Amanda Pennington, ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes Program Winner in Atlanta

“Atlanta healthcare workers have been working tirelessly to ensure our safety; recognizing their efforts by installing a new water heater was an easy way we could ensure they have a comfortable and safe environment to return home to,” said Jack Reeves, GM of ARS/Rescue Rooter of Atlanta.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB)
June 14, 2020

ARS/Rescue Rooter of Atlanta, a local Plumbing provider and part of the American Residential Services (ARS) Network of Brands, provided a new water heater to Amanda Pennington, a deserving Nurse, as part of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program. The program is an extension of the year-round, company-wide ARS Cares initiative, and is rewarding more than 50 free home services makeovers to healthcare professionals across the country during the current COVID-19 crisis.

“Atlanta healthcare workers have been working tirelessly to ensure our safety and recognizing their efforts by installing a new water heater was an easy way we could ensure they have a comfortable and safe environment to return home to,” said Jack Reeves, General Manager of ARS/Rescue Rooter of Atlanta.

Amanda graduated from Emory University with a BSN in 2014, at the age of 37. She started working at Gwinnett Medical (now Northside Gwinnett) in 2015, and hasn’t looked back. As physically and mentally hard as it is especially during COVID-19, she says that working with the patients and her fellow nurses is the most rewarding part of being a nurse on the floor. She continues to use the skills she has learned to help improve the quality of care offered at Northside Gwinnett. The installation of Pennington’s new water heater was completed on June 11th.

Following the announcement of the ARS Cares Healthcare Heroes program on May 13, family, friends, and co-workers were invited to share stories of why an Atlanta frontline worker was deserving of home improvements that would deliver relief and relaxation. ARS received more than 400 nominations.

The ARS Cares initiative was launched in 2016 to cultivate positive relationships with communities where we live, work, and play. Since that time, more than 90 home services makeovers have been completed, donating more than $500,000 of HVAC systems and water heaters to deserving recipients. To learn more about ARS Cares and view official Terms & Conditions, visit ars.com/ars-cares.

ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally-managed service centers in 24 states, with approximately 7,000 employees. The ARS Network features industry-leading brands including, 4 Eco Services, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andy’s Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Apple Electric, Blue Dot, Blue Flame, Bob Hamilton, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, DM Select, Florida Home Air Conditioning, Green Star Home Services, Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter / Jack Howk, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, TempRite Air Conditioning and Heating, Unique Services, “Will” Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. As an Exceptional Service Provider, the ARS Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation, and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists. ARS requires background checks and drug tests on all employees. We hire professionals with the highest level of integrity. Providing exceptional service and ensuring the highest standards of quality, ARS has the experience to do any job right – the first time, with all work fully guaranteed. ARS: “Making it work. Making it right.”

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Kevin Clayton

CHC’s board consists of more than 60 percent people of color and more than 50 percent women.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (PRWEB)
June 09, 2020

Community Health Charities (CHC) proudly announces Kevin Clayton, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement at the Cleveland Cavaliers as the organization’s new board chair. Clayton was unanimously elected and will lead a distinguished board and executive committee comprised of Adam Rothschild, Vice Chair and Chief Marketing Officer at Blue Owl Software; Jillian Mershon, Vice Chair and Director at Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation; Linda G. Blount, Secretary and President & CEO at Black Women’s Health Imperative; and Dr. Charu Raheja, Treasurer and CEO of TriageLogic Group. Unlike most boards, CHC’s board consists of more than 60 percent people of color and more than 50 percent women.

“It is both humbling and a great honor to lead such a diverse board of talented executives who share my passion and commitment to increase social impact, strengthen communities, and address health disparities,” said Kevin Clayton, CHC board chair. “I am incredibly proud of this organization and the bright future we have ahead of us.”

In his current role with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which includes all the Cavs’ properties and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Clayton leads the diversity, inclusion and engagement strategies, business imperatives which affect all areas of the team’s business and basketball operations. Clayton previously held leadership roles with Bon Secours Mercy Health, American Cancer Society, The U.S. Tennis Association, Russell Corporation, and Procter & Gamble.

“Kevin’s leadership and guidance have already had a profound impact on our awareness and understanding of the urgent need to use our resources and the power of our nonprofit and corporate partners to address health disparities in communities,” said Thomas G. Bognanno, CHC president and CEO. “He is the right leader at the right time in our organization’s history to help us continue to build stronger, healthier communities for all.”

Clayton grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and then attended North Carolina Central University. He received his BS in Business Administration, Management and Psychology from Wilmington College.

About Community Health Charities

For more than 65 years, Community Health Charities (CHC) has been creating stronger, healthier communities. We build capacity for nonprofits by raising awareness, amplifying their message, and driving more funds and supporters to their cause; increase employee engagement and social impact for companies through giving, volunteering, health resources, engagement tools, community partnerships, and more; bring leaders together at the national, regional, and local levels to educate, elevate key issues, and improve overall social impact and community health; build community partnerships to harness collective efforts and coalitions; working together to tackle projects that improve community health and address root causes at scale. Visit https://healthcharities.org or @healthcharities.

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“To put it in perspective, for every $100 worth of groceries a retiree could afford in 2000, they can only buy $70 worth today,” says Mary Johnson, Policy Analyst for the Senior Citizens League.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
May 12, 2020

Social Security benefits have lost 30 percent of buying power since 2000, according to the latest Social Security Loss of Buying Power study released today by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “This year’s study found a 3 percentage point gain in the buying power of Social Security benefits over 2019,” says study author Mary Johnson, a Social Security policy analyst for the League. “That should indicate that most retirees may have seen at least some prices come down on certain items — such as lower electric bills, as well as lower prices on eggs, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

“On the other hand, when there are lower prices — this is a signal of deflation — which means a lower cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is on the way,” Johnson says. This year’s 1.6 percent COLA was already low to begin with. “The recent unprecedented plunge oil prices have all but wiped out the prospect of a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for next year,” Johnson says.

The study, which examined price changes from January of 2019 to January of this year, found that, since 2000, the buying power of Social Security benefits improved 3 percentage points in 2020— from a loss of 33 percent as of 2019 to 30 percent in 2020. Between January of 2000 and January of 2020, Social Security COLAs increased Social Security benefits by 53 percent, but the costs of goods and services purchased by typical retirees rose almost twice as much — 99.3 percent. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs, housing, and homeowner’s insurance— were among the most rapidly – rising costs over the past year.

Based on consumer price index (CPI) data through April of this year, Johnson estimates that the COLA for 2020 will be zero. That estimate might change, since there are still five months of consumer price index data to be collected before the Social Security Administration announces the COLA in October.

Participants in The Senior Citizens League’s surveys indicate that household medical expenses consume a significant portion of their monthly income. More than 39 percent of respondents to a recent survey say that they spend more than $750 per month on all Medicare and other healthcare costs. In 2020, the average Social Security benefit is $1,460. The 1.6 percent COLA raised the average Social Security benefit by only $23.40 per month this year. The following chart illustrates ten of the fastest growing retiree costs since 2000.

A person who retired in 2000 with an average Social Security benefit of $816 per month — would have $1,246.20 per month by 2020. However, because retiree costs are rising at a substantially faster pace than the COLA, that individual would require a Social Security benefit of $380.00 more per month, or a total of $1,626.20 in 2020, just to maintain his or her 2000 level of buying power.

The study examined the increase in costs of 40 key items between 2000 and January 2020. The items were chosen because they are typical of the costs of most Social Security recipients, and include expenditures like the Medicare Part B premium, that are not measured by the index currently used to calculate the COLA. Of the 40 items analyzed, 26 exceeded the the COLA over the same period while 14 were lower than the COLA. “This study illustrates why legislation is needed to provide a more fair and adequate COLA,” Johnson says. “To put it in perspective, for every $100 worth of groceries a retiree could afford in 2000, they can only buy $70 worth today,” Johnson adds.

To help protect the buying power of benefits, TSCL supports legislation that would provide a modest boost in benefits and base COLAs on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) or guarantee a COLA no lower than 3 percent. To learn more, visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org.

With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Its mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.

ALSO AVAILABLE TO JOURNALISTS: Social Security Loss of Buying Power report including study methodology available for download.

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Dr. Kevin Postol

“I instantly realized – we know a lot of patients who no longer have use for their old CPAP machines, and there must be many more people in the community who may have old units or spare parts they would like to donate to such a cause.” – Dr. Kevin Postol

BALLWIN, Mo. (PRWEB)
April 16, 2020

Across the country, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals on the front lines lack proper personal protection equipment (PPE) equipment to protect themselves while providing life-saving care to patients affected by COVID-19. Dr. Kevin Postol of Ballwin, MO, has found a way to help.

Hunter Engineering and Washington University (under the directive of Dr. Jennifer Delaney) have teamed up to create a new powered air purifying respirator unit PAPR that can be utilized by medical teams treating COVID-19 positive patients. As the lack of N95 masks and face shields has reached critical levels, more and more healthcare teams are falling ill, thinning the lines of defense against the spread of the virus.

These PAPR units can be built using parts from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. CPAP units are often prescribed and issued to patients with sleep apnea, a condition that causes temporary cessation of breathing at night, to keep the patient’s airway open. However, due to their bulk, noise, and lack of comfort, thousands of these machines sit in homes unused. Some belong to patients from Dr. Postol’s practice.

“CPAP machines were the standard of care for sleep apnea for decades,” says Belinda Postol, who heads up the Sleep Disorder side of her husband’s thriving family dental office. “Today, sleep dentistry lets us treat sleep apnea using an oral appliance, meaning many of our patients are no longer using their old CPAP machines.”

The CPAP machine motors and tubing can be cleaned, disinfected, and repurposed in the PAPR production process. The PAPR units can then be distributed to hospitals to provide protection to healthcare professionals.

“We heard about the initiative being headed up by Hunter Engineering,” says Dr. Postol. “I instantly realized – we know a lot of patients who no longer have use for their old CPAP machines, and there must be many more people in the community who may have old units or spare parts they would like to donate to such a cause.”

Dr. Postol’s office is accepting donations of used CPAP machines and parts for recycling at their office starting April 15th. The office will accept these items Mondays through Thursdays from 9 am to 5 PM and using specialized protocols to protect both the public and themselves. The units and parts will be sent to aid in the PAPR production effort.

“At times like these, it’s all about working together – as a community and as a nation,” says Dr. Postol. “This is one thing we can do to help the brave men and women who are treating those who have fallen victim to this terrible virus. We look forward to seeing our practice family and the rest of our local community come together to be a part of this unprecedented recycling event.”

For more information, please contact Belinda Postol at (314) 922-5421‬.

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COVID-19 Risk Assessment

Our hope that this fast, free and comprehensive risk assessment tool will help save lives. Our plan is to continue to work alongside public health organizations to provide effective solutions that benefit society.

DANA POINT, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 14, 2020

SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. (SOE), a leading health care technology company, announced today that it is providing free online access to a comprehensive assessment questionnaire for anyone seeking an evaluation of their current level of risk related to the COVID-19 virus. The evidence-based tool was developed by medical experts based on the latest global data on the virus. It will help people make better personal health care decisions about their COVID-19 risk and will aid in efforts to combat the spread of the disease.

The online questionnaire helps determine an individual’s risk from possible exposure to COVID-19 by taking into account all the factors, stages and variances in symptoms to provide a perspective on their unique current status. As an evidence-based assessment, it focuses on the user’s history and symptoms and is a safe and effective means to help make prudent health care decisions in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool provides users with recommended possible next steps that they can explore as needed with a physician or other medical provider.

Since the assessment is performed online, users do not have to leave home, thus avoiding the risk of potential exposure involved with visiting a medical facility or lab. Results are displayed immediately at the conclusion of the assessment, providing the ability to review and download a full report. The report, along with a comprehensive list of current symptoms, can then be shared digitally with a physician in consultation on appropriate next steps. All personal information is completely secure and confidential utilizing SOE’s patented HIPAA compliant technology platform which adheres to the highest standards of data security. Data and results are private unless users specifically authorize access to their physician or other health care providers.

The evidence based online digital assessment is not a substitute for the biological test, but complementary to the biological test. Results are not binary (yes or no) like a biological test, but are a four-level risk assessment for infection: 1) Remote, 2) Possible, 3) Probable, or 4) Certain. One advantage of this assessment is that users only need to seek medical help in the case of “Certain Infection” or “Probable infection.” Moreover, the assessment can be taken any number of times as the situation changes.

“I have reviewed the questions and I have contributed to the development of this innovative tool,” said Dr. Venkatraman Sadanand, Pediatric Neurosurgeon and member of the SOE expert physician panel. “Some of my patients have taken this assessment, and the results are very accurate. I would recommend for anyone to take it, and based on the results discuss it with their personal physician.”

The assessment can be accessed at https://www.secondopinionexpert.com/covid19.

“We are pleased to leverage the power of our patented technology platform and medical expertise to help in the global fight against the spread of COVID-19,” said Steve Krause, President, SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. “Our hope that this fast, free and comprehensive risk assessment tool will help save lives. Our plan is to continue to work alongside public health organizations to provide effective solutions that benefit society.”

About SecondOpinionExpert

SecondOpinionExpert, Inc. (SOE) helps people make the best possible health care decisions through effective use of medical second opinions. Our patented technology makes it fast, easy and affordable to gain the perspective of a world-class, board-certified medical specialist on whatever medical decision is needed.

SecondOpinionExpert’s online technology increases the quality and efficiency of health care delivery, improves health care access, and empowers patients to make better informed medical decisions. The HIPAA-compliant platform leverages recent advancements in information technology and electronic medical record systems enabling the company to provide fast, reliable and secure online medical opinions. The system provides patients greater peace of mind in knowing that they have a medical expert’s perspective for their medical decisions.

SOE offers exclusive, one-on-one, professional diagnostic evaluations to patients across the United States and around the globe. We also offer attractive plans for utilizing second opinions as an employee benefit, which helps hold down rising health care premiums. Our skilled panel is comprised of hundreds of physician specialists with exemplary academic credentials as well as significant patient care experience in all major diagnostic specialties and subspecialties. Utilizing our patented processing technology and databases, our physicians can more efficiently and effectively review a patient’s prior tests and symptoms when writing a second opinion report. Thereafter, the patient may also request a secure teleconsult with the physician, to address any remaining questions. Our technology is available for use here in the US and worldwide. Our patent is also available to be licensed, and the platform can be customized for government, institutional or enterprise use.

Additional information can be found at http://www.secondopinionexpert.com

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Laura Titas

“The Foundation’s mission is deeply personal for me,” said Titas, who is a mother to three adopted daughters. “I’m humbled for the opportunity to serve on the board and make a difference for the tens of thousands of children in Canada in need of a permanent, loving family.”

BURLINGTON, Ontario (PRWEB)
April 08, 2020

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada recently welcomed Laura Titas, Chief Digital Experience Officer at The Wendy’s Company, as a member of its board of trustees. She will serve a three-year term.

“The Foundation’s mission is deeply personal for me,” said Titas, who is a mother to three adopted daughters. “I’m humbled for the opportunity to serve on the board and make a difference for the tens of thousands of children in Canada in need of a permanent, loving family.”

Titas joined Wendy’s in 2018 to lead the creation of cutting-edge digital experiences that add value to the customer. Prior to this role, she spent 11 years with Accenture, most recently serving as a managing director for the firm’s digital transformation practice in the Midwest.

“Laura is a visionary and collaborative leader with an incredible passion for foster care adoption and our signature cause, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption,” said Paul Hilder, Senior Vice President for Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada and Board Chairman for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada. “She will be an outstanding addition to the board.”

Through its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada provides funding to adoption agencies to hire recruiters who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. According to a five-year evaluation in the United States, the model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including older youth, sibling groups and children with special needs.

To date, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Ontario have found adoptive homes for 418 children, with another 71 in their pre-adoptive placements.

“Laura is a dynamic leader and committed advocate for the Foundation’s mission,” said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada. “I am grateful for her service on the board and look forward to working together to grow the Foundation’s impact in finding forever families for children in Canada’s foster care systems who need our help the most.”

Laura holds bachelor’s degrees in applied mathematics and statistics from the University of Rochester where she also minored in architecture, neuroscience and law. An active member in the community, she serves on several other boards and councils and is a leader in International Women’s Day.

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About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada is a nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 30,000 children waiting in Canada’s foster care system. Created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.ca.

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