MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'background'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:00:30 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622288&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F22%2Fhow-well-do-you-multitask-between-the-tv-and-the-computer%2F This study hints at the generational shift that is occurring and that researchers are starting to document in studies such as this. Younger adults are used to consuming media simultaneously, from multiple sources, and enjoy doing so. Older adults (that is to say, middle-aged adults and older) do less of this, and tend to enjoy it less. At least according to this single study. Last, the researchers conclude: The brevity of gaze durations on both computer and television content in this multitasking environment suggests a fracturing of attention with rapid attentional shifts and reorientation; both media seem to have limited ability to “hook” a participant into extended runs of attention. Television attention is especially composed of very quick gazes overall, supporting the contention th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622288 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:25:45 +0100 4622288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405774&cid=t_104459_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-every-pregnant-woman-needs-to-do-a-background-check%2F2011.01.27 The journey to a healthy pregnancy and delivery begins with the selection of a healthcare provider, and the challenge is to find the right one. This is the person who will be in charge of your pregnancy up until the time of the delivery, so it certainly is not a casual date. For the next 280 days your life and the life of your unborn child will be in this person’s hands. A background check is therefore in order. One of the best ways to find the right healthcare provider is by word-of-mouth referral from neighbors, friends, or family members however please don’t stop there. Labor and delivery nurses are also a great source of referral because they have seen physicians and midwives under their most vulnerable and challenging moments. Don’t feel intimidated about checking a provide... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405774 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:00:38 +0100 4405774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259201&cid=t_104459_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ftroubled-background-of-male-steroid-abusers%2F In conclusion, this study shows that abusers of anabolic-androgenic steroids often have a troubled social background.Research report; Kurt Skarberg & Ingemar Engstrom. Troubled social background of male anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers in treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2007, 2:20.See alsoAlcoholic Family RolesAre there Patterns to Denial Behavior?Self-Help BooksInspirational BooksThe Guy in the MirrorOriginally posted 2010-03-14 09:41:00. Share, print or e-mail this article1st Sexual ExperiencesSweden Likes AA Too (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259201 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:31:06 +0100 4259201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4237959&cid=t_104459_111_f&fid=38038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcosmicwatercooler.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fadidas-company-background-next-step.html Imagine walking all the adidas company background it comes to get hold on a great idea for the adidas company facts of others people. So Adidas design this a3 Gigaride Running Shoe push you to run as fast as you want in the adidas company background of growing. Not only do they grow out of time to come. As the adidas company profile are classic, they will undoubtedly be ultra comfortable. They come in many ways.Although gaining in popularity, among them Adidas running shoes and Shimano triathlon shoes, customers may want to use caution when shopping online with smaller, less well-known businesses. Make sure you are used to playing in. If you take this to an extreme think about playing golf in high heels, how stable would you feel in those?Marc D. has worked for various Fortune 500 companie... Cosmic Watercooler blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4237959 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:24:00 +0100 4237959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197140&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F24%2Fchange-is-hard-but-not-impossible%2F A lot of “Health 2.0″ tools seek to help people change their behaviors to lead more healthy, productive lives. This is an admirable goal, and one I wholeheartedly endorse. Some of the tools are really “gee-whiz” neat! However, many people involved with building Health 2.0 tools have little or no formal background in human behavior. How do you expect to build tools that seek to change human behavior, with no human behavior experts — you know, psychologists — consulting with you or on your staff? That’s like trying to write a piece of software without a programmer. In reply to a query on this topic, and how people change their behavior, I wrote the following over at the Society for Participatory Medicine’s e-patients.net blog. I think it enca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197140 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:57:57 +0100 4197140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179521&cid=t_104459_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkeyFm8US98k%2F Now that some drugmakers are starting to disclose just how much they pay doctors for speaking engagements, a new wrinkle is emerging - some of these docs have rather questionable qualifications. Such as? Some were sanctions for prescribing unjustified or excessive meds; having inappropriate sexual relations with patients and making serious medical errors. And the disclosures are making some drugmakers uncomfortable. Consequently, at least three pharma companies - Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Pfizer - now say they will take steps to monitor docs who are retained as speakers, according to ProPublica, which recently compiled several databases of info based on web site postings by drugmakers, and followed up by searching for docs who have transgressed. This is no small matter, by the way. ProPub... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179521 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:37:56 +0100 4179521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139289&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fpatrick-kennedy-on-mental-illness-and-treatment%2F This year’s Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy focused on the question of how to help veterans — centering on the National Guard and reservists — reintegrate within their community when they come home. The Guard and reservists have an especially difficult time, because they are outside the usual military structure of benefits and services (although more recently, some benefits have been extended to them because of the extended fighting in the two wars the U.S. has been engaged in in Afghanistan and Iraq). The two-day meeting presented views, personal stories and data on three main themes of veterans’ “reintegration” — within the family, the workplace and the community. It also offered the opportunity to learn about dozens of great se... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139289 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:15:53 +0100 4139289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969052&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F14%2Fintroducing-autism-aspergers-and-beyond%2F In this day and age, we seem to increasingly medicalize mental disorders and their treatment, even in very young children. I believe this has significant repercussions in a child’s development, when parents turn to a psychiatric drug as the sole remedy for their child’s concerns. While no parents wants to see their child suffer needlessly, medications have become the “go to” treatment despite the efficacy and greater safety of other treatments. I’m pleased to welcome you to Autism, Asperger’s and Beyond, a blog by Diane Yapko, MA. Diane is a speech-language pathologist who for the past 30 years has specialized in working with the pediatric population in the areas of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental and neurological disabilities. After listening to her speak on ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969052 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:08:00 +0100 3969052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429160&cid=t_104459_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNAy9l6EF2gI%2F By Daniel GriswoldAlex Nowrasteh and Ryan Young of the Competitive Enterprise Institute make the case for immigration reform in an especially appealing way in a fresh op-ed this week in the Detroit News. In a commentary article titled, “Fix immigration rules to crush black market,” they dissect a well-meaning but flawed Obama administration effort to fix the dysfunctional H-2A visa program for temporary farm workers. Instead of fine tuning an unworkable law, Nowrasteh and Young advocate liberalization: That means making H-2A visas inexpensive, easy to obtain, and keeping the related paperwork and regulations to a minimum. That means no minimum wage hike. No costly background check requirements. People rarely break laws that are reasonable and easy to obey. When legal channels cost too ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429160 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:42:49 +0100 3429160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363823&cid=t_104459_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FTz7NzvCEPB8%2F In conclusion, this study shows that abusers of anabolic-androgenic steroids often have a troubled social background. Research report; Kurt Skarberg & Ingemar Engstrom. Troubled social background of male anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers in treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2007, 2:20. See also Alcoholic Family Roles Are there Patterns to Denial Behavior? Self-Help Books Inspirational Books The Guy in the Mirror Alcoholism, Addiction & Codependency Recovery Bookstore Hazelden Books, DVD's & Medalions (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363823 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:41:00 +0100 3363823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318436&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F28%2Fbecome-a-contributor-to-world-of-psychology%2F Unbeknownst to some of you, World of Psychology welcomes guest contributors! Please send us your essays, commentary, opinion or rational (or sometimes irrational!) thoughts about anything in the world of psychology and mental health. This is a wonderful opportunity for the writers in our audience — professionals and laypeople alike — to share their point of view with our 1.1 million readers. Entries should be about a psychology or mental health topic (obviously), and be something that hasn’t been published online already a hundred times before. We’re especially interested in folks who are interested in recent research or news on a specific topic, and can bring their own background, experiences and insight to bear on that topic. World of Psychology is about opening u... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318436 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:58:10 +0100 3318436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283717&cid=t_104459_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fsmile-radio-soothes-the-savage-beast-and-the-dental-patient%2F MEDIA RELEASE February 17, 2010 New Digital Music Service Designed Just For Dental Practices Boulder, CO – Dental offices now have a better alternative for their in-office music. Custom Channels, a company that creates custom on-line and on-premise radio stations for nationally known brands, has launched Smile Radio – a music service specifically designed for dental practices. Smile Radio includes multiple channels of professionally programmed, continuously updated music handpicked to enhance the sound and atmosphere of dental offices. Smile Radio channels are broadcast directly to dental practices via the Internet and received on a specially designed streaming receiver. Custom Channels’ co-president Dave Rahn said, “A number of my dentist friends really had a hard time finding a ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283717 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:36:49 +0100 3283717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167198&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F12%2Fintroducing-the-therapy-soup-blog%2F As our regular readers know, we’re big supporters of psychotherapy. When you look at the research into what works for most common mental disorders, psychotherapy has decades’ worth of data supporting its effectiveness (in many of its various forms). Yes, medications are often a valuable adjunct treatment for mental health concerns, but for the vast majority of them, people should almost always be in therapy as well (or had a course of it in the past). So it’s with our pleasure to welcome our latest blogger to the Psych Central family, Richard Zwolinski. Richard is an author and therapist, and his blog Therapy Soup will discuss all issues of psychotherapy and the therapeutic process, demystifying it and helping to answer your questions about it. Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CA... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167198 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:23:18 +0100 3167198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3004072&cid=t_104459_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fv%2FdRlQXZeMUcg%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3B Many families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s hire caregiver’s and homecare agencies to provide respite or continuous care. You need to be certain that your loved one will be safe and receives the proper care.....By Angil Tarach Alzheimer's Reading Room I cannot emphasize how important it is to know who is coming into your home. Assist Guide Information Services (AGIS) published an article last year entitled Beware of Former Prisoner's Caring for Your Parents The article talks about prison guards advising soon-to-be released convicts that caregiving is an easy to get employment opportunity. You need to know and understand that many individuals advertising as caregiver’s have been fired from agencies for poor conduct, theft, and other work related problems. With some exp... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3004072 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:21:34 +0100 3004072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883060&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F12%2F6-steps-to-quiet-the-mind%2F I was all set to interview Eric Swanson, coauthor (with Yongey Mingur Rinpoche) of “Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Find Freedom,” when I realized that my main question — Can you give me some concrete steps to quiet the mind? — was already addressed in his book! So he and Harmony Books graciously gave me permission to reprint parts of chapter seven on “Attention.” Here, then, is the step-by-step approach to mindfulness or meditation — the basic practices of quieting the mind — provided in “Joyful Wisdom”: Step One: Objectless Attention The most basic approach to attention is referred to as “objectless”–not focusing on any specific “scene” or aspect of experience, but just looking and marveling a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883060 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:05:01 +0100 2883060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855811&cid=t_104459_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2F0476ajmVajQ%2Fsystem-puts-felons-in-caregiver-jobs.html This story pertains to Florida but could be happening anywhere in the country. The article highlights the need to do good due diligence if you are going to put your loved into the hands of a hired caregiver, or some type of Alzheimer's care facility. My suggestion is that you try to determine not only the reputation but also the "track record" of anyone you decide to hire or pay for caregiving services. More than 8,700 people initially barred from being caregivers due to criminal records have been granted special permission by the state to work with children, the elderly and the infirm, a Sun Sentinel investigation found. About 1,800 — or one in five — were arrested again, some within days of the determination that they were of "good moral character" and could be trusted to care for... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855811 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:53:39 +0100 2855811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851770&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fnanny-state.html Some time has passed since the latest E. coli outbreak in the UK. So this should cement my reputation as contemporary.For those not aware, or who can't be arsed to read the Wikipedia entry linked above, escherichia coli is a bacteria, commonly found in the alimentary tracts (guts) of mammals. It is generally an harmless commensal bacteria, that is to say one that lives within its 'host', cheek by jowl, without causing symptoms.However, certain subtypes can cause symptoms, usually those of food poisoning - diarrhoea and vomiting, but occasionally progressing to more serious complications, such as renal failure.This is an over-simplification, but if you really want to know the ins and outs, the info is out there.The point is, if you get shit on your hands, or anything else you might put in y... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851770 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0100 2851770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820226&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fmoving-on.html The written part of my exams have been and gone, and I passed. It feels like an anti-climax, something that ha sbeen weighing heavily on every aspect of my life for almost a year; still, at least, as Colossus put it, I didn't "f. it up at the first hurdle"I now have parts 2 and 3 to come, and remian pessimistically sure that I'll f. oneof them up. Even if I don't, my contract runs out in January, and i really haven't figured out where I want to work next / for the rest of my life yet.I have also gone full circle, and back to South Coast General, where I started my Specialist Training. The all seem pleased to see me, which makes me wonder what I did right the first time around, and fills me with fear that I can only be a crushing disappointment this time around.South Coast General is busy. ... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820226 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:45:00 +0100 2820226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630054&cid=t_104459_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpHXPcnkCiBc%2F The proposed PASS ID Act is a national ID just like REAL ID, and it threatens privacy just as much. Some argue that a national ID under PASS ID should be palatable, though, because it reduces costs to states. But savings to states under PASS ID are not at all clear. Let’s take a look at the costs of creating a U.S. national ID. The REAL ID Act, passed in May 2005, required states to begin implementing a national ID system within three years. In regulations it proposed in March 2007, the Department of Homeland Security extended that draconian deadline. States would have five years, starting in May 2008, to move all driver’s license and ID card holders into REAL ID-compliant cards. The Department of Homeland Security estimated the costs for this project at $17.2 billion dollars (net ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630054 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:46:38 +0100 2630054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389659&cid=t_104459_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FjhwD7iG_CAc%2F The Heritage Foundation’s “The Foundry” blog has a post up called “Questions for Secretary Napolitano: Real ID.” Honest advocates on two sides of an issue can come to almost perfectly opposite views, and this provides an example, because I find the post confused, wrong, or misleading in nearly every respect. Let’s give it a brief fisking. Below, the language from the post is in italics, and my comments are in roman text: Does the Obama Administration support the implementation of the Real ID Act? (Hope not . . . .) Congress has passed two bills that set Real ID standards for driver’s licenses in all U.S. jurisdictions. REAL ID was a federal law that Congress passed in haste as an attachment to a military spending bill in early 2005. To me, “REAL ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389659 Wed, 06 May 2009 12:38:42 +0100 2389659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306742&cid=t_104459_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5jD7vZ_jCwM%2F The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a new paper out on electronic employment verification systems. Using government estimates, it finds that operating a nationwide worker background check system would cost $10 billion a year. The Chamber is no opponent of requiring employers to check workers’ immigration status — I oppose the policy, preferring to live in a free country — but the paper has a lot of information about the practical impediments to giving the federal government a say in every hiring decision. It also gives the last word to my paper, Electronic Employment Eligibility: Franz Kafka’s Solution to Illegal Immigration. In the paper, I discuss a method for verifying work eligibility under the current immigration law without creating a national identity system. It... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306742 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:22:10 +0100 2306742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249761&cid=t_104459_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FKd7kKW5rf6M%2F Today we'll discuss some of the cognitive implications of "always on" workplaces and lifestyles via a fascinating interview with Maggie Jackson, an award-winning author and journalist. Her latest book, Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age, describes the implications of our busy work and life environments and offers important reflections to help us thrive in them. This is a 2-part interview conducted via e-mail: we will publish the continuation on Thursday March 12th. Alvaro Fernandez: New York Times columnist David Brooks said last year that we live in a Cognitive Age, and encouraged readers to be aware of this change and try and adapt to the new reality. Can you explain the cognitive demands of today's workplaces that weren't there 30-40 years ago? Maggie... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249761 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:07:10 +0100 2249761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240889&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fmy-mental-health-experiment-10-days-with-no-computer%2F In her new book “An Altar in the World,” bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor writes about “the practice of paying attention.” She explains: The practice of paying attention is as simple as looking twice at people and things you might just as easily ignore. To see takes time, like having a friend takes time. It is as simple as turning off the television to learn the song of a single bird. Why should anyone do such things? I cannot imagine–unless one is weary of crossing days off the calendar with no sense of what makes the last day different from the next. Unless one is weary of acting in what feels more like a television commercial than a life. The practice of paying attention offers no quick fix for such weariness, with guaranteed results printed on the s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240889 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:19:16 +0100 2240889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2205007&cid=t_104459_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F21%2Fovercoming-depression-do-it-yourself-or-get-a-professional%2F About a month ago, I put in a new faucet. Our old one was leaky, old, crusted over, and the dripping, dripping, dripping was torture to my ears. Imagine trying to sit and write something brilliant with that going on in the background every 1.7 seconds? Finally, I took it upon myself to take care of it. I thought I’d suffered enough with this thing, more misery than it was worth hoping something would happen. Since my husband wasn’t too enthused, I decided I’d tackle it myself. I was going to “fix” my faucet. I did get the right parts at the store, wrestled with the old faucet for a while, and finally got the thing working. What pride I had in doing it myself! I was reluctant even to ask help from my husband after a while when I was stuck on the last piece &#... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2205007 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:42:49 +0100 2205007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074627&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fpoint-and-counter-point.html Anji left an interesting comment following my last post. For clarity, I'm reproducing it here, so as to offer my take.I guess... as a patient and having experienced something say, a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection or a sore throat needing to be looked at, and getting the ol' "you're-wasting-my-time" look from the doc, I'd rather go to a PA while my doc goes and tackles something else much more challenging. Or, at the very least... make my doc stop rolling his eyes when I haven't been able to swallow for two weeks and my glands are huge and I just want some antibiotics or some relief! :DMy husband is a medic with the canadian army and I'm encouraging him to go for his PA as soon as he is able to. He's too old (36) to start fresh and become a doctor but he's not too old to do th... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074627 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:21:00 +0100 2074627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011194&cid=t_104459_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F7N4v9CZX5V4%2F An audit of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs has reported numerous oversights including failures to follow up on up on safety violations and insufficient efforts to keep abusers off facility payrolls, yesterday’s Associated Press (via the Courier Post) reports. The audit recommends Disabilities and Special Needs require fingerprinting and FBI national background checks for caregivers, not just a check through the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division. The agency said it would consider the feasibility of fingerprint checks. Meanwhile, the agency isn’t doing enough to check references. It “does not have an adequate system to ensure that direct caregivers who are dismissed for consumer safety-related disciplinary infractions are not reh... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011194 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:00:29 +0100 2011194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881386&cid=t_104459_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F16%2Fwoohoo-we-have-a-survey-tool%2F Go on, humour me, I’ve got a new toy! The WordPress people have brought out a survey tool and I want to experiment with it. I promise it will take very little time - and the results will be instant. Oh and it has no calories. View Poll        (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881386 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:22:42 +0100 1881386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870863&cid=t_104459_114_f&fid=35410&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fletstalkhealthcare%2F%7E3%2F416889304%2F I do call-in radio shows every once in a while just to hear what people want to chew the fat about.  I did one about a month ago and got asked by three different people on three different calls why Harvard Pilgrim didn’t offer a certain kind of plan.  One called about a “two person plan” instead of a family plan for herself and her son.  Another person called about chiro coverage as a part of the plan design.  And a third caller asked me why we didn’t offer high deductible plans attached to a Health Reimbursement Account.  I found this all kind of interesting, because we sell all three of these plan designs - in both the individual and group markets - and as the calls went on, I realized the callers just assumed that Harvard Pilgrim had chosen the plan d... HPHC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870863 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:33:22 +0100 1870863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841169&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fsort-of-open-reply.html If only because some good points were made, and, if I have mis-represented myself, then explanation should be public.I want to apologise for over-egging the pudding, suggesting that No-One, from the aforementioned NotDrRant laid all the blame at the foot of the docs. And I concur, there are indeed some truly awful docs in the system, and rooting them out has been, and remains, difficult.I don't object, by and large, to swearing. I swear vigorously myself at any given opportunity, and the example I gave may have given the impression that it was an indirect dig, or slight, aimed at No-One. Not so. My complaint was more in general, and I freely admit that No-One has indeed not named any specifics. But sites do exist where people can, and do; and the lack of a right-of-reply remains. My own ex... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841169 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:02:00 +0100 1841169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841171&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fodds-and-sods.html Ruminations...Struggle on, trying to finish some work related research, revise, generally live my life. It goes slowly; I think I'd be good as a sloth. Although not sure I'd pass the entrance exam.La Belle Fille continues to understand, which is good of her; spent the weekend hanging out, which is good for the soul; I also had the pleasure of seeing possibly the world's biggest round of cheese at the local French market. God love the French.A brief flag for NotDrRant. This blog has a very different spin on the NHS; a patient's view, and not a complimentary one. I'm in favour of free speech, so you should feel free to check them out, tho' I don't hold with their take on the causes of the faults ( to whit, it's all the doctor's fault. ) That having sad, the author doesn't seem to have been s... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841171 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:47:00 +0100 1841171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1323209&cid=t_104459_140_f&fid=35457&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattling-schizophrenia%2F%7E3%2F257068261%2F By Robin Kumar Lim Schizophrenia (literally “split mind”) is often thought of as a split or dual personality. However, this disease is best defined as a disorganization of normal thought and feeling. It is probably caused by the malfunctioning of the cells through which information flows within the brain. Symptoms usually appear in late adolescence or early adulthood, and extreme mental stress almost always triggers them. The illness is lifelong, but acute attacks tend to come and go, and usually occur at times of emotional upheaval or personal loss. What are The Symptoms? Some popular novels, plays and movies have encouraged us to think of schizophrenia in extremely narrow and dramatic terms. Schizophrenia has been presented quite often in terms of the split personality, two s... Battling-Schizophrenia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1323209 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:39:10 +0100 1323209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1265187&cid=t_104459_134_f&fid=35158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kweaver.org%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F5_years.html I have been blogging now for 5 years. Not every day but I have. I have learned a lot and not just about diabetes. I am slowly coming to the realization that I am a good technical and educational writer. I am really good at writing grants and filling out state forms. I have learned I am a good teacher. The kids I teach do not always learn what I think they should but they do usually get what they want out of my class. I wish I could fix that more. it is a tough balance to teach an elective - you have to do it in such a way to attract the masses so that the few who really want what I teach can even have me. I have also learned that diabetes is a small female beage who won't grow up to be a good dog - in other words a real bitch.... You can not let you guard for a moment as when you do i... Living With Diabetes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1265187 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:38:44 +0100 1265187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045165&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fsick-as-parrot.html 3 - 2, my arse.And, I look like a 17 year old with a hormonal problem (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045165 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:54:00 +0100 1045165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1034339&cid=t_104459_140_f&fid=35457&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattling-schizophrenia%2F%7E3%2F186322207%2F By Juliet Cohen Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has been recognized throughout recorded history. The first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge in the teenage years or early twenties. It is a form of psychosis, which is an impairment of thinking in which the interpretation of reality is abnormal. It is uncommon in children and is hard to recognize in its early phases. The term schizophrenia literally means split mind; however, many people still believe incorrectly that the condition causes a split personality (which is an uncommon problem involving dissociation). The cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. People with schizophrenia may hear voices other people don’t hear or they may believe that others are reading their minds, controlling the... Battling-Schizophrenia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1034339 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:51:06 +0100 1034339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=822387&cid=t_104459_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fbackground-checks-on-independent.html The American Stroke Association has a site on doing background checks when hiring an independent caregiver. They explain that background checks can include criminal background checks at the state and federal level, checking driving records, checking for auto insurance, and perhaps a credit check.The Stroke Association page explains that anyone can do a background check. For a state check go to the computer and enter the name of the state and the words "criminal background check".The article said that background checks can be done through the FBI database also. On the computer enter the words "FBI Criminal Background Checks". The caregiver will need to be fingerprinted.For more details go to http://www.stroke.org/There are also services available and investigators who can do the checks for ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=822387 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:47:00 +0100 822387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=593515&cid=t_104459_140_f&fid=35457&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattling-schizophrenia%2F%7E3%2F114779402%2F By Tibor Rozsahegyi Schizophrenia, a chronic psychiatric condition causes reduced capacity to work and is characterized by “positive” psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts, belligerence, eccentricity, and “negative” symptoms, like decreased self-regard, apathy, depression, decreased motivation and social isolation. Anomalies of the fundamental cogitation processes, which affect functions like creative (imaginative) thinking, ability to make contact with others, using the language and expressing the feelings (emotions) is regarded as the central aspect of schizophrenia as well. The chances of developing the disorder at any time during the lifespan – but especially in the early adulthood - stand at 0.7-1% percent and the one year prevalence rate, ... Battling-Schizophrenia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=593515 Mon, 07 May 2007 12:30:22 +0100 593515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552119&cid=t_104459_140_f&fid=35457&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattling-schizophrenia%2F%7E3%2F106591729%2F By Mansi Aggarwal What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is an incurable mental illness. It is taken to be a psychotic disorder that makes the person unable to link thought, emotion and behavior. This leads to a withdrawal from his personal relationships and reality. In schizophrenia people undergo psychotic episodes. A psychotic episode is the term coined for unnecessary and unusual mood swings, becoming restless and eager without any good reason and being withdrawn. Schizophrenia, thus deeply affects/hampers the functioning of one’s thinking, conduct, social and personal life. When is it Schizophrenia? The diverse symptoms are a clue to the different kinds of schizophrenia. The indicators that are broadly divided into three categories thus vary with the types of schizophrenia. Positive ... Battling-Schizophrenia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552119 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:12:44 +0100 552119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=535227&cid=t_104459_114_f&fid=35410&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.letstalkhealthcare.org%2F%3Fp%3D49 Most people may not even know that Harvard Pilgrim has a Foundation, much less what it does.  Well, among other things, it supports the Institute for Linguistic and Cultural Skills, which provides in- person cultural competency training and education to providers and employers around the region.  Most recently,  Institute Director Shani Dowd told me they were recently awarded a $360,000 grant by the Metrowest Foundation (which is located in the western suburbs of Boston) to provide cultural competency training to all 1,600 people who work in the Metrowest Medical Center’s health care delivery system. This is huge news for two reasons – first, it’s a great opportunity for Shani and her team to do some good in our own backyard, and second, it’s a ringing endorsement of the progr... HPHC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=535227 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 21:38:28 +0100 535227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=535228&cid=t_104459_114_f&fid=35410&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.letstalkhealthcare.org%2F%3Fp%3D47 Harvard Pilgrim is a non-profit health plan located in Massachusetts.  We’re licensed to sell and service health insurance solutions in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. We also have an expansive physician and hospital network in Rhode Island, which supports some members who get their coverage in Massachusetts, but receive their health care in Rhode Island. We have about 1 million members (over 1 million, actually), most of whom live in Massachusetts, but we’ve also got about 50,000 members in Maine and another 100,000+ members in New Hampshire.We’ve won a number of awards over the years for member satisfaction and clinical effectiveness, and U.S. News & World Report  gave us their #1 ranking for two years in a row in their annual survey of the best health ... HPHC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=535228 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 15:18:27 +0100 535228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=512844&cid=t_104459_137_f&fid=35354&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.fadingfrommemory.info%2Fpost%2F2007%2F03%2F29%2FTurning-point Last week, when we were discussing dad, Greg recalled the time when he felt that our relationship with dad had switched, the moment when instead of being dependants, we became the depended upon. I have already given my version of this moment. It was about 1985, just after dad's retirement, and in particular there was an evening at the Imperial Peking restaurant where dad, instead of appearing urbane and in control, seemed to defer and dither in a way that I had not seen before. For Greg, it was about the same time, but a different occasion. Dad had for a long time raised the idea of the three of us going into the bush together for, I guess, some belated 'bonding'. For Greg and I it was not important, but as dad gathered his maps and equipment, and kept the subject alive, we were content t... Fading from Memory blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=512844 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:05:00 +0100 512844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485732&cid=t_104459_107_f&fid=34998&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reagank.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwhat_are_the_ethical_issues_in.php I've discussed some of the scientific and policy challenges that surround personalized medicine, but I've left for last a much harder task: defining the ethical issues. From my perspective, policy and science problems share at least one important common feature - even if no one can agree on the optimal solution, it's possible to propose a solution, consider it's appropriateness in a reasonably objective fashion (hopefully using some pre-determined metric), and make adjustments based on its performance. Ethical issues are a bit trickier. I would guess that most people are willing to agree on what (most) the issues are, but that's about as far as things go. Trying to decide on appropriate solutions is much harder, because it's essentially a balancing act, and success looks less like an objec... Let's Get Personal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485732 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:28:24 +0100 485732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485733&cid=t_104459_107_f&fid=34998&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reagank.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwhat_are_the_policy_issues_in.php As with any significant undertaking, the challenges facing personalized medicine are not limited to the science behind it. A large number of public policy challenges exist that must be addressed before personalized medicine can become a reality. Each of these challenges must be dealt with not by a single person or group, but by all of the stakeholders that are affected by it. Who are the stakeholders? That seems like an easier question than it actually is, but in general, the stakeholders are physicians, health care organizations like hospitals and health networks, private insurance providers, public insurance providers such as medicare and medicaid, pharmaceutical companies, state governments, the federal government, and, of course, patients. Not all of these are affected by each issue, b... Let's Get Personal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485733 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:16:33 +0100 485733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485734&cid=t_104459_107_f&fid=34998&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reagank.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwhat_are_the_scientific_issues.php The promise of personalized medicine is one that is fundamentally rooted in science. It's based, at least partly, on the belief that drives all science: knowing more (relevant) information about a process can lead to a deeper understanding of how that process works. Much science, however, (and particularly molecular biology) has followed a fundamentally reductionist paradigm. Each part of a system is studied in isolation, and the information it provides is considered additive to the information provided by a separate piece of the system. But R.B. Laughlin and David Pines write So the triumph of the reductionism of the Greeks is a pyrrhic victory: We have succeeded in reducing all of ordinary physical behavior to a simple, correct Theory of Everything only to discover that it has revealed ... Let's Get Personal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485734 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:39:01 +0100 485734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485736&cid=t_104459_107_f&fid=34998&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reagank.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwelcome_lets_get_personal.php After a long time of thinking about it (and a long time spent procrastinating), I've decided to resurrect the blog. So I've slapped on a new coat of paint, added a few new gew-gaws, and I'm off to the races. Sort of. The blog is now actually an experiment of sorts. I'm waist-deep in writing my thesis, which is a risk prediction system that is able to sit at the heart of a personalized medicine system. It's fascinating work and I'm learning incredible amounts both about the mechanism of making a prediction and about what extra steps are necessary to make an algorithm clinically relevant and doctor friendly. (Source: Let's Get Personal) Let's Get Personal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485736 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:11:39 +0100 485736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=624494&cid=t_104459_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F10%2Fbacground-rantings.html And so it begins...Good evening, good morning... whatever. If you've come this far, come a little further; you might just save my life. Or I might just be another drama queen. I'm not sure yet.That's me on the left. I'm trying to look cool, and I thought I'd done a good enough job. I'm not so sure anymore. This blog will serve as my anxiety dustbin. It might even be a cathartic experience, but mostly I just want to sound off; vent my spleen as it were. Listen if you will; I guess this way, I don't have to know if you aren't.Background CheckThe Shroom is a 32 year old Brit working in Emergency Medicine - Accident and Emergency as was ( or Casualty,if you're old enough...)I studied at a London Medical School, where I had more fun than was seemly.I'm beginning to think I had more than my dueI... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=624494 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 16:28:00 +0100 624494