The Federal Group

The Federal Group Welcomes Nomir Medical Technologies

pcooney — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:42:35 +0000

The Federal Group is pleased to announce its representation of Nomir Medical Technologies, a medical device company with a product pipeline of optical energy therapies for multiple clinical applications (nomirmedical.com).

Aero Electronics VP Griffin praises new HUBZone bill

pcooney — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:36:55 +0000

Florida Today newspaper features Vice President of Aero Electronics Dan Griffin in an article reporting new legislation in Congress which would designate Brevard County as a HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone).

Take a look:

Florida Today – March 11, 2012

HUBZone legislation introduced, picked up by Florida press

pcooney — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:56:52 +0000

Florida’s U.S. senators introduced legislation Tuesday to give Florida’s Brevard County small businesses additional federal contracting opportunities.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson and Sen. Marco Rubio and titled the “Shuttle Workforce Revitalization Act of 2012,” would designate all of Brevard County as a “historically underutilized business zone,” or HUBZone. The designation gives small businesses preference in government procurement and could help attract new business, as well.

Florida Today

Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Business Journal

Learn More About the Work of Forensic Nurses

pcooney — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:19:51 +0000

The Federal Group, Inc. is pleased to represent the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). The IAFN and the IAFN Foundation in collaboration with Seedworks Films brings you a look into the world of Forensic Nurses.

Aero Electronics Inc. partners with DoD

pcooney — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:48:02 +0000

Aero Electronics Inc., based in Titusville, Florida, has secured a position in the Department of Defense’ Mentor Protege Program (MPP). The DoD Mentor Protege Program assists small locally owned businesses by matching them with larger companies in order to deliver products and services for the federal government specializing in defense, environment, information technology, manufacturing, and health care.

Aero Electronics is a women-owned HUBZone certified technology company offering extensive expertise in the area of cable, harness, mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronics assembly. Aero Electronics will partner with Raytheon Corporation and work to fulfill a number of necessary defense contracts.

Read the full press release here:

AeroPressRelease2011

CMS Proposes Rule to Address Clinical Privileging for APRNs

pcooney — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:44:35 +0000

A proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on October 24, 2011, is estimated to save significant resources for Medicare and Medicaid by aiding in providing clinical privileges to greater numbers of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in hospitals across the nation. APRNs include certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. The proposed rule is attached for your convenience. CMS_FRDOC_0001-0839

AARP Publishes Report on APRN Hospital Privledges

pcooney — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:36:29 +0000

The AARP Public Policy Institute has published a report discussing barriers to hospital privileges and outlines the benefits to consumers and the health care system when Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) have hospital privileges. The paper expands on recommendations of the Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health that APRNs be eligible for hospital clinical privileges, admitting privileges, and hospital medical staff membership and also be permitted to perform hospital admission assessments—documenting medical histories and performing physical examinations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) practice to the full extent of their education and training, which includes being able to admit their patients to the hospital and other facilities.

The report also addresses:

What it means to be credentialed with hospital privileges.
Medicare regulations that prevent APRNs from conducting patient exams in hospitals.
State and hospital laws that add costs and administrative burdens to hospital care.
How consumers benefit when APRNs have hospital privileges.

The entire report can be found here:

ARPN-Hospital-Privileges

APTA Responds to Senate Finance Committee Report

pcooney — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:28:00 +0000

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) commends the Senate Finance Committee for the report it released on October 3 regarding the provision of Medicare home health care services. The report, prompted by articles published in the Wall Street Journal in 2010, uncovered efforts on behalf of some companies to pressure therapists to provide excessive services to Medicare beneficiaries. Fraud and abuse has no place in the provision of health care services and APTA is committed to working with the Committee, Congress, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the problems that exist.

APTA_Official Statement

APTA_PressRelease

Douglas County Secures CDC Community Transformation Grant

pcooney — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:06:54 +0000

Nebraska’s Douglas County has successfully obtained a portion of funding from the U.S Department of Health’s Community Transformation Grant Program, created to support public health by reducing chronic illness, fighting obesity, eliminating tobacco use and promoting healthier lifestyles.

HHS awarded approximately $103 million in prevention grants to 61 communities across the country, with Douglas County receiving $500,000 to plan and implement their own programs geared towards community health.

The Douglas County Health Department will partner with Live Well Omaha to create an initiative to provide non-profit organizations, educational institutions and government agencies with the tools they need to support ongoing opportunities for Douglas County residents to have access healthier foods and be more physically active as a community.

18-Year Review Shows Value in Services of Certified Nurse-Midwives

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:16:49 +0000

Silver Spring, MD – A systematic review to be published in the September/October 2011 issue of Nursing Economic$ reports that care provided by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) is associated with comparable or better outcomes than care managed exclusively by physicians. The findings were included in “Advanced Practice Nurse Outcomes 1990-2008: A Systematic Review,” authored by Robin P. Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, et.al. The review is the first of its kind in 20 years.

Through a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence from 21 studies of CNM care, the review concludes that there is high quality evidence that women cared for by CNMs are less likely to experience a cesarean delivery, episiotomy, or severe perineal trauma. Women cared for by CNMs are also more likely to choose non-pharmacologic approaches to manage pain, and they have higher breastfeeding rates.

CNMs are licensed to practice and write prescriptions in all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Under federal law and in many states, they are recognized as advanced practice nurses (APNs). Nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists are also considered APNs. A growing number of states also recognize certified midwives (CMs). CMs have the same midwifery education and scope of practice as CNMs; they come from a variety of backgrounds other than nursing. Global standards have recently confirmed that nursing education is not a pre-requisite for midwifery practice.

CNMs and CMs are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. While most CNMs and CMs provide care for women who give birth in hospitals, many also attend births in birth centers and at home. The word “midwife” means “with woman.”

“It is exciting to see decades of research on midwifery care summarized and reviewed in this systematic review,” says ACNM President Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN. “The question is not whether CNMs and CMs provide excellent care—the research demonstrates consistently and overwhelmingly that they do. Our challenge is how to use this information. Every woman deserves midwifery care and some may require the services of an obstetrician. Partnering with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACNM is working to disseminate successful models of collaboration between midwives and obstetricians. It’s time to optimize our maternity care workforce so that all women have access to quality care.”

The study will appear in the September/October 2011 issue ofNursing Economic$(Vol. 29, No. 5) and is available for free download at www.nursingeconomics.net.