Virtual Private Network Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Virtual Private Network Architecture - Essay Example Basically, the cloud computing platforms (virtual clouds), both private and public, offer an excellent framework for both all the organizations (small, medium and large) to host their applications (e.g. enterprise resource planning systems) by hiring resources on rent, on-demand and paying charging depending on actual usage. In this scenario, an organization’s IT services can be distributed all through the corporation’s data centers and systematically assigned resources in cloud data centers (Wood, Shenoy, Ramakrishnan, & Merwe, 2011; Tchifilionova, 2011). Cloud computing allows enterprises to obtain as much computation and storage resources as they require, while only paying for the precise amount that they use. In this scenario, a VPN (virtual private network) is established by creating a secure communications link between two nodes by following the characteristics of a point-to-point private link. Additionally, a VPN can be employed by the organizations to smooth the process of secure remote access in the cloud, establish and maintain a secure data channel within a network or securely connect two networks together (Researcher's Blog, 2011; Wood, Shenoy, Gerber, Ramakrishnan, & Merwe, 2009; Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2009). ... advantageous that cloud resources be flawlessly incorporated or combined with an organization’s existing architecture without the need to deal with management, handle substantial configuration, or security concerns. On the other hand, present cloud service providers provide virtual cloud servers as remote units with their own IP address space that is beyond the reach and control of the customer. In addition, this isolation of enterprise resources and clouds augments software and configuration challenges and complexity while putting into practice the services that must communicate with an enterprise’s private network. There emerge various problems when moving an organization’s information system such as enterprise resource planning systems to a virtual cloud. In this scenario, poor communication and lack of coordination between virtual cloud and network resources make the customer once more accountable for autonomously managing for bandwidth guarantees and traffic separation with a separate network service provider. Thus, in order to deal with these challenges, there is a need to improve the cloud computing architecture to flawlessly put together virtual private networks (VPNs) (Wood, Shenoy, Gerber, Ramakrishnan, & Merwe, 2009; Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2009). In addition, the majority of business organizations are adopting incremental approach for the migration of their enterprise resource planning systems to virtual cloud. However, organizations that are planning to move their resources to virtual clouds must keep in mind that any migration, no matter it is associated with the cloud or not, engages one-time expenditures and a lot of opposition to migration for instance some of the staff members can be against the migration. In addition, there can be some cultural

Politics of Health in America Essay Example for Free

Politics of Health in America Essay The healthcare system in America is one of the hot button issues in this and every election because things are only getting worse, while not coming close to getting better. Rising healthcare costs are bringing brought on by huge hospitals that can charge as much as they want for service. Compounding the problem is the fact that many Americans cannot afford healthcare insurance in order to foot the bill for their expensive care. As the Michael Moore film, Sicko, indicates, the healthcare crisis in America is far reaching and there does not seem to be a solution on the horizon. With more and more people missing out on insurance because of basic primal greed from hospitals and insurance companies, there exists a huge problem that is sure to hinder the development of American society. Facing the biggest problems in light of this healthcare crisis are women, who need a more advanced form of care than their male counterparts. Without access to healthcare insurance, millions of women are not able to acquire the medical care that is essential to their overall health.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The American healthcare system is one that is designed to rely primarily on health insurance. Without health insurance, a majority of both basic and advanced medical procedures would not be possible for any people. The primary problem with the system is that now, health insurance companies are not doing their job anymore. Instead of being an affordable option for common people who seek to protect themselves against medical emergency, these companies are now in the business of gouging patients and withholding insurance to those that are less fortunate. The American model is not the prevailing system that is used elsewhere in the world. In places like Canada and in most of Europe, nationalized healthcare is the order of the day. Those governments do not mess around with insurance companies and they make sure that healthcare is readily available to anyone that needs it. This is an expensive, but effective way to make sure that each person is cared for. Women are specifically targeted for care under European models. In England, the national healthcare system has seen some problems, but for the most part, the nationalized nature of the system makes sure that just about anyone that needs treatment can get that treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The issue at the heart of the healthcare debate is over the uninsured folks that have a hard time securing healthcare. In the United States, that number is steadily growing with each passing year. This is something that Michael Moore is quick to point out in his film and it is an essential part of the argument for a national healthcare system. According to a July article from the Associated Press, â€Å"Just this past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there are about 43.6 million uninsured people in the country† (AP). Though that number does not represent a majority of the population, it is a significant portion of a civilized country that would have absolutely no way of getting healthcare in case of a medical emergency. Should cancer strike any of that contingent of Americans, they would have no way of coming up with the thousands of dollars for treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another important healthcare consideration that is taken into account in Michael Moore’s film is the disparity between the rich and the poor. This is what is really at the heart of the matter. Those with money can afford to purchase the insurance that will protect them, while those without money cannot afford insurance. Making it even worse is the fact that the jobs that give the benefit of included healthcare insurance are the jobs that actually pay people enough to afford insurance. Presidential candidate Barack Obama has taken a stance on the issue and he has clearly defined the need for more healthcare for the poor in the United States. A January Washington Post article sheds light on Obama’s opinion on the matter. In that article, Nedra Pickler writes, â€Å"He (Obama) said its wrong that 46 million in this country are uninsured when the country spends more than any one else on health care. He said Americans pay $15 billion in taxes to help care for the uninsured† (Pickler). Obama has put a specific focus on the medical plight of poor women, who are often the biggest victims in the entire ordeal. Without a national healthcare system, the rising cost of women’s care in America makes it impossible for a large chunk of the country’s ladies to keep up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For those that do not have a huge amount of understanding on women’s care and how involved it is, the situation is a difficult one to understand. While men can get away with not going to the doctor for a period of months or years, women have to have check-ups in order to stay healthy enough to have children. This must be a huge focus for American society, especially as fertility rates keep falling for women in the country. Doctors are becoming much more specialized in this day and age, so their services are costing more. Gynecologists are no different, so insurance companies are being asked to pay more for that service. Even more important than the standard checkup is the entire situation of pregnancy. Women need to see a doctor every two to three weeks during pregnancy to make sure that everything is alright in their body and for their baby. This need comes in addition to the standard medical procedures that women must undertake to make sure that they stay in good condition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Women are among the most neglected when it comes to insurance in the United States. This correlation between gender and income is an important statistic to consider when forming opinions about the plight of the national healthcare system. Though the current system was certainly not written in a way that it would intentionally preclude women, the reality of the situation has almost made it look that way. Median income levels are lower for women in American than they are for men. It is much more difficult for women, be they white, black, Hispanic or any other race, to get a high paying job or one that offers full healthcare benefits. Though insurance companies might be precluding women from involvement, pregnancy has not been nearly as kind. There is no discrimination when it comes to that, as a poor woman is just as likely to get pregnant as a rich woman. Still, adequate care must be provided through the process of pregnancy and such care cannot be provided without the proper healthcare protection. The Christiane Northup book, Women’s Body, Women’s Wisdom, breaks down pregnancy in the following terms. â€Å"Pregnancy is a miraculous process and should be a time when a woman makes every effort to tune in to her body and baby with the support of her surroundings. For centuries, midwives helped mothers through the pregnancy and birthing processes, standing by them with medical and emotional aid† (Northup). This quotation clearly shows the need for assistance in a number of different areas for women during pregnancy. It is something that cannot be ignored for many women, as they seek to have the best pregnancy possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another thing to consider in all of this is the plight of single mothers in America. Recent sociological trends are indicating that more and more women are having children out of wedlock. Without a man present to help foot the bill for pregnancy costs, women without healthcare have an even more difficult time coming up with the money to pay for their own care. This is a trend that does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, so it is imperative that the overriding problems get fixed before things get worse. Moore attacks this in Sicko, as he feels that single mothers are some of the biggest victims of the current healthcare system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Moore, single mothers are not the only victims in this situation. Though the politically correct notion is not to speak about race in regards to healthcare, the reality of the situation is that minority women are being left out at an alarming rate. An Amanda Gardner report in HealthDay speaks to the overall lackluster support that women have from the current healthcare system. Gardner writes, â€Å"No state met the goal for access to health insurance. Nationwide, 18 percent of women aged 18 to 64 were uninsured. In 2007, five states decreased Medicaid eligibility levels for working parents, making it more difficult for low-income people to get insurance† (Gardner). This trend has had a profound impact on minority mothers, who statistics show are working hard to provide for their children and also take care of themselves medically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his movie Sicko, Michael Moore does not shy away from the topic of women and how they are affected by the current healthcare system. In fact, Moore makes it a point to break down how they are often the most mistreated of any of the demographic areas. A Kyle Smith article in the New York Post makes a large effort to disparage the work of Michael Moore, but it does lend light on one example from Moore’s film where the focus is clearly placed upon mistreated women. In the article, Kyle Smith writes, â€Å"Perhaps the most absurd example is that of the woman who says that after she received benefits, the check was stopped because she had previously suffered an undisclosed yeast infection† (Smith). If the story from the woman in the film is true, then the problems within the system are so apparent and so flawed that securing healthcare is almost a hopeless venture for many women within the United States. Moore has harsh criticism for the current system in its exploitation of women financially. Because the current system is one that rewards doctors and insurance companies on the amount of work they can do, it directly impacts women. As mentioned previously, women have a greater reason to head to the doctor for a plethora of events. Under the current system, women are even discouraged from heading to the doctor in order to get the care that they so desperately need. Instead of going to the doctor to get care for themselves and their unborn children, women are being asked to limit their visits in an effort to save money. This is unfair and unsafe, according to Moore. His proposed implementation of a national healthcare system would take care of this issue, as it would shift the burden to all of the taxpayers and would insure that distribution of healthcare is on a need basis. That means that women would not feel pressured and they could head to the doctor’s office freely and without worry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Michael Moore is not shy about offering up solutions for a better system. In his film, he specifically refers to the national healthcare systems used by much of Europe and Canada. He proposes that if America were to go to a taxpayer funded national healthcare system, like the one proposed by Obama, things would get much easier for women specifically. They would not only have unlimited care at their immediate disposal, but women would also have top notch care that is necessary. With fertility levels dropping and that causing problems to other national systems like Social Security, it is essential that the federal government takes action to help women protect themselves and their ability to have children. According to Moore, a federal system in which socialized medicine is offered will be the best scenario for women in the United States.   Works Cited Smith, Kyle. 19 June 2007. New York Post. Botched Operation: Crazy Moore Offers Wrong Prescription. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06192007/entertainment/movies/botched_operation_movies_kyle_smith.htm?page=0 Gardner, Amanda. 17 October 2007. HealthDay. U.S. Women’s Health Care Still Falls Short: Report. http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=609217 Associated Press. 2 July 2007. Little Defense for U.S. Health Care of ‘Sicko’. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19552132/ Nedra, Pickler. The Associated Press. 25 January 2007. Obama Calls for Universal Health Care. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/01/25/AR2007012500764.html

Impacts Of Air Pollution On Living Beings Environmental Sciences Essay

Impacts Of Air Pollution On Living Beings Environmental Sciences Essay The report is related to one of the most important problem which has to be dealt with in the environment, pollution. Our report commences with a brief introduction of pollution. The report then explains what air pollution is and how various pollutants causes air pollution. It is then followed by the impact of air pollution on living beings and the environment. It also discusses how air pollution can be prevented like using different energy sources, managing vehicles, reducing deforestation, etc. As the report progresses, it explains what water pollution is and the various sources which cause water pollution through disposal of wastes. ..Furthermore, the report gives Dell as an example, an industry which highly contributes towards reducing pollution by taking some measures like, recycling products and minimizing waste during their procedures. The report then shows that while working towards reducing pollution, it still has some ill effects towards the environment. It is given that sul phur dioxide helps in cooling the planet and carbon dioxide is also very important for plants. Thus, reduction of these gases in the environment still affects the environment. To round up our report, we conclude that preventive measures have to be taken by people such that we all live a healthy life in a sustainable and a clean environment. Introduction Pollution can be defined as an adverse state or condition of the natural environment. When impurities and other contaminations affect the earths assets, pollution is caused. In most cases it is the human activities that increase the intensity of pollution in the environment. It is said by Richard Buckminster Fuller that Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because weve been ignorant of their value. Here, the writer has defined pollution to be a result of human ignorance towards the value of natural resources. With so much diversity in the environment, the presence of several kinds of pollution is also evident. The two main classifications are Air pollution and Water Pollution. Each one has varied causes and preventive measures that are discussed further. Air Pollution When certain kinds of substances have been emitted into the atmosphere such that they have a damaging effect on humans as well as the environment, air pollution is caused (National Geographic Society, n.d). Causes The substances causing air pollution are called pollutants. Various pollutants are responsible for this ongoing disaster; however the chief pollutant is carbon dioxide. Even though, all living creatures exhale carbon dioxide, pollution is caused by the release of carbon dioxide from automobiles, aircrafts, industries and due to various other human actions that include burning of fuels like petroleum and coal. Statistics show that in the last 150 years, the amount of carbon dioxide has increased tremendously as compared to earlier decades, and all of it due to activities executed by humans. Methane is also another, highly dangerous, green house gas. This is emitted from several sources like swamps, animal waste and also from chlorofluorocarbons. Fortunately, the use of chlorofluorocarbons as aerosol propellants and refrigerants has been banned due to its destructive impact on the earths ozone layer. The other major pollutant causing drastic climatic issues is sulphur dioxide that main ly is considered to cause pollution because of its presence in smog (National Geographic Society, n.d). Smog is composed of smoke and fog, and smoke consists of sulphur dioxide. Researchers have shown that smog causes the lining of the human nerves and throat to be stimulated. (National Air Emissions Inventory, 2008) Impacts The impact of air pollution towards both, living beings and the environment has been very high. For humans, air pollution proves to be highly lethal and life taking. The World Health Organization reports that about 2 million people are suffering from diseases and fatalities caused by polluted air. Continuous exposure to pollutants causes various respiratory and cardiac diseases like acute vascular dysfunction, pneumonia, wheezing, coughing, asthma, cardiopulmonary disease, heart attack and more (Borade, 2010) The environment is also significantly affected due to the increasing pollution rate. As mentioned earlier, global warming is being caused due to growing levels of green house gases. The green house gases have been creating certain kind of Holes in the ozone layer of the earths atmosphere. The ozone layer above Antarctica and the Arctic has already started getting depleted, but if the pollution rate continues the way it is now, the depletion will spread further over various other continents and nations. This dangerous depletion is allowing ultraviolet radiations to reach the earth. Hence damaging and destroying several plantations, crops, vegetations and more. Mankind is also severely affected, as these ultraviolet rays cause skin cancer and cataracts which mostly prove to be life taking diseases (Columbia University Press, 2007). Acid rain is another phenomena caused due to mixing of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide with atmospheric moisture, leading to formation of acids like sulphuric and nitric acid. In polluted countries, during monsoon, the rain which is otherwise supposed to be healthy for plants instead creates a negative effect on them. Microorganisms present on plants and also in the soil that are responsible for plant respiration, growth, and other plant processes, get destroyed in this rain, hence leading to inhibiting plant growth (Maya et al, 1998). Prevention A very effective way to prevent air pollution is the use of various other energy sources like solar energy, hydroelectric energy and wind energy. As technology is developing, solar water heaters are used to generate electricity and also for household use like the wind turbine (Sandhyarani. 2011). Planting trees can also prove to be of advantage. Deforestation has kept on increasing in recent times. Trees reduce pollution because they inhale carbon dioxide which is released by many automobiles, industries, and various other sources. It is very essential to plant trees as it is a natural source of reducing pollution (How to do things n.d.).A reduction in fuel usage can immensely reduce air pollution. Alternatives can be used instead of these sources for energy like solar or tidal energy which is natural and more eco friendly (How to do things n.d.). It is very important that the vehicles owned by people are well maintained and kept in good condition as it can also affect the environmen t. Regular servicing of cars and minimizing fuel exhaust can help reduce emission of pollutants to an extent. Also, whenever possible, using the public transport also contributes to prevent air pollution as the number of vehicles used reduces (Ways to Control Air Pollution 2010). Water Pollution Water pollution can be considered as any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses. The sources of water contamination can be natural, such as poison springs, oil seeps, and sedimentation from erosion. Apart from that water pollution can be caused by humans as well which affect water quality or usability. (Cunningham, 2001) Causes Pollution-control standards and regulations usually distinguish between point and nonpoint pollution sources. Factories, power plants, sewage treatment plants and oil wells can be regarded as point sources because they discharge pollution from specific locations, such as drain pipes, ditches, or sewer outfalls. These sources can be relatively easy to monitor and regulate and can be identified easily. It is generally possible to divert effluent from the waste streams of these sources and treat it before it enters the environment. On the other hand, nonpoint sources of water pollution are scatter or diffuse, having no specific location where they discharge into a particular body of water, non point sources include golf courses, lawns and gardens, construction sites, logging areas, roads, streets and parking lots. Nonpoint sources are often hard to regulate and monitor due to the irregular timing of certain events such as rainfall or drizzle which may flush high concentrations of gasoline, lead, oil, and rubber residues off streets. Point sources can be fairly uniform and predictable throughout the year, whereas nonpoint sources are often highly episodic (Cunningham, 2001). Impacts Prevention Industry Application One very good example of an industry which contributes to prevent pollution is Dell. It was the No. 1 company in NEWSWEEKs 2010 Green Rankings (An American weekly news magazine published in New York City). The company focuses mainly towards minimizing environmental effects through regular process work done within the company like designing and disposing the product. It aims to minimize waste, reuse and recycle products and also to extend the products life span which reduces energy consumption (Michael. 2008). As compared to their laptops made in 2005, the new laptops use 25% lesser energy. It has recycled 7.2 million pounds of recycled plastic from previous customers to make new laptops and computers. With a purchase of new Dell laptops or peripherals, the company accepts used Dell products and also competitors products to recycle free of cost (Green Rankings: The Top 10 in Newsweek, October 2010). Benefits from Pollutants After scanning through all air and water pollutants, it is observed that, knowing its ill effects, the presence of selective pollutants is significant. Sulphur dioxide which is an air pollutant, and which has disastrous effects on the environment, also aids in reducing global warming to a certain extend. A recent study showed that there are certain negative effects of having lower levels of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere, one of which is, a possible increment in global warming levels. Sulphur dioxide released by volcanoes tends to create a cooling impact on the planet, by obstructing the path of sunlight, hence reducing global warming (National Geographic Soceity, n.d). Also carbon dioxide, which is the chief pollutant, is needed by plants for one of its important life processes i.e. photosynthesis. However, the current ratio of these chemicals in the atmosphere is high and hence the implementation of preventive measures is mandatory. Conclusion Seeing the catastrophic effects of pollution, it is necessary that the human race puts the preventive measures into action. This is because the principles of pollution prevention imply that by reducing pollution people will have a more efficient and sustainable environment. Therefore, it is very important to prevent pollution and it is the responsibility of all individuals and organizations like the government, citizens, industries, etc to contribute to pollution prevention for the environment (Cowan et al. 2005).

Nothingness :: Creative Writing Short Stories

Nothingness The wall appears to be chiseled from one large block of marble. As if the Gods themselves found a piece of black marble large enough to cover an area apparently the size of Kansas. In fact the Gods themselves did, for this is the wall of Asgaard, realm of the Gods. Seated amidst mountains of mist and covering fully half of existence, the city of the Norse dead is surrounded by this towering wall of rough black marble. From the mountains, a stone paved path winds down to the foot of the wall. On the path a group of figures are descending its flagstones, working their way to the foot of an immense silver gate, that stands ajar, opening the way for any travelers. The gate is a delicate appearing mesh of shining sliver; if closed, even Thor could not force it open. He has tried. It must be that strong, it guards the only path between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Approximately forty souls are approaching the gate; one leads. She is a large woman, with long blonde hair braided down her back. Her white robes flow around her, giving the appearance of reality and solidity, an odd sight in the spirit world. Turning to those who follow her she focuses her gaze on each in turn,  ³No matter what happens, do not go through the gate. Only the Seekers may go through. You are not prepared for what will be on the other side. ² Her followers do not react, those whose eyes are open are more interested in the terrain. The majority of the people appear to be sleeping, their faces are relaxed and their eyes are closed. Of those whose eyes are open, only a few are awake and alert. Two are especially noteworthy. One is a tall youth with shoulder length blonde hair, the other is sightly shorter, with long curly dark brown hair. He is wearing a kilt and a short, ceremonial sword at his belt. The blonde lad is standing still, absorbing his surroundings with a passion. He seems to be looking for something.

Healthcare Reform and Its Impact on the Delivery System

If you are in the healthcare industry, you have probably heard some rumblings about the Health Care Reform of 2010, coolly referred to as Affordable Care Act, or Obama care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Barack Obama. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) became public law in March 23, 2010. The health care reform was enacted with the goals of â€Å"increasing the quality and affordability of health insurance, lowering the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage, and reducing the costs of healthcare for individuals and the  government† (Frost and Sullivan, 2011). The law is passed by US congress provide universal access to healthcare, control the rising costs of healthcare, regulate the private insurance industry through online marketplace and improve the quality of healthcare. The purpose is to â€Å"make healthcare choices more consumers friendly and easier to unde rstand. It is intended to make sweeping changes to healthcare in the United States† (White, 2013). The law also â€Å"requires insurance companies to cover all applicants within new minimum standards and offer the same rates regardless of pre-existing conditions or sex.Additional reforms aimed to reduce costs and improve healthcare outcomes by shifting the system towards quality over quantity through increased competition, regulation, and incentives to streamline the delivery of healthcare† (Monheit, 2010 ). The Congressional Budget Office projected that â€Å"the ACA will lower both future deficits and Medicare spending† however upheld â€Å"the law in promoting strategies and solutions to encourage health care reform that lowers cost, improves quality, and expands access to health care† (CBO, 2013).According to U. S Chambers of Commerce, â€Å"the United States spends $2.  7 trillion a year on health care. More than 170 million Americans receive healt h insurance through voluntary, employer-sponsored plans. The government was on the hook for $38. 6 trillion in unfunded liabilities for Medicare in 2011 as a result of the entitlements created by the health care reform law† (U. S. Chambers of Commerce, 2013). For the purposes of this research, it may be a good idea to have a common understanding of the recent legislation and Health Care Reform Act.I plan to highlight its impact on the delivery system at Montefiore Medical Center, thoroughly discussing its effect on access, cost and  quality, with special focus on how the recent legislation and health care reform will affect the health care facility. Montefiore Medical Center is a health care facility which is covered by the Health care reform. Health care reform compliance at Montefiore Medical Center is a central concern of their delivery system. The health care reform is a law that needs continuous regulation. Montefiore Medical Center and other health care facilities such as private clinics, home healthcare providers and small healthcare associated businesses, are in a prime position  to comply with the healthcare reform, and the law must ensure that these healthcare institutes are rigorously controlled, and are in compliance of the affordable care act.The Healthcare reform and all its provisions are already making the facility â€Å"find new ways to increase facility efficiency, better manage care and streamline costs† (Montefiore. org, 2012). One item the facility is focused on is renovating to cut down on operating expenses because of the impact of the healthcare reform. In a study by Amadeo Kimberly (2013) about access to healthcare on the delivery system  found that â€Å"more than 600,000 new young people became insured as of May, taking advantage of the Act's provision that children up to age 26 could be covered by their parents' insurance.†Rather than â€Å"employer-sponsored insurance offering the sole source for guarante ed issue insurance, coverage for preexisting conditions, and generally affordable coverage,†(Geyam, 2012) many employees may have alternative sources of coverage through expansion of Medicaid eligibility or premium subsidies through the state or federal exchanges. A report by economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) noted that â€Å"the health  care remake will achieve the aim of expanding health insurance – adding 34 million Americans to the coverage rolls† (HHS, 2013).This shows that on the potential positive side of the health care reform, there would be a continuous increase in access to healthcare. This increases â€Å"profits for the insurance companies, which should translate to lower premiums, since the new insures pay into the system but require fewer health services† (Kimberly, 2013). Geyam (2012) observed that â€Å"the healthcare reform will extend insurance coverage by 32 million people by 2019 (including 16 millio n on Medicaid);Will provide subsidies starting in  2014 to help many lower-income people afford coverage; will eliminate cost-sharing for many preventive services; will provide new funding to increase the capacity of community health centers; will put in place some limited reforms of the insurance industry, such as prohibiting exclusions based on pre-existing conditions and banning annual and lifetime limits; and will establish a new non-profit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute charged with assessing the relative outcomes, effectiveness and appropriateness of different treatments. †As a result, millions of previously uninsured people will soon have access to healthcare, causing an increase in the number of potential patients requesting treatment from healthcare facilities such as Montefiore Medical Center. Healthcare costs are expected to â€Å"rise 7. 5 percent in 2013, even with healthcare reform,† according to a study by Price water house Coopers (2012). The Affordable Care Act focuses â€Å"more on getting people insured than on lowering costs overall,† says Jeff Munn, vice president of benefit policy development at Fidelity (2013), â€Å"But it's going to take a while to see if those provisions work,† he says..Another analysis by Barina (2013), also found that â€Å"the law falls short of the goal of controlling runaway costs, rising projected spending by about 1 percent over 10 years. That increase could get bigger, however, since the report also warned that Medicare cuts in the law may be unrealistic and unsustainable, forcing lawmakers to roll them back† (p. 18). The rapidly rising costs of health care keep going up unabated. Under the health care reform, the market still rules on prices. The cost of health care will increase by about â€Å"20 percent because of new technology and new initiatives† (Wright, 2010).In addition, analysis by both the Congressional Budget Office and the CMS actuary shows that â€Å"the health care reform will substantially reduce the federal deficit, only slightly increase national medical spending (despite an enormous expansion in insurance coverage), begin to reduce the growth rate of medical spending, and introduce various new initiatives that may lead to more fundamental reductions in the long-term rate of health care cost growth† (CBO & CMS, 2010). The health care reform will not solve our health care cost problems, but it is a historic and cost effective step in the right direction.It will introduce a range of payment and delivery system changes designed to achieve a significant slowing of health care cost growth. Throughout the health care reform debate, consumers and providers alike at Montefiore Medical Center and other healthcare facilities asked how they would be affected by the new law. Given how many types of facilities make up the delivery system, it is likely that the effects of reform will not fix all problems. Any â€Å"hosp itals that have historically provided more care to uninsured patients is likely to gain the most in terms of revenue increases for the mostly  uncompensated care they have been providing to these patients† (Berenson and Zuckerman, 2010).The Healthcare providers in the hospital and other healthcare facilities understand that their former ways of doing business are bound to change because of the healthcare reform. As observed by Berenson & Zukerman (2010) â€Å"the introduction of new, marginal incentives is designed to move in the direction of rewarding better performance. † In this way, there is a modest move in the direction of paying for value rather than volume.As indicated by Cutler David (2013), â€Å"the law begins to change how providers are paid and care is delivered, so that  they are rewarded not for the volume of services they provide but for the value they offer. † Of greatest effect is the expectation that future provider revenues will have less to do with patient volumes and more to do with clinical outcomes, quality and cost efficiency. Most hospitals will likely benefit financially because of the coverage expansions. â€Å"Providers that get good results for their patients and keep costs in check stand to be rewarded with performance bonuses, shared savings and other revenue enhancements† (Monheit, 2010).Those providers  that fail to do these things can expect financial penalties which will affect revenues and ultimately tarnish a provider's credit profile. â€Å"Accountable care may still be gestational in most areas of the nation, but the concept appears to be taking hold and will eventually replace large portions of our existing fee-for-service system† (Berenson & Zukerman, 2010). Moreover, the health care reform will also call for more care to be provided outside of the hospitals with specific provisions focusing on increasing the quality of preventative care. This will likely result in a major rise i n demand for ambulatory, or outpatient care.At the same time, Montefiore Medical Center and other hospital care facilities will shift a greater focus on critical care patient. In conclusion, the health care reform, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, may make some marginal gains in the area of access, cost and quality, but will not remedy all access, cost and quality problems in the health care delivery system. Experts also believe the added demand of the health care reform will mean a major increase in job openings within the healthcare industry.Some  predict as many as â€Å"250,000 to 400,000 jobs annually over the next ten years – as well as an increase in scope and location of available jobs† (Katz, 2013). For example, hospitals like Montefiore Medical Center will be staffing more critical care nurses while registered nurses and other patient care positions may have more opportunities at outpatient sites, such as clinics or other non-critical medical facilities. The health care reform changes are right around the corner and subsequently there will likely be a lot of transformation happening in the healthcare delivery system over the next few years.

Balance Theory Essay

Introduction Good Evening ladies and gentlemen my name is xxxxx and today I shall enlighten you about a very interesting theory concerning consumer behaviour and Marketing. As practicing marketers, we are well aware of the impact that a celebrities endorsement can have on consumer behaviour but I am pretty sure most of you wouldn’t know the reasoning behind such a phenomenon. What is the Balance Theory? Ever wondered why firms use celebrities to endorse their products? Well wonder no further because Fritz Heider proposed with his Balance theory that people attempt to maintain a psychological balance and form relationships that balance out their likes and dislikes. For example if Person A likes a celebrity and the celebrity likes a product but Person A originally disliked the product, then Person A is likely to end up increasing his enjoyment of the product or decreasing his liking of the celebrity or both. All these options create equilibrium. As marketers, it is our goal to achieve market the product successfully to the target audience. For example if we were to use Michael Jordan to market golfing products, then the target consumer would most likely end up disliking the product. However, if we were to use Tiger Woods to market the golfing products, then consumers of golfing products would most likely end up liking the products. The Balance Theory Explained So the Balance Theory is made up of a Triangle that consists of 3 elements. The relationship between these 3 elements is known as sentiment relations. So the first element is PO, the second element is PX and the third element is OX. If the results of the multiplication of the positive or negative signs of any 2 elements yields a positive result, then the consistency in the triad is maintained and vice versa. This model may seem complicated but it is in essence very basic. So let me simplify this for you with an example. Positive Example Let us assume P is John a basketball fan, O is Michael Jordan a celebrity Basketball player and X is the product being marketed and in this case let’s assume it is a limited edition basketball. So if John is a fan of Michael Jordan, then the sentimental relation PO will be positive. Since Michael Jordan is approves of the product he endorsed, the relationship OX is positive too. Therefore, by default, PX would be positive too. Negative Example However, say if P were to remain John, O were to become Tiger Woods and X were to become a golf set, then PO would become negative since Tiger Woods is a golfer and hence John would not be able to relate to him, OX would remain positive since Tiger Woods loves the product he is endorsing and the eventual result of this would be a negative PX which would mean consistency in the Triad is not maintained and that the celebrity endorsement has not been successful in promoting this product to the consumer. Importance of this theory to us This theory is of interest to us as future marketers as it helps us understand consumer behaviour and psychology with regards to mascots used to endorse/market a product. It also educates us on the 3 way relationship that transpires between product, celebrity and consumer and in turn, we would be able to market our products using the correct celebrities for the correct product. The End And that ladies and gentlemen concludes my presentation on Fritz Heider’s Balance Theory. Thank you all for your kind attention. Bibliography 1. http://www.investorwords.com/15193/balance_theory.html 2. http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/balance_theory.htm 3. Roy, Subhadip, Gammoh, Bashar S., Koh Anthony C. (2012). Predicting the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements using the balance theory..Journal of Customer Behaviour. 11 (1), p33-52.