The eNotes Blog Slim ShadyShakespeareTuning up theBard

Slim ShadyShakespeareTuning up theBard . I just finished teaching Twelfth Night to my college freshmen and sophomores. I wanted to find a way to have them connect with the play in a way that might be enjoyable and spark their creativity. What I settled on was music. If there is anything late teens and early twenty-somethings can agree on, its that its much more fun to listen to music than to, say, figure out why on earth nobody recognizes Viola as Cesario. To that end, I asked teams of 2-3 students to update one or more of the songs in the play AND set them to a modern beat. As amenable as they all seemed to be to the idea, I wasnt sure how fair this project would be to some of the less musically-inclined of our class. There are a fair number of musicians: a guitar player, a few rappers, somebody who plays piano. But of course, there are many more with musical ability pretty well limited to hitting Download Now. As the teams first began to work, there was the predictable whining of   I dont know what this meeeeeeeeeeeannnnnns! but after walking them through a line or two, most realized they were making the task harder than it need have been. For example, take these lines from Festes song in Act 2.4: Fly away, fly away breath; / I am slain by a fair cruel maid. The lines were re-written and   performed (see link below) by two of my own Clowns, in rap, to the tune of Ice, Ice, Baby: I can feel my spirit drifting away; / A beautiful girl has done me this way. Thats part of the beauty of Shakespeare, is it not? It didnt take my class long to catch on because Shakespeare consistently speaks to human emotions and situations that are universal and timeless. Other students took the project in different ways. There was a lovely rendition of Festes song Oh Mistress Mine, from Act 2.3. For this song, the student wrote his own music and took it in a kind of gentle, John Mayer-ish direction. Another group of girls, who professed that they had zero musical talent, found a couple modern recordings of songs in the play and blended them together using a music editing program to create an interesting techno-beat. As always when assigning creative work, I give the class a great deal of freedom. As Olivia says, Love sought is good, but giv’n unsought is better (3.1.122). I think the same can be said for creativity. Get out of the way and let it happen.

Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements

Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements The University of Wisconsin System has a holistic admissions process that includes at least one personal statement. The flagship campus in Madison requires two essays. Applicants can apply using either the Common Application or the University of Wisconsin Application. This article addresses strategies for responding to the essay prompts.   Personal Statements for the University of Wisconsin-Madison The main campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison is the most selective of all the UW schools, and it has an application separate from all the other campuses. It also asks for two personal statements. If you apply using the Common Application, you will need to respond to one of the seven essay prompts. This gives you the freedom to write about anything you choose, for not only do the prompts cover a wide range of topics, but option #7 allows you to write on a topic of your choice.   If you use the University of Wisconsin application,  the first essay prompt asks the following: Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why its important to you. You have so many options here that you might find the essay prompt daunting. As you figure out what the something in your life is that you should write about, keep in mind the reason why UW-Madison is asking this question. The admissions process is holistic, so the university wants to get to know you as a whole person, not just as a set of empirical data such as grades, class rank, and standardized test scores. Your extracurricular activities and employment history are part of the holistic portrait, but they dont tell the whole story.   Use this prompt to explore something that isnt obvious from the rest of your application. If one of your jobs or extracurricular activities is particularly important to you, you could use this essay to explain why that is so (much like a typical  short answer essay  on the Common Application). Or you could use this essay to present a side of your personality that doesnt appear on your application at all. Perhaps you like rebuilding motorcycles, fishing with your younger sister, or writing poetry. Almost anything thats important to you is fair game here, just make sure you follow through and explain  why  its important to you. If you fail to address the why of the question, youve failed to present the admissions folks a full window into your passions and interests. The second essay prompt is the same whether you use the Common Application or the UW Application. It asks the following: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement. UW-Madison has packed a lot into this essay prompt, and it might be best to view it as three essay prompts, not one. The first- why UW-Madison?- is typical of the supplemental essays for many other colleges. The key here is to be specific. If your answer could be applied to schools other than UW-Madison, then youre being too vague and generic. What  specifically  about UW-Madison appeals to you? What unique features of the university distinguish it from other places youre considering? Similarly, with the question about academic, extracurricular and research opportunities, be sure to do your research. Make sure you know what the university offers so that you know what opportunities you can take advantage of should you be admitted. UW-Madison is trying to make sure applicants are familiar with the university and can imagine themselves being active and engaged members of the campus community. When it comes to explaining circumstances that may have had a negative impact on your grades and extracurricular involvement, keep in mind that this part of the prompt is optional. As the article Should You Explain A Bad Grade? notes, youre not always doing yourself a favor if you make a big deal out of slightly off semester in high school. That said, if you did have a major disruption in your life- a significant injury, a death of a parent or sibling, divorce of your parents, or an ill-timed move to a different school- it can be a good idea to comment on the event if it impacted your academic or extracurricular record in a significant way. The Personal Statement for all Other UW Campuses For all of the other University of Wisconsin campuses, youll be asked to respond to this personal essay prompt: Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring to our specific campus that will enrich our community. The question is refreshing in its directness, for, in truth, it is asking what every college admissions essay asks- How will you enrich our community? Colleges want more than students with good grades and high test scores; they also want students who will contribute to campus life in a positive way. Before you write your essay or take part in a college interview, youd be wise to figure out your own answer to the question. What is it that you will contribute? Why will the college be a better place because of your presence? Think about your hobbies, your sense of humor, your quirks, your academic passions... all of the features that make you you. Each of the Common Application essay options  is really getting at this very issue. Whether you are writing about a a challenge youve faced, a problem youve solved, an important accomplishment in your life, or an important dimension of your life experiences, a good essay shows that you bring to campus the type of passion and personality that will enrich the university community. Make Your University of Wisconsin Essay Shine You have lots of breadth in choosing what to write about, but youd be wise to steer clear of bad essay topics that often go astray. Also, dont just focus on what to write, but also how you write it. Pay attention to the style of your essay so that your narrative is tight, engaging, and powerful.   Also be sure to follow the tips on the UW website. One important tip relates to your essay length. While the application allows you to write essays that are up to 650 words, UW recommends essays in the 300-500 word range. While you may be tempted to use the entire available space, youd be wise to heed the universitys recommendation and exceed 500 words.

Cash rate, loan rate, equity funding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cash rate, loan rate, equity funding - Essay Example This can be attributed to the increased cost of debt funding for the major banks in Australia. Study of major banks’ fund composition shows that the banks are shifting their focus towards deposits and long term borrowings more and there has been a decline in share of short term debt in banks funding. Amongst others, higher deposit rates have contributed significantly towards increase in debt funding costs for banks. Although the share of equity has also increased in the banks’ funding composition but it has not contributed much towards changes in housing loan rates, since they are less risky. Until recently, in 2011, the spread between standard housing loan rate and cash rate has reduced by about 10 basis points due to the increase in discounts offered by the banks on new mortgages, but it’s only a small reduction compared to the overall spread. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Widening of the spread between the major-banks standard variable housing loan rat e and the RBA’s cash rate since 2007 4 RBA’s Cash Rate 4 Variable Housing Loan Rate and Cash Rate 4 Composition of Banks’ Funding 5 Cost of Debt and Equity Funding 5 Pricing for Risk and Banks’ Housing Loan Rates 6 Conclusion 6 List of Graphs 7 References 10 Bibliography 12 Widening of the spread between the major-banks standard variable housing loan rate and the RBA’s cash rate since 2007 RBA’s Cash Rate The key objective of RBA’s monetary policy is to lower the inflation rate, targeting around 2 to 3%. Other objectives of RBA’s monetary policy include low unemployment rate and maintaining a stable growth of Australian economy. Cash rate is the primary tool which is used by RBA to regulate the monetary policy in the country. It increases target cash rate when the inflation pressure is in excess of the RBA’s target and it decreases the target cash rate when the economy can grow at a faster rate without creating any infla tion problem (Lowe, 1995, p. 3-15). If we look at the history of RBA’s cash rate, it can be inferred that there has been a steady increase in cash rate from 2007 till mid 2008, which was the beginning of Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Then there was a sharp decline in cash rate during the period of mid 2008 till April, 2009. The cash rate was as low as 3% and continued to be so till September, 2009. Since October, 2009, there had been a steady increase in cash rate (Graph 1). Until recently there had been minor cuts in cash rate and is at 4.25%, as of today (RBA, n.d.). Variable Housing Loan Rate and Cash Rate The trend of standard variable housing loan rates is believed to follow the trend of cash rate. It is so because the household cost of funds are driven by the cash rate. If we compare the standard variable housing loan rate with cash rate, we find an overall strong correlation between these two rates over the years but with some anomalies in between (Graph 2). If we wat ch closely, it can be found that there has been an increasing spread between the major bank’s standard variable housing loan rate and the cash rate since 2007. This increase in variable housing loan rate by major banks relative to the cash rate can be attributed to the increase in bank’s cost of debt funding. In addition to this, higher equity funding costs and increase in expected losses have also attributed to this widening of spread between the two rates. Until recently, in 2011, the spread has reduced by about 10

Social Unrest, Political Disorder and the State Essay

Social Unrest, Political Disorder and the State - Essay Example Such easy formation came as a result of the isolation which Ireland had due to its geographical location. Just like any organized crime group or a terrorist group, the IRA has a method of operating in a hierarchical manner with exclusive membership and explicit rules (Mahan and O’Neil 1998, p.6) Although, IRA does not consider itself to be an organized criminal group in any way, neither as a mafia of any sort, but when analyzed closely, it does appear to have a historical background of being involved in criminal activities and terrorism. But they have evolved from merely a rural peasant protection group to a secret society which constantly challenged against the status quo. According to Mackenzie, there are different agendas which secret societies have, ranging from spiritual, moralistic, patriotic, and political to criminal activities (Mackenzie 1967). The IRA has experienced a similar process of evolution over the years and operated in a corresponding manner in each of the c ases as per circumstances. Furthermore, the IRA shares organizational characteristics which befit only criminal business groups with much focus diverted towards their political goals (Bell, 1997). For the purposes of analyzing the IRA and its methodology, ethnographical research method is deemed to be most appropriate. According to Hobsbawm’s observation (1969), in any oppressed society, there is always to be found a minority group which is willing to devote itself to rebelling against the status quo. In that, some people will choose positive methods and some will be inclined towards illegal means to achieve the same end. One feature that stands out in the IRA is that it was basically formed to raise a solemn voice against oppressing conditions of the peasants in Ireland and the high degree of feudal practices to suppress the masses There was massive unrest especially after the forceful 1800 Act of Union was passed by Westminster to create United Kingdom, which ended up bindi ng Ireland under its rule. This is a significant curve at the point of which the peasant protection group was compelled to take political action (Toolis, 1995). As there increased the number of peasants willing to fight for the political cause they all believed in, the need for more organized formation arose and hence, the IRA was formed. ‘The Whiteboys’ and ‘the Oakboys’ along with ‘phoenix’ were a precursor in Ireland for forming such hierarchical groups for cohesion and organization with enhanced sophistication. It became a sub-culture within a sub-culture (Lambart, 2010). Something that gives them authority is their ability to monopolize violence in their respective communities. Traditionally, Ireland is known for its familial unit and camaraderie, hence the rise of the IRA has its roots in such a background. Those who were out of any secure means for livelihood sought shelter in such organizations for mutual protection (Collins, 1986). The modus operandi of the IRA depends on the kinship and friendship networks that it has developed through practicing its hold on its community. If there is kept no check from the government’s side on their activities, they spread their values and ideologies very easily. Even there had been such fortunate historical events in favor of the IRA where their sub-culture has proliferated with changing

Quality Care In The NHS

Quality Care In The NHS 1. What is meant by quality in the phrase quality of care? Quality, broadly speaking, is a subjective measure of excellence and when applied to health care, quality can be understood as systems and provisions of care said to be free from defects, deficiencies, and significant variations. Within the NHS, this encompasses the provision of high quality primary, secondary and community care in which the interests of patients are protected through a comprehensive set of nationally aligned policies. Lord Darzi defines quality of care as clinically effective, personal and safe. How is this achieved? Within the NHS, quality is achieved through robust regulation, inspection, standard setting, change management, community and patient advocacy, alongside continual assessment of clinical competency (Leatherman and Sunderland, 2003). Quality is about effectiveness of care, from the clinical procedure the patient receives to their quality of life after treatment. The Equity and excellence: Liberat ing the NHS white papers assertion is that to achieve our ambition for world-class healthcare outcomes, the service must be focused on outcomes and quality standards that deliver them. Leatherman S, Sutherland K, (2003) The quest for quality in the NHS: a mid term evaluation of the ten year quality agenda. London: The Stationery Office, 2. In 2008, the Department of Health published the report High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review final report. 30 June 2008. (a) Please summarise the main approaches to improving quality proposed by the report (b) compare and contrast these approaches to those described in Gwyn Bevans editorial (quoted from above). The Department of Health report approaches improving quality by: High Quality Care for All proposes that all providers of NHS healthcare services should produce a Quality Account: an annual report to the public about the quality of services delivered. The Health Act 2009 places this requirement onto a statutory footing. Stringent regulation from bodies with increased statutory powers. The Care Quality Commission will have new enforcement powers. NICE will be expanded to set and approve more independent quality standards. New Quality Observatories will be established in every NHS region to inform local quality improvement efforts Strategic health authorities will have a new legal duty to promote innovation. This will be twinned with a portal to share evidence-based, best practice among clinicians and other NHS staff. Devolvement of power to ensure the involvement of clinicians in decision making at every level of the NHS. The introduction of medical directors and quality boards feature at regional and national level Increasing patient information and choice will be introduced in the first NHS Constitution. Patient information will include the systematically measure and publish information about the quality of care from the frontline up. Individualisation will become the key to the way in which patients are handled with a personalised care plan. Noting that one size doesnt fit all. Incentivisation of care outcomes will include a new best practice tariff and the paper suggests this will make funding reflect quality of care. Partnership will be embraced, utilising local authorities, with the services offered personalised to meet the specific needs of their local populations Prevention not just treatment will be paramount with focus on improving health as well as treating sickness. Bevans editorial evaluates the internal market systems that have been tested within the NHS according to the Audit Commission and the Health Care Commissions paper Is treatment working? Suggesting that despite the core intention of the internal market models to improve quality and efficiency of services for patients, as Black insists, there is little evidence to suggest that this has resulted from past models or alternatively the scrapping of the internal market when Labour came to power in 1997; i.e. formation of foundation trusts, increased commissioning autonomy, patient choice or the incentivisation of health outcomes (payment by results). The NHS internal market models aimed to keep healthcare costs low by forcing providers to compete for patients not compete on the basis of quality. A stark contrast in rhetoric is seen in the proposals that are raised in the report, where marketization is the key driver of systemic improvement in quality of care. The High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review final report shows the need for a more market-orientated strategy: a patient choice-led approach to hospital funding, the removal of barriers preventing the use of private health providers to carry out NHS work, and the devolution of management and budgetary control from Whitehall to local communities. It appears reform is circular and the report bears a resemblances to pre-1991 measures where received funding was based on local populations. While the Report is indicative of the need for a tripartite arrangement for achieving quality, with stakeholders as informants and agents for change, Bevan argues that the internal market model proposed, although attractive, relies on the assumptions that purchasers can be effective commissioners and that failing providers will be removed from the market. The centrepiece of the White Paper reforms and Operating Framework is the handing over of decisions on care, treatments and commissioning solely to GPs, ultimately creating a stable internal model where there will be a quality equilibrium. GPs will be burdened with the challenge of acting as a middleman between the patient and provider, ultimately as a gateway to funding and care. They with fundamentally be dismantling the current monopoly of care provision. Their decision making will be accountable to local communities and a board. This new buyer position is thought to remove duplication of population care commissioning and streaml ine decision making to where the Government foresees a natural place to put this responsibility. Propper et al, (2003) noted that in 1991, the Conservatives created a set of buyers, funded by central government, who were free to purchase health care for their populations from both public and private sector suppliers. Public sector suppliers were therefore not given direct funding, but were set to compete with each other, alongside a small private sector, for contracts from these public buyers. The autonomy of Foundation Trusts as buyers, in Bevans opinion, has led to a free market of care with little standardisation, with the private sector benefitting from the poor levels of governance most. Bevanss editorial suggests this may have benefit to the population because so much healthcare cost is driven by decisions that GPs make and should not be guided by ministerial change. Unviable providers will be pushed out of the market by new entrants, creating a self-regulated, internal market. The White Paper suggests there is evidence that health systems work better where budgets and spending power are moved as close to patients as possible. Providers will be paid according to their performance. Furthermore, that a bottleneck on the road to driving the quality agenda is linked to ministerial involvement in the day-to-day running of the NHS. This new public management gives GPs greater autonomy, placed them at arms length from the government, interlinks purchasing and providing functions, and increases competition with quality in mind. GPs will be responsible for all aspects of performance; acting as bureaucratic gatekeepers for all care needs their patients, and potential scapegoa ts for ministerial politicking. As it stands, effectiveness of this system is being hindered by hierarchical bureaucracy and political micromanagement on both a local and national level, including politically driven reforms with each new government. The report suggests the forced autonomy of GP Consortia, comparatively to Bevan whom notes the earned autonomy system, in which, the independent health care inspectorate awarded each NHS provider an annual star rating of zero to three stars. Providers that scored well on the star ratings gain small financial bonuses but win much greater operational freedom, and the ability to apply to become an independent not-for-profit NHS foundation trust status. Autonomy was the incentive as this gave managers more choice. At the other end of the spectrum, providers that score zero stars are placed on special measures, and if progress is not soon forthcoming, their management is replaced. Bevan suggests that measures of Provider performance (cost, equity of access, outcomes, patient satisfaction etc.) have proved difficult to progress forward and that only patients acting as consumers has left a marked change on the system. I think it is questionable whether in the short term, GP buying powers wi ll drive quality in a market in which there are few providers. The 2008 DH report takes note of such and relays the importance of an individualised service in which patient information to inform choice will breed quality. Patient choice and measures of satisfaction will simultaneously puts more pressure on providers to increase performance of measured care outcomes, which in turn become incentivised by cash rewards. They foresee GP consortia, evaluating Services considered to be sub-standard and withdrawing them from service if patient satisfaction and quality care outcomes are not met. Propper, C., Burgess, S., and Gossage, D. (2003).Competition and quality: Evidence from the NHS internal market 1991-1999. Unpublished paper, University of Bristol. 3. As one of the accompanying papers to the White Paper Liberating the NHS, the DH has recently published Transparency in outcomes a framework for the NHS.http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_117583 Please summarise the main approaches to improving quality proposed by this consultation. The NHS Operating Frame is an accountability framework which should, if followed, ensure that the NHS Commissioning Board works to deliver better healthcare outcomes. This will be through measures that are valid, reliable and sensitive to change, notably evidence-based outcome measures, not process targets. The outcomes and incentives emerging from the frameworks will be organised around 5 national outcome goals /domains that cover all treatment activity for which the NHS is responsible. Outcomes appear to be related to feasibility, cost of improvements and pre-existing data sets. Quality of care as advocated by Lord Darzi in realised in three of the domains; patient experience, safety and effectiveness. The domains fail to include outcomes of access/equity, expediency in service or efficiency, which seems to underlie previous national reforms imposed by the Labour Government in 1997. The Operating Framework fails to identify purposeful ways of addressing deficiencies and poor outcom e performance. Incentives and regulation are suggested but may not be drivers. Each of these five areas will have: outcome indicators improvement areas according to evidence (collected data, patient surveying of experience, etc) Quality standards, developed by NICE, will inform the commissioning of all NHS care and payment systems. Measuring and reporting on outcomes will focus the attention of clinicians and managers on how well they are doing, where the gaps might be between actual performance and the high aspirations of those who use the NHS. I dont believe all the outcomes are necessarily reliable measures of quality. In Domain 2, for example, there is a focus on functional outcomes and qualities of life for long term illness, which may lead to patients to receive care they do not want. A great deal of the outcomes will be developed through incrementalism, for example those related to compassion, dignity and respect as indicators of the quality of care. The measured outcomes should represent the overall quality of healthcare provided by the NHS, as well as being responsive to population need and demand. The outcomes should also be attributable directly to the actions of health care provided within the NHS, to enable accountability. Best practice should be identified and used as a basis for ensuring that the framework itself does not propagate practice that in itself leads, however indirectly, to inequalities. Key to the five high level outcome/domains is the need for a whole system approach in aspiring for complete transparency, effectiveness and patients exercising appropriate choices, alongside a need to balance local priorities. Seven principles underpin the framework which are intended to improve the quality of health care, these are: Balanced between need and demand Accountability and transparency Internationally comparability Patient and clinician centred environments and service delivery. Excellence and equality promotion Adaptability and focus on outcomes that can be forged in partnership with other public services. International comparability The Health Secretary will be able to hold the new independent NHS Commissioning Board to account for securing improved health outcomes, and measuring the outcomes that are most important to patients and healthcare professionals. These will be backed up by authoritative, evidence-based quality standards that will ensure everyone understands how those outcomes can be achieved Based on past experience, what do you think are the likelihoods of success of this latest initiative? Please ensure that you consider these in the context of the likely challenges for the NHS over the next few years. (Please cite references if referring to evidence of the impact of previous initiatives). The attention of policymakers is always firmly fixed on the future and rarely on documented measures of progress to assess the impact of one set of reforms, before the next wave of organizational change. Political values dominate empirical evidence for reform. With such levels of political uncertainty, it is hard to evaluate if in five years time, a general election will lead to a change in leadership and new Health Minister. With this in mind, change often does not necessarily make best use of available resources, skills and knowledge. The direct influence of research evidence on decision making is often tempered by factors such as financial constraints, shifting timescales and decision makers own experiential knowledge (Elliott 1999). With devolvement of power to local government, there is need for a precise balance to be struck between strategies based on choice and competition on the one hand, and local voice and democratization on the other. On its own, I dont think the NHS reforms will create a patient-led system. It is the people, the leaders and staff of the NHS, who will make or break the change process. Central to this, is the way in which the White Paper reforms will radically change the way in with GPs work collaboratively with providers to better the health and social care of the population they serve. Reorganisation will ultimately mean GPs will have to create new organisations and learn new skills. This will take behavioural change that is likely to be unwelcomed, as theres a shift towards increased paperwork and decreased patient time. GPs have shown considerable levels of apathy towards working reforms and changes in service delivery in the past, including contracted hours. For example, previously published opinion has indicated that the medical profession were predominantly opposed to the package of NHS reforms outlined in the Working for Patients and were especially opposed to the administration of hospital s by self-governing trusts (Lister, 1990). GP consortia will be exactly that, self-operating. As the Operating Framework enters its live consultation it will be important to gather evidence as to strength of feeling with which those opinions, either for or against various aspects of the NHS reforms are held. Reform is costly, since managers and other NHS professionals invest a huge amount of time and effort with each re-organization. The NHS faces the need to make cost savings of  £15-20 billion over the next four years. It is faced with the challenge to create better health outcomes with less resources. Moving to the new system, maintaining control of day-to-day services, and implementing these savings is going to require skilled management. This at time when the NHS is shedding much of its management workforce and when managers have been under political attack. Introduced in 2004 as part of the General Medical Services Contract, the QOF is a voluntary incentive scheme for GP practices in the UK, rewarding them for how well they care for patients. the higher the score, the higher the financial reward for the practice. The very suggestion that this was voluntary implies that not everyone welcomed such change. The introduction of a free market, in which providers can tender for supplying a service as opposed to an internal market, could serve to drive efficiency savings and quality of care. However, accountability and patient choice would require considerably management and information sharing across GP consortia. Department of Health. Payment by Results. London: DoH, 2002. 5. One of the differences in the current UK coalition governments approach to improving quality, compared to previous governments, is in the use of targets. Targets are defined by the DH (DH 2004) as: Targets refer to a defined level of performance that is being aimed for, often with a numerical and time dimension. The purpose of a target is to incentivise improvement in the specific area covered by the target over a particular timeframe. List the possible benefits of using targets to improve health/health services and then list the potential disadvantages of using targets. Use examples (either from your experience or from what youve heard on the media) to illustrate your points. On balance, are you for or against publication? The benefits of health/ health services targets include: Supports priority setting Promotes consistency Improves commitment and fosters accountability Guides allocation of resources Milestones for incremental improvements The disadvantages of health/ health services targets include: Priorities may be misdirected and are often politically engineered Not always evidence based Hard to measure/quantify Not always related to health care outcomes Often cost related, not need related. Clouded by bureaucracy Often incentive driven ie pay to treat. One such health target in the Labour Governments Health Policy, the four-hour target, imposed in Accident and Emergency Departments has received mixed reviews. It was just one of a range of centrally imposed standards, most of them designed to speed up treatment. With such a target, volume of patients being treated and the expediency of their treatment is implied to be of greater importance that the quality of care or health outcomes of patients. The Guardian, (2010) reports In opposition Lansley had been critical of the way that targets distorted the behaviour of doctors, saying in the case of AE that people should be treated in relation to the severity of their injury not an arbitrary time limit. 6. The current government is strengthening the role of the regulator. Please summarise the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). What challenges do you think the CQC will face over the next few years? In April 2009, as the result of passing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (2008 Act), the outcome-based regulator, Care Quality Commission (CQC) was officially established. Their primary role is to act as an independent regulator of the quality and capacity of health and adult social care. They are responsible for registering, reviewing and inspecting health, adult social care and mental health services to judge the clinical quality of healthcare. Regulation directly relates to the quality of care experienced by people, so called end users, who use the services and align to the Coalitions vision of a user-centred, integrated service with a strong focus on quality (CDC, 2010). Indeed, when services fail to meet the health and safety legal requirements of their compulsory registration, action against them is taken through strict enforcement powers. In the next few years, as we transition from one governance model to the next, exchanging power to a local level, improvements must be closely aligned to quality and substantial, evidence-based research. Research grants are being cut and it is likely public sector research, including health research, will suffer as result of such austerity. The CDCs broad remit to oversee NHS organisations is not limited to particular service areas or functions, like that of many of the existing regulators. They may find themselves over extending and unable to fully engage with the public in a transparent and meaningful way. As quality of care is embedded to offer assurance and to deliver improvements over time, there is potential for major disruption to be caused by the scale of the change management discussed within the White Paper. The CQCs model of regulation puts user involvement and community level accountability at the core of their actions. Though this is consistent with the changes implied within both the White Paper and Operational Framework, there is still considerable ambiguity surrounded where responsibility will lie across all regulated services, especially with the introduction of GP consortia. Until this is resolved and clarity found, ambiguity will only be escalated by poor engagement of stakeholders and insufficient information dissemination through the crucial transitional points. As patterns of service provision change, consistently identifying providers and commissioners, and then allowing for local communities to hold them to account for the services they provide may prove difficult. Once established within a professional capacity, the CDC will need to be aware of the information on outcomes and how it should be presented in a format that is accessible and meaningful to influence patient choice. Furthermore, in their role as an advocate of patients, as a consumer champion, the CDC will also be required to ensure that people who use services understand the care choices available to them and are involved in making decisions about their own care and support. The CDC (2010) note that Patient and public involvement in health organisation will be strengthened by the creation of HealthWatch England a new independent consumer champion within the Care Quality Commission. As a so called consumer champion, this suggests end user expectations may be heightened. Questions must be asked of how HealthWatch England shall be regulated.

Ing Life

ING Life Bo Sun CIS 505: Communication Technologies Strayer University Darcel  Ford, Ph. D. February 11, 2013 Difficulties and Risks Associated with Internet Originally, Internet was designed for absolute security environment. Therefore, the protocols which are consisting of the infrastructure of Internet have no security concerns. This means Internet is easily to be vulnerable. Although major part of security issues are from inside, Internet does take external threats. When users connect the Internet, the web browsers might contain breaches that permit scripts to access the system and may cause damages potentially.In addition, when information is transmitting through the public network, the transmission might be captured by someone else. This is known as man-in-the middle attack. (Dean, 2009) Another potential common risk associated with Internet is called reconnaissance threats. Attackers could detect the reachable networks, devices and services through the Internet connection, o r even draw an entire network map. Furthermore, DoS attack is another risk users could encounter when using Internet. Hackers attempts to over-whelm the system in order to make it shut down. Oppenheimer, 2011) Analyze ING’s Solution The security mechanism existing in the current ING’s network is implemented a fire between the external brokers and the internal servers. Basically, this is not enough to protect the network, especially, the information of ING involves private personal information. The information should be protected carefully. Securing Internet connection a variety of overlapping security mechanisms will be equipped to guarantee the security of the Internet connection.Common mechanisms include: firewalls, packet filters, physical security, audit logs, authentication and authorization. At the same time, technicians also need to implement packet filters to prevent the Internet routers from the DoS attacks. DoS attacks have great intimidation to public server s. In this condition, reliable operating system and applications are critical to solve the potential attacks. CGI and other types of scripts also could take care of the servers. Finally, firewall mechanism is efficient when facing Dos attacks.Firewall technologies, physical security, authentication and authorization mechanisms, auditing, and possibly encryption consist of the security mechanisms utilized on remote access (Oppenheimer, 2011). Besides these normal network security mechanisms, a proper routing protocol is also important to Internet connection. The selected protocol should support route authentication. And static and default routing is an issue need to be concerned because of potential compromised routing updates. Finally, clear police and comprehensive training for the employee is significant.After all, most security issues are leaded by human errors. Critique the Extranet Solution To support extranet connection for brokers is an excellent decision. It is simply for us ers to get access to the information which they needed. On the other hand, extranet is easily to be managed from the security aspect. Administrators could implement security mechanisms simply. Remote-access VPN is another way could be Implemented to connect the brokers. According to Oppenheimer, â€Å"Reomte-access VPNs permit on-demond access to an organization’s internetwork, via secure, encrypted connections. (Oppenheimer, 2011) This function is suitable for the remote uses which don’t need always connection. Users connect the corporate’s network through service provider’s network, this could decrease the budget of connection and the the work of network administritors. Install redundent mechanism could imprive brokers service. When primary database shut down, the backup devices could guarantee the network connection work normally. References Dean, T. (2009). network+ guide to networks. Mason: Cengage Learning. Oppenheimer, P. (2011). Top-down Network Design. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions.

The Three Reasons Homework Should be Given Essay - 602 Words

Doing homework can be difficult and sometimes takes a lot of time. However, at the same time doing homework can be beneficial and enjoyable. There are three reasons why homework should be given. First, teachers are able to know how students are doing easily through checking the students’ homework. Second, doing homework can stimulate the interest of studying; and finally students may comprehend better and receive high marks through doing the homework the teachers have assigned. First of all, homework is like a detector, teacher is able to know how students are doing through checking the students’ homework. At school, the communication between teacher and students is brief; teacher only have a short while to explain to students what†¦show more content†¦If most students can exceed the expectation but a few cannot, teachers are able to help them promptly. To conclude, giving out homework is a way teacher detect how students are doing. Secondly, doing homework can stimulate the students’ interest of studying. English and Science, two of the most captivating subjects, require students to search certain information in order to complete homework. During the time students searching, it is always very easy to be absorbed by the various intriguing articles. While the students are into the articles, their interest starts to develop. Many students even prepare for their future careers because of their interest. One relevant example is the famous scientist Albert Einstein. When Einstein is young, his favorite subject is Science; every time his Science teacher assigns homework, Einstein always goes to library to search on information related to his homework. At that time, his interest commences to develop. Later on, Einstein becomes a world famous scientist. Without homework, Einstein probably is not interested in science and not widely known. To summarize, doing homework is able to stimulate the students’ interest of studying. Finally, students can comprehend problems better through doing homework. As students enter high schools, subjects especially Math or Physics commence to become difficult. Many types of problems begin to appear in tests. To exceed the expectations, students who are over confidential and think thatShow MoreRelatedWhy Teachers Should Reduce Homework771 Words   |  4 Pageswanted to do homework? Would you follow what they do and want to do as much homework as they wanted or would you not go down that and just be one of those normal everyday people. Well if children just had homework to do they wouldn t even be able to do what they want to do out of school such as spend quality time with their loved ones or participate in extracurricular activities. More homework could also give children stress and make them do unpredictable things. These are the reasons why I thinkRead MoreHomework Takes Away From Family Time1592 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction In the beginning of the twentieth century homework was viewed as an exceptional practice that helped students learn through practice and repetition. In recent years parents and educators were concerned that homework is taking away from â€Å"social experience, outdoor recreation, and creative activities† These experiences are necessary to a good childhood. So, let’s think about it, is homework necessary for success in school? Homework over the last few decades has increased dramatically, andRead MoreImportance Of Homework In Education1565 Words   |  7 PagesCorey Jones July 25, 2017 English 1301 Prof. Stacey Said Homework: Essential to the Student Homework is a very vital aspect of our education system that has been used for centuries. Homework is, â€Å"work or study done in preparation for a certain event or situation† (Webster). There is no better way to teach a student discipline, studiousness and diligence than through assigning homework. Homework was first assigned by an Italian schoolteacher by the name of Roberto Nevilis in the year 1095. FormalRead MoreThe Goal Of A Teacher990 Words   |  4 PagesMany teachers assign large amounts of homework to students. Unfortunately this causes a great deal of stress, loss of time, or decrease in homework quality and effectiveness. Too much homework is not worth the extra effort put out by teachers and students, and teachers should take consideration to the well-being of the students by encouraging them to learn and accomplish the schoolwork effectively and correctly. Student’s careers and lives often depend on what they learn in school, and what is taughtRead MoreN o Time By Ben F. Scott Fitzgerald864 Words   |  4 Pageshis homework. About an hour and a half later, his sister knocks on the door, telling Ben she needs help with her chores. While Ben wants to help, he can’t stay awake doing his homework past midnight. So, Ben answers, â€Å"Sorry, no time.† A couple hours pass by and finally, Ben finishes his homework. He brushes his teeth, puts on his pajamas, and slips into bed. Falling asleep (participle), Ben asks himself, â€Å"Why can’t I enjoy my life?† He then answers his own question, â€Å"No time.† While homework helpsRead MoreExcessive Amount Of Homework On Students Essay866 Words   |  4 PagesMany teachers assign large amounts of homework to students. Unfortunately this causes a lot of stress, loss of time, or decrease in homework quality and effectiveness. Too much homework is not worth the extra effort put out by teachers and students, and teachers should take consideration to the well-bein g of the students by encouraging them to learn and get the schoolwork done effectively and correctly. Student’s careers and lives often depend on what they learn in school, and what is taught canRead MoreAmerican Students Drop Out Of High School1534 Words   |  7 Pagesin the United States are the twenty-fifth math, the seventeenth in science, the fourteenth in reading, out of twenty nine countries (OECD 2012)? According by the National Assessment of Education Progress, two out of three eighth-graders cannot read proficiently and that nearly three out of four eighth- and 12th-grade students cannot write proficiently. How the level of U.S schools can be so low, when we know that the United State is one of the first country in the world which spend the most moneyRead MoreAmerica s Preparing Students For The Future1132 Words   |  5 PagesStudents that are coming out of high school now days, don’t feel like they learned anything that has prepared them for their adult life. Another part of the problem with high schools is the amount of homework is given to students. Let’s say that a student has five classes a day and receives five hours of homework each night. That leaves the student little to no time to spend time with family and friends, go to work, play a sport, and even do necessities like sleeping. If that student doesn’t get enoughRead MoreProblems with School-Assigned Homework Essay1369 Words   |  6 Pagesbecause a child is doing homework, does not mean he or she is learning (Kohn). The fact is, the homework teachers have assigned has gone up dramatically. In 1981, children ages six to nine received about 44 minutes of homework a week. By 1997, children six to nine were receiving almost two hours of homework a week (Chaika) That number has almost tripled. Though supporters have pointed out the many benefits of homework over the years, which may have led to the increase of homework assigned because of theRead MoreIs Homework Real ly Helpful?842 Words   |  4 PagesHomework. Everybody has it. it’s just a fact of life for any middle school student. You go to school, and you work. You come home and you work some more. Work at home. Homework. it’s been given out and policed for so long that no one really questions it anymore. But now we are. Homework doesn’t help; it hurts. Middle schoolers in particular should not be assigned homework. First of all, most teachers give out homework because they believe the practice will help kids understand and learn more