Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Dog To Work Day Celebrated Across the Globe

Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Dog To Work Day Celebrated Across the Globe

Dog lovers from Australia to Zimbabwe register participation - cash prize contests still underway.

King, NC (Vocus) July 10, 2009

Tongues and tails were wagging on Friday, June 26, as businesses across the country and abroad participated in Take Your Dog To Work Day® (TYDTWDay®) created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) and presented by BringPetsHome. org, a charity committed to pet care (http://www. bringpetshome. org/) for animals in need, and FetchDog, your destination for dog supplies (http://www. fetchdog. com/Shop).

Participants are still encouraged to take part in the official 2009 TYDTWDay photo and video contests. Photos uploaded to the Professional Pooch Gallery at www. takeyourdog. com will be judged by a third-party panel and the winner will receive $500 cash, $500 donated to a shelter of his or her choice and a FetchDog prize pack valued at $200.

Videos may be uploaded at the TYDTWDay Facebook page (http://www. facebook. com/video/?oid=139298105334) and the winner of the video contest will receive a FetchDog prize package valued at $100; three random registrants will be selected to receive $25 FetchDog prize packages. Both contests end July 31, 2009.

“At a time when the need to promote pet adoption is at an all-time high, we were thrilled to see businesses rally their employees and local communities for such a worthwhile cause,” says PSI President Patti Moran.

In all, more than 120,000 visitors explored the official TYDTWDay site, www. takeyourdog. com, to learn more about becoming involved with the 2009 campaign and contests. Businesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe hosted events to celebrate dogs and promote pet adoption.

"We commend the remarkable participation by employers in this year's TYDTWDay promotion,” stated Claire Fisher, Head of Marketing for BringPetsHome. org. “On behalf of all of our animal shelter and rescue partners, thank you for your support in finding homes for and bettering the lives of homeless pets." BringPetsHome. org offers pet lovers the opportunity to leverage every day online purchases at their favorite retail stores to raise money to help shelters care for homeless pets – at no additional cost to the shopper.

One such participant was Laura Croker, senior manager of internal communications at Hitachi Data Systems in California. The company celebrated with week-long festivities, including a pet fair and boutique, pet photos and talent show, as well as a raffle with proceeds going to local pet-related charities.

“About 40 employees brought their dogs to work and even more stopped in for the pet fair and talent show,” Croker said. “Even co-workers without pets were smiling and having a good time. The event brought a really happy energy to the office that day.”

“Finding homes for dogs is an endless job and a wonderful, charitable cause,” said Susan Chaney, editor of Dog Fancy Magazine. “What better way to spread the word about dogs’ value to their owners and to our society than by taking them to work with us? We applaud all the companies and organizations that have opened their doors to these amazing creatures – whether it is for one day or all year long.”

Beth Stultz, TYDTWDay event spokesperson, acknowledged that social media played a big role in the success of this year’s event. “The buzz over this year’s event was unprecedented,” Stultz said. “Since TYDTWDay is predominantly an online campaign, Facebook and Twitter users, as well as bloggers, played significant roles in helping spread the word about how businesses could plan an event to support this cause.”

This year’s event marked the tenth anniversary of the day and the 2009 campaign was bolstered by participation from partners, Dog Fancy magazine and Petfinder. com.

To learn more about Take Your Dog To Work Day, register your participation or enter the photo or video contests, visit www. takeyourdog. com. The 2010 event will take place on Friday, June 25.

About Pet Sitters International:
Established in 1994, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, representing more than 8,000 independent professional pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and abroad. PSI provides members with access to affordable bonding and liability insurance and educational resources such as PSI’s Accreditation Program, The Pet Sitter’s WORLD magazine and PSI’s annual Quest for Excellence Convention. PSI provides pet owners with The Pet Owner’s WORLD magazine and thepetsitblog. com. For more information, visit www. petsit. com, home of the Official Pet Sitter Locator™ or visit the PSIStoreOnline to select from more than 2,000 pet sitter and pet owner products.

About FetchDog. com:
FetchDog was created to offer passionate dog people a place to find the highest-quality dog supplies, including dog beds (http://www. fetchdog. com/shop/dogbeds) and pet gates (http://www. fetchdog. com/shop/doggates), credible advice on their dog's health and wellness, and an online community of fellow humans who love their dogs. More than just a shopping site, FetchDog. com has thousands of ad-free pages of deep information about health issues, training, behavior, breed selection, puppy care and dog adoption. Always current and fresh, FetchDog. com also has dog features and news stories, expert and celebrity blogs, world-class dog photography, games, videos and community-oriented centers for hundreds of dog breeds.

About BringPetsHome. org:
BringPetsHome. org is a non-profit animal charity that helps care for animals in shelters. Their mission is to support animals in shelters until they find permanent, loving homes. BringPetsHome. org offers pet lovers the opportunity to raise money for animal shelters simply by shopping online at their favorite merchants, and provides a platform to connect with other animal enthusiasts in the online community. BringPetsHome. org donates 100 percent of the money raised to animal shelters, helping homeless pets directly by paying for food, shelter and medical treatment.

About Dog Fancy Magazine:
Dog Fancy is the world’s most widely read dog magazine. It is devoted to the care and enjoyment of all dogs – purebreds and mixed breeds alike. Every month it educates, enlightens and entertain its readers, providing them with engaging, accessible information they need to be responsible dog owners. Since its inception, Dog Fancy has inspired, informed and entertained readers with award-winning editorial. Features include expert advice on selecting the right dog, training, health and grooming

About Petfinder. com:
Petfinder. com is an online, searchable database of more than 300,000 adoptable pets from more than 12,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Visitors can search by breed, age, size, gender and location to find the pet that fits their needs. Since it was founded in 1995, Petfinder. com has helped more than 12 million pets find permanent homes. Entirely ad supported and free to both shelters and users, Petfinder. com was named one of TIME magazine’s 50 Best Web Sites of 2008.

Contact: Beth Stultz, Event Spokesperson
E-mail: beth(at) petsit. com
Phone: (336) 983-7747

Contact: Terry Chance, Marketing Director
Phone: (336) 983-2991
E-mail: terrychance (at) petsit. com

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Alivemax -- A Company Releasing Supplemental Products That Will Uplift the Health, Appearance, and Confidence of Others Around the Globe

Alivemax -- A Company Releasing Supplemental Products That Will Uplift the Health, Appearance, and Confidence of Others Around the Globe

Alivemax Is Bringing a New Wave of Revolutonary Nutritional Products to the Health Industry, While Stimulating Income in Home Based Businesses

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) March 30, 2009

The health industry has awaited for a company to emerge and bring back the longevity of one's health and that company is no other than Alivemax. Alivemax, is expected to be one of the biggest launches in April of 2009. Alivemax, as of now, is still in Pre-launch but expects to impacts millions around the globe upon its arrival.

Alivemax, has a brand new line of Next Generation Nutritional Products that are hitting the market upon its launch as well, including Resveratrol. Resveratrol is the breakthrough anti-aging ingredient that has tremendously improved cellular health nationwide. It was also seen during ABC News with Barbara Walters in an interview with Dr. David Sinclair in a segment of her show.

Alivemax, has three products that are ready to serve and revitalize the health of people all over the world. They include Anti-Aging, Multi-Vitamin, and Vitality. The Anti-Aging product helps the bodily improvement of the Cardiovascular System, slow down the aging process, fights off damage to the body and much more. The Multi-Vitamin product helps improve the immune system, strengthens the body with vitamins and minerals, and increases the cell repair, communication, and production. Last but not least, the Vitality products increases energy levels, mental levels, and propels the bodily functions. But residual income can also be made with Alivemax as well.

There are seven lucrative ways people can start to make money online in no time. People can be eligible for commissions and start getting paid even before you start promoting. Alivemax has also developed one of the fastest growing powerline systems in the marketing industry today. A revolutionary system that is automated along with its consumer demand combined; this is the true success that people are looking for. The Massive advertising campaigns are just reeling in the customers. Just imagine, providing high demand products and services to the public and also getting Serious Profit through Several different Methods. The Media buzz about AliveMax is outstanding and customers are already waiting in line to get these exclusive products and services that they want and need. It's not too late to secure the special Pre-Launch spot; the next cut-off date is on April 1, 2009.

Alivemax is the movement that health fanatics have been waiting for and they are bringing a new revolution along with them. So when thinking of a dynamic health breakthrough, think of Alivemax.

To find out more information visit my website: http://www. Alivemaxwealth. com (http://www. Alivemaxwealth. com)

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Florida Surgeon Demonstrates Kidney Sparing Cancer Treatment in Live Surgical Webcast

Florida Surgeon Demonstrates Kidney Sparing Cancer Treatment in Live Surgical Webcast

By observing a laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation procedure live, and seeing first hand the benefits to patients, Sarasota Memorial Urologist Robert Carey, MD, hopes more surgeons will embrace less invasive cancer treatments.

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) March 11, 2010

Surgical removal of the kidney is the most common treatment for renal cell cancer, a type of cancer typically resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. But some of the nation’s leading urologists are proving that less aggressive surgery that removes the cancer cells and spares the kidney can be equally effective... and result in a better quality of life.

Today, Sarasota Memorial Urologist Robert Carey, M. D., Ph. D., F. A.C. S., was one of two nationally recognized surgeons to perform minimally invasive cancer surgeries – laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of a kidney tumor and cryoablation on a prostate – and broadcast the procedures live via the Internet from their respective operating rooms to physicians at the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association’s annual meeting in Miami (http://www. sesaua. org/meetings/2010/default. aspx (http://www. sesaua. org/meetings/2010/default. aspx)). Carey and his partner Daniel Kaplon, M. D., performed the surgery in a specially equipped OR at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla. (http://www. smh. com (http://www. smh. com))

“By observing the procedures live, and seeing first hand the benefits to our patients, we’re hoping more urologists will embrace newer, less invasive surgical techniques,” said Carey. “For some patients, a traditional open surgery can cause greater morbidity and complications. A minimally invasive approach is their best chance of not only surviving an operation, but also maintaining a better quality of life.”

Carey was invited to present the live surgical webcast because of superior patient outcomes and a number of studies he has published worldwide on the benefits of minimally invasive surgical techniques to urological patients. The procedure he demonstrated involved a high-risk elderly patient on blood thinners. After exploring several surgical options, he chose Dr. Carey and Sarasota Memorial because it was the only option that offered a minimally invasive treatment that preserved his kidney.

“As a result, the patient will be able to keep his kidney and he will have less risk of suffering progressive kidney disease and requiring dialysis in his lifetime,” Carey said.

Traditionally, surgeons cut out the cancer by removing an entire kidney, lymph nodes and any suspicious cells in the surrounding area. But that, Carey says, can lead to complications and life altering health issues, especially if the cancer recurs in the remaining kidney. In contrast, he said, radiofrequency ablation utilizes heat energy to destroy the cancerous tissue at the exact site where it exists in the body, without compromising kidney function.

Because it is performed laparoscopically – using small incisions and scopes through which a small camera and instruments can be placed into the body – the ablation procedure results in less pain and scarring, less risk of blood loss and infection and a faster recovery. 

Carey was selected to perform the live surgery webcast in part because of the research and patient outcomes reported in an award-winning 2007 Journal of Endourology report he authored. In that report, which earned first prize at the World Congress of Endourology in 2006, he documented the successful ablation of 104 renal masses, 40 percent of which were greater than 3 cm. There were no blood transfusions, no intra - or peri-operative deaths, no patients who progressed to metastatic disease or to dialysis, and there were no patients who lost their kidneys as a result of the procedure, he noted.

"Patients and physicians who refer them are increasingly seeking hospitals and surgeons who perform laparoscopic nephron-sparing operations for kidney cancer,” Carey said. “The purpose of the live broadcast and surgical demonstration is to train other surgeons to perform these procedures safely and therefore increase the treatment options for patients in their respective communities.”

About Robert Carey, M. D. Ph. D. F. A.C. S.
Dr. Robert I. Carey, of Sarasota, Florida, is a urologic surgeon and a clinical associate professor at the Urology Treatment Center, Florida State University College of Medicine. He received his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia. His residency training in surgery and urology, and a fellowship in robotic surgery, laparoscopy, and endourology, were completed at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He earned his Ph. D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989. In 2006 he received first prize at the World Congress of Endourology for his clinical essay describing direct, real-time temperature monitoring for radiofrequency ablation of renal tumors. He is co-author of Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life and is a consulting editor for the Journal of Robotic Surgery. (http://conquerprostatecancernow. typepad. com/my_weblog/about-dr-carey. html (http://conquerprostatecancernow. typepad. com/my_weblog/about-dr-carey. html)).

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of inpatient, outpatient, home health and extended care. Its 806-bed hospital is Florida’s second largest acute care public hospital. It is the only hospital in the region ranked among U. S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” and awarded Magnet designation – the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence. It has been recognized among America’s top hospitals for quality and safety by Forbes. com three years in a row (2008, 2009 and 2010). For information, visit: http://www. smh. com (http://www. smh. com)

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Improving the Efficiency of Electronic Patient Records

Improving the Efficiency of Electronic Patient Records

Transcribing dictated notes from clinicians is a hugely expensive and time-consuming process. One possible cure could be a new solution under validation that offers speech recognition and secure wireless communication for electronic-patient-record systems.

(PRWEB) March 9, 2005

Transcribing dictated notes from clinicians is a hugely expensive and time-consuming process. One possible cure could be a new solution under validation that offers speech recognition and secure wireless communication for electronic-patient-record systems.

Patients’ notes in hospitals and general-practice surgeries generally rely to a large extent on clinicians dictating their notes – which are then transcribed by a secretary into free-text electronic form. Simply converting speech into electronic format and updating patients’ medical records can employ up to 15 per cent of hospital’s personnel alone, and all for a result that is less than perfect. While convenient for the doctors themselves, it is less than ideal as an electronic record, being mostly non-searchable and without any kind of formal information structure.

The DICTATe project aims to both increase the efficacy of such patient records, and at the same time reduce the costs incurred in preparing them. “We want to close the gap that exists between what clinicians want, and the needs of health information applications,” says project coordinator Milena Hrbackova of IDS Scheer in Brno (Czech Republic). “Doctors like the flexibility of free-text dictation, but information systems require more categorisation.”

The key components of the DICTATe system include:

·Modified PDA that supports speech dictation, text input and wireless communication.

·Wireless communication infrastructure to facilitate secure, real-time exchange of data with the handheld PDA.

·Server application that performs voice-to-text conversion, medical-language processing and communication with both the clinician’s PDA and the hospital's electronic records system. This server application is also applying some of the latest advances in structured document representation, automated speech recognition and natural language processing to convert the doctor's input into a structured format.

DICTATe is now approaching the validation phase, which will see the complete system being tested in April/May 2005 at four pilot sites across Europe: a hospital in Modena, Italy (Azienda Unita Sanitaria di Modena), an outpatients health clinic in Thessaloniki, Greece (EURODIAGNOSI), another independent hospital in Greece, and at a DICTATe international workshop hosted in Brussels.

The project partners believe that DICTATe will pave the way for much wider deployment of speech-processing technologies into electronic-patient-record systems. Speech recognition is now poised to overcome the previous obstacles of natural language and categorisation, and become a cost-effective means of clinical reporting and integration into the medical record.

The prototype system planned for the end of the project will function in English and to a limited extent in Italian. However, the project partners are expecting widespread interest in the results, which are also being disseminated at the Medetel conference in Luxembourg in April 2005. And, says Hrbackova, “we know that there are several hospitals that are waiting to see the results.”

Note to Editors:

Please mention IST Results as the source of this story and, if publishing online, please hyperlink to: http://istresults. cordis. lu/ (http://istresults. cordis. lu/)

Contact: Tara Morris, +32-2-2861985, tmorris @ gopa-cartermill. com

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FSIS Recall Release

FSIS Recall Release

Texas Firm Recalls Fully Cooked Ready-To-Eat Turkey Breast Products For Possible Listeria Contamination

Washington, DC (Vocus) November 15, 2010

New Braunfels Smokehouse, a New Braunfels, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 2,609 pounds of fully cooked, ready-to-eat smoked turkey breast products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:
1-pound packages of “New Braunfels Smokehouse Sliced Smoked Turkey” with package code “2210” on the label; 4 to 6 lb. packages of “New Braunfels Honey-Glazed Spiral Sliced Smokehouse Hickory Smoked Boneless Breast of Turkey” with package code “2180” on the label; 4 to 6 lb. whole breast packages of “Stegall Boneless Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast” with package code “2210” on the label; 4 to 6 lb. whole breast packages of “Stegall Spiral Sliced Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast” with package codes “2180” or “2210” on the label.

Each package bears the USDA mark of inspection and the number “P-975” inside the mark of inspection. The fully cooked, ready-to-eat smoked turkey breast products were produced on August 4, 2010, and distributed nationwide, including catalog and internet sales. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at http://www. fsis. usda. gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index. asp.

The problem was discovered through microbiological sampling by FSIS. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Customer Service Representative, Susan Owens, at (800) 537-6932. Media inquiries should be directed to company Vice President and General Manager, Mike Dietert, at the same phone number.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at http://www. AskKaren. gov. “Ask Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

NOTE: Access news releases and other information at FSIS’ Web site at http://www. fsis. usda. gov/Fsis_Recalls/
Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter. com/usdafoodsafety

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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DreamSkin Pillowcase Clinically Proven to Reduce Facial Wrinkles and Fine Lines

DreamSkin Pillowcase Clinically Proven to Reduce Facial Wrinkles and Fine Lines

A recent clinical study has verified that the DreamSkin Beauty Pillowcase reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles and fine lines by up to 51%. DreamSkin’s JuveTex fabric is proven to help retain more moisture than cotton, silk, charmeuse, and satin pillowcases. Moisture loss is the primary cause of skin wrinkles and fine lines.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 24, 2011

A recent clinical study conducted by a leading skin physiologist has shown that the physician formulated DreamSkin Pillowcase rejuvenates the skin and reduces wrinkles by locking moisture in the skin at night. DreamSkin, woven with JuveTex fabric, is designed to reduce fine lines and help improve sleep with its unique construction and comfort. The clinical study compared DreamSkin’s JuveTex fabric to cotton, and results showed that JuveTex retained more water than cotton, preventing more moisture from escaping the skin during sleep.

Moisture loss is the leading cause of sleep lines, fine lines and facial wrinkles. Sleep lines are primarily caused when the face rests against fabric, eventually etching these lines into permanent facial wrinkles. Fabrics such as cotton, silk, charmeuse, and satin pull moisture from the skin and become damp, causing the skin to adhere to the creased surface. The DreamSkin Anti-Aging Pillowcase effectively acts as a high quality anti-wrinkle cream by keeping the face moisturized during the night.

“Anyone - men or women - who are concerned with their skin and looking younger will benefit from sleeping on the luxurious DreamSkin Pillowcase every night,” says co-inventor Susan J. Leslie.

The clinical studies concluded that the DreamSkin pillowcase has a positive effect on reducing and possibly preventing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. There is a strong indication that new collagen is generated in the dermis that accounts for this phenomenon. In an additional “overnight study,” four of the five subjects that tested the DreamSkin pillowcase were free of “sleep lines” with improved skin in the morning, while only one of three that used a cotton pillowcase (control) was free of “sleep lines.”

DreamSkin’s JuveTex fabric contains no creams or chemicals and works naturally with a specific combination of yarns and a proprietary weave pattern that results in the fabric acting as a cosmetic moisturizer. In addition, JuveTex contains 22,000 microfibers per square inch and provides a soft cushioning effect that causes less pressure on the delicate facial skin than standard pillowcases. Less friction is proven to result in healthier hair and skin and provides facial rejuvenation.

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SKINNY WATER A DIETER'S DREAM

SKINNY WATER A DIETER'S DREAM

BEVERLY HILLS, Cailf.

Peace Mountain announces SKINNY WATER (PRWEB) April 19, 2000
Helps with weight loss and tastes like spring water!

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

(BEVERAGE MARKETING)--PEACE MOUNTAIN

NATURAL BEVERAGES CORP. has announced the recent introduction of its great

Tasting spring water beverage: SKINNY WATER (TM). Skinny Water is a high

Magnesium spring water infused with the natural appetite suppressant: Super CitriMax

(TM). In addition, SKINNY WATER contains ChromeMate®, L-Carnitine, Ribose and

Natural electrolytes to improve energy and hydration. Magnesium is essential for healthy

Hearts, muscles, and calm nerves. Bone building magnesium also helps prevent migraines

And PMS. ChromeMate® (micro-mineral) helps in energy production and reduces sugar

Cravings. L-Carnitine (an amino acid) optimizes metabolism, fat burning and endurance.

Ribose (a nutrient), increases energy, decreases body fat, and reduces recovery time from

Sports, play or work. In an effort to put bottled water on a diet, Peace Mountain Natural

Beverages Corp. has just released its patent pending beverage to help get dieterÂ’s off the

Diet pill bandwagon. Get in shape and supermodel thin with a beverage whoÂ’s name says it

All; SKINNY WATER! With the tag-line: “For those who are slim and want to stay that

Way!”

Spokesperson for Super CitriMax, the key ingredient in Skinny Water is 1999 Miss

Scandinavia, Jonna Kauppila. Jonna used Super CitriMax to lose 14 pounds in preparation

For the 1998 Miss Finland competition, which she won. Subsequently, Jonna won the 1999

Miss Scandinavia competition using Super CitriMax, which she says was a "determining

Factor in my win." Super CitriMax contains HCA, an all natural plant extract that reduces

Appetite and inhibits the production of fat. Super CitriMax is the number one selling safe

All-natural diet ingredient extract. Super CitriMax is made from the fruit of Garcinia

Cambogia which makes your feel full. (a)

Trademarks are registered and pending worldwide.

(a)Statements in this press release have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is

Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness. This document is available at

Http://www. skinnywater. homepage. com (http://www. skinnywater. homepage. com) and is promoted by Ms. Jonna Kauppila "Miss

Scandinavia '1999". Skinny Water is a unique, patent-pending kosher formula that tastes

Just like spring water!

CONTACT:

BEVERAGE MARKETING USA, INC. (Public Relations)

Richard H. Davis, 1-888-843-8880

Voice Mail/Fax 323-402-1223 x 2118

8306 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1204

Beverly Hills, Calif. 90211

E-mail: beveragemarketing@prweb. com

Customer Satisfaction in the Global Oilfield Rated in New Independent Industry Survey

Customer Satisfaction in the Global Oilfield Rated in New Independent Industry Survey

Houston-based EnergyPoint Research, an independent market research company specializing in measuring and monitoring customer satisfaction in the oil and gas industry, recently announced results from its comprehensive 2008-09 Oilfield Products & Services Survey, which focused on the industry’s satisfaction with the products and services it purchases and utilizes. First-place rankings go to M-I-SWACO for oilfield services, Derrick Equipment for oilfield products, Helmerich & Payne for land contract drilling and Noble Drilling for offshore contract drilling.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 2, 2010

Meeting customers’ needs consistently, especially in cyclical times, is what sets apart four oilfield suppliers that earned top honors in customer satisfaction in an independent survey conducted over the past two years. First-place rankings go to M-I-SWACO for oilfield services, Derrick Equipment for oilfield products, Helmerich & Payne for land contract drilling and Noble Drilling for offshore contract drilling.

Houston-based EnergyPoint Research, an independent market research company specializing in measuring and monitoring customer satisfaction in the oil and gas industry, recently announced results from its comprehensive 2008-09 Oilfield Products & Services Survey, which focused on the industry’s satisfaction with the products and services it purchases and utilizes. The survey included more than 3,800 evaluations from industry professionals at both global and domestic multinational and independent E&P companies and contract drillers.

“In an industry subject to so much volatility and uncertainly, those oilfield suppliers that are able to consistently perform at high levels, regardless of the circumstances, increasingly stand out from the crowd,” said Doug Sheridan, managing director of EnergyPoint Research. “Each of the top-rated companies in this survey demonstrated the unusual capacity to meet customers’ needs and expectations while managing through one of the most tumultuous periods on record in the industry.”

M-I SWACO, a global provider of oilfield fluids and fluids-related systems and services, ranked number one among oilfield service suppliers. In addition to its top overall rating, the company placed first in numerous regions, both within the U. S. and internationally. Other honors going to M-I SWACO, which is jointly owned by Smith International and Schlumberger, include first-place rankings for offshore, high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) and non-vertical wells, as well as for special applications.

“M-I SWACO has rated well in EnergyPoint Research’s surveys for several years now,” said Sheridan. “Respondents to the survey indicate the company has performed particularly well over the last 24 months, especially on the service side. Contributing to its strong showing are improved ratings for the company’s sales and field personnel, pre-job planning, service and professionalism, and responsiveness to requests for new technologies. The company also enjoyed notable scores for offshore applications, especially in the deepwater.”

Derrick Equipment, a maker of shale shakers and other drilling fluids management equipment and systems, finished first overall among oilfield equipment and materials suppliers. Derrick also achieved this dual distinction in the previous oilfield products survey conducted in 2007.

Derrick also rated first in six additional categories: engineering and design; performance and reliability; product availability and delivery; post-sale support; rig-related equipment; and land-based applications. The company placed first with both larger and smaller customers, as well as in North America and international markets.

According to Sheridan, Derrick registered some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings since EnergyPoint began conducting surveys in 2003. “Suppliers that are focused more narrowly on specific products and product categories tend to receive higher overall satisfaction marks from respondents than those with broader, or somehow less focused, sets of offerings,” said Sheridan.

Rating first overall in the category of land drilling is Helmerich & Payne, which owns a fleet of high-performance land rigs operating mostly in North America. The company also captured top rankings in three North America regions: Texas and Mid-Continent; Onshore Gulf Coast; and the U. S. Rocky Mountains. Other honors going to the Helmerich & Payne include first-place ratings in the areas of performance and reliability; technology; and health, safety and environmental (HSE). It also garnered the top rankings among larger multinational customers, as well as for special applications.

Noble Drilling ranked number one in offshore contract drilling, including deepwater applications and special offshore applications, and in two regions: Latin America & Mexico and the North Sea. Noble also ranked first in the category of HSE among offshore drillers.

The surveys succeed similar studies published by EnergyPoint Research in 2006 and 2007 and measure customers’ satisfaction in the industry across a range of attributes, categories and global regions. Evaluations were collected from customers of oilfield suppliers operating in multiple oil and gas producing regions, both in North America and international markets.

The second - and third-place spots were occupied by the following companies in their respective categories:

¾ Core Laboratories and Geoservices for oilfield services;
¾ Sumitomo Metals and Smith International for oilfield products; and
¾ Parker Drilling and ENSCO International for contract drillers.

“Results from this survey are some of the most interesting we’ve observed since launching our ratings seven years ago,” said Sheridan. “Not only does the survey cover the period leading up to both commodity prices and corresponding demand for oilfield services reaching all-time highs, it also covers the subsequent precipitous drop in prices and demand later in 2008 and 2009.” Sheridan added, “To a large extent, the survey measures suppliers’ abilities to manage on behalf of customers in times of change.”

The oilfield services, oilfield products and contract drilling surveys were conducted as part of EnergyPoint Research’s 2008-09 industry-wide survey, which was comprised of more than 3,800 in-depth evaluations performed in 2008 and 2009 by domestic and international customers of oilfield suppliers. Respondents from both multinational and independent E&P companies, from all parts of the globe, were represented in the surveys. A total of 53 suppliers received the minimum number of evaluations needed to be ranked in the survey.

Industry suppliers and service providers were evaluated in various areas such as total satisfaction, pricing and contract terms, performance and reliability, technology, engineering and design, job quality, safety and environmental, service and professionalism, post-sale support and corporate capabilities. Suppliers were also evaluated across various product and service segments and domestic and international regions.

For categories in which pre-2008 supplier ratings existed, historical ratings were included in category winner calculations at lesser weightings. In no case were historical ratings assigned a weighting of more than 20 percent for the purposes of calculating category winners.

About EnergyPoint Research, Inc.
EnergyPoint Research provides independent research regarding the oil and gas industry’s satisfaction with the products and services it purchases and utilizes. Founded in 2003, the firm offers oil and gas industry professionals and their employers opportunities to both provide confidential ratings and customer feedback in areas important to oilfield product and service suppliers through objective and independent evaluation processes. For more information regarding EnergyPoint Research and its surveys and data, visit the company’s website at www. energypointresearch. com or contact the company at info@epresearch. com or +1.713.529.9450.

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Care and Repair Tips for Your Customer's Air Conditioning and Engine Cooling Systems

Care and Repair Tips for Your Customer's Air Conditioning and Engine Cooling Systems

A guide for professional service and repair for automotive technicians on mobile A/C and engine cooling systems.

LANSDALE, PA (PRWEB) March 6, 2004

April is National Car Care Month and the beginning of the air conditioning season in many parts of the country. Are your customerÂ’s A/C and engine cooling systems up to the long hot summer challenge?

Air Conditioning System

The air conditioning in your customersÂ’ vehicles is a sealed, high-pressure system containing a refrigerant to provide cooling. As the refrigerant moves through the system, it absorbs heat and cools the air entering the passenger compartment. As long as the system has not developed a leak, and the related mechanical components are in good shape, the air conditioning should operate properly. There is no way to determine how much refrigerant is in a system unless the existing refrigerant is removed with proper recovery equipment and the proper amount is recharged into the system. The refrigerant removal must be done in accordance with federal law by a certified technician. If the system is providing cold air, thereÂ’s no need to worry about it.

“There’s a simple test for any A/C system,” says Paul DeGuiseppi, manager of service training for the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide. “Set all the controls for maximum cooling, close all the doors and windows, start the engine and run it for about five minutes. It’s important that you have the vehicle in the shade, or out of direct sun when performing this check. If the temperature from the panel outlets gets cold, there a good chance the system is operating properly. If you have a thermometer, place it in a center outlet, and if it’s a warm day and the temperature is below 50 degrees F, it’s a good sign that the system is cooling.

“A healthy system that operates properly shouldn’t need additional maintenance,” DeGuiseppi continues. “Consumers should be very careful to avoid purchasing unnecessary parts or services if their car’s air conditioning is working well.”

If the system is operating properly there is no need to have the system serviced. The refrigerant doesn’t need to be cleaned or “refreshed” and vehicle and A/C system manufacturers do not recommend the addition of other chemicals or so-called performance enhancing additives to the system. When in doubt about using another type of refrigerant or chemical additive, consult the vehicle’s service manual.

Anything other than the OEM recommended chemicals may void vehicle or parts warranties or cause a part to fail.

When repairs are needed, be well informed in advance. Every technician and mechanic performing A/C repairs is required by the U. S. Federal Clean Air Act of 1990 to have passed a certification test.

To reduce environmental damage from refrigerants, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has listed several refrigerants as acceptable for use in mobile air conditioning systems. However, only two are tested and approved by all vehicle manufacturers for use in their mobile A/C systems.

Vehicles made before 1994 most likely contain CFC-12 (R-12), a chemical that has been phased out of production because it depletes the stratospheric ozone layer that protects the earth against harmful ultraviolet radiation. Newer vehicles, after 1994, use HFC-134a (R-134a), which is less damaging to the atmosphere.

Older air conditioning systems can be switched over — “retrofitted” — to the newer chemical, but the change may be expensive and may require replacing components in addition to installing the new refrigerant. Although retrofitting is not required by law in the U. S. and the availability and use of R-12 is still permitted if the system is in good condition, a retrofit may prove worthwhile if expensive repairs are needed on an older vehicle.

All vehicle manufacturers and the Mobile Air Conditioning Society offer detailed technical information to service professionals on how to properly diagnose, repair and recycle refrigerants to minimize emissions and improve air conditioning performance.

Informed consumers can help reduce atmospheric pollution while keeping their cool during the hot summer months.

Engine Cooling System

When the A/C is operated, there is additional load placed upon the engine and engine cooling system. To prevent overheating the engine during operation of the A/C system, the engine cooling system fan(s) must be properly operating and coolant level must be correct.

If the coolant level is low it should be replenished. However, the days of just adding some green coolant are over. Today, the coolant is chemically different for many vehicles. Keeping a cooling system in chemical balance requires the proper coolant. The wrong coolant could result in costly coolant system and engine repairs.

Today there are many different colored coolants to help identify whatÂ’s in the system. And not only is the proper coolant required, but also the proper mixture of coolant and water.

To achieve long-life engine coolant chemical stability, follow the vehicle manufacturer recommended service procedures.

Founded in 1981, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) is the leading non-profit trade association for the mobile air conditioning, heating and engine cooling system segment of the automotive aftermarket. MACS represents 1600 members in North America and 47 countries around the world, and provides information and services to more than 60,000 industry shops, suppliers and technicians. The Society serves the industry through informational tools, self-paced educational materials, leader-led training clinics, advocacy and other member services. Since 1991, MACS has assisted more than 600,000 technicians to comply with 1990 Clean Air Act requirements for certification in refrigerant recovery and recycling to protect the environment. To learn more about MACS Worldwide and the upcoming 25th annual Convention and Trade Show, “Now is the Time” to be held February 1-3, 2005 at the Las Vegas Hilton, visit our website at www. macsw. org

NEW INTERNET COMPANY DEVOTED TO FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY EMPOLOYEES!

NEW INTERNET COMPANY DEVOTED TO FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY EMPOLOYEES!

(PRWEB) May 10, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW INTERNET COMPANY DEVOTED TO FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY STAFF.

Toronto, Canada. May 7, 2000 - There is a revolution brewing in the

Foodservice industry.

"Restaurateurs, when asked to identify the most significant challenge they

Would face in 2000, most often cited the struggle to find qualified and

Motivated employees".

-National Restaurant Association

Waiterworld. com has absolutely everything industry staff needs to know about

Excelling in the foodservice and hospitality industry. We put together free

Reference material on important topics like wine service, wine knowledge,

Different types of liquor, beer, and cigars. Our food-safety library is

Essential to ensure the health of both guests and employees alike. General

Knowledge tests help keep servers on their toes. But we didn't stop there.

We added a worldwide chat-room, the coolest java games we could find, an

Industry art gallery, and free email!

*Employers, Human Resource Directors, and Marketing Directors:

Waiterworld. com is *the* place to find qualified, motivated employees, cost

Effectively. With our Industry Positioner, establishments and restaurant

Chains are now able to post availability openings for potential new

Employees. Therefore, people interested in working in the foodservice

Industry can now log-on to find hundreds of opportunities in their own

Cities or around the world, while learning vital information and finding the

Tools they will need to help them excel in their positions. This symbiotic

Relationship is a perfect match.

Industry staff from around the world are logging on to www. waiterworld. com

In order to learn more, earn more, and have a blast doing it!

The bottom line is: if an establishment has happy, knowledgeable staff,

Guests have a great experience when they dine out.

For additional information on Waiterworld please visit us at

Www. waiterworld. com or call toll free:1-877-792-4873.

CONTACT

Peter G. Chase

President

Waiterworld

1-877-792-4873

Pchase@waiterworld. com

Www. waiterworld. com

Lady of America's Fun Ab Crunch Fitness Challenge Annual Fundraiser Raises More Than $100,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Lady of America's Fun Ab Crunch Fitness Challenge Annual Fundraiser Raises More Than $100,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

In two years, the Ab Crunch Fitness Challenge raises more than $325,000 towards $1 million goal.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 22, 2009

Lady of America fitness centers - Lady of America, LOA Fitness for Women and Ladies Workout Express - recently presented proceeds from its second annual Ab Crunch Challenge™ to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. Held in 78 cities around the country on March 28, 2009, the Ab Crunch Fitness Challenge (http://www. ladyofamerica. com/about/june_16_09.asp) raised $110,000 for St. Jude. In two years, Lady of America, Ladies Workout Express and Workout Express locations across the country have raised more than $325,000 for St. Jude, one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers.

"We are clearly on our way to our goal of raising $1 million for St. Jude," said Toni Negas, marketing director for Lady of America. "It is our honor to raise money for an organization that makes a real difference in the lives of catastrophically ill children worldwide while also working with one of the most respected charities in the world."

"The Ab Crunch Challenge™ is a wonderfully unique way to support the lifesaving work of  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said David L. McKee, chief operating officer and interim CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Those who participate in this fun, annual fitness challenge (http://www. ladyofamerica. com/about/june_16_09.asp) each year inspire hope in our patients and help fund groundbreaking research and treatment that benefits children in communities everywhere."

Open to both club members and non-members, there is no cost to participate in the annual Ab Crunch Challenge™ or its pre-challenge exercise training classes. While training for the one-day fitness challenge, participants raise money for St. Jude by securing donations from friends, family and co-workers. More than 200 Lady of America and Ladies Workout Express clubs held the challenge this year, with approximately 1,500 members participating, and a per member crunch average of 2,500 ab crunches during the hour-long challenge (the maximum amount that can be properly performed in 60 minutes).

The Ab Crunch Challenge™ has grown from a small philanthropic fundraiser, created by Tony Parziale, a Lady of America franchisee, for members at Ladies Workout Express in Hamilton and Lawrenceville, NJ, into the national program, which was launched in 2008.

The 2010 Ab Crunch Challenge™ is slated for March 27th. Don't miss this fun, fitness challenge! For more information, visit www. ladyofamerica. com/abcrunch (http://www. ladyofamerica. com/abcrunch).

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, TN, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization.

About Lady of America
For more than 25 years, Lady of America Franchise Corporation (LOAFC) has been an innovator in the constantly evolving business of women's fitness. LOAFC was established in 1984 with the goal of providing a safe and rewarding environment to women working on their fitness and lifestyle goals while enjoying the company and support of other women. Today, LOAFC is the world's largest full-service chain of women's fitness centers (http://www. ladyofamerica. com/about/june_16_09.asp) with over 300 franchises in operation across 45 states and nine countries under the brands; LOA Fitness for Women, Lady of America, Ladies Workout Express, Workout Express and Health Clubs of America fitness centers. www. ladyofamerica. com

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Proactive Acne Treatment is Available, it is a Matter of Being Educated Concerning the Problem and Choosing the Correct Approach to Proactive Acne Treatment

Proactive Acne Treatment is Available, it is a Matter of Being Educated Concerning the Problem and Choosing the Correct Approach to Proactive Acne Treatment

The Acne Cure is the only book ever to offer a comprehensive, safe, rapid, and almost universally successful method of eliminating acne without prescription drugs, without side effects, without shifts in lifestyle or eating habits, and at little cost.

Scarsdale, Manchester (PRWEB) June 6, 2006

Proactive acne treatment is available, it is a matter of being educated concerning the problem and choosing the correct approach to proactive acne treatment. As with many conditions different people will have varying degrees of success with various treatments which is why its important stay informed of your options. Remember acne is not simply a skin condition, it is also the outward symptom of hormonal or other imbalance.

The Book Entitled The Acne Cure by Terry J. Dubrow & Brenda Adderly is selling from as low as USD$1.04 (listed price is USD$21.95) at http://www. amazon. com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1579547427/getpaidonli06-20 (http://www. amazon. com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1579547427/getpaidonli06-20)

This book is really worth a buy.

Book Description

“Everyone gets a blemish now and then. But for some, acne is a way of life. Acne sufferers spend millions of dollars in their desperate hunt for a solution. Often they turn to incomplete over-the-counter remedies or even prescription drugs with dangerous side effects.

Now, there is a cure.

The Acne Cure describes a revolutionary, proven treatment program that, in no more than 6 weeks, eliminates acne in 95 percent of all cases--even the most severe ones. You will see dramatic results in as little as 24 hours!

The Acne Cure is the only book ever to offer a comprehensive, safe, rapid, and almost universally successful method of eliminating acne without prescription drugs, without side effects, without shifts in lifestyle or eating habits, and at little cost.”

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne is the most common skin disease in the world today. It’s estimated that 90% of adolescents endure it, and that it occurs in up to 25% of all adults. Despite these staggering statistics, getting the right and successful acne medicine remains a mystery to many acne sufferers.

Take proactive measures to treat acne by following a few simple changes in your lifestyle. We have all heard various myths about acne. Let us clear up the famous myth "chocolate causes acne." Scientists have not found a connection between specific foods and acne. There is no scientific link between sugary and greasy foods and pimples, however, it is very important to maintain a healthy diet. 

Pimples affect almost 85%-100% of people at some time during their lives so why not seek proactive acne treatment. Proactive acne treatment can be simple. You can complement your diet with Clearin, a homeopathic medicinal that is available without a prescription and does not have any of the dangerous side effects associated with many acne medications.

Ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Herba Lamnae and Dong Quai, can help in your quest for proactive acne treatment.

Teenage acne not only affects a teenager's physical appearance but also their self-esteem. Skin blemishes are a nuisance of adolescence but for some people they occur in adult life as well. Proactive acne treatment can help one to avoid being in this situation.

Proactive acne treatment options may include oral contraceptives, oral Corticoseteroids (anti-inflammatory drugs), Antiandrogens (reduce androgen productions) or natural alternatives. Oral contraceptives side effects include nausea, weight gain, menstrual spotting and breast tenderness. The side effects associated with oral corticosteroids may cause weight gain and bone thinning. Antiandrogens may cause irregular menstruation and breast tenderness.

When seeking proactive acne treatment, many chose natural alternatives that do not have any of the dangerous side effects associated with many acne medications. When pores become clogged and the body is lacking certain nutrients to remove this excess debris, they can become infected and inflamed causing skin blemishes.

# # #

NiXPS View v3.0 Brings Annotations, Scripting and PDF/A Conversion to XPS

NiXPS View v3.0 Brings Annotations, Scripting and PDF/A Conversion to XPS

NiXPS has released the next version of its cross platform XPS tool NiXPS View v3.0 for PC and Mac. The new release introduces annotations, scripting and PDF/A conversion. These are three unique abilities, and reaffirms NiXPS in its pioneering role in XPS technology in tools.

Lochristi, Belgium (PRWEB) September 25, 2009

NiXPS has released the next version of its cross platform XPS tool NiXPS View v3.0 for PC and Mac. The new release introduces annotations, scripting and PDF/A conversion. These are three unique abilities, and reaffirms NiXPS in its pioneering role in XPS technology in tools.

"XPS is a hidden treasure in your IT infrastructure", says Nick De Roeck, managing director of NiXPS NV. "Why not take advantage of this incredibly rich and capable document technology, which comes for free with each copy of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Every organization that has invested, or is planning to invest, in Windows desktops can make their document flow much more efficient and cost-effective by adopting XPS. NiXPS offers the best tools to let businesses and users all over the world take advantage of XPS. Do more with XPS!".

Notes
NiXPS View v3.0 introduces annotations, which can be managed in NiXPS View itself, but are visible in every XPS viewer, including the default viewers that are part of Windows Vista and Windows 7. This facilitates the use of XPS as a great format for sharing and reviewing documents.

Javascript
With the ability to script NiXPS View, the application reaches out to professionals and users who have a want to customize their document flow. Javascript is very easy to pick up, and thanks to the link to the powerful NiXPS SDK api, it becomes an enabler for adding things like watermarks, barcodes, optional content, and the like. It can even be used to automate processing and gather data from XPS documents.

Efficient UI
NiXPS View is an easy to use application that helps you get things done faster and more efficient. You can read XPS documents and interact with them in a natural way. The application provides a simple and well thought-out UI, with support for zooming, panning & scrolling. Document interactivity is provided by supporting the optionally available document outline, and by supporting embedded links. Our Quick-search allows you to scan for words quickly, and our rich conversion options will ensure that NiXPS View will be your application of choice for all things related to XPS.

PC and Mac since 2007
NiXPS has always been committed to deliver quality software for both Windows and Mac. NiXPS has been the first to release a Mac XPS viewer in 2007, and with this release they further show our deep commitment to the Mac. "Mac users appreciate an application that integrates elegantly in the Mac OSX environment", says Nick De Roeck. "Our NiXPS View v3.0 for OSX behaves like a proper OSX application. Starting with version three we have added QuickLook integration to make XPS more of a first-class citizen on Mac OSX."

Launch offer
To celebrate the launch of the third major release of the application, NiXPS runs a time limited launch offer which allows you to purchase the NiXPS View v3.0 at a special discount price of 49 USD (35 EU).

About NiXPS
NiXPS pioneers the XPS revolution. With a strong background in the publishing industry and extensive experience with document formats, the company is ideally positioned to offer the technology needed to make XPS usable in professional document management environments. Our NiXPS SDK is an independent, cross platform, highly efficient software library to read, modify, convert and write XPS files. Wolters Kluwer, Cardinal Health, Dane Prairie Systems and Accenture are amongst the many customers that rely on NiXPS technology. Learn what NiXPS can do for you by visiting nixps. com (http://nixps. com)

About XPS
Created by Microsoft, XPS is an open, XML-based file format that serves as default page description and print spooling technology in Microsoft's operating system Windows Vista and the upcoming Windows 7. Through Windows Vista's print architecture millions of users can easily create XPS files from any application. Microsoft Vista - and soon Windows 7 - offer basic XPS viewing capabilities as part of the operating system. Most modern printers and front ends to high-end digital print production today support XPS. With these features XPS is an ideal format for document exchange, review and print in enterprise document and professional digital print environments.

NiXPS
Nick De Roeck
Managing Director
+32 479 26 27 19

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MEDICAL PRESENT VALUE EXPANDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NAMING MILLON AS CHAIRMAN, ADDING PARKER

MEDICAL PRESENT VALUE EXPANDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NAMING MILLON AS CHAIRMAN, ADDING PARKER

(PRWEB) June 6, 2002

SAN ANTONIO, TX – May 29, 2002 – Medical Present Value, Inc. (www. mpv. com), a health care company striving to align and bring uniformity to financial transactions between payors and providers, has named Jean-Pierre (J. P.) Millon as chairman of the board. At the same time, the company announced that John O. Parker, Jr. has joined its board of directors.

Commenting on the announcement, James M. O. Rubin, president and CEO of Medical Present Value, Inc. (MPV), said, “J. P. and John are distinguished executives that bring an immeasurable degree of leadership and expertise to our board. Their extensive experience across the health care continuum will add valuable strategic insight and provide guidance that will help shape the company’s direction.”

J. P. Million is an advisory board member of Care Capital, LLC., a New Jersey-based venture capital fund. He is cofounder of BLS, LLC, a consulting and investing entity based in Indianapolis. Million also serves on the AdvancePCS board, a publicly traded pharmacy benefit management company, and on the IphysicianNet board, a privately held pharmaceutical communication company. He is also a partner in Areks, a Swiss-based pharmaceutical service company. Until September 2000, Millon was president and chief executive officer of PCS Health Systems, one of the countryÂ’s largest pharmacy benefit managers. Prior to joining PCS in 1995, Millon was an executive with Eli Lilly and Co., PCSÂ’ former parent company. His career with Lilly spanned two decades and was highlighted by leadership positions in the United States, the Orient, Europe, and the Caribbean Basin.

Millon is a member of the Global Advisory Council of The American Graduate School of International Management; Northwestern UniversityÂ’s Graduate School of Management Alumni Advisory Board; the DeanÂ’s Council of 100 of the College of Business at Arizona State University; the Barrow Neurological Foundation Board of Trustees; and the International Advisory Council for the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Millon holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France, a degree in economics from the University of Lyon, and an MBA from Northwestern University.

John O. Parker is a Venture Partner with Rho Ventures, a New York-based venture capital fund, and a founding partner of Care Capital, a venture capital fund specializing in health care investments. Previously, he was a senior vice president and the chief information officer (CIO) at SmithKline Beecham, where since 1991 he was responsible for strategy, planning, and organization of all information technology worldwide.

Before joining SmithKline Beecham, Parker served as CIO at Sea-Land Service, Inc., the ocean shipping and global logistics unit of CSX Corp. He also served as CIO for both Squibb Corp., and Baxter Healthcare. Prior to Baxter, he served as vice president and general manager of Corning Inc.'s Information Management Services Division, which provided clinical and patient account information systems and solutions to clients.

Parker has served in various board and advisory roles on pharmaceutical, health care, and information technology associations. He currently serves on the board of directors of Express Scripts, Inc., one of the nationÂ’s leading pharmacy benefits managers, and on the board of PHT Corp., a leading provider of advanced information technology solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology firms, and medical device companies for the collection and processing of clinical trial data. He also chairs the strategic advisory board for PanamaTech, Inc., a provider of Web-based e-commerce technology solutions.

Parker received a BA degree in mathematics from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine and an MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

About MPV

Medical Present Value Inc. (MPV), based in San Antonio, Texas, is an information technology services firm aligning financial transactions between health care payors and providers. The company's powerful contract-based solutions bring clarity and accuracy to the complex claims, contracts and reimbursements flowing between physicians, hospitals, and payors. The company currently has over 30 clients, representing over 1,200 Texas physicians, hospitals and payor clients including Medicare, and is expanding nationally in 2002. MPV is endorsed by the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA), and the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). For more information about MPV and its products and services, visit the company's web site at www. mpv. com.

CONTACT:

Media

Leigh Nyveen

Lnyveen@cpronline. com

480-657-9966 x16

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Teen Music Phenomenon, the Jonas Brothers, and Health Advocate Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, Launch Breakfast BREAKS for ESE Foods

Teen Music Phenomenon, the Jonas Brothers, and Health Advocate Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, Launch Breakfast BREAKS for ESE Foods

New retail product based on school breakfast kit being served to hundreds of thousands of students nationwide

Woodbury, NY (PRWEB) January 31, 2008

ESE Foods, a division of East Side Entrées, announced that it has enlisted teen music phenomenon, the Jonas Brothers, and wellness advocate Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, as spokespeople for the national launch of Breakfast BREAKS, a nutritious grab-and-go breakfast kit for children. Modeled after the popular breakfast kit that East Side Entrees provides to federally funded School Breakfast Programs throughout the country, the retail version of Breakfast BREAKS was launched in January and is currently available at major retailers nationwide.

The Breakfast BREAKS launch campaign aims to promote the retail product while also raising awareness about the importance of serving children a nutritious breakfast. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform better in school and have overall better health than those who skip breakfast. Both the Jonas Brothers and the Duchess will be featured on a new version of the Breakfast BREAKS box which will appear on shelves in February.

"We're on the road a lot and need to stay energized so we know how important breakfast is to starting the day," said Kevin Jonas on behalf of his brothers, Joe and Nick. "We're excited to bring this message to kids across the country and let them know that Breakfast BREAKS is an awesome product."

ESE Foods has created an unexpected synergy with the country's hottest pop music sensation and the Duchess of York so that kids and moms alike can be excited to learn about the benefits of eating a nutritious breakfast. The spokespeople will help to establish Breakfast BREAKS as the quick and convenient way for busy families to serve breakfast through a series of national and local events and initiatives taking place throughout the year.

"I am excited about supporting the launch of Breakfast BREAKS because it is a product that offers busy parents a sensible solution for serving their children a nutritious breakfast," said the Duchess of York. "We know a good breakfast gives children what they need to learn and grow. We also know that too many children today are skipping or skimping on breakfast, so I want to get behind breakfast as a wellness issue while also urging parents to make the most of their children's breakfast time," she said.

The retail version of Breakfast BREAKS is sold in a convenient single-serve box that contains a Bowl PackTM cereal from General Mills (NYSE:GIS), a 100% fruit juice box from Minute Maid®, a division of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), a nutritious snack and utensils. Each box has a handle and easy-to-open flip-up lid so that Breakfast BREAKS can be eaten at home or on-the-go. The retail version has a suggested retail price of $2.49 and is available in an array of kid-friendly varieties, including Cheerios®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios® and Lucky Charms®.

The Jonas Brothers - three siblings from New Jersey whose musical success has catapulted them into the mainstream entertainment consciousness - were selected as spokespeople because of their wide appeal with children and tweens. The Duchess of York was selected because she is a role model for many mothers as well as a respected health and children's advocate. ESE Foods is working closely with GMR Entertainment who initiated and negotiated both partnerships and is assisting in managing the strategy for the launch.

"In devising our launch campaign it was critical to us that it reach a number of distinct audiences who have reason to know about Breakfast BREAKS," said Gary A. Davis, CEO, East Side Entrées. "We know our celebrity spokespeople will be incredibly successful at raising awareness of the importance of breakfast while also bringing attention to virtues of the Breakfast BREAKS product," he said.

A portion of the proceeds from product sales will be donated to the Sarah Ferguson Foundation, which supports education, health and anti-hunger projects worldwide. Reflecting her expanding commitment to health advocacy, the Duchess recently established the Solutions from the Heart seal to recognize innovative products and resources that promote a healthy lifestyle. In January, Breakfast BREAKS was awarded the seal. 

Breakfast BREAKS Awareness Campaign
The Jonas Brothers and the Duchess will be involved in a range of activities that will reach children, mothers and foodservice directors. Each activity will communicate the importance of eating a nutritious breakfast and demonstrate why Breakfast BREAKS is a convenient and healthy breakfast solution.

In the first quarter of 2008 the Jonas Brothers will make a major announcement about a national online contest with Breakfast BREAKS. ESE Foods will highlight the product through a television commercial featuring the entire Jonas family, which will air on ABC Kids Block, Discovery Kids and E! Entertainment. Also a print and online advertising campaign featuring the Jonas Brothers will appear in Nick, Family Fun and Working Mother magazines and on the Family Fun and various Disney websites.

Drawing on her own experience as the mother of two daughters, the Duchess conceived her own "Ten Precious Minutes" campaign for ESE Foods, which encourages parents to reclaim breakfast as quality time better used for nurturing children in mind, body and soul. A mirror campaign directed at educators and school foodservice professionals includes a three-part series of print advertorials for influential trade publications written by the Duchess. She will also host an online chat for school foodservice directors about the positive trends in federally funded School Breakfast Programs, and in early March the Duchess will kick off a media campaign during National School Breakfast Week to highlight the success of School Breakfast Programs and to encourage public action on behalf of the millions of American children who qualify for free breakfast but do not currently receive it.

Breakfast BREAKS History
In 2005, ESE Foods' parent company, East Side Entrées, developed Breakfast BREAKS for schools in response to the startling fact that millions of children across America who are eligible for a free or reduced-price breakfast through the national School Breakfast Program were still not receiving them. Out of 55 million children who attend school in the United States, 30 million eat federally funded lunch at school, yet only 9.6 million eat federally funded breakfast.

The school version of Breakfast BREAKS was an instant hit, helping thousands of schools overcome obstacles that prevented them from serving breakfast because the kits required no heating or refrigeration, could be served quickly with little staffing and contained quality branded products that kids love to eat. In its first year alone, Breakfast BREAKS were purchased by schools in more than 40 states, helping them serve hundreds of thousands of kids a nutritious breakfast. The product's success also led East Side Entrées to develop Meal BREAKS and Snack BREAKS products specifically so foodservice directors and community sites could access more kids and increase participation in other federal programs like the Summer Food Program.

Similar to the retail version, the school brand of Breakfast BREAKS are boxed meals that include a Bowl PackTM cereal, a serving of 100% fruit juice and a snack. The school version comes in 12 different varieties, including a line of Gold Star Breakfast BREAKS that exceed USDA nutritional guidelines in terms of low cholesterol levels and percentage of calories from fat and saturated fat. Both the Jonas Brothers and Ferguson will represent the school brand of Breakfast BREAKS in addition to the retail version.

In response to an overwhelming request from parents to have the Breakfast BREAKS product available for home use, the company developed the new retail version. Breakfast BREAKS is just another in a long series of successful products developed by East Side Entrées, which has been a leading supplier of nutritious food products to America's children since 1998. The company works with registered dietitians and leading nutritionists to create delicious and nutritious products geared specifically to children. Breakfast BREAKS is packaged in bright, colorful grab-and-go boxes that include fun activities and health and wellness messaging geared toward kids.

About ESE Foods
ESE Foods is a subsidiary of East Side Entrées of Woodbury, New York, which specializes in developing and marketing nutritious, kid-friendly products to the school foodservice and retail markets. Breakfast BREAKS was designed to eliminate the traditional barriers to serving breakfast to children. To learn more about Breakfast BREAKS, go to www. breakfastbreaks. com.

Cheerios®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios® and Lucky Charms® are registered trademarks of General Mills used with permission.

©2007 The Coca-Cola Company. "Minute Maid" is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company used under license.

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PLEXIS Healthcare Systems Integrates QuickBooks® into Claims Manager

PLEXIS Healthcare Systems Integrates QuickBooks® into Claims Manager

Enhancement will aid accounting process of small enterprise clients

(PRWEB) May 23, 2003

Ashland, Oregon ­ May 20, 2003 PLEXIS Healthcare Systems, Inc. announced recently that it has released an enhancement that integrates Intuit®, Inc. QuickBooks® accounting software into its Claims Manager System. This enhancement will provide a cost-effective accounting solution for smaller PLEXIS Healthcare clients. Already one of the most powerful claims processing software solutions in the marketplace, PLEXIS Claims Manager will now provide even greater functionality to payers, benefit administrators and health plans to facilitate accurate and automatic claims adjudication, referral authorizations, benefit administration, and contract management, while meeting all present HIPAA compliance requirements.

This new release provides an effective accounting solution for small enterprise clients with operations in the $10 million annual range. For medium to large clients PLEXIS offers a fully integrated version of the Great Plains Dynamics accounting software package.

PLEXIS Healthcare Systems' Claims Manager software was recently ranked number one in functionality for health plans with 50,000 to 350,000 lives in an independent survey of Managed Care Information Systems (MCIS) conducted by the AC Group, Inc. of Houston, TX. Fifteen leading MCIS software vendors were asked to respond to 542 questions covering 30 areas of functionality.

"The functionality of our Claims Manager software is under constant review by our development staff," said Jorge Yant, President and CEO of PLEXIS Healthcare Systems. "We continually seek new ways to make our product better. And, of course, our best input comes from our client base because they use our products on a daily basis and are well positioned to advise us on improved ways to respond to the needs of the healthcare industry. Their suggestions are invaluable and I attribute our recent number one ranking to our clients' input and the hard work of our development staff. This latest release provides significant help to our smaller clients, and it is a combination of the efforts of our development team's research and input from our client base," Mr. Yant continued.

About PLEXIS Healthcare Systems

PLEXIS Healthcare Systems, Inc., a healthcare technology company based in Ashland, Oregon, has been developing high-end claims processing software for the Windows platform since 1996. PLEXIS Healthcare Systems provides advanced technology tools that enable healthcare organizations to streamline and automate their claims payment and medical case management requirements. For more information, please call toll free (877) 475-3947 or visit http://www. plexisweb. com.

Affinity4 Now Offering Sky Angel® Faith and Family Programming

Affinity4 Now Offering Sky Angel® Faith and Family Programming

Affinity4 has added Sky Angel® IPTV faith and family television and radio programming to its product lineup. With a Sky Angel package subscription, starting at just $14.99 per month, Affinity4 customers can access Sky Angels faith and family programming 24 hours a day through 30 Christian television channels, 20 Christian radio channels and up to 20 popular family, news and educational channels, plus an expanding library of Video on Demand faith and family titles.

Norfolk, VA (PRWEB) July 1, 2009

Affinity4, one of the nation's leading affinity-based marketers specializing in helping charities, ministries and other nonprofit organizations raise funds, announced that it has added Sky Angel® faith and family television and radio programming to its product lineup. It's a perfect fit for Affinity4, a company which shares the values and mission of Sky Angel (Naples, FL), America's premier provider of faith and family television programming, which strives to foster positive, faith-enriching experiences.

Affinity4 President and CEO Steve Halliday stated, "Faith and family-based programming has been advanced tremendously as a result of Sky Angel; its effective business model and perhaps even more importantly, the organization's deep commitment to the word of the Gospel and messages of Jesus Christ."

"Today, more than ever, our world needs to be immersed in uplifting, affirmative messages which celebrate and reinforce the best human traits and values," continued Mr. Halliday. "Sky Angel's programming - from its Christian and ministry events, conferences and parenting seminars to its science and nature programs, documentaries, news, music, sports, home, health, self-improvement and family-friendly movies and videos - are exactly what the world needs now."

Sky Angel's television and radio programming is provided 24 hours a day through 35 Christian television channels, 20 Christian radio channels and over 20 popular family, news and educational channels. Additionally, Affinity4's customers, who opt for Sky Angel programming, can access an expanding library of Video on Demand faith and family titles. Included among the Sky Angel programming options are: Sky Angel's Faith Package, Sky Angel's Family Package, or receive over 75 channels with Sky Angel's Faith and Family Value Pack. These packages start at an economical $14.99 per month.

All that is required for Affinity4 customers to take advantage of this exciting new offering is a Sky Angel subscription, a high-speed Internet connection (recommended minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbps per receiver) and a small Sky Angel receiver which delivers the programming directly to their television sets. There are no requirements for an outside dish, antenna or a professional installer. The Sky Angel IPTV product is a simple "Plug, Plug and Play" solution.

For more information about Sky Angel, visit: www. affinity4.com and click on "Sky Angel."

More about Affinity4

Affinity4 is an affinity-based marketing company whose mission is to help support its nonprofits' goals by assisting in their fundraising and development programs. Specifically, Affinty4 markets various telecommunications products and services, including long distance and wireless phone services, high speed Internet, as well as DIRECTV®, credit card and motorist assistance to the supporters of its international base of nonprofits which includes charities, ministries, colleges and universities. With each supporter's purchase, Affinity4 provides a 10% GiveBack to the corresponding nonprofit organization. Affinity4's business model is to leverage and transform ordinary activities such as making phone calls into fundraising opportunities on behalf of vital causes worldwide. The Affinity4 Brand Promise is Ordinary Activities. Extraordinary Giving. To date, Affinity4 has given back more than $75 million to nonprofits worldwide. The company is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia and led by President and CEO, Stephen Halliday. For more information, visit: www. affinity4.com or call 1-800-684-4880.

About Sky Angel

Sky Angel® U. S. LLC is a Christian-owned multi-channel provider of faith-based and family-friendly television and radio programming. Founded by Robert Johnson Sr. more than 27 years ago, Sky Angel was created to provide a Christ-centered and family-friendly alternative to the standard television fare. Since then, his vision has grown into a service providing quality television and radio programming to all corners of the United States. Sky Angels mission is to build and operate a global communications system to assure the Gospel will penetrate every nation, culture and people.

Sky Angel also carries the Parents Television Council's® prestigious Entertainment Seal of Approval™, which recognizes excellence and social responsibility in programming.

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Swanson Vitamins Now Carries Acai Berry Extract in a Softgel Form

Swanson Vitamins Now Carries Acai Berry Extract in a Softgel Form

With an increasing demand for a variety of Acai supplements, Swanson Vitamins adds Acai Berry Extract in softgel form.

Fargo, ND (Vocus) March 6, 2009

Five years ago most people had never heard the word "acai," and they certainly didn't know how it could benefit them. Today news of acai has generated a wave of excitement for millions of Americans concerned about feeling healthy and energetic. Now acai is known as one of nature's superfoods that supports energy and vitality.

Acai (http://www. swansonvitamins. com/health-library/products/acai-the-curious-case-of-the-foreign-fruit. html? SourceCode=INTN026) (ah-sigh-ee) grows on specific palm trees native to Central and South America. The fruit is about the size of a grape and provides a variety of healthy polyphenols such as the proanthocyanidins found in pine bark and grape seed extract, and the resveratrol associated with red wine, making it a valuable antioxidant. Acai also contains a significant amount of essential fatty acids making it one of few fruits containing omega-3s.

Swanson Vitamins now offers Acai Berry Extract 500mg (http://www. swansonvitamins. com/SWH194/ItemDetail? SourceCode=INTN026) in softgel form 60 softgels for only $4.99. Swanson Vitamins also offers Acai in liquid and capsule form and carries national brands Nutiva, Country Life and Alacer's Emer'gen-C.

Swanson Vitamins is an industry leader in bringing vitamins direct to consumers at the lowest price possible. Swanson Vitamins, located in Fargo, ND, offers the highest quality vitamins, supplements and natural health care products and is GMP certified (http://www. swansonvitamins. com/html/SHPaboutus_policies. html? SourceCode=INTN026#GMP). Swanson Vitamins goes a step beyond its competitors by offering powerful guarantees. All products are backed by a 100% Satisfaction, Money-Back Guarantee and Double the Difference Lowest Price Guarantee. For more information, please visit Swanson Vitamins (http://www. swansonvitamins. com/?&SourceCode=INTN025).

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Michael & Son Services Inc. Featured in the Washington Times

Michael & Son Services Inc. Featured in the Washington Times

Michael & Son Services Inc. is gaining notoriety as their generator services were recently featured in The Washington Times.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) June 8, 2008

Michael & Son Services Inc. is gaining popularity as their generator installations were recently profiled in The Washington Times. The daily newspaper provides information on news, politics, opinion, sports, food, family, culture, travel, health and employment.

The article, titled "They've got the power," explains how much business Michael & Son Services is receiving due to the popularity of electrical generators. "Last week, Mr. Dalta hired Michael 7 Sons Services, a home repair company in Alexandria, to install a natural-gas-powered generator to ensure the home will have continuous power," wrote Washington Times writer Shelley Widhalm. "The generator, which creates energy by burning fuel and converting it into electrical power, was placed on a portable pad in the front yard in an area hidden by bushes."

While portable generators are easier to handle, Mark Eckert, generator division manager of Michael & Son Services recommends stationary generators. Portable unites must be kept outside because they run on gasoline and give off carbon monoxide. However, stationary generators run on natural gas or liquid propane.

Michael & Sons Services offer a wide variety of assistance ranging from ceiling fan and fire alarm installations, to plumbing services and handyman services like dry wall, window replacement and masonry.

For more information on Michael & Son Services Inc., visit www. michaelandson. com.

About Michael & Son Services Inc.:
Michael & Son Services has been serving the Alexandra area for over 30 years providing electrical, plumbing, construction and handyman services. The company also provides a five year labor warranty on all electrical services and one year labor warranty on all plumbing and construction services.

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Three New Studies Published Examining Drug Overuse, Under-Use and Effectiveness of Drug Therapy Monitoring

Three New Studies Published Examining Drug Overuse, Under-Use and Effectiveness of Drug Therapy Monitoring

New edition of the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy just released containing fresh research results on medication use. Visit amcp. org and click on JMCP for access to these articles.

(PRWEB) May 23, 2003

Alexandria, Va., May 19, 2003— The May-June issue of the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy (JMCP) was released today, both in print and electronically. A publication of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), the journal is a peer-reviewed publication that publishes original research of interest to pharmacy practitioners and health care providers. Among the featured articles for the May-June issue are:

--OxyContin Patients DonÂ’t Take Painkillers as DirectedÂ

A recent survey found that OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release) patients used, on average, 22 mg per day additional oral morphine equivalents than patients using the Duragesic patch (fentanyl transdermal) to control pain. The research went beyond the use of prescription drug claims to survey patients with nonmalignant pain to determine how these patients actually used these two drugs. The authors concluded that neither medication appears to be used in a manner consistent with standard recommendations in the package insert. This is the first study of patient-reported utilization patterns, including dosage and dose intervals.

--Analysis of Drug-Use Patterns Suggests Overuse of Antibiotics and Under-Use of Drugs for Asthma, Depression and Heart FailureÂ

Examination of administrative claims data from three California health plans suggests that antibiotics are overused for the common cold and that drugs to treat asthma, depression and heart failure are under-used. For example, only 55% of patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure received an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor as recommended in treatment guidelines, while only 28% of antidepressant drug users received the recommended six months of continuous therapy.

--Management of Cholesterol Levels by Pharmacists Achieved Larger Reductions in LDL Levels Than Usual CareÂ

By employing pharmacists to monitor and adjust drug therapy and counsel patients in a “lipid clinic” setting, a study in a Veterans Affairs medical center found that clinical pharmacist management of cholesterol was associated with a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) reduction 5% to 22% greater than with usual care.

The Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy is published bi-monthly, and is received by all members of the Academy as a benefit of membership. Non-members may obtain copies of the publication by downloading articles of interest from the JournalÂ’s website at http://www. amcp. org/jmcp/vol9/num3/index. pdf (http://www. amcp. org/jmcp/vol9/num3/index. pdf). Questions about the publication may be directed to Frederic R. Curtiss, Ph. D., editor in chief.

The Academy of Managed Care PharmacyÂ’s mission is to empower its members to serve society by using sound medication management principles and strategies to achieve positive patient outcomes. AMCP has more than 4,800 members nationally who provide comprehensive coverage and services to the more than 200 million Americans served by managed care. More news and information about AMCP can be obtained on their website, at www. amcp. org.

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HealthLeaders in October

HealthLeaders in October

HealthLeaders Media today announced what's coming in its October issue of HealthLeaders magazine, the only publication created exclusively for healthcare executives.

Marblehead, MA (PRWEB) October 13, 2008

HealthLeaders Media today announced what's coming in its October issue of HealthLeaders magazine, the only publication created exclusively for healthcare executives.

*FEATURE STORY: Model for Success

With expenses rising, reimbursements falling, and everyone from the government to patients demanding more sophisticated technology and improved quality, running a medical group has never been more complex. But many practices have found ways to not only survive--but thrive.

*Also in the October issue:

More Knees, More Hips -- An aging population that wants to stay mobile could further increase demand for the already-busy orthopedic service line. But high device costs, physician alignment issues, and myriad other challenges make ortho success a complicated proposition.

The 24-Hour Executive -- Night rounds can help give senior leaders insight for quality improvement in their "other hospitals."

Innovative to the core -- True innovation requires more time and money than many hospitals have available. Yet some organizations seem to find a way. How? It's all about the culture.

The Way to Right-Sizing -- Determining the proper resources for the IT department is often a difficult proposition amid changing technology needs and tightening budgetary constraints. But it can be done.

Efficiency, Meet Margin -- In an era of declining reimbursement, healthcare is getting better at collecting more cheaply.

HealthLeaders Media is a leading multi-platform media company dedicated to meeting the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals, many of whom qualify for a free subscription. Visit us at http://www. healthleadersmedia. com (http://www. healthleadersmedia. com)

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Galveston ISD Able to Run Payroll and State Reports During Hurricane Ike

Galveston ISD Able to Run Payroll and State Reports During Hurricane Ike

Galveston Independent School District uses Skyward and ISCorp's Disaster Recovery Services to run their payroll and student state reports

Stevens Point, WI (Vocus) December 2, 2008

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the Galveston Independent School District was able to process their payroll and student displacement data hours after declaring a disaster. The district was able to implement their Disaster Recovery Service (PaCdr) plan from Skyward and ISCorp to maintain critical information and services which allowed them to run their payroll and submit student displacement data to the state in the aftermath of the hurricane.

On Monday, September 15, 2008, the Galveston ISD declared a disaster and put to work their Skyward and ISCorp Disaster Recovery Service (PaCdr) plan. Due to the massive power outage and destruction caused by Hurricane Ike, the Galveston ISD was unable to return to their district office. Soon after they declared a disaster and contacted Skyward and ISCorp, Galveston was able to run their school management software from remote locations via with a secure Internet connection. By using the secure connection, Galveston ISD administrators were able to run and process their payroll, assuring their employees that their paychecks and direct deposits were available to them.

Living on the coast with a district population of over 7,000 students, Galveston ISD prepared for a disaster by purchasing PaCdr just two months after purchasing their student and finance software from Skyward in 2007.

"If anyone is out there sitting on a fence wondering whether or not they should purchase a disaster recovery program, I say do it," said John Mathis, Director of Management Information Systems for Galveston ISD. "It doesn't matter where you live, you need to be proactive and be prepared."

Galveston ISD was also able to run their PEIMS student state reports, to provide the state information as to where each student was displaced.

"When it comes to a disaster, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when," said Mathis. "Our number one priority is the 7,000 kids in the Galveston ISD, that's who we need to look after, and that's why we were prepared."

PaCdr is a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that documents all of the district's records and replicates the data to a secure off-site facility. At a minimum of once a week, the district's data is saved to the remote off-site facility. When Skyward and ISCorp upload the data from the off-site facility, the district has secure access to their application via any computer with an Internet connection.

ISCorp is a leading provider of ASP Hosting applications and data processing solutions for the Financial, Healthcare and Education markets. ISCorp Intelligent On-Demand solutions evolve and adapt to changing business, technology and security requirements.

Since 1980, Skyward has been serving the K-12 Administrative software needs of school districts. Today, Skyward's School Management System™ is found in over 1,300 school districts throughout the United States and internationally. Skyward's School Management System represents an integrated student and financial management software system designed to keep administrators, educators, and families connected.

Contact:  
Amanda Fisher
Telephone:  
800-236-7274
Email:  
Info (at) skyward. com

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Florida Hospital/Adventist Health Receives 'Best Practices Award' for Contact Center Technology from Noble Systems

Florida Hospital/Adventist Health Receives 'Best Practices Award' for Contact Center Technology from Noble Systems

Noble Systems Corporation, a global leader in contact center technology solutions, recently presented the 'Best Practices Award' to Florida Hospital - Adventist Health Systems. The award was announced at the SNUG 2009 Conference - a gathering of the Select Noble Users Group - held last month in Atlanta, Georgia. The Award recognizes Florida Hospital for its use of technology and best practices to build a unified call center environment for its organization.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 4, 2009

Noble Systems Corporation, a global leader in contact center technology solutions, recently presented the 'Best Practices Award' to Florida Hospital - Adventist Health Systems. The award was announced at the SNUG 2009 Conference - a gathering of the Select Noble Users Group - held last month in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 'Best Practices Award' recognizes Florida Hospital - Adventist Health Systems for its use of technology and best practices to build a unified call center environment for its organization. The Hospital has combined services for its Customer Service, Collections, and Patient Pre-Registration teams into a single call center, serving over 1 million patients per year. The Hospital uses the Noble® Solution for blended inbound and outbound calls, with integrated IVR and text-to-speech tools and 100% digital recording of calls. The Hospital's Pre-Registration programs have reduced wait times by 15-30 minutes per patient and have increased patient pre-payments. The Collections team uses "Virtual Agents" to leave automated messages with personalized information, which is helping to reach more patients and increase collections without typing up agent resources, saving the Hospital time and money. Automated surveys by the Customer Service team show an improvement in Customer Satisfaction. Using the Noble technology to integrate its call center activities has helped Florida Hospital by adding functionality, increasing efficiency, growing collections, and improving customer service.

The Select Noble Users Group is designed to enhance the client's investment in the Noble contact center management solution. SNUG membership brings a variety of benefits to its members, including programs and events focused on building the relationship between Noble Systems and its clients.

"Being a part of the Select Noble Users Group and attending Noble Systems' annual user conferences has been an empowering building and networking tool that has continued to help Florida Hospital improve it's Best Practices and to fully use the technology available from our Noble Solution," says David Robinson, Florida Hospital System Administrator for the Noble platform.

Chris Hodges, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Noble Systems, says, "Florida Hospital - Adventist Health Systems has been a Noble Systems client for nearly a decade, and they continue to evolve their contact center and increase efficiencies and performance with the Noble technology. Through our partnership, we have been able to help the Hospital reach its goals for process and service improvement year over year, from Pre-registration to Patient Bad Debt, and all the touchpoints in between, and we look forward to continuing to supporting them in their future activities."

About Florida Hospital - Adventist Health Systems
Florida Hospital is one of the largest healthcare providers in America and a national leader in cardiac care. Established in 1908, Florida Hospital now includes almost 2,200 beds on seven campuses. Florida Hospital is dedicated to improving lives not only in Central Florida, but also around the world. As a destination hospital, it is committed to serving the health care needs of its patients with a holistic approach to heal the mind, body and spirit, striving to be the hospital of choice for patients, physicians and employees. Florida Hospital is the flagship hospital of the Adventist Health System - a not-for-profit healthcare organization that emphasizes Christ at the center of care. Founded in 1973, Adventist Health System has quickly grown to become the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation.

About Noble Systems
Noble Systems Corporation (NSC) is a global leader in contact center technology solutions, providing innovative products since 1989. Every day, millions of customer contacts are made by agents at 2,000+ client installations worldwide using the award-winning Noble platform for inbound/outbound/blended communications. The scalable, integrated Noble® Solution includes advanced ACD and predictive dialing; unified contact processing; and integrated IVR, recording, messaging, quality/monitoring systems, scripting, and real-time reporting and management tools. Based in Atlanta, GA, Noble Systems was the first vendor to offer an open, scalable, fully-distributed platform. For more information on this item or the company, contact Lee Allum at 1.888.866.2538 x538, or visit www. noblesys. com.

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