electronic check services

Electronic Check Services, Inc. is an industry leader, providing electronic check recovery, check conversion, check processing software and prepaid cellular to businesses Nationwide. Electronic Check Services, is a privately held company making our corporate office in Springfield, Missouri. Since our start in 1997, we continue to steadily increase our position in the check processing industry without compromising our core values.
We pride ourselves in being open and honest with businesses to provide them with the best products and services to fit their needs. To date Electronic Check Services, provides service to thousands of locations and growing. We continue to remain committed to providing our clients with the latest in check processing and collection services.

source http://www.electroniccheckservices.com/

Electronic Benefit Transfer Project

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is the electronic method for distributing the federal Food Stamp Program benefits and, when selected by California counties, cash benefit programs. The EBT system automates the delivery, redemption, and reconciliation of issued benefits. California EBT is the result of federal and state legislation. The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) mandated the replacement of the paper-based food stamp issuance method with electronic fund technology (debit cards). In August 1997, California Assembly Bill 1542 authorized the EBT Project and provided counties with the option of issuing cash benefits via EBT. Statewide implementation of EBT began in July 2001 and was successfully completed in all 58 counties by May 2005. Today EBT cardholders access their benefits using the California “Golden State Advantage” card. The EBT card provides faster service; the cardholder simply slides his/her card through a point-of-sale (POS) device or an automated teller machine (ATM). The card is convenient, secure, in line with commercial banking practices of automated payment, and reduces the stigma associated with receiving public assistance.The positive effects of California EBT extend beyond the cardholder. Others who benefit include: federal, state, and county governments; retailers; financial institutions; and the taxpayers. As of January 2007, there are over 30,000 retailers processing food stamp and/or cash POS transactions and over 32,000 ATMs dispensing cash benefits. EBT is a success in California.

sourcehttp://www.ebtproject.ca.gov/

Electronic Medical Records

At mmpc, our physicians and staff are committed to “putting patients first.” As of July 1, 2008, our offices are transitioning to an electronic medical records system, called "Epic". We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition period. Our goal is to provide quality care in a timely fashion, and it is our hope that with your help we will meet that goal.Important Notes to Patients During the Transition to Epic
During this transition, we strongly encourage all of our patients to arrive early for appointments, and to make sure that you have insurance information or additional paperwork for your doctor with you at the time of your appointment.
In some cases, patients may notice that they are receiving two statements, each with a different account number, from mmpc. This is because patients may still owe money for services rendered prior to July 1st. If that is the case, patients will receive a statement, on light green paper, which is generated from our previous billing system. For all services rendered as of July 1, 2008, patients will receive a statement with a new account number on gray paper, generated from the Epic System. You may receive two separate statements from mmpc for a period of time.
What is Epic?
mmpc’s Epic System, once implemented, will revolve around two sets of applications – one of which, Electronic Practice Management (EPM), focuses on the business aspects of running a successful medical practice; and the other, EpicCare/Electronic Medical Records (EMR), concerns the care and management of patients and their records. Electronic Practice Management (EPM) centers on scheduling, registration, and billing applications. EpicCare/EMR supports the electronic management of a patient’s medical records. A replacement for the traditional paper chart, it has numerous features that streamline care processes, improve community-wide health initiatives, and strengthen the patient-provider relationship. The electronic chart is designed to assist the provider with core efficiencies, such as making sure that all necessary information is complete. All aspects of patient care are managed through EMR, including prescriptions, diseases, health maintenance, and imaging records. Since it is inherently flexible, EpicCare/EMR can accommodate both primary care and specialty providers in a seamless, ambulatory care record. An active clinical decision support system works at every point of the care process to minimize medical errors, encourage compliance, and ensure that patients receive recommended disease and health maintenance services.
There will be both immediate and future benefits of implementing Epic to mmpc’s patients.
What are the benefits of implementing Epic to the patient?Immediate benefits to the patient include:
• Ease of appointment scheduling, including referrals to mmpc specialists.• Providers can access your medical records quickly, including your history and your medications.Future benefits to the patient include:Once we have completely transitioned all of our medical records to Epic - a process that will take several months - mmpc patients may look forward to the following benefits:• Complete integration of your medical records.• Access to “My Chart.”
What is “MyChart”?“MyChart”is an exciting aspect of the Epic/EMR System that will be available for mmpc’s patients within the next couple of years. It isn’t available to mmpc patients yet, but we would like you to know that it is coming in the future. From the patient’s perspective, one of the most interesting aspects of implementing the Epic/EMR System will be “MyChart.” MyChart is a customizable Web application that gives patients quick and easy access to their medical records. Patients can perform a variety of tasks using MyChart, including schedule appointments, view and graph lab results, review their health maintenance topics, request medication renewals, and view their children’s medical records. MyChart also gives patients easy access to Web sites and other links that are pertinent to their personal health situations. All of the information in MyChart is confidential and private - it is between the patient and his or her physician. No one else can access your medical records in MyChart without your permission, and you can rest assured that the information in MyChart is secure. mmpc will notify you when access to MyChart becomes available.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we transition to the new EpicCare/Electronic Medical Records System!We appreciate your consideration, and we value you as an mmpc patient!

souece http://www.mmpc.com/Electronic_Medical_Records

EFA concerned about movie industry lawsuit against iinet

Electronic Frontiers Australa (EFA) today expressed concern about a lawsuit filed against Internet Service Provider iiNet in the Federal Court. A consortium of media companies have sued the ISP for allegedly allowing its users to download infringing movies and TV shows by failing to terminate their accounts after allegations of infringement by the copyright industry.“This lawsuit is the latest attempt by the movie industry to bully Internet Service Providers into becoming copyright police,” said EFA spokesperson Nicolas Suzor. “ISPs are not in a position to monitor and terminate internet access to users based upon unsubstantiated threats from copyright owners, and should not be asked to do so.”Recognising the need for immunity from copyright infringement suits such as these, the Australian Government introduced safe harbours for Internet Service Providers as part of the Australia - United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). These safe harbours provide that ISPs will not be liable to copyright owners for merely routing internet traffic as long as they “adopt and reasonably implement a policy that provides for termination, in appropriate circumstances, of the accounts of repeat infringers.” iiNet has publicly stated that it will not disconnect customers on mere allegations of infringement, and that it will comply with its obligations to terminate a customer’s internet access after such allegations have been properly proved in a court of law. EFA strongly supports iiNet’s position on this issue, and believes that Internet Service Providers cannot and should not be required to pass judgments on the legitimacy of their customers’ actions.“Copyright infringement is a complicated area of law with numerous exceptions. ISPs are simply not equipped and certainly should not be asked to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner upon allegations of infringement,” Suzor continued. “Every citizen has a right of due process under the law, and when faced with having their internet service terminated, every citizen has the right to ask that the case against them be proven first.”Experience in the United States of America has shown that allegations of infringement are often made without basis. There have been documented cases in which copyright owners have even alleged that a simple laser printer has illicitly downloaded and shared copyright movies, for example. There have also been allegations of infringement for uses which are clearly permissible under US fair-use law, such as the case of a short home movie in which a baby was filmed dancing to a song on the radio.Suzor expressed concern that the approach taken by the movie industry will unjustly punish users without due process: “To shift the burden of proof, and require that ISPs terminate access to users upon mere allegations of infringement, would be incredibly harmful to individual internet users in Australia. With the mistakes we have seen in the past overseas, where innocent users have been mercilessly and incorrectly targeted by copyright owners, a regime which requires disconnection without proof goes against all notions of fairness.” EFA is also highly concerned that ISPs are being asked to violate the privacy of internet users by spying on their online activities.EFA believes that if this case were to erode the utility of Australia’s safe harbour provisions, it would be extremely stifling to internet innovation and new technology in this country. The existence of safe harbours provide the certainty that operators of communications networks need in order to provide their services to the public. The public benefits greatly from technologies such as BitTorrent, and platforms such as YouTube and MySpace. These services are used for much more than simply exchanging material that infringes copyrights. However, without safe harbours, these services would be likely to be too difficult or risky to operate, or would be so restricted as to lose the majority of their value.The safe harbours in Australian copyright law exist to protect providers of innovative new technologies from copyright infringement claims which would shut them down. The way the safe harbours are designed also protects users from having their accounts terminated without due process. EFA believes that any weakening of either of these two protections is likely to have disastrous effects for Australian internet users.In fighting this lawsuit, iiNet will be defending the rights of all Australian Internet users and we wish them luck.

source http://www.efa.org.au/2008/11/21/efa-concerned-about-movie-industry-lawsuit-against-iinet/#more-240

Benefits of the Internet for Electronic Commerce

1. Ease of access and global reach:- World Wide Web (www) is an ideal mechanism for providing relevant information to the public globally. It allows organizations an opportunity for publicizing their products and services at minimal cost. By putting information on routinely asked questions on the home pages, organizations are saving costs by reducing the no. of customer service representatives. Customers can place orders through the Internet once security issues are worked out. The WWW holds the potential to increase the market share and helps expand new markets by virtue of its global reach. Additionally, easy access to information through the Internet gives the opportunity to compare the costs and characteristics of product and services. 2. Low-cost advertising medium:- There is no doubt that Internet has become an inexpensive advertising medium for organizations and is being effectively used by some firms for commerce. The comments made by the vice-president of IT of a large multinational firm allude to this issue: “The purpose of the Internet offerings are to open our products and services to a new customer base who prefer to use the internet for their shipping needs and to maintain a leading-edge technology position and image in the market place and against our competitors.” 3. Low barriers to entry:- Small & large firms alike have the opportunity to be on the WWW and conduct business on the internet. The barriers to entry to the Internet are minuscule. This point was noted by the President of a consulting and staffing agency who was interviewed:” home pages give equal footing to small organizations with large national firms”. 4. Perceived image enhancer:- Several executives mentioned that they have to have presence on the Internet as their competitors are already on the Internet. Without it their reputation can be tarnished and they will be perceived as laggards in employing stat-of-art technologies. Many executives admitted that on the issue of determining the value and direct benefits of Internet to their bottom line, the ‘jury is still out’ but they must keeping moving forward for the reasons above. ternet Commerce stands at a critical juncture. After an exhilarating start-up, further development hinges on bridging the chasm between early adopter and a true mass market. We envision Eco System ad the foundation of that bridge.

source http://www.creativewebsols.com/benefits-of-internet.htm

Computer Electronics

Computer electronics is a two-year program which prepares men and women to repair computers, set-up and administer a computer network, and do electronics repair. The first year provides training in Windows XP Professional operating systems, DC and AC circuits, semiconductor devices, electronic circuits, digital electronics, 8-bit microprocessors, and networking hardware. The labs are hands-on, learning the proper use of test equipment such as multimeters, power supplies, oscilloscopes, function generators, and frequency counters.
Seniors receive training in network administration, computer operating systems, printer repair, monitor repair, peripheral configuration, microprocessor interfacing and computer diagnostics and repair, along with dot matrix, inkjet and laser printers. The networking classes feature Microsoft operating systems - Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2003 Server and Windows XP Professional. The labs for seniors are hands-on trouble-shooting with diagnostic test equipment and diagnostic software.
Students are required to test for the following: Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA), A+ Certification, and Network+ Certification. Upon successful completion of the exams, certification will be achieved. These are certifications expected of computer technicians.
Male and female graduates of the program will be qualified for positions as computer electronics technicians, computer network technicians, electronic technicians, and office equipment technicians. Opportunities for certified computer electronic technicians exist in both the public and private sectors, and these opportunities are expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations

source http://www.nmcc.edu/comp_electronics.php

TV's electronic assault on the brain

Television addicts may be driven demented by the goggle box, according to an Israeli researcher. Excessive viewing may increase your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease in later life, says Moshe Aronson of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University.
In the current edition of Medical Hypotheses, Aronson argues that television places unique psychological strains on the brain. TV viewers are bombarded with a relentless succession of sights and sounds with little chance of relating to what they have experienced. Commercials compound this passivity by 'obliterating any serious human emotion experienced in connection with the foregoing stimuli', says Aronson.
Reading, by contrast, gives individuals a chance to pause and reflect on what they have read. Even listening to the radio is preferable to watching television, Aronson considers, because the wireless bombards its audience with fewer sensory stimuli. It is television's drive for variety and novelty, its 'trivia inextricably mixed with more serious matters', that is so psychologically damaging, he claims. No other cultural occupation past or present comes near it.
The stressful nature of much of television news and drama adds to the danger, claims Aronson, as the passive viewer is unable to release the tension built up by watching sex and violence. At high levels, stress hormones are known to be capable of damaging nerve cells in a part of the brain - the hippocampus - crucial to the memory, and this region is also damaged in Alzheimer's disease.
To test his theory, Aronson urges doctors to record the TV-viewing habits of patients with suspected dementia. Already, there are faint signs that those who eschew the box may safeguard their brains: dementia among Talmudic scholars in Israel is extremely rare, Aronson reports

source http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14019041.500-tvs-electronic-assault-on-the-brain-.html