Nurses in the Media
by Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA It was at the American Medical Association’s Medical Communications Conference when the words of Julie Gerberding, M.D., Director for the CDC validated what is imminent in the minds of some nurses, or at least mine; that it is both health care professionals at the bedside, doctors and nurses that make excellent medical communicators. Nurses are generally regarded as being kind, compassionate and angelic. What is not generally recognized are…
Read More...Michigan Governor takes Decisive Steps to Address the Nursing Shortage
Michigan Governor takes Decisive Steps to Address the Nursing Shortage By Patricia Thomas, PhD, RN In her State of the State address, Governor Jennifer Granholm took bold and proactive steps to address a sluggish economy and the health concerns that face the state of Michigan. Central to these efforts were measure to address the nursing shortage. In an interview, Granholm said, “Training workers to fill the good-paying jobs available right now in health care facilities…
Read More...Organic Labels: What Does the Label Really Mean?
By Neelam Misra, M.D. What does the organic label mean? The National Organic Program, a division of the USDA, regulates and oversees organic farming and producing practices and sets the standards for organic labeling. In 1990, the Organic Foods Production Act was passed. However, it was not until 2000 that the standards were issued. Currently, an accredited USDA-certifier verifies that organic farming and production practices are meeting the standards set by the USDA. The USDA-certifier…
Read More...Nutritional Counseling in People Who Undergo Radiation Therapy
By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D., FACRO An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This maxim applies to people who receive radiation therapy for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the head and neck area. Unlike chemotherapy, which is distributed throughout the entire body, radiation therapy is a local treatment, meaning that it affects only the area of the body being treated. In people who are treated to the head and…
Read More...Helping Seniors Stay Safe on the Road
Helping Seniors Stay Safe on the Road by John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS In 20 years, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 and older. That’s double the number today. In 2004, there were 28 million older licensed drivers, up nearly 20% from 1994. What are the facts about older drivers? The motor vehicle is the major form of transportation across all ages-to include 60% of adults ages 85 and up! Driving is a…
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