February 08, 2010

Thousands of employers are turning to human resources outsourcing firms and Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) as a way to cut employment costs, reduce HR risks and improve efficiencies. This is according to a new white paper released today by CPEhr, a leading HR outsourcing firm, entitled "Preparing for the Rebound: How Human Resources Outsourcing Can Help Business Through Uncertain Economic Times." Experts predict a slow and rocky economic recovery in 2010. The white paper analyzes current economic trends and provides a detailed analysis of employment priorities for the coming year. It also reviews the concept and value of outsourcing various human resource functions to an HR outsourcing firm or PEO as a way to reduce costs and liabilities, and to boost employee productivity. Researched and compiled by Ari Rosenstein, CPEhr's Director of Internet Marketing, the white paper draws from CPEhr's extensive experience working with a wide range of companies in the small to mid-sized business sector over the past 28 years. Full release.

Age-related gaps in care and outcomes for stroke patients are diminishing as hospitals improve adherence to evidence-based treatments of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke initiative, according to a new study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. "The burden of ischemic stroke is disproportionately borne by older patients, who have a greater incidence and prevalence of this common stroke type than younger individuals," said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., lead author of the study and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles. "Prior studies have suggested lower use of guideline-recommended therapy and worse post-stroke outcomes in older patients. We sought to examine age-related differences among stroke patients cared for in hospitals participating in a national performance improvement program." Full release.

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) issues this statement upon the death today of Congressman John Murtha (D-PA): "Chairman Murtha will be remembered as a man who was not just Congressman from Johnstown, he was the Congressman for Philadelphia, the Congressman for Pittsburgh, for Allentown, for every corner of our Commonwealth. He really carried the weight of Pennsylvania on his shoulders. In Congress, he always sat in the same chair and he always had the same disposition: Pennsylvania first. "Congressman Murtha, I believe, will be best remembered as the first serious hawk to stand up and call for our withdrawal from Iraq. As a former Marine – he would say 'always a Marine' – Jack Murtha's courageous stand marked a turning point in America's involvement in that ill-advised war. "On a personal level, he was my friend, and when I was new to Congress he took me under his wing. His advice and wisdom was invaluable as I was developing the GEAR UP college-readiness program for students in high-poverty public schools. Full release.

With the recent election of Senator Scott Brown in Massachusetts resulting in the loss of the Democratic supermajority, the urgency behind broad-based health care reform with the promise of universal coverage for the majority of uninsured Americans has faded dramatically, according to Standard & Poor's Equity Research. President Obama recently noted the country is closer than it has ever been to passing what has been for many a long sought after social reform, and the President called upon the Congress to "finish the job." Given this backdrop, Standard & Poor's Equity Research expects the fervor for health care reform to calm as the President refocuses his domestic agenda on righting the economy and job creation, while party leaders work to find bipartisan support for more incremental reforms. S&P Equity Research expects the President to work to repair some of the partisan discord that broke out during his initial attempts at reform, and we expect his efforts at reform to focus on areas of common agreement and populist discontent. Full release.

Consumer Watchdog called on Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd to re-affirm his commitment to an independent consumer financial regulator today after the nation's largest bank announced it would not oppose the agency. Last week, the CEO of Bank of America told President Obama his company does not oppose creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Also last week, former Citigroup Chairman John Reed endorsed a consumer regulator in testimony before the Senate Banking panel. In the letter to Senator Dodd, Consumer Watchdog wrote: "Abandoning an independent consumer financial regulator is not a small compromise, but an untenable capitulation to those in the financial industry who have no interest in meaningful reform. Full release.

Three out of five women who have given birth to a child with a congenital heart defect (CHD) -- the number-one birth defect and leading killer of infants and newborns -- were never tested for the defect during pregnancy. This is according to a survey just released by Little Hearts, Inc., a national organization that provides support, education, resources, networking and hope to families affected by congenital heart defects. These findings come just as CHD Awareness Week begins (Feb. 7 – 14). The Little Hearts survey found that 60 percent of parents did not know their child had a CHD until after giving birth -- because the mothers were not tested for heart defects during pregnancy. Of these parents, nearly three out of four (71.6 percent) wished they had known their child had a CHD during pregnancy -- mostly because they would have given birth at a hospital more equipped to handle the care of newborns with a CHD (41.6 percent). Full release.

The Palm Center has announced plans to convene a Washington, D.C. summit of officials and experts from military forces that allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly, including the Israel Defense Force and NATO member militaries. The summit, which is planned for early spring, will focus on the implementation of personnel policies for openly gay troops. British and Israeli experts have confirmed their participation. "As military and political leaders anticipate the end of 'don't ask, don't tell,' the lessons from the twenty-five foreign forces that allow open gay service are instructive," stated Dr. Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center. Belkin cited three questions that generally dominate the comparison: Did the decision to allow open gay service undermine military readiness? How was implementation managed? To what extent can lessons from abroad help U.S. officials plan for an inclusive policy? Full release.

The nation's first fully integrated collaboration between the food and healthcare industries to simultaneously improve health and reduce healthcare spending has been launched by The Full Yield, Inc., www.thefullyield.com. The Full Yield rolls out in greater Boston this month in an initially exclusive partnership with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the top ranking commercial health plan in the U.S., and an inaugural partnership with Roche Bros. Supermarkets, a progressive food retailer. The Full Yield will be available later this year in other supermarket chains in New England and the company will begin nationwide expansion in 2011. "America is suffering from and paying for a refined foods diet," said Zoe Finch Totten, The Full Yield founder and CEO. "This observation is no longer new, but our collaborative model for addressing the problem is very new. Full release.

Nokia ( NOK) has become aware of the filing of a class action complaint against Nokia on February 5, 2010 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging securities fraud in connection with statements made by Nokia between January 24, 2008 and September 5, 2008 regarding the production and sales of certain of its mobile devices. Nokia has reviewed the allegations contained in the complaint and believes that they are without merit. Nokia intends to defend itself against the complaint vigorously. Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world's leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways - fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks. Full release.

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