Categoría: Influencers

BALTIMORE, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) in hospitalized patients can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, prolonged length of hospital stay, or even death. A researcher at the VA Maryland Health Care System, conducted the first investigational study of insulin-treated patients with Type 2 diabetes to see if the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices can prevent hypoglycemia in inpatients on medical units. Dr Ilias (Elias) Spanakis, a physician and researcher at the VA Maryland Heath Care System and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the study’s principle investigator, used continuous glucose monitoring devices in the first randomized two-year clinical trial that included 72 patients and found that this intervention reduced the number of hypoglycemic events inpatients suffered. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices in the hospital setting and this trial offers the first evidence of their efficacy. Study findings will be published in the forthcoming issue of peer-reviewed journal Diabetes Care in an article titled, «Reducing inpatient hypoglycemia in the general wards using real-time DEXCOM CGM – the Glucose Telemetry system: A randomized clinical trial.» The article is available at this link: https://care.diabetesjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.2337/dc20-0840

«Typically, glucose monitoring relies on point-of-care finger sticks which must happen frequently to prevent adverse events in patients with diabetes,» said Dr. Thomas J. Hornyak, associate chief of staff for Research and Development at the VA Maryland Heath Care System. «Dr. Spanakis’ study demonstrates that glucose levels can be monitored more frequently and efficiently. Also, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, use of the continuous glucose monitoring systems proved to be prescient, showing a decrease in hypoglycemia while also safeguarding health care providers caring for virus-positive patients with diabetes.»

In addition to Spanakis, an eight-member interdisciplinary team, which included Dr. Lakshmi G. Singh, Dr. Medha Satyarengga, Dr. Isabel Marcano, Dr. William H. Scott, Lillian F. Pinault, Zhaoyong Feng, Dr. John D. Sorkin, and Dr. Guillermo E. Umpierrez, sought to explore ways to reduce hypoglycemia and increase patient safety. The purpose of the trial was to explore if continuous glucose monitoring devices combined with a simplified hypoglycemia prevention protocol could reduce hypoglycemic events in patients predisposed to such. For the study, the patients were divided into two groups, 36 monitored remotely with continuous glucose monitoring devices and 36 monitored via traditional point-of-care finger stick testing; patients in the continuous glucose monitoring group experienced fewer episodes of hypoglycemia, a condition leading to seizures, comas, arrhythmias, increased lengths of hospital stays, and death.

«Studies have indicated that insulin use in hospitalized patients with diabetes predisposes them to hypoglycemia, a condition that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Preventing hypoglycemia requires intensive glucose monitoring. Frequent point-of-care finger sticks with a goal to monitor closely glucose levels is not easy as this approach may be painful and surveillance of these patients in a busy hospital environment may increase nursing workload,» Spanakis said.

The continuous glucose monitoring devices check glucose levels every five minutes and transmit the results to a centralized monitoring device (i.e. tablet) at the nurses’ station, where alerts would sound when a patient’s glucose levels started to decrease and approach dangerous levels. Nurses responding to alerts, could then take corrective actions, preventing a hypoglycemic event. Although not tested in COVID-19 subjects, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, an unexpected benefit of using these devices included the monitoring of glucose levels of COVID-19 positive patients remotely while safeguarding health care providers by eliminating entry to patients’ rooms for obtaining point-of-care finger stick glucose testing.

Diabetes Care is the official journal of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) ranking fourth in its impact in the areas of endocrinology and metabolism for the health care practitioner intended to increase knowledge, stimulate research, and promote better management of people with diabetes. Diabetes Care publishes original research on human studies in the following categories: Clinical Care/Education/Nutrition, Psychosocial Research,

Epidemiology/Health Services Research, Emerging Treatments and Technologies, Pathophysiology/Complications, and Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk. The journal also publishes ADA statements, consensus reports, clinically relevant review articles, letters to the editor, and health/medical news or points of view. Topics covered are of interest to clinically oriented physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, psychologists, diabetes educators, and other health professionals.

MEDIA NOTE: To interview Dr. Ilias (Elias) Spanakis contact Rosalia Scalia at Rosalia.scalia@va.gov, or by calling 410-736-8444.

The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at three medical centers and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans’ health care, research and education. It costs nothing for veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a veteran can do. To enroll for VA health care, interested veterans can call 877-222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or they can visit http://www.va.gov and clinic on «Apply now for VA health care.»

 

SOURCE VA Maryland Health Care System

BALTIMORE, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 250,000 Americans have investigated moving to New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Herald. In June, for instance, searches were up 160% compared to June 2019.

International Living reports that its «How to Move Out of the U.S.» page has seen a surge of 504.97% in traffic since the end of May 2020.

Firms that help clients get second passports say they’re seeing a significant uptick in interest in their services.

Clearly, Americans are looking at ways to escape.

Some are frustrated with the current political climate in the U.S.. Others want to go where the public-health situation seems more sound. Still others are worried about the dwindling attractiveness of the U.S. passport and curious about how they can gain more travel flexibility through dual citizenship.

With job losses into the millions, some folks are looking for places where they can lower their cost of living. For others, new «remote working» flexibility has them thinking that if they can work from home, home might as well be at a beach. In the right spots overseas, that beach can prove remarkably affordable.

«English-speaking New Zealand, which has been in the news lately for its positive handling of the pandemic, seems an obvious place to start,» says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, International Living. «However—it’s relatively expensive, far away, and has very strict and hard-to-satisfy immigration rules.

«Other options can make more sense—places that are closer, lower cost, and have easier-to-meet visa requirements—but which are also friendly, safe, welcoming locales where it’s pretty easy to settle in as an expat.

«In a place like Costa Rica, for instance, lots of people speak English as it’s taught in the schools from a young age, well-established expat communities make settling in easy, your dollars really stretch (a budget from as low as $1,500 can bankroll a comfortable life for a couple), and three good visa options make it relatively easy to gain residence there.»

International Living’s editors have highlighted countries that make good sense to consider from the perspective of value and ease of settling in: Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland, Uruguay, and Portugal.

Costa Rica

A perennial front-runner in International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index, Costa Rica’s political stability and low-key profile are proving to be increasingly strong draws for expats.

Of course, there’s no lack of drama in Costa Rica’s landscape—you’ve got jaw-dropping expanses of coast, jungles rich with everything from spider monkeys and sloths to scarlet macaws and quetzals, gorgeous lakes and volcanic valleys.

Although just the size of West Virginia, the country has two major international airports, typically with daily flights on every North American airline from major gateway cities. With that ease of travel, it is convenient to get back home for special occasions or easily receive visitors.

Ticos (the moniker Costa Ricans give themselves) have established one of the world’s most stable democracies. The country dissolved its standing army in 1949 and the reallocated funds are spent on education, healthcare, and pensions instead of the military.

«I had the travel bug from an early age, from studying overseas to extended vacations with my family, and I really wanted to embrace a new culture,» says Kathleen Evans, IL Costa Rica Correspondent who moved to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. «My husband, Steve, and I, read International Living magazine diligently, and whenever we traveled, we checked out the various countries it mentioned.

«We made a list of criteria about what’s important to us and what we want our new home country to be like—I wanted to hear and see the ocean every day, I never wanted to wear a coat again and we also wanted a country with a stable democracy and an educated population close to home in the U.S. Over time, checking various countries, we kept coming back to Costa Rica and we realized that it checked every possible box for us.»

English is taught in schools in Costa Rica from a young age, so while it’s helpful to know Spanish, lots of expats get by on just the basics, as most locals speak some English—and in tourist towns, there’s a lot spoken. With plenty of well-established expat communities, Costa Rica is a relatively easy place for Americans to settle in.

Tourists can stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa, and longer stays are easy enough to arrange. If you plan to live in Costa Rica long term it is best to seek residence—The Pensionado Program and The Rentista Program are more popular visa options.

A couple a can live well in Costa Rica’s cooler-weather Central Valley in a town like Atenas, for instance, from $1,518 a month.

Belize

Recent figures release but the International Living data-analytics team reveal the company seeing a monstrous 798.01% increase in traffic to its «Move to Belize» page since May 2020.

There are good reasons for the growth of the retirement haven’s popularity, one being is its language. As a British Commonwealth country, English is the primary language, making it easy for expats to transition. In fact, Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its main language, and that goes for its islands, too.

And it may come as a surprise, but moving to Belize is easy—U.S. currency is accepted, credit cards are widely used, and well-known U.S. brands are available too; they’re expensive, but substitutes are easy to find.

Belize is a barefoot nirvana. It’s hard to put its charm into words, but the best description might include the phrase «rustic paradise.»

From its secluded beaches to its steamy rain forests, Belize is a country of diverse natural beauty. Its slow pace of life makes it a popular tourist destination, and the cost of living remains low. For the more adventurous traveler, activities can include a trek into the jungle in search of Maya ruins, spotting parrots, toucans, and maybe even a jaguar along the way.

Laura Diffendal, IL Belize Correspondent, moved to Belize in 2014 from Cleveland, Ohio. «The Belizean culture, I found, is somewhat like the Midwest culture that I came from,» she says.

«There’s a lot of value placed on hard work, modesty, grit, resilience, and leaving things better than you found it. I spend most of my time right now on the island of Ambergris Caye, which is known as the very fun, energetic Jimmy Buffett Island. And I also spend time in Placencia which is sort of a quieter, bohemian place, much calmer and much less crowded, a lot more like tranquil, open beaches.»

Belize requires visitors to have sufficient funds to support themselves, a return ticket, and a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival. As a citizen of the U.S. or Canada you can stay in Belize for up to one month without a visa. If you want to stay longer you’ll need to go to the Immigration office for an updated visitor’s permit or tourist stamp. If you can show proof of long-term renting or other documents showing why you are staying in the country, you can be granted a 60 day or a 90 day permit.

Many expats apply for permanent residence in Belize. The primary reason is that as a resident you can work in Belize without needing a work permit. Having your residence also makes it easy to travel in and out of the country.

You must live in Belize for 50 consecutive weeks before you can apply for permanent residence. To do this, enter the country on a tourist visa and then renew your visa every 30 days until you reach 50 weeks. At that point, you can submit your application for permanent residence. It can take a few years to receive approval and your residence card.

A couple living and renting on Ambergris Caye can live well on a monthly budget from $2,875.

Ireland

The island of Ireland sits in the north Atlantic Ocean. Even if you have no familial ties to Ireland, you’ve likely heard plenty about what this small island nation has to offer: the stunning beauty of its dramatic coastlines, crumbling castles…a rich culture of music, dance, and literature…and warm, witty, friendly people.

The whole nation—but particularly the countryside—takes a small-town approach to life. Everyone in Ireland speaks English (even in the few Irish-speaking areas). The Irish are friendly, hospitable people. It may be a cliché, but it’s true—the literal translation of «hello» in Irish is «a hundred thousand welcomes to you.»

Living here, you don’t have to make a hard choice between seascapes and mountains, between tranquil lake lands or verdant river valleys. Ireland has them all.

Ireland is small. In most towns and villages, you’re never too far from the ocean, from golden beaches swept clean by rolling Atlantic waves, the views of mysterious smaller islands shimmering offshore, and quaint harbor towns with their hand-painted shop fronts and color-washed cottages.

And Ireland is a key player for folks who want to explore Europe, thanks to the island being outside the Schengen Zone. That means that a trip to the Emerald Isle (or another country outside the Schengen Zone, such as Cyprus or Croatia) for under 90 days, stops the clock on their EU tourist visa—allowing travelers to pick up where they left off when they return to the Zone.

On a monthly budget of $2,762 to $2,806 a couple can enjoy a coastal retirement in a community like Waterford.

Uruguay

Uruguay is a small country on the east coast of South America. It is also among the top countries in the region when it comes to infrastructure. Here, you’ll find the best overall road system, the most reliable electrical grid, and one of the fastest overall internet speeds in Latin America. You’ll also find quality medical care, safe drinking water, and good public transportation.

The country’s interior is part of the South American Pampas used for cattle grazing and farming. On Uruguay’s coast, you find beautiful sand beaches popular with vacationers. Most expats are attracted to Uruguay for its tranquilo (calm) lifestyle—a healthy, stress-free approach to living.

Even though Uruguay is a small country, it offers a variety of lifestyle options. Choose among places like Punta del Este, the continent’s most sophisticated beach resort; La Paloma, a small beach town on the Atlantic coast; a small farm or rural town in Uruguay’s countryside or Montevideo, the capital city with an active cultural scene.

Montevideo, a coastal city on the Rio de la Plata, is a place where the traditional and the modern weave together to form a sophisticated European-style regime. It is one of the most diverse and sophisticated cities in South America. From its Old World theaters and opera houses, to its jazz festivals and exquisite restaurants, Montevideo looks and feels like modern Europe.

The city has many large parks, plazas, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches, and wide avenues. The «rambla»—the promenade that runs the full length of Montevideo’s seven-mile coastline—provides a long-paved strip ideal for walking, running, and bicycling.

«The people in Montevideo take their leisure fishing from the rambla, chatting with friends in plazas and cafés, and browsing in outdoor markets,» says David Hammond, IL Uruguay Correspondent. «The Uruguayan people are generally calm, laidback and tend to show patience, which adds to the relaxed feeling of the country.»

You can stay in the country for 90 days at a time as often as you like. And for a small fee, a tourist visa can often be renewed, for stays of 180 days at a time. However, if you are thinking longer-term, becoming a permanent resident enables you to live in Uruguay full time, make Uruguay your home country, get a job, or start a business in Uruguay. One of the benefits of Uruguay residency is the ability to import your home furnishings and household goods duty free during the residency approval process.

Two people can live in Montevideo on $3,200 a month, renting a one-bedroom, furnished apartment in Pocitos, the most popular expat neighborhood in the city.

Portugal

«Safety, quality affordable healthcare, a relaxing lifestyle, a rich history and culture, savory cuisine, geographic diversity—you’ll discover all these elements in Portugal—on about a third of your current budget,» says expat Tricia Pimental. «I know. It’s where I’ve spent the past seven years and I love it.

«Portugal offers so much to retirees. Expats typically find their expenses in Portugal run about one-third of what they were in the States. Even with a fluctuating exchange rate, we still live a comfortable, although not extravagant, lifestyle for about $2,500 a month,» Tricia says. «If you choose to live in Porto in the north, Lisbon, or in the expat havens of Cascais or the Algarve, you probably want to bump that up to $3,000.

«Rental and housing markets offer fairly diverse options. Naturally it is more expensive in prime areas like Lisbon and its environs and in the southern region of the Algarve. But by simply searching within 20 minutes of a specific town, you can find a gem that fits your budget,» says Tricia. «If you’re looking for land and a ‘get away from it all’ lifestyle, there are plenty of opportunities to invest and enjoy the breathtaking countryside Portugal is famous for.»

As a retirement destination, Portugal is simply fantastic—but it is also a top destination for digital nomads.

«Since the late 2000’s, Portugal has been implementing a plan to develop a preeminent, state-of-the-art infrastructure,» says Tricia. «That’s evidenced by one of the highest per capita fiber optic networks in Europe, and also what is arguably the most modern highway system, per mile driven, in all of Europe. The speed of this development has attracted international high-tech firms, even luring the Web Summit a few years ago from its home in Ireland to a ten-year contract in Lisbon.»

A visa is not required for tourist visits to Portugal for a period of up to 90 days for U.S. and Canadian citizens. However, note that your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry into Portugal. If you wish to stay in Portugal for longer than the tourist limit of 90 days out of every 180 days, then you should look into getting a residence visa. There are several types of visas available, including visas for students, the self-employed, and investors. Portugal also offers a so-called Golden Visa for high net-worth individuals.

Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com

Further information, as well as interviews with our experts for radio, TV or print, are available on request. Photos are also available.

For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, mkelly@internationalliving.com
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About International Living

Since 1979, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has contributors traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.

 

SOURCE InternationalLiving.com

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Known for buffet-style dining, Furr’s™ is reopening restaurants with new service concepts to cater to their customers and the current climate spurred by the coronavirus. The AYCE Marketplace™ concept— All You Can Eat Without Leaving Your Seat™— meets COVID-19 safety measures, while allowing the brand to continue serving on freshness, quality, innovation, and convenience. ToGoKitchens.com™, commonly known as ghost kitchens, are also being added to AYCE Marketplace locations.

«Like many other businesses, we’ve had to shift our focus and vision of service. The pandemic has affected everyone around the globe,» said Marketing Manager Misty Moren. «With employees and guests being our top priority, we had to come together as a team and figure out how we can safely and successfully move forward, all while staying attuned to the new operational regulations and the fact that we’re in an ever-changing situation with the pandemic. Our priority is to protect our guests and our team members, while still being able to offer the top-notch service and food that our guests expect.»

AYCE Marketplace has launched in 11 locations and will be unveiled in other markets as permitted by local reopening procedures. The new AYCE Marketplace will continue to offer all-you-can-eat but elevated with table service. Guests will now have food served directly to their tables, so they do not need to leave their seats. Guest’s favorite menu offerings still taste better than ever, with some seasonal favorites from our other brands sprinkled on the menu throughout the year. Guests may order individual meals and family meals. Menu selections and prices will vary by location.

The New AYCE Marketplace will also unveil a new shopping component, featuring freshly prepared and packaged hot and chilled foods to-go, pre-cooked and cooked bulk sides and meals, and dry goods available for purchase. Customers may pick up fresh milk, vegetables, and other grocery essentials. Refrigerated foods will include suggested heating instructions so fans may enjoy their favorites at their convenience and in the comfort of their homes.

Moren added, «As people are more conscious of their trips outside of their homes, we’ve developed a one-stop-shop for them to pick up delicious hot or cold meals plus other goods they may need and use in their kitchens. These shifts in service allow us to maintain our commitments to convenience and innovation while also offering our employees an opportunity to return to work.»

We are excited to introduce our new TogoKitchens.com concept that will bring new locations of everyone’s favorite brands for takeout and delivery to areas across the country.  With three sites open and 30+ locations opening in about 90 days, TogoKitchens.com will provide delivery or takeout orders from Zio’s Italian Kitchen™, Sushi Zushi™, Tahoe Joe’s™, Hops Wings & Burger Bar™ and Don Pablo’s Cantina™.  

«These unprecedented times have inspired team VitaNova Brands™ to work together and challenged us to create new and exciting ways to enjoy our food and the friendly team members,» Moren said. «Adding TogoKitchens.com is just another way for guests to enjoy our food, even if it may have never been available in their area previously, from the comfort of their own home.» 

The AYCE Marketplaces will offer dine-in service as regulated by CDC and local guidelines, to-go, and curbside pickup. Hours of operation vary by location but will mostly remain the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic unless otherwise determined by local governments. For more information about the AYCE Marketplace, including restaurant locations, visit www.AYCEMarketplace.com, www.togokitchens.com or www.vitanovabrands.com 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Victoria Segovia
786-327-8125
victoria@inklinkmarketing.com 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/furrs-reopens-with-launch-of-ayce-marketplace-and-introduces-new-togokitchenscom-concept-301106221.html

SOURCE Furr’s AYCE Marketplace

AURORA, Colo., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In preparation for the return to school this fall Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) has released a guide for how schools, parents and caregivers, and local public health officials can effectively manage students and staff with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to people with symptoms. Recommendations were informed by Children’s Colorado infectious diseases experts who have helped lead the response to COVID-19.

The Guidelines for Managing COVID-19 with Schools Reopening is available on the Children’s Colorado website, along with the previously released guide and Charting Pediatrics podcast designed to help school administrators and board members determine how they can most safely re-open their schools for in-person learning. These materials provide considerations and recommendations based on the most current COVID-19 medical guidelines.

«As we continue to move through these challenging times where increasing cases of COVID-19 impact our ability to plan for a safe return to school, it remains critical to build a thoughtful approach to supporting student, staff and family safety, while recognizing the long list of rich benefits associated with in-person learning,» said Heidi Baskfield, vice president of Population Health and Advocacy at Children’s Colorado. «Our goal is that schools, parents and local public health partners can use this document to develop successful plans to support appropriate levels of in-person learning, while preserving the flexibility of all of our partners to address their own localized needs.»

The Children’s Colorado protocols clarify definitions for exposure, symptoms, testing, isolation and quarantine and also urge schools to have a clearly agreed upon screening process in place to help ensure that sick students and staff don’t come to school.

The guide then addresses what happens when someone has symptoms or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms with scenarios for when to stay home and/or contact the school, when to get a test, how to monitor and identify symptoms, when to isolate, and how to plan for a safe return to school. Scenarios include:

• Scenario 1: What happens when a student, staff or family member experiences COVID-19 symptoms?
• Scenario 2: What happens when someone doesn’t experience symptoms until they are at school?
• Scenario 3: What happens when a person is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
• Scenario 4: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 but doesn’t experience symptoms?
• Scenario 5: What happens when a student or staff person is asymptomatic but has been exposed to someone who has symptoms and who hasn’t gotten test results?
• Scenario 6: What happens when someone is exposed to someone who is exposed to someone who tested positive with COVID-19 (two layers removed)?

«It is important to remember that schools’ ability to safely engage in re-opening for in-person learning is directly tied to the circulation of COVID-19 within a community. When a community is consistently engaged in safe practices like social distancing and wearing face coverings, it is more likely that community can support a safe return to school,» said Sam Dominguez, MD, infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

In addition, Children’s Colorado medical experts continue to lead regular School Town Halls that provide real-time data, support, and evidence-based, pediatric-focused guidance on managing kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children’s Colorado has a robust School Health team that provides school nurses and health services in seven Colorado school districts, 34 charter schools, 16 private schools and 100 preschools and camps. 

About Children’s Hospital Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado is one of the nation’s leading and most expansive pediatric healthcare systems with a mission to improve the health of children through patient care, education, research and advocacy. Founded in 1908 and recognized as a top 10 children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Colorado has established itself as a pioneer in the discovery of innovative and groundbreaking treatments that are shaping the future of pediatric healthcare worldwide. Children’s Colorado offers a full spectrum of family-centered care at its urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Colorado, including its location on the Anschutz Medical Campus, and across the region. In 2019, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, opened as the first pediatric-only hospital in southern Colorado. For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. 

Children’s Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-720-777-9800.

CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-720-777-9800.

http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557 

Media Contact:
Jaime Berg, 720-777-8713
jaime.berg@childrenscolorado.org 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/childrens-hospital-colorado-releases-updated-guidelines-for-parents-and-school-officials-to-manage-covid-19-and-in-school-learning-301106683.html

SOURCE Children’s Hospital Colorado

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — iClicker, a Macmillan Learning Company, announced today a new partnership with Perusall, the interactive, digital content company to address two of the most pressing concerns for higher education in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: student engagement and affordability.

According to an Inside Higher Education study, higher education faculty are most concerned with ensuring student engagement in virtual learning environments, and the potential for online classes to have an inequitable impact on underrepresented students. The study revealed 87% of respondents are concerned over the impact of virtual classes on students from low-income backgrounds and 77% view the ability to maintain student engagement when teaching online as ‘somewhat challenging’ to ‘very challenging’.

Instructors can use iClicker to take attendance, facilitate active learning and complete in-class quizzes using mobile devices or iClicker remotes. iClicker was developed by teaching professors and is currently used at more than 1,200 institutions by more than 5,000 instructors and more than 10 million students.

«Student engagement is in both iClicker and Perusall’s DNA, as both were created by educators who are recognized as leaders in researching and using active learning and peer instruction methodologies. This new partnership will help make iClicker’s polling, quizzing and assignments even more accessible with Perusall’s content engagement platform and will ultimately support deeper learning, wherever it happens,» said Steven Ray, Vice President of Macmillan Learning Institutional Solutions.

The iClicker and Perusall partnership will make it even easier to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and deep content engagement in virtual environments, at an affordable price. There is early proof that the partnership can help foster deep connections with content and peers in an online learning environment. Last spring, amid the outbreak of COVID-19 that demanded a quick pivot to teaching virtually, University of Louisville Psychology Professor Edna Ross, PhD, used Perusall and iClicker to deliver the same active, peer-to-peer learning methodologies she has become known for delivering in her face-to-face classes.

«Before iClicker, it was very difficult to get input from all of my students and before Perusall it was a struggle to get students to read the material,» explains Ross. «Once class moved online due to COVID-19, students in my class quickly found a rhythm of beginning discussions with Perusall asynchronously and then responding with iClicker questions during synchronous sessions to dive deeper into opinions in class. Using both together really impacted learning and engagement for the entire class.»

The partnership will enable Perusall customers to purchase access to iClicker’s student mobile app at a discounted price, delivering course content and engagement capabilities to support deep learning in both synchronous and asynchronous learning methodologies common in online courses.

«We are excited to partner with iClicker to combine our affordable, digital learning solutions to help students engage more fully with the course content and one another. With so many courses needing to move online this fall, this is important now more than ever,» said Brian Lukoff, Perusall co-founder and CEO.

Click here for more information on how iClicker and Perusall are being used at University of Louisville.

About Macmillan Learning
Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes.. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or or join our Macmillan Community.

About Perusall
Perusall is a free social learning platform that delivers reading and video assignments to students before they come to class. The platform incorporates content delivery with collaborative annotation tools to ensure students read more, come to class prepared, and are more engaged in the learning experience, enabling instructors to teach more effectively. Automated reports document where students struggle the most to understand course content, allowing instructors to specifically address these issues in class. More than 500,000 students at over 2,000 educational institutions in 75+ countries use Perusall. To learn more visit http://www.perusall.com.

 

SOURCE iClicker

ELKHART, Ind., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Mennonite Church USA — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), a historic peace church that actively practices biblically-based peace, justice and nonresistance, has issued a call to white people to engage in anti-racism work in the United States and across the world. In an open letter to the denomination, Michael Danner, MC USA’s associate executive director of Church Vitality, invites his fellow white Christians to «engage in proactive, deliberate efforts to oppose and dismantle racism in all of its forms.»

Danner’s letter examines Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation across racial division as central to the work of being God’s people – and separate from political agendas and «popular notions of social justice.» Acknowledging that anti-racism work must occur on an individual and systemic basis, Danner urges white people to specifically take responsibility for examining their own biases, learning to recognize systemic racism and working as people of faith to ensure racial justice.

«Our denomination’s position against racism isn’t new,» said Glen Guyton, MC USA’s first African American executive director and one of its anti-racism trainers. «As a denomination, country and global community, we must move beyond making statements to long-term actions that yield positive results.»

Danner’s letter is a follow up to the denomination’s webinar series, Race, Church & Change. Led by a diverse team of church leaders and centering the voices of people of color, the series addressed questions, including «What role does racial healing and reconciliation play in being anti-racist?» «How do we begin a conversation about white supremacy?» and «What would it look like for congregations to practice racial reparations?»

MC USA also launched an anti-racism resource section within its new website today. The resource portal is designed to meet people where they are in their anti-racism journey.

Danner’s letter joins the voices of other Mennonites who are contributing to an ongoing blog series on the denomination’s website on what it means to do the work of anti-racism, recognize injustice and protest against it.

The denomination also recently launched a Justice Fund to «provide a way for individuals and congregations to support MC USA churches that are actively involved in dismantling racism, addressing police brutality, reimagining policing in our society or combating poverty.»

Mennonite Church USA is the largest Mennonite denomination in the United States with 16 conferences, approximately 530 congregations and 62,000 members.

Editorial Contact: Wil LaVeist, Chief Communication Officer, Mennonite Church USA, WilL@MennoniteMission.net, (574) 523-3077

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SOURCE Mennonite Church USA