WBA Europe Travel Guide

Unnecessary visits to emergency rooms cost billions of USD: study

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:16:30 +0000

Unnecessary visits to emergency rooms (ER) cost 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in health care costs across the United States, a newly-released study shows.

About 17 percent of visits to U.S. emergency rooms involved conditions that could be treated at medical clinics or urgent care centers, according to the study released on Tuesday by the Rand Corporation, a non-profit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, the United States.

Among the conditions being treated at ERs that could be handled elsewhere are minor infections, strains, fractures and lacerations, said the study.

Overall, the report found that 27.1 percent of ER visits during 2006 could have been handled by a clinic or urgent care center, but only 16.8 percent occurred during hours that such alternatives are typically open.

While the study did not analyze whether such alternatives could handle the increased patient capacity from people who may have otherwise gone to an ER, it noted that clinics and care centers are generally staffed by practitioners who can treat a variety of conditions.

Urgent care centers also have facilities for X-rays and laboratory tests, giving them the ability to treat a broad range of ailments, according to the study.

“Patient traffic to hospital emergency departments has been growing, but a significant proportion of patients could be safely treated in these alternative settings,” said Robin Weinick, a RAND senior social scientist. “Diverting these patients to alternatives such as retail clinics and urgent care centers could shorten their waiting times and save money.”

“We’ve known for a long time that many people go to the emergency department with problems that could be addressed elsewhere, but this is the first time we have been able to quantify how many of those visits could be addressed at these alternative locations,” said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a study co-author and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

UNAMA “fully supports” Afghan election body’s decision on polling centers: UN spokesperson

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:15:38 +0000

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) “fully supports” the decision of the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) on the final list of polling centers for the upcoming elections, a UN spokesperson said here Tuesday.

“Implementing the election according to this final, published list of polling centers is essential for the effective conduct and transparency of the elections, UNAMA says,” Farhan Haq, UN spokesman, told reporters here at a daily press briefing.

Haq reiterated that security of the “sensitive polling materials,” which includes ballot papers, depends on maintaining the list so the IEC can track all materials at all times.

“This is a significant improvement on fraud control mechanisms compared to the 2009 elections, according to the Mission,” Haq said.

On Sunday, the IEC said that the Sept. 18 vote for members of the Wolesi Jirga, which is the lower house of the National Assembly in Afghanistan, will be based on the list of polling stations it published on Aug. 18.

Homes and Listings in Pike County Pennsylvania

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:27:57 +0000

4 Sale Realty:: Pennsylvania Real Estate and Link Exchange
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Does anyone have suggestions or tips for using Eurolines Coach travel through Europe?

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:19:22 +0000

(We are planning a trip through Europe and realized it is a lot cheaper to travel by coach (bus) than by rail. Has anyone had any experience and or have tips for us?)

Answer:

I travelled on Eurolines a couple of times when I was a student, but to be honest would not use it now.

You are correct that it is cheap and a lot cheaper than rail normally, but there are disadvantages. The trip is longer than by rail (and a lot longer than by air), if it is a busy bus then you can feel very cramped.

Most of the buses have airco, but still sitting in a seat without the oppounity to walk around (like a train) can be quite restrictive. Also it depends on what your co-travellers are like. If you get a loud bunch on the bus, it can really test your patience on a long journey.

Plus if customs (at the borders of the Schengen zone) decide to pull up the bus, this can really be a hassle and it takes an inordinate amount of time for them to check all the people and bags (but this is not a normal procedure).

Otherwise they are ok. They tend to try to keep to schedule, safe and offer the basics such as a onboard toilet.

Look at where you are going, and if you have a timetable and can book in advance, then also look at travelling by budget airlines between major cities. Booked in advance you can pick up some really cheap fares which rival those of Eurolines.

What type of luggage should I get to travel around Europe?

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:18:23 +0000

(I’m going to be traveling around Europe for a month and need durable luggage that’s easy to carry. Any tips? I would also appreciate any general travel tips. Thanks so much.)

Answer:

If you’re going to be on & off trains, you’ll be happiest with a medium sized duffel or suitcase with wheels. Pack what you think you’ll need, then take half of it out. Use a laundromat once a week-10 days.
Many people bring backpacks, but I’m a big fan of the wheels.
A guide: Fot all of this, pick brown or black as your base color, then add other neutrals in cream, navy, red or blue, that all coordinate. Bring 2-3 shirts, 1 sweater, maybe a blazer, 1 pair nice pants (or skirt if you’re a girl), 7 pair underpants and socks, in a material that dries fast and wash in the sink. If it’s summer bring 2 pr shorts (or skirts) and one pr jeans, otherwise, 1-2 pr of jeans. For shoes, bring low heeled black or brown shoes (whichever color scheme you decide to go with) and/or sandals that you can walk in all the time and look ok with most of your clothes. Spare no expense on your shoes! and a maybe pair of sneakers. Wear one of the two on the plane. Bring a black rain jacket with a hood. Bring small shampoos/soaps, and buy replacements at local stores.
Have a great time! That’s the most important thing!

I want to travel to Europe with a group but don’t know where to start?

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:17:22 +0000

(Hey everybody, I want to travel to Europe in early August. I don’t have any friends who want/can go, and I don’t want to go alone. I know there are group tours for certain cities but is there any way to hook up with a travel group that would travel together across Europe?)

Answer:

I don’t know if where you live but I travelled with Cosmos. I had a blast. I met a lot of people from all over the world who I still email to and also I have gone and visited them. We even
booked a tour together through cosmos again so we could
travel together.

Little long but I really need help! 10 Points :)?

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:46:23 +0000

(Well me and my boyfriend have been dating for almost a year and he came over yesterday and hung out but my parents had to go to a dinner with some important people and they said that they trusted us enough to leave us home alone this one time. Well we can go out but not be left home alone but they did this one time and well we watched a movie in my bedroom and I started getting tired and leaned on him then he kissed me then we started doing more and his shirt came off but nothing else came off and all my clothes were on but all we did was lay in the bed and kiss for a very very long time but I feel like I abused the trust my parents gave me to leave us home alone and I don’t know what to do because even though all we did was kiss I still feel weird about it. What should I do?)

Answer:

First off, kudos that you feel you abused the trust your parents gave you! You’ve already gone halfway, and that’s recognizing what you did wrong. I totally see WHY you’d think you’ve done wrong and that you feel weird about it, but you technically did nothing wrong. It does depend on your age though, since the answer differs depending on that. The younger you are, the wrong-er it gets.

If the need is mandatory, you can tell your parents honestly what you did. Explain to them that you’re feeling utterly sorry and regretful almost and that you’d want their trust again. Parents should expect these kinds of things to happen with their adolescents, so they should ultimately understand. The main reason, most likely, that they were slightly hesitant to leave you two alone was because they were probably afraid of you two having sex or something but you didn’t and that’s pretty much the bulk of it!

But like I said, only if you genuinely feel the need to tell them, you don’t HAVE to. It was his shirt and his shirt only that came off. If it were yours, then that would be a lot different. I mean, guys go swimming with their shirts off so it’s not that major. You shouldn’t feel guilty, simply because there’s no BIG reason to. If it’s easier, you can even tell your boyfriend about it, and see what he says. It’s better and healthier to get these types of things off of your chest rather then caging it in. And, if it’s not going to be your parents you tell, it should be your boyfriend OR a good friend.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!

Black women and italian men?

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:45:32 +0000

(why do we make the best couples?)

Answer :

my wife is black and im italian, this is a great topic thread btw!

i think its cause our personalities are similar and black women are very family orientated.. at least my wife is and that is very important quality to me since family is important to me and to alot of other italians.

I’m 24, very poor, female, don’t drink, don’t have many friends and am a virgin?

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:43:33 +0000

(Recently, I started my new job in an office that i will be spending several hours with each day. while we all know how to have a good laugh, we just aren’t clicking. I’m a completely different person and i feel that my politics are going to get in the way of keeping a happy workplace. My entire team loves to go out for drinks and often talks about marriage and kids, and i have discovered we share nothing in common. I am feeling very isolated as I will never drink alcohol nor have i even had sex at my age. Being poor has made it very difficult to connect online or leave this small town with no men my age that also don’t drink. it’s also made it difficult for me to stay in shape, and im very self-conscious. i find myself not being to connect with others because i have nothing to talk about and i want to connect with them. what should i do?)

Answer :

sounds like me at 24 except that i was married —- and i had been told that my advancement depended upon going and having a drink with the boys every friday night —- so every friday night i went home as drinks with the boys is the last thing i have ever wanted to do —- i have tried to fit in over the years and ive not really done it —- so do what you feel comfortable doing and if you find someone who you can talk to then all the better but maybe plan to move on get some money together and find a new home and new work —- best wishes

Free wordpress themes online

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:36:46 +0000

I gave blog, but I don’t like the wordpress themes , I want to change one, I surf the internet ,then I find a good website which have the best collection of free wordpress gallery for bloggers, easy to download wordpress templates without login or any hassle, if you need one, then you can go to that website.