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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2009 -

New professional work opportunities will be created for psychologists and social workers who complete a series of seminars on how to establish a practice in long term care settings. The training will be provided by Concept Healthcare, LLC, an internet-based company specializing in mental health training for health care professionals and family caregivers (http://www.cohealth.org). Dr. Joseph M. Casciani, company founder and President, and geropsychologist for over 25 years, has long recognized the shortage of professionals trained to work with older adults. (http://www.iom.edu/?id=53452). And with many states facing budget cutbacks and reductions in mental health programs in today's tough economy, new work opportunities for these practitioners will be welcome.

By offering a quality, comprehensive training package, trainees will be better prepared, with clear ethical guidelines and professional standards, to care for this burgeoning senior population. Common problems in this age group are depression, a loss of motivation to comply with and progress thru medical treatment, and difficulty coping with the myriad personal, social, and physical losses they have experienced. It should be emphasized, according to the company President, that individuals usually respond very well to psychological treatment. Family members also benefit from counseling, when given a chance to talk about their spouses' or parents' physical, emotional, and mental changes. These professionals are in the best position to provide this support.

As Casciani says, “We are too quick to rely on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications to treat the patient's symptoms – psychological services provide more lasting benefit, and don't rely on a “quick fix” because we help older patients learn new ways to cope and adapt to changes, something that medications cannot do.”

All training will be conducted online, over four consecutive weeks, so the student can conveniently participate from home or office, with a phone and an internet connection. The sessions will cover aging issues, working in a collaborative, nursing home environment, assessment and treatment approaches, and most importantly, understanding Medicare, billing and getting paid for medically necessary services. Continuing education credit will be given for psychologists, clinical social workers, and other disciplines. Class size is limited to ten.

The entire package includes the interactive training, course syllabus, audio recordings of the seminars, inservice modules, monthly conference calls, free membership on the company's website, and follow-up consultation with Concept Healthcare's Clinical Advisory Board. A unique benefit for the graduates is designation as a CoHealth Certified Provider. With this designation, letters of introduction will be sent to prospective worksites, attesting to the graduate's clinical, administrative, and inter-disciplinary credentials, and assurance of CoHealth's recognition and support. The new earning potential of these Certified Providers allows for tuition costs to be recouped in less than two months of practice.

This is one of the many innovative approaches adopted by Concept Healthcare. With its online, interactive programs and its virtual classroom model, this company uses 21st century technology to bring vital content to the end user, anywhere. Whether they live in a major metropolitan area, or an outlying, remote part of the country, CoHealth Certified Providers can reach into new geographic areas to deliver essential mental health care to our aging population.

For those who are only interested in specialized topics, the company's website offers an array of educational content for professionals, paraprofessionals, and family caregivers. Courses can be completed online, and CE credit is available.

Live web conferences are also held twice monthly, bringing in speakers well known in the industry of aging, geriatrics, and geropsychology. As one of our participants recently said, “Once you've taken a webinar, you're spoiled for life.” Another says, “What is very new about the webinar is that professionals can get their CEs from experts in the field without having to leave their office. There is a lot to be said for that”

About Concept Healthcare

Concept Healthcare is a web-based company providing educational content and training for professionals, workers in health care settings, and family members who care for older adults, focusing on improving the physical and psychological well being of this group. Online courses, live web conferences, and custom training programs can be tailored for various organizations, individuals and groups, including LTC facilities, hospices, and home health organizations. Continuing education credit is authorized by many state and professional organizations.

Contact:
Susan P. Christ
Director of Sales and Marketing
4901 Morena Blvd., Ste 109
San Diego, CA 92117-3370
858-272-3992 (o)
858-272-3804 (f)
619-892-1344 (m)
schrist (at) cohealth (dot) org
http://www.cohealth.org

Cambridge, MA (Vocus) April 17, 2009

The newly released Bush Administration's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memos are detailed confirmation of the intimate involvement of health professionals in designing, supervising and implementing the CIA's “enhanced” interrogation program. According to analysis by Physicians for Human Rights, tactics used by psychologists and supervised by medical personnel, including physicians, clearly constituted torture and a grave breach of medical ethics. The memos specifically reference psychologists from the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training program, medical experts, and consultations “with outside psychologists” and “with a number of mental health experts.”

“The health professionals involved in the CIA program broke the law and shame the bedrock ethical traditions of medicine and psychology,” stated Frank Donaghue, Chief Executive Officer of PHR. “All psychologists and physicians found to be involved in the torture of detainees must lose their license and never be allowed to practice again.”

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), in collaboration with Human Rights First, published a 2007 study, Leave No Marks: Enhanced Interrogation Techiques and the Risk of Criminality, conclusively showing the illegality of, and long-term mental and physical harm caused by, these tactics.

“Strained legal rationalizations for torture techniques should provide no cover for health professionals who helped design and implement them,” stated John Bradshaw, Washington Director of PHR. “The White House and Congress must work together to ensure public accountability for these crimes and violations of medical ethics.”

Further investigation of the role of health professionals in the subsequent implementation of these illegal techniques, as called for in the memos, must be conducted by an independent commission which includes a specific focus on health professional complicity.

“These techniques rise to the level of war crimes and can cause catastrophic physical and mental suffering, lasting for years after an individual has been subjected to them,” stated Dr. Scott Allen, MD, PHR Medical Advisor and Co-Director of the Brown University Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights. “The involvement of health professionals in techniques they should have known would result in severe pain and harm is not only an egregious violation of medical ethics, it is malpractice.”

PHR has long contended the techniques authorized in these memos were developed directly from the military's SERE training program. The memos conclusively show that the legal justifications provided for the interrogation techniques were developed after the decision to proceed with the SERE techniques had already been made at a policy level.

“The timeline seen in these memos supports what other investigations have shown,” said Bradshaw. “A decision to use the SERE techniques was made at the White House level and the OLC memos were written after the fact to provide legal cover. Rather than serving as a shield to protect our values, the law was used as a fig leaf for torture.”

Since 2005, PHR has documented the systematic use of psychological torture by the US during its interrogations of detainees at Guantanamo, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere in its groundbreaking reports Break Them Down, Leave No Marks, and Broken Laws, Broken Lives. The organization has repeatedly called for an end to the use of the SERE tactics by US personnel, the dismantling of the Behavioral Science Consultation Teams (BSCT) teams, and a full Congressional investigation of the use of psychological torture by the US Government, among other recommendations. Additionally, PHR has worked to mobilize the health professional community, particularly the professional associations, to adopt strong ethical prohibitions against direct participation in interrogations. PHR was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.

With so many choices out there for dental insurance it can be over whelming trying to pick one. United health care dental insurance is considered by many to be at the top.

With over 26 million customers they have one of the largest bases in the United States for dental coverage. Some would say that with that many customers their customer service must not be that good. The opposite is true. They have so many clients because they do have great customer service. They are considered as being the strongest and most committed health care company in the world, and so you can definitely feel assured and secured when you go with United Health Care dental insurance.

Here is What They Have

The United Health Care dental insurance offers an array of features and services, including a broad offering of consumer oriented health benefit plans and services and practical online tools for consumers and employees.

One reason I like them is their online site is so easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. In just a few clicks you can see what doctors in your area accept their insurance.

With United Health Care you are able to see claims activity for your whole family, check costs for a particular procedure, compare hospitals and physicians, order your prescriptions, get the latest health and wellness tools, and chat live with a nurse.

Of course there are many other companies that you can go through for dental insurance, but the United Health Care organization is without a doubt one of the best. Their programs and services are fantastic and definitely ones that you will consider worth checking out.

Dental insurance is not for everyone. Often times you may just be better of going with a dental plan rather than dental insurance. Dental plans tend to be more affordable and cover very close to what dental insurance would. The down side is many dental plans do not have as wide a network as dental insurance would. If you already have a dentist be sure and check if your doctor is included in the dental plan.

Having the right insurance is very important, and it is essential that you have it before you actually need it, so that you are already prepared and will have nothing to worry about once the time comes when you actually do need the insurance. It is obviously even more important to be protected with insurance when you have a family, so that they are all covered as well. It can be hard to find good dental insurance, but know that there are some great options, such as the United Health Care organization, which has been discussed here.

The Hamptons, NY (PRWEB) October 25, 2011

Women’s health writer Gregory Anne Cox faced health problems of her own a few years ago, causing her to actively research what the best minds in women’s medicine and female fitness had to say.

But she struggled to make sense of the often ineffective and even contradictory advice.

That is why a few months later she founded MidLifeWithAVengeance.com, an Internet based venture dedicated to bringing together true experts from various health fields offering useful, proven insights for women facing midlife weight problems and accompanying issues.

After all, Cox figured, why must other women face the frustration she endured before finding lasting solutions?

The results include her highly subscribed “The Missing Midlife Manual” seminar series. “It became apparent to me early on that there is only the most rudimentary coordination between medical and alternative practitioners, in solving physical and emotional issues which women commonly go through in middle age,” says Cox. “No one was pulling information together or making it easily available to womenjust what works, and just what doesn’t. In the Internet age this seemed especially puzzling.”

So Gregory Anne put her skills as a certified coach, author and speaker to work. And what emerged is a wildly popular live Internet seminar series which allows a broad range of health experts to reach an audience of women determined to find proven solutionsto common midlife weight issues and related health problems.

Tuesday, November 1st marks the beginning of a fresh series of these live presentations featuring over a dozen noted women’s health professionals including Dr. Jonny Bowden, Dr. Sue Morter, Dr. Norm Shealy, and David “Avocado” Wolfe.

Those interested in joining the discussion and finding answers to “staying fit, healthy, sassy and sane,” are invited to visit Cox’s website. They may also phone Gregory Anne Cox directly at (631) 728-2456 for more information on The Missing Midlife Manual interactive seminar series or on her other health related professional services.

Health Effects | Mercury | US EPA
For fetuses, infants, and children, the primary health effect of methylmercury is impaired neurological development.

Health Effects Institute – Home Page
Also included are HEI studies on the health effects of components of particulate air pollution and potential air pollution

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Health effects of garlic .
Jul 1, 2005 Garlic has long been used medicinally, most recently for its cardiovascular, antineoplastic, and

Health Effects
Lists are available for 12 different adverse health effects. Select “recognized” or ” suspected” to retrieve a list of the

HEI Publications – Health Effects Institute
The results of each HEI-funded project undergo peer-review by outside

Health Benefits of Coffee – WebMD
WebMD discusses the health benefits of coffee and possible risks for those with certain conditions.

Laughter is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor
Learn how to harness the powerful health benefits of laughter and humor. Includes tips for bringing more laughter into

health benefits news and articles
It provides a world of health benefits and is heralded for its safe and effective cleansing properties. Bentonite clay is

Introduction

Recently approval has been given by the USFDA for use of the combination of six bacterial viruses or bacteriophages as a food additive. These bacteriophages are to be used on ready-to-eat meats and poultry to kill strains of listeria monocytogenes prior to their packaging.

Listeria monocytogenes are of major public health concern because it can cause serious infection in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weaken immune systems. It has been estimated that 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Hence there is a growing need to develop effective treatments against pathogenic microorganisms such as listeria monocytogenes. The approval of bacteriophages by the USFDA for use in ready-to-eat meats and poultry therefore serves to address this public health problem.

However, it is uncertain whether bacteriophages are safe enough to be used in ready-to-eat meats and poultry without causing any short or long term health effects. Because scientific studies to date have not shown conclusively to confirm or deny the safety of bacteriophages in ready-to-eat meats and poultry. It is hoped that the apparent expeditious use of bacteriophages in the light of insufficient scientific data may not compromise the public’s health. The purpose of this article is to bring to the forefront a concise review of the possible public health concerns associated with the use of bacteriophages in ready-to-eat meats.

What are bacteriophages?

The term bacteriophages are derived from the Greek word meaning
“bacteria-eater”. Bacteriophages were discovered around 1915 and have contributed significantly to the understanding of viruses or virology. They provide an alternative to costly antibiotics and can be developed mush faster and at a lower cost.

How can bacteriophages be used to control bacteria?

Bacteriophages are first grown in a preparation containing the target bacteria. The preparation is first purified before use on food. The bacteriophages are then sprayed onto ready-to-eat meat and poultry at a concentration of 1 ml per 500 cm2 of food surface. Bacteriophages then seek out bacteria and infect them during its life cycle. The life cycle of bacteriophages can follow either the lytic or lysogenic pathway that results in lysis of the bacterium.

In the lytic cycle, the virulent bacteriophage binds to the bacterium and releases its DNA into the host cell. This triggers a series of events that leads to the lysis of the host cell, resulting in cell dealth. Bacteriophages multiply much faster than bacteria and infect many bacteria in a short time period thereby eliminating them or controlling their growth and numbers to acceptable levels.

In the lysogenic cycle, the temperate bacteriophage binds to the bacterium and releases its DNA into the host cell, which then binds to the host cell DNA and form a prophage. This prophage has the potential to lyse the resulting bacterium causing dealth.

Are bacteriophages safe to consume?

Bacteriphages are bacteria-viruses. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA in their genetic make. This genetic material is believed to be transferred only to bacterial cells and not normal cells. But, has this specificity been rigorously tested in experimental animals/models and demonstrated in clinical trials? Strong scientific evidence is lacking and there is an urgent need for more research in this area. Viruses may induce an immunological response in vivo and in normal cells causing the development of secondary infections especially in susceptible individuals such as young children, old people, pregnant women and immunocompromised persons with HIV/AIDS.

What are some of the public health concern regarding the safety of bacteriophages?

Some of the public health concerns regarding the safety of bacteriophages include:

oFailure to select specific phages against the target bacteria in vitro, before using them on ready-to-eat meats and poultry may increase the possibility of developing secondary infections.

oLack of availability and/or reliability of bacterial laboratories for carefully identifying the pathogens involved, therefore making selection of specific phage very difficult.

oEndotoxins can be released as a result of lysis of bacteria which could lead to health complications such as liver edema and pain in the associated abdominal region if meat or poultry is improperly cooked.

oLack of thorough understanding of the heterogeneity and “mode of action” (lytic or lysogenic modes of action) of bacteriophages may affect their ability to destroy target bacteria.

oBacteria resistant bacteriophages and the apparent ineffectiveness of bacteriophages to kill target bacteria.

Resources

oAdams, M. H. 1959. Bacteriophages. Interscience Publishers, New York.

oBarrow, P. A., and J. S. Soothill. 1997. Bacteriophage therapy and prophylaxis:
Rediscovery and renewed assessment of potential. Trends in Microbiol. 5:268-271.

oBradley, S. G., and L. A. Jones. 1970. Bacteriophages, their biology and industrial
significance. Prog. Ind. Microbiol. p. 44-75.

oUSFDA. 2006. FDA Approval of Listeria Specific Baceriophage on Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products. CFSAN.

oPutman, F. W. 1953. Bacteriophages: Nature and reproduction, p. 177-284. In
M.L. Anson, K. Bailey, and J. T. Edsall (ed.), Advances in protein biochemistry, volume 8. Academic Press, New York.

oSummers, W. C. 2001. Bacteriophage therapy. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 55:437-

451.