IADT – Seattle

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

IADT-Seattle recently added two new Web Design and Development degree programs to its curriculum. Students can choose either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program based on their interests and career goals. Both degree programs are designed to help students develop industry skills by offering in-depth instruction in Web fundamentals.

Students who pursue a Web design and development program can develop professional knowledge and skills by learning how to complete every stage of Web design process. These steps include planning, designing, developing, and implementing comprehensive Website projects.

The focused curriculums offered in the new Web Design and Development degree programs at IADT-Seattle encourage students to explore the diverse areas in Web design and development.

The Web Design and Development courses now available at IADT-Seattle include Content Management Systems, Open Source Systems, Database and Dynamic Web Design, Programming Concepts, Advanced Scripting Techniques and Markup Languages, Programming for the Internet, Multimedia Design, Media Design Concepts, and Digital Imaging.

Human-computer interaction and search engine optimization are just a few of the specialized topics that students may cover in their coursework. With guidance from their instructors, students learn how to apply new skills and technical knowledge effectively.

In Web design programs, motivated students take advantage of diverse educational resources by engaging in classroom activities and completing projects. By enrolling in a Web Design and Development degree program, students at IADT-Seattle arm themselves for the future by gaining the knowledge and skills they need to pursue career opportunities in Web design.

About the International Academy of Design and Technology in Seattle

With more than 30 years as an established institution, the International Academy of Design and Technology is dedicated to providing students with the necessary skills, knowledge, support and guidance to pursue fulfilling career opportunities in the design and technology fields. The Seattle campus (IADT-Seattle), which opened in 2004, offers degree programs in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, digital media production, fashion merchandising, game production, Internet marketing and Web design and development. Students also have the opportunity to take a portion of their coursework online through IADT-Online. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at http://www.iadt.edu/disclosures. IADT-Seattle cannot guarantee employment or salary and is a member of the Career Education Corporation network of universities, colleges and schools. For more information call 206.575.1865 or visit http://www.iadt.edu/Seattle.

###

©Copyright 1997-

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

Preventing, screening and treating diabetes is the focus of the newest module added to the American College of Physicians’ (ACP’s) online practice management tool, Medical Home Builder 2.0.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

Preventing, screening and treating diabetes is the focus of the newest module added to the American College of Physicians’ (ACP’s) online practice management tool, Medical Home Builder 2.0. A robust yet easy-to-use online tool, Medical Home Builder 2.0 enables physicians and their staffs to measure and—where needed—improve patient care, office procedures and procedural care workflows according to the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model.

Manage Diabetes Mellitus brings the number of Medical Home Builder 2.0 modules to 15—covering a wide range of practice management and medical issues. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., and 18.3 million people or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population have been diagnosed. With an estimated seven million undiagnosed cases in the U.S., rates and complications from diabetes are expected to rise.

“Medical Home Builder 2.0 will help practices improve patient care and increase office efficiency,” said Dr. Michael Barr, ACP’s senior vice president for the division of medical practice, professionalism and quality. “The module on diabetes mellitus is the first of a growing series to help practices apply the attributes of the patient-centered medical home to specific clinical conditions. Modules that address adult immunization, depression, chronic pain management and other clinical topics are currently in development.”

MHB 2.0 users are enrolled in an online community of practices that are committed to improving patient care and identifying office efficiencies based on the PCMH model. A PCMH facilitates partnerships among individual patients and their providers and, when appropriate, the patient’s family. Ultimately, a PCMH may allow better access to health care, increase satisfaction with care and improve health.

Not all MHB 2.0 users plan to become medical homes—but all find value in the variety of modules available and guidance provided. Every member of participating practices has access to all Medical Home Builder content including peer-to-peer videos and a community discussion forum where questions can be posed to colleagues.

Each module includes:

    Background information—an explanation of key principles, research and important concepts for members of the office team.
    The Practice Biopsy—a series of questions on the topic of the module. Questions in the modules that cover patient-centered medical home attributes were derived from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) PCMH 2011 recognition criteria, URAC standards and Joint Commission guidance. Each Practice Biopsy helps identify opportunities for improvement—or validates efforts a practice has already undertaken in the area addressed.
    A Case Study—How It Works in Practice, which describes the experience of one medical practice as it works through problems commonly encountered by ambulatory care providers.
    The Resource Library—a virtual bookshelf, which includes relevant references and informative guides in a variety of formats including downloadable guides and policy templates.
    Reporting functions—to help track progress over time, identify opportunities for improvement and compare practices.

Medical Home Builder 2.0 Manage Diabetes Mellitus module was made possible by funding from NovoNordisk.

About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 132,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students, residents and fellows. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook. For more information on Medical Home Builder, visit http://www.medicalhomebuilder.org.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

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

Rending of Butler Grizzlies New $ 12 Million BG Products Veterans Sports Complex

El Dorado, Kansas (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

Hellas Sports Construction of Austin, Texas has been selected as the synthetic turf and track provider for the $ 12 million BG Products Veterans Sports Complex in El Dorado. Installation of the new Matrix synthetic turf and epiQ X1000 track system is scheduled to begin this summer.

The complex will serve as the home field for Butler and El Dorado High School, including the Butler Grizzlies’ six-time national champion football team. Ranked No.2 nationally in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll this past season, the Grizzlies are the only program in NJCAA history to twice win back-to-back national championships, the first time in 1998 and 1999 and most recently in 2007 and 2008.        

For Butler athletic director Todd “TC” Carter, the Hellas turf and track system are a welcomed addition to his athletic department. “The Matrix turf and epiQ running track give our student athletes the best surfaces to play on and ultimately gives them the ability to be the best they can be.”

Scheduled to open this fall, the stadium will feature over 98,000 square feet of Matrix turf with permanent lines for football and soccer.

“We are excited about the state-of-the-art components at the BG Products Veterans Sports Complex including the Matrix turf and epiQ X1000 track to maximize the ability of our athletes to compete regardless of weather conditions,” said Stacy Cofer, chief advancement officer at the Butler Community College Foundation.

“Hellas Construction was selected among a competitive pool of vendors and we are proud to be associated with their top of the line products.”

The stadium is a joint project serving El Dorado public schools, Butler Community College and the city of El Dorado. Part of a larger economic development, the BG Products Veterans Sports Complex intends to host NJCAA and Kansas State High School Activities Association sporting events, fireworks shows, concerts and other community activities, and also provide space for commercial development.

Hellas’ patented Matrix turf has been utilized by numerous high-profile clients such as Dallas Cowboys Stadium and is the turf industry’s paramount product. It is comprised of two monofilament yarns that are manufactured in different sizes and colors. This configuration creates the best traction and system stability possible, and under stadium lights, the color combination provides exceptional light deflection. The environmentally friendly backing and high strength coating provides an unparalleled turf bind. Its durability and playability is highly superior to other turf products available in the market.

The epiQ TRACK X1000 is an IAAF-certified, impermeable track surface made of high performance raw materials and a sustainable manufacturing process using non-petroleum based materials. A layered base-mat system, the X1000 utilizes a single case sealer (SCS), which provides a thixotropic effect with a seamless binding single layer by creating a mechanical lock with the subsequent layer. The epiQ TRACKS product line uses eco-friendly, renewable resources and do not contain solvents, heavy metals or other toxic materials.

The Matrix and epiQ products can be found at high schools throughout the state of Kansas, including Liberal High School, Halstead High School and over $ 11 million worth of design-build projects within the Wichita USD 259 (South High School, Northwest High School, Southeast High School, Heights High School, and East High School) that consist of five running tracks, six synthetic turf fields and thirty-two tennis courts.

Click here to view the latest update on the stadium’s progress.

About Hellas Sports Construction

Headquartered in Austin, TX, Hellas is one of the largest sport contractors in the United States. While specializing in the general construction of sports facilities and synthetic surfaces, Hellas also champions innovative turf manufacturing, base construction, field, track and tennis installation and maintenance. Hellas controls all business processes to take its products directly to its customers, including marketing, sales, quality control and project management. For more information visit HellasConstruction.com.

Hellas’ partnership with legendary materials manufacturer, Royal TenCate, has positioned the company for continued success. TenCate Grass develops and produces synthetic turf components and designs systems for top-flight sport, recreation and landscape applications. Together with its partners, TenCate Grass strives to achieve a system approach. This gives users confidence in playing characteristics and lifespan. TenCate Grass has production facilities in Europe, the Middle East and North America.

# # #

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

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

Internet Payday

(PRWEB) February 16, 2012

InternetPayday.com, a website offering access to a trusted network of payday lenders, now provides brand new resources informing potential borrowers about the benefits and challenges associated with payday loans. These types of loans are small, short-term, and unsecured, generally used by borrowers in the case of emergency, unforeseen expenses. The new educational resources available on the site walk customers through the lending process, allowing borrowers to make well-informed decisions about payday loans.

“We at InternetPayday.com are very serious about the financial well-being of our customers,” says spokesperson Phil Drummer. “We have created a hassle-free loan process, featuring a simple application that allows customers quick access to the loans they need. The additional educational resources we provide prepare customers to make the right financial decisions when it comes to payday loans. Both the application process and the informational articles present on InternetPayday.com are free to all website visitors.”

The most recent article, “How It Works,” focuses on the actual loan process. From application, to online approval, direct deposit, and automatic repayment, each step of the process is covered. Reading the article takes only a few minutes and can provide invaluable information for customers both new and experienced.

The instant payday loans available from InternetPayday.com may be confusing for first-time borrowers. The new educational resources help to create a welcoming environment for customers, encouraging them to become well informed before making any decisions related to the loan process. Potential borrowers can learn everything they need to know about the industry before entering into a loan contract.

The informative resources are available right from the website’s homepage, easily found and easy to read and understand. These informative articles cover multiple subjects, providing a broad base of knowledge regarding payday loans and payday lenders. Some offer advice on maximizing the benefit of quick cash loans while avoiding the many potential pitfalls.

Requirements for payday loans with the lenders associated with InternetPayday.com are not as stringent as with traditional loans, and no credit score is required. Borrowers need only to be 18 years or older, employed for more than ninety days making at least $ 1,000 per month after taxes, and be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States with a checking account in their name. The application process takes minutes, and most loans are directly deposited into the borrower’s bank account within 24 hours. Automatic repayment is often allowed as well, ensuring that the loan is repaid on time and conveniently. The new articles help to ensure that borrowers take full advantage of the payday loans they receive.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

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

Santa Cruz, CA (PRWEB) February 17, 2012

SchoolMessenger, the leading provider of communication solutions for education, today announced its support for the Cyber Bullying Focus Zone at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference on Education (NCE), held in Houston from Feb. 16-19. SchoolMessenger will showcase Talk About It®, its bullying-prevention service at booth #520. Talk About It is the first and only anonymous communication service that enables students to ‘speak up’ by engaging in text and online messaging with trusted school staff members.

The annual conference is the largest gathering of public school district superintendents in the country, and serves as a venue for decision makers to address some of the leading issues that impact their administration, policy and leadership. With social media now a primary communications tool among students, the Focus Zone sessions on Cyber Bullying sponsored by SchoolMessenger provide a timely exploration of the latest legal and technology solutions K-12 and higher education leaders can use to counteract the rise of bullying, harassment and violence in schools.

“Providing a safe environment for students is no longer restricted to the school campus,” said Carter B. Myers, vice president of Anonymous Communication Solutions at SchoolMessenger. “Technology now provides students a new platform to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. These Cyber Bullying sessions will provide district officials with an update on legal issues their schools may encounter, and examines technology solutions that exist today to address problems before they escalate.”

Focus Zone: Cyber Bulling sessions include:

Friday, February 17

    12:30-1:00 p.m. (Rm 340B) – Responding to Cyber Bullying: How to Stay OUT of Court
Participants will receive a discipline rubric/matrix that will systematically walk them through a decision-making framework that recognizes 1st and 14th Amendment cautions. The session is interactive with participants examining real court cases and applying the matrix. The presenters include: a retired state prosecutor, a technology expert and a past director of curriculum/principal. This unique combination examines the issue of cyber bullying through three very different lenses.

Presenters:

Leaunda Hemphill, Associate Professor Instructional Design and Technology, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Jill Joline Myers, Associate Professor of the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Western Illinolis University, Macomb, IL

Donna McCaw, Professor, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

    1:45-2:15 p.m. (Rm 330B) – OCR Investigation of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Violence
After issuing controversial guidance on bullying and on sexual violence, the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education has launched investigation of several school districts. Learn about OCR’s interpretation of the governing civil rights laws and be prepared if a complaint or compliance review occurs in your district. This session will review the law, guidance and recent investigations, and include a discussion focused on practical tips for dealing with OCR.

Presenter:

John Borkowski, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, DC

    1:45-2:45 p.m. (Rm 342AD) – A Primer on Sexting and Cyberbullying
This presentation will provide an overview of recent cases on sexting and cyber bullying. It also will provide suggestions for avoiding being sued by parents and students when there are allegations of sexting and cyberbullying.

Presenter:

Maree Sneed, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, DC

Saturday, February 18

    1:00-1:30 p.m. (Rm 330A) – Boosting Achievement and Safety with Online Solutions to Counteract Bullying
Throughout America, schools are struggling to counteract the consequences of school violence and bullying on student achievement and safety. Learn from school administrators and staff members how one family’s search for a solution to protect their daughter, and preserve her right to an education free of fear, brought renewed hope for her as well as for those who bullied her. Learn how schools are adapting their programs to meet the academic and emotional needs of their students.

Presenter:

Sharon Williams, Head of School, Agora Cyber Charter School, Wayne, PA

Michael Maslayak, Vice President, K12, Greensboro, GA

SchoolMessenger has been providing communications services to schools and districts for more than a decade. Its anonymous communication tool, Talk About It, is now available as an on-demand solution to all schools and districts, regardless of the notification service they employ. For more information, a 3-minute video introduction and a free, downloadable white paper (Creating a Culture of Dialogue: Practical Steps for Better Communication and Safer Schools), visit http://talk.schoolmessenger.com.

About SchoolMessenger

SchoolMessenger is a leading provider of communication solutions for education. Thousands of school districts, public schools, colleges, universities, private schools and other educational facilities in all 50 states depend on the company’s innovative solutions, including the SchoolMessenger notification service and Talk About It anonymous communication service. Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. For information, visit http://www.schoolmessenger.com or call 888.527.5225.

###

©Copyright 1997-

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

Annapolis, Md. (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

“Prague: My Long Journey Home: A Memoir of Survival, Denial, and Redemption” (published by Abbott Press), by Charles Ota Heller, is a riveting memoir about one boy’s survival of the horrors of World War II, his exhilaration after shooting a Nazi at the age of nine, his escape from communism to America, and his inevitable, emotional return to his home country.

Heller’s inspiration to write “Prague: My Long Journey Home” came after seeing the disdainful lack of knowledge about World War II in today’s America. “I want to serve as witness,” he says, “in light of Americans’ (particularly young Americans’) lack of knowledge of the horrors of World War II, due to the aging and disappearance of those of us who experienced it, and because of Holocaust deniers around the world.”

Although writing about World War II is not uncommon – in either scholarship or fiction – Heller provides an angle that few writers can tackle: that of a child living through it. “I was one of those children,” he says, “and a unique one at that: a devout Catholic boy whom the Nazis considered a Jew and slated for extermination.”

Although he does not shirk from controversy, holding what some might call unpopular opinions about both the culpability of the German people and the fall of Czechoslovakia to communism, Heller doesn’t diminish the other aspects of “Prague: My Long Journey Home.” The book also tells an American success story about a boy who was ordered to forget everything that happened to him “on the other side” and to become “100 percent American.” Heller earned a basketball scholarship, obtained three degrees in engineering and became a successful American entrepreneur before he came face-to-face with his true identity and ethnicity in post-communist Czech Republic.

“Prague: My Long Journey Home” has also been recognized by Writer’s Digest as the inaugural winner of its Mark of Quality recognition award, which recognizes titles deemed to be of exceptionally high literary merit.

About the Author

Charles Ota Heller earned three engineering degrees and is an entrepreneur who founded several companies. Today, he devotes himself to writing, consulting, and serving on corporate boards. Heller lives near Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Sue. They have one son and three grandchildren. Visit him online at http://www.charlesoheller.com.

Abbott Press, a division Writer’s Digest—the oldest and most respected publisher devoted to the education and advancement of writers—is an indie-publishing imprint dedicated to helping writers bring their literary vision to print. Author Solutions, Inc., a leader in indie book publishing, will fulfill publishing, sales, and marketing services for Abbott Press. For more information, or to begin publishing a book today, log on to abbottpress.com or call 866-697-5310.

###

©Copyright 1997-

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

2012 is the 10th anniversary of the Stevie Awards movement

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

The Stevie® Awards today issued the call for entries for The 10th Annual American Business Awards, the USA’s only all-encompassing business awards program, and invited all organizations nationwide to publicly recognize the achievements of their executives and employees by nominating them for a Stevie.

The entry deadline is March 28. Late entries will be accepted through April 25 with a late fee. All individuals and organizations in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2012 awards will honor work since the beginning of 2011. Entry details are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

Nominations are now being accepted in various category groups for management awards, public relations awards, marketing awards, new product awards, human resources awards, information technology awards, web site awards, and more. There are many new categories for 2012, including 18 new categories for smartphone and tablet apps, as well as the Best of the ABA Awards, five best-of-competition prizes that will awarded to the organizations that submit the best overall body of work to the competition.

For the first time, The American Business Awards will feature two awards banquets. The first will take place on June 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and will honor Stevie Award winners in traditional categories. The second, a new event, will be held on September 17 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California and will honor Stevie Award winners in all tech-related categories.

Also new in 2012, Stevie Awards will be conferred in three levels of distinction: Gold, Silver and Bronze. To date, only overall category winners have been recognized as Stevie winners.

“We are excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The American Business Awards and the Stevie Awards movement at a time when the American economy is rebounding,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. “Whether they’re multinational corporations and top executives or local businesses and hourly employees, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to be publicly honored for their hard work and achievements.”

The 2012 American Business Awards will include the Fourth Annual People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products, in which the general public will vote for their favorite new products and services of the year. Each new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards’ new product awards categories will automatically be included in people’s choice voting. Voting will open in early July and winners will be announced at the San Francisco ceremony on September 17.

The American Business Awards’ June event will be the culmination of the inaugural America Means Business, a celebration of entrepreneurship that will take place June 13-15 in New York City. Created by the Stevie Awards to educate people about how to start and grow a business, America Means Business will feature inspirational keynotes, “How I Did It” case studies, one-to-one mentoring, an exhibition, and more. America Means Business is now accepting proposals from speakers and attendee registrations at http://www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

2011 Stevie Awards were presented last June in The Ninth Annual American Business Awards to a diverse group of organizations including American Express OPEN, Blackboard, EmpowHER Media, ESPN, Hewlett-Packard, Kwittken & Company, Millennial Media, Overstock.com, Red Frog Events, and Tesla Motors, among others.

To enter The 2012 American Business Awards, visit http://www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About the Stevie® Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com/, and follow the Stevie Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sponsors and partners of The 2012 American Business Awards include American Support, Business TalkRadio Network, Citrix Online, Dynamics Research Corporation, iolo technologies, John Hancock Funds, LifeLock, PetRays, Primus Telecommunications Group, SoftPro, SDL and VerticalResponse.

###

©Copyright 1997-

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

BoatExams.com – Get Your 3 Hour Boating Basics Online Course

Edmonton, AB (PRWEB) February 09, 2012

Yardstick Software, Canada’s premiere testing and training platform provider is thrilled to announce the launch of BoatExams.com.

Operated by the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons,BoatExams.com is powered by Yardstick’s Learning Management Platform and the website is well on its way to becoming the number one choice for boating enthusiasts to obtain a Transport Canada approved Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC – Boater License).

For $ 49.95, anyone over the age of 16 can purchase the three hour Boating Basics Online Course which includes one-year complimentary associate membership with the CPS, five professionally designed interactive course modules and upon successful completion of the course, immediate access to a downloadable PDF wallet certificate and bonus lessons on trailering, docking, and locking. Transport Canada issues the official PCO card four to six weeks after the exam.

“This project has been two years in the making and the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons is delighted to have worked with Yardstick. Yardstick played a pivotal role in getting our online boater training program to market, and going forward we are extremely confident that Yardstick has the technology and infrastructure to support the thousands of Canadians who will take this course in the years to come,” says Alain Briere, Executive Director.

Greg Kureluk, VP Sales & Marketing at Yardstick Software comments, “We are grateful to have been selected by the CPS-ECP as the online training and testing technology partner for the PCOC training course. In the high-stakes world of certification and licensure, reputation and experience means everything and I believe that our partnership with the CPS-ECP will solidify our position as a Canadian leader in the online training and certification industry.”

The comprehensive CPS Boating Safety online study guide, offered by CPS-ECP, is approved by Transport Canada for candidates to the online version of the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) Boating Safety exam.

About Yardstick Software

Yardstick works with Associations, Licensure and Regulatory organizations, Government, and Educators to set the standards of their separate industries through online licensing and certification, training, and testing. For more information on Yardstick, visit: http://www.GetYardstick.com.

About the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons

CPS-ECP is a volunteer driven non-profit organization that works to offer high-quality education, safety publications and other resources available to its membership. Members have access to a huge network of new friends, educators and enthusiasts. For more information, visit: http://www.cpsboat.ca.

###

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

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

Kavitha Chinnaiyan, M.D.

Royal Oak, Mich. (PRWEB) February 09, 2012

An important research study, led by Beaumont Health System cardiologists and involving 47 hospitals and outpatient centers in Michigan, may help spare patients from unnecessary invasive heart procedures while lowering health care costs.

The research, published in the Feb. 14 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that coronary computed tomography angiography, where heart arteries are imaged with a CT scanner, is very effective at identifying obstructive heart disease requiring an invasive heart catheterization procedure. Cardiac stress testing, the standard for diagnostic heart testing, is not effective.

The research was sponsored and funded by Blue Cross/Blue Shield/Blue Care Network of Michigan as part of a statewide quality improvement initiative called the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium. Beaumont is the coordinating center for the consortium.

“In this study, we looked at 6,000 patients across the state who had CT imaging after a heart stress test,” says lead author Kavitha Chinnaiyan, M.D., Beaumont’s director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging Education and program director for ACIC. “We concluded that CT imaging works very well as a ‘gatekeeper’ to the catheterization lab, and can help rule out patients who don’t require invasive coronary angiography.”

As many as 10 percent of stress imaging studies are inconclusive, often leading to invasive coronary angiography (also called diagnostic cardiac catheterization), often with negative results. Recent data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry of 400,000 patients found obstructive coronary artery disease in only a third of those undergoing ICA. Even positive stress tests were only moderately associated with obstructive heart disease.

In the Beaumont study, coronary CT angiography was able to identify obstructive coronary artery disease (> 50 percent blockage) in 1,158 patients (18.7 percent) of all 6,198 patients; remaining patients had normal arteries or nonobstructive disease. Stress test results were not able to predict coronary artery blockages.

Coronary CT also correlated well with invasive angiography findings, but stress test findings did not, indicating that it may serve as an effective tool to triage patients to the catheterization lab, when stress tests are inconclusive.

Coronary artery disease results in more than half of all cardiovascular deaths in the United States and remains the leading cause of death worldwide.

“With the population at risk for CAD increasing, it’s important that health care systems provide cost-effective diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary testing, treatment and cost,” says Dr. Chinnaiyan. “Our study shows that CT angiography can help to identify patients who need expensive, invasive testing, especially in patients with inconclusive stress test results.”

According to American Heart Association statistics, more than 1 million cardiac catheterizations are performed annually. The cost of a diagnostic cardiac catheterization is about $ 2,700.

Beaumont is a world leader in cardiac CT imaging, with other published research on the use of CT imaging for diagnosing or predicting heart attack; identifying unstable plaque likely to cause a heart attack; and diagnosing chest pain patients in the Emergency Center.

About Beaumont Heart Care

Beaumont is Michigan’s, and one of the nation’s, most experienced providers of heart care, ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s 2011-12 “America’s Best Hospitals” list for cardiology and heart surgery. The Beaumont Heart Center is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art facility that’s dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart problems. Beaumont’s Ernst Cardiovascular Center includes six specialty clinics offering advanced and minimally invasive treatments for heart valve disease, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, aortic aneurysm and dissection, plus preventive screening for adults and high school students. Beaumont’s Ministrelli Women’s Heart Center is the first in Michigan devoted exclusively to the prevention, diagnosis, and research of heart disease in women.

# # #

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

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

Waterloo, Ontario (PRWEB) February 10, 2012

The course is made-up of 180 ten minute episodes and is offered through ClevrU’s e-teaching platform. The course has been designed to provide a condensed, online tutorial course for student’s preparing for the math part of the Gaokoa National Post-secondary entrance examination scheduled for early June. The course combines video e-teaching with student collaboration and a sophisticated semantic engine to supplement the learning experience for students.

“ClevrU is excited to be working with CIS to launch this new, up-to-date preparatory course to Chinese students seeking best-in-class tutorial material”, said Dana Fox, CEO and President of ClevrU Corporation. ”Our customized on demand e-teaching solution breaks yet another incredible barrier to global learning with a solution optimized for access through the cellular network. Students preparing for Gaokoa math can now receive course content effectively on their cellular telephone.”

With the launch of the Gaokoa preparatory course, ClevrU will also be demonstrating its multilingual semantic search engine, initially optimized for latin based languages and traditional Chinese. ClevrU’s unique approach to managing a multi-language platform allows a more powerful ability to connect into the cloud and enhance the learning process in a manner relevant to the user.

“With the ability to organize content across many languages, Clevru is effectively developing a Global Neural Network.” Fox went on to add that. “You can deliver information in one language and the Global Neural Network will find all the relevant learning lectures, links and opportunities to collaborate with others, regardless of language. The world is now smaller and more connected with the elimination of the last barrier to effective communication between global users.”

About ClevrU Corporation

ClevrU is focused on WEB 3.0 applications that intelligently leverage Cloud Computing in a mobile environment. ClevrU has developed an e-teaching content delivery platform with advanced tools to assist in interactive teaching and student/instructor collaboration. This application uses an intelligent engine to adapt course content to users personal needs in a mobile environment. ClevrU is initially focused on international education markets. ClevrU’s technology combines video e-teaching with semantic based intelligent social network tools for educational institutions universities and colleges, cellular phone/ tablet computer manufacturers and cellular carriers to deliver course content to students anywhere, anytime. The product is branded ClevrU EDU and registered a patent pending on its Intelligent Collaborative Platform Technology.

###

©Copyright 1997-

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