(NAPSI)-One of the most frustrating experiences people have when they visit the doctor or are hospitalized is being asked to repeat their medical history over and over again every time a new person examines them. It’s a common experience but not life threatening. But what if your name was similar to another patient’s name and your charts got mixed up? What if someone simply couldn’t read your doctor’s notes?

Electronic health records (EHRs) are a promising solution for reducing medical errors and costs and improving patient safety, say health care experts.

For example, a health center called Urban Health Plan (UHP), Inc. provides much-needed health care to the underserved South Bronx neighborhood it has called home for 36 years. The clinic serves more than 37,000 patients who depend on the quality and consistency of care provided at this federally qualified health center.

“The implementation of our EHR system helped transform how we treat patients and track their outcomes,” said Paloma Hernandez, president and CEO of Urban Health Plan, Inc. “EHRs help us work toward improving the health of the communities we serve and will go a long way in aiding the elimination of health care disparities.”

Looking Into the Future

Hernandez explains that the health center has 105 patients with similar surnames. Using state-of-the-art iris recognition technology helps avoid confusion. UHP patients simply look into a lens and the correct health record is pulled up on a screen.

Financial Savings

UHP saved money by:

• Eliminating the search for misplaced paper records that could take up to 75 hours of staff time each month;

• Converting storage space for paper records to a Health and Wellness Center for use by patients and staff;

• Reducing expenses for supplies, staff and storage and related items; and

• Expanding time spent with patients and seeing 35 percent more patients.

UHP’s adoption of electronic health records in its network of clinics earned it the prestigious HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence, in the community health organization category, for leadership in the implementation of electronic health record systems.

“The HIMSS Davies Award honors health care organizations that are leading the way in and improving patient care with the use of the electronic health record,” said David Collins, HIMSS Director, Healthcare Information Systems.

For more information on the HIMSS Davies Awards of Excellence, go to www.himss.org/davies or call (804) 310-0615.

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(NAPSI)-Figuring out how to pay for your child’s education does not have to be stressful or confusing. Regardless of your family’s financial circumstances, the following tips can help simplify the process.

“The key to paying for college is to take charge of the process: Investigate aid options, contact your prospective colleges’ financial aid offices for more information, and keep track of deadlines,” says Linda Bell, director of financial aid at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pa. “Keep a file for each college during the search and retain the folder for the college you decide to attend until you graduate and repay your loans.”

She offers this advice:

• Start saving now. Whether your child is 6 months or 16 years old, your savings can reduce the amount you may have to borrow later, and some savings plans, like 529 plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, offer tax benefits. Contact your financial adviser for more information.

• Expand your college search. Private colleges and universities value geographic diversity and often have more resources to devote to financial aid. While your local state college or university probably has lower tuition and fees, out-of-state private institutions may offer more generous financial aid packages.

• Complete the FAFSA. Regardless of your income, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal and state grants, work-study and federal college loans. Some private colleges also require the CSS/PROFILE. Check with the financial aid office.

• Apply for scholarships. You can find information about federal grants and scholarships in the Student Aid Guide on the Department of Education’s web- site (http://studentaid.ed.gov), and at your prospective college’s financial aid office. Check websites like www.fastweb.com for private scholarships, and don’t forget about scholarships that your employer or community organizations may sponsor.

• Be proactive. Keep track of the deadlines and required application materials. If you have any questions, contact the school’s financial aid office. E-mail is the best form of communication because it’s easy to keep track of. Financial aid offices and the Department of Education should be able to help you for free.

For more information, visit www.lehigh.edu/assistance.

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by Richard L. Trumka

(NAPSI)-Every night, 15 million people in this great country go to sleep hoping that tomorrow will be the day they find a job. Hundreds of thousands of employees of our states and cities wake up hoping this won’t be their last day on the job. Five million people wake up trying to save their homes from foreclosure by the big banks. And nearly 17 million children go to bed hungry. This isn’t the America I dreamed of.

It’s time for all Americans to remember that patriotism is about more than fighting abroad. It’s also about fighting for ourselves, our neighbors and our communities here in the United States. It’s time for economic patriotism. How can we be patriotic?

First, I call on every American to make a choice to be patriotic in our everyday lives. That means demanding to know which products are made in America and then choosing them. We can buy products made in countries where workers make a few pennies an hour with few if any protections on the job, or we can support products made here where our neighbors and community members make a living from what they create. It’s time we buy American and buy on Main Street. And when we do that, we’ll invest in our communities and ensure that our jobs are good jobs and our children have a thriving future.

We need policies that allow corporations to be economic patriots without being penalized. Over time, corporations made choices that put short-term profits over humanity, and the world market over American communities, and it hollowed out our great nation.

Currently, our policies favor companies that ship our good jobs overseas to countries where there are few laws in place to protect workers’ safety, their rights and the environment. We must stop rewarding outsourcing and promote manufacturing in the United States instead. Our leaders must also hold China accountable for manipulating its currency, which hurts America’s workers and creates a massive trade imbalance. We must invest in our crumbling roads, schools and bridges, which will create good jobs and create a solid foundation for the next generation. And we must elect leaders who share these goals.

Every one of us has a choice. As patriots, let’s choose the path forward to create good jobs, jobs that can’t be shipped overseas, jobs that can support a family. It’s about time to invest in the country we love.

Trumka is president of the 11.5 million?member AFL-CIO, which represents firefighters, teachers, nurses, electricians, scientists and communications workers.

Photo credit: Andre Martenez

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Family budgets stay on track with new and convenient coupon sources

(ARA) – If smart savings and cost-cutting measures helped keep the family on budget throughout the recession, continuing on the same track through the recovery could help one get ahead in the long run. For better or for worse – more likely for better – Americans are embracing the concept of living within their means.

Collecting coupons remains one of the best ways for families to save on everyday expenses – from cleaning supplies and health and beauty items to food and paper products. Coupons are found in some new and innovative sources as well as from those that are tried-and-true. Here are some ideas for finding and using great coupon savings:

* The promise of a prize inside product packaging – in the form of a coupon – is already available. Now, what if it was not for the same product, but instead it was a coupon with big savings for another favorite brand that you already know, love and use regularly? Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has begun inserting multiple brands’ coupons inside specially marked products. Now through September, brands like Luvs, Olay, Pringles, PUR, Tampax and Tide will offer coupons for savings on other P&G products. Values combined typically range from $5 to $55 in savings. You can learn more and find additional coupon deals at www.pgeverdaysolutions.com/inpackcoupons.

* It may pay to clip or save a coupon even if it’s for an item you don’t use. You can exchange the high-value coupon you don’t want for another that you can use if you get involved in coupon swapping with friends and family. There are many ways to start a coupon exchange in your area – get family members involved, cooperate with neighbors, or simply encourage your kids’ daycare center to set up an exchange box by the front door where moms can drop off coupons they don’t need in exchange for ones they can use.

* Searching online is a good way to find samples and coupons, but don’t overlook more tried-and-true coupon sources like newspapers and magazines. Before coupons went virtual, you had to clip and keep paper versions, and many of those sources are still offering great coupon deals. You can also find paper coupons on special product displays in stores, on cash register receipts and even through in-store sample giveaways.

* Finally, it’s important to get organized; knowing what coupons you have and when each expires will help you to use them before they become out of date or alert you when a particularly great sale will make them even more valuable. Coupon organizers are found in stores, but you don’t have to go fancy; you can create your own simple envelope system, arranged by date or product type just as well.

To learn more about coupons, savings and deals, visit the P&G website at www.pgeverydaysolutions.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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NACo Prescription Discount Card: Easy, Valuable and Free (361) (NewsUSA) – When Samantha White’s health insurance premiums became too high, she, like many Americans in these tough times, sacrificed her health coverage. Unfortunately, White, a resident of a rural North Carolina, Scotland County, also fell ill. White’s sister, Nancy Bostick stepped in to help her sister with food, bills and medications. But Bostick’s salary was not enough to cover all of White’s bills, so Bostick started seeking programs that could alleviate costs. “We were lucky enough to get on a lot of charity programs with the hospitals and doctor offices,” says Bostick. “Even with that, we still paid about $1,000 per month for her prescriptions.” Because none of White’s medications was available in generic formulations, the sisters needed to find discounts on expensive, brand-name prescriptions. Bostick, who works for Scotland County, N.C., eventually learned of a free prescription discount card program, the National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Discount Card Program. She immediately picked up a card for her sister. “I cannot tell you how much money we saved using the NACo Prescription Discount Card, but it was tremendous savings,” Bostick said. “I firmly support the card and urge anyone who needs it to get the card.” The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program, administered through its partner CVS Caremark, is a free member benefit program for counties who belong to NACo, the only national organization that represents the interests of county governments in the United States. The NACo Prescription Discount Card does not have an application process or attach fees to the card’s use. County residents do not have to meet income or age requirements to use the program. The cards save an average of 22 percent off the full retail cost of prescription medications and can be used any time a prescription is not covered by insurance. A national network of more than 60,000 retail pharmacies honor the card. “My sister had a good job but not one with health insurance benefits,” said Bostick. “All her money went to prescriptions and health premiums. This card is one of the things that I am grateful that came along.” For more information, or to print a card for immediate use, visit www.caremark.com/naco.

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Facing Foreclosure? Don’t Lose Hope (334) (NewsUSA) – Homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments should not wait until they default on a payment before speaking to their lender. Hope and help are available. Hope Now, a private alliance of mortgage services, non-profit counselors and investors helped 270,000 homeowners keep their homes in April 2009. The organization reaches at-risk borrowers through its Web site, www.hopenow.com and community events, where homeowners can meet their lenders directly, as well as speak to representatives from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Legal Aid. Hope Now also operates a telephone hotline, where homeowners can speak to non-profit counselors, at 1-888-995-HOPE. Before calling their lender, homeowners should compile their financial information. Before restructuring a loan, lenders will want to see hard numbers stating income and expenses. Homeowners also need to be savvy — scammers have found endless ways to profit from the housing crisis. Scammers sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers or use advertisements to reach desperate homeowners. Then they take mortgage payments, home equity or ownership of the home. To avoid being scammed, Hope Now suggests homeowners be aware of potential “red flags”: * The service guarantees to stop foreclosure, no matter what. * The service collects an upfront fee. * The service tells you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor. * The service only accepts payment by cashier’s check or wire transfer. * The service encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time. * The service wants to collect your mortgage payments. * The service tells you to transfer your deed or title to it, or offers to buy your home at a fixed price. * The service offers to fill out paperwork for you, or pressures you to sign paperwork that you have not read or do not understand. To find legitimate help, homeowners need to contact their lender directly or call 1-888-995-HOPE to speak with non-profit counselors. To find out about foreclosure prevention options, read “Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do” at www.ftc.gov.

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(NAPSI)-Only 15 years ago, the world of personal money management changed forever with the introduction of online banking.

Today, with high-speed Internet access common and mobile phones even more so, people not only appreciate but demand the ability to bank “anytime, anywhere.”

While it’s possible to simply check your balance online or transfer money–among the first two services offered–today, most banks offer a wider variety of services.

Here are a few that may save you time and money and help the environment:

Budget: If you have trouble making ends meet each month–or if you want to get a better handle on what’s coming in and where it’s going–try online budgeting.

Many banks also offer the option to track your spending automatically with a tool such as Wells Fargo’s My Spending Report.

Save: It’s now possible to set up an automatic savings plan online to help meet a specific goal like a down payment, or a long-term objective like retirement.

Spend: Online bill-pay services enable you to pay bills quickly, cheaply and securely. And newer services such as person-to-person payments let you easily transfer money, making it more convenient to split the check at lunch or to pay your babysitter.

Go: New mobile banking services allow you to do all your banking on the go, and the newest–text banking, offered by some banks–don’t even require that you sign up online first!

The technological innovations that have revolutionized the way people manage their personal finances have changed small-business banking as well.

Jennifer Hogan owns a successful women’s accessories company called Toss Designs (www.tossdesigns.com) and once spent hours each month at the bank sending wire transfers and reconciling accounts.

“I thought the technology that allowed me to bank over the phone was amazing, but now we do everything online with Wells Fargo, which is even more amazing–I save at least 10 hours a week,” she said.

The ability to manage invoicing and receivables online can speed up payment and maximize cash flow.

Whether you’re an individual or own a small business, if you haven’t tried online banking in a while, it may be time to take another look. Today’s online banking is faster, cheaper, greener and more secure than ever before.

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(NewsUSA) – During these tough economic times, as America continues to look at cost cutting options, many people will be shopping for a health insurance plan. It’s important to know that there are health plans that are affordable and are a fit for you and your family while still offering the coverage you need to protect your family.

Know your needs. What types of coverage are most important to you? Do you or a family member take a prescription regularly? Knowing how much coverage you need is important when deciding which health care plan is best.

Learn the lingo. Some insurers are working to use more consumer-friendly language. Learning how a high-deductible plan tied to a health savings account (HSA) that offers choice among physicians and hospitals and how it works best with your needs, is important.

Availability when you need it most. Many insurers are working hard to ensure customers have health-related information when they need it, such as:

* Use of understandable consumer-friendly language

* Access to customer call centers and nurse hotlines 24/7, 365 days a year, giving constant access to a nurse or person to help solve a claims issue

* Online tools to search for claims information and check for benefit qualifications, co-pays, and deductibles

* Tools to compare prices on the drugs you need, helping find the best prices available

Schedule that yearly appointment. Regular checkups can help prevent potential problems or catch conditions early, saving money.

Note to editors: The following states may find this story useful: CA, CO, AZ, TX, TN, FL, GA, NC, CT, SC

Look for “extras.” Many insurers offer discounts for programs such as smoking cessation, weight loss, fitness club memberships and other services already being used by an individual.

Quality matters. Feel confident about choosing the right individual plan for you. Check out report cards for different plans on the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Web site, available at http://reportcard.ncqa.org/plan/external/plansearch.aspx.

For information about individual health products from CIGNA, visit www.cignaforyou.com/hctips.
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The Cary Town Council adopted a $348 million budget Thursday that keeps the property tax rate unchanged at 33 cents per $100 valuation and holds the residential garbage, recycling and yard waste fees the same at $14 per month.

The total operating budget is a modest 3.7 percent higher than its Fiscal Year 2010 predecessor, which was adopted last June.

Highlights of the adopted budget:

$128 million for the State-mandated Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities (WWRWMF), which will allow Cary, Morrisville, Apex and Holly Springs to comply with the State’s requirement to return water to the Cape Fear River Basin.
It also reserves $2.7 million for street improvements and other transportation initiatives, $3 million for fire and $700,000 for park renovations and $2.8 million for general government including $700,000 for open space.

The addition of 12 new positions, four of which will be needed toward the end of the fiscal year for the new Cary Community Arts Center, which is expected to open in late Spring 2011. Three police officers will be hired to begin developing a new neighborhood crime prevention program as well as one school resource for the new Mills Park Middle School. With the adoption of the budget, 31.25 vacant positions will be eliminated, saving the Town about $1.5 million next year. Town staff will be reduced to 1,140.375 full-time equivalents, or about 8.1 staff members for each 1,000 Cary residents, which is one of the lowest citizen to staff ratios for a large community in North Carolina. Read More:Wake.MyNC.Com

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Know the facts to help you stay in control

Overdraft fee changes are on the way

(ARA) – There are new regulations going into effect this summer that could change the way your bank charges overdraft fees for debit card purchases. Are you ready? Officials hope the changes will help consumers avoid unexpected fees, but even after the new government rules go into effect on July 1, many banks will continue to charge a fee if you opt in to their overdraft service. It’s important to know how these changes might affect you and your money.

A recent Harris Poll survey reports that many consumers are lukewarm about overdraft services that allow them – for a fee – to make a purchase with a debit card or withdraw money at the ATM when they don’t have sufficient funds in their checking account. In response, some banks, like Bank of America, are going one step further than what regulations require and will eliminate overdraft fees for everyday debit card transactions by no longer authorizing those types of transactions if a customer does not have enough money in their account at the time. That means if customers don’t have enough money in their accounts at the time, their transactions will be declined and they won’t be charged an overdraft fee.

“Our customers have been clear that they want to know if a purchase is going to overdraw their account,” says David Owen, payments and products executive from Bank of America. “Our solution is simple, clear, and helps customers control their finances by reducing the possibility of over-extending themselves with a debit card.”

Do you think big overdraft fees are a fact of life when you need cash on the spot? Think again. Find out if your bank will link your checking account to another account, such as your savings account, credit card or line of credit. Bank of America says for customers enrolled in its overdraft protection program, the bank will automatically transfer available funds from a linked account to the checking account if and when they’re needed to cover an overdraft. When linked to a savings account the typical cost is $10 for each day it is used, no matter how often funds are needed. That’s a big difference compared to the $35 per purchase fee some banks will charge if you opt in to their overdraft service.

But what happens if you’re at the ATM and need cash? You won’t necessarily be declined if you don’t have enough money in your account. While many banks don’t offer this service at the ATM, starting this fall Bank of America will alert their customers when a withdrawal may overdraw the account at one of their ATMs. Customers may still get cash after they acknowledge and accept an overdraft fee.

In the past, consumers have worried that if they’re on the go, they’ll have to guess if their account balance is low. Today, many banks offer mobile money management tools that can help. Find out if your bank offers mobile banking, online banking, or text banking options so you can quickly check your account balances anywhere – in your office, at the airport, and even while traveling overseas. With a few clicks, you’ll know if you’re in danger of overdrawing your account. This is especially useful if you have several family members sharing a joint account. With some banks, mobile banking and online banking allow you to transfer funds so you can put money into your account before you overdraw it.

While you may or may not have paid an overdraft fee before, knowing what changes your bank is making will help you better manage your accounts and keep your finances under control. For more information about money management, savings, and planning for retirement, visit www.bankofamerica.com/solutions.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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