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  1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253</id><updated>2024-02-20T19:42:08.959-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Novita Issue Communications | Newscenter</title><subtitle type='html'>News Releases - Pod Releases</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default?alt=atom'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>16</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-353050564858537646</id><published>2008-10-20T12:00:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2008-11-10T16:47:05.333-05:00</updated><title type='text'>N.J. Athletic Trainers Urge Youth Sports Programs To Protect Concussed Players</title><content type='html'>Oct. 20, 2008 - The Athletic Trainers&#39; Society of New Jersey is urging interscholastic and recreational youth sports programs to take specific measures to prevent further injury to young athletes who sustain a concussion or have sustained a concussion in the past.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The ATSNJ&#39;s announcement is precipitated by news reports that a 16-year-old Montclair High School football player had sustained a concussion during a game three weeks before suffering a fatal brain hemorrhage.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The ATSNJ is encouraging players, coaches, and parents to pay attention to lingering signs and symptoms of concussion, and for sports programs to adopt formal written policies requiring the removal from a game or practice any player suspected of having a concussion and prohibiting that player from returning to activity until cleared by a physician.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Athletes are often eager to return to play following injury, and concussions are no different,&quot; said Dr. Robb Rehberg, president of the ATSNJ.  &quot;Athletes need to acknowledge concussion symptoms and not try to hide them.  Coaches, parents, and athletes need to know that returning to play before concussion symptoms subside predisposes the athlete to increased risk of brain injury and death.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rehberg also advocates that sports programs develop formal policies for players who sustain concussions, which include keeping athletes out of games and practices until medically cleared to resume sports activity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For collision sports, like football, lacrosse, rugby and ice hockey, baseline cognitive testing has become more prevalent in some high school, college, and professional programs.  Results of baseline cognitive tests, which are conducted in the pre-season, are stored and later used to compare against the results of a second cognitive test taken after player has sustained a possible concussion.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By comparing the pre-season results with the second test results, athletic trainers and physicians can evaluate the severity of the suspected concussion and measure the athlete&#39;s recovery.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Preseason cognitive testing is a very important tool that we can use to ensure that a player is ready to return to sports activity after sustaining a concussion,&quot; said Rehberg.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For coaches and athletic trainers to be prepared for medical emergencies, all sports programs should require player medical history forms.  These forms, which are already required to participate in interscholastic sports, would require listing any concussions a player may have sustained in the past, and should be completely and accurately completed and submitted by parents before a player is permitted to participate in any league sports activity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Coaches and parents should also be trained to detect signs of concussion and taught to follow certain procedures if they suspect a player may have sustained a concussion.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;It is vital that coaches and parents know that if they think there&#39;s a chance a player may have sustained a concussion, the safest thing to do is to remove that player from the game or practice,&quot; said Rehberg.  &quot;The consequences of a second impact on a concussed player can be catastrophic, including brain swelling and death.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sports programs interested in learning more about what they can do to prevent further injury to concussed athletes are encouraged to contact the ATSNJ at 201-535-4477.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ABOUT THE ATHLETIC TRAINERS&#39; SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ATSNJ, Inc. consists of Licensed Athletic Trainers, physicians and other allied health care professionals whose goal is to promote quality healthcare for athletes in any setting.</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/353050564858537646'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/353050564858537646'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2008/10/nj-athletic-trainers-urge-youth-sports.html' title='N.J. Athletic Trainers Urge Youth Sports Programs To Protect Concussed Players'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-115880826800027420</id><published>2006-09-20T23:11:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2008-11-10T16:48:45.568-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Patient Advocacy Groups Join To Protect New Jerseyans From Recycled Single-Use Medical Devices</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.hipcast.com/playweb?audioid=P21d1fcec8fc3e15b6d10d856836fe4daZl5xRVREYmV3&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=7A7A7A&amp;amp;pc=474747&amp;amp;kc=0A0A0A&amp;amp;bc=CCCCCC&amp;amp;brand=1&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;20&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a rel=&quot;enclosure&quot; href=&quot;http://www.hipcast.com/export/P21d1fcec8fc3e15b6d10d856836fe4daZl5xRVREYmV3.mp3&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Ernest Landante, Jr., Novita Issue Communications, 609-989-1000&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;NEWARK, N.J., September 20, 2006 — Twenty-two New Jersey patient-advocacy organizations and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey today announced the formation of PatientGUARD, Patient Groups United Against Reprocessing Dangers, a coalition to raise awareness among physicians and the public about the risks surgical patients face from reprocessed single-use medical devices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Single-use devices (SUDs) are medical instruments specifically designed,manufactured and approved to be used one time, then thrown away. Despite their intended use and expected disposal, used single-use devices are being picked from the medical waste stream, recycled by third parties and used again on different patients. This practice puts patients at risk for infection and injury.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal regulation concerning reprocessed SUDs is lax and does not include a review for safety or functionality. “The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t done enough to either protect or inform the public of the dangers of reprocessed single-use devices,” said Bob Franks, president of the Institute. “Lacking adequate federal oversight, states need to step in to ensure the public’’s safety.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PatientGUARD looks forward to educating the public about this secretive practice.  The coalition is seeking the following:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Requiring written patient consent prior to using a reprocessed SUD;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Requiring healthcare facilities to inform physicians that they may be using reprocessed SUDs;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Providing physicians with the opportunity to reject using reprocessed SUDs; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Requiring that patient records include an inventory of reprocessed SUDs used in their treatment; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Establishing registration, tracking, and reporting procedures to monitor the distribution and use of reprocessed SUDs; and &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Establishing liability among reprocessors for reprocessed SUD failures and injury. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&quot;Patients are entitled to decide what risks to take. Withholding the facts about the risks these devices pose, or even that they may be used, erodes the public’s trust,” said Franks. “And it isn’t only the public that’s unaware that these devices are being reused. Physicians are also surprised that this is being done.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Medical device regulation in the United States does not provide the same level of assurance of safety and effectiveness for single-use devices and SUDs that are reprocessed for additional use,” Philip J. Phillips, former deputy director for Science and Regulatory Policy in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s Office of Device Evaluation. “While Federal law has been amended in an attempt to address the public health and safety issues associated with the practice of reprocessing SUDs, the challenges created by the practice have not been completely addressed through the existing regulatory framework. FDA regulation must continue to evolve if the risks associated with reprocessing are to be truly mitigated.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Patients should be routinely informed that reprocessed single-use devices will be used in their surgery,&quot; said Dr. Neil Kahanovitz of the West Orange-based Center for Orthopaedics, and who is board certified in orthopedic surgery and a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society, North American Spine Society and Orthopedic Research Society.  &quot;There is a moral obligation to inform patients about this practice and provide them with an opportunity to accept or reject the use of these devices in their surgery.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“We ask that patients be informed when reprocessed devices are to be used, and given a choice between reprocessed SUDs and devices that are new, unused, and guaranteed to be safe and uncontaminated,” said Kelly Rosso Leight, executive director of the CARES Foundation, Inc. of Union, NJ. “There’s nothing extraordinary about this –– patients are routinely informed about the risks medical treatments may involve. Reprocessed SUDs present additional risks and should be dealt with the same way.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In previous testimony before a congressional subcommittee, news conference participant Dr. John N. Fielder, professor of philosophy at Villanova University and an ethics consultant, pointed out that patients are normally informed of both significant and small risks associated with a particular medical procedure:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In cases where patients are exposed to a significant risk, ethics requires that they be informed of the benefits of treatment, the risks, and the alternatives. This is true even for common, low-risk procedures. Last October I got a flu shot at the Villanova University Health Center. Vaccines have a small probability of triggering an immune reaction that can cause serious illness or death. Because of this I was asked to read and sign a consent form that informed me of the benefits of the injection, the risks, and alternatives. The form is appended to this document.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since patients treated with reprocessed single-use devices are also exposed to a significant risk, it is enlightening to construct a consent form for this procedure.Imagine that you are being asked to consent to the use of a reprocessed device in your treatment instead of an otherwise identical new, single-use device.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The form would have to state that the potential harms include the possibility of transmission of TB and hepatitis C, very serious diseases, and possible functional changes or failures. While some studies suggest that the probability of these events occurring is low, we do not really know how likely they are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Patient GUARD (Patient Groups United Against Reprocessing Dangers) comprises the following organizations: Action CF, Advanced Medical Technology Association Arthritis Foundation - New Jersey Chapter, Autism Family Services of New Jersey, Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, Caregivers of New Jersey, CARES Foundation, Community Health Charities of New Jersey, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, Diabetes Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, Family Resource Network, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, LUPUS Foundation of America - New Jersey Chapter, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America - New Jersey Chapter, New Jersey 2-1-1 Partnership, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, New Jersey Pharmacist’’s Association, and Spina Bifida Association Tri-State Region.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;#   PatientGUARD.org   #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.hipcast.com/playweb?audioid=P21d1fcec8fc3e15b6d10d856836fe4daZl5xRVREYmV3&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;brand=1&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;20&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a rel=&quot;enclosure&quot; href=&quot;http://www.hipcast.com/export/P21d1fcec8fc3e15b6d10d856836fe4daZl5xRVREYmV3.mp3&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/115880826800027420'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/115880826800027420'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2006/09/patient-advocacy-groups-join-to_20.html' title='Patient Advocacy Groups Join To Protect New Jerseyans From Recycled Single-Use Medical Devices'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-115023043700318173</id><published>2006-06-13T16:25:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-06-13T16:38:09.176-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Recognized as an ABIOMED Center of Excellence</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P33008788929fb8b93c0a0fb981cdaf3fZl5xRVREYmd9&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=7A7A7A&amp;amp;pc=474747&amp;amp;kc=0A0A0A&amp;amp;bc=CCCCCC&amp;amp;brand=1&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P33008788929fb8b93c0a0fb981cdaf3fZl5xRVREYmd9.mp3&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;NEW BRUNSWICK – ABIOMED, a leading developer and manufacturer of medical products that assist the pumping function of failing hearts, has selected Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick as a “Center of Excellence” for its cardiac program.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a Center of Excellence, RWJUH will help set standards for physician training on ABIOMED’s Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs), which provide temporary circulatory support for patients in acute heart failure, and will share best practices related to VAD implantation and patient care.  The recognition also extends the ongoing research between Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and ABIOMED.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“It is a testimony to the excellence of our entire cardiac team,” said Mark Anderson, MD, chief of cardiac surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and associate professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.  “Our high-quality nurses, perfusionists, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have helped us to gain this Center of Excellence designation.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Anderson led a national study on the use of ABIOMED’s VADs entitled “Mechanical Circulatory Support Improves Recovery Outcomes in Profound Cardiogenic Shock Post Acute Myocardial Infarction.”  The study found patients who suffered a heart attack followed by cardiogenic shock could recover the natural function of their heart when given AB5000 circulatory support for an average of 31 days.  Of the patients who were able to survive this traumatic coronary event, 67 percent were able to recover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The AB5000 was FDA approved in September 2003 to provide temporary support for one or both sides of the natural heart in circumstances where the heart has failed, giving the patient’s heart the opportunity to rest and potentially recover - and giving surgeons the therapeutic flexibility necessary to determine the best endpoint for treatment.  The AB5000 and the BVS 5000 are the only devices approved by the FDA for the recovery of the natural heart.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;u&gt;About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a 600-bed academic medical center providing state-of-the-art care across a wide range of health care services.  Specialties include cardiac care from screening to heart surgery and transplantation, cancer care, emergency medicine, pediatrics and maternal-fetal medicine.  The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety.  Consumers Digest magazine ranked the hospital fifth in the nation in patient safety initiatives.  Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified RWJUH as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality.  New Jersey Monthly and New York magazine report that RWJUH has more top physicians than any other hospital in New Jersey.  RWJUH is also a three-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;u&gt;About ABIOMED&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, ABIOMED, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart. ABIOMED currently manufactures and sells the AB5000™ Circulatory Support System and the BVS® 5000 Biventricular Support System for the temporary support of all patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts.  In Europe, ABIOMED offers the IMPELLA® RECOVER® minimally invasive cardiovascular support systems under CE Mark approval.  The IMPELLA® 2.5 is an investigational device limited by Federal Law solely to investigational use in the United States.  Other IMPELLA devices are not yet available for sale in the United States.  The Company’s AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Heart was the subject of an initial clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption from the United States Food and Drug Administration.  The AbioCor has not been approved for commercial distribution, and is not available for use or sale outside of the initial clinical trial. For additional information please visit: www.abiomed.com.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;##&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contacts:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Liza Heapes&lt;br /&gt;ABIOMED, INC.&lt;br /&gt;Media Relations&lt;br /&gt;978-646-1668&lt;br /&gt;mediarelations@abiomed.com&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kristen Walsh&lt;br /&gt;Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital&lt;br /&gt;Media Relations Manager&lt;br /&gt;732-937-8519&lt;br /&gt;kristen.walsh@rwjuh.edu</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/115023043700318173'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/115023043700318173'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2006/06/robert-wood-johnson-university.html' title='Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Recognized as an ABIOMED Center of Excellence'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-114486517541122182</id><published>2006-04-12T14:03:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-04-12T14:13:12.946-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Deal Struck for Allied Junction Site</title><content type='html'>Hackensack, N.J. — Marc Joseph, president and chief executive officer of &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.alliedjunction.com&quot;&gt;Allied Junction Corp.&lt;/a&gt;, today announced a landmark agreement with a national office property developer for the development rights to build a billion-dollar mixed-use commercial construction project atop the NJ TRANSIT Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station at Secaucus Junction.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Under the agreement the office property developer will develop the project according to the general plan previously approved by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“This is the final piece of a dynamic puzzle more than 25 years in the making,” said Marc Joseph, who is also a trustee for the George W. Newman Irrevocable Trust, which owns the rail station property.  “Commercial development of this site will jump-start the North Jersey economy and provide residents here and throughout the state with our very own Rockefeller Center.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Completed in 2003, the rail station serves commuters as the interconnecting hub for all NJ TRANSIT rail lines serving northern New Jersey. And just last year, the new Secaucus interchange on the New Jersey Turnpike was finished, alleviating traffic in the local area as well as from Routes 1 &amp; 9 and from turnpike interchanges farther north. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;According to Joseph, the office complex could not be built until the highway interchange was complete.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“The Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission stipulated that we had to wait,” said Joseph. “We used this time to identify a developer that could not only get this project done right, but also understands its importance to the people of New Jersey.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The project fits perfectly in NJMC’s desire for transit-driven development around the station. It will draw people to Allied Junction and become a stopping point for thousands of other people who otherwise may drive into Manhattan for daytime meetings or shows. The original plan for the site includes:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;* four 20 to 40-story office towers&lt;br /&gt;* a 600-room hotel and conference center&lt;br /&gt;* a 112,000 sq. ft. retail concourse&lt;br /&gt;* a new six-level 4,400-car parking garage &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The new office and hotel conference center complex will also bring thousands of temporary and permanent job opportunities to the region.  From construction to retail, the transit village will become an economic engine for North Jersey.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Today, we are one step closer to realizing the vision George W. Newman held for not only this property, but for North Jersey,” said Joseph.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Newman, founder of Allied Outdoor Advertising, purchased the property in 1982.  He died last year.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“While George held the vision, Congressman Robert Roe’s leadership was invaluable in securing $1 billion for the rail station’s construction,” said Joseph.  “Without Congressman Roe, it is hard to imagine that this public and private partnership, the largest such partnership with the Federal government, could have happened.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Roe, who served in the United State House of Representatives from 1969 to 1993, was chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“George invested a great deal, not just financially, but of himself personally, into this project,” said Joseph in referring to George W. Newman. “While he is not here with us today, his spirit is certainly with us as we fulfill his dream.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- 30 -</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/114486517541122182'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/114486517541122182'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2006/04/deal-struck-for-allied-junction-site.html' title='Deal Struck for Allied Junction Site'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-113883393542072793</id><published>2006-02-01T17:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-01T17:59:43.310-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Women and Heart Disease: How to Reduce Risk</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P3dc7749716952521503d7f5e9eca66ecZl5xRVREYmFz&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P3dc7749716952521503d7f5e9eca66ecZl5xRVREYmFz.mp3&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The demands of holding a job, running a household and very often doing both can leave many women feeling fatigued. While fatigue can be normal, it can also be a symptom of heart disease in women, according to experts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Many women typically do not exhibit what we have come to regard as the classic symptoms of coronary artery disease,&quot; said Dr. Alan K. Tannenbaum, a cardiologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. &quot;We usually associate having a heart attack with a crushing pain in the chest. In fact, many women will have only fatigue, shortness of breath or just a vague sense of not feeling&lt;br /&gt;well.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;About 227,000 women will die from heart disease this year, roughly the same as the number of men, yet women - and sometimes their doctors - often face a greater challenge recognizing cardiovascular disease, according to Dr. Tannenbaum.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Heart disease isn&#39;t just a man&#39;s disease,&quot; he said. &quot;Women are just as much at risk, but there are steps they can take to keep their hearts healthy.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Understanding risk factors is the key, he said. A woman with a strong family history of heart disease should speak to her doctor about the advisability of having a stress test as part of disease surveillance.  This is especially true of women who have already experienced menopause, when the loss of natural estrogen appears to leave the body more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While a woman can&#39;t control a risk factor such as family history - or age - there are some risk factors that can be controlled, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and unhealthy habits, most notably smoking.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Women who quit smoking, lower their cholesterol and learn to handle life&#39;s daily stress will reduce their chances of heart disease regardless of their family history,&quot; said Dr. Tannenbaum, who is also the director of the hospital&#39;s Cardiac, Exercise and Rehabilitation Training Program. &quot;These are the risk factors to concentrate on.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A healthy diet and exercise play an important role in keeping cholesterol and blood pressure at normal levels. Thirty minutes of physical activity most days of the week is recommended. For those with high cholesterol, a low cholesterol-low saturated fat diet helps to reduce the cholesterol level. Cholesterol medication is also sometimes necessary to supplement diet and exercise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To decrease the risk of high blood pressure, it&#39;s important for women to maintain a healthy weight, meaning they are no more than 20 pounds heavier than the recommended weight for their height. Family history, age, oral contraceptives and pregnancy increase a woman&#39;s risk of developing high blood pressure. She should consult her doctor if any of these factors exist.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Diabetes also increases a woman&amp;rsquo;s chance of developing heart disease.  Family history, poor diet and lack of exercise increase the risk of diabetes. It&#39;s important for those with diabetes to maintain control of the condition and women with a family history should be tested.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;Even women who are in good health need to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly,&quot; noted Dr. Tannenbaum. &quot;Doing so will not only reduce the risk of heart disease but the risk of other health problems as well.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, one of the nation&amp;rsquo;s leading academic health centers, is the principal hospital for UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System &amp;amp; Network. For more information, please call the hospital&#39;s main phone number at 732-828-3000, the RWJUH Physician Referral Line at 888-795-8411 or visit www.rwjuh.edu.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;# # #&lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113883393542072793'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113883393542072793'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2006/02/women-and-heart-disease-how-to-reduce.html' title='Women and Heart Disease: How to Reduce Risk'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-113555763954545435</id><published>2005-12-25T19:40:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-25T19:52:13.723-05:00</updated><title type='text'>New Jerseyans Asked For Blood Donations</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=Pf29cfcc7bd5aa7ac4f4e4e65f1f82d80Zl5xRVREYmJz&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/Pf29cfcc7bd5aa7ac4f4e4e65f1f82d80Zl5xRVREYmJz.mp3&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick, NJ - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the New Brunswick Affiliated Hospitals Blood Center are asking all those eligible in New Jersey to give the gift of life by donating blood in January, National Blood Donor Month.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Robert Wood Johnson is sponsoring a blood drive on January 5, 2006, from 9 AM to 3 PM in the hospital&amp;rsquo;s Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard.  Individuals can call 732-235-8100 ext. 244 to make an appointment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;CONTACT:  Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113555763954545435'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113555763954545435'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/12/new-jerseyans-asked-for-blood.html' title='New Jerseyans Asked For Blood Donations'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-113337440093694510</id><published>2005-11-30T13:12:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-30T13:24:09.486-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | Deidre Imus Discusses Environmental Hazards</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P312599ca69270ad7ee1349e9017fb774Zl5xRVREYmJ0&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P312599ca69270ad7ee1349e9017fb774Zl5xRVREYmJ0.mp3&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;HACKENSACK, NJ - Deirdre Imus, President and founder of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, discusses toxins in our environment and how, through education, we can help prevent exposure to those environmental factors that cause health problems.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology is part of Hackensack University Medical Center, a not-for-profit corporation, and national leader in healthcare and prevention.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information, please contact Kathleen M. Melli at 201-996-2815 or visit www.dienviro.com.</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113337440093694510'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113337440093694510'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/11/audio-news-deidre-imus-discusses.html' title='Audio News | Deidre Imus Discusses Environmental Hazards'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-113319549775045563</id><published>2005-11-28T11:31:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-28T14:41:08.173-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | RWJUH Urges Smokers and Non-Smokers to Be Aware of the Dangers of Secondhand Smoke</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P66bcfecbde1dc96237998736751da119Zl5xRVREYmJ2&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=CCFF33&amp;amp;kc=FFCC33&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P66bcfecbde1dc96237998736751da119Zl5xRVREYmJ2.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick - With approximately 3,000 non-smokers in America dying each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is urging both smokers and non-smokers to be aware of the danger. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;“Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke take in more than 4,000 harmful toxins the same way that smokers do,” said John E. Langenfeld, MD, chief of general thoracic surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “Every time they are around secondhand smoke their health is being put at risk.”&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;In addition to lung cancer, secondhand smoke, defined as smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe or smoker’s exhale, can cause nasal sinus cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems in adults, and pneumonia, bronchitis and severe asthma attacks in children.  It also contributes to low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Studies have shown that the more people are exposed to secondhand smoke, the greater their risk for developing health problems.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;“Secondhand smoke is a major preventable health hazard in our society,” said Michael Steinberg, MD, MPH, clinical medical director of the Tobacco Dependence Program at UMDNJ-School of Public Health and an attending physician at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.  “Exposure to secondhand smoke is often involuntary and frequently unavoidable.  Even low levels of exposure can impact a person’s health.”&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;There are certain actions people can take to reduce their contact with secondhand smoke.  Establish a smoke-free environment inside the home and car.  This will protect children and other family members from regularly inhaling secondhand smoke.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Smokers should go outside when they want to smoke, and no one should be smoking around children.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;“Of course the best solution to avoid secondhand smoke exposure is for smokers to quit,” noted Dr. Steinberg.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Additional information about lung cancer and other respiratory disorders is available at www.rwjuh.edu &lt;http://www.rwjuh.edu/&gt; .&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, one of the nation’s leading academic health centers, is the principal hospital for UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System &amp; Network.  For more information, please call the hospital’s main phone number at 732-828-3000, the RWJUH Physician Referral Line at 888-44-RWJUH or visit www.rwjuh.edu &lt;http://www.rwjuh.edu/&gt; .&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;###&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113319549775045563'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113319549775045563'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/11/audio-news-rwjuh-urges-smokers-and-non.html' title='Audio News | RWJUH Urges Smokers and Non-Smokers to Be Aware of the Dangers of Secondhand Smoke'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-113267528479847903</id><published>2005-11-22T10:58:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-10-25T00:40:40.270-04:00</updated><title type='text'>New Jersey Business and Industry Association&#39;s 2006 Business Outlook: Business Confidence Falters, Economic Slowdown Seen</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=Pcebdafedffcfaa2bb872c939595c469cZl5xRVREYmJ3&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=CCFF33&amp;amp;kc=FFCC33&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/Pcebdafedffcfaa2bb872c939595c469cZl5xRVREYmJ3.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;    Audio features Philip Kirschner, President, New Jersey Business and Industry Association.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Jersey employers are deeply concerned about the near-term outlook for the State and national economies, and they anticipate a slowdown in economic activity at all levels, the New Jersey Business &amp; Industry Association has found in its 2006 Business Outlook Survey.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“For the State and national economies, a new pessimism has replaced last year’s relative optimism.  In 22 years of available survey data, this marks one of the most dramatic shifts from optimism to pessimism in a single year,” NJBIA President Philip Kirschner said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thirty-nine percent of survey respondents expect US economic conditions to deteriorate in the first six months of 2006 and only 21 percent anticipate improvement.  This is a reversal of last year’s outlook, when 42 percent expected conditions to improve and 16 percent expected them to worsen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Expectations are similarly downbeat for the New Jersey economy, with 39 percent expecting conditions to worsen and only 18 percent anticipating improvement.  The outlook for respondents’ own industries is less negative, with companies more evenly divided between those expecting things to get worse (32 percent) and those expecting things to get better (27 percent).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Our survey reveals a stunning loss of confidence in the near-term economic outlook,” said NJBIA President Philip Kirschner.  “It’s clear that many employers anticipate a slowdown in an already slow recovery here in New Jersey.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In considering the prospects for their own business activity in 2006, respondents remain more upbeat than they do for the broader economy.  More expect their sales, profits and employment to rise than expect them to fall in 2006.  Still, they foresee less favorable conditions than did last year’s survey respondents. (See the Business Outlook Summary on page 3 of this news release.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The 2006 Business Outlook Survey questionnaire was distributed to NJBIA’s 23,500 member companies in September 2005.  The survey findings are based on the first 1,850 responses.  Respondents came from every industry and every region of the state.  Nearly three out of four respondents were small companies with one to 24 employees.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The timing of this year’s survey is significant as it was conducted just as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were battering the Gulf Coast, dislocating local economies and sending oil and gas prices to record highs.  This had an immediate and negative cost impact on businesses and consumers across the country.  Survey respondents also expressed a growing unhappiness with the administration of President George Bush, and they remain very unhappy with New Jersey’s business climate, which they view as much more costly and less business friendly than in other states.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Among other survey findings:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Business Cycle—When asked where their industries are in the economic cycle, a growing proportion of companies, 20 percent, said they are “moving from expansion to recession,” up from 8 percent of companies in last year’s survey.  Additionally, 22 percent said their industries are in recession, the same as last year.  Still, more companies saw their industries to be in the growth phase of the business cycle, either because they are expanding (23 percent) or recovering from recession (36 percent).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sales &amp; Profits Performance—Survey participants reported that sales and profits activity in 2005 was at the same moderately good levels as reported in 2004, with more companies enjoying sales increases (49 percent) than suffering declines (28 percent).  Still, net sales and profits activity over the last two years has remained well below the levels seen in the better years of the 1980s and 1990s expansions.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;Sales Outlook—Forty-nine percent expect their sales to rise in 2006, down from 56 percent projecting sales increases last year.  At the same time, 25 percent expect sales to slow in the year ahead, compared with 18 percent who anticipated slowing sales the year before.  These expectations, while more positive than negative, are well below the sales expectations seen in the better years of the 1980s and 1990s expansions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Profits Outlook—Forty-three percent anticipate profit growth over the next year, down from 49 percent the year before, and 32 percent anticipate declining profits, compared with 26 percent the year before.  These expectations are well below the expectations seen in the 1980s and 1990s expansions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Employment— More companies than not said they plan to expand employment in 2006, though the percentage expecting to hire more workers has fallen from a year ago.  Twenty-four percent of companies said they plan to hire more workers, down from 27 percent last year, ahead and 10 percent said they anticipate cutbacks, compared with 7 percent last year.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;NJ’s Business Climate—Survey respondents continue to give New Jersey low marks as a place for business expansion.  New Jersey’s favorable ratings have fallen or stagnated for five consecutive years.  Only 28 percent said New Jersey is a good place for business expansion, the same as the last two years, but down from 50 percent in 2001.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;#   #   #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;November 22, 2005&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Chris Biddle&lt;br /&gt;609-393-7707, ext. 227</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113267528479847903'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/113267528479847903'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/11/new-jersey-business-and-industry.html' title='New Jersey Business and Industry Association&#39;s 2006 Business Outlook: Business Confidence Falters, Economic Slowdown Seen'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112980658041836695</id><published>2005-10-20T07:09:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-20T07:19:24.170-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | RWJUH Introduces New Atrial Fibrillation Procedure</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=Pe1233ec72124562534bce116cf25d9a0Zl5xRVREYmJ1&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/Pe1233ec72124562534bce116cf25d9a0Zl5xRVREYmJ1.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), nationally renowned for the excellence of its cardiac programs, now offers a minimally invasive surgery to treat atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart beat that can leave the patient out of breath, weak and at increased risk of stroke.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Called minimally invasive microwave ablation, the new surgery provides an alternative for patients who would otherwise face major cardiac surgery or a lifetime of medication.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;RWJUH performed New Jersey&#39;s first minimally invasive thoracoscopic microwave ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation this month. The patient, a 56-year-old Metuchen man, was released from the hospital on Tuesday, October 4.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;We are now able to disrupt the electrical impulses causing the irregular heart beat and promote normal rhythm without major surgery,&quot;\x80\x9d said Peter M. Scholz, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. &quot;Over time, the patient should experience a return of the energy and stamina sapped by atrial fibrillation. For many, this is the first step towards a better quality of life.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Traditionally, the surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation, known as the Cox-Maze procedure, involved a major operation. Doctors cracked the breastbone and stopped the heart, putting the patient on a heart-lung machine. Recovery time was extensive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a result, the procedure was generally only performed on patients in conjunction with other planned cardiac surgery, such as valve repair and coronary artery revascularization.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, however, patients can realize the benefits of the Maze operation in a stand-alone procedure, without undergoing a major, open-heart operation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In thoracoscopic microwave ablation, the surgeon gains access to the heart through a series of keyhole-sized incisions on the sides of the chest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;About 2.4 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation, making them five to seven times more likely to have a stroke.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In atrial fibrillation, the electrical signals from the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) are fast and irregular, causing the atria to quiver instead of beating effectively. To fix it, surgeons seek to isolate the electrical signals causing the problem. This is typically done by creating a lesion or burn around the atrium through microwave energy. If successful, the resulting scar tissue will prevent the abnormal electrical impulses from affecting the rest of the heart.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Making use of a tiny video camera to guide small instruments, surgeons at RWJUH loop a catheter, a thin plastic tube, around the heart. To allow better access to the heart, each lung is temporarily deflated in turn to allow the catheters to be threaded around the pulmonary veins. When the catheter is activated with microwave energy, it creates a lesion around the atrium that will scar and block the electrical impulses causing the irregular heart beat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;The procedure takes a few hours using general anesthesia but does not require use of a heart lung machine as in traditional open heart surgery. The risk of complications with this procedure is much less than those associated with open heart surgery,&quot;\x80\x9d said Dr. Scholz, who performed the operation with surgeons Manisha Shende, MD, and Juan Plate, MD, members of the medical staff of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and assistant professors of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The minimally invasive Maze procedure is the latest in cardiac innovations RWJUH has introduced to New Jersey. For example, earlier this year RWJUH introduced left ventricular assist devices for long-term use in patients with severe heart failure. RWJUH also is one of the first New Jersey hospitals to treat heart attack patients with angioplasty, rather than clot-busting drugs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Solucient has named RWJUH as one of the nation&#39;s 100 top cardiovascular hospitals and HealthGrades has awarded RWJUH with five stars in each of six areas for cardiac surgery and interventional programs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;# # #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112980658041836695'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112980658041836695'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/10/audio-news-rwjuh-introduce_112980658041836695.html' title='Audio News | RWJUH Introduces New Atrial Fibrillation Procedure'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112888419459811532</id><published>2005-10-09T14:42:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-09T19:27:21.306-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The Record Features Novita</title><content type='html'>Sunday&#39;s &lt;span style=&quot;font-style:italic;&quot;&gt;Record&lt;/span&gt; features Novita Issue Communications in a story about businesses using audio on the Internet (podcasts) to communicate to customers and niche audiences.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur=&quot;try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}&quot; href=&quot;http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyOCZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Njc4ODE0MSZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI=&quot;&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;&quot; src=&quot;http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4945/586/200/record_logo.gif&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112888419459811532'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112888419459811532'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/10/record-features-novita.html' title='The &lt;i&gt;Record&lt;/i&gt; Features Novita'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112845496105971079</id><published>2005-10-04T15:42:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-04T15:48:15.656-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Has Most Top Doctors</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=Pbfea2545f7a6173723743c675bfe326dZl5xRVREYmN8&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/Pbfea2545f7a6173723743c675bfe326dZl5xRVREYmN8.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick had the largest number of doctors of all New Jersey hospitals in both New York Magazine’s popular Best Doctors listing for the New York metropolitan area and New Jersey Monthly’s Top Doctors listing for the state of New Jersey.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“The best doctors want to work in quality hospitals,” said Dr. Andrew Covit, president of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital medical staff.  “Robert Wood Johnson provides a high quality, academic medical center with a strong commitment to patient satisfaction.  These characteristics attract not only the best doctors, but also patients seeking the best care.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The doctors chosen ranged in specialty from allergy and immunology to vascular and interventional radiology.  Many pediatric specialties were represented, including pediatric surgery, nephrology and otolaryngology.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;The New Brunswick academic medical center had 37 of its doctors listed in the annual New York Magazine survey, which appeared in the June 13th issue.  Twenty-four physicians were listed the September issue of New Jersey Monthly.  The list is compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd, a New York-based research and information company.  The firm conducts a peer-review survey on the theory that medical professionals are best qualified to judge medical professionals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To select the doctors, Castle Connolly sends out 12,000 nomination forms to medical professionals in New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.  The recipients include randomly selected board-certified doctors.  The forms ask the recipients to nominate those doctors who, in their judgment, are the best in their field and related fields – especially those to whom they would refer their own patients and family members.  Doctors can’t nominate themselves and the nominations are kept confidential.  Nominators take into account not only professional qualifications and reputation, but also skills in dealing with patients.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;# # #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112845496105971079'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112845496105971079'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/10/audio-news-robert-wood-johnson.html' title='Audio News | Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Has Most Top Doctors'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112619619229429220</id><published>2005-09-08T12:16:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-08T12:39:25.993-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | View Hip Replacement Surgery Live from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P47f4b9fcf90f7306c936fcfe9dcf02e4Zl5xRVREYmN9&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P47f4b9fcf90f7306c936fcfe9dcf02e4Zl5xRVREYmN9.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick – Using instruments and software that work like global positioning systems, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Harwood will be performing minimally-invasive hip replacement surgery that will be carried live on the Internet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The surgery will be broadcast from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital on Tuesday, September 13, at 2:00 p.m. EST.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In addition to the new technology, the surgeon will be using new materials for the implant that reduce friction and are more durable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This new technology will be combined with a minimally-invasive technique that significantly reduces the length of both the incision and the surgery compared with traditional hip replacement surgery.  The smaller incision not only leaves a smaller scar, but also reduces the amount of blood lost and tissue cut, thus reducing the patient’s recovery time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Harwood explained that the new software maps landmarks in the hip and cameras show images of what the implant will look like before the first incision.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“This technology lessens the likelihood of implant placement complications and allows for a better range of motion for the patient,” said Dr. Harwood, who is also an associate professor at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Achieve brand computer-assisted instruments and software were created by Smith &amp; Nephew Orthopaedics.  By using this revolutionary software, Dr. Harwood is reducing the margin of error in hip replacement surgery.  The Achieve application gives the surgeon crucial feedback about the movement of the instruments and implant relative to the patient’s anatomy, ensuring the implant’s precise placement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In addition, Dr. Harwood will be using an implant made of a material that reduces friction and wear by as much as 85 percent.  Oxidized zirconium, a combination of ceramics and metal, reduces friction and wear, which allows younger and more active patients to reap the benefits of hip replacement surgery without increased concern of needing a second surgery later in life.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“The combination of this imaging technology and the new implant reinforces Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s leadership in the orthopaedic medical community,” said Dr. Harwood.  “Patients who come to our hospital can be confident they will have access to the best technology available.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;# # #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact: Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112619619229429220'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112619619229429220'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/09/audio-news-view-hip-replacement_08.html' title='Audio News | View Hip Replacement Surgery Live from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112534528777870117</id><published>2005-08-30T04:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-29T16:36:08.790-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Audio News | Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Offers Less Invasive Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair</title><content type='html'>&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P448daf9b6fbca5ce3ce1b6018ccdf0ecZl5xRVREYmNy&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P448daf9b6fbca5ce3ce1b6018ccdf0ecZl5xRVREYmNy.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New Brunswick – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital introduced a minimally invasive treatment option for repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms, a potentially deadly bulge on the main vessel in the chest carrying blood from the heart.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When left untreated, a thoracic aortic aneurysm can rupture, causing death within minutes.  If detected in time, the aneurysm can be treated with the new GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis by way of endovascular repair, a minimally invasive procedure in which surgeons gain access to the aneurysm through tiny incisions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the device in March 2005 for treatment of patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, which is the main artery bringing blood to the body below the heart.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A 73-year-old man became Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s first recipient of the device after undergoing successful surgery today in New Brunswick. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“For the first time, treatment for thoracic aneurysms may be done using a procedure that minimizes the hospital stay and avoids the need for open surgery,” said Alan Graham, MD, medical director of the Vascular Center of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, who performed the procedure. “The device is similar to a stent but with a biomaterial that seals off the aneurysm to prevent rupture,” added Dr. Graham, who is also a professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Prior to approval of the GORE TAG device, repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms was limited to traditional open surgical repair, a procedure many patients with complex pre-existing conditions could not endure.  Patients able to withstand the traditional open surgical procedure faced risks during the procedure, potential infection and long recovery times.  In clinical trials comparing the GORE TAG device to open surgical repair, GORE TAG device patients experienced fewer complications, significantly less procedural blood loss, a shortened hospital stay and a faster return to normal activity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital continues to research and bring the best treatments to our patients with endovascular therapies,” said Lucy Sun Brevetti, MD, a vascular surgeon on the RWJUH medical staff and an assistant professor of surgery with UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Our goal is to treat our patients with the optimum care that minimizes the need for open surgery while producing the best results for long-term recovery.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm are at risk of death due to internal bleeding resulting from a rupture of their aorta. Until now, open surgery requiring an incision large enough to allow a synthetic graft to be sewn in place had been the indicated treatment for this serious condition. The GORE TAG device can be precisely positioned in the diseased area of the aorta through a small incision made in the patient’s groin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thoracic aortic aneurysms are diagnosed in approximately 15,000 people annually. This life-threatening condition is generally believed to be significantly under-diagnosed because 3 out of 4 individuals with aneurysms are asymptomatic. Aneurysms are a result of a weakening of the thoracic aorta, the body’s main circulatory vessel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Regular screenings for people who are at risk of having a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) are the key to identifying and treating the condition early.  People who have high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of TAA or who smoke may be at risk of having a TAA.  Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital offers screenings and encourages those at risk to get checked regularly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, one of the nation’s leading academic health centers, is the principal hospital for UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System &amp; Network.  For more information, please call the hospital’s main phone number at 732-828-3000, the RWJUH Physician Referral Line at 888-44-RWJUH or visit www.rwjuh.edu.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;# # #&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contact:  Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112534528777870117'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112534528777870117'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/08/audio-news-robert-wood-johnson.html' title='Audio News | Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Offers Less Invasive Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112353491927946632</id><published>2005-08-08T17:01:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-08T17:31:21.673-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Podcast | Five Powerful Benefits for Lobbyists And Their Clients</title><content type='html'>Listen to Ernie Landante of Novita Issue Communications explain how podcasts are an important part of a lobbying or issues campaign.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/playweb?audioid=P45e7cb3eea808acfc8dd5d40bb2f7c3fZl5xRVREYmN3&amp;amp;buffer=5&amp;amp;fc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;pc=072637&amp;amp;kc=E87423&amp;amp;bc=FFFFFF&amp;amp;gateway=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audioblog.com%2Fplaylist&amp;amp;player=ap21&quot; height=&quot;20&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scroll=&quot;no&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.audioblog.com/export/P45e7cb3eea808acfc8dd5d40bb2f7c3fZl5xRVREYmN3.mp3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;enclosure&quot;&gt;MP3 File&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Links to sample podcasts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.rnc.org/multimedia/podcasting.aspx&quot;&gt;Republican National Committee&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.democraticleader.house.gov&quot;&gt;U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.housedemocrats.gov&quot;&gt;U.S. House Democratic Caucus&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pasenategop.com&quot;&gt;Pennsylvania State Senate Republican Caucus&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/002074.html&quot;&gt;Democratic Congressional Committee&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/podcasts/index.html&quot;&gt;General Motors &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_htmldisplay.jsp?sCatTitle=%20&amp;amp;sFilePath=/govsite/spotlight/060405radio.html&quot;&gt;Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112353491927946632'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112353491927946632'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/08/podcast-five-powerful-benefits-for.html' title='Podcast | Five Powerful Benefits for Lobbyists And Their Clients'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13921253.post-112226644707233801</id><published>2005-07-25T00:38:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-07-30T09:24:15.380-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Resource Library | Before Clicking Send, Is That Legislative Alert Spam?</title><content type='html'>By Ernie Landante&lt;br /&gt;Novita Issue Communications&lt;br /&gt;July 25, 2005&lt;br /&gt;---------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;The broadcast e-mail message seems the most effective way to regularly reach a large audience quickly, and at minimal expense.  If the message is issued from a legislative or issue organization’s office, common sense indicates that it’s not trying to sell anti-depressants or promising to improve anyone’s sex life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the legislative alert you’re about to e-mail to your members, supporters, legislators and others should raise a cautionary flag on another level.  Can it be considered spam?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Clogged e-mail inboxes and sore delete fingers have prompted U.S. Congress to pass the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act).  This 2003 legislation (Public Law 108-187), the miscellaneous state regulations governing e-mail and the public outcry have all produced an assortment of new terms with predictably vague definitions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you think this sweeping legislation does not apply to non-profit associations, issue groups or campaigns, you are in for a wake-up call.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The FTC’s position is that recipients of promotional or advertising e-mail messages from non-profits should have the same privacy and other protections as those who receive such messages from profit-making businesses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What is the letter of the law if you want to tell people about a bill in committee next week, to ask them to either support (or oppose) it, to attend the committee meeting or to perhaps write a letter to the editor?  Maybe there is breaking news on an issue and you want to send a news alert to constituents.  How can you send legislative alerts or news updates via e-mail that don’t run afoul of CAN-SPAM?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Federal Trade Commission said the main focus of the CAN-SPAM legislation is to regulate e-mails whose primary purpose is selling something.  The best way to prevent a problem is to make sure there is nothing in your alert that tries to sell anything.  Mixing a legislative message with a sales pitch -- a dual-purpose message -- can turn your otherwise problem-free alert into an e-mail message that is subject to the Act.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Does it seem strange that anyone would mix a legislative alert with a sales message?  It did to me, but consider that associations sell their members books, subscriptions, seminars and convention attendance.  It is perfectly reasonable (and smart) for an association to remind its members of the offers by placing a few lines or a box in the alert.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But once that commercial content is added to the alert, you need to ask yourself this:  Is the message in the e-mail’s body or subject line going to cause a recipient to reasonably believe the message is intended to sell or promote a product or service?  This question is part of the FTC’s “net impression” test to determine if you’re legislative alert is commercial e-mail.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The “net impression” test includes checking the location of the commercial content (is it near the beginning or end of the message?), the proportion of the message dedicated to commercial content, and the use of color, graphics, types size, and style to highlight commercial content.  Based on its interpretation of any one of these elements, the FTC can deem your message “commercial.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The safest route for any legislative or issues staff member therefore is to keep out commercial content in e-mails intended for informational or editorial messages, like legislative alerts and updates.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For issue groups and associations that send commercial e-mails, complying with the commercial e-mail rules can be a headache.  The rules require commercial e-mails to offer recipients an opt-out provision, disclose that it is an “advertisement” or a “solicitation” and display the sender’s valid physical postal address.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You’ll want to either create two separate databases -- one to send commercial e-mails and the other to send non-commercial legislative alert and update e-mails -- or to encode one database that can separate recipients who have asked not to get any commercial messages.  This will ensure that any members or supporters who opt-out of your commercial e-mails will continue to receive your informational, noncommercial messages.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Just make sure any opt-out request is honored within ten days as required by the regulation set forth under the CAN-SPAM legislation.  The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) is considering shortening this grace period to only three days.  The potential consequences are severe for sending a commercial e-mail to someone who has opted-out of such e-mails after the grace period, so be careful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Okay, you can press the enter button now, and send your message.&lt;br /&gt;---------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;Ernie Landante is President of Novita Issue Communications.  For more information about this issue, or to learn more about how to adapt the skills and experience of the Novita management team and to learn about the services that can support your communication objectives, please call: (609) 989-1000, or send an e-mail with your contact information to: landante@novitainc.com.&lt;br /&gt;---------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;br /&gt;This article is based on “The Federal Spam Law: FTC Issues Additional Guidelines and Proposed New Rules for Complying with the CAN-SPAM Act”.  Published June 2005 and written by Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum and Ellen E. Traupman of Venable, LLP, their well-written and detailed 4,600-word paper is available by visiting Venable’s Web site: venable.com/publications.cfm?action=view&amp;publication_id=1172&amp;publication_type_id=2</content><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112226644707233801'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13921253/posts/default/112226644707233801'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://novitaic.blogspot.com/2005/07/resource-library-before-clicking-send.html' title='Resource Library | Before Clicking Send, Is That Legislative Alert Spam?'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author></entry></feed>

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  3. Add this HTML to your page (change the image src attribute if necessary):

If you would like to create a text link instead, here is the URL you can use:

http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A//novitaic.blogspot.com/atom.xml

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