Retail-based clinics (RBC) such as CVS Corp.’s MinuteClinic and Walgreen’s Health Corner Clinic are becoming a fast-growing business trend. But are they good for you? When you need convenient and affordable access to basic healthcare services, going to an RBC could be your best choice.
RBCs have been in operation for over seven years, but they have been expanding phenomenally over the last three years. There are over 200 RBCs nationwide and an estimated 700 more are expected to open in 2007. These clinics are run by independent businesses that lease space from drug retailers and provide foot traffic in the pharmacy as well as the front end. This growth is driven by demand for easily accessible, readily available, affordable basic medical care, and drug store chains are leading the charge to fill this demand.
In December, Walgreens opened 16 Health Corner Clinics in Atlanta and 2 in Las Vegas, bringing their RBC count to over 45 with about 30 more scheduled to open this quarter. CVS is the largest operator with over 110 clinics; the company purchased MinuteClinic last year. Two MinuteClinic RBCs still operate in Target Stores. Rite-Aid has 11 clinics in California. Jody Cook Rite-Aid spokesperson said, “We like the concept and are looking for the right opportunities to expand nationwide.”
RBCs are operated by healthcare companies such as MinuteClinic (the largest operator), RediClinic, which has teamed up with Wal-Mart, and Take Care Health System that has partnered with Walgreens. Take Care operates over 36 in-store clinics and plans to open hundreds more across the country. The company completed a $77 million round of equity financing last year, one of the largest to date in the sector.
The RBC sector bears watching as drug stores work to meet consumer demand for an alternative to the slow, inconvenient and high-priced service offered by traditional physicians’ practices, emergency facilities and HMOs. Many primary care physicians offer short hours, “bankers’ hours” and some don’t even offer the weekend hours that some banks now offer, making it difficult for the high percentage of working mothers, who are usually the parents with children needing service.
Moreover, hospital emergency rooms are for serious emergencies, not where the average consumer should choose to go for basic healthcare service. Uninsured consumers who were about 16 percent in the U.S. in 2004 and the insured with high deductibles will continue to fuel the growth of the RBC sector.
Doctors and their industry associations see these clinics as “encroaching on the economics of their business”, which is, in fact, the case. Although critics of the clinics concede that the clinics are capitalizing on consumer frustration with traditional health care delivery systems, the traditional medical establishment has begun to fight back by generating negative publicity. The American Medical Association complained that the clinics “are spreading too far, too fast.” The criticism implies that the AMA should decide how far and how fast their competition should increase, a really bizarre idea in a free market economy. Moreover, the American Academy of Family Physicians noted that “RBCs are here to stay and traditional medicine would have to adapt to survive.”
However, the number of RBCs continues to increase, which may lead to an escalation of resistance from the medical establishment. Adverse publicity regarding these clinics may discourage consumers from using them to their own detriment as well as that of the clinics and the drug stores that house them.
Syble James, MBA, is President of Alpha Health Source, a retailer of health and fitness products and services, online at http://www.alphahealthsource.net. She conducts consultations and writes analyses on issues in the food and beverage, VMS, MLM, and fitness industries for Gerson Lehrman Group. Ms. James also writes for other online publications and provides research and consultation services for individuals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Syble_James
How to Burn More Calories Without Working Out Longer
Time is a limiting factor for many people who workout and want to workout. Even the most good intentioned dedicated gym goers and workout enthusiasts sometimes find themselves in a bind with other commitments and cannot “find the time” to get to the gym. The ever increasing pace of life requires us to be very good at time management to fit everything we want into a day, especially our workouts. When it comes to working out I’ll bet you have a set amount of time you can dedicate to it each week and that’s it, there is no room for increasing that time. This is probably the case for almost everyone that works out on a regular basis. So if we can’t ever increase the time we spend working out, how to do we increase the results we are getting? There are a few things you can do.
In general there are only 2 basic things you can change in each workout to progress and continue to get the benefits you want.
1) Increase the amount of time working out (but as we are discussing here this is not an option for most people)
2) Increase the intensity of each workout. This can be accomplished multiple ways:
a. Increasing the amount of weight you are using
b. Use more muscles with each exercise
c. Do more reps in the same amount of time
d. Decrease the amount of rest you take between exercises
Increasing Weight used:
Even if you aren’t doing traditional weight training, you can increase the amount of work you are doing by adding some weight to any exercise you are doing. For example of you do some interval running and want to increase the amount of work you are doing you can add a weighted vest for some of your run. A vest that adds 5 or 10lbs to your weight will make you work much harder during your run. You will end up burning more calories and improve your conditioning beyond just running with your regular body weight. You wouldn’t have to do your whole run with the vest; maybe just add in 20% of the run with the vest to start.
If you are doing weights in your workout (which I would highly recommend as a regular part of your weekly workout routine) then the easiest way to increase the amount of work you are doing is to increase the weight. This means increasing the weight and doing the same number of reps. This technique works if you are working with weights well below the maximum weight you can handle. If you are already working at or near your maximum weights then you will obviously not be able to increase the weight as by definition of max you would not be able to lift anything heavier. This however is not the case for most people, and there is usually some room to move up. Even if you only go up 5lbs, that is still more work done.
Use More Muscles with Each Exercise
This is a simple and very effective way to get more work done without extending the time. For example if you are doing a bodyweight squat, you can add in a shoulder press at the same time. Now you are working your legs and hips as well as your shoulders and arms. This is substantially more work than squats by themselves. This technique of using more muscles can be applied to almost any exercise you can think of.
More Reps in the same amount of Time
This simply means doing your reps faster. So if you can do 10 bicep curls in 10 seconds. Try to do 15 in 10 seconds (with the same weight). This will be 50% more work done. You can apply this technique to almost any exercise. In the case of running or other cardio type exercises, this would just be taking more steps, or in other words, running faster. I would suggest adding in short bursts of faster running, and more reps. For example if you go for a 30 minute run. Now you could add in 30 second bursts of running faster every 5 minutes. This would increase the work done without increasing your time spent.
Decrease the Rest between Exercises
If you do an intermittent style of workout as many people do, there will be periods of rest between exercise sets. Shorten your rest periods and the amount of work you are doing will increase. This also allows you to fit a few more sets in the same amount of time.
You can apply any of these techniques to increase the amount of work you are doing and the amount of calories you are burning without every working out for any longer. I have designed workouts that incorporate most of these techniques and they produce great results. This is the new are of working out with incredible time constraints so the workout you are doing must be adaptable if you want to continue to progress.
John Barban is a Varsity Strength and Conditioning Coach and has his Masters degree in Nutrition. He is the author of a womens specific workout called the 6 Minute Circuits Workout you can find at http://www.6minutecircuits.com He is also the performance Training Advisor to a womens exercise and nutrtion resource http://www.grrlathlete.com and http://www.womensworkout.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Barban
Shedding Light On Polluting Candles
The romantic allure of the scented aromatherapy candle has seduced many of us. But unless you're lighting the right candle, you may actually be polluting the air in your home.
Toxic wax
The most common candles are made from paraffin wax, a cheap sludge waste product of the petroleum industry. When paraffin burns, benzene and toluene are released into the air, both known carcinogens. Burning paraffin also produces petrol-carbon soot, carbon particles that don’t fully burn but are incandescent, giving the flame its bright white/yellow colour. Unfortunately, this soot has the toxins found in diesel, which ends up as residue on walls, ceilings, fabrics and even in the ventilation system. Those pretty gel candles may be crystal clear but they too are toxic, made from petroleum-based wax or synthetic hydrocarbons. The Canadian and American Lung Association both caution against prolonged exposure to fragrances and soot for the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases.
Lighting up lead
Even more dangerous are candles with metal-core wicks, favoured because they don’t fall over into the wax when lit. But metal wicks actually release lead into the atmosphere. Jerome O. Nriagu, Ph.D., a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Michigan, measured the amount of lead released in 14 different brands of candles with metal-core wicks. He found that burning four metal-wick candles for only two hours resulted in enough airborne lead concentrations to pose a threat to human health, particularly to young children. While banned in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, lead is still widely used in Asia and South America, both major exporters of the aromatherapy candles sold in North American stores.
According to the National Candle Association (NCA) based in Washington, D.C., most aromatherapy candles rarely contain essential oils. Even if they do, the amounts can never be large enough to produce a true aromatherapy effect. Most U.S. and Canadian manufacturers label their candles for fire safety, but they are not obliged to disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as ingredients. It can be difficult to know what you are buying.
Safe candles
The healthiest candles by far are vegetable wax candles made from hydrogenated soy, palm and coconut oils. Soy wax candles have become popular since soy is both affordable and plentiful. This biodegradable wax burns clean and any residue can be washed away with warm water and soap.
More http://www.CandlesAndDollars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Karuzas
Medical Disasters - 8 Simple Tips Guaranteed to Save Your Life in the Operating Room
Imagine the electric thrill your doctor gets when as a patient you tell him, "Doctor, you're a life-saver!" And he was! He ordered the medicine that brought you out of congestive failure.
Now, imagine the bolt of lightning that sears your brain when you realize that the treatment your doctor ordered almost cost you your life. In teaching institutions and large corporative HMOs this happens more than they care to admit.
Here Are 2 Medical Disasters You Can Avoid If Follow My Tips & If You Ask the Right Questions:
Medical Disaster 1: A simple knee operation ending in amputation
D.W was a 63-year-old woman was in scorching pain with an arthritic right knee. So, she saw the new surgeon in town who seemed like a very nice, educable and competent surgeon.
The surgeon suggested a total knee replacement. "You'll be good as new!" he reassured her. Yet, the severe pain and swelling after the surgery still prohibited her from regaining normal range of motion.
After three months her knee was so stiff the surgeon performed a "manipulation under anesthesia" to break up scar tissue. It didn't work.
At six months post operative another surgeon told her, "Your surgeon is a very nice man, but he is brand new in practice and the prosthesis was not put in correctly." He recommended a revision. During the revision the patellar tendon ripped off the tibia, and the new surgeon reattached it with a bone screw. Later, the wound popped open and the screw head stuck out of the wound. The knee became infected. Now she is facing an amputation.
By asking these 4 questions, you can avoid this easily preventable medical disaster:
- How many operations of this nature have you performed?
- What can go wrong and what will you do to prevent it from happening?
- What other forms of treatment are there?
- Who would you go to, outside of your own office, if you needed this treatment?" Get a second opinion.
Medical Disaster #2: A gall bladder surgery that almost cost a patient's life
J.M. was a 55 year old suffering every day with chronically infected gall bladder. His internist referred him to the teaching institution and medical center due to serious scar tissue around the gall bladder making a laparotomy and excision of the gall bladder necessary.
In the beginning, J.M. was really pleased with the team of residents and medical students who would be taking care of him. He liked his attending surgeon who was very prominent in his field, and he was reassured when the surgeon greeted him in the operation room the next morning.
During surgery the attending opened up the abdomen, and then let the chief resident take over the removal of the scarred gall bladder while he left to make phone calls. The attending poked his head back into the room to make sure everything was okay, and then left.
As the surgery went well, the chief resident then gave the closure to the first year resident so he can go see consults. The first year resident used this opportunity to let the medical students practice tying square knots during the closure.
That night the floor nurse called the resident to help manage severe pain. He ordered IV Toradol, which is usually very effective. But he forgot the medical student's history and physical of the patient, which he'd signed-off on. This report indicated that J.M. was allergic to aspirin – similar to Toradol.
The next morning J.M. had hiccoughs and the lower part of the wound closure started to pop open. An X-ray of the abdomen showed free air where a perforated ulcer had occurred in the stomach due to the Toradol. But that's not even the worst part.
JJ.M started to vomit blood and go into shock. He was then rushed back into surgery where a successful hemi-gastrectomy was performed. This time the attending stayed and closed the entire wound himself.
Here are my top 4 tips to help you avoid this medical disaster:
- Always ask, "Doctor, are you personally going to perform my surgery, and will you be there until the end of the operation?"
- Be aware that when you are in a teaching institution, someone is going to be learning on you.
- Actively engaged yourself in your care. Be questioning, not confrontational. Ask what medicines you are being given and know your allergies.
- Ask, "Doctor, have you practiced in other cities before coming here?" A doctor that moves a lot is a "red flag."
These eight principles or questions can help you avoid the above medical disasters and many others described in my new book, Death on the Learning Curve". Knowing them will empower you receive the best care possible when treatment is necessary.
About the Author:
Renowned surgeon, Dr. Pierce Scranton, knows that hiding among the sterile scrubs and gleaming instruments of an operating room are split-second life-and-death decisions and horrors when simple procedures go terribly wrong. His new novel, Death on the Learning Curve dramatically describers these tragedies and how to avoid them. Save your life and get his book now at: http://snipurl.com/190gj
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pierce_Scranton
Rights As A Mold Victim - Where Is The Controversy?
Right to breath and the right to live in a habitable environment - I don't know what that would be like! Rights of Freedom of Speech - If someone listens but not many do!
I have been very ill from molds for 16 months, and have had many turn their heads on me. I have a wonderful physician from Connecticut that deals with many mold victims. I think though I am having a turn-around with some physicians looking at this maybe in not such a controversial way. I confront the matter with everyone and everyone, tell them look at me, open your eyes I could die from this. My prognosis it not good at all, because I am caught up in a web of being in a project based Section 8 voucher for the elderly and disabled two building subsidy in which both buildings have the molds inside the apartments and entire buildings and tenants are ill from the molds.
One point being also, who is listening to us, I don't see this HUD subsidized project get recognition through any media outlet, because personally I have gone that route. They sometimes talk to me, say they will get back to me and never do.
Why are they taking out rights of freedom of speech away from me, and many other rights have been stripped away from me also. I don't even have the right to breath in my apartment, taken right away from me. Our rights as tenants, not there, our rights going by the disabilities act does not exist with the owners here, just to name a couple of rights I don't have. Eyes need to be opened, ears need to be cleaned so they can hear us, and an open heart might not heart, to say the least.
We have the medical proof of our illnesses caused from the indoor toxic molds. We have the proof from a professional that tested my apartment, the molds indeed are the toxic molds: Aspergillus, Penicillum, etc.
Once again, the political arena needs to open their eyes, listen to the victim's of how our lives have been torn up, if we have a life left. Please recognize what we say, what our physicians are telling you, is the truth. We can die from toxic indoor molds.
Pass the laws that are stalled in Congress, we need clean indoor air, we need for our rights as human beings to be given back to us. We need to be heard.
Darlene Berube has been a toxic mold/sick building syndrome victim since 2006, and is a leading advocate for other toxic mold victims everywhere.
Toxic mold could be in your house right now, and you probably wouldn't even know it. It is a serious health hazard and something that you should take very seriously BEFORE you become another victim of this silent killer.
Visit http://www.moldenvironment.com to learn more toxic mold and sick building syndrome, as well as to read stories from victims of this silent killer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darlene_Berube
Paraffin Wax Pollutes
There are three main reasons many people avoid buying petroleum (paraffin) products.
1 Petroleum smoke/exhaust contains many carcinogenic toxins and produces ugly black soot.
2 Petroleum wax is not a renewable resource and it is of a limited supply.
3 Burning petroleum products creates air pollution and contributes to global warming.
Paraffin candles contain up to 11 carcinogenic compounds. These 11 compounds have been deemed 'toxic air contaminants' by the State of California. Paraffin wax candle soot particles contain many of the same compounds given off from burning diesel fuel.
Pollutants in homes are 5 to 70 times higher than the highest outdoor levels due to Paraffin wax candle burning. Burning Paraffin wax candles pollute your home.
Health hazards are being created when paraffin (petroleum-based wax) is burned in a candle. Most department stores provide no other option than to buy paraffin candles.
FREE weekly drawing for a Soy Gourmet Candle ($18.95 value)
http://www.CandlesAndDollars.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Karuzas
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Cord Blood Banks - Choose The Right One
With the discovery of the stem cells in the umbilical cord, the task of fighting against malignant diseases has been made somewhat easier. The Lifesaving potential found in cord blood has shown to reduce usual risks associated with transplant treatments. Being the most primitive cells in a body, these stem calls can regenerate different types of cells. In the past two decades, scientists have made major breakthroughs with every passing year. Today, a well-preserved unit of cord blood can save a person from more than 75 diseases! After finding a host of healing potentials in umbilical cord blood cells, scientists are still in the process and hopeful about discovery of more latent potential in cord blood cells. From professionals to parents of babies, the enthusiasm is widespread and evident – whether for donation or for cord blood preservation for future use.
Private Vs Public Cord Blood Banks
Your baby’s cord blood can be preserved in either a private cord blood bank or a public bank. The main purpose of these banks is the processing and cord blood storage. If the storage center is public, then the blood cells cannot be permanently entitled to the donor. Here the donors can be ensured units of cord blood, but not necessarily that his own. The donor is mostly likely to be a stranger. The cost of preservation in such banks is comparatively lower than the private banks offering cord blood banking facility.
Nevertheless, private blood banks do have their own share of obstacles. The cost of cord blood storage in private banks is quite high and is likely to discourage many. The biggest attraction towards private cord blood banks is the guarantee that the cord blood a patient preserves, will not be used by anyone else, unless the donor himself permits. Compared to the lower chances of cord blood cells transplants in a child, storage prices charged by these banks are relatively quite high.
How Much Worth Is It?
The capability of these enterprises, credentials of these private banks play as strong determining factors in the U.S. Banks accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks are entertained mostly by the hospitals. After cord blood collection, the samples are sent to these blood banks for processing and cyropreservation. Donors must check out the records related to the number of cases in which blood banks have used their stored samples in transplants. Recent estimation concludes that there is only 1% chance for autologous use of cord blood cells.
There are both non-profit and for-profit private banks operating in the industry for cord blood preservation. Cord blood storage for about 15 years may require you to pay around $3,000 in total. However, the donors can curtail price or can receive discounts by paying certain amount of upfront payments. Some banks enable donors to save around $500 for receiving a stipulated upfront payment.
If you and your partner are expecting a child soon, consider cord blood registry now as it can contribute in treating over 75 severe diseases. Not only will your child have a secure future, his siblings will benefit too. Diseases that can only be treated by drugs, rays such as chemotherapy or risk prone bone marrow transplants, are being treated with cord blood, with little or no side effects.
The most primitive cells in the body, stem cell derived from the blood that remains in the umbilical cord of your baby can regenerate into the cells that form all other tissues, organs, and systems in the body. You can opt for cord blood preservation either with a private cord blood banks or with a public cord blood registry. Visit Cord Blood Banks for more about benefits, cost of cord blood banking and other options for cord blood storage.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saurabh_K_Jain
