Quality Healthcare Must Serve Individual Needs of Patients

Quality healthcare must reinsert consumers as the primary decision makers for their healthcare, says a report published by the Center for Health Transformation (CHT). The 21st Century Intelligent Health System: An Individual-Centered Approach describes the necessary steps to reform our healthcare system to meet the individual needs of patients. The paper provides patient statements and examples of how the needs of patients and family members are being met, and suggests that higher quality care can be provided at a much lower price if the consumer disciplines the industry."As a patient, I understand all too well what it is like to be left out of the discussion," said Lynette Bisconti, a patient advocate and cancer survivor. Bisconti was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after discovering she was pregnant."To beat cancer, save my baby and have a quality of life on par with what I had before cancer, I knew I needed to be actively involved in decisions about my medical care," Bisconti said. "These were my life and health goals - individual to me - and I needed my care team to understand what I valued most, to listen to me and respect my decisions about my cancer treatment."The CHT paper makes a compelling case for healthcare reform that creates a system built around individual needs."The overriding difference from every other high quality reasonable cost industry and healthcare is that we have removed the consumer and what they value from decision-making," said Steve Bonner, president and CEO of Cancer Treatment Centers of America and co-chair of the CHT working group that developed the report."The Central point of our paper is that our healthcare system must reengage the consumer and include what they value in the process," Bonner said. "Then as providers of their care, we must figure out what the consumer is willing to pay for and then we must all compete to deliver the best products and services at the most attractive prices."Bisconti sought a total of eight medical opinions. In each of the first six she felt she was being treated like a protocol, not as an individual. "Protocol said terminate the pregnancy, try to save the mother and call it a day," said Bisconti. "The clinical cookbook never seemed to change."My journey was completely transformed when I found a hospital that embraced my individual needs," Bisconti continued. "I had surgery and chemotherapy while pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. Today I remain free of disease and my son is a happy, healthy, wonderful little boy who lights up my world."Bisconti believes the patient as a full partner in healthcare decision-making has been a missing element in the decades-long healthcare reform debate."Patients can make decisions for themselves. We want to make decisions for ourselves," said Bisconti. "Unfortunately, our current system has trained us to follow, not to lead."

5 Ways to Make Money Fast and Easy

This is where the rubber meets the road. Traction is something we all lack when we are doing our research and ultimate field tests in the quest for our first million. More traction would be great whatever step in the ladder you are at.We generally focus on helping fledgling millionaires in our work because it is the most rewarding and gives us the greatest bang for our buck. To see an individual go from clueless to savvy in a fortnight is a gratifying experience. When its our resources that helped that transformation, then its very satisfying indeed. So thats the area we focus on here. This is for people who need direction but have small resource capital to manufacture acceptable results.So lets give you a little traction before you seize your jets.The following 5 strategies will give you the moves to take you to the first level. -A guy/gal with a proven idea that can be replicated-(An enviable position to be in)1) Lets get this straight. Million dollar bank balances are numerical in nature. By that I mean a million bucks is not made up of 1 large million dollar bill. Its made up of exactly one million single's. Or to go to the lowest common denominator, its actually numerically made up of One thousand, million (or 1 billion) cents.Make money fast and easy by thinking of money as numerical and therefore exponential. A dollar that you hold in your hand is the same as $1 million dollars. No difference at all. Its a seed that grows into a tree, then that tree spurrs more seeds. (I apologize for the metaphor, but how else can we put this so you understand the nature of the reality as it is)2) When you approach your 1 million dollar goal, you are biting off much much more then you can chew thinking about that million.To make money fast and easy always think small. Refine, refine, refine. Then duplicate, duplicate, duplicate. Are you with me? Is this making sense? Make a simple little mouse trap, then make lots of mouse traps exactly the same way.3) Find demand and supply into that demand.To make money fast and easy, even before you think about "what" you will do, you are going to research demand. You will become an expert at sniffing out needs. This skill is a millionaires bow and arrow. Let me tell you, most millionaires couldn't hit the side of a barn much less the bulls eye. But they DO know this. So their aim is not important. What is important is that the target is nice and gigantic. How can they miss?Trust me, its what millionaires do, its how millionaires think. Always supply into Fat juicy demand where the picking is easy. Do you want medals of bravery or a million bucks asap?4) Have a structure you never deviate from.They always failed to plan when they planned to fail. Once your research is done never deviate from it. Give it a good run but if it doesn't work out for you then move on without shedding a single tear. Chance and "chaos theory" are fascinating things. Probability is what millionaires deal with. They never delude themselves into believing in absolutes.To make money fast and easy, you will not work backwards or second guess yourself. Plant yourself firmly in the middle of the road on the high side and go forward. Don't make it up as you go. Stick to what your demand planning told you to do. Many give up after 1 failure, but probability is a funny thing. We think we can control it, but even when all your ducks are lined up in a row, it may not work. But give it a chance and let it prove itself and you may find over a number of attempts you will get the results you expected.5) Diversify AND Go deep.They call out diversify when it comes to investing. Fair enough. Things change and relying on just one source for your income stream is dangerous. And it is. But there are two sides to every coin.The pareto principle states that reality and probability are stacked unevenly. We as rational human beings think of everything as equal and even. However scientific evidence and business experience tells a different story. The pareto principle is also known as the 80/20 rule. It states that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your activities. Is this significant if true? You bet. It means that of every effort you make, of all the many things you do to manufacture your results, only 20% actually is responsible for a large proportion (in fact 80%) of them.So what does this mean in English? It means you can easily quadruple your results by finding out what that special 20% activity is and stop doing everything else. By focusing on just that 20% activity you will not only increase results, but you will create a new pareto principle refined of the old one at a higher level. In this way you move forward and evolve your activities to higher and higher levels.To your health and rapid success.If you need money now, like I mean in the next 10 minutes, try what I did. I now am making more money than in my old business and you can too. If you want to learn how to invest a few hundred dollars in the next 10 minutes and double it before you go to bed tonight, click now to read a "Rags to riches" story that is remarkable

Women’s car insurance

Until a decade or so ago, the issue of cheap car insurance for women drivers was not high on most insurers’ agenda.Today, women can enjoy some excellent motor insurance deals. But as with all these things, it makes sense to shop around. Find out how to get the best rates below.Women may still face discrimination in certain areas of their lives, but one area where this definitely does not appear to be happening is over the cost of their car insurance.Premiums for women drivers tend to be lower than they are for men, especially up to the age of about 45. Thereafter they level off.The reasons why female car insurance is cheaper than men’s are simple: premiums are based on a wide range of statistics which show they are much safer drivers than men.Government figures show that over 92% of convictions for driving offences in the UK are for men.Men are responsible for 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving.Women drivers tend to drive more slowly, carefully and shorter distances than men.Although women tend to have as many accidents as men, they are less likely to be serious. Therefore their overall claims experience is better than those of their male counterparts.Cheaper Car Insurance For Female DriversSo how can women get the best car insurance deals? Much of the advice available in our main car insurance guide applies equally to women drivers. Here are a few extra tips to help you keep car insurance premiums as cheap as possible:Consider a car that has a small engine or is in a low insurance group.If you have only just passed your test, consider taking out your own cover rather than piggybacking on your parents: you can build up a no-claims bonus that much quicker – in the second year your costs could fall by up to 30%.Avoid modifications, such as alloy wheels, extra spoilers or racing exhausts.Look out for additional security features, such as locks and immobilisers as these will help minimise your premiums.If you only tend to drive occasionally, look for policies that offer discounts for lower mileages. It’s also worth getting quotes from insurers that specialise in covering female drivers.If you are an older driver, try to avoid putting your children on your policy

Top tips for getting a cheaper car insurance quote

Fit an alarmFit an approved alarm and immobiliser, such as a Thatcham 1 or Thatcham 2. All improvements to security should help to lower your car insurance costs. Some insurers could even insist on sophisticated tracking devices before they will insure expensive cars.Change your excessChange the excess you are prepared to pay on any claim to reduce the premium. With voluntary excess the more you are willing to cover yourself in the event of an accident the lower your premium.Check your mileageCheck your mileage to make sure you are not paying extra for miles you are not covering in your car. If, for example, you change jobs and have a shorter commute to work you could be saving money. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely cover - but don't get it wrong as inaccuracy could jeopardise your claim.Minimise your optional extrasOnly select to have a courtesy car or legal expenses if you really need them, as they may increase your premium. The less your motor insurance company has to provide in the event of an accident, the lower your costs.Be careful where you parkKeep your car parked in a locked garage overnight if you can - this can help reduce the premium. More than 50% of vehicle thefts occur during the night so if your car is safely locked away it makes sense that your insurance costs will be reduced as a consequence. If you don't have access to a garage, then parking on a driveway is generally considered a lower risk than parking on the road. It's less likely that vandalism, theft or accidental damage will occur when you're off the highway.Pass PlusIf you're a new driver looking to get your first car and car insurance we'd highly recommend that you take your Pass Plus in order to reduce your premiums. The Pass Plus certificate can only be obtained within the first year of passing your practical driving test.You'll be taking 6 lessons where you'll become competent in the following areas:Driving in townDriving out of townDriving in all WeathersDriving at nightDriving on a dual carriagewayDriving on a motorwayThere is no test to take at the end of the course. When your instructor is satisfied with your performance you will receive a certificate from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).This certificate you will earn you large discounts with a whole host of insurance companies participating in the Pass Plus scheme