Archive for February, 2008

How to Maximize Your Potential as a Traveling Nurse

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By Janet Fikany It never fails to surprise me how many nurses express their frustration with the world of travel employment. Most often, they wonder why they arent finding the assignments they want and deserve; they wonder why placements can take so long; and they wonder why their agencies arent doing more to help. Its understandable nurses feel like this. Finding the right opportunity can be a timely, stressful, or ultimately unfulfilling process, especially if their placement agency isnt putting in a lot of time on their behalf. However, what many nurses fail to realize is that to be successful as a travel nurse, theres some work that should be done on their part, too! As with any job, you will get out what you put in — your potential is directly related to your involvement in the placement process. In light of all this, here are some tips to help guide nurses in being proactive during a job search to help find the best possible assignment each time. BE PREPARED First, always be prepared to demonstrate your qualifications at any time. Nursing placement agencies will need copies of your current Nursing, Operating-Room Technician, or Allied Health Professional licenses. You will need to show experience in your specialized field. And you will need to verify all of your certification, education, and experience. Candidates who are not prepared to verify their qualifications often end up with the less-desired positions. BE AWARE Second, know what types of facilities are most desirable to you, and make your placement agency aware of this too. For instance, do you like teaching or non-teaching facilities? Large metro facilities or small rural hospitals? High or low volume staffs? If you make clear your preferences from the beginning, you are more likely to find placement in the type of work environment that best suits you. BE TIME CONSCIOUS Third, do your best to have a grasp of the time frame you are planning to remain. Although the industry standard for nursing assignments is a thirteen week period, many assignments may be shorter or longer. Know when you plan to leave, or if youd like to apply for one or more extensions. When you give your placement agency this type of information, you give them the time they need to find you a position that fits your future and moving schedule. BE REALISTIC Fourth, understand the concept of pay rates in the travel nursing business. In many cases, the higher paying positions offer more money for a reason. Before you accept a big pay position, make an attempt to understand why it is big pay. For some nurses, a pay increase is not worth working at hospitals with low nurse-to-patient ratios, extended emergency hours or extremely needy facilities. If you do this research before you accept an available position, you are less likely to step into something unexpected. BE INFORMED Fifth and finally, read the entire contents of your contract. Although, in the past, many travel nurses often worked around verbal agreements, contracts are absolutely necessary. Read over yours carefully. Contact your recruiter with any questions or concerns before signing. If anything is not specific enough, ask for changes. The more specific you are on contract details, the more control you have over your job assignment. If you supply all this information, you will give your placement agency the tools to be able to effectively go to work for you and be there every step of the way. They will have everything they need to ensure you the best travel nursing experience possible. Most importantly, you will be satisfied to know that your extra commitment to your job future did indeed help you to maximize your potential as a successful travel nurse. Janet Fikany is a “Senior Placements Specialist” for HealthCare Staffing Network. For travel nursing advice, please visit HSN online at http://www.hcstaffingnetwork.com/?Travel_Nurse_Jobs, or call toll free at 1-800-388-2610. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Fikany http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Maximize-Your-Potential-as-a-Traveling-Nurse&id=147157 can you give ativan with zyprexa xanex ambien loratab buy xanax ativan buy ativan valium buy valium lora ambien long term

Happy Couples

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By Ross Bainbridge Most couples are looking for a happy relationship. Happiness is a state of mind that makes a person content. Happy couples have the key that enhances a solid relationship. Happy couples genuinely love and respect each other. Their attitudes towards one another and the way they communicate are a key to their successful relationship. The key to happiness in couples is the ability for each person to be able to express their feelings. Expectations from one another are clearly put forth to ensure viability of the relationship. Most happy couples know each other before entering into a relationship. Relationships of happy couples are based on love and trust and not fear. Trust is a very important part of marriage. When two people trust each other, the relationship grows, and the man and woman can grow independently as well. Though they are committed to one another, the space required for growth is present in trusting relationships. Happy couples do not allow anger and frustration to enter into their relationship. They keep negative issues separate from their life. It is important to approach a relationship in a realistic manner. Time spent with each other always bring about a positive impact on the relationship. Most couple that lives together for long periods of time tends to take each other for granted. Mutual respect is an important ingredient in a successful relationship. It is rejuvenating to work on a relationship and most happy couples do just that. A couple has two different personalities living together. They can have different likes and hobbies. This difference can be what attracts them to each other, and their work on their differences and likes to produce a great team. Couples provides detailed information on Couples, Celebrity Couples, Interracial Couples, Couples Counseling and more. Couples is affiliated with Relationship Advice . Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge http://EzineArticles.com/?Happy-Couples&id=304437 order drug zolpidem xpress rx ambien zolpidem 5 10mg fedex 5mg zolpidem ambien regenerate braincells

All About Acrylic Nails

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

By Morgan Hamilton Thanks for visiting and finding my article. What follows is information that I have pulled together from many different sources. I hope you find it both interesting and helpful. I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on acrylic nails but did have a bit of fun writing this.One of the latest trends in nail care and style is acrylic nails. These nails come is a number of designs and colors catered to the customers tastes. The nails are commonly applied for a special occasion, but many women choose to use acrylic nails as part of their regular beauty routine. Using these nails is a fantastic way to lengthen and strengthen short, brittle nails. Some people actually use the nails to stop themselves from biting their nails. Nail biting is a tough habit to break. Artificial nails are a wonderful deterrent for the habit because the nails are quite strong and nearly impossible to chew. For this reason, many people choose to maintain acrylic nails on a regular basis. Routine maintenance also stuff splitting and breaking of the nails. The bi-weekly maintenance for artificial nails is less trouble than maintaining natural nails. Beautiful nails sure can be sexy, there’s no denying that. The industry itself is huge, from the products that are sold, to the nail technicians that service the needs of individuals. Many nail technicians suggest that acrylic nails should be cared for as if they were natural nails. It is a good idea to avoid exposing the nails to water for an extended period of time. The water can seep in between the acrylic and the natural nail, causing damage and possible infection. Wearing rubber gloves when washing dishes is recommended, but aside from that, artificial nail wearers can go about their usual routines without worry, especially if the nails are applied using quality materials. The acrylic nails that are created by mixing a powder with a liquid. Nail artist literally paint and shape the nails into place using this mixture. The liquid recommended by most professional nail technicians is Ethyl Methacrylate, or EMA. Ethyl Methacrylate is a little more expensive than its alternative, Methyl Methacrylate or MMA. Methyl Methacrylate is commonly used because it is more cost-effective. However, MMA is linked to a number of harmful side effects, including skin irritations and irregular nail growth. Most nail artisans urge customers to choose Ethyl Methacrylate because of its superior quality. Excellent materials and proper nail care insures consumers that their nails will enhance their hands with style and safety. Once care and maintenance are in place, a regular acrylic nail customer can concentrate on nail color, design and trends. One of the classic nail color combinations is found in the French manicure. This design is simply a natural nail color accompanied by white tips. This is a popular option for many women because the colors compliment any outfit. Some customers are a little more daring and want to play with color. Nail artists create a plethora of designs ranging from stars to teddy bears. In addition to color, many people choose to add a little sparkle. Nail artists and technicians offer inserts that are imbedded right into the acrylic. Some more exotic choices include tiny gems and stickers that come in a huge range of shapes, designs and colors. A very popular current trend is nail piercing. A nail technician pierces the nail with a piece of jewelry. Doing this on natural nails is virtually impossible so you can see that acrylic nails offer great flexibility. A typical nail application service takes about an hour. Maintenance sessions at the nail salon usually take about 15 minutes. The process is relatively quick and doesn’t cost very much. Acrylic nails are a cost-effective, easily maintained enhancement to a persons grooming routine. Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding the world of health and beauty. You can get interesting and informative information here at Acrylic Nails Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton http://EzineArticles.com/?All-About-Acrylic-Nails&id=245581 ativan recreational use us pharmacies zolpidem no prescription needed no fees ambien lowest prescription price without addiction ambien

Get Rid Of Beer Belly Fast - 9 Tips

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

By Dick Doe People want to get rid get rid of beer belly fast for different reasons. Some people don’t like the wobbly look of their abdomen; others do it to avoid being the butt of jokes. But do you know that apart from these trivial reasons, the most important reason why you should get rid of beer belly fast is because of the health risk associated with your deep abdominal fat. If your abdomen bulges outwards and is as big as your hips if not bigger, then be assured that you are in great danger. In this article I will tell you of a few things you can do to get rid of belly fat. First of all, bear in mind that positive thoughts lead to excellence. So, before all, you need to have keep your thoughts positive. One way to do this is to make an affirmation every morning: I am reclaiming my waistline because I am committed to improving my health. Make a commitment now to make changes in at least two areas of your life. The amount of energy input: - You’ll only eat complex carbohydrates, protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, and you’ll do some exercise. And no, you dont have to join a gym. Commit to a three month program: - Even if you have a few lapses, map out three months on your calendar, and don’t be tempted to give up. One way to track your work towards progress towards getting rid of beer belly is to keep good records. On the first day, take a measurement of your waist (just above your navel), and at the widest part of your hips. Take a note of these measurements and keep them in a safe place. Each month, take the measurements again. Set yourself realistic goals. If your waist measures 36″ (90cms) at the beginning, aim to have it at 35″ at the end of the first month, 33″ on the second and 30″ at the end. That way, you will be able to get rid of beer belly fast. Don’t set unrealistic goals which you cannot ever attain. Drink one glass of lukewarm water each day into which you’ve squeezed the juice of half a lemon. This will help kick start your metabolism, and cleanse your liver; it’s therefore your best friend in fat burning. Take temptation out of your life: for three months you won’t be eating: Say no to sugar, white foods, and refined carbohydrates, caffeinated drinks like cola and coffee, and alcohol. To get rid of belly fat say YES to a hearty meals, including breakfast. It can be mainly protein - scrambled eggs, protein drink. Or invest in unsweetened muesli. If you live in Melbourne, ask about Fruitful handmade muesli, made with 40% nuts for added protein. Eat five small meals a day. Also be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Most people don’t succeed in getting rid of beer belly fast simply because they don’t get to drink enough water. Are you doing exercises and workouts? No, you don’t have to hit the gym, but try to do twenty-thirty sit ups daily before you hit the bed. You will get amazing results after a week. But you mist do this every single night. If you ever skip it for any reason, the belly fat will come right back to you! I sincerely hope that these tips will help you a lot towards getting rid of beer belly and having a strong body. If you want more tips you can check out my resource guide on ‘how to get rid of beer belly fast’ by clicking on the link in my resource box. Dick Doe is a fitness expert.He offers the most comprehensive guide on how to get rid of beer belly.For more information read his article: How To Get Rid Of Beer Belly Fast: The Absolute Truth Revealed! By Going to:http://besthelptips.com/weightloss/articles/get-rid-of-beer-belly.php You can get more tips at:http://besthelptips.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Doe http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Rid-Of-Beer-Belly-Fast—9-Tips&id=507336 buy lorazepam online cod zolpidem zolpidem targrate cheap ambien overnight

Tame Migraine Headaches - Naturally

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD New data revealed June 27, 2006 at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, migraine headaches cost American employers more than $24 billion a year in direct and indirect healthcare costs and lost productivity. Can migraine headache suffers find relief for the pain without breaking the bank? A study completed by P.E. Strang, W.H. Crown, R. Bizier, et al suggests preventative approaches are far more effective than is commonly believed. Preventative measures can eliminate the need for pharmaceuticals or natural remedies, as well as pain/suffering and lost work. The most common prevention techniques include, but are not limited to: Decrease stress Affirm yourself: I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. Life is for me. Decrease Caffeine–drink decaffeinated tea/coffee and eliminate all other drinks with caffeine Discover any food allergies/sensitivitieschocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, MSG, eggs yolks, wheat, yeast, beef can triggereliminate the foods that trigger allergy or sensitivities Eat Right for Your (Blood) Type Maintain healthy body weight 7 to 8 hours of sleep preferably at least 1 hour of sleep before midnight Exerciseaerobics, calisthenics, power walks, hiking or weight trainingat least 2 times a week Use a natural Detox system to cleanse the liver, kidneys, and colon. Buildup of toxins and poor liver functioning can be responsible for headaches because of the body’s inability to eliminate toxins from the diet or the environment. Low blood sugar levels can also bring on headaches, especially if you have skipped a meal. Eliminate all processed sugar and foods with processed sugar or corn syrup. Not only will you eliminate headaches you will lose weight and/or avoid weight gain. Resource: Stang, P.E., Crown, W.H., Bizier, R., et al. The Family impact and costs of migraine, American Journal of Managed Care, May 2004:313-320. Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Author, International Speaker specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD http://EzineArticles.com/?Tame-Migraine-Headaches—Naturally&id=243042 ambien sample ambien withdrawal fda approved ambien ambien cr zolpidem

Nokia N93i - There Is But One Leader

Monday, February 25th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Lucy]Caitlin Lucy What testifies a phone’s claim to be the best in the world? Unique technology, perhaps. The Series 60 platform is amongst the best mobile platforms in the world. Amenable to the Symbian Operating System, the software accounts for the slickest Smart phones the world has yet known. This is but a prelude to the powers of Nokia’s most venerable handset, the N93i. Well yes, the Nokia N93i works on the Symbian OS that supports PC synchronization, Java, local wireless access via Blue tooth, and GPRS. The handset has a compliant design. The clamshell’s front piece swivels on its axis in the open mode to switch on the camera. The prime benefit of a Symbian/Smart phone is its web related abilities. The Nokia N93i phone furnishes WLAN network. It offers XHTML and HTML browsers to let users surf the net. A 3G phone, the Nokia N93i renders speed to operations. With tools of connectivity aplenty Bluetooth, Infrared, USB 2.0, Pop Port, and TV Output the phone receives, unfolds, and dispatches data with celerity. Nokia N93i is a mighty all-purpose phone. It supports diverse kinds of messaging. The range includes SMS, MMS, Emails with or without attachments, and Picture Messaging. This allows users to pick a mode that best serves their purpose. The Nokia N93i has amazing imaging capabilities. It has a 3.2 mega pixel camera. It is equipped with 3x optical zoom, 20x digital zoom, auto focus, scene settings, camera settings, video recorder, and video player. Adobe Premier elements 3.0 allow users to append pictures with imaginative graphics, colours etcetera. If Nokia N93i is a 3G Smart phone it has to have video calling facility. Yes, the phone has a second camera to support video calling. This feature completes the phone’s list of communication lineaments. [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/showphone.asp?id=465]Nokia N93i has a Real Player Media Player, Music Player, FM Radio, Java Games and Applications, embedded games, Organizer and myriad other applications. It is advised that instead of waiting for this list to end you should buy the phone and explore the possibilities. In the act you would realize that the process would never end. Caitlin Lucy is a Expert Author. She has written good quality articles on [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/]Mobile phones and [http://www.3mobileshop.co.uk/simfreephone.asp]Sim Free Phones Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Lucy http://EzineArticles.com/?Nokia-N93i—There-Is-But-One-Leader&id=525747 ambien cod zolpidem for sale help in obtaining ambien sleep medicine free ambien substitute

Children in Weddings — Yes or No?

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

By Irene Conlan Children are wonderful in weddings and often are the scene stealers. Generally serving as ring bearers and flower girls, they will do exactly what they want to and they will be — yes, absolutely — they will be children. Some make it down the aisle and some do not. Some walk, some run, some dance. Some make faces at the guests, some cry, some refuse to go down the aisle and some need to hold moms hand for courage. Regardless of what they do, they are wonderful and will almost always lend a little comic relief to the otherwise solemn ceremony. I watched one beautiful little 3 year old flower girl place one flower petal at a time geometrically all the way down a very long aisle while people on both sides were telling her to hurry. Paying no heed, she did it her way. When she got to the front row where her mother was seated, she was obviously pleased with herself and she stood in front dancing throughout the ceremony. It was priceless and a wedding that this officiant will not forget. In another wedding the two ring bearers, each two years old, one dressed in black formal western wear and the other in a kilt, never made it down the isle but they had a wonderful time and so did everyone else who watched them. One little ring bearer announced loudly, Mama, mama, I have to go make boats and was quickly whisked away to the bathroom as the guests tried hard to suppress their laughter. A WORD OF CAUTION HERE: IF you are an up-tight bride or groom or mother-of-the-bride who must have everything letter perfect or you will consider the whole thing a national disaster, DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN IN YOUR WEDDING. The stress of worrying about what a child will or will not do is just not worth it. But if you want a wedding that is warm and real and beautiful then let little Susie and Mary throw flowers all the way down the aisle, on the guests, or on themselves and have little Timmie be the ring bearer using the ring pillow as a ball or balancing it on his head. This is certainly not the way you practiced it at the rehearsal, but it will be special and something you will never forget. http://www.thepowerzone.com (Hypnotherapy Downloads)http://www.yourscottsdalewedding.com (Scottsdale Weddings)http://your-scottsdale-wedding.com (Wedding Blog) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irene_Conlan http://EzineArticles.com/?Children-in-Weddings—-Yes-or-No?&id=213643 use of ambien ambien cr label ambien stories zolpidem synthesis

Are You Doing the Good Part?

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

By Michelle Jacobson Just compare yourself to these two sisters. Even though they were sisters, Martha and Mary, acted very differently than each other one day when Jesus was with them. Martha was busy serving all of the food while Mary sat by the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). Martha showed how upset she was at her sister. She basically asked Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help her instead of just sitting there. Jesus told her that she was careful and troubled about many things but only one part was needed and Mary had chosen that good part. Martha How does this affect you? Which one of the sisters are you acting like? Are you acting like Martha did in her hurried work for the Master? Sometimes we can be too busy to even listen to God. It’s really sad but even if you’re doing the work in a church for the Lord, you might miss the mostimportant part… The thing is that Martha did the work but her mind was not where it should have been. She was troubled. She was disturbed. She was stressing and thinking about how much work she was doing -which was more than someone else! She was getting more and more frustrated andupset while she was working… She wasn’t really listening to what Jesus was saying even though she was serving Him food! Try it! Talk to someone and while you’re talking to them, have them tell you something. How much did you understand them? Did you understand what theysaid at all? When you’re talking to someone it’s rather difficult to hear them if they start talking to you! It’s possible sometimes to catch part of it -but if doing it in an everyday, normal way it’s even more difficult than during a short test! Prayer Yes, we ask God for a whole lot of things. He promised us a whole lot. It’s a good thing to pray a lot. We’re told in 1Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. That’s praying continually. …But we need to always remember that prayer is a two-way conversation! When you ask Father God for something, always listen for His response! Mary Mary sat and listened to what Jesus said. She wasn’t busy making sure that good food was on the table. She wasn’t mulling over hurts or building up grudgesin unforgiveness. Mary wasn’t talking the whole time while hoping Jesus would yell so that she could hear Him! Mary sat and listened to what Jesus was saying so that she didn’t miss it and could live the way that He was saying… Time Have a time with the Lord so that you can know Him more and more! We spend time with other people so that we can get to know each other. How much more important is it that we spend time with God! How are we really going to get to know Him if we don’t? Read the inspired Word of God. Everything in the Bible accurately tells of Him -what He’s done, is doing, and will do for you. Don’t miss out the better part! Spend time with God and His Word everyday! Feel free to distribute this article if it is kept as is, ncluding the Resource Box at the bottom. Notification of online use is not required but I would appreciate it. Please contact the author prior to use in printed media. -Michelle Jacobson contact@seedministries.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your Words Are Powerful!Find out why in this 5-day mini-course!Just send a blank email to: mailto:wordpower@getresponse.com so that you can find out why right away! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright 2005, SeedMinistries Michelle Jacobson is the author and webmaster at http://SeedMinistries.com where you can get BibleLearningPlus+ word search puzzle ebooks-A fun and easy way to really learn the word of God! Get your free taste of BibleLearningPlus eBooks-Just send a blank email to: mailto:seedministries@getresponse.comand I’ll send you the link to yours right way! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Jacobson http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-You-Doing-the-Good-Part?&id=26733 phentermine without prescription mastercard order phentermine no prescription buy phentermine online by cod phentermine with out a prescription

Ice Fishing: Fun Or Torture?

Friday, February 15th, 2008

By Trevor Kugler I’ve never quite answered this question, although I’m definitely leaning towards torture. There is just something unsettling about standing on a frozen lake cranking an auger like you’re drilling to the center of the earth for a half an hour before the “fishing” can even begin. Then the problem is that you’re sweaty from drilling holes in the ice and the air temperature is below freezing. These two factors go together like oil and water, and the next thing you know you feel like a human Popsicle, and you’re spending the next hour trying to warm up. At this point in the ice fishing excursion, it’s time to start drinking. And that’s precisely what I used to do, and let me tell you something, it made ice fishing fun! Sitting on the ice, sipping on alcohol, B.S’ing with your fishing partner, choking down lung darts (or cigarettes-to the uninitiated), and waiting for a fish to bite. This scenario isn’t so bad, in fact it’s really a good time. Now I don’t drink anymore. I gave it up for personal reasons. Hell I figured that I had lived my life for twenty years while drinking and hadn’t progressed much. So I figured I’d give this thing called life a shot without drinking and see what happens. Then I tried ice fishing minus the drinking. And guess what happened? This is where the question of torture comes in because I surely don’t have the same experience while ice fishing these days. Now ice fishing is just a couple of hours sitting on the ice, freezing my ASS off. Hence the question about torture. So I guess in my personal situation, the answer to the question comes down to whether or not I’m drinking. You can obviously answer the question for yourself. If you somehow enjoy sitting on a frozen lake sipping hot coffee, hoping a fish will bite, more power to you. You’re obviously a bigger man than me. Trevor Kugler - Co-founder of JRWfishing and founder of yourmoneyconnection.comTrevor has more than 15 years of business experience and currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country - Montana. http://www.yourmoneyconnection.com - start actually making money online today. Find out how for FREE! http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html - sign up for the best free fishing Ezine on the web and get a FREE report for your trouble. Trevor’s fishing E-books - http://www.lulu.com/tkugler Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler http://EzineArticles.com/?Ice-Fishing:-Fun-Or-Torture?&id=375703 cheap phentermine online without prescription phentermine online doctor approval buy phentermine online ky phentermine diet pills

The Race to a Paperless Society

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maurice_Ramirez] Maurice Ramirez It is amazing how once you notice something, you begin to pay attention and in paying attention you discover a whole new world. Several weeks ago I wrote an article on portable medical records and the possible uses of technology to bring part of the medical records from novelty status to a mainstream medical device. A few weeks later I was introduced to a new generation of portable medical records that were capable of synchronizing with the electronic medical records at a physician’s office or at a hospital. For those of you who are not familiar with portable medical records allow me a moment to give some definitions. A portable medical record is a USB drive device such as a Thumb Drive, a USB wristband, a USB flash drive wristwatch, pendant, or other portable mass storage that can be worn on the body attached to a belt or keys and holds basic medical information in a database form. Almost all these devices now are password protected and offer varying levels of functionality. A personal health record is the online equivalent of the portable medical record. This software exists on the Internet with storage maintained at a third-party site. The information is again password protected and in an emergency can be accessed by the healthcare provider with an Internet connection and that password. An electronic medical record is a software package utilized by hospital healthcare facility physicians that replaces the paper patient chart. This is an official document and subject to significant government regulation. By 2008 every healthcare provider in the United States must be executing concrete plans to transition from paper to electronic records and by 2014 all paper must be gone. With that in mind let’s turn now back to the portable medical records. This is a market that is exploding. A few short weeks ago I wrote an article, my second in this arena, that described nine products of this type. Two days ago I did a new Google search on this topic (okay, I was desperate for an article topic) and I found no fewer than 24 companies now offering these devices in the United States, Canada and England. Many of these devices are now being made in Taiwan and China and installed directly on the flash drives. They are coming in every shape, size and form but unfortunately with little or no functionality. Yes, they all have some form of password protection and an emergency screen where basic information can be seen without the use of the password. They hold information such as living wills, organ donor cards, healthcare surrogate contracts, past medical histories, allergies, medications and a few hold greater levels of data. Two of them integrate with online personal health records but only one can import and export to electronic medical records. None of these systems however have one basic piece that is required for credibility in the medical world. It is called change tracking and it is the ability for the healthcare professional reading the portable medical record to look at what changes have been made in the portable medical record and what existed in the record before the change was made. Change tracking is an internal audit of the system and ensures that there has been no tampering that could threaten a patient’s life. At least there was not such a system until this week. This week www.theoriginalmymedicalrecords.com announced the prototype release of Version 1.2, a portable medical record with change tracking, high-level encryption and password protection. This is truly something new and represents a second generation of portable medical record. Where will this new medical device find a home? As the water resistant or splash resistant USB devices these units are already finding a home on the wrists of scuba divers, sky divers, mountain bikers and others who enjoy high fun/ high risk sports. But I envision a larger market. I envision a day when rather than receiving a flimsy paper wristband at the hospital or nursing home a patient has a portable medical record in a waterproof band around their wrist. When the nurse comes by with their wireless Tablet computer to chart she simply plugs the patient record band in and the records are immediately synchronized. The patient goes nowhere without their chart on their wrist. When they go home the patient takes the band with them carrying the entire chart in miniature form. The hospital has its copy. The patient has their copy and their copy goes back to the doctor’s office. In the event of an emergency the patient’s band is on their wrist and it does not matter what emergency room they go into, what EMS service picks them up all the important information is at the fingertips of those there to save their life. I envision a day when my disaster medical assistance team (MDMS/DMAT-FL3) provides care in a Katrina like event after a natural disaster with subsequent flooding and places a USB flash drive wristband around the wrist of every evacuee. Information on federal assistance, registration for finding lost family members, their own personal information as well as a health record will travel with them from the moment of rescue until their final destination. If they already had a personal medical record on their wrist or in their pocket or around their neck as an independent we in the MDMS/DMAT-FL3 would be able to plug their device into our computers and upload the important information to help them recover their lives and help us treat their injuries. This second generation of flash drive device holds tremendous promise not only for the transfer of information but even the prevention of medical errors by ensuring that the most basic information is in the hands of those who are making the most important decisions. Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is co-founder of Disaster Life Support of North America, Inc., a national provider of Disaster Preparation, Planning, Response and Recovery education. Through his consulting firm High Alert, LLC., he serves on expert panels for pandemic preparedness and healthcare surge planning with Congressional and Cabinet Members. Board certified in multiple medical specialties, Dr. Ramirez is Founding Chairperson of the American Board of Disaster Medicine and a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. Cited in 24 textbooks with numerous published articles, he is co-creator of C5RITICAL and author of Mastery Against Adversity. Dr. Ramirez invites comments at: [http://www.disaster-blog.com] http://www.disaster-blog.com Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maurice_Ramirez ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maurice_Ramirez [http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Race-to-a-Paperless-Society&id=425774 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Race-to-a-Paperless-Society&id=425774 where buy phentermine get a prescription for phentermine phentermine overseas pharmacy phentermine to buy online