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The ORs in Rushs new hospital building contain advanced communication features such as video conferencing.

Ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr. Guy Petruzzelli spent more time than he’s accustomed to in the operating room Monday morning during one of the first surgeries at the Tower, Rush University Medical Center’s new hospital. Not only didn’t he mind the extra time spent in the room, he considers it a giant step forward in patient care.

In one of the approximately 60 operations in the brand-new operating rooms at the Tower that day, Petruzzelli used a robotic procedure to remove a small tumor from the back of a patient’s throat. This requires specimen analysis by a pathologist, and prior to the move to the new hospital, Petruzzelli would have needed to leave the operating room (OR) to consult with the pathology department about the results.

But due to new technology available to him and the other surgeons at Rush at the new hospital building, his meetings with pathologists now happen through video communication after the specimen sample is sent to the pathology department in a pneumatic tube, a network of tubes that can propel special canisters with, for example, pathology specimens from surgery, to different locations at the Medical Center. Thanks to the video screens in the OR, Petruzzelli is able to see exactly what the pathologist is seeing under a microscope in real time, and can discuss the results “face to face. That saves precious time, improves communication, and it’s just one of the features of the Tower that had Petruzzelli so excited following his procedure.

“It’s very important for surgeons, especially cancer surgeons, to communicate with the pathologists,” Petruzzelli said. “We can have a conversation with the pathologists about what they’re seeing at that moment and have them describe that to us without leaving the operating room. That is really incredible.”

Petruzzelli also noted one of the other communication features of the new operating rooms. There are four high-definition monitors dispersed throughout the room, allowing everyone there to see what the surgeon is seeing while operating using microscopic video cameras.

“We can set that up these monitors so the surgical assistant, along with the scrub nurse — everyone in the room — can see what’s going on, and they can more quickly anticipate what the needs of the surgeon are,” Petruzzelli said.

Surgeons can also use the monitors for teaching residents and students in the room, and the images can be sent to other teaching hospitals around the world for educational needs.

Everyone viewing Petruzzelli’s procedure Monday morning saw a very safe surgery that was executed well. For that, Petruzzelli made sure to credit the nursing leadership, including the unit director of perioperative services, Leslie Wirtz, RN, and her team, which worked all day Saturday and Sunday to make sure the room’s equipment and other infrastructure was ready for a safe surgery.

“For the magnitude of the transition and change, it was really spectacular,” Petruzzelli said. “Things went very safely and very well.”

Image by rkrichardson via Flickr

Now that you’ve made sure you qualify for filing for bankruptcy, consulted a local bankruptcy lawyer, and sorted through all the paperwork, you are finally ready to file for bankruptcy in your local state. A new path of being debt free is finally within your grasp, but there’s one thing left to consider: bankruptcy filing fees. Although somewhat ironic, yes, there are standard bankruptcy filing fees you must pay to file for bankruptcy. However, before you consider other options, try thinking of this filing fee as a one-time payment that can help you reshape your future.

The filing fees are typically paid to your local bankruptcy court. They do not include bankruptcy attorney fees, which are at the discretion of your lawyer. Attorney fees vary due to a number of factors, including location, the complexity of your case, the length of your case, and more.

As of November 2011, bankruptcy filing fees are as follows:

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·         $306 for Chapter 7

·         $281 for Chapter 13

Paying for the Chapter 7 filing fees will immediately discharge most of your unsecured debts, including credit card bills, personal loans, utility bills and medical bills. If your case is approved, most, if not all, of your unsecured debt will be erased, giving you a clean slate and a chance to rebuild your credit score for future financial endeavors. Once your debt is cleared, you are no longer responsible for the debt, and creditors cannot contact you about those debts again.

Paying for the Chapter 13 filing fee will lead a court structured and approved repayment plan that is interest free. This repayment plan will also halt any foreclosures and repossessions on your properties for a period of three to five years, allowing you to keep your homes and automobiles. The bankruptcy filing fee must be made to the clerk at the bankruptcy court upon filing for Chapter 13. After successfully filing for Chapter 13, you must make sure to follow your payment plan and pay on time, you must not incur a large amount of new debt, and you must keep current insurance on assets that act as collateral for a debt. Keep in mind that attorney fees may vary due to factors such as the length and complexity of your case.

Filing for bankruptcy may seem like a long and tedious process. The attorney fees and filing fees you must pay may seem like they are not worth it. However, keep in mind that you are paying a few hundred dollars to clear away thousands of dollars worth of debt. Filing for Ch 7 and Ch 13 bankruptcy may be the best way to get your family out of debt and start over with a clean slate.

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Located in Montana, North Dakota, and parts of the Saskatchewan territories, the Bakken formation is rich in oil, and home to hundreds of oil reserves. These oil reserves are responsible for employing thousands of individuals each year. At any given time, the oil companies that support and finance these oil reserves have dozens of job openings, and are willing to hire anyone who meets the skills and requirements needed for the job.

While bakken oil shale may have hundreds of different jobs that can be available at a moment’s notice, some positions open up more often than others. The following four positions are ones oil companies are always looking to fill.

Truck Driver

Any company that hires truck drivers experiences a high turnover rate, and oil companies are no exception. Truck drivers tend to burnout easily, or get bored with their current employment situation. These characteristics often lead to many truck drivers quitting, or switching positions within the company, which opens up the position for new truck drivers.

Operator Assistant

Operator assistants are like the second, third or fourth person in command of an oil reserve. Due to their low position within the company, operator assistants who exhibit excellent communication and technical skills are often promoted to higher positions. The promotion leaves a new job opening for someone else to step in and become a new operator assistant.

Concrete Finisher

Concrete finishers come onto an oil reserve, and are responsible for finishing, protecting, and repairing any project that required the use of concrete. Oil companies have a high turnover rate for concrete finishers because the position is labor intensive, and there can be long periods where there is no work available. The position of concrete finisher also requires extensive training and knowledge, which makes the position tough to fill as only certain individuals can be chosen to fill the position.

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Welder

Welders are highly trained individuals who have learned how to meld certain materials together. There is a lot of dexterity, attention to details, and knowledge of metals and oil needed to be a good welder. Oil companies are always looking for people who possess these skills, as it can be hard to fill a welder position when another leaves. Many oil companies are so desperate to hire welders that they offer training courses and education to those that exhibit the potential to become great welders.

Concrete finishers, welders, truck drivers, and operator assistants are highly sought after by oil companies, especially those along the Bakken foundation. If you possess the potential to learn the required skills, or already have the skills required for one of these positions, earning a job at an oil reserve or oil company shouldn’t be too hard.

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After completing a CNA training program you will be faced with the decision to further pursue a career in the medical field that gives you the responsibility to make life altering or life changing decisions. However, one of the first life changing decisions you have to make would be for your future: will you prusue a career as a nurse practitioner or as a registered nurse?

To the untrained eye, there’s no difference between a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse. But there are distinctive differences in the type of patients you’ll handle, what your job responsibilities, and the education and training is required. Here’s a look at some of the basic differences between the two careers.

• The Educational Background

Registered nurses attend an accredited four-year college or university and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Nurse practitioners on the other hand, continued their education after receiving a bachelor’s degree, until they earn their Master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree takes four or more years to obtain while a master’s degree will require at least six years of additional education.

• Job Responsibilities

A nurse practitioner is allowed to see patients unsupervised. They are often given the responsibility to handle patient’s care when the situation is not considered critical. In many cases, nurse practitioners handle tasks usually reserved for physicians, and some hospitals and medical centers even use them to handle occasional patient overflow.

On the other hand, a registered nurse is not given the same freedomthat a nurse practitioner enjoys. They interact directly with patients, but are not responsible for making life-altering decisions. Typically, a registered nurse will be following a set of orders that was passed down from a doctor or nurse practitioner.

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• Patient Interaction

Both nurse practitioners and registered nurses interact directly with patients, but the type of their interaction varies. Nurse practitioners will interact with patients in the same way a doctor will. They see them by appointment or a walk-in basis, talk over symptoms, and make a diagnosis. A registered nurse interacts with a patient directly, but is also responsible for ensuring that the patient is receiving the proper care they need. A registered nurse is more “hands-on” when it comes to paptient interaction than a nurse practitioner.

The decision of whether to pursue a nurse practitioner career, a registered nurse career, or to stay a certified nursing assistant is a big, life-altering decision. Consider all the differences between the two career paths that are ahead of you because that’s the only way that you will be able to make an informed decision.

Quarterback Gunner Kiel of Columbus (Ind.) East High School officially joined Notre Dames team Tuesday. (Chicago Tribune via Indianapolis Star Photo)

Gunner Kiel, a five-star recruit  who is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country , has enrolled and will play for Notre Dame.

The school confirmed that Kiel was an early enrollee Tuesday.

This recruitment process was a roller-coaster ride at times, but I know I have made the right decision for my family and me, Kiel said in a statement released by the school.

The Columbus, Ind., native has put college football fans on a roller coaster ride of emotions during his recruiting process. He started out committing to Indiana, where his brother plays, and then he made an oral commitment to LSU on Dec. 27.

However, in recent days, rumors and reports had Kiel changing his mind once again and heading to Notre Dame. The school’s newspaper, the Observer, broke the story on Monday that the 2011 Indiana Mr. Football, was indeed enrolled at the school.

At Columbus East High last season, he passed for 2,517 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for another 482 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His decision to enroll at the school makes an interesting dilemma for head coach Brian Kelly, who must now decide how to fit Kiel into his quarterback rotation. Tommy Rees was the starter for most of 2011 however Andrew Hendrix saw a lot of action late in the season.

The move will also raise Notre Dame’s overall recruiting class as National Signing Day approaches on Feb. 2.

“That can raise Notre Dame a little bit and lower LSU since he was one of their two best recruits,” CBS Sports Network recruiting expert Tom Lemming said. The Irish are currently ranked 16^th in the latest rankings by MaxPreps while LSU is ranked sixth overall.