Laws and Regulations of Laser Operation in the United States

The practice of laser eye surgery, including LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), is tightly regulated in the United States. At the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role in overseeing the safety and efficacy of medical devices used in laser surgery, including those employed in refractive surgeries like LASIK. The FDA ensures that LASIK devices meet stringent standards for patient safety and performance.

Additionally, state medical boards oversee the practice of ophthalmology within their respective states. These boards establish licensing requirements and regulations specific to laser eye surgery. They monitor the qualifications and credentials of LASIK surgeons, enforce ethical standards, and investigate complaints related to medical practice. Patients seeking LASIK surgery can benefit from consulting trusted healthcare sources like the American Academy of Ophthalmology for reliable information on regulatory standards and patient safety.

LASIK Surgery in Albuquerque: Regulatory Landscape

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, LASIK surgery is governed by state-specific regulations overseen by the New Mexico Medical Board. LASIK surgeons practicing in Albuquerque must meet stringent licensing criteria, including completion of medical school, residency training in ophthalmology, and specialized experience in refractive surgery. These requirements ensure that LASIK surgeons uphold professional standards and possess the necessary skills to perform laser eye surgery safely and effectively.

For comprehensive eye care services, including LASIK eye surgery and cataract surgery, Eye Associates of New Mexico offers a wide range of services across 14 clinic locations statewide. They provide expertise in managing complex eye diseases and conducting healthy eye examinations.

How to Obtain Laser Certification as an Optometrist

Optometrists seeking certification to perform laser procedures, including LASIK surgery, typically follow a structured process involving educational requirements, specialized training programs, and examinations. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Education: Optometrists must complete a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from an accredited optometry school.
• Training Programs: After graduation, optometrists interested in laser procedures pursue advanced training specifically in refractive surgery and laser techniques. This training often involves hands-on experience under the guidance of experienced LASIK surgeons.
• Certification Examinations: Optometrists seeking laser certification must pass rigorous examinations administered by relevant professional bodies or certification boards. These exams assess knowledge, skills, and competency in performing laser procedures safely and effectively.

Acquiring laser certification as an optometrist requires dedication to ongoing education and specialized training in refractive surgery. It is essential for optometrists to meet all educational and certification requirements mandated by regulatory bodies to ensure patient safety and quality care.

Variations in Licensing Criteria Across States

Licensing criteria for LASIK surgeons can vary significantly from state to state in the United States. While federal regulations set general standards, each state’s medical board establishes specific licensing requirements for ophthalmologists specializing in laser eye surgery.

• Educational Background: Some states may require completion of specific residency programs or fellowships in refractive surgery.
• Training and Experience: Licensing criteria often mandate a minimum number of procedures or years of experience in refractive surgery.
• Continuing Education: States may require ongoing education credits related to laser procedures to maintain licensure.

Understanding these variations is essential for both aspiring LASIK surgeons and patients seeking qualified providers.

Verifying LASIK Surgeon Credentials

For patients considering LASIK surgery, verifying a surgeon’s credentials is paramount. Patients can research a surgeon’s license status and any disciplinary actions through state medical licensing boards. Membership in professional associations like the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) or the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) can also indicate a surgeon’s commitment to professional standards.

Researching a LASIK surgeon’s credentials helps patients make informed decisions and ensures they receive care from a qualified and experienced professional.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, navigating the licensing and regulatory landscape for LASIK surgery across states in the USA requires careful consideration of varying criteria and standards. Understanding these regulations is crucial for aspiring LASIK surgeons seeking certification and for patients selecting qualified providers. By researching surgeon credentials and staying informed about state-specific requirements, individuals can make informed decisions about their eye care. Trustworthy resources like state medical boards and professional associations offer valuable insights into LASIK surgeon qualifications.

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Research your state’s requirements for phlebotomist licensure

The requirements for phlebotomist licensure vary from state to state, so it’s essential to research the specific requirements in your state. Typically, most states require phlebotomists to have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and to complete an accredited phlebotomy training program. Some states may also require phlebotomists to pass a certification exam or obtain continuing education credits to maintain their licensure.

Complete an accredited phlebotomy training program

If you’re considering a career as a phlebotomist, it’s crucial to understand the specific requirements for licensure in your state. Each state has its own set of regulations and guidelines that must be followed in order to obtain a license to practice phlebotomy. Typically, this involves completing an accredited phlebotomy training program that provides both theoretical and practical instruction on drawing blood from patients.

Phlebotomy training programs can be found at a variety of institutions, including community colleges, vocational schools, and technical schools. These programs typically cover topics such as anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control procedures, patient communication techniques, and blood collection techniques. Hands-on training is also an important component of these programs, allowing students to gain practical experience in drawing blood from actual patients.

By completing an accredited phlebotomy training program and obtaining licensure in your state, you can be well-prepared for a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. This field offers many opportunities for growth and advancement, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through your work.

Apply for phlebotomist certification

While phlebotomy certification is not required in all states, it can be a valuable credential to have when applying for phlebotomy jobs. Certification can be obtained through organizations such as the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA). These organizations offer certification exams that assess a phlebotomist’s knowledge and skills in the field.

Obtain practical experience

In order to stand out to potential employers and increase your chances of landing a job in phlebotomy, it’s important to have practical experience in the field. While completing a phlebotomy training program can provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to draw blood from patients, hands-on experience is essential for developing your skills and building your confidence.

One way to obtain practical experience is by volunteering at blood drives or healthcare facilities such as hospitals or clinics. This can give you the opportunity to work alongside experienced phlebotomists and observe their techniques while also gaining firsthand experience in drawing blood from actual patients. In addition, volunteering shows potential employers that you are committed to the field and willing to go above and beyond to gain valuable experience.

Another option for obtaining practical experience is through an externship or internship program offered by your phlebotomy training program or a local healthcare facility. These programs typically involve working under the supervision of experienced professionals and may offer academic credit as well as practical experience.

By seeking out opportunities for practical experience in phlebotomy, you can gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in this rewarding healthcare career.

Apply for phlebotomy jobs

After completing your phlebotomy training, obtaining certification, and gaining practical experience in drawing blood from patients, the next step is to begin applying for phlebotomy jobs. There are many different types of healthcare facilities that hire phlebotomists, including hospitals, clinics, blood banks, and diagnostic laboratories.

To find job openings in your area, you can search online job boards or websites dedicated to healthcare careers. You can also check with local staffing agencies or reach out to professional organizations such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for job leads and networking opportunities.

When applying for phlebotomy jobs, it’s important to have a polished resume that highlights your relevant skills and experience. Be sure to include any certifications you have obtained, as well as specific details about your training and hands-on experience. In addition to submitting a strong resume and cover letter, be prepared to participate in interviews and potentially provide references from previous employers or instructors.

By taking these steps and actively seeking out opportunities in the field of phlebotomy, you can position yourself for success in this exciting and rewarding healthcare career.

Conclusion

Becoming a licensed phlebotomist in the USA requires dedication, hard work, and commitment. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can obtain the necessary training, certification, and experience needed to work as a licensed phlebotomist. Remember to research your state’s specific requirements, complete an accredited phlebotomy training program, obtain certification, gain practical experience, and apply for phlebotomy jobs. With perseverance and determination, you can achieve your goal of becoming a licensed phlebotomist in the USA.

The post How to become a licensed phlebotomist in the USA? Step-by-step guide appeared first on License PORT.

No less popular is online football, online basketball and other sports. They have the opportunity to play face-to-face with another player for some bet that goes to the winner, or as a team member, moving your team up the tournament ladder and receiving various bonuses. All the best games you can see on the website brazilian online casino.

There are different areas where you can try your hand as a developer : games for mobile platforms, for PC and consoles, browser-based Flash games. And in each different game will come out to earn insurance

Technical requirements for games on mobile devices, as a rule, not very high (due to the limited hardware, compared to a personal computer), only an interesting idea is important here – a dice simulator, a card game with non-standard rules, geo-games (taking into account the player’s location). The number of mobile device users is large, which allows the game to be sold at the lowest possible price, in the hope that more users will download it. As for the sales process itself, as a rule, they rely on digital distribution services (AppStore, Android Market), which, for a percentage of sales, are engaged in the promotion and promotion of the game. For the development of such games, there are ready-made tools that allow you not to immerse yourself in the specifics of programming and deal more with game design.

Browser (non-multiplayer) games are popular because you can use your home computer, smartphone or tablet, or computer in an Internet cafe to play it. As a rule, these games are free, but provide for the possibility of financial gratitude (donate) to the developers.

The most profitable and most difficult industry in game development is games for personal computers and consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii). In order to make such a game alone, you need knowledge of mathematics, physics, the ability to draw or model, good programming skills. Games of this type can be divided into the following types (according to the complexity of implementation):

• casual games (quest games, tower defense, logic) – focused not on the graphic and sound environment, but on the process of the game itself, solving logic problems in it and some, often monotonous, actions
• quality AAA games – aimed at players who demand beautiful graphics, realistic physics and are willing to pay for it.
• average between casual and AAA games.

Casual games are designed for those players who spend relatively little time on games (office workers, housewives), so they can spend money on them within their pocket expenses.

As for high-quality AAA games, if you manage to make a really successful product (which is unlikely for one person), the time and money spent will pay off with interest. In addition, if successful, this is an opportunity to open your own game development company and already hire other people for a new project.

Comparison of the pros and cons of each way of earning:

Character leveling (online games)

• pros: opportunity to make good money
• cons: requires gaming experience and familiarity with the game universe; need a lot of free time

Extraction of game resources (online games)

• pluses: opportunity to make good money; no special knowledge about the game is required
• cons: the monotony of the process; need a lot of free time

Sale of game currency (online games)

• pros: opportunity to make good money
• cons: speculation with game resources

Crafting (creation) of unique items (online games)

• pros: opportunity to make good money
• cons: you need to find a player who would like to buy an item

Online casino

• pros: the opportunity to make very good money
• cons: the risk associated with the possible dishonesty of the casino

Online sports

• pros: the opportunity to play your favorite sport
• cons: low and not constant earnings

Mobile game development

• pluses: opportunity to make good money; fast development process
• cons: development experience required

Development of browser-based Flash games

• pluses: minimal knowledge of development; fast development process
• cons: low and not constant earnings

Development of casual games

• pros: opportunity to make good money
• cons: relatively long development process; search for a publisher or the need to promote the game yourself; good development knowledge required

Development of medium-sized games

• pros: the opportunity to make very good money
• cons: the longest development process; search for a publisher or the need to promote the game yourself; good development knowledge required

Can you make money at an online casino?

What is our life? A game!

(words by Herman in P. I. Tchaikovsky’s opera The Queen of Spades

based on the story of the same name by A. S. Pushkin)

Like their real-life counterparts, online casinos are widespread, they attract with bright advertisements and promise fabulous profits. Currently, the Web is simply flooded with various sites offering to play gambling games for real money. The scheme is simple: the visitor registers on the site, replenishes his gaming account and plays well-known games such as roulette, poker, blackjack, “21”, etc. The vast majority of such sites in the Russian-speaking part of the Web offer to replenish the game account in several different ways: through one of the electronic money systems (WebMoney, RuPay, PayPal, eGold, etc.), via bank transfer to the account of the founders and almost never accept cash. The only exceptions are real casinos, for which the site is not the main, but rather an image, additional platform for doing business.

The advantage of gambling on the Internet compared to visiting a real casino is that:

• There is no need to leave the house, i.e. you can play, being in a familiar home environment;
• The speed of all gaming operations: the person in front of the monitor is the only client that the casino visually serves. Of course, in fact, there are other visitors to this site who are playing the same game at the same time. But unlike a real casino in a virtual one, none of them interferes with you and does not delay the game.

Such simplicity can bribe even a person who is not inclined to visit a casino and play slot machines in real life. This is actually used by the owners of gambling online resources, attracting more and more inexperienced users with bright banners and easy money. They earn here in the same way as in a real casino: using the rules and features of each specific game.

But it’s time to get down to business. To satisfy my interest in gambling, I allocated a strictly fixed amount of 24 WMZ ($24 in the WebMoney system, you can read more about it in the article ” WebMoney: creating a wallet, exchange and replenishment “). My goal was to get a small stable income by playing exclusively classic roulette.

Just in case, let me remind you that for a competent game of roulette, you need to remember the theory of probability, which is usually studied at the university. Without going into details for now, I will say that in the absence of restrictions on the amount of the bet, probability theory is on the side of the player. Therefore, the casino always has a minimum and maximum bet size. It is important for us how many times this maximum exceeds the minimum, because this will be our operational space.

The simplest roulette winning strategy is to bet on one of the equally likely events (red/black, even/odd and 1-18/19-36), starting from the minimum rates. If we lose, we double the bet and again bet on the same event until it is realized. If you win, we lower the bet amount to the minimum and again choose which event we will play on. The net profit from one winning iteration is equal to the size of the initial bet (in my case, this is the size of the minimum bet).

This strategy is based on the fact that the probability of a series of independent events occurring is equal to the product of the probabilities of each of these events.

Example: let’s calculate the probability of winning when betting on equally probable events, for example, we will bet on “red”.

Decision

We will assume that the probability of the ball hitting the red field of the roulette is 0.5 (50%). Thus, at the first iteration, the probability of winning is 50%. If we lose, then at the second iteration the probability increases and amounts to 75% (1 – 0.5^2 = 0.75). In this case, 0.5^2 is the probability of getting “black” 2 times in a row. We are interested in any situation, except for this one, therefore, the probability of a negative outcome for us is subtracted from the maximum probability. At the third iteration, the probability that we will win is already 87.5% (1 – 0.5^3 = 0.875). And so on.

It looks simple, but in reality you need to remember about the maximum limit of the bet amount. If it is reached, and you still lose, then the losses will exceed your profit by several orders of magnitude. Based on this, you need to answer 2 questions:

1. Is the difference between the maximum and minimum bet amounts sufficient to implement this strategy? The larger this difference, the higher the probability of beating the casino.
2. How much money do you need to have in your account to successfully cover the operating costs for any iteration of bets? For example, if the minimum bet is UAH 1 and the maximum bet is UAH 500, then our operational space will allow us to increase the bet 8 times and make the maximum bet in the amount of UAH 256 (2^8 x UAH 1). From this it follows that the account must have at least 511 UAH (1 + 2 + 4 + … + 256). (Calculated using the formula for the sum of members of a geometric progression from the school algebra course – http://www.math.ru/dic/20)

How it all ended

It all started just great. I consistently made a profit of about 2 WMZ for half an hour playing according to the scheme. If we multiply this by 160 working hours per month, then 640 WMZ came out, taking into account losses during cashing out, one could count on 600 USD. per month. At the same time, my earnings as a programmer at that time were 400 USD. per month. The thought came to mind that it was not necessary to engage in professional activities – you can make money out of thin air. Play for fun and all wishes come true An idiot’s dream…

Despite such optimistic calculations, everything ended in a trite way – the casino won most of my money that was on the account, and I curtailed my activity and withdrew the rest of the funds to the WM-purse.

Why did I lose? The reason, as in life, is that the casino has every opportunity to influence the events in their games. Moreover, it is even easier to do this in a virtual casino than in a real one (it is enough to introduce elements of artificial intelligence into the program for generating the next event, make the events dependent, or, in other words, create an adaptive system that adapts to the user’s actions). In my case, I failed after the roulette ball stopped on the red field 13 (!) times in a row, despite the fact that I regularly bet on the “black”. For the sake of interest, let’s calculate the probability of my winning at the thirteenth iteration. It is 1 – 0.5^13 ≈ 0.99988, or 99.988%.

Agree, the probability was very close to 100%, but, nevertheless, I lost. (And how can one not believe in the magic of numbers?!) This served as a sign to me that in this casino something obviously influences events, except for probability theory

I am sincerely happy for those rare lucky ones who win significant amounts in the casino, but I see no way to ensure the stability of this type of income, because. here processes in games are constantly influenced by factors external to them. Therefore, I consider online casinos just as one of the many paid entertainments, and not a way to earn something.

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You can apply for a visa yourself or use the services of our company. We guarantee you full preparation for all stages of opening an entry permit. With us you will gain peace of mind and confidence in a successful outcome.

US visa process

Applying for a US visa in Ukraine includes the following steps:

• payment of the consular fee;
• filling out a visa application form on the site;
• preparation of necessary documents and photographs;
• submitting an application to the American embassy;
• an appointment for an interview at the United States Embassy;
• successful completion of the interview and submission of biometric data.

You need to be careful at every stage, because the result of the whole business directly depends on it. Remember that once received a refusal will irrevocably ruin your visa history, which will lead to problems in obtaining a permit to stay in the country in the future.

Documents for applying for a US medical visa

A visa for treatment in the United States of America will require the applicant to provide the following documents:

• receipt of payment of the consular fee in the amount of 160 US dollars;
• a valid passport with a sufficient number (1-2) of blank pages, which expires no earlier than 6 months after the trip;
• a completed online visa application form DS-160 (only a printed form with a ten-digit barcode must be submitted for an interview confirming that the application has been sent for consideration);
• photographs taken in accordance with the standards of the US Embassy (size 5×5 cm, on a white or light gray background, taken within the last 6 months, etc.);
• a letter from your doctor, which will indicate the diagnosis, as well as justify the need for treatment in America;
• confirmation from a doctor and a hospital in the United States of readiness to provide medical services, including information about the timing and cost.

Also, you should prepare additional certificates that the visa officer may require during the interview:

• internal passport;
• certificate of assignment of TIN;
• a document confirming employment, which contains information about the position held and salary;
• confirmation of the availability of personal or sponsorship financial guarantees sufficient to cover the costs of treatment and stay in the United States;
• property ownership information;
• data on marital status;
• a copy of the pension certificate (for pensioners);
• certificate from the educational institution (for students);
• copy of birth certificate and travel authorization from both guardians (for children).

Documents from the second list do not need to be submitted immediately along with the main ones. You will provide them at the request of the visa officer.

The Consulate always reserves the right to require additional documents. It is impossible to predict in advance what will come in handy, but when applying for an American visa, it is better to be prepared for everything.

Preference should be given to original documents. Documents can be in Russian or Ukrainian.

Terms of obtaining and cost of a medical visa to the USA

You can open an American visa in Ukraine within 2-3 weeks. It will take several days to prepare the necessary package of documents and submit them to the US Embassy in Kyiv, but the duration of its consideration depends on the individual aspects of the case and the workload of employees. Naturally, if there are good reasons, you can get a visa urgently. In this case, the price will be higher than usual. In general, it is impossible to say exactly how much it costs to apply for a US visa. The cost of a visit permit primarily consists of the consular fee and the services you request. The help of consultants of our company is paid additionally and depends on the terms of opening a visa, as well as the selected package of services.

What is health insurance

Private medicine is paid medical services provided by doctors, which the patient pays privately. Health insurance is the purchase of insurance coverage by a company that will pay for these services instead of the patient.

Health insurance is well known in Britain, but not widespread. The main reason is the presence of an imperfect, but quite working, free public health service, covering all the necessary areas of health protection. With all the imperfections of the NHS, Britain is very lucky that this system exists. In countries where there is no free medicine, and health insurance is mandatory, its cost makes up an impressive share of the family budget.

However, interest in health insurance in Britain has been on the rise lately, and the main reason for this is the severe crisis in the NHS. British medicine has been damaged by the pandemic: there is not enough staff, some institutions are still not working, and the queue for those working reaches a year. Here, many begin to think about saving the drowning hands of the drowning people themselves, namely, turning to private services and, accordingly, buying insurance to pay for them. All the more bitter is the surprise after its acquisition, when help was needed, but it turns out that it will not be there and insurance turned out to be useless. Kommersant UK will help to avoid this (at least we really hope to help!).

When you just use private medicine, the scheme looks very simple: the patient himself chooses a doctor, he books an appointment at a convenient time, he pays for it himself, and, in fact, that’s all. When buying health insurance, everything is more complicated. The patient first chooses the type of coverage (the list of areas of medicine in which he wants to receive treatment) and buys insurance for it. If help is needed, he calls the insurance company and explains what happened. The company checks to see if the case is covered and, if so, provides a list of professionals the client can contact, as well as an authorization code for payment. Then the patient chooses a doctor from the list, books an appointment (the doctor is private, so there are usually no long queues, a few days at most), he comes, and when it’s time to pay, Instead of money, he gives the cashier the code received from the insurance company. With this code, the clinic issues an invoice, but not to the patient, but to the insurance company. She checks it again and, if everything is in order, pays.

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Physicians applying for an initial license or applying for a medical license in another state should anticipate delays due to credentialing and past practice checks, as well as the need to meet licensing standards.

Follow these tips to simplify the medical license application process:

Request a copy of your current medical license requirements
When applying to the licensing board for the first time, ask for a copy of its current licensing requirements and the average time it takes to process applications. This helps prevent unreasonable expectations about processing times and gives you a better idea of when to close your practice, plan for a move, or arrange a start date with a new employer to minimize financial loss.

Submit your resume
Physicians should submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to the licensing board at the first contact. This will allow the licensing board to assess potential problem areas early in the process.

Disclose all information
Don’t try to hide potentially derogatory information from the licensing board. It is much better to provide information, assist the board in obtaining records and other necessary data, and provide information about extenuating circumstances that will prevent a license denial.

Follow up to expedite the process
Face-to-face contact and follow-up with medical schools, training programs and relevant hospitals will motivate these agencies to check credentials more expeditiously. Interacting with licensing boards in other states with licenses can also help reduce the time it takes to obtain a license.

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) provides a centralized process for state medical boards to obtain verified records of basic physician medical credentials. Call FCVS at (888) 275-3287 for more information .

Plan to wait at least 60 days
Physicians should plan to wait at least 60 days from the time they submit the completed license application and the actual license issuance date.

Physicians who have graduated from medical school outside the United States should expect a slightly longer period. State medical licensing boards and their staffs need time to objectively evaluate each application for licensure.

The post Obtaining a medical license appeared first on License PORT.

Sick leave use limits in the year of leave
No limits on an employee’s personal medical needs
Up to 13 days (104 hours) of sick leave for general family care and bereavement each leave year
Up to 12 weeks (480 hours) of sick leave to care for a family member with a serious illness each leave year
If an employee has previously used any portion of the 13 days of sick leave for general family care or bereavement in the leave year, that amount must be deducted from the 12 weeks of leave. If an employee has already used 12 weeks of sick leave to care for a family member with a serious illness, he or she cannot use the additional 13 days in the same year of leave for general family care purposes. An employee is entitled to a total of no more than 12 weeks of sick leave each year of leave for all family care purposes.

Part-time employees and employees with unusual lengths of service are also eligible to use sick leave, and the amount of sick leave that may be granted is proportional to the average number of hours worked during the employee’s scheduled period of service. each week.

Sick leave when using annual leave
An agency may grant sick leave to an employee on annual leave for any of the purposes for which sick leave may be granted, but is not required to do so. For example, if an employee becomes ill while on annual leave, the agency may grant him or her sick leave in lieu of annual leave. Similarly, if an employee on annual leave must care for a family member who is sick, the agency may also grant sick leave.

Sick leave due to a communicable disease
An employee is entitled to sick leave if health authorities or a health care provider determine that the employee’s presence at work could endanger the health of others by contracting a communicable disease. The employee is also entitled to use sick leave to care for a family member who has been similarly exposed. The use of sick leave will be appropriate in these circumstances, even if the employee or family member is not ill, but will be limited to circumstances where the exposure itself could endanger the health of others, and will only occur in cases of serious communicable diseases, such as a communicable disease. diseases for which federal isolation and quarantine is authorized, which currently include: cholera, diphtheria, infectious tuberculosis, plague, smallpox, yellow fever, viral hemorrhagic fevers, Severe O See CDC Legal authorities on isolation and quarantine(external link). This is an illustrative, but not exhaustive, list of the types of serious infectious diseases whose exposure alone can endanger the health of others.

While the employee does not have to be the sole provider of care, the employee must actively assist a family member to use sick leave to care for a family member exposed to an infectious disease. Because the employee will not be caring for a family member who is sick, but for one who is symptom-free, the employee may request sick leave only if the exposed family member cannot otherwise care for himself or herself (such as a minor child or elderly relative). . Conversely, it would not be appropriate for an employee to use sick leave to care for a able-bodied spouse who has been exposed to an infectious disease but is not exhibiting any symptoms because the employee would not need to actively care for the sick . spouse. If the employee’s family member has actually contracted a communicable disease and has become ill,

Pregnancy/Birth.
A pregnant employee who must be absent from work at some point prior to delivery for health reasons or the health of her unborn child has the right to use sick leave. The employee is also entitled to use sick leave to care for a family member who is disabled due to pregnancy or childbirth, or to accompany her to prenatal care appointments. Under the definition of a serious health condition, any period of disability due to pregnancy or childbirth or prenatal care is considered a serious health condition, even if the employee or family member does not receive active treatment from a health care provider for a period of disability or a period of disability not exceeding 3 consecutive calendar days. The sick leave may be used for medical examinations and during the period of disability for childbirth and recuperation. After the period of incapacity for work is over, the right to use the sick leave is not granted. There is no provision in law or regulation that allows sick leave to be used when absent from work to care for a healthy newborn baby, bond with a healthy child, or to perform other child care duties.

Disabled Veterans
Under Executive Order 5396 of July 17, 1930, a disabled veteran is entitled to use sick leave (or annual leave or leave without pay) for necessary treatment related to a service-connected disability. The veteran must give advance notice of the date(s) on which he or she is requesting leave for treatment.

Agency record keeping requirements
The agency must keep records of the number of sick leaves used by the employee for general family care, bereavement, and care of a family member with a serious illness. The records must be sufficient to ensure that the employee does not exceed the limits for sick leave use for the year of leave set forth above.

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President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the so-called “stimulus law”) allocated more than $20 billion to digitize medical records. PracticeFusion, a San Francisco-based medical records digitization community, includes 120,000 medical professionals and stores 22 million medical records in the cloud, accessible from any computer connected to the Internet. By digitizing medical records, doctors are fighting inefficiencies and medical errors.

The PracticeFusion community was founded in 2005 by Ryan Howard, who works in software rather than medicine. Mashable sat down with Howard to discuss the importance of the transition to electronic medical records (EMRs) and what the future holds for the process.

How it all started
Howard came to the San Francisco Bay Area during the “gold rush” of companies selling services online, and has had a career ranging from tech support employee to software installation specialist at the large Brown & Toland physician community. It was here that he first noticed the “worthless technology” in the physician’s office. “Doctors didn’t want to use it, the software was incredibly complex and was a total headache,” Howard says. – That’s when I realized how far away free Internet services like Google, which had revolutionized the consumer market, were from what was happening in the health care sector.”

So he founded the PracticeFusion community in 2005 and launched a free EMD storage service in 2007. “‘Free’ is the key word here,” Howard clarifies, “because it actually costs $50,000 per physician per year to maintain the system.”

According to Howard, 200,000 people around the world die each year from medical errors, mistakes that could be avoided if physicians were to master EMDs. “Paper is not cheap and it’s not safe, and it doesn’t belong in the medical care world anymore,” he adds. – Our job is to enable physicians to save those lives by making patient medical information available anytime, anywhere.”

The post How electronic medical records (EMRs) work in the United States appeared first on License PORT.

In this article, we’ll give you an idea of how long you should keep medical records under federal and state law. You’ll also get tips on how to better manage patient records.

How long should medical records be kept? It depends.
In terms of state laws, there is no single rule.

Rather, you can expect a minimum retention period for medical records of 5 years from the date the patient is discharged from your hospital and a maximum of 10 years.

However, in some situations, you can expect an even longer retention period. If you treated a minor, you may have to keep their records until they come of age in that state or longer. In Hawaii, for example, you must keep complete information on minors until they are 25 years old, meaning if you treated them at age 13, that would be 12 years.

Finally, doctors can usually keep their patients’ records for a shorter period of time than hospitals. In Connecticut, for example, physicians only have to keep records for 7 years after the last date of treatment, while hospitals have to keep records for 10 years after the patient is discharged.

The Problem with Maintaining Medical Records

For both hospitals and clinics, these minimum retention periods pose a problem.

In clinics/hospitals that use paper records, patient files take up a lot of space. Moreover, these records are also at risk of loss due to natural disasters (e.g., fires). Paper records are also vulnerable to unauthorized viewing and theft.

Finally, even if you could protect these records from disaster, the fact is that the ink and paper will deteriorate over time. In states that require you to keep medical records for more than 10 years, you could lose your records by age before that period expires.

The post How long do you have to keep medical records in the United States? appeared first on License PORT.

Most healthcare professionals need to be certified after completing their education, but you can still get certified for positions without prior healthcare experience in areas such as health care management and information systems.

1. Certified Physician Coding Specialist (CCS-P)
   This type of certification is for expert-level coders who want to gain additional experience in a clinical setting. Specialists with the Certified Coding Specialist certification can work in physician offices and specialty offices in addition to group practices. You’ll get comprehensive information on patient records and assign codes for each procedure performed to treat a patient and their condition. You can also gain in-depth knowledge of documenting medical records and the quality of data handled in the practice.
2. Certified Patient Care Professional (CPCT)
   This certification is offered by the National Healthcare Professionals Association (NHA) , and patient care technicians can be viewed as nursing assistants depending on their work with patients. You will need to perform various tasks to become a certified patient care technician, such as helping patients with exercise, administering medications when needed, feeding patients, and helping patients bathe and use the restroom. You will answer patients’ questions about certain procedures and help with lab work ordered by the practitioner.
3. Certified ECG Technician (CET).
   CET certification is right for you if you want to specialize in performing ECG testing for patients. This test can determine if you have heart abnormalities that can lead to a heart attack or heart disease. You are responsible for explaining all the details of the procedure to the patient, checking their blood pressure and coordinating with cardiologists to set up stress tests and coordinating the patient’s schedule to make an appointment. During the certification program, you will take patient interaction courses to improve your communication skills and increase your ability to respond promptly to inquiries.
4. Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
   The CPT certification collects all specimens for testing purposes, regardless of whether they are blood related. These samples are analyzed in a clinical laboratory to determine if the patient has a disease or the effectiveness of medications prescribed by the practitioner.

The blood can also be used at blood transfusion sites and blood donation centers so that it can be given to those in need of blood from a donor. You will learn how to draw blood and interact with patients for certain procedures, as well as work in a virtual environment to practice testing procedures.

5. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
   CCMA certification is similar to CPCT certification, so you will perform tasks including giving medications to patients, checking basic vital signs, recording patient history, preparing rooms before exams, and educating patients on preventive measures they can take to avoid illness. . You may be eligible for employment programs after completing this program.
6. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
   CMA certification gives you the ability to administer medications, supervise office procedures, and give general medical advice. Most paramedics work in clinics, rehabilitation centers or nursing homes.

National average salary: $44,047 per year.
Qualifications: Most applicants for this certification usually complete a year of training with either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accreditation Council for Health Education Schools (ACHES). However, there are several other associations to choose from.

7. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
   CNA certification allows you to perform nursing activities such as measuring vital signs, assisting doctors and nurses, assisting with personal hygiene, or performing basic medical procedures. This program requires people to complete at least 75 hours of training and pass a two-part exam consisting of a written or oral section and a skills demonstration.

8. Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT)
   RBT certifications can help you notice patients’ disorders that may affect treatment. You need to work with patients and their behavioral needs while you provide treatment so that you can maximize the effectiveness of their treatment. You must pass a background check and competency assessment in addition to training and an exam to become certified.
9. Certified Professional Coder (CPC).
   In the CPC certification program, you will learn about concepts related to the human body and some of the principles of medical coding. You will mainly learn principles related to three coding books: CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II Programs may include video tutorials, tutorials, and independent research to help you deepen your knowledge.

Qualifications requirements: you must have a high school diploma and it is recommended that you have an associate’s degree before pursuing this certification. You will need two years of proven experience as a medical coder, and you must be a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders.

10. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
    CPhT certification will help you understand the process of prescribing medications to patients. You will know the methods for measuring the quantities needed to fill patients’ prescriptions, as well as packaging and labeling requirements. You may also have a clear understanding of how to handle prescription purchasing, inventory of what is available, and handling insurance claims from multiple providers.

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According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Center for American Health Research:

49% of Americans have employer-sponsored insurance;
20% have Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor;
14% from Medicare, a government program for retirees;
6% are policies established by Obama’s 2010 reform;
1%, Pentagon policies;
9% of Americans have no health insurance.
Let’s take a look at what types of insurance exist in the U.S. and whether you can get it for free.
How does the insurance system work in general?
It is supposed that legal residents of the U.S. pay a certain amount (usually $250-400) each month to the insurance company, and that in turn covers part of his expenses in case of illness. However, some insurance plans have a certain limit-the maximum amount a patient must pay for medical bills over the course of one year. Such a limit is usually between $1,000 and $5,000.

For example, you have an emergency surgery that costs $10,000. Of that, you
You pay $2,000 of that and the insurance company covers the rest. In fact, health insurance in the U.S. only covers up to 80% of your medical expenses.

Types of health insurance:
HMOs (health maintenance organizations). This option is considered one of the most economical. Because it offers a certain number of doctors and clinics that the patient can visit. It is clear that the insurance company will not cover your expenses in clinics not included in its list, unless it is for emergency care.

PPO (preferred provider organizations). Here, too, you’ll get a list of certain clinics, but it will be much broader. But you can also get covered treatment at other clinics, but your costs will increase. In addition, you will be able to make appointments with any specialists, bypassing the general practitioner. But the cost of this type of insurance may be 1.5-2
times higher than HMOs.

POS (Point-of-service) Similar to HMO, but less popular plan, but the doctor
If necessary, you can be referred to a clinic that is not listed in the contract.
clinic not mentioned in the contract. And then your out-of-pocket costs for specialist services may increase.

EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization). Another HMO, but without a general practitioner and without compulsory referral to other specialists.

Important: Remember that each type of insurance has its own plan: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and minimum coverage. The range of services the insurance can cover also depends on the rate plan. By the way, to see a dentist or ophthalmologist, you must have separate insurance.

How and where do I buy health insurance in the U.S.?
Insurance in the U.S. is purchased at certain times of the year – from November 15 to February 15. Exceptions are changes in family composition, relocation, and similar reasons. If that is the case, you can buy health insurance outside this period.

You can buy insurance at a special Health Insurance MarketPlace site. It has collected all the offers of companies, taking into account the income of each client. After all, the cost and package of services for people with low and high income will be different.

By the way, some U.S. states denied the federal Health Insurance MarketPlace site. Because of this, they were allowed to create their own sites to post insurance company offers. You can find out the site for buying insurance in the state you want on the ObamaCare portal. Information on it is updated monthly.

What should you do before choosing insurance?
Read reviews.
In the U.S., the practice of reviews is very developed. Before choosing any product or service, Americans read reviews, this also applies to insurance companies. So research everything online about your future insurance company.

Find out the list of insurance company clinics
It is important to find out if the insurance company contracts with hospitals directly. And which clinics are on its list. It is also better to find out about the clinics themselves through reviews.

Study the insurance plan.
Specifically, what services and drugs are covered. Compare it to your regular annual treatment list. You should not overpay for services that you obviously do not need. Or it’s better to choose a plan with services and drugs that you can use for sure, rather than paying more for them than your premiums. It’s also worth paying special attention to medications, because without an insurance policy, even cough syrup can cost you up to $400.

Important: It is imperative that your insurance must include emergency care and hospitalization.

Calculate Costs
Estimate how much you spend on doctor services each year, add to that the emergencies. Consider the amount you’ll have to spend on your insurance each month and how much it can cover.

Call the insurance company
Specifically, to the customer service department. It is better to do this, of course, before you buy insurance on the website and bind yourself financially for the next year. Ask them all your questions. For example: how to go out of network and how much it will cost, will travel expenses be covered in case of illness, how to resolve disputes over paying for clinic services, etc.

How do I get insurance for free?
The U.S. government funds two types of health insurance plans: Medicare and Medicaid. They are specifically designed for seniors, people with disabilities, people living below the poverty line, and young people. To get it, you need to prove that the person cannot afford to pay for insurance on his or her own. In this case, a number of medical services, including ambulance calls, will cost patients free of charge. I must say that tourists in the U.S. can also take advantage of free medicine, if they indicate that their income is less than $ 1,500 per month.

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