New York, New York (PRWEB) May 18, 2012

Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a New York law firm nationally recognized for its consumer protection and mass tort practices, is currently evaluating lawsuits on behalf of individuals who may have suffered from Zithromax side effects, such as arrhythmia or sudden death. Zithromax, also known as azithromycin and commonly called the Z-Pak, is a widely used antibiotic manufactured by Pfizer Inc. A May 17, 2012 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that patients on azithromycin had one and a half times the odds of sudden death from cardiovascular causes than those on a similar antibiotic.* The odds were even higher in patients with high risk cardiovascular conditions. The study analyzed data from 350,000 Medicaid patients who took azithromycin from 1992 to 2006. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a statement on the same day, announcing that it is reviewing the results of the study.** The lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are offering free and confidential evaluations to individuals who suffered from Zithromax side effects.

Common Antibiotic Z-Pak Side Effects May Include Sudden Death

Zithromax is prescribed to treat bacterial infections, including bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats and earaches. According to the New York Times, doctors wrote 55.3 million prescriptions for azithromycin in the United States last year.*** It was often prescribed over amoxicillin, another common antibiotic because of its easier regiment. Patients take fewer pills over fewer days, making it easier for patients to finish a course of treatment. However, according to Wayne Ray, professor of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University and lead author of the study, “the risk of death may outweigh convenience and compliance, at least for high-risk patients.”**** According to the study, there are 47 more deaths for every million people who took Zithromax instead of amoxicillin, which jumps to more than 245 deaths for those at high risks for heart problems. Individuals at high risk include those with heart failure, diabetes, previous heart attacks, prior bypass surgery or with stents implanted. In these individuals, the drug may cause potentially fatal abnormal heartbeats called arrhythmia.

Individuals who suffered from Zithromax side effects may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other injuries. For more information about filing a lawsuit, visit http://www.consumerinjurylawyers.com. You can also contact an attorney at Bernstein Liebhard LLP at (877) 779-1414 or at info(at)consumerinjurylawyers.com.

*nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1003833

**fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm304503.htm

***nytimes.com/2012/05/17/health/research/popular-antibiotic-may-raise-risk-of-sudden-death.html

****abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/05/16/z-pak-antibiotic-raises-death-risk-for-some-says-study/

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993, including those who have been harmed by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices and consumer products. The firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” recognizing the top plaintiffs’ firms in the country, for the past nine consecutive years. Only two firms in the country have been selected for the Hot List nine years in a row.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP

10 East 40th Street

New York, New York 10016

(877) 779-1414

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2012 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Amy L. Abate. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Felecia L. Stern, Esq.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP

info(at)consumerinjurylawyers.com

http://www.consumerinjurylawyers.com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Download the Free HRA 101 Whitepaper at bit.ly/HRA101

(PRWEB) May 17, 2012

Zane Benefits, which provides small businesses with comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional group health insurance, this week published a new article on the history of Health Savings Accounts. With the article, the company seeks to provide entrepreneurs with a fresh perspective on small business health alternatives.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Congress began discussing Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) where any consumer could (1) pay for all medical expenses with tax-deductible dollars and (2) spend or save unlimited tax-advantaged amounts for current or future medical expenses.

In 1996, Congress created the Archer Medical Savings Accounts experiment, named after Representative Daniel Archer who sponsored the MSA amendment to HIPAA, allowing a limited number of MSAs for a trial period. MSA eligibility was severely restricted to up to 750,000 self-employed taxpayers and, despite their enormous tax advantages, they were complex, and only 150,000 MSAs were eventually opened before they were made obsolete by Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in 2003.

Throughout 2003, with the existing MSA legislation set to expire on December 31, the federal government debated new legislation to expand the MSA experiment. The White House wanted universal Health Savings Accounts, similar to IRAs, that could be opened by any U.S. taxpayer and pay for any medical expense including health insurance premiums. Such an HSA could have become a universal employee, employer, and retiree health benefits vehicle.

However, Congress was greatly concerned about the budget implications of the White House request, particularly since the Congress was also debating the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) which was expected to alone cost $ 400 billion over 10 years (in 2005 the MMA cost was later revised to $ 1.2 trillion).

The end result was a watered-down version of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), created via an amendment to the overhaul of Medicare in the MMA bill, and signed into law on December 8, 2003. Importantly, the bill placed five restrictions on HSAs, which combined to make HSAs fall short of their potential.

(1)     Only U.S. taxpayers already covered by highly restricted “HSA-qualified” health insurance plans could open Health Savings Accounts.

Additionally, other supplemental insurance coverage by a spouse or employer could automatically disqualify taxpayers from making HSA contributions.

This made most of the U.S. population ineligible for HSAs until, and if, their employer modified their health benefit plan.

(2)     HSA funds generally could not be used to pay for health insurance premiums

HSA funds could not be used to pay for health insurance premiums, except when the account owner was legally unemployed, on COBRA, over age 65, or using HSA funds to pay for long-term care premiums.

This kept HSAs as supplements to a health benefits plan rather than as substitutes for an employer-sponsored health benefits plan.

(3) Taxpayers received tax-deductions only for “contributions” to their HSA and then received no further tax incentive (or disincentive) to take distributions.

Economically, this made HSA funds the “money of last resort” for taxpayers to use for current medical expenses. Money in a HSA continues to appreciate and accumulates interest and/or dividends tax-free, and can be taken out at any time, tax-free, to reimburse a medical expense—even one that may have been incurred decades earlier.

(4)     Total annual contributions to an HSA, regardless of the source, were capped. (In 2013 this cap is $ 3,250 for an individual and $ 6,450 for a family.)

Additionally, if employers contribute to their employees’ HSA accounts, they had to do so equally without regard to each employee’s actual medical expenses.

This destroyed the primary economic reason for small to mid-size employers to switch to HSA-qualified health plans: Cost Savings. By raising the annual deductible on a fully-insured employer-sponsored group health policy (e.g. from $ 500 to $ 3,500), an employer typically lower their annual premium by 30-50%. However, so that employees do not incur higher out-of-pocket costs, the employer would have to contribute $ 3,000 ($ 3,500 less $ 500) each year to each employee’s HSA regardless of whether they had any medical expenses.

(5)     Employers could not restrict (or, due to HIPAA, even know) what employees did with their HSA funds once the employer contribution was made.

This prevented employers from designing HSA-powered programs coordinated with the objectives (e.g. wellness, savings) of their primary group health plan coverage. HSAs thus became a “black box” for employers once their contributions were completed.

Thus, HSAs could not be the universal health savings vehicle to help people afford health insurance, help pay for medical expenses, or enable employers to create more effective health benefit plans. Instead, Congress converted HSAs into a healthcare retirement tool, much like 401(k)s or IRAs.

HSAs combine the benefits of both traditional and Roth 401(k)s and IRAs for medical expenses.

Taxpayers receive a 100% income tax deduction on annual contributions, they may withdraw HSA funds tax-free to reimburse themselves for qualified medical expenses, and they may defer taking such reimbursements indefinitely without penalties.

HSAs are unique—“IRAs on Steroids”—with triple tax advantages:

A) Tax-deductible contributions,

B) Tax-free accumulation of interest and dividends tax-free,; and

C) Tax-free distributions for qualified medical expenses.

Every U.S. taxpayer should have an HSA to save money for retirement healthcare expenses—even maximizing their HSA contributions before contributing to other retirement vehicles.

HSAs are NOT the optimal health benefit solution for employers, who:

A) Want employees to have proper economic incentives today to stay healthy and reduce their current medical spending,

B) Seek to reduce the ever-increasing cost of their group health benefits plan, or

C) Are looking for an affordable replacement to a group health benefits plan altogether for either current or formerly ineligible employees.

The best way employers can achieve all three of these objectives is by using Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or HRAs.

About Zane Benefits, Inc.

Zane Benefits, Inc, a software company, helps insurance brokers, accountants, and employers take advantage of new defined contribution health benefits and private exchanges via its proprietary SaaS online health benefits software. Zane Benefits does not sell insurance. Using Zane’s platform, insurance professionals and accountants offer their clients a defined contribution health plan with multiple individual health insurance options via a private health exchange of their choice. Learn more at http://www.zanebenefits.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Pure Essential Oil of Rose

(PRWEB) May 14, 2012

It used to take about 60,000 roses to make just one ounce of rose essential oil. Outdated technology has made distilling rose essential oil a tedious and time-consuming process that wasted a lot of natural resources.

This drove the price of rose essential oil up to thousands of dollars per ounce, making it prohibitive for the average consumer. Despite the high price tag, rose essential oil has been a must have for those in the know about the healing properties of this precious essence.

That was then, and now there’s Miracle Botanicals Pure Rose Essential Oil. New hydro-distillation technology makes use of the entire rose plant, which actually results in an aroma that’s truer to the scent of roses while amplifying the healing properties of the most sought after pure essential oil in the world.

Specifically, pure rose essential oil has been shown to vibrate at 320 MHZ, while a healthy human body vibrates between 70-80 MHZ. In this way, Rose Essential Oil delivers a powerful boost to the individual’s energetic frequency, essentially boosting the immune system, and with consistent use, it can help resolve core issues that show up as illness or symptoms of disease.

Those who consistently use this powerful essence also experience heightened awareness, more balanced emotions, and a deep feeling of love without attachment.

General Information about Miracle Botanicals Rose Essential Oil:

    Botanical Name: Rosa Damascena

    Botanical Family: Rosaceae

    Derived From: Flowers

    Origin: Bulgaria (Cultivated) North America (Wild)

    Method of extraction: Hydro-distillation (cool steam distilled) of the flower

    Aroma: Subtle yet distinctly rosy (Cultivated) Strong rosy, flowery with a hint of lemon (Wild)

    Physical Description: Light consistency, transparent, yellow color (Cultivated) Light consistency, transparent, clear (Wild)

    Blends with: Amber, Benzoin, Bergamot, Chamomile Roman, Geranium, Jasmine, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Petitgrain, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang

    Reiki Charged: All of the essential oils offered by Miracle Botanicals are Reiki charged by Hope Johnson. The Rose essential oil offered here has been charged with the intent to open the heart chakra for the experience of loving and being loved.

The Rose essential oil offered by Miracle Botanicals has been extracted using gentle hydro-distillation (cool steam). The resulting oil is a light consistency, yellow liquid with a distinct yet subtle rosy aroma (Cultivated); or light consistency, clear liquid with a prominent rosy/lemony aroma.

Please note that the majority of Rose essential oil offered for sale is in ‘absolute’ form – which usually means toxic solvents were used for extraction. This Rose essential is gently steam distilled using advanced technology known as hydro-distillation, resulting in a very pure essential oil that’s safe to use.

Indications:

    Emotions: Rose essential oil brings in positive energy; encourages feelings of contentment, compassion, joy, happiness, acceptance, wholeness, patience, love, sensuality and purity; used in conjunction with spikenard – helps heal emotional scars of sexual trauma; and promotes an overall sense of well being.

    Skincare: Indicated for wrinkles, mature skin and scars. Make sure to dilute in carrier oil to 2-5% when applying to the face.

    Physical: Stabilizes the nervous system, cell regeneration, antibacterial, regulates liver, thyroid and spleen, heals mucous membranes, acts as a powerful aphrodisiac

    Spiritual: Stimulates creativity, spiritual love and clearing of dense energetic frequencies. Often associated with the Virgin Mary – Rose Essential Oil is used to unite physical and spiritual realms and invite angelic guidance

Chakras Affected:

    Second Chakra: Connects Spirituality with Sexuality
    Fourth: Promotes a sense of trust in the grand design
    Fifth: Calms and opens the heart, promotes love, compassion and patience. Heals emotional wounds, especially sexually traumatic energies.
    Eighth: Promotes a sense of deep spiritual connection and wholeness
    Hands: Energetically connects the hands to the heart (great for hands-on healers)

About Miracle Botanicals

Miracle Botanicals is the leading provider of Reiki charged pure essential oils that help people align with their Divine identity and return to their natural state of optimal health, abundance and well being. For more information, please visit http://www.miraclebotanicals.com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Amy Soar hugs her new daughter Tia – both their adoption stories come full circle on Mother’s Day

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) May 12, 2012

Little Tia smiles, laughs, and will bump fists as a greeting. It is normal behavior for a 2 year old but extraordinary for a newly adopted Chinese orphan with special needs.

Her new mother, Amy Soar, understands how international adoption can enrich a child’s life. As an infant orphaned during the Vietnam War, Amy was one of the thousands of babies airlifted to new homes toward the end of the war. She says her own adoption gave her the desire to adopt a child.

Though the number of international adoptions has decreased over the past five years, Amy and her husband Eric, were confident in their decision in 2010 to apply to adopt through Children’s Hope International.

“I had a great family,” Amy said when recalling growing-up in a small town west of St. Louis. “I have not spent much time looking into my own heritage, though I have thought more about it with the adoption of my daughter.”

As little Tia grows older, and becomes more inquisitive about her adoption, Amy says she feels equipped to comfort and assure Tia because of their shared experience.

But for now, Tia, who came home in December, is simply asking for things that fulfill all her 2 year old needs, like, demanding that her brothers give her another wagon ride.

Tia has a surgically repaired cleft lip and palate so she has some challenges and more surgeries ahead. But her bright eyes and playful personality help her express what her newly obtained English words don’t quite communicate.

The entire adoption process for the Soar family, from application to flying to China, took 18 months. Amy and her husband Eric, had decided to adopt a child with special needs early in their process, because of the nearly six year wait in the standard China adoption program. But adoption of a Chinese orphan with special needs can take as little as a year.

Amy says she purposely chose to adopt a child born with a cleft lip and cleft palate because she works in the dental field. Her professional contacts have become vital to her when she has questions about treatments her daughter may need.

“I have ongoing support from my colleagues and I can go to them to answer questions,” Amy said.

Just like Tia will know who to go to, when she has questions about becoming part of an American family through international adoption.

Now in its 20th year, Children’s Hope International has helped over 7000 children just like Tia celebrate Mother’s Day with their new moms. ChildrensHope.net

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Dr. Jeannie Falwell Savas and her son, Paul.

Lynchburg, Va. (PRWEB) May 10, 2012

Liberty University alumna Dr. Jeannie Falwell Savas (’86) has been named Chief of Surgery at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va., placing her among only a handful of women in the country to hold this leadership position.

Savas graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty. She earned her medical degree in 1990 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, where she is an associate professor of surgery.

Savas is the daughter of Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell and sister of current Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Her specialty is general surgery, mostly laparoscopic abdominal surgery and robotic surgery. The new position places her in charge of all surgical specialties at the hospital, which has served more than 200,000 veterans from 52 cities and counties since 1946 and was the first VA center to perform heart transplants.

Savas said she knew since she was a young child that she’d have a career in medicine.

“My parents told me I always said I’d wanted to be a doctor. Way back then, people would say, ‘Oh I hear you’re going to be a nurse’ [and I’d tell them] ‘No, I’m going to be a doctor.’”

Although she has had other interests, from mathematics to competitive water skiing, being a physician has always been her main focus.

“People have asked me what my back-up plan was; I never thought of having one because this is what I was going to do.”

She said when she was 4 and broke her arm, the doctor was explaining how he was going to have to break it all the way to reset it, so he asked her to look in another direction.

“I said, ‘Oh, can’t I watch?’ He looked at my mom with a dumbfounded look and she said, ‘Yes, she’s going to want to watch.’ I just sat there and watched because I thought it was really cool.”

When she was in high school, surgeons who were friends of her parents allowed her to view procedures in the operating room, which piqued her interest even more.

She went on to attend Liberty, where she majored in mathematics and biology.

Coming out of Liberty, “I was completely, 100 percent, prepared for medical school,” she said.

Savas returns to Lynchburg any chance she can get, along with her son Paul, 14. She said they enjoy cheering on the Flames at football and soccer games.

She said recently one of her students asked her why, knowing who her parents were, she didn’t decide to go into ministry herself.

“I said, ‘Medicine is a ministry. You’re ministering to the needs of sick people, and dealing with people going through tough times.’”

She said she was excited to hear last year that Liberty was starting its own medical school.

“We [Christian physicians] need more of an impact in the medical field, and I think it’s a perfect fit because it is a ministry,” Savas said.

“There are a lot of people who seem to think there’s conflict between science and religion and I really don’t see it that way,” she added. “God is the author of science, who created an orderly world and scientific laws, and we’re in the process of discovering them all.”

Savas has served as the Interim Chief of Surgery for a year and has been on the faculty since 1995. She has served as a Guest Examiner for the American Board of Surgery, is a Council Member for the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Surgical Education.

She has volunteered her services at the Crossover Free Clinic, the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, among other organizations. Savas is an active member of Grove Avenue Baptist Church, where she has been an Awana children’s club leader for the past 10 years.

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Va., is the world’s largest Christian university. Nearly 100,000 students attend classes on its 6,800-acre residential campus and study in its thriving online education program.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Huntsville, Ontario (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Cottage-Resort.com (http://www.cottage-resort.com), an award-winning Ontario resort online directory that provides reliable, up to date Ontario accommodation information for those planning a resort vacation in Ontario cottage country, announces that they now offer a free mobile application version of their onsite custom Google map. The free smartphone map allows users to locate popular Ontario resorts, inns, lodges and cottage resorts throughout the province, while on the go, and to connect by hot-link to each resort’s website for more information or to reserve accommodations.

“The Cottage-Resort.com map application was created to satisfy a strong demand for targeted information on Ontario vacation and hospitality properties that could be quickly accessed while enroute,” explains Gord Bell, co-owner of Cottage-Resort.com. “Over the last number of years, many of us in the Ontario resort industry have witnessed a trend toward last minute bookings. The mobile map app is a very useful tool for tourists and travellers who don’t wish to book accommodations ahead of time or who change their minds about where they would like to stay while on the road,” says Bell.

“Our new Ontario resort map app is ideal for people on the road looking for a place to stay. For the road traveller who doesn’t reserve ahead, this is a must have application for their smartphone. You simply click on the Ontario town or region that you wish to visit to access the map that shows resorts in that area. When I showed business associates the Cottage-Resort.com map on my iPhone, they were amazed that it was available for free for anyone to use on their smartphone,” says Bell.

The Cottage-Resort.com directory has been a valuable resource for people searching for Ontario tourist accommodation information for more than 10 years. The service hosts over 250 Ontario hospitality properties that are categorized to help site visitors match their exact vacation requirements with the Ontario vacation property that suits them best. The site also is a great Ontario vacation travel resource, with the latest tourism information, new and events. The new mobile map app for smartphones is the latest innovative service that has been added to the Cottage-Resort.com directory website.

About Cottage-Resort.com: For more than ten years, Cottage-Resort.com, a trusted Ontario accommodations and services directory, has been a great way to quickly find the perfect Ontario resort holiday and cottage country services. With more than 250 participating Ontario accommodation properties, including Ontario cottage resorts, lodges, country inns, bed and breakfast properties, and full service resorts, Cottage-Resort.com provides a wealth of up to the minute information that is categorized in such a way that visitors to the site can easily match their exact vacation requirements to the resort, cottage, inn, lodge or cottage resort that best fits their needs. When planning your next Ontario resort vacation, romantic getaway, golf package weekend, conference or resort wedding, be sure to visit Cottage-Resort.com (http://www.cottage-resort.com).

Contact Information:

Gord Bell

Cottage-Resort.com

4215 South Portage Road

Huntsville ON P1H 2J3

705 789-3004

http://www.cottage-resort.com

gordon(at)cottage-resort(dot)com

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Photo: Robbie Roepstorff, Horizon Council Healthcare Task Force chair participates in blood pressure screening by Dr. Sal Lacagnina of Lee Memorial Health System and Healthy Horizon Challenge medical director.

Fort Myers, FL (PRWEB) May 04, 2012

During the monthly meeting of the Horizon Council, executives temporarily turned off their iPads, closed their portfolios, and made a commitment to roll up their sleeves for a series of health assessments and benchmark wellness tests to launch the Healthy Horizon Challenge.

The Healthy Horizon Challenge is a comprehensive, 12-week program, derived from the findings of the inaugural CEO Roundtables, as a strategic initiative for 2012. The program, created by the Horizon Council Healthcare Task Force in partnership with Lee Memorial Health System, is designed to increase awareness among the business community and create a healthier and happier workforce in Lee County.

Horizon Council members serve as challenge champions and ambassadors to their member organizations and companies through active participation beginning with the pre-testing phase of the Horizon Health Challenge. Personalized, confidential assessments and wellness profiles include:

    Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
    Fitness assessment including biometrics (blood pressure, weight, BMI, body fat percent)
    Body Age Assessment
    Health History Assessment
    Lab Tests Screening
    Wellness Consultation

Following the initial phase, the program will officially begin at the general membership meeting of the Horizon Council on May 18 and lasts through August 10, 2012 to effectively reach more than 15,000 people associated with the businesses, individuals, and member organizations represented by the Horizon Council.

“As leaders of our companies and influencers within our community, we must ‘walk the walk’ for increased wellness among our workforce,” said Robbie Roepstorff, Horizon Council Healthcare Task Force chair. “Volumes of research indicate a solid correlation between a healthy workforce and increased productivity and morale as well as decreased absenteeism and overall health care expenses.”

“Lifestyle change significantly decreases the incidence of all the major chronic illnesses and even cancers. Healthy nutrition and regular physical activity have been shown to be the foundation for healthy living,” said Dr. Sal Lacagnina of Lee Memorial Health System and Healthy Horizon Challenge medical director.

Funding for the program is jointly sponsored by the Horizon Council and Lee Memorial Health System.

“Healthcare is a key pillar in our community and naturally unites business function with quality of life,” said Jennifer Berg, marketing and communications director of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County’s Economic Development Office. “Our partnership with Lee Memorial exemplifies our mission to work together in all facets of business to strengthen our community at its core – our people.”

About Lee Memorial Health System

Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the sixth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 10,000 employees, the system includes four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices. An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs such as the Trauma Center and the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, which serve community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit http://www.leememorial.org for more information.

About Fort Myers Regional Partnership

The Fort Myers Regional Partnership works to attract new and diversified businesses resulting in high-wage, high-skilled jobs; retains and encourages the expansion of existing businesses and improves the overall business environment. Lee County is a thriving business community with a highly regarded airport, significant corporate development and ample real estate opportunities. The area is attracting, retaining and growing high-value businesses with a unique blend of an outstanding business climate and superior quality of life. The county is home to five vibrant cities–Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach, and Sanibel–and is the heart of Southwest Florida.

The Partnership continues to promote and build the region through ongoing efforts from its proactive team of domestic and international recruiters, research staff and community liaisons, as well as through its partnerships with the Horizon Foundation, the Horizon Council and the Lee County Industrial Development Authority.

Since 1996, more than 5,000 new jobs and more than $ 1 billion in economic impact have been committed to as a direct result of key local incentive programs; Lee County Job Opportunity Program and the First Incentives for Recruiting Strategic Targets as well as State of Florida incentives and the State Closing Fund.

In addition to the website, http://www.FortMyersRegionalPartnership.com, Fort Myers Regional Partnership can also be found social networking sites including Linked-In, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Honoring the Past. Celebrating the Present. Exploring the Future.

Lee County is celebrating its 125th anniversary (Quasquicentennial) on May 13, 2012. In honor of its independence from Monroe County in 1887, Lee County will be offering a variety of special events, programs, and promotions throughout the year. Learn more at http://www.LeeGov.com/125th with a monthly events calendar, photo gallery, and historic events timeline.

# # #

Editor’s Notes: Unique story angles, resources and trend data are available in the online Media Center at http://www.FortMyersRegionalPartnership.com/AboutUs/MediaCenter. For executive interviews, success stories, and additional media relations services, please contact Jennifer Berg, Fort Myers Regional Partnership, via phone at 239.338.3161 or email at JBerg(at)leegov(dot)com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New York, New York (PRWEB) May 04, 2012

Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the legal rights of victims of defective medical devices, reports that the first bellwether trial in the C.R. Bard Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2187) has been scheduled to start on February 5, 2013. Currently, 600 lawsuits naming Bard Avaulta transvaginal mesh products are pending in the litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The date for the first Bard Avaulta transvaginal mesh trial was set by U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin in an Order dated May 1, 2012. [wvsd.uscourts.gov/mdl/2187/pdfs/PTO_35.pdf]

Judge Goodwin is overseeing three other transvaginal mesh device MDLs, including those manufactured by American Medical Systems, Inc. (MDL No. 2325), Boston Scientific Corp. (MDL No. 2326) and Ethicon, Inc., a unit of Johnson & Johnson (MDL No. 2327). All of the lawsuits pending in the litigations allege that the transvaginal mesh devices used in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) repair surgeries caused women to suffer serious complications, including vaginal erosion, inflammation, infection, chronic pain and organ damage.

According to Parker Waichman LLP, bellwether trials are used when a large group of plaintiffs have filed suit based on the same theories or claims. Verdicts in these key trials will help gauge how juries might rule in similar transvaginal mesh lawsuits pending in the Bard Avaulta litigation.

In October 2008, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had begun a review of transvaginal mesh products, after receiving more than 1,000 reports of complications related to the use of the devices in the surgical repair of POP and SUI. In July 2011, the FDA announced that it had received an additional 1,503 reports of transvaginal mesh complications associated with POP repairs and an additional 1,371 reports associated with SUI repairs. The most common side effects reported to the FDA included erosion through the vaginal tissue, pain, infection, bleeding, pain during intercourse, organ perforation and urinary problems. The FDA also emphasized that POP transvaginal mesh complications are not rare, a change from the position it took in 2008. [fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm262435.htm]

On September 8 and 9, 2011, the FDA’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Advisory Panel met to discuss the safety of transvaginal mesh devices in POP repair. Though no formal vote was taken, the majority of outside medical experts on the panel backed the FDA’s proposal to reclassify transvaginal mesh devices as high risk. In January 2012, the FDA directed the makers of transvaginal mesh products, including C.R. Bard, to conduct post-market safety studies of their devices in order to enable the agency to better understand their safety and effectiveness profiles. [fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/UroGynSurgicalMesh/default.htm]

Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free lawsuit consultations to victims of transvaginal mesh injuries. If you or a loved one experienced complications following POP and SUI surgery with transvaginal mesh, please visit the firm’s transvaginal mesh injury page at http://www.yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636).

For more information regarding transvaginal mesh lawsuits and Parker Waichman LLP, please visit http://www.yourlawyer.com or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

Contact:

Parker Waichman LLP

Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney

(800) LAW-INFO

(800) 529-4636

http://www.yourlawyer.com

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

The Board of Directors of Women for Women International announced today it has named Afshan Khan to be the new chief executive officer of the organization. Ms. Khan, who comes to the global nonprofit after more than 20 years at UNICEF, begins the position on June 18, 2012.

Most recently as the Director of UNICEF’s Public-Sector Alliances and Resource Mobilization Office, Ms. Khan has decades of experience managing complex, global projects that focus on international policy, advocacy issues, partnership development and fundraising. She served in numerous capacities over her 25-year career equally spread out working in challenging field office postings and at the executive level. She has deep experience in developing and managing highly effective public-private partnerships aimed at initiatives as varied as containing disease outbreaks, combating child labor, and supporting households affected by HIV/AIDS.

“I am honored to take the helm of this extraordinary organization, which embodies the values and mission that have driven my career,” said Ms. Khan. “Women for Women International’s work has never been more relevant and more necessary. We will always be a vital resource for women to rebuild their own lives and their families’ after war.”

Ms. Khan succeeds Zainab Salbi, who founded Women for Women International in 1993 and stepped down as its CEO last year. Ms. Salbi will continue to support Women for Women International through her board membership and through her role as a global advocate for women’s rights.

About Ms. Khan’s appointment, Ms. Salbi said: “I know Afshan will take what we built over the last 19 years to another level of excellence in service to the world. I am committed to supporting her leadership in all ways she deems necessary.”

Upon taking office, Ms. Khan will meet with staff and stakeholders and travel to country offices to hear directly from those who work every day to transform the lives of women around the world.

Said Lucy Billingsley, chair of the Board of Directors of Women for Women International, “Afshan Khan is the real thing: a woman who has negotiated with warlords and royalty. Her personal history is an illustration of what our organization is all about. Under her leadership Women for Women is positioned to grow, deepen, and broaden its strength and reach.” Ms Billingsley added, “This is a rare moment when talent and mission converge.”

For nearly two decades Women for Women International has helped over 316,000 women survivors of war move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. The organization works in war-torn countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Sudan. For more information about Women for Women International, go to: http://www.womenforwomen.org

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) April 26, 2012

Continental Control Systems today announced that Small Box Energy™ has adopted its electric power metering solutions to bring energy savings to small box retail environments. The company has integrated Continental Control Systems’ WattNode® Plus energy meter and the Accu-CT™ revenue-grade current transformers into its comprehensive Chameleon energy management solution used by small box retail stores, convenience stores, and quick service, fast casual, and casual dining restaurants.

Chameleon energy management solution adapts to meet the specific needs of small box retailers and restaurant operators. Some operators require more data and others appreciate the set-it-and-forget-it control capacity. Energy management solutions can range from metering only to fully integrated platforms controlling HVAC, lighting, kitchen equipment, refrigeration, and temperature monitoring. By optimizing high energy demand equipment and minimizing unnecessary energy use, a Chameleon user can realize energy reductions of 5 to 20 percent. The system’s remote access, side-by-side location comparison capability, and customized reporting empower organizations operating multiple locations to better understand their energy usage.

Chameleon makes remote monitoring a reality, allowing quick service restaurants to easily measure/record production and storage parameters, including energy consumption, temperatures, water/gas counters, and digital inputs/outputs, as well as measuring analog currents/voltages. This real-time data can be used either locally or in the central systems of distributed operational information. The electric power consumption data provided by Chameleon is monetized and published graphically through an easy-to-use, Web-based dashboard, allowing Small Box Energy’s customers instant feedback on their current spending. This immediacy with simple, meaningful data improves energy management, reduces consumption, and decreases monthly utility bills.

“This partnership with Continental Control Systems brings a number of benefits to Chameleon users,” said Robert Gerdes, general manager of Small Box Energy. “WattNode Plus’ comprehensive selection of data points makes it a truly compelling and fully encompassing solution. The Accu-CT current transformer provides an extremely high level of accuracy at an exceptional price point. All of this adds up to support our primary goal — providing energy management at the best possible value for our customers.”

The WattNode Plus is a networked, multifunction AC power meter for use on single and three-phase services at voltages up to 600 Vac and currents to 6000 A. The meter communicates over a twisted-pair network using Echelon’s LonTalk® protocol. The WattNode Plus provides 27 electric power-related measurements including power (kW), energy consumption (kWh), voltage, current, power factor (PF), frequency, demand, peak demand, and time of peak demand.

With linearity better than 0.5% over the range of 1% to 120% of the rated current, the Accu-CT split-core current transformer complies with the accuracy requirements of ANSI C57.13 class 1.2 and class 0.6 for tenant submetering and billing. Its low-voltage output (333 mVac at rated current) makes for easy installation without shorting blocks. The innovative design enables quick and easy installation, even with gloved hands.

“Chameleon is an innovative solution that brings real energy savings to a market that has largely been overlooked,” said Cynthia A. Boyd, director of sales at Continental Control Systems. “We are thrilled to be working with such a well-respected and experienced group of people at Small Box Energy, and proud that they chose our WattNode Plus and Accu-CT to deliver adaptable, affordable benefits to customers in this market.”

Small Box Energy will be exhibiting and illustrating additional energy saving innovations at the upcoming National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show 2012, May 5-8 in Chicago. This show is an icon for the industry, drawing over 58,000 industry professionals from the US and more than 100 countries worldwide. Small Box Energy will be highlighting Chameleon energy management within the Franke Foodservice Systems booth. Together, Franke and Small Box Energy are supporting this industry to integrate kitchen equipment into their energy management strategy, in order to increase energy savings and cut unnecessary utility expense.

# # #

About Small Box Energy

Small Box Energy was created to meet the energy management needs of an underserved sector — small box retail businesses, restaurants and convenience stores. By optimizing control of high-energy-demand equipment, substantial energy savings can be uncovered within these retail/restaurant customers’ day-to-day operations. With over two decades of experience in supporting the building automation industry coupled with nearly five years of developing integrated kitchen energy management solutions for one of the largest fast food chains, Small Box Energy is becoming known as the small box retail and restaurant energy management solution leader — and more importantly for providing energy-saving solutions that substantially cut their customer’s monthly utility expense.

About Continental Control Systems

Founded in 1995, Colorado-based Continental Control Systems specializes in electric power metering and monitoring equipment for the measurement of energy and power production and consumption. The company’s solutions are designed to provide kW and kWh information in a variety of communication protocols including BACnet, MODBUS, LONWorks and Pulse outputs. Applications for the WattNode® meter include building automation, LEED certification, tenant submetering, performance verification/evaluation/diagnostics, and energy management. All Continental Control Systems products are listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. with a Dual Safety Certification for use in both the United States and Canada (cUL).

All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Photo link: http://smallboxenergy.com/chameleon-ems

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.