Month: June 2018
Kidneys play an important role when it comes to cleaning up someone’s blood and ginkgo biloba can affect how it operates. The majority of people have two kidneys that are located below the rib cage and next to the spine. Kidneys are about the size of someone’s fist and act as filters. Not only do they filter blood which helps bring nutrients to someone’s body they also create urine, help control high blood pressure, keep someone’s bones healthy, and assist with manufacturing red blood cells.
Kidneys can become damaged and unhealthy from a variety of reasons. For one a physical injury such as an auto accident can cause kidney failure. Another common way would be if someone consumed too much harmful chemicals such as drinking a lot of alcohol. Having low blood volume, dehydration, drugs and diseases all can cause kidneys to shut down. Another ailment which can be very painful is kidney stones. This is a condition in which material builds up in the inner lining of the kidneys. Someone can get this health condition by not drinking enough water and consuming an unhealthy diet.
Ginkgo biloba comes from a tree called the ginkgo tree which can grow larger than 100 feet tall and may be one of the oldest trees available. This herb is sometimes used to treat kidney problems in Chinese medicine however in some countries they don’t recognize that ginkgo as a solution because of lack of scientific evidence. Ginkgo is somewhat popular for being able to thin blood. So if there is blockage in the kidneys than this might be able to help.
Also ginkgo has something called antioxidants which can be helpful to someone and that includes improving the health of the liver. Various studies show that toxic damage to the liver can be reduced through the antioxidants of ginkgo. Also this herb can reduce inflammation that can be associated with kidney problems, which helps protect healthy cells and tissue from being damaged by the immune system.
The majority of people take ginkgo in a supplement form and this can come in a pill, powder and even liquid form. We recommend a multi-vitamin that has gingko for the simple reasons that it’s much easier to take a fewer pills rather than a whole lot. One brand that we really like uses pharmaceutical GMP compliance, enteric coating and standardized herbal extracts.
Have you ever heard the advice to not put all your eggs in one basket? Well the advice is good, especially if you are a Home Health, Home Care or Hospice agency. Putting all your eggs in one basket in the Home Health, Home Care or Hospice industry means having only one line of business. In todays environment, one line of business is a dangerous path to walk. Already we have seen repeated cuts to the Home Health reimbursement formula, and Hospice is under scrutiny and will probably see some rather dramatic cuts in the future. Some Home Care (Private Pay) agencies are seeing a decline in both clients and hours, as well. Just as the chant location, location, location is cited for a business success, diversification is the same for agencies in the Home Health, Home Care and Hospice industry.
As a Home Health or Hospice agency, you may be asking how you can diversify. You already take private insurance, much of which doesnt even cover your expenses. Where can you diversify?
Years ago, many Home Health agencies invested in private duty services. Unfortunately, many of them tried to run these agencies the same way they ran the Medicare-Certified agencies. This turned out to be a less than a financial success for them and, as a result, most of the agencies closed their Private Pay agencies or sold them. I was one of those administrators running both types of agencies. Fortunately, the corporation that owned the agency I managed understood the differences required to successfully operate these two very distinct businesses. As a result, the internal structures and systems for Private Pay were run with entirely different staff and procedures. Fortunately, the Private Pay agency was a financial success and a great partner for the Medicare business.
In todays environment, it may be wise for Medicare agencies to look again at the Private Pay industry and invest in another line of business that will not be subject to the changes of CMS. This holds true for both Medicare Home Health and the Hospice agencies. The opportunities in a Private Pay agency are endless. The services offered are as open and vast as the community served will support. By using the lessons learned from the previous attempts to diversify into Private Pay, the new line of business makes the difference between surviving and thriving.
For Private Pay (Home Care) agencies, diversification is just as important. By having only one or two lines of business, you will very likely have some down times with loss of revenues. Diversification of services helps to diminish the effects of the decline on your personal care or live-in services. There are so many opportunities in the Private Pay arena, it really is a matter of finding out what your marketplace will support and then developing it in such a manner that your customers will see value and buy.
Over the years I have seen some very creative and innovative Private Pay agency owners create truly unique services that were well received by their communities. One agency had a very viable service line in cruise companions. They had a high end senior population that were used to cruises, but because of declines in health and abilities, many of the seniors could no longer travel. The agency developed a contract with a major cruise line where they provided the personal care workers or aides that accompanied the senior on the cruise. The client paid for all the related cruise expenses as well as the daily live-in rate for the aide. Reportedly a great time was had by all.
Another agency developed a Mom and Babe program that catered to the large number of young, educated families in their geographic area. The program retained the services of an OB-GYN RN, who made the first visit to the home the day after the mother was discharged from the hospital. The aide, who was a trained doula, also accompanied the RN on the first visit. The services were bundled into either 5- or 7-day, 12 hour/day packages that included the RN visit and the 5 or 7 days of the specialty aide. The aide not only cared for the mother and baby, but tended to the home and other children, allowing the new mother and baby to have bonding time. The aide planned and cooked the meals and did the laundry and light housekeeping so that the mother could rest. The program, as mentioned, was sold as a package and made great shower gifts. The aide was available on an hourly rate to continue services beyond the package if the family wished, or her services could be bought by the family directly for however long they were needed.
As you can see, there is no limit to what your agency can provide. With appropriate due diligence and an ability to listen to what your community is seeking and willing to pay for, you can do anything. If youre ready to plan a more secure financial future for your agency, contact us today to discuss the many diverse opportunities that are awaiting you.
What can I do with this qualification?
Graduates of the National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training are fully qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers and can work in the health fitness industry at home and abroad or in a self employed capacity as a personal trainer.
Successful completion allows graduates to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover to faciliate exercise prescription to members of the public.
Programme Overview
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training will offer successful graduates the opportunity to prescribe safe and effective exercise to the general public in either group fitness situations or on an individual one-to-one personal training basis.
This qualification, which is delivered by the National College of Exercise and Health Studies (NCEHS), offers individuals the opportunity to learn the skills required to teach safe and effective exercise to the general public. Exercise prescription offered by NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors includes resistance training classes using the wide variety of weight training machines available in health clubs and fitness centres. Graduates also deliver group exercise to music classes, either in health clubs and fitness centres in an employed capacity, or in community centres, parish halls etc. as self employed individuals. They also have the opportunity to deliver one-to-one personal training as this excellent programme also includes the National Qualification in Personal Training.
As a result of the superb quality of instructional skills and internationally accepted qualifications, NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors can obtain a highly specified Professional Indemnity Insurance policy which is available exclusively to our graduates.
NCEHS graduates will find themselves immediately employable and in strong demand within the health fitness profession. Opportunities also exist for NCEHS qualified Health Fitness Instructors to work on board luxury cruise liners through our professional relationship with Steiner, the company responsible for staff placement in this area.
Entry Requirements
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training is open to anybody with a strong interest in exercise and health fitness and the desire to pass their enthusiasm on to the general public as part of their day-to-day working routine as either a full time or part time health fitness instructor.
The course content includes anatomy and physiology, exercise to music, resistance training, diet and sports nutrition, first aid, injury prevention and other areas of interest. The content is delivered to facilitate adult learners of mixed ability.
Synoptic Syllabus
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training covers all relevant areas including:
# Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology, Basic Exercise Physiology
# Concepts and Components of Fitness
# Exercise Principals & Energy Systems
# Lesson Planning & Class Structure
# Muscular Actions & Exercise Analysis
# Resistance & Flexibility Training
# Exercise to Music, Choreography & Music Appreciation
# NCEHS Key Elements to successful Instruction and Personal Training
# Safety and Contra – Indicated exercise
# Personal Training & Instructional Teaching Skills
# Diet & Sports Nutrition
# Injury Prevention in exercise
# Introduction to Sports Massage
# Business Aspects
# Code of Ethics
Tutors
All National College of Exercise and Health Studies tutors are expert in their chosen field with some having represented Ireland at international level in health fitness competition.
All senior tutors have many years of experience working in the health fitness profession and, having obtained a H. Dip. in Education have learned the skills required to deliver complex information to learners of mixed ability.
All tutors have dedicated areas of speciality to enhance the learning experience for NCEHS students.
CPD
NCEHS graduates have a responsibility to ensure that the exercise prescription which they offer the public is current, safe and effective. In order to achieve this goal graduates must participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which ensures that they are always operating within ‘best practice’ standards.
CPD can be achieved through attendance at health fitness conventions and conferences or through the participation in advanced educational programmes which bring graduates up to date with changes.