6 Reasons Your Family Should Invest in a Pool

 

Imagine the perfect summer afternoon with your family. The sky is blue, the lemonade is sweet, and your kids are playing catch in the backyard. While this scene may look a bit like paradise, you know what's missing? A pool for you all to jump into together.

Depending on how you grew up, a pool is either viewed as an extravagant luxury or a bonafide necessity. But whether you have one or not, here are a few reasons you should consider building one.

1. To Destress Your Life

Sure, you could invest in a few massages a month along with some sleep medicine and a therapist, but wouldn't it be easy (and more fun) to just toss your kids in the pool? You'll get to enjoy their unbridled laughter as they jump off the diving board and play Marco Polo on those hot Spring mornings. Moreover, the exercise you get from a few laps in the pool doesn't just help your body but strengthens your mind too. So if you're looking for an excuse to invest in a pool, just tell people it's for your health.

2. It'll Make Bedtime Easier

If your kids are still under the age of ten (or just act like it), you know all too well the struggles that bathtime can produce. There's the arguing, the pleading, and then possibly the crying, as they tell you over and over again how they're not tired. A pool changes all that. A few hours in the pool with your kids will make your kids beg for bedtime, and it will also help you and them sleep better as a result.

3. To Create Memories

You don't have to go all over the world to create memories that will last a lifetime; pack up a lunch and have a "staycation" in your backyard with your new pool! They're great for group activities, inviting your friends over for a bar-b-q, or just lounging, but no matter what you use it for, it's guaranteed to fill your life with favorite stories from your time spent in the backyard.

4. To Help With Fitness

For the same reason that adding a pool will help get your kids ready for bedtime, a pool is also a fun and efficient way to get a great workout. Not only does it provide a ton of variation and engage your whole body, it's also very easy on your joints and doesn't require any equipment outside of the pool itself. In addition to that, a pool will also help with your child's fitness as well, since they will learn to enjoy being outside rather than indoors all summer. In a day and age where childhood obesity is on the rise, this is one fact that can't afford to be ignored.

5. To Increase the Value of Your Home

Ok, let's get practical here. Besides the memories and the fitness aspect, a pool is also a fantastic investment into your home's property value. If you live in a neighborhood where every other house has a pool, adding one of your own can increase the value of the house by as much as 7%, despite it being somewhat expensive to build in the first place (it varies by area, so make sure to check your local inground pool prices).. While a pool should not necessarily be seen as an investment per se, there's no denying that if added appropriately, it can add a tremendous value to your property.

6. To Have Fun With the Grandkids

If you're up in age, having a pool might be something you think is silly to even consider. Sure, it could be used for some great aquatic therapy if you suffer from things like osteoarthritis, but that's a sizeable expense for a single purpose. Here's another: Grandkids. If you're fortunate enough to have grandchildren that live even remotely in the area, having a pool is like a magnet: not only will they want to come over, but they'll most likely want to stay for a while too. What could be more fun than that?

 

Where Do Hospitals Store Patient Information?

Because of its sensitive nature, many hospital patients assume their personal information is safe and secure. Unfortunately, though, data breaches in the medical industry is a common occurrence. In 2015, the health insurance provider Anthem suffered a massive cyber attack in which the personal records of some 78.8 million patients were disclosed. In 2017, Morehead Memorial Hospital of North Carolina said a hacking incident resulted in the disclosure of some 66,000 patient records.

Because of the increased number of data breaches in recent years, many patients wonder where and how hospitals store their personal information. While different hospitals have different policies regarding the creation and storage of Protected Health Information (PHI), most use a few basic storage platforms.

Cloud Service

Many hospitals store patient information on the cloud. In fact, research cited by Forbes suggests that 83 percent of information technology (IT) professionals in the healthcare industry use cloud apps. Storing patient information on the cloud offers several advantages over local storage. When information is uploaded to the cloud, the practitioner or his or her associates can access it from any internet-connected computer. Cloud storage also reduces overhead costs associated with maintaining a local IT infrastructure.

Local Hardware

Even with a cloud service, however, hospitals often store patient information on local hardware. If the cloud service experiences an outage, this allows the hospital to continue its normal operations without any disruption of service. Normally, this data is encrypted to provide a higher level of security. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) doesn't require medical practitioners to encrypt patient information, but it does require them to implement technical safeguards to protect sensitive records from disclosure. Encryption is one of the most effective technical safeguards as it scrambles the patient's information so that it can't be deciphered without a decrypt key.

Some hospitals also have databases designed specifically for storing electronic health records. Patient information is uploaded to the database, after which the medical practitioner can log in through a secure portal to access it. This eliminates the need for a large file room consisting of thousands of folders. Hospitals can simply create and store patient information on a database instead of keeping physical files.

Medical Imaging Storage Solutions

Patient information consists of more than just names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and health insurance identifiers. It also consists of medical images like CT scans, x-rays and MRI scans. When a hospital creates medical images such as these, it must store them in a safe and secure environment.

There are multiple storage solutions available for medical images, one of which is a Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA). This framework involves the use of a special device that stores medical images in a universal format with a universal interface so that other systems can easily access it. By using a VNA, hospitals can ensure that all medical practitioners can easily access a patient's medical images if needed.

Business Associates

Under HIPAA, medical practitioners -- known as covered entities -- are allowed to share patient information with third-party entities if those entities take the appropriate measures to protect the information from unauthorized use or disclosure. If a hospital is seeking advice on how to treat a rare disease from which a patient is suffering, for example, it may share the patient's information with a research organization or another medical practice. HIPAA allows hospitals to share patient information, but only if they implement physical, technical and administrative safeguards, which are the same requirements for covered entities.

The old days of storing patient information in paper files are long gone. Most hospitals have switched to electronic storage solutions, including those mentioned here. It reduces overhead, improves accessibility and offers a more secure storage environment.

AI, Transhumans, and RFID: Trending Business Technologies

Business technology is constantly evolving to be as cutting edge and efficient as possible. In some industries, the resources to implement new technologies can be scarce. But as consumers become more and more involved with technology in their daily lives, businesses must keep up the pace. New technologies are rapidly changing the business landscape. While your business may not have the latest and greatest yet, it's good practice to get familiar with the best business technologies of the future. This way, your business can be best positioned for technologies to adopt. Here are a few new technologies that will change the way we work:

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI for short) is more than just a business buzzword. With AI, companies can quickly analyze aggregated content and read the reports on user-friendly business intelligence dashboards. These dashboards translate the AI findings into real, usable metrics that help businesses strategize efficiently.

2. Automation

While automation is nothing new, how things are being automated is. Think self-driving cars, drones delivering packages, and other forms of previously human-centered tasks. Although a lot of people fear automation, it's actually a great thing for the economy and jobs in general.

3. Virtual workforce

Working from home has become more and more popular. Since we no longer need to be in a physical office to have access to technology, people are expanding their remote work locations. Beyond working from home in stretch pants, people are taking their business laptops all over the world to maximize their work-life balance.

4. Digital transactions

Even if you own a brick-and-mortar store, you may find that there's an increasing appetite for digital forms of payment. Whether customers want to pay with an app on their phone or with a digital currency, stores are equipping themselves with technology that allows customers to leave their wallets at home.

5. Transhumans

This one is a little far into the future, but a transhuman is a human enhanced by technology. This hybrid of human and technology can be achieved by implants or wearable devices, with the goal being a more efficient employee. One case study followed truck drivers to monitor for signs of drowsiness to prevent accidents.

6. Interactive experience

While going into a store is interactive, the interactive experience of the future is much more tech-heavy. As Amazon beta tests cashier-free stores and Disney uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to enhance guest experience, more small businesses will get in on the action. An interactive experience can provide a personalized, data-driven experience for customers. The goal, of course, is to increase sales and reduce overhead costs. The start up costs for an Amazon-like or Disney-like experience are sure to be steep at first. But as we see more retailers and entertainment companies using these technologies, it will undoubtedly become mainstream and may even find its way into the workplace.

As technology continues to touch each point of human life, business owners and individuals need to be responsible. There are many unknowns when it comes to merging technology with human life. From a social and physical perspective, the long-term effects of sophisticated technology on human beings is not yet know. But there's no reason to be afraid. Technology has made huge, life-saving changes for many people. Giving doctors and scientists new tools to improve health is just one example. As employers get in on the business technology game, the hope is that employers will do so responsibly. Rather than looking for just another way to cut corners, technology may be best used to improve and enhance the quality of life for employees. Research shows that happier employees make for more productive employees.

5 Common SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Search engines are one of the predominant methods consumers use to find products and services. 40,000 Google searches are made every second. That translates to 3.5 billion searches in a single day. Search engines are amazing tools that can be used to find exactly what consumers want.

Despite the power of search engines, many businesses still struggle to appear in search results relevant to their products or industry. This can be extremely frustrating. It can also have a devastating effect on your bottom line if you use your website to sell your products or services.

What you may not know is that you could be making a common SEO mistake. SEO, of course, stands for search engine optimization and is the strategy website owners use to get their websites ranked in search results. Below are a few rookie SEO mistakes you should be sure to avoid.

Accidentally Cannibalizing Your Keywords

One mistake many newcomers make is creating on-page keyword cannibalization. This occurs when multiple pages on a website are optimized for the same keyword. This can cause issues for Google’s algorithm.

First, you could be punished by the algorithm for “keyword stuffing.” Second, Google won’t necessarily be able to tell which page you want ranked the highest for that keyword. The website that is ranked may be one you didn’t actually intend to focus on. To avoid cannibalizing your keywords, you must vary the keywords used on different pages and use inserted links pointing back to the page you want ranked when you do use it on other pages.

Not Localizing Your SEO

One of the focuses of your search engine optimization efforts should be localization. Localization refers to the strategy of targeting a specific geographic location. If you have brick and mortar locations, localization is absolutely vital to the success of your online marketing.

Think, for example, if you only focused on keyword terms like “pizza parlor” for you pizza delivery business in Toledo. In all likelihood, the actual search term Toledo citizens would use to find a pizza place that delivers is “Toledo pizza delivery.” Your business may get lost in the shuffle entirely as a result. 50 percent of people who make a search with local intent visit a store within 24 hours.

Not Analyzing Your Traffic

Analytics is an extremely important part of SEO. Without it, there’s no way to gauge how successful your efforts have been. If you keep a tab on your traffic using a tool like Google analytics, you’ll be able to find out exactly how many people from where are using what keywords to find what pages on your website.

You may be surprised at the results. People could be using a keyword you had never actually considered before. This might be good information to use to make adjustments to your SEO strategy. As many as 50 million websites use Google Analytics.

Creating Your Own Backlinks

It is true that backlinks, or links pointing back to you on other websites, are factored into Google’s algorithm to help determine search engine rankings. However, you want to obtain backlinks organically from websites that are actually independent from you. Google’s algorithm has been getting increasingly good at spotting fraudulent attempts to acquire backlinks. If you do abuse your acquisition of backlinks, you could be delisted from Google entirely.

Your Content Does Not Match Your Keywords

Google’s algorithm is becoming increasingly sophisticated. One thing Google has been trying to do is penalize websites that advertise content that does not actually exist. Make sure the content you do publish on your websites is relevant to the keywords you deploy in your SEO strategy.

Overall, SEO isn’t necessarily easy. You need to be extremely careful and perhaps even meticulous about how you search engine optimize your website. If you aren’t careful, it may be virtually impossible to find your website on Google, Bing and other major search engines.

A Soccer Mom's Survival Guide

Ever thought about how challenging it is to be a soccer mom? Well, you're not alone. Thousands embark on the journey every year of daily soccer practice and weekend journeys to neighboring cities, some more experienced and effective than others. Here are just a few of the most frequently discussed issues that have come up concerning the survival of a soccer mom.

Know the Weather

Depending on where you live in the country, and further the extent to which your children’s team will travel to compete in games, the weather may be dramatically different. One of the aspects of soccer that is unique to other sports is that it is outdoors and will last for a specified length regardless of how the game is being played (two fixed-interval periods). Depending on the location, this can mean up to two hours per game in 110 degree sweltering heat, or likewise the same amount of time in freezing cold temperatures. In order to prepare for this, it is necessary that you ensure your comfortability by not only checking the weather frequently for the game location, but also preparing your attire to suit the occasion. Some more unique items that have been discussed in the past include hand warmers, Lava Buns, and headbands for cold weather environments while sunglasses and neck coolers are more suitable for the warmer temperatures.

Transportation

Eventually every soccer mom realizes that taking the kids to and from the game is just the first part of the story, as multitudes of practice times and post-game parties make a reliable form of transportation a necessity. This is a primary reason why especially soccer moms who have multiple children playing the sport invest in cars like the Kia Sedona, whose sheer size itself gives you the ability to fit more than one soccer star comfortably while transporting them to and from their practices and games.

Seating

While some local venues are better than others, often times youth soccer is played in a setting which is consistent with some sort of youth park, with very limited seating offered if any at all. Thus, unless you are akin to sitting on the grass for two hours at a time, Folding camping chairs are a sideline necessity in the eyes of many. Often times they are relatively cheap, but truly do go a long way in ensuring that you are at least comfortable in watching your child play without having to worry about being the first one at the site to get a good view.

First-Aid Items

While it is generally assumed that it is the responsibility of the coach to ensure the safety of the players during the time they are at games and practices, some are better than others at backing this up. Furthermore, the younger the children are, the more likely that their coach is an ill-equipped father who had to volunteer to coach the team because no one else would and he may be too focused on what is going on on the field in order to deal with a bloody nose or a scraped knee on the sideline. Most of the fundamental items prove necessary at one point or another, such as Band- Aids, Kleenex, and Dermoplast (which, although painful initially, will really go a long way). The availability of First- Aid items also ensures that you are doing anything possible in order to keep your child on the field in a safe manner.

As you can see, the challenges that some face as a soccer mom are more widespread and complex than initially perceived. However with the help of this information and associated guides to survival, the task proves easier by each passing soccer season.

Holistic Practices to Implement While Pregnant

Holistic medicine has been around for thousands of years, but it is only in recent years that it has been accepted into the mainstream as an effective way to treat pain and cure illnesses. The sad reality is that many of us are living with pain and discomfort that doesn't seem to have a simple resolution. Alternative medicine is rising in popularity and can help you feel more energized, pain-free, and overall in better health. Holistic medicine also uses natural approaches to pain and illness that provide the optimal healing power that our bodies need. During pregnancy avoiding harsh medicines and chemicals is essential to ensure your child’s correct development. Below are popular holistic and natural methods to use that will boost healing and enliven your mind and body.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is the treatment of disease by using the smallest possible amount of an ingredient to help treat an illness, even when the ingredient can be a contributing factor to the illness. There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies including mineral, plant, and animal-based substances. Popular homeopathic substances include activated charcoal, caffeine, garlic, fresh herbs, crushed bees, poison ivy, and stinging nettle plants. The substances are turned into usable forms such as tablets, creams, and drops. Those who suffer from fatigue, insomnia, and food or seasonal allergies can greatly benefit from homeopathic remedies.

Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is one of the oldest holistic remedies in existence. Essential oils can be used to treat a variety of ailments including insomnia, depression, anxiety, headaches, toothaches, and muscle pain. Some of the most popular essential oils for illnesses include peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, lemon, frankincense, clove, and chamomile. Oil can be mixed with a carrier oil and directly applied to the skin for topical relief, or added to bath water and air diffusers.

Natural Skin Care Products
Most of us use cosmetic products on our skin daily, but these products can be filled with ingredients and chemicals that are toxic and may actually be causing more harm than good. The vast majority of commercially-produced skin care products contain artificial colors, fragrances, stabilizers, and preservatives. These toxins are absorbed through the skin and can negatively affect the entire body. Holistic products for the skin include coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, avocado, raw honey, and jojoba oil. For acne-prone or oily skin, Aztec healing clay can be used to absorb oils and remove impurities. To use, simply mix the powder with water or apple cider vinegar and apply as a mask to the face. The clay detoxifies the skin naturally by creating an electrical charge when it contacts liquid.

Acupressure Therapy
Acupressure has been around for over 5,000 years and was developed in China. The therapy uses precise finger pressure and placement to improve blood circulation, release tension, and promote life-energy. This energy is released and aids in healing, relaxation, and body restoration. Acupressure therapy is used for a variety of conditions which include muscle pain, motion sickness, emotional stress, headaches, nausea, and addiction recovery.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy involves exercise in warm water. It is a popular way to alternatively treat neurological and muscular conditions and has been in practice for thousands of years. Physiopedia states that hydrotherapy benefits the body by blocking nociceptive pain and acting on thermal receptors and mechanoreceptors. The warmth of the water also stimulates blood flow and aids in muscle relaxation. The hydrostatic effect may also stop pain by dampening nervous system activity and decreasing peripheral edema. Hydrotherapy also stimulates the muscles and improves strength. This type of therapy is especially beneficial to those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and partial paralysis.

Holistic medicine not only benefits the body, but also the mind, spirit, and emotions. It acknowledges that the root cause of your illness can be completely non-physical and aims to heal the body in natural ways that conventional medicine cannot. Moreover, alternative medicine can assist you in a variety of ways on your path to wellness and can help you obtain a cleaner and more balanced lifestyle. Throughout pregnancy it is important to avoid harsh medicines and chemicals that could hinder your child’s growth and holistic medicines do just that.

Top 6 Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels

Top 6 Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels

Over time, it can be challenging to maintain your energy levels due to stress and a busy schedule. Many people who begin to age can start to experience more fatigue and can have difficulty concentrating in the workplace or at home. If you want to boost your energy levels without having to take an afternoon nap, there are a few essential steps to take.

1. Eat for Energy

Instead of just eating to get full, making it a point to obtain more energy from the foods that you eat throughout the day with nutrient-rich options. According to health.harvard.edu, you may want to consider eating foods that have a low glycemic index to avoid the lag in energy that can come with eating heavier foods. Healthy options include whole grains, healthy oils, nuts, and vegetables. You'll want to cut out foods that have a lot of high-carbohydrates and are processed, which can make it easy to feel sluggish. You can also get more energy from foods like dried bonito flakes, which can be added to soups for lunch or dinner.

2. Consume Magnesium

According to webmd.com, magnesium is essential for breaking down glucose to convert it into energy. If you're not sure why you always feel tired, you may have a deficiency in the mineral. A lack of magnesium in the body can also lead to a low heart rate and more oxygen that is required to do everyday tasks. It's recommended that men have 350 milligrams and women have 300 milligrams each day. You can also get more magnesium by eating more nuts, fish, and whole grains.

3. Stay Active

You may not want to move around a lot when you don't have energy, but staying active can boost your energy levels by allowing you to feel more alert for several hours after you exercise. Consider taking a brisk walk around the block for 10 minutes or walking up and down the stairs several times at work to increase your heart rate and circulation. Over time, your mood and energy can begin to improve after more oxygen is delivered to the brain.

4. Get More Sun

The UV rays have gotten a bad rap in recent years but can allow you to feel more alert when you spend time outdoors. According to shape.com, it's essential to get up to 20 minutes of exposure to sunlight each day to boost your mood and feel more awake. The sun will also allow you to get more vitamin D, which is responsible for providing the body with more energy each day.

5. Drink Green Tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages to consume and incorporate into your diet and should be a replacement for caffeinated coffee, which can make you crash. Green tea can prompt weight loss and boosts energy levels. It only has a small amount of caffeine but will allow you to feel more alert without causing you to become dependent on the beverage. Consider adding a packet of a natural sweetener like Stevia or a teaspoon of honey for added flavor.

6. Eat Breakfast

There's a reason that breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, but many people fail to make time to sit down and eat each morning before they start their busy day. Studies show that the calories obtained during breakfast improve energy levels and moods due to the extra fuel that it provides the body. Opt for eating natural foods for breakfast, which includes yogurt with fruit, eggs, bacon, and whole wheat toast to avoid crashing once you get to work.
Boosting your energy is necessary to improve cognitive function and maintain your productivity during the day and long-term. With the right steps taken, you can feel more like yourself and avoid becoming lethargic or mentally drained.