Friday 19 December 2008

Thursday 18 December 2008

Self-improvement: the journey begins with you


About this time of year, we begin to examine what we've accomplished in the past. Whether it's this past year, the past five years, or in our lives up to now. Some of us will come up with New Year's Resolutions. Some of us will just create a list of more things to do. And some of us will continue moving through life without a plan.

I'm a planner myself. I like to have an idea of where I'm going before I set off on the trail to find whatever it is I'm looking for. I do kind of like to know what's up ahead. But sometimes, that's not possible. Up ahead may be obstacles I'm not aware of or don't know might step out in front of me, trying to block the way.

If this happens to you, do you know how you will respond? Will you accept the obstacle for what it is and work toward figuring out a way around it, over it, or under it? Will you stumble and not know which way to turn? Will you stand still, paralyzed from fear or shame or guilt? Perhaps you just might sit down right there on the path and wait for someone to come and show you the way out.

If you intend to continue moving forward in 2009, it might be a good idea to get to know your personal philosophy when it comes to dealing with obstacles. There is no wrong or right answer; it just has to do what will work best for you in your situation. And it's a good idea to have options to consider, so you have processes to can test to find your answer.

With the world economy the way it is, we can all relate to a bit of uncertainty that may not have been there this time last year. The benefit of this is that it means we are not alone. I think that's a good message to take with you into the new year. Know that you are not alone.

As you continue to improve your life, creating the success you know you deserve, help me help you and others out there to create a plan that will work for each of us. In order to move beyond the obstacles that we have experienced in the past, are dealing with now, or might face in the future, post a comment today. Tell me about the strategies you've found most helpful to overcome any of the following:

_a divorce
_the loss of a job
_death of a close relative
_guilt from past mistakes
_unresolved relationship issues
_difficult work environment
_financial concerns
_overscheduled calendar
_transportation problems
_household budget challenges
_unimployment

At some point or another in my life, I've experienced all of the above, and I can tell you from this experience that you will never be without a challenge of some kind. Life comes with lots of layers. That's what makes it most interesting. You'll confront good things, sometimes really awful times, and frequently surprising outcomes. Although we may not always know how to prepare for something that might be upsetting, might seem difficult to handle, or might result in joy we didn't even know to expect, the unknowns won't matter so much if you're prepared to respond, no matter what.

Together, we can offer suggestions, thoughts and ideas that might help. You see, it's called self-improvement for good reason. That's where the journey begins.

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

Patient Placement Systems Selects Iatric Systems, Inc. to Deliver Interfaces for MEDITECH Healthcare Information Systems

Atlanta, Ga. (PRWEB) October 30, 2008 -- Patient Placement Systems, the leading provider of Web-based admissions and referral automation software for hospitals and long-term care (http://www.patientplacement.com/), has selected Iatric Systems, Inc. to develop interfaces for MEDITECH healthcare software solutions. Under the partnership agreement, Iatric Systems will help healthcare providers link their MEDITECH hospital information systems and Patient Care Technologies home health management systems with the Patient Placement Web-based software solutions for online admissions and referral management.

"Iatric Systems has decades of experience developing hundreds of interfaces for MEDITECH systems," said Eric Christ, president of Patient Placement Systems. "Healthcare providers benefit when their software vendors help them make critical software systems work together, and Iatric Systems is an experienced leader that will help our customers connect with the more than 2,200 healthcare providers using MEDITECH and PtCT solutions."

The Patient Placement Discharge Referral System and Referral Management System automate and accelerate admissions and referral processes for continuing care providers and hospitals. The Web-based services replace manual paper-and-fax admissions and discharge referrals with a few simple mouse clicks, helping providers and hospitals admit and place qualified patients faster.

"We've implemented more than 6,000 interfaces to facilities using the MEDITECH healthcare information system," said Joel Berman, president of Iatric Systems. "We're pleased to partner with Patient Placement Systems to help healthcare providers work more effectively. Our interfaces will connect the customer's MEDITECH system with Patient Placement's innovative online referral management and admissions automation software."

About Patient Placement Systems Patient Placement Systems (PatientPlacement.com) helps hospitals and long-term care providers replace mountains of paper and fax frustration with fast, efficient online healthcare software for discharge planning and patient admissions and referral management. Patient Placement Systems is a proud Jackson Healthcare Solutions company, sharing a common dedication to providing the world's best healthcare software, technology and services. For more information, visit www.PatientPlacement.com or call 877-748-6656.

About Iatric Systems: Since 1990, Iatric Systems has been helping hospitals and health systems leverage their HCIS investment by providing innovative software, interfaces and reporting services; most notably for the MEDITECH HCIS. More than 800 hospitals and health systems worldwide have implemented Iatric Systems' solutions in order to optimize patient care and improve workflow efficiencies in clinical, financial and administrative areas. Iatric Systems is committed to providing solutions with exceptional value backed by outstanding customer service. For more information about Iatric Systems, its products, and its services, call 978-805-4100 or visit www.iatric.com.

Susan Lark, MD Offers 5 Tips for Managing Stress During Tough Economic Times

Susan Lark, MD, noted medical researcher, clinical nutritionist and women's health practitioner, shares her top 5 tips to help deal with the added stress caused by the volatile economy.

Potomac, MA (PRWEB) October 30, 2008 -- Susan Lark, MD, noted medical researcher, clinical nutritionist and women's health practitioner, shares her top 5 tips to help deal with the added stress caused by the volatile economy.

"Without a doubt, these tough economic times can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mind, including stress, insomnia, tension, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, and illness," says Dr. Lark. "You may be nervous about your future because your retirement accounts have lost value. Or maybe you're concerned about your income or job security. Certainly, there are a lot of scenarios that can cause a great deal of worry right now. That's why it's more important than ever to take a step back, take a deep breath, and focus on what you can control -- your own health."

Here are five Dr. Lark's tried-and-true tips for managing stress:
1. Make sure you sleep soundly at night. Anxiety and depression can lead to sleep disturbances, and without enough sleep, your body and immune system can't function properly. To help you relax and fall asleep every night, Dr. Lark recommends taking 1-1.5 mg of melatonin each evening about two hours before bedtime, although you may see results using as little as 300 mcg.
2. Boost your energy reserves. If you're feeling sluggish and worn out, there are several nutrients that can boost your energy. Dr. Lark recommends taking 250 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, 250 mg of L-tyrosine a day, and/or 1,000 mg of L-carnitine a day in divided doses.
3. Build resistance to illness. Stress can lead to weakened immunity, therefore making you vulnerable to colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other illnesses. You are better off boosting your resistance to illness while you're healthy than trying to build it back up when you're sick. Dr. Lark recommends taking a high-quality multinutrient along with mineral-buffered vitamin C (1-2 grams in divided doses).
4. Reduce stress by exercising. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress-not to mention lose weight and improve your overall health. Dr. Lark recommends going for an hour-long walk every day outdoors in the fresh air. While walking, take your mind off your worries and instead, focus on your breathing and enjoy your surroundings.
5. Stay positive. Having a positive attitude can be tough, especially when everything you hear in the news is negative. But, keep in mind, maintaining a positive belief system is crucial in creating your own reality, even in the midst of a greater reality like the bad economy. So try to identify at least one positive thing every day-even if it has nothing to do with the economy. You also may want to recite upbeat affirmations to yourself, such as "I am a strong, positive, upbeat woman." In addition, nurture your relationships. Financial security may be important, but love is the true currency that you can depend on each and every day without fail.

"The more negative things seem to get, the more crucial it becomes to focus on the good in life-such as love, relationships, and even your health, says Dr. Lark. "I simply won't let worries about the economy affect my health. If you nurture yourself and stay healthy, you can weather any storm. And I tell my patients the same thing."

Dr. Lark has devoted her career to raising awareness of women's health issues, such as PMS, obesity, hormone replacement therapy and osteoporosis. She pioneered the use of women's self-care treatments based on diet, nutrition, exercise and stress management, and has penned twelve books on women's health and healing. Her most recent title is Hormone evolution.

Her monthly newsletter, Women's Wellness Today, and her web site, www.drlark.com, are dedicated to educating and empowering women to make the best choices for optimum health and beauty. Online visitors may sign up for Dr. Lark's free biweekly e-newsletter, which presents breaking health and beauty news along with lifestyle tips, easy recipes and simple exercises for health and beauty.

Healthy Directions, LLC is the recognized leader in providing authoritative health and beauty solutions to consumers. In addition to producing online resources and publishing newsletters, Healthy Directions, LLC encompasses its subsidiary, Doctors' Preferred, Inc. (DPI), a vitamin and nutritional supplement business that markets primarily through direct mail. Located in the Greater Washington, D.C., area, Healthy Directions, LLC (www.healthydirections.com) is a leading publisher in America. The company provides quality products and services for the health and beauty marketplaces.