Health care is high on voters' priorities

Posted on by

WHEN potential voters are asked about their priorities in the forthcoming election the Health Service is usually near the top of the list.

This means that health care in general and the NHS in particular is one of the key battlegrounds in the May General Election.

The Conservatives have worked hard to reassure the electorate that the NHS is safe in their hand in spite of long waits increasing at A&E departments - and a looming financial crisis.

With the cost of the NHS always an issue the Tories have emphasised that the financial outlook for the Health Service is dependent on the economy.

While the Government has been accused of wasting billions on an unnecessary reorganisation the Tories argue that the changes put more control into the hands of doctors and reduced red tape. However, creeping privatisation of NHS services has alarmed some voters.

Critics have accused the Coalition of under-funding the NHS but the Tories point out that the Health Service has been protected from the wider public sector cuts.

Prime Minister David Camerons use of the NHS, in relation to the care provided to his severely disabled son, Ivan, before he died in 2009, has undoubtedly been as asset.

As the party which created the NHS Labour always has an advantage when it comes to the Health Service.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnhams big idea is to create a new National Health and Care Service which would bring physical, mental and social care together in a single service (although the Tories are moving in that direction).

Mr Burnham also plans to repeal the Health and Social Care Act introduced by the Tories to open up NHS services to market forces.

View post:

Health care is high on voters' priorities

Market Snapshot: Health care, financial stocks looking best going into tough earnings season

Posted on by

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) Health care and financial earnings are looking to be some of the relatively few bright spots in what promises to be a dreary reporting season.

Stocks are getting hit hard as the first quarter draws to a close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.19% the S&P 500 Index SPX, +0.24% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.57% all finished down more than 2% last week. On Friday, government data showed the rise in fourth-quarter GDP unchanged at 2.2% and the first decline in quarterly profits since 2008.

Whats more, U.S. stocks are starting the year with $44 billion less in investment capital, the biggest outflow since 2009.

Over the first quarter, projected earnings for the S&P 500 went from forecast growth of 4.2% to a decline of 4.6%, in large part because earnings declines in the energy sector widened considerably, according to John Butters, senior earnings analyst at FactSet.

In fact, forecasts over the quarter did not improve for any one sector, with the tech, consumer staples, and materials sectors all swinging from projected gains to declines over the quarter.

That leaves health care, financials, consumer discretionary, and industrials as the only sectors left expected to post earnings gains this season.

With guidance fairly negative this earnings season, the least negative guidance is coming out of the health care and financials sector, according to FactSet. Of financial companies providing guidance, 33% expect to top the Wall Street consensus, and 20% of health care companies expect to do the same. In contrast, only 16% of companies in the S&P 500 have provided a forecast that tops estimates.

Plus, stocks may be getting headwinds from a pre-earnings pause in stock buybacks, which hit a record high quarter in February, following a near record year in 2014. Sectors that have accounted for more than 50% of all buybacks on the S&P 500 are tech, consumer discretionary, and financials.

Plus, the U.S. heath care and financials sectors are fairly well insulated from the effect the stronger dollar is having on international sales as the bulk of revenue from most companies in those sectors comes from domestic sources.

Go here to see the original:

Market Snapshot: Health care, financial stocks looking best going into tough earnings season

Where health care meets technology

Posted on by

Sunday, March 29, 2015 | 2 a.m.

With all the talk about the health benefits of wearable computer technology, too often the concrete effects on everyday health care are left to vague promises. Technology, though, is starting to shape health care today and likely will revolutionize the industry in the future.

Some of the wearables, such as the Fitbit and the forthcoming Apple Watch, enable around-the-clock monitoring of key health and fitness functions in the body. But todays health technology goes well beyond simple fitness.

It allows health care to be delivered more efficiently, more personally and more conveniently. And along the way, people can gain a better idea of where they fit on the health care spectrum.

Here is an overview of some digital health care tools that will give people deeper insight into their well-being:

Symptom trackers

Though online symptom checkers are not reliable diagnostic devices, when they first hit the market, many patients treated them as such.

But lets face it: Allowing oneself to be sucked into the online black hole of medical information will make paranoid hypochondriacs out of the best of us.

Symptom checkers have value in that they give you a ballpark range of potential problems, but be sure to use your own judgment and see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Fitness trackers

Go here to read the rest:

Where health care meets technology

Over 300 attend Art of Healing to raise money for South Central Health Care Foundation

Posted on by

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -

This is a news release from Art of Healing

It was a beautiful evening for the South Central Health Care Foundation Art of Healing. More than 300 attended the annual art auction which included paintings, pottery, jewelry, iron work, mixed media, a hand carved knife, woodwork, and other types of art. Those attending enjoyed food, beverages, live music by area musician Charles Carter, a silent art auction and a live art auction. The proceeds from the event each year funds South Central Regional Medical Center's community health initiatives which include free health screenings, and other community health programs.

Shannon Penland, M.D., a medical oncologist at South Central Cancer Center helped develop the concept for the event more than seven years ago. The money raised goes to a great cause, and the event is first class, she said. Those who contribute art have a unique opportunity to touch the lives of others, because lives are saved as a result of the funds secured from the auction. She continued by saying, South Central has done an excellent job of educating the community about signs and symptoms of disease since they began their community health programs in 1989. Individuals recognize the symptoms in themselves, their spouse or family members and friends and seek help. Dr. Penland said that early intervention is key. The earlier we can find a condition and treat it, the better the outcome. She said that some conditions do not have symptoms, so it is important to get annual check-ups.

Becky Collins, Director of Communication and the South Central Health Care Foundation at South Central, said, I appreciate the support the hospital foundation has received throughout the years by area artists. Every year we have a outstanding collection of art which is donated for the event. Allison Evans, Community Relations Specialist who works in the Marketing and Business Development division at South Central has talked with artists all over the country, Collins said. She has done an excellent job of securing art pieces from new artists throughout our community, Mississippi and other states which has expanded our art collection this year.

She said she also appreciates the sponsors who host the Art of Healing. The sponsors of the 2015 Art of Healing are BancorpSouth, City of Laurel, Community Bank, ENT Surgical Services, First State-A National Banking Association, Floral Designs by Jill Windham, Gholson, Burson, Entrikin & Orr, P.A., Chancellor, Inc., Jefferson Medical Associates, John David Jefcoat -State Farm Insurance, Mississippi Power, Radiology Associates, P.A., The Chronicle, The Impact, The Laurel Leader-Call, Sanderson Farms, Trustmark, Wayne Farms, WDAM, and William F. Horne & Company. As a result of their support, the cost of the event is covered and all proceeds from the auction and ticket sales go directly to the foundation, she said. Collins provided special thanks to Sanderson Farms for providing their facility for the Art of Healing.They have a beautiful facility, and we appreciate them allowing us to use it each year.

An hour after the event began, Doug Higginbotham, President and CEO at South Central, welcomed those attending. He thanked members of the South Central Board of Trustees for their support, and also thanked the many who donated items and supported the event. He encouraged those in attendance to bid generously throughout the evening, because the proceeds were going to a worthwhile cause.

Each year at the Art of Healing, planners of the event invite someone to speak who has experienced a life changing event as a result of a health related illness. Linda Gavin, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at South Central Regional Medical Center, introduced the speakers for the 2015 event, Jim and Leslie Provost. Jim Provost has donated a hand carved knife to our auction each year, she said. Gavin said that the couple had touched numerous lives over the years as a result of their love for people and their love for life. Jim is an engineer and professional knife maker and Leslie has taught for years in the Jones County School System, and currently teaches at William Carey University where she is currently seeing her doctorate degree in education, she said.

Mrs. Provost made her way to the podium to address the crowd. Wow! What a great way to spend a Saturday night in Laurel MS, at the Art of Healing.Thank you for allowing us to be a special part of this event, she said. My husband, Jim Provost, was thrilled when he was asked to be the keynote speaker tonight. He is going to briefly share with you his experience about his stroke in 2000 due to a disease known as Fibro-Muscular Displacia and the results regarding his recovery due to South Central Regional Medical Center saving his life! It is a miracle and blessing that he is able to share with you and so many others that have endured diseases and incidents that have changed their lives and their family's lives dramatically. Before Jim speaks, we both would like to recognize a few people that supported and stood by our side during and after our difficult journey. If you are here, please raise your handSteve Hall, Janet and Dennis Farrell, Jay Fenton, Tony Stewart, John Crosby, Brad Pinkstaff, Neil Schrimpshire, RW Wilson, Mike Cowart, Anita Thames, Rex and Lynn Jones, Casey Provost, Sarah Wells and Catherine and Steven Nowicki. We also want to remember and cherish Dr. Ramesh Singh who was in the ER the night that Jim had the stroke and how he saved his life. Also, in loving memory of my grandmother, Margie Breazeale, our rock ,that kept us ALL strong and made sure we had plenty of good food to eat when we got home from the hospital. These people will always have a special place in our hearts. We love you all. Most of all, we give the credit to the Lord Jesus for giving Jim a second chance. Jim's favorite Bible verse is: I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. And He did!" She then invited her husband to the podium.

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak and be a part of such a wonderful event in Laurel, The Art of Healing. I would like to say special thank you to our dear, special friend Linda Gavin, and Becky Collins, and Allison Evans for having me here, he began. Provost said he graduated from West Virginia University in l979 with a , and then went to work with Weirton Steel where he met R.W. Wilson who taught him the skill of knife making. He then moved to Fort Worth, Texas to work for General Dynamics and later accepted a position with Schlumberger Well Services. Schlumberger moved him to Jones County which is where he met his wife, Leslie Jones Provost, and began establishing roots in the area.

Continue reading here:

Over 300 attend Art of Healing to raise money for South Central Health Care Foundation

Big Data and Future of Marketing – conference speaker – Futurist keynote – Video

Posted on by


Big Data and Future of Marketing - conference speaker - Futurist keynote
Clip from Patrick Dixon #39;s keynote at the Sampo Liidrite Foorum on data and the future of marketing. There is huge value in data, BIG data and understanding and structuring it. Offering customised...

By: Patrick Dixon Futurist Keynote Speaker for Industry Conference

Read the original post:

Big Data and Future of Marketing - conference speaker - Futurist keynote - Video

Preterism vs. Futurism discussion with Pastors Michael Miano and Robert Iannuccilli 3/21/15 – Video

Posted on by


Preterism vs. Futurism discussion with Pastors Michael Miano and Robert Iannuccilli 3/21/15
BLUE POINT, NY-- Pastors Michael Miano of Blue Point Bible Church and Robert Iannuccilli of Faith on Fire Ministries hold an informative discussion on Preterism and Futurism in biblical thought...

By: Mert Melfa

The rest is here:

Preterism vs. Futurism discussion with Pastors Michael Miano and Robert Iannuccilli 3/21/15 - Video

Solving The Problem Of Scientific Reproducibility With Peer-Reviewed Video

Posted on by

In a story published last week in the Boston Globe, Carolyn Johnson covered one of the quiet crises facing scientific research today: the fact that .

But talk to a scientist long enough, and youll probably hear a story like this: An intriguing new discovery was reported in a research journal, wrote Carolyn Johnson in an excellent article on this topic in the Boston Globe. Maybe it was a biologist describing a new Achilles heel in cancer cells, a psychologists profound insight into human behavior, or an astronomers finding about the first moments of the universe. The scientist read about the finding and tried to confirm it in her own lab, but the experiment just didnt come out the same.

Although in some instances the cause of this is outright fraud, far more often the causes are more proasic and mundane. Not being able to replicate an experiment may just mean there was something wrong with the instruments in the initial experiment. (This quite famously happened to the OPERA collaboration, when they infamously announced that they had measured neutrinos moving faster than light. After attempts to reproduce the experiment failed, it was later revealed that the measurements had been erroneous due to a bad data connection in their instruments.)

Sometimes, though, the reason why an experiment doesnt work is because important steps were left out of the original paper, making it impossible for other scientists to replicate the experiment. Sometimes this is oversight, and sometimes its just that a particular lab has common practices that dont carryover to the wider community. In these cases, the experimenters didnt find a false result its just hard for other people to demonstrate the same thing.

Journal of Visualized Experiments founder Moshe Pritsker (Credit: JoVE)

This particular aspect of day to day aspect of scientific research was deeply frustrating to Dr. Moshe Pritsker when he was engaged in research a towards his PhD a little over a decade ago. He would find himself unable to complete experiments working just off papers, but when he was able to meet with an experimenter or visit their lab, he was able to then replicate the experiment. But this experience made him frustrated about the way science was being done in the 21st century.

Why doesnt it work? he told me. Its text. Its not good for transfer of knowledge about complex experiments. When you see people do it, youll get small details you cant get from text.

Faced with the time consuming process of visiting original labs to see how experiments were performed led Pritsker to thinking that there had to be a better way for scientists to share information than the centuries-old process of publishing papers.

Read more:

Solving The Problem Of Scientific Reproducibility With Peer-Reviewed Video

Let’s Play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Part 344 ganz spezielle Hute – Video

Posted on by


Let #39;s Play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Part 344 ganz spezielle Hute
Fr unsere Rstung brauchen wir zu den Narga-Sachen auch noch andere Bestandteile. So auch ganz besondere Hute, du wir fr ganz besondere Anlsse immer dabei haben sollten. -----------------...

By: DeusNemesiX

View post:

Let's Play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Part 344 ganz spezielle Hute - Video

Ind. Governor Battles Backlash Over ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill – Video

Posted on by


Ind. Governor Battles Backlash Over #39;Religious Freedom #39; Bill
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is speaking out to "clarify" a bill that he says defends religious freedom, but opponents say allows discrimination. Follow Sebastian Martinez: http://www.twitter.com/sebas...

By: Newsy Politics

Go here to see the original:

Ind. Governor Battles Backlash Over 'Religious Freedom' Bill - Video

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence scrambles to 'clarify' new religious freedom law

Posted on by

Faced with a wave of critical comment and mounting economic threats from around the country, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) says he wants to legislatively clarify the intent of his states new Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The law allows businesses to refuse service to potential customers and clients on religious grounds, which critics say is a clear shot at the LGBT community in particular those advocating or wanting to participate in same-sex marriage.

In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Gov. Pence did not detail his legislative plans for the new law, other than to indicate that any changes wouldnt be sweeping. Making gay and lesbian Hoosiers a protected legal class, Pence said, is not on my agenda.

Since he signed the law last week, the Republican governor has faced a rolling wave of opposition, not only from civil rights groups but potentially more damaging from major corporations doing business in the state.

The list includes Apple and Wal-Mart as well the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, IndianapolisMayor Greg Ballard (whos a Republican) and major local employers, including Alcoa, Cummins, Eli Lilly & Co., andSalesforce.

The business-rating website Angies List (which is headquartered in Indianapolis) joined that growing crowd Saturday. CEO Bill Oesterle said hes putting on hold the planned expansion of company facilities in Indiana until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees, both current and future.

"Angie's List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents, Mr. Oesterle said in a statement. The companys $40 million campus expansion reportedly would add 1,000 jobs over five years.

Sports figures and enterprises have been weighing in as well.

Herb Simon, owner of the NBA Indiana Pacers and the WNBA Indiana Fever, says his teams have the strongest possible commitment to inclusion and non-discrimination on any basis.

Everyone is always welcome at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Mr. Simon said in a statement. That has always been the policy from the very beginning of the Simon family's involvement and it always will be.

Continued here:

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence scrambles to 'clarify' new religious freedom law