Time is running out for many small businesses.

Businesses need financial support in the next few days to survive.

LONDON (PRWEB)
March 25, 2020

After the most challenging week in recent memory, Jon Cooper, a Director of CooperFaure Accountants, reflected on the landscape of business support and the risks ahead. “Firstly, the government as a whole and Rishi Sunak, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, in particular, are to be commended for what has been done so far to support businesses through this unprecedented time of crisis. So much has been achieved in a very short time.”

“However, as an accountancy practise based in Teddington, we have spent our time in the last week speaking with both our clients and those who have reached out for support and advice. These conversations have given us genuine concerns both on the pressure points for delivery to businesses and for the legion of businesses and individuals that seem to be falling through the cracks.”

“There are a lot of pressure points on delivery with HMRC needing to build new systems to cater for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the reimbursement of Statutory Sick Pay, local councils needing to process cash grants to all the relevant businesses and the banks having the manpower to administer the financial support under Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.”

“The first wave to suffer the impact of COVID-19 are the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors. From this perspective, it makes absolute sense to use the Business Rates mechanism to deliver financial support. It disperses the delivery of the grants to the local authorities.”

“The further grant for businesses that are receiving Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief is positive extra step. However, HMRC is indicating that “Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for this grant.” and this causes a real concern of how quickly the communication will be received and who will be at the business premises to take any necessary actions.”

“Moreover, this takes no account of the reality of working models today. Countless professionals and start-ups either work from home or in a co-shared workspace. Tradesmen and women tend to effectively use their vehicle as their office. For businesses in serviced offices and units, the business rates are often absorbed by the landlord and effectively included in the rent. As it stands, these businesses will get no support from their local authority.”

“In a similar vein, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a response to the first wave of impacted businesses and provides a route to a much-needed cash injection. However, HMRC has to build the mechanisms to capture the data on the ‘furloughed workers’ under the scheme and to deliver the payments to employers.”

“The best estimate is it will be four weeks before HMRC is in a position to process the payments meaning, although covered by the scheme, there is no immediate support for the upcoming March payroll.”

“One of the requirements to be considered a ‘furloughed worker’ is that the employee is not working for the business. This is effectively excluding those businesses that need both support on paying their payroll and to keep their employees working albeit largely in a reduced capacity.”

“The support so far for the millions of self-employed is not adequate and is, in turn, is encouraging people to continue to work in circumstances where they should not. Further support is urgently needed for freelancers, contractors and sole traders.”

“There is a strong case to adopt a Universal Basic Income model that would deliver money quickly with no hoops or barriers.”

“The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is now live and it is an extraordinary feat to have delivered this in less than two weeks. However, it is to great concern that the scheme will prove to be too onerous and over-bureaucratic to provide the immediate financial support that businesses need now.”

“The stark reality is that many businesses need support in the next few days to meet their payroll costs, the quarterly rent payments and to pay their suppliers.”

“More needs to be done now in a streamlined way. For instance, the government could underwrite, say, a £25,000 overdraft facility or increase in overdraft facility for every business in the land and this could be up and running in days not weeks.”

“At CooperFaure, we understand the profound impact of COVID-19 on businesses from our conversations both with clients and others that have reached out at this time of need. Now is the time for the government to consider new and innovative routes of immediate support in terms of direct cash payments into businesses.”

“Businesses need financial support in days not weeks to survive.” Jon Cooper concluded.

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Learning the basics of good nutrition and helping others to strengthening their immune system is something positive that can be done about the current situation.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (PRWEB)
March 25, 2020

The healthcare system in the US is under tremendous strain as the country scrambles to cope with the Coronavirus. As nutrition plays a major role in the strength of one’s immune health, Ulan Nutritional Systems, in collaboration with Jackie Furlong, has released the Complete Nutritional Coaching Course that any practitioner can study and implement in their practice.

A research paper conducted by the University of Florida and Texas A&M stated that although physicians receive insufficient nutrition training, they’re expected to deliver nutrition counseling to patients with chronic disease. They concluded that millions of deaths annually could be mitigated with effective nutrition and lifestyle counseling.

The Complete Nutritional Coaching Course is a turn-key system that can been learned and implemented by any health practitioner or a member of their staff. Jackie Furlong, an organic chemist and holistic health coach, has been delivering Nutrition Coaching in her practice for more than six years.

“I’m very passionate about helping people and I found that we needed to add a nutrition coaching session to the consultations,” said Furlong. “That way we could help them change the habits that led to their health issues.”

This 12-module course covers how to educate clients on the fundamentals of nutrition, everyday application, and how to track their progress and keep them accountable so they can achieve their health goals.

Each module comes with video instruction and a complete system of handouts – it’s a turn-key program that can be implemented immediately. And it can be done via online platforms such as Skype or Zoom, so it’s the perfect service to help people right now.

“We saw the need for this service and collaborated with Jackie on this course to make it available to practitioners,” said Lisa Dunn, CEO of Ulan Nutritional Systems. “It’s a self-paced, online course so there is no need to leave your practice or travel.”

Learning the basics of good nutrition and strengthening one’s immune system is something positive that can be done about the current situation. This course makes it possible for any practitioner to implement this service in their practice immediately. For more information about the course visit the website.

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Normally an indoor event, this year’s Gamers for Giving fundraiser will be done online because of Covid-19 concerns.

A tremendous difference in the lives of hospitalized children

YPSILANTI, Mich. (PRWEB)
March 25, 2020

GameAbove today announced it is making a $150,000 contribution to this year’s annual Gamers Outreach Gamers for Giving fundraiser, which provides gaming equipment, technology, and software to help kids cope with treatment inside hospitals.

The gift recognizes the positive impact that esports and gaming have had on life at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), as well as the power of interactive play to uplift the spirits of young hospital patients. GameAbove, a group of EMU alumni including Gamers Outreach founder Zach Wigal, has already committed $13.5 million toward a variety of initiatives that advance the capacity and well being of the University’s community.

“GameAbove is very excited to partner with Zach and Gamers Outreach,” said Keith J. Stone, GameAbove advisory board member. “We’re all about giving back and helping bring light to EMU, and the Gamers for Giving event has done that over the years. We wanted to be part of that.”

Gamers for Giving is a weekend-long competitive gaming tournament, LAN party, and stream-a-thon that helps raise money in support of Gamers Outreach programs. Ticket sales and donations help provide entertainment devices to hospitalized children. This year’s tournament will take place this weekend, March 28-29, and will be held online to comply with Covid-19 concerns. For more information about the tournament, including how to register and donate, visit gamersforgiving.org.

“These funds provide a major boost to this year’s fundraising objective,” said Wigal. “GameAbove is helping Games for Giving make a tremendous difference in the lives of hospitalized children.”

About GameAbove

At GameAbove, our primary focus is to help shape, inspire and support the current and future students of Eastern Michigan University by reaching new heights in learning through transformation and inspiration in the educational experience. Together, we will strive for that next level of success with a GameAbove all others. The GameAbove family of organizations will also help improve the higher education experience by exploring and supporting the use of innovative financial models to sustain universities, creative giving within the community, enhancing the campus environment, elevating athletics and promoting pioneering academic programs. http://www.gameabove.com

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4D Healthware

“We developed the COVID-19 monitoring platform to greatly minimize the demands on in-person primary care, urgent care and emergency departments across the country; it can also reduce unnecessary risks to patients and care teams from further exposure to this highly infectious virus” – Star Cunningham

CHICAGO (PRWEB)
March 25, 2020

Healthcare technology company, 4D Healthware, has joined the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus with its new COVID-19 monitoring platform, which enables remote monitoring, physician and lab supported diagnosis and at home treatment for potential COVID-19 patients. After equipping patients with Wi-Fi enabled T-Mobile digital tablets programmed with 4D Healthware’s COVID-19 protocols, the company surrounds the patient with a virtual “4D Clinical Care Team” and tools to keep tabs on the condition of people believed to be exposed to the novel Coronavirus while under self-quarantine.

“With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus across the country and the need to have the general public self-quarantine, remote monitoring and treatment have become critical,” said 4D Healthware CEO, Star Cunningham. “We developed the COVID-19 monitoring platform to greatly minimize the demands on in-person primary care, urgent care and emergency departments across the country; it can also reduce unnecessary risks to patients and care teams from further exposure to this highly infectious virus.”

Using T-Mobile’s state-of-the-art 4/5G wireless network to ensure remote connection, 4D Healthware estimates assisting approximately 500,000 patients across the country. Remote patient assistance could include collecting biometrics including, taking their temperature reading with a wireless-enabled thermometer. In addition, 4D can monitor the oxygenation level in patients remotely allowing them the ability to engage with the patient when oxygenation levels decrease to a level where the patient needs hospital care.

According to former Cook County Illinois Health Commissioner, Dr. Stephen Martin, 4D Healthware’s digital tablet solution overcomes a significant health inequity barrier faced by communities who don’t have access readily to internet services in the home due to cost and digital equipment to connect to innovative health services like telemedicine.

“4D’s approach, with their digital tablet solution, will assist communities that might be hardest hit by COVID-19, such as seniors on fixed income or those where telemedicine is the only option,” said Dr. Martin. “Their system certainly can help alleviate further stress on our already burdened healthcare system.”

Complementing 4D Healthware’s virtual COVID-19 specific protocols is an always-on-call COVID-19 Clinical Care Team consisting of physicians, RN, PA, MA, LCPC, social workers, nutritionists, dieticians and other clinical and wellness resources. The service also enables patients to easily fill-out the COVID-19 screening questionnaire.

Cunningham added, “the 4D COVID-19 Clinical Care Team monitors and guides self-care until the patient needs to get local care provider support for additional testing and health services.”

“Patients who are quarantined are also supported with behavioral health services, if needed, to help manage stress, anxiety, depression and other challenges. Social services are engaged to assist with issues related to social determinants of health like food, supplies and medications,” said Cunningham.

The company says their Enhanced Telehealth platform is a simple technology implementation and can be integrated with any EHR system quickly, efficiently and with minimal disruption. It can also reduce ER visits by 25% and delivers a 95% retention rate among engaged patients. The platform allows secure HIPAA compliant 2-way 24-hour communications.

ABOUT 4D HEALTHWARE:

Founded in 2012, Chicago-based 4D Healthware, LLC is a fast-growing healthcare technology company that develops preventative technology that can remotely monitor and predict shifts in an individual’s health. The company has been recognized as a rising star in the healthcare tech space by globally respected publications including Inc. Magazine and Vanity Fair. 4D Healthware has also been listed in Crain’s Chicago Tech 50. For more information visit https://www.4dhealthware.com/

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ATLANTA (PRWEB)
March 25, 2020

Originally set to be released in September 2020 and featured in the book “Training Leadership & Communication…the masterclass for professionals”, one of the primary concepts in The PIERCE™ Model’s “communication component” is being released months early to provide decision makers standardized baselines in approaches to “bending the curve” of the Corona Virus pandemic.

“One of the challenges that I have identified, is that there needs to be a greater baseline of standardization in how we communicate” says Solomon Carter, architect of the model. “Currently, too many different municipalities and entities are doing too many different things without a uniformed standard. And the absence of a true standard in any emergency causes confusion. And in line with the PIERCE™ Model, any form of confusion = risk.

“So, in theory, we may have a brilliant idea being utilized in let’s say Atlanta. And then one state away, another municipality may be challenged in how to solve the exact same pain point without a meaningful solution. I recommend a central repository with a list of no more than ten primary categories that addresses the core challenges we face—along with standardized solutions on how to mitigate those obstacles. Because our fight against this pandemic remains the same for virtually all Americans spanning the four corners of our nation, and even the four corners of the world for that matter.

“For instance, healthcare systems and other stakeholders shouldn’t have to rely on cable news to learn about an innovative solution to re-using face masks or about how small ‘at home companies’ are assisting with making face protection apparatus’ using 3D printers. Government officials and other key stakeholders should have one ‘central pallet of communication’ that addresses the exact same issues they are currently or about to encounter.    

“In line with the ‘Communication Enhancement’ solution within the PIERCE™ Model, as it relates to emergencies, the first surge needs to be a surge in effective communication! This surge in standardized information should start as a solutions repository so that independent jurisdictions/organizations can act independently of each other, and yet in unison, ‘pick the invaluable fruit of knowledge off of the vine’ so to speak, in order to increase competency in mitigating the challenges they face. Especially before the capacity to exceed healthcare for sick individuals is realized.”

One of the model’s foundational business communication concepts is that often, vast amounts of information, particularly if it’s varied in nature, can degrade the qualitative value of the information received. Which in the case of information about Covid-19 would harmful. The PIERCE™ Model dictates that leaders often mistaken the term “more communication” as a quantitative value instead of a qualitative one. Which in the case of managing Corona Virus communications, will yield less that optimal outcomes.

Solomon further says “The PIERCE™ Model calls for one unified message, one theme, one set of solutions that people can access, and one standard made available to all of the necessary stakeholders and then surged, so that we may mitigate what will be the exact same challenges we need to solve as a nation. It is in part through these methodologies that our rate of success will increase.”

The PIERCE™ Model was created by Solomon Carter who leads Emory Healthcare’s Physicians Group Practices, Patient Financial Services, Office of Professional Development. He also serves as an executive with All Power in His Hands Christian Mission which is an aid organization that operates in Haiti.

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