In our orthopedic surgeon Tampa office, we spend a lot of money each year on medical supplies, products and services. On a recent trip to Australia, we learned of an interesting way the medical community down there uses rewards programs to cut costs. We feel it is our responsibility to spend this money in such a way that helps to keep medical costs for our patients as low as possible. That’s why we are now part of a growing trend in which physicians, surgeons, hospitals and health care practitioners are joining medical rewards programs.

Through a medical rewards system, we enjoy a number of privileges, including:
Priority Access to Medical Materials: Priority access can be important when new products and materials are introduced into the medical marketplace. New medical items often experience de facto rationing due to demand/supply imbalances. By getting a high priority, we are more likely to receive all the new medical products we desire. This is of great value to our patients, since they are the beneficiaries of these materials and products. Often, new materials are more cost-effective than the ones they replace, which lowers medical costs for everyone. For instance, new injectable materials used in certain orthopedic procedures have superior performance and lead to a higher percentage of positive outcomes. If a surgeon can avoid repeating a surgical procedure, such as an ACL restoration, due to better material, then the patient and insurer saves substantially.
Lower Prices: Our practice saves thousands of dollars every year by the discounted prices we receive via our membership in a medical rewards program.

Here is a sample of the kinds of items that receive discounts:
* Medical products and supplies
* Medical equipment and repair
* Medical office setup and maintenance
* Ordering costs
* Practice-management software
* Supply management solutions
* Laboratory supplies and equipment
* Medical financial services
* Malpractice insurance

Unlike some of our competitors, we pass these savings onto our patients, doing our bit to help keep medical costs manageable.

Frequent-Buyer Points: The third attractive feature of medical practice reward programs is that accumulated points can be redeemed for valuable items, such as:
* Gift certificates
* Extra discounts on medical equipment
* Lower costs for travel to medical conferences
* Electronics and other items that can be used in our offices
* Subscriptions to medical journals (printed and online) and to general interest magazines we use in our waiting room.
* Special information about interesting new biotechnology stocks
* Payment-in-kind programs with malpractice attorneys
* Free preparation of plaques and certificates that line our office walls

In our opinion, it would be irresponsible for any medical practitioner to pass up the savings afforded by medical reward programs. We are very pleased that our trip to Australia gave us insight into this important phenomenon.

Australia has one of the highest allergy rates in the developed world. It is estimated that 20 percent of the population have at least one allergic disease. Almost 80 percent of victims are of working age. Australians have been accused of overlooking the social and economic impact of allergies. Some are responding by advocating earlier recognition of and treatment for allergies.

Here is a rundown of the Top Six Australian allergies:

1. Hay Fever: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages. It can be triggered by dust, pollen or animal dander. Ironically, hay fever involves neither hay nor fever. It triggers the production of antibodies containing histamines. That’s why anti-histamines are often prescribed for this allergy. Symptoms include sneezing, watery itchy eyes, nasal swelling and increased mucus production. Severe cases can cause rashes and hives. Two in five Australian adults suffer hay fever; occurrences among children are lower.

2. Asthma: This is a chronic inflammation of the air passages, causing wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. The root causes are thought to be both genetic and environmental. About ten percent of adults and 20 percent of children suffer from asthma in Australia. Short-term treatments are administered by inhalants containing a beta-2 agonist. Prevention requires avoidance of allergens and administering corticosteroids.

3. Eczema: A form of dermatitis characterized by swelling, redness, itching, crusting, oozing, cracking, blistering, flaking or bleeding. Some people suggest the condition arises by living conditions that are too clean – the body needs exposure early on to bacteria and germs to develop a proper immune system. About seven percent of Australian adults have eczema. The numbers are higher for children.

4. Stinging Insects: Almost three percent of Australians have had allergic reactions to bee stings. Wasp stings are less prevalent, except for residents of Tasmania, who have been bedeviled by the jack jumper ant. There are occasional anaphylaxis-related deaths due to bee and wasp stings.

5. Food: Common foods that are associated with allergies include shrimp, peanuts, eggs, sesame seeds and cow’s milk. One common symptom isanaphylaxis, which is estimated at one new case in Australia every year per 5,000 people. Unless epinephrine is administered promptly, severe cases can result in death.

6. Drugs: Ten percent of asthma sufferers are allergic to aspirin. Reactions to vaccines and X-ray contrast injections are rare. When Australian general practice physicians were polled, they reported about ten percent of patients had suffered from adverse drug reactions in the past six months, and ten percent of these cases were considered allergies.

Maybe you read about my brother’s trip to New Zealand on this website – he runs a garage door company in Maryland. Well, like everything else about me and my brother, my  company is bigger, as is my state – I run a Dallas bed and breakfast that dwarf’s my brother’s operation. I spend more on restaurant supplies than he does on wood. Well anyway, since he vacationed in New Zealand, I thought I’d head over to Australia, because it’s bigger too. I have to admit, I was mighty impressed with the way the folks down there design their garages!

The Aussies really treat their garages with respect. They figure that the future of home storage is in the garage, so they might as well get everything right the first time. I guess that’s why they pay so much attention to details like custom-designed garages with one-off doors. It seems that newer lots in Australia are smaller (not like Dallas, of course), so the good folks there have to get major bang for the buck. People are trading up from cramped old sheds to full-sized garages that have a lot of innovative storage areas. That’s important if you’re also going park your car or work at your hobby in the same space. Garage design companies have sprung up throughout Australia to help homeowners maximize storage and minimize clutter.

Let me tell you some of the nifty storage solutions I saw when I was “down under”:

* Shelving: They seem to like long-span wire shelving because it’s economical and doesn’t collect dust. If longevity is a prime factor, they upgrade to solid steel shelves. I saw shelves running from shallow to deep, so that you could store oversized luggage on the biggest ones. I also like the flexibility of adjustable shelving.

* Workbenches: How can you have a proper garage without a workbench? Back in Dallas, I got me a really big workbench, but actually any size will do as long as its adequate for your planned usage. The wife likes to unload groceries onto the workbench, which is OK ’cause I can spare the room. Anyway, a good workbench must be solid so that it can handle your work load. And it doesn’t hurt to get one that looks good as well. You can get nice ones without spending an arm and a leg, so look around. I saw some nice ones in Brisbane.

* Systems: These new-fangled storage solutions let you set up custom cabinets, tool storage, shelving systems – everything you need to keep the garage neat and clean. Some systems go into ceilings specially designed for storage. Also, you can get special hooks for bicycles, tools, kayaks, whatever.

I learned quite a few things about garages during my tour of Australia, and I’m going to put that knowledge to good use when I get back to Texas.  I plan to add a new garage to my fabulous bed and breakfast!

I run a Washington DC carpet cleaning service and was recently travelling in Australia. Naturally, I was curious how they did things “down under” and I learned quite a few interesting facts. Most important of all, the better firms belong to the Australian Carpet Cleaning Institute (ACCI). They mentor and train new owners of carpet cleaning services. They emphasize environmental responsibility in all of their training programs, which cover research and development, marketing and distribution besides hands-on how-to instructions.

It turns out that the ACCI is the only independent Australian carpet cleaning certification program. It is formally endorsed by the carpet manufacturers and related companies, such as DuPont, 3M, and Wools of New Zealand. The ACCI was founded in 1994 and hooked up with Dr. Peter Dingle in 1996. Dr. Dingle is a leading researcher in environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning strategies. He started the Health and Environmental Cleaning Systems program that revolutionized the Aussie carpet cleaning industry.

The carpet cleaners who belong to ACCI are concerned with mold, dust mites, asthma, waste water and chemical cleaning. The Green Pathway certification grew out of these efforts, and is compliant with the ISO4001 Environmental Management System. The nice thing about the ACCI is that is a great place to get support to start your own carpet cleaning business.

Here is what they offer to the budding entrepreneur:

* Direct, personal training with the most distinguished carpet cleaning experts in Australia

* With a full membership, you get one year of technical support.

* They will sell you all the chemicals and equipment you need to get started.

* Learn techniques producing results that rival those of the top professionals in the industry worldwide.

* Oversight from Australia’s most successful carpet cleaners.

* Freedom from restrictive licensing or franchising rules and fees.

* Insights into a low risk, low cost, high return business that is under your direct control.

* Most competitive prices in the training industry.

For those businessmen who are attracted to a franchise model of ownership, the ACCI offers such a program. It’s probably the fastest and most foolproof way of starting up your carpet cleaning business. The rewards can be substantial – there are plenty of stories of hard-working people building small fortunes with their carpet cleaning businesses. By receiving proper training and using the most sustainable materials and techniques, an Aussie carpet cleaner can look forward to a comfortable and rewarding career.

Most non-Canadians know two things about that country’s health care system:
1. It’s run by the government.

2. Canada drugs are a popular worldwide purchase via Internet pharmacies.

It’s interesting to compare the health care systems of Canada and Australia. In both, any resident or tourist is eligible for totally free health care, and emergencies are treated right away. Both also share a negative feature: long waits for public non-emergency treatment. In parts of Australia, the wait for public health care treatment can extend to over a year. But there is a big difference in Australia – the presence of reasonably-priced private insurance. Armed thusly, an Aussie resident can get treatment right away. Canada is a single-payer system, similar to Medicare, although private insurance is also available there.

Almost ten percent of Australia’s GDP goes to healthcare, amounting to $121.4 billion in 2010. By the way, the US spent $2.6 trillion, or 17.9 percent of GDP on health care in that same year. Canada in 2009 spent $183.1 billion on health care, a little over ten percent of GDP. About 17 percent of that figure went towards Canada drugs. In Canada, citizens must pay their own pharmaceutical, optometric and dental costs. Canadians can buy supplementary insurance, but it doesn’t affect the waiting time for treatment. There are, however, private entities that sell priority access to medical services. Canadian physicians mostly receive fee per service, but a few are on salary. So the Canadian model is public funding, private delivery.
Australia (81.4 years) and Canada (81.3) rank first and second, respectively, in the G8 for life expectancy. The US is last, at 78.1 years.

Australia’s system is called Medicare. It receives partial funding by a 1.5 percent income tax charge, although low-income residents are exempt. High income earners without private insurance are assessed an additional one percent tax. The separate Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme subsidizes many prescriptions. The largest private health insurer in Australia is Medibank Private — it’s government owned but operates privately, much like the US Post Office. Oversight of the private portion of the health system is administered by the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman. Australian private insurers use a community rating system, whereby premiums are not entirely dependent upon a patient’s current or previous health status, although a 12-month period for pre-existing conditions can be imposed.

Both countries ban health care discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, employment or leisure activities.

Shelter is one of the basic needs of humans in order to survive. Homes are what they call it now and it significantly important to have one. Where would you think you will cook food, do your laundry, sleep or rest without your home? Are you worrying that you don’t have the financial capabilities to have one? Then, prefabricated homes or popularly known as Prefab homes is just the right one for you.

Prefabricated homes are the type of homes that is easy to construct or assemble. You can definitely save lots and lots of money. These types of prefab homes are very common especially in Australia. And most of the people living there prefer this type of house or home. In this article you will know why you should have this too.

So, why you should have prefabricated homes? The following are its advantages:

You can definitely save thousands of dollars

Building prefabricated homes give you the advantage even if you don’t have any experience on previous construction. Even you are not the one who will build your home; still, you can participate in the planning and constructing of it. You can save money in a way that you will no longer hire a professional building consultant to do all the work. Once we had our household goods delivered by our Portland Moving Company, American Family Van Lines, we were set to go. We put them in storage waiting to complete our new fab home.

You can act as the project manager

When you are planning a prefabricated home, you are the one who chooses your materials and contractors. And the ones to decide in any financial matters in the building of your new home. In this manner, you are just like the boss of your own business. You can still hire a general contractor or professional consultant to oversee the project that you’re planning. But is an efficient way to save money because they will no longer do everything.

Easy to construct or assemble

With all of the sources that you have, it is definitely an assurance that you can save your time, money and effort. You can save time and effort in a way that you are the ones who will choose the materials for your home. And with the information that you can get from any kinds of sources especially the use of multi-media as your medium, it will; be easy. Save money because you can have all the sources or information in the construction of it. And you can choose those who are inexpensive but still provides the best quality. In short, you are the ones to decide of all the important matters in building your home.

Satisfaction guarantee

Prefabricated homes will justly simply give you the satisfaction that you really want on having your home. With a very affordable price, you can still have the home of your dreams. With this, it is sure that you will be really get proud of the outcome because of it is your personal touch.

Prefabricated homes offer value and quality. You can definitely compare it to those luxurious homes of your neighborhoods. In Australia, these types of homes are really prominent but you can also have this on your own place wherever part of the world you are. So, be wise and enjoy!

Are you an Aussie newly arrived in Costa Rica? Check out the InterNations Network to become acquainted with members of the country’s thriving expat community. The site will give you useful information and insider tips about living in Costa Rica, and sponsors events and get-togethers in regions throughout the country.

The InterNations community has been helping expatriates reach out to each other since 2007. Australians of every stripe and location, from Queensland to New South Wales, have joined the network and are very happy with the results.

There is more to being an expat than simply shipping your stuff to a new land and jumping through some bureaucratic hoops. The heart of the expat experience is socializing with fellow expats as you adjust your lifestyle and attitudes to your new existence. The Costa Rican way of life is rich and vibrant, but can seem very foreign to a newly-arriving Aussie. By meeting up with people who have already made the adjustment, your new surroundings can become familiar more quickly and comfortably.

Here are some specific benefits of joining the expat community in your town:

* Talk to people in your native tongue as you learn the Spanish language.

* Find out where to shop for Aussie food within Costa Rica. You will want to have access to all your favorite goodies, such as Tim Tam biscuits and marmite.

* Learn about Costa Rica Investing opportunities.

* Share gossip about home, such as the results of your former local rugby team.

* Attend expat forums where valuable information is shared, such as how to hire a babysitter who speaks English.

* Find out about the local ANZA club or the closest Australian consulate.

* Learn about the country’s many scenic wonders, from the volcanic cordilleras to the various one-of-a-kind conservation areas.

Membership in the community is easy and relaxed. You are free to attend meetings whenever you like. All sorts of diverse interests are explored, and get-togethers can range from cozy parties featuring traditional cassado to large celebrations where hundreds of expats gather at the country’s best locations.

There are also many sponsored trips to areas such as the rainforests and other lovely Costa Rican landmarks. Aussies are a gregarious and fun-loving people, and the expat community is a great way to express your national character traits with people just like you – people who have come to a foreign country to experience all that life has to offer.

There are only a few countries in the world with the capacity to design and produce a car from scratch. Australia is one of these countries, with the capacity to produce close to 200,000 vehicles a year for domestic consumption and to ship my car cross country. There are currently three car manufacturers operating down under:

* Ford Australia: Owned by Ford Motor Company, Ford Australia has two Victoria-based sites, in Norlane and Broadmeadows. The company manufactures cars for the domestic market as well as for Asia and Africa. Exported models include the Ikon and Fiesta. The company also designs and manufactures their own high-volume engines.

* Holden: A subsidiary of General Motors, based in Port Melbourne and Elizabeth (in South Australia). Holden builds GM cars for the Australian and Asian markets. They build several models, including the Chevrolet Cruze and the Vauxhall VXR8.

* Toyota Australia: Also located in Port Melbourne. They offer a wide variety of vehicles in Australia, including the Aurion and Camry (both conventional and hybrid).

A Rockland County used cars dealer tells us that Australia got started in the automotive industry by manufacturing steam-powered cars. In 1896, Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes built the Phaeton steamer in Melbourne. It was the first Australian car to feature domestically produced pneumatic tires.

The car developed five horsepower via a single-cylinder steam engine. It could reach speeds well in excess of ten miles per hour. Gasoline-engines were first used in Harley Tarrant’s 1901 model. The Tarrant featured a Benz engine and generated six horsepower. In 1924, The Australian Automobile Association was formed.
Many Australian car manufactures have come and gone over the years.

Here is a quick stroll down memory lane:

* Australian Motor Industries: Active from 1958 to 1987. Manufactured Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Rambler, Triumph and Standard automobiles.

* British Leyland: Active from 1954 to 1982. Manufactured the Leyland Mini and the P76, among others.

* Chrysler Australia: Active from 1951 to 1980. Manufactured the De Soto Diplomat, the Chrysler Royal, the Dodge Phoenix and the Plymouth Valiant.

For a visitor from Sydney, Australia, San Diego real estate must seem very familiar, since both locations share a perfect Mediterranean climate throughout the year. Beaches and seaside views abound, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. Aussie expats who can’t afford a ticket home right now can get their down-under fix by visiting San Diego and taking in the sites. in the sites.

You can walk, drive, take public transport or a cheap cab. We’ve put together a seven-day plan to introduce you to the best San Diego has to offer:

Day 1: We recommend you begin by waxing up your surf board and heading out to a famous beach, such as Torrey Pines State Beach or La Jolla. After spending the day shooting the curl, you’ll swear you are back in Sydney walking the nose at Bondi Beach.

Day 2: Try an ocean wildlife amusement park to remind you of Sydney’s Oceanworld Manley, where the Shark Dive XTreme and the Great Barrier Reef exhibit stun millions every year. You can save a lot of money by instead visiting Sea World in San Diego. Highlights include Shamu the whale, well-dress penguins, and the amazing Shark Encounter.

Day 3: OK, the Sydney Opera House is, we admit, amazing. The sail-inspired roof thrills everyone who gets a chance to view it in Sydney Harbor. The San Diego Opera may be a little more modest, but it is proud to employ the services of General and Artistic Director Ian Campbell, who was raised in Sydney and attended the University of Sydney.

Day 4: Miss your fuzzy little koala friends? Well, c’mon down to the San Diego Zoo to visit some of the furry guys who have made the trip from Australia. If you say “G’Day” to them, they will feel right at home. Of course, we know koala bears are not bears at all; they are marsupials, just like kangaroos and wallabies.

Day 5: Sydney and San Diego share world-class waterfronts. You can take in the sights at the USS Midway Museum, than stroll along the Embarcadero for the finest in shopping and dining.

Day 6: The San Diego Botanic Garden will remind you of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Many of the plants are different, but the mood set by the shaded trails is almost identical.

Day 7: End your walkabout with some fine local wines. Visit the Temecula wine-growing region. By your second bottle, you’ll swear you are back home, or better yet, you won’t care where you are!

Australia offers a wealth of mechanical training programs, many of which are provided by universities and which lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering. One of the most popular engineering disciplines is automotive engineering, where students can learn all of the different facets of the field. Whether you are interested in operating an automobile fabrication plant or would rather concentrate on the science of designing, say, a BMW alternator, you can take your quest for knowledge as far as you need by enrolling in one of Australia’s engineering programs.

Let’s take a look at one of the country’s best programs, offered by Deakin University at its Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus (as well as off-campus). The program leads to a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and utilizes state-of-the-art computer-aided engineering disciplines coupled with the use of advanced materials to offer a highly relevant mechanical engineering degree.

Engineers Australia is the broad consortium of engineering professionals, schools and firms that has developed a benchmark set of requirements and certification programs in a number of engineering fields. Deakin’s undergraduate program has been developed in accordance with Engineers Australia, ensuring its timeliness and relevance. A mechanical engineering degree from Deakin is world-class, allowing graduates to work anywhere in the world. The degree offers an optimal mix of theory and practice to help students choose an appealing specialty.

Incoming students are first grounded in the basic scientific and mathematical principles common to all engineering specialties. After mastering the basics, student can choose to specialize in areas such as mechanical, civil, electrical/electronics, mechatronics or robotics engineering. Upon graduation, Deakin students are immediately employable, although a good percentage chooses instead to obtain advanced degrees in engineering.

Any good engineering program, such as the one offered by Deakin, must ensure that graduates have a well-rounded set of skills that include innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, project management, presentation, communication and technical report writing. Also important is a profound grounding in business ethics and contemporary issues within the profession. Deakin enlists the participation of industry leaders and employer representatives so that the school’s Advisory Board can maintain a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of employers.

While many students still like the on-campus experience of attending a university, the economic realities of today’s world has driven up the relative number of off-campus students. Nonetheless, universities such as Deakin provide for specified activities requiring on-campus attendance, so that all students can experience campus life. Deakin also offers study abroad and exchange student programs as part of the degree.