You may expect this blog to encourage you to vote because of the extreme changes in healthcare over the next few years – especially since my work is generally in this field. But you would be wrong.

Voting is much bigger than healthcare policy and really reflects our core beliefs and values about our freedom, and optimism for the future.

So much talk on so many serious issues. We’ve been preparing for tomorrow for what seems like endless months of radio, blogs and news programs. Maybe the best way of evaluating why you should vote tomorrow is hearing why you should not vote. Check out this video editorial from The New York Times, “Eleven Reasons Not to Vote”



Normally, I don’t refer people to The New York Times. In fact, I rarely refer anyone to newspaper content anymore. The reasons why this is the case? Well, it’s too long for a blog.

I was in stitches after watching the first five minutes of the video. In case you need extra incentive to see the video, here is the cryptically stated Eleven Reasons Not to Vote:
1. You can’t depend on demi-gods
2. Like jazz, apathy is an original American art form
3. Florida
4. The electoral college
5. Missed entrepreneurial opportunities
6. Potential extradition
7. Awkward family dinners (or, the “spite” vote)
8. Traffic
9. Forced analogies
10. Overzealous advocates
11. Masculinity is overrated (or, “The Man” argument)

Tomorrow, I am taking the day off work to man the polls in my district. I haven’t done this before, so be patient with me if you are stopping by! I look forward to share everyone’s joy in being able to vote. I hope our polling place and many others are very busy throughout the day.

Take care, and happy voting!!

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (N-OADN) have published a brochure, Envision Your Nursing Future, Taking the Next Step in Your Nursing Education. It gives further information for nurses wanting to advance their education.  It addresses the 2010 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine report
The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health recommendation that nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression. We have many great schools in North Texas that can further a nurse’s education. Programs include associate degree of nursing, baccalaureate degree, RN to baccalaureate degree, RN to master’s degree, and doctoral degrees. Programs are offered online and in classroom settings.  Many of the associate degree nursing programs have developed articulation agreements with universities that ease education progression to the bachelors of nursing degree program.  For a list of North Texas nursing schools, please see the Texas Nursing Resource Center website and review the North Texas Region tab.

A new website has been launched for the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action. You will find information on the work being done nationwide to transform healthcare through nursing by mobilizing coalitions representing nurses, health providers, consumers, educators and businesses. Their mission is to promote implementation of recommendations in the Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health. 

These efforts are backed by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP. Texas has joined the efforts as a state-action coalition, with leadership including Alexia Green, Professor and Dean Emeritus, Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; Cindy Johnson, Vice President Clinical Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas; and Ellarene Sanders, Executive Director, Texas Nurses Association. 

Check out the website to stay up to date on what is happening locally and nationally www.campaignforaction.org. More information can be found at the Texas Nursing Resource Center website under the North Texas Region tab.

A recent survey by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) reveals a demand for qualified Information Technology (IT) staff for healthcare providers. A survey of chief information officers (CIO) was conducted in 2010 and 2012. Numbers showed 59% reported shortages within their staffs in 2010. The 2012 survey revealed an increase of 67% experiencing shortages.

The adoption of the Health Information Technology Act (HITEC) in 2009 has put an emphasis on the workforce needed to implement electronic health records. There is concern staffing challenges will negatively impact healthcare organizations’ chances to receive HITECH stimulus fund payments. Retention of IT staff is a growing concern with 85% reporting this issue in 2012 compared with 76% in 2010. Additional concerns include the increasing numbers of IT projects, ICD-10 planning and health information exchanges.

There has been significant investment in the national Health IT Workforce Development program developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The purpose of the effort is to provide non-degree health IT training programs that can be completed in six months or less. The survey found two out of three respondents were aware of the community college and university-based training, yet only 12% of the CIOs reported hiring graduates from the program. To date, more than 8,000 students have graduated from the program. 

Results reveal experienced health IT staff is a crucial need, but how can the healthcare industry meet this current demand that seems to be growing? Training programs are in place thanks to federal funds and the work of area colleges and universities. It appears an effort to match these pressing demands with the available supply of IT graduates is necessary.

Many of us want a “quick fix” that will prevent us from having a stroke or heart disease. How about a quick fix that tastes great? According to Jouni Karppi’s study published in Neurology, we can eat tomatoes to our hearts’ content. About six servings of tomatoes a day can reduce the stroke rate for men by 55 percent. Servings can be found in ketchup, tomato juice and food cooked with canned tomatoes. Research shows canned tomatoes contain a higher concentrate of Lycopene (the antioxidant in tomatoes) that help prevent stroke and heart attack.

Dark chocolate is another food providing a quick fix to prevent heart attacks and strokes. You need to eat 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day to make a difference and you need to include those calories in your daily food intake. Like dark chocolate, red wine also has flavonoids to help reduce heart disease and stroke.

What a perfect meal! Tomatoes, basil, a little fresh mozzarella cheese, red wine and dark chocolate for dessert would make a meal that included many antioxidants. Plus, it tastes wonderful!

Research Laboratories of the Catholic University in Campobasso and the National Cancer Institute of Milan and has been published in the Journal of Nutrition

Researcher Jouni Karppi, of the University of Eastern Finland Oct. 9, 2012 issue of the journal Neurology