Sixty-three high school students in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation advanced to the Indiana State Business Professionals of America (BPA) contest scheduled for March in Indianapolis after qualifying at the district contest this past weekend. If the students place at the state level, they will compete at the national level later this spring.

The students earned the opportunity to advance by competing in the district competition held Saturday, January 11, at Ivy Tech Community College. Students participated in numerous areas, including payroll and fundamental accounting, desktop publishing, spreadsheet analysis, PC serving and troubleshooting and many more. More than 400 students competed at the district event from multiple counties in Southwest Indiana, including Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Knox, Davies and Martin.

Following is a complete list of EVSC students who advanced to state:

The Evansville Design Group announced today that they are accepting applications for the 2014 Design for Good program. Applications can be completed at www.evansvilledesign.org and must be submitted by Monday, February 3, 2014.

The Evansville Design Group’s (EDG) Design for Good program creates an opportunity for local designers to collaborate and positively impact the community by assisting local non-profit organizations with a design project. Past Design for Good recipients include Aurora and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

One non-profit organization will be selected by EDG by February 25, 2014, and they will receive free creative/design services for a project of their choosing. The only restriction is that the organization must be a non-profit and they must be located within the counties of Vanderburgh, Gibson, Posey, or Warrick.

“The Design for Good program was created to assist non-profits with their professional design and branding needs,” said Design for Good Chair Bryan Horstman. “Our goal is to build a design foundation which they will be able to utilize in the future. Design for Good is a fulfilling educational experience for the non-profit as well as for the designers.”

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The Evansville Design Group (EDG) is a non-profit organization intended to promote education, networking, and enrichment within and among the local design community. Through round table discussions, studio tours and presentations, guest lectures, and community involvement, the group and its members are committed to promoting design excellence amongst themselves and in the community.

Today, EDG boasts a growing membership of designers, illustrators, developers, videographers, art directors, educators, and students. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in or an affiliation with design. For more information on the Evansville Design Group, please visit evansvilledesign.org  or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/evansvilledesigngroup and Twitter at @evilledesigngrp.

 Bookie is a handsome tan & white pitbull puppy! He is 8 months old and weighs about 50 lbs. Bookie came from a family who got him from a relative, but they were moving and could no longer keep him. Bookie scored “green” on his temperament test, which means he will likely do well in any home – even if you’ve got kids and other pets! Bookie’s previous owners said he would go to the door when he needed to go out and he’s keeping his VHS kennel spotless, so that’s a good sign! His adoption fee is $100, which includes his neuter, microchip, vaccinations, and a goody bag to take home.

By

Roy M. Arnold, MD

With the uncertain state of affairs of medical insurance, many may believe that there are bargains on medical treatment to be found abroad. While it is true that certain elective surgical procedures can be obtained in foreign countries for a fraction of the cost of the same procedures in the US, a healthy serving of “Buyer Beware” is in order. While many of the hospitals in other countries are high quality and staffed with physicians trained in the US or Europe, there are some that aren’t.

According to the website Patients Beyond Borders (http://www.patientsbeyondborders.com/) the top destinations for medical tourism are Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.

The top reasons for medical tourism are:  Cosmetic surgery, Dentistry (general, restorative, cosmetic,)    Cardiovascular (angioplasty, CABG, transplants,) Orthopedics (joint and spine; sports medicine,) Cancer (often high-acuity or last resort,) Reproductive (fertility, women’s health,) Weight loss (LAP-BAND, gastric bypass,) and scans, tests, health screenings and second opinions.

Most sources estimate that 700-900,000 US residents will travel outside the country for medical reasons per year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers advice on a few questions to ask when considering a trip abroad for medical treatment. First is the hospital accredited by Joint Commission International? The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations accredits hospital in the US and a branch of that organization offers accreditation to hospitals in other countries. The JCI website lists accredited hospitals by country at http://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/JCI-Accredited-Organizations/

Second, bear in mind that certain practices taken for granted in the US like sterilization or reuse of needles or instruments, screening of blood donors, or the purity of prescription drugs may not be as strictly enforced in foreign countries as in the US.

Third, ensure that if you don’t speak the local language, the facility will provide interpreters to assist you.

Fourth, make certain that you have a complete listing of prices for all procedures you expect to have performed in advance with a statement of all charges anticipated.

Next, obtain copies of your US medical records including the lab and other studies done related to the condition for which you are obtaining the care and any allergies you may have. Prepare copies of all your prescriptions and a list of all the medicines you take, including their brand names, their generic names, manufacturers, and dosages. Get copies of all your foreign medical records before you return home.

Make certain that you communicate your intention to travel for medical reasons to your treating provider locally and arrange for follow-up after you return from abroad.

Inquire of your health insurance company as to what if any insurance coverage would be available in the event of complications that might arise after your return to the US. Health insurers may vary widely in their coverage of such procedures.

Many of the medical tourism destinations are also popular destinations for vacations as well. Before planning “vacation” activities, such as sunbathing, drinking alcohol, swimming, or taking long tours, find out if those activities are permitted after surgery.

Finally, don’t rush into any elective medical procedure. Investigate the country and facility you are considering visiting and shop around. Know exactly what you are looking for and how much you’ll have to pay. Verify the credentials and accreditation of the providers and facility you have chosen. Consult with the local providers who have been treating you and make certain your follow up care has been arranged.

Philip Hooper, Executive Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, will be speaking on the topic of Economic Development in the City of Evansville, at the YWCA’s Personally Speaking Series on Friday, January 17, 2014 at Noon in the YWCA Parlor.   These are exciting times for our community with the new hotel development and the possibility of a medical school complex coming to our city. Mr. Hooper will discuss these developments and much more in addition to fielding questions from the attendees. Admission is $6.00.

Philip R. Hooper is the Executive Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Evansville, where he coaches a team that works every day to preserve historic assets, revitalize core urban areas, and administer the local connection to HUD’s community development programs. Prior to moving to Evansville, Philip worked in the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis where he managed the City’s response to Quality of Life Planning, TIF projects relating to the downtown canal and the Super Bowl Legacy Project on the city’s Near Eastside, and the lease of the City’s parking meter assets resulting from a unique 30% revenue sharing agreement over 50 years.  A board member of the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana and the Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville, Philip has been involved with issues of community, economy, and the built environment since his undergraduate focus in 2000.  Philip graduated from Wheaton College in 2002 with a B.A. in socio‐cultural anthropology and urban studies, and he lives with his wife, son, and daughter in the Riverside historic district.

Now in its 23rd season, the YWCA’s Personally Speaking series continues to raise money for services to victims of domestic violence. Tickets to these noontime presentations are $6.00 and there is general seating. A complete listing of speakers may be found at www.ywcaevansville.org.

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  The Evansville YWCA is a member of the YWCA of the U.S.A., the oldest and largest women’s membership movement in the country.

Over the years, YWCA programs have changed to meet the evolving needs of women and girls. In 1979, the YWCA opened the first domestic violence shelter in Evansville. Other current programs include a transition housing program for women in recovery, an emergency shelter for homeless women and children, the Live Y’ers after‐school and mentoring program for at‐risk girls in grades 3 through 12, and the Summer Fun day camp for school‐aged children. Special programs and events for the general public are also offered.  Visit www.ywcaevansville.org for more information.

YWCA 24‐Hour Domestic Violence Hotline • 866‐367‐9922