Recent Articles
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More data breaches discovered as healthcare stays in the crosshairs
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationIt seems as though this song and dance never gets old; the same tune just keeps playing and playing. The chorus, in healthcare, continues to say the same thing — hackers are after health information and the number of incidents is increasing. According to a new analysis by Symantec, almost 40 percent of the hacker group Orangeworm's victims are organizations operating in healthcare. Of those, 17 percent of victims are based in the U.S., which is fairly significant.
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Why recycling fluorescent light bulbs is important
Lawrence Lichtenfeld Waste Management & EnvironmentalScientists have studied the effects of mercury exposure for decades, and the information is undeniable — mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin. Mercury has been definitively connected with neurological and behavioral disorders, and yet, lamp manufacturers still make mercury-based fluorescent bulbs. In fact, even with this knowledge, the EPA banned the production of incandescent bulbs more than 20 years ago, putting much of America’s lighting future into fluorescents.
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Bill everything you earn
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesOne of the challenges for any kind of service provider, professional or non-professional, is finding the proper balance between delivering excellent service and being appropriately compensated for one’s time and talents. Being generous with your time and going above and beyond what clients expect is one way to ingratiate yourself with them and garner future referrals. Unchecked, however, it can slowly erode your business’ profitability.
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Why being different is critical to every church
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityHave you noticed? Products and services are dropping from existence regularly. Toys R Us is closing its doors entirely, and more than 5,000 individual stores closed across the country as major retailers decide it’s best for their bottom line. What’s happening? Even worse, 4,000 evangelical churches disappeared from the United States. I wonder if many even notice? Why all the closings? Because another organization started to supply the community’s needs in a similar or better way.
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A strong nursing team makes the sound of a harmonious orchestra
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareThe nursing team within any unit, department or agency could readily be compared to an orchestra. Here we’ll find the nurse manager/conductor, several lead players, many supporting players and those who remain even deeper in the background. In an orchestra, the smallest instrument can have an outsized purpose, and the instruments that only play occasionally are still crucial to a successfully executed performance. The same may be said of the nursing team.
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4 ways to help your staff cope with nasty customers
Anne Rose RetailYou’ve hired cheerful and flexible staff to interact with your customers. But even the most cheerful team member can get rattled, defensive, or angry when confronted by a belligerent customer. And yes, belligerent customers do exist. They are the people having a lousy day (or a lousy life) and feel better about themselves by berating and bullying others, especially those who aren’t in a position to fight back. So, what to do?
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Changing your tune: Upgrading the 718 exhaust
David Newton Transportation Technology & AutomotiveEarlier this year, I reported my impressions of the first six months with my new 718 Cayman — mostly complimentary as I struggle finding fault with any of the three Porsches I’ve owned. But if I’m entirely honest, I’ve spent the last several months making excuses for what I feel is a lack of proper tonality for a car of this caliber. To a Porsche enthusiast, sound plays an important role in the overall experience of any vehicle, but especially in one that evokes such a raw emotion from the driver.
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Start doing this to lead a culture that lasts
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIt seems like everyone and their dog is now touting their organizational culture and how inclusive it is. But there is often a disconnect between the PR and marketing campaigns and what employees have to say. It takes intention, strategy and vision to build great workplace cultures, and everyone needs to be involved. Workplace culture is a way of doing business. It's not a one-time event.
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Students with disabilities suffer the most from K-12 funding cuts
Bambi Majumdar EducationRecent years have been tumultuous for K-12 schools as proposed federal budget cuts targeted Education Department funding to the tune of $9.2 billion in fiscal 2018 and $3.6 billion in fiscal 2019. As a result, teachers, administrators, districts, and parents are not only fighting possible cuts but pushing for increased public money. Significant cuts to Medicaid not only affect public schools and poorer students, but special-needs students as well. Budget cuts could take away about $4 billion in Medicaid reimbursements per year for those with special needs.
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Exploring the Third System forts across the country
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureAfter the War of 1812, the United States built a series of forts along the coasts called Third System forts to protect the country from French, British and Spanish attacks. Of the 42 forts built, most saw little action against foreign countries. While brick walls were 11 feet thick in places, these thick walls were no match to the "new technology" of rifled cannons utilized during the Civil War. Many of these forts are now national parks and have museums and tours available.