Administrators Telephone Seminars

Effective Auditing of Physicians' Documentation BenefitsThe federal government's increasing interest in fraud, waste and abuse heightens the awareness of physician practices, both large and small, of the increasing scrutiny of physician documentation to support billings. In the past, audits are performed and physicians were lectured but all too often little improvement was noted. How can practices efficiently and effectively audit physician  more...

Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts BenefitsYou will receive an intense practical analysis of intentionally defective grantor trusts - an often overlooked estate planning tool. Emphasis will be placed on the practical how-to-do-it instruction as opposed to a recitation of case law in the area. The speaker will concentrate on when to use this technique, how to design these trusts, and their place in comparison to other estate  more...

Boilerplate Contract Terms: Yes, They Really Matter BenefitsThis live audio conference will address the parts of a contract that often go overlooked and underappreciated: the boilerplate terms, the provisions toward the end of the contract that are often left to the lawyers, that are not heavily negotiated, but that matter most when things go wrong. The program will also discuss damages and warranty provisions, choice of law and forum clauses,  more...

Fair Housing Act Design and Construction Requirements BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide an overview of the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act. We will focus on specific building types that are required to comply, safe harbors and practical application of the design and construction requirements. The presenters have worked with residential builders across the country providing plan and construction reviews. In  more...

Best Practices for Motivating Students BenefitsIf you're tired of struggling to work successfully with unmotivated, bored, and disinterested children and teens, then you will want to be part of every minute of this live audio conference. This program is packed with dozens of innovative, ready-to-use, more effective strategies to turnaround unmotivated students in grades Pre-K through 12. These techniques are real-world, practical  more...

Cell Tower Zoning: Overview and Current Issues BenefitsThis live audio conference will describe the major elements and issues under the 1996 Federal cell tower zoning statute, including the FCC's 2009 shot clock rule setting 90/150 day deadlines to act on zoning applications, the pending FCC Notice of Inquiry on cell tower zoning, the major federal zoning cases involving cellular towers and practice pointers on how municipalities can  more...

Medicare Secondary Payer Act: Protecting Medicare's Interest In Insurance Settlements BenefitsPursuant to 42 USC Section 1395y(b)(2), commonly known as the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, Medicare may not make payment for medical benefits where payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workers' compensation law or plan of the United States or a state, or under an automobile or liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan), or under no  more...

Construction Documentation: Preparing Effective Job Records BenefitsAlthough the term 'papering the file' is often associated with increased documentation efforts in preparation for litigation after a job has gone bad, it shouldn't be. Effective communication and accurate recordation of those communications can keep the parties - and the project - on course and out of litigation. Should an irreconcilable dispute nevertheless arise, thorough project  more...

Best Practices for Preventing and Responding to Cheating in Your Classroom and School BenefitsCheating in school is a widespread and complex problem. Recent news has included reports of hundreds of high school seniors in a Texas school obtaining test questions prior to a final exam in English, students in New York paying others to take their SAT tests, and students in a California high school obtaining test questions from textbook test banks restricted to teachers' use. Research by  more...

Purchase Order Fundamentals BenefitsPurchase order fundamentals will be an interactive experience covering the basics of a current procurement office and how purchase order systems are used. The topics covered will give the beginner an understanding of basic purchasing processes and how to avoid common mistakes. The experienced professional and manager will be able to discuss interactively and share their experiences and ask  more...

HIPAA Security Compliance Challenges after the HITECH Act BenefitsEveryone who handles any electronic patient information should attend this live audio conference on compliance with the HIPAA security regulation. All entities covered under HIPAA must take special care of electronic patient health information, including establishing policies and taking regular actions as part of a security management process. Under new regulations due to the HITECH Act  more...

Fraud Enforcement Trends in the Health Care Industry BenefitsNew funding, new tools, and a heightened focus on the health care industry by civil and criminal law enforcement authorities means that investigations are not what they used to be. Learn more about what areas enforcement authorities are focusing on, where the big and small cases are being brought, how to deal with law enforcement's new tools, and how best to prepare yourself and your  more...

Strategies for Successful Mixed Use Development BenefitsThe ideals and reality of mixed use as the preferred urban form are still in their relative infancy as part of the 21st century development vocabulary. Ironically, the ideals behind the tremendous push for this development form reference the urban fabric of our oldest cities. The driving factors behind the attraction to the mixed use model include current trends and attitudes toward a more  more...

Economic Development Financing Update Benefits'In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying to bring out is that one does not plan and then try to make circumstances fit those plans. One tries to make plans fit the circumstances.' - General George S. Patton, Jr., War as I Knew It, page 116 (1947) Those localities that have not planned for the current  more...

Juvenile Onset Bipolar Disorders BenefitsThis live audio conference will address the current thinking and diagnostic skills necessary to diagnose and treat bipolar children and their families. The missing pieces will also be discussed, which is adequate educational planning. How to work collaboratively with a treating psychiatrist and how to be an advocate for the child and family if the child is not receiving the most up-to-date  more...

Service Level Fundamentals: Maximizing Business Value BenefitsService levels provide targeted, effective incentives to cause service providers to achieve their customers' desired business outcomes. However, too often customers discover that those service levels are being achieved with reports showing 'green' while the service itself feels 'red.' In these situations, customers often find that those service levels: measure the wrong aspects of the  more...

Powers of Attorney: Medical Records Release Concerns BenefitsBusy medical practices understand that each day personal health information is transmitted in various forms between hospitals, doctors, attorneys, insurance companies, patients and their lawyers and families. With increasing reliance on electronic medical records health information can be transmitted with minimal effort. However, health information requests become more confusing and less  more...

Incoterms 2010 Fundamentals BenefitsIncoterms are global shipping terms to define each party's responsibilities for the movement of goods. This live audio conference is a must-attend event for importers and exporters. We will review the purpose of Incoterms and what has changed since Incoterms 2000. We will cover each Incoterm in detail and its definitions, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each term, so that  more...

Best Practices in Nursing Documentation: Writing Effective and Legal Proof Notes BenefitsLong gone are the days that nurses and other health care providers hand-wrote cryptic notes on essay paper-like chart pages that rarely were ever looked at again. Long gone, also, are the days that physicians would only look at labs, reports and other physician's notes, expecting the nurse to call to the physician's attention anything important about the patient so they didn't have to read  more...

Response to Intervention: Addressing Emerging Issues BenefitsResponse to intervention is promoted as an important framework through which school staffs can improve the outcomes for all of their learners and more accurately identify those learners with disabilities. On the other hand, to achieve these benefits school staffs must have a high fidelity of implementation. Since RTI is not just a technical solution of new tests, curricula or instructional  more...

User Requirements and Specification Fundamentals BenefitsPoorly written requirements often result in the customer not getting what the customer wanted or needed. In worst case scenarios, the final product doesn't solve the problem or produce anything of value for the customer. The result is money and time wasted. This live audio conference helps those responsible for purchasing products or getting the right thing built generate requirements  more...

Exit Strategies for Section 42 Affordable Housing Tax Credit Properties BenefitsThe affordable housing tax credit program was created in 1986 to encourage the private sector to develop and own affordable rental properties throughout the United States. Tax credit properties completing their initial 15-year tax credit compliance periods face several business, legal, tax and accounting issues that must be addressed before a property can be successfully repositioned.  more...

Key Legal and Practical Considerations When Forming an ACO: Seizing the Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Qual BenefitsThe long-awaiting Final Rule governing ACOs participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) provides the industry with an improved outlook of the potential success that may be achieved, but also a daunting list of challenges to be met in order to seize the opportunities. This live audio conference will walk you through the legal, regulatory, policy, and practical challenges and  more...

Developing a School Wellness Program BenefitsAs many of you are aware, childhood obesity is one of our nation's leading health threats. Today, about 1 in 3 children and youth (ages 2-19) in the United States is already overweight or obese -- that's nearly 25 million young people. - Disappearing recess: Nearly one-third of elementary schools do not schedule recess on a regular basis. - Less physical education: 92% of elementary  more...

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Records: What Can You Release? BenefitsDo you know that medical record custodians may be violating a patient's privacy protections without even knowing it in responding to requests for a patient's health information that contain substance abuse and mental health information? Do you know that you may need to withhold mental health and substance abuse records, even in responding to a records subpoena? Learn more about these  more...

Battle of the Forms and Managing the Contracting Process BenefitsEffective contracting practices are critical to ensuring that contracts are made on acceptable terms. Ineffective practices can lead to a failure to achieve required terms or worse, a contract on terms that are contrary to one's objectives. Our fast-paced world increases the pressure as it is very easy for conflicting terms to be exchanged electronically without a complete meeting of the  more...

Rain Water Harvesting BenefitsThis live audio conference will assist owners, developers, utility officials, engineers, architects, sustainability experts, data center managers, environmental scientists, facility mangers, property managers, water utility officials and consultants in understanding the important factors in considering, planning, assessing and implementing rainwater harvesting projects. You will  more...

Child Sexual Abuse Interview Protocol: Evidence-Based Strategies BenefitsChild sexual abuse investigations are difficult on children because of the recall of abuse details that are sexual in nature. Each instance of retelling the sexual experience adds to the traumatization of the child. Members of the multidisciplinary team also rely on the videotaped interview for information necessary to completing the investigation to avoid repeated interviews. This live  more...

Multistate Taxation: Income Franchise Tax ...n the expanding web of information available to state tax administrators in regard to businesses operating in their states. Tax administrators are becoming increasingly adept at mining this web to enforce tax liabilities they might previously have been unaware of. Individuals responsible for state tax compliance, individuals responsible for determining the geographic location of interstate  more...

Understanding Your Summary Plan Descriptions BenefitsEmployers who sponsor ERISA-covered health and welfare plans are required to communicate the terms of the plan to participants in a summary plan description. The SPD is an important disclosure document that describes, in understandable terms, the rights, benefits and responsibilities of participants and beneficiaries in ERISA-covered health and welfare benefit plans. The SPD must include  more...

Electronic Control Weapon and Legal Liability BenefitsThis live audio conference addresses the use of force, investigation and legal liabilities associated with the use of electronic control weapons (ECWs) in a law enforcement environment. Learn about the realities and myths associated with ECWs as well as current use of force federal case laws pertaining to the use of ECWs. Familiarize yourself with 'best practices' responses, uses of ECWs  more...

Students With Disabilities: How to Legally Discipline BenefitsDisabled students who are classified under IDEA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are frequently the subject of student disciplinary proceedings in public school districts. It is imperative that public school district officials understand the obligations imposed by the statutes and how to fulfill these obligations. This live audio conference will help the person responsible for  more...

Best Practices to Modify Electronic Health Records While Maintaining Record Integrity BenefitsMoving to an electronic health record system can make it possible to work more efficiently and effectively by automating certain tasks and making information easier to locate. But sometimes, even electronic records must be modified by adding, amending, correcting or deleting information. In some ways, paper records were easier to deal with, as incorrectly filed documents could simply be  more...

Electronic Contracts: Best Practices and Legal Implications BenefitsThe legal landscape affecting the enforceability and proper use of electronic contracts continues to change. While such contracts are now widely used, certain issues remain unsettled, including unilateral modification of contracts and attribution of electronic signatures to a particular user for enforceability issues. Jason Epstein, William Norton and Geoffrey Vickers will provide  more...

Discharge Codes: Impact on the Post-Acute Care Transfer Policy - Risks and Rewards BenefitsImproper understanding and application of discharge codes may result in reduced hospital reimbursement and represent a compliance risk under the PACT policy. William E. Haik, M.D. has been involved in ICD-9-CM coding and chart documentation for more than 25 years and will explain why the problem exists and how to remedy it. This live audio conference is designed for medical records  more...

The WE in Wellness--5 Skills Every Case Manager Should Know for Effective Case Management BenefitsHelping clients attain their highest degree of wellness requires many skills and a repertoire of approaches, some which may be new to case managers and the teams with which they work. The specialty of Case Management has become more and more crucial for the coordination of an individual client's healthcare provided by multidisciplinary teams within and between organizations and systems. As  more...

Wage and Hour Update: Overtime Concerns With Mobile Devices BenefitsEmployer expectations for 24/7 access to employees is now the norm for many industries as new technologies allow work to be done virtually anywhere at any time. Serious questions have emerged about how employers should limit, monitor and compensate remote work hours. Recent litigation trends also show that compensation for time worked away from the office during nontraditional hours is  more...

Making Friends: Social Understanding for Students with Autism and Asperger's BenefitsThis live audio conference describes the social challenges that children with Asperger's Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder may encounter while in the classroom. As the speaker notes, 'Play is work for a child with ASD' and children with ASD typically do not become 'social butterflies.' Dr. Norall would like to give teachers the resources to help a child with Asperger's Syndrome or ASD  more...

Curbing FMLA Abuse: How to Manage Manipulative Employees BenefitsAbout 62% of workers nationally qualify to take leave under the FMLA, and over 50 million employees have taken advantage of leave under the Act. Managing FMLA leave can be extremely challenging for employers, especially in the face of rampant employee abuse. However, there are tools available to employers seeking to minimize abuse of the protections provided by the FMLA. While there is no  more...

Smartphone Policies For The Health Care Industry BenefitsThe proliferation of smartphones in the workplace have created legal compliance issues for many employers, ranging from how to monitor and control usage during working hours, to how to protect company information being disseminated by such devices. Many of these issues are even more acute in the health care industry because of the 24/7 nature of the facilities, and the regulations  more...

Making Shared Services Work BenefitsLocal governments across the country are looking for more efficient ways to deliver services in these lean times. In addition to internal budget and efficiency initiatives, many governments are looking to partner with other governments or the private sector in an effort to reduce costs while maintaining service quality. These approaches include contracting, privatization, functional  more...

Pupil Records: Best Practices Concerning Access, Release, Content and Storage of Educational Documents BenefitsSchool districts frequently receive requests for access to student records from state agencies, federal agencies, parents and members of the public. This live audio conference will provide school officials, parents, school staff and school lawyers with an overview of the laws relating to access, release, content and storage of student records. The live audio conference will define the  more...

Why Is This Guy Still on My Health Plan? BenefitsWe have encountered many situations where an employee remains on the company's health benefits as an active employee for many years past the date in which the employee was actively at work for the company. This live audio conference will answer a common problem employers experience, what date should an employee be treated as a terminated employee when he/she is on a leave of absence, or  more...

Difficult and Disruptive Students ...Additionally, they make life challenging for teachers and administrators. Left unchecked, they can consume school resources with little improvement, feel left out and unappreciated, and are at increased risk for unemployment, problems with the law, depression, and substance abuse. Knowing how to identify these students early on, understanding the nature of their problems, and implementing  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask BenefitsMost companies that care about safety in the workplace have implemented a drug and alcohol testing program. An added benefit to companies is a reduction in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. What makes an effective program? What kind of safeguards should there be to ensure accuracy? What does a drug test really measure? What is the best sample: urine, hair or oral fluid? Are  more...

Determining Meaningful Use for Electronic Health Records BenefitsIn order to receive incentive payments from the federal government, physicians and hospitals must achieve 'meaningful use' of electronic health records through an attestation process. This process is new and complicated. This live audio conference will outline meaningful use guidelines and requirements to receive incentive payments, including timelines, criteria, an outline of the  more...

Current Issues in Billboard Leases BenefitsBillboards are an interesting and limited aspect of real property law. They are generally despised by environmentalists and conservationists. They offer nothing to the aesthetic value of our highways. They are often heavily regulated and limited by the various levels of government with jurisdiction over the motor vehicle right-of-ways. They are also a valuable source of revenue to property  more...

Drafting a Green Ordinance: Case Study BenefitsHigh energy costs and increased public support for sustainable initiatives are driving local governments to respond affirmatively with the adoption of green codes - local ordinances that mandate and incentivize more efficient forms of development. Unfortunately, there are few good models to follow and little operating experience to judge what works and what will not. There is an obvious  more...

Effective Use of the Internet in Criminal Investigations BenefitsToday's increasingly-connected society relies more and more upon the Internet. As these connections grow, criminals are conducting a larger number of activities online. They use the Internet to communicate, store data, and even perpetrate a new class of digital crime. This live audio conference will cover several recent case studies along with the methods used to track the offenders, cover  more...

Project-Based Learning BenefitsAttend this live audio conference and learn how to increase the depth of student learning in many curricular areas by moving toward student-directed inquiry on academic topics in which students develop their understanding through the completion of in-depth projects. Many student projects are multidisciplinary, providing the chance for students to see the relevancy of their learning through  more...

The Open Enrollment Challenge: Strategies for Success BenefitsIs your benefits information often greeted by a yawn? Are you viewed as the enemy because you tell your employees how much more they have to pay for benefits every year? And why does the good news always get lost in the mix? Sometimes, it's not so much what you say as how you say it - and how often. Communications should never be an afterthought. Make sure employees appreciate all your  more...

Self-Auditing Your Employee Benefits:A Guide to What May Need Fixing BenefitsStaying in compliance with the numerous complex requirements and the specific terms of your employee benefits plans is a monumental task. It is easy to have your time consumed by the day-to-day issues and questions that arise under your benefit plans and the typical annual processes and compliance requirements already in place. It is difficult to take the time to step back and ask what  more...

Tips for Calculating a Regular Rate of Pay For Your Employees BenefitsWage and hour claims against employers have exploded in the last five years. One target is the rate of pay an employer pays to its nonexempt employees, and how that rate affects overtime payments. Most covered employers understand that they must pay overtime compensation at the rate of 'time and a half' to nonexempt employees. But time and a half of what? Under the FLSA and most state  more...

Use of Terms and Conditions in Purchase Agreements BenefitsThis live audio conference will discuss various provisions commonly found in the terms and conditions of agreements for the purchase and sale of goods. How many times do you get boilerplate agreements without truly reading the small print? When is small print even acceptable? What do these terms and conditions mean? How do I go about negotiating the terms? Do they really matter? This audio  more...

IPPS Final Rule BenefitsThe Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) was implemented in 1983 replacing a cost-based reimbursement methodology in an effort to better control the costs of providing care to the Medicare inpatient and to incentivize hospitals to better manage utilization. As time has passed CMS has modified the program to better recognize severity of illness AND to reduce payments to hospitals for  more...

Best Practices for Managing Large Classrooms BenefitsParticipation in this live audio conference offers educators a condensed system of preventative classroom management practices to address today's complex students. An ecological model of practical, research-based interventions is presented to create a functional classroom that maximizes student achievement and accountability. Field-tested in dozens of elementary-secondary schools,  more...

Screening Unemployed Job Applicants: Pros and Cons to Consider Benefits(Problem) Many employers struggle to balance their need for information about potential applicants, given the high costs of even a single 'bad hire,' with understanding their legal obligations and the risks of using certain available tools to screen job applicants. Unemployed applicants pose unique issues and are more likely to bring a failure to hire discrimination claim. (Solution) This  more...

The Trickle Down Effect of Health Care Reform: A Potpourri of Payroll, Benefits, Income Taxes, and Other Changes BenefitsThe phased in requirements of health care reform require that you continually monitor the landscape to spend your benefit dollars effectively, while remaining compliant. This is an opportunity for employers to reassess their decisions and consider the future impact of this legislation. Attend this live audio conference and stay current on your compliance obligations, planning  more...

GASB 45 Strategies BenefitsThis live audio conference is critical for any governmental employer with other post-employment benefits (OPEB) liabilities. The program will provide vital information and planning techniques that will enable employers to avoid the potentially disastrous consequences of failing to identify, control and fund its OPEB liabilities. Most states, municipalities and governmental agencies are  more...

Strategies to Reduce Bullying and Social Aggression BenefitsIncreasingly, educators, health professionals, parents and lawmakers realize the seriousness of bullying, cyber bullying and social aggression in school. Certain state laws and regulations now hold schools personally responsible for the effects of bullying, including cyber bullying. Whether your school plans to implement one or more bullying prevention strategies or a comprehensive  more...

Social Networking and Electronic Communications: Issues for Public Schools BenefitsYou will examine teacher and student use of social media and social networking, and the intersection of individual rights with the school's authority to regulate the school environment. You will learn how student and employee policies should address teacher and student use of social media, including discipline of teachers and students, respectively. During this live audio conference, we  more...

Closing Budget Gaps With Asset Sales BenefitsThe lingering Great Recession and slow recovery have diminished the growth of state and local government revenues while expenses continue their increase causing structural budget gaps. A new source of revenue is the sale or conversion of government assets into revenues. These revenues may be one-time proceeds of asset sales, leases and franchise fees, redevelopment of existing buildings,  more...

How to Handle Travel Pay Legally BenefitsMany companies do not understand how to compensate an employee properly for time spent traveling to destinations other than a regular work site. Many companies send employees to conferences and other work sites using commercial travel and personal vehicles. This live audio conference will enable you to understand how and when to compensate an employee for travel time away from a work site.  more...

Legal Issues Surrounding the Utilization and Maintenance of Computerized Medical Records BenefitsWith the federal government's prioritization of health information technology and evidence that electronic health record systems can reduce medical errors and lead to more efficient delivery of care, many hospitals and providers are beginning to implement EHRs in their facilities and practices. Despite federal regulations that permit certain donations of EHR technology, the implementation  more...

Preparing for Medicaid Audits BenefitsThe current and future state of Medicaid audits - are you and your clients adequately prepared? The Medicaid program is a state's most significant health care expense and, in many instances, one of its largest budgetary items. It is the health insurer of last resort for children and the economically disadvantaged. The recent economic downturn has caused shortfalls to many states' overall  more...

Florida Employment Law Update BenefitsThis audio conference will provide you with working knowledge of the most prevalent issues facing Florida employers. The speakers, experts in management labor and employment law, have identified three areas of utmost concern. You will gain insight and the tools necessary to avoid and combat these common workplace problems. This audio conference is designed for human resource managers,  more...

GASB 51: Accounting Standards for Intangible Assets BenefitsGovernments possess many different types of assets that may be considered intangible assets, including easements, water or air rights, timber rights, patents, trademarks, and computer software. The implementation of GASB 34 created questions as to whether and when intangible assets should be considered capital assets for financial reporting purposes. An absence of sufficiently specific  more...

Statement of Work Contract Fundamentals BenefitsA good statement of work is the only thing between you and failure, whether it's a project, contract, grant application or proposal. Success is in the details of the SOW. Without it, you can't compete or communicate. Those who have managed contracted work know that poorly written SOWs can lead to communication breakdowns, misunderstandings, disputes, rework, delayed completion and added  more...

Motor Vehicle Searches: Impact of the Arizona v. Gant Decision BenefitsMotor vehicle stops and searches constitute one of the most common events for law enforcement officials. Legal disputes arising out of motor vehicle stops and searches, in both the civil and criminal context, are also extremely common. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. Gant has brought a significant change to the law regarding motor vehicle searches. This audio  more...

Medical Records: Responding to Subpoenas and Investigations BenefitsDon't be caught off guard. You could be breaching the confidentiality of patients without even realizing it! From HIPAA requirements to state privacy laws, legal issues abound in the medical records arena. If you're not up to date on medical records law, your company could face serious legal and financial liability risks. Attend this audio conference and gain critical information on  more...

Managing Employees' Pre-Existing Conditions: Strategies for Reducing Injury Losses BenefitsAttend this audio conference to learn the fundamentals of managing employees with pre-existing health conditions. In addition to an understanding of the interplay between federal laws prohibiting discrimination against health conditions and state workers' compensation laws, you will learn the nuances of distinguishing between pre-existing conditions and new work-related injuries. You will  more...

Keys to Understanding and Writing Purchasing Contracts BenefitsProfessional purchasers demonstrate their level of professionalism by their degree of sophistication in writing their own contracts. Many purchasers relinquish their responsibility for writing contracts and leave it up to their legal staff to accomplish this critical skill. A few purchasers develop their knowledge, skills and ability writing contracts, and thus distinguish themselves  more...

Using Human Capital Analytics to Maximize the Value of Your Workforce BenefitsMeasuring and maximizing the contribution people make to the bottom line is a critical issue for organizations, and analytics are the key to those insights. The challenge is using analytics to understand where making a change would improve engagement and performance. This audio conference addresses how to integrate the business and HR perspectives when conducting human capital analytics,  more...

Grant Management for Grant Recipients BenefitsJoin Edward T. Waters, Esq., an attorney with nationally recognized expertise in federal grants law, to review the essential elements of federal grants and subgrants from a legal perspective. Learn about the fundamentals of grant administration followed by a discussion of urban myths - that is, commonly misunderstood provisions of federal grants - and sharks in the waters, high-risk areas  more...

Options Under Section 504 BenefitsPublic and private educational facilities receiving any federal monetary assistance (and, arguably, other forms of aid) are obligated to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This comprehensive statute imposes a number of obligations on such recipients of federal aid regarding disabled students and employees. An educational facility's failure to comply with Section 504  more...

Behavioral Based Interviewing: The Next Evolution BenefitsBecause your organization can never be greater than the sum of its parts, your success is determined by one key decision: Who gets hired? Yet fewer than 30 percent of hiring managers nationwide have had any real training in applicant interviewing skills (a fact supported by a University of Chicago research study concluding that basing a hiring decision on an interview is only 8 percent  more...

Requirements for Providing E-Forms W-2 and W-2c BenefitsMany organizations recognize the benefits of electronic W-2 and W-2c form distribution, but do not understand the IRS regulations and internal business elements surrounding this online implementation. Several online W-2 projects have failed and were delayed due to not knowing all of the essential information regarding online form distribution. This audio conference will explore all the  more...

Legal Causation and Disability in Workers' Compensation BenefitsThis audio conference is designed for everyone who needs an understanding of the workers' compensation system, and what is required of employers and their insurers. We will provide an overview of the issues and what steps you can take to minimize your workers' compensation expenses. We will discuss what injuries are covered by workers' compensation and what benefits employees receive under  more...

Form 5500 Reporting Update BenefitsEmployers who offer an employee benefit plan must file an annual report regarding the plan's financial condition, investments and operations, unless specifically exempt by law. Filing the Form 5500 will satisfy this requirement. This audio conference will help you understand when you need to file a Form 5500 and what you need to file, and will focus on some recent changes that may impact  more...

Legal Aspects in Representing Clients with Dementia BenefitsAttend this audio conference and be able to understand why preplanning measures are important to avoid crisis situations upon medical incapacity. The topics covered include everything from simple advanced directives and estate planning, to complex planning for the purpose of VA and Medicaid benefits. You will understand the process of legal crisis intervention if preplanning measures are  more...

Reactive Attachment Disorder BenefitsAttachment to a loving caregiver is the foundation for healthy brain development. Trauma, abuse, neglect and loss derails normal neural connections. Chaotic inappropriate behaviors result when this occurs. Nancy Thomas is renowned for keeping audiences on the edge of their seat as she brings home the powerful message of hope and healing for children struggling with the challenges of  more...

Phased Retirement in The New Economy BenefitsThe concept of phased retirement first gained popularity in the 2000s, primarily based upon the shrinking labor force and employers' concerns regarding the loss of valuable talent to retirement. As a result, Congress enacted certain legislative and regulatory rules regarding phased retirement arrangements. These rules seek to provide flexibility for older workers desiring to take part in a  more...

Purchasing Contract Remedies BenefitsAccording to the old proverb, 'When things get tough, the tough get going.' A corollary might be, 'When things go wrong, call the lawyers.' At which point a headache could easily become a nightmare. Is there a better way? Of course there is. Litigation can, and should be, a last resort. After all, litigation takes time and our business clients typically need something NOW: the steel for  more...

Risk Management in the Retention and Destruction of Medical Records BenefitsThere are many different types of medical records. The retention and destruction of each is governed by various state and federal laws and regulations. Additionally, when evaluating the storage and destruction of medical records, other factors such as reimbursement and billing, accreditation and professional standards must be considered. This audio conference will help you understand  more...

Today's Multigenerational Workforce: Transitioning from Baby Boomers to the Next Generations BenefitsPeople change. This includes changes in the culture and value systems of the different generations of workers. From tattoos, to iPhones , to flex hours, to work ethics, to worker capabilities, things are different. As leadership transitions from the baby boomers to Generations X and Y, there are issues that will unavoidably arise as a result of cultural differences between the  more...

Complying With OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements BenefitsMany companies do not understand the scope or complexity of the various recordkeeping obligations under OSHA's laws and regulations. This audio conference will provide guidance as to OSHA's recordkeeping requirements, including pending regulatory changes and trends. Learn about OSHA's new penalty policy, as well as the pending OSHA Reform Bill hidden in the Miner Safety and Health Act.  more...

Workers' Compensation Handbook Best Practices BenefitsMinimizing workers' compensation abuse and controlling the costs of legitimate claims is a daunting task. In this difficult economy, it is essential you take every step you can to reduce your workers' compensation exposure and costs. This 90-minute audio conference is geared to provide you with the best handbook practices - policies, procedures and techniques - for staying in control of  more...

Risk Management in Telephone Triage: Lessons Learned From Telephone Triage Litigation BenefitsThe telephone, once used merely as an appointment scheduling device, has become an integral part of provider-patient interactions. Research indicates that approximately 20 to 28 percent of all primary health care is handled over the telephone. However, without proper training and accountability, telephone triage can result in improper diagnosis and management as well as legal liability.  more...

Medical Privacy Rights of Minors BenefitsMedical providers and others who come into contact with medical or health records are often subjected to complex and conflicting requirements to maintain the confidentiality and restrict the use of the information. When those providers and others deal with minors, the complexity increases dramatically. When the right of an individual to privacy and security with regard to his or her  more...

Illinois Leave Laws: Navigating a Minefield BenefitsAlthough the economy may have been stagnate, the legislature has not. Over the past couple of years, Illinois has passed or expanded numerous leave laws presenting even more obligations for employers. The interaction of these laws can be complex and difficult to institute. This teleconference will assist you in understanding their obligations in implementation and compliance. Leaves  more...

Roadway Rights of Way: Understanding the Legal and Practical Issues BenefitsThis teleconference will provide comprehensive and useful information about rights of way, easements and issues related to their creation, use and liability. If you are a land surveyor responsible for determining property boundaries, an engineer involved in highway and roadway design, a governmental official affected by route location and selection, or an attorney involved in real estate  more...

Recent Developments in Employer Liability for 401(k) Investments BenefitsUnhappy employees, U.S. Department of Labor investigations, IRS investigations, massive class action lawsuits - an ever-expanding list of factors bombards sponsors of 401(k) plans, and places companies and their management potentially in the cross hairs. From Enron, Worldcom and Sarbanes-Oxley, to the more recent massive class actions filed against Fortune 500 companies regarding 401(k)  more...

Best Practices in Performance-Based Service Procurement BenefitsPerformance-based service procurement is a commercial best practice for many types of service procurements. The General Accountability Office says performance-based procurement is the government's primary resource for correcting problems in service procurement. In both the public and private sectors, it benefits the buying organization in many ways when done right. Performance-based  more...

Competitive Public Bidding and Public Contract Code in Florida BenefitsIn today's difficult economic times, more and more companies are looking to the government for opportunities to grow their businesses. While competing for government contracts presents expanded opportunities for success, participation in such procurements is governed by rules, laws and case law precedent not generally applicable in the private sector. This teleconference helps you  more...

Understanding Fiduciary Investment Duties for Trusts: Be Prudent and Diversify BenefitsIn the current volatile and uncertain economic climate, estate planning advisors and their clients need to re-examine conventional estate planning wisdom, better understand how fiduciary performance will be tested and evaluated, and how fiduciary risk can be managed by proper conduct. This audio conference is designed for attorneys, estate planners, accountants, trust administrators,  more...

Jeopardizing Exempt Status BenefitsOnce exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees do not necessarily remain exempt for the duration of their employment. Actions taken (or not taken) by employers can and do jeopardize the exemptions claimed, leading unknowing employers down the path to potentially ruinous liability for unpaid minimum wages and overtime. This teleconference is designed to help you identify issues  more...

California Water Law Update: Rights, Transfers and Supply Assessments BenefitsAs California surface waters become more and more burdened, the utilization and management of groundwater within the state has increased dramatically. Groundwater management is a key, if not the key, to the provision of potable water in the 21st Century. This teleconference will discuss California groundwater basics, its allocation and its future in providing water to many within  more...

Construction Joint Ventures: Benefits and Pitfalls BenefitsConstruction joint ventures, properly conceived and implemented, enhance the marketing opportunities and organizational assets of the individual joint venturers thereby enabling the joint venture to obtain and successfully complete larger more complex projects than those the joint venturers could undertake individually. Construction joint ventures are excellent vehicles for combining  more...

Family Responsibility Discrimination Law: Family Friendly Employer or Litigation Target? BenefitsFamily responsibilities discrimination against employees because of their family caregiving responsibilities is becoming a major issue for employers. Employers have been the subject of increasing but not well understood claims based on FRD claims. These claims have been pursued under a variety of both federal and state laws, and have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts. This  more...

Principal Diagnosis Selection: Ensure Compliance with Official Coding Guidelines BenefitsIn today's current health care business economic climate, there exists a renewed focus upon third-party payer initiatives to second guess and undermine medical record coder's selection of principal diagnosis selection under the guise of medical necessity and accurate and compliant coding. Under the RAC Demonstration Project, a pattern of supposed coding errors and medical necessity errors  more...

Labor Law: Could 2011 Be the Turning Point for Unions? BenefitsIt's been almost two full years of President Obama's administrative initiatives - a rollout of many campaign promises. Unions played a vital role in the 2008 elections and they continue to have a large voice in upcoming Congressional elections this fall. While most of the country has been focused on health care reform, 2011 could prove to be a pivotal year for union activity. What  more...

Health Care Reform Update ...ns of employers, HR professionals, attorneys, third-party administrators, and other consultants and professionals who work with group health plans and related benefits on a daily basis. This teleconference will cover the practical implications of this legislation and the potential impact of change to the health insurance industry. This teleconference is designed for human resource managers,  more...

Texas Nonsubscriber Claims 101: Perspectives From Employees and Employers ... handle claims in-house or send them to third-party claim administrators. Different than workers' compensation claims, employees, who work for nonsubscriber employers may pursue personal injury claims in court or at arbitration. The law governing Texas nonsubscriber claims is completely different than the law that governs Texas workers compensation claims. It is a specialized area of personal  more...

Handling Paid Leave Requests in New Jersey BenefitsIn January 2009, New Jersey became one of only a handful of states mandating that certain kinds of family leave be paid leave. Paid leave brings with it new employer compliance questions. For example, what must an employer do when an employee makes a paid leave request? Who pays for such paid leave? What laws are implicated by such a request and who decides whether an employee is eligible  more...

Best Practices in Electronic Invoices and Electronic Payments BenefitsIt may seem impossible to escape the paper-heavy processes in your AP department and achieve the coveted paperless status, but pulling off this caper is not a feat reserved for only paper mavericks. Instead, we can show you there is a way to achieve a paper-free environment and realize your ROI. In this teleconference, e-invoicing architect Henry Ijams will discuss your options for a  more...

10 Employee Handbook Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make BenefitsWith major developments occurring in labor and employment law over the past year, now is the perfect time to review your employee handbook to ensure it is in compliance with the latest changes and includes best practices. To avoid errors in this process, you will learn the top mistakes employers make and the keys to making the employee manual a valuable tool. The new governing legal  more...

Best Practices in Managing FMLA Leave BenefitsEmployers are continually faced with the problem of FMLA abuse. Unfortunately, many employers are unaware of the tools at their disposal to effectively manage FMLA leave. This teleconference will help you understand lawful methods you can use to restrict unwarranted use of leave. You'll get a firm grasp of the most effective FMLA policies that may be instituted. Failing to adhere to FMLA  more...

Current Issues in Cell Tower Leases BenefitsThe wireless industry has built more than 250,000 cell sites in the United States in the past 20 years. But many more cell sites are needed as iPhones, iPads and the like strain existing network capacity with data, email, computer and video applications, as well as to fill gaps in coverage. New cell sites and significant modifications to existing cell sites will also be needed due to the  more...

Best Practices for MRO Purchasing BenefitsMany organizations lack thorough MRO purchasing strategies that are comprised of a guiding strategy and supporting tactics to achieve the goals that have been identified for the MRO purchasing function. This is often a significant opportunity to reduce operating cost and improve mean time to repair. This teleconference will help you understand and design the MRO purchasing system and  more...

Asperger's Syndrome, NVLD and High Functioning Autism: Diagnosis, Treatment Considerations and Controversies BenefitsThe benefits of this cutting-edge seminar are specifically because most presentations cover just autism, Asperger's syndrome or nonverbal learning disorders. We will compare symptoms, discuss the perils of misdiagnosis and attempt to understand why the vast majority of these children and teens are initially misdiagnosed, and what improper treatment can cause. Co-morbidity is the rule, not  more...

Integrating Mobile Technologies in Our Classrooms BenefitsMany within the educational system today view the use of wirelessly enabled devices as a distraction in the classroom with students using the devices to text each other, surf the Internet, check on their Facebook page and Tweet . Many educators are discovering that permitting the use of wireless devices in the classroom can actually be beneficial for both the students and the educators.  more...

Reverse Auctions: Current Issues and Opportunities BenefitsAll across the spectrum, organizations are seeking ways to save money on their operations. Certainly, gaining efficiencies in your procurement spending can make a tremendous difference on your bottom-line in the private sector and in saving precious budgetary resources in the public sector. How can you achieve 5 to 20 percent or more savings on much of what your organization spends on  more...

Reporting and Disclosure Requirements Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 BenefitsThe passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has presented a significant number of opportunities for government, not-for-profit and commercial entities to expand upon current and initiate new programs and services. However, ARRA also establishes a number of mandates that recipients must comply with or risk potential financial and legal penalties in addition to public  more...

International Employment Assignments: Understanding the Compliance Risks BenefitsWhether a company is sending employees to the U.S. to work in its U.S. branches, subsidiaries or affiliates, or sending U.S. citizen employees abroad to work in foreign entities, the risks of failing to comply with U.S. and foreign employment and immigration laws are enormous. Attorneys who counsel these companies and human resource executives who implement company policy must be aware of  more...

Business Associate Agreements After the HITECH Act BenefitsThe HITECH Act includes important, new and far-reaching provisions concerning the privacy and security of health information that will materially and directly affect more entities, businesses and individuals in more diverse ways than ever before. The HITECH Act now directly obligates business associates to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule's administrative, physical and technical  more...

Medical Records 101: Responding to Requests for Patient Information BenefitsRegister for this teleconference and get an overview of medical management issues faced by health care providers in responding to requests for patient information for litigation purposes. The conference speaker, who has extensive experience in civil litigation, including the representation of large medical institutions, will provide guidance in avoiding mistakes in disseminating patient  more...

Illinois Accessibility Codes BenefitsIn order to address the needs of constituents with disabilities throughout the state, Illinois developed their own accessibility code. This is required to be enforced by all municipalities. While there are a number of applicable accessibility codes that may need to be addressed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the International  more...

Express and Implied Warranties Under UCC Article 2 BenefitsThe warranty provisions under UCC Article 2 and the laws interpreting them provide a vast amount of information that can seem overwhelming at times. This teleconference will provide a general overview of the scope of Article 2 and the types of warranties offered by the UCC, and discuss the various defenses, remedies and damages available for each type of warranty. The discussion will  more...

New Jersey s Rehabilitation Subcode BenefitsNew Jersey's Rehabilitation Subcode helps bridge the gap between modern day building codes and what can be done practically. The state of New Jersey will enforce different standards with little regard for grandfathering while also allowing older historical construction the ability to have some flexibility to allow realistic construction limitation to be accommodated. This teleconference  more...

K9 Case Law Update BenefitsThe use of canines in law enforcement continues to increase in criminal investigation, detection and apprehension. Canine encounters have potential implications for prosecuting attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, civil litigation attorneys and labor law attorneys. This teleconference will provide you with an update of case law that addresses the issues that arise from the use of canines  more...

Land Abandonment and Vacation Fundamentals BenefitsDisputes over real property happen all too frequently and many times the issues involve who has the right to a particular parcel or strip of land. In some situations, a government will reserve a road that never gets opened or falls out of use over time. In others, neighbors will agree on use of another's property for access but a problem arises or a use will be established without anyone  more...

Lease vs. Buy: Choosing the Best Option BenefitsThe decision to finance business equipment through lease programs or by purchases is one of the most difficult and important decisions faced by businesses every day. Making the wrong choice can not only result in economic loss but significant disruption of business, loss of time and opportunity. This teleconference will provide you with a comparison of the benefits and pitfalls of  more...

Basics of Trust Administration BenefitsThis teleconference will provide an overview of basic principles of trust administration under U.S. law, including powers and duties of trustees; relations with beneficiaries; removal and replacement of trustees; the use of directed trustees, protectors and investment managers, etc., to 'slice and dice' trustee powers; probate court involvement in trust administration; and concepts in  more...

Not in My Backyard (NIMBY): Overcoming Development Resistance BenefitsNot long ago, few places ever said no' to new real estate development. Then came environmental movements, smart growth, anti-sprawl and people who said 'not in my backyard.' Because a politician who annoys enough people will be voted out of office, public officials started listening to them - and the process of deciding who gets to build what, where, was politicized. Today, land use  more...

Selecting Vendors: An Introduction to RFPs BenefitsThis teleconference is an introductory course for those who are just beginning to consider or use RFPs in their procurement process. It will provide you with a basic understanding of how requests for information and requests for proposals can be used to increase corporate procurement efficiencies and deeper vendor relationships. It will provide insights on best practices in Fortune 500  more...

Medical Necessity - The Collaborative Partnership Approach BenefitsHospitals constantly struggle with reducing financial exposure due to noncompliance with medical necessity in the ordering and performing of diagnostic tests on both the inpatient and outpatient business environment. Current hospital business processes and medical staff mind-sets do not lend themselves and promote financial efficiencies in the performance and reimbursement of diagnostic  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Today's Legal Medical Record - A Hybrid Record BenefitsThe goal of this teleconference is to give you some information and a suggested format for developing your definition and policy of the legal health record for your institution. We'll remind ourselves what the real purpose of the medical record is and investigate how we meet those purposes with a hybrid record. We'll look at what the components of the legal medical record include versus  more...

Working With Challenging Parents: Strategies and Techniques BenefitsProfessionals are often confronted with parents who seem to resist our best efforts to help their children. When tensions between you and a parent escalate and are not resolved, all parties lose out. Valuable time, resources and reputations can be snagged in a spiraling power struggle or in seemingly endless efforts to engage the demanding or avoidant parent. Staff can become demoralized,  more...

Best Practices in Digital Evidence Management: The Impact of Digital Evidence on Law Enforcement and Government Investigations BenefitsThis teleconference presentation is designed to provide you with information on emerging trends in electronic media discovery practices. You will have a better understanding of the litigation aspects of electronic media retention and destruction. This will include the scope of electronic media discovery, trigger mechanisms for electronic media retention, obligations of users and counsel,  more...

Doing Business with Distressed Vendors and Customers: Strategies to Employ in Workouts, Litigation and Bankruptcy BenefitsThe strains of the current economic crisis are being felt in every industry and at every point in the supply chain. More and more often, vendors are encountering distressed buyers and buyers are dealing with distressed suppliers. Attend this teleconference and you will learn to recognize the early warning signs of financial distress, and be armed with strategies that can be employed in  more...

Impact of Health Care Reform on Health Care Providers BenefitsIn addition to mandating private health insurance coverage, recently enacted health care reform legislation also made sweeping changes to the Medicare payment and service delivery systems and strengthened current laws upon which the federal government relies to fight health care fraud, waste and abuse. This teleconference will include a broad overview of the aspects of health care reform  more...

Current Issues in Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officials BenefitsPlaintiffs see suits against individual officers as a way to recover monetary damages because Monell claims against municipalities are often too difficult or expensive to litigate effectively. From strip searches to excessive force claims, qualified immunity is a powerful defensive tool. This teleconference will help you identify current trends in qualified immunity doctrine in some of the  more...

Air Rights in Development: Current Trends and Legal Concerns BenefitsA principal axiom of real estate law is cujus est solum ejus est usque ad coelum et ad inferos- 'to whomsoever the soil belongs, he owns also to the sky and to the depths.' Traditionally, soil, sky and depths were conveyed as a single parcel, and parcels were separated by vertical boundaries. Today, parcels that do not touch the soil, and have both horizontal and vertical boundaries, exist  more...

De-Escalation Tactics When Responding to Individuals with Mental Illnesses BenefitsBecause officers have to protect their own safety as well as the safety of others, they often have limited time in which to establish a communication mode that minimizes risk of violence. Agitated individuals can often be directed away from violence by specific communication skills. Verbal de-escalation techniques are geared to 'set up' those being contained so that physical control  more...

Well Agreements: Legal Issues and Contract Solutions BenefitsAgreements pertaining to the construction, use, ownership and operation of wells are necessary and useful in a variety of situations. In rural areas, where connection to a municipal water system may not be possible, a group of homeowners may wish to share a domestic well. A shared well may also be a cost-effective solution for industrial users that do not wish to take treated domestic  more...

Rewards Transformation: A Unique Approach to Total Rewards Strategy and Design in the Current Economy BenefitsIn the current economic environment, organizations are concerned with reducing costs while retaining top talent. Total rewards costs can often exceed 40 percent of company's revenue and in many cases it is difficult to demonstrate ROI. This teleconference presents a unique approach to total rewards strategy, design and cost management called rewards transformation. Rewards transformation  more...

Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities Under ERISA BenefitsMaintaining an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 requires that people managing the plan or investing plan assets become fiduciaries. You need to know when they might become an ERISA plan fiduciary. You must understand your legal obligations to plan participants and beneficiaries. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the  more...

Controlling Purchasing Card Risk BenefitsThe backbone of an effective purchasing card program is a good control system. Without it a program may never realize its potential and risk may turn into reality causing a potential program shutdown. Fabian Aragon, P-Card program manager with Sandia National Laboratories, will discuss different ways a program can minimize risk, including basic controls, procedural controls, and assurance  more...

Qualified Retirement Plans Eligibility and Vesting Tips and Traps for the Unwary BenefitsThis teleconference will familiarize you with the general rules of eligibility and vesting. It will also assist you with specifically interpreting the provisions of your own plans and introduce you to a variety of options in order to make sure you know what you have and have what you want. In addition, although many provisions appear to be straightforward, the practical application of  more...

Insurance Claim Appeals BenefitsMany medical providers today are struggling at the number of claim denials and appeals that have to be performed to attempt to gain reimbursement from health care insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid. This teleconference will help you understand how first to establish when an appeal can be implemented, when to formally continue to disagree with their findings in writing  more...

The Construction Bidding Process BenefitsThe federal construction bidding process is complex. This teleconference will review the complicated federal construction bidding process, including sealed bidding procedures and negotiated procurements. The teleconference will also review practical substantive issues which commonly arise in preparing a bid or proposal for federal construction work, such as proprietary specifications,  more...

Best Practices in Invoice Processing BenefitsCritical tools such as electronic invoicing, vendor inquiry and Optical Character Recognition are rapidly changing the accounts payable field. Join an accounts payable industry analyst to learn why your job depends on not only understanding these high-power tools, but becoming an expert in their use and application. This teleconference will cover the tangible benefits of streamlining your  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Unique Workers' Compensation Aspects of Independent Contractors and Traveling Employees BenefitsHear experienced attorneys discuss the complex issues that arise when dealing with independent contractors and traveling employees. Take advantage of this opportunity to gain professional knowledge and advanced insight on this important workers' compensation issue. Workers' compensation administrators, human resource managers, benefits professionals, safety and compliance managers,  more...

Strengthening Self-Esteem, Resilience and Body Image in Adolescents BenefitsAdolescence is a time of heightened self-consciousness and anxiety about 'measuring up' in relation to schoolwork, appearance and social life. Today's culture promotes unrealistic and narrow standards of what is acceptable and attractive, increasing stress that can all too often undermine self-esteem and encourage feelings of inadequacy. This teleconference will look at some of the  more...

Recovery Audit Contractor Roll Out - What Can We Expect? BenefitsThe permanent Recovery Audit Contractor Program has rolled out in most regions and the RACs have posted new issues approved by CMS for review. This teleconference will review who, what and how providers can prepare for the reviews, the lessons learned and the appeal process, including CMS' recently issued recoupment time limits and interest assessment rules. Medical records directors,  more...

Criminal Liabilities Under HIPAA BenefitsMany hospitals, physician offices and other covered entities have been surprised to learn that HIPAA rules provide for criminal penalties - up to 10 years in prison for intentional violations! Now the stakes are higher and there are more stakeholders: recent stimulus legislation dramatically increased the stakes for HIPAA compliance by substantially increasing penalties for HIPAA  more...

Emerging Trends in Infrastructure Finance - The Stimulus and Beyond BenefitsOur nation's competitiveness has long relied on an efficient, effective and affordable infrastructure network. Over time, both private and public sector investors have played roles in developing our infrastructure. Unfortunately, as the era of government-led and government-financed infrastructure comes to an end because of diminishing resources, alternatives must be explored. Governments  more...

GSA Price Reduction Clauses (PRC) in Contracts BenefitsGSA Federal Supply Schedule contracting is a convenient way for companies to sell their products to the federal government. However, doing business under GSA FSS contracts presents a number of compliance issues, with one of the most important being the price reduction clause. This clause is included in all of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule schedules and essentially it guarantees that GSA  more...

Design Tips for Rain Gardens: Storm Water and Runoff Control BenefitsRain gardens have been used to beautify landscapes while improving runoff quality since their inception in Prince George's County, Maryland, in the early 1990's. Research has shown that their cousin, bioretention, does a very good job of reducing pollutant loads, reducing runoff volumes and increasing infiltration, spurring regulators to look favorably on these practices. What these  more...

Construction Recordkeeping and Documentation Requirements for Government Contracts BenefitsWhile a systematic records retention policy is a hallmark of every successful business, it is also a mandatory condition of contracting with the federal government. Federal laws and regulations require federal contractors, including construction contractors, to maintain certain records related to the contract for a specific number of years. Consequently, federal contractors are well  more...

Stark Act Update: Recent Changes and Operational Challenges BenefitsThe Stark Act is a very technical law that prohibits several common financial arrangements between physicians and entities to which they refer, including hospitals. If a physician has a financial arrangement with an entity that bills for or performs 'designated health services,' the financial arrangement will need to meet all components of an applicable exception. If the Stark Act is  more...

Current Issues in Digital Billboards and Sign Regulations BenefitsLocal governments, elected officials, municipal lawyers, zoning and building officials, and professional planners face increasing litigation threats due to the proliferation of digital signs. One national expert has predicted a wave of litigation at localities across the country that is trying to maintain attractive communities and prevent visual blight. What is the role of the Federal  more...

Limited Medical Programs: How Employers Are Using Them to Control Health Care Costs BenefitsAfter years of increasing medical premiums, employers are hitting road blocks in cost saving measures. We are at a point of office visit co-pays approaching $50, prescription drug co-pays of $50 to $100, deductibles exceeding $2,000 for in-network benefits, and more and more premium cost shifting from employer to employee. Employee's are finding it hard to afford the per pay premiums and  more...

Implications of the Stimulus Package on HIPAA BenefitsThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes substantial changes to requirements for the protection of health information privacy and security under HIPAA, some of which are already in effect. New requirements for business associates of HIPAA covered entities and requirements to notify individuals in the event of a breach are only two of the many areas affected in the new law,  more...

Health Insurance Basics For Employers BenefitsMany people do not understand the basics of health insurance. This includes people new to the health insurance industry or new to interacting with the industry. It also includes people who have been in or interacting with the insurance industry for a while but never received adequate training. Attend this teleconference and come away with an understanding of the basics of health insurance  more...

Stimulus Reporting Requirements for Schools BenefitsTen months into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this teleconference will review the impact on education entities to date, including compliance risks and challenges. An update and analysis of current issues and guidance will be discussed as well as recent reporting experiences and upcoming reporting requirements. School administrators, teachers, special education  more...

Purchasing Law: Breach, Repudiation and Excuse BenefitsYou have survived the battle of the forms or signed a supply agreement but there is a problem - your supplier hasn't delivered, the goods don't work the way they should or you have reason to think that they won't be delivered. This teleconference will provide you a basic understanding about what you can do when your purchase contract goes bad. You will receive a primer on the steps you  more...

Implications of Scott v. Harris on Police Vehicle Pursuits and Beyond BenefitsThe Supreme Court has historically recognized that analyzing and ultimately judging the conduct of police officers requires an acknowledgment and appreciation that, particularly in the context of the use of force, the court and trier of fact must take into account the circumstances under which police officers must make such decisions. The Court has also historically emphasized that  more...

Pitfalls of Participant Loans in Retirement Plans BenefitsParticipant loans in a qualified employee benefit plan are a common problem area due to their complex administration. Plan sponsors of qualified employee benefit plans need to be aware of many pitfalls to avoid tax consequences. Even worse than tax consequences is the possibility of the entire plan losing its preferred tax status. This teleconference will explain the regulations of  more...

Making Revisions to Closed Medical Records BenefitsMedical records contain some of the most sensitive and personal information that exists about individuals in modern society, and some closed records may need revision because of new information received or because of the requests of individuals to correct or modify existing information. When is it appropriate to make revisions, how and under what circumstances, and at whose request? This  more...

Fundamentals of Writing RFPs BenefitsVendors cannot possibly offer an intelligent, thoughtful proposal solution if your RFP is unclear, unorganized and disjointed. This engaging teleconference will provide proven methods for drafting RFPs that are clear, precise and produce desired results. Learn 10 writing tips that will guide you in creating an effective RFP. Learn how to format your RFP to lead vendors toward answering  more...

Promoting Wellness and Recovery of People With Mental Illness Through Strengths-Based, Person-Centered Practice BenefitsThis topic is important for all levels of the human service and community corrections fields. Policy-makers and funders must develop policies and procedures that support and promote evidence-based practice with this challenging group of service participants. Service organizations must become more outcome-focused in their helping efforts. Direct practitioners, therapists, case managers and  more...

Providing Investment Advice to Retirement Plan Participants Without Triggering Liability BenefitsThe current recession and volatile financial markets highlight the importance of financial literacy. Until recently, retirement plan sponsors have been constrained in the types of investment advice that can be provided to plan participants. Plan sponsors have long wanted to provide the investment advice their participants desire, but without incurring liability for advice given in good  more...

Major Issues in WiMAX Tower Leases and Zoning BenefitsHigh speed over the air broadband service for your computer, home or office, often called WiMAX service, is being rolled out in more than 80 U.S. metropolitan areas in 2009 and 2010. WiMAX is like Wi-Fi computer service, but covers an entire city or county. WiMAX will lead to more leases of land for communications towers because an entire new set of antennas and some new towers will be  more...

Lawful Hiring BenefitsEmployers must navigate a minefield of complicated and, in some cases, conflicting laws that affect the hiring process Discrimination claims often arise out of the hiring process. The new U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ___ (2009) shows how an employer (the New Haven Fire Department in that case) can violate discrimination laws when taking steps to attempt to  more...

Obtaining a Portion of the Stimulus Grant Funding BenefitsThis past year the federal government has provided a significant economic stimulus program that has been primarily implemented through grant funding. The Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 16, 2009) is the economic stimulus package of $787 billion. Because of the national scope of the economic situation, stimulus money has  more...

Current ERISA Fiduciary Issues for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions have long been faced with difficult and complicated issues under ERISA's fiduciary rules. The current economic downturn has given rise to a new round of legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding ERISA's fiduciary rules and has more generally affected the manner in which ERISA may affect financial institutions. In addition, the regulatory environment continues  more...

A Privacy Law Primer: What Every Attorney, Compliance and Security Officer Should Know BenefitsPrivacy and information security legislation, standards and case law are having an ever-larger impact on your relationships with your customers, clients and employees, as well as on your company's management of personal information. Issue-spotting in this area requires some familiarity with the complex state, federal and international regulatory patchwork and nongovernmental standards that  more...

From TV to Twitter: Working With the Media During a Crisis BenefitsIn today's media-intensive world, how leaders communicate during a crisis can be just as important - sometimes even more important - than how they manage the problem itself. Whether it's a natural disaster, accident, sensational crime or political controversy, the public and the media demand answers and information now, whether through traditional or new social media channels. Managing and  more...

Medical Identity Theft: Why You Must Prevent and How to Minimize Its Occurrence BenefitsMore and more patient information is being captured electronically, both within the provider setting and remotely from the patients themselves. Additionally, an increasing number of myriad touches of this data occur on a daily basis by various known and unknown entities, not all of whom are authorized or have a specific need to know. In this environment, ample opportunity exists for  more...

Developing a Community Nonemergency Response System BenefitsCitizens are demanding fast, easy access to government services in an efficient manner that optimizes their investment. Municipal executives are consistently seeking government solutions to improve service without increasing budgets. Elected officials know the quality of services can mean the difference between re-election and defeat. This teleconference will provide municipal leaders the  more...

Performance Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Constructed Bridges BenefitsThe deterioration of constructed bridges is one of the most critical problems facing the infrastructure of the United States. According to a recent survey (ASCE 2005), an overall grade of D has been given to our infrastructure systems. Typical sources of bridge deterioration include increased live load, environmental attack and physical damage such as collision of heavy trucks. This  more...

Pay-for-Performance Redefined BenefitsA bevy of proposed regulations, a more active investor community, and unprecedented media attention continues to change the environment in which compensation committees operate. The pace and direction of change is volatile and while committees focus their attention on design efficacy and business results, the landscape is such that the historical pay-for-performance perspective is no  more...

Deductions From Pay BenefitsEmployers often have difficulties navigating through the complex requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Misclassifying employees' status can be costly to an employee. It is estimated that at least 70 percent of employers are not in compliance with the FLSA. As Department of Labor audits increase, it is critical for employers to understand the FLSA and to recognize the permissible  more...

Setting the Stage for Rehiring: Logistic and Liability Issues BenefitsWith the ongoing economic crisis, employers across the country have undertaken unprecedented workforce reductions. However, eventually the economic pendulum will swing the other way and employers will be faced with the task of re-staffing their depleted workforce. Smart employers plan and prepare for that day so they can quickly identify and rehire the key talent necessary to meet their  more...

The Claims Process on Federal Government Contracts - Maximizing the Return on Your Investment BenefitsMany federal contractors incur additional costs for changes, delays, differing site conditions and contract terminations. However, all too often these contractors do not understand how to effectively seek compensation for these additional costs. This teleconference will help you understand the types of costs you can recover, the circumstances under which certain costs may be recovered and  more...

Health Care Facility Design and Development ...e modern economic and regulatory environment. Health care administrators are looking for project delivery models that ensure excellence in planning and delivery. Incorporating thought leadership in design, operational efficiency and sustainability, as well as efficient project delivery are important differentiators for project teams. This teleconference will help you understand the various  more...

Maintain and Gain Downtown Businesses in a Tough Economy: Key Retention and Recruitment Concepts BenefitsIt is possible to pursue new growth and attend to those who have already invested in your community. In fact, we believe that it should be a goal of every economic development or downtown to have a balanced 'maintaining and gaining' approach to economic growth. This teleconference will illuminate a number strategies and tactics to consider as you pursue this goal. Learning Objectives -  more...

Recognizing and Responding to Excited Delirium BenefitsResponding to individuals who are mentally ill, or who have alcohol, licit or illicit drugs on board are core tasks for you, the officer and/or first responder. It is not a matter of 'if' you are confronted by an individual who is mentally ill or who has ingested alcohol or drugs (or their combination), only 'when' you will face this situation. In rare situations, individuals have died  more...

Payroll Hiring Issues: Forms and Tax Credits BenefitsMany employers want to increase their level of payroll tax compliance by implementing policies and procedures with respect to obtaining necessary information from new hires that is related to the processing of payroll and payroll taxes. This teleconference will assist you in evaluating your current new hire process as it relates to the completion and filing of specific payroll related  more...

Techniques for Treating Young Clients Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder BenefitsYou will learn how to identify post-traumatic stress disorder, complicated grief and childhood traumatic grief, as well as learn techniques to treat symptoms of these conditions. Social service directors, social workers, case managers, counselors, psychologists, law enforcement officials, medical staff and administrators  more...

When Bad Things (Unexpectedly) Happen to Good Projects: Force Majeure Clauses in Contemporary Construction Contracts BenefitsWhat happens when unforeseen external events, such as an act of nature (e.g. a hurricane or flood), an act of war (e.g. a terrorist attack) or similar sudden, disruptive developments impact a construction project and result in schedule delays and substantial increased costs? Virtually every construction contract contains a force majeure clause providing for schedule and price relief for  more...

Current Issues in Riparian and Littoral Rights BenefitsBy attending this teleconference you will hear valuable information from leading experts on a variety of important topics regarding riparian and littoral rights. Speakers will focus on the current issues that surround technical determination, historical antecedents, national and state by state treatment, and potential impact of Stop The Beach Renourishment upon riparian and littoral  more...

A Comprehensive Approach to Building Excellent ADA Facilities within the Public Right-of-Way BenefitsMany state and local entities have found full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act within the public right-of-way to be a difficult goal to achieve. This teleconference will provide proven techniques that will increase the chances of fully completing the ADA facilities the first time without costly mistakes or retrofits. This practical approach coordinates the survey,  more...

Purchasing Contract Administration BenefitsNegotiated a great deal recently? How's that deal working out for you? Do you expect a raise or a pink slip when your annual evaluation rolls around? This teleconference is an introductory course in understanding how to add real value and avoid tragedy through the contract administration process. It will provide best practices from Fortune 500 companies, tips on how to approach difficult  more...

Strategies to Attain Grants for Your Classroom BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the tremendous potential of obtaining new revenue to support educational classroom activity, school-wide programs and district projects. We will detail the organizational, planning and collaborative efforts necessary to successfully compete for and receive educational funding. Teachers, special education teachers, principals, vice principals, school  more...

Preparing for an Unemployment Compensation Hearing BenefitsBeyond just the cost of unemployment compensation claims, an unemployment compensation proceeding is often the first confrontation with a future litigant. How the defense of unemployment claims is handled can often have a significant impact on the success of future litigation, and even whether such litigation occurs. This teleconference is designed to give employers a better understanding  more...

Healthcare Self-Disclosure Update BenefitsThe program will review these and other key questions: - What options do health care providers have for voluntary disclosure? - What factors should health care providers consider when determining whether a potential violation should be reported? - How have these been changed by health care reform legislation and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act? - How does the position of CMS alter  more...

Valid Consents BenefitsEach day patients and their families are faced with the difficult decision of electing to undergo a medical procedure. Before obtaining an affirmative decision, it is important that the health care practitioner obtain informed consent. This teleconference will educate you on how to determine whether a patient is capable of giving informed consent. This teleconference also explains who may  more...

Medical Professionals and Social Media: Privacy and Security Issues BenefitsIf you have any users of social media in your organization, and chances are you do even if you don't know it, don't miss this teleconference on the privacy and security issues that surround the use of social media by medical professionals. As more and more new physicians and other professionals enter the health care workplace, they are bringing with them the tools and technologies that  more...

Health Information Exchange: The Impact of the Stimulus Code BenefitsIn February of 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act known more commonly as the Stimulus Act. The legislation for a large part included tremendous new legislation, but brings to the forefront, the first time in history, incentives for American doctors to revamp their paper charts to electronic health  more...

Suicidology: Your Responsibilities for Protecting Your Clients and the Public BenefitsThe assessment of suicidality is among the most important functions exercised by mental health professionals. The imperative of keeping the client safe constitutes not only the most important initial clinical objective, but is at the core of good risk management. Research continues to help clinicians predict suicidal behavior in the individual with increasing accuracy. However, there is no  more...

Trends in Miranda Rights and Violations Benefits'You have the right to remain silent ...' The Miranda rights are part of our popular - as well as legal - culture. But what does it really mean? Has it changed in recent times? What makes a valid waiver of those rights? Can you ever use information you get in violation of those rights? Anyone responsible for, or involved with, law enforcement officers and their actions during  more...

Total Compensation Statements as a Tool to Communicate Total Value BenefitsOften employees look at their base salary as the total value provided by your organization. During these challenging economic times when salary increases are low or nonexistent, creating customized compensation statements for your organization can be a valuable communication tool. Generally, total compensation ranges from 30 to 50 percent above base compensation for an organization and  more...

Prequalification in Government Construction Contracts BenefitsWhat is the difference between prequalification and traditional post-bid responsibility determinations, and how do you address them in different types of contracts? This teleconference will discuss how to recognize and deal with prequalification requirements in federal contracts. State and local government procurements such as the Model Procurement Code, entities under federal grant  more...

Basics of Reverse Osmosis for Brackish Groundwater Treatment nMany professionals in membrane desalination design, operation and maintenance are faced with the difficult task of keeping current on the rapidly changing technology. Reverse osmosis membrane products change as the suppliers introduce new models. How and when to best apply these products and what features and benefits they offer must be analyzed before optimum performance can be realized.  more...

ADA Update: Overview of Americans with Disabilities Act and Practical Implications for Employers BenefitsThe ADA Amendments Act of 2008 takes effect January 1, 2009. The new amendments substantially alter and expand the definition of disabled under the ADA and who might be protected. This teleconference will review the ADA amendments and related issues, provide you with practical advice on how to comply with the ADA, and address common ADA and employment issues that may be impacted by the new  more...

Managing External Health Information BenefitsMany health care providers remain frustrated and uncertain about how to handle external health information. This information may come in the form of unsolicited health information - i.e., information that is volunteered by patients or by other health care providers, either at the time the patient arrives for treatment or thereafter - and in some cases even after the patient has been  more...

Infection Control Programs BenefitsHealth care associated infections have moved into the forefront of the health care industry due to emerging and re-emerging issues, the human toll and reimbursement challenges. Central to this problem is the impact of the infection preventionist and the infection prevention function. This teleconference will help identify specific elements of an effective infection prevention program and  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll BenefitsPayroll personnel are continually faced with legal and practical challenges associated with employee benefits, overtime, nonexempt employee requirements, employee bonus payments, confusing payroll forms, etc. Not only do you have to know your own state laws but often times neighboring state laws if you have employees across state lines. The taxability of employee benefits is confusing and  more...

Paperless Payroll: Essentials to a Seamless Transition BenefitsIn today's economic environment, every organization is looking to reduce costs. Paperless processes have the potential to be a healthy boost to the bottom line without eliminating employees. The notion of paperless payroll has come a long way since the introduction of direct deposit in the 1970's, but despite the advances, most companies are still distributing paper checks, pay advices and  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting BenefitsMany federal contractors are greatly focused on achieving cost reductions in their production processes, such as through lean manufacturing and Six Sigma programs, to become more competitive and increase profits. However, few contractors take advantage of a contractual tool, the Value Engineering ('VE') contract clause, which was established specifically to provide increased profits from  more...

Controlling Health Care Costs With Self-Funded Plan Options BenefitsThis teleconference will address questions an employer must answer when deciding to switch from a fully insured health plan arrangement to a self-insured arrangement. The speaker will cover different self-insured health plan options, for example, preferred provider, HMO, health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. The importance of choosing a third-party administrator  more...

Introduction to New ICD-10 Coding: Preparing for Implementation nThe International Classification of Disease and Operations, Ninth Edition has out-lived its usefulness for capturing morbidity and mortality amongst the world population. Most developed nations transitioned to ICD-10 several years ago, but because of the tie of ICD-9-CM to payments in the United States there have been a series of delays in the US implementation. As the US moves a lightening speed  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? nInformation is power. You can increase your competitiveness by knowing the kinds and the quality of health insurance other employers are offering. Measuring your health plan against meaningful benchmarks will help fuel your strategies not only for reducing cost, but also for recruiting, employee retention and health plan design. n nThis teleconference will work through several methods to  more...

Staying Compliant with the Medicare Incident-To Rules nAt a time when every medical practice dollar counts, the Medicare incident-to billing rules can enable physicians to capture revenue from common services performed by office staff. The incident-to rules, while simple on their face, can be complex in their application and failing to follow each element of the rules can result in overpayments and even false claims liability. Knowing the rules and  more...

Crisis Intervention Team Training for Law Enforcement for the 21st Century nEstimates run as high as 1 in 5 (20%) of 911 emergency calls to law enforcement involve some component of mental illness component and many reach crisis level. Typical law enforcement training is focused on projecting authoritative persona, command and control, and follow my directions or else. These tactics often lead to use of force and injury for all involved parties. Some lead to litigation  more...

Demand-Side Water Conservation Initiatives nMany water utilities are having to prepare conservation, drought preparedness and diverse water supply plans to meet existing and future water demands. Internal and external factors are causing water shortages, rate impacts, conflicts among neighboring water users, and both real and perceived unreliable water supplies. These circumstances are impacting businesses, homeowners, and the health and  more...

Making It Through the Land Entitlement Process nWith a multilayered regulatory framework and a myriad of reviewing agencies and stakeholders, the land entitlement process is often bewildering. The rules, processes and players vary widely by jurisdiction but there are common keys to success. Get an insider's perspective on differentiating the various regulatory processes, understanding and addressing stakeholder concerns, getting staff on your  more...

Water Well Rehabilitation - Technical Considerations and Economic Advantages nThe decline of global economic conditions has discouraged high-volume water well owners, including municipalities, water companies, industrial entities and other large well owners, from incurring the cost of installing new wells. However, the decline of the economy has not reduced the requirement of water purveyors and other well owners to provide a safe and dependable supply of high-quality  more...

Patients' Rights Update nHealth care providers, particularly long term care providers, mental health providers and hospices, have become increasingly aware of patients' rights concerns in recent years. Many states have passed bills of rights for their residents living in mental health, skilled nursed or other health care facilities. These bills of rights cover basic and not so basic concerns. From the right to be treated  more...

Successful Strategies for Controlling Workers' Compensation Costs nMaintaining workers' compensation insurance is a necessary cost of business, but how do you stop the costs from spinning out of control? An effective workers' compensation program will utilize the available remedies to achieve the goals of reducing injuries, reducing benefit payment and reducing unsuccessful litigation results. This 90-minute teleconference will review the myths and  more...

Key Components of an Effective Mentor Program nSchool districts, communities, youth serving agencies, corporations and the federal government are working to provide solutions to the most pressing problems facing school aged youth today. The challenges include improving attitudes about school, reducing absenteeism, keeping youth away from risky behavior (e.g., drugs, alcohol and gang activity) and improving their academic performance. n nIt  more...

Utilizing Congestion Pricing to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Generate Infrastructure Revenue nMany states and metropolitan areas are faced with increasing traffic congestion along with inadequate sources of transportation revenue to address transportation investment needs. After completing this teleconference, you will improve your understanding of the ability of congestion pricing to address both congestion reduction and revenue generation objectives. You will be able to describe some of  more...

The New HIPAA Special Enrollment Rules and Related Disclosure Issues nRecently enacted legislation expands the special enrollment rights currently applicable to group health plans and imposes new notice and disclosure obligations for employers that maintain such plans. While many of these obligations are not effective until after 2009, the special enrollment changes are effective April 1, 2009. In addition, the new law imposes civil penalties of up to $100 a day  more...

Impact of the New ADA Amendments on Schools ...ble for serving special needs students, as well as school administrators responsible for hiring and employment, with a review of these laws, examples and analyses of practices that the laws now require, and recommendations on how to achieve compliance. In addition to extending benefits for students who had previously been denied 504 services, awareness of these new amendments can prevent costly  more...

Managed Care Contracting and Fee Schedule Review ...administrators are charged with the task of negotiating managed care contracts for their practices. This responsibility is generally an inherited function from their predecessor. Most do not understand how to compute an equitable fee schedule or track contract performance. This teleconference will help you understand methods for tracking to performance and how first to establish a fee schedule.  more...

Client Rights Issues: Informed Consent and Confidentiality nBoth state and federal laws contain myriad requirements intended to protect client rights. Most importantly are those that relate to rights regarding providing informed consent and privacy of health information. However, many health care providers do not understand the complex intersections of regulatory and common law requirements for obtaining consent and protecting client privacy. Failure to  more...

Paycheck Calculation Basics nThis is an excellent teleconference for those new at withholding payroll taxes or for those who need a refresher course. You will learn tips on how and why to determine if the worker is exempt or nonexempt. We will cover the calculation of and the maximum deductions for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2009. n nThere are multiple methods of calculating federal withholding, which one should  more...

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Children nExposure to substantial amounts of alcohol during pregnancy is known to produce a wide spectrum of morphological and behavioral outcomes. The most affected children in the spectrum display a characteristic pattern of morphological anomalies known as fetal alcohol syndrome. The majority of children exposed to alcohol, however, do not display morphological anomalies, yet they may show significant  more...

Purchasing Contract Disputes nBad economic times inevitably result in serious business disputes. This teleconference will help you plan and implement a practical strategy to minimize the business interruptions (and costs) that can occur when purchasing contract disputes occur - and turn potential career-limiting purchasing disasters in 2009 into success stories. This introductory course will help you understand how such  more...

Workers' Compensation Settlements nSometimes a workers' compensation case is litigated until conclusion, but many times the parties prefer settlement. This comprehensive teleconference will provide a summary of the do's and don'ts of settlements, what to consider, what to avoid, and how to most effectively ensure that you have considered every issue and have minimized your loss prior to signing on the dotted line.  more...

Best Practices in Purchasing Software nNegotiating software licenses can be frustrating for the business owner. Once you get past the 10-point, double column format of most vendors' license forms, you begin to understand that there are no standard terms and conditions for licensing software - each deal is unique. This teleconference will help the person responsible for evaluating, purchasing and maintaining enterprise-wide software  more...

Begin With the Brain: Three Things Educators Need to Know! nThis engaging teleconference will provide valuable information about three key elements of brain-compatible teaching and learning. Recent research about how student's brains grow, develop and respond to the environment should influence our classroom practices. Understanding some brain basics can give you guidelines to help you design truly brain-compatible classrooms and school environments. When  more...

Reducing Insulin Errors nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this past June that 24 million Americans now have diabetes, an increase of three million people in just two years. Diabetes is also one of the most common diagnoses seen in hospitalized patients. Moreover, insulin may be the preferred medication to manage glucose while patients are hospitalized. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of  more...

Same-Gender Marriage Rulings: Impacts on Employee Benefit Plans Across the Nation nIn May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot deny same-gender couples the right to marry. Same-gender couples - many of them, in fact - flocked to California and started getting legally married on June 17, 2008. But then in November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage going forward. Massachusetts and Canada also allow same-gender  more...

Writing the Critical Teacher Evaluation nThe act of teaching is what finally determines the success or failure of the school. To that end, a well-developed and wisely used evaluation system is the most important tool of school administration. Teacher associations will (appropriately) protect memberships from evaluations that are poorly constructed or poorly delivered. Teacher associations also understand the importance of working with  more...

Differentiated Instruction: Striving to Reach and Teach All Learners nIn every classroom, teachers are faced with the challenge of educating students who differ in their readiness, interests and learning needs. They are supposed to deliver a set of standards, which may overwhelm some students while leaving others unchallenged and unmotivated. What can you do to help meet the needs of all students? In this teleconference, you will get an overview of differentiated  more...

Green Contracting: the Federal Government's Procurement Policies nMany federal contractors will have questions regarding the effective implementation of the OFPP policy and will further be concerned as to whether its costs will impact their competitiveness or ability to perform economically. Additionally, the monitoring and reporting that the government will require will have an impact on time and costs and one wonders if contractual sanctions will be imposed  more...

Implementing Green Initiatives in Government nPublic agencies across the country are implementing green mandates and determining the best routes to meet their objectives in an efficient and effective manner. Green experts and experienced agencies are sharing their best practices and information so as to help other public agencies reap the benefits of their tested proven methodologies. Register for this teleconference and gain access to a  more...

Alternatives to Reductions in Force nLayoffs spawn headlines, adverse publicity and labor relations challenges. While the economic crisis has caused numerous companies to consider restructurings in response to a turbulent business environment, there are compelling business and legal reasons to consider alternatives to layoffs. This teleconference will address the legal and business cases for considering alternatives to layoffs and  more...

Auditory Processing Disorders: An Effective AUD/SLP Collaborative Approach To Evaluation And Treatment nWhat is an auditory processing disorder and what are the symptoms of APD? What is the role of the audiologist and the speech-language pathologist in the identification and management of APD? How can audiologists and speech-language pathologists collaborate effectively in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of APD, and what are the benefits of an effective collaboration? How can audiologists  more...

Understanding the COBRA Alternative Coverage Rules nThis teleconference is essential for company personnel who are involved with COBRA coverage and what can be done to reduce costs. In lieu of a company's traditional health plan, for COBRA purposes, the company is allowed to offer alternative health coverage although the procedure for doing so is quite complicated. n nDiscussed first is what constitutes the various forms of alternative health  more...

Issues Surrounding Student Discipline nStudent discipline impacts a student's civil and contractual rights, and it remains an area of potential liability for school districts relative to those rights. Of course, a failure to observe proper procedures and processes could also result in a reviewing body, reversing the discipline imposed in a particular case, thereby causing a substantial disruption of the educational process. Developing  more...

Internet Techniques for Locating Lost Relatives nMany professionals are called upon to locate lost relatives of clients or patients. Attend this teleconference and learn the methodology, strategies and techniques that can lead to successfully locating the lost relative. Each search is unique. One always begins by establishing the goal - who needs to be located; determining what is known - the identifiers; and creating a basic research plan.  more...