Is ‘No News’ Really Good News? And Taking Care in Answering
As tradition would have it wartime news was often bad. News of relatives that had died or that had been seriously injured was (and still is) routine for these soldiers’ families. No news was more often than not ‘good news’.The trouble is sometimes, in the rest of life certainly, no news can actually be bad news. For instance, there are many times that we don’t get the sort of feedback that would be warranted but for distance, a lack of confidence in the person wanting to give the feedback, or tact or political correctness often get in the way.We can easily – and falsely – think we’re done no wrong and are otherwise on the right track, especially in cases where the vocal minority are particular positive. Even one person can tell us what we want to hear and suddenly our minds are at a false ease. We so seek the approval of others. Is it any good for us to be under false allusions? No, the truth is always better. We should pray that we’re not ignorant and, where and when we are, that people might have the gumption to come and respectfully challenge us, in love, bringing truth to bear on these situations, and gracefully so.Taking Care in AnsweringSome questions we’re asked are set in eternity. However we respond will command the angels’ to go ‘on our behalf’ and act. The heart makes it so. Not often but certainly sometimes we’re asked questions – particularly by those influential ones in our midst-that when answered have lasting consequences for us. Here it is our hearts are often found answering for us, despite what our minds might want to think or believe otherwise.Here we are noting particularly little (and large) incongruities between what we perhaps covet, finding attractive, and what we truly desire – at times beneath our conscious awareness. So, here enters the covetous detail intermingled with the real heart desire we’re perhaps repressing. The latter wins most times for we ultimately cannot repress what our hearts are saying via our actions and body language if they’re observed long enough.Take passion for instance. We cannot invent our passions. They come to us inexplicably, as if something in the heart were some sort of receiver to a notional transponder in the ether – wired are they to certain inner-heart drives. The answers of our hearts are worn on our sleeves whether we like it or not. Finally, if we take care when answering we can answer more congruently, checking off our truest desires and warding against slippery covetousness.Copyright (c) 2010 S. J. Wickham.
How Accounting Software Can Reduce Operating Expenses For Healthcare Organizations
Technology is front and center for healthcare organizations in 2010. Especially prominent is the HITECH Act of 2009 and its substantial impact on finances, human resources, Medicare payments, and the technology requirements to support these areas. Increasing federal regulatory compliance, accompanied by a heavy burden of standards and mandates, can make it seem overwhelming to weigh all issues and needs regarding technology for healthcare organizations.Every industry experiences periods of transformation around their IT infrastructure and the business automation that introduces new efficiencies. The healthcare industry is now in the midst of its makeover. Substantial investments and change have already been made in medical and patient technology; however, the same level of change has not been duplicated in the business infrastructure of many healthcare organizations.With so many technology demands to consider around electronic health records and healthcare IT, why should finance executives in the healthcare industry scrutinize their accounting software in 2010?There are four reasons why healthcare organizations should evaluate and implement better accounting software this year in order to establish seamless, automated business processes that connect front office to back office and give healthcare professionals more time and resources to devote to their mission – excellent care for patients:1. Data Integration Across Systems Helps Deliver Affordable HealthcareWith integrated systems, technology increases efficiencies, maintains quality of care and is not simply a way to cut costs. A typical healthcare organization is bogged down by paper-based data collection and runs dozens of disconnected systems and a plethora of patient billing and records solutions. Good accounting software is able to integrate with these systems to bring the information into the back office. You also need to automate the flow of financial information across internal systems and health plans with insurance claims, including a range of government organizations.High quality service must remain constant amidst continuously evolving technology, but finding ways to reduce the costs of quality care is also imperative. Accounting software that integrates with other systems can dramatically improve operational efficiencies, reduce administrative costs, and ultimately free up cash for better, more affordable patient care.Providing high quality healthcare takes a unified team of doctors, nurses, specialists and clinicians. A healthcare organization’s technology platform should incorporate the same collaborative approach so all systems, including accounting software, work together and enable automated business processes that streamline the way information is created, collected, accessed and shared.2. Improve Operating EfficienciesAccounting staff in many healthcare organizations today are overburdened with increasing pressures from internal and external demands. As other areas of a healthcare organization or practice advance due to technology investments, the organization now expects quicker turnaround on requests and more financial information. Externally, many of the requirements from HIPPA, Sarbanes-Oxley, and HHS-GIO present challenges that are initially often overlooked for the finance team. Today, a top accounting system can help a small finance staff more efficiently address payroll/HR requests, automate expense reporting and purchase requisitions management, provide a paperless workflow around payables management, and much more.Many healthcare organizations are only using accounting software as a tool to present their practice to external users for financing, tax returns, and owners, rather than as a system to help improve the quality of patient care, reduce costs, or to increase revenues.A recent study by Ivans, Inc. concluded administrative inefficiency and redundant paperwork account for 18% of healthcare waste. The study also notes many healthcare facilities still operate with older technology infrastructures, and by updating these infrastructures and operating systems they will experience immediate benefits.[1]In the same way improved efficiency in medical care drives down costs while maintaining excellent patient care, increased efficiency in your business software and operations enables you to provide improved levels of service to patients with fewer resources.Today’s accounting software lets you do more with less, with a high and rapid return on your investment.3. Increasing Need for Business IntelligenceThe importance of solid business intelligence and the demand for predictive analytics will grow in healthcare over the next few years in order to respond to the needs to increase revenue, reduce costs and comply with industry regulations and standards.A 2009 Gartner paper predicted, “Through 2012, more than 35 percent of the top 5,000 global companies will regularly fail to make insightful decisions about significant changes in their business and markets.”[2]It’s not just about having an abundance of data. Good accounting software reveals relationships between data rather than merely making data more accessible. Your data should provide deeper insight to help you make better business decisions. When electronic health records become more pervasive, healthcare organizations will have the ability to do more complex analysis than ever before. Your accounting software should provide strong reporting features with the ability to report by locations, departments, physicians, and service lines.4. Good Data Quality and Management Ensures ComplianceIt is complex and costly for healthcare organizations to comply with government regulations, industry standards, or corporate quality. Powerful accounting software helps healthcare organizations reduce the cost of regulatory compliance, lessens the risk of compliance failure, and protects company assets. Your accounting system should provide strong financial controls and audit trails, as well as the reporting needed for monitoring critical business processes or company assets. A system with built-in business alerts also reports attempts to bypass internal control procedures.Why 2010 is the Year for New Accounting Software Your accounting and business software is at the heart of your organization’s success. Now is an excellent time to take a holistic approach with your software applications so they all integrate as seamlessly as possible and provide the detail-rich, sophisticated data and reporting features you need at the lowest cost.A stable, scalable accounting platform that is the right solution for your organization quickly demonstrates return on investment, drastically reduces administrative expenses, and increases operational efficiencies. Most important, it enables you to invest necessary, crucial funds in the well being of your patients.[1] IVANS Healthcare Provider Spot Survey: Healthcare Provider Opinions on Reform, Technology and Proposed Medicare Cuts, November 2009[2] Gartner Business Intelligence Summit 2009, Analysts Discuss Business Intelligence Challenges and Opportunities, January 20-22, 2009, The Hague, Netherlands
Fitness First
Whatever your reasons you are to be commended, but how exactly does one go about getting into shape. Well here are a few suggestions to improve your fitness health and lifestyle. With each suggestion there are pros and cons, some will work for some people and some will not, try and decide what fits you and your circumstances best.Join A Gym – This is a pretty obvious place to start. At a gym you have a variety of methods of getting fit, whether it’s aerobically or based on toning muscle you will find this a great place to start. At a gym you can get the help of a professional who will guide your fitness while keeping their well trained eyes on your progress. However, while a gym is a great way to get fit, it’s also very expensive and can be time consuming!Running – A great way to get fit and virtually free! If you want to take up running a word of caution, running can cause injury. You must follow routines and have good quality foot wear. Running on tarmac is usually more convenient but it can damage your knees, so where possible try to run on grass or even better on a beach if this is an option. When you start off running, start slowly and build up the distances over the weeks. Start by slowly jogging for 5 minutes, as your fitness increases you can run further and at a faster pace. Do not push yourself to hard as this will lead to injury. Experts recommend doing a full run on day one, day two run half the distance at a slower pace, this relaxes the muscles and lessens the chances on injury. Then on day three rest. You can then start the cycle over. This is a great way to improve fitness and it will really enhance your endurance.Swimming – Possibly the best way to get fit! Swimming tones all of your body and gives all your muscles an excellent work out. The great advantage of swimming is that it’s almost impossible to injure yourself. Many people swim to recover from injury and this can be a great way to build up worn down muscles. Similar to running, don’t over do it and take a day to rest up on a regular basis so not to exhaust your muscles. Again start slow and build up distances as you increase your level of fitness. The only real disadvantage of swimming is that you need somewhere to do it, some people may not have a nearby pool so this could be an issue. Otherwise swimming is a great fitness booster.Aerobics – Something that is not as popular as it once was, but is still a really good way to get fit. Whether you join a class or do it in the privacy of your own home, this is a great way to get fit. It’s a low impact activity so again the danger of injury is minimal. Buying DVD’s to watch and follow fitness programmes is very helpful and can really improve muscle tone and general fitness. The only possible downside to aerobics is that if you want to be super fit it tends to be limited. You will probably have to do something else as well to take your fitness to a higher level.Cycling – Another great low impact activity that really can get you super fit. After purchasing a bike it’s pretty much free and as you increase the distances you cycle you can travel round some interesting places which makes it an enjoyable activity. The risk of injury is low, unless you fall off, then this can be a real danger. But if you ride sensibly and safely you should not have any problems and you will find cycling a wonderful way to boost fitness levels.Sports – This is one that many people take up. Some people find running or swimming boring as it can just be you on your own. They need the thrill of competitive games to excite them. Playing sport on a regular basis is a great way to get fit. Depending on the sport though there is usually a higher risk of injury. Some sports are obviously better than others for building fitness, but if you enjoy your sport you are more likely to keep it up and enhance you condition.Changing Life Styles – Sometimes it can simply be walking places you might usually drive. Cycle to work instead of taking the bus. Just making more effort to get out and walk is something that is very simple but can really help you boost your fitness. Obviously walking a mile a day is not going to get you super fit but it’s a great place to start.The Little Things – Most of the ways I have mentioned represent changes in your life and putting forward lots of effort. But there are simple things you can do that will improve your fitness. Don’t walk up the stairs, run! Dance while your making your morning coffee. Do a few star jumps while your cooking your dinner. Just be more active in everything you do. If you work at a desk, tap your feet for a while, any kind of movement will increase your level of fitness, even if it’s only a small amount it all helps.So there is a list of a few ideas. There are plenty of other things you can try but these tend to be the best and most accessible options for most people. You may find that some of the suggestions are not for you but somewhere in there most people will find something that suits them. Another excellent suggestions is mix and match. Run one day, swim another, walk to work another, a combination of activities is excellent as it will get more of your muscles working and be more interesting. Whatever you decide I wish you well in your pursuit of fitness. Building your fitness even if only slightly will lead to you feeling more confident in yourself, better health and a feeling of achievement! So it’s well worth making that decision and getting yourself fit.