Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder Are you having troubles falling asleep at nights? Have you tried warm milk, exercise, yoga, all kinds of sleeping pills and youre still tired? Or that you were told that you had talked during your sleep? Maybe youre having sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can be related to mental conditions, physical conditions or substance inducement. There are about seventy different sleep disorders which are divided into two categories. One category comprises disorders in which a person has hard time in getting sleep or staying asleep or falling asleep at improper time. For example, insomnia, narcolepsy, nocturnal leg syndrome. Sleep disorders which people experience physical events while they are sleeping, such as somnambulism, restless leg syndrome, are categorized in another group. The most common sleep disorder that is suffered by millions of people in the world is probably snoring, which is not medically significant; whereas some sleep disorders can actually be very dangerous as it might caus e a sudden heart attack. One of the most interesting sleep disorders is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder which is suffered by one in every 2,000 people in the United States. It can be very hard to live with. It is easy for people who know nothing about narcolepsy to think that those who are suffering from narcolepsy are simply because partied too much as people who fall asleep at inappropriate times must be having way too much fun until the early morning. But thats a long way from the truth. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is caused by the brains failure to adjust sleep-wake cycles normally. People with narcolepsy experience temporary craving to sleep. Patients usually fall asleep for a period of few seconds to several minutes. In some cases, patients may even remain asleep for an hour or longer if the craving becomes overwhelming. Narcoleptic can easily fall into the REM stage of sleep within 10 minutes; whereas most people do not get into REM stage sleep after 90 minutes. Narcoleptic could not control when and where they fall asleep. T hey might fall asleep when waiting for the traffic light, or they could start snoring in the middle of an important meeting. So, narcolepsy can be very dangerous as patients fall asleep at improper times, such as driving, walking, and so on. Therefore, people with narcolepsy should have someone beside to take care of and avoid driving. Do you think people with narcolepsy seem to have longer sleeping time than normal person? In fact, they spend a weaker proportion of their time asleep during a day. Most of them do also experience frequent awakening during night time sleep due to daytime drowsiness and uncontrolled sleep. How do you know youre actually having narcolepsy? There are several symptoms you might have if you suspect youre a narcoleptic. Cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and excessive daytime sleepiness are common traces of narcolepsy. Cataplexy is an immediate loss of muscle tone that leads to a feeling of weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control, such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or failure to speak clearly. The most critical attack results in a complete loss of tone in all voluntary muscles that leads to total physical collapse in which patients are incapable to move, speak or even keep their eyes open. Nonetheless, patients remain conscious throughout cataplexy. The attack can occur at any time during waking period but mostly triggered by instant emotional reactions, such as surprise, anger, fear or laughter. Episode can last for a few seconds or even several minutes. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 10% of all cases, cataplexy is the first symptom to appear and can be misdiagnosed as a sign of a seizure. Patients should avoid having extreme emotional changes to prevent the attack. Sleep paralysis which is also one of the symptoms can cause fleeting inability to move or speak while in both waking period and sleeping period. Sleep paralysis may too last for seconds or even minutes. Generally, patients remain breathing during sleep paralysis, but, its possible that some patients have experience a disheartening sensation of unable to breath. Hypnagogic hallucinations are dream-like experiences that appear before sleep. The sleeping mind beginning to dream earlier than the body has gone fully asleep is the cause of hypnagogic hallucinations, which means that whatever the patients conscious mind is thinking of will become full sensory hallucinations, similar to what happens in dreams. However, the difference between dreams and hypnagogic hallucinations is these images and sounds are occurring while someone is still actually awake. In additional, hypnagogic hallucinations are usually frightening and vivid. Generally, the excessive daytime sleepiness is the first symptom of narcolepsy to occur. The other symptoms may occur after months or year after the onset of the excessive daytime sleepiness. The excessive daytime sleepiness is mostly last permanently, but sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations may not. How do we really confirm that if were infected by narcolepsy, as having some individual symptoms may not prove that were narcoleptics? For example, hypnagogic hallucinations can occur without narcolepsy. The symptoms of narcolepsy are like symptoms of other illness; therefore, it takes as long as 10 to 15 years to have narcolepsy diagnosed after the first symptoms occur. Narcolepsy is always misdiagnosed as learning problem, seizure disorders or even laziness. Nonetheless, there are some tests available, such as Multiple Sleep Latency Test(MSLT), Polysomnography, and the Hypocretin Test. In the MSLT test, patients are required to have a daytime nap for about 20 minutes every 2 hours. Normal people without narcolepsy usually fall asleep within 10-20 minutes; whereas patients with narcolepsy usually fall asleep within 5-8 minutes. This test also shows that how fast you get into REM stage of sleep which narcoleptics easily get into it. Polysomnography is an overnight sleep study which r esult brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, and blood pressure that can find out how quick one falls asleep, how fast one experiences a REM stage of sleep after sleeping and how often one wakes up during the night. The hypocretin test which has not yet become the main diagnosis tool for narcolepsy can measure the level of hypocretin in cerebrospinal fluid. Nacroleptics normally have lower level of hypocretin. Narcolepsy is so interesting yet dangerous, but what causes narcolepsy? Some say heredity, some say infections. What is confirmed is that narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder. It is not caused by mental illness or psychological problem. In fact, scientists have also discovered that narcoleptics are usually lacking in hypocretin, also called  orexin, which is a chemical in the brain that helps promote wakefulness. Nevertheless, the causes of low hypocretin level arent well understood. Researchers think that low hypocretin level isnt caused by individual factor, it might be caused by several factors together, such as infections, brain injuries, heredity, and autoimmune disorders. Despite the disorder has been studied for a long time, the causes of narcolepsy are not determined. However, World Health Organization has discovered some narcoleptics were actually born with a gene that increases the risk of having this rare disease. Scientists found that this gene might have joint effect with H1N1 swine flu vaccine to cause narcolepsy. This is because many cases of narcolepsy among children and adolescents that have been reported in 12 countries in 2009 have received the H1N1 swine flu vaccine earlier before as well. Patients are likely to develop narcolepsy symptoms between 2 and 10 weeks after receiving the vaccine. Researchers also claimed that the risk for those who got vaccinated to get narcolepsy is about 9 times higher than those who did not get vaccinated. There are also reports that show children who ages 5 to 15 are most likely to get narcolepsy. Nevertheless, cases which narcolepsy is linked to H1N1 swine flu vaccine have only been observed in Finland and Sweden, although the vaccine is used in all over the world. Hence, the link between H1N1 swine flu vaccine and the sleep disorder narcolepsy is still being investigated by the World Health Organization. Due to the fact that the causes of narcolepsy are still not known, there is no known way to prevent this dangerous sleep disorder, even treatment of narcolepsy is only to reduce the number of attacks. The goal of treatment is to improve daytime alertness and minimizing symptoms such as cataplexy, hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Narcolepsy can usually be controlled with treatment, though. The treatment of narcolepsy is mainly changing in lifestyle. Patients should eat light meals during the day and try to avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine as these are factors that may increase the odds of an attack after meals. Narcoleptics may also take naps during the day for 20 to 30 minutes to maintain well functionality and social obligation. Medications can be used to control the symptoms as well. Medication such as Ritalin helps to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness and improves alertness. It has side effects such as headache, irritability, nervousness, notwithstanding its usefulness. U nfortunately, there are no surgical procedures for the treatment of narcolepsy at this time. From the Chinese traditional medicine point of view, the cause of narcolepsy is explained by the Ying-Yang theory. Narcolepsy is developed because of the Ying of ones body is greater than the Yangs and in additional that ones spleen is not functioning well. These are the two main points that cause one to experience drowsiness and also excessive daytime sleeping. However, in Chinese traditional medicine method, it seems to have better treatment than the normal western medicine method. The Chinese have recently invented a medicine that has no side effects for narcoleptics. According to the research done by Mrs. Yang in China who is a Chinese medicine practitioner, 68 patients who taken this healing method for a period of 90 days, 72% of them have obvious improvement, as in the excessive daytime sleeping has been fully cured; 24% of them have improvement, as in the excessive daytime sleeping has almost cured; the other 4% of them have no improvement. This is a great step of treatment fo r narcolepsy as 96% of patients have improvement after taking this healing method. Therefore, this healing method is now spreading out very quickly in China and also received tons of good comments. In conclusion, narcolepsy is a devastating disorder that causes extreme fatigue and often results in the patient falling asleep immediately without warning. It often causes muscle weakness and comes with snoring. Narcoleptic experiences episodes of uncontrollable sleepiness several times a day and it usually happens after meals, but it may also happen at any inappropriate time during the day and last for about fifteen minutes. Patients will then awaken refreshed, only to become exhausted within the next hour or so. It is known that narcolepsy represents a neurological problem of sleep wake mechanisms in the brain yet the causes are still unknown. Although it is not fatal, it still has serious repercussion if the situation gets worse. Thus, it is a dangerous disorder without a cure as it actually affects the brain and muscles. In my opinion, narcolepsy is horrible as it may affect patients in several areas in their lives included daily activities, social functioning and working abilit ies, and it can result in total paralysis, leaving the patients to suffer for the rest of their lives.

Ethical Dilemma with the End of Life Decisions Essay

In the advent of technology and biomedical advancements in the twentieth century, modern medicine is able to prolong the life of a patient. This dramatic improvement has raised appreciation as well as criticisms in and outside of the medical community. This is because of the important questions that come in about the end-of-life decisions. This is about who really is empowered to make the decisions regarding life, and which quality of life factors should really be considered with these end of life decisions. With technology, the medical world is come up with life support systems which literally â€Å"supports† life even those who are already dying. Because of this, ethical issues regarding when and who will decide on who pulls the plug came up. There are debates on who really has a say to stop the life from these patients. Some say the decision lies on the hands of the doctors, as they are the ones who can perceive whether or not a person still has a chance to survive. Some say the decision depends on the family members and loved ones of the patients, since it is up to them if they want to lessen the patient’s suffering. This goes in line with the concept of Euthanasia or â€Å"mercy killing† which aims to lessen the suffering of the dying patient. There are however several ethical questions which euthanasia has to answer, as it diverts from what the medical community stands for: to prolong and improve the quality of life of a patient. However, we still lack of the comprehensive bioethical rules and laws regarding these end of life decisions, that’s why doctors, as well as relatives and loved ones doesn’t know when it is the time to let go of the patient and literally â€Å"pull the plug†. If the patient however understands the situation he or she is in, he can aid the decision making process of ending his life by creating a will that appoints a relative or friend to carry out what he wishes.

Logophile Definition, Etymology, and Use

A logophile is a lover of words. Also called a  word lover or philologos.  A related term is logomaniac, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person who is obsessively interested in words. EtymologyFrom the Greek, word love Examples and Observations I am a lifelong logophile if not an out-and-out verbivore. I have a good ear and a good memory for words, its just a kind of tic or trick, the way some lucky people can play a song by ear after hearing it once or count cards at blackjack or spot four-leaf clovers. Unusual and specialized words tend to lodge in my mind, where they hang around, often for years, until I need them. American English has an astonishingly rich vocabulary and we typically use so little of it; I think thats a shame, or maybe it would be better to say I think of it as an invitation.I write with two dictionaries right at my elbow . . .. I look forward to visiting my dictionaries anew every time I sit down to write. The same goes for when Im reading and I come across an unknown word: Quaternions? Yahoo! I get to go to the dictionary!I know thats probably kind of freakish. I guess I am counting on the readership of freaks.(Michael Chabon, Questions for Michael Chabon. The New York Times, Feb. 8, 2007)I am a medic al logophile, and in using words, I will often go to the Greek or Latin roots; doing so helps me use words more precisely.(Robert B. Taylor, Medical Writing: A Guide for Clinicians, Educators, and Researchers, 2nd ed. Springer, 2011)Vocabulary Building[The] suspicion of new words, a distaste of verbal novelty, is acquired in school from dreary English teachers still in thrall to Hemingwayesque simplicities. You know their chief cliche from your own school days: always use the simple word, class! Never seek out a synonym or exotic foreign term. Thank goodness I had a father who taught the very opposite: always discover the rarest yet still correct word. By doing that, a young student accomplishes two things. You expand your vocabulary and you flummox ordained pedagogical authority, namely the dull teacher.(  Bill Casselman,  Where a Dobdob Meets a Dikdik: A Word Lovers Guide to the Weirdest, Wackiest, and Wonkiest Lexical Gems. Adams Media, 2010)The Sweetest-Sounding Words in Eng lish (1950)While most of the words that [columnist Frank] Colby discusses are suggested by his readers, Colby turned the tables in 1942 by asking them: What are the most euphonious English words? The top ten by popular vote: mother, memory, Cellophane, bellboy, melancholy, belladonna, flamingo, wilderness, tambourine, lavender. Last week Logophile Colby reported the results of a new readers poll. Mother had slipped a bit, but was still listed among the top ten. There were eight new favorites. The 1950 hit parade: melody, lullaby, mimosa, memory, mellow, mother, moonbeam, murmuring, beautiful, lanolin.(The Press: Mimosa, Moonbeams Memory. Time magazine, Jan. 30, 1950)Creating KingdomsA love of words comes from the work of playing around with language. We learn words by hearing them, rolling them around on our tongues and in our minds like a small child does as she learns language. A person who loves language plays with it--hears words and links them with other sounds, other meanings , and other words. The patterns and sounds of language are fascinating to the lover of words. From these connections, many poets find poems. Poetry comes as Harry Behn writes (1968) from falling in love with language. Rebecca Kai Dotlich says in A Kingdom of Words, that a word may seem to be just a word, but a poet can create a kingdom around it.(Barbara Chatton, Using Poetry Across the Curriculum: Learning to Love Language. Greenwood, 2010) Also Known As: word lover, philologos

Basic Principles Of The Constitutional Law A Police Officer

There are different basic principles of the constitutional law a police officer, but not always a probation officer must follow when conducting an ethical and legal search of a probationer’s house. â€Å"All states grant probation and parole officers the power of arrest and search and seizure as those powers relate to the probationers and parolees under their supervision. They do not have general powers of arrest and search and seizure over the other people.† (Fagin, 2016). When it comes, the probation officer the can do a warrantless search as the probationer has signed a waiver for the probation officer to enter their residence at any time as part of their conditions of parole. â€Å"Typically, the released convict agrees to submit his person,†¦show more content†¦He was arrested with two other individuals and driven to the police station. On the way to the station, the police observed Melendez-Diaz and one of his cohorts making unusual movements in the back seat.† (Kim Tucci, 2008). When police searched the cruiser 19 plastic bags were found, each filled with a white substance later reported as cocaine as well as $320 on the floor. â€Å"Melendez-Diaz argued the point that these lab reports were â€Å"testimonial† in nature and that the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment required that he be allowed to cross-examine the analysts who prepared them.† (Kim Tucci, 2008). The lab reports have ethical and professional guidelines in place to ensure all materials are handled carefully and correctly since this is such a critical job secure measures are in place. â€Å"Drug analysis certificates are widely used in place of live testimony to establish the composition, quality, and quantity of drugs introduced as evidence in criminal trials. These certificates are an efficient means of providing juries with information they need, but they do not give defendants the opportunity to cross-examine the analysts about the ir conclusions.† (Kim Tucci, 2008). Based on the ethical and professional practices of each of the branches, the law enforcement career path is most in line with my ethical beliefs and professional disposition. I feel I have a high code of ethics of what is right and wrong while it mayShow MoreRelatedExpository Essay : The Criminal Justice Department1081 Words   |  5 Pagespath is law enforcement. I stride to obtain a Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Track, B.S degree, obtaining this degree will prepare me for my captivating career ahead and unveil a massive amount of opportunities in the world of Criminal Justice. Courses such as Intro to Criminal Justice, Theories of Correction, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Principles of Law Enforcement, Police-Community Relations, Theoretical and Practical Criminal Investigation, Criminal Evidence and Constitutional Law areRead MoreRacial Profiling And The Civil War On Drugs Essay1584 Words   |  7 Pageswhile black. Many people would argue that it is the war on drugs that has caused law enforcement to continually abuse their power, but in actuality the war on drugs is not even specifically targeting narcotics anymore, the government has shifted its interest in violating people and their constitutional rights, with African Americans and Latinos being the most affected by this. It has even shifted the ways that police look for potential criminals on our highways and in our communities, as they areRead MorePolice Officer Training Curriculum Essay1333 Words   |  6 PagesPOLICE OFFICER TRAINING CURRICULUM The curriculum that is devised for a police officer is very important to the police officer and his or her success in their chosen career path. An officers training is also very important to the community in which they serve and the department in which they work. An officer must receive training in a variety of fields to help them be a well-rounded police officer. Officers receive training in such areas as: law, community relations, firearms, vehicle drivingRead MoreEssay on Ethics in Policing824 Words   |  4 Pages(Merriam-Webster Online). This concept is prevalent in the world of police work since police officers are supposed to be the â€Å"good† in whatever is considered a â€Å"bad† situation. Many police departments offer training in ethics during the time in which a cadet is in the police academy and after officers are put on the streets, which is called in-service training. It is the hope that while this training is available to officers, that they ho ld a basic code of ethics within themselves which would deter them fromRead MoreEssay on POLICE OFFICER TRAINING CURRICULUM1320 Words   |  6 Pages POLICE OFFICER TRAINING CURRICULUM nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The curriculum that is devised for a police officer is very important to the police officer and his or her success in their chosen career path. An officer’s training is also very important to the community in which they serve and the department in which they work. An officer must receive training in a variety of fields to help them be a well-rounded police officer. Officers receive training in such areas as: law, community relationsRead MoreA Unified Accountability System Of Law Enforcement Essay1736 Words   |  7 PagesA Unified Accountability System in Law Enforcement Introduction Accountability in law enforcement is an element that is vital to effective policing across the United States. Furthermore, it is one of the fundamental principles in our democratic society. Additionally, accountability helps to bridge the law enforcement agency and the community in an effective crime fighting relationship. Consequently, it is imperative that officials hold law enforcement officers and agencies accountable for all positiveRead MoreThe Case Of Miranda V. Arizona1695 Words   |  7 Pagescenturies, individuals that were apprehended by the police did not know that they had rights when being arrested. Past cases like Miranda v. Arizona helped shaped policies on the debates on basic human rights when being arrested. A police officer must have substantial reason to arrest you and read you your Miranda Rights. Specific actions, like traffic stops or a law enforcement official marching up to you and inquiring you questions are not defined as police custody. If you feel as t hough something youRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Police Agency Essay1715 Words   |  7 PagesPolice agencies have been traumatized with allegations of corruption and misconduct almost since the inception of law enforcement. In most organizations, an employee investigation is a sensitive issue. The employee being investigated can become unsettled, many times mentally and emotionally exhausted. Employees directly and indirectly involved can also become emotionally drained. Consider the impact an internal affairs investigation has within a police agency as it struggles to maintain the confidenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Atif Rafay And Sebastian Burns1253 Words   |  6 Pages two young Vancouverites charged with the brutal Triple Homicide of the Rafay family, after 10 years at large, were put behind American bars in 2003. Perhaps recognized as one of the most controversial yet defining cases in the history of Canadian law, United States vs. Burns, is noted for its intriguing story, its su bsequent battle over extradition and its controversial use of evidence. Essentially, from a Canadian perspective, this benchmark case challenged the fundamental rights of Canadians embeddedRead More Suspects Need Their Miranda Rights Essay1746 Words   |  7 Pagesdefendant’s confession often delivers evidence that is influential when it is the primary source of the prosecutor’s evidence. When a suspect is brought into police custody to obtain a confession or a statement, police officers are required to read the Miranda warning if they believe the confession will be used to convict the suspect. The constitutional basis for the Miranda warning and the conditions for a voluntary waiver of the Miranda rights were announced by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona

Spirituality of Arab Heritage Review of Related Literature

Spirituality of Arab Heritage Review of Related Literature Understanding of spirituality of Arab heritage in the context of healthcare provision and nursing can be best understood from a trans-cultural perspective, wherein healthcare providers are not only knowledgeable about specific cultures that they would most likely interact with on a regular basis, but they must be also culturally competent to interact and provide care to people who could belong to these diverse cultural groups. Indeed, these characteristics have now become critical standards for Culturally Competent Nursing Care, as institutionalized by a joint initiative among nurses association worldwide, spearheaded by the United States (Douglas et al, 2011, p. 318). Thus, it is imperative then for the culturally competent nurse or healthcare practitioner to explore the dimensions surrounding a specific culture of interest. In the case of this research study, individuals with Arab descent that is, the Arab culture and communities will be explored and determined further through this literature, particularly in terms of their culture as linked with Islam and their spirituality. From a healthcare perspective, it must be understood that Arabs lives are governed by two important factors: Islam and family (community of families). Daw and Dau (2012) discussed the critical role that communities and families play in implementing an effective healthcare program in Arab-Muslim populations. Because Arabs tend to trustShow MoreRelatedAll About Peace Education13195 Words   |  53 Pagesenvironmental education. One problem which flows from this is whether a philosophy of peace education ought to constitute a philosophy of the expansive understanding of peace education and, if so, how the definitional boundaries ought to be drawn. A related problem for a philosophy of peace education is the closeness of peace education to peace advocacy, especially if we think of education operating within formal and informal contexts. For education within formal contexts, it is relatively easy to distinguishRead MoreNatural Law Theory Essay6453 Words   |  26 Pagesthus knowledge is a steady cultural effort, In contrast, Michael Foucault argued that acquisition of knowledge should be subjective , he held that â€Å"truth† is the instrument of power’ which should be used to strengthen knowledge. Human rights are related to moral convictions; moral convictions are determined by underlying cultural commitments; underlying commitments differ fundamentally from one culture to another; therefore, the interpretation of human rights must vary fundamentally across culturesRead MoreAmerican Civil Rights Movement Essay15820 Words   |  64 Pages=Shakespeare of Screen. a genius producer, a founder of new cinema language. innovator in the sphere of actor art. G. specialized in melodramas, he shot comedies, historical films, thrillers, westerns, filmings of Bible and different works of literature. Before 1913 there existed an opinion, that the spectator can not watch the film longer than 15 minutes. He shot a film Yudif from Betulia in 4 parts. It lasted 42 minutes. There was a great scandal at the studio because of this film durationRead MoreNotes18856 Words   |  76 Pagescurriculum. Mission schools taught that the European presence in Africa was to benefit the African people and to uplift them from a state of barbarism. African customs were discouraged. African languages were banned in mission schools. African heritage was ridiculed and suppressed. The goal was to give Africans a new identity by requiring them to use new, Christian names. As I recall from my colonial school days, an African student who was proud of his African name and insisted on using it riskedRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages1 1 Introduction What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Importance of Interpersonal Skills 4 What Managers Do 5 Management Functions 6 †¢ Management Roles 6 †¢ Management Skills 8 †¢ Effective versus Successful Managerial Activities 8 †¢ A Review of the Manager’s Job 9 Enter Organizational Behavior 10 Complementing Intuition with Systematic Study 11 Disciplines That Contribute to the OB Field 13 Psychology 14 †¢ Social Psychology 14 †¢ Sociology 14 †¢ Anthropology 14 There Are Few Absolutes inRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 PagesMikael Andersson/Nordic Photos/Getty Images; Figure 2.3  © Sean Justice/The Image Bank/ Getty Images; Figure 2.4  © Bruce Hands/Stone/Getty Images; 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 based on Human relations: rare, medium, or well-done? in Harvard Business Review Vol. 26 No. 1 Harvard Business School Publishing (Roethlisberger, F. J. 1948); Figure 3.6 Courtesy of ATT Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ; Figure 4.1 The Trustees of the Imperial W ar Museum, London; Figure 4.2 adapted from Performance evaluationRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pagesundergraduates following business studies programmes) âž ¡ Students of The Chartered Institute of Marketing who are preparing for the Marketing Planning paper in the CIM’s Diploma examinations âž ¡ Marketing practitioners who will benefit from a comprehensive review of current thinking in the field of strategic marketing planning, implementation and control. Richard M S Wilson Colin Gilligan Overview of the book’s structure 1 Introduction Stage One Where are we now? Strategic and marketing analysis

Medicaid Free Essays

Check Point: Summarizing the Medigap Program Write a 250-300 word summary reflecting on the Medigap program address the following in your summary: What are the core benefits in the Medigap insurance program? How well does the program meet coverage needs of its consumers? Is the cost of each plan fair considering the benefits and limits offered by each plan? Explain your opinion and provide examples What are the implications of having a private company associated with a government insurance program? Medigap is a supplemental health insurance policy, designed to cover what Medicare doesn’t cover. In order to be eligible for the Medigap program individuals must have either Medicare Part A or B and will be required to pay the premiums. There are 12 supplemental insurance policies that will pay for health services that Medicare does not cover in their original policy. We will write a custom essay sample on Medicaid or any similar topic only for you Order Now All 12 plans are required to have certain basic health services. The core benefits for participants in Medicare Part A are daily coinsurance for 61 to 90 days of hospitalization daily coinsurance for each of Medicare’s lifetime inpatient hospital days and 100 percent of covered hospital charges for 365 days after all Medicare hospital benefits have been used. Medicare Part B the core charges are coinsurance amount after the deductible and the first 3 pints of blood for the year. Each plane extends a different benefit targeted at filling the gaps in Medicare coverage. Private health insurance companies sell Medigap insurance but they must follow federal and state laws. Medigap will cover deductibles, coinsurance and other services not covered by Medicare. Medigap plans are for the individual and what they personally want so to keep premiums down shop around and compare, there might be discounts for women, nonsmokers, medical underwriting, and deductibles. Medigap offers a variety of plans that are available to choose from and give the consumer a package that will fit their health needs. The health plans are fair compared to other insurance companies. It just depends on what the individual wants to cover and their current health needs at that time. How to cite Medicaid, Papers

Cultural Competence in Healthcare for Privileges- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theCultural Competence in Healthcare for Privileges. Answer: Introduction A rise in the nations diversity has brought both challenges and opportunities for healthcare systems and providers to deliver and create culturally competent services (GHPI, 2008, p. 2). Cultural competency is the aptitude of organizations and providers to provide health care services efficiently the cultural and social needs of patients. A culturally competent health care system aims at improving quality of care and health outcomes by addressing the ethnic and racial health differences (Kaiser, 2003, p. 6). Besides addressing the issues in these disparities, a cultural health care system also provides solutions to them in specific ways such as providing optimal care to patients regardless of people's ethnic backgrounds, race or native languages, cultural and religious beliefs. It is also important to note that the phrase cultural competence was utilized first by Terry L. Cross together with his associates in 1989. Also, it was used again a decade later where medical care professiona ls began to gain formal education and training. Cultural competence subsequently developed as an academic field rooted in the remedial education program since then. This essay explores how cultural competency can be used efficiently and in a right manner when dealing with a person of a diverse background. Cultural Values and Privileges Cultural values are categorized as the assumptions, principles or beliefs that control the decision which people make and the various acts in the society (Walker, 2007, p. 3). Based on studies conducted, it has been discovered that there is significant agreement about values embraced and recognized by a substantial number of Australians although there is no particular value system to which all Australians subscribe. These values are classified as either being descriptions or prescriptions. Descriptive values are taken to depict an existing reality, reflecting how things are at present. It is easy to understand the benefits that best describe a particular culture or society undertaking broad observations of actual choices made by individuals as they do their day to day activities and making interpretations of these options as a replication of the underlying values. The values are viewed as prescriptions by contrast which is meant to normative or ideal statements should be how things should be done (Reisinger Dimanche, 2009, p. 122). This entails which things are wrong and right and what should be value in the excellent community. Prescriptive and descriptive views often create much confusion, and therefore, becomes hard for the people to understand and differentiate them. Cultural privileges is a particular right, immunity or advantage which is granted to an individual or a group of people in the country (Vass, 2014). In most cases, the privileges are awarded to those members who belong to a dominant team in the society. Cultural Competence in the Health Sector Having defined cultural competence and exploring different values and privileges making up the culture it will be appropriate to determine major cultural competencies in the health sector. The different cultural aspects of competence in the health sector have been illustrated in the following discussion; Individualism Individualism entails the degree of interdependence people maintain among each other (Podrug et al., 2009, p. 2). It involves with whether people's self- image being defined as an individual or a group of people. People in individualistic societies tend to take care of themselves with their direct families only while in collective societys, individuals fit into categories and take care of each other in exchange for allegiance (Hofstede, 2011, p. 3). Australia is an extremely individualistic nation, and this transforms to a loosely-knit community where the anticipation is that people take care of themselves and their direct relatives. Masculinity In Australia, society is driven by the art of competition, success, and achievement. The aspect of masculinity is nurtured all through from the start of school, throughout the life of an individual and to the health sector. The factor is nurtured both when an individual is engaged in work and when pursuing leisure. However, the aspect of feminism has been viewed as the quality of life in the society. In this case, the quality of an individual life is seen as the success against standing out of the crowd (Bergiel et al., 2012, p. 72). In Australia, the nation scores 61% on masculinity dimension and is considered a more masculine-oriented society. The cultural value, in this case, is characterized by the fact that individuals endeavor to be the finest and become a winner. For this reason, Australian are proud of their success and achievements which have been propelled by this cultural value in the health sector. Long-Term Orientation In this section, the culture acknowledges the history when dealing with the future and present challenges in the society (Rinuastuti et al., 2014, p. 144). The normative culture, in contrast, prefers to maintain the time-honored traditions and beliefs when viewing the change in the society. In Australia, the community exerts more pressure on the need for the population to live in the absolute truth where, they respect the traditions, and in most cases, their focus is more oriented in achieving the quick results. The dimension explains how every society maintains some links with their past dealings with the present and future challenges. Corporations tend to give priority to these two goals differently (Soares, 2007, p. 277). Normative cultures uphold time-honored practices and beliefs while viewing changes in the society. Australia is a normative culture as it scores 21 in the dimension and people have an intense apprehension with obtaining the complete truth. Great respect for tradi tion is considerably exhibited in Australia a little propensity for future saving and an effort for achieving quick results. A reflection of the Cultural Practices Cultural values, practices, and privileges have been evident in different clients and individuals in the health system. These values are reflected in my communitys day to day interaction in the health sector and therefore being everyones responsibility to uphold them. Organizations that practice cultural competence provide improved healthcare facilities, and there are mutual understanding and respect among the patients and persons also have amplified participation in the indigenous community (Health Research Educational Trust, 2013, p. 3). Cultural competence reduces the cost and care disparities in organizations that put this into the application. Culturally competent healthcare organizations have been able to provide numerous benefits both for the patients and the society at large. Some of the social benefits include improved mutual respect and understanding among institutions and patients, improve trust and promotion of inclusion of all community members (Australian Government, 2 005). The health benefits include enhanced health care, reduction of health care disparities in patient population and better collection of the patient's data. It is therefore clearly evident that cultural competence is practiced in different healthcare institutions and organizations because of the improved health care provided and the recommendable results obtained. Application of the Strength-Based Approach to Culturally Competent Care The benefits of cultural values and privileges are great importance and are widely applicable to the health care system in Australia. However, several aspects have to be put into consideration in the application of the elements of cultural competence and such include: Cultural sensitivity involves attitude and issues that affect others. A person's perspective about themselves and others are directly relatable to their culture and their capability to explore areas that can lead to a deeper appreciation of their religion (Galanti, 2012, p. 2). Culturally competent behaviors is an aspect entails carrying oneself in ways that demonstrate sensitivity and awareness to the needs of other cultures (King et al., 2010). It is important to note that cultural competence at a personal level exists only if it is practiced and developed in health care organizations (Beavers, 2011, p. 12). Cultural awareness is concerned with a persons understanding of how different cultures are similar and also different and the effect of the culture on peoples practices and beliefs. It is crucial to put into consideration how the culture mannerisms affect the health care systems (Hogg Holland, 2010, p. 3). Consideration of Cultural needs when delivering Culturally Competent care Health care professionals encounter patients from different cultural backgrounds, and it is, therefore, crucial for a health expert to practice cultural competence during delivery of services (GHPI, 2008). Many social workers work in settings that offer services to immigrant and refugee clients, and the population of refugees is rapidly increasing in Australia. Considering a non-English speaking refugee having arrived recently from a country at war with his partner and a young family. In this case, several factors have to be put into consideration. In Australia for instance, the NSW Refugee Health Plan (2011-2016) has been a statewide plan meant to develop the well-being and health of refugees and people with refugee-like experiences in settling in Australia, New South Wales. This plan was to ensure that high-quality services were delivered and the through the specific refugee services through accessible linguistic and culturally competent conventional health services. The process of claims processing whereby the refugee undergoes an interview with the assistance of an interpreter could cause fear and trauma to the refugee. This process determines whether the individual is making a valid claim for to be a refugee. The health care professional has to also understand the needs of the client to plan for ways to deliver and evaluate the care. Such needs include things such as the health status and health care needs, mental health, family dynamics, their education, lan guage and economic well-being and also their inter-ethnic interactions. The health officers should, therefore, plan on addressing such needs in case they come up through ways such as having an interpreter incase language barrier becomes a problem It is important to have a deep exploration of the refugee's culture, their beliefs, their religion and cultural background so that the healthcare officer will not do anything insensitive or against the refugees beliefs and practice. They should be culturally aware of the refugee's history, and when approaching the client, the health officer should be in a joyful and welcoming mood to make the client feel at home. In case there is the case of a language barrier, an interpreter should be available to provide the right interpretations so that communication is effective. Suppose it is a refugee from a country experiencing civil wars, the officer should have knowledge of the current situation in the refugee country and they should be careful when addressing sensitive matters pertaining the refugees homeland. They have to avoid stereotyping the client from such countries and ethnicities with terrorism. They have also to treat them with respect and respect their opinions on different subjec ts during their conversations, and this provides a safe atmosphere for the client to open up when receiving the care. These refugees can also be referred to a psychiatrist in case they have mental trauma following the experience of moving to an entirely different country far from home and the people they knew. The health profession should create a good rapport during the interaction since the refugee might view the behavior of the officer as being the general behavior of people in the country. Conclusion The diversity experienced in the nations' health sector has brought about challenges which are related to the cultural competence, values, and privileges. The cultural values and privileges experienced in the Australia health society include the aspect of long-term orientation, power distance, and indulgence. The cultural values affect both the patients and the organization in matters related to cost and customer satisfaction. This is because a competent culture will reduce the healthcare disparities among people in the society. When delivering the culturally competent care, the key cultural needs to be considered include the language, cultural awareness, and cultural encounter. The observance of all the cultural diversities will help id deliver the best health care services to all patients irrespective of their race, color, ethnicity, economic status, and background. Bibliography Australian Government, 2005. Cultural competency in health: A guide for policy, partnerships, and participation. National Health and Medical Research Council, 9 December, pp. 1-85. Beavers, R., 2011. Recovering A-NEW: A Culturally Competent Cognitive/Behavioral Treatment Model. Bloomington: Xlibris Corporation. Bergiel, E. B., Bergiel, B. J. Upson, J. W., 2012. Revisiting Hofstedes Dimensions: Examining the Cultural Convergence of the United States and Japan. American Journal of Management, 12(1), pp. 69-79. Galanti, G. A., 2012. Cultural Sensitivity: A Pocket Guide for Health Care Professionals. Revised ed. s.l.: Joint Commission Resources. GHPI, 2008. Cultural competence in healthcare: Is it important for people with chronic conditions?. Health Policy Institute, 5 February, pp. 1-14. Health Research Educational Trust, 2013. Becoming a culturally competent health care organization. Health Research Educational Trust, June, pp. 1-10. Hofstede, G., 2011. Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 12 January, pp. 1-28. Hogg, C. Holland, K., 2010. Cultural Awareness in Nursing and Health Care, Second Edition: An Introductory Text. 2, illustrated, revised ed. s.l.: CRC Press. Kaiser, H. J., 2003. Compendium of Cultural Competence Initiatives in Health Care. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, January, pp. 1-28. Podrug, N., Pavicic, J. Bratic, V., 2009. CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON OF HOFSTEDES DIMENSIONS AND DECISION-MAKING STYLE WITHIN CEE CONTEXT. Hrvatska znanstvena bibliografija, March, pp. 1-16. CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTHCARE 10 Reisinger, Y. Dimanche, F., 2009. International Tourism: Cultures and Behavior. Revised ed. s.l.: Elsevier. Rinuastuti, H., Hadiwidjojo, D., Rohman, F. Khusniyah, N., 2014. Measuring Hofstede?s Five Cultural Dimensions at Individual Level and Its Application to Researchers in Tourists? Behaviors. International Business Research, 7(12), pp. 143-152. Soares, A. M., Farhangmehr, M. Shoham, A., 2006. Hofstede's dimensions of culture in international marketing studies. Journal of Business Research, 60(3), pp. 277-284. Soares, F. S., 2007. Hofstede's Dimensions of Culture in International Marketing Studies. Journal of Business Research, 60(1), pp. 277-284. Vass, T. E., 2014. Equal Rights For All. Special Privileges For None. Re-Examining The AntiFederalist Populist Heritage Of Freedom. s.l.: First Edition Design Pub. Walker, R., 2007. Music Education: Cultural Values, Social Change, and Innovation. Revised ed. s.l.: Charles C Thomas Publisher. Yoo, B., Donthu, N. Lenartowicz, T., 2011. Measuring Hofstede's Five Dimensions of Cultural Values at the Individual Level: Development and Validation of CVSCALE. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 23(3-4), pp. 193-210.