How to Make a Ghillie Suit

How to Make a Ghillie Suit



The whole purpose of Ghillie Suits are to provide you with human invisibility. Used by military personnel, hunters and people who play paintball, the suits need to have the ability to provide complete coverage, because they might be used for life or death situations. Which is why the construction and design of custom suits is critical for that coverage. Ghillie Suits are made usually from burlap or jute and use natural materials like twigs, leaves and branches to make the user blend into their natural environment as well as possible. Due to the fact that no natural environment may necessarily be the same, serious and professional military experts insist on making their own suit for their own mission needs as well as ensuring that the suit is best adapted to the environment they will be using the suit in.



How to Make a Ghillie Suit



As the sport of hunting and Ghillies become more popular, users are opting to making their own Ghillie Suit. They do so by taking military BDUs and 'dressing' them up with jute strips and other natural materials until they have created their very own Ghillie Suit. There is also the option of purchasing a Ghillie Suit Kit which enables users to create their custom suit according to a certain patter. Many users opt for purchasing a Ghillie Suit Kit, because creating a Ghillie Suit is extremely time consuming. Imagine gathering hundreds of particular length twigs, leaves, jute, burlap and more. Sorting all the materials, then putting it together... and if it does not workout, you have to do it all over again. At the very best, making your Ghillie Suit can take up to a minimum of 100 hours to complete.



Creating your own Ghillie Suit, for too many is hard, time consuming and meticulous. There is a solution if you truly want "instant invisibility" - the easiest way to create a suit that will cover you head to toe is to use a Poncho Ghillie Kit instead of making a suit with pants and a jacket. The advantage of doing making your own Ghillie Suit is that you can choose that amount of covering you would like to have on the suit, which enables you to control the weight and density of your suit, which is particularly good for very cold climates.



Ghillie Suits once for the professional snipers, serious hunters, and military professionals, it more and more being used by paintball enthusiast and if your one them, making your own custom Ghillie Suit from a kit may be a good alternative to pre-made suits, especially if you prefer synthetic materials as opposed to natural materials. Making your own Ghillie Suit allows you to make it fire-retarded and waterproof as well.



Ghillie Suit Safety Considerations



Additionally, if your using jute as your base material, this product is very flammable and has to be treated with flame retarded. The Ghillie Suit Kits usually contain a fire resistant treatment that allows you to prepare and apply onto your suit for adequate protection from fire. If your someone who is particularly concerned about the flammability of a primarily comprised jute Ghillie Suit, you may be better for your needs to just purchase a suit that is already made from non-flammable materials. If have never made a Ghillie Suit and are concerned about safety, it is recommended that you do not make your Ghillie Suit, and purchase a pre-made suit which is non-flammable.



Custom Ghillie Suit



Customization is very important to many of our users, which is why many Ghillie Suit users will choose to purchase a pre-made Ghillie Suit, then gather and attach natural elements from their particular wildlife to embellish the Ghillie Suit. This method has proven to be the most time saving and practical means of ensuring you have a professionally designed suit and one that is designed to your individual needs.



Ghillie Suit Kit



As previously stated there are advantages in using a Ghillie Suit Kit. When you use a Ghillie Suit Kit to design your Ghillie Suit you can choose your color scheme and ensure that you have the best possible camouflage for your particular environment. Doing so, you will find that using several different colors to create your suit will make it easily distinguishable among your fellow hunters or outdoorsmen.





The easiest way to create a suit that will cover you head to toe is to use a poncho Ghillie kit instead of making a suit with pants and a jacket. Another advantage to making your own Ghillie is that you can choose that amount of covering you would like to have on the suit thus being able to control that weight and density of your suit, which is particularly good for very cold climates.

For the paintball enthusiast, making your own custom Ghillie form a kit may be a good alternative to pre-made suits, especially if you prefer synthetic materials as opposed to natural materials. That way, you can not only fire-retard your Ghillie, but you can make it waterproof as well. Either way, make sure to choose your color palette carefully so that you can be provided the best possible coverage. And don't for get to check the instructions of your Ghillie kit to see whether or not the final product will be lightweight.



Just remember, that if you start to make a custom suit and realize that it is just too labor intensive to suit you, we have plenty of high-quality pre-made Ghillie suits to choose from.



How to Make a Ghillie Suit - 8 Easy Steps



If your interested in making your own Ghillie Suit in 8 Easy Steps, please click here for more details.





If your interested in purchasing a Ghillie Suit or other Ghillie Suit Accessories visit GhillieGear.com which also has other great products for the outdoors.



For a great selection of Ghillie Suit

and Accessories like ghillie suit kits

at low prices and for sale visit

GhillieGear.com.  Follow Us on

Facebook, &

Twitter to receive exclusive discounts, FREE PRODUCTS and MORE!!

For great Ghillie Suit Tips visit

our blog.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

How To Keep One's Skin Beautiful

Human body is very sensitive and vulnerable. It is and has always been an easy target for an arrow, a sword or a bullet. In all the times people tried to protect their bodies as well as possible: medieval knights had iron armor; nowadays policemen use more effective protection – flak jackets - to survive in the battle with evil.

It goes without saying that we should value these mankind inventions; at the same time, we must never forget about what nature supplied us with to resist the undesirable and dangerous influence of the environment. Skin is what I mean.

Though it cannot protect us from a sword or a bullet, it has always been a very effective means of defense against ultraviolet rays, heat, cold, viruses and bacteria, which constantly try to make our bodies their home for some time, and then to gradually destroy them.

Besides, skin is a multifunctional component of the human body. Thermoregulation helps us adjust to the temperature of the environment due to the widening or narrowing of blood vessels and the secretion of more or less liquids by skin’s glands. Metabolic function is realized during the gas exchange, water-salt metabolism, etc. After all, due to the skin’s sensation function we can feel the pleasure of touching.

I am pretty sure that knights took good care of their armor for it to remain strong and reliable as long as possible. We should also do our best to preserve skin “in the working order” and to make it good-looking as well.

So, to have healthy and beautiful skin it is desirable to:

- avoid the sunlight, as its ultraviolet rays cause the most harmful changes in the skin structure, making it dry, wrinkled, thin and covered with age spots. They can also provoke skin cancer;

- quit smoking, because nicotine is said to have the same influence on skin as sunlight;

- clean and moisturize skin properly (scrubs, creams, ointments and lotions can be of great help in this case);

- keep to a healthy diet with much fruit and vegetables to supply skin with all the necessary vitamins. Drinking much water helps improve its state as well; avoid stress, because skin is like a mirror, reflecting everything that is going on in the human mind.

It is easy to take care of skin when we are young.

Smooth and plump, it needs, perhaps, proper cleaning only (excluding the cases of skin diseases).

Aging, on the other hand, emphasizes the flaws in our appearance, takes away the beauty.

It all results in dry, thin and wrinkled skin.

This is a point, when preserving our natural body-cover beautiful takes much effort and skill to succeed.

In order to make this process easier and more pleasant, visit Skin Care Center at http://www.Pillwatch.com. It is a place, where you can find the answers to many questions.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

How Environment, Industrialization and Rain Barrels are interconnected

As early as elementary science, it taught us that water covers 70% of the Earth's surface, while earth’s land mass only covers 30% of the Earth's surface. Now that is huge different.

Everyone might wonder how come other environmental organizations have been relentless in their campaign to conserve water. Well the truth is only a small percentage of water is actually in a useable state, the majority being the saltwater of the ocean or in the polar icecaps. And the rest of the earth’s body of water such as rivers and streams are fast drying up. Rain barrels are one of the most practical ways to conserve water.

With the earth’s booming population and industrialization, both require put pressure to the earth’s water reservoir. The human population requires more fresh water to drink and so food production such as agriculture and livestock. As industrialization continues globally more and more water is used in manufacturing processes. These scenarios suggest one clear message to all; water shortage is an imminent problem in the near future.

The government has a big role to play in creating laws that protects earth’s natural water resources from total destruction and disseminating information to the public with ways and means to conserve water. A lot of states in US are encouraging the use of rain barrels, especially to the households who are far away from towns and villages with no reliable water system.

By simple installing rain barrels, the household can save a great deal of water. Though rain barrel water may not pass as drinking water without proper and thorough filtration system, it can used in flushing toilet, lawn and gardening usage, car washing and general cleaning purposes. Collecting and catching rain water is easy too; minutes of heavy downpour are enough to fill up large rain barrels that can be used by households for several days. Just imagine how much water can be saved if all household will turn into utilize rain barrels as a mean to save and conserve water.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Benefits of Going Green for Restaurants

Although the concept of “Going Green” has become almost cliché in our culture, at its core there is tremendous value for a restaurant to adopt eco-friendly best practices. By going green, a restaurant can save the environment, save customers, and save customers.

save the environment

By their very nature, restaurants produce a high volume of waster and harsh chemicals, from trash to grease. Not to mention that they require an immense amount of energy in order to sustain the various pieces of kitchen equipment, lighting, music, and dishwashers. Combine that with the fact that most restaurants operate for long periods of time each day and the impact upon the environment becomes substantial for each restaurant. By going green, a restaurant can:

• Prevent Air Pollution

• Reduce Waste

• Save Water

Save Customers

The concept of “going green” has resonated with consumers and they have become keen to what efforts restaurants are implementing in order to reduce their footprint. In fact, according to a 2008 National Restaurant Association survey, almost 62% of diners say they would prefer to eat at an environmentally friendly restaurant. With the access to information online, consumers can find out if you are taking the necessary steps. If you are, it can be an incredibly powerful marketing tool.

Save Money

Implementing eco-friendly methodologies into your restaurant will impact your revenue as well, which is something that investors and management can appreciate. Specifically, going green can:

• Lower Energy Bills: Energy efficient equipment can cut your energy bill in half almost immediately. Additionally, there are numerous government programs are offering rebates for investing in ENERGY STAR® products.

• Lower Water Bills: Not only can conserving water save you money, but due to fresh water shortages, water prices could soon inflate dramatically.

In short, taking the steps to go green can save the environment, increase your reputation with consumers, and save you money. For the most part, many of the necessary steps are quite simple. It requires you to make a conscious effort and evaluate even the most obvious strategies, such as turning the lights out in the manager’s office when not occupied. Go green and get ahead of the game.

The Environment- How Kids Can Help

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

The Environment- How Kids Can Help

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Logistics Security

LOGISTICS SECURITY

Nowadays, logistics security has become an essential requirement for the successful running of any business enterprise. Security personnel of all businesses have to face the multiple and strenuous challenges of maintaining logistics security. The safeguarding of raw materials, intermediary products, finished goods during transportation and procurement, are part and parcel of logistics security. Loss of these vital products could make a huge negative impact on all aspects of all companies. It may even impair the efficiency and structural credibility of the business enterprise.

With the passage of time, integrated and multifaceted, logistic security evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the business scenario. Chances of theft and burglary while procuring and transporting any raw materials or in the course of supply chain are common threats to the business enterprise. Companies which can ensure the safety of their products in the supply chain and during the transportation stage have a distinct advantage in today's cut throat market scenario. A large number of professionals from various fields of science, technology and industry specialists all work together to achieve the common end of effective logistics management.

A comprehensive and efficient system of logistics security is a necessity. Measures in logistic security that can fully incorporate the business activities of a company should be adopted. This includes a vast expertise in the fields of procurement, transportation, production and distribution of products. Logistics security goes hand in hand with efficient material management.

The weaknesses and shortcomings in the supply chain management should be promptly identified. Steps should be taken to rectify these defects with the help of experts; and further steps should be taken to develop and improve the logistics security through the implementation of an expert counsel. The outcome of these steps should be measured correctly and promptly.

Competent professionals, with specialised skills and precise know-how with regard to the running and control of logistics security, should be appointed in every company.

The main goal of logistic security is to ensure the safe passage of all products. This is becoming increasingly difficult in today's cut throat market economy and necessitates efficient global supply chain management measures.

The first step to be taken to improve the efficiency of the supply chain management is to study the existing conditions thoroughly. Once the shortcomings and defects are identified, an expert counsel should be applied for to rectify these vulnerabilities. Solutions to the problems relating to the nature and characteristics of the specific products will be adopted.

Steps should be taken to strengthen the logistic security management from the basic levels. Competent preventive mechanisms can go a long way for an efficient logistics security. The awareness of the threats to security can also go a long way in ensuring the security.

Various security measures can be adopted to forestall breach of logistics security, which are the following:-

• Security measures should be enhanced during the initial stages of production and distribution and throughout the supply chain.

• A competent strategy should be devised to filter out weakness and defects.

• Forgery, duplication and grey market should be negated.

• Proper appraisals and estimations of the security measures should be completed on time.

DBI Security Services

Video Source: Youtube

CCHIT Certification, and President Obama’s Medicare Bonus Payment Incentives

What is CCHIT Certification?

The CCHIT or Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology was organized in 2004 by three leading non-profit private associations commonly known as HIMSS, AHIMA, and the Alliance. The initial concept for CCHIT was to develop a uniform set of guidelines for the Healthcare Industry encouraging the development of a standardized EHR/ EMR platform or system with an efficient process for certification. (EMR / EHR / Electronic Medical Records / Electronic Health Records are used synonymously in this article).

The goal was to engage the private sector to take the lead role in establishing a specified set of parameters that were practical and quick to implement in meeting the needs of a Physicians' Medical Practices and Hospitals in transitioning to or upgrading EHR. The underlying challenge however, was to develop a solution that could accelerate the voluntary adoption of this idea as an industry wide, uniform, interoperable, and robust Health Information Technology system, that also had to be credible and have a streamlined certification process.

CCHIT - Expanding Its' Purpose

Today there are literally hundreds of EHR / EMR software solutions on the market making it extremely easy for providers to "virtually" get lost in the huge maze of vendors and their products. This is especially challenging considering the fact that most providers are not IT experts and nor do they have the time to become one. Thus, in more cases than not, Physicians and managers can quickly become frustrated with the whole process and simply put it aside for now. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of one most important steps in the EHR selection process and that is, initially assessing their specific Medical Practice needs and then matching those requirements with an EMR solution that has all the right set of features, functionality, and benefits that best meet not only the Physicians or Hospitals current needs, but also very crucial, be flexible in meeting their needs in the future. Another primary purpose of CCHIT certification was to minimize the risk to the Physicians investment in EHR software and products, while also accomplishing the following:

1. Ensure that EMR products protect the highest level of privacy of personal health information


2. Develop bona-fide incentives enhancing the development, availability, and adoption of EHR software and hardware solutions by Physicians


3. Facilitate interoperability of EMR products with the emerging national health information network, also referred to as RHIO's

The EHR CCHIT Certification Criteria

In 2004 the key certification criteria included EHR products that were designed for use in Physician offices and today these are referred to as Ambulatory EHR.

In 2006 the CCHIT certified standards were expanded and required vendors to demonstrate compliance with an additional 16 new criteria. In 2007 another 96 criteria were introduced and most recently in 2008, as a result of improved technology, greater practical experience, and added political pressures 19 more criteria were added to the list of certification requirements.

These 19 new criteria focused upon the following areas:

1. Increased electronic prescribing features including better access to a patients' medication history, formulary, and eligibility


2. Improved and safer medication dosing adjusted for a patients' weight, age, gender, and other related physiological factors


3. Greater prevention of adverse reactions caused by drug interactions or allergies


4. Implementation of standardized formats and platforms for exchanging fundamental patient information including medical history, current diagnosis and treatment, and other patient demographics for continuity of safe and high quality patient care.


5. Enhanced ability to send, receive, and review X-rays, Scans, and other diagnostics imaging


6. More accurate, protected, and better management of patient consents and authorizations


7. Increased use of standardized formats and platforms receiving, storing, and sharing laboratory and diagnostic results

Does CCHIT Certification increase the cost of EMR to Physicians?

The initial cost to vendors seeking CCHIT certification is about $28,000 and unless revoked, this certification is valid for a three-year period. In addition, vendors must pay an extra $4,800 in year 2 and $4,800 in year 3 which fees apply to marketing and licensing fees. If, during this 3 year period a product is significantly re-engineered or re-architected, the vendor must re-submit and start the entire process over again, including paying the fees to become recertified with the major updates. Minor updates typically do not need to go through this costly recertification process.

How many vendors make the CCHIT certification grade?

As of January 2009 there were only 162 CCHIT Certified EHR vendor solutions in the market. Noteworthy here is that there are some 300+ relatively active and visible vendors with 100's more in addition to those. Looking further into the breakdown of the 162 Certified EMR vendors raises concerns as to the real value and actual validity versus perceived notions to Physicians in relying upon vendors that generically claim to be CCHIT Certified EHR. The current list of certified vendors breaks down like this:

1. Only 92 EHRs have received certification under the 2006 Ambulatory EHR criteria which were not officially certified until April 30, 2007


2. Only 55 EHRs have been have been certified under the official 2007 certification criteria of which, many are simply multiple updated versions of the same product by the save vendor


3. A mere 15 EMRs have been certified under the official 2008 criteria of which a number of those are previously certified products that added-on certifications for Child Health and Cardiovascular Medicine

Compare these numbers against the 300+ prominent and 100s of other less active EHRs in the market, one could reasonably infer that there are many smaller players that may offer very innovative and cost-effective solutions but may not have the time nor financial resources to expend on certification let alone, the doubling of costs for recertification every time they make significant changes. This then begs the question, could formal certification actually be creating an unfair playing field and even barring smaller or newer competitors whom otherwise, may be pioneering the "next big thing" from entering the marketplace and ultimately lead to limiting the choices and higher prices to Physicians and Hospitals?

If this is the destined result of CCHIT certification for Physicians, there may be some financial relief in sight. The current Administrations' Economic Stimulus Package recently received legislative endorsement and was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Included in this package is a very specific piece that clearly demonstrates the Presidents goal of having a Personal Health Record for every American within the next 5 years. To achieve this end, $19 billion is earmarked for Healthcare Industry Technology advancement. At face value, utilizing the omni giant Medicare system as the vehicle of distribution, a portion of these funds are to be used as bonus payment incentives to encourage Physicians and Hospitals to make the transition to EHR and other technologies, sooner than later. The Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) is charged with developing and implementing financial incentive programs for qualifying Physicians and Hospitals who can expressly exhibit and document the "meaningful" use of certified EHRs and meet performance-reporting guidelines.

$2 billion of this $19 billion is targeted as a "jump start" for Physicians implementing electronic prescribing and the carrot stick, a 2% incentive bonus beginning in 2009 and then being reduced to 1% in 2010. The remaining roll-out incentive is a phased process whereby beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2015 the total Medicare bonus incentives for each eligible Physician can range from $41,000 to $60,000, with $18,000 available in year 1 of this five year plan. Thereafter, Physicians and Hospitals can expect reduced Medicare reimbursement or even straight up denials of claims. Medicaid and third party private health insurance payers are expected to follow similar suit in nature and so Physicians and Hospitals who take immediate steps to become eligible for incentive payments will reap the greatest benefits throughout this window of opportunity in Healthcare Industry Technology system reform and transition.

What does CCHIT certification really net to Physicians?

Traditionally, EMR is a long-term investment and providers must be careful when trying to select the right solution that not only meets their needs today, but also is flexible in meeting their changing needs and industry reforms in the future. However, most Physicians have extremely limited time and resources to cut their way through the thick of the fog of literally 100s of vendor solutions on the market and conduct a detailed evaluation for making the best determinations. To help narrow down this huge maze of choices and give Physicians and Hospitals better leverage over their precious time and resources, many experts suggest limiting the search for an EHR to only those vendor solutions that are CCHIT certified. One major benefit of this strategy is that CCHIT certification should expedite their due diligence and assure Physicians of attaining sound functionality in their EMR system.

While it appears that legislative bonus payment incentives are tied to CCHIT certification, there is a caveat to this approach of placing too much importance on CCHIT certification in that, this could prematurely eliminate a significant population of new or maturing, and more innovative and powerful solutions from smaller vendors who simply cannot afford the high costs of becoming CCHIT certified. Another thought is, just because a product is not certified, does not necessarily mean it does not meet the specific requirements of becoming certified, and for that matter, it has not been made clear that CCHIT certified is the requirement for payment incentives rather the primary criteria that payment incentives are being tied to is, the "meaningful" use of EHR and other identified technologies, to be eligible for the Medicare bonus payment incentives. In fact, a vast number of Practices most likely do not need the 300+ features presently mandated and evaluated by CCHIT and administered by ONCHIT.

Sometimes too much of a good thing is just that, too much

In selecting an EHR loaded with features, Physicians should be asking, "do we really need and want to pay for a bundle of extra features and functions we may never use now or in the future?" Although this is often used as an exciting vendor selling point, it is the best reason for properly identifying and assessing your Practice or Hospitals' actual needs and then looking at the requirements of CCHIT certification. In comparing vendors, this will help ensure you are not over-paying for more than you need. Additionally, ask the vendor to address how their solution qualifies your Physicians to be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid bonus payment incentives, especially regarding for the monies that are available now. Again, another good reason to spend time on creating an extensive checklist of all the features and functions your Practice or Hospital needs from an EMR. While doing so, consider staff and provider adoption and implementation, quick ROI, improving business efficiencies, patient information processing and sharing, and improving patient care and safety, increasing net revenues, and ensuring Physicians have an Abundant Quality of Life socially, personally, and especially in family life. Most experts would probably agree on at least this one thing, "that today, it's about working smarter and not harder to improve your bottom-line and also enjoy life."

The following is a list of critical questions and steps a Physician or Hospital should initially consider in their EHR selection process:

1. Is the Electronic Medical Record or Electronic Health Record vendor solution CCHIT certified? If yes, then ask to which years' standard and then to prove it. If the answer is no, then ask them if their solution meets the latest certification standards or if they going to become CCHIT certified, and to prove it.


2. Does their EHR / EMR solution support all of the requirements of the Physicians specialty? This is especially important because CCHIT acknowledges that its' criteria may not meet the needs of all specialties such as Behavioral Health, Emergency Specialists and Departments, and many other specialty Practices)


3. Does it allow the Practice or Hospital to share information electronically with other Physicians, Hospitals, Pharmacies, Laboratories, Radiology Centers, and other related medical service providers? (the basic requirement of any compatible system in these regards, must have an HL7 Interface both inbound and outbound with the ability to interoperate with other systems)


4. Does it enable Physicians or Hospitals to measure and report critical Quality Indicators as required to be eligible for the impending Federally supplemented, bonus payment incentives? (based upon the "meaningful use" of Healthcare Information Technology and Levels of Performance that were signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009)


5. Can the vendor demonstrate a proven track record of providing outstanding customer support before and after the sale?


6. Are references from similar type, specialties, and size Practices and Hospitals available, preferably within nearby proximity, who can provide independent opinions about the vendors product and their experiences working with them in terms of need assessment, planning, implementation, function, and on-going support?


7. Does the vendors' solution effectively monitor and Flag potential adverse drug reactions and interactions?


8. If you are currently using a Practice Management or Billing software, does the vendors' EMR have its' own stand-alone interface that seamlessly integrates with your PM or Billing software or, will you be required to purchase an additional third party software to interface with your system as well as, be able to share a common database through their EHR product? (either way, ask them to prove it)


9. If you are updating, replacing, or a first time user of a PM or Billing software and introducing EMR to your Practice, Group Clinic, or Hospital, does the vendor have its' own single-source and fully integrated PM and EHR which does not require purchasing any third party interfacing software? If yes and as needed can their solution be phased-in over a period of time, to better fit within any budgetary concerns and for cases where key Staff and Provider adoption and learning curve experience may be an issue in order increase utilization efficiency and contribute to a quicker ROI?


10. Over the course of the next 3 to 5 to 7 years as Practices and Hospitals needs change with growth, advancements in technology, or as Federal Regulations, Mandates, or political or economic climates may change, can the vendor or their existing solution meet or adapt to these new challenges and provide on-going support, upgrades, or new solutions, and Medical Business Insight

The majority of these questions are primarily foundational and functional in nature while there is another pressing list of non-functional requirements that require equally important attention in the Electronic Medical Records selection process. An essential non-functional aspect of every Medical Practice and Hospital they share in common are their Human Resources (key staff and provider opinion leaders, their commitment, adoption attitude, and ability to deal with change). The other areas of non-functional value needing consideration include Capital Investment (start-up cost, hardware, annual maintenance, and IT costs, ROI) and, the Organization Structure (owners, stakeholders, decision makers, and key management leaders)

While all this can be an overwhelming task that few have the time to do, there is light at the end of this Healthcare Information Technology tunnel in that Physicians and Hospitals do have an option for help that can also ensure eligibility for the various bonus payment incentives designed to encourage a speedy transition to EHR. There is an emerging selection of qualified Independent EMR / EHR and PM consulting firms who will do all the cumbersome and costly up-front legwork for you while navigating you through the stormy ocean of choices. In fact, there are well established companies that will perform these initial services and at no cost to Physicians or Hospitals. It follows then, that it would be wise before you buy, to do some homework and seek-out a reputable Independent EHR Consulting company that can save you thousands of dollars right up-front, thus steering clear from companies charging hefty up-front fees and then followed by expensive per hour consulting billing hours, which may range from $125 to $200 per hour, plus expenses.

The Most Common Causes of Stress

Copyright (c) 2008 Konstantin Koss

Everyone can experience stress. The human body is designed to feel stress and respond to it. Stress keeps us alert and prepared to prevent danger. Being knowledgeable on the prime causes of stress is important and using your knowledge to control stress is vital.

The cause of stress changes as we age. A stressed child at young age can threw tantrums but when he becomes a student, he can be stressed by school works. Once he becomes a teen, he is stressed by dating and relationship. And the causes of stress differ as he grows older thereon.

So what really causes stress? Anything can cause stress if it allows you to adapt to changes in the environment. The body will have to react to changes with mental, emotional and physical responses. All people have their own ways of adjusting to changes, thus the stress causes can differ for each individual.

*General Causes of Stress*

Generally, the causes of stress are:

1.Threat. An apparent threat can be the leading cause for a person to be stressed. Different threats include physical, social, financial, and others. It will become worse if the person experiencing the stress feels that he can't do anything to lessen the threat.

2.Fear. Threat can cause fear which further leads to stress. Fear advances to imagined outcomes and these outcomes are the real causes of stress.

3.Uncertainty. When people are uncertain, they can't predict and thus they feel they are not control of a situation. This can lead to a feeling of fear and of threat.

4.Cognitive dissonance. We are experiencing cognitive dissonance if there is a gap between thinking and doing. This dissonance can also happen when we can't meet our commitments. This dissonance can therefore lead to stress.

Other than the general causes of stress, there are the life causes of stress. Such causes include:

-Health: illness, pregnancy, injury

-Crime: burglary, mugging, sexual molestation, pick-pocketed

-Argument: with friends, family, boss, spouse, boss, co-workers

-Death: of friend, spouse, family

-Money: investing it, lack of it, owning it

-Sexual problems: with partner, getting partner

-Physical change: new work hours, lack of sleep

-Family change: marriage, divorce, new baby, separation

-Self abuse: alcoholism, drug abuse, self-harm

-Environment change: in house, school, job, jail, town

-Responsibility increase: new job, new dependent

-New location: moving house, vacation

*Causes of Stress in the workplace*

There are also stress-related to work. United Kingdom's Health and safety Executive gives 6 key stress related factors at work:

1.Demands of the job.

2.Relationship with colleagues

3.Control staff on how they can do their work

4.Workplace changes

5.Receiving support from superiors and colleagues

6.Understanding their responsibilities and roles.

The other indicators of stress at work are:

-High staff turnover

-Sickness absence

-Bullying

-Poor team communication

-Contribution and value

-Lack of performance feedback

-Technological change

-Working for long hours

-Lack of clear roles and responsibilities

-Dissatisfaction with the non-monetary benefits

-Mundane and boring work

-Uncomfortable workplace

-One-off incidents

We may not admit it but the lives of students are also faced with a lot of stresses. There are many pressures that are faced by students at school. These pressures equate to a lot of stress. Some of the school stresses are tests and examinations, reports, school bully, difficult subject, strict teachers, etc.

From the causes mentioned above, you may be asking yourself which among them are the leading causes of stress. In 1967, Richard Rahe and Thomas Holmes, both from University of Washington, conducted a study on the relationship between illnesses and significant life events. They compiled the major causes of stress and created a chart as a part of their study. The chart which had 43 stress causes in 1967 was updated on 2006 with 55 additional causes of stress. This proves that our society finds more causes of stress year after year.

Studies come up with ranking for the major causes of stress. The online poll LifeCare Inc. conducted a survey in 2005 on the top most stress causes of that time. Majority of the respondents considered finances to be the leading cause of stress. Next is work related stress such as job security. Third in the rank is family stress followed by personal concerns such as shopping and household chores. The fifth cause of stress is personal health and safety; sixth is personal relationship and the last in the rank is death.

There are seemingly endless causes of stress and we can find some new causes as long as we live. Everyone must be aware of these causes in order to take control of the situations that can lead to stress. Learning about these causes can arm us with defense once stress attacks us.


------

Konstantin Koss runs the popular website Real Relaxation.net. Want to learn more about stress causes and how to handle stress? Discover the Top 10 Ways to Relax and more valuable information on his website.

Video Source: Youtube

Do No Bark Collars Work?

Yes. Some work better than others. Some control the barking through corrections, these are bark control collars.

Other dog bark collars actually modify the dog’s behavior and teach the dog not to bark.These behavior modification collars are preferred, as the goal for all dog owners is to teach their dog not to bark and to be able to remove the dog no bark collar.

Some no bark collars are rechargeable, some are waterproof, and many others. Most of the quality no bark collars offered today are offered by either Innotek or PetSafe. The Innotek no bark collars are advanced correction and behavior modification collars. The PetSafe no bark collars are correction only.

Besides no bark collars, some companies still offer bark collars which use ultrasound to control the dogs barking. Collars or devices which emit ultrasound are not specific.

Although the ultrasound will be heard by the barking dog, so will it be heard by all other pets in the home, which were not barking! Ultrasound collars are still available, but many retailers are fazing them out because the no bark collars are much more effective. For many retailers the ultrasonic collars, because of their relative poor success rate have resulted in a high return rate. So the retailers are no longer offering ultrasonic collars.

There are also citronella collars available. This does sound strange, but they are available. Basically a reservoir filled with citronella is placed on the front of the collar. When the dog barks a citronella spray is projected through a tube toward the dogs nose and face. The harsh chemical serves as a correction when a dog barks. These collars can break, are not small for little dogs, and require repeated refills of citronella.

Do they work, probably not. But even if they did work, it is a complicated system spraying a noxious chemical which some say does not hurt a dog. If you can believe that and can bring yourself to spray citronella into your face, then consider using it for your dog.

How It Works

The no bark collar is a training device that helps reduce nuisance barking. There are two key features of the no bark collar.

The first is a mild warning sensation triggered by your dog’s first bark. The second feature occurs when your dog barks again within 30 seconds of the first bark. This will be the first and lowest level of correction. There are a total of 6 levels of correction that are triggered by your dog’s successive barks.

Each successive bark will increase the correction level if the bark is within 30 seconds of the previous bark. If your dog does not bark for at least 30 seconds the receiver resets itself. Along with each correction there will be an audible beep.

As a built-in safety feature, when your dog barks 15 times or more in a 50 second period the collar will automatically shut off for a period of 3 minutes.

Eyelash Extensions Safety

Is your eyelash extension product FDA approved, hypoalergenic and safe to use? This is a common concern and many manufactures of eyelash extension products make claims to insinuate that their product is FDA approved or hypoallergenic. Some manufacturers claim that their adhesive is "surgical grade" so the technician and client assume that it is safe enough to be used in the medical field. My goal is to address this safety concern and define these common terms used to promote eyelash extension products.

According to the FDA (www.fda.gov) there is no FDA approved eyelash extension product. What else can be said about that? There simply is no specific brand or adhesive that the FDA has approved for safe use on humans for the purpose of eyelash extensions, false eyelashes or individual eyelash semi-permanent applications. There is nothing left to cover of the topic of FDA approval of eyelash extension products and adhesives because it does not exist! Be leery of technicians or manufacturers making these claims, as they are simply not valid.

"Thinking of false eyelashes or extensions?
FDA considers false eyelashes, eyelash extensions, and their adhesives to be cosmetic products, and as such they must adhere to the safety and labeling requirements for cosmetics. False eyelashes and eyelash extensions require adhesives to hold them in place. Remember that the eyelids are delicate, and an allergic reaction, irritation, or other injury in the eye area can be particularly troublesome. Check the ingredients before using these adhesives." Quoted from the FDA web site regarding eyelash extensions. This is all that is mentioned in regards to eyelash extensions.

The claim of being a "hypoallergenic" eyelash extension adhesive is commonly stated on web sites and by manufacturers. Do no assume that this means that you won't have an allergic reaction. According to the FDA this claim means little to nothing in the cosmetic world.

"What are hypoallergenic cosmetics?
Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. Consumers with hypersensitive skin, and even those with "normal" skin, may be led to believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than non-hypoallergenic cosmetics.
There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled as hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to FDA.
The term "hypoallergenic" may have considerable market value in promoting cosmetic products to consumers on a retail basis, but dermatologists say it has very little meaning."
Source: Excerpted from Hypoallergenic Cosmetics on the FDA web site.

So what does "surgical grade adhesive" actually mean? Well I have researched surgical adhesives available in the United States and compared them to 5 of the most popular eyelash extension adhesives. Cyanoacrylates and commonly used adhesives that have gained FDA approval have little in common as far as actual ingredients are concerned. So I can not explain how the big eyelash extension companies intend to provide evidence that their product is safe due to being "surgical grade". I can't imagine a surgeon reaching for some black eyelash glue in the middle of surgery to glue up tissue on a patient. Eyelash extension adhesive ingredients more resemble Super Glue then most surgical adhesives. In fact some midwives use Super Glue as a surgical adhesive.

The basic truths about the safety of eyelash extensions boils down to common sense. Eyelash extensions are adhered to individual eyelashes with a minimal amount of strong adhesive. When properly applied, no glue or adhesive should come in contact with the skin and this lessens the chance of irritation or allergic reaction. A licensed, experienced professional eyelash extension technician is your best bet for a good and safe application. Do your research and get a referral to a reputable technician that you know others have had good experiences with. An allergic reaction is very rare but possible in all cosmetic applications so its important to know you have a reputable technician who can remove your eyelash extensions if your extensions do not agree with you.
http://www.symboliclashes.com for more information on eyelash extensions in Las Vegas Nevada.
http://www.eyelashlv.com for important eyelash extension FAQ and after care instructions

Stress @ Work

Everyone experiences some degree of Stress at work, and a degree of positive pressure can help improve performance and productivity. But in a recent report,1 the leading mental health charity, Mind, warned that excessive levels or prolonged periods of stress can have adverse effects resulting in both physical and mental illness.

The report lists a number of disturbing facts about stress in the workplace:

1. More than 5 million people complain of extreme stress in their jobs, putting them at risk of a breakdown.

2. In a recent Health and safety Executive (HSE) report on work-related stress, 20% of those questioned reported that their work was "very stressful" or "extremely stressful".2

3. Nearly 10% of the UK's gross national product (GNP) is lost each year due to work-related stress.

4. Stress is the highest cause of absenteeism from work among non-manual employees.

5. An estimated 12.8 million working days were lost in Britain in 2003/4 as a result of work-related stress.3

The report identified a number of factors that can increase stress at work, including:

1. poor working conditions (e.g. long hours, travel, noises, smells, work overload and work underload)

2. a lack of a clear role in the company (e.g. ill-defined expectations, conflicting priorities and responsibility for others)

3. poor relationships at work (e.g. low levels of trust and lack of support).

At the end of 2004, the HSE launched a new guide for managers, aimed at preventing stress in the workplace.4 The guide identified 12 management standards, providing a step-by-step approach to tackling the different causes of stress in the workplace, together with advice on identifying those at risk from stress and on how to prevent problems occurring.

The Mind report supports these standards, recommending that all organisations should have a stress prevention policy that lays down the way the organisation deals with stress issues.

The reports' key recommendations to reduce/prevent stress at work include the following:

1. Employees should have genuine control over their work and be allowed an appropriate degree of self-management of workload.

2. Roles, responsibilities and expectations should be fully defined.

3. Employees should have a role in planning and decision making.

4. The physical workplace environment should be of a high standard, including natural light where possible, good ventilation, and good health and safety practices.

5. Employees should be actively discouraged from working excessively long hours.

For those who have been made ill through stress at work, the report recommends that:

1. on-the-job support and mentoring schemes should be provided.

2. flexible hours should be introduced to take account of regular GP/hospital visits.

3. those who have had to take time off after illness should be allowed to return to work gradually.

4. positions should be kept open during sickness absence.

The HSE report states that employers now have a duty in law to ensure that their employees do not suffer from stress-related illness. Employers who do not take work-related stress seriously may therefore leave themselves open to compensation claims from employees who have suffered ill health from work-related stress.

References

1. Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace. http://www.mind.org.uk

2. The Scale of Occupational Stress: The Bristol Stress and Health at Work Study. HSE Contract Research Report 265, HSE Books (2000).

3. Health and Safety Executive (2004). Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2003/04. Available at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overpic.htm.

4. Tackling Work-Related Stress: A Managers' Guide To Improving And Maintaining Employee Health And Well-Being hse.gov.uk/stress/information.htm

For more information on stress at work and essential oils, visit the websites Stress at work and aromatherapy at work pages: www.aromatherapy-stress-relief.com/stress_atwork.html

Try Aromatherapy and inhale away the stress of your day!

Copyright © 2005 Gillian Hale (CUS Busting Ltd)