This was the conclusion gleaned from the largest, federally-funded study in the U.S., the results of which were recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) reported that in the early 2000s, drivers in the U.S. had a per-mile fatality rate that was better than the vast majority of developed countries.

Today? We are ranked No. 17 out of 29. In terms of roadway fatalities, our per-mile death rate, as compared to other countries is:

• 11.4  in the U.S.
• 3.7 in the United Kingdom
• 6.8 in Canada
• 9.1 in the Philippines
• 6.8 in Brunei

The researchers opine that perhaps the biggest problem is the fact that U.S. drivers are consumed with their cell phones. They cannot get enough of them.

Study authors tracked the driving habits of 3,500 drivers over the course of three years. With permission from the participants, of course, researchers affixed cameras, sensors and radar inside the vehicles. They tracked the drivers’ behavior with every mile they drive. Participants were fully aware they were being watched, though the results were anonymous. In all, researchers were able to analyze data from some 35 million miles traveled.

What they discovered: Drivers in the U.S. are using their phone in some way for 50 percent of the drive.

Now, we all know the public warnings about how unsafe texting and driving is and most states have even passed laws in this regard. Still, the cell phones appear to be a central part of travel for most U.S. drivers.

Texting itself wasn’t actually all that common. Researchers saw drivers texting about 1.91 percent of the time. However, the drivers who did text increased their odds of a crash by 6-fold, as compared to those drivers who were 100 percent sober, alert and attentive.

Dialing a number was less common – observed just 0.14 percent of the time. And yet, researchers found that it was correlated with a 12-fold increase in car accidents.

Talking on the phone was more common, with researchers observing this behavior 3.24 percent of the time. However, just this act alone doubled the odds a driver would be in a crash.

Reaching for a phone – this seemingly innocuous act – increased the risk of a wreck by five times.

But phones weren’t the only culprit, and there were a few findings that surprised researchers.

For one, it’s been believed that while teen drivers were greatly distracted by teen passengers, adult passengers (for all drivers) were actually beneficial. The thinking was that adult drivers are paying attention to the road and may be like an extra set of eyes for the driver – even if the two were engaged in a conversation. However, researchers found that conversations with an adult passenger were associated with a 1.4-fold increase in car accidents.

Eating, drinking and applying makeup didn’t seem to make much difference in driver performance. However, driving while emotionally distraught had a huge impact. Although it was only observed to occur about 0.2 percent of the time, someone who was extremely emotional or agitated resulted in a 1,000-fold increased risk of a crash.

If you have been a victim of a traffic accident, call Chalik & Chalik at (954) 476-1000 or 1 (800) 873-9040.

Additional Resources:

U.S. Drivers are Distracted More Than Half the Time They’re Behind the Wheel, March 8, 2016, By Aarian Marshall, CityLab

More Blog Entries:

NHTSA: More Americans Wearing Seat Belts, March 2, 2016, Miami Car Accident Attorney Blog

The internet search giant launched Google Compare on March 5 in California only. The company’s plans call for pilots in Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and Texas within the first quarter of the year, and the overall program has been cleared to operate in a total of 26 states at the time of this release.

The pilot program will be a test for Google to see if the service can continue to expand. However, Google Compare has operated in the United Kingdom since 2012, so the program itself is hardly new.

Google will offer insurance policies from major carriers and earn a commission on sales. Google Compare has already obtained authorization to offer policies from MetLife, Dairyland, Mercury, Workmen’s, and Viking Insurance of Wisconsin, with more to follow.

According to industry analysts, car insurers may have reason to be wary of Google’s entry into the market. On one hand, the service will provide another platform for sales. On the other, the company will be adding insurance information to its already massive amounts of data on consumers, which could give Google an advantage in terms of underwriting. Analysts also said that Google’s existing search data could be used to build risk profiles for individual consumers.

In addition, insurance companies may be concerned that Google’s new website will insert itself between consumers and insurers, disconnecting traditional insurance companies from their customers.

For consumers, the new site may be a boon from every angle, allowing them to compare and shop much more quickly. One popular insurance advertising slogan promises to save consumers money in just 15 minutes. Another claims to cut that in half. But Google aims to do the same in a matter of seconds.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago car accident lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

Gold has long been the safe haven of choice for Indians looking for a place to park their cash and a way to avoid the uncertainties that swings in the stock market or currency fluctuations have presented. In recent years, investment in the United States, particularly in real estate, has appealed to foreign buyers looking for a similarly conservative, yet profitable, option. And as the bottom dropped out of many real estate markets in the United States during the recent recession, current purchase prices are very appealing.

A more price-compelling U.S. real estate market has been reflected in the number of foreign buyers, Indians included, who have closed escrow for property in this country. A National Association of Realtors survey estimated that from April 2013 to March of this year, total sales to buyers from abroad stood at $92.2 billion, which represents a 35 percent increase over the previous year. As a result, foreign buyers now constitute 7 percent of all existing-home sales.

Among existing-home sales closed by foreign buyers, China accounted for the largest share of international buyers at 24 percent, followed by Canada at 15 percent, with India and the United Kingdom tied for third with a 6 percent share of the total each. Indian buyers spent $5.8 billion in the U.S. real estate market over the last measured year, up from $3.9 billion over the 12-month period before it.

The figures cited do not distinguish between immigrant buyers and international buyers of U.S. real estate who retain their foreign domiciles. While many international buyers invest in U.S. real estate due to political instability or a restrictive business environment in their home countries, Indian buyers more frequently invest with a longer-term or more practical perspective in mind.

Middle-aged Indians with children current comprise the largest demographic looking to purchase property in this country. Indian families most often invest in residential housing, either multi-unit buildings or single-family dwellings.

With the significant number of students from India who are studying stateside, the investment scenario becomes all the more compelling: families secure living quarters for their children while they are at college or, subsequent to graduation, working in America, and thereafter, either rent out the unit or retain it as a residence if the family chooses to immigrate to the United States.

A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer in Texas. Before selecting an attorney, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee by visiting their information filled web site at http://www.visatous.com.

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Irish researchers conducted the study, which appeared in BMJ Open on July 18. The researchers reviewed over 7,000 journal papers regarding medical malpractice claims, focusing on claims filed against primary care physicians, as that is who provides initial line of care to patients.

The researchers found 34 journal articles relevant to their research, from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia and Canada. The study found that the most commonly reported claims of medical malpractice were those involving missed diagnoses. Depending on the study, missed diagnoses were found to account for between 26 and 63 percent of the total. Death occurred in between 15 and 48 percent of the missed diagnosis claims.

The researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical School found that heart attack and cancer were the most common missed diagnoses, followed by appendicitis, bone fractures and ectopic pregnancy. In cases involving children, cancer and meningitis were the most common missed diagnoses.

After missed diagnoses, medication errors were the most common medical malpractice claim. Such errors were seen in between 6 and 20 percent of the cases, and involved drugs including antibiotics, anticoagulants, steroids, antidepressants and antipsychotics.

The study found that the number of medical malpractice claims filed against primary care physicians in the United States has not changed significantly in the past 20 years.

Bob Briskman is a Chicago malpractice attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

by Patty Cisco
Summer is the time for action! Unfortunately for senior care and living organizations, summer
typically represents sluggish census and occupancy results. The sales reps and marketing
directors who work in the trenches can certainly make a list of all the reasons why this occurs.
While there may be validity to some of those reasons, they also can be the excuse that creates a
barrier to productive activity. Taking a proactive approach to your marketing strategies and sales
tactics now will not only reap results in the summer months, but you’ll be surprised by what your
third and fourth quarters will yield.

1. Focus on quality, not quantity, in your sales calls. Analyze your referral list over a two-year
period. Categorize your referral sources as follows: A (represents top 15% of your referral
sources that make up 65% of your referrals); B (represents 20% of your referral sources that
make up 20% of your referrals; C (represents 65% of your remaining referrals sources that make
up 15% of your referrals; D (no referrals received but relationship worth maintaining). Compare
this referral analysis to current sales call activity. How much time are you spending on
non-referral related external sales calls?

2. Evaluate your marketing strategies. Compare how much time you spend on fun-oriented
marketing activities vs. educational activities and media buys vs. relationship-oriented. Your
time is precious and limited. Stop doing what’s not working and focus on target audience
activity.

3. Scrub lead lists. The cheapest leads are those you have. Set aside the time to review your lead
list and make a follow up. Contact is key to turning leads. Also, don’t forget to update your email
database list.

4. Break down barriers with education. If you or other decision makers in your organization
aren’t sure where to start with establishing a sales culture (people, systems and processes), or
haven’t engaged in an interactive website or have yet to initiate a social media strategy then
maybe it’s time to start strategizing. Plan to attend The Discovery to Sustainable Census
Workshop. Click here for more information on the Workshop.

5. Engage in a Just Ask Campaign. Yes, that’s right, it’s ok to ask for. Engage your staff, current
and past families, residents and network associates in a fun campaign designed to send prospects
of interest your way.

6. Stop all marketing activities for 30 days and just engage in a Summer Blitz! It’s a fun break
from the routine and creates a lot of buzz.

7. Engage in an online interactive campaign that focuses on one core service line. This strategy is
beneficial for special offerings, discounts, new services etc.

Senior care and living organizations can no longer stay in the comfort zone of past marketing
strategies and sales tactics. It’s time for a paradigm shift if you want to drive sustainable census
and occupancy. Starting a proactive action plan now for the summer months will pay in census
benefits later.

 
Bullying In Workplace Brings Devastation to the Company In The Long Run

Bullying in workplace is one of the types of abuse a particular employee or a group of employees
are subjected to at a workplace. It has many forms and comes in the form of verbal, physical or
emotional abuse. This is found in almost all the places like schools, churches and workplaces.
This can happen in many ways face to face, or in your absence, or online or with your friends and
relatives or even with strangers. Bullying is said to take place when a person is repeatedly
exposed over a period of time to any form of negative action from one or more of other persons
and he or she has difficulty in defending himself or herself from these actions.

Bullying in workplace is very common and it cannot be remedied by avoidance as in other cases
of bullying. Most of the times the workplace bullying makes the life of the person targeted more
difficult and unhappy and leads to constant mental strain. This has a very bad effect on his
morale and his productivity suffers much. Due to this, a hostile work environment develops that
leads to deterioration in the work values of the employees. But as per an estimate of the
Workplace Bullying Institute more than one third of the employees are subject to one form or
other of the bullying in workplace during some point of their work life.

The Bullying in a workplace can occur in many ways and some of them include:

Unjustified hypercritical judgment
Unnecessary or unfounded blame
Undue segregation
Isolation
Indifferent treatment from co-workers
Unnecessary yelling and humiliation in front of co-workers
Disproportionate monitoring of the work
Unnecessary verbal or written warnings etc
Vague or untrue claims of poor or underperformance

The bad effects of bulling in workplace

When there is bullying in workplace the employees who are subject to bullying are suffer more in
terms of physical and mental effects. They have very high stress levels, and suffer from extreme
bitterness in their attitude. They usually suffer from depression, and usually do not have any
motivation to excel in their jobs and exhibit greater levels of hostility towards other employees.
Due to the constant depression and stress they suffer from many physical illnesses like digestive
problems, sleeping disorders like insomnia and usually have high blood pressure.

Those in the management must always be aware of the fact that bullying in workplace is not the
right way of running their business as a company with bullying becomes dysfunctional and
inefficient. You can see that the absenteeism and low productivity are the norms of any working
day and due to this the company suffers very strong negative growth factors in the long run. An
employee who is subject to bullying in workplace becomes totally against any form of innovation
at his workplace and he never expresses or develops his own ideas for the betterment of the
company.

Due to the hostile and unfavorable work environment even quality employees who are not bullied
also feel it necessary to leave the company at their earliest opportunities. When the bullying in
workplace is known to outside world new employees do not opt to come into the company for
fear of being bullied while working for the company.

Compression Therapy Reduces Blood Clots in Stoke Patients, Study Finds

New research shows that inexpensive leg compression devices help prevent fatal blood clots in
stroke patients. The thigh-length sleeves promote blood flow by periodically filling with air and
gently squeezing the legs. Vascular PRN, based in Tampa, Fla., is a leading national distributor
of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) therapy equipment. Greg Grambor, the company’s
president, commented on the study.

“Compression therapy has been around for over 20 years,” Grambor said. “Many doctors have
already come to rely on this equipment for safe, effective, and affordable prevention of deep vein
thrombosis. I’m glad this new research was done, and I hope it will help convince more doctors to
give it a try.”

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot inside a vein deep within the body.
It is common in stroke patients and immobile patients and can also occur in healthy people on
long flights where movement is restricted. When a clot detaches, it can then become lodged in
the arteries of the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

The study involved nearly 3,000 stroke patients at over 100 hospitals across the United Kingdom.
Results showed 8.5 percent of patients treated with compression devices developed blood clots,
versus 12.1 percent of patients who received alternative treatments.

“Many patients at risk of DVT are prescribed blood thinning drugs,” Grambor added. “But these
drugs increase the risk of bleeding, which is quite dangerous for stroke patients as it may lead to
bleeding in the brain.”

So far, no study has conclusively shown that blood thinners increase the survival rate of stroke
patients. Doctors at the European Stroke Conference, held in London on May 31, 2013, discussed
the study’s findings. Professor Martin Dennis of the University of Edinburgh said that the UK’s
guidelines for treatment of stroke should be revised to recommend IPC treatment for all patients
at high risk of DVT. Currently, they only recommend it in cases where blood thinners are
unsuccessful or too risky.

Each year, some 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. One third of strokes are fatal and
another third result in permanent disability.

Vascular PRN may be reached at 800-886-4331.