China Pulse is Commercial Service China’s official e-newsletter, highlighting latest business news, exciting export opportunities, and inside strategies to help you maximize your success in the China market.No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. Edmund BurkeA Burke quote was used in a comment in Holly's thread, and I remembered the name of an old TV show that was on late at night when I was on the coast a while back, hence the title. I like the thumbnail philosophy, it makes everything seem black and white (like a 1963 cop show?)
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
If the blog is squashed by a lawsuit, does that really reassure the public? All it shows is that a large corporation can step on an individual.
There actually have been positive changes, merit raises coming back, bonuses(!!!?), and the like. Would that have happened without outside influence?
Would you like to know what I would really like to have happen?
A sliding ceiling for pay(based on inflation)--so that you can have a
possiblility of a cost-of-living raise, no matter if you're topped out.A suggestion review committee comprised of staff and administration...50/50.
An inscentive program for the suggestions. If it saves money, a percentage goes to the person that suggested the idea.
More PRN staff hired. There is a slight hike in overhead, but it would allow the phase down the agency and temp personnel.
ev3 Inks Deal for FoxHollow
By Elizabeth Trotta
Staff Reporter
7/23/2007 12:23 PM EDT
Medical device companies ev3 (EVVV - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and FoxHollow Technologies (FOXH - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) climbed Monday after announcing a merger that will create a $1.7 billion company.
Under the $780 million deal, FoxHollow stockholders will receive 1.45 shares of ev3 common stock in addition to $2.75 in cash for each share. That represents total consideration of $25.92 a share, based on the July 20 closing prices. The price represents a premium of more than 20% premium to the 30-day average trading price for FoxHollow's shares.
Redwood City, Calif.-based FoxHollow specializes in medical devices primarily for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and other cardiovascular disease, while ev3, of Plymouth, Minn., focuses on minimally invasive technologies for vascular diseases and disorders.
"The combined company will enhance our aggressive market building activities and accelerate our clinical and research and development initiatives in this market," said John Simpson, chief executive of FoxHollow.
The merged company will be owned 59% by ev3 shareholders and 41% by FoxHollow shareholders. Jim Corbett, chief executive of ev3, will serve as chairman and chief executive of the merged company, and Simpson will serve as vice chairman and chief scientist.
Looking ahead, the companies project annual cost savings of more than $40 million from the merger. They anticipate net sales in the range of $585 million to $615 million in 2008, and adjusted earnings of 60 cents to 70 cents a share in 2008 and 90 cents to $1.10 a share in 2009.
When a company is setting up for a merger/IPO/sale, they try to make the best possible impression on the books. Holly's plight might have happened during "sweeps" week. Most people are aware of media "sweeps"--the period in which the popularity of shows/stations/networks is rated. Well, prior to a merger, they have their own version. You maximize your balance sheet to get the best rate in a stock exchange. Dick's push might have coincided with their downsizing of employees to optimize the ledger.
Fellow blogger Anita Campbell (not pictured) who writes all about Small Business Trends has an interesting post on micro-multinational businesses going global right from the start. I refer to it as born global. Check it out here. What's your take on it?
...all too often the blame for errors targets individual Medical staff while facilities indulge in perpetrating a systemically dangerous treatment environment with “Deliberate Negligent Understaffing.”
Fewer staff mean fewer overheads and capping malpractice payout will just make this policy more financially viable. Hospitals are very rarely held accountable for creating unsafe conditions with exhausted, overstretched Nursing staff and poor hygiene from minimal, poorly trained cleaning staff.
Anyone we know?????
65-year-old Leonard Liu is a rare breed of entrepreneur.
Interesting. Some companies just want to stay a certain size and become exceptional at what they do versus extend themselves too far -- say go global -- and not compete or sustain very well locally or globally for that matter. Here are two compelling snapshots taken from the article:Although the latest US Census Bureau statistics for small businesses in Erie County don’t specify whether they are locally owned, the data shows that 94 percent of the more than 27,000 businesses in the Buffalo Niagara region have fewer than 50 employees and a little less than half of those businesses have between one and four workers.And another:
Supporting small-scale local business does not necessarily mean shunning larger or non-local ones, he adds. The BALLE philosophy, for instance, acknowledges that it’s often very difficult to know how (and where) to shop locally, and certain goods, like tropical produce or auto parts, must be imported. Instead, BALLE supports a balance between large and small, global and local, but in a way that puts the local owners on a more even playing field. It goes back to the multiplier, says Shuman. “The more times a dollar circulates within a defined geographic area and the faster it circulates without leaving that area, the more income, wealth, and jobs it generates.”See what you think -- article is here -- and I welcome your comments.
Everybody is focusing on going global these days. Looks like we are on to something!
"Also, I don't believe that the way to improve employee satisfaction is to hire more staff to reduce individual responsibility, accountability or work load. Rather, I believe higher satisfaction will be achieved through providing employees with greater responsibility, accountability and authority to perform meaningful and purposeful work that makes a positive difference in the lives of both the patients and employees".
Sign the papers, old man!
I cannot sign the papers (whimper)....
And why can you not sign the papers?!?!
I cannot sign the papers because you have broken all my fingers.....
"Either innocently or purposefully, entities often use this as an excuse," she said. "They say 'HIPAA made me do it' when, in fact, they chose for other reasons not to make the permitted disclosures."
One other thing occurs to me: If the court can compel Suddenlink to forgo their confidentiality agreement, why can't they do that with the non-disclosure agreements with former Essent employees???? They are as germaine to the respondent case as the Suddenlink records are to the complainant.
Thinking of exporting or expanding into new markets? It's a great time to get started! Ninety-six percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States and free trade agreements are opening new markets for U.S. businesses everyday. 
Tools for global managers. Tools for global team members. Tools for business travelers. Tools for international assignees. Did I leave anything out? 
I was taken into surgery from ICU with my blood pressure so low that I could have died already. Obviously, they had to send me back to ICU with the plug still in my groin (without doing the surgery) that never stays in very long but they kept it in me for over 24 hours. I have photos of the bruises it caused. Two dinner plates wouldn't cover them up.
They would give NO information to anyone here in Paris about my condition because my family is all in Houston. The one contact I had here to notify my family was not allowed any knowledge execpt that I was "stable" At one point she was not even allowed into ICU to see me even during visiting hours. We could see why later.
She has since become my 'sister' in the event I am unlucky enough to have to go back to that hospital. I am telling you that it was a nightmare. Sue me if you want to but stop trying to kill me.
I just sent an email to the "Electronic Frontier Foundation" to find out why they haven't involved themselves and their counsel in this bogus litigation.
Hopefully you will receive help from them.It seems that Essent Healthcare bringing this to court is only focusing attention to your cause. Had they just left "well enough" alone I would never had heard of this situation but now the whole IT world knows about it.
Congratulations Essent you just stepped in your own "puddle".
Doctor Rowland,
I understand your concern, and perspective. When you practiced medicine at PRMC, it was St. Joseph's, the sisters were still here, and it was a more gentele climate. We could make suggestions, and they were considered. One had the feeling that there was a heart beating in administration.
That has changed.
I'm glad your procedure went well and that your experience was good. A lot of staff were made aware of who you are. That's not to say that someone else wouldn't experience the same level of consideration...or is it?
Hopefully they would.
Interesting post by Michael Hugos in Best Practices for CIO ...My colleagues and I are leaving today to do a 30-Day Blitz in India. The blitz we launched in May with a global electronics and software company was a real success and they’ve decided to follow it up with a sequence of three more blitzes, one at their development center in Hyderabad and two more in the States.Find out why Michael has butterflies in his stomach and what's in store for him in India, here.
I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. My mind is racing with questions and concerns about how things will work out. The last time I was in India I was seven years old; my father was there on business and my family and I spent a month in New Delhi. India made a strong impression on me then and ever since it has always been an iconic place, evoking images of history and mystery. Now my work is bringing me back.
Trusted MD was kind of interesting, always liked the play, Inherit the Wind...just not the ending.Healthcare providers over zealous in HIPAA interpretation. A problem we seem to have. It's a bit paranoid, but no one wants the fines, so says the New York Times:"Now about the HIPAA and breach of contract claims:
These of course could be more serious - if they were real. As far as HIPAA goes I have not seen what the real breach of patient confidentiality is here. HIPAA is always bandied around as an excuse for just about anything, but only a handful of cases (really flagrant ones) went anywhere. Regarding business confidentiality, maybe there is a legal case here, but leaks occur in every large organization every day and as Hewlett-Packard boardroom saga has shown trying to fight them too hard could really boomerang back at you. "
"Experts say many providers do not understand the law, have not trained their staff members to apply it judiciously, or are fearful of the threat of fines and jail terms — although no penalty has been levied in four years. "
In a related article in the Times, Susan McAndrew, deputy director for health information privacy in the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, was interviewed on the subject of sharing information under the Hipaa law.
And, of course, the Computerworld article that seems to have frozen their server (a temporary thing.) A comment:
"HIPAA Horsepucky
Submitted by Not a Friend of Bill
& Hill on July 5, 2007 - 13:23.
reply
report this comment
Rated: 10
They are hiding behind the skirts of HIPAA as many health care idiots do. The sad thing is the judge didn't appear to understand, and worse didn't get anyone to help him understand what HIPAA exactly means."
Keeping an eye on practical ideas for global prosperity.
reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
where Essent has assets) is FBI- Sherman.
I have practiced in Paris for over 25 years, and had offers to practice in Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans. I am not from here, so my reasons for locating here were not due to any family ties, etc. I came here because of the remarkable quality of the medical staff that I found here and the presence of two medical centers that provided over 60 years of superb medical care.(I might add that, at the time, I looked at your home town and found a Quack-run birthing center and a marginal- pass hospital that was controlled by a single physician and his cronies.) That might be behind your decision to look to Tennessee to settle, instead of coming home.
...and the good news just keeps on coming....frankMedicare payments to physicians in 2008 will drop nearly 10% under a proposed rule issued today by the CMS, which projects it will pay $58.9 billion to 900,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals next year.
...from Modernhealthcare.com
In recent years, there's been a seemingly endless boom in offshore outsourcing. But companies that think handing off an operation to an overseas provider is easy can get a rude awakening by reading Seven Myths About Outsourcing.
