Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


 Pet Care News . . .

        

PETA ANIMAL LOVERS WELCOMED AT 2014 GOLDEN GLOBES RED CARPET SECRET ROOM EVENTS STYLE LOUNGE

By Bonnie Carroll

Rita Branch and Amy Boatwright producers of Secret Room Events gave celebrity and presenter pet lovers a warm and fuzzy look at the latest products and services available to celebrity pets in the PETA lounge at their 2014 Golden Globes Red Carpet Secret Room Style Lounge in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Golden Globe nominees Bruce Dern, Colin Walker, James Du Mont, Joe LoTruglio (with his dog) and James O’Heir were just a few of the celebrities spotted at the prestigious gifting suite.

              

PETA, the organization focused on People for the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals(PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters. They work to stop all animal cruelty and focus their attention on the four areas in which the largest number of animals suffer the most intensely, for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry.

Pet friendly sponsors at the event included Sealy Pet Beds, featuring the latest in healthy sleeping quarters for four footed friends from fifteen to eighty-five pounds, also the wonderful Vivon dog beds. Pet Head products, DWP Dog Products, Fifth Paw, and Organic Oscar healthy products, who gifted beautifully packaged collections of their organic bath and beauty options for grooming pets.

Secret Room Events produces exclusive gift lounges and gift bags for all major awards shows. The company also handles the launch events for products and offers celebrity product placement opportunities. For more information on Secret Room Events, please visit: http://secretroomevents.com/wordpress/

_____________________________________________________________________

Good Health News

Cedars-Sinai Receives Fourth Straight Magnet® Recognition for Nursing Excellence from American Nurses Credentialing Center

For the fourth time in a row, the American Nurses Credentialing Center has grantedCedars-Sinai the Magnet® recognition, the most prestigious designation a healthcare organization can receive for excellence in nursing and patient outcomes.

Cedars-Sinai in 2000 became the first SouthernCalifornia hospital to earn the Magnet honor; it is the only hospital in the state to be granted the designation four times. Cedars-Sinai joins a select list of only 12 hospitals worldwide that have earned Magnet recognition four times.   Nationwide, fewer than 400 hospitals have earned the four-year Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association. Studies show that Magnet hospitals tend to have lower mortality and infection rates, as well as higher patient satisfaction and nurse staffing levels.

“On a daily basis, Cedars-Sinai’s nursing staff sets the standard for our nation’s medical centers in terms of quality, compassionate care, and the Magnet recognition reaffirms what our patients and the rest of our staff know well,” said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO. 

Cedars-Sinai earned the designation following a rigorous review of the facility and its various programs. During the past four years, Cedar-Sinai has encouraged and enabled nurses to participate in the decision-making process regarding safety and patient care in their units. This increased input has led to a number of nurse-driven improvements and innovations including:

  • Using iPads to facilitate visiting between new mothers recovering from childbirth and their babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 
  • Instituting a new program called “Rock and Roll” for women in labor. Nurses help the women move – often positioning them on an exercise ball – to shorten labor time and decrease the number of cesarean sections.
  • Joining an initiative called Nurses Improving Care of Healthsystem Elders and participating in the identification and assessment of frail elderly patients to decrease that population’s length of hospital stay and readmission rates.

Additionally, Cedars-Sinai was recognized for its commitment to continued nurse training and education. Cedars-Sinai has been providing nurses with free educational programs and financial assistance through the Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute since 2002. The medical center also sponsors employee tuition assistance for baccalaureate and master’s degree classes and offers review courses and exams for specialty certifications. As a result of the institute’s programs, approximately 69 percent of nurses at Cedars-Sinai currently hold specialty certifications, 73 percent have baccalaureate degrees and 14 percent have master’s degrees.

“This accomplishment recognizes not only our excellence in nursing, but our ability to provide the highest quality patient care that exceeds the expectations of those who trust us with their lives,” said Vice President and Chief Nursing OfficerLinda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN.  “I am deeply grateful to all the members of our staff, our community and academic partners and all of the departments that helped us to receive our fourth Magnet designation.” 

Magnet designations are based not only on the quality of care provided, but also on a commitment to continuously improving patient care and the health of the community. The designation recognizes excellence in nursing and provides consumers with a benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive. To determine a facility’s Magnet designation, the American Nurses Credentialing Center judges the quality of nursing leadership; consultation and resources; organizational structure; nursing autonomy; management style; relations with the community; personnel policies and programs; nurses as teachers; professional models of care; image of nursing; quality of care; collegial nurse-physician relationships; quality improvement; and professional development. 

                                                                           

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK’S BADGER PASS SKI NORDIC CENTER OPENED DECEMBER 20


 

Cross-country and snowshoeing terrain open for the season; Downhill skiing and snowtubing will open at a later date

Badger Pass Ski Area, operated by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, began its cross-country ski and snowshoe services December 20. Badger Pass Ski Area requires additional snow to open the downhill and tubing section of the ski area. Yosemite National Park features approximately 100 miles of world-class cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails accessible from Badger Pass, which includes a groomed trail to Glacier Point. The Nordic Center at Badger Pass Ski Area offers guided snowshoe and cross-country ski excursions, lessons and rentals. 

The Yosemite Mountaineering School is offering a new Discovery Snowshoe Hike that departs from the Nordic Center. Park visitors will enjoy a guided three-hour snowshoe excursion with expert guides through fir and pine forests to Old Badger Pass summit, which features stunning views of the Clark Range and Yosemite’s high country. Discovery Snowshoe Hikes will be offered every Saturday and Sunday during the season at 1 p.m. The cost is $21 for adults and $11 for children including snowshoe rentals. The cost is $5 per person for individuals who have their own snowshoes. 

“Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing offer visitors to Yosemite National Park the opportunity to venture into the winter landscape and learn about the natural wonders and unique characteristics that make winter in Yosemite so special,” said Badger Pass Ski Area General Manager Colin Baldock. “Our team is thrilled to offer a variety of guided snowshoe and cross-country skiing adventures suitable for all abilities and ages.”

Additional snow adventures offered through the Nordic Center at Badger Pass Ski Area include guided snowshoe hikes to Dewey Point, backcountry ski lessons and tour to Tempo Dome and a snowshoe excursion through the Merced Grove featuring ancient giant sequoia trees. Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite offers guided full moon snowshoe walks at Badger Pass Ski Area when conditions permit.  

For online lodging reservations and information for Badger Pass Ski Area, visit YosemitePark.com or call 801-559-4949. To obtain 24-hour ski conditions, call 209-372-1000. The Badger Pass Ski Area shuttle to and from Yosemite Valley lodges will begin service on December 21, 2013.

_____________________________________________________________________________

THINK ABOUT IT!


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | July 080 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | February 10 | March 10 | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | August 11 | September 11 | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | June | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | February 13 | March 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | December | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | December 14 | November 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | July 15 | June 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | August 16 | September 16 | June 16 | July 16 | October 16 | November 16 | December 16 | January 17 | February 17 | March 17 | April 17 | May 17 | June 17 | July 17 | August 17 | September 17 | January 18 | October 17 | November 17 | December 17 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | April 22 | March 22 | May 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07 | March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
December 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05 | May 05
April 05
| March 05 | February 05 | January 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved