La Palma and Tenerife Islands Launch the First Telemedicine Service in Spain

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SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA, SPAIN--(Marketwired - Apr 9, 2013) - Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) --The council of the island of La Palma and the Canary Island Health Service announced the launch of the first telemedicine service available in Spain. This is a pioneering project based on the Cisco HealthPresence software platform, enabling patients in the General Hospital of La Palma and the University Hospital of the Canary Islands in Tenerife to obtain medical assistance remotely, without any need to travel from one island to another. This offers a time-saving benefit, convenience and the potential for economic efficiency.

Cisco and the council of the island of La Palma have been collaborating with the aim at furthering a strategy of economic development while improving the quality of life of the island's inhabitants (Project Antares) by developing information and communication technologies.

Cisco, the University Hospital of the Canary Islands, and the General Hospital of La Palma today demonstrated the service by conducting a virtual consultation between a doctor situated in the University Hospital in Tenerife and a user in La Palma. The virtual consultation has shown all the advantages of this Cisco technology with a potential of revolutionizing health care, helping improve patient satisfaction and increasing medical efficiency.

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Internet of Everything (IoE)In a world of health and care, the Internet of Everything can have amazing impact when we enable and enhance the patient and caregiver experience. Care-at-a-Distance is one important example of how securely bringing together the healthcare ecosystem including people, information and devices can change the way we change the way we deliver healthcare and wellness.

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About CiscoCisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

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La Palma and Tenerife Islands Launch the First Telemedicine Service in Spain

Falkland Islands mourn Thatcher, Argentines bitter over past

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By Hilary Burke and Karina Grazina

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Falkland Islanders mourned Margaret Thatcher on Monday, revering her as their liberator after a 1982 invasion by Argentine forces, but many Argentines bitterly recalled her role in defending the South Atlantic territory.

Flags flew at half-staff on the Falklands after news of Thatcher's death on Monday aged 87. The head of the local legislative assembly said it was a day of great sadness and another resident praised her as "our Winston Churchill."

In Buenos Aires, however, one resident named Jose Raschella, 48, said: "I hope God can forgive her because I can't."

Thatcher sent a task force to recapture the islands, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, in an operation she considered one of the triumphs of her 1979-1990 rule.

Argentina still presses its sovereignty claim over the Falklands and in the past year has stepped up rhetoric against Britain despite a referendum last month in which the islanders overwhelmingly voted to stay British.

"There's absolutely no doubt that Mrs. Thatcher had a special feeling for the Islands, she led a very difficult recapture of the Islands ... and the Falklands were always in her heart," Mike Summers, chair of the Falklands' eight-member assembly, told Reuters by telephone from Port Stanley.

"She's a very much revered person in the Falklands for leading our return to freedom in 1982, and it will be a day of great sadness for Falkland Islanders."

Summers said a memorial service would be held but it was not yet clear when.

The barren and windy islands off the tip of Patagonia, at the southern end of South America, have a population of around 2,500.

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Falkland Islands mourn Thatcher, Argentines bitter over past

The Hidden Cost of Health Care for Same-Sex Couples

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For same-sex couples, whose marriages aren't recognized by the federal government, the costs of getting health care add up quickly.

Mike Bosia and Steven Obranovich, of Hardwick, Vt., were married three years ago after Vermont legalized same-sex marriage. As Bosia's spouse, Obranovich is entitled to health insurance through Bosia's employer,Saint Michael's Collegein Colchester.

But that coverage comes at a cost.

The couple estimates that they have had to pay $4,500 in additional federal income tax and filing-related expenses because thefederal government is prohibited by the Defense of Marriage Act from recognizing same-sex marriages. Bosia, 51, has to pay that tax on the value of the health coverage he gets for Obranovich, 45.

Bosia says the difference in tax treatment at the state and federal levels creates headaches for the couples accountant at tax filing time.

Dealing with the different rules, he says, "takes more time and costs more."

According to areport published by two think tanks, the Center for American Progress and the Williams Institute, which conducts research on gender identity and sexual orientation, an employee who buys health insurance for a domestic partner of the same or opposite sex pays $1,069 more a year in federal taxes, on average, than a worker in a heterosexual marriage would pay for the same coverage.

Nine statesand the District of Columbiacurrently permit same-sex marriage, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases that relate to same sex marriage. In addition to the challenge to DOMA, thecourt considered a California-based case challenging whether states can ban same-sex marriages.

The rulings are unlikely to have a direct impact on same-sex couples in domestic partnerships or civil unions, says Tara Borelli, a staff attorney at Lambda Legal, an advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

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The Hidden Cost of Health Care for Same-Sex Couples

Laurel Health Care to Deploy COMS Interactive Disease Management Program

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WESTERVILLE, Ohio, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Laurel Health Care Company (Laurel), a leading long-term care organization, has selected Daylight IQ, the COMS Interactive (Clinical Outcomes Management System or COMS) product suite, as a key component of its disease management program. The team will be deploying Daylight IQ at thirty-three facilities in the several states/communities in which Laurel serves.

A Software as a Service (SaaS) product, Daylight IQ features integrated, disease-based clinical protocols that significantly empower each facility's clinical team by identifying changes in condition at the point of care. Daylight IQ highlights abnormal findings and provides the Laurel nursing staff with appropriate interventions and/or physician communication.

"The primary focus of our disease management strategy is to provide the best possible care and reduce unnecessary hospital re-admissions for our residents," noted Roger Obenauf, Vice President, Business Development. "As a leader in the long-term care market, we have a responsibility to continually identify methods to enhance care and improve the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. Fortified with Daylight IQ, we are able to more completely achieve this objective."

The Daylight IQ product suite focuses upon improving quality of care by closely tracking changes in condition and initiating appropriate clinical interventions. Key components of the product suite include an Automated Disease Care Guide Library, a Dynamic Nursing Assessment and Compare Module, all of which work in conjunction with each resident's disease profile. It's important to note that utilizing Daylight IQ reduces 30-day hospital readmissions and premature mortality by more than 50%.

"Given the current state of the healthcare industry, hospitals are partnering with progressive facilities to extend superior care for patients," noted Edward J. Tromczynski, Chief Executive Officer, COMS Interactive, LLC. "Recognized as a thought leader, Laurel Health Care continues to improve clinical outcomes, and COMS is pleased to partner with Laurel on this initiative."

Industry data shows that the average nursing home resident has a complicated health profile, including one primary disease and up to eight secondary diseases or afflictions. Over 70% of re-hospitalizations from a skilled nursing facility are due to a secondary or new disease progression. By providing early detection of an individual's change in condition, Daylight IQ highlights potential problems and offers caregivers the opportunity to respond, preventing further progression of the illness or affliction.

About Laurel Health Care CompanyLaurel Health Care Company is a national provider of skilled nursing, rehabilitation, sub-acute and assisted living services dedicated to one simple principle - achieving the highest standards of care and caring. Laurel achieve this goal in partnership with residents and families, their associates and the communities they serve.

At Laurel Health Care, caring is more than providing excellent medical and resident services - it's also treating each resident with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion. The Laurel skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers provide both short-term and long-term residents with comprehensive health-care services in a comfortable, home-like environment that promotes the highest level of independence and life quality. For additional information, contact Laurel Health Care at 614.794.8800 or at http://www.laurelhealth.com.

About COMS Interactive, LLCCOMS Interactive, LLC partners with twelve state health care associations in deploying processes and systems that stabilize and improve resident health while improving financial outcomes for skilled nursing facilities. The Daylight IQ Software as a Service (SaaS) product combines business administration, disease management and long-term healthcare knowledge to empower the nursing team, reduce medical errors, more efficiently address resident healthcare needs and increase facility revenues. This combination of clinical and technical processes can save millions of dollars a year in preventable hospital re-admissions. Additional information regarding COMS Interactive and Daylight IQ is available at http://www.comsllc.com or by contacting a COMS representative at #330.650.9900.

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Laurel Health Care to Deploy COMS Interactive Disease Management Program

Health care at home in Summit County

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The Bayada Home Health Care office in Frisco looks like a typical office there are desks, computers, printers, copy machines. One room, however, is a little different. Instead of a workstation, it holds a bed, complete with pillows, comforter and a stuffed animal. There's a nightstand with a lamp, a box of tissues and glasses, and a closet in the far corner.

This isn't a room for employees looking for a nap after lunch, it's a training center. Bayada, a national organization, is bringing home health care services to Summit and Eagle counties. Its Frisco office, opened in January, plans to offer nursing care and assisted care services to people within the mountain community.

We want to try to help everybody in our little mountain area here, said Diane Ream, Bayada office director.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Bayada originated in 1976 and has since grown to include more than 250 offices in 25 states.

Maybe they have mobility issues, or they have memory care issues, or they're very elderly and just need a little bit of help, we do all that, Ream said.

Much of the care given by the nurse's aids is for activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and meal preparation. They can also assist in transportation, bringing clients to and from appointments, both medical or errand-related, such as to a hairdresser.

Skilled level of care is available from the nurses, who might be called to sit up overnight with an elderly relative, perform procedures such as an IV infusion or simply provide end-of-life care.

All of our services happen in the client's home, wherever their home might be, Ream said. Even if they're here vacationing and are in a condo, or in a hotel, and they need us, we can go there.

While the focus of Bayada's Frisco office is primarily Summit and Eagle county residents, people on vacation can also benefit from home service care, Ream said. It could be anything from lending transportation for a wheelchair-bound relative to assisting with care of broken bones or illness in general.

There is no other private-duty home care up here and there are no nursing homes or assisted living facilities, she explained. So what do you do when you've moved up here to the beautiful mountains and you find yourself convalescing, or getting a little up there in years, and maybe you or a loved one needs some help? What do you do? We didn't want anybody to have to move all the way back to Denver. ... We wanted it to be something that people could have up here and since there was none, that's what we're here for, to provide that need.

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Health care at home in Summit County

Health care credits could trigger surprise tax bills

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WASHINGTON - Millions of people who take advantage of government subsidies to help buy health insurance next year could get stung by surprise tax bills if they don't accurately project their income.

President Barack Obama's new health-care law will offer subsidies to help people buy private health insurance on state-based exchanges, if they don't already get coverage through their employers. The subsidies are based on income. The lower your income, the bigger the subsidy.

But the government doesn't know how much money you're going to make next year.

And when you apply for the subsidy, this fall, it won't even know how much you're making this year. So, unless you tell the government otherwise, it will rely on the best information it has: your 2012 tax return, filed this spring.

What happens if you or your spouse gets a raise and your family income goes up in 2014?

You could end up with a bigger subsidy than you are entitled to. If that happens, the law says you have to pay back at least part of the money when you file your tax return in the spring of 2015.

That could result in smaller tax refunds or surprise tax bills for millions of middle-income families.

No warning

"That's scary," says Joan Baird of Springfield, Va. "I had no idea, and I work in health care."

Baird, a health-care information management worker, is far from alone. Health-care providers, advocates and tax experts say the vast majority of Americans know very little about the new health care law, let alone the kind of detailed information many will need to navigate its system of subsidies and penalties.

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Health care credits could trigger surprise tax bills

The Pros of Genetic Engineering: Why ‘Playing God’ Could Help The Human Race

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April 8, 2013

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Despite the frequently encountered argument that scientists are playing God with nature, the pros of genetic engineering are numerous and significant.

When discussing genetically modified organisms (GMO), it is important to note that the FDA and the World Health Organization have both deemed that the food products created with the technology are considered safe.

GMO produce has several genetically altered advantages over non-GMO fruits and vegetables, including increased resistance to pests, disease and drought.

These benefits of genetic engineering translate directly into cheaper prices. A recent Iowa State University study found that prices would be at least 10 percent higher for soybeans and 6 percent higher for corn worldwide without biotechnical modifications.

Some GMOs have even been found to taste better than their conventional counterparts. In a study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, researchers found that as many as 60 percent of the people they surveyed actually preferred the taste of a genetically modified tomato.

The study focused on a particular modified tomato that had the genetically engineered advantage of a rose-scented compound that was coded into the tomato genome. The researchers said their study proves that food products can not only be made more resilient through biotechnology, but that they can also be made more flavorful.

The pros of genetic engineering can also be seen in fields besides agriculture. Scientists at the Department of Energy revealed that they have created a modified virus capable of generating electrochemical energy. Using the genetically modified viruses, they were able to create a device that is powered simply by applying pressure.

Cancer researchers and patients are also constantly reaping the benefits of genetic engineering. Many experimental treatments use genetically modified viruses to target and destroy cancer cells. A recent study showed that oncologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York were able to effectively treat a specific form of acute leukemia using genetically engineered viruses.

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The Pros of Genetic Engineering: Why ‘Playing God’ Could Help The Human Race

ACGT Provides Seed Money for T-Cell Immunotherapy Cell and Gene Therapy Research; Successful Clinical Trials for …

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ACGT today announced that seed money provided for innovative T-Cell immunotherapy cell and gene therapy research has led to two successful Clinical Trials for treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia resulting in remissions in both children and adults who had no other hope of recovery.

Stamford, Connecticut (PRWEB) April 08, 2013

According to Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, ACGT Scientific Advisory Council member and Research Fellow, and senior author of the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia study published March 21st in the journal Science Translational Medicine, This is a very exciting finding for patients and a major achievement in the field of targeted immunotherapy. Sadelain explained that these successful treatments would not have been possible had not been for the startup funding from ACGT. It wasnt easy to get funding to support such innovative, unproved therapies. The grant from ACGT was our first major grant to launch our T-cell program. Dr. Sadelain is the Director of the Center for Cell Engineering and Gene Transfer Expression Laboratory at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Sadelain, and Dr. Carl H. June, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, were each awarded $1 million in ACGT Clinical Investigator grants in 2004 to fund research using immune-mediated gene therapy for the treatment of lymphoma or leukemia. They were the first two Clinical Translational grants that ACGT awarded. Just last week, ACGT received 49 letters of intent, with a majority focused on T-cell therapy research, in response to its Request for Applications for 2013 Clinical Translational grants that will be awarded this Spring.

Dr. June, ACGT Scientific Advisory Council member and leader of the team that successfully treated two young leukemia patients, Emma Whitehead and Maddie Major, and seven other adult leukemia patients at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) also commented on the cutting-edge research ACGT supported: "Funding was not available from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for gene therapy (in 2004). ACGT was the first to be there, to say that cell and gene therapies can be a new platform therapy, and giving literally lifesaving grants to scientists who cannot get them from the federal system."

ACGT is the only not-for-profit in the U.S. solely dedicated to cancer cell and gene therapy treatments for all types of cancer. 100% of contributions go directly to research. ACGT has funded 41 grants since its founding in 2001 totaling almost $24 million to fund both basic research and clinical translation. ACGT's Scientific Advisory Council, comprised of 16 renowned physicians and researchers, conducts a rigorous review process. Seventeen ACGT funded research projects have been approved for human clinical trials, 11 of which are underway. To donate, please visit http://www.acgtfoundation.org or call 203.358.8000.

# # #

Press Contact:

Deborah Burns, 203.257.3163

deborah(at)burnscommunications(dot)net

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ACGT Provides Seed Money for T-Cell Immunotherapy Cell and Gene Therapy Research; Successful Clinical Trials for ...

European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech – deutsch – EU-democracy-Watch – Video

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European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech - deutsch - EU-democracy-Watch
Europisches Parlament behauptet sie vertreten Meinungsfreiheit. Tatsache: Keine Meinungsfreiheit im Parlament http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BxQh6RKc0 Ein...

By: TheEuWatch

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European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech - deutsch - EU-democracy-Watch - Video