Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) May 17, 2012

Healthcare cost increases have led providers and payers to scrutinize the use of certain clinical services. As a result, a lot of focus is being placed on proper utilization of diagnostic imaging. Many cite inappropriate ordering, self referral and defensive medicine as contributors to these cost increases. However, the clinician treating and seeing patients often finds it a necessity to seek additional insight in order to provide top level care through diagnostic testing that some have deemed to be excessive. We at Foundation Radiology Group actively monitor utilization of services, but ultimately defer to what is going to provide the best patient outcome.

In a recent presentation at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS) Annual Conference in March 2012, Dr. S. Patel announced some interesting findings regarding the effectiveness of ordering a knee MRI. The presentation titled “Value of Knee Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the Diagnosis and Management of Knee Disorders” disclosed that MRI frequently changes clinical diagnosis and patient management while improving diagnostic confidence, even when a clinical evaluation is performed by a highly specialized physician. This was most noticeable in the presence of lateral joint line pain and/or tenderness.

The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently the outcome of a MRI of the knee changes clinical diagnosis and management of a patient. The study also sought to prove whether certain characteristics of a patient or ordering physician can affect how knee MRI impacts diagnostic confidence and accuracy.

The study was conducted by three orthopedic surgeons and three sports medicine physicians from a single multispecialty practice who completed surveys on patients that received a knee MRI between June 2010 and January 2011. The pre-MRI survey recorded clinical history, symptoms, physical exam findings, diagnosis with confidence level and planned management. The post-MRI survey recorded diagnosis with confidence level and planned management.

Results showed that MRI changed the primary diagnosis in 29.3% of cases and patient management in 25.3% of cases. MRI changed management in 34.6% (18/52) of cases where a non-surgical management was planned, usually to either surgery or referral to an orthopedic surgeon in 94% of cases (17/18). MRI averted the need for surgery in 13.6% (three/22) of cases and changed the type of surgery in 12.5% (three/24) of cases.

To ensure the most accurate diagnosis for the patient, Foundation Radiology Group also relies on a proactive quality program for clinical assurance and issue review called SAFR (Strategically Aligned Foundation Radiology Quality Review). The program features benchmark imaging read accuracy rates over the national average – 99.6% vs. 96%. It is this type of diagnostic analysis that can help the physician community be confident that he/she ordered the right exam for the patient. Employing such an approach can actually prevent costly surgical procedures or more expensive treatment.

With outcomes based research we can better manage patient care to maximize exam utilization rather than being subject to system wide reimbursement cuts and excessive management of radiology benefits. This type of research approach along with an emphasis on sub-specialty reading, like we perform at Foundation Radiology Group, can help grow and maximize the care provided in orthopedics as well as other service lines. This ensures the highest standards for patient care.

About Derek R. Armfield, MD:

Derek R. Armfield, MD, is a co-founder of Foundation Radiology Group and the Chief of Musculoskeletal Imaging. As co-founder he has played an integral role in the organization’s growth, direction and development since its inception.

Dr. Armfield holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford University. He received an M.D. and completed his residency from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine. Post residency, Armfield completed a Musculoskeletal Fellowship through the University of Pittsburgh.

About Foundation Radiology Group:

Foundation Radiology Group, founded to revolutionize the practice of radiology in community healthcare settings, combines the subspecialty services of a renowned, highly-trained physician team with a state-of-the-art technology solution to provide hospitals, physicians and patients access to a high-quality, elegant diagnostic imaging solution, with industry-leading, final diagnosis clinically relevant turn-around times.

Foundation Radiology Group’s unique Elegant Radiology Model ensures comprehensive service line alignment by routing each patient study to the appropriate subspecialty radiologist. Foundation supports all hospital service lines including: Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Oncology, Women’s Health, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics and Emergent/Ambulatory Care.

Foundation Radiology Group radiologists are all board certified, US-based providers. Our physicians and highly-skilled customer service team are available 24/7/365. For more information, visit http://www.foundationradiologygroup.com, call 412-223-2272 or follow on Twitter@FoundationRad.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Manage Light Bladder Leakage with Poise

(PRWEB) December 17, 2010

Poise.com.au, an authority in Australia for health information on bladder problems and incontinence, has recently finished conducting a campaign to raise the awareness of light bladder leakage (LBL) amongst women.

Between June and September 2010, the Poise brand was involved in face-to-face discussions with over 31,000 women, raising awareness of light bladder leakage and educating each on the key benefits of using POISE®Products to discreetly manage the condition.

The discussions focused heavily on the advantages of using bladder weakness pads over menstrual pads, with key factors such as odour control, absorbency and prices often coming up in talks. Further discussion highlighted how common light bladder leakage actually is, what triggers LBL and also how best to manage the problem.

“Although light bladder leakage is common amongst many women across Australia, the topic is often swept under the rug in most everyday social settings. For many women this is a taboo subject with a high degree of social embarrassment. The point of these discussions is to normalise the condition, educate women on the condition and bring to the surface discreet but effective solutions to manage LBL”, said Bryan Win, Senior Brand Manager of Poise Products Australia.

The recent movements by Poise coincide with the launch of their new website, which boasts a range of brand new content on bladder weakness topics such as light bladder leakage, female incontinence and prolapse.

The Poise website has long been known as one of the leading online resources for women suffering bladder issues, and even offers a video series on pelvic floor exercises, a simple and effective solution to improving bladder control. Poise also features an ask an expert area, for users to gain a quick response by a medical professional for all of their questions on bladder health.

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Bryan Win

Senior Brand Manager – Poise Products Australia

61 2 9963 8971

Bryan(dot)Win(at)kcc.com

About Kimberly Clark

Kimberly Clark is an innovative health and hygiene products company that most Australians come into contact with everyday. Major brands from Kimberly Clark include Kleenex®, Wondersoft®, Viva®, Thick & Thirsty®, Huggies®, Snugglers®, Poise®, Depend®, Kotex® and [U] by Kotex®.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, actor, mother and Every Child By Two Vaccine Ambassador Amanda Peet, center, World Health Organization’s Dr. Jacob Kumaresen, left, Real Simple editor Kristin van Ogtrop, second left, Shot@Life’s Devi Thomas, third left, World Moms Blog founder Jennifer Burden, second right, and Toshiba’s Satoshi Kawada, right, join the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign and click “play” to unveil a PSA on the Toshiba Vision Screen in New York’s Times Square, Friday, May 11, 2012, to show how people in the U.S. can help mothers in developing countries protect their children from deadly diseases with life-saving vaccines.

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 11, 2012

As people across the country prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign debuted a new public service announcement on the Toshiba Vision screen in Times Square today to raise awareness about the value of vaccines to protect children in developing countries from preventable diseases. Top influential online moms decided to mark Mother’s Day with this important message.

Mother and actor Amanda Peet, along with Dr. Jacob Kumaresen, Executive Director of the World Health Organization office at the UN; unveiled the PSA with a signature “10, 9, 8…” Times Square countdown during a launch event at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel.

“Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a vaccine-preventable disease, but those deaths can be prevented with access to vaccines that cost just a few dollars. We hope this PSA inspires the millions of people who travel through Times Square to take action and join the campaign,” said Devi Thomas, Director of Shot@Life. “We are thankful to Toshiba for providing its world-famous Toshiba Vision screen to help amplify the discussion about vaccines and the role we all play in helping to create a safer and healthier world.”

As a mother and an Every Child by Two Vaccine Ambassador to the Shot@Life campaign, Amanda Peet has been a passionate advocate of vaccines for children for years. “It’s proven- vaccines are life-saving. I can’t imagine my daughters not reaching major milestones because of a preventable disease like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles or polio. No mother should have to imagine that,” said Peet. “We know vaccines work and for only $ 20, we can help protect a child from these four diseases. All children should have the opportunity to lead healthy lives and experience all of life’s priceless moments.”

The Shot@Life campaign, which launched nationally last month, in Atlanta, GA aims to raise awareness and funding in the U.S. to ensure that children in developing countries have access to life-saving vaccines. “We have the ability to prevent 1.5 million deaths each year simply by getting vaccines to the children that need them. This Mother’s Day, let’s give those 1 million mothers the gift of watching their children grow up and lead healthy lives,” said Thomas.

The PSA will air in the crossroads of New York City through June 2012. To view the PSA or to learn more about Shot@Life visit ShotAtLife.org.

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About Shot@Life

Shot@Life educates, connects and empowers Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. A national call to action for this global cause, the campaign rallies the American public, members of Congress, and civil society partners around the fact that together, we can save a child’s life every 20 seconds by expanding access to vaccines. By encouraging Americans to learn about, advocate for, and donate vaccines, the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign will decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give children a shot at a healthy life. To learn more, go to ShotAtLife.org.

About The United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.unfoundation.org.

About Every Child By Two

Every Child By Two, Carter/Bumpers Champions for Immunization, works to ensure that all children receive timely immunizations and continues to seek methods to institutionalize vaccine delivery and ensure access to vaccines for all children.

About Toshiba Vision

Prominently positioned below the world-famous New Year countdown ball in New York City’s Times Square business and entertainment district, Toshiba’s massive dual LED signboards, known collectively as “TOSHIBA VISION,” serve a variety of promotional and public-service functions. In addition to illuminating the annual New Year countdown for upwards of 1 billion celebrants worldwide, the Interlocking System connects both boards in brilliant seasonal displays and animated sporting events. From atop One Times Square Building, one of the most valuable advertising locations in the world, TOSHIBA VISION ensures superb domestic and international media exposure, providing the Toshiba brand with unrivalled quantitative and qualitative promotional benefits. For more information on the TOSHIBA VISION LED signboards please visit http://www.facebook.com/ToshibaInnovation.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

(PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Clopton Capital, a secondary market commercial real estate lender which provides commercial loans for income producing properties nationwide, is announcing the expansion and addition of commercial mortgage lending for developers and owners of income producing properties nationwide.

The company is currently seeking active funding opportunities for commercial mortgages for income producing properties that would fit its criteria. “We have a nationwide scope when it comes to funding.” Says Jake Clopton, founder, “We are looking specifically for retail properties and office buildings with good tenants where we can offer sub 5% rates to borrowers.” As capital markets continue to loosen and benchmark’s remain low, Clopton Capital is trying to put as many transactions together as possible.

Clopton Capital ranks as one of the most active and dynamic commercial real estate finance firms providing lending options nationwide for income producing properties. Offering commercial mortgages, construction loans, bridge loans, and CMBS loans to borrowers for a diverse range of property types and ownership structures, Clopton Capital has the capability to meet almost any lending needs of property owners and managers.

For more information contact a loan officer by calling 866-647-1650 or

http://cloptoncapital.com/commercialmortgages.html

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 03, 2012

This week, Red Tricycle, a digital city guide for parents, launched it’s first-ever New York City community and newsletter edition. The San Francisco-based media company, which has built a loyal following on the West Coast, delivering 600,000 pint-sized email newsletters per week to families in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and San Diego, is now pedaling to the biggest media sandbox on the East Coast – the Big Apple!

To celebrate the launch of Red Tricycle NY, New York families are encouraged to look out for the “Red Tricycle Party in the Park Tour” to arrive in their neighborhoods.

On Friday, May 4th, Red Tricycle’s ice cream truck will be parked outside various kid-friendly parks and locations, offering free popsicles, balloons and lollipops. Locations to include:

Friday, May 4th Downtown/Midtown

10:00 – 10:30am    Estella:493 6th Avenue, Karma Kids Yoga: 104 W 14th St, 10011

11:00 – 11:30am    Washington Square (with NYC Dads Group) 10012

12:00 – 12:30pm    Pink Olive: 439 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009

1:00 – 1:30pm        Citybabes: 52 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10013

2:00 – 2:30pm        Kidville Tribecca 200 Church Street, New York, NY 10013

For additional stops on the tour,and to make sure the truck is running on schedule, follow Red Tricycle on Twitter @Red_Tricycle for real time updates on the location for each stop! To join Red Tricycle New York, go to http://www.redtri.com/new-york

About Red Tricycle:

Founded in 2010, Red Tricycle is a digital media company that provides authoritative, localized content (things to see, eat, and do with kids in a city) to its growing online community of busy urban moms through a variety of communication devices: email, website, social media, RSS, mobile. Their mission is simple: To help parents have more fun with their kids.

http://www.redtri.com/new-york

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Arizona Pain Specialists Same Day Appointments (602) 507-6550

Surprise, AZ (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

For those who are dealing with back or neck pain or pain from a pinched nerve (sciatica), there are not many chiropractors in Surprise AZ accepting same day appointments.

Arizona Pain Specialists announced it is now accepting same day appointments at its chiropractic clinic serving Surprise, and they are offering a 24 Hour Guarantee for starting chiropractic treatment. This allows individuals dealing with pain in the Surprise area to get their pain management started quickly with a chiropractor in Surprise AZ, which can prevent a pain problem from becoming chronic.

The Surprise AZ Chiropractor at Arizona Pain Specialists, Dr. Tiffany Moat, has a wealth of experience in practice and holds additional certifications in acupuncture and physiotherapy (physical rehabilitation). Both the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization have recommended for acupuncture to be included into mainstream conventional medicine protocols due to its substantial benefits for pain management relief.

Dr. Moat learned how to treat pain using over 12 different chiropractic techniques in addition to acupuncture and auriculotherapy, TENS Units, and offers spinal decompression therapy]. Decompression has been shown to be a revolutionary treatment for neck and low back pain due to facet degenerative disc disease, joint arthritis pain, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and failed back surgery.

In addition to the chiropractic division, the Arizona pain center offers both medical and interventional pain management with Board Certified pain doctors. According to the Institute of Medicine, comprehensive pain management is becoming the paradigm for exceptional pain management outcomes. Having chiropractic, pain management, acupuncture, massage, physical rehab, imaging, and on-site procedure center places Arizona Pain Specialists at the forefront of this model.

For appointments, call (602) 507-6550.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Akron, Ohio (PRWEB) April 25, 2012

Researchers, health care engineers and medical device experts gathered this week for the inaugural National Conference on Value-driven Engineering to Improve Medical Innovation for U.S. Global Competitiveness assembled by the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) and sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Experts from some of the nation’s leading biomedical device engineering companies and research institutions advised the U.S. healthcare device industry to accelerate innovation by changing their approach to research and development.

For nearly a year, members of a national steering committee, led by ABIA, have promoted Value-driven Engineering as a strategy for medical device development that embraces simplicity while advancing quality and improved, patient-centered care as a way to promote innovation, value and efficiency across the healthcare system. The process marries American creativity and innovation that aims to advance U.S. medical device development past the trends of other countries like China, India and Brazil who are focused on frugal and reverse engineering.

Different from frugal engineering, which focuses on reduced manufacturing costs, Value-driven Engineering focuses on improved clinical utility and reduced complexity to the end user, as well as value and cost efficiency across the entire healthcare continuum. The Value-driven Engineering approach is critical to the U.S. medical device sector’s ability to remain a global leader, said Dr. Frank Douglas, president and CEO of ABIA, a unique collaboration of leading Akron institutions.

“We must, as an industry, adopt new approaches to understand ‘value’ and how it should be measured to accelerate innovation and improve patient care,” Dr. Douglas, who chairs the Value-driven Engineering national initiative, said. “This conference attracted top medical researchers and engineering talent. It is another valuable step down the path of widespread acceptance of Value-driven Engineering principles in the biomedical device industry.”

During the two day conference, attendees heard from:

Dr. Thomas Fogarty, Fogarty Institute for Innovation: “Value Collaboration between Physicians and Engineers”
Dr. Robert E. Litan, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: “The Importance of Harnessing Bid Data with Respect to Defining the Value Equation”
Mike Hess, Medtronic Inc.: “What Value-driven Engineering Means to the Medical Device Industry”
Dr. William J. Heetderks, National Institutes of Health: “The Role of Federal Funding Agencies in the Adoption of Value-driven Engineering”
Dr. DeVon W. Griffin, NASA Glenn Research Center: “NASA’s Need for Less Complex Medical Devices”
Megan Moynahan, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “Regulatory Innovation Pathway”
Dr. Marc S. Penn, FACC, Summa Health System: “Clinical Utility to the Clinician”
Stephen P. Welby, U.S. Department of Defense: “DOD’s Value Engineering Initiative”

One of the conference’s highlights was presentation by students of real-world Value-driven Engineering project, including:

A team of students Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design, who won the conference grand prize for case studies, created an ultraportable, easy-to-use fetal heart rate monitor. Every year, approximately 1 million stillbirths occur and nearly 99% of these newborn deaths are in developing countries. One major cause is the lack of monitoring of the baby’s status during labor. The student team’s battery-powered device uses a portable microphone with a modified attachment and a smartphone to display fetal rates prior to delivery. Though Doppler monitoring devices have been proven to be more effective, they are not widely available due to their prohibitively high cost.

A team studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, who helped develop an easy to assemble operating room table. The affordable, easy-to-use table will improve healthcare in surgical rooms around the globe.

A lower-cost, high-value and quality medical device developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine that can save the lives of babies with an ailment called Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), an asphyxial event which occurs in three of 1,000 live births and causes death to 10% to 60% of affected infants. The device essentially is a “pot-to-pot” method, where a larger clay pot lined with nearly 5 cm of sand contains a smaller pot, in which a patient will be placed for therapeutic cooling. The experimental results indicate that the “Cooling Cure” is more efficient at cooling than the existing technology. In addition, the clay pot device costs $ 100 to build, which is less than 1% of the cost of the state-of-the-art device.

The conference was organized by the members of the National Value-driven Engineering for U.S. Global Competitiveness Steering Committee, which includes Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Dr. Martha Gray; Johns Hopkins University’s Dr. Soumyadipta Acharya, Dr. A. Jay Khanna and Dr. Youseph Yazdi; Medtronic’s Mike Hess; Orthopaedic Research Laboratories’ Dr. A. Seth Greenwald and Jonathan F.I. Greenwald; The University of Akron Dr. Ali Dhinojwala; and ABIA’s Dr. Brian L. Davis and Dr. Stephen D. Fening, the 2012 conference chair.

Please visit http://www.valuedrivenengineering.com for details.

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About the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron

Based in Akron, Ohio, the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron—a unique collaboration of Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Summa Health System, The University of Akron and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation—is focused on patient-centered innovation and commercialization at the intersection of biomaterials and medicine. To learn more about the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, please visit http://www.abiakron.org.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Meet H.A.N.K.

Calgary, CA (PRWEB) April 19, 2012

“Pet Planet has focused strictly on the total health, wellness and welfare of pets. We have vocally and successfully advocated for change in the area of pet acquisition, we have provided information and education material that has helped thousands of families make better health decisions for their pets, and we have become a trusted resource that helps to clarify the confusion associated with a “hot” industry full of unscrupulous marketing strategies and misinformation.”

Laura Leah English, CEO & Co-Founder of Pet Planet

Pet Industry Overview:

Even in times of economic instability, the pet business has held very strong. Why? People today embrace animals as individuals and important members of the family which continues to positively affect the animal health and welfare movement.

Given the growth of the entire pet industry and the subsequent interest it has garnered, increased and intense competition has ensued. Competition has come from the mass markets, multinational (food) companies, specialty (product) manufacturers as well as (small and large) retailers. The result has been significant pressures on the specialized pet sector.

As with any industry that experiences the kind of rapid growth that the entire pet industry has experienced over the past decade, many competitors “jump in” to get a piece of it. Often times, when this happens, it creates confusion for the consumer. In an unregulated environment, marketing strategies can be misleading and misdirected, causing many pet loving Guardians to question what truly is “right” and healthy for their pets.

Pet Planet’s Mission:

Pet Planet is an innovative pet supply health store chain with a mission to change an industry and to “just do better”. As a fast-growing but purposeful company that owns corporate stores and offers franchise rights to passionate and like-minded entrepreneurs, Pet Planet is indeed impacting change. It’s adopted Guardianship Movement has garnered much attention in Canada and is now influential in the Arizona market where they have recently initiated their US expansion strategy. Observing and understanding the need for a more ethical retail store that encourages their 12 points of Guardianship and offers only healthy and trusted products, Pet Planet’s goals include expansion into many key North American markets to continue to impact change, make a difference in the communities it serves and positively impact how society views and treats its pets.

Meet H.A.N.K. (Health and Nutrition Kiosk) – Passion Creates Innovation:

Pet Planet’s core philosophies are the fuel behind their differentiation. Innovation comes from having an uncompromising vision, a commitment to ethics and the application of technology. In an industry where technology is under-utilized as a strategic point of differentiation Pet Planet is truly unique.

Laura Leah’s passion to provide the very best for beloved pets has led to new innovation, with the introduction of H.A.N.K. – Pet Planet’s Health and Nutrition Kiosk – launched in all Pet Planet stores across North America in March 2012. This brand new custom webbased program, developed by Pet Planet, is truly one-of-a-kind in the pet industry. H.A.N.K. is designed to be easy to use, consistent, educational and most importantly accurate with its recommendations for customers and their pets.

Customers are prompted to answer a few simple questions to build a permanent and always-accessible health file for their pet. Once complete, H.A.N.K. will provide appropriate recommendations on food, supplements, treats, toys and, of course, offer access to the new Pet Planet Nutrition & Health Education Center. The results and additional education material will be sent to the customer’s email so they can learn more about the recommendations and continue their own research to make the very best decisions on products that would be a perfect fit for their pet’s health.

A pet’s health file is always accessible. Any time Pet Planet customers return to the store they have the ability to review, update or modify their pet’s information to gain even more valuable education on products and services that may benefit their pet’s health. “As a resource for all things pet health-related, H.A.N.K. is truly revolutionary in its approach to providing accurate information, clarifying the confusion and assisting families make the best decisions they can for the health and longevity of their pets.”

So many families are concerned about the health and wellbeing of their beloved pets. Historically, there are have been tragic instances with sad outcomes when pets have, unknowingly, been given tainted pet food or unsafe pet products. Trusting foods, treats, toys and other products designed for our pets has become a difficult and confusing process. There are an abundance of retailers who suggest that they only sell healthy, natural products – but, there are unfortunately very few who actually do. From dangerous rawhide to cat litter with toxic ingredients to poor quality pet food, it is no wonder that so many people are confused. Pet Planet’s innovation in core programs, product research, product selection and business operating systems, has positioned them as truly a leader in trust. Pet Planet’s innovation has positioned them to clarify the confusion.

The Story of Pet Planet:

Nearly 15 years ago, Laura Leah English and her mother Joan Bauer, opened the doors to their first Pet Planet store with a vision to be more than just a store, but with a dream:

“To encourage a global society where all pets are loved, respected, protected and kept in good health; a society without pet overpopulation, homelessness or abuse.”

Through passion and innovation, Laura Leah English and Joan Bauer have grown Pet Planet to 41 locations in North America, including 32 that are franchise-operated and with 9 more store openings in the near future. Pet Planet has entered the U.S. market with its first stores in Arizona, educating Guardians about the health and well-being of animal companions.

Laura Leah understands the need for a healthy pet and has always gone above and beyond the call of duty for her four legged companions. Her inspiration for Pet Planet was Reuben. A Cocker Spaniel who stole her family’s hearts, Reuben was an example of everything that can go wrong when choosing a pet companion. From the beginning, Reuben was not a healthy dog. He was purchase from a backyard breeder with less than desirable genetics and had serious temperament issues. From nutrition to training, it seemed impossible to find the correct information to improve his quality of life. Even when asked, pet industry workers seemed unable to offer information on the differences in pet foods.

Facing hurdles in finding good nutrition, Laura Leah relied on high budget television advertising campaigns for what seemed the most believable in grocery quality pet food health and nutrition. Consequently, Reuben was fed a poor quality grocery store brand devoid of nutrients. Striving for a healthy, happy pet with an abundance of flawed and inaccurate information was impossible and ultimately led to a very painful end. Reuben died of cancer at 7 years of age.

Reuben’s story is not an unusual one. Problems associated with poor quality commercial diets are seen every day at veterinary offices. Cancer, behavioral issues, and degenerative illnesses can all stem from poor nutrition. Surrenders to Humane Societies and other agencies are abundant for a variety of reasons from “we weren’t prepared for what it takes” to “he has behavior problems”. Pet Planet was created to help change these discouraging facts.

Through efforts such as English’s, healthy and safe nutritional products are evolving to meet the changing customer demands. Healthy pets can now enjoy a longer life. “Guardians want to provide the very best for their beloved companions. We want to help them in doing so by being their community resource, providing factual information so our customers can make good, educated decisions related to their pets’ health” states Laura Leah. “Healthy does not mean expensive. Healthy, nutrient-rich food is less expensive to feed your pet than mass-produced products using low quality ingredients.”

The Future is Bright:

Opening its doors with just one health store in 1996, Pet Planet has built its brand and reputation one customer at a time through retail innovation and an uncompromising vision for what a community pet health store should be for its customers. It’s founders created Pet Planet with the high expectations that they demanded as consumers – but, couldn’t find. Laura Leah English and Joan Bauer now enjoy growth throughout N. America, with over 40 stores and many more on the horizon as strong store sales fuel growth in corporate and franchise-owned stores.

Currently, there is no other small format specialty pet retailer in existence with the same commitment to innovation, vision for what a community store should be, philosophies on animal health and welfare, and a strong commitment to the customer’s needs and with an operating system that really drives success.

It is evident that the growth of the pet industry is not just a trend – it is growing as the core family structure and dynamic has shifted. Now, pets are identified as members of the family and the close relationship between man and dog will continue to ignite a demand for healthier choices. Those that have loved an animal overwhelming agree that a heart opens in a most wonderful way. The benefits of having pets in our lives are real and proven. Consequently, the demand for community pet health resource centers like Pet Planet will only grow. Pet Planet has proven, after over 15 years of experience, that people value the products and services the stores provide, and that they want Pet Planet to continue being the voice for pet health and welfare everywhere.

Pet Planet’s Competitive Edge:

Store format

Small, community-format stores that maintain a low overhead

Location

Strict location selection criteria along with strong lease negotiation

Buying power

Drives high volumes and maintains a strong reputation with its suppliers, with buying power to command great wholesale pricing

Customer service

Relies on customers word-of-mouth to advertise its stores – Pet Planet provides outstanding customer service and education for its consumers, and in turn, they speak positively about us to their friends and family. Consequently, the company does not have to spend a large amount of money attracting new customers to its stores.

Cash management

Has a finite and uncompromising commitment to watching every penny spent.

Strong financial model

Strong operating system that allows a JIT (just-in-time) inventory management system to purchase merchandise in a timely manner, without burdening cash flow.

Low price leader

The company has been the leader in low prices in the specialty sector for over 15 years. They are vocal with suppliers to keep prices low and were the first to initiate price reductions in a time when prices were inflating..

Established in: 1996

Average store size: 2500 sq. feet

Stores in N. America: 41

Stores Expected to Open in 2012 (across N. America): 9

Expected Growth in 5 years: 100+ stores

Product highlights: Quality health food and nutritional products – Pet food sold at Pet Planet is dense in nutrients & will save the consumer money

Franchisee opportunities: Pet Planet offers franchising opportunities as an enriching and successful business model, devoted to pet health and welfare.

Those interested can start the franchise qualification process today by visiting:

http://www.PetPlanetFranchise.com

http://www.PetPlanetHealth.com

http://www.Facebook.com/PetPlanetHealth

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Raw Vegan Stack

Mendocino Coast, CA (PRWEB) April 10, 2012

Raw food revolutionary chef and author Cherie Soria, founder and director of Living Light Culinary Institute, is taking a crew on the road to four cities to teach the school’s introductory raw food course FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods. The tour is designed to illustrate why a “high raw” vegan diet has emerged as one of the top health-promoting weight loss programs in the country— perfect for those who dislike counting calories. At the 35th Annual Total Health Show in Toronto April 20-22 Soria will teach a 3-hour workshop “Raw Foods for Health, Beauty and Longevity,” and will demo several healthy raw vegan recipes. She’ll also give two talks at the event, “Stay Young Longer,” about her personal raw food program, health practices, beauty rituals and the anti-aging regimen that helps maintain her youthful appearance and vitality at age sixty-five (along with three black belts in karate).

Another talk, “Gain Energy with Raw Foods” focuses on how to maintain optimal weight on a raw vegan diet. She’ll also offer free public talks and book signings at multiple venues in Vancouver, B.C. April 12-14, Toronto April 17-28, Seattle May 1-5, and Portland, Oregon May 6-12.

“There are many keys to achieving a more naturally youthful appearance, brighter eyes, a clearer complexion, more supple skin, shinier hair, stronger nails, a sharper memory, and a more positive outlook on life,” says Soria. “In my experience, one thing stands out among the rest—raw plant foods.”

FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods is a lively, fast-paced course that includes easy-to-prepare raw vegan recipe demos of appetizers, fruit smoothies, soups, green juices, salad dressings, entrées, pâtés, sandwich wraps, nut milks, non-dairy cheeses, crackers, and other dehydrated snacks. The $ 375 tuition includes a full buffet lunch of organic raw vegan foods and samples of nearly all 18 demos. Students learn sprouting and kitchen gardening, how to make fermented foods like “live” sauerkraut, and how to create simple menus using essential equipment and supplies specific to the raw food kitchen. Talks include “The Secret of Great Dressings, Marinades, and Sauces,” and “Quick and Easy Meal Prep.” “Introduction to Basic Knife Skills” helps students learn how to choose and use the perfect kitchen knife for every task.

“Many people call me the ‘Mother’ of gourmet raw vegan cuisine because I was the first to begin creating delicious raw vegan foods that look and taste like favorite comfort foods.” says Soria, “ We’ve gone way beyond carrot sticks, and that’s the trick – healthy food must tantalize the taste buds or no one would eat it.”

As part of her health, beauty, and weight maintenance program, Soria outlines some basic food categories:

Top 10 Raw Food Categories for Health and Beauty

1. Deeply colored foods high in phytonutrients and antioxidants that combat free-radical damage and promote eye health. Examples include blue or purple foods such as blueberries, blackberries, black mission figs and beets

2. Leafy greens like collard greens, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, beet greens, bok choy, many lettuces, broccoli, and Napa cabbage

3. Yellow-orange fruits and vegetables such as squash, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots; and red bell peppers.

4. Grasses and algaes, such as wheat grass, barley grass, leafy green sprouts, blue green algae from Klamath Lake, spirulina and chlorella.

5. Foods high in vitamin C, such as lemons, oranges, grapefruit, peaches, strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, papaya, kiwi, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, bell peppers, romaine lettuce, kale, and mustard greens.

6. Foods containing omega 3 fatty acids, such as chia, flax, and hemp seeds and dark green leafy vegetables like kale, romaine, and dandelion greens.

7. Foods containing selenium, particularly Brazil nuts.

8. Foods containing zinc, such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, cashews, and lentils.

9. Foods containing iodine, such as kelp and dulse.

10. Hydrating foods, such as juicy fruits, high-water-content vegetables, and of course good quality pure water.

Living Light Culinary Institute offers a comprehensive professional curriculum in gourmet raw vegan food preparation. Students learn a progressively complex set of culinary skills, from mastering knife techniques and setting up a healthy kitchen, to charting a menu, catering an event, and learning how to do professional culinary demos. Recipe development, pastry arts, and raw nutritional science are also included in the school curriculum. FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods is a course prerequisite for all of the school’s culinary certification programs.

Cherie Soria, author of several books, including the classic Angel Foods: Healthy Recipes for Heavenly Bodies, and The Raw Food Revolution Diet, is founder and director of Living Light Culinary Institute in Fort Bragg, California, and has been teaching gourmet raw vegan cuisine since 1998 and vegetarian culinary arts for more than 40 years. She also has three black belts in karate. Living Light International has four eco-friendly businesses on the Mendocino coast of Northern California: Living Light Culinary Institute, Living Light Café, Living Light Marketplace, and Living Light Inn. Visit http://www.RawFoodChef.com or call 707-964-2420 for additional information.

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MUSCATINE, Iowa (PRWEB) April 16, 2012

Jeffrey Schmitt has wondered at times about the legal and human issues relating to eminent domain. With his new novel blending folklore with the evening news, “The Mayor’s Mustache” (published by Abbott Press), Schmitt hopes to bring these issues to light through a humorous, satirical story of a man who takes a unique stand against the local government and their plan to claim his property under the rule of eminent domain.

Tom Culhaven, an ancestor of the founder of Culhaven, Illinois, finds himself in a precarious position – literally and figuratively. His property is directly in the path of the construction of a superhighway under the mayor’s use of eminent domain. Tom, a senior citizen, takes offense to the idea that the government can simply take his house and demolish it to build a highway through the town he loves.

Tom stages a peculiar act of protest. Commissioning the help of his dog, Bud – a pet that only Tom can see and hear – Tom targets the mayor for his protest…more specifically, he targets the mayor’s mustache.

The mayor refuses to cooperate with Tom, and Tom takes matters into his own hands, cutting off half the mayor’s mustache at a town hall meeting. After he is freed from jail for the protest, Tom finds a media firestorm surrounding his story is in full burn, and his harebrained scheme may have saved his beloved old home.

“Two years ago, several news items on eminent domain caught my attention and I thought a fictional account would afford the subject some attention,” says Schmitt. “I’m considered a senior citizen (age 65) and I wondered what I would do if put in the same situation as those in the articles I read.”

About the Author

Jeffrey Schmitt lives with his wife, Gina, in Muscatine, Iowa. He worked in marketing, advertising, copywriting and promotion before retiring several years ago. He now focuses on his literary accomplishments, which include a place in the “Anthology of Wisconsin Poets” and a sports column for a local newspaper.

Abbott Press, a division Writer’s Digest—the oldest and most respected publisher devoted to the education and advancement of writers—is an indie-publishing imprint dedicated to helping writers bring their literary vision to print. Author Solutions, Inc., a leader in indie book publishing, will fulfill publishing, sales, and marketing services for Abbott Press. For more information, or to begin publishing a book today, log on to abbottpress.com or call 866-697-5310.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.