Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Case For Vaccinations

VaccinationImage by Sanofi Pasteur via Flickr
Why the unpopularity of vaccinations is causing a disease comeback.

Over the past decade, the practice of vaccinating children has become very controversial. Many parents are opting out of having their kids vaccinated and many schools are allowing children to not have all of their shots based on personal exemptions. The rise in this practice is causing concern for many in the health care industry and is  facilitating a rise in many infectious diseases that haven't been seen in several decades.



Think about it, when was the last time you worried about your kids getting measles? After all, no one really gets that disease anymore, right? Maybe not. Back in it's heyday, before children were routinely immunized, measles infected 3 to 4 million Americans each year causing 400 to 500 deaths. Just a dozen years ago, in 2000, the Centers for Disease control and Prevention announced that the disease had been eradicated in the United States, except for imported cases.


This year, a 7 year old boy who had vacationed in Switzerland with his parents caught the measles, brought them home and infected his siblings, five schoolmates and four children at his doctor's office. Even diseases like Whooping cough and Polio have seen a rise in new cases.


The spread of measles could have been prevented by routine immunizations. Even if the child's parent didn't have their child immunized, it still wasn't a huge issue because most of the other children wouldn't be able to catch it. Today, with the rise in unvaccinated children, the disease has a chance to establish a foothold.


Although there are some people who attribute early childhood immunizations with the rise in Autism, claiming that vaccinations have a large amount of mercury. However, since 2001, no vaccinations contain mercury at all. Still, there are more and more Autism cases each year which proves that the immunization theory isn't valid.


Still, these fears have made many parents leery of having their children vaccinated. It's easy to think that these shots aren't important because they protect our children from diseases that aren't even around anymore. The truth is, the reason they aren't around is because of vaccinations. Without them, we would be back in a place where children would be exposed to a very real risk of measles, mumps, polio and so on. More children would be sick, hospitalized and even dying from these diseases that we can prevent.


Generations ago, making the case for vaccination was easy. Diseases were sweeping through classrooms and everyone knew someone who had either suffered through a disease or who had lost a child to one. Convincing parents that getting a shot for polio was worth the risk was easy. The rare child who wasn't immunized, who was too young to get shots or who was too ill to be immunized was still protected because everyone one else was vaccinated and wouldn't be carrying the disease.


We live in a high tech world and we take many advances for granted. Electricity, water treatment plants, workplace safety, building codes and healthy children and adequate food supply. It's easy to forget how quickly these things can change if we don't keep working at them. We all need to remember that without these things, we as human would be stuck living dirty, sick and short lives.


I don't know what can be done to turn the tide on the idea that immunizations are bad for children. What do you think can be done to prevent these diseases from making a comeback? Please share your thoughts in the comments.




By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Beyond.com.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.


Eight Steps to Successful Job Search Project Management



Project You: Eight Steps to Successful Job Search

Finding a job is very similar to managing a work project. After you get over the shock of unemployment and the fear of financial and career disaster, put the project management skills you brag about in your resume to work to find a new job. Even if you never managed a project at work, you can use these eight steps to help organize your job search and keep you on track.


1. Determine your desired outcome. Stephen Covey, in his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” suggested you “begin with the end in mind.” If you don’t have a clear picture of the type of job, location, salary range, work environment and other critical job satisfaction factors, you can waste a lot of time and energy. You may end up with a great job offer for a job you don’t want. Write down specific goals and focus your efforts on finding the job that’s right for you.


2.  List tasks involved. You’ll need an updated resume and cover letters. What online jobsites are best to find a job? Jobsites like http://www.phillyjobs.com/ focus on the best jobs in the Philadelphia area. One of the larger sites may have a lot of jobs, but may not meet your criteria for location, travel time, or industry type. You’ll need to search out networking opportunities. Join LinkedIn and set up a great profile page. You get the picture.


3.  Assign a time factor for the completion of each task. “Someday” your prince may come, but in the meantime, you need a schedule to get things going. Setting goals and a timeline will get you moving toward your goal.


4.  Set a deadline. Take a realistic look at your finances. How long can you hold out before you need to start working again? Don’t accept what the media says about how long it takes to find a job in this economy. Setting a deadline is motivating.


5.  Are tasks sequential or concurrent? Can you start networking before your resume is perfect? Should you take a volunteer position immediately or wait for awhile? Employers seem to agree they would rather hire someone who has a job than someone who’s unemployed. Even though you aren’t paid, you still show initiative and a worker mentality that wants to be contributing and productive.


6.  Lay out a timeline. Set incremental milestones such as the number of resumes you will send each week or networking events you’ll attend. Just like losing weight, it’s slow and steady. Consistent efforts over time will eventually get results.


7.  Delegate tasks, downsize, and eliminate tasks. Hire a consultant to update your resume, get
some advice on organizing your job search and set up a tracking system. Eliminate job search methods and networking events that aren’t effective. Put your efforts into those activities that promise a better return.


8.  Negotiate deadlines and resources. Be flexible. After a period of time, you may need to take a hard look to see why you’re not getting results. Do a mock interview with a friend and videotape the session. How do you come across to a potential employer? You may need to adjust your timeline to include some coaching and training to polish your interview style or beef up your resume.


What other steps have you found to be effective in organizing your job search? Share your
tips with other readers in the Comments section below.


Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Top Dental Assistant Schools




So you want to be a dental assistant? While some dental assistants may be trained on the job, increasingly more employers expect their dental assistants to have some formal training. Most training programs typically take one year or less to complete. Here are four of the top dental assistant schools:

Penn Foster. This school will give you the up-to-date career skills you’ll need to be a dental assistant. As one of the world’s largest and most respected online education providers, Penn Foster programs are job focused. You’ll learn how to manage office operations, work with dental terminology and procedures, schedule appointments and update patient records.

Vista College El Paso. This school offers day or evening classes to prepare you for a rewarding career as a dental assistant. The focused instruction and hands-on training equip you with the tools you’ll need to succeed and advance in this field. You’ll learn how take dental x-rays and how to perform other practical radiology skills, as well as many day-to-day chair-side procedures.

Anthem College. Here, you’ll learn fundamental chair-side and administrative skills, and get a solid foundation in healthcare compliance, dental terminology, healthcare ethics, and office supervision. Programs are offered for students entering the workforce for the first time, as well as those who want to expand their existing career skills.

IntelliTec Medical. Their dental assistant program is accredited by the American Dental Association of Commission on Dental Accreditation. Graduates of the ADA program may be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board. IntelliTec's training program includes a 300-hour externship, allowing you to practice your skills in a setting in Colorado dental practices.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts on Dental Assistant Schools, feel free to share them in the comments section.

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.


Monday, January 23, 2012

5 Ways To Save Money On Your Utility Bills



Cutting costs without suffering.


The winter is in full force, and although it's been unusually warm in some areas so far, it's starting to get colder. Along with the cold weather comes large utility bills. For many of us who are feeling the pinch of the current economic recessions, those who are underemployed or looking for jobs, these added expenses can really take a bite out of our budgets.


This year, my New Year's resolution was to live more frugally, but without having to do without the things that are really important. So, how can you save money on utility bills without bundling up in coats at home?


Here are 5 great ways to save money on your utility bills:


Do an energy check at night - Before you go to bed, go around your house and make sure that everything is turned off. It's a hard habit to get into, but it can really save you a lot of money. Check for lights, televisions, fans and other appliances and electronics. Just one ceiling fan can cost up to $35 dollars a year to run during the night, a traditional light bulb costs $21 and a compact fluorescent costs $9. This can really add up over time.


Check your water heater - The experts agree that your water heater should be set at 120 degrees. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that setting your water heater at 140 degrees can cost you up to $61 in heat loss and up to $400 annually just to heat water to that high of a temperature. If you are going to be gone for a few days, turn your water heater down or even off. Remember that even though you aren't using water while your gone, the water cools down and the water heater has to reheat it over and over.


Invest in re-usable filters - Instead of buying the cheap, disposable filters for your heating and air conditioner, buy the reusable ones. They cost a little more, but since you can rinse them off and reuse them, instead of having to remember to buy new ones, you'll be more likely to keep your filter clean. Dirty filters can make your system less efficient and even cause it to break, costing you lots of money.


Look into upgrading your appliances - Many state and local governments offer incentive programs for homeowners who upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. Find out what they are in your area and think about upgrading. Not only can you save money in taxes and on your purchase but your monthly utility bills will drop as well.


Buy a programmable thermostat - These devices have gotten less expensive over the years and it's still the best way to save money. You can program your heat and air conditioner to work less during the times that you aren't home, which saves you money. In fact, the EPA estimates that a programmable thermostat can save an average of $180 a year.


What other ways do you save money on your utilities? Please share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog and Beyond.com, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Crowdsourcing Weight Loss With a New App?



A new app that can help people meet their weight loss goals.


One of the major concerns for many Americans, and those who work in the healthcare industry, is weight loss. As we grow larger, our nation's health outlook gets bleaker. The problem is that making a commitment to losing weight and eating healthy is really tough. The challenge is staying motivated over the long haul.


In an effort to help, a new company called The Eatery has come up with a plan that just might help.


If you talk to nutritionist, they will tell you that the best ways to stay focused and reach your weight loss goals are to keep track of everything you eat and ask your friends and family to help you stay on track. Combining that wisdom with the widespread use of smartphones, the company has introduced a new app that helps do all of this.


The Eatery's weight loss plan is to stop thinking about calories or carb-counting and instead use the app to take a photo of each thing before you eat it. Once you upload the photo, you are asked to rate the meal on it's healthiness. It keeps track of things like the time of day and how often you eat as well. This allows the dieter to see trends that may not have been apparent on their own. For example, if you eat a candy bar most days between 3 and 4, the app will be able to track just how often it happens. Or, if you eat more unhealthy foods on days you don't eat breakfast, you'll be able to see that as well.


The other interesting feature of the app is that it allows you to connect with others and offer feedback on their food choices. Your friends, family and even people you don't know can comment on your lunch. This sort of accountability sounds a little uncomfortable to me, because I don't think I would want people to be judging my meal. On the other hand, it certainly helps keep the lies we all tell ourselves to a minimum. For example, I might have a salad for lunch and think that I am eating healthy, but the photo of my salad drenched in ranch dressing and covered with bacon bits will tell a completely different story. Having people point this out to me will keep me from deluding myself.


It remains to be seen how successful this app will be. It is designed as part of an overall approach to healthcare by Massive Health, who plans to design other tools that will help us change the way we think about our bodies and our health.


Would you use this type of app? Do you think that it could be helpful when trying to lose weight? Please share your thoughts in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Beyond.com.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.


Finding Job Assurance in Quality Assurance



Just in February of las year, the U. S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission
reported the follow companies have recalled defective 
products:


·
Pier 1 Imports recalled golden tea lights due to
a fire hazard
·
B.O.B. Trailers recalled jogging strollers due
to a strangulation hazard
·
Le Creuset recalled glass lids due to a laceration hazard
·
Recreational Equipment, Inc., recalled 160 Novar bicycles due to a possible fall hazard


How could these products be unleashed on the public with such safety hazards? If you have a
combination of super hero, CSI and Mentalist capabilities, you may be drawn to a career in Quality Assurance. These individuals work with companies to ensure that quality standards are established and adhered to in manufacturing, design, production and distribution. A recent Google search brought up 104 jobs in the Philadelphia area in Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering and Quality Inspection, so if you have what it takes, QA could be an interesting and fulfilling job.


You’ll need at least a college degree in math, chemistry, industrial engineering, manufacturing operations, or equivalent work experience to be considered. Knowledge or experience in quality management systems, ISO 9001, Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing is a plus. Here are some of the different types of jobs in Quality Assurance:


1.  Quality Engineer – a degree in engineering, math or statistics is a requirement. You will
be analyzing manufacturing processes, gathering and analyzing data and making suggestions for improvement to processes to improve product quality. A love for detail and the ability to see the big picture are necessary for success in this job. You’ll be working as a team member with
various levels of an organization, so you need great people skills, too.


2.  Quality Assurance Manager – You’ll need to have the skills of a quality engineer since you’ll be managing operations teams responsible for implementing quality systems. In addition, you’ll be focused on the quality systems that are utilized as guides for the QA teams. Knowledge of various quality management systems, such as ISO 9001 or Six Sigma and how they relate to the organization’s quality goals and processes is essential for successfully managing the quality process.


3.  Loss Prevention Investigator – Get your best Sherlock Holmes on. This position
requires great analytical and investigative skills and experience. A background in criminal science or law enforcement is a plus. This job requires data gathering, surveillance and analysis.


One position even required some international travel. Can you say, “James Bond?”


These are only a few positions in this exciting field. If quality and protecting the general public
appeals to your humanitarian instincts and your values, you may find a rewarding, lucrative and exciting career in quality assurance. Have you found other exciting career fields? Share your search results in the Comments section below.


Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.









Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Looking for a Nursing Job…Here’s Where to Start



You just graduated with a two- or four-year degree in nursing and you’re ready to hit the pavement looking for a job. If you have your nursing license, so much the better.

But the fact remains, in this economy, you’ll have to compete with thousands of other nursing grads who are just as eager to land that first job. That said, you don’t want to end up in a hospital or medical facility that works you to death. Some employers will use the bad economy to exploit young nurses.

One of the first things you can do is find out as much as you can about the hospital or medical facility you hope to work for. You can go online for some of this information. You can also ask your school counselor for some background on the employer. And if you’re lucky enough to know someone who already works there, mine them for information.

Besides learning what the employer expects from its new-hire nurses, you’ll want to know such things as their nurse-to-patient ratio; the length of each shift; the duty schedules; and the level of support staff they provide for their nurses. You may want to know if the employer welcomes policy and management suggestions from its nurses. Are specialists or educators available to support nurses? Are nurses fairly represented in the different committees of the hospital or medical facility? Do nurses have a voice on issues related to the nursing practice and patient care? You also need to consider your long-term career goals. Does the hospital or medical facility offer continuing education to keep you updated with current trends?

It’s important to know these things before you rush headlong into a position that, while it may pay the bills, leaves you too exhausted and frustrated to enjoy your time off.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts on landing that first nursing job, feel free to share them in the comments section.

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.