Letters to the Editor

Healthcare changes supported by training

To the Editor:

Healthcare providers are undergoing the most profound changes known to the industry, as a result of technology and the need to reduce healthcare costs and improve delivery outcomes. Reducing costs and improving the quality of care cannot be accomplished without the ability to capture data, analyze it, and use it to make decisions.

Health Information Technology is a new and growing field, and based on the lofty goals listed above, there is projected to be a tremendous shortage in the number of people qualified to implement and optimize electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Fortunately, grant funding has been made available to increase the pool of qualified workers.

Individuals with either a healthcare or an Information Technology (IT) background can participate in a grant-subsidized training program if enrolled prior to the grant cutoff, or prior to funds being fully expended. Potential students may be unemployed, under-employed, or interested in a career change. Students currently range from Medical Assistants, physicians and nurses, IT workers from a variety of industries to Ph.Ds. in fields such as research, healthcare administration, and more.

The application process is all online, as is most of the six-month training program. More information, and the application, can be found at www.ivytech.edu/hit-training. Classes begin the fourth Wednesday of every month, and while we encourage interested parties to apply as soon as possible, the last opportunity to take advantage of this subsidized training is mid-October 2012.

Please spread the word about this opportunity. Indiana is a leader in the field of Health Information, and we can continue to build on this strength by encouraging Hoosiers to expand their skills and be well-positioned for a career in this rapidly growing field.

Brenda McLane

Corporate Executive for Life Sciences

Ivy Tech Corporate College

Bloomington

New laws help

Indiana employees

To the Editor:

When Indiana lawmakers passed the new smoke free air law it was their intent to protect the health of workers. As it turns out many of our local business owners are worried about offending their employees by infringing upon their rights to smoke, worried they will quit their jobs if they cannot smoke, or use other tobacco products while they work.

But overwhelmingly studies have shown healthy workplaces are money savers for employees, employers and state economies, reducing medical costs associated with tobacco related illnesses.

For example, prior to Michigan passing a smoke free air law a year ago 85% of restaurants studied had poor to dangerous air quality. After the law was passed, 93% of these restaurants registered air quality that was good to very good. At the same time, a study of the health of employees showed decreases in six categories of respiratory illnesses and diseases.

In addition to providing healthier air for their patrons and staff, employers and employees have been and are still saving money with much less time lost on the job related to illness and disease. And as an added bonus in the first year of Michigan's smoke free law retail eating and drinking establishments saw an increase in total sales by more than 6% over the previous year.

All this looks like a win, win for employers.

Sandy May

Greene County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

Bloomfield

A thank you

to all teachers

To the Editor:

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a reception for the retiring teachers from WRV-Lyons. As I was sitting there I realized what an amazing group of educators we have in this area.

These were the people that we entrusted our children with, the people that spent more waking hours with our kids than we as parents were able to do. Not only did they educate, they helped to instill the values that each of the students would carry with them for a lifetime.

For this, I am extremely grateful. The successes of our area students have been too numerous to mention. At a time when teachers and public education are under attack, these are the people that now need our support more than ever.

So please, when the opportunity arises, say thank you to a teacher and remember to vote in November. It could be the most important vote for public education in our lifetimes.

Again, thank you to all the teachers.

Mike Williams

Lyons

Worthington cemetery looks outstanding

To the Editor:

We were very impressed with the main cemetery's appearance in Worthington this year. This is the one near the railroad tracks.

We visit there every year to decorate the graves of Norma's family. The cemetery was so neatly mowed and trimmed.

Rex and Norma (Dyer) Bruce

Bloomington