Read all about this troubling social trendor dont. What do I care?

A lot has been said about the quality of service in Japan, from companies polite and helpful staff to their remorse over even the slightest misstepso Im not going to bother saying any of it again.

You see, beneath all this is a troubling development in the spirit and mentality of the workforce in Japan. Its a problem that has recently been brought to light by the Japan Business Federation in which the average worker in Japan simply isnt engaged in their work.

An engaged worker

Fittingly, the Japan Business Federation couldnt be bothered to conduct a survey themselves, so instead they referred to a 2017 Gallup poll which measured work engagement in 139 countries. The motivation of company employees were rated as engaged, not engaged, and actively disengaged.

The USA and Canada came out on top with about 29 percent of workers engaged in their jobs. That might not sound like a lot, but its over twice the global average of 13 percent. Japan, meanwhile, is roughly half of the average with only six percent claiming to be engaged.

A not engaged worker

On the other hand, a whopping 71 percent are said to be not engaged and a further 23 percent actively disengaged. In terms of engagement, Japan was ranked 132nd, ahead of only Iraq (6%), Tunisia (5%), Israel (5%), Azerbaijan (5%), Hong Kong (4%), Croatia (3%), and Syria (0%).

So, what does this mean? The Japan Business Federation cited the Parento principle which states that 80 percent of effects come from 20 percent of causes. Applying that to these results, a country should hope to have about 20 percent of its workforce engaged in order to get a realistically optimal output.

In this way, countries like the US could be seen as over-performing, whereas Japan is woefully shorthanded. Conversely, Japans actively disengaged population fits the Parento principle better, making it a driving force of inefficiency across the country.

An actively disengaged worker

All that explaining was way more work than I was planning to do today, so lets hear what some random people in Japan have to say about it all.

Most people just work to avoid starving, so theyll do just enough not to get fired. If companies would offer stability and the ability to retire, it would be very different. Its stupid. Even if you work hard and raise your salary, youll just get laid off when youre too old to get another meaningful job. If I dont work, I dont eat Being motivated isnt all that great. I think some people are too motivated and dangerous. The companies just keep stockpiling the money without increasing wages. It goes beyond work, people arent even motivated enough to start a family any more. Its too expensive.

This demotivational trend certainly isnt surprising anyone here. The cracks have been showing for a while now, from cops leaving their guns lying around in record numbers to convenience store franchisees rebelling against corporate owners for not sharing enough in profits.

I would suggest some solutions to all this, but screw it. I dont get paid enough for that kind of crap and I got my own problems. Its also time for my two oclock toilet nap, so smell yall later.

Source: Asagei Biz, Gallup, Hachima Kiko Photos SoraNews24 Want to hear about SoraNews24s latest articles as soon as theyre published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Survey finds only six percent of Japanese workers motivated, seventh lowest in the world - SoraNews24

Shane, Ajay and Hasan of Mirage band. Image Credit: Supplied

Mirage The Band, regarded as one of Pakistans best live acts, recently dropped a motivational song, Barhe Chalo, from their second album, Doosri Dastak.

The track is composed in the bands signature pop-rock genre. Barhe Chalo is the fifth track from the album; they earlier released Befikr, Panchhi, which featured Alicia Dias; Pyar Hua, and Zara Suniye Tou, featuring Natasha Khan.

Barhe Chalo, which translates as keep going, highlights the importance of change that can only come from within. The song has lyrics by both Saad Hayat (who also features on keyboard) and Rehan Nazim (vocals).

The video of the song, which is co-directed by Hayat and Asghar Ali Ghanchi, who is also its DoP, has an interesting back story. In the words of Hayat: We shot the video a few years ago but unfortunately lost the footage. Last month, we shot six videos of our live sessions in the studio. We experimented with different styles this time These are performance-based videos, with different set-ups and looks, since each song has a different direction of sound and feel. We wanted to keep these simple and effective.

Mirage was formed by Hayat, Nazim, and Hasan Mahmoud in 2003. The band has been consistently active on the local music scene. Its current live line-up features Mohsin Raza Shah on guitars, Shane Kerr on bass and Ajay Harri on drums.

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Mirage The Band drop motivational song 'Barhe Chalo' - Gulf News

I sit down with Michele Sanger, owner of Living Earth Herbs, as we sip cups of perfectly-steeped Cinnamon Rooibos Chai. The conversation and the warming spices of the tea make me forget the cold winds and rains just outside the door. Taking a tea break can be an intentional way of integrating self-care and nourishment into your day, especially during the winter season.

Living Earth Herbs crafts teas for both health and pleasure. We focus on medicinal formulations, Sanger tells me, which is something unique to our shop.

These medicinal benefits range from improved digestion, a stronger immune system, relaxation, and stress relief. She recommends a variety of herbs that offer support during the winter, including echinacea, elderberry, cinnamon, ginger, and eleuthero.

Eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng, is an adaptogenic herb (an herb that helps support the bodys response to stress) that strengthens ones resistance to disease. Another adaptogen is tulsi, or holy basil. Tulsi tastes good and is well tolerated by people young and old, Sanger says. Tulsi is a single herb that Ill recommend to people who want to boost the immune system of their whole household; kids like it, too!

Sanger also makes custom tea blends for people who just walk in off the street and want help with a particular ailment. Often we have just the thing, she says. We have a Lung Tone tea thats really popular, an Ease the Blues tea, and a Dreamweaver tea, but well often change a blend up for an individual.

Sanger draws on her lifetimes worth of herbal knowledge to prepare local and wild-crafted tea blends that infuse dreary days with moments of connection, calm, and self-reflection. Sometimes people will feel an internal draw or craving to drink a certain tea, she says. People could crave a minty tea if their digestion is off, or a spicy tea if they want to warm up. Theres often an internal knowing.

That internal knowing brought me to the perfect brew for an afternoon in mid-January: warm, slightly spicy, and earthy. Each sip embodied Sangers philosophy: Every time we make a cup of tea, its an opportunity to build our health and still have something thats tasty at the same time.

11th Hour Tea and Coffee Bar is owned and operated by Bridget Gallagher. Every time her team lovingly prepares a cup of tea, the sipper reaps the benefits of the herbs that are infused in the variety of tea lattes, tea, elixirs, and superfood lattes (as well as all espresso drinks) that the bar serves. Merrideth McDowell, 11th Hours social media manager, says that teas like chamomile can help limit anxiety and depression. Teas like matcha offer a high amount of nutrients and antioxidants because its the whole plant rather than just loose leaf tea.

The practice of simply drinking tea can be a balm for an especially gray day. McDowell describes tea as a traditional process that can involve meditation, mindfulness, and practice, which a handful of our customers come to experience in our space.

11th Hour serves more than 40 different teas, including black, green, white, herbal, rooibos, puerh, and more. They blend their own teas as well, and are known for their Immune Cacao concoction (currently in Merrideths cup), which features raw cacao, reishi, chaga, and lions mane mushrooms, coconut milk powder, vanilla bean, and pink Himalayan sea salt. Its a grounding drink that supports immune health and is a delicious way to incorporate adaptogens into ones diet.

On any given morning at 11th Hour, even when the rain is pouring down and the clouds havent parted within recent memory, people cup their hands around steaming mugs of delicious elixirs and share laughter, conversation, and the uplifting power of teas like Mystic Mint, which contains tulsi, or Evening in Missoula, which conjures Big Sky Country with a blend of rosehips, wintergreen, lavender, and more.

Tea is so much more than a drink. Its a ritual, a means of connection with self and others, and a chance to understand more about what our bodies need and enjoy. As the quieter days of winter invite into a place of more internal awareness, it can be a natural time to develop your own tea routine. Whether its at Living Earth Herbs, 11th Hour Tea and Coffee Bar, or the comfort of your own homeget to steeping!

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Infusions of Self-Care: The Best Tea in Bellingham - whatcomtalk.com

Submitted Photo Basics of Oil Painting is one of the most popular courses offered by the Silver Creek Central School Districts Community Education program. Chalk Couture is a new creative class open to the public, and it kicks off Feb. 25.

SILVER CREEK The Community Education division of Silver Creek Central School District is offering a variety of music, arts and personal growth/self-care courses to the public for spring/winter 2020 and registration is underway. All classes take place on the SCCS campus at 1 Dickinson Street.

Rubber Stamp Card Making: Rubber stamping will be used to make handcrafted greeting cards with instructor Jody Enser. You will make two each of five different cards and each class will be different. Class meets in the high school in Room 154 on Tuesdays on Feb. 4, March 3, April 7, May 5, and June 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fee for the five separate classes is $25 plus a $5 supply fee to be paid to the instructor during class time.

Writing Clearly: Inspiration, passion, an important message, and the simple transmission of facts. These are some of the reasons we write. Instructor Cathy Kaicher will help you convey your ideas and information so that the reader gets it the way you intend. We will talk about direct phrasing, unambiguous sentence structure, active voice and more. If participants wish, we can use your real-life experiences to help determine what we cover in class, which meets at the high school in Room 212 on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Feb. 6 and ending March 5. No class Feb. 20. Fee for the four classes is $20.

Basics of Oil Painting: Explore your inner creativity while learning the basics of this self-expressive craft with instructor Barney Kuzara Jr., a professional artist who strives to give individual instruction to each student and is very talented in his craft. Supply list will be discussed at the first class. Maximum enrollment 20; you must call to register. Class meets at the high school in Room 149 on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting Feb. 25 and ending April 21. Fee for the eight classes is $40 plus supplies.

Empowered Women/Self-care Part 1: This five-week class with instructor Betty Bates will enlighten women on becoming stronger and more confident in controlling ones life. Each week will focus on a different theme: Health, gratitude, proficiency, laughter, and joy boomerangs. Class will be held in the high school library on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting March 2 and ending March 30. Fee for the five classes is $25.

Chalk Couture/Chalk Full of Fun: Learn a new hobby chalking with silkscreen transfers that is taking the nation by storm. Join instructor Dawn Gard, independent designer, for a make-and-take project and materials you can customize over and over again. Chalk Couture is revolutionizing DIY and home dcor with Chalkology paste, chalk transfers, Couture Ink and boards. During each class youll complete a project to take home, along with a new two-sided board, reusable silkscreen transfer, squeegee, and three paste packets. Class meets in the high school in Room 145 on Tuesdays on Feb. 25, March 31, April 28, May 26 from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The fee for the four separate classes is $50. Check out Dawns demonstration videos at http://www.facebook.com/ChalkinwithDawn.

Voices with Glory: Do you wish to sing with happiness and beauty? Do you wish to make harmony with your friends and family? Are you a secret shower singer? Instructor Sondra Holland, a New York state-certified vocal teacher, wishes to help develop your unique voice. Lets sing the good oldies, songs of peace, love and fun. Enjoy making music together in elementary school Room 415 on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting March 30 and ending May 11. Fee for the six classes is $30.

Yoga meets the Arts: Learn how meditation helps you tap into your creativity. In the Orient, artists before they conceptualize their visions perform gentle yoga and meditation. Instructor Sondra Holland learned this art technique when she was a student of TANKA, or Tibetan, artistic ways. She would enjoy very much sharing this lovely expression with future artists in Silver Creek and the surrounding area in elementary school Room 415 on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting March 30 and ending May 11. Fee for the six classes is $30.

How to register

Visit http://www.silvercreekschools.org to download and print a form or call (716) 951-8111 and leave a message with your name, number and the name of your course. Send in your money promptly with a registration form and the fee. Checks or money orders can be made out to Silver Creek CS Community Ed. Those 65 and older are eligible for a 15% discount.

The following adult interest courses are being offered at Pine Valley Central School this spring: AARP Driver ...

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation announces that the Dr. Raja S. Gopalan Registered Nursing Scholarship ...

Learning about I-Phones: Feb. 10, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Features of Android Phones : Feb. 12 , 12:30 to 1:30 ...

Cheryl Marino of the Service Employees International Union 1199 and administrative organizer for the TLC-Lakeshore ...

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Arts and self-care classes coming up in Silver Creek | News, Sports, Jobs - Evening Observer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, between 29 and 40 percent of Americans report being extremely stressed at work. Its important to find healthy stress-management techniques that promote self-care in the workplace.

The most common sources of stress include physical discomfort, interpersonal conflict, multitasking and disorganization. Below are some strategies to reduce the negative effects of these stressors and make the workday more pleasant.

Start the day off right mornings set the tone for the day. Be mindful of how you spend your time before you get to the office. Glance at your calendar, eat a nutritious breakfast, practice positive self-talk, and roll with the punches that others might throw at you. Allowing each day to be a clean slate instead of carrying negative emotions into the day will go a long way in being proactive rather than reactive at work.

Organize your environment. Can you see your desktop? Is your work truck full of trash? Are you noticing a strange, stale odor? If so, its time to spruce up. Taking a few minutes each morning to tidy your space reduces distractions and allows your work to flow more smoothly.

Be comfortable. Think about your working environment. Do you sit in the same chair all day every day? Would investing in a lumbar support pillow help you? If youre on your feet all day, do you make time to take breaks and sit down? What is the level of noise in your workspace? Can you play light music in the background or use a white noise machine to tune out a loud office? Consider your comfort and take small steps to honor what makes you feel good in your space.

Honor your lunch break. Too many of us bring our lunch to our desks or skip lunch entirely. Its important to take the breaks that you have. For many, the lunch break is the only option that allows some amount of movement. Make it a goal to take a walk each day and think about things that are not related to work. Alternatively, if your job requires you to be on your feet all day, turn lunch into a restful time by bringing a book, journaling your thoughts, or calling a friend or loved one.

Listen to music on your way home. Listening to music is a great way to let go of the days stressors. Its important to leave work at work and give yourself time to be with your own thoughts. Listening to music can help jolt you into your "you space" and prepare you to engage with the world outside of work.

Leave work at work. This is difficult, especially with end-of-the-month or end-of-the-year requirements. Many people today work from home at least one day a week, and work-life balance can become unclear. Your family and even pets want your time and attention, and that pesky report is calling you as well. Dedicate a place where you can work and avoid distractions. Set goals or time frames for when you will work and when you will be with your family.

Years from now, when you look back at what you missed in life because of work requirements you will ask yourself if working instead of being with those you love was worth it. Missing your childs school play or soccer game, going to a social event with your spouse. Was it worth it? There are times when work will come first, but as a rule time missed cannot be replaced. Learn to take care of yourself because if you dont, no one else will.

Jan Makela is a certified mentor with Score Central Maryland. He is a business coach and trainer. He is a recipient of the Quilly Award Academy of Best Selling Authors and Speakers for the Amazon best-selling book "Cracking the Code to Success." He can be reached at jlmakela@gmail.com, strengthbasedleadership.net, LinkedIn: @jlmakela or Twitter: @JLMakela.

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SCORE Topics: Taking care of yourself in the workplace - Frederick News Post

Self-care was very appealing for women who were overwhelmed...women who were burning out. Which is basically most women. Photograph: Alex Tihonov/PR

Any chance that my hope the odious phrase self-care would be expelled from popular use this new decade disappeared when I saw the cover of this months Cosmopolitan (UK) magazine.

The cover star is Lena Dunham and the strapline is on sex, love and self-care. That she is talking about self-care in terms of a health problem (endometriosis) that took 13 years before it was diagnosed and left her serious health problems, a series of operations, and feeling chronically run down and low on energy is a signal that self-care is currently a better option than the care that society currently gives us.

But shouldnt we be asking for more? Shouldnt we be moving from the concept of self-care to a broader, more inclusive notion of collective care?

That was, and remains, my hope for this decade.

If a phrase summed up the complicated flawed zeitgeist of the 2010s it was self-care.

The concept that originated in black activist circles in the 1980s, was later put through the grinder of late-stage capitalism and appropriated by white, corporate feminism and the industrial wellness complex.

It was first used in 1988 by black lesbian feminist Audre Lorde, while fighting against cancer and the political status quo. She wrote caring for myself is not an act of self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.

But according to the New Yorker, this thought has led to the popular idea of self-care, in which there is moral and political utility in relaxing with your sheet mask.

Want a last minute holiday to Bali? Self-care. Need to hang out at home and watch Goop Lab, while wearing a botanical sheet mask? Self-care. Dont want to respond to a friends text message asking for help? Self-care.

Despite its co-opting by the market, there is a reason why the phrase self-care took off so totally in the last decade. In the #MeToo era, a whole range of ills women had put up with in a patriarchal society were re-examined.

Self-care was very appealing for women who were overwhelmed, women who were sick, women who were crushed under the weight of the emotional and physical labour of running a household and working and maintaining a family and friendship, women who were burning out. Which is basically most women.

In a world where so much is out of our control from political events to climate catastrophe what can we control? We can control the products we put on our skin and enrolling in a barre class and the food we put in our bodies.

As a result, self-care used as both an incantation and a declaration of rights, was a reclamation of sorts mostly over womens time, emotional capacity and agency. The term became elastic enough to cover the woman who was recovering from breast cancer and needed rest, to the day spa that was promoting a special on avocado body scrub.

Yet the problematic nature of the term is rooted in its very linguistic structure: self.

While looking after yourself is great, self-care is still an idea rooted in a neoliberal tradition of looking out for ourselves, rather than seeing ourselves, our health and our fates as inextricably linked to our fellow human beings.

Wouldnt it be great if this decade we took the self out of self-care and strived instead for communal care?

Self-care is saying I need to look after me, while collective self-care is saying we need to look after each other (in the words of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: What is not good for the swarm is not good for the bee.)

Collective care exists outside the market and cant be captured by capitalism, turned into a product that we buy back and, by definition of its price, excludes many from participating in it.

The fact that its collective, means its for everyone.

Communal care can include things like being a better neighbour, making yourself available for people who may need support, communities supporting each other emotionally and practically during crises such as the bushfires, to larger, more macro reforms and structural changes in society, such as advocating for universal health care, the introduction of a four-day working week, more affordable and available childcare and a rise in Newstart.

Unless our care moves from the self to the collective (or ideally both the self and the collective) as a society, we will continue to be unwell.

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We need to move on from self-care to something that cannot be captured by capitalism - The Guardian

Medloop, which allows patients to manage healthcare needs and providers, has secured 6 million from Kamet Ventures and AXA.

The cash will be used to enhance its product offering and continue expansion across Germany and the U.K. Medloop is also developing an evidence-based medical rule engine embedded on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) of patients.

Medloop offers patients what it calls intuitive self-service features in an app that enables them to navigate their own healthcare, including online appointment bookings, electronic medical results and prescription refills, as well as chatting in-app with healthcare providers.

Founded in 2018 by Berlin-based entrepreneur Shishir Singhee, some medical practices in Germany use the Medloop doctor system to run their entire practice, using it to give an overview of their patient population.

Singhee, said: Healthcare today has become increasingly impersonalized as ever-growing patient registers have made it challenging for doctors to treat patients in a bespoke way. Medloop strives to bridge this critical gap, by employing technology to empower patients and help doctors deliver proactive and holistic care.

Stephane Guinet, CEO of Kamet Ventures, said: It is no secret how overstretched doctors are in terms of the time and care they can offer each patient. Medloops offering is a novel solution to this challenge and we are very excited to be part of Medloops growth story given how critical its offering is to the U.K. market and beyond.

Medloop achieved compatibility with EMIS last summer, enabling its entry into the U.K. market.

In Germany, its main competitors are the incumbents that were built in the early 1990s, such as Medatix and Medistar. In the U.K. it is up against patient management tools such as QMasters.

The rest is here:
Medloop secures 6M from Kamet Ventures and AXA for self-service patient app - TechCrunch

Monday, Feb. 3

Kripalu Yoga:9 to 10 a.m. (gentle/moderate). MaMA, Marbletown Multi-Arts, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge.

Settled and Serving in Place (Kingston Chapter):Meets 9:30 a.m. at the Olympic Diner, Washington Ave., Kingston. Settled and Serving in Place is a social self-help group for seniors who want to remain in their homes and community. Call Jane at (845) 339-5339 for more information.

Mother Goose Storytime for Babies:9:30 a.m. Hyde Park Free Library, 2 Main St., Hyde Park. (845) 229-7791.

Toddler Romp & Stomp:10 a.m. every Monday. The folks at Little Pickles have been generous enough to lend the library their playroom for this music and movement program. Little Pickles is located at 7505 North Broadway, Red Hook. Event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Red Hook Public Library at (845) 758-3241. The library is located at 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook.

What a Way to Start Your Day:10 a.m. Arlington Reformed Church, Raymond and Haight avenues, Poughkeepsie.

Happy Apple Thrift Shop:10 a.m., 24 E. OReilly St., Kingston. To 3 p.m. (845) 338-0833.

Mahjongg:10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Will teach if necessary. All welcome. Temple Emmanuel, Albany Ave., Kingston. Call Estelle Nadler, (845) 657-8476 for more information.

Co-Working Hours:10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays Feb. 3, 10 and 24. Working from home and looking for a change of scene (with Wifi)? Bring your laptop, check out the third-floor Community Room and have a cup of free Keurig coffee. Call the library for more information. Red Hook Public Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook, (845) 758-3241, redhooklibrary.org.

Community Resource Navigator:10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mondays Feb. 3, 10 and 24. Meet with a representative from Community Partnership for Dutchess County to discuss your needs. They can help you find financial assistance, apply for benefits or obtain ongoing support. Call (845) 452-5104, ext. 102, for an appointment or stop by. Every Monday. Red Hook Public Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook, (845) 758-3241, redhooklibrary.org.

Yoga:10:15 to 11:45 a.m. Mountainview Studio, 20 Mountainview Ave., Woodstock. Mixed level class. Yang Yin Yoga. Classes are $15 with the first class free. (845) 679-0901.

Toddler Romp & Stomp:10:30 a.m. and Toddler FUNdamentals at 11 a.m. Red Hook Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook. Free and open to the public.

Storytime:10:30 a.m. Bilingual storytime/Hora de Cuentos en Dos Idiomas. Ages infant to pre-school. Well read books and sing songs in both Spanish and English. Red Hook Public Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook. (845) 758-3241, redhooklibrary.org. Program on Feb. 10 and 24 also.

Program:11:30 a.m. Sound-guided meditation at Starr Library, 68 W. Market St., Rhinebeck. First and third Mondays of the month. (845) 876-4030, starrlibary.org.

Math Help:3 to 5 p.m. Phyllis Rosato welcomes all ages welcome. From kindergarten to calculus. Phoenicia Library, 48 Main St., Phoenicia. (845) 688-7811.

Stump Me!:3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Get help with elementary school homework. Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave. (845) 246-4317, http://saugertiespubliclibrary.org/

Movement Monday:4 to 5 p.m. This program is designed to help children find release from the normal stress and anxiety resulting from their daily lives. Pre-registration is encouraged. Call the Rosendale Youth Program at (845) 658-8982 or email rosyouth@hvc.rr.com for more information or to sign up. Walk-ins are welcome. A weekly commitment is not required.

Fitness Hour:4 to 5 p.m. Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave. (845) 246-4317, http://saugertiespubliclibrary.org/

Healthy Back Exercise Program:4 to 5:15 p.m. Exercises to strengthen back and abdominal muscles and increase flexibility and range of movement. 28 West Fitness Gym, Route 28 and Maverick Road, Glenford. Fee: $12 per class ($10 for gym members). Anne Olin, (845) 679-6250.

Cards:6 to 8 p.m. Play Pinochle. Ellenville Library, 40 Center St., Ellenville. (845) 657-5530.

Community Yoga:6:30 to 7:30 p.m. New LGBTQ + Allies. This is weekly beginners class taught by Michele Muller. $5 suggested donation. Hudson Valley LGBTQ, 300 Wall St.,Kingston.

Mens Choir:7 to 9:15 p.m. Men of all ages, who would enjoy singing in a mens choir, are welcomed to join the Catskill Glee Club. Community Life Church, 20 W. Main St., Catskill. For questions, contact CatskillGleeClub@gmail.com or call Bob at (845) 389-1503.

Gentle Yoga:7 p.m. Olive Free Library, 4033 Route 28A, West Shokan. (845) 657-2482. Fee $6 drop-in.

Meeting:7 p.m. American Legion Post No. 1298 will hold its regular meeting at the Esopus Town Hall, 284 Broadway (U.S. Route 9W), Port Ewen. Membership is now open to all veterans from all periods of service. All new members will have a complimentary one-year membership. Vincent Adinolfi at (845) 658-3643 or George Post at (845) 331-8829.

Pickleball:9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Kingston YMCA. For experienced players. Free to Y members. $10 non-member day pass.Starting at 16 years old for all play.Call (845) 338-3810 or pballkingson@gmail.com for more information.

Aquoga class:9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Kingston YMCA. Free to YMCA members; $10 non-member day pass available. (845) 338-3810 or amy@aquoga.com.

Settled and Serving in Place (SSIP 209):9:30 a.m. meets on Tuesday mornings, 9:30 a.m. at Lydias Country Deli, Route 209, south of Stone Ridge. SSIPs are local self-help, social groups which help seniors to stay in their own homes and remain active in their communities. For more information, call ViVi at (845) 331-0155.

Settled and Serving in Place meeting:9:30 a.m.Saugerties seniors meet at The Village Diner on Main Street. Settled and Serving in Place (SSIP) is a social self-help group for seniors who want to remain in their homes and community. (845) 246-3285.

Bridge Games:10 a.m. Church of the Messiah hall, Chestnut St. Rhinebeck. $10. For more information, call Pat at (845) 331-1743.

Computer Learning Center:10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teaching computer-related and digital photography classes, Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, 94 Marys Ave., Kingston. (845) 339-0046.

Preschool Story Hour:10 a.m. Olive Free Library, 4033 Route 28A, West Shokan. (845) 657-2482.

Toddler Time:10 to 11 a.m. Stone Ridge Library, Main Street, Stone Ridge. (845) 687-2044.

Happy Apple Thrift Shop:10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 24 E. OReilly St., Kingston. (845) 338-0833.

Mall Walking with OFA:10 a.m. Join a staff member from Ulster County Office for the Aging each week for a walk and talk. Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. sharp. Meet in the Food Court at 9:45 a.m. with a place for your coats. Hudson Valley Mall, 1300 Ulster Ave., town of Ulster.

Community Playspace:10 to 10:45 a.m. Gardiner Library, 133 Farmers Turnpike, Gardiner. Led by childrens librarian Amy Laber, a singer-songwriter, early childhood music.

Terrific two/three storytime:10 a.m. Gardiner Library, 133 Farmers Turnpike, Gardiner. (845) 255-1255.

Yoga:10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Energy Medicine Yoga will be taught by Maryanne. Mountain View Studio, 20 Mountainview Ave., Woodstock (845) 679-0901. Classes are $10 cash or check.mtnviewstudio.com.

Tots n Tales Story Time, For 2- and 3-Year-Olds:10:30 a.m. Hyde Park Free Library, 2 Main St., Hyde Park.

Preschool Storytime:10:30 a.m. For 3-to-5-years-old, Ellenville Public Library, 40 Center St., Ellenville. (845) 647-5530.

Story Craft and Play:10:30 to 11:30 a.m. together Tuesdays with Janice for children birth through preschool. Come to join the gang of local parents. Phoenicia Library, 48 Main St., Phoenicia. (845) 688-7811.

Toddlertime story hour and crafts:10:30 a.m. For children ages 18 months to 3 years, Kingston Library, 55 Franklin St., Kingston.

Tuesday Tales:11 a.m. For preschoolers ages 3-to-6-years-old, Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave., Saugerties. (845) 246-4317.

Classes:11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 8 Immortals internal Chinese straight sword (Jian) adapted to Tai Chi principles, Hawksbrother. (You may take both classes, or either Sword or Tai Chi Chuan). Marbletown Multi-Arts, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge. (845) 687-6090

Free Caregiver Support Group:11:30 a.m. Community Center, 3 Veterans Drive, New Paltz. Join Miss Penny for a fun-filled storytime for the very young. Appropriate for ages 1-3.

Classes:Noon to 1 p.m. Second-generation Yang Tai Chi Chuan, with related Tai Chi Chuan chi gung, Hawksbrother. (You may take both classes, of either Sword or Tai Chi Chuan). Marbletown Multi-Arts, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge. (845) 687-6090.

Thrift Store:12 to 4 p.m. Margaretville Hospital Auxilary Thrift Shop, 850 Main St., Margaretville.

Story Time:1 p.m. Preschool story time. Early literacy activities and stories for children ages 3-5. Ellenville Public Library & Museum, 40 Center St., Ellenville. (845) 647-5530.

Story Hours Grades 2 and 3:3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Stone Ridge Library, 3700 Main St., Stone Ridge. (845) 687-7023.

Pokemon Club:3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave., Saugerties. (845) 246-4317.

Art After School:3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25. For ages 9 years and older. At Art After School, students get creative with a variety of tools and supplies. Registration is required. Red Hook Public Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook. (845) 758-3241, redhooklibrary.org.

Scrabble:4 p.m. Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave., Saugerties. (845) 246-4317.

Aroma Yoga Flow:4 to 5:15 p.m. (moderate) with young living essential oils. MaMA, Marbletown Multi-Arts, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge.

Spinning Yarns Knitters:4 to 6 p.m. Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery or other hand work to the stitching group every Tuesday. Red Hook Public Library, 7444 South Broadway, Red Hook. (845) 758-3241, redhooklibrary.org. Program also takes place Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Terrific Tuesdays:4:15 p.m. For grades K-6, Ellenville Public Library and Museum, 40 Center St., Ellenville. (845) 647-5530.

Boxing Conditioning:4:15 to 5 p.m., children ages 7-12; 5 to 5:45 p.m., teens; 6 to 7 p.m., adults. Mountainview Studio, 20 Mountainview Ave., Woodstock. mtviewstudio@gmail.com.

Prostate Cancer 101:4:30 p.m. Education and support group meets the First Tuesday of every month. Be educated, encouraged, learn your options from our long-term survivors and leave with a bit of a smile. Hurley Reformed Church, Dutch Room, 11 Main St., Hurley. (845) 331-7241 or (845) 419-5128 for more information.

LGBTQ Community Acupuncture Clinic:5 to 7 p.m., 300 Wall Street, Kingston. RSVPs highly suggested, though walk-ins will be welcomed when space is available; book your appointment at lgbtqcenter.org/acupuncture or call (845) 331-5300. The LGBTQ Community Acupuncture Clinic takes place in a relaxed and low-lit group setting using points on the ears, hands and feet. Intake takes approximately 10 minutes and resting time (after the needles are inserted) will vary, based on your preference, but is typically 20-45 minutes. $5 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

Meditative Movement:5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Meditative movement (a blend of Yin/Gentle/Restorative). MaMA, Marbletown Multi-Arts, 3588 Main St., Stone Ridge.

Scrabble:6 to 8 p.m. Serious (and fun!). Wordplay at Ellenville Public Library, 40 Center St., Ellenville. (845) 647-5530.

Discussion:6 to 8 p.m. Bard College to host a public discussion with leading filmmakers Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, and Bradford Young in the Olin Auditorium (Olin Hall), 35 Henderson Circle Drive, Red Hook. Free and open to the public. Registration is required. (845) 758-7649.

Craft Night:6:30 p.m. Highland Public Library, 30 Church St., Highland. Sara creates a new project with tweens and teens ages 8-13. (845) 691-2275 or http://www.highlandlibrary.org.

Scrabble and Other Games:6:30 p.m. Pine Hill Community Center, 287 Main St., Pine Hill.

Open Mic:7 p.m. With Cameron & Ryder. Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia St., Hudson. (518) 828-4800, liveatthefalcon.com.

Weekly Meditation:7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free weekly community meditation at Education Annex Of Wellness Embodied: A Center for Psychotherapy and Healing, 126 Main St., New Paltz. For optional beginner instruction, please arrive at 7:20 p.m. Donations accepted. http://www.wellnessembodiedcenter.com/community-meditation.

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Mid-Hudson Calendar of Events: Feb. 3 and 4, 2020 | Life and Entertainment - The Daily Freeman

Transformative RCM Platform Features Robust Automation, Including Denials and Appeals Management, Enhanced Self-Service, and Advanced Analytics and AI Options

Todays diagnostic laboratory leaders face more challenges than ever before from increasing volumes to more rigorous payor requirements and changing PAMA reporting deadlines. To help lab leaders meet these demands, XIFIN today introduced XIFIN RPM 11, a transformative revenue cycle management (RCM) platform that features a new level of robust automation, enhanced portals, and advanced analytic and artificial intelligence (AI) options that diagnostic providers can use to respond to increasing market demands, patient expectations and reimbursement challenges. The latest version of XIFINs flagship RCM platform optimizes cash collections, enables real-time connectivity and error correction, and provides enhanced self-service for patients and physicians.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200203005197/en/

The latest version of XIFINs flagship RCM platform optimizes cash collections, enables real-time connectivity and error correction, and provides enhanced self-service for patients and physicians. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Based on XIFIN analysis, approximately 35% of all diagnostic procedures have errors that need correction before they can be reimbursed (dirty claims), which translates to upwards of $20 billion per year in either delayed or permanently lost reimbursement in the U.S. alone. XIFIN RPM 11s robust automation combats these losses by automatically identifying errors and cleaning without human intervention a significant percentage of dirty claims, resulting in reduced denials, and faster and higher reimbursement rates.

Superior Automation and Artificial Intelligence Optimize Revenue

Capitalizing on XIFINs unmatched industry intelligence and more than 20 years experience with claims data, XIFIN RPM 11 is an AI-enabled RCM platform with workflow automation and advanced analytics. Artificial intelligence applied to revenue cycle data uncovers actionable insight that can influence workflow configuration decisions based on real-world payor behavior. AI also supports more timely discovery of changes in payor behavior and facilitates faster operational adjustments to mitigate impact. Historically, claim processing has been focused on productivity, but evidence indicates workflow configuration based on task effectiveness is more impactful.

XIFIN RPM 11 features more robust workflow configuration at multiple levels, including facility, client, payor or payor plan. XIFIN RPM 11 enables greater efficiency for both individual and batch claims. Unlike other RCM systems that require manual efforts once the claims are denied, XIFIN RPM 11 reduces costs and delivers denials and appeals process automation, including automatic generation of payor-specific appeal forms and appeal letters.

"Improving clean claim rates has proven to be a real struggle for the industry, and continuing to use manual processes isnt going to fix it. Technology, including AI, is the only way were going to solve the issue," said Lle White, CEO, XIFIN. "But these advanced techniques need high quality, clean data and enough of it to learn and improve. Its critical that lab leaders capitalize on available technology and data science to gain better visibility into their business, understand what they need to respond to and optimize their process, and ultimately increase cash flow and reduce costs."

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Enhanced Patient & Physician Self-Service Improves Payment Collections

Increasing patient responsibility and evolving expectations are driving the need for diagnostic providers to offer expanded consumer-facing services and information. The new XIFIN RPM 11 features a patient portal that allows consumers to determine insurance eligibility and estimate out-of-pocket costs for greater cost transparency. XIFIN RPM 11 also allows labs to leverage expanded billing and payment collection options, including paper invoice suppression, patient notification letters and interactive statements. Additionally, it includes a physician portal to enable supporting documentation submission and enhanced information exchange.

Advanced Analytics and Visualization Provide Deeper Business Insights

XIFIN RPM 11 users can choose to extend the enterprise-grade business intelligence that comes standard with XIFIN RPM with new Advanced Analytics options that offer additional scalability, flexibility and speed. The AI capabilities paired with XIFIN Business Intelligence provide financial insights faster, greater long-term trend analysis and can pinpoint revenue cycle workflow efficacy opportunities.

"We are a highly focused data solutions company, so having a partner who understands the importance of strong, empirical data like XIFIN is a key to our success," said Christopher Watts, Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management at Cordant Health Solutions. "XIFINs new business intelligence options provide us with more insight into the key drivers of our business, and the advanced analytic visualizations allows users to quickly and easily understand those insights with very little training or reporting experience. Its clear that this is the next generation of analytics for revenue cycle management in the laboratory industry."

Offering innovative tools for monitoring behavioral health, chronic pain and criminal justice cases, Cordant Health Solutions is one of the only healthcare companies that offers monitoring and risk assessment tools through its drug testing options and full-service, high-touch pharmacies, which specialize in the complex management and dispensing of controlled substances. The company selected XIFIN due to its many years of RCM experience, deep domain expertise and technological innovation.

For more information about how XIFIN RPM 11 can transform your lab, visit http://www.XIFIN.com/RPM11. Additional information about how labs can optimize billing and gain a better understanding of the health of their business can be found by downloading the following white papers:

About XIFIN, Inc.

XIFIN is a health information technology company that leverages diagnostic information to improve the quality and economics of healthcare across its portfolio of solutions, including revenue cycle management, laboratory information systems, precision medicine informatics and digital pathology consultation services. Its cloud-based platform offers real-time connectivity, workflow automation, data exchange and actionable insights, linking healthcare stakeholders in the delivery and reimbursement of care. To learn more, visit http://www.XIFIN.com, follow XIFIN on Twitter and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the XIFIN blog.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200203005197/en/

Contacts

Julie Sculley 617-986-5730 xifin@fleishman.com

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XIFIN RPM 11 Provides Diagnostic Labs with Unmatched Insights and Automation to Improve Claim Accuracy and Reimbursement - Yahoo Finance

TheDepartment for International Trade (DIT) has appointed leading digital health specialist Sam Shah as global clinical and digital advisor,Healthcare UK.

Shah has been a key player in the team responsible for the development of the rapidly emerging NHS digital ecosystem. He was previously with NHS England for six years, where he was director of digital development from 2017-2019, before serving seven months in the same role at NHSX.

Alongside his role in digital innovation he helmed the flagship 111 online programme and the migration of the NHS directory of service to the cloud, as well as pioneering natural language processing initiatives and a number of AI pilot projects.

He has also been a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and inclusivity in tech recruitment across the UK healthcare sector.In November 2019, he was ranked fourth in the #IB100, the Financial Times list of the top 100 most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) leaders in the tech sector.

Shah says he is excited to arrive at the DIT at such a key moment. Post-Brexit, with the focus on trade and international relations intensifying, health, healthcare and digital health technology are likely to be some of the most interesting areas for global collaboration, creating a great opportunity for the UK to share skills and innovations from every part of the NHS.

These are sectors where the UK does particularly well, he says. We have an established health system and progressive ideas about how to improve services for patients. The technology that follows is exciting. For example, the work we have done around record sharing attracts great interest globally not least for the range of different ways of working that have been achieved between the NHS, EMR and EHR systems and integration engines.

Digital leadership

Shah says the NHS has also taken the lead on the development of virtual and online consultation models, patient-facing portals and the drive to self-management and self-care, consistently attracting global attention.

It is still early days for many of these innovations, but look at the inroads we have made with trust frameworks that use technology to validate staff, and the development of AI, specifically in imaging, he says. These are things we have done well and made early gains in. Genomics is another example. The 100,000 Genomes Project has become a case study of international importance.

He points to the NHS strong track record in developing good practice for establishing clinical audits and registries. These are very technicalbut as we build and organise services, modelling and modifying care delivery, exciting digital technologies always follow and thats what makes this such an great time to be in health tech, with the opportunity for collaboration and working internationally.

Shah remains committed to ensuring that equality and diversity remain high on the digital health agenda. In October 2019, he was among several commentators who took to social media to question an NHSX advertisement for the role of chief nursing information officer (CNIO) role, which appeared to exclude BAME applicants. The ad was taken down.

Having been at NHSX during its inception, I saw the challenges facing a new organisation in a state of evolution, with lots of ground to prepare as it learns to deal with these issues, he says. I have always flagged up the issue of diversity and inclusivity. This has been a period of massive change, for NHSX as a start-up and for the NHS as a whole but when a job description goes so wrong, its clear that a lot of work still needs to be done in terms of equality.

Shah says he will also continue to practise clinically.

Its not all about the technology its what the technology is there to help, he says. If the long-term goal is to improve citizens wellbeing, I have to be close to them when they are receiving healthcare to understand what will help them.

Its important to be involved, and remain in touch with users and other clinicians. I will continue to work in the NHS in addition to my work at the DIT. Its unlikely Ill be stopping that any time soon!

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Former NHSX director goes global in new DIT post - Healthcare IT News