with Ribeye Steak Rare"][/caption]

For many busy students, coffee is an essential part of the routine for staying focused and awake long enough to maintain studies, jobs and family responsibilities.  This blogger has a coffee IV drip set up alongside his computer.  There is no shortage of coffee purveyors competing for your coffee dollars and they have been "one-upping" each other to be your "cup of choice".  That competition has led to some pretty over the top, unhealthy coffee options.  These may be yummy treats once in a while, but if you drank them every day, you'd need to buy bigger pants in short order.  Here are the top five most decadent coffee drinks:

1. Krispy Kreme's Mocha Dream Chiller, 20oz: 1,050 calories, 41g total fat
EQUAL TO: 6.17 White Castle cheese burgers

2. Dunkin' Donuts Vanilla Bean Coolatta, 32oz: 860 calories, 12g of total fat
EQUAL TO: 3.44 McDonald's Hamburgers

3. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Caramel Ice Blended, 24oz: 790 calories, 13g of fat
EQUAL TO: 4.16 Taco Bell Chicken Soft Tacos

4. Starbucks White Chocolate Crème Frappuccino w/whip, 24oz: 760 calories, 13g of fat
EQUAL TO: 2.23 Burger King Fries (small)

5. Peet's Coffee & Tea Hot White mocha w/whip, 20oz: 547 calories, 25g total of fat
EQUAL TO: 1.95 Subway 6" Turkey Breast Sandwiches

Info courtesy of Grace Nasri, editor at FindTheBest.com, a comparison search engine.


spam king
Anthony — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:09:30 +0000



Spam King Released From Prison
Anthony — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:10:01 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1368" align="alignleft" width="205" caption="Robert Soloway, King of Spam"][/caption]

Just when you thought it was safe to open your email box again...  You probably don't know Robert Soloway, but it is a certainty that your email box has been the victim of his decade-long, spam spree.  This fellow made a fortune using techniques of questionable legality to flood your inbox with offers for Viagra, porn, Christian singles and counterfeit Prada bags.  In 2007, the law finally caught up to him and he served nearly 4 years for his transgressions.  As online students, you're probably grateful that he's been punished for wasting so much of your time cleaning out the spam.  He's paid his debt to society now though and has sworn off his old, evil ways.  But just in case, a condition of his release from prison requires his emails to be monitored by law enforcement.  Gone are his Mercedes Benzes, Gucci shoes and all his ill-gotten gains.  He now works in a copy shop for $10/ hr.  Maybe Mr. Soloway, you're interested in a more lucrative new career in Medical Billing and Coding?  You can study it online!


coffee-beans-2
Anthony — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:17:13 +0000



As If Busy Students Needed an Excuse
Anthony — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:17:45 +0000
Happy to report I found this research which seems to promote the idea that moderate coffee consumption is actually good for you!  Yes, science finally catches up to what this blogging genius already knows.  Coffee RAWKS.  But seriously, the high anti-oxidant content of coffee seems to have a positive effect on brain plasticity, liver and heart functions and a host of other benefits.  Read all about the good news in this article from Eating Well magazine's Dr. Kerri-Ann Jennings.


in-n-out_animal_style
Anthony — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:45:11 +0000



Food & Wine's Best Burgers in the US
Anthony — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:45:58 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1375" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="In-N-Out Burger, "Animal Style""][/caption]

This blog periodically covers the topic of fast food and its impact on culture, wellness and society.  I have also written several times about my personal favorite, In-N-Out Burger, the west coast chain that haunts my dreams as an east coast denizen.  Well, Food & Wine magazine publushed its annual list of the best burgers in the US and In-N-Out was at the top of the list!  For us here in the NYC area, the list includes several contenders from the Big Apple.  Minella's Tavern, the Spotted Pig and Shake Shak all made the list.  As did Peter Luger's, the legendary steakhouse in Williamsburg.  But if I am going to Luger's I am eating steak, not burgers.  Where is your favorite burger place?


Close-up of stethoscope on laptop keyboard
Anthony — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:44:24 +0000



Online Students, Take Care of Your Computer
Anthony — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:44:52 +0000
Online students reap enormous benefits from studying in a virtual environment.  Better time management, schedule flexibility, improved mobility and avoiding a commute to campus are among some of the greatest perqs of online education.  All that convenience is unlocked through technology.  Specifically, through your personal computer.  Whether it is a desktop in your home, the laptop you use while stationed in your favorite coffee shop or the tablet you use while sitting in the park, these machines are essentially your golden tether.  Without them, you'd either have to take classes on campus or spend a big chunk of dough to replace them.  So it makes sense to take good care of your machine.  But many don't really know what is required to properly maintain their computer and keep it running as well as it did when they first bought it.  Many even spend good money to pay for "nerd squads" or other tech support outfits whose business model relies on peoples' aversion to doing their own system maintenance.  But why pay for this preventative maintenance when you can do it for yourself for free?  Read this article from Wired magazine's how-to wiki on easy computer maintenance practices that can keep your machine humming along nicely and save you a bundle.


poorly dressed
Anthony — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:39:03 +0000



Top Ten Job Interview Fashion Blunders
Anthony — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:39:30 +0000
Carole Martin writes for Monster.com an excellent article about how to "dress for success" at the job interview.  Click here to read the entire piece.  But the top 10 list of common sartorial mistakes are shown below.

Wild Nail Polish: This tip is for women or men. Extremely long or uncut nails are a real turnoff, too. Your nails should be groomed and neat.  
Jangly Jewelry: Don't wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed. 
Open-Toed or Backless Shoes: And mules are a definite no-no. Out-of-date shoes should be thrown out or kept for other occasions. 
Bare Legs: Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather. Stockings can be in neutral colors or a fashion color to match your shoes. 
Out-of-Date Suits: These have lapels that are too wide (three inches or more) or too narrow (one inch or less). A good tailor can alter lapels. The style for men's jackets is full-body and looser rather than fitted or tight. 
Short Skirts: Hemlines should not be more than three inches above the knee. Don't wear capri pants or leggings to the interview. 
Leather Jackets for Men or Women: Even leather blazers are not good for interviewing purposes. They look like outerwear. 
Turtlenecks for Men: A tie is preferable, at least in the first go-round. At the very least, wear a collared shirt. 
Printed or Trendy Handbags: Purses should be conservative and inconspicuous. 
Red Briefcases: Briefcases, purses and shoes should all be conservative in color and in good condition.


antique xray
Anthony — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:21:07 +0000



The Evolution of Medical Science
Anthony — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:21:34 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1387" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The World's First X-ray Device"][/caption]

The medical industry evolves quickly and new advancements seem to occur almost weekly.  It is always instructive to look back 50 or a hundred years for real perspective on how far along the industry has come.  The work you will do upon enterring this field as a medical biller/coder will surely look very different 50 years from today.  We can only wonder what it may look like.  We know that electronic records keeping is a growing trend that will change the face of the medical office.  Dutch medical inventors H J Hoffmans and Lambertus Theodorus van Kleef couldn't have imagined the modern MRI or CAT scanner when they developed the world's first x-ray scanner in the late 1800s.  Read about their breakthrough in this fascinating article.


196737_1871649080896_1531213103_1972587_7104966_n
Anthony — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:03:08 +0000



This is Spring?
Anthony — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:03:18 +0000
Like most others here in the northeast, and specifically in the NY Metro area, I was tantalized by the unseasonably warm weather we had last week and over the weekend when temperatures flirted with 70 degrees.  I got out of the house and cleaned up the yard some.  I know I was not alone in being irritated to wake up this morning to the scene shown in the image to the right- SNOW!  On the first full day of Spring no less.  The article attached here warns that more of the frozen white menace is on its way for later this week.  Read it and weep New York.  Remind me again why I don't live in Hawaii.  After all, online students and online workers could be located pretty much anywhere and still achieve.


brain-celljpg
Anthony — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:51:11 +0000



Supercharge Your Brain
Anthony — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:51:23 +0000
What do busy students and medical billers have in common?  Answer: they both need to remember great quantities of important information.  Yet with so much going on, it can be difficult to keep it all on the top of mind.  Want some tips on easy steps you can take to hone your memory and supercharge your brain? Here's a list of activities to work out your brain muscle courtesy of Wired's how-to pages.

	1 Read better, faster
	2 Think out loud
	3 Brain age!
	4 Sleep well
	5 Eat well
	6 Exercise
	7 Downtime
	8 Socialization
	9 Fear is the mind killer



procrastination_habit
Anthony — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:48:50 +0000



Don't be a Member of the Procrasti-Nation
Anthony — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:48:56 +0000
We all succumb at one time or another to the pitfalls of procrastination.  Whether it is putting off studies, yard work, dieting or something else requiring effort, none of us is immune to the powerful desire to simply say, "I'll do it tomorrow".  In a post written by Sadhguru, founder of the non-religious Isha Foundation, he offers the following Indian parable.
"There is a popular superstition in some villages in India. As soon as  the sun sets, the villagers fear that ghosts and demons will come to  their homes. So in order to save themselves, they have a sign painted in  red at the door that reads "Naale Baa," meaning "Come Tomorrow." The  idea is that, on seeing the message, the ghosts and demons will know  that they are supposed to visit this house the next day. But as tomorrow  never comes, neither do the demons! Isn't that wonderful?"
Click here to read his entire post on how to avoid the powerful pull of procrastination in your daily life.


hiring_1
Anthony — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:04:39 +0000



New Jobless Claims Falling
Anthony — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:05:05 +0000
Lucky for you you've decided to work in a field that promises uninterrupted growth.  And the nature of medical billing and coding is such that it seems unlikely that the work could ever be outsourced to a foreign country.  Despite that good news, the economic picture still has an impact on overall hiring and it continues to look dicey out there.  However, very recently there seems to be a modest drop in the number of new claims for unemployment assistance.  This may be an indicator of slow growth in hiring.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of people seeking  benefits dipped by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 388,000 for the week  that ended March 26. That's the second decline in three weeks.

Applications near 375,000 or below are consistent with a  sustained increase in hiring. Applications peaked during the recession  at 659,000.

Click here for more details.


firefox-300x282
Anthony — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:09:29 +0000



A Better Web Browsing Experience
Anthony — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:09:51 +0000
I am not in the practice of making product endorsements, but this information is just too useful to those of us who spend a lot of time on the web.  For online students, it is of particular importance.  I would like to share with the readers of this blog, my experience with a web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer.  Most people buy computers that come with Microsoft Windows operating systems already installed.  Part of the package included in the Windows OS is the latest version of Internet Explorer or "IE".  Let me tell you, if that is the only program you've ever used to surf the 'net, you have been missing out on a more satisfying experience.  I recently downloaded (for FREE) and installed a different browser called Firefox which is produced by a development company called Mozilla.  It took very little time and effort to install.  I can say with confidence that the Firefox browser is superior in every way to the IE.  It crashes/freezes way less, it is faster to load pages and is overall a better product.  In fact, Firefox has been downloaded more than a BILLION times so you can rest assured it isn't a bad item.  If you are interested, click here to visit the trusted CNET site where you can safely download the Firefox browser.  It's definitely worth the time.  And if you're not happy with it, you'll still have IE to fall back on.


super-food-400x400
Anthony — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:53:07 +0000



Top 10 Spingtime Superfoods
Anthony — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:53:31 +0000
One of the best parts about Springtime is anticipating the return of greater varieties of fresh produce in the Northeast.  All winter long, we survive on produce either in cold storage since Fall or fruits and veggies weeks old and flown in from more southern latitudes.

Here's a great list of the top 10 superfoods for Springtime:

1. Artichokes
2. Asparagus
3. Avocado
4. Blueberries
5. Fava Beans
6. Fresh Figs
7. Leeks
8. Oregano (and other fresh herbs)
9. Spinach
10. Strawberries

To read more on why each of these are considered superfoods, click here for the Yahoo! article.


federal_reserve
Anthony — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:36:21 +0000



Spring Rebirth?
Anthony — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:36:42 +0000
The Federal Reserve announced that the US economy improved in every region this Spring.  Despite the continued rise in fuel prices, the growth is a welcome event.  For those still seeking employment, the hiring numbers, while still grim, are showing modest improvements as well.  According to the Fed report, " Consumer spending picked up modestly in most of the Fed's 12 regions,  despite the higher gasoline prices. Shoppers, however, focused on  necessities and lower-priced goods. Auto sales rose and tourism also  strengthened in most areas.  Factories boosted production across most of  the Fed's regions, and many manufacturers increased hiring."

For those in the healthcare field, the news is even better with healthcare continuing to be among the fields least effected by economic fluctuations.  Hiring is expected to remain strong in healthcare relative to the rest of the market.


backup
Anthony — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:23:00 +0000



Backup!  The Data You Save May Be Your Own
Anthony — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:23:09 +0000
As online students, you cannot fall back on the old "the dog ate my homework" excuse if you fail to turn your assignments in on time.  After all, your dog may have a hard time swallowing your laptop or digesting the hard drive in your desktop.  However, the modern day equivalent of this old chestnut could be characterized as "the computer ate my homework".  This is actually something that can indeed happen.  Hardware failures and other computer glitches can result in lost data.  So what can a dedicated online student do to protect him/herself from losing the term paper to the Blue Screen of Death?

Geeks to the rescue!   The boys and girls at my favorite geek site, Wired.com, have created an excellent Do It Yourself piece, detailing how you can protect your data by devising a good backup strategy.  Visit here to learn tips and tricks for backing up your important school work (to say nothing of your important pictures, MP3s and anything else of value in your machine).


Uturn
Anthony — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:19:01 +0000



Doing a Career U-Turn
Anthony — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:19:17 +0000
If you're considering ditching your old career in favor of a new one in an exciting field like medical billing and coding, you may be wondering if it is the right thing to do.  With the employment picture being difficult to say the least, it can seem like a daunting challenge and one that you might consider holding off on.  However, there is never a better time than the present to make a life change and change can be fraught with challenges in any environment.  At the Geek Mom blog, Julia Sherred discusses her thoughts on mid-course career corrections.  Read her post and then share your thoughts and feelings on this topic in the comments below.


easter-candy
Anthony — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:44:14 +0000



What's Inside Your Favorite Easter Candies?
Anthony — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:44:39 +0000
Ok, so I am a "Peeps" person.  How about you?  One needn't be religious at all to enjoy the plethora of yummy Easter treats that line store shelves each spring.  Jelly beans, creme eggs, marshmallow eggs, solid milk chocolate bunnies, pale-tinted malted milk robin's eggs, gghghgh...

Anyway, here's a neat look at the things (some downright strange) used to create these springtime goodies.  You are what you eat right?  Anyway, happy Easter, happy Passover and happy Spring (for the neo-pagans among you).


stressed
Anthony — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:50:55 +0000



Don't Stress!!!
Anthony — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:51:01 +0000
A new report circulating on the internet lists the top 10 most stressful jobs.  You'll be glad to learn that only one of them is in the medical field, and that is "emergency medical technician".  Reattaching someone's severed arm on the side of the road after a motorcycle accident?  Stressful.  Also stressful?  Advertising Account Executive, Architect, Stockbroker, Emergency Medical, and Real Estate Agent.

On the other hand, more than half of the top 10 LEAST stressful jobs in the report were in the medical field.  These included audiologist, dietician, dental hygienist, chiropractor, speech pathologist and occupational therapist.  Flossing someone's teeth while listening to soft rock in a clean white environment?  Not so stressful.  Medical billing and coding did not make the list of either most or least stressful jobs.  But its good to know many of you will end up working in the offices of low-stress industries.


waste-paper-basket-full-of-paper-balls
Anthony — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:25 +0000



Ten Cover Letter Don'ts
Anthony — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:48 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1433" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="How to keep your resume and cover letter out of the wastebasket"][/caption]

Online job aggregator Monster.com's Kim Isaacs developed this list of 10 common cover letter mistakes:

Mistake No. 1: Overusing 'I'


Mistake No. 2: Using a Weak Opening

Mistake No. 3: Omitting Your Top Selling Points

Mistake No. 4: Making It Too Long

Mistake No. 5: Repeating Your Resume Word for Word

Mistake No. 6: Being Vague

Mistake No. 7: Forgetting to Customize

Mistake No. 8: Ending on a Passive Note

Mistake No. 9: Being Rude

Mistake No. 10: Forgetting to Sign the Letter

Click here to read the details behind each of these common errors and make your cover letters rock solid!



computer bday
Anthony — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:19:33 +0000



Happy Birthday Day World Wide Web...
Anthony — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:19:57 +0000
You don't think about it any more than you think about the numbers you dial into a telephone to make a call.  But the World Wide Web is the important protocol that enables the use of web browsers to navigate the internet.  Without the ubiquitous, "WWW" your web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.) would be about as useless as a telephone without a phone number.

It was exactly 15 years ago today that the Center for European Nuclear Research or CERN and granddad of the Internet, Tim Berners Lee, released the source code for the world wide web.  The rest, as they say, is history.  So happy birthday dear World Wide Web.  Just don't try to stuff a piece of cake into your laptop while studying on line.


nose_stylus
Anthony — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:29:07 +0000



Multitasking Gone Too Far
Anthony — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:29:28 +0000
Okay gang.  As online students, you understand perhaps better than most, the value in being able to juggle more than one activity at a time.  After all, you couldn't effectively watch your young children if you had to go to some campus to study.  Multitasking and online study definitely go hand in hand.  But as with everything in life, there needs to be limits.  There needs to be moderation.  This is why I think this new device - a nose stylus for operating touch screen phones/tablets while in the tub - is a bridge too far.  I mean really, if you cannot take 15 minutes out of your busy day to take a bath without electronic distraction, you really need to step back.  A break may be in order.  But, if you're intrigued by the possibilities this new nosey device unlocks, here's a link to more information on the new product.


hispanic_nurse_smiling_in_doctors_office_sus24007
Anthony — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:42:51 +0000



New Jobs Numbers - Mixed (But Good For Medical Field)
Anthony — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:42:57 +0000
In April, the U.S. economy added 244,000 jobs -- the third straight  month to see an average of over 200,000 new positions created, according  to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  However, despite the growth in employment, there is real concern that the jobs being added to the economy are not the high-wage, "quality" jobs lost over the course of the brutal recession.

That's bad news if you're a manufacturing factory worker or a homebuilder as those fields don't show the resiliency reflected in the latest employment figures.  If you're in the following career fields, professional and business services, health care and leisure and hospitality, the news is good.  Those fields were called out specifically by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as areas where job and wage growth shows continued strength.  Now's a good time to be studying for a career in medical billing and coding.  Don't you feel smart?


strawberries
Anthony — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:09:08 +0000



Radishes, Rhubarb and Ramps, OH MY!
Anthony — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:09:32 +0000
Spring has finally popped here in the Northeast and even if I couldn't see the greenery outside my window, I would know it was time because I am down to the last few jars of tomatoes and peppers I jarred at the end of Summer 2010.  Any day now, the earliest of crops will be ready for consumption heralding a return to the healthy, fresh eating of the warmer months.  Strawberries, asparagus, ramps, radishes, and an array of baby greens are all just a few weeks away.  In fact, we're already starting to see them showing up in groceries and farmer's markets.

As busy students, workers and parents, it can be hard to remember to eat well when we have so little time.  Grabbing grub on the go often leads to poor dietary habits.  This is especially true in Winter months when it is even more difficult and costly to find fresh, healthy snacks.  So rejoice!  Spring has sprung and the goodies will soon start to arrive.  Click here for more about the bounty of Spring produce.


bed-bug-nymph-drinking-blood
Anthony — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:20:09 +0000



Scary Medical Story of the Day
Anthony — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:20:34 +0000
Researchers in British Columbia, Canada, have found MRSA infected bedbugs.  MRSA is an anti-biotic resistant staff infection which this blog has covered before here and here.  The researchers found that in impoverished communities (like homeless populations living in close quarters in shelters and residential hotels for) harbor conditions for bedbugs to carry MRSA.  They found several dangerous strains of the infection in bedbug samples they collected.

There is, according to the scientists in this article on the story, no imminent danger of this development being a vector for widespread transmission of MRSA.  However, it is always important to keep an eye on diseases with such potential to spread, unchecked through the global population.


espositos
Anthony — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:01:45 +0000



Disappearing New York - Retro Photos of 21st Century NY
Anthony — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:01:51 +0000
As many of our students are New Yorkers, and I myself grew up in and around the metro area, I found the photos at this photo website called "How to Be A Retronaut" particularly interesting.  As time marches forward, the storefronts of the Twentieth Century are slipping away, giving way to Twenty-First century updates.  There is something about the way these styles look that can bring you back to an earlier place in time.


Person with ace up sleeve
Anthony — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:18:13 +0000



Top 8 Most Plagiarized Sites
Anthony — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:21:14 +0000
Even the most honorable student has contemplated taking a shortcut when stressing over term papers and overall work loads.  While most do not opt for this easy (if immoral) option, there are those that succumb to the pressure.  Well beware!  Educators are getting wise to the online sites used by cheaters to plagiarize content included in their school assignments.  Using new online technologies like the plagiarism detector software from www.turnitin.com, instructors are able to scan students' term papers and learn if any or all of it has been "lifted" from other websites.  The top 8 most frequently revealed sites for cheaters to "borrow" from are:

1) Wikipedia.com

2) Yahoo! Answers

3) Answers.com

4) Slideshare.com

5) OPPapers.com (Other People's Papers)

6) Scribd.com

7) Coursehero.com

8)  Medilibrary.com

Of course, some of these, like Wikipedia are simply reference sites.  While others like OPPapers.com are designed specifically to sell content to cheaters.  Whether you clip a sentence, a paragraph or an entire term paper, it is still plagiarism and it is still wrong.  Think twice before stealing copy.  After all, you're only cheating yourself out of learning what you have invested time and money into studying.


mrsa-bacterium
Anthony — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:31:30 +0000



The Intersection of Web and Medicine
Anthony — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:31:38 +0000
AS regular readers of this blog know, we have been covering stories about MRSA, the antibiotic resistant staph infection.  Just recently, we published a post about the finding of MRSA carried in bedbugs (yechhh!).  In all the stories we've produced about MRSA, the news is always pretty grim so that's why I was pleased to find the story linked here.  Evidently, it seems that occurrences of MRSA are able to be accurately tracked using none other than Google!  Yes, researchers have studied and found that spikes in Google searched for MRSA are directly correlated to actual outbreaks.  This innovative usage of Google clearly illustrates the nexus between the web and epidemiological research.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will surely make good use of this new tool in their arsenal.  Allen School Online students already understand the synergies between internet technology and the study of medically related fields.


question
Anthony — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:43:49 +0000



Interviewer: "Any Questions?" You: "Uhhh..."
Anthony — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:43:54 +0000
Acing the interview is pretty much the key to landing a job.  The rock-solid resume gets you in to the interview.  But the interview itself is the "make-or-break" step in the job hunting process.  If you've done enough of these, you know that they typically ask you alot of questions about your background, experience, skills etc.  Then at the end, they always ask, "Do you have any questions for us?"  Most people don't know how to answer this and either say, "No" which indicates unpreparedness or worse, being intellectually incurious.  Or many respond, "When do I get vacation" or "how much does the job pay?"  Both these questions do more damage than good.  There are questions you may ask of an interviewer which demonstrate that you are interested in the job and have a good head on your shoulders.  Click here to read "The Six Must Ask Interview Questions" as listed by Monster.com's Joe Turner.  He explains why these are the most important questions to ask and what they say about the person who asks them.


customer-service
Anthony — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:54:37 +0000



And Press '3' to Shoot Yourself in the Face
Anthony — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:55:03 +0000
New laptop malfunctioning?  Cell phone service wrongly interrupted?  Utility company make a mistake on your monthly bill?  You'll have to dial a toll-free customer service number and then navigate through level after level of recorded messages trying to find the answer to your problem.  And after an hour on the phone, you'll be no closer to a solution and about ready to kill someone.  Sound familiar?  We all have had to deal with customer service issues like this.  Well, awesome site, Lifehacker.com recently published this great piece on how to get better customer service when you should need to.   Included in the article is a link to an application called "Lucy" that does the "holding" for you so you don't have to glue the phone to your ear while the company you're calling is "experiencing unusually high call volumes resulting in long hold times".  That's a godsend to be sure.  And if that's not enough, and the tips in this article still don't get you satisfaction, the article provides a link to the Consumerist.com's list of customer service executives from the world's top companies so you can call a supervisor direct to lodge your complaint about the sorry state of their customer service department.


us_flag-1920x1080
Anthony — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:47:27 +0000



Never Forget
Anthony — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:47:39 +0000
Thank you to all the brave service men and women who laid down their lives in the defense of the American way of life and in the name of liberty.  Happy Memorial Day to everyone.  Never forget the reason for this holiday.


mrsa
Anthony — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:42:14 +0000



Got MRSA?
Anthony — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:54:27 +0000
According to a Reuter's article, scientists have found Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aurelius in raw milk samples in the US and UK.  The superbug has been growing in prevalence and represents a significant challenge to medicine because it is an infection that, as the name implies, is resistant to antibiotics.  Concurrent to this story is the outbreak of a new strain of E. Coli across Europe.  It would seem to this blogger that both these outbreaks are rooted, at least in part, in the practices of large corporate food producers and the sometimes shoddy agricultural processes in which they engage.  Read these past posts, here, here and here for more information on both MRSA and animal husbandry/food safety.


healthy-lifestyle
Anthony — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:38:08 +0000



June is Prevention and Wellness Month
Anthony — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:38:32 +0000
OK, so the stereotype of the online denizen (this includes peeps like me who work in front of a computer all day, and peeps like you who study online in front of a computer) is a sedentary, Cheetos munching lot who cringes when the curtains are drawn open and light shines in.  All kidding aside though, in today's modern life, it can be hard to carve out enough time to spend on health and wellness.  Kathleen Sebelius, the Obama administration's Secretary of Health and Human Services, has declared June to be Prevention and Wellness month.

In a recent article on the Huffington Post Sebelius said, " We know there's more to good health than going to the hospital when you  get sick. Good health starts with steps we can all take to avoid getting  sick in the first place, from getting regular check-ups, vaccinations,  and recommended screenings, to eating a healthy diet and getting enough  exercise."  This blogger concurs with this line of thinking and has even taken the drastic step of adding a SECOND walk for his self and his dog Henry every day to try and keep physically fit.  So online students, save your work, take a pause and consider what you can do to boost your own health and wellness in June and for the future.


2011-06-07-sFACETRANSPLANTBEFOREAFTERlarge300
Anthony — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:27:42 +0000



Leading Edge of Medical Innovation
Anthony — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:28:38 +0000
How lucky you are to be entering into such an exciting field?  The field of medicine has made significant advances in the last 100 years.  Quantum advances.  Advances that would have been scoffed at as flights of science fiction fancy by medical contemporaries in 1911.  Case in point, Mitch Hunter, a man whose face was dramatically disfigured in a car accident.  At age 30, he has successfully undergone a face transplant.  (No, not a face plant like this old blogger makes when trying to ride his 6 year old's skateboard!)  I'm talking about an actual face transplant.  Only the seventh successful such surgery in the world.  Click here to read more about this fantastic medical advancement and be stoked to be training in a career field that holds such enormous potential for good.


Resume-Tee
Anthony — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:16:21 +0000



Resumè Samples
Anthony — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:17:53 +0000
Getting ready to capture the return on your investment into online job training and education?  That means you'll be taking your newly earned certification out to the market to land yourself a j-o-b.  The first step in that process is to line up some interviews.  And that means putting together a new resumè.  This is a task that a lot of people find daunting.  But, have no fear.  The best way to understand how to structure all the job history and qualifications information into a memorable resumè is to see some examples of other peoples' resumès.  Here's a great list of about 90 resumes from the folks at Monster.com, collected from people seeking many different kinds of positions.  Even if some of the samples are for jobs in other industries, it is still very instructive to see how people structure the information they include.  Have a look at some of these and remember, what you leave off a resumè is just as important as what you include.


shirt-laundry
Anthony — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:39:11 +0000



Dress for Success or, The Idiot's Guide to Ironing
Anthony — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:39:47 +0000
Having your new certification and a brain full of knowledge is great, but as we all know, landing a job often comes down to making a good first impression at the interview.  Part of making that good first impression is obviously the way you speak and interact with the interviewer and how you convey your qualifications.  Yet, even more subtle but no less important is the visual first impression you make.  How you're dressed and how you take care of your appearance is a powerful, unspoken indicator of how you will be as an employee.  To this point, it is critical that you wear appropriate clothes and that these clothes are nicely pressed and creased in the proper places.  This brings me to the point.  I don't know about you, but I cannot afford to spend $12 per outfit to the dry cleaner for pressed shirts and pants.  Furthermore, I am challenged when it comes to ironing these items myself.  That was until I found this great post on Lifehacker.com explaining the finer points on DIY clothes pressing.  Read up on how to bone up your appearance and show up at the interview crispy, smart and ready to impress.


father son and-thumb
Anthony — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:16:33 +0000



Honoring Thy Father
Anthony — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:16:46 +0000
Maybe your dad was the person who motivated you to seek your medical billing and coding certification.  Maybe you're a dad who decided to retrain in this field to secure a better job to support your children.  Maybe neither of these things are true about you.  Nonetheless, we all owe a debt of gratitude to our fathers for their contributions to our lives.  I for one thank my pop for all he did to help promote my education as a youth.  He worked untold hours to ensure that I got the opportunity to attend good schools and get a solid education.  This Sunday is Father's Day.  So don't forget to send a shout out to your pops and let them know how much you love them.  Oh, and if you run into my son, please remind him to do the same.


germany 2
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:33:38 +0000



germany 3
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:34:00 +0000



germany 4
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:34:20 +0000



germany 5
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:34:31 +0000



germany 1
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:34:48 +0000



They Said It Couldn't Be Done
Anthony — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:35:18 +0000
If you're just beginning your course of study with the Allen School Online, you may be wondering if you can make it.  Perhaps you were forced out of another career path by the economy.  Maybe there are people in your life who tell you its a mistake and that you cannot succeed in this new direction.  Let me urge you to tell the naysayers and nattering nabobs of negativity to stifle their criticisms.  You can do this!  Anything that one sets one's mind to accomplish can be done if the determination and dedication is there.  Consider the image at the top of this post.  If you had asked people "Is it possible to build a river ON TOP of another river" you would likely have a hard time finding someone who would say it were possible.  Yet, engineers and physicists in Germany did this seemingly impossible feat.  This demonstrates the potential for success if the will is strong to pursue it.  Share these images with anyone in your life who wants to dissuade you from your goal.  Click "more" to see the rest of these phenomenal photos.






brain freeze
Anthony — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:03:12 +0000



Fascinating Answers to Gripping Medical Questions
Anthony — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:03:40 +0000
What causes "brain freeze" when eating ice cream or other cold treats too fast?  Admit it, you have always wanted to know why that happens right?  I know I have.   With today being the first day of summer, and the Northeastern humidity already squeezing beads of sweat out of my forehead, I am sure the local custard stand in every neighborhood is seeing increased business traffic.  So watch out.  Brain freeze is lurking just around the corner.  Waiting to make you ache as you consume your chocolate-vanilla twist with rainbow sprinkles.  The nice people at Mother Nature Network have answered the question "what causes brain freeze" in detail in the article linked here.  As a future member of the medical field, you'll need to know the answers to pressing questions like this one.


cloud1
Anthony — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:47:43 +0000



Access Your Files From Anywhere
Anthony — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:48:11 +0000
One of the best parts about online study is that you can study whenever you carve the time out to do so.  And, you're not tethered to any one particular location.  For many of us that means we can study wherever we can bring our laptop.  Think, coffee shop, airport, friend's houses, etc.  But, even that level of portability can become cumbersome.  Particularly if you're not keen on moving around with a very expensive laptop or other device.  Yet, you can work wherever there is a machine available.  Think, library, hotel business center, Kinko's or on friend's machines at their homes.  To do this though, you need to be able to access your own files from a remote machine.  This has grown increasingly simple in recent years as "cloud computing" and other technological innovations have permitted such accessibility.  Here's an excellent "how to" article on using these new "sharing" technologies from the Hot To Wiki at Wired.com.


three
Anthony — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:06:59 +0000



We're Number 3!
Anthony — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:07:21 +0000
Yahoo! recently published a list of the top 5 fastest growing jobs in the medical field.  Medical Records and Health Information Technician took the number 3 place on the list!  With a very attractive average annual salary, medical billing and coding specialists can anticipate continued strength in the job market for people with their qualifications.  Click here to view the list and the entire article.


Samand-Line-01
Anthony — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:53:42 +0000



Noticeably Absent
Anthony — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:53:47 +0000
Noticeably absent from this depressing article about the disappearance of middle class jobs was any mention of declining numbers of available careers in medical fields.  The middle class squeeze, as we all know, has hit hard at industries like manufacturing where thousands of jobs in factories and assembly lines have been sent overseas to "low cost labor markets"  like China and India or automated with robotics and other technologies.  But this article showed the top five hardest hit career fields outside of manufacturing.  They were:

Travel Agents

Five-year decline: 14%



Vocational Education Middle School Teachers

Five-year decline: 14.4%



Broadcast News Analysts

Five-year decline: 15.9%



Agricultural Engineers

Five-year decline: 18.4%



Transit and Rail Police

Five-year decline: 18.7%

Notice what was (thankfully) not included in this sad list?  If you said, "medical industry jobs", give yourself a prize!


fireworks
Anthony — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:07:29 +0000



Happy 4th of July
Anthony — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:07:47 +0000
The Allen School Online Blog wishes you and yours a happy, healthy, safe Fourth of July.  Go America!


hacker
Anthony — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:21:29 +0000



Netizens, Protect Yourself From Clickjacking!
Anthony — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:22:21 +0000
OK Allen School Online students.  You're online a good portion of the day every day right?  You know your way around the Internet and likely spend alot of time using social media to stay in touch.  But beware the latest threat to cyber living: clickjacking.  Clickjacking is defined in this excellent Wired online article thusly:

"Clickjacking, put simply, is when a button, image, video, or some  form of embedded content on a website is overlaid by an invisible layer  that sits on top of the site underneath it.

For instance, you may see a page with a movie embedded on it. You  want to watch the movie, so you click on the play button. You don't  think twice about it -- you've done it a million times. Meanwhile, a  hacker has superimposed an invisible web page over the movie. It just so  happens that a button allowing access to your camera and microphone has  been placed over the movie's play button. Now, when you think you're  playing the movie, you're actually permitting the hacker to access your  video camera and microphone."

Read the rest of the article to learn how to avoid being taken by clickjackers.


salary
Anthony — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:50:38 +0000



How Much Would I Earn in Miami?
Anthony — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:51:25 +0000
Once you have earned a certification in medical billing and coding, you have the ability to find a good job in many different parts of the country.  Some markets pay more than others.  Some markets have a high cost of living while others do not.   Knowing what you can expect to earn in this field (in any given zip code) can really help you decide where you want to go to ply your new trade.  To determine how much you could earn in any town in the USA, I recommend the salary wizard at www.salary.com where you enter in your job title and zip code where you'd like to work to find out what the earning potential is there.


mobile talks
Anthony — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:45:43 +0000
pretty girl in black dress talks on the phone


Why They Don't Call You Back
Anthony — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:47:00 +0000
Taking your new medical billing and coding certificate out to look for a job is exciting.  You comb over listings, find positions, send cover letters and get interviews.  But then something curious happens.  You go home and wait for a call from the interviewer which never comes.  Ever wonder why sometimes you get the silent treatment from a prospective employer?  There are a number of surprising reasons why you may not get called back.  The good news is that most of the reasons why are not mystical.  In fact, if you're aware of the most commonly occurring mistakes, you can avoid them altogether and improve your call-back ratio.

Yahoo! Hot Jobs's Larry Buhl put together a list of the Top Six Reasons They Didn't Call You Back.  Read the list and take to heart the message so you can become a more effective interview subject and land that dream job.


RHH.MaiTai
Anthony — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:59:21 +0000



Friday Cocktails Edition
Anthony — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:59:59 +0000
OK, its a hot Summer Friday.  And this blogger has to admit to writing this post from the beach where he enjoys an idyllic summer day with his family.  Being here in the sun (and playing hooky on a Friday) I am thinking it may be time for a refreshing, tropical-style, Summertime cocktail.  You know the kind: Pina Colada, Singapore Sling, MaiTai.  Mmmmmmm.  So in the spirit of TGIF and Summer, I offer the following list of Tiki Cocktails and their recipes as I am sure Allen School Online students will be glad to join me in a little refreshment.  Pick one.  Mix it up.  Then raise it in a TGIF salute!


hospital_sign
Anthony — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:15:21 +0000



Best Hospitals of 2011-12
Anthony — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:15:49 +0000
US News and World Report has released its list of the top hospitals for 2011-12.  This is interesting as it shows where some of the most sought after jobs might be for Allen School Online graduates.  The rankings include hospitals in 15 states so there's lots of choices if you're seeking to move to a specific area to begin your new career.  View the list here.


Overheating-Computer
Anthony — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:51:13 +0000
burning computer board


Keep Computers Cool Online Students
Anthony — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:52:23 +0000
You'd be pretty hard up if your computer died cutting you off from the ability to study online.  Well, with 100,000,000 Americans - a full third of the US population - experiencing the broiling effects of a huge heat wave, you should take some steps to protect your link to the online classroom.  Just like humans and pets, the computer too is vulnerable to breakdown brought on by excessive heat.

Symptoms of Overheating

- Turning off on its own
- Not wanting to boot up after it turns off
- Freezing
- Blue Screen
- Is hot to the touch
- Loud fan running
- Frequent memory errors

Here is a great list of steps you should take to protect your machines during periods of extended heat.  Oh, yeah and also, drink plenty of fluids and make sure that the young, elderly and pets do too!  Wouldn't want anything to happen to them either!


outdated-resume
Anthony — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:48:39 +0000



The Modern Resumè What's "In" and What's "Out"
Anthony — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:48:46 +0000
The ongoing unemployment problem in the US has effected many changes in  the way Human Resources departments deal with hiring.  With 6 applicants for every single available job, the dynamics of how an applicant gets noticed have changed.  In fact, much of what was once the conventional wisdom with regard to resumè writing has been turned upside down.  So US News has prepared a list of the top 10 most outdated resumè strategies and practices.  The top 5 are:

1. You must use a land line for a phone interview.
2. Your resumè can only be one page."
3. Every job has to go on your resumè to present a complete account of your professional history.
4. Include "references available upon request" on the bottom of your resumè.
5. Include an objective at the top of your resumè.

To read the details of the thinking behind these tips and for the rest of the top 10, visit this excellent article from US News.


more money
Anthony — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:14:37 +0000



Negotiating Salary In Tough Economic Times
Anthony — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:14:43 +0000
You're a certified medical billing and coding professional in a field that is predicted to continue to grow.  Yet unemployment is still near historic highs and there are more applicants than jobs available, even in high growth fields.  So, it is not a good time to ask for a higher starting salary (or a raise if you're already employed) right?  Wrong!  Good help, as the old saying goes, is hard to find.  Employers are always happy to have quality, highly trained people working hard for their organizations.  Knowing how to negotiate salary can help you earn what you're worth even in tough times.  Michael Chaffers at Monster.com writes this list of Top Ten Tips for Salary Negotiations.  Read it and arm yourself with the knowledge needed to get what you're worth as an Allen School Online graduate!


instructables
Anthony — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:59:07 +0000



Great Site for Resourceful People
Anthony — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:59:28 +0000
You're an Allen School Online student (or maybe you're considering becoming one).  The idea of online study appeals to you in some measure because it is in your nature to be a problem solver; someone who is good at finding creative solutions to life's vexing problems.   Online study is but one example of finding a creative and successful way to overcome the challenges of balancing work and study and family.  Using technology and your innate willingness to be somewhat unconventional, you avoid having to sacrifice any of these important goals.

This is why I am sure you will enjoy a visit to www.instructables.com.  Learn how to open that stubborn pistachio nut or how to make a solar charger for your laptop.  Want a recipe for gluten free breads or homemade Nutella?  Interested in how to use a camera charger to power your iPod?  How about how to fashion a rustic deer antler USB thumb drive or a survival barbecue out of an Altoids tin?  There are volumes of interesting instructions on ideas running the gamut from the ridiculously sublime to the eminently useful and everything in between.  Have a visit and you're guaranteed to find a solution to a problem you've always wished you'd find.


coffee_cup
Anthony — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:22:17 +0000



Best "Student Fuel"
Anthony — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:22:25 +0000
Java, Joe, Coffee, Brew, Bean Juice, Mojo, Mud, Perky, Cuppa.  Whatever you call it, coffee is the students' best friend.  Whether to wake up for early studies or to stay up late burning the midnight oil studying for the big exam, coffee is an indispensable item.  But just like darn near everything else, its price is heading higher and higher.  Some things in life are difficult to skimp on and for this blogger, coffee is one of them.  So what is a frugal student with a coffee addiction to do?  Consumer Reports comes to the rescue with a list of the best "store brand" coffee options!  Read it and see where your favorite beans figure on the list.


WANTED
Anthony — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:51:54 +0000



You're In Demand!
Anthony — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:52:25 +0000
It's always nice to hear information that validates your efforts.  This is one of those bits of data that you're sure to find heartening.  In an article for Yahoo! Education, Chris Kyle makes a list of career skills that are always in demand.  You can read his excellent article here, but the short version goes like this.  The Top 3 most in demand skills in all of business are:

	Organizational Skills
	People Skills
	Creative Skills

Then he lists two career choices perfectly suited for people with each of these in-demand skills.  For those with strong organizational ability, Kyle offers medical assistant as a perfect field where you'll always be welcome.  So its good to know that the traits which may have driven you to online study in the field of medical billing and coding are the very same ones which will make you attractive to employers.  Well done!


turkey farm 2
Anthony — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:26:35 +0000



Drug Resistant Bacteria and Food Production
Anthony — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:26:58 +0000
This blog frequently covers MRSA and other drug resistant pathogens that have been increasingly threatening populations globally.  Today, we learned of the rise of a drug resistant strain of Salmonella as the news of the recall of millions of pounds of ground turkey made the rounds in the media.  We have pointed to this cause before and I think it is safe to assume again that the level of antibiotics used by agri-business to mask the effects of negligent animal husbandry practices likely contributes to the evolution of these "super germs".


leukemia
Anthony — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:15:30 +0000



Breakthrough!
Anthony — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:16:00 +0000
It's always gratifying to blog about advances in the exciting medical field.  Unlike so many other fields you could have chosen to work in, medicine offers regular innovations that have dramatically positive consequences for humanity.  Take the case of the woman whose face was ripped off by an angry chimpanzee but this week unveiled the new face that doctors had successfully transplanted from a donor.  Breathtaking medical science at work no?

Also of incredible value is a new treatment revealed in the AP story here and still very much in the experimental phase, which seems to be highly effective at killing leukemia.  The implications for all of humanity are significant if this cure is validated and distributed to cancer patients worldwide.  Sorry, but you're just not going to be a part of any earth-shattering advances working at Speedy-Lube or McDougal's Hamburger Hut.  (Both honorable jobs, just not fertile grounds for innovation.)


Vallejo Budget Crisis
Anthony — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:46:20 +0000
A sign is seen in  Vallejo, Calif., on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The city of Vallejo filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, May 23, 2008, to deal with a ballooning budget deficit caused by soaring employee costs and declining tax revenue. The San Francisco Bay area suburb of about 120,000 residents became the largest California city to declare bankruptcy. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)


Top 10 Cities for Medical Billing/Coding Careers
Anthony — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:46:25 +0000
The AllHealthCare section of Monster.com compiled a list of the top 10 best cities for people pursuing careers in medical assistant/billing/coding.   The list goes into a bit of detail for each city explaining why it made the list.  Of course, the most prominent contributing factor is the average pay for workers in the field.  But there are many other reasons to live in all of the cities listed.  Here are the top five and the average annual salary figures for each.

CITY                             AVG. PAY

1)  Vallejo, CA                 $45,000

2)  Danbury, CT              $37,000

3)  San Francisco, CA   $37,000

4)  Salinas, CA                 $35,000

5)  Oakland, CA               $34,500

The rest of the list and more detailed information on the above cities can be viewed here.


bad employee
Anthony — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:51:03 +0000



A Popular Topic
Anthony — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:51:13 +0000
Back in February of 2010, we published a post on the Allen School Online blog listing the top 10 reasons why people get fired from jobs.  No other post in the history of this publication has ever received as many comments as this story.  I still seem to receive at least one comment per week on this topic.  So here is a link to that post. The more than 40 comments left behind contain some very funny stories from our readers' own experiences.  Have a read, a laugh and leave your thoughts behind too!


New-Laptops-for-2011-and-Beyond
Anthony — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:58:32 +0000



Buying a New Laptop? Good Housekeeping's Top Picks
Anthony — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:58:53 +0000
So Online students, anyone in the market for a new laptop?  I know I am.  My 7 year old Dell Inspiron finally bit the dust.  So I am on the hunt for the best unit at the most attractive price.  It can be awfully confusing with so many makes, models and configurations to choose from.  Luckily, Good Housekeeping magazine published their pick for best laptops on the market today.  I would recommend reading other reviews too from trusted reviewing outlets like Consumer Reports and www.cnet.com.  But here's a link to the Good Housekeeping list.


freebies
Anthony — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:38:05 +0000



Starving Students Shouldn't Suffer
Anthony — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:38:25 +0000
Hey, it's hard to be a full time online student.  Especially if you're also working full time and/or raising a family at the same time as you study to enter this exciting new field.  There frequently isn't much do re mi left after you finish paying for all the essentials.  Lucky for you the fabulous folks at Kiplinger's compiled this awesome list of freebies.  From meals, to books, to outings and more, there is lots to do, eat, drink, watch, listen to, read and enjoy for less than one thin dime.  Click here for the article chock full of fee-free goodness.   And if there's nothing there that appeals to you, have a look at www.totallyfreestuff.com for even more gratis goodies.  If you're still not satisfied, I will refund to you the full purchase price you paid for this blog.


jam
Anthony — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:36:56 +0000



Sluggish Browser Slowing You Down?
Anthony — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:37:41 +0000
[caption id="attachment_1595" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Browser Slower Than a Traffic Jam?"][/caption]

When you get a new computer the best part of the experience is that everything moves and responds so quickly.  Same goes for installing a new browser.  In the beginning, the web surfing experience is easy, breezy and satisfying.  However, after a while, it seems inevitably that the browser slows down.  Pages take longer to load.  Crashes seem to happen with greater regularity along with "Program Not Responding" messages that make you want to pull your hair out.  Yet, none of this needs to happen.  There are pretty simple reasons why this browser slowdown happens.  Whether you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari or something else, there are some steps you can take as part of regular system maintenance to keep you browser running swiftly.

You can uninstall unnecessary extensions, change DNS servers, clear your browser cache and reinstall Java/Flash.  Any or all of these things will help to speed you back up.  But if this sounds like Greek to you and you're not sure what this means or how to do it, visit this article from LifeHacker.com which explains what each of these things is, what each does and how to make each happen.


irene
Anthony — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:53:59 +0000



Irene - Stay Safe This Weekend
Anthony — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:54:18 +0000
Many of our students live in the coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Irene.  From all five boroughs to New Jersey's coastline and all along the Eastern seaboard, its gonna be a wild weekend.  Please be careful and take care of one another during this dangerous storm.

-Allen School Online Blog


job hunt
Anthony — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:25:30 +0000



Job Hunting Blogs - A Link to Real World Experiences
Anthony — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:25:55 +0000
Getting your certification is a wonderful thing, but now it is time to turn your attention and efforts to finding a new position with your newly minted qualifications.  With the economy in turmoil and the effects of this volatility on the labor market, the rules of job hunting are changing day to day.  What may have been conventional wisdom about how to write a resume, how to handle interviews or how to negotiate compensation is potentially no longer relevant.  In many cases, what used to be a strategy for success has become a recipe for failure.

The best way to know what is working (and what is not) in real time is to read the shared experiences of other job seekers who are also currently out there dealing with resumes, human resources, hiring managers, etc.  The best job hunting blogs have shared experiences posted daily and that fresh input can be of immense value to the job hunter.  I recommend Jobhuntingblogs.org which is a wonderful compilation of the best job hunting blogs out there.

I also like guerrillajobhunting and Double 'A' careers blog here. Get a fresh look at what is working for others and you can get ahead in the hunt!  Also, share your experiences in the comments below to help fellow Allen School Online students in their search.


mulnix
Anthony — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:35:41 +0000



Perseverance
Anthony — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:35:46 +0000
We all have days when we feel like life's challenges are just more than we can overcome.  If you're feeling stretched thin, perhaps as you're trying to train for a job in a new career field.  Or maybe you simply struggle to keep studies, work and family responsibilities from falling by the wayside.  Whatever your personal struggles, remember that the secret to success is to never give up.  Never give in.  PERSEVERE!

Consider the story of Brandon Mulnix of Michigan.  Mulnix's jaw was wired shut after injuries he sustained in a car wreck.  Yet he was scheduled to run a marathon.  A person with less perseverance might have opted to skip the 26 mile run.  But not Brandon.  He stuck to the task, no matter how large the obstacle in his path and completed the run in spite of his inability to consume solid foods for nutrition and energy.

Kind of puts your struggles into perspective no?  Excelsior!


free samples
Anthony — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:48:26 +0000



Sample Resumé
Anthony — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:48:31 +0000
Writing a resumé can be a task that is quite difficult to begin.  Especially if you don't have a point of reference from which to begin .  Do you ever wish you could take a peek at what other people have done with their resumés so that you could at least get an idea of how to structure/format your own?

There's no shame in cribbing from the work of others when it comes to writing resumés.  In fact, there are lots of resumé sample sites out there (here, here and here) where you can review the CV's of people in the exact same field as you.

Or, click "read more" to see a particularly good example of a medical billing CV I found online.

ANN PRICE

120 1st St.
Sometown, OH 58735
(555) 555-5555
name@somedomain.com


 





CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT


 
CMA  with experience in a multiphysician family medical practice and  additional healthcare experience as an RPT. Known for dedication to  providing premium patient care. Skills include:





	Medical Office Management
	Medical Billing & Coding
	Medical Records Management
	Data Entry (75 WPM)




	Bookkeeping & Filing
	Taking Patient Vitals
	Blood Draws
	Injections




	Patient Scheduling
	Ancillary Testing
	Patient Education
	HIPAA & JCAHO Knowledge





EDUCATION

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), 2006-Present
Registered Phlebotomy Tech (RPT), 2004-Present
Certified in First Aid & CPR, 2004-Present

High School Diploma, SOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL, Sometown, OH, 2002

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ABC FAMILY MEDICAL PRACTICE, Sometown, OH
Certified Medical Assistant, 2006-Present

Serve  as a key member of interdisciplinary healthcare team for a busy family  medical practice. Assist seven MDs as well as PA and RN team in ensuring  optimal patient care and smooth daily functioning of office.

Key Results:

	Consistently  praised for efficient handling of administrative duties (e.g.,  answering phones, scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records,  patient processing, billing and bookkeeping) that allowed doctors and  nursing staff to focus on the health concerns of their patients.
	Demonstrated  proficiency in taking patient medical histories and vital signs, as  well as in performing venipunctures, injections and various diagnostic  procedures and ancillary tests (e.g., EKGs, immunoassays, chemistry  analysis, hematology, urinalysis and sigmoidoscopies).
	Ensured the cleanliness, sanitation and maintenance of all facilities, exam rooms and equipment.
	Helped  implement practice's quality assurance and control program. Efforts  ensured compliance with HIPAA, CLIA and OSHA regulations; improved  patient care/satisfaction; and lowered monthly overhead by 12%.
	Reacted  calmly and effectively in emergency situations, and added the personal,  caring touch that immediately put patients at ease.

XYZ CLINIC, Sometown, OH
Registered Phlebotomy Technician, 2004-2006

Collected patient blood samples in a safe, sanitary manner for diagnostic testing as a certified phlebotomist.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

"...Ann  continues to be a vital member of our healthcare team…possesses  exceptional patient-care skills…strong command of basic medical  procedures and terminology…well-organized and efficient…her cost-saving  efforts have saved the practice thousands of dollars annually…one of the  finest medical assistants I have worked with throughout my 18-year  career as a physician..." -- R. Rhasad, MD, ABC Family Medical Practice


scam
Anthony — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:36:28 +0000



No Nigerian Prince - New Phishing Scam!
Anthony — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:36:50 +0000
OK, so as heavy users of online resources (being online students and overall Internet junkies), we've grown pretty savvy regarding the scams used by scammers to scam us out of our hard earned money.  For a while, we were susceptible to these "too good to be true" appeals to our greed.  "Nigerian banker fleeing oppressive regime needs compassionate foreigners to help him move his family business and significant cash holdings out of the country.  Let me deposit $4,000,000 into your account and when I transfer out the balance upon arriving in the US, I will leave $50,000 in your account as payment."  I'm sure you've seen that one.  What about, "You've been selected to receive a $500 gift card from Walmart"?

OK, so we have grown to recognize these as scams.  But scammers in Nigeria and elsewhere never sleep it would seem.  Latching on to the fact that we've grown hip to their schemes, they have gone the other way in an attempt to confuse us.  The new scams prey on the "too BAD to be true" response.

For example, you receive a very official looking email from your bank.  It has all the colors and logos from your bank.  It may even come from an email address with your bank's name somehow included.  It says something like, "Your account has been overdrawn by a debit in the amount of $7500.00.  The large dollar amount has alerted our fraud detection department.  Please log in immediately to verify the debit or to log a fraud claim."  Provided is a link to a mocked up website that again "borrows" your bank's website appearance.  In a panic, and wishing to quickly straighten out your account, you enter in your username and password and voila!  The scammer has access to your accounts.  Pizza and beer for all the scammer's friends is on him tonight.

There are lots of new Phishing scams popping up every day.  Click here for more information on the latest scams and how to detect them before you get taken for a ride.  Share any scams you have uncovered in the comments below.