Doctors On Speed Dial

There are about 500 doctors across the country that are operating concierge practices. Just what is a “concierge” doctor? It’s when the patient pays an annual fee anywhere from $600 to $5000 per individual for special service. One special service could be the doctor being accessible through cell phone or email at any time. You could have same day or next day appointments without waiting time, unhurried visits, a comprehensive physical, a wellness plan and treatment that the doctor deems necessary. The doctor would offer preventive care such as life style advice and follow up phone calls. In order to achieve this, doctors reduce the number of patients that they see a day which allows them to spend extra time and attention with the concierge patients. Appointments can be up to an hour long. The patients can have last minutes appointments, prescriptions and answers to medical questions.

So what’s being said about all this? The people who are for it say it meets the consumer demands. It allows physicians to cut down from the 25-35 patients per day to a more manageable number. It allows physicians to provide treatment they deem necessary and it improves the quality of care. Patients feel less like just a number and are aware that they are treated more like a person. The patients feel the special treatment is well worth the extra money that they pay. Some concierge doctors even make house calls! The annual fee from each of their patients supplements their practice which covers their costs and they earn a fair salary.

There are concerns that this type of medical care would cause a two-tiered health system. The wealthy would get first class treatment and all the privileges. The people who couldn’t afford the concierge would find a limited number of physicians to treat them. It would also burden the middle and lower class with higher insurance costs. Some physician’s are split down the middle. They feel they can’t abandon patients who can’t pay the additional fee, yet the steady income, the lesser amount of patients and preventative care is a draw.

There is yet another option that’s occurring. It’s called hybrid practice. Physician’s with this type of practice accept about a dozen patients from their practice who choose the concierge option. The other patients still see the doctor as they always have. The concierge get a special contact number with special privileges. These concierge patients won’t get the same quality of care as the doctor who sees only concierge patients but they will get more individual care than the remaining patients in the doctor’s practice. The doctor is caring for the needs of two classes of patients though and still has a large patient load.

So what does this mean to you? Well, the practice of concierge isn’t wide spread as of yet. However if your doctor would change his practice to concierge and you don’t want to join, here’s his obligations to you. He is still required to treat you until you find another doctor. He also has to transfer, for free, your records to your new doctor. So be aware of your rights and your choices.

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelance work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.

Phillyjobs Facebook App

Do you spend a lot of time of Facebook? Now it's easier than ever to look for a job with the new Facebook app from PhillyJobs!

All the Facebook addicts out there now have a reason to celebrate! Now that PhillyJobs.com has released their Facebook application, you can look for a job, network with your friends and share job listings without ever having to leave Facebook.

To get started, all you have to do is go to the PhillyJobs.com Facebook App here, and then when the request for permission box pops up, click the “Allow” button, and you're all set. Once you have the application added to your Facebook account you're ready to start searching!

With the new app, you can save

searches so that you can easily search for your favorite keywords. This can be a huge time saver

if you are looking for a certain type of job every day. Along with the easy search feature, you can even invite your friends and share job openings

with each other. If you have other job seekers in your network, it's a great way to “crowdsource” your job search with your group, so that your friends and family can help you search for the job of your dream.

I had the opportunity to play around with the new app earlier this week, and I've got to tell you, it's pretty fabulous. I really like the “friends” functionality of this program. The application is designed for people who are looking for jobs in the Philadelphia area while harnessing the power of the Beyond.com job search engine.

One of my other favorite things (and with an app this useful, it's hard to pick just one thing) is that you can create an alert for a specific job search. For example, if you are looking for a job in Marketing in the Philadelphia area, you can enter the keywords: Marketing, Philadelphia, PA. Once you have your search terms and are seeing the type of results you are interested in, you can save the search and even create an alert by selecting the check box within the search bar. The alert will send you a notification when new jobs are posted that meet your search criteria, allowing you to get a head start on applying.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at the PhillyJobs.com Facebook App and get started making your job search easier. The job of your dreams could be just a few clicks away! If you’d like to view a great “How To” presentation, check out their cool Prezi presentation, click here!

While you're on Facebook, make sure you “like” the PhillyJobs Facebook page! If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia are job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, 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.

For Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, Preparing for "Black Swan" was Grueling but Healthy

by Alex A. Kecskes

The recent film Black Swan proved to be quite a physically demanding role for its lead stars—Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. With the help of dieticians and trainers, both transformed themselves into long, lean, sculpted athletes, adding grace and strength while not jeopardizing their health.

Portman trained relentlessly for months to sculpt her body into a ballerina's frame, losing over 20 pounds in the process. Already a healthy eater, Portman attributed her extreme weight loss to eating much smaller portions. She practiced a series of highly targeted, repetitive movements that, while appearing easy, were grueling when repeated over 70 times in one session. Her mornings began at 5 a.m. with ballerina exercises followed by a mile-long swim. She performed hip flexors and other demanding movements, training like a professional ballerina so she would look and move like one. Portman appeared in 90 percent of the movie's ballet scenes, so she had to be convincing.

Actress Mila Kunis adopted an equally rigorous health and fitness regimen, shedding 20 pounds while gaining stamina and agility. Her strenuous health and fitness program included a 1,200 calorie per day diet, daily cardiovascular exercises and four-hour per day dance lessons. Kunis noted that transforming her body was a blend of sadism and fun, and she was amazed at what one's body can accomplish. Although Kunis gained back the 20 pounds she lost for Black Swan, she continues working out to retain her figure. Kunis recently underwent corrective surgery for a chronic eye condition called iritis. She admitted that she had only been able to see out of one eye for seven years.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

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.

Philly's Happy to be 5th

Sometimes coming in 5th isn’t so bad. Philadelphia held onto its number five spot when counting down the largest cities in America. 1950 peaked the city its population record at 2.07 million people. After that, changes in industry and the suburbanites exit from the city, the numbers dwindled but Philadelphia stayed in the top five for over 60 years. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston all have higher populations than the City of Brotherly love, which eeked out Phoenix to remain in fifth place. Phoenix was expected to grow faster and larger and predictions for Philadelphia were that it would stay the same if not shrink. Both insights were incorrect. Reaching 1.44 million residents, Phoenix grew by 9.4% but it wasn’t fast enough to surpass Philly which surprisingly saw growth as well. For the first time in 50 years the city’s residents rose by 8,456 bringing the official population to 1.53 million. Mayor Michael Nutter is encouraged by the announcement. "When you have 50 years, 60 years of steady population decline, growing is a big marker. It's a big deal. I think it means something to the psychology of the city, that it's a city that has grown, and will grow." There has been an effort made to bring people back from the suburbs and into the revitalized core of the city. Neighborhood growth can be seen in several places: Center City East grew by 24.7%, Center City West by 12.1% and the Northern Liberties-Fishtown area increased by 23.7%. At a news conference Nutter said, "What this is really about is folks recognizing this city is moving in the right direction. We're the city of the future. People can be anywhere. They are choosing to live in Philadelphia." Not only has Philadelphia grown but the surrounding region has expanded with it. The growth of the city and surrounding suburban counties is expected to help advance the community economically, politically, and psychologically. Nutter feels it’s a win for everyone in town saying, "It's a confidence-booster. It's an image booster. . . . To be now legitimately in the top five cities in the country is putting Philadelphia in the proper spotlight." Well it’s a win for everyone except Phoenix. Tough luck guys, better luck next census. Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs. By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.

1,000,000 U.S. Children Misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

by Alex A. Kecskes

As many as 1 million U.S. children are potentially misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because they happen to be younger and more immature than their kindergarten classmates.

Child health specialists note that there are no neurological markers for ADHD (such as a blood test). All too often, ADHD diagnoses depend on a child's age relative to his or her classmates and the teacher's perceptions of whether the child has symptoms.

As a result, these children are more likely than their older classmates to be prescribed behavior-modifying stimulants like Ritalin. Child health advocates worry that the long-term stimulant use of these drugs can affect a child's health. Many experts agree that there's a big difference between a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old. Before whipping out their prescription pads, medical practitioners need to take this into account when evaluating whether children have ADHD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder for children in the U.S., with at least 4.5 million children under 18 being diagnosed with the condition.

A recent study revealed that younger kindergartners were 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than older children in the same grade. Likewise, in the fifth and eighth grades, the youngest were more than twice as likely to be prescribed stimulants like Ritalin. Equally troubling was the fact that nearly 20 percent--or 900,000--of the 4.5 million children currently listed as having ADHD were likely misdiagnosed.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

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.

4 Hair Dos that are Don'ts when Interviewing

Before looking for a job take a quick look in the mirror. How’s your hair? Are you still sporting a style from the seventies? Do people stop in the street and stare or whisper when you walk by at the store? Certain coifs can cut your chances of getting a call back from a potential employer.

While I’m all for pushing business hair flair boundaries, some styles will make a lasting first impression and not in the way you would want. Here are 4 dos that are don’ts then trying to present yourself professionally.

1. Crazy Colors – It’s ok for senior board members to sport vibrant shades straight from the crayon box in fashion forward countries like Japan. In the U.S. however, unless you’re a celebrity in a highly artistic field it’s hard to land a job with blue hair. Trust me I know from firsthand experience. Gotta Have It? Wear a wig to work. As an added bonus your hair is ready before you in the morning.


2. Emo Overload – A Flock of Seagulls cut could put your career options in deep doo doo. Who could concentrate on work when wondering if their co worker was about to fly away? Stick to a style that isn’t crying so hard for attention. When considering how to wear your hair, keep in mind it’s very difficult to communicate with someone whose hair covers their eyes. Gotta Have It? Ask your stylist (we know you have one) to show you more conservative ways to comb your contemporary coif.


3. Natty Dreads – I appreciate the time and commitment it takes to truly cultivate dreadlocks. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to meet a hiring manager whose initial instinct isn’t to think “hippie” or “head” or both as a first impression. Gotta Have It? Don’t confirm stereotypes of dreads disguising dirt. Tight, well maintained dreads will fare better than big sloppy ones.


4. Mullet Madness – It might be business up front but the party in the back is going to kill any credibility you had for making good decisions. Gotta Have It? Find a career in trucking where people appreciate mud flaps a little more.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.

Become a Morning Person in 4 Quick Steps

If you're not a morning person, there are some things you can do to make it easier to rise and shine in the morning.

I will freely admit that I am so not a morning person. After I wake up, it takes me a good hour before I feel like I am even functioning. For me, there is nothing more annoying than a cheery morning person. But, there have been times that I needed to become a morning person in order to be at work on time. This can be especially true if you have kept a more relaxed morning schedule while looking for a job, and have to transition to a job that gets started bright and early.

When you are trying to change your built in sleep cycle, it can be a challenge. For me, I feel more energetic late at night and, if left to my own devices, I would wake up somewhere around 10 am. Still, there have been times in my life when my normal awake/asleep schedule just doesn't work. If you want to change into a morning person, either for a job or simply because you want to take advantage of the morning hours, here are four things you can do to make the transition easier:

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  Get prepared the night before – Until you get into the swing of things, prepare for your morning the night before. This means lay out what you want to wear, pack up the things you need to take with you and do whatever you can to make the morning a little easier and less hectic. You might even want to get a to-do list together to stick on the bathroom mirror or the back of the front door, so you'll be sure to have everything you need before you leave in the morning.
  
  
  
  


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  Find a reason to wake up – This one works really well for me. When I need to change my schedule, I try to plan something exciting for the morning. This can be as simple as having a box of my favorite breakfast cereal, a new bag of gourmet coffee or an outfit I am excited about. Whatever it is, it just has to be something that will give you are reason to not hit the snooze button and instead get up and get motivated. Once you get adjusted, you can get away with only doing this on days when it is especially hard to get up, like Mondays.
  
  
  
  


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  Set a bedtime – This one is trickier. The natural thought here would be to set an early bedtime and try to stick with it. That might work for some people, but it never works for me. Even though you might be pretty tired for the first couple of days, it is easier to try to go to sleep when you first get tired. Your natural rhythms will make you get tired a little earlier each day until you find the time that works best for you. If you don't work with your own body's cycle, the odds are good that you'll be spending a lot of time in bed, trying hard to get to sleep and not being able to.
  
  
  
  


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  Get some fresh air – Make going outside, (weather permitting) part of your morning routine. Take a morning walk, go for a jog or just take your morning coffee outside. There is something about the morning air that can wake you up and make you feel motivated. Once you get into the habit, you might even decided to keep doing it long after you have gotten adjusted.

Are you a morning person? What do you do to cope? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in Healthcare, visit HealthcareJobsite for the best Healthcare job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. 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.