Ecomii™ Launches 'A Better Way' for Conscious Consumers to Live Greener at <a href="http://www. ecomii. com " onclick="linkClick(this. href)">www. ecomii. com </a>: ecomii. com, a premiere 'green' lifestyle destination, provides a credible resource for answers on green living and a social network for consumers in pursuit of a better, more sustainable life

ecomii™ Launches 'A Better Way' for Conscious Consumers to Live Greener at www. ecomii. com : ecomii. com, a premiere 'green' lifestyle destination, provides a credible resource for answers on green living and a social network for consumers in pursuit of a better, more sustainable life

The ecomii™ (pronounced ee-KOH-me) website, www. ecomii. com, introduces the first comprehensive resource designed to demystify green living and help consumers make informed socially-conscious lifestyle choices.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) September 24, 2008

"Currently, over 38 million conscious consumers are willing to alter their behavior to make a positive impact on their personal health and the well-being of our planet. However, they often encounter a disparate amount of unreliable or misleading information which creates more questions than answers," said Todd O'Donald, ecomii co-founder and managing director. "It is with this in mind that we created ecomii as the single definitive destination for objective and credible information on conscious consumerism and green living. ecomii is a trusted resource to help consumers establish a more socially-minded environmentally-conscious lifestyle. No other site matches ecomii's level of accuracy, objectivity and transparency."

Recognizing that consumers need the facts in order to act, ecomii partnered with many of the most authoritative organizations and respected experts to offer practical, how-to guidance for pursuing a socially-conscious lifestyle. These partners include: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Society Publishers, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, among others.

ecomii will debut with lifestyle centers dedicated to Parenting (www. ecomii. com/parenting (http://www. ecomii. com/parenting)) and Smart Food (www. ecomii. com/food (http://www. ecomii. com/food)). These go-to centers will help consumers make smart choices from diapers to organic vegetables. ecomii lifestyle centers will be anchored by ecomii's Guides and Tips.

    ecomii Guides (www. ecomii. com/guides (http://www. ecomii. com/guides)) provide in-depth, easy-to-digest how-to information on topics ranging from pregnancy and parenting to green building methods, landscaping and everything in between.

  ecomii Tips (www. ecomii. com/tips (http://www. ecomii. com/tips)) feature an easy-to-follow rating system that demonstrates the environmental benefit, health benefit, financial impact and complexity to visitors, addressing differing motivations and concerns about the cost or degree of difficulty in 'going green.'

One of the most exciting areas will be ecomii Action (www. ecomii. com/action (http://www. ecomii. com/action)), which fosters a socially-minded community around simple actions for pursuing a more socially-conscious lifestyle. "By joining ecomii Action, visitors will become part of a collective voice calling for a better way for our families, our country and our planet," added O'Donald.

"From the first time recycler to the eco-enthusiast, ecomii aims to inform, influence and inspire people to take action for our planet's future and to advance the idea that we can all make a difference – one action at a time," said Colton Dirksen, ecomii co-founder and environmental director. "ecomii is designed for differing motivations, whether you are propelled by global warming, the health of your family or high gas and food prices; we believe you deserve the straight story."

"ecomii will help visitors take simple steps to reduce their impact on the planet and enlist their friends and family in the pursuit of a better way," Dirksen concluded.

About ecomii

ecomii is the premiere 'green' lifestyle destination for consumers, serving as both a credible resource for answers on green living and a social network for people in pursuit of a better more sustainable future. As the first comprehensive 'green' resource, ecomii was designed to provide straight answers to challenging questions, demonstrate how small changes will have a major impact and provide a social platform to engage family and friends in the pursuit of a better sustainable way.

To start on a better way or for more information, visit www. ecomii. com.

TransforMED and Cielo MedSolutions Collaborate on Patient-Centered Medical Homes

TransforMED and Cielo MedSolutions Collaborate on Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Cielo Clinic seen as a key element for participants in the TransforMED Medical Home model

Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) October 6, 2008

Cielo MedSolutions, a provider of healthcare software and web applications, today announced a Preferred Business Affiliate agreement with TransforMED LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Through this relationship, Cielo MedSolutions' customers will have access to TransforMED's practice transformation services. In addition, TransforMED will encourage medical practices implementing a Patient-Centered Medical Home to use Cielo Clinic's integrated patient registry (http://www. cielomedsolutions. com/products. asp), clinical decision support and population management tools.

"As Patient-Centered Medical Homes, primary care practices serve as the focal point of patient care coordination across all specialties," said Terry McGeeney, M. D., MBA, president and CEO of TransforMED. "Our goal is to identify technologies that can assist practices to improve diagnostic capabilities and to enhance treatment and outcomes. We are confident that this relationship will have a positive impact on both patients and physicians."

TransforMED provides practical support and consulting services to primary care physicians and health systems that want to transform their medical practices into Patient-Centered Medical Homes (http://www. cielomedsolutions. com/products-applications-medical. asp). The TransforMED Medical Home model combines the relationship-centered values of primary care with new technologies to improve quality of care and efficiency, as well as patient and physician satisfaction. The organization made the decision to join with Cielo MedSolutions because of its proven track record for improving the coordination of care.

"We at Cielo share TransforMED's firm conviction in the Patient-Centered Medical Home," noted Dave Morin, president and CEO of Cielo MedSolutions. "Fundamental to a successful Medical Home implementation is the robust functionality of Cielo Clinic and a trained and engaged practice team, which TransforMED can help build. The combination of TransforMED's services and our Cielo Clinic technology will allow practices to achieve a successful and transformative Medical Home."

Cielo Clinic's patient registry (http://www. cielomedsolutions. com/resources-newsletter-musthave-apr08.asp), clinical decision support, and population management functionality let providers and practices proactively manage the care needs of their patients. Supporting elements of the patient-centered medical home, pay-for-performance, and clinical scorecarding, Cielo Clinic is the tool of choice for primary care providers. Cielo Clinic accommodates either paper - or electronic-based medical practices and integrates with electronic medical record systems. The web-based product requires a minimal implementation effort and is priced on a low annual subscription fee, which makes it affordable and practical for practices of any size.

About TransforMED
TransforMED is focused on practice redesign and affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). TransforMED is studying and implementing transformed models of high performance practices that meet the needs of both patients and practices. In June 2006, TransforMED launched a 24-month National Demonstration Project (NDP), serving as a "learning lab" to generate new knowledge about the process of practice transformation and to systematically evaluate and compare the effect of two practice transformation approaches on practice and patient outcomes. As results and insights emerge, TransforMED professional staff are using the lessons learned from the NDP to develop services, collaboration tools and learning opportunities that empower physicians and primary care practices across the country as they implement the TransforMED Medical Home. TransforMED also coordinates a residency demonstration initiative known as P4 - P to the fourth power - which stands for Preparing the Personal Physician for Practice. The P4 residency demonstration initiative evaluates and supports innovations in family medicine residencies. To learn more about TransforMED and the TransforMED Medical Home, visit www. transformed. com.

About Cielo MedSolutions
Cielo MedSolutions (pronounced "see EL oh," Spanish for sky or heaven - www. cielomedsolutions. com) is a rapidly-growing provider of healthcare software and Web applications. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cielo is pioneering a new category of healthcare IT known as clinical quality management systems (CQMS). The company's web-based Cielo Clinic™ software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering helps ambulatory care providers proactively improve, document and report on clinical care and supports initiatives such as patient-centered medical homes, pay-for-performance programs, clinical integration, quality improvement and clinical scorecarding.

Media Contact
Christine Slocumb
(734) 864-4094 x1
Chris @ clarityqst. com

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PR Salaries Up Slightly - Corporate PR Bonuses Continue to Rise - PR Firm Hourly Rates Decline

PR Salaries Up Slightly - Corporate PR Bonuses Continue to Rise - PR Firm Hourly Rates Decline

New figures just published in "The Official PR Salary & Bonus Report" - 2005 Edition.

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 11, 2005

Spring Associates, Inc., http://www. springassociates. com (http://www. springassociates. com), a leading New York public relations executive search and consulting firm, has just released the results of their ninth annual public relations and corporate communications study called The Official PR Salary & Bonus Report - 2005 Edition. The data is compiled from Spring Associates' proprietary database containing job information on 15,000 credentialed PR and communications professionals nationwide.

Salaries

Even though PR job creation improved dramatically in the fourth quarter of last year, overall, corporate PR salaries only increased a modest 5.3 percent, and PR agency salaries improved only 3.6 percent overall. It appears as if salaries have some catching up to do this year. However, a review of salaries offered in January, February, March and April point to an upward trend so far in 2005.

As always, the overall salary picture always looks different than the micro view - specifically, title, geographic region, specialty category and so on. Some snapshots --

Corporate Communications:

Midwest: business-to-business +4.8%

Northeast: investor relations +6.4%

Southeast: public affairs +5.5%

Chicago: corporate/financial +7.2%

Atlanta: health/medical/pharmaceutical +4.8%

Washington, DC: internal/editorial communications +9.3%

Dallas: consumer products +7.6%

Boston: hi-tech +6.6%

PR Agency:

Midwest: health/medical/pharmaceutical +3.5%

West: public affairs +6.4%

Atlanta: hi-tech +3.7%

Chicago: business-to-business +4.1%

Washington, DC: corporate/financial +4.9%

Bonuses

For two years in a row, almost all PR agency bonuses were either down or non-existent. However, the only real gainers in agency bonuses were the more junior levels, account executive and senior account executive. Each level was up a healthy 19.3% and 12.1% respectively. The account supervisor through executive vice president levels posted a combined decline of 9.3%.

However, in-house corporate communications professionals once again managed to increase employee bonuses across all levels. Two years ago corporate bonuses jumped 37.3% compared to last year's average of +17.5%. Once again, corporate PR professionals continue to fare much better in the bonus category than their PR agency counterparts.

PR Agency Hourly Billing Rates

Last year's Report showed that PR agency hourly billing rates were increased substantially to keep pace with a marked decline in new business revenue. This year, the numbers tell a different story.

Overall, in the Ad Agency Owned, Top 100 Independents and Other Independents categories - across four regions of the country - agency hourly rates came down 9.2%, 10.3% and 8.3% respectively. As compared to increases for the same agencies of 18.8%, 17.2% and 12.9% respectively.

It's possible that PR agencies are now returning to more equitable hourly rates due to increased competition for the new business that has finally arrived. This was especially evident in the fourth quarter of 2004.

"It looks as if the PR business has finally turned the corner", said Mr. Spring, president of Spring Associates. "More RFPs, modest overall salary increases, coupled with higher bonuses and lower PR firm hourly rates, all point to a promising 2005 - we'll be watching closely."

The Official PR Salary & Bonus Report is compiled from Spring Associates' proprietary database of 15,000 credentialed corporate communications and public relations professionals nationwide. The database is updated daily by the firm's recruiters, researchers and consultants to reflect the latest available information. The salary and bonus numbers are divided into multiple job-information fields, including six title and eight industry categories. Salary numbers are also listed for four nationwide regions and eight "key" metro cities. Public relations agency hourly billing rates are segmented into three categories and cross-referenced with eleven billable titles and four regions of the country. Years of experience ranges and comparable titles are also included.

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WageWatch Launches Washington Health Care Survey

WageWatch Launches Washington Health Care Survey

WageWatch, Inc.,(www. WageWatch. com ) the leading online compensation and benefits survey company, announced today that it is expanding its presence in the hospital and healthcare market with the launch of a new Hospital and Healthcare Compensation and Benefits Survey in the State of Washington.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) June 5, 2006

WageWatch, Inc.,(www. WageWatch. com ) the leading online compensation and benefits survey company, announced today that it is expanding its presence in the hospital and healthcare market with the launch of a new Hospital and Healthcare Compensation and Benefits Survey in the State of Washington.

The company already publishes two highly successful wage, salary, and benefits surveys in Oregon and Arizona, in which more than 90% of the state hospitals and many other non-hospital healthcare providers participate. The demands for staff and the subsequent need for up-to-date, reliable compensation data are strong in healthcare, where competition for staff often crosses state lines.

According to Jo Bell, Director Legislative Support Services for the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, “The benefits of the WageWatch survey for our members are the accessibility and flexibility. Its Web-based format is easy to access, and the ability to run custom reports makes it very adaptable to the needs of the individual hospitals.”

WageWatch's on-line technology enables survey subscribers to update their pay data as it changes and obtain the most current results for the competitors they choose to compare against. Because the survey reports aggregated data from subscribers’ customized set of competitors, it eliminates any concerns about data exchange that could conflict with Department of Justice guidelines.

Washington participants will be able to generate on-line customized reports based on a variety of data elements including zip code, number of beds, operating revenue and type of facility. The survey covers over 200 job titles unique to the hospital and healthcare industry.

The first ten participants in the Washington survey will receive a complementary subscription to the 2006 survey.

Participants will also be submitting data on a comprehensive benefits survey that covers medical and dental plans and the employee share of premium costs, paid time off, and retirement plans.

For additional information, contact Jim Crews, 480-657-6504.

ABOUT WAGE WATCH:

WageWatch (www. WageWatch. com),the leading Web-based source for compensation and benefits data, provides instantly accessible industry wage, salary and benefits data, delivered to any Internet-enabled device. Using a patent-pending technology, WageWatch surveys industries and provides companies with the data they need to make their compensation and benefits decisions. As a pure information provider, WageWatch gives its customers the ability to see what their competitors are paying and position themselves in their markets.

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Broad Health Coalition Elects New Chairman - Sets Agenda for 2007

Broad Health Coalition Elects New Chairman - Sets Agenda for 2007

The Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) held its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, setting its agenda for the year and electing the 2007 executive board.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 8, 2007

The Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) held its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, setting its agenda for the year and electing the 2007 executive board. Members of the coalition unanimously voted in Shawn Martin, Director of Government Relations for the American Osteopathic Association, as chairman for 2007. Mr. Martin succeeds Christian Shalgian, Manager of Legislative Affairs with the American College of Surgeons, who has been heading up the HCLA since 2004.

“I am excited to be leading the HCLA in our continued efforts to fix our broken medical liability system and help solve the access to care crisis in our nation. I look forward to working with the members of the coalition and the 110th Congress and hope to build on all of the good work that has been done under Christian Shalgian’s tireless leadership,” Mr. Martin stated.

The HCLA also voted in vice-chairman Katie Orrico, Director of the Washington office of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and re-elected treasurer Mike Stinson, who heads Government Relations for the Physician Insurers Association of America. George Cox of the American Medical Association and Christian Shalgian were also elected to serve on the coalition’s executive committee.

Mr. Martin added, “The HCLA is well-positioned to lead the charge to advance medical liability reform in 2007, and we will continue to work until federal legislation is passed to solve the medical liability crisis, once and for all.”

The HCLA is a national advocacy coalition comprised of organizations and individuals representing physicians, hospitals, health care insurers, businesses and health care consumers, united in the strong belief that federal health liability laws are needed to bring greater fairness, timeliness and cost-effectiveness to our system of civil justice. The coalition also believes that legal reform is the best way to protect medical progress and to ensure that affordable health care is accessible to all Americans.

Media Contact:

Courtney Sanders

202.380.0616

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MedShare's Advanced BlackBerry Solution Helps Therapy Partners Inc. Revolutionize Home Care Delivery

MedShare's Advanced BlackBerry Solution Helps Therapy Partners Inc. Revolutionize Home Care Delivery

Research in Motion (RIM), MedShare and Therapy Partners Inc. team up to put BlackBerry's in the hands of home care workers to ease burden on health care system. Home care is the fastest growing sector in the health care system, and human resource shortages limit the availability of care getting to the growing elderly population. The MedShare for BlackBerry project has improved communication and time management of the home care workers allowing them to increase the number of patients they are able to visit, reducing the backlog of home care clients.

(PRWEB) September 22, 2008

Home Health Care workers have enthusiastically received MedShare's advanced mobile health information application for the BlackBerry. Following a successful 6 month pilot project sponsored by Research In Motion, Therapy Partners was able to reduce the administrative burden on their office staff and therapists while improving coordination of care. Christine Reno, Business Director at Therapy Partner's says, "The Therapists love it. They can send secure emails to get more information before a patient visit instead of playing telephone tag. They get faster answers from our office or from other therapists on email and that helps them do their jobs better."

Home care workers spend up to 31% of their time performing administrative tasks either at their own home or in the office. These tasks include hand writing notes, filling in charts, and faxing this information back to the office. Hours spent by the home care worker are matched equally by the administration staff at the agency. MedShare for BlackBerry provides immediate access to scheduling and client records and includes remote data capture automatically updating central databases and reducing duplication of effort.

The MedShare for BlackBerry project has improved communication and time management of the home care workers allowing them to increase the number of patients they are able to visit, reducing the backlog of home care clients in Ontario. Ontario currently has 30,000 home care staff visiting over 560,000 service orders and the back log of clients is growing. The partnership that Therapy Partners, MedShare, and RIM have forged will help those patients in Southern Ontario that depend on home care workers for important services. It will also help overworked home care workers lessen the burden of after-hours paperwork and spend more time doing the job they love, taking care of their clients.

Ms. Reno states, "I'm very open to technology like the BlackBerry solution because it benefits our company's ability to make more patient visits and improve the quality of life for our therapists and the patients they care for."

About MedShare Inc.
MedShare is an award-winning developer of mobile health information and communication technologies with a focus on home health care, the fastest growing segment of the sector. MedShare's suite of software is built on a patent pending platform for management of electronic health records and is available on BlackBerry and Windows tablet devices to meet the clinical and administrative needs of mobile health care workers.
MedShare Inc. (http://www. medshare. com)

About Therapy Partners Inc.
Therapy Partners, based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, is a provider of client-centred, community based services:
•Occupational Therapy
•Physiotherapy
•Speech and Language Therapy
•Social Work
•Nutrition Counselling
Therapy Partners services address a wide range of physical, emotional, developmental and neurological disorders. They recognize the importance of preventive health care. The Therapy Partners team keeps up to date on the most recent and relevant discipline-specific knowledge to ensure they can help clients reach their health-related goals.
Therapy Partners Inc. (http://www. therapypartners. on. ca)

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Recent Survey Demonstrates Arthritis Foundation Program Improves Communication Between Doctors and Patients

Recent Survey Demonstrates Arthritis Foundation Program Improves Communication Between Doctors and Patients

The Arthritis Foundation today announced a continuation of its Let's Talk RA® program, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, based on success demonstrated through a recent survey of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Participants in the program reported improved communication with their rheumatologists and satisfaction with changes in their treatment.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 16, 2008

The Arthritis Foundation today announced a continuation of its Let's Talk RA® program, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, based on success demonstrated through a recent survey of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Participants in the program reported improved communication with their rheumatologists and satisfaction with changes in their treatment. In addition to providing a communication guide for patients to use with their physicians, the program offers town hall forums for RA patients and their caregivers to speak with experts.

A few key survey findings from RA patients who received the Let's Talk RA Communication Guide include:
Nearly 75% feel comfortable discussing their physical limitations caused by RA 72% say they are aware of treatment options 72% report that they are comfortable discussing treatment side effects 51% discussed treatment modifications with their doctor during their last appointment. Of those, 60% indicated that they were highly satisfied with resulting changes to their treatment plan

"Through Let's Talk RA, we have shown that we can improve communication between patients and rheumatologists, thereby leading to improved results for people with rheumatoid arthritis," said John H. Klippel, M. D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "It's important that we build on this successful program and continue to help people living with RA work with their physicians to get the best possible treatment outcomes."

The Arthritis Foundation selected 11 cities across the nation to host Let's Talk RA town hall forums throughout April and May and featuring rheumatologists. The forums allow attendees to learn and discuss the importance of improved physician-patient communication, disease management and making better lifestyle choices. Medical experts will answer questions during the Q&A portion of the meetings.

Let's Talk RA Communication Guide
The Let's Talk RA communication guide was designed by the Arthritis Foundation with input from rheumatologists to help those with RA prepare for each doctor visit. The guide offers practical tips, including what information to take notes on and types of questions to ask the doctor. Tips to facilitate the dialogue on treatment plan options and modifiable lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise also are included. The free communication guide is available from the Arthritis Foundation's Web site at http://www. arthritis. org/LetsTalkRA (http://www. arthritis. org/LetsTalkRA) or by calling 1-800-283-7800.

About Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints (or synovium), causing joint damage with chronic pain, stiffness and swelling. RA affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States and is more common in women, who account for 75 percent of patients diagnosed with RA.6

About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation's number one cause of disability. Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has 43 chapters and 150 community service points located throughout the country. The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since 1948.

The foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-283-7800 or www. arthritis. org.

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