Archive for the ‘public health’ Category
Choosing a Career As a Public Health Nurse
If you enjoy assisting others with their healthcare concerns and being a teacher at the same time public health nursing may be for you. Public health nurses specialize in treating and preventing ailments. Many work for local clinics and community health centers. They also spend a great amount of time traveling and educating individuals on health care issues. Many also travel to make home visits to seniors who are unable to leave their homes to go to doctor’s appointments or to visit new mothers to ensure that their newborn babies are developing properly. Being a public health nurse will allow you to use a variety of skills in a variety of different settings.
One of the main responsibilities and goals of a public health nurse is the focus on prevention. In clinical settings such as hospitals the goal is to treat a condition and cure the condition if possible. Public health nurses do treat ailments, but their main objective is to prevent diseases and complications from occurring. Many work in organizations such as Planned Parenthood to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections through community outreach programs directed towards schools and high-risk populations. Some also participate on councils and assist in research projects to offer data and suggestions on improving access to healthcare for specific populations and communities with the goal of increasing awareness and improving the health and lifestyles of individuals in order to prevent the onset of disease and conditions.
The majority of public health nurses work for the local government, although many can be found working in clinics, schools, community centers and other establishments. Unlike nurses who work in hospitals,
Florida Public Health Adjusters and Health Care Reform
The State of Florida licenses Public Adjusters to represent individuals in claims against insurance companies. Typically, a Public Adjuster works in areas of property losses, such as a home damaged by fire. The PA investigates and evaluates a claim and works to maximize the recovery of the homeowner.
A relatively unknown area of licensing in FL is the Health Public Adjuster. This job involves maximizing the recovery of health insurance benefits by a claimant. The HPA works to negotiate coverage, when coverage is limited or denied. Like other Public Adjusters, the HPA is paid a contingency fee which is a percentage of the recovery. While Public Adjusters are required to serve a 1 year apprenticeship, complete the Accredited Claims Adjuster Designation and pass the state test, these requirements do not apply to the Health Public Adjuster (3-40).
Florida Insurance University, a partner with the University of Central Florida in Orlando, is introducing a the Public Health Adjuster Designation. This designation will prepare the new HPA for the job challenges ahead with Health Care Reform. It is predicted that once health care reform is implemented, there will be an enormous volume of clients who will need assistance in getting bills for medical treatment paid.
Licensing for the Health Public Adjuster license involves applying to the Department of Financial Services for the license, submitting fingerprints and posting a $50,000 bond. The bond can be purchased from any insurance agency that sells surety bonds.
The Public Health Adjuster Designation from the University will identify those adjusters who have the training and knowledge to properly represent clients in health care claims. In a job market that is suffering from high unemployment, the Health Public Adjuster will be in great demand. More information can be obtained by calling (407) 927-1235.
See the Florida Department of Financial Services website for more information:
Do I have to apply for the 31-20 Public Adjuster Apprentice License to adjust only Health or Workers Compensation? No.
http://www.fldfs.com/Agents/Licensure/Agents-Adjusters/FAQPubAdjApprentice.htm.
Emergency Disaster Preparedness – Preparing For Public Health Emergences
Public health emergencies are caused as result of threats such as storms, tornadoes and power outages and also may be of biological, chemical, or radiological disasters. Although each one is different and requiring unique responses, preparing and learning about public health emergences can help equip and protect your family.
Threats strike when they are not expected and because of this, preparation is the way forward in this kind of disaster. Families may or may not be in the same place when this happens. Planning together as a family is a step ahead of time. Looking at how you intend to communicate when an emergence happens and types of disasters common in your area and what each member should do is very important.
You might consider keeping some essential supplies on hand for emergences for example drinking water, dry or canned food, a battery-powered radio, flashlight and batteries, first aid supplies, prescription medication, special items for babies and members of the family who have special needs. Check these from time to time to make sure that the expiry date for your supplies such as foods has not passed and things like batteries and flashlights are in working order.
Learning more about these disasters, diseases, treatments and how these may affect your family is a big step. Government web sites are a very good source of information on public health threats or emergences. You may also ask your employer, school and day care facility whether they have developed emergency plans. Contacting your local heath department can help you get involved and learn more about community planning efforts.
Should an emergency arise, always be alert by tuning in to your television and radio news stations for emergence messages and important safety instructions from government authorities. Officials on the news give instructions on where emergence sites are located and how to get there and who should go. During this time, it is very important that you bring for each family member medical records that contain picture id, current medications and allergies and current age and weight.
Read up on key terms such as isolation, quarantine, sheltering-in-place and evacuation. Training a family member in CPR/First Aid is quiet helpful. It is better late and ready by 5pm today than be caught unawares by noon tomorrow.