Focus on Women:  “It’s Your Time to Be Healthy”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sponsoring a “National Women’s Health Week”, May 12-18, 2013.  As HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius notes:  “Healthy, strong women are essential to having healthy, strong children and communities, but too often women place the needs of others before their own needs.”  The Affordable Care Act, and initiatives like HHS’ own “Strong Start”, are enabling many more women to access preventive care resulting in early disease detection and reducing preterm births.  In addition to regular screenings, HHS urges all women to be physically active, stop smoking, get adequate sleep, reduce stress and make better food choices.

By a lucky coincidence, May is also “International Mediterranean Diet Month”. Scientific studies have shown that this culinary lifestyle increases longevity and has significant cardiovascular, bone and arterial health benefits, particularly for women. Think you are too busy or too set in your ways to change your eating habits?  Here are the 8 easy steps of this plan:

• Reduce red meat intake:  3 oz. or less of lean meat and chicken entrees are best
• Seafood twice a week:  Grilled Salmon is a quick dinner alternative
• Vegetarian once a week:  Vegetable Paella is just as filling as the original
• Half your plate should be veggies:  Try Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
• Don’t skip breakfast:  Fiber rich whole grains and fruits provide hours of energy
• Choose healthy fats:  Cook with extra virgin olive oil, eat nuts, olives, avocados
• Dairy in Moderation:  Yogurt, especially Greek and cheeses, especially feta
• Fruit for Dessert:  Fresh fruit can satisfy a sweet tooth

National Women’s Health Week should remind all female CHTs, PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, NPs, Nurse Managers, RNs, Rehab Managers and SLPs to eat and live a healthy lifestyle in order to set an example for their clients and families.  Job satisfaction is also important to a woman’s sense of overall well-being, and Centra can help you find that right position.  Call us at 800 535 0076.   

Delaware:  Come For Play, Come For Work

Thomas Jefferson  famously nicknamed Delaware “The Diamond State” because it was a “jewel” among the other Eastern seaboard states.  Also called “Small Wonder”, Delaware packs a lot of natural beauty into a small area. From the rolling hills and DuPont country estates in the north to the award winning beaches and quaint small towns in the south, Delaware is a sightseeing and recreational paradise within an easy drive from site to site. Add to that, no state income or property tax, favorable incorporation laws, and more science and engineering Ph.D’s than any other state, and you have just a few reasons why Delaware is a great place to live and work!

Delaware is “The First State”, earned by being the first colony to ratify the Constitution.  Its list of contributions and important residents, including Vice-President Joe Biden, are all the more amazing given that it is the second smallest state .  Some of the more unique examples are:

• Newark :  Betsy Ross’ flag first flies in battle at Cooch’s Bridge 1777
• Newport:  First automatic flour-milling machinery invented by Oliver Evans 1785
• Rehoboth Beach:  First U.S. beauty contest 1880
• Wilmington:  Nylon first invented by DuPont’s Wallace Carothers 1935
• Bridgeville:  First Punkin Chunkin contest in the U.S. 1986
• Dover: First and only Continental U.S. military mortuary officially named a Dover AFB activity 2008

Delaware’s healthcare system is the second largest employer after state government.  Want to join the swelling ranks of professionals making Delaware their home?  Contact the Centra Team at 800 535 0076.  You and your career are always first with us!

Healthiest U.S. Cities

According to the 2012 Bloomberg’s Rankings, the U.S. is the 33rd healthiest nation out of 145 with populations of one million or greater.  Surprisingly, Canada and all of the European countries listed ranked higher.  Total health-scores were based on infant mortality and life expectancy rates, age factors and causes of death. Then lifestyle, medical and environmental risk factors were subtracted from that score to achieve a ranking. The top 5: Singapore, Italy, Australia, Switzerland and Japan all share high standards of hygiene and environmental consciousness; heart-healthy diets and portion control measures; along with more physically active lifestyles.

Taking a page from the world’s book, many American cities are encouraging their residents to become more active and eat healthier by supporting the growth of farm-to-table restaurants, organic markets and community gardens.  Major metropolises are adopting bike-sharing programs, expanding their green spaces, and constructing more walking paths to promote greater physical activity. Each year, the American Fitness Index lists the 50 most fit places to live and here are a few of the top 10:

• # 1 Minneapolis, MN:  Top honor goes to this northern metropolitan area for its clean air, plentiful farmers’ markets, golf courses, fitness centers and playgrounds. Smoking is banned in public places and residents have a low incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.  
• # 2 Washington, DC:  The nation’s capital has plenty of trails, even closing some roads on weekends to accommodate joggers and cyclists.  Washingtonians eat more fruits and vegetables and smoke less than other Americans, resulting in low rates of diabetes and heart disease.
• #8 Seattle, WA:  Although the city has fewer parkland than most, Seattle residents tend to be above average when it comes to physical fitness. More of them bike or walk to work, eat healthier and schools have a higher PE requirement than elsewhere in the country.
• #9 Virginia Beach, VA:   With access to excellent healthcare and 89% of its residents covered by insurance, it is no wonder that the city has some of the lowest rates of angina and cardiovascular disease.  Add to that a multitude of sports venues and you can’t help but be healthy and active.

Want to learn more about how you can make one of these healthy and fit  environments your new home?  Call the Centra Team at 800 535 0076.  We have great opportunities for CHTs, OTs, COTAs, PTs, PTAs, NPs, RNs, Nurse Managers, Rehab Managers and SLPs.

Healthcare Jobs Round Out Top 100 Jobs of 2013

Best of the Best!

Your chosen profession is just that ...a personal choice.  However, it is always comforting to have your decision validated by an objective source.  U.S. News and World Report recently revealed its 2013 top 100 best jobs. It should come as no surprise that health related careers are in the top third of that list. Occupations were selected based on hiring demands for each, as identified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).   Rankings then considered seven measures using BLS stats:  number of projected job openings; job growth percentage; median salary; current employment rate; future job prospects; everyday stress level; and work-life balance.

Using these criteria, here is how health professions stack up:

• #2 Registered Nurse:  With a broad range of specializations and workenvironments, current and long-term growth potential is high.  Add to that increased demand as the greying of America continues for the foreseeable future.
• #8 Physical Therapist:  An aging population also increases demand forrehabilitative professionals. Students who network during required internships will have a leg up on the competition.
• #11 Occupational Therapist:  Helping clients stay independent and performing theirdaily tasks, keeps this profession high on the list.  Choosing a specialty early is important, but the bulk of job growth is expected in elder care.
• #15 Physical Therapist Assistant:  Job growth for PTAs is expected to surpass that of the therapists they assist. As with PTs, internships are often the key to future employment opportunities.
• #28 Speech Language Pathologist:  In the last few years, median salaries for SLPshave increased significantly. As with the careers mentioned above, rate of growth will be highest for those working with seniors.

Are you an RN, PT, OT, PTA, or SLP looking to take advantage of projected job growth and new opportunities in your field?  Centra can help!  Call our team at 800 535 0076 and see what we can do for you.