Archive for February, 2012
GeoBlue, a pacesetter and thought leader providing for the health care demands of expatriates and world travelers, announced immediately that it has established the first i phone app to find and paying for top notch healthcare services all around the world. GeoBlue Mobile has become obtainable in the iTunes Application Store for uploading on to i-phones, iPads as well as iPod touches. From the palm of their hands, GeoBlue insurance plan customers easily utilize the down-loadable app to:
* Review detailed profiles of carefully selected English-speaking physicians and dentists in 180 countries
* Contact GeoBlue’s concierge service to request an appointment with a specific doctor or within a medical specialty
* Plug into iPhone’s mapping and GPS functionality to find the shortest route to convenient care
* Present a digital identification card directly to doctors and hospitals as confirmation of their eligibility for benefits.
GeoBlue Mobile also maps and profiles notable hospitals and pharmacies and provides brand name equivalents for over 350 prescription and over-the-counter medications. To help users describe and understand symptoms, diagnoses and treatment plans, GeoBlue Mobile has built-in translation tools with audio allowing users to play hundreds of key medical terms and phrases in the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Requiring no Internet connection when taken abroad, GeoBlue Mobile is exceptionally fast and easy to use with convenient functionality to save favorites or recall recent searches. With an Internet connection, travelers can also go directly from the app to the Blue National Doctor and Hospital Finder mobile web site to find providers inside the U.S. GeoBlue Mobile was developed and is maintained by HTH Worldwide, the global leader in mobile technology for destination health services.
“Today GeoBlue sets a new industry standard for member convenience and value with the deployment of the global downloadable application,” said Angelo Masciantonio, Chief Executive Officer of GeoBlue. “No other international health plan can place access to a world of quality health care literally in its members’ hands.”
About GeoBlue
GeoBlue is the trade name for the international health insurance programs of Worldwide Insurance Services, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Setting the industry standard, GeoBlue’s mission is to provide peace of mind to long- and short-term global travelers by offering competitive insurance protection and technology-powered assistance, including an elite community of thousands of carefully selected, contracted doctors and hospitals in almost every country in the world as well as its signature destination databases, mobile tools and concierge-level services. The scope of GeoBlue’s services and technology creates a complete, reliable, convenient way to keep international travelers and expats healthy and productive.
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A written report revealed only recently according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) indicates that the actual numbers of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths in passenger vehicles increased slightly for the first six months of 2011, based on preliminary data supplied by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Overall, 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased from 190 to 211 – an 11 percent increase. If the trend continued for the second half of 2011, it will mark the end of 8 consecutive years of collective reductions in fatalities to this particular age bracket.
The new report – the first state-by-state look at teen fatalities in 2011 – was completed by Dr. Allan Williams, a researcher who formerly served as chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Williams surveyed GHSA members, who reported fatality numbers for every state and D.C. The report comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a statistical projection suggesting that total motor vehicle deaths for the first six months of 2011 declined 0.9 percent.
Deaths of 16-year-old drivers increased from 80 to 93 (16 percent) while the number for 17-year-olds went from 110 to 118 (7 percent), a cumulative increase of 11 percent. Twenty-three states reported increases, 19 had decreases, and eight states and the District of Columbia reported no change. While the changes in state-by-state fatality numbers generally are small, states such as Florida, Texas and North Carolina reported significant increases.
Dr. Williams attributes much of the increase to the fact that the benefit of state Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws may be leveling off, as most of these laws have been in place for some time. Additionally, Dr. Williams speculates that improving economic conditions are contributing to an increase in teen driving, thus increasing their exposure to risk of traffic collisions. Dr. Williams notes, “While it is not a surprise that these numbers are stabilizing or slightly increasing, states should not accept these deaths as something that cannot be prevented. More work can and should be done to save teen lives.”
Troy E. Costales, Chairman of GHSA, expressed, “While it is good news that overall deaths appear to have declined during the first six months of 2011, we are concerned that the trend with teens is going in the opposite direction,” He continued, “As the report notes, a widespread strengthening of laws is still possible and finding effective tools outside of GDL is an important goal. These include improving driver education and involving parents in proactively establishing safe driving habits for their teens.”
Chairman Costales said, “As the parent of a young driver and a soon-to-be-driver, I know firsthand the pressures parents face in allowing their teens behind the wheel. As parents, we must set and enforce strict rules for our new drivers, making sure risks are minimized. This includes limiting other teens in the car, limiting nighttime driving and absolutely prohibiting any type of cell phone or electronic device use while driving.”
Barbara Harsha, Executive Director of GHSA, said states could use federal support to save more teen lives. “As part of the upcoming highway reauthorization bill, Congress should provide financial incentives to states that have strengthened or will strengthen teen driving laws. Additionally, Congress should provide adequate funding so that NHTSA can research and support demonstration projects to determine the most effective ways to increase teen seat belt use and compliance with GDL laws. Congress also should fund NHTSA and the states to carry out distracted driving campaigns aimed at teen drivers,” Harsha added, “Research also needs to be done to determine the impact of changing school start times so that teens are less likely to be driving fatigued.”
The full report, including state-by-state data, is available online at www.ghsa.org.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.
Plans In Windsor Advantage Expansion Considered
Author: admin
Windsor Advantage, LLC, a leading lender service provider to banks participating in Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, has achieved real success in 2011, by not only increasing profitability but also by creating or preserving more than 2,000 jobs and by assisting its bank clients in providing SBA loans to nearly 100 small businesses across the country.
Shawn Andrews, Managing Director of Windsor stated, “The SBA enables banks to offer borrowers the loans they need to increase productivity, hire employees and benefit their local communities. This partnership with the SBA will ultimately provide the foundation for the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovation in the US. We at Windsor are proud to be part of the solution by allowing our bank clients to participate profitability in this great program.”
In 2011, Windsor Advantage achieved its best year to date, generating over 84 million dollars in successfully completed transactions. This achievement is built on 150 years of collective experience working with SBA small business lending programs and a commitment to industry compliance as evidenced by Windsor’s recent SOC 1 Type 2 certification. From offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Charlotte, Kansas City and the corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, the Windsor Advantage team is poised to become the nation’s preeminent SBA lender service provider.
To meet the demands of its growing business, Windsor Advantage made a significant investment in human capital, hiring five new professional staff members last year. Windsor’s internal success in 2011 also resulted in meaningful growth for the United States economy. In partnership with its bank clients, Windsor helped to create or preserve over two thousand US jobs. Windsor has also played a pivotal role in the growth of the nearly 100 US small businesses represented in the loans closed and serviced by the company on behalf of its bank clients.
The responsible and real growth of Windsor Advantage in 2011 is a significant achievement that is made more significant by the company’s success in job creation and preservation and in facilitating the flow of invaluable financial support to small businesses across the country. This is what makes Windsor Advantage a progressive industry leader.
Windsor Advantage provides a comprehensive outsourced SBA department solution to banks across the country. Services include application packaging, loans closing and compliance, secondary market sales, loan servicing and regulatory exam support. Windsor also provides continuing training and technical assistance to banks at no cost. With more than 150 years of collective SBA lending experience, cutting edge systems and rigid controls, Windsor Advantage is uniquely qualified to support its clients to develop and execute a thoughtful and profitable SBA 7(a) loan program.