World Love Magazines

The pointless ocean moans on top of each conventional mathematics.

2012-01-27T09:15:00.001-08:00

The pointless ocean moans on top of each conventional mathematics.

Cape Cod Home Decor

2012-01-26T19:17:00.001-08:00

If you prefer your home to have that old world charm and exhibit a warm, cozy and inviting feel, Cape Cod decor is ideal for you! This type of decor is very commonly seen in the houses in the eastern part of the United States, however now, due to its simple, at the same time, unique look, it has caught the fancy of modern interior decorators everywhere. This traditional decor is now being replicated in houses and in apartments, by people who prefer their homes comfortable as well as exhibiting an old, antiquated appeal!

Cape Cod Decorating Ideas

Cape Cod décor is all about living a life of relaxation and simplicity. Open air, natural environment, fresh breeze - these are some of the things that represent Cape Cod décor. Keeping these in mind, the various interior decorating decisions regarding paint colors, furniture, flooring and accessories should be taken.

Paint Colors
In a Cape Cod style house, bright and bold paint colors like red, yellow and blue are used. However, if used alone, these paint colors can be very overwhelming, so always use them in combination with white, to create a balanced look. Painting the room walls in white color will give it a very crisp and fresh look, at the same time the bright colors will add energy to the room surroundings!

For those of you who have a spacious, private house where there is a lot of scope for natural sunlight to come in, instead of painting the walls, have them paneled in knotty pines. This will give a raw cottage-like appeal to your house, making it look as authentic as some of the houses that you find in eastern United States. If you have a flat and you feel that knotty pine walls will give the rooms a very dark, grim look, then an interesting idea is to paint three walls and have just one of them paneled in knotty pine!

Furniture
The furniture pieces should be strong, big and durable, very similar to the country style furniture. However, when it comes to Cape Cod décor, nothing dull looking will do. So, if the sofa is of brown color, throw bright colored pillows on it to create a cheery ambiance. Otherwise, buy sofas in some bright color itself such as red or chocolate. Wicker furniture, especially which is painted in white color goes very well with Cape Cod décor. White wicker furniture will give the whole Cape Cod home decor a very unique look!

Flooring
In a Cape Cod home, the flooring has to be wooden. If you feel that it is going to pinch the pocket, do at least the living room and the master bedroom floor in hardwood. If the entire house has hardwood flooring, then accentuate the look of the floor by throwing some bright colored rugs on it.

Fabrics
When it comes to choosing fabrics, be it curtains or table runners or napkins or rugs, go with floral designs, striped designs or those which depict some historical theme. Fabrics with maps and things which remind one of sea like fishes, shells, rocks, beaches, etc. are some other patterns that you can consider for a Cape Cod home.

Accessories
In a Cape Cod décor, use antiquated accessories. Metal candle holders, iron or glass chandeliers, inherited quilts, these are some of the accessories that go very well with a Cape Cod décor. As wood is widely used in Cape Cod homes, so wood panels which have some beautiful, old-world kind of designs on them, should be put up on the walls to create decorative patterns. Panels painted in white color go exceptionally well with Cape Cod decor.

As sea themes are very much a part of many a Cape Cod homes, so you can have accessories that are inspired by the same. Wall hangings or pictures which have a light house, ship, sea waves, rocks, seagulls, beaches or any other thing that reminds one of the sea, décor items made up of sea shells, a large compass placed on one of the shelves in the living room, these are some of the items that you can use to accessorize your house. Hanging a large fish made of glass or metal on one of the prominent walls in the living room is a unique and interesting idea for Cape Cod homes. If you have shelves in your living or bedroom, fill glass vases or bottles with different shaped rocks and seashells and display them on these. To complete the décor, a must have in a Cape Cod living room is a lamp filled with seashells which has a sailor or a lighthouse by its side!

A Cape Cod décor has a very rustic, cottage-like feel to it. It is meant for those people who want to slow down and take life easy. So, if you want to live in a home that reeks of freshness, that makes you feel as if you are on a never ending vacation, then go ahead and decorate your house in Cape Cod style!

Safety First on Halloween

2011-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just because Halloween celebrates all things scary, doesn't mean you want any safety scares of your own. Use these tips from USA.gov to make sure you and your family have a fun and safe holiday.

Pick Visible Costumes: Pick brightly colored costumes to make it easier for cars to see trick-or-treaters on dark roads. If the costume must be dark, apply reflective tape on the costume or candy bags to help them be more noticeable. Flashlights are also good to carry.

Use Face Paint instead of a Mask with your Children’s Costumes: Face paint may work better than a mask when it comes to visibility. If you decide to paint designs on your kids' faces, follow the directions on the face paint package closely. It's a good idea to test the face paint a few days before Halloween and be sure to avoid the eye area when applying.

Don’t snack while Trick-or-Treating: Inspect all treats before allowing your children to snack on them. Toss out any candy with opened or damaged wrappers and homemade treats.

Consider using a Glow Stick: Make sure costumes are flame resistant. In luminaries or jack-o-lanterns consider using a glow stick or battery-powered lights instead of candles.

HEALTH COVERAGE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

2011-08-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

MEDICAID & THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)

offer free or low-cost health coverage to children and families.

If you are eligible for health coverage from your employer, but are unable to afford the premiums, some States have premium assistance programs that can help pay for coverage. These States use funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs to help people who are eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage, but need assistance in paying their health premiums.

If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you live in a state offering assistance (Florida), you can contact the Children's Health Insurance Plan or your State Medicaid office to find out if premium assistance is available.

If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, you can contact any of the groups listed here to find out how to apply. If you qualify, you can ask the State if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer-sponsored plan:

Contact the State Medicaid Office

Contact the Children's Health Insurance Plan

Contact INSURE KIDS NOW by calling 1-877-Kids-Now (1-877-543-7669)

Once it is determined that you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, your employer’s health plan is required to permit you and your dependents to enroll in the plan – as long as you and your dependents are eligible, but not already enrolled in the employer’s plan. This is called a “special enrollment” and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance.

As a Florida resident, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums.

To learn more, call for further information at 1-866-762-2237, or click here to go online to the FLORIDA MEDICAID website.

Stay Safe during a Lightning Storm

2011-07-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

"IF THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS"

Since thunder and lightning storms happen frequently during the summer months, FEMA offers these tips on how to avoid injury during a lightning storm:

Avoid contact with corded phones.
Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. Unplug electronic equipment well before the storm arrives because power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
Avoid contact with plumbing and bathroom fixtures because they can conduct electricity: do not wash hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes or do laundry.
Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.
If you're caught outside during a storm, stay away from tall trees. Avoid open fields, beaches, and boats on the water. If possible, seek shelter in a thick growth of small trees or in a low lying area. Also avoid anything metal such as golf clubs/carts, tractors, bicycles, etc. Seek shelter in a car if possible, but avoid touching any of its metal parts.

Because lightning is unpredictable and can strike 10 miles outside of any rainfall the risk to individuals and property is increased. If you feel you hair standing on end (which indicates lightning is about to strike) squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact it the ground. DO NOT lie flat on the ground.

Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. The following are things you should check when you attempt to give aid to a victim of lightning:

Breathing - if breathing has stopped, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Heartbeat - if the heart has stopped, administer CPR.
Pulse - if the victim has a pulse and is breathing, look for other possible injuries. Check for burns where the lightning entered and left the body. Also be alert for nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing and eyesight.

Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000,

but could be reduced even further by following these safety precautions.

Information provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

New Generic Drugs in 2011-2012

2011-07-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Generic drugs can save you money. What are considered generic drugs? According to the FDA:

"A generic drug is identical--or bioequivalent--to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price."

Below are two lists* for drugs which are soon to become "generic" for the years 2011 and 2012.

2011

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availibility

Uroxatral------------------------- alfuzosin------------------------July
Zyprexa---------------------------olanzapine----------------------October
Lipitor-----------------------------atorvastatin--------------------November
Caduet----------------------------amlodipine----------------------November
Tazorac----------------------------tazarotene cream---------------November

2012

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availibility

Lexapro---------------------------escitalopram--------------------February
Entocort EC-----------------------budesonide----------------------February
Avandia---------------------------rosiglitazone--------------------March
Avandaryl-------------------------glimepiride---------------------March
Avandamet-----------------------metformin-----------------------March
Boniva----------------------------ibandronate---------------------March
Seroquel--------------------------quetiapine-----------------------March
Avapro----------------------------irbesartan----------------------March
Avalide---------------------------hydrochlorothiazide-------------March
Provigil---------------------------modafinil------------------------April
Plavix-----------------------------clopidogrel----------------------May
Viramune-------------------------nevirapine-----------------------May
Lescol-----------------------------fluvastatin----------------------June
Tricor-----------------------------fenofibrate----------------------July
Clarinex--------------------------desloratadine--------------------July
Singulair--------------------------montelukast---------------------August
Actos-----------------------------pioglitazone----------------------August
Exforge---------------------------amlodipine-valsartan------------September
Diovan----------------------------valsartan------------------------September
Diovan HCT----------------------hydrochlorothiazide--------------September
Geodon---------------------------ziprasidone----------------------September
Combivir-------------------------lamivudine-zidovudine-----------November
Atacand--------------------------candesartan---------------------December
Maxalt---------------------------rizatriptan-----------------------December

*these lists are provided by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit Independent Licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Facts and Myths about Generic Drugs

Fact: 7 in 10 prescriptions in the United States are filled by generic drugs.

Myth: Brand name drugs are safer than generic drugs. Fact: FDA receives very few reports of adverse events about specific generic drugs. Most reports of adverse events are related to side effects of the drug ingredient itself.

To learn more facts and myths concerning generic drugs, please visit the FDA site.

Back-To-School Student Health Fair August 6th

2011-07-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is hosting a Back-to-School Health Fair for all Pasco County school students in grades Pre-K through12:

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital

Medical Arts Building

6633 Forest Avenue, New Port Richey, FL

To register, call 727-940-2804. Click here for maps and directions.

The following programs will be offered free of charge:

School/Sports Physicals
Cardiac Screenings: EKG & ECHO (high school student athletes only)
General Health Information
Fingerprinting provided by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office

All students under the age of 18 must have a signed permission slip or have a parent or guardian present with them on

the day of the event to participate. Permission slips will be provided upon registration. All students ages 18 and older must bring photo identification.

In addition, the following services will also be provided by the Pasco County Health Department free of charge. All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive these services:

Dental Screenings and Education
School Immunizations - please bring immunization records

MORTON PLANT MEASE

BAYCARE HEALTH SYSTEMS

1876 Newspaper AdvertisementTouting Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate

2011-07-19T02:08:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog presents an image, and transcribes the text, of an advertisement published in a New York City newspaper in 1876 touting real estate in the new development in lower Westchester County being constructed by the Pelham Manor

City Island Horse Railroad Temporarily Shut Down in 1892 Over Cruelty Concerns

2011-07-18T02:02:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site.Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

I have been working on a history of the "horse railroad" that once ran in the Town of Pelham from Bartow Station to the end of City Island. Today's post adds additional research to the collection I have assembled so far. At the end of this post is a list of links

Another Newspaper Account of The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

2011-07-15T01:42:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
I have written previously much about the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885. For a few examples, see:

Monday, September 24, 2007: The Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Tuesday, September 25, 2007: More About the Pelhamville Train Wreck of 1885

Wednesday, September

After Annexation of Part of Pelham by New York City, Mount Vernon Barbers Avoided Sunday Blue Laws by Operating in the Remainder of Pelham

2011-07-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
When New York City annexed large portions of the Town of Pelham in the mid-1890s, it annexed City Island. At the time of the annexation, most Town officials -- including law enforcement officials -- lived on City Island or in other areas annexed by New York City.

Florida Kid Care - Income Eligibility 2011

2011-07-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Are you eligible for Florida Kidcare, Medicaid, or Healthy Kids? In order to make that determination, you first need to know where your family income falls in the poverty guidelines. See the new 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines below:

**The 2011 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia**
Persons in family	Poverty guideline
1	$10,890
2	$14,710
3	$18,530
4	$22,350
5	$26,170
6	$29,990
7	$33,810
8	$37,630
For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.

To read more information about the Federal 2011 Poverty guildlines, click HERE. Also, if you need to view the income amounts at the varying percentages over 100% of poverty level, please click HERE. The next step is to look at the Florida KidCare Eligibility chart. Below is a brief summary:

• Children ages 0 through one, up to 200% of the federal poverty level, are covered under Medicaid (Title XIX and Title XXI funded)

• Children ages one through five, up to 133% of the federal poverty level, are covered under Medicaid (Title XIX funded)

• Children ages one through five, at 134% to 200% of the federal poverty level, are covered under MediKids (Title XXI funded)

• Children ages one through five, above 200% of the federal poverty level, are covered under MediKids full pay

• Children ages 5 through 18, up to 100% of the federal poverty level, are covered under Medicaid (Title XIX funded)

• Children ages 5 through 18, at 101% to 200% of the federal poverty level, are covered under Healthy Kids (Title XXI funded)

• Children ages 5 through 18, above 200% of the federal poverty level, are covered under Healthy Kids full pay

To learn more or apply for Florida KidCare, please click HERE to visit their web site.

Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

2011-07-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Affordable Healthcare Insurance

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan makes health insurance available to people who have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan:

Covers a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs.
Does not charge you a higher premium just because of your medical condition.
Does not base eligibility on income.

To be eligible for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan:

You must be a citizen or national of the United States or reside in the U.S. legally.
You must have been without health coverage for at least the last six months. Please note that if you currently have insurance coverage that doesn’t cover your medical condition or are enrolled in a state high risk pool, you are not eligible for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
You must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition.

Florida PCIP offers a choice of plan options to fit your needs (different levels of premiums, calendar year deductibles, prescription deductibles and prescription copays) at more affordable premiums.

Follow these links for more PCIP FAQs and information on the Affordable Care Act.

New Dietary Guidelines to Replace the Food Pyramid

2011-07-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

LET'S EAT FOR THE HEALTH OF IT!

Your food and activity choices each day affect your health -- how you feel today, tomorrow and in the future. The tips below are a good starting point toward a change for a healthy diet and a healthier you:

More in-depth information can be found by following each topic link above and by visiting the Ten Tips Nutrition Education Series. Sample menus are available to show how all the recommendations for each food group and nutrient intake can be integrated into a weekly menu. You can also find tips for eating out and key information on vegetarian diets, and more.

Improving what you eat and being active will help you to reduce your risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and obesity.

For additional resources check out:

• www.DietaryGuidelines.gov
• www.Health.gov/paguidelines
• www.HealthFinder.gov

Information supplied by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

30th Commemoration of HIV/AIDS

2011-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD): June 27

Thirty years ago this June, an article reporting the first known cases of what we now call AIDS was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Since then, extraordinary progress has been made in treating and preventing HIV, and annual new infections have fallen by more than two-thirds since the height of the epidemic.

Despite this progress, HIV remains a crisis in our country. Over the last three decades, prevention efforts have helped reduce new infections and treatment advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. But as these improvements have taken place, our nation's collective sense of crisis has waned. Far too many Americans underestimate their risk of infection or believe HIV is no longer a serious health threat, but they must understand that HIV remains an incurable infection. Today, the most infections are among people under 30—a new generation that has never known a time without effective HIV treatments and who may not fully understand the significant health threat HIV poses. The reality remains that about 50,000 new infections occur each year in the U.S. and, today, more than one million people are living with HIV in our nation. Reducing HIV rates in the U.S. is not only possible – it’s imperative – and new advances in HIV prevention hold promise in changing the course of this epidemic.

How can I find out more about HIV and AIDS?

You can call CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636); TTY access 1-888-232-6348. CDC-INFO is staffed with people trained to answer your questions about HIV and AIDS in a prompt and confidential manner in English or Spanish, 24 hours per day. Staff at CDC-INFO can offer you a wide variety of written materials and put you in touch with organizations in your area that deal with HIV and AIDS.

On the Internet, you can get information on HIV and AIDS from www.AIDS.gov or www.cdc.gov/hiv

Find a testing site near you

------------
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/at-risk.htm
http://www.actagainstaids.org

New Sunscreen Labels to Help you Get the Best Protection

2011-06-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Beginning next summer the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing sunscreen labels to make it easier for you to pick a product that offers the protection level you want. The labels will clearly tell whether a sunscreen protects against sunburn, skin cancer and signs of premature skin aging; and whether it is a broad spectrum product.

Broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher will protect against all three. Anything less than 15 SPF will only protect against sunburn and soon will be labeled with a warning that reads "Skin cancer/skin aging alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging". Future labels will also include information on how much time a user can expect to get the declared SPF level of protection while swimming or sweating.

Spending time in the sun increases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. To reduce this risk, consumers should regularly use sun protection measures including:

Use sunscreens with broad spectrum SPF values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun; for example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.
Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, more often if you’re sweating or jumping in and out of the water.

Follow this link for more information on sunscreen, basic information on skin cancer and skin safety.

Improve the Air Quality this Summer

2011-06-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Air Quality Index is a tool used to express the local air quality on a daily basis to help you determine if there are any health risks. The AQI is expressed on a scale from 0 to 500 with the higher scores indicating greater levels of air pollution and health concerns. There are six color coded AQI categories that range from "good" to "hazardous". Follow this link to check the air quality in your area and obtain important information.

Some groups (children, older adults, and people with lung or heart disease) are more sensitive to poor air quality and may need to take extra precautions by avoiding prolonged periods or heavy outdoor activity.

You can take steps to improve the air quality index this summer by:

Refueling your car after dusk
Limiting engine idling
Avoiding using gas powered lawn equipment
Conserving electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature
Combining trips or using public transportation

Cutbacks may jeopardize safety

2011-05-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

I would have to complete over 150 med reviews per month to make up for revenues lost due to government cutbacks.

Sue had been taking Cymbalta for fibromyalgia when she became acutely aware of an oft-forgotten ill-effect while visiting Paris. Contemplating the magnificent Eiffel tower as though it were a mere “peanut butter sandwich” (not her favourite), she realized something had gone askew.

“I would rather feel the pain than a lack of feeling,” she told me. “Will you help me wean off this dreadful thing?”

So I did some sleuthing, whilst looking at all of Sue’s meds, and had her come in for a chat thus meeting the requirements of a med review, and billing tax-payers $60. Next, I proceeded to get a new prescription for the half-strength capsules, billing the $70 consultation fee with the aim of eventually stopping the mood-blunting-culprit completely, and I intend to do a follow-up in a month for a $15 fee.

Instead of adding to our work load, would it not be much simpler to just compensate us for what we already do?

It is ironic that I completed my very first med review and consultation—according to the new B.C. government requirements—on the eve of the damning Vancouver Sun article pointing out that Canadians pay top dollars for generics, with B.C. taking the hit.

Yes, UBC researchers say that if the rest of Canada followed Ontario’s model for generic drug pricing, we could save nearly $1.3 billion a year. But the study does not take into account new money some provinces are giving pharmacies to help compensate for services like patient consultations and medication reviews. In fact, it only serves to reinforce in people’s minds the idea that pharmacists work for free.

In all I spent about half an hour—between dispensing—doing some research, phoning up the drug company and printing out interesting reading material for my patient on what to expect upon Cymbalta withdrawal.

Loss of Cymbalta sales aside, my first med review and consultation has been a most rewarding experience, as helping others always is. But from a business perspective, my mind is blown away by the impossible number of med reviews (over 150 per month) that would go to make up for lost yearly revenues due to government cutbacks.

And while I can understand the need to separate our professional allowances from product reimbursements, I am afraid that the need to candy-wrap what most of us have already been doing on a daily basis in order to justify billing, may be leading to inadequate compensation. Ultimately, pharmacists are being asked to do more (in paper-work requirements) for less, and patients are still under the illusion that the most readily accessible professional lives on air alone.

This is perhaps why some pharmacists will be tempted to cheat the system, a maddening phenomenon that I suspected could happen but did not expect to encounter so soon…

A few days after my med review, I was filling a prescription for a new patient when I noticed that her profile included a recent med review allegedly performed at another pharmacy. Curious about how she had found the whole process, and eager to compare this with my own experience, I asked how the med review had been, only to meet with a blank stare.

“What’s that?” the woman asked—no, she is not on Aricept.

“You mean the pharmacist did not sit you down last month to go through all your medications with you …?” I queried in disbelief.

The woman looked at me in alarm afraid she had been billed for something she had not asked for… “ Well no… the pharmacist did nothing different than what she always does…

While not excusing the pharmacist, I can totally understand why someone might be tempted to bill without sitting the patient down for 20 minutes. Yet her unethical demeanor is highly detrimental to the profession and very unfair for those of us who are trying to do things right. Ultimately, abuse of this sort could result in the government pulling back its offer.

But there may be another alternative.

Instead of adding to our work load, would it not be much simpler for the government, private insurers and private payers to just compensate us for what we already do?

Being fully aware that it is not I who will be paid, but the business, I should still be able to bill every time I counsel a patient on a new prescription, every time I phone a doctor to clarify a dosage or to change an order. I should bill, as my doctor does, for every telephone consultation and not just for sit-down med reviews. I should be paid (the business compensated) fairly for every justifiable refusal to fill, and not only when the patient is a Pharmacare subscriber.

True, in B.C. we are currently reimbursed for adaptations and renewals, but adaptation requires lengthy documentation. Also, some physicians are instructing us not to adapt.

And so, until both the government and the public can better appreciate all the hidden work that we do to improve health outcomes, all walk-ins with queries shall be escorted to the Consultation Room. Phone callers will be asked to make appointments.

Yes, patients’ best interests must always come first. But if business is stressed and pharmacists overworked, patient safety will be jeopardized and the interests of no one at all will be served.

Written for the Canadian Healthcare Network under the title "My first paid med review: Professionally satisfying, financially unjustified" on May 24 2011.

Florida KidCare health insurance

2011-03-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Child Health Insurance
You Can Afford

Through Florida KidCare, the state of Florida offers health insurance for children from birth through age 18, even if one or both parents are working. It includes four different parts. When you apply for the insurance, Florida KidCare will check which part your child may qualify for based on age and family income.

MEDIKIDS: children ages 1 through 4.
HEALTHY KIDS: children ages 5 through 18.
CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SERVICES NETWORK: children birth through 18 who have special health care needs.
MEDICAID: children birth through 18. A child who has other health insurance may still qualify for Medicaid.

Some of the services Florida KidCare covers are:

Doctor visits
Check-ups and shots
Hospital
Surgery
Prescriptions
Emergencies
Vision and hearing
Dental
Mental health

Follow this link for information on eligibility and cost.

There are several ways to apply for Florida KidCare:

Apply online or

Print an Application and Instructions

If you've applied for Florida KidCare before, call 1-888-540-5437 to update your information by telephone.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Heart Disease

2011-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Heart Disease.

Definition

Heart disease, also called cardiac disease, is a heart defect. The word cardiac refers to the heart. Cardiac or heart disease means the heart muscle can't properly deliver oxygen and other essentials to the organs and tissues. Heart disease includes many different conditions. The heart pumps blood all over the body to bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body.

Evaluation/Screening
If you have a child from the age from birth to three years old, you can have your child screened for heart disease through the Florida Early Steps program. Click here to see a list of Early Steps offices in your area.

More Information

To get more information, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Sciolosis

2011-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Sciolosis.

Definition

Scoliosis is not a disease, but rather a word describing a condition of the spine (also called a backbone) when very curved. Some curves are normal in the spine. Some places we all usually have curves are in the neck, in the upper back and in the lower back. We need these spinal curves to help the upper body maintain proper balance. Curves in the spine to the left or right are not normal, and are called scoliosis.

A child can be born with scoliosis. A child can develop the lateral curves gradually over childhood. We don't know what causes most cases of scoliosis. The curvature of the spine from scoliosis may develop as a single curve like the letter C or as two curves shaped like the letter S.

Signs

Most parents first notice that their child has a crooked back or the body looks asymmetrical (one side looks higher than the other or the child looks tilted). Things to watch for:

Walks with the head tilted.
Shoulder blade (a bone in the back) sticks out.
A tilted hip bone or one hip or shoulder higher than the other.
Leans to one side when standing or walking.

More Information

To get more information about Sciolosis, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condition/Disease: Muscular Dystrophy

2011-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Muscular Dystrophy.

Definition

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a degenerative disease in which the muscles of the body get weaker and weaker and slowly stop working. Degenerative means the condition worsens slowly over time. Your child's muscles need many different kinds of proteins to stay healthy. When you hear the word "protein" you might think of such food as meat and peanut butter that contain protein. Your body also makes proteins, and your genes tell your body how to make proteins your muscles need. Children with muscular dystrophy have genes that have the wrong information or leave out important information, so the body can't make these proteins properly. Without these proteins, the muscles break down and weaken over time. As this happens to muscles, children with muscular dystrophy begin to have problems with the way their bodies work.

Types

Among the nine types of muscular dystrophy, seven affect children. The seven types are:

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: The protein dystrophin helps to keep muscle cells whole and healthy. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy happens when this protein is missing. It usually begins in early childhood (between the ages of 2 to 6). Duchenne eventually affects the heart and breathing muscles. Children with this kind of Muscular Dystrophy don't usually live beyond the early 30s.

Becker Muscular Dystrophy: This form of MD also happens when the body does not make enough of the protein dystrophin. It is very similar to Duchenne MD but often less severe. Many children with this type of MD have heart problems. Children with Becker's MD though usually live to middle age older.

Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy: This type is caused by a sudden change in the genes that produce proteins in the muscle cells. Each cell has a nucleus surrounded by a membrane where the proteins are suddenly changed. It usually begins by age 10. This type of MD progresses slowly. Heart complications are common.

Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy: This type is caused by a change in any one of a possible 15 genes that affect proteins the body needs for muscles to work. The beginning of this form of MD can occur anytime during childhood through adulthood. Limb-Girdle usually progresses slowly.

Faciosapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: It is usually diagnosed by age 20. Faciosapulohumeral MD usually progresses slowly with some periods when the muscles worsen rapidly. It is caused by a missing DNA on chromosome 4. DNA is a necessary component of all living matter and a basic material in the chromosomes.

Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy: The disease appears at birth in one form, but another form begins in teen or adult years. The progress of changes in how the muscles work can last 50 to 60 years. It is caused by a repeated section of DNA on either Chromosome 3 or 19. DNA is a necessary component in all living matter.

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy: It is caused by changes affecting some of the proteins needed by muscles and can affect the eyes and brain. The disease begins at or very near birth. Sometimes this type progresses slowly, but still can cause a shortened life span.

More Information

To get more information, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Spina Bifida

2011-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Spina Bifida.

Definition

Spina bifida, a condition present at birth, includes three kinds: Occulta, Meningocele (mild disabilities or problems later), and Myelomeningocele. This fact sheet is about the most serious -- Myelomeningocele.

Spina bifida occurs while the baby is still developing and growing inside the mother. The baby's spine doesn't develop correctly. At birth the spinal cord is open at the back or exposed (also called a neural tube defect). Early in pregnancy, cells form a closed tube (neural tube) that eventually becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. A neural tube defect happens when the tube does not completely close. A neural tube defect can happen anywhere on the spine, but usually happens to the lower part of the spinal cord. A child born with a neural tube defect usually will have difficulty walking, and may need leg braces, crutches, a walker and, in some cases, a wheelchair (Gargiulo, 2001).

Spina bifida differs for every person. Many children with spina bifida have hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid on the brain). Because children with spina bifida have problems with the spine, the fluid in the brain does not drain properly.

Other potential difficulties occurring with spina bifida include full or partial paralysis (the inability to move part or all of the body). Children with spina bifida and full or partial paralysis also may have problems with weight gain and obesity. Since children with spina bifida usually have damage to the spine, they can have problems with the nerves controlling the bladder and bowels. (These nerves are in the lower part of the spinal cord.) They may have problems controlling their bladder and bowel (unable to tell when they need to use the bathroom).

Children with spina bifida more likely have learning disabilities, problems with depression and an allergy

to latex (reaction to a common type of rubber). They sometimes have social and sexual issues because they may go through puberty at a younger age than most children.

Evaluation/Screening

If you have a child from the age from birth to three years old, you can have your child screened for spina bifida through the Florida Early Steps program. Click here to see a list of Early Steps offices in your area.

More Information

To get more information about spina bifida, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Housing For Seniors

2011-01-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

What to Look For in a Nursing Home

Looking for housing options for yourself, an aging parent, relative, or friend? Do some research first to determine what kind of assistance or living arrangement you need; what your health insurance might cover; and what you can afford. Then check here for financial assistance resources and guides for making the right choice.

The following are some tips on what to look for in a nursing home to help prevent bad care and abuse of your loved one:

Get a durable power of attorney for medical care so that you can make health care decisions and review medical records.
Request a complete facility profile from the State Health Department, Licensing and Certification Department for the facility you intend to use. Note the number of complaints, the fines assessed and whether the fines have been paid.
Notice how many people in the facility seem to be in stupors or in bed or unable to walk or talk. If many patients fall into this category, be wary of over medication at the facility, especially with the psychotropic drugs Haldol, Thorazine, Mellaril and Prolixin.
Visit at different times during the day, including meal times. Take notice of the types of food and nutritional balance. Dehydration is a problem, so make sure water is available at all times and that it is easily accessible to the patient.
Be sure the patient is actually seen by the doctor and talk with the doctor personally. If the doctor is difficult to contact, bring in another doctor to examine the patient.
Take seriously any complaints the patient has about mistreatment by the staff. Don't accept the facilities statement that the patient is old and doesn't know what's going on.
Check the patient's body for bedsores, particularly the tailbone, feet and hips. Stage 4, the most serious stage of bedsores, causes death in many cases.
Report any signs of bad care to the state licensing office in your state that licenses and regulates nursing homes. Be sure to follow up on the complaint to insure accountability.

More...

Types of Care Facilities

Board and Care: This type of facility does not require to have either nurses or doctors on staff. They provide meals and activities for residents, as well as some help with dressing, eating and hygiene. In most of these facilities, residents must be ambulatory.

Independent-Living Facilities: These facilities include retirement centers, mobile-home parks and single-family homes. Levels of care vary. Some serve meals in common dining halls, while others may have assisted living services.

Intermediate-Care Facilities: These facilities provide medical care to people who need 24-hour supervision and occasional skilled nursing care. Residents must be able to walk or use a wheelchair and have some control over bowel and bladder functions.

Skilled Nursing Facilities: Around-the-clock nursing supervision and care for residents who need help with dressing, eating, bowel and bladder care, and taking prescription medications. Different types of therapy, such as physical, speech or occupational, is also provided. This type of care is very institutional and being run mostly by large corporations for profit.

Sub-Acute Care Facilities: These facilities provide care outside the acute-care wards of hospitals. They are basically for patients on respirators or nasal/tube feeding.

Who Pays: Pay for these types of care vary from private pay, MediCare (the federal health insurance program for the elderly) or by MediCaid (the federal/state partnership providing health care for the poor).

Other Resources:
Filing a Complaint
Foundation Aiding the Elderly
Housing for Seniors

Featured Condtion/Disease: Ear Infections

2010-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Ear Infections.

Definition

Overview of Ear Infections

There are three main kinds of ear infections, which are called acute otitis (oh-TIE-tus) media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (uh-FEW-zhun) (OME), and otitis externa (Swimmer’s Ear). Sometimes ear infections can be painful and may even need antibiotics. Your healthcare provider will be able to determine what kind of ear infection you or your child has and if antibiotics would help.

Acute otitis media

The type of ear infection that is usually painful and may improve with antibiotic treatment is called acute otitis (oh-TIE-tus) media, or AOM. Symptoms of AOM include pain, redness of the eardrum, pus in the ear, and fever. Children may pull on the affected ear, and infants or toddlers may be irritable. Antibiotics are often prescribed to children for AOM, but are not always necessary.

Otitis media with effusion

Otitis media with effusion (uh-FEW-zhun), or OME, is a build up of fluid in the middle ear without signs and symptoms of acute infection (pain, redness of the eardrum, pus, and fever). OME is more common than AOM, and may be caused by viral upper respiratory infections, allergies, or exposure to irritants (such as cigarette smoke). The build up of fluid in the middle ear does not usually cause pain and almost always goes away on its own. OME will not usually benefit from antibiotic treatment.

Otitis externa (Swimmer’s Ear)

Otitis externa, more commonly known as Swimmer’s Ear, is an infection of the ear and/or outer ear canal. It can cause the ear to itch or become red and inflamed so that head movement or touching of the ear is very painful. There may also be pus that drains from the ear. Antibiotics are usually needed to treat otitis externa.

Symptons

Acute otitis media (AOM)

Pulling at ears
Excessive crying
Fluid draining from ears
Sleep disturbances
Fever
Headaches
Problems with hearing
Irritability
Difficulty balancing

Otitis media with effusion (OME)

Problems with hearing

More Information

To get more information about ear infections, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Type 2 Diabetes

2010-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Diabetes.

Definition

Diabetes is a condition in which people have abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in their blood. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the more common type of diabetes. It accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes was once known as "adult-onset diabetes" but this term is no longer used because Type 2 is on the rise in all age groups, including among children. Type 2 is increasing primarily because more children and adults are becoming overweight and obese.

People with diabetes lose the ability to control the level of sugar in their blood. Sugar rises to excessive levels in the blood because it can't enter the cells of the body - in the usual way and because an excess of sugar is produced in the liver. So, for example, without sugar getting inside the muscle cells, these cells don't have enough fuel to keep the body working properly. The same is true for other cell types throughout the body.
The main feature of type 2 diabetes is the body's resistance to the action of insulin in the cells. This is a condition known as insulin resistance. Obesity may be the single most important factor in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

More Information

To get more information on Type 2 Diabetes, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Children with DIABETES site, click here to visit their site.

Pharmacy Profession changing by Force?

2010-12-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Pharmacists deserve a more democratic governing model.Written by Cristina Alarcon on November 3, 2010 for CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca

I hope Manitoba pharmacists realize just how lucky they are. Their Governing Body, The Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, is one of a kind, a pearl to be prized…

As reported for Drugstore Canada by Judy Waytiuk, Manitoba pharmacists are one of the only Canadian health professions with individual voting authority over their practice regulations. This is unlike the rest of Canada, where the regulatory body consults on, sets and implements practice changes.

And so, lucky Manitoba pharmacists get to voice their concerns on important issues ranging from technicians’ scope of practice, to prescribing authority, to a position on inducements.

Input is not merely advisory in nature, and pharmacists get the respect they deserve…

True, the Manitoban-democratic-approach can potentially slow down and—to the horror of policy drafters—squash brilliant initiatives. But pondered delay is not only salutary, it is essential.

Sure, asking for full membership participation in proposed regulatory changes would be a tedious, time-consuming task, but as the Manitoba experience shows, the licensing body is better off for it.
Never is this truer than when clouds loom dark on the horizon, something not uncommon in British Columbia… where, in fact, an event of unprecedented importance took place this year….

Welcome to Vancouver EGM 2010
At the petition of 500 community pharmacists, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was convoked by the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia and held in Vancouver on July 13, 2010. Over 160 pharmacists from across the province took great pains to be present in order to voice their concerns over regulatory changes that will make technicians a new class of College registrant, authorizing them to perform final prescription checks and take verbal orders from physicians.

Highlighting this event was the resignation of Board members Doug Kipp and Bev Harris, who courageously stepped down—later to be re-elected in landslide wins—so they could speak out freely against College policy changes, bypassing a newly reinforced rule requiring all Board members to “Speak with One Voice” .

Later, the tidy Board-approved minutes would fail to capture the lively exchange that transpired on that historical July evening when over 160 pharmacists took the College to task, leaving those who were there with a taste of Orwellian Double-Speak…

There, a resolution was presented calling on the Board to “reconsider its decision to establish the profession of Regulated Pharmacy Technicians for community pharmacy”. It was supported and passed by an overwhelming majority.

Attendees were reminded, lest they forget, that due to the College’s overriding mandate to protect the public the vote would be only advisory in nature. However, they added, results would be given “due consideration” at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting in September. Pharmacists did not hold their breath.

Come September…
On August 1st, just weeks after the EGM and over a month before the much-awaited September Board meeting, Ministerial approval of revised HPA Bylaws (inclusive of regulated pharmacy technicians) came into force. The changes will allow the College to bulldoze ahead in the New Year as planned, leaving pharmacists with the impression that “due consideration” of their resolution had never really been intended at all.

Having previously resigned her position, Bev Harris attended the September 24th Board meeting as an observer. “It all took about 30 seconds,” she told me.

The BC College of Pharmacists’ Board consists of elected members and non-pharmacist government appointees. At this meeting, one non-pharmacist moved the motion that the College go ahead as planned with technician regulation. This was seconded by another government appointee. The majority voted in favour, and so, it was…

No discussion ever took place.

And so it is that, in spite of unresolved concerns, the final step in the approval process regarding the legislative authority to register pharmacy technicians as registrants of the College of Pharmacists of BC is now complete.

After only eight months of training, technicians will be allowed to perform final med checks and take verbal orders. Meanwhile, pharmacists’ concerns—ranging from liability, to employment loss, to patient safety—remain unaddressed.

In all fairness, the College has expressed the need for “further communication and support to help manage change”. However, there is something terribly wrong with a professional governing body that appears to listen but fails to act on the concerns of its registrants, seeking instead to impose change by force. Alienation is the only possible outcome.

Re-education anyone?

Sure, asking for full membership participation in proposed regulatory changes would be a tedious, time-consuming task, but as the Manitoba experience shows, the licensing body is better off for it.

If anything, a more democratic governing model would ensure that our yearly dues were better spent. It would also shield the governing body against perceptions (however unfounded) of government run amok.

An ecological blind spot

2010-12-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

There is a huge effort today to protect the physical environment from the unintended effects of human activity. We have international agreements and national policies to reduce global warming by curbing excess carbon, produced as human beings pursue their material wellbeing.
On a smaller scale, we each do our best to turn off the taps, turn down the lights, use public transport, cut down on the fumes, recycle, recycle, and definitely not flush any medicines down the sink – especially not the brain-altering or endocrine-disrupting kind. Yes, we are constantly seeking ways to reduce air and water pollution, and in Canada, the Environment Act even allows citizens to bring civil action when the government is not enforcing environmental laws.....
(to read more click on title above)

Featured Condtion/Disease: Group B Strep

2010-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Group B Strep.

Definition

Group B strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria that is often found in the vagina and rectum of healthy women. In the United States, about 1 in 4 women carry this type of bacteria. Women of any race or ethnicity can carry these bacteria. Being a carrier for these bacteria does not mean you have an infection. It only means that you have group B strep bacteria in your body.

Finding the GBS bacteria does not mean that you are not clean, and it does not mean that you have a sexually transmitted disease. The bacteria are not spread from food, sex, water, or anything that you might have come into contact with. They can come and go naturally in the body.

GBS can be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth.

GBS is a leading cause of life-threatening infections in newborns, including pneumonia (lung infection), sepsis (blood infection), meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), and other problems. Sadly, many infants can die or have serious long-term effects from a GBS infection.

Preventing Group B Strep in New Borns

Ask your doctor or nurse for a GBS test when you are 35–37 weeks pregnant (in your 9th month). The test is an easy swab of the vagina and rectum that should not hurt.

Each time you are pregnant, you need to be tested for GBS. It doesn't matter if you did or did not have this type of bacteria before; each pregnancy is different.

Carrying GBS bacteria does not mean that you are not clean, and it does not mean that you have a sexually transmitted disease. The bacteria are not spread from food, sex, water, or anything that you might have come into contact with. They can come and go naturally in the body.

The medicine to stop GBS from spreading to your baby is an antibiotic given during labor. The antibiotic (usually penicillin) is given to you through an IV (in the vein) during childbirth. If you are allergic to penicillin, there are other ways to help treat you during labor.

Antibiotics taken before labor will not protect your baby against GBS. The bacteria can grow back so fast that taking the medicine before you begin labor does not prevent the bacteria from spreading to your baby during childbirth.

Other people in the house, including kids, are not at risk of getting sick from GBS. If you think you might have a C-section or go into labor early (prematurely), talk with your doctor or nurse about your personal GBS plan.

More Information

To get more information about Group B Strep and its prevention in New Born Infants, go here.

Featured Condtion/Disease: HIV/AIDS

2010-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is HIV/AIDS.

Definition

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a disease that attacks and destroys the body's immune system. The immune system is the body's defense against diseases and sickness. If the immune system does not work well, a person can develop deadly infections and cancers.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the most serious stage of HIV infection. This stage means the immune system of the infected person has been destroyed.

Being infected with HIV does not mean a person has AIDS, but rather that the person's immune system may be damaged, leading to AIDS.

Effects on a Child's Health

How HIV infection will affect a child's health differs with each child. Some children show symptoms of the infection as early as the year they are born; others may not show any signs of disease until much later. How old the child is when symptoms start to show is an important clue to how your child's health may be affected.

HIV makes your child's immune system weak and hard to fight off infections or cancer, and it can make your child more vulnerable to other problems and diseases. Sometimes it can even cause strokes. The medicines used to treat HIV can have many side effects. Medicine used to treat HIV can help, but not cure the disease. Some possible side effects of the treatment include:

Fever.
Nausea or being sick to the stomach.
Fatigue or tiring often and easily.

More Information

To get more information about HIV/AIDS, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Great American Smokeout! - Saturday, November 20, 2010

2010-11-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

Do you smoke and looking for help quitting? Visit the Great American Smokeout this Saturday at Krusen Park in Zephyrhills from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Admission is free for all ages. While you're there you can meet with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist and sign up for:

Free Nicotine Patches
Give-a-ways and encouragement
Lung function tests and oral cancer screenings
Information about nicotine addiction and carbon monoxide levels

In addition to learning about quitting smoking, there will also be carnvial rides, the Tampa Bay Rays Street Team, the Zephyrhills Police Athletic League, Flu Shots, and Food at the event.

If you have any questions about the SmokeOut, please contact Maurissa at the Pasco County Health Department (727) 861-5250 extension 279.

Can't make the Great American SmokeOut but still want to quit? You can call Quitline at (877) 822-6669 for free nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches by signing up for phone counseling. They also offer assistance in Spanish, local referrals, and self-help materials.

The Pasco County Health Department also offers two Quit Smoking Support Groups:

Mondays 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

10841 Little Road, New Port Richey

727/861-5250 extension 161

2nd Tuesday of the Month 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

13941 15th Street, Dade City

352/521-1450 extension 339

Diabetes Awareness Month

2010-11-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

November is Diabetes Awareness month

This is a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. Nearly 24 million children and adults in the U.S. are living with diabetes. If current trends continue, one out of every three children born today will face a future with the disease.

*Facts:

Diabetes kills more Americans every year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
It is the #1 cause of blindness in adults.
It doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke.
1 in 13 of all Americans have diabetes.
1 in 4 of those don't know it yet.
1 in 5 are on their way to getting it. Having a condition called prediabetes means you are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next three to six years. People with prediabetes have blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

*American Diabetes Association

Prevention:
Research shows you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle.

Change your diet. People at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight, or about 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. You can do that by eating healthier and being physically active for 30 minutes, five days a week.
Increase your level of physical activity. Physical activity can help you control your weight, blood glucose, and blood pressure, as well as raise your "good" cholesterol and lower your "bad" cholesterol.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese raises your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes care begins with informed patients.
Talk to your health care provider about how to manage your blood glucose (A1C), blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Get a flu vaccine. For those with diabetes, it is important to ask for the "shot" version. Talk to your health care provider about a pneumonia (pneumococcal) shot. People with diabetes are more likely to die from pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes.

Stay Informed and share what you learn. You can join the effort to help promote National Diabetes Awareness Month in your area by using NDEP messages, tools and resources.

Reduced & Free Lunch in Pasco County Schools - Application & Eligibility

2010-11-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Reduced & Free School Lunch in Pasco County

Are my children eligible for reduced or free lunch in Pasco County? The answer depends on your income. If your income is between 131% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines then yes, they can get a reduced lunch. If your income is below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines then they can get a free lunch. For instance, a family of five with an annual income of $45,000.00 is eligible for reduced lunch, while another family of five with an annual income of $28,600.00 would be eligible for free lunch. Where can I view the federal poverty guidelines?

You view the current federal poverty guidelines at GetHelpFlorida.org here. How do I apply for free or reduced lunch? The application is on the Pasco County Schools site here. Please remember that if you're income changes, you can come back at any time through-out the calendar year and re-apply for free or reduced lunch. Did you know whether or not you have reduced or regular lunch, you can pay for your children's meals online? MyLunchMoney allows parents/guardians to pay for their children's meals online, visit them here. You will need to create an account. You can also set weekly and daily spending limits for your children. MyLunchMoney is available for most, if not all, Pasco County Schools.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Immune System Disorders

2010-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Immune System Disorders.

Definition

The immune system -- your body's defense system against getting sick -- is made up of organs, tissues, cells, blood and other fluids that work together to defend the body against germs. Germs are bacteria and viruses that can harm the body. Germs are what make us sick when we catch a cold or an infection. The amazingly complex immune system can recognize millions of different enemies to the body. It can call on special cells and secretions to find and destroy those enemies. We count on our body's immune system, sometimes with the help of medicines such as antibiotics, to eliminate germs that cause infection. Some people are born with an immune defense system that is faulty. Immune system disorders (sometimes called Immunodeficiency Diseases) happen when the immune system does not defend the body normally and can affect any part of the immune system.

Signs

Eight or more ear infections in a year.
Two or more serious sinus infections within a year. (Sinuses are the air passages in the bones of the cheeks, forehead and jaw.)
Two or more pneumonia cases within a year.
Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections. (Medications go directly into your child's veins in a hospital.)
A family history of immune system problems.

More Information

To get more information about Immune System Disorders, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Seasonal Flu

2010-10-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Seasonal Flu.

Definition

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination each year. Each year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. This flu season could be worse.

Signs of Cold vs Flu

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.

What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

More Information
To read more information about Seasonal Flu, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Choice impacts Everyone!

2010-10-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

Humans are notably inconsistent beings, which may account for the contradictory attitudes we currently see to the phenomenon of suicide. On the one hand, every effort is made to prevent people taking their own lives; there are safety barriers on bridges, crisis hotlines, suicide prevention programmes in schools. At the same time there are organised campaigns for assisted suicide and other forms of euthanasia to be sanctioned by law.

According to euthanasia advocates, we have the right to end our lives, and as autonomous individuals, each one should choose whether to live or die. There are people, it’s true, who think that autonomy and choice are too good to be wasted on just anyone. Someone commenting on a National Post blog recently insisted that “a 90 year old suffering dementia who is also blind, deaf and unable to walk is no longer a person.” The implication is that the infirm can have the time of their death chosen for them- by someone else of course.

Yet autonomy and choice do lend respectability to the pro-suicide campaign because, when not used as mere buzz words, they are truly signs of the rational spark that differentiates us from our pet birds and rabbits. Autonomy, however, is only part of the human story. No man is an island, and, as part of the universal human family, both the way we choose to live and the way we die does have an impact on others.

To read more click on title above.......

EGM Technician Regulation

2010-10-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the EGM meeting highlights re: Technician Regulation....
The meeting was held in Vancouver on July 13 2010-- College of Pharmacists of BC.
(click on the title to view video)

Resources for Healthy Eating and Exercise

2010-10-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the benefits of a healthy weight

The National Institutes of Health encourage you to maintain a healthy weight so you can enjoy the benefits of feeling good about yourself, having more energy to enjoy life, and a lowered risk for developing serious health problems. It is important to assess your body fat, learn about the healthy foods you should eat, and find fun ways to increase your activity level:

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI )

Assess your weight & health with these key measures:

          * BMI
          * Waist circumference
          * Risk factors for Diseases and Conditions Associated with Obesity

Be Active Your Way: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describe the major research findings about the health benefits of physical activity:

       * Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
         * Some physical activity is better than none.
         * Benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency,

and/or longer duration.
* Most health benefits occur with at least 2 1/2 hours/week of moderate-intensity physical activity

      * Episodes of activity that are at least 10 minutes long count toward meeting the guidelines.
         * Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are beneficial.
         * Health benefits of physical activity occur for children through older adults in every studied racial and

            ethnic group.
    * Health benefits of physical activity are attainable for people with disabilities.
         * The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks of injury and heart attack.

Track Your Food and Exercise with MyPyramid Tracker, an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool that provides information on your diet quality and physical activity status. You can also find links to:

* Nutrient information

* Physical Activity Information

* Calorie/Energy balance

It's important to make lifestyle changes with a focus on reducing calories from food and beverages, a healthy eating plan, and portion control. You will find information on how to eat right with menus, recipes, and food exchange lists to help get you started.

Click here for more resources on food, nutrition and fitness from USA.gov.

October is Children's Health Month

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Children's Health month highlights the importance of protecting children from environmental risks. Each day you will find helpful tips and links on environmental and health topics.

HOW MANY TIPS CAN YOU FOLLOW IN 31 DAYS?

Children's Health Month calendar

Poison Proof Your Home

Calculate your Carbon Footprint

Protect your Children from Mold

Eliminate Asthma Triggers

Keep your House Pest Free

Beware of (Energy) Vampires

Eat your Veggies Safely

Be Sun-Wise

Test your Home for Radon

Test for Lead

Let's Move

Reduce Mercury Exposure

Reduce Use of Plastic Bags & Bottles
Keep our Air Breathable

Grow your Own Food
Reduce Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Help Children Avoid "Nature Deficit Disorder"

Watch Out for Lyme Disease

Visit here for Kids & Teens safety info
Click here to find tips for a safe and healthy Halloween

Featured Condtion/Disease: Traumatic Brain Injury

2010-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Traumatic Brain Injury.

Definition
When a brain injury occurs, the functions of the neurons (nerve cells), nerve paths or parts of the brain can be affected. The affected neurons and nerve paths might be unable or have difficulty carrying the messages telling the brain what to do. This can change the way a person thinks, acts, feels and moves the body. Brain injury also can change the way the body works, affecting body temperature, blood pressure and going to the bathroom. These changes can be for a short time or for life. These injuries may cause a change or a complete inability to perform a function.

Signs

Losing consciousness after the brain injury.
Loss of memory after the trauma (brain injury) when they wake up after losing consciousness (called post-traumatic amnesia).
Personality change (meaning they will not act and react as they did before the injury).
Cognitive deficits (a change in the ability to think or reason). Changes can vary widely because no two head injuries are alike.
The black center of the eye is large and does not get smaller in light (called dilated pupils).
Tires easily and often.
Language deficits (problems talking as before; may have "lost" language or words they can't remember).
Behavior problems. Acting out or angry.
Can't "keep up" and doing poorly in school.
May not grow and develop normally. Skills delayed or not develop at all.
Recovery times are long, up to five years.
Different from other children their age. This becomes more obvious as time goes on, and they don't "catch up."

More Information

To get more information about Traumatic Brain Injuries, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance in Florida

2010-10-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

Help for Getting Medical Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition in Florida

As of July 1, eligible residents of Florida are able to apply for coverage through the state’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To qualify for coverage:

You must be a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully present in the United States.
You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before you apply.
You must have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

PCIP will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs. All covered benefits are available for you, even if it’s to treat a preexisting condition.

Below are the monthly PCIP premium rates for Florida by the age of an enrollee.

Ages 0 to 34: $363

Ages 35 to 44: $435

Ages 45 to 54: $556

Ages 55+: $773

In addition to your monthly premium, you will pay other costs. You will pay a $2,500 deductible for covered benefits (except for preventive services) before the plan starts to pay. After you pay the deductible, you will pay a $25 co-payment for doctor visits, $4 to $30 for most prescription drugs, and 20% of the costs of any other covered benefits you get. Your out-of-pocket costs cannot be more than $5,950 per year. These costs may be higher, if you go outside the plan’s network.

You can apply here (it can take a while for this page to load).

This was originally posted at the HealthCare.gov site here.

With euthanasia, ‘choice’ is a lie

2010-09-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

With euthanasia and assisted suicide, the proponents of “choice” are rather naïve.

A favourite of euthanasia proponents is the autonomy/choice argument. When not used as mere buzz words, autonomy and choice are truly signs of the rational spark that differentiates us from our pet birds and rabbits. Yet though autonomous, no man is an island.

As part of the universal human family, both the way we choose to live and the way we die does have an impact on others. This is never truer than in the case of suicide… Across the globe, the suicidal jump off bridges every day. And from erection of safety barriers to provision of emergency hotlines, every effort is made to stop them.

To read more, click on the title above......

Featured Condtion/Disease: Epilepsy

2010-09-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Epilesy.

Definition

Epilepsy is a condition of the brain that makes children have recurring seizures. A seizure is caused by a sudden change in the brain's normal electrical activity (similar to the way the lights flickering in a house because power lines are shaken during a storm). The brain uses electricity, too, and can be interrupted briefly.
Seizures can look very different. Some children have just one type of seizure, others more than one type. Some ways a seizure can affect a child:

Causing a short time during which the child can't use one of the senses (ability to taste, feel, see, hear or smell).
Causing a child to go unconscious for a short time or just sit staring into space for a time.
Causing convulsions.

While seizures are a part of having epilepsy, having a single seizure doesn't mean a person has epilepsy. High fevers can trigger seizures that go away when a child's temperature goes down.
Epilepsy is not a mental disorder. Nor does epilepsy generally worsen with time. Sometimes epilepsy goes away after several years. Despite most often being a chronic condition, children can live normal lives with the help of anticonvulsant medications (anti-seizure drugs).

Signs

Seizures are the main sign of epilepsy. A child with a seizure might:

Seem to be daydreaming or not paying attention.
Suddenly stop while talking or doing something and stare with a blank face, followed by rolling eyes and fluttering eyelids.
Suddenly go stiff (especially the arms and legs).
Make a crying sound.
Have increased saliva (drooling).
Shake a leg/arm or whole body repeatedly, with or without blacking out.
In extreme cases stop breathing.

After the seizure your child may have many different reactions:

May feel sleepy and confused, or upset.
Have a headache.
Feel sick to stomach (nausea) or throw up (vomit).
May slur speech or be hard to understand for a little while.

More Information

To get more information about Epilepsy, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Low Vision & National White Cane Awareness Days

2010-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is hosting two events in the upcoming month:

Low Vision Awareness Day
October 5, 2010 (Tues.) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

7333 Dairy Road

Zephyrhills, FL

(Gall Blvd. and Pretty Pond Road)

This event is open to persons who have experienced vision loss, their families and friends, and to organizations wanting to learn more about how to help clients with low vision gain and maintain independence.

****

National White Cane Awareness Day

October 15, 2010 (Fri.) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Delta Woods Park

3400 Deltona Blvd.

Spring Hill, FL

(US 19 and Forest Oaks Blvd.)

Activities include a walk in the park, free picnic, games and more!

White Cane Awareness Day is held annually to educate drivers and to keep walkers with visual impairments safe. It is open to the public and everyone is invited!

The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is a non-profit organization that provides vision habilitation and rehabilitation and adjustment to blindness services to people of all ages who have experienced vision impairment. Their mission is to provide blind and visually impaired persons with the skills needed to achieve their maximum independence through independent living classes, orientation and mobility training, job readiness training, Braille, and adaptive computer training. Lighthouse services are provided at no cost to clients and their families.

Further links provided by the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind:

National Federation of the Blind

American Foundation for the Blind

The Seeing Eye

Florida Division of Blind Services

ADHD & Pesticides Connection?

2010-09-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Protecting Children from Pesticides

A study in the journal Pediatrics associates the potential of exposure to pesticides with cases of ADHD in the U.S. and Canada. An estimated 4.5 million children ages 5 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in the US alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Research indicates that exposure to pesticides used on foods such as frozen blueberries, fresh strawberries and celery, appears to be a potential contributor in increasing the chances that children will be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

In the ADHD study led by Maryse Bouchard, researchers at the University of Montreal and Harvard University studied the levels of pesticide residue in the urine of more than 1,139 children ages 8 to 15, 119 of whom were diagnosed with ADHD. The children with highest levels of diakyl phosphates, the breakdown products of organophosphate pesticides, were 93 percent more likely to have the disorder than those with undetectable levels. The exact causes of ADHD are still unknown. Bouchard stressed that while her analysis is the first to peg pesticides as a potential contributor to ADHD, the study proves only an association and not a direct causal link.

Developing Healthy Habits

Washing fresh produce before eating is a healthy habit. You can reduce and often eliminate residues if they are present on fresh fruits and vegetables by following these simple tips:

    * Wash produce with large amounts of cold or warm tap water, and scrub with a brush when appropriate; Either use a vegetable brush or clean cloth to scrub firmer produce like melons and cucumbers.

    * Some people swear by vinegar, and use one part vinegar to three parts water. This is great for removing bacteria, and may help break down wax, too.

    * There are many commercial fruit cleaners available on the market, some of which are made up of 100% natural produce – normally some form of citric acid. These claim to remove wax, pesticides and 99.9% of bacteria (including e.coli, salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, etc). If you avoid the ammonia-based products, and opt for these natural ones, they are safe, leave no smell or taste.

    * Remember to use a dry clean cloth or towel on your produce after to remove further pesticides.

    * Peeling fruits and vegetables is often the best way to substantially reduce the pesticide load, especially from apples, which are the most contaminated of all the fruits and vegetables. Pears, nectarines and peaches can also be peeled, as can many vegetables.

    * Throw away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage.

    * The best way to avoid pesticides and herbicides in our food supply is to buy organically grown food.

- Shielding kids from pesticides: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- The 12 most contaminated foods : The Dirty Dozen

* * *

Featured Condtion/Disease: Jaundice

2010-09-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Jaundice.

Definition

Jaundice is the yellow color seen in the skin of many newborns. It happens when a chemical called bilirubin builds up in the baby’s blood. Jaundice can occur in babies of any race or ethnicity, regardless of skin color. Low levels of bilirubin are not a problem, but a few babies have too much jaundice. If not treated, high levels of bilirubin can cause brain damage and a life-long condition called kernicterus. Yet, early detection and management of jaundice can prevent kernicterus. At a minimum, babies should be assessed for jaundice every 8 to 12 hours in the first 48 hours of life and again before 5 days of age.

Signs

Ask your pediatrician to see your baby the day you call, if your baby

Is very yellow or orange (skin color changes start from the head and spread to the toes)
Is hard to wake up or will not sleep at all
Is not breastfeeding or sucking from a bottle well
Is very fussy
Does not have enough wet or dirty diapers

Get emergency medical help if your baby

Is crying inconsolably or with a high pitchIs arched like a bow (the head or neck and heels are bent backward and the body forward)
Has a stiff, limp, or floppy body
Has strange eye movements

More Information

To get more information about Jaundice, go here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Medicaid Area Offices Accommodate Hearing Impaired

2010-09-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Medicaid Offices for Hearing-Impaired Beneficiaries

The Florida Association of the Deaf, Inc. (FAD) recently published a press release on Florida Medicaid Area Offices for beneficiaries who are hearing-impaired and need access to Medicaid services.

Florida Medicaid, a form of health insurance, is a state and federal partnership overseen by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Thirteen Medicaid Area Offices are set up throughout the state dedicated to assist beneficiaries. Each area office has a contact person and telephone number to help those beneficiaries who are hearing-impaired.

Medicaid Areas Office Contact Names and telephones numbers are listed here, alphabetically, for Pasco and the surrounding counties:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hernando: Area Number 3B, Tommy Ellis @ 352-840-5735
Hillsborough: Area Number 6, Scott Henjum @ 813-350-4830 &

Dondra Smith @ 813-350-4846
Pasco: Area Number 5, Gayle Ninis @ 727-552-1925

Pinellas: Area Number 5, Gayle Ninis @ 727-552-1925

Polk: Area Number 6, Scott Henjum @ 813-350-4830 &

Dondra Smith @ 813-350-4846
Sumter: Area Number 3B, Tommy Ellis @ 352-840-5735
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Beneficiary Services are free. You can call or have a family member call for you. To learn more about offerings and assistance, click here to view ACHA's Beneficiary Services section.

Pasco and Pinellas counties are represented by Medicaid Area Office Number 5. For more details, click on either (1) the AHCA Area Office map, or (2) MyFlorida Medicaid link. Then choose "Area Number 5".

Additionally, a few groups and links that provide support for the disabled:

Florida Association of the Deaf, Inc. (FAD) - provides services and important information about Medicaid and interpreters. Follow FAD through Facebook, or Twitter at deaFAD.
Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI)- offers Florida Relay Service (711), providing a connection link with those who use standard telephone equipment
Florida 2-1-1 Network - dialing 211 is easy access to community human services information, with either a landline or cell phone, and available to every person in Florida.
Deaf Services Bureau - assistance for those in West Central Florida.

Florida Medicaid Program - Medicaid information provided through the Florida Health Finder Network web site.

Florida Health Finder - web site that connects Floridians with health care information.

Information has been provided by FAD inc., ACHA, and FTRI.

Teens and Drug Abuse - Information to make healthier decisions

2010-08-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

Teen Drug Abuse Help At Your Fingertips

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) statistics show a decrease in teen drug use. Despite this good news, there will be kids who will get sucked into abusing drugs. Steering clear of these dangers can be a difficult thing.

NIDA's Teen web site, teens.drugabuse.gov, is a very good resource. It delivers science-based facts about how drugs affect the brain and body to arm kids with better information to make healthy decisions.

One helpful feature is their Sara Bellum Blog. It shares the latest research and news with teens in a non-preachy manner. It gives teens a way to communicate their thoughts about drugs. Visitors can leave their own comments. A glossary on the web site is available to look up unfamiliar terms.

The theme this year for the National Drug Facts Week is "Shatter The Myths", November 8-14, 2010. Find out more details about it on the NIDA Teen web site.

Teens need to be educated about the dangers of drugs in order to make good decisions. The NIDA web site is just one more tool in the arsenal to fight drug abuse.

Information has been provided by Your U.S. Government Blog, GovGab, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

2010-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Definition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) makes it difficult for children to control their behavior and stay focused. ADHD is usually diagnosed when children first go to school, a time when they must sit for longer periods and pay attention in class. Parents are often aware years earlier that their child has a problem.
Having ADHD doesn't mean your child has a problem with intelligence or ability to reason. Children with ADHD usually have normal or above-normal intelligence, and many are gifted.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) used to be called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), but that term isn't really used any more. Today the term ADHD is used with an add-on comment of "with the hyperactivity" or "without hyperactivity." The differences are related to the fidgety behavior or ”hyperactivity“ some children have. Hyperactivity is more than just being "active." It is activity much greater than children typically have. Below are the types of ADHD.

Inattentive type: Many children with ADHD have problems paying attention. Children with the inattentive type of ADHD often:
- Don't pay close attention to details and make careless mistakes.
- Cannot focus on the same task for long.
- Don't follow through on instructions or finish schoolwork or chores.
- Cannot organize tasks and activities well.
- Get distracted easily.
- Often lose things such as toys, school work and books.
Hyperactive-impulsive type: Being more active than other children is probably the most visible sign of ADHD. The hyperactive child is "always on the go." As he or she gets older, the activity level may go down. These children are also impulsive, meaning they often act before thinking, like running across the street without looking. Hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to go together. Children with the hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD often may:
- Fidget and squirm more than other children.
- Have a hard time staying in their seats.
- Run around or climb constantly or when they are told not to.
- Have trouble playing quietly.
- Talk too much.
- Blurt out answers before questions have been completed.
- Have trouble waiting their turn.
- Interrupt others when they're talking.
- Butt in on the games others are playing.
Combined type: Children with the combined type of ADHD have symptoms of both these types described above. They have problems with paying attention, with hyperactivity and with controlling their impulses. Of course, from time to time, all children are inattentive, impulsive and too active. With children who have ADHD though, these behaviors are the rule, not the exception.

Signs

Inattention:

This includes children who have trouble keeping their minds on what they are doing and often skip from one activity to the next without completing anything. They don't pay attention to details and often make mistakes. They have problems organizing and planning and often lose or misplace their schoolwork, pens, toys or other things.

Hyperactivity:

Hyperactive children always seem to be in motion. Sitting still seems nearly impossible. They may dash around, wriggle in their seats, roam around the room or talk without stopping. They wiggle their feet or tap their pencils. They are often restless, bouncing around from one activity to the next or trying to do several things at once.

Impulsivity:

These children often blurt out answers before questions have been completed. They have difficulty waiting for their turn. They often butt into conversations or games. They get into fights for little or no reason.

More Information

To get more information about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

The end can never really justify the means

2010-08-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

By Cristina Alarcon, The Province, July 25, 2010
Last week, Canadian Army captain Robert Semrau was convicted of disgraceful conduct in the shooting a badly wounded Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan. But a military panel acquitted him of murder.

The court martial in Gatineau, Que., had been told by an eyewitness that Capt. Semrau "could not live with himself if he left an injured human being -- and that no one should suffer like that."

The suggestion was, in other words, that the 36-year-old father of two children was engaged in a wartime mercy killing.

Around the world, the trial sparked much debate, and got me thinking about what I might do in the young captain's place.

That's not an easy task, as scenes of wartime chaos are but shadows on a TV screen glimpsed from the bulwarks of a comfy couch.

Still, I can try. The young insurgent's legs were severed, his innards protruding, a horrific sight to behold. It was something a paramedic might encounter in the aftermath of an airline crash.

I had the same sort of feeling that can sometimes come over me when dealing with the hopelessly chronically ill . . . though I always manage to shake it off.

Confronted by such wartime misery, would I still hold firm to my principles that the ends (relief of suffering) can never justify the means (killing)?

Or would the stress of wartime terror blur my usual moral clarity, my sense of the uniqueness of human worth?

Would I, like Red Cross founder Henry Dunant, be inspired to greater self-giving?

Dunant embarked on his great project in 1862 from the "chaotic disorder, despair unspeakable and misery of every kind" he earlier witnessed in the bloody Battle of Solferino in modern-day Italy.

As a pharmacist, I have witnessed the devastating psychological effects of war on men many years after combat.

Stress, much like drugs, can affect us in unpredictable ways. It can bring out the best and the worst in us. Still, our actions remain free.

Writing on his blog about the moral justification for killing in war, U.S. soldier-ethicist Pete Kilner points out that good rules of engagement provide guidelines to assist [the] decision-making process.

Nevertheless, given the complexity of combat, mistakes happen.

Kilner explains that the default setting for a human being is to possess the right not to be killed, so when a person is no longer a threat he should not be killed.

This is why it is morally wrong to kill a detainee or an incapacitated insurgent.

Still, Kilner maintains, the profession of arms has two moral codes. There's the public one, based on black-and-white legal rules, and private code, known only by those who have to do the messy work of war.

It's not healthy psychologically, he says, to have made difficult moral decisions that you cannot talk about publicly for fear of being punished.

The prosecution alleged that Semrau committed a mercy killing because he felt bound by a "soldier's pact" to end the suffering of gravely wounded combatants.

There is no defence for mercy killing in the law.

Nor is it, in my view, something that ought to be applauded.

Still, supporters argue it was unfair for a soldier to have to face prosecution for decisions made on the battlefield.

If during wartime, we can succumb to less than humane actions, what excuse is there for us at home in a comfortable world of Ritalin for the young, Viagra for the old -- and, as some propose, an overdose of pills to help us along, should kick-the-bucket time draw near?

We can be tempted to lose moral clarity, to lose the sense of the uniqueness of our species, of the fact that we are the ones for which the planet was made.

Though most of us would like to have it otherwise, the end or purpose of our actions can never justify the means.

If mercy killing is allowed in some instances, why not in others, and who is to decide?

Yes, from the sanctuary of my couch it is all too easy for me to judge.

Yet it also gives me a clearer perspective from which to respectfully ask: How could anyone in his right mind finish off a dying man as he would a dying horse?

Vancouver pharmacist Cristina Alarcon can be reached at cristinaalarcon365@hotmail.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

Pharmacy Plan will Hurt Quality Control

2010-08-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

By Cristina Alarcon, Special to Coquitlam NOW, August 13, 2010
Next time you walk into a drugstore, you may want to ensure your prescription has been properly filled and checked by a real apothecary -- a pharmacist, that is.

And if you or your loved ones are on a complicated medication regime and technicians are doing the final check on your medicine, then perhaps you ought to be signing a consent form.

This is because the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia has decided to pursue the licensing of technicians by Dec. 31, triggering a debate among community pharmacists who fret over liability, the profession's integrity and public safety.

For years now, the pharmacy profession has been easing the technical aspect of the job, first via specialized technology, then via technical support, but never before by leaving order entry, preparation and final check of prescriptions to unsupervised, largely under-qualified personnel.

While the college claims that pharmacists will still be ensuring the appropriateness of the drugs prescribed to begin with, quality control will certainly give way to monetary gain.

If one pharmacist must oversee the appropriateness of hundreds of scrips churned out daily by an army of techs, major mishaps will undoubtedly occur.

This idea may well work in a hospital setting, where errors are quickly caught and contained. Not so out in the community where once the wrong drug goes out that door it's gone -- and so, perhaps, is the patient.

But let's face it: most people have no clue just how much care goes into filling prescriptions. From searching for drug incompatibilities to making phone calls to refusals to fill when directions are inadequate or the wrong drugs are prescribed for a given condition -- you name it, good pharmacists catch it. There are myriad prescribing errors made and caught daily. This is far from mindless work.

Yet from their ivory towers academics believe the technical and cognitive aspects of this work can be separated -- imagine a chef who cannot cook, a plumber who cannot use a pump -- while drug store chain owners greedily wait to cash in on the techs' much-lower wages.

The regulation of pharmacy technicians will ultimately result in the creation of a new health-care professional and new registrant of the College of Pharmacists of BC.

Regulated pharmacy technicians will essentially take over the technical functions of the pharmacists' job, and pharmacists will be sitting back sipping margaritas by their pools, waiting for a call from their lawyers over the next casualty.

No really, the idea is to free up the pharmacist for consultation on disease management and drug care, but for a hefty, never-before-seen fee. Thus the most readily accessible health-care professional will be available no more, and your drug reviews and queries will be charged speedily to your Master Card or Visa.

Largely taken over by bureaucrats, academics and drug store chain owners, the College of Pharmacists of BC is giving in to their vested conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, the college board is conveniently silencing those who oppose their agenda by claiming that all must speak with "one voice."

Most recently, input was seemingly sought from the public on proposed bylaw changes that would create this new technical profession. Yet board member Bev Harris (a Coquitlam pharmacist) was reprimanded for speaking in a public forum to point out the problematic draft changes. And so it appears the consultation process was merely a sham. Fruitful discussion was never really the aim.

Over 500 community pharmacists have petitioned the college to hold off on bylaw changes that would give technicians the authority to take over their dispensing functions after a mere eight months of training. Technician certification, rather than licensing, is what pharmacists would like to see.

And it's not that pharmacists want to go back to all that counting and licking and sticking. Trained technicians are already helping greatly with that and much more.

While providing appropriate and timely services, pharmacists want to be sure that no errors are made along any step of the way, and that what your label says you're getting is really what's in the bottle.

A wrong drug or dosage may not be life threatening when you are young and healthy, but it may be lethal if dispensed to your 80-year-old mother or to your two-year-old son.

- - -

Cristina Alarcon is a Vancouver pharmacist.

© Copyright (c) Coquitlam Now

Featured Condtion/Disease: Cystic Fibrosis

2010-08-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Cystic Fibrosis.

Definition
Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce your body's secretions (body fluids other than blood) such mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices (stomach acid). Normally, these secretions are thin and slippery, but in children with cystic fibrosis, a defective gene causes the secretions to become thick and sticky. The thick mucus can clog the lungs and cause breathing problems. Mucus also can create a block in the pancreas (organ in the body) and other parts of the body causing stomach problems and difficulty digesting food.

Cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease, can cause severe lung damage and malnutrition (lack of necessary minerals and vitamins from foods). It is not contagious. Each child with cystic fibrosis is affected differently. Some children with cystic fibrosis are in good or even excellent health. Others are so severely limited by the disease that they may need to be hospitalized or cannot attend school regularly. Exercise is very good for these children, helping to loosen the mucus that clogs the lungs and increasing the ability to breathe deeply. Some children may tire more easily than other children.

In hot weather or when exercising, your child should be encouraged to eat salty snacks and drink extra fluids -- about 6-12 ounces of fluid every 20-30 minutes. Avoid caffeinated drinks such as colas because they can increase fluid loss (www.cff.org). Early identification is important in helping your child to maintain good health. The "sweat test" is the one most often used to determine if a child has cystic fibrosis. This simple and painless procedure measures the salt in a child's sweat. A high salt level indicates cystic fibrosis.

Common Signs

Children with cystic fibrosis can have any of these symptoms:

Frequent pneumonia.
Diarrhea

(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea_ez/index.htm)
and/or greasy, bulky stools.
Poor weight gain.
Cough lasting more than a month.
Shortness of breath.
Constant upset stomach.
Very salty-tasting skin, often noticed by parents when they kiss their child.

Keep in mind that symptoms are very different from child to child. There are more than 1,000 different types of the gene that causes cystic fibrosis.

More Information

To get more information about Cystic Fibrosis, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Low-Cost Dental Healthcare

2010-08-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

HEALTHY SMILE, HEALTHY BODY

The Florida Dental Association has organized 213 dental practices which will provide free or low cost care. To find more information about this program, visit the Smile Florida Organization web site*.

If you meet certain requirements and fall below a certain level of income, you may be eligible for these low cost dental services. To locate a low cost provider that meets your needs, click here to access the 2010 Dental Care Resource Guide and dental providers by county.

The links below will refer qualified applicants with specific needs to providers of free dental work:

Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc.

Dentistry from the Heart (each February)

* Provided by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Cerebral Palsy

2010-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Cerebral Palsy.

Definition

Cerebral palsy is a group of problems that make it difficult for people to control their own physical movement. A child with cerebral palsy can't move muscles normally. Cerebral palsy is caused when the part of the brain that controls muscle movement doesn't work properly. How much control the child has of movements will depend on how much the brain differs from normal.

In most cases, cerebral palsy doesn't worsen with age. This means children don't usually lose things they have already learned. Most children benefit greatly from treatment and therapy.

Getting Help

If you have a child from the age from birth to three years old, you can have your child screened for cerebral palsy through the Florida Early Steps program. Click here to see a list of Early Steps offices in your area.

More Information

To get more information about Cerebral Palsy, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

Health Care Reform for Local Employers

2010-07-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Are you an employer with 25 or less employee offering health care insurance or have question about what the new health care laws mean for your business? Career Central is offering three seminars in the Pasco/Hernando areas to get more information. Please RSVP as seats are limited. The dates are below:

CAREER CENTRAL WEST PASCO
Thursday, August 5, 2010
9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
4440 Grand Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL 34652

CAREER CENTRAL SPRING HILL
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
7361 Forest Oaks Blvd.
Spring Hill, FL 34606

CAREER CENTRAL EAST PASCO
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
6038 Gall Blvd.
Zephyrhills, FL 33542

TO RSVP, contact:

Ana Segovia
Business Services Consultant
(352) 293-1335
asegovia@CareerCentral.jobs

Congress recently enacted the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (HCEARA). These two pieces of legislation constitutes a massive overhaul of the United States health care system.

First Time Pasco Student - Health Requirements

2010-07-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Do you have a child going to a public school for the first time this year in Pasco or Florida? You will need proof that your child's immunization records are up to date and a physical. Both are sometimes referred to as "blue (for immunization) and gold (for physicals) forms". However, not all physicians or health care facilities provide proof on blue or gold forms - the schools will accept either on any color of paper as proof.

You can get immunizations shots at either your child's physician office, a health care facility, or the Pasco health department. A list of of immunizations by age is available at the Pasco County School Board site. A schedule of Pasco Health Departments is here. Physicals can be performed at your child's physician office or a health care facility.

Washington State victory

2010-07-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to learn that Washington State will be creating new rules for pharmacists who have conscientious objections to providing services or products they find morally objectionable. It will allow pharmacists to refuse to sell anything or provide services that go against their conscience and deeply held beliefs.
The reason for the new rules was because of a lawsuit concerning a pharmacy that, against the objections of the state, refused to stock or dispense the Plan B morning-after pill, based on their belief that life is sacred from the moment of conception and the pill can sometimes work as an abortifacient.
This is a great turnaround by both the state and the Pharmacy State Board, which for several years maintained that religious freedoms of pharmacies and pharmacists had to be restricted in order to ensure patient access to the morning-after pill.
In 2006, Pharmacy Board members unanimously supported a rule that would protect conscience for pharmacists and pharmacy owners. Shortly after, though, the board buckled under political pressure and mandated pharmacies to stock and dispense the medication despite any conscientious objections.
The board adopted this regulation even though it admitted it found no evidence that anyone in the state had ever been unable to obtain Plan B (or any other time-sensitive medication) due to religious objections.
In the aftermath, a pharmacy and two individual pharmacists filed suit to prevent the new regulation from forcing them out of their profession. The Becket Fund also came to their defence.
In its most recent filing, the state conceded that allowing pharmacists with conscientious objections to refer patients to other pharmacies “is a time-honoured pharmacy practice that is often in the best interest of patients, pharmacies and pharmacists, and [does] not pose a threat to timely access to lawfully prescribed medications.”
Although I do not advocate mandated referral, this is a clear victory for the profession and it sends a clear message to all: The state and professional boards ought to remain neutral in matters of faith and morals as they relate to individual conscience, in so far as there is no threat to public safety or to the common good.
While the state plays an important role in ensuring the health, peace, morality and safety of its citizens, it should not use its power in a dictatorial way, imposing limits on individual conscience in legitimately disputable matters.
But is this not a case of a religious pharmacist or store owner imposing his or her values on others, and will it not cause great inconvenience to customers, which some would argue should be a professional’s first priority?
To the question of fairness I would answer that justice is for all. In any agreement, one party must not be oppressed at the expense of another. In the case of the Plan B provision, both parties can be readily respected by placing the onus on provincial pharmacy boards to provide information on non-dissenting providers via toll-free numbers.
Some might argue that inconvenience is a form of oppression. But isn’t it a greater oppression to ask one to betray deeply held beliefs than walk a few extra blocks?
A version of this article was originally published in “Holy Post”, the religion blog of the National Post.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

2010-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).

Definition

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of these problems.
Characteristics and Behaviors of Children with FASD

Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
Small head size
Shorter-than-average height
Low body weight
Poor coordination
Hyperactive behavior
Difficulty paying attention
Poor memory
Difficulty in school (especially with math)
Learning disabilities
Speech and language delays
Intellectual disability or low IQ
Poor reasoning and judgment skills
Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
Vision or hearing problems
Problems with the heart, kidney, or bones

More Information

To get more information about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Autism Spectrum Disorder

2010-07-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Definition

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of disorders typified by a child's problems with social skills, effective communication and behavior. Autism Spectrum Disorders make a child experience the world differently from the way most other children do. It affects the brain and can make it hard for them to understand social situations and to get along with other people. Each child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has different symptoms. Some children may have mild symptoms and other children, more severe symptoms.
In the diagnostic manual used by professionals, these disorders are called Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Autism (Autistic Disorder), Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's Disorder (or Asperger Syndrome), Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome are all in this category.

The different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders can be confusing. Sometimes parents will see different professionals, and their child will receive a different "label" from each one. For example, a neurologist might say the child has PDD-NOS, while the psychologist says the child has autism. In other instances a doctor might say the child has Asperger's, and another doctor could say the child has PDD-NOS or autism.
Remember that most times the specific label isn't really that important. What is important is that a professional has recognized that your child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Then, based on your child's individual strengths and weaknesses, a treatment and educational plan can be developed. A child with a diagnosis of autism may well be qualified for more services.

Everyone is different, and every person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has particular strengths and areas of growth. Your encouragement, love and support help your child have a full, happy and independent life.

Symptons

As a baby, he/she does not imitate other children and does not reach out to you.
Doesn't look up or respond to his/her name. May seem deaf at times.
Does not seek you out for attention or for only social reasons.
Does not point or gesture.
Voice and facial expressions can be flat, lacking "feeling" and may not match what the child is saying.
Difficulty understanding what people around them think and feel.
Delay in speaking, or has speech and then loses it.
Speaks in great detail about one subject of topic (for example, only wants to talk about dinosaurs).
Has difficulty having a conversation (back and forth)
Has difficulty talking about abstract ideas or emotions; takes everything at face value.
Does not develop age-appropriate peer relationships (does not play well or have friendships with same-age children), and has difficulty mixing with others.
Obsessive (must do something the same way each time) or doesn't play in a usual way. (for example, needing to line up toys or spin objects over and over again).
Eats only certain foods or only likes clothes that feel a certain way.
Has a hard time relating with people around them.
Does not handle change well.
Problems with motor skills such as tying shoes, buttoning a shirt and handwriting.
Upset when normal routines are changed in any way.
May smell or lick toys.
May react strongly to loud noises such as car horns.

More Information

To read more information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site

Featured Condtion/Disease: RWI

2010-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Recreational Water Illness (RWI).

Definition

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea.

Most Common Areas

RWIs can be spread through use of swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers.

More Information

To get more information about RWI, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Oil Spill Off the Coast of Florida

2010-06-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Most of us are familiar with the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. There's now a web site to track the spill's dimensions. Developed by NOAA with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Interior, the site, http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/, offers you a “one-stop shop” for spill response information. The site integrates the latest data the federal responders have about the oil spill’s trajectory with fishery area closures, wildlife data and place-based Gulf Coast resources — such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and current positions of deployed research ships — into one customizable interactive map.

The Center for Disease Control also has a page dedicated to the potential effects of the oil spill should it appear on your local coast line, here. The CDC mentions four possible categories that you may be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill:

Air
Water
Food
Dispersants

Featured Condtion/Disease: Down Syndrome

2010-06-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Down Syndrome.

Definition:

Down Syndrome is caused by having an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are part of the nucleus of the cell, containing the information that makes up a person. Individuals with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. A typical child has two copies of chromosome 21. Children with Down Syndrome have three copies of this chromosome, causing changes in the development of the body and the brain.

Signs

Slanted eyes with folds of skin at the inner corners.
Short, broad hands with a single crease along the palm.
Flat bridge of the nose.
Short, low-set ears.
Short neck.
Small head.
Tongue sticks out.
Broad feet with short toes.
Low muscle tone, causing muscles to feel floppy.
Levels of mental retardation vary by child.

More Information

To get more information about Down Syndrome, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

New York Governor Thomas Dongan Addresses Licenses to Henry Cuyler and John Pell to Purchase Land from Indians in 1686

2010-05-25T01:59:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
In 1686, Governor of the Province of New York Thomas Dongan licensed John Pell to purchase from local Native Americans "all that tract or tracts" of land lying within the bounds of his Patent that were "not yet purchased of the said Indyan natives." Below is the

John Pell Takes Oath of John Clarke of West Chester on May 15, 1676

2010-05-24T01:40:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

During the 1670s, John Pell served as a Justice in Westchester. Among his duties was the taking of oaths. Such an occasion occurred on May 15, 1676 when John Clarke "of West Chester" appeared before him to swear an oath regarding something that was said to him

Featured Condtion/Disease: Asthma

2010-05-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Asthma.

Defintion

Asthma is a respiratory (the breathing system including the lungs, mouth and nose) disease. An asthma attack happens when something blocks the flow of air into the child's lungs. Asthma is different from other types of breathing problems because the block allowing air to enter the lungs is reversible. (It can be fixed.) Asthma is the most common disease in children and the leading cause of children missing school and children being admitted to hospitals.

Symptons

The most common symptoms (signs) of asthma are problems breathing, like wheezing, coughing and/or shortness of breath. Your child may start out feeling a tightness in the chest and be unable to play or exercise normally. Then he or she may start wheezing or having heavy breathing and shortness of breath. Other signs of asthma are shortness of breath or coughing when exercising and coughing at night even without shortness of breath. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Most problems with asthma are worse at night. They also seem to be more severe in boys and in children under 5 years old.

More Information

To get more information about Asthma, click here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.

The Announcement of President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination in Pelham, NY on April 15, 1865

2010-05-21T02:07:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Hart Island, near City Island, once was part of the Town of Pelham. During the latter part of the Civil War, Hart Island was used to house Confederate Prisoners of War. There is an interesting published account of the announcement made to the Confederate prisoners

Description of Early Baseball Game Played at Pelham Bridge in 1878

2010-05-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

I long have been intrigued by early references to baseball being played in Pelham. At the end of this posting is a long list of earlier postings on the subject.

I have located yet another very early reference to baseball being played in Pelham. In fact, it

Obituary of Charles J. Stephens of the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association

2010-05-19T02:03:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Regular readers know that for years I have researched the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association and its involvement in the development that became much of the Village of Pelham Manor. See the end of this post for a listing of recent postings on the topic.

1874 Newspaper Advertisement Touting Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association Real Estate

2010-05-18T01:47:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog presents an image, and transcribes the text, of an advertisement published in a New York City newspaper in 1874 touting the benefits of purchasing lots from the new development in lower Westchester County being

Jessup Family Members Tried in 1909 to Take Back Some of the Lands Conveyed to Form the Lands Developed by the Pelham Manor and Huguenot Heights Association

2010-05-17T02:09:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
I have written before about the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association formed to develop lands that became much of the Village of Pelham Manor. For examples of such postings, see the listing with links at the end of today's posting.

Today's posting to

1885 Article on Alleged Failure to Develop Pelham Manor Said the Development "At Best Resembles the Collapse of a Wild Cat Land Scheme"

2010-05-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web SiteLocated at http://www.historicpelham.com/.Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

I have written much about the Pelham Manor & Huguenot Heights Association. Regular readers may recall that I have published quite a number of blog postings on the topic, including:

Wed., November 11, 2009: 1874 Evening Telegram Advertisement for Pelham Manor

More on the Early History of the Pelham and City Island Horse Railroad

2010-05-13T01:56:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
For quite some time I have been working on the history of the "horse railroad" that once ran in the Town of Pelham from Bartow Station to the end of City Island. Today's post adds additional research to the collection I have assembled so far. At the end of

Upcoming Job Fair

2010-05-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Career Central is offering a Medical Field Career Fair on Friday May 14th from 9am to noon. Employers from the medical field will be available to tell you about job openings.

The Career Central office is located at

4440 Grand Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL 34652

For more information call: (727) 484-3400 or go to their website

http://www.careercentral.jobs

Fire Partly Destroyed Pelham Town Hall in 1908

2010-05-12T01:51:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Shortly after a large Republican rally in the building, a "mysterious" fire partly destroyed Pelham's Town Hall in the early morning hours of October 24, 1908. This was the predecessor to today's Town Hall.

A brief article about the fire appeared in the

Mystery Solved - Pelham Town Hall That Once Stood On Shore Road Was Used as a School

2010-05-11T01:47:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
For years I have struggled to resolve a mystery surrounding Pelham's Town Hall that once stood on Shore Road. An engraving showing that little brick building with its tower appears below.

Many secondary authorities referenced the building as school. Reliable

1675 Sale of Horses Located in Norwalk by John Pell of "Ann Hook's Neck"

2010-05-10T02:02:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
I have run across a record of an odd transaction involving John Pell, the nephew and principal legatee of Thomas Pell who acquired from Native Americans the lands that became the Manor of Pelham. On March 5, 1675, John Pell "proprietor of the Manor of Ann

Featured Condtion/Disease: Whooping Cough

2010-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is the second post in our ongoing series about childhood/infant diseases or conditions on every other Friday. Today's topic is Whooping Cough.

Defintion

Pertussis (whooping cough) is very contagious and can cause serious illness―especially in infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Make sure your young children get their recommended five shots.

Symptoms

Pertussis can cause serious illness in children and adults. The disease starts like the common cold, with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever. But after 1–2 weeks, severe coughing begins. Children with the disease cough violently and rapidly, over and over, until the air is gone from their lungs and they're forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. Pertussis is worse for very young children; more than half of infants less than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About 1 in 10 children with pertussis get pneumonia (lung infection), and about 1 in 50 will have convulsions.

More Information

To get more information about Whooping Cough, go here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

U.S. Health Care Reform

2010-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Curious about the new health care laws recently enacted by President Obama? Below is a break down by year from the myfloridacfo site, located here.

2010
People with health insurance
- Insurers may not arbitrarily cancel your coverage when you get sick, except in cases of fraud. (effective September 23, 2010)
- Insurers may not impose lifetime coverage limits and, until 2014, may only set restricted annual limits for essential health benefits.(effective September 23, 2010)
- Insurers must cover preventive services with no co-payments or deductibles.(effective September 23, 2010)
Children
- Children who don't get health care coverage from their employers may stay on their parents' plans until age 26. (effective September 23, 2010)
- Insurers may not deny coverage to a dependent child under age 19 because of preexisting conditions. The same will be true for adults and dependent children age 19 and older beginning in 2014. (effective September 23, 2010)
Medicare beneficiaries
- Eligible beneficiaries with Part D coverage who enter the "donut hole" in 2010 can receive a one-time $250 rebate to pay for prescription drugs that were purchased while in the donut hole. The rebate will be less for individuals earning more than $85,000 per year and for couples earning more than $170,000. The donut hole is the period of time during which some Medicare prescription drug plans won’t contribute anything toward your prescription costs. (began January 1, 2010)
Uninsured
- Individuals who have been without coverage for at least six months and who have a preexisting conditions may obtain coverage through a high-risk health insurance pool to be run by the state, the federal government, or a nonprofit. The risk pools are temporary until exchanges become effective in 2014. (effective July 2010)
- A website set up by the federal government is scheduled to be available by July 1 to help consumers shop for coverage.
Small businesses
- Businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees that pay for at least 50 percent of premiums and pay average annual wages below $50,000 may be eligible for a tax credit of up to 35 percent (25 percent for nonprofits) of the premiums the business pays. The credits increase in 2014. (began January 1, 2010)
2011
Insurance companies
- For small group and individual plans, insurers must spend at least 80 percent of revenue from premiums on medical services and programs directly related to improving health care quality. The amount increases to 85 percent for large group plans. Insurers that fail to meet the minimum payment requirements must provide refunds to enrollees.
Medicare beneficiaries
- Seniors with Part D coverage in the donut hole will begin receiving a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs.
- Co-payments and deductibles for preventive services will be eliminated.
2013
Wealthier individuals and families
- For individuals earning more than $200,000 per year and couples earning more than $250,000 per year, Medicare payroll taxes will increase.
2014
Uninsured
- Health care coverage will be required for U.S. citizens and legal residents. The tax penalty will be $95 or 1 percent of taxable income in 2014; $325 or 2 percent of taxable income in 2015; $695 or 2.5 percent of taxable income in 2016; and adjusted according to income every year after. There are exceptions for religious objectors, those who can't afford coverage, individuals below the tax-filing threshold, and various others.
- States or the federal government will create insurance marketplaces, known as "exchanges," for individuals and small businesses to buy coverage. U.S. citizens and legal residents who are not incarcerated would qualify to buy coverage in an exchange. States can expand their exchanges to provide coverage for large employers in 2017.
- Premium subsidies will be available for individuals and families with incomes between 133 percent ($14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four) and 400 percent ($43,320 for individual or $88,200 for a family) of the federal poverty level.
- States will be required to expand Medicaid to individuals under age 65 (children, pregnant women, parents, and adults without dependent children) who are up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. There is an option for states to expand Medicaid in 2011.
People with health insurance
- Insurers may not deny you coverage because of preexisting conditions. Similar provisions prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions begin in 2010.
- Insurers must accept everyone who applies for coverage when they apply during a defined enrollment period.
- Insurers can only base premiums on age, tobacco use, geographic area, and whether coverage is for an individual or a family.
- Insurers may not deny coverage because of a person's health status, medical condition, claims experience, medication history, genetic information, or disability.
Businesses
- Large employers who don't offer employee health care coverage will pay $2,000 for each full-time worker who receives a tax credit for health insurance through a state exchange.
- Tax credits for small employers increase to 50 percent (35 percent for nonprofits) of the health care premiums the business pays.
- Businesses with more than 200 employees must automatically enroll employees in a health insurance plan. Employees can opt out.
2020
Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage
- The donut hole is eliminated.

Image of Hawkswood Published in 1831

2010-05-07T02:01:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
I previously have written about Elisha W. King and his estate known as "Hawkswood". See

Wednesday, April 5, 2006: "Hawkswood", Later Known as the Marshall Mansion on Rodman's Neck in Pelham.

Thursday, June 28, 2007: 19th Century Notice of Executor's Sale of

Consolidation Involving Pelham Has Been Discussed Since at Least 1824

2010-05-06T01:35:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
During the mid-1970s, the Village of Pelham and the Village of North Pelham were consolidated to form today's Village of Pelham. From the 1920s to the present, residents of Pelham have debated the pros and cons of consolidating various of the villages. Others

2010-05-05T01:51:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
In 1922, lawmakers floated a plan to consolidate a large number of Westchester communities including the three villages of the Pelhams and the Town of Pelham to create a Westchester City. Known as the "City Plan in Westchester," the proposal faced intense

Questions Regarding the Trolley Franchise from Bartow Station to the Tip of City Island Arose in 1915

2010-05-04T04:03:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Yesterday I wrote about the dissatisfaction of City Islanders with the transportation service they had used for years from Bartow Station to the tip of City Island. (A link to that posting and other related postings appears at the end of this brief article.)

Immunizations - F.A.Q.s & Facts

2010-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Immunizations - Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Here's some frequently asked questions from the CDC about immunizations.

I heard that some vaccines can cause autism. Is this true?
No. Scientific studies and reviews have found no relationship between vaccines and autism. Groups of experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), also agree that vaccines are not responsible for the number of children now recognized to have autism.

Don't infants have natural immunity?
Babies get some temporary immunity (protection) from mom during the last few weeks of pregnancy—but only for the diseases mom is immune to. These antibodies do not last long, leaving the infant vulnerable to disease.

To see a full list of questions, go to the CDC site here.

Immunization Recommendations by Age

To see a chart of immunizations recommended for ages birth through 6 years old, click here.

To see a chart of immunizations recommended for ages seven years to 18 years old, click here.

Efforts to Reorganize the Operators of the City Island Horse Railroad and Monorail in 1914

2010-05-03T01:38:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
By 1914, City Islanders were fed up with the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railway Company. They believed that the horse railroad service and the monorail service that for years had transported them from Bartow Station to the tip of City

"Truly, An Illuminating Little Passage in the History of New-York!" - Efforts to Develop Shore Road Trolley Line in 1897

2010-04-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Recently I wrote a brief posting on efforts to develop a trolley line on Shore Road in 1897. See Wed., April 28, 2010: Efforts by the Pelham Park Horse Railroad to Expand and Develop a Trolley Car Line on Shore Road in 1897.

I have located another couple

City Islanders Complain and Force the Operators of Their Horse Railroad to Agree to Replace Antiquated Cars in 1908

2010-04-29T01:53:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Regular readers know that I have been engaged in a project to document the history of the horse railroad once operated in the Town of Pelham between Bartow Station and the tip of City Island. The horse railroad, operated by Pelham Park Railroad Company and the

Obamacare Scam

2010-04-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

According to an article in the Herald Tribune, there's an ongoing consumer scam involving the new health care laws just passed by Congress. Telemarketers are calling and using fax notices to send potential victims quotes for low-cost health care. If you receive a phone call, you are urged to check out the business with the Better Business Bureau. To see the effects of the new health care legislation on your local area, click here and choose the U.S. House Representative that represents your area. In Pasco County, the US House Representatives are C. W. Bill Young (FL-10) and Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-9). To read the original Herald Tribune article, click here.

Efforts by the Pelham Park Horse Railroad to Expand and Develop a Trolley Car Line on Shore Road in 1897

2010-04-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
I have written fairly extensively regarding the little horse railroad that once ran from Bartow Station on the New Haven Branch Line to the tip of City Island. For examples of such previous postings, see the links at the end of this posting.

The horse

New York City's Interborough Rapid Transit Company Sued to Foreclose a Mortgage on the Horse Railroad in 1911

2010-04-27T02:02:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
In its final years before it was replaced by a monorail line and, then, buses, the horse railroad that once ran from Bartow Station on the New Haven Branch line to the tip of City Island ran into financial difficulties. In 1902, the Pelham Park Railroad

Florida Cancer Trials

2010-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with Cancer? According to statistics available from the CDC below, these are the most common types of cancer in both men and women as of 2006. More information here.

The Florida Cancer Trails site has a list of cancer trial treatments. You can search by type of cancer, location, and age to find a trial near you. To get more information, you can call 1-800-584-9976 or visit their site, http://www.floridacancertrials.com/en/default.asp.

Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909

2010-04-26T01:38:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Marshall's Corners once was an area in the Town of Pelham near the Marshall Mansion known as Hawkswood on the mainland near the City Island Bridge. Marshall's Corners was a stop on the horse railroad where the Pelham Park Railroad once joined the City Island

Featured Condtion/Disease: Human Papillomavirus

2010-04-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

Starting today, we will be posting a featured childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

General Information

There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it. HPV is not the same as herpes or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). These are all viruses that can be passed on during sex, but they cause different symptoms and health problems.

HPV Prevention
Vaccines can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV. These vaccines are given in three shots. It is important to get all three doses to get the best protection. The vaccines are most effective when given before a person's first sexual contact, when he or she could be exposed to HPV.

Girls and women: Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are available to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. One of these vaccines (Gardasil) also protects against most genital warts. Both vaccines are recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls, and for females 13 through 26 years of age, who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. These vaccines can also be given to girls as young as 9 years of age. It is recommended that females get the same vaccine brand for all three doses, whenever possible.
Boys and men: One available vaccine (Gardasil) protects males against most genital warts. This vaccine is available for boys and men, 9 through 26 years of age.

More Information

To read about more Human Papillomavirus (HPV), visit the CDC site here.

*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.

Charles Blaskowitz, Surveyor Who Created Important Map Reflecting the Battle of Pelham

2010-04-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Charles Blaskowitz produced an important map showing troop movements in and around the Manor of Pelham for the period that included the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776. An image of the map appears immediately below. Here is a citation to the map, held in

Account of Early Judicial Decision Relating to Ownership of Land Beneath Coastal Waters of City Island

2010-04-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.
Occasionally I have written about legal disputes that have arisen concerning ownership of the land beneath certain coastal waters surrounding City Island when it was part of the Town of Pelham. For examples, see:

Monday, November 27, 2006: The 19th Century