Livingston Reporting - page 119

What Should You Know About Aging in Place?

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Financially, It’s Worth Tweaking

The average cost in the United States to live in an assisted living community is upwards of around thirty-six hundred dollars a month, that is roughly forty-two thousand dollars a year.  Age in place modifications for the average single-story home on the other hand are roughly between ten and fifteen thousand dollars.  That is one heck of a cost savings over the course of seven to ten years.  If simple age in place modifications can keep you at home even one year longer than you anticipated the amount you save is astronomical.

Don’t Over Complicate

Even the smallest updates can make a huge difference in how you co-exist with your home.  Start with something as little as replacing the hardware on doorknobs, cabinets, and more.  In bathrooms it is important to install sturdy grab bars, replace dual faucets with single-handled faucets, upgrade the toilet to a comfort height style, and increase the amount of lighting.  Kitchens are much like bathrooms with the addition of roll-out shelving and undercabinet lighting.

Renovate for Accessibility

Accessibility modifications are costlier than the previously mentioned simpler updates in hardware and lighting but can add more independent living years for you.   Consider installing a handicap ramp to entry ways with steps.  Depending on the length and incline needed a wheelchair ramp can be installed for under three thousand dollars.  Another common accessibility renovation that is recommended is the installation of a lip free shower.  If you choose custom-tiles, upgraded materials, fixtures, and fixings a custom, curb-free shower can run a family up to fifteen thousand dollars whereas simple, modular options run around three thousand dollars installed.

Think Bigger

Sometimes structural changes to the home are needed.  Some of these options can include widening doorways, creating a more open floor plan by eliminating walls, and event he addition of elevators in some cases.  If you are doing a major renovation to the home that is the time to think about the longevity of your life in the home.  It is less expense to do large structural changes while doing major renovations within your home.

Considering Using the Equity in Your Home

With the equity that has built up in your home over time there are multiple ways to pay for age in place modifications:

  • Cash-Out Refinance of Your Mortgage
  • A Home Equity Loan
  • Line of Credit
  • Reverse Mortgage

Glen Miller the Home Doctor is a licensed general contractor servicing Livingston County and the surrounding areas.  Glen offers a wide range of services including home maintenance plans, age in place remodeling, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, finished basements, and hardwood floor refinishing.  More information can be found online at https://www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/.

 

 

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

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What Can You Expect from Your Bankruptcy Attorney?

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated

One of the ways that people get out from under an oppressive debt is through filing for chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy.  Having debt discharged through bankruptcy can offer many people a great sense of relief.  The process itself however can be quite daunting without hiring a proper bankruptcy lawyer helping your through the process and forms.  When you are seeking an attorney’s assistance with the bankruptcy it is important to find one that offers you: competence, sound legal advice, preparedness, and representation.

Competence

Bankruptcy cases can range from straightforward to utterly complex.  The attorney you hire to handle your bankruptcy should have the skills that you need to have your bankruptcy proceed properly.  Your bankruptcy’s difficulty will range depending on a number of elements including:

  • The facts of your particular situation
  • The chapter of bankruptcy you are filing: chapter 7 or 13
  • The assets that will need to be sold
  • The status of employment and business ownership
  • The involvement of interested parties

Sound Legal Advice

Once you have established a relationship with a bankruptcy attorney a contract will be signed to specific the working agreement between you and your lawyer. This agreement will state what services you should expect that they will provide vs what you are to provide for yourself.  The first thing that your attorney will discuss with you is whether it is in your best interest to file for chapter 7, chapter 13, or another option.  This decision is based on what makes the most sense for you to achieve your financial goals. Your attorney should also brief you on what you can expect throughout the bankruptcy process along with the difficulties of your unique case.

Preparedness

Your attorney is in charge of making sure all of the paperwork that you need is filed and properly and within the timeline provided for your case.  You are required to disclose proper financial information to your attorney including: income, expenses, assets, and information pertaining to your debt.  Once this information has been received it will be processed and the two of you will review the information before it is filed.

You may be asked for more information by the court or the court’s trustee.  If you or your attorney fail to provide this information in a timely manner and you miss the deadline the following consequences may occur:

  • Delay in your bankruptcy proceedings
  • Dismissal of your case

Because of the serious nature of the consequences it is critical that the bankruptcy attorney you hire is diligent with paperwork and following required deadlines.

Representation

After the paperwork has been filed and the court has received everything it needs all debtors will be required to attend a hearing known as a 341 meeting of the creditors.  Depending on your case you or the bankruptcy attorney representing you may need to go to other hearings as well.  Your attorney will advise you when you meet with them on what type of hearings you will be required to attend.  Your bankruptcy lawyer should attend all hearings with you.  Some of these can include:

  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy confirmation hearing
  • Chapter 7 bankruptcy reaffirmation hearing
  • Motion/objection hearings

 

Bohikian Law Group specializes in bankruptcy services including chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy.  More information can be found at http://bohikianlaw.com.

 

Bohikian Law

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Just How Important is a Contact Page to a Website Afterall?

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

It’s obvious that your sites HOME page is the most important page of your web site design.  It is the landing page and will receive the most traffic of any of the pages within your website.  The second most important page, is often the most neglected when optimizing your site, can you guess what page we are talking about?  If you guessed the CONTACT page you are correct!  Consider the goal of most of the pages on your website are created for the sole purpose of getting clients to reach out to you in one way or another.  Yet the CONTACT page is most often the most underwhelming page on your website.

Considering that most CONTACT pages have very little information on them other than a basic fill information form, an email address, phone number, and perhaps a physical building address.  Face it, that information can be a bit unenticing for website visitors.  Since the goal of the page is to reach out and touch base with you, it is important that this page persuades them to do so.

Basic Contact Page Rules

Provide More Than One Method of Contact:

  • We have heard it over and over again that people hate being directed to fill out a standard, one-size fits all form on websites. We also get many businesses that don’t want to list their phone number because they don’t want to spend the day fielding phone calls.  It is crucial to the success of any company that they don’t focus too much on what they want but instead focus on the customer, CONTACT pages are made for your customers not you.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t want the phone number listed, if a customer prefers to call you then it is important they are able to easily do so.  Give your customers every option possible on your websites CONTACT page: include an easy fill form, an email, a phone number, a physical address, and any other method of contact that you know your customers desire.

Invite Customers to Contact You:

  • Even if the CONTACT page seems self-explanatory it is important to note that for visitors to your site its not that simple. Your site must include a message that is welcoming and invites visitors to contact you with whatever method they are comfortable in doing so.  I hear it all the time, “Just go ahead and slap up a contact form, people will know what to do.”  Even though we can assume that visitors will see information to contact you, it is important to make them feel as if you are really waiting for them to reach out.  Otherwise visitors may see the form as an abyss,
    • “We are happy you found us and look forward to hearing from you!”
    • “We are here to help, get in touch with us today and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible.”
    • “We value your questions and input, please reach out to us today.”

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or elaborate, just a welcoming message that lets visitors know their information will be followed up on.

Use Something Other Than “SUBMIT”:

  • More than one study has been done that shows website traffic is more likely to send information if the text button says something other than “submit”. Be more specific and illicit action: “Let’s Get Started Today”, “Send Your Message”, “Get in Touch with Us Today”, or any other way to get the message across.
Don’t Forget to Say Thanks:
  • A thank you page after visitors share their contact information with you is important for more than one reason. It not only allows you to keep track of conversions within Google Ads, it can also increase traffic to other pages on your site.  A well optimized thank you page should offer visitors suggestions on other areas of the site to interact with while they are waiting to hear from you.

As the second most visited page to most websites, the contact page is an important aspect to remember when optimizing your company’s website.  With proper optimization to this single page you can increase contacts and isn’t that the reason we have websites to begin with, more contacts equal greater business opportunities.

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more.  More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.

 

Creative Programs and Systems

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Options in Radiation Therapy Delivery

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month?  Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that is treated in the United States with over 250,000 new cases being diagnosed each year.   It is estimated that this year, 2018 we will have approximately 1,735,350 cases of cancer diagnosed.  With this number expected to continue to grow, the techniques used in delivering radiation therapy, the most popular treatment option, are continuing to advance.

Radiation treatment for cancers of all types may be delivered externally or internally.  With external radiation a beam of high-energy rays is directed towards the tumor from outside of the body.  This delivery is most often done using a large piece of equipment known as a linear accelerator or LINACS for short.  Internal radiation, brachytherapy, requires the implantation of seeds containing radioactive material to be place in or near the cancer.  Another method of delivering radiation in cases of cancers like that found within the thyroid is sent directly into the vein.  Treatment options for cancer continue to advance as better methods are found to deliver radiation without causing harm to healthy cells surrounding the cancerous tissues.

EBRT – External Beam Radiation Therapy

Linear accelerators are used to deliver external beam radiation therapy.  Radiation is delivered from outside of the body by penetrating cancerous cells with high-energy external radiation beams.  This dense radiation beam is used to kill or shrink the cancerous tumor without harming healthy tissues.  Linear accelerators allow for a more precise treatment of radiation which leads to fewer side effects.  EBRT is most often prescribed on an outpatient basis for upwards of eight weeks.

3D-CRT – Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy

Another method of EBRT is done using a specialized computed tomography scan, CT scanner and targeting computer.  This radiation treatment gives oncologists the ability to perform three-dimensional conformal radiation.  This type of therapy reduces damage to healthy tissues while delivering a higher dose of radiation to the target area.

IMRT – Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

IMRT is another three-dimensional option in radiation therapy.  It gives the oncologist the ability to customize the doses given to each area of the tumor.  Using computer-controlled sections that are movable, radiation is delivered.  The sections are used to adjust the amount od radiation that is given at any one time.  They can block or allow radiation beams through to the treatment area.  The sections are adjusted to the size, shape, and location of the tumor.  It is similar to an adjustable showerhead where the streams of water can be adjusted, some areas offer thicker streams than others.

IGRT – Image-Guided Radiation Therapy

IGRT is a fairly new radiation treatment.  This type of therapy involves a number of images to be taking during the radiation treatment.  Computers compare the original images that were taken during the planning phase with the images that are coming through during treatment for comparison.  This allows the patient’s body position to be adjusted to shift treatment to the exact location of the tumor.  This treatment increases the accuracy of radiation while providing documentation within degrees of accuracy.  Image-guided radiation therapy can be used along with EBRT, 3D-CRT, and IMRT.

IORT – Intraoperative Therapy

Treatment using intraoperative therapy is delivered directly to the cancerous tumor during surgery.  This allows a higher dose of radiation to be delivered directly to the cancer while decreasing the exposure of radiation to healthy tissues.  These healthy tissues can be moved and shielded during surgery and exposure to radiation.  IORT is often used in cancers that are localized, difficult to remove, and have a high risk of reoccurring.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is also known as internal radiation.  Seeds of radioactive materials are implanted directly into or near the cancer.  This type of radiation therapy is often given when an additional dose of radiation is needed during EBRT but can also be used alone.  Overtime if the seeds are not removed the radioactive material will diminish, it can also be removed after a specific period of time.  This is dependent on the treatment plan for each unique patient and cancer.  Often Brachytherapy is used in treating prostate, cervix, uterine, vaginal, head, neck, and breast cancer.

SRS – Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Most widely used in treating brain tumors, arteriovenous malformation, and other selected conditions, SRS is a non-invasive option.  It delivers a high dose of radiation to a super defined area.  This type of radiation treatment delivers what is normally spread out amongst weeks of treatment in just one single treatment.  It can also be in a fractional manner over just a few weeks.

As an independent LINAC service company, Acceletronics is dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and services for linear accelerators and CT scanners across all major brands and models, as well as new and refurbished LINAC systems for sale.  More information can be found online at https://www.acceletronics.com/.

Acceletronics

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Custom Website Design for Growing Businesses

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Business of all sizes can benefit from custom web design services.  Small businesses, or growing businesses as we prefer to call them are just one set of the many clients that we can help improve their online positioning and presence with a website customized to their unique business needs.  The professional web development team at Creative Programs and System understand the needs of growing businesses as we are a growing company ourselves.

 

As a growing business we understand that expenses are everywhere and thus understand the importance of affordable services.  A website does not have to cost tens of thousands of dollars to be exceptional.  We are able and willing to work with small, independent business owners looking for an ecommerce site to sell their art and large scaled, international corporations. There are a number of companies that are not interested in working or designing websites for companies that are not looking to exhaust their budget on a website, which is most often a template anyway.  You won’t find that at CPS; we believe custom websites should be designed specifically with our clients wants and needs in mind.

 

Of course, there are more factors to who you hire to design your website than cost.  However, even if you don’t have a ten-thousand-dollar budget it is important to note you often get what you pay for when it comes to $500/cheap, template websites. You must understand what you are agreeing to before you sign a contract to design or re-design a website.  Some companies can offer low cost websites because they are purchasing templates and fitting your business needs into the template.  This is not the ideal type of site for most growing businesses.

 

Additional services can add to the total budget needed for a new website.  If you are looking to add in services such as logo design, content creation, and in-depth search engine research and development it is important to note that these services are an additional fee above and beyond the initial design and development of your website.  If you are looking into additional services, it may be important to consider your site development in stages.

 

When you meet with professional website developers it is important to consider their professional advice.  Some fancy features may not be only be unaffordable, they may also detract visitors.  Flash, reverse type, awkward navigation, music, videos, and other special effects actual cause a distraction and have been proven over and over again to not add the expected value.  When planning your strategy online with a limited budget these are options to skip, even with an unlimited budget some of them should be avoided.

 

Your website should be all about your customers. It is easy to get swept up in what you think is desirable but in reality, the only thing that is important is what your customers want.  Remember, most customers are looking for information and outcomes.  If they want to purchase a new car, they are looking at your site for valuable information on the product and how to easily go about obtaining it.  All website design should consider what the customer is looking to obtain from it and be designed around this.

 

Content is a key element not only for your customers value but also for search engine rankings.  When creating content or having content created for your company it is important to take into consideration what your customers are looking for and how your content can answer this need. If your visitors find the information on your site reliable and useful they are more likely to become a customer over those that cannot find answers to what they are looking for.

 

 

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more.  More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.

Creative Programs and Systems

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Vision Correction Surgery: What You Should Know About Cataract Surgery

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

One of the benefits of aging is the amazing side effects it has on our bodies!  Of course, we are being sarcastic however, it is true that as your age increases so do the ailments that affect us.  One of the most common side effects of aging is the development of cataracts.

 

Cataracts are described as a cloudiness on the lens inside your eye.  Often the loss of vision due to cataracts cannot be corrected with the use of contacts, glasses or corneal refractive surgery, LASIK.  We know this sounds scary at first.  However, vision can be restored when it is lost because of cataracts with modern cataract surgery.  Surgery for cataracts often reduce the dependence on vision correction methods as well.

 

As previously mentioned cataracts are most often associated with the process of aging.  Cataracts are more common to seniors and in fact up to 70% of Americans over 80 have been affected by cataracts.  This number is expected to continue to increase in the years ahead.  This is just one of the reasons eye surgeons have taken modernizing cataract surgery so seriously.  It is expected that the population of the United States affected by cataracts is to nearly double by the middle of the century.

 

One of the safest, most effective, widely performed surgical procedures now-a-days is cataract surgery. Three million cataract surgeries are performed each and every year, the majority resulting in unparalleled visual outcomes.

 

During cataract surgery the cloudy lens inside the patient’s eye is removed and replace with an intraocular lens, IOL.  This artificial lens helps to restore clear vision.  The surgical procedure is most often performed on an outpatient basis and doesn’t require the patient to stay overnight.  Modern cataract surgery involves the use of a high-frequency ultrasound that is used to break the cloudy lens into small pieces that can be removed.

 

Modern cataract removal is known as phacoemulsification, phaco for short, and is performed using smaller incisions than used in previous cataract techniques which allow for faster healing times and a reduction in the risks such as retinal detachment that can occur as a complication of cataract surgery.

 

Once all of the remnants of the cloud have been removed from the lens the surgeon then inserts the clear intraocular lens.  It is positioned in the same location as your natural lens, behind the iris and pupil.  Special circumstances may require the lens be placed in front of the iris and pupil, but this is not common.

 

Once the cataract surgeon has removed the cataract and finished the IOL implant procedure with the closing of the incision that was made to your eye a protective shield is put into place over the eye.  This shield is in place to protect the eye as you recover from surgery.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to suit your lifestyle and visual needs.  As a leader in laser vision correction and cataract surgery, our goal is to help you achieve the best vision possible without glasses or contact lenses.  More information can be found online at https://michiganlasik.com.

 

Michigan Lasik

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Wedding Consultants: Helping Brides Through Issues They Probably Haven’t Even Thought of Yet

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

No matter how prepared a bride and groom are there will always be circumstances outside of their control when it comes to planning for the big day.  To prepare yourself we have come up with a list of issues our brides and grooms have run into and how to handle them if (when) you run into them while planning your wedding.

Awkwardness in the Workplace:

  • In wedding planning there will always be people that think that they should have been invited to your special day. A lot of brides and grooms struggle with invitations for their boss and coworkers.  As a couple you are under absolutely no obligation to invite anyone to your wedding.  The best way to avoid awkwardness is to address the issue head on letting people know that it is nothing personal but that your wedding invitations are being limited only to family and close family friends.  This will help people understand why they have not received an invitation.  If you are not going to be inviting people from your workplace to the wedding it is best to keep wedding talk to a minimum.

Bridesmaids and Groomsman Budgets:

  • There is a slight chance you may hear some grumbles when it comes to the expenses associated with taking part in your wedding. When you consider the costs associated with being in a wedding don’t forget to consider all of the parties, the attire, the presents, and everything in between.  It is important that as the bride and groom you take them into consideration as you are choosing attire.  Try to choose a style that is affordable and that they may be able to use again.  Black suits for gentleman and simple, yet stylish dresses can be perfectly suitable.  If you are a bride that always dreamed of glitz and flash (otherwise a dress that will never be worn again) consider offering to split the expense.

RSVPs:

  • This is the absolute worst part of wedding planning for most couples, getting people to respond! If the date you expected the RSVP’s back has come and gone it is time to get on the phone.  Never assume that those guests are not coming instead reach out and touch base with them or if it is a family friend have your parents reach out.  When it comes to a final head count it is better never to assume that people are not coming.  If you cannot reach them error on the side of caution.  It is better to have more food than and seats than not enough!

Toasts:

  • This is another tricky area to regulate and thankfully that is why you have hired people. To avoid the scenario of drunken, inappropriate toasts, or toasts from any guest who can get a hold of the microphone speak to your DJ and wedding coordinator about the “rules” of the microphone.  Make sure they understand that under no circumstance should the microphone be handed over to any other guests than the ones that have already been preapproved by the two of you.

There are so many little things that can and will go wrong.  Some you may know about; others may be hidden from you because after all you shouldn’t worry…It’s Your Day!  Whatever happens it is important to remember at the end of the day the only aspect that is truly important is that the two of you become one.

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at http://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Event Planning DC

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Well Water: Removing Iron from Your Homes Water

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are many issues that can affect your homes water with the two most common being hard water and increased iron levels.   Using the correct water filtration system, iron can be removed from your well water in a simple and efficient manner.  Water treatment systems such as water softeners and water filtration units are most often the ideal choice for homeowners looking to remove iron while reverse osmosis units are more ideal for the removal of harmful minerals and other substances.  Your homes water must be analyzed before homeowners can determine what water treatment option should be installed to properly treat their unique water supply.

 

As mentioned above, if your homes water is affected by iron the two best options in treating your water are the installation of a water softener and/or a filtration unit.   When a water softener is installed it is important for the homeowner to know what minerals are in the water.  When an excess amount of iron is found in the water it is important that the water softener that is installed that exclusively removes iron from the water source.  Water softeners use a process in which iron in the water is replaced with healthier minerals.  The drawback is that if the water also contains more harmful materials such as arsenic or sulfur a water softener may not be the right choice for treating your water supply.

 

If you are restricting your sodium a water softener that uses potassium chloride will offer you similar results without the use of salt.  Other methods of removing a high iron content from your water are oxidation filtration and reverse osmosis.

 

Oxidation filtration is used to not only remove iron from your water but also arsenic.  Oxidation filters are more powerful than water softeners and therefore chemical elements such as arsenic are removed when they are used to treat your water.  An oxidation filtration system can also help homeowners who have a problem with water that smells like rotten eggs or a unique flavor, both caused by sulfur in the water.  Increased arsenic levels are common in well water.

 

Another option as mentioned above is a reverse osmosis filtration system.  RO filters are used in water that has a number of different trace mineral elements including: iron, salt, arsenic, fluoride, lead, and manganese.   The one drawback of using reverse osmosis when treating your homes water supply is that not only does the process remove harmful minerals, it can also eliminate good minerals, such as calcium, that is naturally in your water.

 

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more.  More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

Reynolds Water

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Radiation Therapy: Equipment Used by Veterinarians

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

When many of us think of cancer and how it affects us and the lives we lead we are more often than not picturing human patients however, we are not the only ones that affected by cancer.  Today’s post is all about cancer in our pets and how their treatment includes similar treatment plans and medical equipment.  Just like in the treatment of cancer within humans, pets use radiation therapy in various forms to shrink and kill tumors.

 

Radiation therapy delivered to pets can take various forms with the most common form of radiation treatment being delivered via linear accelerators with multi-leaf collimators.  The multi-leaf collimator moves while the radiation treatment is on and being delivered to the patient.  This allows the radiation therapist to sculpt the treatment around the tumor with very little damage done to cells outside of the area.

 

Another form of radiation therapy that is used to administer radiation treatment to pets and humans alike is Cyberknife, a linear accelerator that is paired with a robotic arm.  This combination allows the machine to move around the patient.  The radiation beam is turned off and on and is able to deliver radiation to the tumor from several angles.  This ensures that the treatment conforms to the shape of the tumor within your pet.

 

Treatment can also be delivered through a Tomotherapy machine.  A Tomotherapy unit is best described as a mix between a LINAC and CT scanner.  It allows an image to be taken of the tumor right before radiation treatment is delivered.  The therapist uses the images that are produced to guide radiation treatment to the tumor.

 

Tumors of the brain are treated with a very specific method of radiation known as the Gamma Knife.  The word knife in the name may lead you to believe that cutting is involved however this is not the case.  What occurs in Gamma Knife treatment is that very high doses of radiation are delivered to a very specific location on the brain while avoiding normal brain tissue.

 

As with humans, radiation therapy can be prescribed to pet patients through a variety of methods.  One method is known as hyper-fractionated which means that many small doses of radiation are delivered to the pet with the goal being complete eradication of the tumor.  This method is most often considered after surgery has been performed when there are small bits of the tumor left behind.  Another method is known as hypo-fractionated in which radiation therapists use large doses of radiation in order to treat tumors that cannot be removed through surgery.

 

A more advanced scheme of delivering radiation treatment are Stereotactic Radiation Therapy, SRT.  This includes both SRS, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, and SBRT, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.  These methods both deliver high doses of radiation in one, two, or three treatments.

 

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment.  Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

RadParts

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Avoiding Late Enrollment Penalties

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

No one wants to pay more for something than they need to.  This is true of all things, Medicare included.  To avoid having to pay late enrollment fees when enrolling in Medicare and Medigap there are a few important dates to keep track of.

Three months BEFORE you are to turn 65, you should start receiving information about Medicare’s open enrollment period.  The enrollment period lasts for the three months before, the month of, and for the three months after your 65th birthday.  If participants enroll outside of this period, they are subjected to a late enrollment penalty.

Enrollees should understand that there are several different late penalty fees that can apply.  If enrollment is delayed for Medicare Parts A, B, and D a late penalty fee can incur.

Late Enrollment Penalty – Medicare Part A

Most often participants automatically qualify and are enrolled in Medicare Part A when the patient turns 65.  Medicare Part A is premium-free health care.  Automatic enrollment occurs if the participant or their spouse worked at least ten years in the United States.  If participants do not meet this requirement a premium must be paid when they become eligible, otherwise a late enrollment penalty applies.  This penalty increases the monthly penalty up to ten percent.  The premium increase will need to be covered for double the number of years in which you could have had Medicare Part A but didn’t.

Medicare Part B – Late Enrollment Penalty

 Medicare Part B works similarly to Medicare Part A.  Most participants are automatically enrolled in Part B.  If you are not automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B you must enroll when the participant becomes eligible.  If you do not enroll within the allotted time frame enrollees will be required to pay a late fee.  The penalty has the potential to increase up to ten percent for every year the participant could have signed up but did not.  Medicare Part B is elective coverage.  Enrollees are not required to participate in Medicare Part B, but it is encouraged.

Late Enrollment Penalty – Medicare Plan D (Medigap – Prescription Drug Coverage)

Participants are not automatically enrolled in and must take the initiative to enroll in Plan D, prescription drug coverage within the same open enrollment period of Medicare Part A and B.  If enrollees do not sign up during this period of time and do not have any other credible prescription drug coverage a late enrollment penalty will apply.  The Medigap Plan D penalties are a bit more complicated then those associated with Original Medicare.  Plan D’s enrollment penalty multiples one percent of the national base beneficiary premium times the number of months that participants were not enrolled in prescription coverage.

Exceptions

Some participants may qualify for a special enrollment period.  This occurs if enrollees are eligible for Medicare but choose not to participate because you are still working.  This situation exempts Medicare participants from penalties.

The experts at eMedigap Plans, powered by Omega, have all the answers you are looking for when it comes to your Medigap Supplemental Insurance needs.  More information can be found at http://emedigap-plans.com.

Medigap Insurance Plans

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