Happy Holly Days and Merry Christmas!

FROM ALL OF US

Holiday Sale Success!

Well Blog Peeps, our sale came and went and we hope you partook and saved yourself some money!

The weather is seasonal here today - a storm has made its way into the Denver Metro area and the snowflakes should start to fall anytime now!

Thank you for your support, dear customers and friends, and we hope to see you again soon! Dont forget that our everyday low prices can save you money too!

Holiday Sale Has Been Extended One Day Only!

We have decided to extend our Holiday Sale through Saturday, December 17th! We will be open from 9am - 1pm so come on down and enjoy another day of savings!

Only 2 1/2 Days Left for our Holiday Sale!

Howdy Folks!

We have had an amazing turnout for our Holiday Sale and hope that you dont wait until the last minute to come save 10-20% on lift chairs, 4-wheeled walkers, walker accessories, shoes and scrub pants!

Also we offer Laurel Uniform Gift Certificates in any amount! They make a great gift for the wonderful medical professional, chef, service professional or business owner on your gift list!

Lastly, just a reminder that if you spend $50 or more at Laurel Uniforms, you get a free reusable tote!

Today is the Day Our Holiday Sale Starts!

Be sure to stop by to save 10%, 15% and 20% on lift chairs, 4-wheeled walkers, walker accessories, shoes and scrub pants!

HURRY! This sale starts today and ends Friday for in-stock, in-store items only while supplies last!

Our Holiday Sale Starts on Monday, Monday, Monday!

DONT FORGET and we hope to see you at our store for these great deals next week!

T-Minus Five and Counting...

That's right folks, only 5 more days until our super-amazing Holiday Sale!

Save 10-20% on items that are rarely or never on sale!

Lift chairs, 4-Wheeled Walkers, Walker Accessories, Shoes (yes, including Dansko!) and Scrub Pants are ALL ON SALE NEXT WEEK!

Be sure to mark your calendar so you dont miss this fine event! Hope to see you soon!

Next week we are having our Biggest Sale Ever!

How to Save for a Vacation

By: Mrs. G

In this economy, travel or vacations seem to be out of reach for most people. But maybe not. Here are a few ideas to help you earn and save your way to that trip you have been dreaming about!

Make Saving Automatic. Have a specific dollar amount directly deposited from each paycheck into a bank account that is specifically earmarked just for a vacation. Making this an automatic transaction will help to make sure that it doesn't get crowded out by other expenses or expenditures.

Use Credit Cards Wisely. Besides just spending wisely, and paying off your balance each month, make sure that you are using your credit cards to their best advantage. Some cards award frequent flyer miles and provide travel perks, such as reduced fees for checked luggage. But a card that gives cash back can also be useful, and provides more flexibility for spending your rewards. Make as many regular transactions as you can through your credit card and make those earned rewards work for you. Not a fan of credit cards? See if your bank offers a debit card with similar perks.

Save your Savings. Need some motivation to clip coupons and shop the clearance rack? Each time you make a purchase that saves you money, immediately deposit the amount that you saved into your vacation account. Write yourself a check or do a funds transfer. Using just $10 worth of coupons during your weekly grocery run will add over $500 to your vacation budget!

Have a Sale! Clean out your attic, basement, closets and garage and sell unused items. Dedicate all of your sale profits to your vacation fund. Kids may be more willing to part with old toys if they know a trip to Disney World is involved! Try websites like eBay or Craigslist, especially for larger items. Look for resale or consignment shops that will sell unwanted clothing or furniture for you.

Recycle for Money. Collect bottles, cans, plastic, copper, and turn it in for cash. One California mom fulfilled her lifelong dream of a trip to Italy with her husband by collecting everywhere she went, including work.

Change. Several times a week, empty out your pockets or pocketbooks of all coins and put them in a jar. Even a few dollars per week can add up over the
course of a year.

Happy Travels!

Top Ten Customer Favorites

From Medical Supplies to Uniforms & Apparel, here are our customer favorites!

#10 - Angelic Pet Pins
FOR PET OWNERS - To show your love for your pet.
FOR PET MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS - Wear this pin while assisting beloved pets in their final moments, and then present the pin to the owners to show you care and to show sympathy. Available in dog or cat. Measures 3/4" x 7/8".

#9 - 3 in 1 Universal Commode with Elongated Seat
3 in 1 universal steel commode, elongated seat, with removable back and pail. Elongated seat adds extra depth. Can be used next to the bed, over the toilet as an elevating toilet seat and also a toilet safety frame.

#8 - Koi Lindsey Scrub Pant
Our best-selling scrub pant because they are incredibly comfortable and look great! Try for yourself and you will understand why our customers swear by them. Easy fit, low-rise pant features an adjustable draw-string waist, multi-needle stitching, adjustable hem leg, D-ring, two front pockets, two back pockets, cargo pocket and scissor pocket. Made of 55/45 cotton poly soft twill. 31" Inseam. Available in 25 Colors!

#7 - Sage Toothette Disposable Mint Oral Swabs
Sage Toothette disposable oral swabs with dentifrice allow gentle cleansing of teeth, mouth, and gums. Mint flavored swabs are individually wrapped. Available in bag of 250 or package of 20.

#6 - Scrub Pant, Unisex Drawstring 4100
Casual unisex pant features an adjustable webbed drawstring waist, one back pocket, and a cargo pocket with a cell phone pocket inside. 31" Inseam. Made of soil release poly/cotton poplin. Available in Ceil, Navy, Wine, Pewter, Black, Caribbean, White, Red, Teal Blue, Royal, Galaxy and Hunter.

#5 - Walker Glide Caps
Nova Walker Glide Caps - The perfect add-on to keep your walker gliding smoothly. Fits 1 1/8" outside diameter tube and all Nova standard walkers. Sold by the pair.

#4 - Apron, 3 Pocket Bib F10
Our most popular style bib apron! Features three divisional pouch pockets and a two piece slider neck adjustment.. Made of 65/35 poly cotton twill 7.5oz fabric. One size. Measures 24"L x 28"W. Available in Black, Burgundy, Hunter Green, Kelly Green, Khaki, Medium Green, Midnight Blue, Navy, Red, Royal Blue and White. Larger sizes and designer colors available - call for pricing.

#3 - Refillable Ice Pack with Ties
Makes coldtherapy easy! Clamp closure makes it easy to refill the ice bags for repeated use. Three-layer design protects the skin while keeping the moisture in the bag. Soft outer cover, absorbent middle layer and film inner layer. Use your own ice. 4 ties, bag measures 6 1/2" x 14". Sold by the each.

#2 - Classic Baggy Chef Pant 4005C
This classic baggy chef pant is made with 100% premium cotton twill. Features 2" elastic waist with a brass zipper, 2 large front pockets and one rear pocket. 7.5oz. Availabe in black or yarn dyed houndstooth and chalk stripe.

#1 - Medicine Cups
Disposable plastic graduated medicine cups are suitable for liquid or dry medications, as well as many household and industrial uses. Gardners use them for seedling starters! Each 1oz. cup is graduated in 1/8 oz, drams, CC, ML, and tsp/tbs increments. Sold by the sleeve, 100 cups per sleeve. Available in cases of 50 sleeves.

Avoiding Holiday Crowds

Yes, I know. December is the busiest month of the year for most people, but its also the month where people gain the most weight (on average 5-8 pounds)!

I don't know about you, but I really dislike crowds. And December is the worst with everybody and their brother at the malls and monster box stores.

I have figured out that if I try and finish my holiday shopping earlier in the season, I can avoid the holiday crowds at the mall AND at the gym. Starting around early November and all through December, the gyms and recreation centers are basically empty. This means that I can use any cardio machine, all of the weights and tracks are at my disposal and the gym-rats are much less intimidating.

Plus, I can indulge in those holiday treats and get through the season without the added bulge!

Top 10 Alternative Dinners for Turkey Day

10. Lasagne
Who doesnt love the cheesy, cozy, warm and wonderful Italian feast that is lasagne?

9. Stuffed Pork Chops
For meat lovers, this is a great "other white meat" option. If only I could figure out how to keep it moist?

8. Taco Bar
Why not lay out a whole smorgasborg of Mexican type ingredients so everyone is happy and stuffed at the end of the feast?

7. Roasted Chicken
But then, if you go through the hassle, why not just do a turkey? It tastes like chicken!

6. Cornish Hen
Because everyone can have their own miniature turkey!

5. Tofu Turkey
We are only about 15 miles from Boulder. This is an ode to our neighbors.

4. Steak
Personally, I would rank this at number one, but I realize that I am a true carnivore. Some people are not.

3. Goose
There are still people who hunt their Thanksgiving dinner these days!

2. Ham
Our family actually has ham at Christmas since we have turkey at Thanksgiving. Yes, we like to shake things up a bit.

1. Lobster
For the non-red meat eaters, and those on the east coast, and probably the west coast, this one is for you! Plus there is something special about lobster compared to any other shellfish.

What is your favorite non-turkey, Turkey Day dinner?

Fun, Spirited Scrubs with Holiday Prints!

We have new scrubs with HOLIDAY PRINTS!
Stock up and show your holiday spirit this season with these fun new scrubs!

V-Neck top in Happy Snowman - $15.49
























V-Neck top with Winter Pals - $24.49



















Mock Wrap top with Cocoa Penguins - $14.00

























Snap-Front in Festive Swirl - $14.00

























Click to Shop All of Our Holiday Prints!

Want to Live Longer?

UOAA UPDATE 11/09 Mercer County, via Metro MD

Want to live longer? Then go out and mingle, mingle, mingle.

A recent community health study reveals that socially active people lived longer than their quieter neighbors. Reported in the American Journal of Epidermiology, the study took into account such variables as cholesterol, drinking and height-to-weight ratio, as well as others, such as smoking, which could be expected to have an effect on longevity.
For men, passive solitary leisure activities such as television viewing and reading were "positively associated with mortality." Frequent social contact with other people substantially lowered the risks of dying in the 12 years the study has been in existence.
For women, the association between solitary leisure activities and the risk of dying was even more positively associated. Marital status for women was less significant than for men in the study.

Nursing During The Great Depression

by Scrubs • November 7, 2011

What was it like to be a nurse in the Great Depression? There’s plenty of historical information available about what was going on in the industry as a whole…but what most of us really want to know is the answer to questions such as “What was it like to be a nurse back then? What motivated people to choose this profession? What do I have in common with the nurses who came before me?”

Let’s take a look at the big-picture facts and hear some personal anecdotes from nurses who were just graduating from nursing school at the time.

The New Nursing Profession Suffers a Blow
The decade of the Great Depression came at a critical time in the history of nursing. The concept of educating nurses as healthcare professionals had just begun to catch on. Nursing schools with high-quality programs were becoming established. For the first time in U.S. history, being a nurse was seen as a respectable career path for women.

Hazel Joy, RN: “People sort of looked up to nurses. You had to study for three years—intense study, really. I was always proud to be a nurse and I think all of us were at that time.”

On the public health front, malnutrition, overcrowding, poor sanitation and other side effects of extreme poverty caused by the sudden economic decline took an enormous toll on human health. However, the rise in the number of people seeking hospital care didn’t lead to the creation of more nursing jobs. In fact, many hospitals and nursing schools closed due to lack of funding.

Results of Widespread Unemployment
Hospitals instituted entirely new rules for scheduling. Previously, most nurses were expected to work at least 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week (sound familiar?). Now, hours were cut back to eight hours a day, with no more than 48 hours in a week. This policy change allowed more nurses to be employed. General duty staffing became the norm. But some staff did still serve as private duty nurses, caring for just one patient at a time. With funding low, nurses often had to use whatever equipment was available to help patients pull through. Just like today, seeing a patient get well was the best reward.

Ida Carthel, RN: “I did private duty nursing for a two-year-old child, a beautiful little girl from a nearby town. A rattlesnake had bitten her several times on her legs. We had to stay with her because she was delirious. You know how you’ve heard they do these ‘X’ marks to suck the venom out of the patient’s flesh? We used breast pumps for that and it worked. You call that improvising, and we did! She recovered…she was such a doll.”

Low Wages and Restrictive Working Conditions Prevail
The pay wasn’t great (some hospitals had to cut salaries or stop paying altogether for a time), but the work was steady and offered some stability. Of course, just like now, a paycheck was only a temporary incentive. It wasn’t enough to make a person stay in the profession if they weren’t cut out for it.

Hazel Joy, RN: “Yes, it was a job at first, a way to make a living, and then as time went on, you had to like it. And you had to have some input into what was going on, and you had to feel a part of the team in order to get some satisfaction out of the job.”

In a time when few men or women could find a job at all, many young unmarried women still saw going to nursing school as a way out of poverty and insurance for their future. They just had to stay single or they would be kicked out! These thrifty women learned to live on very little as they pursued their dream.

Irma Earngey, RN: “I know that some nurses worked in some hospitals in Fort Worth, [Texas], in the 1930s for room and board and maybe $15 a month. I know that is hard to believe, but remember you could buy a pair of shoes for $2 and you could get a dress for $2 or $3. There wasn’t much money, but it went a long way.”

Nursing Shortages Arise
During the mid-1930s, the situation eased a little. But by this time, the general lack of support for the nursing profession had already created a big problem. There weren’t enough well-trained nurses to go around. This issue took decades (and lots of government educational funding) to fix. Yes, nursing shortages are nothing new. Fortunately, there have always been those who feel the calling to the healing profession too strongly to ignore.

Cleatis Treese, RN: “I think all my life I wanted to be a nurse. Mother said I never had a baby doll that was well. It either had a fracture or something had to be bandaged. So all my life I wanted to be a nurse. There was just never any doubt. Now my father was an invalid and he pushed me too, you know. He thought nurses were just the thing. And then I was a Lutheran, and so my minister just thought he would like to have one of his people go to the Lankenau Hospital [in Pennsylvania] to be a nurse. It just all fit in.”

Quotes derived from The Lived Experience of Registered Nurses, 1930-1950: A Phenomenological Study by Beverly Knowles Byers, BSN, MS, MSN

Better Living Corner: Bariatric Equipment

"My father needs bariatric equipment. Do you carry any?"

Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. - Wikipedia

Bariatric equipment is typically designed for those who are 300 or more pounds in weight. And yes, we do carry bariatric equipment! Here are just a few:

Bath Bench with aluminum anodized fram and havey duty blow molded seat. Adjustable from 17"-19" height and measures 17"W x 16"D. 500lb capacity. NO9013 $48.08






















Mini Mack Walker with oversized padded seat, 8" solid tires, adjustable handle from 30"=34.5", measures 17"x12.5". 400lb capacity. NO4215 $226.79






















22" Transport Chair is lightweight, heavy duty and extra wide with desk arms. 22" Padded seat, 12" solid rear wheels. 400lb capacity. NO332R $290.74

How to Be Kind

Did you know www.WikiHow.com actually gives instructions on HOW to be KIND?

STEP ONE:
Understand what kindness is and is not. At its most basic, kindness is about caring genuinely for others around you, wanting the best for them, and recognizing in them the same wants, needs, aspirations, and even fears that you have too. Kindness is warm, resilient, patient, trusting, loyal, and grateful. Piero Ferrucci sees kindness as being about "making less effort" because it frees us from getting knotted up in negative attitudes and feelings such as resentment, jealousy, suspicion, and manipulation. Ultimately, kindness is deep caring for all beings.

STEP TWO
Be kind to yourself. Many people make the error of trying to be kind to others while not focusing on being kind to themselves. Some of this can stem from not liking aspects of yourself, but more often than not, it's sourced in the inability to know yourself better. And unfortunately, when you don't feel rock solid within yourself, your kindness to others risks falling into the deluded types of kindness described in the previous step. Or, it can lead to burn-out and disillusionment because you've put everyone else first. Self-knowledge allows you to see what causes you pain and conflict, and enables you to embrace your contradictions and inconsistencies. Self-knowledge allows the space to work on things about yourself that you're not happy with. In turn, self-knowledge helps to prevent you from projecting your negative aspects onto other people, thereby empowering you to treat other people with love and kindness.

STEP THREE
Be present. The greatest gift of kindness to another person is to be in the moment in their presence, to be listening with care, and to be genuinely attentive to them.

STEP FOUR
Be happy, joyful, and grateful. These emotions rest at the heart of kindness, allowing you to see the good in others and the world, enabling you to press through the challenges, despair, and cruelty you witness and experience, continuously restoring your sense of faith in humanity. Maintaining an optimistic attitude ensures that acts of kindness are committed with genuine joy and cheerfulness rather than with reluctance or out of a sense of duty or service. And keeping your sense of humor ensures that you don't take yourself too seriously and take life's contradictory and contrary moments with good faith.

STEP FIVE
Reflect on the kindness of other people. Think about the truly kind people in your life and how they make you feel. Do you carry their warm glow around in your heart every time you think of them? It is likely that you do because kindness lingers, warming you even when the hardest challenges face you. When other people find a way to love you for who you are, it's impossible to forget such trust and confirmation of worthiness, and their kindness lives on forever.

STEP SIX
Cultivate kindness for the good of your own health. Improved psychological health and happiness comes from thinking more positively, and kindness is a positive mental state. While kindness is about giving and being open to others, giving kindness returns a sense of well-being and connectedness to us that improves our own mental state and health.

STEP SEVEN
Practice the kindness effect. Stephanie Dowrick recommends that we practice what she calls the "kindness effect". She says that this requires us to allow ourselves the freedom to be kind for the sake of other people and for ourselves. In reaching to others, she confirms that it's impossible to be kind to others without this kindness also reflecting back on ourselves, increasing our connection with the world, and decreasing our personal problems.

STEP EIGHT
Expand your circle of kindness. It can be very easy to be kind when we're unconsciously doing what Stephanie Dowrick terms "patronizing kindness". This refers to kindness given to those people we feel are truly in need (the sick, the poor, the vulnerable, and those who align with our own ideals). Being kind to people close to us, emotionally (like family or friends) or in other ways (from the same country, of the same color, gender etc.), is also easier than being kind to those the philosopher Hegel called "the other". The trouble with curtailing it to "convenient" cases is that we fail to recognize that we need to be kind to everyone, no matter who they are, their level of wealth or fortune, their values and beliefs, their behavior and attitudes, their place of origin, their likeness to ourselves, etc. By choosing to be kind only to those we feel are deserving of kindness, we are unleashing our own biases and judgment, and only practicing conditional kindness. Real kindness encompasses all beings and while the challenges you'll face when trying to put this broader notion of kindness into practice will sometimes be trying, you'll never stop learning about the depths of your ability to be truly kind.

STEP NINE
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". Attributed to Plato, this saying is a recognition that everyone is undergoing some challenge or other in their lives and that sometimes, it's all too easy for us to lose sight of that when embroiled in our own problems or anger against them. Before committing an action that might impact another person negatively, ask yourself a simple question: "Is this kind?". If you cannot answer this in the affirmative, this is a reminder to change your action and approach immediately.

STEP TEN“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” These are the words once said by Princess Diana. The practice of random acts of kindness is alive and well as a conscious effort to spread more kindness; there are even groups that have established themselves to perform this essential civic duty!

STEP ELEVEN
Be polite. Although being polite is not an indication of kindness in itself, genuine politeness demonstrates your respect for those you're interacting with. Being polite is the kind way of getting people's attention and putting your point across.

STEP TWELVE
Show kindness through loving animals and the living world. Loving animals and caring for pets is kindness in action. Nothing compels you to care about beings of another species, especially in a day and age where the tools of human domination are so powerful. And yet, the very act of loving an animal and respecting the animal for its own value is an expression of deep kindness. As well, being kind to the world that sustains and nurtures us is sensible as well as kind, ensuring that we don't poison the very elements that assure us a healthy life.

STEP THIRTEEN
Transform your life. Changing how you live and how you view the world might seem daunting. But take a note of Aldous Huxley's prescription for transforming your life: "People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is–just be a little kinder." Take Huxley's many years of research to heart and allow kindness to transform your life, to transcend all feelings and actions of aggression, hate, despising, anger, fear, and self-deprecation, and to restore strength worn away by despair.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Kind

Learn Something New Everyday

Most people learn how to do a few things very well in the course of their lifetime. We become experts at several things, usually tied to our jobs, or our way of life. Then, as we grow older and retire, we may pick up a new hobby or interest and become experts at those things in later years.

But, have you thought about simply learning something new, something simple, each and every day? With the internet, taking just ten minutes to learn something new is just a click away!

MonkeySee.com is a watch, learn and discover website where you watch videos, created by experts, of the topic you wish to learn about. Most of the videos are relatively short, so learning something new is quick and easy. MonkeySee categories include Auto & Mechanical, Electronics & Gadgets, Hobbies & Crafts, Home & Garden, Careers & Education, Food & Drink, Safety, Travel and much more! Visit www.monkeysee.com to sign up.

iMinds.com allows people to learn new things from a credible source while on the go. They publish original, short audio podcasts about liberal arts topics (history, economics, current events, business) that are approximately 8 minutes in length. They are available via iTunes or Audible.com for $.99 each, or longer, multi-track lessons are sold for $3.99 to $24.99 (for 6 tracks, up to 72 tracks). Visit www.iMinds.com for more information.

TheWeek.com is a weekly current events magazine that summarizes the news of the previous week. They draw on a variety of sources to present a short, but balanced overview of issues, and if you want to dig deeper, they provide links to original sources. The Week provides a great way for busy readers to learn about current evens. Visit www.theweek.com for more information.

Curious about how the heart works, or how far the pitchers mound is in baseball? Visit www.HowStuffWorks.com. From the makers of The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, this site provides information clearly and in layman’s terms.

Want something simple and quick? Go to www.wikipedia.org and click on “Random Article” on the left hand side. Wikipedia is a free, online encyclopedia that anyone can edit and contribute information to. While the articles can be interesting, double checking references listed at the end of each article is a good idea.

Source: http://mashable.com/2009/09/24/learning-resources/

Better Living Corner: I want to continue to live alone

"I want to live alone, but want an affordable home safety system that can help me if I am unable to get to the phone and dial 911."

We have two pendant systems to choose from that will allow you to live alone, yet give you the peace of mind in the event you are disabled and cannot help yourself.

Both of our systems require you to wear a pendant at all times, and both can call 911 at the simple push of a button, no matter where you are in your home. These systems require NO monthly fee, the only expense is the initial purchase. Both are water resistant and easy to setup!

Guardian Alert 911 allows you to speak directly through the pendant to a 911 operator. LO30911 - $159.07

Freedom Alert allows you to speak directly through the pendant to four different phone numbers. Call family, friends, neighbors and of course a 911 operator. This sytems allows you call someone other than emergency services if your issue is not life-threatening. LO35911 - $270.93

"Why Don't You Take Medicare/Medicaid?"

As a medical supply provider, we get asked the question "Why don't you take Medicare/Medicaid?".

A little over two years ago, we made the very difficult decision to exit our relationship with CMS, or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is the US federal agency which administers Medicare, Medicaid. At that time, in an effort to reduce fraud, CMS was requiring providers to become "Accredited", which is a very lengthy and expensive process. For larger chain providers, this was not as big of an issue, but for mom-n-pop shops such as ourselves, this was a daunting task.

Couple the accreditation requirements adding substantial overhead, with the already low reimbursement rates, and it simply no longer made business sense.

As the years have come and gone, the government has added competitive bidding to the requirments for some areas of the nation. In an effort to reduce spending by streamlining vendors and subsequent billing, suppliers - and by suppliers we mean BIG suppliers - have to submit and win a bid to supply certain areas of consumers with DME products that are paid for by the government. Again, this was an issue for mom-n-pop shops and we were simply squeezed out because of the format provided to those that wanted to submit a bid.

Just last week, HME News, the business newspaper for the home medical equipment provders, discovered that accredited providers were potentially having to go through the accreditation process all over again. Why? Because, "WellPoint, a health plan that owns and administers Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, has notified providers in Georgia that to remain part of its network, they must be accredited by one of only three accreditation agencies by March 1, 2012."*

This is a huge blow for two reasons.

For one, CMS gave a list of ten accreditation agencies for providers to obtain accreditation from. This means that if a provider chose one that is NOT one of the three WellPoint has approved, a provider has to switch accreditation agencies. It is unknown what that process entails, since nobody anticipated any reason to have to switch. And as stated previously, this is a very lengthy and expensive process, especially for a small mom-n-pop shop.

Second, WellPoint has only notified Georgia providers, but their industry stakeholders say that this is a "national policy". If they successfully make this a national policy, it opens the door for other healthcare plans to require suppliers to change their accreditations as well.

How does this effect you, the consumer? Several ways, actually. If you enjoy buying your Medicare/Medicaid products locally, these requirements will ensure that mom-n-pop shops can no longer provide them. Most smaller suppliers are interested in providing quality over quantity, which means lesser quality products will be the only option for Medicare/Medicaid recipients. Also, it is widely known in the industry that one of the biggest issues with these changes is service. If your wheelchair malfunctions, service and repairs will be very difficult to find.

Accusations that corporations are making money hand over fist is false. Several of our local competitors have closed their doors in the past few years. In this economy with these requirments, its survival of the biggest corporation, not survival of the fittest (or best). And unfortunately, we feel its the consumers that will suffer.

*HME News, November 2011, Accreditation: Medicare's requirement not foolproof by Liz Beaulieu

Haunted Houses for Sale!

Here is a little Halloween fun for those with deep pockets and a love of being scared!

The LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, LA
Set for Auction November 12th!
Said to be one of the most haunted homes in NOLA, this home is owned by actor, Nicolas Cage, who never sleeps there, but occasionally has dinner parties. Originally built for French royalty, this mansion’s ghost stories start in the 1830’s with the LaLaurie family and their sadistic slave abuse. Appearing to be upstanding socialites, neighbors started to whisper about how the maids and stable boys would be replaced frequently, and then never seen again! Ghost stories and sightings such as seeing shackled servants roaming the halls, started almost as soon as the LaLauries fled the city.

The Pickfair Estate, Beverly Hills, CA
Asking only $60 Million!
Originally built as a hunting cabin in the 1920’s for silent film stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, this Hollywood home is said to have a resident ghost, even though the original home is no longer standing. The cabin was transformed into a 22 room mansion, and when the couple divorced in 1936, Pickford remained in the home until her death in 1979. In 1988, Israeli businessman Meshulam Reklis tore the mansion down and built the property as it stands today. Legend says Pickford’s ghost pops up waiting to reconcile with Fairbanks, also spotted on the property.

Howsham Hall, York, North Yorkshire
Asking $9.84 Million!
This home in England is more than 400 years old and features 7 beautifully restored bedrooms and over 80 acres of rolling land. But, according to local lore, the house has a so-called curse, known as the “Curse of Kirkham”. When Sir William Bamburgh built the hall in 1610, he used wood and stone from Kirkham Priory, a destroyed religious community. Considered sacrilege by many, a curse was said to have been put on Howsham Hall and its owners: All male heirs will perish, and the owner’s family will never be happy. Are you willing to risk living in a cursed home?

Source: http://www.frontdoor.com/buy/surreal-estate-6-spooky-homes-for-sale

A nurse’s subconscious mind

by Sean Dent • September 1, 2011

There are just some things non-nursing folks will never understand. It’s not a ‘knock’ against those who are not a nurse, really it’s not. What I’m talking about is how your brain gets ‘re-wired’ once you become a nurse. I don’t know if it happened overnight? Maybe it happened gradually over the past half decade? What I do know is my mind thinks and processes things SO differently than it did prior to being a nurse. I wonder… am I brainwashed??

Here’s what being a nurse can do to the mind!

* At the restaurant, we silently hope that the person choking at the table next to us doesn’t need assistance – yet, if they do, we’ll be the first to run to their side.

* Walking through the fog of a public ‘smokers break area,’ we all want to reach out and smack you. Do you want to die breathing through a tube?

* While phlegm doesn’t normally bother (most) of us at work, the sight or sound of you hacking up a lung in public really does bother us. Especially when you don’t cover your mouth!!!

* Public restrooms. Yes – there is nothing sanitary about them most of the time. What we can’t stand is witnessing someone use these facilities and then walk out without washing their hands! (How am I supposed to pull the door open and exit the bathroom without contaminating my hand??)

* For some strange reason, we can never look at another person’s arms the same ever again. Every time we see a good vein? Yep, you guessed it. We think to ourselves, “Wow! I could start a #16 gauge needle in there!” Sorry.

* We continue to micro-analyze anything on TV or in the theater that has a shred of health care related activities. “Oh yeah, THAT would happen,” has echoed through our minds one too many times.

* To this very day, I think we all have been cursed with measurements. We subconsciously measure how much we’ve urinated, how many CC’s of fluid we drank and, of course, how many carbs were in our meals.

* While on vacation – no matter the geographic location – we somehow ‘notate’ and remember where the closest emergency room and hospital are located.

* I’m not sure if it’s just a nursing thing, I think paramedics share this curse, too. We carry a spare set of scrubs stored in our vehicles, along with old ‘not in use’ equipment like stethoscopes, pen lights and scissors.

* We shake our heads at those wonderful ‘blood pressure screening stations’ located throughout the supermarkets and discount stores. Ahahaha! I think we are more troubled by the fact that the public believe these measurements to be accurate.

* We still (often) forget that it’s not common practice to talk about blood, bodily functions and bodily fluids as a discussion topic during a meal. Again, sorry.

* Yes, we find humor in the most disgusting and disturbing things sometimes (OK, all the time). I’d like to think it’s our defense mechanism for making sure we don’t drive ourselves crazy and burn out.

This just scrapes the surface of what goes on behind the doors of our minds. I continue to convince myself that I’m not brainwashed, but that I have been trained and educated to always ‘be prepared’. I have to admit though, sometimes you have to wonder…

(That was a joke folks)

Fall 2011 New Arrivals - Cherokee & Dickies

Oh these are so wonderful! You have GOT to come check these out!

We have brought in the new Dickies solid line, Youtility. There are three top styles, mock wrap, v-neck and a three button v-neck. The pant is very versatile and all of them have great detail! These are not your average solid scrubs!

Priced from $26.49 to $32.99.



Click HERE to shop Dickies Youtility and other Dickies items.

















And here is just a preview of our New Fall Arrivals:



Click HERE to shop all of our new fall arrivals now!

Life in the Blogsphere

As a blogger, there are a handfull of other bloggers that I follow - not many, just a handful. I only know one of the bloggers personally, so the others are basically strangers to me and they are randomly spaced out across the United States.

I follow other bloggers because they provide inspiration to me, for this blog. Most all of them are wonderful writers. Some are funny, some are political and some are just living life and documenting via their blogs, as a source of emotional outlet.

This blog mainly serves as a business outlet, with a little bit of interesting and personal stuff on the side. Nobody really likes all business, do they?

Our blog was "quiet" this week because I was out of the office for a few days - my husband had to have an apendectomy. They are fairly routine now, with new removal methods he literally went to work the day after his hospital discharge, for a few hours. While this turned out to be a bump in the road, it made me reflect, appreciate and be grateful for our life as it is. This medical scare turned out ok. Whew.

One blogger I follow had a baby last week. Her life has certainly changed in a big way! Her writing is amazing, even when she is very sleep deprived. I am happy for her and even though I dont know her, I wish her well.

Another blogger I follow suddenly and heartbreakingly lost her 28 year old son. I follow her because she is retired and talks about life as a senior citizen. Her son was engaged, working a good job, settling down and living life as most Americans do. Then one night, he got in an altercation and a single punch to the face ended his life.

Life can change in an instant. It can provide happiness. It can give you a bump in the road. It can alter you and your life in an instant.

Reverse Mortgages for Seniors

Reverse mortgages are becoming more popular in America, for senior homeowners.

HUD, via FHA, offers The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) which enables a homeowner to withdraw some equity from their home. The funds can we withdrawn with a fixed monthly amount or a line of credit, or both. So, if you need a monthly source of income, or a larger one-time amount to do home improvement, you have several options to choose from.

To borrow with HECM, you must be 62 years of age or older, own your property outright or have a small mortgage balance, occupy the property as your principal residence, not be delinquent on any federal debt, and participate in a consumer information session given by an approved HECM counselor.

The amount you can borrow depends on 1) the age of the youngest borrower, 2) current interest rate, 3) lesser of the appraised value of your home or the HECM FHA mortgage limit for your area or the sales price and the initial Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) option you choose. Basically, the more valuable your home is, the older you are and the lower the interest rate, the more you can borrow.

Unlike ordinary home equity loans, FHA reverse mortgage HECM does not require repayment as long as the home is your principal residence and the obligations of the mortgage are met. Lenders recover their principal, plus interest, when the home is sold. The remaining value of the home goes to you or your heirs.

If the sales proceeds are insufficient to pay the amount owed, FHA will pay the lender the amount of the shortfall. FHA collects an insurance premium form all borrowers to provide this coverage.

Of course as with all loans, there is a cost associated with the loan, and those can be rolled into the mortgage.

Many companies offer reverse mortgages, which means there are also scammers trying to steal hard earned money. HUD offers a Lender List that can help you to find a viable reverse mortgage lender. Also, if you or a anyone you know is a victim of homeownership fraud, contact HUD.

HUD Homeownership Center & FHA Resource Center can be reached at info@fhaoutreach.com or call 800-225-5342.

Source: http://www.hud.gov/buying/rvrsmort.cfm

OSTOMY: Some Good Ideas From Here and There

Via Fox Valley Ostomy News and Ostomy Association of Metro Denver, Inc.

Avoid "vacuum lock" in your pouch by keeping a little air in it. This is a big reason that people with new ostomies have "leaks". This is especially true for the urostomates when hooking up to your night drainage bag. Always be sure to leave a little urine in your day-bag as a "prime" for the night drainage bag.

Parsley is an excellent natural internal deodorant, therefore eat some parsley.

If you want medicines to work quickly, drown them. They dissolve and absorb faster with plenty of water to wash them down.

Vitamins should be taken on a full stomach; otherwise, they irritate the lining of the stomach and produce the sensation of being full.

Never wait until you have used your last pouching system before ordering a new supply. Always keep a list of your supplies with you on a small piece of paper complete with order numbers, size and manufacturers.

Don't be afraid to try something new, you may find something better than you are presently using.

Of course if you ever have questions about your ostomy products, or if you want to know about NEW products, our customer service experts are happy to help!

Fall is Here!

Look closely and you will see the spider web this fuzzy little-big guy created between our two patio chairs! I swear he/she curled up into a little ball thinking "she cant see me if I do this".

Its that time of year when spiders and creepy crawly things like to come inside for the winter. I want to note that this weekend I went and bought some of that home-defense insect barrier stuff. The little-big guy is more than welcome to live in my yard, and even on patio, but come in my house and, well, you wont live to tell about it, my friend.

Happy Autumn, everyone!

Adult Day Care & Respite Care

Adult day care normally offers organized daily activities in a community-based setting along with personal care services.

Adult day cares and respite centers are designed to provide social stimulation and health services to seniors who require supervised care. Caregivers often utilize them to take respite from their normal care-giving responsibilities. Adult day cares usually offer transportation to and from the center, social activities, meals and snacks, and assistance with activities of daily living. Centers typically operate during normal business hours and are open five days a week.

The cost of an adult day care such as Seniors' Resource Center Adult Day & Respite Services in Denver, CO, usually ranges between $25 and $100 per day.

To find a location near you, visit www.caring.com

Not All Incontinence Products are Created Equal

Not all incontinence products are created equal, so we have tried to always carry the most economical, yet effective products on the market!

Here is a basic rundown of personal incontinence products:

Adult Diapers with Tapes or Hooks are similar to diapers for infants and provide the best coverage and absorbancy. They have tape or hook fasteners on the sides to provide a more custom fit. These are best for heavier incontinence in a more active person, or for those who are less mobile or bed-ridden.

Adult Pull Up Diapers are more like regular underwear, providing dignity and discretion. These can be used for moderate to heavy protection.

Pads and Liners are absorbent pads usually with an adhesive strip that you attach to your regular underwear. These are for light to moderate urinary incontinence.

Pants are either reusable or disposable and are designed to hold your pads or liners in place, or can provide additional waterproof protection.

Cleansing Products are an integral part of keeping skin healthy, so be sure to keep them on hand! From creams, ointments, wipes and more, we have it all.

We usually have free in-store samples, so stop by today and we will be happy you find the right product!

Shop for Incontinence Products Here

Labor Day Checklist

Here is my Labor Day weekend checklist:

Had an extra day off from work - check! Labor day is one of the rare weekends that our stores are closed!

Moved furniture - check!

Did some yard work - check!

Slept in - check!

Did some shopping - check!

Visited with friends - check!

Had a nice meal - check and check! (we had not one, but two!)

Spent some time with family - check!

Enjoyed the weather before it gets chilly - check!

Watched a movie - check! (The Bourne Identity for about the 5th time!)

What did you do over Labor Day weekend?

Labor Day

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

Never Too Old to Find New Friends

By: Mary Mohler, From AARP
April 1, 2011

Now that you’ve reached a new stage of life, and maybe have relocated or retired, making new acquaintances can be a little trickier.

Not only do you have fewer opportunities to meet new people, but “there’s also a little more resistance to forming new relationships later in life, and your skills can get a bit rusty,” says Marla Paul, author of The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore.

Still, it’s important to make the effort. Close relationships with others are vital to your health - physical, mental and emotional - your self-esteem and even your longevity, according to recent research. So if watching Grey’s Anatomy is the highlight of your week, or you find yourself enthusiastically chatting with telemarketers, you probably need to make some new connections. Here are a few things that can help you.

1. Get over the idea that everybody else your age already has all the friends they need. There are a lot of people out there in the same boat.

2. Accept Invitations. Just getting out increases the chances of meeting new people - and friends are sometimes found in unlikely places.

3. Many colleges allow older adults to audit regular classes for free, and some have programs specifically for seniors.

4. Senior centers have a variety of classes, activities and even trips. Stop by and ask for a schedule.

5. Take a part time job, even for just a few hours a week. It will expose you to new people and give you a little extra money.

6. Pursue your interests and attend consistently so that you build relationships naturally.

7. Set up a page on Facebook to connect with old friends and friends of friends.

8. Invite a few of your neighbors for dinner. Cook if you like to, or organize a potluck, if you don't.

9. Get a dog and you will be surprised how conversations develop while on walks.

10. Work out at a nearby gym and join a class so you see the same people every week.

11. Don’t put too much pressure on a new friendship because it can scare people away.

12. Churches often make a point of welcoming newbies and introducing them around.

13. Volunteer in your community. Try createthegood.org or volunteersofamerica.org.

14. Be willing to take a risk. When you meet someone you like, take the initiative and ask for an email address or phone number.

Introducing Our Newest Catalog: Wound Care Supplies

Request your FREE copy today (email customer.service@mvms.com, or call 800-873-7121) and you can see all of the goodies inside for yourself!

There are 12 wonderful, product filled categories to peruse. All of which can also be found on our website, www.mvmsinc.com.




Here is what you will find in our handy catalog:

Abdominal Pads and Gauze & Drain Sponges

Conforming Bandages & Gauze Rolls

Impregnated Gauze and Packing strips and Applicators

Self Adherent Wraps & Elastic Bandages

Tape & Dressing Retention

Island Dressings

Advanced Wound Care

Gloves, Surface Wipes & Sanitizers

Unna Boots

Bed-Ridden Products

Cleansers, Skin Creams & Ointments

Miscellaneous Wound Supplies

As you can see, there are tons of products to choose from to help heal most any kind of wound!

Folding Walkers

Any Denverite that is a Colorado Rockies baseball fan can relate to this little tidbit of information: Whenever I see the words "Folding Walkers" I can hear the announcer at Coors Field Baseball stadium announcing Larry Walker. It goes something like this; LaaarrrRRrryyyyy WaalKKeeerrrrrr! (emphasis on the K in Walker).

So I think you will enjoy our line of FollDinnnnngg WaalKKeeerrrrrrrs and accessories!





This Nova lightweight aluminium walker has 5" wheels and folds for easy storage and transportation. Also available in blue! Item #NO4090DW5 - $73.33 to $84.09


















This Guardian lightweight aluminium walker weighs only 6.4 pounds, and folds to 3 3/4 inches for easy storage and transportation. Available in adult or youth sizes. Item #GU3075XP - $59.80











Nova Walker Ski Glides are the perfect add-on to keep your walker gliding smoothly. Fits 1 1/8" outside diameter tube and all Nova standard walkers. Item #NO40027GR - $15.71







These fun Nova Saddlebags attach to all walkers (folding or wheeled) and wheelchairs (transport or standard). When not attached to your mobility device, it can also be used as an over the shoulder bag!
Keep your belongings hidden in the roomy zippered main pouch and use the pockets for easy access to keys, phones or other smaller items. Saddlebags also feature a slot for proudly displaying pictures. Made of 100% cotton. Available in butterfly, cats, dog, black or metropolitan fabrics. Item #NO4002AP - $26.00






Heavy duty molded rubber tip flexes for cushioning and shock absorption, reinforced with metal disc insert for longer wear and special non-skid tread on bottom. Sold by box of 4, fits standard 1 1/8" walker foot extension tube. Item #GU1212 - $5.51







Of course we offer a Full Line of Walker Accessories, so click to shop now!

Back to School

Most of us here at Mountain View Medical Supply / Laurel Uniforms have children going back to school this week or next week.

Its funny that at the end of the school year, we are all relieved to have a bit of free time, but by the end of summer, we are ready to get the kids back in school to relieve the fighting and the boredom. I think maybe the schools that have a track schedule, 6-9 weeks of school and then 1-3 weeks off, going year round, have something going for them! Although as a kid, I enjoyed the traditional schedule with my summers off along with Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays off, plus a week for spring break.

Anyway, our local college kids are headed back to school as well, and as we know, some are headed to nursing school!

Here are a few back to school items for student nurses:

Koi 172 Lily top in White or Colors - #LUKO172 - $24.99











































Cherokee Dickies 82724 in Butterfly - #LUCH82724 - $26.49






















Cherokee 4777 Economy Scrub Top - #LUCH4777 Starting at $11.99











Cherokee 4100 Economy Scrub Pant - #LUCH4100 Starting at $12.99










We also have a full line of diagnostic equipment such as protective eyewear, BP monitors and stethoscopes!

End of Summer Project

The end of summer is near. And I am not ready! I find myself pausing to listen to crickets chirp at night, watching the sun set more often and basking in the warmth of the season, knowing a chill will soon be here.

In an effort to prolong, and simply enjoy the rest of the summer season, I have decided to get outside and do something every day for the rest of August and all of September. I am going to squeeze every last ounce out of summer that I can!





I captured this sunset two days ago. This lake is hidden from our house and I don't normally walk around it because the bugs are bountiful. I just happened to walk over and boy was I glad I did! Isn't it beautiful?

Last night on my walk, I heard an owl in a neighborhood tree. A mother brought two little girls out to see the owl, and they giggled with delight each time he hooted. Although they didn't seem to actually see the owl, it was a sweet moment to witness.

I'm hoping to get some sort of physical benefit from getting out each day, but its my soul that is benefiting the most. I'm amazed at the things I would have missed had I chose to stay in and watch TV, or fold laundry, or read a magazine.

5 Ways to Get More Out of Friendship

AARP, by: Pamela Redmond Satran, January 13, 2011

Good buddies can ease stress, enhance your health

By this point in your life, you've got plenty of friends, from the mom you bonded with when your now-grown kids were in kindergarten to the convivial neighbor you met when you moved to your new condo. But how do you maximize the health-enhancing, stress-reducing, fun-increasing potential of your friendships?

Here, five simple ways to get more out of relationships with friends:

Make Your Friendships a Priority

Want to get more out of your friendships? Then make your friendships a bigger part of your life.

Well, duh, as your kids might say. Yet too often, we put friends behind marriage, children, work, exercise and sorting the recycling. When life gets busy, the first thing we offload is time with friends - ironic, since seeing friends is a key to relieving stress.

How to make friendships more of a priority? One tack: Build regular time with friends into your calendar, whether its an every-Wednesday lunch with your best friend or a Saturday morning hike no matter the weather. Trusting your friendships to routine, rather than impulse, makes it more likely you'll actually get together and reap the rewards of friendship on a consistent basis.

Don't Just Sit There, Do Something

We don't need research (though there's plenty of it) to tell us that women bond over talking. But you can get more out of your friendships if you pause the conversation and do something together, whether it's sign up for tennis lessons, go on a weekend antiquing trip or simply read the same book.

Sharing activities is a positive for all kinds of relationships, research shows, including marriages and adult parent-child relationships as well as friendships. The Reason: Doing something fun and novel together expands your repertoire of common experiences, lets you see each other in new ways, plus adds another dimension to the relationship.

What if it turns our you both hate tennis? Then you can bond over that.

Connect With Virtual Friends

With women over the age of 55 being the fastest-growing demographic on Facebook, connecting with old friends and making new ones online can both grow your circle of friends, and give you more opportunities for interacting with them. Via social networking sites, you can rediscover the college roommate who always made you laugh, as well as friends-to-be who share your passion for miniature dachshunds or Hungarian harp music.

Twitter can also be an informal way to bring the chatter of many voices into your living room and keep up with everybody from the politician you admire to the person you met last week at a party. You can ask for advice, solicit support - even attend a Twitter party while you watch a shared favorite TV show.

Accept That Friendships Change Over Time

Friendships tend to depend on being in the same stage of life, and once that shifts - you are widowed but your friend is married; she retires but you're still running a business - the relationship can change too. One recent study claimed people of every age replace half their friends every seven years. The Lesson: Rather than clinging to relationships you've outgrown, you'll get more out of your friendships of you look for new friends with whom you share more similarities.

Risk the Fight

The longer you're friends with someone and the closer you get, the more likely it is you'll hit the kind of road bumps that can trip up any relationship. Rather than pretending the problem doesn't exist or running away, you'll need to confront the issue if you want to get more out of what is otherwise a valuable friendship.

"Sometimes it's more difficult to have these emotional discussions than not to have them," says Irene S. Levine, a professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine and creator of The Friendship Blog. "But if you bury hard feelings, they can seep out in toxic ways and damage the friendship."

Dr. Levine's advice for approaching a difficult discussion with a friend: Choose a relaxed time, and talk in person rather than on the phone or via e-mail. Be sensitive, don't blame or attack, but don't mask your feelings either. And know that any discussion may just be the first in an ongoing conversation, one that will ultimately lead you to a deeper, stronger friendship that can offer even more in terms of honesty and intimacy.

Guide to Medical Grade Scissors

Sure, they may look funny but they are not your everyday pair of scissors!

Here is your guide to medical grade scissors:


Kelly Forceps are used to grasp small objects, usually too small for fingers to get a hold of, or to hold a single object so hands can remain free to do other things. They are made of high quality stainless steel and have multiple grooves in the tip's grip and a mechanism which "locks" the scissors in a clamped state.






Medical Shears or EMS Shears, Utility Shears or Trauma Shears are razor sharp, super hardened scissors made of surgical stainless steel and are primarily used by medical professionals. These can cut through clothing, shoes, seat belts, etc., but have blunt tips to ensure no accidental cutting.








Iris Scissors are typically small in size with an extremely sharp point that can be used for detail work during surgery. Crafters find them especially handy. Made of stainless steel.














Lister Bandage Scissors are often part of first aid kits and are used to trim bandages, cut through clothing and help remove bandages. Their angled shape and blunt tip make for safer cutting. Made of stainless steel with serrated blades.


If you are using your scissors multiple times and for multiple purposes, take great care in cleaning and disinfecting after each use.

For more information and to buy online, visit Mountain View Medical Supply's website at MVMSINC.com today!

Nurses: Compression Socks Reduces Swelling During Long Shifts

Sigvaris recently sponsored a study of 31 nurses conducted by Dr. Mary Foscue, Assistant Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, Fla. The purpose of the study was to determine if graduated compression socks provide relief from tired, achy legs among nurses who work long shifts.

Every participant kept a daily diary in which they recorded the number of hours they worked, as well as a detailed log recording the amount of time they spent both on and off their feet. Each nurse also noted information about swollen ankles, small or large vein issues, and any discoloration of the skin.

Each nurse was given several pairs of over-the-counter 15-20mmHg knee-high graduated compresison socks. 84% of the participants said they noticed a symptomatic improvement in leg health. In addition to these findings, 74% of the nurses who participated in the study said they saw a decrease in the swelling of their legs after wearing compression stockings.

We at Mountain View offer a full line of Sigvaris compression stockings and socks. Call us today at 303-455-1300 or 800-873-7121, we will be happy to help find the right compression stockings for you!

Top 6 ridiculous nursing uniform policies

Posted: July 26th, 2011, By ScrubsMag.com

Nursing uniform policies have been changing over the past few years—causing some hapless nurses to fall through the cracks when it comes to scrubs style. Here are the top six gripes from nurses and nursing students about the goofier side of following dress codes.

1. White scrubs with whatever underneath
Many hospitals and nursing schools require nurses to wear white scrub pants. Some nurses actually love this. However, no nurse loves seeing her coworker’s purple leopard-print undies barely disguised under her white pants. Hey administrators…how about providing nurses with the option of colored pants?

2. Tapered pants
Some nursing schools require tapered scrub pants for men and women. This may look fine on women who can get away with wearing cute little clogs. Doesn’t look so fine on men who wear big, bulky cross trainers…or, frankly, anyone with a set of hips.

3. Island-print scrubs
For nurses working in the Marshall Islands (Military Installation), some facilities encourage tropical scrub tops. Is this professional or will nurses get mistaken for the pool staff?

4. Double identification
Color-coded scrubs for nurses have become the rule for many hospitals along with badges that clearly display name and title in BOLD BLACK LETTERS. And yet doctors get to wear jeans on the weekends!

5. Covering up with the professional look
Color-coded scrubs are mandated in certain facilities to convey greater professionalism to patients, only to leave administrators baffled when Press Ganey scores fall subsequent to the policy change. Perhaps policies regarding conduct could also use an overhaul?

6. The “no policy” policy
How about those facilities that have no rules against nurses wearing whatever kind of scrubs and whatever kind of style, no matter how inappropriate the print (cartoon scrubs in the ICU?) or ill-fitting the cut?

Tell us, what’s your workplace’s ridiculous uniform policy?

Learning for Older Adults

Nobody is too old to learn. In fact, keeping your mind active is not only fun, it is beneficial. Research has shown that keeping your mind active may help ward off memory loss and prevent mental decline. Learning helps you to stay connected to your world, both locally and beyond, and when you focus on reading, a hobby, or learning a new subject, you have less time and energy to dwell on problems or worries.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, close to 3% of Americans between the ages of 50 to 70 are participating in continuing education.

If you think you have to “start over” to attend college, think again. More and more colleges and universities provide a curriculum that are specifically designed for people who have passed the traditional undergraduate college age. Many learning institutions display detailed information about their continuing education programs on their websites, along with clear enrollment instructions. Want to attend your alma matter in another area? Search their site online and see if they have a distance learning program for continuing education.

For “The best free cultural & educational media on the web”, visit www.openculture.com. This site has free audio books, 375 free online courses, free movies (from John Wayne to Hitchcock), free language lessons, and more. The featured video when I visited was called “50 Renowned Academics Speaking About God”.

Not the classroom type? No problem! Check out Road Scholar, or www.roadscholar.org, which is an amazing site that you can search and find an “Adventure in Lifelong Learning” for adults of any age. For example, I searched for “History & Culture” at any location and was provided with almost 250 different programs. One of the results was in New York City called “Five Days, Five Boroughs” and cost approximately $1200-$1800 and that included 13 meals, 5 nights at a hotel, instructors, field trips/excursions, transportation, tips and taxes. You also can search by location, interest, activity level, date or select categories such as International, Adventures Afloat or Small Groups. They offer over 7,000 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries.
Road Scholar offers scholarships, via donations, to help those who need help with the cost of their programs.