Health News

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Health Savings Accounts Have More to Offer Than You Think

by MARY TOOTHMAN As the number of people with high-deductible health insurance plans continues to rise, the option of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) — created to help handle out-of-pocket expenses — is likely to attract more interest. An HSA can be funded with pre-tax money, allowing for $3,400 for individual and $6,750 for families annually…
Filling a Need

Polk State College Program Fights Nursing Shortage by JULIE GMITTER photos PROVIDED BY POLK STATE COLLEGE Advances in technology have revolutionized our world and few industries are unchanged by these advances. The healthcare industry is no exception. As a result of these advances in technology, some industries have become completely obsolete, whether the jobs have…
Primed for the Future

Project SEARCH Puts Students With Disabilities on Track for Career Success by TERESA SCHIFFER photos PROVIDED BY Project SEARCH Finding a job fresh out of high school is a challenge for anyone. For young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, those challenges multiply. Fortunately, there is a program to help these young people get the…

Publisher’s Note: Accidents, Emergencies, and Illnesses Happen Every Day

In this edition of Central Florida Health News magazine, we wanted to put the spotlight on the people who care for medical emergencies. In the five stories you’re about to read, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to work in an ER department, and the kind of skills that are needed to do…
Medical Advice: ESF8 Health and Medical Coalition: Creating bonds that strengthen disaster response

The world can be a dangerous place. There are natural disasters such as hurricanes, man-made disasters such as bioterrorism, and infectious disease outbreaks such as H1N1. When it comes to preparing and managing for these incidents and/or outbreaks, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) is equipped with one of the county’s most…
PCMA Letter: Counting our blessings

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches and swiftly thereafter we will be swung into the hectic pace of the holiday season, now is the best time to count our blessings. At this time of year, we should try to show our gratitude to our loved ones and friends who support us through thick and thin. For those…