Nurses Are Vital to Hospice, Outpatient and Primary Health Care

Nurses Are Vital to Hospice,

Outpatient and Primary Health Care

The role of nurses has always been important in providing quality health care in hospitals; however, today’s nurses are transforming health care beyond hospital settings.  In addition to reinventing America’s approach to hospice care from “a service that provided a place to die to one that addressed many end-of-life issues and allowed patients to remain in their homes,” nurses have evolved into strong patient advocates and indeed are the sole source of quality, “high-level” health care for many underserved areas and populations in America.  And with the possibility of adding more than 35 million newly insured citizens as a result of health care reform, nurses will be even more critical to local and state public health departments and primary care centers.  

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, May 31, 2011:

"Role of nurses extends beyond the hospital ward"

A nurse is a doctor’s best friend, according to Marvin M. Lipman, Consumers Union’s chief medical adviser. This advice was given to him by a hospital ward’s head nurse when he was a third-year medical student making contact with patients for the first time, along with the suggestion that’d he’d do well not to forget it.

Calling for Prison Reform

Source: Statistics as of June 30, 2004 from Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2004, Tables 1, 14 and 15 and U.S. Census. (Peter Wagner, June 2005)

As the nation rightfully pauses this weekend to remember our soldiers, who died in battles to win, protect and preserve our freedoms, we still have a ways to go before we win social justice. The critical need for prison reform draws us to the battlefield of public conscious. Today, 2.3 million Americans are behind bars. Blacks are 6.4 times as likely to be incarcerated as whites, reports the Prison Policy Initiative. Michelle Alexander, a law professor at Ohio State University, has written a must-read analysis on the incarceration of blacks.  This weekend pick up The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.

For more information on this subject, visit: http://www.prisonpolicy.org/graphs/raceinc.html

Calling for Prison Reform

Oprah’s 25 Years Reminds Us to Be ‘Authentic’

Oprah’s 25 Years Reminds Us to Be ‘Authentic’

Yesterday, Oprah’s fans tuned in worldwide to view the Oprah Winfrey Show finale, drawing the show’s highest rating in 17 years, according to Nielsen figures. For more than 25 years (prior to her show), Oprah has devoted herself to learning and sharing stories that impact lives. During the finale, she imparted words of wisdom with her audience, including “everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is…and do it.” In other words, hear the call, live it being your “authentic self.” In doing so, you can’t go wrong.

For more than 20 years, McKinney & Associates has done just that, by successfully providing strategic communications on matters of social justice. From the beginning, McKinney & Associates has remained true to its authentic roots by passionately and skillfully practicing “public relations with a conscience” for local, national and international organizations.

We appreciate Oprah’s reminder of what life can bring you when you remain true to yourself. We wish Oprah the best on her path of impacting lives for the better.

Read more of Oprah’s show finale here: “Oprah’s Show Draws Highest Rating in 25 Years”

Calling Males to the Counseling Profession

Calling Males to the Counseling Profession

Men are all but missing in the mental health profession reports the New York Times. Need Therapy? A Good Man Is Hard to Find (New York Times, 05/21/2011) reports that “men earn only one in five of all master’s degrees awarded in psychology, down from half in the 1970s. They account for less than 10 percent of social workers under the age of 34, according to a recent survey. And their numbers have dwindled among professional counselors — to 10 percent of the American Counseling Association’s membership today from 30 percent in 1982 — and appear to be declining among marriage and family therapists.”

The dearth of male therapists is a barrier for some men who’d like to receive counseling but would prefer to go to a man. Here’s another need to diversify the health care workforce.

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, May 25, 2011:

"Need Therapy? A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
By BENEDICT CAREY
Researchers began tracking the “feminization” of mental health care more than a generation ago, when women started to outnumber men in fields like psychology and counseling. Today the takeover is almost complete.

Doctors’ Advice: Fewer Tests, Cheaper Health Care

Doctors’ Advice: Fewer Tests, Cheaper Health Care

Everyone wants to save money, cut costs wherever possible while maintaining the best life. When it comes to doctors’ visits and tests, a primary care group is working to keep more money in your pocket. Recently, the National Physicians Alliance met with doctors in family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics and asked them to list five ways they could save patients money—all while enhancing care. Say what? This idea may call for a magic wand or Superman, but with some thought, more than 250 doctors provided their top “less is more” recommendations. Most of the recommendations focused on eliminating certain expensive tests (unless you’re near death) or forgoing routine antibiotic prescriptions for mild or moderate sinusitis (you’ll just have to deal with the itchy eyes and sneezing).  But what if you believe you need the tests or that antibiotic? Check out their recommendations and see if you agree!

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, May 24, 2011:

"Advice From Doctors: Top 5 Ways to Lower Costs and Improve Care"

If anyone knows where health-care dollars are being wasted, it's primary-care physicians. So, the National Physicians Alliance recently assembled working groups of doctors within three fields of primary care — family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics — and asked each to come up with five ways to reduce costs in their areas while enhancing patient care.

Cultural Competency in Health Care Trailing Behind Nation’s Demographic Shifts

Cultural Competency in Health Care Trailing Behind Nation’s Demographic Shifts

As America’s racial and ethnic mix shifts rapidly to a majority minority nation, the need for cultural competency in health care increases. Oregon’s Democratic lawmakers get that. Unfortunately, their Republican colleagues don’t.   The Register Guard reports that a split partisan vote in the Oregon House stymied a bill that would advance the cultural understanding of minorities among social workers, physicians, and other health care professionals licensed by the state.

Now is the time to enhance cultural competency training, not stymie it.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, May 23, 2011:

"Cultural competency bill fails again"

By Saul Hubbard

For the second day in a row, a split partisan vote in the Oregon House on Thursday stymied a bill aimed at advancing the cultural understanding of minorities among the state’s licensed health care providers, in order to improve the quality of health care minorities receive. 

Does a Happy Meal Make Everybody Happy?

Does a Happy Meal Make Everybody Happy?

Well, the answer to this question for some concerned parents and groups is “No.” The marketing to children of processed meals, loaded with sodium, high in fat, and sugar coated with a “toy inside” has been argued as irresponsible and contributing to our nation’s out of control childhood obesity rate.  The Corporate Accountability International (CAI) presented a proposal yesterday to McDonald’s shareholders asking them to consider links between fast food and childhood obesity—and more importantly, the company’s responsibility to correct. McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner refuted the proposal, stating McDonald’s would “continue to advertise to our customers responsibly about our menu and about lifestyle choices and leave the personal responsibility up to them.” Skinner claimed that the fast food company takes “responsible advertising very seriously.”
True, it is the responsibility of parents to make healthy, safe decisions for their children. By all accounts, most parents do everything to protect their children from harm. However, what if you live in a community with little access to healthy foods? With hungry kids, little in your wallet and McDonald’s just around the corner, should the Happy Meal make you happy for its existence?

Read more: “McDonald’s Stands Its Ground: Advertising to Children OK”

Economy Recovers for Corporate America, Not for Everyday Americans

Economy Recovers for Corporate America,

Not for Everyday Americans

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria reports there’s a tale of two economies in America, where the haves are big business and the have nots are the unemployed and average American worker. Corporate America has rebounded from the nation’s financial crisis while the jobless rate continues to grow. Zakaria offers a five-step plan to rescue America’s workers:

1. Revitalize manufacturing in this country. Germany offers a powerful example of how to do this. They have managed to maintain high-end manufacturing in their country.

2. Focus on retraining workers. We have a generation of people whose skills are not going to provide them with employment in the current global economy.

3. Focus on the growth industries like entertainment, healthcare and tourism. One of the simplest things to do in life is double down on things that are succeeding.

4. Promote small business. Small business creates most of the new jobs in this country. The single biggest thing the U.S. government could do to help small businesses is allow more skilled immigrants into the country.

We train the world’s best and brightest - often at public expense since they go to state universities or they get grants from the U.S. government - and then just at the point at which they’re about to start filing patents, making inventions, creating jobs and paying taxes, we kick them out of the country. It’s an incredibly counterproductive policy.

5. Invest in infrastructure today. The crisis is now and we know that a large number of unemployed people in America come out of the construction and housing industry. We also know we have a huge crisis in infrastructure. We have bridges falling down, highways that need repair and airports that need building. We’ve got to come up with some way to finance infrastructure that will allow us to employ hundreds of thousands, if not millions of American workers.

There are ways to do this that are not as costly to the public. We can develop infrastructure banks and forge public-private partnerships. America is one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t allow the private sector to participate in building and financing public infrastructure. Why shouldn’t we open it up so that we can get the capital we need, which will in turn create more jobs?

In short, we need to do all of these things because America faces a huge structural problem – a jobless recovery – and no single action will be enough to help American workers recover and prosper.

Highlighted Clip for Thursday, May 19, 2011:

"A tale of two economies: How to save the American worker"

By: Fareed Zakaria

 I have been thinking a lot about America's economy and American jobs lately, and have an essay on the subject in this week’s TIME Magazine. As we emerge from the financial crisis, we are witnessing the extraordinary tale of two economies.

Social Media May Have the Final Say

Social Media May Have the Final Say

He's not going to the prom...now he's going to the prom. Shelton High School Administrators in Connecticut banned honor roll senior James Tate from attending prom after he and his buddies posted 12-inch cardboard letters on the school's exterior asking his potential date, Sonali Rodrigues, to prom. The school's punishment spurred a flurry of social media activity on Facebook and Twitter, gaining Tate international support to reverse the school headmaster's decision in a week's time. By Saturday, May 14, Shelton High School headmaster Beth Smith caved on her decision and granted Tate permission to attend his senior prom. During this time, Tate and the school were placed in the national media spotlight; one the villain, the other the hero.

A study released on January 28 from the University of Masschusetts' Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research found that top, thriving companies increased their Facebook usage from 54 percent in 2009 to 84 percent in 2010. More companies are harnessing the power of this social media vehicle, understanding its ability to tip the scales. Some would say, "Don't mess with Facebook," witnessing its power to mobilize protestors to overthrow a longterm Egyptian president to reversing a school administrator's decision.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, May 16, 2011:

"Facebook Credited With Prom Ban Reversal"

By: David Muir

Score one for all the young men, and women, brave enough to draw up the courage to ask their love to prom.
And score one for the power of Facebook, Twitter…and a little heart.

Rewarding School Reform with Top Honors

Rewarding School Reform with Top Honors

What a graduation to remember!  In a surprise visit, President Obama gave the commencement address at Memphis’ Booker T. Washington High School. As USA Today reports, an academic turnaround at the urban school earned graduating seniors the address by none other than President Obama. The story of the school’s successful “race to the top” inspires goose bumps. 

Check out these news reports and videos: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/05/16/exp.tsr.sylvester.race.to.top.cnn?iref=allsearch

http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/05/16/obama-delivers-commencement-address-at-south-memphis-high-school.html?ftcnt=HP_News

 http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/president-visits-memphis-high-school-graduation/?iref=allsearch

 http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-10-obama-high-school-graduation-address-memphis_n.htm

Graduates From Country's First Black High School Celebrate 75th Reunion

Graduates From Country's First Black High School Celebrate 75th Reunion

A milestone was marked this weekend. Living graduates from the country's first Black high school in Southwest Washington, D.C., came together for their 75th year reunion. The Dunbar High School class of 1936, now most in their 90s, celebrated the monumental occasion with their families. Dunbar High School was founded in 1870 and was a source of employment for Black teachers when other schools weren't hiring them. Our hat's off to these living testimonies of how a group can overcome no matter the barriers.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, May 16, 2011:

Fifty years ago this month, a group of 13 men and women, seven black and six white, left Washington, D.C., on two buses bound for New Orleans."Young, Brave and Freedom Bound"

Study: Health Care Remains Inaccessible to Low-Income, Minority Women

Study: Health Care Remains Inaccessible to Low-Income, Minority Women

When it comes to access to health care, this troubled economy has hit minority and low-income women harder than their male counterparts, according to a study released today. Nearly one third of women between ages 19 and 64 either lacked access to health care or delayed health coverage due to high costs. Since good health is critical, especially to women of childbearing age, America’s future relies heavily on our government’s ability to reform health care and make health care services accessible to all Americans regardless of race, class or gender.

Highlighted Clip for Friday, May 13, 2011:

"Health Care Costs Hit Women Harder Than Men, Study Finds"

By HUMA KHAN

Women, particularly Hispanic and low-income females, have been hit harder than their male counterparts by the weak economy and higher health care costs, according to a new report released today.

 

Busboys & Poets Owner, Andy Shallal Editorial Takes on Walmart's Impact on Small Business

Busboys & Poets Owner, Andy Shallal Editorial Takes on Walmart's Impact on Small Business

Featured in today’s Washington Post editorial page includes an opinion letter from Andy Shallal, chairman of Think Local First DC and owner of several popular DC restaurants, including Bus Boys and Poets. Mr. Shallal explains the potential devastating impact the opening of four Wal-Mart stores in the Distric would have on local businesses and their communities. From the article:

Some facts are indisputable. Local, independent businesses give a neighborhood character. They create more local jobs, pay more taxes and keep more money in the community. And they cannot compete against the world’s largest retailer, whose track record of destroying local businesses speaks louder than any academic research.

For more on the campaign to hold Wal-Mart accountable, visit www.respectdc.org

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, May 11, 2011:

"Wal-Mart would water down D.C.’s Character"

The May 8 Local Opinions commentary by David Merriman and Joseph J. Persky [“ The Chicago precedent: Wal-Mart’s arrival was a wash for workers ”] made clear that the first Wal-Mart store in Chicago had a profound effect on surrounding businesses, as 82 businesses that sold competing goods closed within two years of Wal-Mart’s arrival. Imagine the disastrous consequences of four stores in a city like the District, which has a fraction of Chicago’s population.