HTR’s Featured Equipment Review McIntosh MC-501 Mono Amplifier Reviewed By Brian Kahn McIntosh is one of the longest living legends in American high-end audio history. McIntosh’s ‘Unity Coupled Circuit’ utilized in the 50W-1 tube amplifier introduced in 1949 was its first breakthrough design. The use of black glass panels that give McIntosh a unique aesthetic quality came to be in the 1960s. Over the next five decades McIntosh’s product line expanded to include speakers, car audio equipment and a variety of sources including the recent addition of a turntable. Around the time the MC-501 was introduced in 2003, D&M Holdings, Inc. purchased McIntosh from Clarion who had owned the company for just over a decade. Despite the changes in the company’s ownership many of the employees have worked for the company for well over a decade, developing a deep devotion to the company and its customers. The MC-501 is a solid-state 500 watt monoblock that is capable of putting out a continuous 500 watts into eight, four, or two Ohms and peaks of up to 1,200 watts, which is a great deal of power for their price of $11,000 per pair. Unique to McIntosh is the use of the output autoformer. The output autoformer is said to match various speaker impedance levels to the amplifier circuits, keeping the amplifier operating within its optimum load, reducing distortion and overheating. The MC-501′s fully balanced quad-differential circuits go beyond a traditional Read the full review Three Great Reasons to Mount a Flat-Panel TV With Sanus 1. Picture Quality Full-motion mounts allow you to move the TV in all directions, so it’s easy to find the perfect viewing angle from any seat in the house. 2. Safety Mounting a TV places it securely on the wall and prevents accidental smudging, bumping or tipping. 3. Space & Style Along with complementing the TV’s slim design, mounting gets it up and out of the way, creating more living space in a room. For wall mounting options, visit www.sanus.com NuForce P-9 $3,150 For World’s Lowest Distortion Preamp? People don’t believe it when we tell them (and then show them) that our two chassis $3,150 NuForce P-9 stereo preamp has the lowest measured distortion of any stereo preamp ever. But its true. At NuForce, we have built our reputation on building the most musical, most powerful and most quiet audiophile grade components at real-world prices. Would you like to hear what a NuForce P-9 would sound like in your system? Call us at 408.627.7859 or visit NuForce.com Cary Audio Design Cinema 11a – Where performance & technology converge With onboard Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio bitstreamdecoding, the Cinema 11a is the next generation in award winning home theater processing available from Cary Audio Design. The Cinema 11a utilizes only the highest quality components within the audio signal path, resulting in the Cinema 11a being the undoubted sonic leader in high-end processors. Dual DSP engines with 24/192kHz D/A conversion on each channel, The Cinema 11a provides an unrivaled home theater experience.. Click here to learn more or call 919.355.0010 for personal service.   Is Today’s Home Theater Equipment Too Good? By Jerry Del Colliano Shocking wouldn’t be how I describe the news that regional AV chain Ken Crane’s is closing after decades in business in Southern California. The rumors had been swirling that Crane’s had one foot on a banana peel and another in the grave and with the likes of The Good Guys, Tweeter, Myer Emco and the once mighty national chain Circuit City, now all gone – Crane’s could very likely be next. Now they are toast. The news rattles the industry as some of the better audiophile and videophile brands are sold there. In discussing the seismic shift in AV retail with an industry analyst – he pointed out the he thought the root cause was the fact that AV gear is too good. What!?! Too good, I retorted – have you ever hooked up an HDMI 1.4 system without handshake issues? He went on to say that the market share that once was owned by brick and mortar AV shops as well as regional chains is now dominated by big box and warehouse stores like Wal-Mart, Costco and the likes. They sell commodity products at rock bottom prices. They offer competitive return programs but little in the way of actual support or sales expertise. If you can’t learn enough about the product from the outside of the box or a quick look on your smartphone then don’t buy it. The salesman doesn’t care because he’s not a salesman – he’s a minimum wage clerk who will never last more than 18 months with the store, which is just how the big box stores want it. They sell commodities, not specialty products. Read More Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System: One-Touch Control of Your Music at Your Fingertips Imagine having the ability to access every CD you own with the flick of one finger? Sooloos delivers this and more. Gone are the days of hunting for jewel cases and wondering where discs are. With an ultra-fast, ultra-friendly GUI, you are the master of your media in ways never before possible. Use our 17 inch touch screen or your own system – its just that easy. To learn more call 404-344-7111 or visit www.meridian-audio.com		Last Chance To Win a $1,995 Aperion Audio 5.1 Speaker System In July 2010, enter to win a $1,995 Aperion Audio 10th Anniversary 5.1 speaker system. Known for the best customer service in the online speaker business – Aperion Audio is offering up one of their top speaker systems this month for you to win. Don’t miss out. Be sure to fill out every cell and page on the entry form. Enter to win today. The Latest Home Theater News • Consumer Confidence in Economy and Tech Drops, According to CEA-CNET Indexes • Meridian Introduces Sooloos Control 15 • Aerosmith Set to Arrive in Oakland on July 23rd for Start of ‘Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock’ Tour • Plans Underway for Zappa Dedication and Tribute Concert • CE Industry To Surpass $174 Billion in 2010, Reach Record High by 2011 • Marantz Introduces Two New Universal Media Players • Marantz Introduces New Flagship Receiver The Newest Home Theater Reviews • McIntosh MC-501 Mono Amplifier Reviewed • NextGen 1×8 HDMI-Over-CAT6 Splitter Reviewed • Mordaunt-Short Performance Speakers Reviewed • Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Computer Speakers • Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones More Home Theater Reviews • Sherwood Newcastle R-972 Receiver Reviewed • AT&T U-verse DVR and Service Reviewed • Vizio M550NV RazorLED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Vizio SV472XVT TruLED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Mitsubishi Unisen LT-55154 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Mitsubishi Unisen LT-46164 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Audio Research Ref 5 Preamp Reviewed • Sharp BD-HP24U Blu-ray Player Reviewed • Toshiba BDX2500 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed • LG BD550 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • LG 50PK750 Plasma HDTV Reviewed • Samsung LN46C750 3D LCD HDTV Reviewed • Samsung UN46C6500 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Aperion’s SLIMstage30 by Soundmatters Soundbar • dnp Supernova Epic Screen Reviewed • Krell Evolution 402e Stereo Amplifier Reviewed • LG 50PK750 Plasma HDTV Reviewed • Samsung LN46C750 3D LCD HDTV Reviewed • Samsung UN46C6500 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Sony KDL-52NX800 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Sony KDL-46EX500 LCD HDTV Reviewed • Apple iPad 3G Reviewed • Energy ESW-M6 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Mirage Omni S8 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Polk PSW125 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Klipsch Synergy F-1 Floorstanding Loudspeakers • Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Klipsch SW-450 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Klipsch SW-350 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Klipsch RW-12d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Klipsch RF-63 Floorstanding Loudspeakers • Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 9500 UB Projector • Klipsch RW-10d Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Polk PSW111 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Polk PSW110 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • PSB CW800E In-wall Speakers & CWS10 Sub • Toshiba 40G300U LCD HDTV Reviewed • Toshiba 46UX600U LED LCD HDTV Reviewed • Panasonic DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • Vizio VBR200W Blu-ray Player Reviewed • NuForce Reference 9 V3 Special Edition • Sherwood R-904N NetBoxx Reviewed • Panasonic TC-P50S2 Plasma HDTV Reviewed • Samsung BD-C6900 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • Samsung BD-C5500 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • Oppo BDP-80 Blu-ray Player Reviewed • Samsung UN55C7000 55-inch 3D LED HDTV • Boston Acoustics VS 336 Floorstanding Loudspeaker • Definitive Technology ProSub 1000 Subwoofer • Definitive Technology ProSub 800 Subwoofer • Klipsch RF-82 Floorstanding Loudspeakers Reviewed • Klipsch SW-450 Powered Subwoofer Reviewed • Samsung UN55C7000 55-inch 3D LED HDTV • Insignia NS-P502Q-10A 50 Inch Plasma HDTV • Definitive Technology C/L/R 3000 Loudspeaker • Definitive Technology Mythos Two On-Wall Speaker • Genelec AOW312B In-Wall Speaker • Boston Acoustics P460 On-Wall Speaker • Insignia NS-L55X-10A 55-Inch LCD HDTV • Definitive Technology Mythos Ten On-Wall L/C/R • Boston Acoustics SoundWare On-Wall Loudspeakers • Atdec Telehook TH-3270-UFM HDTV Mount • Mark Levinson No 53 Amplifier Reviewed

HomeTheaterReview.com 9701 Wilshire Boulevard 10th Floor Beverly Hills, California 90212 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

Worldstart Computer Tips 7-15-2010

Change Chrome Download Location

Don’t Let This Smokin’ Hot Deal Pass You By!!

Just wanted to say thank you for the
hundreds
of you who ordered yours yesterday! I couldn’t believe the overwhelming response!! If you’re running XP or even Vista and EVER plan on upgrading to Windows 7 – you’ve gotta make sure you get this!! For the price, you can’t go wrong!! Heck, these are going for $30 at WalMart, and we’ve got ‘em for just a fraction of that!!

Bad News For XP Users!

You Can’t Upgrade To Windows 7!

Well, You CAN – But…

You’ll
LOSE
Your Programs – And Your Files Are “Relocated”!

We Have A Solution –
And It ROCKS!

Upgrade To Win 7 – And KEEP Your Programs And Files!

Jaw-Droppin’ Deal – It’s Crazy Not Top Grab This One!

Well, this is disturbing…

OK, you would


LOVE


to upgrade your XP computer (or Vista) to Windows 7 –

After all, Win 7 is much more secure, easier to use, and is without question the best version of Windows ever.



Heck, it’s had record-breaking sales with 150 MILLION copies sold – that’s seven copies a SECOND since its release!

Only one problem

-

if you’re running Windows XP, you can’t really upgrade to Windows 7

. (And Vista users even have issues – see the site for a chart)

Sure, you can buy an “upgrade” disk,

but none of your files or programs will make it to Windows 7

.

It’s a new install, not a true upgrade

– you know, the kind where you keep everything.

Kind of a
“you can’t get there from here”
deal.

OK, you
technically
get to keep your files – but
that
doesn’t even work right!

See, once you’re upgraded,

your files aren’t where you’d expect them to be!

You look under My Documents, but – hey –
it’s empty!

Instead, the Win7 installer dumped them in a folder called “windows.old” in the root directory of your boot drive – yeah, good luck finding what you’re looking for! Oh, and then it’s up to you to restore them to where they belong.

Then there’s your software – Think all those program you rely on every day are going to survive the upgrade?

HA! Sorry, they’re toast.

You’ll have to reinstall each and every program

– hope you still have all the CDs and download files (I know I don’t).

Just think – hours and hours of rifling through boxes and drawers hunting for CDs, searching for registration codes, downloading updates, negotiating with publishers that you really DID buy their product – yeah, sounds like a real blast…

Should only take you a few weeks to get things back to normal. If you can.

Oh, and forget any ideas of just copying the folders your software is in to the new operating system –


that never works


– too many support files are scattered around Windows. In fact, nine times out of ten the program won’t even run. And the tenth program runs, but doesn’t work right.

Hmm… Maybe this upgrade thing wasn’t such a hot idea after all…

Laplink To The Rescue!

They have an amazing program called

PCMover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant

and

it’s going to save your day

(and your sanity)!

This incredible software does what Microsoft refuses to

- and it’s made SPECIFICALLY for moving from XP or Vista to Windows 7!

It allows you to upgrade to Windows 7…

AND keep your
FILES
and
SOFTWARE
intact and where you’d expect to find them!

How cool is that?????

And it’s SOOOOOOO easy!

Let’s say you purchased your copy of Windows 7 Upgrade and you’re ready to take the plunge. It’s a quick 3 step process:

1. Simply insert the Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant disk and follow a few steps on the easy to use wizard.

2. Next, pop your new Windows 7 CD in when prompted and install.

3. Once Windows 7 is ready to go, pop your Upgrade Assistant CD back in, and restore your software and files!

It’s that easy!

We tested this, and let me tell ya – it just plain WORKS!

It’s so easy…

After the first couple screens, it will ask you about the files you want to migrate – you just uncheck anything you don’t want! If there’s stuff you don’t need anymore, just uncheck it. If it missed something (say, a file you keep in a weird folder someplace), you can manually add it!

Another screen or two brings you to software. You’ll get a list of software you can migrate over –


and what’s really cool is that YOU get to pick and choose which programs follow you over to Windows 7!


So, if there’s a few you never use anymore, just leave ‘em unchecked! It’s like a clean-up and move all at once!

From there, it backs up your files and data, you install Windows 7, then reinsert your PCMover Upgrade Assistant CD and

restore ALL your stuff!




Files will be where you expect to find them and your software will survive the trip too


- all ready for your next command!

You’ll be rockin’ Windows 7 – and have all your stuff too!

Instead of days or even weeks, you’ll be good to go in an hour or so!

Oh, and I’m not the only one who thinks this is fantastic. Look at the rave reviews!

Hey,

you’ve got to have better things to do with your time

than relocating files, installing software, and tracking down old serial numbers, right?
Grab this and make your transition to Windows 7 the easy way!

Now for the deal
- We talked with the publisher and they made us a special, one time deal on this
. Now, this retails for $29.99 and for what it does, I’d think no one in their right mind would pass for that kind of money…

BUT… Our deal is BETTER.

Way better!

We’re talking just $12.97 and US shipping is FREE!

OK, it’s now officially INSANE not to grab this

if you are planning to upgrade your Windows XP computer to a Windows 7 computer! We’re talking the current version of a $30 program for lunch money! We’ve never had software like this for this low of a price!

I

KNOW

the time this is going to save you is worth WAY more than $12.97! Grab this today – before the price goes up!

PS – Don’t miss out – when you decide to upgrade your XP computer to Windows 7,

you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t have this software!


Don’t miss out on the best deal in computer history – grab yours today!

John W. asks:

Have you tried Winamp and don’t like it? Maybe you are getting a new computer and want to uninstall it. Whatever the reason, this article will show you how to uninstall it and remove Winamp Search from your computer. You will also remove the Winamp Toolbar. Most programs can be uninstalled through the Control Panel, but sometimes this doesn’t work and it takes a few more steps to completely remove a program.

Under Programs click
Uninstall a program.

A list of programs on your computer will display. Find Winamp in this list and click
Uninstall
. Let it go through the uninstallation.

Whether you manually uninstalled Winamp or used the uninstaller, you need to remove the Winamp folder. Click
Start
and go to
Computer
. Navigate to
C:\Program Files\Winamp
.
Right click
the Winamp folder and select
Delete
to remove the folder.

You will see a list of items. In the search bar at the top, type Winamp. You will see everything that is associated with Winamp on the list.

We hope this article has been helpful for you!

~Rita Wood

OpenOffice:
Save It
All As A PDF PDQ!

Having the ability to save
your files in PDF format can be an invaluable tool. Let’s face it, if you’re
just trying to send someone the information in a file, without them needing
the actual file, then a PDF would probably work.

At this point most everyone
has Adobe Reader to open them which drastically reduces the chances of the recipient
having difficulty getting at the information you’ve sent.

So, with that in mind I
went searching to see what OpenOffice has to offer in this area.

(Want these tips in their entirety? Sign up for
Premium
!)

Delete your Internet Explorer Drop-Down History

Note:
Video may contain additional information not found in the written text.

(Want these tips in their entirety? Sign up for
Premium
!)

Daemon Tools

Have you ever
purchased software on a CD, installed it on your computer and ran
it, only to find that you have to keep the disk in for it to work
right? I hate that!

(Want these tips in their entirety? Sign up for
Premium
!)

For
stories, jokes, quotes and cartoons every day, sign up for our
Just
for Grins
newsletter.

Crafts from Recycled Stuff

I’ve been looking for ways to reuse things around the house, and when I stumbled across this site, I thought to myself that this would be an excellent way to get kids involved in recycling! They can learn to reuses, and recycle things around the house to make crafts. This is awesome because it serves a dual purpose – they learn to recycle and they are busy!

There are crafts that use bottles, jars, cardboard boxes and tubes, computer stuff, frames, and more. There is even a section devoted to ideas for reusing things around the house. I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of repurposing things around the house to give them a second life.

Each project will list the supplies you need to create the item, as well as, full instructions on how to do it and some have pictures.

There are two ways to navigate. You can scroll down the page and click into the sections. Or you can choose the type of craft, or material, or who you want to make it for on the navigation dropdown menus at the top of the page.

This is an awesome craft site! Check it out today!

~Amanda

Do
you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?

Send it to Amanda at


***

Ok – we ran these earlier this week in our Software Deals newsletter and they were a huge hit!! Our supplier extended the special pricing today and we couldn’t resist sharing this deal with you. Better run the the site NOW…this sale is for 24 hours only and then our price from our supplier heads up, that means ours is going up at 11:59pm, CST tonight (07-15-2010)!!

Wow!!

Check Out This 15.4″ Neoprene Laptop Case For Under 11 Bucks!!

It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This!!

Rock Bottom Price!!!

Just $10.97!!

On Sale For 24 Hours Only!!

I am still in shock at the price we got these laptop bag!!
Wait just a second while I pick my jaw up off the floor… … …ok, much better now!

Yeah, we got such an incredible deal on these laptop cases that we couldn’t pass this deal by. This laptop case is nothing fancy, it’s simple and gets the job done – for under $11!!

If you travel with your laptop or if you’re like me and don’t like to just leave it setting out when it’s not in use to collect dust and dirt – this is

the
PERFECT
laptop case

for you! Plus it’s slim and sleek design really makes more ideal than carrying around that huge bulky laptop case.

This soft neoprene case will fit up to a 15.4″ laptop, which is pretty much the size of any standard laptop.

It’s padded design will keep your notebook well protected!

There is even a front sleeve velcro pocket -
perfect for storing cords, cables, flash drives, mice and any other laptop accessories.

It comes with an adjustable, removable shoulder strap and handles for easy carrying!

Now, you can go to any store and spend nearly $50.00 for a laptop bag if you’d like…

OR

You can get your 15.4″ Neoprene Laptop Case today for just $10.97 and US shipping is FREE!!


Yep, that’s right you get a laptop case for under 11 bucks, now that’s just pure insanity!! You really can’t go wrong for that price!!

PS – Head to our site right now before the price heads up to $18.97 at 11:59pm, CST tonight (07-15-2010).

July Wallpaper

Here’s this month’s free calendar wallpaper! As always, it’s 100% free, so head on over and grab one!

	Water Erosion (Photo contest winner )
	Middle Falls in Hocking Hills
	Enfield Creek Falls

It’s all free, so enjoy!

All can be found here:

Enjoy!    

If this part of the
newsletter is all you see, take it up with your ISP. We’ve been seeing
a lot of interference from filters and such lately.

We now offer an RSS
feed. Click for details

Another great way
to get your WorldStart newsletters is by downloading the

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Reader

. It’s the next step in newsletter evolution!
And
it’s FREE!

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Copyright, Disclaimer,
and Removal

ISSN: 1529-336X

Copyright 2009,
WorldStart
. All unauthorized
reproduction strictly prohibited.

You are welcome to
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If you would like
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	July 6, 2010

Exciting News! Join us in Chicago on Wednesday, July 14th as HCTAA hosts a Technology Pre-Conference, where we will explore how technology will support and sustain the mandated innovations in healthcare to meet the growing demand for home care services.  Our slate of presentations has been described as “needing an even bigger stage in the future” by no less than HHFMA Chair Bill Simione.  Join the discussion now and help shape the future of the collaboration between financial, technological, and clinical experts. - HCTAA Chairman, Keith Crownover The Home Care Technology Association of America (HCTAA) is sponsoring a pre-conference workshop, from 9 am to 3 pm, on Wednesday, July 14 . This pre-conference is being held in conjunction with the 16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition, July 14-16, 2010, held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, in Chicago, IL. HCTAA was established by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) to provide a voice for the home care technology industry and to support initiatives in health information technology and telehealth in home health care. HCTAA provides education and information to home care providers about the benefits of technology, shares methods of best practices and provides facts and statistics. The HCTAA pre-conference is Session #801 A Care Transition Model: Powered by Technology, Transforming Financial Incomes and is comprised of four panels focused on technology and the home care and hospice industry. You can register for the Session #801 online at www.nahc.org/Meetings/FM/10/register.html . A description of the session is below: Panel 1: Cost Effective Model: Leveraging Technology in a Clinical/Financial Performance System This panel will identify clinical financial performance systems that can be implemented to assist in building care pathways for chronic disease management. Objectives : Discuss care pathways for chronic diseases that predict clinical outcomes and insure cost containment; and Describe clinical financial performance systems that rely on value based purchasing and financial incentives. Moderator : Michael Lemnitzer, Philips Telehealth Solutions, Framingham, MA Panelists : Paula Suter, RN, Baptist Home Health Network; Ray Darcey, Sentara Enterprises Panel 2: Client Centered Care: The Financial Benefits of Integrating Technology This panel will highlight actual examples of how technology can be incorporated into patient-centered planning and care by focusing on programs that produce financial benefits. Objectives : Relate examples of patient centered planning and care through home care versions of “medical home models” and examples of home care/physician partnered models; Explain transition procedures for pre and post admission to home care, describing the involvement of telehealth nurses both pre and post hospital discharge; and Present examples of how telehealth call centers can be involved in care transition protocols and outsourcing of in-house monitoring of vital signs. Moderator : Charlie Daniels, HealthMEDX, Ozark, MO Panelists : Cynthia Acosta, PT, AseraCare Home Health; Susan Quinn, Ed. D, MBA, RN, Penn Care at Home Panel 3: Care Coordination: Creating Benchmarks for Clinical Outcomes This panel discussion will outline benchmarks for technology and non-technology best practices in clinical performance. Objectives : Cite examples of “Episode management” in the establishment of a Utilization Management System with markers to predict outcomes. Identify the common mistakes uncovered in Recovery Audit Contractor audits and how to avoid them through proactive best practices. Discuss an automated medication management and reconciliation system. Highlight benchmarks to improve the efficiencies of clinical performance and clinical quality performance Moderator : Laurie Neander, At Home Care, Oneonta, NY Panelists : Kristy Wright RN, MBA, FAN, VNA Western Pennsylvania; Bridget Gallagher GNP, MSN, Panel 4: Collaboration: Interoperable Technologies and Successful Partnerships In order to achieve the financial benefits of technology, it’s important to create a circle of healthcare partner-providers through interfaced technology and a feedback process that will aggregate disease-specific outcome data among all partners. Objectives : Compare competitive and non-competitive examples of successful interfaced technology partnerships; Discuss examples of successful EHR partnerships and major EHR providers; and Illustrate how recent technology bridges gaps in care, citing past, present and future example that deliver higher quality outcomes, increased profitability, and improved communication. Moderator: Thomas Check, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY Moderator : Tom Check, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Panelists : Dan Cobb, HealthMEDX, Inc.; Raj Shetye, LHC Group, Inc. Course level : Intermediate; nursing 5.0 CEs; accounting CPEs 5.0 (NASBA/SKA) Prerequisite : Basic knowledge of relationship of home health finance, clinical and quality indicators and benchmarking.

16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition Exhibit booths are still available for the 16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition , July 14-16, 2010, in Chicago, IL. Learn more about exhibiting at www.nahc.org/Exhibits/FM/10/ . If you have questions or would like to sign up today, please contact Ron Everly at (202) 547-7424 or *** .

View this announcement online . This announcement is a service of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Should you no longer wish to receive these emails, please . National Association for Home Care & Hospice 228 Seventh Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 Phone: (202) 547-7424 Fax: (202) 547-3660 www.nahc.org

© 2010 National Association for Home Care & Hospice

	July 6, 2010

Exciting News! Join us in Chicago on Wednesday, July 14th as HCTAA hosts a Technology Pre-Conference, where we will explore how technology will support and sustain the mandated innovations in healthcare to meet the growing demand for home care services.  Our slate of presentations has been described as “needing an even bigger stage in the future” by no less than HHFMA Chair Bill Simione.  Join the discussion now and help shape the future of the collaboration between financial, technological, and clinical experts. - HCTAA Chairman, Keith Crownover The Home Care Technology Association of America (HCTAA) is sponsoring a pre-conference workshop, from 9 am to 3 pm, on Wednesday, July 14 . This pre-conference is being held in conjunction with the 16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition, July 14-16, 2010, held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, in Chicago, IL. HCTAA was established by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) to provide a voice for the home care technology industry and to support initiatives in health information technology and telehealth in home health care. HCTAA provides education and information to home care providers about the benefits of technology, shares methods of best practices and provides facts and statistics. The HCTAA pre-conference is Session #801 A Care Transition Model: Powered by Technology, Transforming Financial Incomes and is comprised of four panels focused on technology and the home care and hospice industry. You can register for the Session #801 online at www.nahc.org/Meetings/FM/10/register.html . A description of the session is below: Panel 1: Cost Effective Model: Leveraging Technology in a Clinical/Financial Performance System This panel will identify clinical financial performance systems that can be implemented to assist in building care pathways for chronic disease management. Objectives : Discuss care pathways for chronic diseases that predict clinical outcomes and insure cost containment; and Describe clinical financial performance systems that rely on value based purchasing and financial incentives. Moderator : Michael Lemnitzer, Philips Telehealth Solutions, Framingham, MA Panelists : Paula Suter, RN, Baptist Home Health Network; Ray Darcey, Sentara Enterprises Panel 2: Client Centered Care: The Financial Benefits of Integrating Technology This panel will highlight actual examples of how technology can be incorporated into patient-centered planning and care by focusing on programs that produce financial benefits. Objectives : Relate examples of patient centered planning and care through home care versions of “medical home models” and examples of home care/physician partnered models; Explain transition procedures for pre and post admission to home care, describing the involvement of telehealth nurses both pre and post hospital discharge; and Present examples of how telehealth call centers can be involved in care transition protocols and outsourcing of in-house monitoring of vital signs. Moderator : Charlie Daniels, HealthMEDX, Ozark, MO Panelists : Cynthia Acosta, PT, AseraCare Home Health; Susan Quinn, Ed. D, MBA, RN, Penn Care at Home Panel 3: Care Coordination: Creating Benchmarks for Clinical Outcomes This panel discussion will outline benchmarks for technology and non-technology best practices in clinical performance. Objectives : Cite examples of “Episode management” in the establishment of a Utilization Management System with markers to predict outcomes. Identify the common mistakes uncovered in Recovery Audit Contractor audits and how to avoid them through proactive best practices. Discuss an automated medication management and reconciliation system. Highlight benchmarks to improve the efficiencies of clinical performance and clinical quality performance Moderator : Laurie Neander, At Home Care, Oneonta, NY Panelists : Kristy Wright RN, MBA, FAN, VNA Western Pennsylvania; Bridget Gallagher GNP, MSN, Panel 4: Collaboration: Interoperable Technologies and Successful Partnerships In order to achieve the financial benefits of technology, it’s important to create a circle of healthcare partner-providers through interfaced technology and a feedback process that will aggregate disease-specific outcome data among all partners. Objectives : Compare competitive and non-competitive examples of successful interfaced technology partnerships; Discuss examples of successful EHR partnerships and major EHR providers; and Illustrate how recent technology bridges gaps in care, citing past, present and future example that deliver higher quality outcomes, increased profitability, and improved communication. Moderator: Thomas Check, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY Moderator : Tom Check, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Panelists : Dan Cobb, HealthMEDX, Inc.; Raj Shetye, LHC Group, Inc. Course level : Intermediate; nursing 5.0 CEs; accounting CPEs 5.0 (NASBA/SKA) Prerequisite : Basic knowledge of relationship of home health finance, clinical and quality indicators and benchmarking.

16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition Exhibit booths are still available for the 16th Annual Financial Management Conference & Exposition , July 14-16, 2010, in Chicago, IL. Learn more about exhibiting at www.nahc.org/Exhibits/FM/10/ . If you have questions or would like to sign up today, please contact Ron Everly at (202) 547-7424 or *** .

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Commentary on the Issues | visit us online at washingtonpolicy.org The column below is by Prof. Regina Herzlinger, who keynoted Washington Policy Center’s 8th Annual Health Care Conference on June 4th in Seattle. More than 300 health industry professionals, policymakers, and media attended the conference, which focused on how national health care reform will impact Washington. Watch the videos on TVW at right, and read a summary of the conference online here . Health Care Reform that Can Kill the U.S. Economy by Prof. Regina Herzlinger, Harvard Business School Health care reform laudably expands coverage but its expenses, more than $900 billion in the next decade, will put another nail in the coffin of the U.S. economy and gravely injure the sick along the way, as the US inevitably transitions to a single-payer system to control costs. Reform contains no control of costs that already cripple global competitiveness. As a percentage of GDP, the U.S. spends roughly 70% more on health care than other universal coverage nations, yet cannot point to commensurate superiority in value, other than biotechnology and genomics. Reform’s cost-controlling features rely primarily on public health-insurance marketplaces, labeled Exchanges, where private health insurers compete with public insurance, operated by Coops. These initiatives don’t control costs as much as shift them, to other payers, taxpayers, and our progeny, through deficits, cutbacks, and unfunded liabilities. To picture their impact, imagine a government-run automobile dealership which sells cars made by Ford and Kia, along with government-manufactured cars. The legislators cater to voters with generous subsidies for buyers. All the cars are virtually identical, designed by the legislature with high-cost features buyers may not want. Legislators   might, for example, cater to heated seats lobbyists by requiring them in every car. Nevertheless, the price of the high-cost government manufactured cars could be artificially reduced, by passing   some of their costs to future generations through unfunded deficits. Private competitors who cannot resort to deficit financing will thus be driven out. Ultimately, the high-cost cars and absence of entrepreneurs and competition will skyrocket costs and force government to ration cars. The Massachusetts Exchange The Exchange laudably reduced the uninsured rate to about 2% from about 7%. But, when it comes to the nation’s highest costs, the Exchange proved no panacea. The left complained of costs so high that thousands were excused from State requirements to purchase health insurance, while enrollees were levied ever-higher out of pocket charges. Conservatives criticized the product standardization which limited competition (plans differ primarily in enrollee cost sharing. A version of a South African insurance plan which lowered the costs of diabetes by a whopping 21% by paying participants for healthy behaviors is not offered, for example). They also criticized the requirements to cover costly, questionable benefits which made insurance unaffordable to some (like Washington, which requires 57 benefits; Massachusetts requires 52, including in vitro fertilization which adds up to 8% to costs). After raising taxes by $800 million for health care reform, among other activities, even wealthy Massachusetts needs more revenues. Desperately, the Governor capped insurance prices–causing hundreds of millions in insurance company losses- and proposes price controls on health care delivery. How do you spell single payer? Public Insurance Some argue that Massachusetts couldn’t control costs because it lacked public-insurance plans, pointing to Medicare, whose administrative overhead are 3% versus 12-18% for private insurers. But that figure ignores the Ponzi scheme of Medicare’s unfunded liabilities, estimated at about $38 trillion–roughly three times U.S. GDP. If Medicare recognized them, it would conservatively add an additional trillion dollars to administrative costs. Underpriced public plans, financed by borrowing from our children, will drive out private competitors. Private insurers are no angels, but, unlike monopoly public insurers, they cannot incur such massive deficits, thus protecting future generations, and provide a modicum of competition. Medicare and Medicaid’s monopoly powers also enable provider underpayment of billions of dollars, sums currently made up by commercial insurers. But if under-priced public plans forced out private ones, who would take up the slack? The looming doctor shortage could become a national crisis as prospective physicians, facing massive educational debt, reluctantly opt for other occupations, rather than accept the public plans’ inadequate payments. Rationing Exchanges and public plans are administered by legislators and bureaucrats – competent people, but lacking entrepreneurial skills. Many experts dismiss the Democrats’ claims of government’s controlling costs through information technology and other technocratic tools. Because the sick constitute roughly 20% of users, but account for about 80% of the costs, they are the politically-vulnerable, cost-control target. Although government-rationing can squeeze out some inefficiency, it is hardly benign or equitable: The government-controlled UK system, for example, has the lowest uptake of cancer drugs among the biggest five European economies and correspondingly low cancer survival rates. Many of the UK’s affluent buy private insurance to avoid government stringency, like those in other European government-controlled systems. Of course, we must have reasonably-priced insurance, reform how private health insurers treat the sick and near poor, and control health care costs. But the health care reform will inevitably increase costs, further weakening our economy. Tragically, although it will expand insurance coverage, it will ultimately ration medical care for its important beneficiaries –the sick. Regina E. Herzlinger keynoted Washington Policy Center’s 8th Annual Health Care Conference on June 4th in Seattle ( watch her address online here ).  She is the Nancy McPherson Professor at the Harvard Business School and author of Who Killed Health Care? (McGraw-Hill, 2007) .   Attorney General Rob McKenna discussing the lawsuit challenging certain provisions of the health care reform legislation: Panel 1: The Impact of HC Reform on WA State: Panel 2: The Impact of HC Reform on WA State: Lunch keynote from Harvard Business School Prof. Regina Herzlinger:     Washington Policy Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 research organization that promotes sound public policy based on free-market solutions. All contributions to WPC are tax-deductible. Join today and be part of the solution! | Seattle | PO Box 3643 Seattle, WA 98124 | p 206-937-9691 | f 206-624-8038 Olympia | 924 Capitol Way S, suite 218 Olympia, WA 98501 | p 360-705-9068 Spokane | 801 W. Riverside, suite 100 Spokane, WA 99201 | p 509-570-2384 Tri-Cities | 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., suite C Kennewick, WA 99336 | p 509-570-2384

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