Qventus, a high-tech company in the heart of Silicon Valley, now offers a software solution which layers over existing electronic medical records and other IT systems already in place in hospitals to send “nudges” to nursing staff based on historical, real-time predictive data on patient falls.
Qventus uses AI and machine learning to automate operational decisions across the hospital, including emergency departments, pharmacies, perioperative areas, patient safety programs and inpatient and outpatient care. “This removes the mental load of operational decisions from doctors, nurses and frontline care staff so they are free to focus on patients,” said Brent Newhouse, cofounder and head of Customer Success at Qventus.
Ever wondered what sex therapists do (or don’t do), what issues they can help solve, and what happens in their offices?
We weren’t shy about asking the experts for the inside scoop on sex therapy. Here’s what we found out.
1. It Can Give You More Confidence in (and out of) the Bedroom
“What people don’t expect from sex therapy is how strong, confident and assertive they become in every area of their lives,” says Marne Wine, a licensed professional counselor, and AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) certified sex therapist in Westminster, Colorado. “Sex therapy is just life playing itself out in the bedroom. Are you willing to be OK with yourself because you don’t know everything or have all the answers? Are you willing to put yourself out there and risk ridicule and failure? Once you learn to do that in the bedroom—naked—you can do it anywhere.”
2. You Won’t Be Asked to Take Your Clothes Off
Wine says most people tense up when they think of sex therapy, mostly because they worry that the therapy might involve intimate situations. Fear not—standard sex therapy with a qualified sex therapist doesn’t involve nudity. “Although there are different types of people who work in the field of sex therapy, generally it simply talks therapy,” she says.
3. You Don’t Have to Worry About Saying Anything Taboo
Whether it’s a repressed memory, a sexual hangup or an issue of abuse that frightens you to talk about, there is no subject too taboo for a sex therapist. In fact, laying it all on the table is the first step to overcoming a sexual problem. And don’t worry about what the therapist will think. “Sex therapists have heard it all,” says Wine.
4. Finding the Right Therapist Can Make (or Break) Your Experience
Whether you’re considering seeing a sex therapist alone or with your husband, be picky, says Wine. “Check out his or her background. Is the therapist licensed in some professional counseling field—licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker? You want that fundamental, graduate-level counseling education as a basis for him or her doing sex therapy.
The sex therapy certification should be in addition to the graduate-level education.” And if, after the first appointment, you don’t feel comfortable with the therapist, find another one—or ask for a referral. “A good therapist will keep your best interests at heart—not her ego. I always tell my new clients if they aren’t comfortable with me, I will help them find another therapist. This work is too important not to have the right fit.”
5. It Can Help People Who Already Have Great Sex Lives
You and your husband have a great sex life—so what could sex therapy do for you? A lot, says Isadora Alman, a marriage and family therapist, and a board-certified sexologist in San Francisco. “Most people believe that something has to be broken, or that they do, to seek sex therapy. What I do is more about sexual and emotional enhancement, making things better. The most frequent therapeutic outcome of any sex therapy is the relief that comes with being able to talk about sexual feelings, thoughts, and fantasies, just putting them out there to be examined.”
6. It Might Save Your Marriage
Sexual issues take a major toll on a relationship, says Sybil Keane, a psychologist and mental health expert for JustAnswer.com. “When a couple is having troubles with their sex life, a regular marriage counselor might say, ‘Well, make time for you two to connect’ when it’s way more than just connecting for sex. It won’t help if the desire isn’t there or it just feels like a fake attempt to revive the same old, same old.” Want different advice? “Ask a sex therapist,” she says. “They can talk way beyond what a regular marriage counselor can. I believe that most people think that a sex therapist is a last-ditch solution to a sexual, marital problem. If more people went to sex therapy before a problem arose, they might not have to seek divorce advice down the road. Although we all like to believe that sex is something that comes naturally, it isn’t.”
7. It Can Help Solve a Range of Sexual Problems
What types of issues can sex therapy help with? According to Lynne Kolton Schneider, MA, Ph.D., a board-certified sex counselor in private practice, it can help with everything under the sun. “I see people who have difficulties with libido associated with cancer treatments; people who have sexual difficulties and dysfunctions related to surgical procedures; people who have difficulties with sexual positioning due to physical disabilities; and people who have problems being intimate because they have been sexually abused or raped.” And the list goes on: “I work with couples who haven’t had sex in months, or years, virgins who want their first experiences to be positive and women who have never had an orgasm.”
8. It Can Help You Be a Better Communicator
If your daily exchanges with your husband include “Take out the trash” and “It’s your turn to change the diaper,” a sex therapist could help you communicate in a more loving way. “Sex therapy is not always about sexual functioning,” says Dr. Schneider. “It’s probably equally as often about poor communication skills. Much of what I spend my time on concerns teaching patients how to communicate with each other—including how to fight fairly and when to choose to lose a ‘battle’ to win a ‘war.'”
Bibliography
“Sex Therapy Facts at WomansDay.com ” Sexual Health. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Homelessness in America – TED Video explains how we can take our own small and meaningful steps to end homelessness and admit and respond to the inequality in our midst.
Homelessness exists when people lack safe, stable, and appropriate places to live.
Sheltered and Unsheltered people are homeless. People living doubled up or in overcrowded living situations or motels because of inadequate economic resources are included in this definition, as are those living in tents or other temporary enclosures.
Health care for homeless people is a significant public health challenge. Homeless people are more likely to suffer injuries and medical problems from their lifestyle on the street, which includes poor nutrition, exposure to the harsh elements of weather, and higher exposure to violence (robberies, beatings, and so on). At the same time, they have little access to public medical services or clinics.
Each year between 2–3 million people in the United States experience an episode of homelessness (Caton et al., 2005). The psychological and physical impact of homelessness is a matter of public health concern (Schnazer, Dominguez, Shrout, & Caton, 2007). Psychologists as clinicians, researchers, educators, and advocates must expand and redouble their efforts to end homelessness.
The APA Presidential Task Force on Psychology’s Contribution to End Homelessness, commissioned by James Bray, Ph.D. during his tenure as APA’s president, developed a mission to identify and address the psychosocial factors and conditions associated with homelessness and define the role of psychologists in ending homelessness. Individuals without homes often lack access to health care treatment (Kushel et al., 2001). Chronic health problems and inaccessibility to medical and dental care can increase school absences and limit employment opportunities (APA, 2010).
People without homes have higher rates of hospitalizations for physical illnesses, mental illness, and substance abuse than other populations (Kushel et al., 2001; Salit, Kuhn, Hartz, Vu, & Mosso, 1998). Physical & Mental Health Poor physical health is associated with poverty in general but seems to be more pronounced among those who are without homes (APA, 2010).
Rates of mental illness among people who are homeless in the United States are twice the rate found in the general population (Bassuk et al., 1998). 47% of homeless women meet the criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder—twice the rate of women in general (Buckner, Beardslee, & Bassuk, 2004). When compared with the general population, people without homes have poorer physical health, including higher rates of tuberculosis, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS (Zlotnick & Zerger, 2008), as well as higher rates of medical hospitalizations (Kushel et al., 2001).
When compared with the general population, people without homes have poorer physical health, including higher rates of tuberculosis, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS (Zlotnick & Zerger, 2008), as well as higher rates of medical hospitalizations (Kushel et al., 2001).
Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS are prevalent among some subgroups of people without homes. Age, gender, and ethnicity are linked to such HIV/AIDS risk behaviors as injection drug use and high-risk sexual practices (Song et al., 1999) Mental Illness & Homelessness Distinguishing between those with and without severe mental illness may be particularly important. Assertive community treatment offered significant advantages over standard case management models in reducing homelessness and symptom severity for homeless people with severe mental illness (Coldwell & Bender, 2007).
The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health made clear the need to address the public mental health system’s delivery of service to people without homes and with mental illness. This population is more likely to use hospitals than regular outpatient care (North & Smith, 1993), which is not only more expensive but results in fragmented service and less attention paid to ongoing mental health needs. Shinn and Gillespie argued that although substance abuse and mental illness contribute to homelessness, the primary cause is the lack of low-income housing.
People with substance and other mental disorders experience even greater barriers to accessible housing than their counterparts: income deficits, stigma, and a need for community wraparound services. The remediation of homelessness involves focusing on the risk factors that contribute to homelessness as well as advocating for structural change.
Ill health and Homelessness and health concerns often go hand in hand. An acute behavioral health issue, such as an episode of psychosis, may lead to homelessness, and homelessness itself can exacerbate chronic medical conditions or lead to debilitating substance abuse problems. At the most extreme, a person can become chronically homeless when his or her health condition becomes disabling and stable housing is too difficult to maintain without help.
Persons living in shelters are more than twice as likely to have a disability, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, compared to the general population. On a given night in 2014, nearly 20 percent of the homeless population had severe mental illness or conditions related to chronic substance abuse, according to the 2014 Point-In-Time Count. Thousands of people with HIV/AIDS experience homelessness on a given night.
Physical health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are found at high rates among the homeless population, in addition to injury and physical ailments from living outdoors. Many people experiencing homelessness have also experienced trauma, either resulting from homelessness or in some way leading to it. Behavioral health issues and trauma are found disproportionately among unaccompanied youth who are homeless.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 require that health insurance plans cover behavioral health treatment such as therapy equally to that of physical health treatments. Health Care Access Treatment and preventive care can be difficult for homeless people to access, because they often lack insurance coverage, or are unable to engage health care providers in the community.
This lack of access can lead a homeless individual to seek medical attention only once his or her condition has worsened to the point that a trip to the emergency room is unavoidable. Federally Qualified Health Centers and Health Care for the Homeless Clinics, which are available in most communities across the U.S. provide some basic health services to homeless persons without cost.
Also, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows states to expand their Medicaid public health insurance program to cover more people with very low incomes. Previously, Medicaid was limited to covering people with children or with a disability. The ACA has also increased the number of community-based care options, such as with “Health Homes.” Health Care Solutions Housing is an essential component of health and health care. Moreover, effective strategies to end homelessness must always take into account the extent of health conditions and disability faced by homeless people.
For chronically homeless people, the intervention of permanent supportive housing provides stable housing coupled with supportive services as needed – a cost-effective solution to homelessness for those with the most severe health, mental health, and substance abuse challenges. With the advent of the ACA, funding through Medicaid will be an essential financing component for the supportive services in permanent supportive housing.
Informative Video About Who Pays for Private Health Insurance.
Private Health Insurance
Although many Americans rely on their employers for health insurance coverage, there are several circumstances in which private health insurance is critical. If the time has come to select your own insurance, read on for some tips to guide you in the process.
When You Might Need Private Health Insurance
Private health insurance is sometimes required if you are: A recent college graduate – Most college students are covered under a parent’s health insurance plan or a plan offered or required by the university and sometimes they’re covered under both. Grads lose their college insurance and independent status because of their age or graduate status, which also makes them ineligible to be covered by their parents’ policy.
Unemployed – If you lose your job because of downsizing or resignation, you are most likely eligible to continue with your employer’s health insurance plan under COBRA except that you will have to pay its full cost yourself – the employer won’t subsidize part of the cost like it did when you were an employee. Eventually, this coverage runs out, and if you are still unemployed, you will need to find your own insurance. If you lose your job because you were fired rather than a victim of a downsizing, you are not eligible for COBRA and you’ll need to find your own insurance right away.
Part-time employee – Part-time jobs rarely offer health benefits. If you work part time, you usually have to supply your own health insurance.
Self-employed – Unless you can be covered under a spouse or partner who is a W-2 employee, you have to provide your own health insurance if you work for yourself.
Employer – If you start a business that has employees, laws might require that you offer them health insurance. Even if it is not required, you might want to offer it to be a competitive employer who can attract qualified job candidates. In this situation, you will have to shop for a business health insurance plan, also known as a group plan.
Retired – When you retire, you are no longer eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance. You’ll have to buy your own and because of your age and possible health conditions, it can be quite pricey. Dropped by your existing insurer – Sometimes people who need to make extensive use of their insurance, such as people who have serious medical problems, are dropped by their insurance companies even if they’ve been loyal customers for years. If this happens to you, consider seeking the guidance of an insurance agent who can help you find a plan specifically for someone with your medical condition.
Why You Still Need Health Insurance
If you find yourself in one of the above situations, don’t go without coverage for even a day. A small emergency like a broken bone can ruin you financially if you’re uninsured. These things are called “accidents” for a reason – in other words, you can’t predict when they will happen. No one expects to get hit by a car while going for a walk or fall down the basement stairs when carrying the laundry, but these things happen and they can be expensive without health insurance.
If you think you can’t afford your own insurance, you might be wrong. While there is a lot of hype in the media about the rising cost of healthcare, health insurance plans are available at a variety of prices. You might not be able to afford the kind of plan an employer would offer, but any plan is better than no plan. At a minimum, you want to be covered in the event of a major incident, such as an illness or the aforementioned broken bone.
First, decide whether you want a health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organizations (PPO), high-deductible health plan (HDHP), consumer-driven health plan (CHDP) or a point of service (POS) plan. Depending on your situation, a short-term plan might also be a good option. After you’ve decided on a type of plan, you’ll need to determine a deductible you are comfortable with. What could you afford to pay out-of-pocket each year in a worst-case scenario? Remember, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium; if your monthly cash flow is low, you might have to opt for a higher deductible. Next, go to the website of each of the major health insurance companies in your area and examine the options for the deductible you’ve chosen. Plans available vary by state, and within your state, the premiums for each plan vary by zip code.
You won’t know what you’ll really pay per month until you apply and fork over your medical history. Price and coverage can vary significantly by company. Often, it’s difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison to determine which company has the best combination of rates and coverage.
Your best bet is to limit your options to reputable insurers, then choose the plan they offer that provides the best combination of features you’ll use at a price you can afford. If you’re choosing a family plan or an employer plan, you’ll want to consider not just your own needs, but also the needs of others who will be covered under the plan.
Factors to Weigh in Choosing the Right Plan
Health insurance plans offer a variety of features. It’s unlikely that you’ll find a plan that offers everything you’d like, but consider the following features you need most so you can find the plan that offers the greatest number of them.
Does the plan offer prescription drug coverage?
Does it only cover generics?
What is the co-payment (co-pay) on generics and on name-brand drugs?
What is the office visit co-pay, and does the plan cap the number of office visits it will cover per year?
What is the co-pay for professional services, such as x-rays, lab tests, and surgery?
What is the co-pay for a hospital stay?
What is the co-pay for an emergency room visit?
Do you want a plan that allows you to add vision and dental coverage at minimal cost?
Do you need pregnancy benefits?
Do you already have a doctor you like? If so, you might want to find a PPO plan in which your doctor is part of the insurance company’s provider network.
What is the plan’s lifetime maximum payout? Try to get the highest amount possible if you’re buying a long-term plan.
Does the plan offer discounted services for preventive care, such as a free annual check-up?
Do you want specialty services like physical therapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture visits to be covered? For PPOs, what is the cost for out-of-network services, should you want or need them? Can you afford this?
Conclusion: Getting your own health insurance policy isn’t as easy or inexpensive as getting signed up with an employer’s plan, but once you figure out what you need and become familiar with the terminology, it’s not too intimidating. With the number of options available, you can probably find a plan that meets your needs – and your budget.
In most situations that give you Cobra Insurance (other than a divorce), you should get a notice from your employer’s benefits administrator or the group health plan telling you your coverage is ending and offering you the right to elect COBRA continuation coverage. If you qualify for COBRA because the covered employee either:
1) Died,
2) Lost his/her job, or
3) Became entitled to Medicare,
the employer must tell the plan administrator. This is called “continuation coverage.” In general, COBRA only applies to employers with 20 or more employees. If your group health plan coverage was from a private employer (not a government employer), contact the Department of Labor.
Before you elect COBRA coverage, it’s a good idea to talk with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) about Part B and Medigap. If you don’t get a notice, but you find out your coverage has ended, or if you get divorced, call the employer’s benefits administrator or the group health plan as soon as possible and ask about your COBRA rights. Call your employer’s benefits administrator for questions about your specific COBRA options.
COBRA is a federal law that may let you keep your employer group health plan coverage for a limited time after your employment ends or after you would otherwise lose coverage. Once the plan administer is notified, the plan must let you know you have the right to choose COBRA coverage. However, some state laws require insurers covering employers with fewer than 20 employees to let you keep your coverage for a period of time. If you don’t get a notice, but you find out your coverage has ended, or if you get divorced, call the employer’s benefits administrator or the group health plan as soon as possible and ask about your COBRA rights. If your coverage was with the federal government, visit the Office of Personnel Management. If your coverage was with the federal government, visit the Office of Personnel Management.
COBRA is a federal law that may let you keep your employer group health plan coverage for a limited time after your employment ends or after you would otherwise lose coverage. However, some state laws require insurers covering employers with fewer than 20 employees to let you keep your coverage for a period of time. COBRA coverage generally is offered for 18 months, and 36 months in some cases. If you qualify for COBRA because you’ve become divorced or legally separated (court issued separation decree) from the covered employee, or if you were a dependent child or dependent adult child who is no longer a dependent, then you or the covered employee needs to let the plan administrator know about your change in situation within 60 days of the change.
Once the plan administer is notified, the plan must let you know you have the right to choose COBRA coverage. Before you elect COBRA coverage, it’s a good idea to talk with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) about Part B and Medigap. This is called “continuation coverage.” In general, COBRA only applies to employers with 20 or more employees. If your group health plan coverage was from a private employer (not a government employer), contact the Department of Labor. Get answers to COBRA questions Call your employer’s benefits administrator for questions about your specific COBRA options.
If you qualify for COBRA because you’ve become divorced or legally separated (court issued separation decree) from the covered employee, or if you were a dependent child or dependent adult child who is no longer a dependent, then you or the covered employee needs to let the plan administrator know about your change in situation within 60 days of the change.
If your group health plan coverage was from a state or local government employer, call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-877-267-2323 extension 61565. COBRA coverage generally is offered for 18 months, and 36 months in some cases. In most situations that give you COBRA rights (other than a divorce), you should get a notice from your employer’s benefits administrator or the group health plan telling you your coverage is ending and offering you the right to elect COBRA continuation coverage.
Hybrid Fit Food is a group of personal trainers that own a gym facility. They have been educated in exercise and nutrition. Their nutrition background and knowledge has helped them to put together a healthy and tasty menu.
Government entities such as theU.S.CentersforDiseaseControl, and organizations such as CommunityCounselingSolutionsLLC trust DucereInvestmentGroup,Inc. with their healthcare management needs because of our on-time or on us guarantee, and our
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