Atlantic Puffin essays

Atlantic Puffin essays The Atlantic Puffin is member of the Alcidae Family. These birds can be found abundantly, estimated 14 million, in the North Atlantic ocean. They can be found on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, but a much larger population is found in Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. They only come ashore to breed and raise a chick. Puffins range in size from 11.5-13.5 inches in length, and their wingspan 21-24 inches. Their weight is usually no more than 490.5 grams. They have been given nicknames like sea parrot and clowns of the sea because of their multi-colored bills. Atlantic puffins were once used by humans for their feathers, which were used in ladies hats. Today they are a common food item in Iceland.( ) Something else that makes these birds so unique is their eyes. They are set deeply in the skull with round full cheeks. Around the eye there is crimson ring and above it a small triangular blue, horny plate and below it a bar similar in color. However it is only during breeding season that the Atlantic Puffin sports its colorful red, yellow, and blue beak. Once nesting season is over the color disappears. During the winter months both adult and juvenile have a dirty gray face, usually the juveniles is even darker. From September through February these birds can be located from the North Atlantic into the Mediterranean Sea. While at sea they can swim easily, riding the waves even in the roughest weather. Puffins feed on small fish mollusks, and crustaceans. They are able to catch these animals from wither the air or water. They dive down and swallow the animals underwater. Towards the end of February and early March the start to arrive at their nesting grounds . They usually gather just offshore in rafts. As the season advances , and more time is spent on land, the birds bond with eat other, cooing and nibbling. Both male and ...

Value Neutrality for a counselor

Value Neutrality for a counselor Introduction As far as counseling is concerned, it should be known that it is human nature to have different opinions. This is based on the fact that there have been different positions that have been taken based on the issue of value neutrality. In this case, there are people who argue that counselors should not express their values or even criticize clients (Fretz, 2001, p. 46). Mostly, this is as far as their behavior is concerned.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Value Neutrality for a counselor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, there are other professionals who argue that expressing moral judgment is acceptable and therefore appropriate. Clients always come to see counselors with different problems and the issue of value neutrality always determines the outcome of counseling on such individuals. When a client is criticized for his behavior, he/she might think that he is being judged which i s not good. Other clients will not have a problem when counselors express their moral judgment because they might take it positively (Blackburn, 2001, p. 23). This implies that both instances can have different implications when looked at from an ethical decision making perspective and point of view. Discussion It is acceptable for a counselor to remain value neutral about various issues. These issues can revolve around child abuse, abortion, domestic violence, adultery, suicide and others. It should be known that we are all obligated to remain neutral on various issues. This means that we should not pass judgment to anybody more so as far as clients are concerned. Clients have different principles that guide them and this means that they will always stand by them no matter what. In this case, it therefore implies that a good counselor should always be self aware as time goes by. The aspect of self awareness should be the focus because clients’ principles will be the turning point (Blackburn, 2001, p. 31). Counselors are supposed to develop effective competencies that will enhance their work as time goes by. This will help in the provision of effective counseling services to different and diverse clients. In a broad perspective, a counselor can remain value neutral about issues because everything begins with the awareness of their own assumptions, values and different biases (Lent, 2008, p. 72). For clients to be satisfied with the services that counselors are offering them there should accommodation of diverse arguments and opinions. As far as this aspect is concerned, counselors should be able to confront their own albeism.Advertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because it can make them hold different expectations of clients that they are going to deal with. When this is not dealt with effectively, it will ultimately hinder different cl ients’ ability to reach their full potential. Counselors are faced with different and diverse problems that are based on individual client needs (Blackburn, 2001, p. 69). This means that a counselor who is faced with these issues has different options. Most notably, there is brainstorming and referral of cases among counselors that can help to sort out complex issues. Conclusion When somebody is confronted by complex issues, there is always a way by which they can be sorted out. In this case, counselors can approach the dilemma based on the principles that their profession stands for. Decision making plays an important role in solving complex issues in any profession and counselors should be equipped with good skills for long term sustainability (Blackburn, 2001, p. 47). There are various factors that might make a counselor refer a client. Ethical issues and the complexity of the problem that is being dealt with are some of the most notable factors that have always led to ref errals. Multiple causes towards a problem might require a lot of brainstorming which will therefore lead to referrals. If referral is not an option, it means that the counselor should come up with a viable solution (Lent, 2008, p. 93). In this case, it will be necessary for the counselor to look at different and available alternatives that will help in problem solving. Reference List Blackburn, S. (2001). Being good: A short introduction to ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fretz, B. (2001). Counseling Psychology. New York: Brooks Cole.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Value Neutrality for a counselor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lent, R. (2008). Handbook of Counseling Psychology. New York: Wiley

Reflect on your own experience of change and change management Case Study - 1

Reflect on your own experience of change and change management - Case Study Example At the location where I used to previously work, there existed a lot of disorder especially when it came to organizing reports, which concerned with applications of multiple softwares, given that the interface linking softwares at times created difficulty (Gill, 2002). The challenges that we encountered while using various applications at the same time resulted in the ultimate report seeming to be rather disorganized in some instances. Having gone through such an experience prepared me sufficiently for the challenges in the field, and I learnt numerous lessons that have assisted me ever since. Obviously any new experience presents new impediments in the smooth flow of work since countless alterations have to be enforced for continuity of business as usual. I was impelled to work extra hard in my endeavour to prove my theory of change as the best and only way out of the old fashioned system. Eventually, just as the old saying goes, â€Å"Good things come to those who wait,† my tireless efforts were manifested when the management succumbed and eventually implemented my change theory. The change was not instant. It took quite a while until it began to seem that my efforts were an exercise in futility. Nevertheless I possessed the deep conviction that somehow there ought to be someone in our clientele who would notice the sweeping and impeccable presentation of data in our company. I also had a team that was not demoralised and which had presumably higher hopes than mine considering the fact that my theory of change was foreign to them before I raised it. With time, it was apparent that the company had to change with the times hence i was personally requested to overlook the overhauling of the system in its entirety with the assistance of professionals from other companies and of course my loyal team members. By the end of the overhaul of the system, I had a boosted

Innovation and Management of Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Innovation and Management of Change - Essay Example The innovation is a result of knowledge management, value chain management, customer partnership, distribution, finance, manufacturing and competitiveness. The innovation and changes it brings in the organizations can be analysed by a frame work and different models. These are useful in assessing the effectiveness of innovation and change. The structure, systems, style, skills, staff and shared values are the key elements in making any organization successful. This tells that the innovation and change also should be brought in these elements uniformly so that they effect each other's operations positively. This helps the managers to address and manage the difficulties posed by changes that are necessary for long term development of the company. In general the initiation of the innovation by leaders in the managers will lead to break the rules. The declaration of the future by the leader will involve a purpose for the company in the future. This involves the enterprise wide approach t o business process management and can remove the obstacles blocking execution of management intentions. This increases agility and focus on the activities of the business. When organizational structure defines the framework, there is less probability for innovation. The innovation and successful change is possible by it when work defines the organizational structure. The organizational defined such will be flexible, permeable and fluid. 1 2. Organisational Culture Today's business environment needs innovative techniques in the way they work. Identification of work place practices that respond to the challenges of innovation and change is necessary. In case of Fel Pro all the practices are concentrated on employee welfare and less on innovation. The organisational culture has driven the work and work did not drove the organisational culture in the organisation. Though the company is exemplary in taking care of employees, it lacked innovation in production, products, marketing. Innovation and change in positive direction will help the organisation to create better jobs and better business. Though in 1993 the company is in good position, after 10 years, the company is in a fix to hold its customers who are big manufacturers. Though it has minimum attrition rate of the employees, the company is facing the risk of loosing the market for its products. The reluctance of the management to globalise the company can be an example for innovation. The com pany is successful in using all the funds available to develop fixed assets that are not useful to innovate production like employee entertainment and recreation. Even the basic steps that help to create better jobs and better business results are absent. The company followed more conventional methods than the innovative changes. The high performance of the company is due to the discipline and perfection in a particular are of the production and that are has not been innovated in the course of time. The staff should intend to high performance that is innovative and changing according to the market needs and changes. The company has improved the benefits for the employees and employee relations with the management but did not forecast the decrease of the market for gaskets, for which it has mastered the production activities. Though

Aviva Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Aviva Case study - Essay Example t model proposed by Kurt Lewin can be considered as an important change management model that can help an organisation to address problems and challenges in its decision to adopting and implementing change in business operation process. This three phase change management model consists of three stages, such as unfreeze, movement and refreeze (Neelin, 2010, p.91). These three steps have been discussed with respect to the case study of Aviva. The management of Aviva should try to adopt and implement this change management process before implementation of the newly developed strategy of job cutting across its global business operation. Unfreeze is the first and more important stage of this change management model. It is clear from the news that the management of Aviva has decided to job-cutting across globe in order to reduce the overall business operation cost. This sudden decision and implementation of this decision can affect the business process of the organization as it can demoralise several effective employees to perform effectively. Most importantly, it can create fear among each and every employee that he or she may be axed. Therefore, Unfreezing can be considered as an important stage as in this stage the managers or leaders of the organization as it is their responsibility to inform the sub-ordinates and followers within an organisation to be ready for change. Therefore, it is important for the leaders to notif y the employees of the Aviva about newly decided change process way before implementation of this strategy (Liu, 2011, p.89). Aviva is one of the leading organisations around the globe. Therefore, it is highly important to attract the attention of the global employees regarding this decided change management process so that the management of the organisation can avoid the issues, such as workplace conflicts and inadequate business output (Marcus, 2010, p.12). Movement can be considered as another important step of this model. In this step the

Developing Equality in Education

Developing Equality in Education Why we need to even out the school systems The educational gap with students nowadays is only broadening. That is to say that the quality of education among districts in a region varies immensely depending on the district. Wisconsin is a prime example of how more needs to be done, not only to allow for better opportunities for students to attend different, better districts but also to improve the schools in the â€Å"bad† districts. According to data gathered in a study by AOL’s Daily finance 3 of the top 25 worst performing schools in America (including 2 of the top 5) are in Milwaukee (Daily Finance). This is hard to believe considering last The Daily Beast ranks 55 Wisconsin schools among the top 500 in the nation in terms of highest average ACT scores, Average AP/IB/AICE scores and amount of students in these types of courses. This includes the high school I attended, in a suburb of Milwaukee called Brookfield, as the highest ranked school in Wisconsin at 230 (Daily Beast). Questions begin to arise as to wha t can be done to help improve the problem at hand. I propose a solution that will not be simple but perhaps, with time, it can be successful in instituting the change necessary to bring Milwaukee Schools out of the horrid state they’re currently in. By first imposing more programs for students to be able to receive the education they deserve we begin to solve the problem. This would only be a temporary solution as the real answer would be one that addresses improving the Milwaukee school systems. Open enrollment and systems like it allow for students to be able to overcome the hurdles put up for them in the lives they currently live poor Milwaukee neighborhoods. Currently in Milwaukee and other cities in the area there exists programs such as open enrollment policies, voucher programs and magnet schools in an attempt to help improve education in a statewide manner. Open enrollment is the option for parents to enroll their children in schools outside of their district. Voucher programs give low-income families grants for their children to be able to attend private schools. Magnet are those that specialize in certain classes so as to prepare those who attend the school for a certain line of work that they aspire to be in. All these are beneficial to those students who would otherwise not be able to get a good education because of where they live. Under privileged children from these areas could often be stellar students, but due to lack of opportunity, motivation and resources, they succumb to their surroundings. A study conducted by the What Works Clearing house in August of 2012 found that Milwaukee area students who were given vouchers for private schools significantly outperformed their counterparts who never left the public school from where they lived (What Works Clearing House 4). The reading levels on the WKCE of students in grades 7, 8 and 10 showed that the students were far ahead of those students of the same age in the Milwaukee Public school system (What Works Clearing House 1). Another study in Texas showed that grade 9 and 10 students showed better test scores and math as well as higher school attendance than the students of the same age that never left their neighborhoods (Maloney 12). So far (for the most part) only good things have come from program. The problem for these approaches comes in terms of implementation and funding. Funding for transportation is a very large draw back when considering these changes. Since there is no specific law, (state or otherwise) the burden of ferrying this children around falls upon the schools or the parents (Davis 16). A higher cost is a big deterrent for any schools wanting to open enrollment. It is also not helpful for parents because one of the reasons they are not able to send their children to better schools in better neighborhoods is because of monetary constraints they face. Also, although improvements are usually seen when older students switch schools, younger students seem to struggle readjusting to their new surroundings. It is theorized that the higher expectations of these new schools often hinder the children from succeeding when first introduced because of the low standards that they were previously held to (Maloney 12). Open enrollment and systems like it need to be available f or students beginning at a young age with better financial support provided for the families involved. Laws need to be put in place both at a state level and nationally to provide money where it is most needed. Of course just like with many subjects in education open enrollment has its critics. Mainly groups who wish to keep the less privileged out of where they live. For example, a group of Ohio taxpayers has band together to combat open enrollment. The Reynoldsburg Taxpayers Against Open-enrollment is a group of Ohioans trying to cease the backing of these types of programs because they prioritize their wants, needs and desires over those of their less fortunate fellow man. According to their Facebook page, â€Å"[they] believe that open enrollment would be a detriment to [their] schools, [their] community, and [their] home values† (Reynoldsburg Taxpayers Against Open-enrollment). That is to say they do not see the effects of these kids coming in as negative in terms of effecting others education but rather they believe that these outsiders coming into where they live would have undesirable effects on their way of life. Open-enrollment would mean higher taxes for these people to pa y as they are the ones who actually reside in the neighborhoods where these schools are. Their views are something they are completely entitled to although I may not agree with where they are coming from. I personally believe that they fail to see the bigger picture. The education is not for immediate advantage but instead an investment in the future. If more people are educated today it will lead to a better tomorrow. Open-enrollment and such programs are like trying to stop rupturing dam with duct tape. Eventually this dam will rupture and the problems will only get bigger and more overwhelming. The real solution is in trying to improve the schools where the low income students come. If they were able to get the kind of education they need to succeed in life near to their homes, there would be no need to leave. In Milwaukee a great part of the problem is due to the immense amount of segregation there is in such a small area. Milwaukee is only the 30th most populous city in the nation, yet it has the highest segregation around the country. All this segregation leads to a distribution of wealth that highly unequal. The high school I attended was in one of the wealthier cities in Wisconsin. Due to having a good amount of money to spend, the district was able to get better teachers, facilities, and create a better learning environment. All this lead to Brookfield East High School having 65.6% of all their students scoring proficient or advanced in all areas on the Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WISE Dash public portal). Although perhaps not seemingly all that impressive seen alone, when compared to the just 12.6% of Milwaukee Public School System High school students, the numbers seem staggering (WISE dash public portal). Currently Elmbrook School district (Brookfield East’s district) is doing its part to help by having open enrollment (although space is limited) but true solving of the problem won’t happen unless something is done about the troubled schools. As things stand now, not enough is being done to improve education. The laws that are currently in place only perpetuate vicious circle of lack of education in poorer regions. The No Child Left Behind Act for example gives more funding to schools that score better on statewide standardized tests. Since schools such as those in Milwaukee have been scoring poorly for so long, funding has been taken away from them leading to less opportunities and resources for improvement of any sort. No money equates to no way to pay for better teachers or amenities and in turn education suffers further. Works Cited Reynoldsburg Taxpayers Against Open-enrollment. Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. Davis, Jennifer, and Officers Council of Chief State School. School Choice In The States: A Policy Landscape. Council Of Chief State School Officers (2013): ERIC. Web. 7 Nov. 2013 The Daily Beast. 2013 Americas Best High Schools. Newsweek. The Daily Beast, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013 Daily Finance. 25 Worst Performing Public Schools in the U.S. DailyFinance.com. AOL Money and FInance, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013 Maloney, Catherine, et al. Evaluation Of New Texas Charter Schools: Final Report (2007-10). Executive Summary. Texas Center For Educational Research (2011): ERIC. Web. 7 Nov. 2013 What Works Clearinghouse, (ED). WWC Review Of The Report Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Longitudinal Educational Growth Study Fifth Year Report. What Works Clearinghouse (2012): ERIC. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. WISEdash Public Portal Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction. WISEdash. Wisconsin Information System for Education, 2013. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.

The Life Of John F. Kennedy :: essays research papers

The Life of John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. He attended Harvard University and graduated in 1940. From 1941-1945 he served in the United States Navy, during World War II. In 1946 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Then in 1952 he was elected to the United States Senate. On September 12, 1953 he was married to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. Then in 1960 he was elected President of the United States. On November 22, 1963 he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. John grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. His father Joseph P. Kennedy, was a self-made millionaire. During the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he served as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as United States Ambassador to Great Britain. During John's childhood, his family often moved. Some of these moves sent the family into New York. All of the Kennedy children developed a strong competitive spirit. The boys enjoyed playing touch football together. John Kennedy's education included elementary schools in Brookline and Riverdale. By the age of thirteen his father sent him to the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. He then transferred to Choate Academy in Wallingford, Connecticut, and graduated in 1935 at eight-teen years old. In 1936, after a summer in England, John entered Princeton University. After Christmas, of that same year, he developed jaundice. Then in 1936 he entered Harvard University. At Harvard he majored in government and international relations. In 1940 he graduated from Harvard. He then enrolled at Stanford University, but dropped out after only six months. After serving in the United States Navy, where he won the Navy and Marine Corps Medal as the skipper of a PT boat in World War II, John decided to enter government. In 1946, he ran for the House of Representatives and won the election over his Republican opponent. He was reelected to the House in both 1948 and 1950. In 1952, he ran for the United States Senate. He defeated his opponent Henry Lodge, who was a popular and experienced legislator. After the 1956 Presidential election he decided to try to run for the upcoming 1960 Presidential election. In 1960 John Kennedy ran in the Presidential Election. His opponent, Richard M. Nixon, was a popular person, he had previously been the vice-president under Dwight Eisenhower. Together they became the first Presidential opponents to debate face-to-face on television. John Kennedy won the election. During his years as president, John helped pass a number of laws. He also established the United States Peace Corps, through

Distance learning Essay

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (1999) of the U. S. Department of Education, technological innovations especially in information and communications technology (ICT) has precipitated a revolution in the delivery of distance learning education, especially in the postsecondary level of education. To argue that distance learning education has come to stay and has changed perceptions and attitudes of education delivery is perhaps one without contention. Management guru, Peter Drucker has even gone as far as to say traditional on-campus university education will be defunct in 30 years. Focussing of three seminal areas of advantage – flexibility and convenience, resource cost, and accessibility – this paper will argue that earning a degree through distance learning education is better than through a traditional institution. One of the fundamental advantages that distance learning degree programs have over residential on-campus programs is flexibility and convenience. For me, location is one of the most important considerations for choosing a degree program. Questions like: Do I really want to relocate to earn a degree? Will I like my new location? nd Will I get a visa to travel to this location to study for a degree? are important considerations that I will have to deal with when choosing an on-campus degree program. These considerations helped me in choosing to do a degree program in law by distance study. My choice of a distance study program made it convenient for me to stay in my own locality while still having access to quality education that is commensurate with on-campus equivalents. Moreover, a lot of distance learning programs come with the benefit of self pacing one’s education; a benefit which I had by pursuing my law degree as a distance study student. My schedule allowed me to complete the course in two years and I was able to plan my education to fit into my schedule without any major disruptions. Thus, apart from being able to earn a degree, I had the advantage of not putting on hold other things that are equally important to me. Family and career commitments for example, did not have to suffer because I had chosen to earn a degree. With distance learning education, I was able to conveniently earn a degree in the comfort of my home. The fear of resigning from a permanent job to study and the financial and career implications of such a decision did not arise at all. More importantly, as my present career is in the area of my study, it gave me the opportunity to readily apply the knowledge gained in my distance learning education to my work. Consequently, I had greater opportunities of upward mobility in my career aspirations than I would have had if I had studied through the traditional on-campus method. Another major advantage I had by earning my degree by distance learning is the fact that it is more cost effective in comparison to traditional on-campus university education. I was able to utilise time more effectively when studying for my degree through distance learning education. The time I would have spent commuting to lectures was spent more usefully to study. Apart from the time constraints that on-campus programs are plagued with, commuting also brings additional financial cost. This was not a problem for me as I studied at home. Furthermore, fees for distance learning programs tend to be lower than on-campus programs as the distance learning student does not use the physical facilities of the institution providing the degree program. In my specific situation, I paid less for accessing the same quality of education I would have had if I had studied on an on-campus program. The cost of maintaining expensive on-campus facilities will invariably be passed on to the on-campus student. One of the most important considerations for on-campus students is accommodation. If one has a family and is studying far from one’s family home, the most obvious solution would be to maintain two separate accommodations. For parents financing their children’s on-campus university education, they may be paying for two accommodations at the same time – the family accommodation, and their children’s on-campus accommodation. This duplication of expenditure was unnecessary in my case as I studied from home. Thus with distance learning education, one can have access to the same quality of on-campus education at a much reduced resource cost. Evidently, there are so many advantages that can be argued in favour of distance study education. However, for the specific purposes of this paper, the final consideration that will be argued in favour of distance learning education is the better level of accessibility to course moderators and tutors. One of the increasingly pervasive features of distance learning education is the availability of a personal tutor. While studying by distance education for example, I had access to a personal tutor who I could contact through various communication devices like email and telephone. Thus though the argument may be made that on-campus programs offer a personal touch to the learning process, this is not lost in distance learning education. The issue of spontaneity in response to questions have been said to be an advantage of on-campus education over distance learning education. On closer scrutiny however, it can be realised that this advantage is perhaps even greater in certain circumstances when one is studying by distance study. In the first place, ICT makes it possible for communication to be instantaneous and as such, spontaneity is no longer an exceptional feature of on-campus education. If I had a question, I easily called my personal tutor and he discussed the question with me. Also, through the use of web technologies like discussion forums, and discussion boards, in-depth discussions amongst course participants were held online and this greatly enhanced my learning process. The use of personal tutors in a lot of distance study programs also makes it possible for peculiar educational needs to be addressed in a customized manner. Also, the accessibility that distance learning education brings makes it possible for more people to earn quality education on a wider scale than would have been possible through traditional institutional means. The use of revolutionary open source online learning programs like Moodle breaks the restrictions that are associated with accessing traditional on-campus degree programs. A global community can thus access distance learning degree programs that they would have otherwise not been able to access. The above presentation has advanced the advantages that earning a degree by distance learning education has over traditional on-campus degree programs. This paper has considered three key advantages – convenience and flexibility, resource cost, and accessibility – while conceding that the considered areas reflect only a limited perspective of the colossal advantages that distance learning education has over traditional on-campus programs. In conclusion, it is again affirmed that based on the justifications and advantages adduced, limited though they may be, earning a degree by distance learning education is far better than earning a degree through the traditional institution system.

The Dutch Health Care System The WritePass Journal

The Dutch Health Care System Introduction The Dutch Health Care System EHCI rankings (Arne BJornberg, 2012).   Analysts report that this consistent performance is mainly due to the policy reforms and the introduction of the ‘Health Insurance act’ of 2006. Not only did the Netherlands top the EHCI which is generally regarded as   measure of ‘consumer friendliness’ of the national health care policy, but it also ranked among the top three nations when measured for outcomes related to critical and chronic conditions such as cardiac problems, diabetes, HIV and Hepatitis   (Arne BJornberg, 2012). The appendix A includes graphical figures showing the performance of Netherlands in some of the important healthcare metrics such as infant mortality levels, elective surgery waiting time, etc.   Reports suggest that though there is some scope for improvement in terms of reducing the waiting time and the overall accessibility of services, the Dutch healthcare system has hardly any weakspots (Arne BJornberg, 2012) The success of the Dutch model has bought increasing global focus on its model of care delivery. This paper therefore explores the vital aspects of the Dutch health care system. Methodology This is a secondary research and involved searching for national reports and health policy documents and journal articles pertaining to the health care policy of Netherlands. Pubmed database was searched for a combination of keywords such as Dutch Healthcare system, health insurance, structural reforms, etc. Google search was also conducted on these keywords and this provided access to comprehensive national reports. Since the search resulted in a wide array of documents only those reports and articles which were authentic sources such as the Dutch ministry of health and articles from peer reviewed journals and magazines were selected for use in this report. The Dutch Health Care system (The problems that existed) The healthcare system in the Netherlands was totally different before 2006, when it was restructured with the introduction of the ‘Health insurance act’ (Zorgverzekeringswet, Zvw). A brief overview of the earlier system would help us better understand the evolutionary response and the introduction of the much touted ‘health insurance act’ of 2006. Earlier, universal health coverage was achieved by a combination of government funded and privately funded insurance systems. Social health insurance (ZFW) funded by the government provided coverage for all those who were under the prescribed income limit. The vast majority of the Dutch population was under the ZFW coverage. Another government funded program known as the AWBZ (exceptional medical insurance act) provided coverage for long term care and other exceptional medical treatments. Around 30% of the Dutch population who were above the prescribed low income level to qualify for the ZFW were encouraged to purc hase coverage from private health insurance services (PHI) (David, 2008). These private health insurance schemes were mostly funded by the employers or in some instances directly by the individuals. While the Dutch system was working good in providing universal access to coverage there were systemic problems. Sustainability of the system was one of the pressing issues. For instance, the aging population and the growing health care needs implied that the majority government- funded health coverage would consume a significant portion of the national GDP. (14% and above). Secondly the model did not provide sufficient quality incentives for the care providing organizations and there were also growing concerns about the accessibility to some services. Particularly, there was a tendency to postpone elective procedures at the end of the year for pure accounting purposes. Thirdly, insurance premiums under the PHI or private providers were rising considerably for those with chronic conditions and this, in fact, discouraged many from the PHI schemes and such people went without insurance. Last but not the least, was the problem of insurance portability(David, 2008). Owing to participation of numerous small insurance companies in the PHI scheme, there were significant coverage limitations. To eradicate all these problems the Dutch government came up with fundamental changes in the delivery model with the majority government funded social insurance system giving way to a privately insured, yet government regulated, model of care delivery. This has greatly improved the healthcare system by addressing the above mentioned problems. The Health care Act (2006) (A sustainable solution) This act structurally redesigned the Dutch healthcare system by introducing private social insurance (ZVW) as a mandatory coverage for all citizens above 18 years of age while the government covers all those below 18 years of age. The important feature of the ZVW scheme is that it provides universal coverage for all citizens without any restrictions based on their age, health status, pre existing conditions, etc. Also the distinguishing feature between the ZVW and the earlier ZFW is that it is totally managed by private insurers. This act is a significant move towards the private free market. However, it is regulated by the government and the price for the basic benefit package under the ZVW is stipulated based on annual projections. The ZVW covers all routine checkups, hospitalizations, medication and doctor’s fees. Other services that do not come under the ZVW such as dentistry, cosmetic services, physiotherapy, etc could be optionally covered through supplementary policies (Maarsse, 2011). The following illustration depicts the prevailing health care insurance system in Netherlands Fig : Health Insurance system after the 2006 Health Insurance act (Maarsse, 2011) The ZVW (A hybrid system) Health care as a market service is not recommendable as governments do not see health care as a business but as a social provision. Under these circumstances the introduction of the private ‘for –profit’ business entities to provide insurance coverage creates undesirable consequences that might affect the equitable distribution of health care. Such discrepancies in service provision by private insurance entities in the US offer a clear case that confirm the fears that markets are not the ideal way to deliver health. (Angell, 2008)   However, one of the highlights of the Dutch healthcare system is the uniformness of coverage that it allows. Dutch lawmakers have incorporated several legal features that protect the consumers and ensure that the ZVW is a hybrid form of the social insurance and the private insurance (VWS, 2012). Since the Dutch government compensates the insurers for high risk patients in the form of the risk equalization fund the system avoids â€Å"cherry picking† which is a pressing problem in countries such as the US where private insurers are very selective in covering high risk patients. (Angell, 2008). The Dutch model on the other hand, by compensating insurers for enrollees with a higher risk prediction, encourages them to provide coverage for everyone without a risk bias. The concept of risk equalization therefore helps to achieve universal coverage even under a ‘for –profit’ private insurer based system. As Michael Borowitz, a senior health policy analyst with OECD says, this system provides insurance companies â€Å"no incentive to pick people who are only healthy†. (PBS, 2009) This is a key policy control mechanism that aids with the success of the universal coverage and the absence of such a policy control in the US created a pure business like approach where the goal of profit maximization naturally discourages private insurers from providing coverage for people under a higher risk category (Angell, 2008). Insurer Competition and Consumer Freedom Another aspect of the thoroughly regulated Dutch private insurance system is that it creates healthy competition between insurers. The government permits health consumers to switch between insurers once every year.   Thus the privately administered and government regulated insurance model provides choice to the consumer and serves to improve the quality of services by the insurance providers.   The health insurance act also provides sufficient freedom of choice to the consumer. For instance, enrollees can opt for policy in- kind or a restitution policy. In the first instance, the insurance company itself takes care of all the details including finding the appropriate health providers and the payments etc. In the restitution option the enrollee can choose his/her own providers, at their own time, and also pay up for the services. The cost of such services is then reimbursed by the insurance provider. The later option is referred to as the personal care budget (pgb or persoonsgebon den budget) (Daley Gubb, 2013). On top of this flexibility, the Dutch ZVW insurance scheme also provides for compensatory features such as deductibles. Deductibles apply to any enrollee that has not utilized the health services beyond a minimum cost during the year and these are automatically applied to the premium in the next year (David , 2008). This feature adds to the solidarity of the Dutch insurance system. GP’s as Gatekeepers As in the UK, the Dutch also adopt the gatekeeper approach when it comes to availing specialist care. The General Practitioner (GP) is the primary care provider of the patient and is usually the family physician. Any consultations with specialist service providers operating in secondary and tertiary care units is made possible only through a referral from the  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   GP. This method is applied in order to contain health care costs associated with unnecessary specialist consultations (Daley Gubb, 2013). Quality of care is a high priority in the national health policy. The policy allows insurers to select hospitals or care providers based on the quality of their service. If any providers are found wanting in quality, insurers have the option not to contract such providers.   Furthermore feedback from patients are considered and promptly attended to. The General administrative law act makes it a priority for the AWBZ implementing body to promptly assess and address any cu stomer grievance. If the customer is not satisfied with the response from the AWBZ body then he/she could lodge a complaint with the national ombudsman which would not only assess the provider for upholding contractual provisions, but also verify if the patient was meted out equal treatment, reasonableness and proper care. Furthermore, if the Ombudsman received many complaints of similar nature the problem is referred to the health ministry which would take it into consideration for further changes to the health care policy(VWS, 2012). These feedback systems ensure that the experience for the patient at the point of care delivery is motivating and positive. Conclusion The health insurance act of 2006 bought a significant reform to the way healthcare is delivered in the Netherlands.   Widely praised as a successful evolutionary response, the health insurance act created a move away from the segmented structure of insurance towards a mandatory single scheme for all citizens. Equity of access, quality of health services and financial risk protection are the key aspects that govern universal coverage. The inclusion of social preconditions such as the provision of equitable coverage for all citizens, as well as insurer and consumer friendly components such as ‘risk equalization fund’ and ‘deductibles’ have made private insurance based universal coverage a reality. In Netherlands, strict government regulation of private insurance has created a level playing field, stimulating healthy competition among the insurers while at the same time providing freedom of choice for the health consumer. References Claire Daley James Gubb (2013) , Healthcare Systems : The Netherlands , viewed March 26th 2013, www.civitas.org.uk/nhs/download/netherlands.pdf Arne BJornberg (2012), Euro health consumer Index, 2012 report, published by Health Consumer Powerhouse Maarse, H (2011), Dutch Health Care Reform at the Crossroads, The Hastings Centre, viewed March 26th 2013, http://healthcarecostmonitor.thehastingscenter.org/files/2011/06/Maarse-Dutch-health-care-reform-at-the-crossroads-long-version1.pdf Marcia Angell (2008), Privatizing healthcare is not the answer: Lessons from the United States, CMAJ 179 (9), 916-919. Naidoo J Wills J (2005), Public health and health promotion: Developing practice, London, Elsevier. PBS (2009), Comparing international health care systems, viewed March 27th, 2013, pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/insurance_10-06.html Perott, David, (2008), The Dutch Health care system: Possible model for America? Physician Executive, 34(6), 16- 8 20-3 VWS (2012), Health insurance in the Netherlands, Ministry of health and sports publication, viewed March 26th 2012, www.government.nl//health-insurance-in-the-netherlands.pdf

Where Sympathies Lie essays

Where Sympathies Lie essays A wise proverb once said, Appearances are deceptive (The Macmillan Dictionary of Quotations 26). One should keep this in mind when reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley because the proverb is proven accurate in that looks are in fact, misleading. She creates a creature abhorred by society because of his appearance. Even his own creator, a scientist named Victor Frankenstein, fails to show him compassion. As the novel progresses the monster travels through the ends of the world only to be shunned by all of humanity. Through his quest for love one sees the many heartaches he endures in search of his ultimate goal. Contrary to what one may believe, the monster possesses many humanlike characteristics. In creating the monster, Shelley reveals mans shallow obsession with physical appearance, invoking the readers to sympathize with the monster as his tragic life story unfolds. The reader, persuaded by the creatures desperate desire for love and affection, feels sympathy for him knowing that everyone deserves to be loved. Upon seeing Frankenstein for the first time the monster expresses, I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me (Shelley 95). After seeking love from many others, but with no success, the creature finally turns to his creator. However, even his own creator does not show him the love that he, like any other being, is entitled to have. Frankensteins rejection allows the reader to realize that it is extremely sad that the monster receives affection from no one, not even his own creator, who of all people should love his creature. The reader knows that if Frankenstein cant surge up feelings to feel compassion towards his own, then no one else will. ...

HPLC analysis of caffeine and benzoic acid in diet coke Lab Report

HPLC analysis of caffeine and benzoic acid in diet coke - Lab Report Example Many beverages contain caffeine and benzoic acid. Caffeine can be classified as a drug and can be extremely addictive. Diet beverages also contain aspartame and saccharin. Aspartame and saccharin can be used to instead of sugar in the diet beverages. Aspartame and saccharin taste more than the normal sugar. The reason that many of these beverages contain aspartame and saccharin is because manufacturers prefer to use aspartame and saccharin instead of sugar. This has been because there are people who cannot take sugar due to health issues. To meet the demand of their customers, the manufacturers of the beverages see it fit to use saccharin and aspartame instead of sugar. Aspartame is the most commonly used more than saccharin. It becomes commonly used because it can be digested. When it gets digested, it breaks down into methanol, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame has an effect on brain. It can therefore, cause some mental disorders due to its effect on the brain if taken in excess. Saccharin cannot be digested hence it is not commonly used. To avoid the danger associated with high intake of the two sweeteners, they should be used in small quantity. The function of benzoic acid is to conserve the beverages. Benzoic acid preserves the beverages by making some bacteria and yeast grow. The growth of yeast and bacteria ensures that the beverages last longer without going bad. Therefore, the shelf life of the beverages becomes increased. Companies that produce products that contain benzoic acid should make sure that the concentration level of benzoic acid is standard. Though benzoic acid is essential in preserving the beverages, high concentration of the acid can be dangerous. Concentration of benzoic acid in beverages normally varies from 0.05 percent to 0.10 percent. In a day, a person should take 5mg per kilogram of the body weight. If human beings consume too much of the acid, it can cause destruction to the liver and kidney. Liver and kidney are supremely valuable organs in the human body hence people should observe their intake of benzoic acid. Manufacturers should take into consideration the effects of the benzoic acid and pu t their customers’ life first. Some manufacturers often produce beverages that have a high concentration of benzoic acid because they want their products to stay longer. By doing this, they endanger lives of many people. Even though benzoic acid can be used as a preservative, if beverages stay for longer, they lose the original taste. Caffeine can be classified as a drug. Caffeine can be found in plants. In plants, caffeine may be used as a pesticide. It helps to kill pests in plants. This does not mean that it should not be used as it is beneficial if taken in the right amount. In diet soda and other beverages, caffeine can be used as a taste additive. Because of its bitter taste, caffeine enhances other flavors. Caffeine is also a stimulant. Because of its stimulant effect, many people take products with caffeine so that they can be alert. Also, caffeine decreases tiredness hence many people who are always busy consumes a lot of caffeine. Too much consumption of caffeine ca n cause restlessness and headaches. Normally, a person should consume around 250 milligram of caffeine in a day. More than that amount can be dangerous. It could be noted that individuals who consume much caffeine are likely to suffer hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases compared to those who take less caffeine. In addition, caffeine can be highly addictive, and that can be one of the reasons that caffeine became classified as a drug. High performance liquid chromatography (hplc

My Most Enduring Childhood Memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

My Most Enduring Childhood Memory - Essay Example My grandmother was a school teacher with interest in music and arts. They were a great couple who played hosts to perfection. While my grandparents showered unconditional love upon me and made me feel at ease, they were politely assertive when needed to be. Both being academics, they emphasized the importance of discipline to me and other grandchildren. At the same time, they were not doctrinaire or rigid in their conception of discipline. They were both open to dialogue and sensible to reason. This way, they always appeared to be on our side even when denying us an extra hour of television or an extra scoop of ice cream. My most enduring childhood memory is an event that occurred during one such visit to the grandparents’. One of the favorite pastimes for me and other grandchildren is visiting the local public library which also has an attached park and playground. The library had a children’s corner filled with comics and adventure story books. Archies, Hardy Boys, Tintin, etc were the staple of our entertainment. During one such regular visit to the library, I so coveted an edition of Tintin that after reading it, I hid it beneath my shirt. I was barely 7 years old, and though feeling a little guilty, I couldn’t stop myself from acting disgracefully. Sure enough, the librarian found out what I had done and was kind enough not to punish me then and there. She instead asked to meet my parents/guardian. When my grandfather returned home from meeting the librarian, his behavior toward me was initially one of dignified silence and stern indignation. But he relaxed soon and thought of a novel response to the situation. Looking back in retrospect I realize how masterfully he handled the situation. I was too young to be fully cognizant of the implications of my misdemeanor. At the same time, I had to be taught right from wrong and made to behave more responsibly.