In parts of the U.S., conscience clauses exist within medical care laws that permit medical care workers to decline performing procedures that violate their religious values. Experts are quick to point out that pursuing one’s conscience can very easily run afoul of the Hippocratic Oath to serve all patients in a fair manner. Based upon the Obama administration’s recent changes to the conscience terms, it appears that idea is shared. Obama’s changes to the conscience terms supersede provisions written in during the final days of the Pres. George W. Bush administration. People take out quick short term loans for health care, and do not expect their doctor’s religious beliefs to get in the way of their health care.
Started by George W. Bush was the conscience terms
During President Bush’s final days in office, a conscience clause was inserted into laws pertaining to health care workers. Concerns over providing emergency contraception, treating homosexual patients and prescribing birth control to single women were cited as reasons for the conscience terms by the Bush administration.
The rules are “unclear and potentially over-broad in scope.” This is what the Obama administration thinks of it all. The new exception in the conscience laws only states for conscience/religious grounds instead of all of the stated above. This will go into impact in 30 days. The process through which health care workers can file complaints was also retained.
The rules of federal funds dispersed
If organizations wouldn’t accommodate medical care workers that have religious and conscience problems with procedures, then the federal funds to state and local governments, hospitals, health plans and clinics would be cut off with the Bush regulation.
You will find clearer definitions of the conscience law with Obama though. Procedurally, matters of women’s health have received greater attention. Under the new rules, roadblocks to obtaining abortion, contraceptive and fertility treatments can be lessened substantially.
A statement by the United States Department of Health and Human Services speaks to the balance the Obama compromise has struck:
“The administration strongly supports provider conscience laws that protect and support the rights of health care providers, and also recognizes and supports the rights of patients. … The rule being issued today builds on these laws by providing a clear enforcement process.”
Citations
OFR
ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-03993_PI.pdf
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/18/AR2011021803251.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert
Wikimedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscience_clause_%28medical%29
Lou Dobbs’ story on the conscience clause
youtube.com/watch?v=Ge4k6IjERkQ

Sprout Healthy Vending is offering an organic healthier snack food option for children at school.

About half of America’s elementary school students still have access to sugary snacks and other unhealthy options in school. Sprout Healthy Vending an organic vending machine distributor is hoping to change that with their new opportunities for schools.

For years kids at schools have had access to sweet candies and sugary soda pops. In some cases kids would even skip lunch and opt for the unhealthy goodies packed into their schools vending machines spending any monies given to them by parents on things like chocolate candy bars and sugar packed dare I call them “refreshments”. How could a child any child resist?

Sprout’s organic vending machines are now offering parents piece of mind with a much healthier snack to offer their children Sprout machines will include such items as dried fruits, baked chips, healthy whole grain bars and all natural juices.

Schools who join the Sprout venture will have the opportunity to put the new vending machines in the cafeterias and around campuses as part of a healthy eating initiative. The options are similar to what one might find in a more traditional vending machine. But unlike the unhealthy options, these alternatives have no artificial preservatives and are mostly gluten-free. The machines have already become more popular with students, who realize that changing their eating habits now will have lasting benefits when they are older. Nutritionists say that school vending machines stocked with potato chips, cookies and sugary soft drinks contribute to childhood obesity. Teaching children about healthier options is also the goal of the placement. If kids have the option to choose and are educated about the heath values of the choice options it might help fight child obesity and aid in healthier consumption.

The Obama administration is working on setting nutritional standards for foods that children can buy outside the cafeteria. With students eating 19 to 50 percent of their daily food at school, the administration says it wants to ensure that what they eat contributes to good health. Representatives of the food and beverage industry say they generally support selling healthier snacks and drinks in schools. This could lead to stricter guidelines for what is offered in snack machines that are vending snacks to kids in school. as the US government readies for these new rules requiring healthier foods to be sold beyond the cafeteria Sprout Healthy vending is gearing up for their contribution to the cause building machines and stocking them with healthy goodies ready for placement in schools.

Interested in getting involved? Whether you are a parent,on the school board or an entrepreneur seeking a great opportunity contact to ask how you can get involved. Call 800.450.7648 now.

Jason Bean is an expert on healthy vending machines and healthy snack options. For more information visit: Sprout Healthy Vending

A large growth area that is emerging for audio-visual systems is in health care, hospitals and medical field. More and more doctors and other health care professionals are using the interactive nature of videoconferencing to work with more patients, and saving time and travel for both patients and doctors at the same time. Additionally, videoconferencing equipment allows health care professionals to work more efficiently within their own health care systems and regional facilities and allow for faster coordination.

The videoconferencing market in health care facilities is increasing as a result of better videoconferencing equipment, lower costs and increased demand by health care professionals. This is a combination of sharper uses of technology in all aspects of our work lives, and finding better ways to create advantages.

Today, more and more health care agencies and hospitals can use video conferencing equipment and accompanying technology to overcome some hurdles in health care education, management and patient diagnoses.

As the baby boomers of our generation reach their 60s and 70s, there is expected to be a greater demand for health care and health care facilities over the next 10-30 years. And the last few years have helped our older citizens become more comfortable with new technology tools, like laser cameras, internal xrays and more. Adding video conferencing to the mix isnt as great a tech hurdle today as it may have been 5-10 years ago.

Some of the benefits of increased videoconferencing in health care is outlined by research firm Ovum, which talks about the different ways that the technology can be used. Its researcher writes:

Video conferencing solutions must be tailored to a range of different usage scenarios, ranging from disease-specific diagnosis and treatment between a care provider and patient to consultation between professionals. The equipment and networks required will also vary significantly, ranging from high-end telepresence that is reliant on a high-speed broadband connection to simple desktop and laptop services.

Ovum writes that the emotional connection in video conferencing enables physicians to see nuances in patient behavior. Not only that, but video conferencing can connect doctors in remote locations with their colleagues to share knowledge and bring about greater collaboration between physicians with different specializations. All of these benefits can occur in health care as a result of connectivity via video conferencing.

While the researchers maintain that, for patients, face-to-face communications is still a much better overall experience, having video conferencing capabilities can be the next best thing. And were inclined to agree.

Using video conferencing and other means to provide real-time visual collaboration can be a great boon to communications between doctors and patients, as well as between health care professionals.

CCS Presentation Systems is among the largest U.S. audio-visual system integration firms, and one of the leading providers of audio-video products and solutions in the nation. For more information on how CCS can consult with your health care organization on how to bring videoconferencing into the mix of your operations, please contact us at www.ccsprojects.com.