Mark Sanford’s First TV Ad In Congressional Campaign | #libertyNEVERsleeps – Video

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Mark Sanford #39;s First TV Ad In Congressional Campaign | #libertyNEVERsleeps
Former South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford released the first TV campaign ad yesterday in his current bid for the 1st District congressional seat previously held by Tim Scott. Read More: wp.me Should Mark Sanford #39;s affair be a factor in the election? Take the poll here: poll.fm Want More LIBERTY? Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com Also check out our page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com

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Mark Sanford's First TV Ad In Congressional Campaign | #libertyNEVERsleeps - Video

PDS Vista HRMS Selected by Liberty Tax Service

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BLUE BELL, PA--(Marketwire - Feb 19, 2013) - PDS, a leading provider of human resource, benefits, recruiting, and payroll software, today announced that Liberty Tax Service has selected and implemented its Vista HRMS solution to manage its ranging employee base of 1,000 to 3,000 people depending on the time of year. Vista HRMS has saved the tax service provider significant time on its HR, payroll, benefits, and recruiting processes and provided access to valuable information for the HR team, executives and managers, as well as its employees.

"We had a solution that did not offer a good reporting function and had no recruiting module," said Barbara Leach, director of Human Resources at Liberty Tax."We triple our workforce for the tax season and with our previous applicant tracking process we had to enter our data in a standalone system and then re-enter it into our HRMS.This was extremely time and paper intensive and very prone to errors.Now, with Vista HRMS, we have a cost-effective solution that streamlines our onboarding process and enables us to quickly bring on a new employee."

Leach also explained how Vista HRMS provides her team with the tools to easily generate valuable reports for management and enables employees and managers to access certain information without having to contact HR with common questions.This self-service capability allows the Liberty Tax HR staff to focus their time and effort on more business-critical tasks.

"The significant fluctuation in the staff size at Liberty Tax makes onboarding employees, maintaining their records and ensuring accurate payroll processing and benefits administration a true challenge for the HR department," explained George Brady, vice president at PDS."We are pleased to be able to provide Liberty Tax with a complete solution to help run their HR operations more efficiently and effectively."

Vista HRMS is an award-winning, feature-rich, completely integrated HR, benefits, payroll, recruiting, and self-service software application that enables organizations to minimize the time invested in administrative HRMS/payroll activities by streamlining and automating those processes and facilitating strategic decision-making capabilities.Functional elements include workflow, tax management, recruitment, staffing, position management, training management, COBRA compliance, OSHA, Worker's Compensation compliance, FMLA management, Flexible Spending Accounts claims administration and performance and compensation management.

Vista HRMS offers important business value by furnishing vital information for strategic planning and decision-making.Self-service capabilities for employees and managers reduce the administrative burden on HR and payroll departments and increase productivity across the entire workforce.

About PDSIn the HRMS software development business for almost 40 years, PDS is a provider of a feature-rich, completely integrated human resource, benefits administration, recruiting and payroll software application that enables organizations to focus on more strategic issues and less on administrative HR, benefits and payroll activities.In addition to core HRMS functionality, Vista HRMS offers self-service, English-language query tool and workflow automation.You have your choice with Vista HRMS. It can be deployed on-premise, hosted or using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, allowing the customer true flexibility.PDS also provides a full range of professional services to a wide variety of industries in the U.S. and in Canada.Founded in 1974, PDS is a privately-held company headquartered in Blue Bell, Pa.For more information on PDS or PDS' Vista HRMS solution and services visit http://www.pdssoftware.com.

PDS and the PDS logo are registered trademarks and Vista is a trademark of Personnel Data Systems Inc.All other trademarks or registered trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

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PDS Vista HRMS Selected by Liberty Tax Service

Liberty Tax Service shows appreciation by providing free tax preparation

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Liberty Tax is giving away tax preparation services to those who so selflessly serve, protect, educate, and assist local communities and the Liberty offices that operate within them. For first-time customers, starting February 18, Liberty Tax kicks off a month and a half of "Appreciation Weeks" to thank these invaluable individuals.

From February 18th - February 24th Liberty Tax will once again salute veterans, active military and their immediate family members with free tax preparation during "Military and Veterans Appreciation Week."

From February 25th - March 3rd Liberty Tax will invite teachers, day care workers, educators and all school staff to bring their tax information into a Liberty Tax Service office during "Educator Appreciation Week."

From March 4th - March 10th is "Police and Firefighter Appreciation Week" and Liberty Tax will honor firefighters, EMT/EMS personnel, police, and law enforcement officers with free tax preparation.

From March 11th - March 17th Liberty Tax will offer free tax preparations to all the nurses, doctors, therapists, and all hospital staff, just stop by during "Hospital Appreciation Week."

From March 18th - March 24th the "Healthy Living Appreciation Week" will offer gym staff members, personal trainers, dieticians, and recreational centers staff the opportunity to have their tax return prepared for free.

From March 25th - March 31st Liberty Tax will give free tax preparation to all non-profit organizations staff member and all volunteers during "Volunteer and Non-profit Appreciation Week."

Taxpayers can find a local Liberty Tax location by calling 866-871-1040. Liberty Tax does take appointments but they are not necessary.

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Liberty Tax Service shows appreciation by providing free tax preparation

Lonely Lady Liberty awaits tourists and repairs after Sandy

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John Makely / NBC News

A police officer makes his rounds at the Statue of Liberty National Monument which has been been closed since Hurricane Sandy.

John Makely / NBC News

Superintendent David Luchsinger walks along the pathways damaged by Hurricane Sandy on Liberty Island. Luchsinger and his wife were residents of the island when the storm hit in October 2012.

John Makely / NBC News

Much of the brick pathway on Liberty Island damaged by the storm will be replaced with larger pavers.

John Makely / NBC News

Ruined spotlights that once illuminated the Statue of Liberty need replacement.

By Andrew Rafferty, NBC News

The Statue of Liberty no longer towers over huddled masses these days. Instead, at her feet sit atop dumpsters filled with debris, piles of dirt and bricks ripped from the walkway that once led tourists around Liberty Island.

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Lonely Lady Liberty awaits tourists and repairs after Sandy

Liberty Mutual Insurance Schedules Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Earnings Conference Call

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc., the parent corporation of the Liberty Mutual Insurance group of entities (the ''Company''), is scheduled to review its fourth quarter and full year 2012 financial results on March 1, 2013. At 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time that day, David Long, Liberty Mutual Insurance President and CEO, will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results.

The earnings release, financial results and other supplemental information will be available on the website http://www.libertymutual.com/investors prior to the call.

To listen to the call and participate in the Q&A, please dial 800-857-2190, providing the pass code ''Liberty'' when prompted. A replay will be available until 5:00 p.m. on March 15, 2013 at 800-835-4373.

For further information, please contact Alison Erbig, Vice President and Director, Investor Relations, at 617-574-6655 or email investor_relations@libertymutual.com.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance

''Helping people live safer, more secure lives'' since 1912, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2011 direct premiums written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Liberty Mutual Insurance also ranks 84th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2011 revenue. As of December 31, 2011, Liberty Mutual Insurance had $117.1 billion in consolidated assets, $99.3 billion in consolidated liabilities, and $34.7 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

Liberty Mutual Insurance offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, property, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, reinsurance and surety. Liberty Mutual Insurance employs over 50,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

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Liberty Mutual Insurance Schedules Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Earnings Conference Call

First Liberty Power Announces Pathways of Production Outreach

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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --First Liberty Power Corp. (FLPC), an innovative and diversified company focused on supplying "Mined in America" strategic industrial metals for current and emerging technologies, continues to execute their strategy for rapidly expanding mine exploration and operational activities with the launch of Pathways of Production (POP). According to First Liberty CEO, Don Nicholson, the POP program evolved from the company's commitment to directly update company shareholders and investors.

"Our First Liberty management team established Pathways of Production to ensure effective and timely public awareness of our continued progress towards mining operations, as well as progress on our exploration-to-development plans," Nicholson said. "POP is basically an investor communications program that will be executed through scheduled, direct-online newsletters, as well as through traditional news release and social media strategies. As an expanding company, all aspects of our operations must be defined, measured, improved and effectively communicated. POP provides us with that ability to directly achieve such levels of communication."

First Liberty's initial POP outreach will be focused on the company's Fencemaker operation. The Fencemaker mine, located in Pershing County, Nevada, is scheduled to begin operations this spring with the mining of stibnite (antimony) ore. The ore will be processed at a nearby company milling site for initial sale as an antimony concentrate. FLPC is finalizing engineering documents for the mining & milling operations and the Fencemaker team is also preparing to complete certain reclamation operations on the property.

In announcing the launch of the POP outreach program, First Liberty Vice President of Operations, Robert Reynolds, noted the company's core objective. "First Liberty's focus is to serve as a leader in the exploration and mining sector by supplying 'Mined in America' strategic industrial metals to power the future. Therefore, we believe it is of critical importance to demonstrate First Liberty's plans, timelines, opportunities, challenges and successes along the path of becoming a near-term producer to all shareholders and investors. Pathways to Production will allow us that direct line of investor communications while keeping us accountable to our stated objectives."

ABOUT FIRST LIBERTY POWER CORPORATION: First Liberty Power Corporation (FLPC:OTCQB) is an innovative and diversified company focused on supplying "Mined in America" strategic industrial metals for current and emerging technologies in order to power the future. FLPC operates within a focused strategy of bringing mining properties into active operation and revenue generation, while ensuring that surrounding communities and the environment are protected and well-served. Within that focus is a dedication to First Liberty's Pathways of Production (POP). POP is a program of best corporate practices and proactive decision-making designed to ensure the interests of FLPC shareholders, investors and mining partners. (www.firstlibertypower.com)

ABOUT THE FENCEMAKER MINE: Fencemaker is an antimony mine located in Pershing County, Nevada. FLPC holds a 40.5% effective interest in the Fencemaker Project, which includes a milling site property. The mine was worked in the 1940's and again in the 1980's with consistently high grades of antimony (10 to 25%) along the exposed vein. A property review, RC drilling and interval sampling was completed in June and August of 2012. An initial ore extraction is planned for the spring of 2013. A permit has been issued for 36,500 t/y of underground mining of antinomy, a metal which is used in semiconductor technology, as a fire retardant and as a metal hardener in many applications, including auto batteries.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future plans of the company, the prospects for our mineral properties, and our ability to raise necessary working capital.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the SEC.

Contact: Robert Reynolds (800) 709-1196 ir@firstlibertystrategic.com

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First Liberty Power Announces Pathways of Production Outreach

Fox’s The Five Asks: Is America Ready For A ‘Libertarian-Minded’ President? – Video

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Fox #39;s The Five Asks: Is America Ready For A #39;Libertarian-Minded #39; President?
2/18/13 - After Sen. Rand Paul asserted this weekend that America might be ready for a libertarian Republican presidency, Fox #39;s The Five debated whether that is actually true. "Is America ready for a libertarian president or really just saying a small government person with less military output?" co-host Greg Gutfeld asked his panelists after a monologue on what he #39;d like to see in a future president. "I think they often are considered too controversial because of their positions on legalizing pot, which now has become more mainstream; and legalizing prostitution, that a lot of conservatives can #39;t wrap their arms around," Andrea Tantaros explained. "Rand Paul is different. I like him a lot. I think that he speaks the truth. He is very, very tough. He doesn #39;t go back and forth. He is not his father," she said, apparently missing the memo that Rand #39;s father, Ron Paul (R-TX), was considered one of the most "consistent" members of Congress throughout his career. "A lot of people say, #39;I #39;d love to vote Republican but I can #39;t because of the social issues, #39;" Tantaros continued, before suggesting that "if we had someone more liberal we could get voters and open up the big tent." She added that social conservatism #39;s blunders like Todd Akin give the Democrats an opportunity to make Republicans look bad. Liberal co-host Bob Beckel surmised that Rand Paul #39;s newfound hero status among the GOP is a sign that "the bench for the Republicans, which we kept talking about as being mighty ...

By: MichaelSavage4Prez

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Fox's The Five Asks: Is America Ready For A 'Libertarian-Minded' President? - Video

Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 1: Lou Jasikoff – "Become the Media, Drive Thugs Crazy" – Video

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Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 1: Lou Jasikoff - "Become the Media, Drive Thugs Crazy"
The Montgomery County Libertarian Committee (www.MontcoLP.org) presents the Pennsylvania Libertarian Organizational Workshop. February 16, 2013. MC: Ken Krawchuk. Lou Jasikoff, Publisher of the WIlkes-Barre Independent Gazette (www.wbindependentgazette.com Lou discusses his efforts to leapfrog the establishment media and fill the void for investigative journalism.

By: James Babb

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Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 1: Lou Jasikoff - "Become the Media, Drive Thugs Crazy" - Video

Fox’s The Five Asks: Is America Ready for a Libertarian President? – Video

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Fox #39;s The Five Asks: Is America Ready for a Libertarian President?
Today on The Five, Andrea Tantaros said of Rand Paul, "I think that he speaks the truth. He #39;s very, very tough... He #39;s not his father." "Do we want to become a big tent?" Tantaros questioned. "because a lot of people will say, #39;you know what, I #39;d love to vote Republican but I can #39;t because of the social issues. #39; And if we had somebody who maybe was more liberal, we could get more voters; open up that big tent." What do you think?

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Fox's The Five Asks: Is America Ready for a Libertarian President? - Video

Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 2: Mike Salvi "Effective Grassroots Organizing" – Video

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Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 2: Mike Salvi "Effective Grassroots Organizing"
The Montgomery County Libertarian Committee (www.MontcoLP.org) presents the Pennsylvania Libertarian Organizational Workshop. February 16, 2013. MC: Ken Krawchuk. Mike Salvi is a grassroots organizer and blogger. michaelsalvi.blogspot.com

By: James Babb

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Pennsylvania Libertarian Workshop Part 2: Mike Salvi "Effective Grassroots Organizing" - Video

Solomon Islands: OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

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OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

OceansWatch Solomon Islands Reef Guardian loses house in Tsunami

Joe Nokali is a resident of Tuwo village on Fenualoa Island in the Reef Islands, Temotu District of the Solomon Islands.

Over the last 3 years that OceansWatch has been visiting the area to help the community Joe has been an active member of the Reef Guardian team. The Reef Guardians are not paid for the work they do monitoring and caring for the reef, they are just a bunch of community minded folk who step forward to help their village. Joe is an active participant in the program and helps with the monthly monitoring that the Tuwo Reef Guardian team undertakes every month.

Unfortunately Joe and his disabled sister live on the most vulnerable part of Fenualoa, an area that over the living memory of the community has lost about 300m to erosion. We are not certain of why this erosion has taken place but we can see the results, most of the graveyard near Joes house has washed into the sea! The locals attribute the erosion, all of which has happened in the last 50 years to sea level rise and changing weather patterns, in other words they are victims of Climate Change.

The main Island of Santa Cruz bore the brunt of the recent Tsunami but it also reached Fenualoa, where Joe lives. We have still not had a report back from our friends on Fenualoa but one thing we do know is that the wave swept through the villages and Joe and his sister lost their house.

OceansWatch is NOT an Aid organisation however in this case we want to help our friend and his sister to get housed again as soon as possible. Joe has no job as such, like 95% of men on Fenualoa; Joe is a fisherman and subsistence farmer. He will build his house again and one for his sister but buying the materials will cost him and we doubt that he has any savings at all to cover this disaster.

Materials for a house will cost about NZ$320 each. They will also have lost pots and pans and bedding as will some neighbours. As we have not had a full report yet we want to set a target for a fundraiser of NZ$2,000. That will be enough for Joe and his sisters house and some cooking utensils and other essentials for them and a few neighbours.

OceansWatch New Zealand will collect the money and send it to our OceansWatch Solomon Island's account to be spent by OceansWatch Solomon Islands Directors specifically for Tsunami relief on Fenualoa Island.

Contribute here for the Fenualoa Fund

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Solomon Islands: OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

Marshall Islands Among Those Petitioning UN To Address Security Issues Of Climate Change

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February 18, 2013

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, an official from the Marshall Islands argued that climate change is a threat to international security, citing the impact that global warming has had on his own island nation to illustrate his point.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the president of the Marshall Islands, petitioned the body on Friday to recognize the phenomenon as a potential hazard to the very survival of his country and of other low-lying island nations, Edith M. Lederer of the Associated Press (AP) said.

DeBrum spoke with members of the media after addressing the Security Council during their closed-door Security Dimensions of Climate Change conference, telling reporters he hoped that council members can be convinced that global warming is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue.

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands, Lederer reported. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded. The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

However, she also said that deBrums petition is being opposed by China and Russia, both of whom are permanent members of the UN subgroup, as well as a coalition of 130 primarily developing nations who assert that climate change discussion does not belong at Security Council meetings.

According to Bloomberg News, Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, also spoke before the council in New York on Friday.

In discussing possible climate change-related security scenarios, he presented one which was set 20 years in the future, in which India has become the most populous nation in the world, but due to drought conditions and the resulting lack of crops, people begin to starve and the the seeds of conflict take root among the countrys 1.5 billion citizens, the news organization said.

On Friday, the AP spoke with Rachel Kyte, the World Banks vice-president for sustainable development. During that interview, Kyte said that since the last round of talks on global warming, the sense of urgency had increased amongst UN officials.

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Marshall Islands Among Those Petitioning UN To Address Security Issues Of Climate Change

Bay Harbor Islands residents raise overdevelopment fears

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Bay Harbor Islands residents and town officials expressed concerns over the transfer of development rights of over 80 units to three new building projects at a monthly meeting on Feb.11.

Fear of over-development was on the minds of those who spoke out against the approval of these transactions.

Until what point do you continue to approve projects and TDRs? said Susan Luck, Bay Harbor Islands resident.

The transfer of development rights created for historical preservation and the creation and preservation of public open spaces in urban areas was first allowed in Bay Harbor Islands in 2005. Essentially, it allows property owners to sell their entitled development rights of the air above open spaces or undeveloped buildings.

Some Bay Harbor Islands citizens fear bigger and denser projects being built because of the use of TDRs.

I think we are thoughtful citizens. We are being mindful of the community we are growing old in, Luck said.

Some town officials justified the use of a TDR program as being controlled.

We have very low height limits. We have low density limits. You have very small lots. There is only so much you can build here, said town planner Michael Miller.

Miller spoke in response to concerns by some town council members such as Councilwoman Stephanie Bruder, who questioned him on whether the town was being mindful of avoiding a seesaw effect with one side of the island developed more heavily than the other.

Resident and professional designer Teri DAmico questioned town officials on the origin of the TDRs.

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Bay Harbor Islands residents raise overdevelopment fears

Controlling Health Care–Acquired Infections – Video

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Controlling Health Care--Acquired Infections
Cassandra D. Salgado, MD, hospital epidemiologist at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and Linda Formby, RN, Manager of Infection Control at MUSC, discuss the health care and economic burdens of health care--acquired infections (HAIs) and best practices for preventing and/or controlling their spread, with particular emphasis on Clostridium difficile infection and central venous line--associated bloodstream infections. To learn more, visit MUSChealth.com/progressnotes.

By: muschealth

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Controlling Health Care--Acquired Infections - Video

Medical and Health Care Tourism – Video

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Medical and Health Care Tourism
Medical Tourism Learn More: http://www.theshouldercenter.com "medical tourism" "medical travel" "medical tourism asia" "health tourism" "what is medical tourism" "international medical travel" "medical travel industry" "medical travel" "medical tourism agency" "medical tourism agent" "medical...

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Medical and Health Care Tourism - Video

Health Care DataWorks, Leading Provider of Business Intelligence Solutions, Will Participate in HIMSS13 Conference …

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The leading healthcare analytics and business intelligence solutions provider will showcase its capabilities and provide educational insights at the event that brings together healthcare CIOs and other information technology professionals.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) February 19, 2013

HCD will provide demonstrations of its KnowledgeEdge Enterprise Data Warehouse and advanced analytics. KnowledgeEdge helps hospitals and healthcare systems manage to metrics, drive more informed decision making and improve the bottom line. HCD will be at booth #7513 in Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

More than 37,000 healthcare industry professionals are expected to attend HIMSS13 to discuss health information technology issues and review innovative solutions designed to transform health care. For those interested in setting up a one-on-one demo with HCD, visit http://www.hcdatworks.com/himss-form.htm to fill out a form. For more information on the conference, visit the HIMSS13 website at http:www/himssconference.org

HCD also will participate in the 2013 CHIME/HIMSS CIO Forum at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton Hotel on Sunday, March 3, that brings together CIOs and healthcare IT executives to provide community-building and educational opportunities. HCD is sponsoring a CHIME Focus Group, Best Practices for User Adoption of Healthcare Analytics and BI, on Wednesday, March 6, at 10 a.m. CST on level 3 of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. For more information, visit http://www.cio-chime.org.

In addition, HCD board member Dave Garets will deliver the opening keynote at the Clinical and Business Intelligence Symposium: A Practical Guide, entitled Imperatives for the Next 36 Months, to be held on Sunday, March 3. For more information on this symposium, visit the HIMSS13 conference website.

About Health Care DataWorks, Inc.

Health Care DataWorks, Inc., a leading provider of business intelligence solutions, empowers healthcare organizations to improve their quality of care and reduce costs. Through its pioneering KnowledgeEdge product suite, including its enterprise data model, analytic dashboards, applications and reports, Health Care DataWorks delivers an Enterprise Data Warehouse necessary for hospitals and health systems to effectively and efficiently gain deeper insights into their operations. For more information, visit http://www.hcdataworks.com.

Marcy Fleisher Health Care DataWorks 614-397-0032 Email Information

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Health Care DataWorks, Leading Provider of Business Intelligence Solutions, Will Participate in HIMSS13 Conference ...

Top Health Care Experts Prepare Professionals for Patient Advocacy, Affordable Care Act Through New UCLA Extension …

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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Two in-demand health care careers patient advocacy and transformational leadership are now achievable through accelerated professional certificate programs offered by UCLA Extension this spring.

Transformational leadership skills are urgently needed as organizations implement the Affordable Healthcare Act. Meanwhile, nurses and other health care practitioners looking to transition their expertise to patient advocacy roles can quickly gain the necessary skills in a field expected to see double-digit hiring growth.

Free informational webcasts hosted by health care experts and UCLA Extension administrators will go live on Youtube on Tuesday, March 5. Easy registration links are provided below.

The health care landscape is becoming more complex, which in turn is requiring more individuals with unique expertise and qualities. These new certificate programs are created by top health care experts and designed specifically for these two critical, evolving areas of health care, said Michelle Stiles, interim dean for UCLA Extension.

As the countrys population continues to grow and age, there is a corresponding need for more trained health care advocates. The Patient Advocacy certificate offered by UCLA Extension is designed to quickly provide a full range of skills and knowledge required for this emerging field.

Patient advocates help individuals and their families navigate through the complex health-care system, sort through medical bills and insurance requirements, advise family members on how to advocate for sick relatives, and more. The U.S. Department of Labor projects this field will grow by more than 25 percent over the next five years. Patient advocacy is important to assist patients young and old, with a range of health issues including mental health. The Patient Advocacy certificate can be earned entirely online.

Health care institutions also are increasingly looking for leaders who can manage current and impending changes in the U.S. health care system prompted by the Affordable Care Act. A focused certificate in Transformational Leadership in Health Care which can be achieved fully online helps create leaders who assist organizations in realizing goals for improving patient care, creating new service delivery models while maintaining patient care, managing demand, and finding other solutions in a growingly complex industry.

The free Transformational Leadership in Health Care webcast features Dr. Shana Alex Lavarreda, director of health insurance studies at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and an Extension instructor; and Ric Zappala, program director for UCLA Extensions Humanities and Sciences section. To access this expert-led webcast, please register here.

The free Patient Advocacy webcast features Marcia Colone, system director for care coordination at UCLA Health Systems; Lori Viveros, program manager for the UCLA/Avon Cares for Life Program; and Sheila King, program director for UCLA Extensions Humanities and Sciences section. To access this expert-led webcast, please register here.

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Top Health Care Experts Prepare Professionals for Patient Advocacy, Affordable Care Act Through New UCLA Extension ...

Segal Announces Communicating Health Care Benefits Leads to Better Outcomes

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Tupper Hillard, Vice President and Senior Communications Consultant for The Segal Company, says, We need to start communicating with our target audiences from the perspective of what can we do/say/share with you that will engage you in healthy living and motivate you to deal with any current health issues? He stresses that shifting the paradigm around health care benefits communications is crucial: While many organizations have already implemented value-based health care (VBHC) strategies, including wellness and disease management programs, they must communicate with the goal of motivating and inspiring people to take advantage of the programs available to them.

Mr. Hillard explains that plan sponsors are often so busy communicating the numbers, processes, and descriptions of health care benefits, that they seldom address what is important: improving health and creating an environment that supports shared responsibility in taking care of participants, retirees and their families.

Communication is an integral part of any successful VBHC strategy, says Hillard. But as with any major change, an organization that wants to refocus its approach to health care benefits should develop a communications campaign around the concept. Hillard suggests holding focus groups with members and spouses to learn what these key audiences want to know about their benefits, options and resources. The findings can be used to build and promote branded communications that will elicit positive responses. Hillard concludes, People-centered, value-based design is likely the single best strategy for maintaining a healthy, high performing workforce at the greatest quality/cost ratio by lowering the financial and behavioral barriers to getting the right treatment.

For more information, or to speak with Tupper Hillard about this topic, contact Mary L. Feldman.

The Segal Company (www.segalco.com) is an independent, US-based firm of benefit, compensation and human resources consultants. Clients include joint boards of trustees administering pension and health and welfare plans under the Taft-Hartley Act, corporations, non-profit organizations, professional service firms and state and local governments.

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Segal Announces Communicating Health Care Benefits Leads to Better Outcomes