Economic Crisis Hits Maryland Hospitals Nearly 60 Percent of Hospitals Sustain Financial Losses

Economic Crisis Hits Maryland Hospitals Nearly 60 Percent of Hospitals Sustain Financial Losses

The economic crisis is taking a significant toll on Maryland hospitals, causing their finances to slide to unprecedented low levels during the final quarter of 2008. Maryland hospitals' total margins dropped to negative 13.5 percent between October 1 and December 31, 2008, compared to 2.2 percent during the same time in 2007. The situation in Maryland is far worse than for hospitals nationwide, where the deficit for total margins was negative 7.8 percent for the final three months of 2008. Thirty-four Maryland hospitals sustained overall losses during that three-month period totaling $466 million, according to a new financial analysis by the Maryland Hospital Association.

Elkridge, MD (PRWEB) March 26, 2009

The economic crisis is taking a significant toll on Maryland hospitals, causing their finances to slide to unprecedented low levels during the final quarter of 2008. Maryland hospitals' total margins dropped to negative 13.5 percent between October 1 and December 31, 2008, compared to 2.2 percent during the same time in 2007. Hospitals' total margins had already fallen to a negative 2.5 percent in the quarter ending September 30, 2008. Total margins measure the overall financial condition of Maryland's hospitals, which are almost exclusively not-for-profit facilities.

"At the very time when the economy is forcing more Marylanders to turn to hospitals for their only source of health care, the economy is crippling Maryland hospitals' ability to meet the growing demand," Carmela Coyle, MHA President and CEO, said. "That means hospitals have significantly less money to hire new staff, invest in new services and programs or technology, to upgrade buildings, or to help physicians."

The situation in Maryland is far worse than for hospitals nationwide, where the deficit for total margins was negative 7.8 percent for the final three months of 2008.

Thirty-four Maryland hospitals sustained overall losses during that three-month period totaling $466 million, according to a new financial analysis by the Maryland Hospital Association.

Most of hospitals' losses resulted from increases in interest rates, losses on returns, and other increases in costs needed to provide financing to upgrade or expand programs and to underwrite the costs of new technology. Operating margins--which measure financial performance in providing care--while dropping, did not fall as precipitously. Overall operating margins in the fourth quarter of 2008 were 1.5 percent--down from 2.4 percent in the quarter ending September 30. That is well below the rate-setting commission's target of 2.75 percent and below the 1.8 percent operating margins for hospitals nationwide for the quarter ending December 31.

The losses Maryland hospitals face are forcing them to limit their purchases of new technology and equipment, and to delay upgrades in information technology according to a new MHA survey. Hospitals also report adopting, or considering, hiring freezes and staff reductions; eliminating vacant positions; and cutting administrative spending, including educational and meeting expenses. In addition, hospitals report the losses have led to a significant increase in hospitals' pension liability costs.

Furthermore, the survey found the economy is forcing more and more physicians to approach hospitals for financial support, ranging from widespread requests for hospital employment to nearly universal requests for pay increases to provide services to hospitals. In 2008 hospitals provided $210 million in support to physicians.

"With a physician shortage particularly intense in inner city Baltimore and rural parts of the state, financial support for doctors is vital to assure access to care in these areas," Coyle said.

"Hospitals are the bedrocks of our communities, both as providers of health care to all who need assistance and as the economic engines for our communities," Coyle added. "Anything that weakens our hospitals poses a threat to the economy of Maryland and the well-being of our state."

MHA is the advocate for Maryland hospitals, health systems, and their patients before legislative and regulatory bodies. Its membership is comprised of community and teaching hospitals, health systems, specialty hospitals, veterans hospitals, and long-term care facilities. For more information, visit MHA's Web site.

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ICan Benefit Group is Now Offering Term Life Insurance Through Mutual of Omaha

ICan Benefit Group is Now Offering Term Life Insurance Through Mutual of Omaha

ICan Benefit Group, a leading provider of access to affordable health and life insurance, is now offering Term Life Insurance through Mutual of Omaha.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) July 21, 2009

iCan Benefit Group, a leading provider of access to affordable health and life insurance, is now offering Term Life Insurance through Mutual of Omaha. iCan has added Mutual of Omaha to its growing list of reputable partners in a continuing effort to expand the breadth and depth of the coverage available to its members.

The term life insurance product iCan offers provides coverage for a defined period of time with coverage options available in face amounts of $50,000 to $500,000. Benefits are payable in the event of the insured's death or disability. Features include an accelerated death benefit, an unemployment provision, a residential damage rider, and a common carrier death benefit provision. In addition to the monetary value of these benefits, they also provide the intangible asset of peace of mind; families who protect themselves with term life do not have to fear that an untimely death or disability will prevent them from paying the bills or maintaining their lifestyle.

"We're excited about the opportunity to extend this valuable new benefit to our members," said Steve Tucker, CEO of iCan Benefit Group. "We have great confidence in the quality of Mutual of Omaha's products, and are proud to be able to offer our members the protection and peace of mind they deserve."

About Mutual of Omaha
A full-service, multi-line provider of insurance and financial services products, Mutual of Omaha offers products and services that provide financial protection to help families, individuals, businesses and groups achieve their goals. The company was founded in 1909, and takes pride in having provided outstanding service to its policyholders for 100 years. For more information, please visit www. mutualofomaha. com.

About the iCan Benefit Group
Founded in 2004, iCan Benefit Group, LLC is a dynamic, fast-growing company devoted to offering smart, affordable health and life insurance choices for everyone, as well as a variety of money-saving lifestyle benefits. With many thousands of existing customers, iCan Benefit is the answer for many to the healthcare crisis suffered by more than 47 million people in the US today. The company is based in Boca Raton, Florida and can be found on the web at: http://www. icanbenefit. com (http://www. icanbenefit. com)

Media Contact:
Betsy Vega, Executive Administrative Assistant
1-800-530-4226

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Oasis Day Spa Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month with 'In the Pink' Promo; Provides Spa-Goers with Vital Breast Health Info

Oasis Day Spa Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month with 'In the Pink' Promo; Provides Spa-Goers with Vital Breast Health Info

To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Oasis Day Spa in New York City is running "In the Pink," an exclusive promotion that gives 15 percent off services and products on Mondays and Wednesdays to customers wearing pink.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 3, 2007

To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Oasis Day Spa in New York City is running "In the Pink," an exclusive promotion that gives 15 percent off services and products on Mondays and Wednesdays to customers wearing pink. "In the Pink" was created to fulfill two purposes: to provide men and women with vital information about the importance of good breast health in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable; and to raise awareness about the healing and stress-reduction powers of massage.

"In The Pink" will also provide customers with valuable information from the American Cancer Society that highlights the benefits of massage therapy for cancer patients. (It is important to note that any cancer patient seeking massage therapy must discuss options with their physician and choose the massage setting that is best for them.) The card will also feature: the five steps to Self-Breast Exam; information about proper bra fittings; and important non-profit and cancer-related Web sites.

"In our ten year history we have cared for thousands of women of all ages, many of whom have suffered from serious illnesses or have friends and relatives with cancer," says Owner Bruce Schoenberg. "For many of our female customers going to a spa is less about pampering and indulgence and more about maintaining good mental and physical health. Because we are a regular outlet for comfort, privacy and relaxation, we have the opportunity to educate and spread the message about the importance of good breast health for women."

Oasis hopes that more women, particularly those under 40 and too young for mammograms, will perform self-breast exams, a potential factor in early detection.

While there are differences between regular and medicinal massage, a recent Prevention magazine article cited that 20 percent of all cancer patients in the U. S. seek some form of massage therapy. Massage has been known to help easy anxiety, depression, stress and nausea. Massage is in no way a preventative measure or a treatment, and any cancer patient should get appropriate clearance from his/her healthcare provider prior to scheduling an appointment.

Oasis Day Spa combines a peaceful and beautiful environment, with a highly trained, friendly staff, to ensure a memorable and enjoyable spa experience. Oasis Spa is not about spa trends, but offer spa treatments providing the utmost in relaxation and rejuvenation, along with the latest developments in massage, skincare, hydrotherapy and other spa services. For more information visit www. oasisdayspanyc. com.

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MOBOTIX Advances to 4th Largest Market Share of Network Cameras Worldwide and 2nd Largest in EMEA

MOBOTIX Advances to 4th Largest Market Share of Network Cameras Worldwide and 2nd Largest in EMEA

IMS research also reveals that network camera market to increase annually by around 40 percent until approximately 2011.

New York (PRWEB) February 19, 2008

The result of a recent study on the video surveillance market done by market research specialist IMS Research* shows that MOBOTIX, a manufacturer of digital, high-resolution and network-based video security systems, was able to increase the share of the EMEA market in 2006 by 3.7 percentage points compared to the previous year. With this, MOBOTIX occupies the second place in the market share with 16.3 per cent, right behind Axis.

MOBOTIX also managed to gain global market share, rising to fourth place in the network camera manufacturer rankings with a market share of 6.6 per cent, behind Axis, Sony and Panasonic. This makes the Kaiserslautern-based camera specialist one of only four companies around the globe to increase its share of the market.

"This survey clearly confirms the rise of high resolution digital video solutions against the traditional analog systems," said Peter McKee, International Marketing Director for MOBOTIX. "It is especially encouraging that IMS gives special mention to the importance of the MOBOTIX MxPEG codec for future market development"."

Strong growth predicted for megapixel cameras
The IMS study confirmed that the entire industry is undergoing a period of sustained growth. The market for network cameras is set to increase by an average of 40.1 per cent annually between 2006 and 2011, with the market for network video surveillance software not far behind at 35.8 per cent, according to IMS Research. As a complete solution provider, MOBOTIX serves both markets, unlike its rival camera manufacturers. Digital network cameras will continue to win against the analog surveillance cameras in the coming years. Fix-dome models are enjoying particular popularity, and in the past two years, MOBOTIX has successfully launched two new fixed-dome product lines, the D12 and D22 dome cameras.

IMS is forecasting up to year 2011 even healthier growth for the megapixel camera market, in which MOBOTIX has been active for years already. The big advantage of megapixel technology is that more detail can be recorded with fewer cameras. Not only does this save costs, but it also enhances the systems' visual impact in buildings with elaborate architecture. Megapixel technology is where MOBOTIX strengths are: all of its camera models have featured this technology for years, and now since October 2007, the cameras are equipped with 3.1 megapixels. An unofficial estimate by IMS Research lists MOBOTIX as the global market leader in high-resolution network camera technology with a market share of over 60 per cent.

Efficient video codec is where the future lies
IMS gave special recognition to the importance of the MOBOTIX MxPEG video codec for future market development. "Most of today's megapixel cameras use only the single frame-based Motion JPEG format for compression of the video stream, and so require several times the bandwith and memory than a more efficient video codec," explained Simon Harris, Senior Research Director at IMS.

Megapixel cameras do not use MPEG4 in high-resolution operation, as this format was originally developed only for running multimedia applications and does not satisfy live camera requirements. In addition, the immense computational complexity required by MPEG4, particularly in the megapixel range, is neither available in the camera nor in the PC for processing images from several cameras.

The licence-free MOBOTIX MxPEG format was developed especially for megapixel live cameras. Not only does it allow short response times from scene to display and moving images to be recorded in greater detail, but it also offers cost-effective recording by a number of cameras in megapixel quality thanks to its lower computing power requirements. If MxPEG is used, a single standard PC can save high-resolution megapixel images from roughly ten times as many cameras. In 2007, a system with around 1,000 MOBOTIX megapixel cameras was installed in Singapore.

Well-known video software manufacturers have already adopted the MOBOTIX video codec in their software systems.

*Source: IMS Research, The World Market for CCTV & Video Surveillance Equipment, 2007 Edition

For more information, please contact:

Emilio Dabul   
Phone: 908 822 7106
Gunnar Ek 
Phone: 207 475 6570

MOBOTIX AG Company Profile
MOBOTIX is a German based manufacturer, surveillance system designer and solution provider with US offices in Fulton Street, Manhattan. They are world market leaders in innovative new surveillance solutions incorporating the latest high resolution mega pixel image technology with their state of the art integrated video management and alarm control software.

Thanks to its extensive features, functionality and flexibility, the weatherproof MOBOTIX camera is perfect for a wide range of applications such as security and surveillance, logistics and transportation, production and manufacturing, marketing and research, tourism and weather observation, private installations as online web cams or for keeping an eye on your vacation home. With all features integrated in the camera, no additional software installation is required. More information can found at www. MOBOTIX. com

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Major Drilling Drills into Projects with Tenrox Release 8 Software

Major Drilling Drills into Projects with Tenrox Release 8 Software

Tenrox -- the Integrated Operational Control and Compliance Software Company – announced today that Major Drilling Group International Inc. (MDI. TO) has selected the Tenrox Release 8 operational control and compliance platform to automate its internal business processes. New Brunswick-based Major Drilling is one of the world's largest drilling service companies serving the mining industry.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) February 25, 2004 -

–Tenrox -- the Integrated Operational Control and Compliance Software Company – announced today that Major Drilling Group International Inc. (MDI. TO) has selected the Tenrox Release 8 operational control and compliance platform to automate its internal business processes. New Brunswick-based Major Drilling is one of the world's largest drilling service companies serving the mining industry.

The Tenrox platform is replacing Major DrillingÂ’s in-house custom built system - an antiquated non Web-based solution with multiple databases for the various sites. The move to Release 8, a fully Web-based enterprise solution with consolidated reporting, will enable the company to automate opportunity management, project initiation, budgeting, scheduling, scope change, risk assessment, timesheet management, expense reporting, project accounting, and invoicing for over 850 employees in various departments, including accounting and finance.

Tenrox softwareÂ’s unique workflow-based technology will also enable Major Drilling to track time, expense and project billing, and streamline its internal work processes to substantially improve project delivery.

"Tenrox Release 8 has provided us with an exceptional 100% Web-based solution to automate and streamline our drilling projects from bid preparation to payroll and invoicing," said Stephane Godbout, CIO of Major Drilling. "The highly configurable workflow designer and XML report designer features were particularly useful in helping us map our business processes into the software."

"The key strength of Tenrox Release 8 has been its positioning as an XML-based business process management platform, enabling organizations to adopt a work process automation solution that is intimately pre-integrated with all widely used payroll, financial, and project management systems," stated Rafat Hilal, CTO at Tenrox.

Tenrox Release 8 software is used world-wide by companies in a wide range of industries including finance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, bio-technology, consulting, Information Technology, as well as drilling companies in oil, gas and minerals.

About Major Drilling

Major Drilling Group International Inc. is one of the world's largest drilling service companies serving the mining industry. To support its customers' varied drilling requirements, Major Drilling maintains field operations and offices in Canada, the United States, South and Central America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Major Drilling provides all types of drilling services including surface and underground coring, directional, reverse circulation, RAB, geo-technical, and environmental drilling. The company also manufactures and sells "state-of-the-art" drills and drilling equipment, which are used by companies around the world, through its UDR Group subsidiaries.

About Tenrox

Tenrox develops and markets modular, integrated operational control and compliance software that delivers enterprise workforce management, expense reporting, project accounting and business process management. Designed for professional services firms or organizations with internal services or IT departments, Tenrox solutions increase corporate efficiency, improve project or service delivery, reduce costs, and enforce compliance with regulations and financial controls.

Since 1995, Tenrox has served over 800 organizations in 50 countries including the Pentagon, IBM, EDS, First National Bank, BCE Emergis, Corning Cable Systems, McKesson, British Columbia Auditor General, US Steel, Motorola, Pfizer, Sony, Wyeth, Scottish Life, Charles Schwab, and Visa. The company offers professional services, training programs and a choice of implementation methods to suit various corporate requirements. Tenrox products are available through direct sales channels and a network of worldwide resellers and partners.

For more information, visit www. tenrox. com or call (626) 796-6640.

Media Contact:

Marlene Kovac

Verrecchia Group Communications

514-935-0166, Ext. 148

Marlene@vergroup. com

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Law and Order SVU and Cancer Survivor Richard Belzer Moderates Successful Debate at First Plant Medicine Expo and Healthcare Provider Conference

Law and Order SVU and Cancer Survivor Richard Belzer Moderates Successful Debate at First Plant Medicine Expo and Healthcare Provider Conference

Richard Belzer, Star of Law & Order SVU and cancer survivor moderated a successful heated debate at the TGI Healthworks produced first Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference (PME/HPC) held at Denver’s Sheraton Downtown Hotel on September 25 and 26, 2010.

New York, NY (Vocus) September 29, 2010

Richard Belzer, Star of Law & Order SVU and cancer survivor moderated a successful heated debate at the TGI Healthworks produced first Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference (PME/HPC) held at Denver’s Sheraton Downtown Hotel on September 25 and 26, 2010.

Richard Belzer moderated the much buzzed about debate on Saturday, September 25th titled ‘Medical Marijuana and the Colorado Amendment: What’s Right for You?’ addressing issues such as medical marijuana in the workplace, insurance treatment of medical marijuana, state vs. federal control, and host of policy issues raised by acceptance of medical marijuana at the state level. The A-list team of highly respected panelists involved in the controversial discussion consisted of the following:

Stan Garnett, Boulder District Attorney and candidate for Colorado’s Attorney General seat

Charlie Brown, Denver City Councilman and author of Denver’s medical marijuana ordinance

Tom Gallagher, Colorado Springs City Councilman and medical marijuana proponent of reasonable medical marijuana regulation

Joshua Kappel, Outreach Director of Sensible Colorado and recipient of the Patton Boggs Public Policy Fellowship and the Public Interest Law

“We’re pleased about the medical marijuana debate discussion results at the Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference as it provided an intelligent and sophisticated discussion that was interesting and informative for physicians, nurses, caretakers, patients and citizens in attendance. For those who missed the live broadcast, they will be able to view clips that will run soon on the PME/HPC website,” states Seth Ginsberg, Co-founder of TGI Healthworks which organized Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference.

The Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference targets the uninitiated and under-informed patients and physicians who may be aware of medical marijuana as a potential treatment option, but who otherwise lack the understanding needed to make an educated determination on its appropriateness for their condition. For more information on the Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference, visit www. PlantMedicineExpo. com.

About PME/HPC
The Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference is a truly educational conference designed to provide individuals suffering from chronic medical conditions with comprehensive, objective information about medical marijuana. PME/HPC also provides insights and information to providers of medical marijuana and traditional healthcare providers who are curious about the medical marijuana option and process. Plant Medicine Expo in Denver is the first of several by TGI Healthworks that are being organized in states where medical marijuana is legal. For more information, visit the PME/HPC website: www. PlantMedicineExpo. com.

About Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, and currently is the star of Law & Order SVU. Belzer became the third person to play the same character in six different prime-time TV series, playing Detective “John Munch” in the NBC police drama series “Homicide: Life on the Street”, “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Trial by Jury”, “The X-Files”, “The Beat”, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Belzer has also starred in “Cheers”, “St. Elsewhere”, “The Tortellis”, “Wings”, “The Simpsons”, and “Frasier.” Belzer was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1984 and has made a full recovery after a surgery successfully removed the tumor.

About TGI Healthworks
TGI Healthworks is an international educational firm created for physicians and patients. Since 1999, TGI Healthworks has been exclusively focused on education through national grassroots programs within the healthcare discipline that are designed to build and sustain communities of people with chronic diseases. Corporate office: 515 N. Midland Ave., Upper Nyack, NY, 10960, +1-845-348-0400. For more information, visit www. tgihealthworks. com.

In accordance with Colorado state law, no exhibitor will be able to dispense or display medical marijuana. The Sheraton Denver Downtown hotel is a non-smoking facility.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Hoog (local and regional media inquiries)
Mhoog(at)corporateadvocates(dot)net 
303-717-2410

Or

Tamara York (national (U. S.), and international media inquiries)
Tamara(at)tamarayorkpr(dot)com
917-328-4408

Or
Visit our Website at: www. PlantMedicineExpo. com

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Tips on When to Bring Pets to Animal ER

Tips on When to Bring Pets to Animal ER

Early Detection Saves Pets

Kansas City, Kan. (Vocus) January 7, 2009

Whether you commit to your new year's resolutions or not, veterinarians at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City are urging you to commit to your pets this year by bringing them in for regular check ups. Regular check ups can result in early detection of critical health issues, which can lead to a loved one's life saved and less costly medical bills for pet owners.

"In the ER it is plain to see how the economy is affecting pet owners in having to decide when and how to provide their loved ones with medical care," says Dr. Jeff Dennis (http://vseckc. com/index. php/vsec/specialist/6/), DVM, ACVIM, an internist with Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services of Kansas City. "We are used to highly emotional cases but the economy has added a new element to emotions felt by pet owners who have recently lost their jobs or homes."

"Many times we see pet parents come in on an emergency basis or when it is almost too late, because they do not realize the consequences of waiting just a little bit longer," says Dr. Shaw (http://www. floridaveterinaryspecialists. com/about/doctor30.cfm), DVM, ACVIM, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. "We all understand that times are a little tough right now, but most owners can save themselves from more costly bills if they find the root of the problem early on, and more often than not it can save their pet's life."

Veterinarians have recently seen an increased trend in pets that arrive at the hospital that have died at home; possibly due to a treatable disease. Other pet owners are faced with the difficult decision to humanely euthanize their pets rather than commit to medical treatment that may be too costly.

"It is difficult and unfortunate to see pet owners have to put their pets to sleep because the illness has progressed to requiring costly medical treatment," says Dr. Shaw. "We believe it is important to provide access to treatments for difficult cases at our facilities. With regular check ups, pet owners could really benefit in the long run when they consult with their family veterinarian."

The current climate of the economy is affecting pet owners who are now more sensitive to their finances.

Dr. Shaw recommends taking immediate action and bringing your pet to your family veterinarian or the emergency room if one or more of the following occur: 
Pet is not drinking Pet is not eating for more than 24 to 48 hours Pet is unable to sleep and get comfortable or rest for any period of time Pet vomits for more than one day or tries to vomit but is unable to do so Pet has any blood in vomit or stool Pet is poorly responsive or unresponsive Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City has been a leader in specialty veterinary care since 1992, fulfilling the need for specialty health care and emergency services for animals in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area and outlying Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Nebraska communities. The hospital continues its tradition of excellence today within its 20,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility; the first and most comprehensive of its kind in the Midwest. As a referral-based animal hospital, VSEC is dedicated to providing superior patient care and client service working closely with the pet's family veterinarian. For more information on VSEC, please visit www. vseckc. com].

Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City is a member hospital of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, along with NYC Veterinary Specialists (www. nyc-vs. com]) and Florida Veterinary Specialists (www. fvs. com]). BluePearl Veterinary Partners merged in 2008 and is one of the leading providers of emergency and specialized referral veterinary medicine.

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