Is Organ Worth A Surgical Procedure - 2278 Words

Donating time, materials, or even money is not difficult. However, what if someone asked for a body part? Would you consider it, or just turn away? Organ and tissue donating is a noble act of kindness, towards either someone one may know or even strangers. To be able to answer the previous question fairly, one needs to know all of the facts. Organ donating is a surgical procedure. In simple terms, it is removing a specific organ or tissue from a donor, and transplanting it into a recipient (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). Unfortunately, the recipient is receiving the transplant because his or her own organ failed, or is no longer functioning properly. When one needs a transplant, their name is put on a waiting list. In the United States, there are more than 122,344 people on the waiting list and a new name is added, on average, every 12 minutes (American Transplant Foundation, â€Å"Facts,† 2014). For many of the patients on the transplant list, receiving a transplant â€Å"offers t he hope of disease cure† (Thomas McKeown, 2012). One donor can save eight people with organs, and enhance 50 other people’s lives with tissues (Oxiem Brand Interactions, 2013). About 7% of the patients on the list, or more than 6,500 patients, die each year because they did not receive a transplant (American Transplant Foundation, â€Å"Facts,† 2014). On December 23, 1954, the very first liver transplanted from a living donor to a recipient took place. The transplant to place at Brigham Hospital in Boston, and wasShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Medical Tourism1665 Words   |  7 Pagesmedical tourism are changing at a very fast pace, some factors include low-cost treatment, quicker surgical periods, a boost in the economy, increase hospital revenue and enhance efficiency with fewer regulations (Pashley H.S, 2012). Conversely, some tensions that arise with medical tourism are the possibility of illegal procedures, consumerism of health care, lack of medical recor ds, and Black market organ (Pashley H.S, 2012). Canada plays a very crucial part in medical tourism, both positive and negative;Read MoreThe Contribution Of An Organ Transplant1184 Words   |  5 Pages An organ transplant â€Å"is a surgical operation where a failing or damaged organ in the human body is removed and replaced with a new one† (Center for Bioethics). The first organ transplant was provided in 1954, where a kidney was taken from one identical brother to another, lasting for eight years. Eventually more successful organ transplants began to occur such as in 1962 the first cadaveric transplant was a success prolonging life for almost two years. In 1966 a successful liver transplant hadRead MoreTechnology And Medicine : Are Robotic Surgeons Better Than Human Surgeons?1714 Words   |  7 Pagesespecially one which is programmable.† The use of robots to assist in performing surgical procedures has been developed over the past 20 years, and current robotic systems are quickly being introduced to the surgical world (Springer Link 2015). Research shows that robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery is a better alternative than conventional surgery because allo ws doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with traditionalRead MorePros And Cons Of Animal Testing1522 Words   |  7 Pages Because physicians before us used animal testing to get us from where we are today we have things like antibiotics, insulin, oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, cancer treatment, vitro fertilization, organ transplant, open-heart surgery, organ transplant, and a wide array of surgical procedures that have all been made possible. There were some cases where animal testing was not used which brought harm to the consumer of products. For instance in 1937, a pharmaceutical company in the US createdRead MoreAbortion Is An Immoral Act Essay1447 Words   |  6 Pagesand explain the dangerous effects and health risks abortion has on the mother after the procedure. Abortion is a procedure that should be taken very seriously in the eyes of all individuals, but especially of the mother that is w anting the procedure. It is hard for pro-life advocates to think about the health risks the mother faces, because they are consumed by the concern for the unborn baby. While the procedure is a cruel and vicious act for the baby, the mother can have an extremely harmful outcomeRead MoreHuman Self Conscious Is A Serious Problem959 Words   |  4 Pagesever felt unhappy with your looks? Have you ever wanted to change something in you, no matter what the consequences were? In today s society self conscious is a serious problem, people would do anything to change the way they look, even if the procedures are unsafe. Shenise Farrell a student from London, who became tormented with the color of her eyes, decided to transform them from brown to blue. Shenise researched surgery options where she found a clinic in Panama and took the decision of gettingRead MoreThe Effects Of Plastic Surgery On South Korea1487 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Kingdom of Plastic† is a fitting name for South Korea where one out of five women have admitted to having some sort of cosmetic surgery procedure. Most Asian countries, including South Korea, have very specific criterias for judging if a person is beautiful. Common beauty expectations for both males and females are high noses, big eyes, and narrow chins. Due to the nature of an Asian bone structure, it is highly unlikely that the previously mentioned beauty standards will occur naturally withinRead MoreThe Human Organ Market1324 Words   |  6 PagesThe Human Organ Market Over the past decade the number of patients in need of an organ transplant has increased dramatically. The shortage of organs each year increases the number of patients on the waiting list and has deprived many people from a new life. There are over 100,000 Americans on the waiting list and overage 19 people did each day from the lack of an organ transplant (Abouna 1). Between the years 1988 to 2006, the number patients in need for a transplant has increased times six (AbounaRead MoreShould Teens Undergo Plastic Surgery?1565 Words   |  7 Pagesrisk of not only the surgery resulting in unwanted outcomes but in some cases, death. There are risks or complications associated with any surgical procedure including bleeding, infection, ugly scarring and anesthesia-related risks. According to Todd M. Wider, M.D., a plastic surgeon at St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, Each plastic surgery procedure carries its own risk. (Wider) Therefore, I personally think that teens should not undergo cosmetic surgery because of medical complicationsRead MoreOrgan Transplantation Is The Surgical Removal And Transfer1931 Words   |  8 PagesOrgan transplantation is the surgical removal and transfer of an organ from one body to another (Kanniyakoni, 2005). The process begins with someone needing an organ transplant, then being put on a waiting list. Once a patient is added to the national organ transplant waiting list, the individual may receive an organ fairly quickly or may wait many years. In general, the average time frame is three to five years at most centers. Waiting time is also dependent upon certain factors such as a patient

The Meaning Of Human Nature - 870 Words

The Meaning of Human Nature The social contract seems to be open to be an ideology that is left to interpretation by everyone that has either wrote or read about it based on their individual definitions of what it means to be in the state of nature. Throughout this course we began with Thomas Hobbes, whose beliefs seemed quite ridiculous at times, but his ideas about what it meant to be a person in the state of nature, were supported by what he believed to be true. Much like when Jean-Jacques Rousseau stated that fact does not matter before going into detail about what he believed to be true about the state of nature, he stood by his ideas with observations that he has made. While the social contract may not always be exactly true, it is used to make sense of the how the world works. For the purpose of my paper I will focus on how Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau concept of how human nature is changed after the social contract is formed. Their ideas of human nature are based u pon what they are certain to be true about what it means to be in the state of nature. Prior to the social contract, Hobbes claims that society is in a state of war when they are in the state of nature. In the state of nature or war, he would describe life as, â€Å"solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short† (76). During this time, everyone is constantly living in fear because they are all equal, meaning they all have the ability to kill one another. A part of human nature is fear. With the constantShow MoreRelatedThe s The Egg And The Sperm899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Construction and Use of Nature for Authority One common perception of nature is that it is something raw, untouched by human civilization. This point of view suggests that humans are completely separated by nature and that our cultures and technologies are in some way unnatural. However, I believe that not only are we a part of nature, but our cultures are also deeply entwined with how we view nature. In this paper, I will review Emily Martin’s The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has ConstructedRead MoreThe New Technology Can Save Lives960 Words   |  4 Pagesacceptable when it increases performance of the human species. Another thing that both Kurzweil and McKibben believe is that people will accept this new technology with open arms. McKibben gives the example that people inject Botox into their bodies to make themselves look and feel better, so he thinks that people will have no problem injecting nanobots and other forms of technology into their bodies. This new technology according to McKibben will rob us of meanin g, he even states, â€Å"We look at the same worldRead MoreAbsurd Self Fulfillment By Joel Feinberg1538 Words   |  7 Pagesabsurdity, self-fulfillment, and tries to show that every human life may contain some degree of each. He discusses how Richard Taylor, Albert Camus, and Thomas Nagel, each portray that there is indeed absurdity in all human beings, through the use of their own special qualifications. Taylor and Camus both conclude that there is no meaning to anything we do, and that the human condition is pointless and meaningless. They believe that absurd humans do whatever makes them happy, but before realizing theRead MoreWhy Is It Important?851 Words   |  4 Pagesunnecessary, fluffy language for a moment and delve straight into (what I believe is) the â€Å"answer.† It’s arduous and seemingly impossible to grasp what the meaning of existence is because the question itself lacks a solidified foundation of authority. Why is it so important? Because we cho ose it, or at the very least, choose to assign it to our lives. Meaning is why our species has continued to thrive as long as it has. It yields a divine momentum and a rationalization to keep moving forward: intellectuallyRead MoreSymbolism and Metaphor In The Humbling River by Maynard James Keenan1399 Words   |  6 Pagesdoes it mean to be human, and how might we transcend human nature?† have been a subject of debate for philosophical and theological thinkers for centuries. In recent history, scientific discoveries have led to a resurgence of these ancient debates that break down into three primary schools of thought. There are those who believe that we, like the rest of the animal kingdom, have certain basic â€Å"programming† that determines our fundamental nature, and those who believe that human beings are born â€Å"tabulaRead MoreEco Existential Positive Psychology : Experiences, Nature, Existential Anxieties, And Well Being Essay944 Words   |  4 PagesExp eriences in nature, existential anxieties, and well-being 2. Chief Purpose: To encourage researchers, psychologists, and therapist to utilize information within the article to promote involvement with nature upon the human population. To help the human race to develop an eco-friendly environment. 3. Theory and theoretical model: No focal theory or theoretical model used. Hypothesis: â€Å"We propose that affiliating with nature affords us the opportunity to be fully flourishing human beings.† 4Read MoreHuman Nature Is Good Or Bad?1484 Words   |  6 PagesJesus Robledo Prof. Hudley English 121-001 April 17 2016 Human Nature Human Nature, human nature to me is how a person gives their life meaning by applying different believes to it, and then continue living their life based on them. No human is perfect nor good or bad. Throughout the history of humanity, our way of thinking, and believes have evolved in some way. Human nature took its turns when everyone started creating new beliefs back then. An example of differentRead MoreAnalysis Of Nothing Gold Can Stay1440 Words   |  6 Pagespoem. The title of the poem is Nothing Gold Can Stay. The titles meaning is slightly conveyed meaning that the Gold of nature, human life, or what you interpret nature as can never stay. It can also have multiple meanings, such as both spring and summer or with the stages of human life. This poem has some repetition of the word gold, once at the beginning and end of the poem. The word is most likely repeated to bring the poem and meaning of the poem into a full closure and complete cycle, showing thatRead MoreHlt 310v Week 1 Assignment Personal Worldview Inventory986 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscuss the various possible meanings of the term â€Å"spirituality,† and your understanding of the concepts of pluralism, scientism, and postmodernism. Primarily, address the following seven basic worldview questions: 1. What is prime reality? 2. What is the nature of the world around us? 3. What is a human being? 4. What happens to a person at death? 5. Why is it possible to know anything at all? 6. How do we know what is right or wrong? 7. What is the meaning of human history? Prepare this assignmentRead More Wallace Stevens and Emile Durkheim Essay example1468 Words   |  6 Pagessocial-philosophical thought. Emile Durkheims theories on religion closely parallel those of Stevens. Both men believe that there is no supreme greater being, or God, that gives things order and meaning. But both men also believe that humans need to read order and meaning into the world to understand it, even if the meaning humans imply is false because there is no God. Since this aspect of both mens ideas is so similar, Durkheims outline of ideas on religion can form a model by which Stevens poem can be analyzed

SV paper free essay sample

Please give serious thought to this key part of the application, as you have only 2,500 characters maximum (Including spaces) to demonstrate your passion and your writing skills. Choose one of the following topics: ; Describe the impact you have had in participating in community activities. Describe your best experience working as a leader or working in a group or team Thesis: Introduction: You cant buy and on Aisle 4 at Walter. I must follow the people.Am I not their leader? -?Benjamin Disraeli Body 1 : Body 2: Body 3: Conclusion: Make sure to mention all the extracurricular that you do (sports, music, volunteering, etc) as thats as Important than your actual grades. But only mention them If theyre really something that you do and care about and that has helped shape who you are. When it comes down to it though, I really believe that if youre in decent academic standing and are sincerely interested in Shad that will show in your application. We will write a custom essay sample on SV paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Put emphasis on your academic record and extracurricular, etc. give a true portrait of yourself on paper point out what makes you different and interesting, while still highlighting the usual Shad-liken qualities ESSAY characters maximum (including spaces) to demonstrate your passion and your ; Describe the Impact you have had In participating In community activities. Etc) as thats as important than your actual grades. But only mention them if theyre Shad-like qualifications Please give serious thought to this key part of the application, as you have only 2,500 characters maximum (including spaces) to demonstrate your passion and your writing skills.

Lobotomy Essay Research Paper Psychosurgery free essay sample

Lobotomy Essay, Research Paper Psychosurgery 2 The Rise and Fall of Psychosurgery Merely imagine, ? a hole of 2.5 to 5 centimeter of diameter, drilled by manus into the skull of a life adult male, without any anaesthesia or antisepsis, during 30 to 60 long proceedingss. This is possibly the most ancient signifier of encephalon surgery known to adult male: it is called trepanning ( from Greek trupanon, bore bit ) or trephining ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) ? . This possibly was the first thought that adult male can be cured of mental unwellness by biological geographic expedition. Thousands of old ages subsequently, psychosurgery was discovered by accident in America in 1847 when a labourer, involved in rock-blasting, had an Fe saloon driven through the forepart of his caput, by an detonation, damaging the frontal lobes of the encephalon. Amazingly, he survived but his personality was changed. Doctors realized from this that behaviour could be altered by interfering with the frontal lobes and so psychosurgery was born ( Carruth,1989 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Lobotomy Essay Research Paper Psychosurgery or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ? Both illustrations of the earliest? leukotomies? played functions in developing Dr.Egas Moniz and Walter Freemans processs in psychosurgery. It was non until 1935 that the brain doctor, Egaz Moniz, developed the psychosurgery operations we know today. He performed the first leukotomy ( Egaz Moniz was subsequently murdered by one of his leukotomy patients? evidently, the patient was non impressed with the benefits of holding spots of his encephalon destroyed. ) . A leukotomy is encephalon surgery, Webster # 8217 ; s defines it as? surgical rupture of Psychosurgery 3 nervus fibres linking the frontal lobes to the thalamus for the alleviation of some mental disorders. ? Ironically, it besides defines the act of lobotomizing as, ? depriving of sensitiveness, intelligence, or verve? , factors all of which are indispensable to do a healthy individual- some argue that taking away parts of the encephalon makes an single less human. Mozin believed that, ? the frontal lobes are the place of adult males psychic activity, and that ideas and thoughts are some how stored in nervus fibre connexions between encephalon cells # 8230 ; all serious mental upsets are the consequence of? fixed? ideas that interfere with normal mental life ; reasoning that? fixed ideas? are maintained by nervus tracts in the frontal lobes ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . ? Mozins theory on the fibres that connected the fixed ideas and the frontal lobe was obscure ; old ages subsequently Freeman and Watt? s improved upon this theory proposing that specific sets of fibres need be cut to do the leukotomy successful ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . From most recorded histories of leukotomies one can surmise that when considered? successful? the surgery merely relieved the symptoms at best ; patients most of the clip became? inactive and sulky, losing their feelings, their aspiration, and frequently developed epilepsy, etc. Side effects of? unsuccessful? surgeries include terrible encephalon harm, going a vegetable and decease. So were persons really being cured or merely made indefinitely sedated? It wasn? T until the 1950? s the scientific community began to doubt whether leukotomies really achieved the ends that they Psychosurgery 4 set out to. ? Even lobotomy # 8217 ; s advocates admitted that merely one tierce of the operated patients would better, while one-third remained the same, and one-third got worst ( 25 to 30 % is the proportion of self-generated betterment in many sorts of mental diseases! Therefore, a big proportion of the operated patients could hold recovered without the leukotomy ) ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . ? Persons began to recognize merely what a inhumane act the leukotomy was. It was Clear that the leukotomy was doing? encephalon harm? , and in bend decreasing the patients quality of life. Concern over the protection of patients against leukotomy and similar extremist therapies, peculiarly in inmates, where release was widely exchanged with understanding to a leukotomy ( a extremely unjust, biased and controversial offer ) ; translated into Torahs ( against such an act ) in the United States in the 70 # 8217 ; s and in many other states as good. In add-on, the visual aspect of new anti psychotic and anti depressive drugs, such as Thorazine in the 50 # 8217 ; s, gave new agencies to battle most of the symptoms experienced by agitated and unmanageable patients ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . As of late, new promotion in the scientific community have spawned an involvement in psychosurgery ; but the statement against it is still is traveling strong. It has been proven that, # 8220 ; no important activity of the encephalon occurs in isolation without Psychosurgery 5 correlated activity in other parts of the encephalon ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) ? ; and their is a strong sentiment in the psychological community that? Violent behaviour is non associated with encephalon disease and should non be dealt with surgically. At best, neurosurgery should truly concern itself with medical jobs, and non the behaviour jobs of a societal etiology ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) . # 8221 ; To me the full construct of the leukotomy is disgusting. Doctors take an curse stating something to the consequence that they are suppose to salvage or better the quality of life, and the leukotomy does neither. Unfortunately the push is to execute the surgery on those who are institutionalized. If the surgery is a failure so they will be no worse away, since the patient wasn? t a conducive member of society to get down with. Doctors and scientists are ever desiring to larn and the lone manner that they can make this is by experimenting. The lone manner they can make this on worlds is by making it to those who can # 8217 ; t object. The failures are locked off in establishments and the populace neer acquire to see them. If on the other manus the surgery is successful the acknowledgment of the achievement is plentiful. Experiment of this kind is gross outing manner to handle anyone and those that would even see it should be ashamed to name themselves medical professionals. Psychosurgery 6 Mentions Carruth, Gorton ( Ed. ) . ( 1989 ) . Lobotomy. The Volume Library ( volume 23. pp. 1976 ) . Nashville: The Southwestern Company. Panelist Considers Value of Psychosurgery as Techniques Become more Refine ( June 7, 1996 ) . Psychiatric News. Sabbatini PhD, Renato ( June 1997 ) . The History of Psychosurgery. Brain and Mind Magazine. Valenstein, Elloiot ( 1986 ) . Great and Desperate Remedies: The Rise and Decline of Psychosurgery and Other Extremist Treatments for Mental Illness. New York: Basic Books, Inc. , Publishers. Kimberly Kelly ( see attached for a good laugh! ) Psychosurgery 2 The Rise and Fall of Psychosurgery Merely imagine, ? a hole of 2.5 to 5 centimeter of diameter, drilled by manus into the skull of a life adult male, without any anaesthesia or antisepsis, during 30 to 60 long proceedingss. This is possibly the most ancient signifier of encephalon surgery known to adult male: it is called trepanning ( from Greek trupanon, bore bit ) or trephining ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) ? . This possibly was the first thought that adult male can be cured of mental unwellness by biological geographic expedition. Thousands of old ages subsequently, psychosurgery was discovered by accident in America in 1847 when a labourer, involved in rock-blasting, had an Fe saloon driven through the forepart of his caput, by an detonation, damaging the frontal lobes of the encephalon. Amazingly, he survived but his personality was changed. Doctors realized from this that behaviour could be altered by interfering with the frontal lobes and so psychosurgery was born ( Carruth,1989 ) . ? Both illustrations of the earliest? leukotomies? played functions in developing Dr.Egas Moniz and Walter Freemans processs in psychosurgery. It was non until 1935 that the brain doctor, Egaz Moniz, developed the psychosurgery operations we know today. He performed the first leukotomy ( Egaz Moniz was subsequently murdered by one of his leukotomy patients? evidently, the patient was non impressed with the benefits of holding spots of his encephalon destroyed. ) . A leukotomy is encephalon surgery, Webster # 8217 ; s defines it as? surgical rupture of Psychosurgery 3 nervus fibres linking the frontal lobes to the thalamus for the alleviation of some mental disorders. ? Ironically, it besides defines the act of lobotomizing as, ? depriving of sensitiveness, intelligence, or verve? , factors all of which are indispensable to do a healthy individual- some argue that taking away parts of the encephalon makes an single less human. Mozin believed that, ? the frontal lobes are the place of adult males psychic activity, and that ideas and thoughts are some how stored in nervus fibre connexions between encephalon cells # 8230 ; all serious mental upsets are the consequence of? fixed? ideas that interfere with normal mental life ; reasoning that? fixed ideas? are maintained by nervus tracts in the frontal lobes ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . ? Mozins theory on the fibres that connected the fixed ideas and the frontal lobe was obscure ; old ages subsequently Freeman and Watt? s improved upon this theory proposing that specific sets of fibres need be cut to do the leukotomy successful ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . From most recorded histories of leukotomies one can surmise that when considered? successful? the surgery merely relieved the symptoms at best ; patients most of the clip became? inactive and sulky, losing their feelings, their aspiration, and frequently developed epilepsy, etc. Side effects of? unsuccessful? surgeries include terrible encephalon harm, going a vegetable and decease. So were persons really being cured or merely made indefinitely sedated? It wasn? T until the 1950? s the scientific community began to doubt whether leukotomies really achieved the ends that they Psychosurgery 4 set out to. ? Even lobotomy # 8217 ; s advocates admitted that merely one tierce of the operated patients would better, while one-third remained the same, and one-third got worst ( 25 to 30 % is the proportion of self-generated betterment in many sorts of mental diseases! Therefore, a big proportion of the operated patients could hold recovered without the leukotomy ) ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . ? Persons began to recognize merely what a inhumane act the leukotomy was. It was Clear that the leukotomy was doing? encephalon harm? , and in bend decreasing the patients quality of life. Concern over the protection of patients against leukotomy and similar extremist therapies, peculiarly in inmates, where release was widely exchanged with understanding to a leukotomy ( a extremely unjust, biased and controversial offer ) ; translated into Torahs ( against such an act ) in the United States in the 70 # 8217 ; s and in many other states as good. In add-on, the visual aspect of new anti psychotic and anti depressive drugs, such as Thorazine in the 50 # 8217 ; s, gave new agencies to battle most of the symptoms experienced by agitated and unmanageable patients ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . As of late, new promotion in the scientific community have spawned an involvement in psychosurgery ; but the statement against it is still is traveling strong. It has been proven that, # 8220 ; no important activity of the encephalon occurs in isolation without Psychosurgery 5 correlated activity in other parts of the encephalon ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) ? ; and their is a strong sentiment in the psychological community that? Violent behaviour is non associated with encephalon disease and should non be dealt with surgically. At best, neurosurgery should truly concern itself with medical jobs, and non the behaviour jobs of a societal etiology ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) . # 8221 ; To me the full construct of the leukotomy is disgusting. Doctors take an curse stating something to the consequence that they are suppose to salvage or better the quality of life, and the leukotomy does neither. Unfortunately the push is to execute the surgery on those who are institutionalized. If the surgery is a failure so they will be no worse away, since the patient wasn? t a conducive member of society to get down with. Doctors and scientists are ever desiring to larn and the lone manner that they can make this is by experimenting. The lone manner they can make this on worlds is by making it to those who can # 8217 ; t object. The failures are locked off in establishments and the populace neer acquire to see them. If on the other manus the surgery is successful the acknowledgment of the achievement is plentiful. Experiment of this kind is gross outing manner to handle anyone and those that would even see it should be ashamed to name themselves medical professionals. Psychosurgery 6 Mentions Carruth, Gorton ( Ed. ) . ( 1989 ) . Lobotomy. The Volume Library ( volume 23. pp. 1976 ) . Nashville: The Southwestern Company. Panelist Considers Value of Psychosurgery as Techniques Become more Refine ( June 7, 1996 ) . Psychiatric News. Sabbatini PhD, Renato ( June 1997 ) . The History of Psychosurgery. Brain and Mind Magazine. Valenstein, Elloiot ( 1986 ) . Great and Desperate Remedies: The Rise and Decline of Psychosurgery and Other Extremist Treatments for Mental Illness. New York: Basic Books, Inc. , Publishers. Kimberly Kelly ( see attached for a good laugh! ) Psychosurgery 2 The Rise and Fall of Psychosurgery Merely imagine, ? a hole of 2.5 to 5 centimeter of diameter, drilled by manus into the skull of a life adult male, without any anaesthesia or antisepsis, during 30 to 60 long proceedingss. This is possibly the most ancient signifier of encephalon surgery known to adult male: it is called trepanning ( from Greek trupanon, bore bit ) or trephining ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) ? . This possibly was the first thought that adult male can be cured of mental unwellness by biological geographic expedition. Thousands of old ages subsequently, psychosurgery was discovered by accident in America in 1847 when a labourer, involved in rock-blasting, had an Fe saloon driven through the forepart of his caput, by an detonation, damaging the frontal lobes of the encephalon. Amazingly, he survived but his personality was changed. Doctors realized from this that behaviour could be altered by interfering with the frontal lobes and so psychosurgery was born ( Carruth,1989 ) . ? Both illustrations of the earliest? leukotomies? played functions in developing Dr.Egas Moniz and Walter Freemans processs in psychosurgery. It was non until 1935 that the brain doctor, Egaz Moniz, developed the psychosurgery operations we know today. He performed the first leukotomy ( Egaz Moniz was subsequently murdered by one of his leukotomy patients? evidently, the patient was non impressed with the benefits of holding spots of his encephalon destroyed. ) . A leukotomy is encephalon surgery, Webster # 8217 ; s defines it as? surgical rupture of Psychosurgery 3 nervus fibres linking the frontal lobes to the thalamus for the alleviation of some mental disorders. ? Ironically, it besides defines the act of lobotomizing as, ? depriving of sensitiveness, intelligence, or verve? , factors all of which are indispensable to do a healthy individual- some argue that taking away parts of the encephalon makes an single less human. Mozin believed that, ? the frontal lobes are the place of adult males psychic activity, and that ideas and thoughts are some how stored in nervus fibre connexions between encephalon cells # 8230 ; all serious mental upsets are the consequence of? fixed? ideas that interfere with normal mental life ; reasoning that? fixed ideas? are maintained by nervus tracts in the frontal lobes ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . ? Mozins theory on the fibres that connected the fixed ideas and the frontal lobe was obscure ; old ages subsequently Freeman and Watt? s improved upon this theory proposing that specific sets of fibres need be cut to do the leukotomy successful ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . From most recorded histories of leukotomies one can surmise that when considered? successful? the surgery merely relieved the symptoms at best ; patients most of the clip became? inactive and sulky, losing their feelings, their aspiration, and frequently developed epilepsy, etc. Side effects of? unsuccessful? surgeries include terrible encephalon harm, going a vegetable and decease. So were persons really being cured or merely made indefinitely sedated? It wasn? T until the 1950? s the scientific community began to doubt whether leukotomies really achieved the ends that they Psychosurgery 4 set out to. ? Even lobotomy # 8217 ; s advocates admitted that merely one tierce of the operated patients would better, while one-third remained the same, and one-third got worst ( 25 to 30 % is the proportion of self-generated betterment in many sorts of mental diseases! Therefore, a big proportion of the operated patients could hold recovered without the leukotomy ) ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . ? Persons began to recognize merely what a inhumane act the leukotomy was. It was Clear that the leukotomy was doing? encephalon harm? , and in bend decreasing the patients quality of life. Concern over the protection of patients against leukotomy and similar extremist therapies, peculiarly in inmates, where release was widely exchanged with understanding to a leukotomy ( a extremely unjust, biased and controversial offer ) ; translated into Torahs ( against such an act ) in the United States in the 70 # 8217 ; s and in many other states as good. In add-on, the visual aspect of new anti psychotic and anti depressive drugs, such as Thorazine in the 50 # 8217 ; s, gave new agencies to battle most of the symptoms experienced by agitated and unmanageable patients ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . As of late, new promotion in the scientific community have spawned an involvement in psychosurgery ; but the statement against it is still is traveling strong. It has been proven that, # 8220 ; no important activity of the encephalon occurs in isolation without Psychosurgery 5 correlated activity in other parts of the encephalon ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) ? ; and their is a strong sentiment in the psychological community that? Violent behaviour is non associated with encephalon disease and should non be dealt with surgically. At best, neurosurgery should truly concern itself with medical jobs, and non the behaviour jobs of a societal etiology ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) . # 8221 ; To me the full construct of the leukotomy is disgusting. Doctors take an curse stating something to the consequence that they are suppose to salvage or better the quality of life, and the leukotomy does neither. Unfortunately the push is to execute the surgery on those who are institutionalized. If the surgery is a failure so they will be no worse away, since the patient wasn? t a conducive member of society to get down with. Doctors and scientists are ever desiring to larn and the lone manner that they can make this is by experimenting. The lone manner they can make this on worlds is by making it to those who can # 8217 ; t object. The failures are locked off in establishments and the populace neer acquire to see them. If on the other manus the surgery is successful the acknowledgment of the achievement is plentiful. Experiment of this kind is gross outing manner to handle anyone and those that would even see it should be ashamed to name themselves medical professionals. Psychosurgery 6 Mentions Carruth, Gorton ( Ed. ) . ( 1989 ) . Lobotomy. The Volume Library ( volume 23. pp. 1976 ) . Nashville: The Southwestern Company. Panelist Considers Value of Psychosurgery as Techniques Become more Refine ( June 7, 1996 ) . Psychiatric News. Sabbatini PhD, Renato ( June 1997 ) . The History of Psychosurgery. Brain and Mind Magazine. Valenstein, Elloiot ( 1986 ) . Great and Desperate Remedies: The Rise and Decline of Psychosurgery and Other Extremist Treatments for Mental Illness. New York: Basic Books, Inc. , Publishers. Kimberly Kelly ( see attached for a good laugh! ) Psychosurgery 2 The Rise and Fall of Psychosurgery Merely imagine, ? a hole of 2.5 to 5 centimeter of diameter, drilled by manus into the skull of a life adult male, without any anaesthesia or antisepsis, during 30 to 60 long proceedingss. This is possibly the most ancient signifier of encephalon surgery known to adult male: it is called trepanning ( from Greek trupanon, bore bit ) or trephining ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) ? . This possibly was the first thought that adult male can be cured of mental unwellness by biological geographic expedition. Thousands of old ages subsequently, psychosurgery was discovered by accident in America in 1847 when a labourer, involved in rock-blasting, had an Fe saloon driven through the forepart of his caput, by an detonation, damaging the frontal lobes of the encephalon. Amazingly, he survived but his personality was changed. Doctors realized from this that behaviour could be altered by interfering with the frontal lobes and so psychosurgery was born ( Carruth,1989 ) . ? Both illustrations of the earliest? leukotomies? played functions in developing Dr.Egas Moniz and Walter Freemans processs in psychosurgery. It was non until 1935 that the brain doctor, Egaz Moniz, developed the psychosurgery operations we know today. He performed the first leukotomy ( Egaz Moniz was subsequently murdered by one of his leukotomy patients? evidently, the patient was non impressed with the benefits of holding spots of his encephalon destroyed. ) . A leukotomy is encephalon surgery, Webster # 8217 ; s defines it as? surgical rupture of Psychosurgery 3 nervus fibres linking the frontal lobes to the thalamus for the alleviation of some mental disorders. ? Ironically, it besides defines the act of lobotomizing as, ? depriving of sensitiveness, intelligence, or verve? , factors all of which are indispensable to do a healthy individual- some argue that taking away parts of the encephalon makes an single less human. Mozin believed that, ? the frontal lobes are the place of adult males psychic activity, and that ideas and thoughts are some how stored in nervus fibre connexions between encephalon cells # 8230 ; all serious mental upsets are the consequence of? fixed? ideas that interfere with normal mental life ; reasoning that? fixed ideas? are maintained by nervus tracts in the frontal lobes ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . ? Mozins theory on the fibres that connected the fixed ideas and the frontal lobe was obscure ; old ages subsequently Freeman and Watt? s improved upon this theory proposing that specific sets of fibres need be cut to do the leukotomy successful ( Valenstein, 1986 ) . From most recorded histories of leukotomies one can surmise that when considered? successful? the surgery merely relieved the symptoms at best ; patients most of the clip became? inactive and sulky, losing their feelings, their aspiration, and frequently developed epilepsy, etc. Side effects of? unsuccessful? surgeries include terrible encephalon harm, going a vegetable and decease. So were persons really being cured or merely made indefinitely sedated? It wasn? T until the 1950? s the scientific community began to doubt whether leukotomies really achieved the ends that they Psychosurgery 4 set out to. ? Even lobotomy # 8217 ; s advocates admitted that merely one tierce of the operated patients would better, while one-third remained the same, and one-third got worst ( 25 to 30 % is the proportion of self-generated betterment in many sorts of mental diseases! Therefore, a big proportion of the operated patients could hold recovered without the leukotomy ) ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . ? Persons began to recognize merely what a inhumane act the leukotomy was. It was Clear that the leukotomy was doing? encephalon harm? , and in bend decreasing the patients quality of life. Concern over the protection of patients against leukotomy and similar extremist therapies, peculiarly in inmates, where release was widely exchanged with understanding to a leukotomy ( a extremely unjust, biased and controversial offer ) ; translated into Torahs ( against such an act ) in the United States in the 70 # 8217 ; s and in many other states as good. In add-on, the visual aspect of new anti psychotic and anti depressive drugs, such as Thorazine in the 50 # 8217 ; s, gave new agencies to battle most of the symptoms experienced by agitated and unmanageable patients ( Sabbatini, 1997 ) . As of late, new promotion in the scientific community have spawned an involvement in psychosurgery ; but the statement against it is still is traveling strong. It has been proven that, # 8220 ; no important activity of the encephalon occurs in isolation without Psychosurgery 5 correlated activity in other parts of the encephalon ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) ? ; and their is a strong sentiment in the psychological community that? Violent behaviour is non associated with encephalon disease and should non be dealt with surgically. At best, neurosurgery should truly concern itself with medical jobs, and non the behaviour jobs of a societal etiology ( ? Panelist? , 1996 ) . # 8221 ; To me the full construct of the leukotomy is disgusting. Doctors take an curse stating something to the consequence that they are suppose to salvage or better the quality of life, and the leukotomy does neither. Unfortunately the push is to execute the surgery on those who are institutionalized. If the surgery is a failure so they will be no worse away, since the patient wasn? t a conducive member of society to get down with. Doctors and scientists are ever desiring to larn and the lone manner that they can make this is by experimenting. The lone manner they can make this on worlds is by making it to those who can # 8217 ; t object. The failures are locked off in establishments and the populace neer acquire to see them. If on the other manus the surgery is successful the acknowledgment of the achievement is plentiful. Experiment of this kind is gross outing manner to handle anyone and those that would even see it should be ashamed to name themselves medical professionals. Psychosurgery 6 Mentions Carruth, Gorton ( Ed. ) . ( 1989 ) . Lobotomy. The Volume Library ( volume 23. pp. 1976 ) . Nashville: The Southwestern Company. Panelist Considers Value of Psychosurgery as Techniques Become more Refine ( June 7, 1996 ) . Psychiatric News. Sabbatini PhD, Renato ( June 1997 ) . The History of Psychosurgery. Brain and Mind Magazine. Valenstein, Elloiot ( 1986 ) . Great and Desperate Remedies: The Rise and Decline of Psychosurgery and Other Extremist Treatments for Mental Illness. New York: Basic Books, Inc. , Publishers.

Free Essays on Spies

Women in the nineteenth century did not have the same rights as men, but they were still able to make a large impact in the Civil War. Women in the early 1800's were not allowed to vote and not able to possess their own money. Also women could not work, or they could not have a lawyer in court. Boys went to school when girls could not. Women could not go to school, so most were not well educated. Since women had few rights, they worked in the house all day doing chores like weaving cloth, sewing shoes, and making soap. Women worked in factories for little pay and all they were able to do was dust and clean. When the first shot of the Civil War at Fort Sumter was fired, the men rushed out to fight. Women stayed and did all the work that men used to do. They were capable of seeing what they could do while the men were at war. Families that were separated because of the Civil War communicated through letters. Women provided supplies that men could not get at war. When women finally decided to fight they were excited. Southern women supported the southern cause to keep slavery or they fought because their state believed in slavery. Northern women supported the northern cause to save the Union. Women in the Civil War served as spies, couriers, guides, scouts, saboteurs, and smugglers. They dressed as men and spied on the other side. Spies from the North used hot air balloons to watch the South make an important ship, the Virginia. There were many women who served as spies for the South. Some of these included Nancy Hurt, Belle Boyd, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, and Belle Boyd. Belle Boyd played an important role in the Civil War. Belle Boyd watched the Union soldiers travel all the way to Canada. Belle Boyd did this without getting caught and going to jail. The following spies were for the Union: Elizabeth Van Lew, Pauline Cushman, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Harriet Tubman, and Emma Edmonds. Emma Edmonds fought in Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Sharpsbu... Free Essays on Spies Free Essays on Spies Women in the nineteenth century did not have the same rights as men, but they were still able to make a large impact in the Civil War. Women in the early 1800's were not allowed to vote and not able to possess their own money. Also women could not work, or they could not have a lawyer in court. Boys went to school when girls could not. Women could not go to school, so most were not well educated. Since women had few rights, they worked in the house all day doing chores like weaving cloth, sewing shoes, and making soap. Women worked in factories for little pay and all they were able to do was dust and clean. When the first shot of the Civil War at Fort Sumter was fired, the men rushed out to fight. Women stayed and did all the work that men used to do. They were capable of seeing what they could do while the men were at war. Families that were separated because of the Civil War communicated through letters. Women provided supplies that men could not get at war. When women finally decided to fight they were excited. Southern women supported the southern cause to keep slavery or they fought because their state believed in slavery. Northern women supported the northern cause to save the Union. Women in the Civil War served as spies, couriers, guides, scouts, saboteurs, and smugglers. They dressed as men and spied on the other side. Spies from the North used hot air balloons to watch the South make an important ship, the Virginia. There were many women who served as spies for the South. Some of these included Nancy Hurt, Belle Boyd, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, and Belle Boyd. Belle Boyd played an important role in the Civil War. Belle Boyd watched the Union soldiers travel all the way to Canada. Belle Boyd did this without getting caught and going to jail. The following spies were for the Union: Elizabeth Van Lew, Pauline Cushman, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Harriet Tubman, and Emma Edmonds. Emma Edmonds fought in Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Sharpsbu...

Growth of Urgent Care Centers

Growth of Urgent Care Centers Abstract The need for urgent care in the current health care system is irresistible. Various reasons have been cited to be the cause of increased demand for urgent care centers including crowded hospital emergency departments, insufficient clinicians to provide primary care as well as the rising health care cost.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Growth of Urgent Care Centers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most importantly, the inefficiencies and long queues in hospital emergency departments have been the main drivers for increased consumer demand for urgent care centers. Essentially, urgent care units have been perceived by the populace as critical in improving accessibility to immediate medical services at affordable costs. In fact, urgent care centers make available walk-in care for simple ailments due to minor infections and injuries that need immediate attention. However, urgent care centers do not nece ssarily deal with complex emergency cases. In most cases, urgent care centers offer treatments and care ranging from simple injuries and illnesses to most complex treatments including blood transfusion and X-rays though not life threatening. Actually, urgent care centers are not equipped to handle life threatening emergency cases. Introduction The current health care system in US is struggling with the problem of over stretched hospital emergency department capacity, limited clinicians to provide primary care as well as constant increase in health care cost (Petterson, 2012). As such, urgent care centers have come out as an option to the increasing health problems that need immediate attention. Essentially, urgent care units have been perceived by the populace as critical in improving accessibility to immediate medical services at affordable costs (Landen, 2013).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper wit h 15% OFF Learn More Besides, the growth in urgent care centers in the recent past indicates the consumer increased demand for immediate medical services. In fact, urgent care centers offer medical services for minor illnesses and injuries that need pressing consideration. However, the centers are not fully equipped to handle complicated emergencies. Studies indicate mixed data on the impact of urgent care centers on health care. However, the rising optimism among the health professionals and the public indicate positive effects in terms of costs and accessibility to medical services (Fields Dorren, 2013). In most cases, urgent care centers have contributed to reduced visits and long queues in hospital emergency departments. Other studies directly link urgent care centers to increased accessibility and reduced health care costs. Moreover, most studies indicate that the growth of urgent care centers is driven by consumer demand. While the growth in urgent care center s is seen as disruptive to the health care coordination in some quarters, proponents argue that the concerns may be overstated given the fact that urgent care centers put much emphasis on intervallic and uncomplicated health conditions instead of chronic and multifaceted cases (Japsen, 2013). The future growth potential of urgent care centers is bright given the expansion of heath care coverage under the health care reforms. The expansion of health coverage would lead to increased pressure on both primary and emergency care living room for the growth and expansion of urgent care centers. Background of the Study The popularity of urgent care centers cannot be ignored due to their simplicity in people management and range of services they offer to patients. According to Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA), over three million Americans are visiting the urgent care centers weekly.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Growth of Urgent Care Centers spe cifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, urgent care centers are offering treatments and care ranging from simple injuries and illnesses to most complex treatments that do not need complicated equipments (McQueen, 2011). However, urgent care centers are not provided with complicated equipments to handle severe cases including multifaceted surgeries. Essentially, urgent care centers do not have appropriate equipments to offer multifaceted medical services. The increasing numbers of urgent care centers correspond to rising demand for efficiency in offering emergency services. Health data indicate that urgent care centers have increased by over twenty percent since the year 2008. The reasons for rapid growth and development of urgent care centers range from efficiency in services delivery to reduced costs. Generally, most of the clients visit urgent cares centers to avoid long queues, which normally characterize emergency rooms in major hospital s and care providers (Weinick, Burns Mehrotra, 2014). Besides, the growth of urgent care centers is expected to continue given the expected expansion of health coverage (Betancourt Weinick, 2007). Essentially, the cause and effects of urgent care centers on health care provision has been sparingly understood. Moreover, the appropriate promotional strategies that lead to increased patients in urgent care units need to be determined. The need for more information on urgent care centers necessitates the study. Even though urgent care centers are increasingly becoming popular, most of the specialists in the field tend to be worry of their increasing attractiveness. In particular, physicians argue that the increasing trend in growth of urgent care centers may cause deficiency in the coordination of health care provision (Turner, 2013). However, proponents argue that the concerns may be overstated given the fact that urgent care centers put much emphasis on intervallic and uncomplicated health conditions instead of chronic and multifaceted cases.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Problem Statement The need for urgent care centers are continuously increasing given the problems current health care system in US is facing. In fact, current health care system is struggling with the problem of over stretched hospital emergency department capacity, inadequate health professionals as well as steady rise in health care cost (Yee, Lechner Boukus, 2013). Moreover, most of the consumers are struggling with cost constraints and inefficiencies in major emergency departments. As such, urgent care centers have come out as an option to the increasing health problems that need instantaneous awareness. In other words, consumers have perceived urgent care units as alternative to improved accessibility to affordable immediate medical services. Besides, the growth in urgent care centers in the recent past indicates the consumer increased demand for immediate medical services. As indicated, urgent care centers provide walk-in care for ailments and accidents that need immediate at tention though not necessarily complex injuries (Lowes, 2013). Besides, given the expansion of heath care coverage under the health care reforms, the need for urgent care centers will increase tremendously as major hospitals emergency departments will be more crowded (Fields Dorren, 2013). In other words, the expansion of health coverage would lead to increased pressure on both primary and emergency care. As such, urgent care centers will be needed to provide for excess capacity. Purpose of the Study The major aim of the study is to determine factors that contribute to the growth of urgent care centers. In other words, the main purpose of the study is to determine variables that result in increased growth in demand for urgent care centers particularly within the five boroughs of New York. Specifically, the study tends to determine whether efficiency in services delivery and reduced costs are major determinants in the increased growth and expansion of urgent care centers. Broadly, t he study tends to understand factors that contribute to the expansion of urgent care centers as well as the manner in which urgent care centers operate. Objectives Even though the major aim of the study is to determine factors that contribute to the growth and expansion of urgent care centers, the specific objectives of the study include To determine the number of patients visiting urgent care centers as well as physician to patients ratio To determine whether having many locations help in building urgent care center’s population growth To determine whether having a short wait time is a positive or negative aspect in urgent care center’s services provision To determine the results of City MD urgent care center in Manhattan, New York To determine whether having the motto â€Å"patient first† can hinder employees’ ability to serve each patient To determine the types of promotions that would cause increased growth of urgent care centers To determine employe es’ reactions to fast growing City MD urgent care centers Research Questions Upon completion of the study, the following questions will be answered How many patients report to urgent care centers and what is the physician to patient ratio? How does having many locations help in building the urgent care’s population growth? Can having a short wait time be a positive or negative aspect in patients’ services delivery at urgent care centers? What results have been seen since the opening of City MD urgent care center in Manhattan, New York? Is having the motto â€Å"patient first† hinder employees ability to serve each patient? What different kinds of promotions allow the potential growth of urgent care centers? What are the reactions of employees to fast growing City MD urgent care centers? Significance of the Study The study will be critical in understanding the dynamics and processes involved in the operations of urgent care centers. Moreover, the study will be useful in providing information on urgent care centers and the manner in which they differ from private practices and hospitals as well as emergency departments. Most importantly, the study will be useful in understanding the effectiveness of urgent care centers in terms of services delivery and costs. Besides, the study will provide insights on how urgent care centers works particularly through the application of business ideas. In addition, the study conclusion and recommendations will provide guidelines to the urgent care practitioners on how to improve their effectiveness in services delivery. In other words, the study findings will enable practitioners to implement urgent care effectively by preparing a framework for the strategy. As such, this research will assist organizations that operate urgent care centers particularly City MD to understand the manner in which urgent care centers operates and their importance in order to improve the clients’ satisfaction. St udy Limitations The research scope is limited to few selected participants or small sample size to make the results have reliable and valid conclusions. In addition, the study is limited to only one institution in which urgent care centers have been adopted. In other words, urgent care centers both private and institutional based need to be studied in order to come up with valid and reliable conclusion. As such, the study findings cannot suitably be adopted in cross-industrial applications due to this limitation. Besides, there are limitations in terms of finances, time, research materials and the study expatriates particularly where interviews techniques will be applied. Literature Review The Growth and Expansion of Urgent Care Centers Urgent care centers have proliferated and grown considerably in the last two decades. The rapid growth and development of the urgent care centers has been attributed to the inefficiencies in the primary care deliveries, crowded emergency departments and the need to for increased accessibility to immediate medical attention (Betancourt Weinick, 2007). Essentially, urgent care centers provide medical services based on walk-ins. Besides offering the medical services during the regular business hours, urgent care units offer their services during weekend and evenings (Betancourt Weinick, 2007). In most cases, urgent care centers offer medical services usually provided by primary care units ranging from flu to minor ear or eye infections. Contrary to hospital emergency departments, urgent care units are not fully equipped to deal with complex medical services situations. In terms of staffing, physicians with professional backgrounds in emergency medicine or primary care manage urgent care centers (Galewitz, 2012). Though urgent care centers emerged in early eighties, most of the practitioners lacked clear marketing strategy to attract the interest of consumers. However, demands for urgent care units have been increasing consistent ly as the need for increased accessibility and efficiency in emergency medical services increases (Japsen, 2013). Current studies linking primary care physicians and health care services delivery indicate deteriorating provision of health services particularly during the extended hours. The void is filled by urgent care centers prompting their rapid growth in the recent past (Landen, 2013). Before, urgent care centers were being managed and owned by independent private entities. However, increased growth and expansion of urgent care centers have led to large units being managed by big hospitals and chain of entities (Japsen, 2013). Moreover, hospital systems are expanding in urgent care systems to increase their services offerings. Besides, insurers have also embraced the low cost systems of urgent care centers thereby shifting some of the medical care from emergency departments to urgent care centers. Essentially, insurers believe that urgent care centers cost less compared with em ergency care departments (Weinick et al., 2014). Factors Influencing Location and Ownership of Urgent Care Centers Market dynamics is one of the major factors influencing the ownership and location of urgent care centers (O’Malley, 2013). Urgent care centers are likely to be located in populous areas particularly in metropolis with the presence of vehicles and human traffic. Besides, urgent care centers are also likely to be located in affluent environments particularly in sub-urban with large employed populace and employer-sponsored health coverage (Weinick et al., 2014). The reason for targeting large population is that urgent care centers are volume-driven model. In other words, urgent care centers need sufficient population to breakeven. According to the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA), urgent care units whether independently owned or affiliated with hospitals are often found within the urban or suburban areas. The presence of urgent care units in these areas m irrors the greater need of health care delivery systems in these markets (McQueen, 2011). Factors Influencing the Growth of Urgent Care Centers The increasing numbers of urgent care centers corresponds to rising demand for services they offer. Health data indicate that urgent care centers have increased by over twenty percent since the year 2008. The reason for rapid growth and development of urgent care centers include increased efficiency in services delivery as well as reduced costs. Most clients visit urgent cares centers to avoid long queues, which normally characterize emergency rooms in major hospitals and care providers (Weinick et al., 2014). Another factor contributing to the growth of the urgent care centers include the ready funding particularly from the equity borrowers (Eng, 1997). Besides, the growth of urgent care centers is expected to continue in the next two years due expanded health coverage due to the implementation of affordable care act. The implementation of the act will enable health services be affordable to million Americans. Studies indicate majority of Americans have no regular doctors. As such, they opt for urgent care centers for immediate attention for simple ailments (Betancourt Weinick, 2007). The growth opportunities for urgent care centers have attracted funding particularly from equity borrowers that tend to be privy of risk taking (Eng, 1997). Essentially, affordability is one of the major factors that contribute to increased growth of urgent care centers. While prices might seem to be the same with hospitals emergency rooms, a visit to urgent care centers may save the patient two times less compared to visiting hospital emergency rooms (Mehrotra, 2009). Studies indicate that twenty percent of medical cases in hospital emergency rooms can be treated in urgent care centers. The effect in terms of cost saving is huge. In other words, treatments in urgent care centers would result in an estimated savings of over $4 billion a nnually. The low-cost strategy has prompted insurance providers to opt for urgent care centers in their provider networks. Moreover, most of the hospitals have added urgent care centers in their services due to increased consumer demand. Besides cost, the selling efficiency is another factor. In fact, most of the patients prefer efficient and affordable services. Efficient offering of services is a critical success factor in urgent care centers (Mehrotra, 2009). In fact, saving time is critical selling point in urgent care centers. For instance, in most of the urgent care centers admission and discharge within an hour remain a priority goal. In addition, patient waiting monitoring systems in urgent care centers ensure that patient does not take more than an hour in the waiting room. Research Methodology and Design Introduction The research study will be qualitative conducted to establish factors that contribute to the rapid growth of urgent care centers. The data will be collected f rom both primary and secondary sources. In other words, the study will utilize secondary data sources such as related journal articles from electronic database and library. However, the study will basically utilize primary data collected through interviews and surveys. The empirical data will be collected through the application of specified number of participants. In addition, the number of participants will be limited to 10 respondents that will be chosen through simple random sampling procedures. Design and Statistical Procedures As indicated, the study will primarily utilize the qualitative methods of data collection majorly surveys and interviews. The methods of data collection are chosen due to their effectiveness of reaching out to the respondents and the quality of the obtained data (Bazeley, 2002). Moreover, the data will be gathered from respondents selected through random sampling procedures. Besides, in terms of data analysis, integrated statistical analysis tools includ ing Microsoft office applications and statistical software will be applied (Patton, 2002). The analyzed data will be presented through the application of line graphs, tables as well as statistical bar charts. Further, the methods of data collection are chosen due to the reliability and validity of the obtained results (Bazeley, 2002). On the other hand, the study will utilize secondary data sources such as related journal articles from electronic database and library. The secondary information will be subjected to content analysis in order to provide an insight on the study subject. Sampling Procedures The study focuses on the contributing factors to the rapid growth of urgent care centers. Therefore, doctors working in urgent care centers, physicians and City MD urgent care center employees as well as patients are deemed viable for the study. However, only a small number of participants including five patients and five employees or staff will be selected through random sampling pro cedures (Trochim, 2006). In addition, other personal attributes including gender, age, experience and academic qualifications will also be taken into consideration. From the total number of patients and staff that may be sampled, just 10 participants from City MD will be selected via a technique dubbed as convenience simple random sampling strategy (Trochim, 2006). The interviews as well as a survey will be conducted to help in addressing the formulated research questions. Data Collection Procedures As one of the most important studies in health care system, the information will be collected through administering properly designed survey questionnaires as well as conducting well-structured in-depth interviews to unbiased selected participants (Patton, 2002). The soundly designed survey and interview questionnaires will be administered to 10 participants constituting five patients and five employees. Each part of the questionnaires will constitute key items that suitably attend to th e research questions. In addition, data collected through secondary sources will provide insight on the dynamics and operations of the urgent care centers. In other words, the study will utilize secondary data sources such as related journal articles from electronic database and library that will provide an insight on the study topic. Proposed Data Analysis To obtain the best correlation approximation values, the study quantitative data analysis will be carried out by utilizing the integrated Statistical Analysis Tool (WISAT). The quantitative data, which form the bulk of information, will be analyzed through the application of various techniques including statistical analytical software such as the SPSS to come up with measures such as percentages, frequency distribution and deviations to help in the understanding of the type of correlation between the variables (Patton, 2002). The techniques will be used to determine the research respondents’ proportions that chose various responses. The method will be applied for each group of items available in the questionnaire that ideally corresponds to the formulated research question and objectives. Line graphs, tables as well as statistical bar charts will be used to make sure that quantitative data analysis is simply comprehensible. Besides, the secondary data will be subjected to content analysis in order to provide an insight on the subject of study. References Bazeley, P. (2002). Computerised data analysis for mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Betancourt, R. M. Weinick, R. M. (2007). No appointment needed the resurgence of urgent care centers in the United States. Oakland, CA: California HealthCare Foundation. Eng, S. (1997). Workplace diversity means commitment, persistence. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.proxy.davenport.edu/docview/255503278?accountid=40195 Fields, G. Dorren, C. J. (2013). Doctor shortage: for the mentally ill, finding treatment grows harder. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.proxy.davenport.edu/docview/1469987574/BAFAC864F0904305PQ/2?accountid=40195 Galewitz, P. (2012). Urgent care centers are booming, which worries some doctors. Retrieved from: kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2012/september/18/urgent-care-centers.aspx Japsen, B. (2013). A boom in urgent care centers as entitlement cuts loom. Retrieved from: forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2013/03/11/a-boom-in-urgent-care-centers-as-entitlement-cuts-loom/ Landen, R. (2013). Study says urgent-care centers filling void. Retrieved from modernhealthcare.com/article/20130711/MODERNPHYSICIAN/307119974# Lowes, R. (2013). Urgent care centers divert patients from PCPs, EDs alike. Retrieved from: medscape.com/viewarticle/807775 McQueen, M. P. (2011). Health costs: centers for urgent care. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.proxy.davenport.edu/docview/858775249/4B4A842B0BE34061PQ/2?accountid=40195 Mehrotra, A. (2009). Comparing costs and quality of care at retail clinics with that of o ther medical settings for three common illnesses. Annals of Internal Medicine, 151(5), 87-95. O’Malley, A. S. (2013). After-hours access to primary care practices linked with lower emergency department use and less unmet medical need,† Health Affairs, 32(1), 231-237. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Petterson, S. M. (2012). Projecting U.S. primary care physician workforce needs 2010-2025. Annals of Family Medicine, 10(6), 201-209. Yee, T., Lechner, A. E., Boukus, E. R. (2013). The surge in urgent care centers: emergency department alternative or costly convenience? Retrieved from: hschange.com/CONTENT/1366/ Trochim, W. (2006). The research methods knowledge base. Cincinnati, OH: Atomic Dog Publishing. Turner, T. D. (2013). Theres no urgent in an urgent care. Retrieved from: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-17/news/ct-x-0717-trice-column-20130717_1_emergency-room-emergency-care-urgent-care-association W einick, R. M., Burns, R. M., Mehrotra, A. (2014). Many emergency department visits could be managed at urgent care centers and retail clinics. Health Affairs, 29(9), 344-351.

Adaptation & Accountability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Adaptation & Accountability - Essay Example data, but as far as the number of healthcare organizations in private sector grows faster than that of public sector, they become the leaders of the technological revolution. ‘The new health care delivery organizations should save money by concentrating their purchasing power, enforcing strict cost controls, and implementing programs to standardize medical practices’. (Laubach, 1997) The Duke University Medical Center needed a modern database to track the free space information, as it includes three different hospitals and several laboratories, and thus having correct space information is the key element of the robust healthcare delivery. ‘We considered how we could reconcile our databases with that of Accounting’s System, which include supporting the indirect cost recovery studies, with the daily business of the Medical Center.’ (Graf, 1998) The absence of a good database in any healthcare organization might even indirectly lead to its closing, and much has already been said about it. Any organization needs the ability to adapt to the changing environment, as it is always influenced by the limited resources and increasing competition. (Laubach, 1997) Only a few organizations are able to develop a strong plan of adaptation through looking for opportunities of modernizing their techniques and making marketing strategies work effectively. Duke Medical System was mainly concentrated on the issue of information technologies, and at present time there is no argument, that information technologies play major role in any business activity. Duke Medical Center was able to provide the system of interactive planning, which implies, that the company’s activity is aimed at inner adaptation together with the adaptation to the external environment. This healthcare organization does not ground its activity on the intuition of its financial and administrative managers, which had lead many companies towards their closing. The present strategy of Duke is created

Competitive analysis and recommendation Research Paper

Competitive analysis and recommendation - Research Paper Example According to the analysis made on the new profitable attraction of â€Å"Despicable Me† ride, it was the latest piece the Universal Studios’ $1.6 billion expansion, which grossed about $1.5 billion.  In other words, the park doubled down as a theme park to rival Disneyland. In fact, Universal Studio Hollywood’s management did this with the aim of luring more visitors by emphasizing on children who are the major revenue contributors in this business. After its success, Universal Studio even increased its competitive potential after an announcement that it is going to use â€Å"Fast and Furious† movie for the new ride in the end of this summer. In this context, the addition of new services and experience in the park will significantly boost the revenue collected and the number of attendees. Morris (2014) validates this statement by saying the introduction of Harry Potter helped Universal Studio’s adventure theme park realize 75% attendance increase in 2011. It translated to 75 percent increase in the park`s total revenue for that period. Similarly, introduction of the minions generated more than $600 million in box office revenue for the company. In the given circumstances, Universal Studio has growing ambition and is expecting to draw 50 million visitors by 2020, which is about 18.5% increase comparing to 42.2 million visitors in 2014 (Martin, 2014). With proposed overhaul of the swaths of the park this year, the Universal Studio Hollywood is destined for greater things; therefore; it can be a major force and competitor in the business. Another competitive advantage of Universal Studio is pricing policy for the new attendants. In general, the context of increasing profits in the business of these two competitors also relies on the increase of price tickets. However, the first entry prices are different. In fact, Disneyland currently

The Definition of Art Essay Example for Free

The Definition of Art Essay Art, like most things, is in the eye of the beholder. It can be everything, but it can also be nothing depending on the status of the artist. Life is made up of art and artistic values, and the unfortunate thing about it is that hardly anyone will notice. Art itself is the purest form of expression, and it can be expressed in three different ways: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Physical art is art that can be measured by one of the five senses, typically sight, and is created by hand. This usually consists of sculptures, paintings, interpretive dances, songs, or anything else conjured up by a person’s imagination. Physical art is the most anticipated and predictable form of art and can be seen virtually anywhere. The architecture of a building, the color scheme of a business ad, and even vehicles themselves can be considered a physical art. Already, at the early times of childhood, art is used as an imaginative release. For example, the structures children make up of legos and wooden blocks, or the paintings they brush onto a canvas or the wall, can be considered art. It is debatable whether or not it can be deemed good art, but it is art nonetheless. All mundane objects weren’t always objects; at one time, each object was a mere fantasy or thought that had eventually become a dream come true. In simpler terms, physical art is an idea expressed into the realm of reality for all to ponder, see, understand, and enjoy. Emotional art is another common form of artistry yet is widely overlooked. Unlike physical art, emotional art is art expressed from all creatures but is only shared through connections of the heart. Emotional art is the way a man paces back and forth, deliberating the perfect arrangement of words to express his undying love for a woman dear to him; it is the way a mother rocks her newborn child to sleep on the first day home from the hospital; it is the way an elderly man wails for one last chance to experience and cherish his expired wife’s existence; it is the way the human mind throws down all shielded walls and leaves itself completely vulnerable for some other mind to come and adventure through life with it. Emotional art is usually the kick-start to physical art. It inspires and drives the human head and heart to take the extreme rush of emotion it felt and record it.  Without emotional art, physical art wouldn’t deserve the title of â€Å"art.† Everything would be ordinary, indifferent, and bland. Though it can be argued that buildings and cars come from a logical stand point rather than an emotional one, a person must remember that whoever visualized the idea in the first place felt excited to share that said idea and probably even felt the most outstanding form of accomplishment and pride from it. Spiritual art can almost go hand in hand with emotional art for the fact that it is a stage of expression that can possibly inspire the creation of physical art because it is the beginning emotion felt. However, unlike emotional art, spiritual art is emotion felt from within rather than emotion shared. Spiritual art is a sculpting of spirit and character. Many of these sculpting attributes include meditation, yoga, faith in a certain religion, and anything else that can help a person become virtuous in a sense. Sculpting the spirit however does not always mean that it must be sculpted in an â€Å"ideal†, purifying way. A person with set intentions, whether those intentions be good or bad, can develop themselves into their own desired creation. Ideal perfection and artistry of the body, soul, and mind, like stated before, is in the eye of the beholder. Physical pieces of art that can be influenced by artistic spirituality can range from the public churches to in-home shrines. Along with emotional art, spiritual art is greatly overlooked and is barely even recognized. Art lurks in a wide diversity of different forms. Anything around a person, anything felt by a person, anything practiced by a person is art. A common misconception is that art is only what thrives behind the walls of expensive theaters and high-end museums, or that art is only what’s written or drawn on canvas. Art is anything and everything a person wants it to be; it could even be nothing too- the art of solitude. All three major subjects of art need not to be overlooked any longer but taken into consideration. These subjects show that art is life. With that being said, maybe people will finally be able to appreciate and understand the masterpiece that is life.

Beginning Life of Walt Disney :: essays research papers

The Beginning Life of Walt Disney   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walt was born in Chicago and with his family moved to Missouri in 1960 on to a farm. He started drawing animals on the farm here. When he was 18 he had his first cartooning job. Walt started cartooning by drawing non-moving cartoons for companies at the Pesman-Rubin Commercial Art Studio. There, Walt met Ubbe(later to be shortened to Ub) Iwerks. Ub taught Walt how to make drawings look more professional. They had only been hired to Pesman-Rubin because of the Christmas rush, so soon afterward; they were both let go. Then, Walt suggested one day that they, Walt and Ub, should make their own Art studio. Ub agreed because he needed money to help his family. They named their firm Iwerks-Disney. Their first office belonged to their first client who traded rent for artwork. Their Business did very well. They did so well; they could afford a bigger office. Walt saw an ad for a cartoonist for the Kansas City film Ad Company in the newspaper in the spring of 1920. This com pany produced short cartoons for local businesses. Both liked cartooning, and became interested in the filmed cartoons appearing in theaters. So the Kansas City Film Ad Company opening seemed like the perfect chance to learn about cartooning for them. Walt would go apply for the job and attempt to convince the company that they need two cartoonists for the job, in hope that Ub would get a job as well. Unfortunately the job was only offered to Walt alone. The job offered 40 dollars a week, which was more money a week then Walt and Ub had dreamed of. Ub told Walt to take the job and he would continue on with Iwerks- Disney alone. After working a while with working at the Kansas City Ad Company, Walt and his employers found him falling behind, Walt found he needed help so he asked Ub Iwerks. This time Walt's persuading worked and Ub was hired. The Iwerks-Disney business was no longer needed. During all this time, Walt was living with his brother, Roy, and Roy's fiancee. However, doctor s found Roy's health worsening and was assigned to a veterans hospital in New Mexico because he was a veteran of World War 1.

Max Ernst: life and work Essay

Max Ernst biography Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Max Ernst was a German born painter. He was born in Brà ¼hl in 1891, near Cologne and was the third-born of nine children middle-class Catholic family. Philipp was his father and he also was an amateur painter and a teacher of the deaf. More so, he was a devout Christian who was a strict disciplinarian. His interest in sketching and painting greatly inspired Ernst in taking up painting. At the University of Bonn, Ernst began studying philosophy in 1909, although he became highly preoccupied with self taught painting. In 1919, he produced his first collages famously known as Fiat, a mode which was a lithographs portfolio. Also in the same year, Max together with Johannes Theodor Baargeld who was a social activist and other colleges founded the Cologne Dada group. In 1919 to 1920, Max and Johannes published some magazines like Die Schmmade and Der Strom and also organized Dada exhibitions. In this period also he made paintings with irration al imagery combinations. His first one- man exhibition was made in Paris at the Galerie Au San Pareil in 1921. In 1922, he relocated to Paris. Here, his friendship with Eluard and Breton led to his active participation in the surrealist movement. As he constantly experimented, in 1925 Max came up with a graphic technique known as the Frottage which used pencil rubbings as a source of images. This technique provided him with a means of bringing hallucinatory visions. In this year he also brought up a technique known as Grattage, where paint is scraped across canvas so as to show up imprints of objects placed beneath and used it in his very famous paintings; Dove and Forest. In the year, 1934, he made his first sculpture, went to USA in 1941 as a refugee and helped in the inspiration of Abstract expressionism. In 1948 he wrote the treatise, beyond painting which helped him regain his financial success. From 1950 he lived in France where he publiced a catalogue of his work. In 1966 he made a glass chess and named it â€Å"Immortel†. In 1954, he was awarded the major painting prize. Max Ernst died in Paris in the year 1976. References Werner Spies & Sabine Rewald (eds.), Max Ernst: A Retrospective. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art / New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005. Catalogue of exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: Max Ernst: a retrospective John Russell. Max Ernst: life and work (New York, H.N. Abrams, 1967) Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery’s Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.204 Source document

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 4~7

4 Pinnacle of the Pink Pyramid A low buzz of anticipation ran through the halls of the hospital. Reporters checked the batteries in their microrecorders and cell phones. Orderlies and nurses lingered in the hallways in hope of getting a glimpse of the celebrity. The FAA men straightened their ties and shot their cuffs. One receptionist in administration, who was only two distributorships away from earning her own pink Oldsmobile, ducked into an examining room and sucked lungfuls of oxygen to chase the dizziness that comes from meeting one's Messiah. Mary Jean was coming. Mary Jean Dobbins did not travel with an entourage, bodyguards, or any other of the decorative leeches commonly attached to the power-wielding rich. â€Å"God is my bodyguard,† Mary Jean would say. She carried a .38-caliber gold-plated Lady Smith automatic in her bag: the Clara Barton Commemorative Model, presented to her by the Daughters of the Confederacy at their annual â€Å"Let's Lynch Leroy† pecan pie bake-off, held every Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (She didn't agree with their politics, but the belles could sure sell some makeup. If the South did not rise again, it wouldn't be for lack of foundation.) Today, as Mary Jean came through the doors of the main lobby, she was flanked by a tall predatory woman in a black business suit – a severe con-trast to Mary Jean's soft pastel blue ensemble with matching bag and pumps. â€Å"Strength and femininity are not exclusive, ladies.† She was sixty-five; matronly but elegant. Her makeup was perfect, but not overdone. She wore a sapphire-and-diamond pin whose value approximated the gross national product of Zaire. She greeted every orderly and nurse with a smile, asked after their families, thanked them for their compassionate work, flirted when appropriate, and tossed compliments over her shoulder as she passed, without ever missing a step. She left a wake of acutely charmed fans, even among the cynical and stubborn. Outside Tucker's room the predatory woman – a lawyer – broke formation and confronted the maggotry of reporters, allowing Mary Jean to slip past. She poked her head inside. â€Å"You awake, slugger?† Tuck was startled by her voice, yanked out of his redundant reverie of unemployment, imprisonment, and impotence. He wanted to pull the sheets over his head and quietly die. â€Å"Mary Jean.† The makeup magnate moved to his bedside and took his hand, all compassion and caring. â€Å"How are you feeling?† Tucker looked away from her. â€Å"I'm okay.† â€Å"Do you need anything? I'll have it here in a Texas jiffy.† â€Å"I'm fine,† Tucker said. She always made him feel like he'd just struck out in his first Little League game and she was consoling him with milk and cookies. The fact that he'd once tried to seduce her doubled the humi-liation. â€Å"Jake told me that you're having me moved to Houston. Thank you.† â€Å"I have to keep an eye on you, don't I?† She patted his hand. â€Å"You sure you're feeling well enough for a talk?† Tucker nodded. He wasn't buying the outpouring of warm fuzzies she was selling. He'd seen her doing business on the plane. â€Å"That's good, honey,† Mary Jean said, rising and looking around the room for the first time. â€Å"I'll have some flowers sent up. A touch of color will brighten things up, won't it? Something fragrant too. The constant smell of disinfectant must be disturbing.† â€Å"A little,† Tuck said. She wheeled on her heel and looked at him. Her smile went hard. Tuck saw wrinkles around her mouth for the first time. â€Å"Probably reminds you of what a total fuckup you are, doesn't it?† Tucker gulped. She'd faked him out of his shoes. â€Å"I'm sorry, Mary Jean. I'm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She raised a hand and he shut up. â€Å"You know I don't like to use profanity or firearms, so please don't push me, Tucker. A lady controls her anger.† â€Å"Firearms?† Mary Jean pulled the Lady Smith automatic out of her purse and leveled it at Tucker's bandaged crotch. Strangely, he noticed that Mary Jean had chipped a nail drawing the gun and for that, he realized, she really might kill him. â€Å"You didn't listen to me when I told you to stop drinking. You didn't listen when I told you to stay away from my representatives. You didn't listen when I told you that if you were going to amount to anything, you had to give your life to God. You'd better damn well listen now.† She racked the slide on the automatic. â€Å"Are you listening?† Tuck nodded. He didn't breathe, but he nodded. â€Å"Good. I have run this company for forty years without a hint of scandal until now. I woke up yesterday to see my face next to yours on all the morning news shows. Today it's on the cover of every newspaper and tabloid in the country. A bad picture, Tucker. My suit was out of season. And every article uses the words ‘penis' and ‘prostitute' over and over. I can't have that. I've worked too hard for that.† She reached out and tugged on his catheter. Pain shot though his body and he reached for the ringer for the nurse. â€Å"Don't even think about it, pretty boy. I just wanted to make sure I had your attention.† â€Å"The gun pretty much did it, Mary Jean,† Tucker groaned. Fuck it, he was a dead man anyway. â€Å"Don't you speak to me. Just listen. This is going to disappear. You are going to disappear. You're getting out of here tomorrow and then you're going to a cabin I have up in the Rockies. You won't go home, you won't speak to any reporters, you won't say doodly squat. My lawyers will handle the legal aspects and keep you out of jail, but you will never surface again. When this blows over, you can go on with your pathetic life. But with a new name. And if you ever set foot in the state of Texas or come within a hundred yards of anyone involved in my company, I will personally shoot you dead. Do you understand?† â€Å"Can I still fly?† Mary Jean laughed and lowered the gun. â€Å"Sweetie, to a Texas way a thinkin' the only way you coulda screwed up worse is if you'd throwed a kid down a well after fessing up to being on the grassy knoll stompin' yellow roses in between shootin' the President. You ain't gonna fly, drive, walk, crawl, or spit if I have anything to say about it.† She put the gun in her purse and went into the tiny bathroom to check her makeup. A quick primping and she headed for the door. â€Å"I'll send up some flowers. Y'all heal up now, honey.† She wasn't going to kill him after all. Maybe he could win her back. â€Å"Mary Jean, I think I had a spiritual experience.† â€Å"I don't want to hear about any of your degenerate activities.† â€Å"No, a real spiritual experience. Like a – what do you call it? – an epiphany?† â€Å"Son, you don't know it, but you're as close to seeing the Lord as you've ever been in your life. Now you hush before I send you to perdition.† She put on her best beatific smile and left the room radiating the power of positive thinking. Tucker pulled the covers over his head and reached for the flask Jake had left. Perdition, huh? She made it sound bad. Must be in Oklahoma. 5 Our Lady of the Fishnet Stockings The High Priestess of the Shark People ate Chee-tos and watched afternoon talk shows over the satellite feed. She sat in a wicker emperor's chair. A red patent leather pump dangled from one toe. Red lipstick, red nails, a big red bow in her hair. But for a pair of silk seamed stockings, she was naked. On the screen: Meadow Malackovitch, in a neck brace, sobbed on her lawyer's shoulder – a snapshot of the pilot who had traumatized her was inset in the upper-right-hand corner. The host, a failed weatherman who now made seven figures mining trailer parks for atrocities, was reading the dubious rsum of Tucker Case. Shots of the pink jet, before and after. Stock footage of Mary Jean on an airfield tarmac, followed by Case in a leather jacket. The High Priestess touched herself lightly, leaving a faint orange stripe of Chee-to spoor on her pubes (she was a natural blonde), then keyed the intercom that connected her to the Sorcerer. â€Å"What?† came the man's voice, weary but awake. It was 2:00 A.M. The Sorcerer had been working all night. â€Å"I think we've found our pilot,† she said. 6 Who's Flying This Life? At the last minute Mary Jean changed her mind about sending Tucker Case to her cabin in the mountains. â€Å"Put him in a motel room outside of town and don't let him out until I say so.† In two weeks Tucker had seen only the nurse who came in to change his bandages and the guard. Actually, the guard was a tackle, second-string defense from SMU, six-foot-six, two hundred and seventy pounds of earnest Christian na;vet named Dusty Lemon. Tucker was lying on the bed watching television. Dusty sat hunched over the wood-grain Formica table reading Scripture. Tucker said, â€Å"Dusty, why don't you go get us a six-pack and a pizza?† Dusty didn't look up. Tuck could see the shine of his scalp through his crew cut. A thick Texas drawl: â€Å"No, sir. I don't drink and Mrs. Jean said that you wasn't to have no alcohol.† â€Å"It's not Mrs. Jean, you doofus. It's Mrs. Dobbins.† After two weeks, Dusty was beginning to get on Tuck's nerves. â€Å"Just the same,† Dusty said. â€Å"I can call for a pizza for you, but no beer.† Tuck detected a blush though the crew cut. â€Å"Dusty?† â€Å"Yes sir.† The tackle looked up from his Bible, waited. â€Å"Get a real name.† â€Å"Yes, sir,† Dusty said, a giant grin bisecting his moon face, â€Å"Tuck.† Tucker wanted to leap off the bed and cuff Dusty with his Bible, but he was a long way from being able to leap anywhere. Instead, he looked at the ceiling for a second (it was highway safety orange, like the walls, the doors, the tile in the bathroom), then propped himself up on one elbow and considered Dusty's Bible. â€Å"The red type. That the hot parts?† â€Å"The words of Jesus,† Dusty said, not looking up. â€Å"Really?† Dusty nodded, looked up. â€Å"Would you like me to read to you? When my grandma was in the hospital, she liked me to read Scriptures to her.† Tucker fell back with an exasperated sigh. He didn't understand religion. It was like heroin or golf: He knew a lot of people did it, but he didn't un-derstand why. His father watched sports every Sunday, and his mother had worked in real estate. He grew up thinking that church was something that simply interfered with games and weekend open houses. His first ex-posure to religion, other than the skin mag layouts of the women who had brought down television evangelists, had been his job with Mary Jean. For her it just seemed like good business. Sometimes he would stand in the back of the auditorium and listen to her talk to a thousand women about having God on their sales team, and they would cheer and â€Å"Hallelujah!† and he would feel as if he'd been left out of something – something beyond the apparent goofiness of it all. Maybe Dusty had something on him besides a hundred pounds. â€Å"Dusty, why don't you go out tonight? You haven't been out in two weeks. I have to be here, but you – you must have a whole line of babes crying to get you back, huh? Big football player like you, huh?† Dusty blushed again, going deep red from the collar of his practice jersey to the top of his head. He folded his hands and looked at them in his lap. â€Å"Well, I'm sorta waitin' for the right girl to come along. A lot of the girls that go after us football players, you know, they're kinda loose.† Tuck raised an eyebrow. â€Å"And?† Dusty squirmed, his chair creaked under the strain. â€Å"Well, you know, it's kinda†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And suddenly, amid the stammering, Tucker got it. The kid was a virgin. He raised his hand to quiet the boy. â€Å"Never mind, Dusty.† The big tackle slumped in his chair, exhausted and embarrassed. Tuck considered it. He, who understood so much the importance of a healthy sex life, who knew what women needed and how to give it to them, might never be able to do it again, and Dusty Lemon, who probably could produce a woody that women could chin themselves on, wasn't using it at all. He pondered it. He worked it over from several angles and came very close to having a religious experience, for who but a vicious and vengeful God would allow such injustice in the world? He thought about it. Poor Tucker. Poor Dusty. Poor, poor Tucker. He felt a lump forming in his throat. He wanted to say something that would make the kid feel better. â€Å"How old are you, Dusty?† â€Å"I'll be twenty-two next March, sir?† â€Å"Well, that's not so bad. I mean, you might be a late bloomer, you know. Or gay maybe,† Tuck said cheerfully. Dusty started to contract into the fetal position. â€Å"Sir, I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind,† he whimpered. There was a knock on the door and he uncurled, alert and ready to move. He looked to Tucker for instructions. â€Å"Well, answer it.† Dusty lumbered to the door and pulled it open a crack. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"I'm here to see Tucker Case. It's okay, I work for Mary Jean.† Tuck recognized Jake Skye's voice. â€Å"Just a second.† Dusty turned and looked to Tucker, confused. â€Å"Who knows we're here, Dusty?† â€Å"Just us and Mrs. Jean.† â€Å"Then why don't you let him in?† â€Å"Yes, sir.† He opened the door and Jake Skye strode through carrying a grocery bag and a pizza box. â€Å"Greetings.† He threw the pizza on the bed. â€Å"Pepperoni and mushroom.† He glanced at Dusty and paused, taking a moment to look the tackle up and down. â€Å"How'd you get this job? Eat your family?† â€Å"No, sir,† Dusty said. Jake patted the tackle's mammoth shoulder. â€Å"Good to be careful, I guess. Momma always said, ‘Beware of geeks bearing gifts.' Who are you?† â€Å"Jake Skye,† Tuck said, â€Å"meet Dusty Lemon. Dusty, Jake Skye, Mary Jean's jet mechanic. Be nice to Dusty, Jake, He's a virgin.† Dusty shot a vicious glare at Tuck and extended a boxing glove size mitt. Jake shook his hand. â€Å"Virgin, huh?† Jake dropped his hand. â€Å"Not including farm animals, though, right?† Dusty winced and moved to close the door. â€Å"You-all can't stay long. Mr. Case isn't supposed to see no one.† Jake put the grocery bag down on the table, pulled out a fourinch-thick bundle of mail, and tossed it on the bed next to Tucker. â€Å"Your fan mail.† Tucker picked it up. â€Å"It's all been opened.† â€Å"I was bored,† Jake said, opening the pizza box and extracting a slice. â€Å"A lot of death threats, a few marriage proposals, a couple really interesting ones had both. Oh, and an airline ticket to someplace I've never heard of with a check for expenses.† â€Å"From Mary Jean?† â€Å"Nope. Some missionary doctor in the Pacific. He wants you to fly for him. Medical supplies or something. Came FedEx yesterday. Almost took the job myself, seeing as I still have my pilot's license and you don't, but then, I can get a job here.† Tucker shuffled through the stack of mail until he found the check and the airline ticket. He unfolded the attached letter. Jake held the pizza box out to the bodyguard. â€Å"Dopey, you want some pizza?† â€Å"Dusty,† Dusty corrected. â€Å"Whatever.† To Tuck: â€Å"He wants you to leave ASAP.† â€Å"He can't go anywhere,† said Dusty. Jake retracted the box. â€Å"I can see that, Dingy. He's still wired for sound.† Jake gestured toward the catheter that snaked out of Tucker's pajama bottoms. â€Å"How long before you can travel?† Tucker was studying the letter. It certainly seemed legitimate. The doctor was on a remote island north of New Guinea, and he needed someone to fly jet loads of medical supplies to the natives. He specifically mentioned that â€Å"he was not concerned† about Tucker's lack of a pilot's license. The â€Å"need was dire† and the need was for an experienced jet pilot who could fly a Lear 45. â€Å"Well,† Jake said, â€Å"when can you roll?† â€Å"Doctor says not for a week or so,† Tucker said. â€Å"I don't get it. This guy is offering more money than I make for Mary Jean. Why me?† Jake pulled a Lone Star from the grocery bag and twisted off the cap. Tuck zeroed in on the beer. Dusty snatched it out of Jake's hand. â€Å"The question is,† Jake said, glaring at Dusty, â€Å"what the fuck is a missionary doctor in Bongo Bongo land doing with a Lear 45?† â€Å"God's work?† Dusty said innocently. Jake snatched back his beer. â€Å"Oh blow me, Huey.† â€Å"Dusty,† Dusty corrected. Tucker said, â€Å"I'm not sure this is a good idea. Maybe I should stay here and see how things pan out with the FAA. This guy wants me right away. I need more time.† â€Å"Like more time will make a difference. Damn, Tucker, you don't have to sink eyeball deep in shit to know it's a good idea to pull yourself out. Sometimes you have to make a decision.† Tucker looked at the letter again. â€Å"But I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Before Tucker could finish his protest, Jake brought the Lone Star in a screaming arc across Dusty Lemon's temple. The bodyguard fell like a dead tree and did a dead-cat bounce on the orange carpet. â€Å"Jesus!† Tucker said. â€Å"What the fuck was that?† â€Å"A decision,† Jake said. He looked up from the fallen tackle and took a pull on the foaming Lone Star. â€Å"Sometimes this high-tech world calls for low-tech solutions. Let's go.† 7 Travel Tips â€Å"I can't believe you hit him,† Tucker said. He was in the passenger seat of Jake Skye's camouflaged Land Rover. It was much more car than was re-quired for the Houston expressway, but Jake was into equipment overkill. Everything he owned was Kevlar, GorTex, Polarfleece, titanium alloy, graphite-polymer composite, or of â€Å"expedition quality.† He liked machines, understood how they worked, and could fix them if they didn't. Sometimes he spoke in an incomprehensible alphabet soup of SRAM, DRAM, FOR-TRAN, LORAN, SIMMS, SAMS, and ROM. Tuck, on the other hand, knew most of the words to â€Å"Mommas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys† and could restore burned toast to new by scraping off the black stuff. Of the two, Jake was the cool one. Tucker had always found being cool a little elusive. As Jake put it, â€Å"You've got the look, but you can't walk the walk or talk the talk. Tucker, you are a hopeless geek trapped in a cool guy's body, but out of the goodness of my heart, I will take you on as my student.† They'd been friends for four years. Jake had taught Tuck to fly. â€Å"He'll be fine. He's a jock,† Jake shouted over the buffeting wind. He hadn't bought a top for the Land Rover, opting instead for the Outback package with the â€Å"patented rhinoceros poking platform.† â€Å"He was just a kid. He was reading the Bible.† â€Å"He would have ripped my arms off if I'd let him.† Tuck nodded. That was probably true. â€Å"Where are we going?† â€Å"The airport. Everything you need is in that pack in the back.† Tucker looked into the back of the Rover. There was a large backpack. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because if I don't get you out of the country right now, you're going to jail.† â€Å"Mary Jean said she had that handled. Said her lawyers were on it.† â€Å"Right, and I go around smacking kids with beer bottles for recreation. The hooker filed a civil suit this morning. Twenty million. Mary Jean has to throw you to the wolves to save her own ass. She has to let the court prove that you fucked up all on your own. I grabbed your passport and some clothes when I got your mail.† â€Å"Jake, I can't just take off like this. I'm supposed to see a doctor tomorrow.† â€Å"For what?† Tuck pointed to the lump of bandages in his lap. â€Å"What do you think? He's supposed to take this damn tube out of me.† â€Å"We'll do it in the bathroom at the airport. There's some antibiotics in the first-aid kit in the pack. I confirmed you for a flight to Honolulu that leaves in an hour. From there you go to Guam, then to someplace called Truk. That's where this doctor is supposed to meet you. I've got it all written down. There was an e-mail address at the bottom of the letter. I sent him a message to expect you tomorrow.† â€Å"But my car, my apartment, my stuff.† â€Å"Your apartment is a pit and I put your stuff worth keeping in a ministorage. I've got the pink slip for your Camaro. Sign it over to me. I'll sell it and send you the money.† â€Å"You were pretty fucking sure I'd want to do this.† â€Å"What choice do you have?† Jake parked the Land Rover in short-term parking, shouldered the pack, and led Tucker into the international terminal. They checked the pack and found a rest room near Tucker's departure gate. â€Å"I can do this myself,† Tucker said. Jake Skye was peering over the door into the stall where Tucker was preparing to remove his bandages and, finally, the catheter. A line of businessmen washed their hands at a line of lavatories while trying not to notice what was going on behind them in the stall. â€Å"Just yank it,† Jake Skye said. â€Å"Give me a minute. I think they tied a knot inside it.† â€Å"Don't be a wuss, Tucker. Yank it.† The businessmen at the sinks exchanged raised eyebrows and one by one broke for the rest room door. Jake said, â€Å"I'm going to give you to five, then I'm coming over the stall and yanking it for you. One, two†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A rodeo cowboy at the urinals hitched up his Wranglers, pulled his hat down, and made a bowlegged beeline for the door to get on a plane to someplace where this sort of thing didn't happen. â€Å"Five!† Security guards rushed through the terminal toward the screaming. Someone was being murdered in the men's room and they were responsible. They burst into the rest room with guns drawn. Jake Skye was coiling up some tubing by the sinks. There was whimpering coming from one of the stalls. â€Å"Everything's fine, officers,† Jake said. â€Å"My friend's a little upset. He just found out that his mother died.† â€Å"My mother's not dead!† Tucker said from the stall. â€Å"He's in denial,† Jake whispered to the guards. â€Å"Here, you better takes this.† He handed the tubing to one of the guards. â€Å"We don't want him hanging himself in grief.† Ten minutes later, after condolences from the security staff, they sat in the departure lounge drinking gin and tonics, waiting for Tuck's boarding call. Around them, a score of men and women in suits fired out phone calls on cell phones while twenty more performed an impromptu dog pile at the bar, trying to occupy the minuscule smoking area. Jake Skye was cataloging the contents of the pack he'd given to Tuck. Tucker wasn't listening. He was overwhelmed with the speed with which his life had gone to shit, and he was desperately trying to sort it out. Jake's voice was lost like kazoo sounds in a wind tunnel. Jake droned, â€Å"The stove will run on anything: diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, even vodka. There's a mask, fins, and snorkel, and a couple of waterproof flashlights.† The job with Mary Jean had been perfect. A different city every few days, nice hotels, an expense account, and literally thousands of earnest Mary Jean ladies to indulge him. And they did, one or two at each convention. Inspired by Mary Jean's speeches on self-determination, motivation, and how they too could be a winner, they sought Tucker out to have their one adventurous affair with a jet pilot. And because no matter how many times it happened, he was always somewhat surprised by their advances, Tucker played a part. He behaved like a man torn from the cover of some steamy romance novel: the charming rogue, the passionate pirate who would, come morning, take his ship to sea for God, Queen, and Country. Of course, usually, sometime before morning, the women would realize that under the smooth, gin-painted exterior was a guy who sniffed his shorts to check their wearability. But for a moment, for them and for him, he had been cool. Sleazy, but cool. When the sleaze got to him, he needed only to suck a few hits of oxygen from the cabin cylinder to chase the hangover, then pull the pink jet into the sky to convince himself he was a professional, competent and in control. At altitude he turned it all over to the autopilot. But now he couldn't seduce anyone or allow himself to be seduced, and he wasn't sure he could fly. The crash had juiced him of his confidence. It wasn't the impact or even the injuries. It was that last moment, when the guy, or the angel, or whatever it was appeared in the copilot's seat. â€Å"You ever think about God?† Tucker asked Jake. Jake Skye's face went dead with incomprehension. â€Å"You're going to need to know about this stuff if you get into trouble. Kinda like checking the fuel gauges – if you know what I mean.† Tucker winced. â€Å"Look, I heard every word you said. This seemed important all of a sudden, you know?† â€Å"Well, in that case, Tuck, yes, I do think about God sometimes. When I'm with a really hot babe, and we're going at it like sweaty monkeys, I think about it then. I think about a big old pissed-off Sistine Chapel finger-pointin' motherfucker. And you know what? It works. You don't come when you're thinking about shit like that. You should try it sometime. Oh, sorry.† â€Å"Never mind,† Tucker said. â€Å"You can't let that kid with the Bible get to you. He's too young to have given up on religion†¦doesn't have enough sin under his belt. Guys like us, best bet is that it's all bullshit and we go directly to worm food. Try not to think about it.† â€Å"Right,† Tucker said, totally unsatisfied. If you had a question about any piece of gadgetry on the planet, Jake Skye was your man. But spiritually, he was a hamster. Which, actually, was one of the things Tucker used to like about him. He tried not to think about it and changed the subject. â€Å"So what do I need to know about flying a Lear 45?† Jake seemed relieved to be back into the realm of technology. â€Å"I haven't seen one yet, but they say it flies just like Mary Jean's old Lear 25, only faster and a longer range. Better avionics. Read the manuals when you get there.† â€Å"What about navigation equipment?† Tucker's navigation was weak. Since he'd gotten his jet license, he'd depended completely on automatic systems.† â€Å"You'll be fine. You don't buy a four-million-dollar plane and cheap out on the navigation and radios. This doctor's got an e-mail address, which means he's got a computer. You'll be able to access charts and weather, and file flight plans with that. Check the facilities at your destinations, so you'll know what to expect. Some of these Third World airstrips just have a native with a candle for night landings. And check your fuel availability. They'll sell you sewer water instead of jet fuel if you don't check. You ever deal with Third World airport cops?† Tucker shrugged. Jake knew damn well he hadn't. He'd gotten his hours flying copilot in the Mary Jean jet, and they'd never taken that outside of the continental United States except for one trip to Hawaii. â€Å"Well,† Jake continued, â€Å"the catchword is ‘bribe, bribe, and bribe.' Offer the highest amount you can at the lowest level of authority. Always have a thick roll of American dollars with you, and don't bring it to the table if you're not willing to lose it. Keep something stashed in your shoe if they tap you out.† â€Å"You think this doctor is going to have me hauling drugs?† â€Å"Good chance of it, don't you think? Besides, it doesn't matter. These people are brutal. Half the time the government guys have the same last name, so if you move up the ladder, you're just talking to the uncle of the last one that hit you. He has to charge you more out of pride.† Tucker cradled his head in his hands and stared into his gin and tonic. â€Å"I'm fucked.† Jake patted him on the arm, then drew back at the intimacy of the act. â€Å"They're calling your flight. You'll be fine.† They rose and Jake threw some cash on the table. At the gate Tucker turned to his friend. â€Å"Man, I don't know what to say.† Jake extended his hand. â€Å"No sweat, man. You'd have done it for me.† â€Å"I really hate flying in the back. Check on that kid from the motel, okay.† â€Å"I'm on it. Look, everything you need is in the pack. Don't leave it behind.† â€Å"Right,† Tucker said. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned and walked down the ramp to the plane. Jake Skye watched him go, then turned, walked to a pay phone, dialed some numbers, and waited. â€Å"Yeah, it's Jake. He's on his way. Yeah, gone for good. When can I pick up my check?†