Ten Steps Of Billing Process Health And Social Care Essay

Measure One. Pre-register the patients. Obtain or verify the patient ‘s demographics. Gather the patient ‘s name, reference, phone figure, day of the month of birth, the nature of the medical job, the insured ‘s name, reference, phone figure, relation of the insured to the patient, type of insurance, insured ‘s ID figure. Determine if referrals are needed or is a anterior mandate needed? Verify referral or mandate phone Numberss provided on the card, co-pay sum, co-insurance, and whether the medical job is due to an car accident, or a work related accident. This information helps to find if a commercial insurance is primary or if another insurance is primary. Information obtained at pre-registration is important to the charge procedure and decreases denials ( Deutscher, 2008 ) . Measure Two. Establish the fiscal duties for the visit. Verify insurance eligibility and find how much to roll up up forepart from the patient. Insurance and all other information demands to be check at each visit because patients may reassign from one insurance program to another, move or alteration occupations. Eligibility can alter month to month on certain types of insurance therefore these types must be verified on each visit. This is besides where an account of the installation ‘s policy on fiscal affairs is given to the patient ( Deutscher, 2008 ) . Measure Three. Check-in the patient. Obtain the medical history and demographics of new patients. Confirm with returning patients that all information is right and up to day of the month. At this point, their record should be checked for any past charges still unpaid. If the patient ‘s insurance will non be covering this visit, or if the patient is without insurance, have the patient mark a release accepting duty for the entire sum due of this visit. Some installations collect co-pays at this point ( Deutscher, 2008 ) . Measure Four. Check-out patients. Enter the medical and process codifications for the visit to set up a charge with the patient or the patient ‘s insurance. Give them all prescription, lab faux pas or referral paperwork they might necessitate for ordered work. Schedule a follow-up assignment if necessary. Besides record any minutess for this visit ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Measure Five. Reappraisal coding conformity. Obtain CPT and ICD-9 codifications from the doctor ( s ) . Verify that all information is right before come ining it into the computing machine system. All codifications should be checked for mistakes. Everything in the study should logically associate together so the insurance company understands the necessity for the medical charge applied ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Measure Six. Check charge conformity. When it comes to a charge conformity program, the stairss in the charge procedure have to be done right by the regulations and ordinances set by the conformity program. The medical records must hold the right codifications for the charge to be right. A conformity program prevents fraud from happening, and helps happen and fix mistakes in medical certification and charge. Documentation must besides follow the regulations of the conformity program as good ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Measure Seven. Prepare and transmit claims. This is largely done electronically now, and the transmittals of claims have to be HIPAA compliant. This transmittal besides involves the insurance company or the clearinghouse directing a reception of recognition of the claim filed ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Measure Eight. Monitor payer adjudication. This involves maintain an aging study which shows all outstanding claims in columns, based on how many yearss old they are in 30 twenty-four hours increases. At 30 yearss, the procedure of naming on or resubmitting the claim begins ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Step Nine. Generate patient statements. Monitoring of patient balances is every bit of import. This is handled by directing monthly statements to patients with balances owing ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Measure Ten. Follow up on patient payments and handle aggregations. Identify which statements have gone out more than one time. If it has been sent three times so it ‘s of import to allow the patient know that his or her history is in danger of being sent to aggregation ( Fordney, 2008 ) . 1.a. Brush signifiers. The brush signifier is known by several different names, such as superbill, charge faux pas, and routing signifier. This signifier is printed out and attached to the patient ‘s wellness record at the clip of check-in. Besides the identifying information, it besides contains the procedural and diagnostic codifications and whether the patient should return for an assignment. This is a combination of a measure, an insurance signifier and a rout-system used in both computing machine and paper based systems. For computerized systems, this signifier can be scanned to input the charges and diagnoses into the patient ‘s history and medical record. Some have barcodes that can be read to input the charges and diagnoses into the patient ‘s history and medical record. Some medical patterns use the brush signifier as a routing sheet and as an bill to the patient. When used as a routing sheet, it becomes a beginning papers for insurance claim informations. The brush ‘s process and diagnostic codification subdivisions should be updated on reprinted twice a twelvemonth, based on alterations, add-ons, and omissions of procedural and diagnostic codifications ( Fordney, 2008 ) Explanation of Benefits. The Explanation of Benefits ( EOB ) , besides referred to as remittal advice, is a papers issued saying the position of the claim. This is sent by the remunerators to both the donees and suppliers. EOBs provide the necessary information about claim payment information and patient duty sums. Every wellness insurance company, including HMOs, is required to supply the insured or subscriber with an Explanation of Benefits in response to the filing of a claim. EOBs are non required when service is provided by a take parting supplier who receives full reimbursement straight from the insurance company, but will be provided upon petition. Each EOB must include the undermentioned: name of the supplier of the service, day of the month of service, designation of the service, supplier ‘s charge, the sum or per centum collectible after deductibles, co-payment and any other decrease of the sum claimed, telephone figure or reference where an insured may obtain elucida tion, information on how to register an entreaty of a denial of benefits, including the applicable timeframe to register ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Advance Beneficiary Notice. An Advance Beneficiary Notice ( ABN ) is besides known as a release of liability. When a patient is to have a service or an point from a take parting supplier or suppler, that might be denied for medical necessity by Medicare, the supplier or provider must inform the patient and have him or her agree to pay for the denied service in progress. Every infinite on the ABN must be filled in before giving it to the patient to subscribe. Suppliers on the other manus, are non required to give the patient an ABN for services or points excluded from Medicare coverage. ABNs merely use if the patient is in the original Medicare program, and non in a Medicare private wellness program. If the patient does non acquire an ABN to subscribe before the service or point from the supplier, it is non specifically excluded from coverage, and Medicare does non pay for it, so the patient does non hold to pay for it. If the supplier does give the patient an ABN that is signed befor e service or given the point, and Medicare does non pay for it, so the patient will hold to pay the supplier. Medicare considers the appropriate usage of ABNs a conformity issue. When directing in a claim, the HCPCS qualifier -GA must be added to the appropriate codifications to bespeak that the patient has signed the release ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Remittance Advice. Electronic remittal advice ( ERA ) is an on-line dealing about the position of a claim. It gives information on claims paid or denied, and sends a ground to the charge specializer. Managed attention programs pay by either a capitation system or based on the services given to the patient with a statement of remittal or account of benefits ( EOB ) . In the system when payment is based on services rendered, and a statement of remittal or EOB is generated, such statements will enumerate services that have been rendered to patients and normally indicate the sum billed, sum allowed, sum paid, and any co-payment to be made by the patient. By and large patients under managed attention programs do non have an EOB. With Medicaid, if a supplier wants to have an ERA, so a signifier must be completed and sent to the financial agent. If a supplier is utilizing the paper system, so Medicaid will direct a remittal advice ( RA ) with all Medicaid payment cheques. Medicare sends a p ayment cheque along with a nationally standardised papers to take parting doctors called a Medicare RA. On the front side of the RA are position codifications that are the same countrywide, stand foring the ground a claim may non hold been paid in full or was denied, etc. These codifications are defined on the rearward side of the RA. Non-participating doctors besides receive an RA with payment information about unassigned claims ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Engagement Contracts. Participating suppliers ( par ) has a contractual understanding with an insurance program to render attention to eligible donees and so measures the 3rd party straight. The 3rd party remunerator pays its part of the allowed sum, and the supplier measures the patient for the balance non paid by the insurance company, after the excluded part is adjusted off the history. There are some programs though where the take parting supplier is called a member, and they may accept the payment as payment in full, or may be free to measure the patient for any unpaid balance, depending on the contract ( Fordney, 2008 ) . 1.b. Adjudication procedure for remunerators and suppliers. Once a claim has been sent to the patient ‘s wellness program, the remunerators review the claims through the adjudication procedure. Through this procedure the remunerator puts the claim through a series of stairss to find if it should be paid or non. After these stairss are completed, the remunerator decides to either pay the claim in full, to merely pay some of it, or to deny it wholly. Upon this, a study is sent to the supplier along with payment. If the patient has more than one insurance program, the primary program will direct the balance of the claim to them. Suppliers have contracted agreements with each remunerator hence what the remunerator pays out may non fit the supplier ‘s fee. Most suppliers so adjust/write off the difference of their fee to what the remunerator pays out. It is every bit of import for the supplier to supervise the claims. The faster the supplier can have payment the better his or her bottom line becomes. To supervise the claim during adjudication, the supplier must cognize the sum of clip the remunerator is allowed to take to react to the claim, and how long the claim has been in procedure. Suppliers have to register the claim within a certain sum of clip after the service, and remunerators have to treat clean claims within the claim turn-around clip agreed upon in the engagement contract ( prompt-pay Torahs ) . Aging is the 3rd portion of claim followup. Producing an aging study lets the supplier cognize how long the remunerator has had the claim. HIPAA 276 is the enquiry that is sent to obtain information on the position of a claim and HIPAA 277 is the response returned by the remunerator. From here the supplier must cognize the timetable for subjecting a corrected claim and how to register a 2nd claim if necessary, how to feed back if a claim has been denied for losing or wrong informations, and how to manage a petition for more information or certificati on ( Valerius, Newby & A ; Seggern, 2008 ) . 2. Claims Processing Hospital/Facility Claims Processing Claims Transmission: The infirmary forwards the medical claims to the medical charge squad via a messenger or as scanned paperss. The medical claim must be supported by patient inside informations such as demographics, superbills, charge sheets, insurance confirmation informations, a transcript of the insurance card and any other information refering to the patient ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Retrieval and Checking of Medical Claims: The medical charge staff accesses the medical claims and back uping paperss. All paperss are checked for illegible or losing paperss and the infirmary charge office is notified instantly so that they can re-scan and direct losing paperss ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Medical Cryptography: An of import measure in claims treating is to repair the process and diagnoses codifications for each patient based on criterions such as CPT ( Current Procedural Terminology ) and ICD-9 ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition ) . The degree of service determines the 5-digit process codification, while the diagnosing codification is based on the medical diagnosing made by the physician ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Charge Creation: Medical Billing professionals will so make appropriate medical claims based on charge regulations refering to specific bearers and locations. All medical claims must be created within agreed turnaround times – by and large 24 hours. A thorough audit and checking of the completed medical claims is done at multiple degrees. The medical claims are checked for right and complete information, right process and diagnosing codifications, and the genuineness of all other relevant information about the patient, since incomplete/incorrect information is one of the individual most common grounds for rejection of medical claims ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Medical Claims Audit: A thorough audit and checking of the completed medical claims is done at multiple degrees. The medical claims are checked for right and complete information, right process and diagnosing codifications and genuineness of all other relevant information about the patient since incomplete/incorrect information is one the individual most common ground for rejection of medical claims ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Medical Claims Transmission: Medical claims created are filed for follow up before they are sent electronically to the claims transmittal section with all relevant information on each medical claim ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Claims Submission to Insurance Agencies: The audited, listed and recorded medical claims are printed out and dispatched to allow Insurance Agencies or governmental sections, with any fond regards or back uping paperss that may be required for colony ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Follow-up and Settlement: This involves the concluding phases where the medical charge squad follows up systematically with the insurance companies and payment bureaus until the concluding colony is disbursed ( Outsource2india, 2010 ) . Reprinted from Outsource2india, 2010 Physician/Provider Claims Processing Data entry of patient demographics, mentioning doctor, CPT and ICD Codes, and Modifier ( s ) is entered into the medical charge package Scan the paperss for charge mistakes and rectify them if needed Adjudicate client claims for truth Preparation of Explanation of Benefits ( EOBs ) Submit and file the claim with the insurance company Follow up on the claims with the insurance company Apprise biller of the position of the claim Process denied claims and re-adjudicate them for claims entry ( Outscource2india, 2010 ) Comparison of Commercial, Managed Care and Federal Insurance Plans Commercial wellness insurance covers medical disbursals and disability income for the Insured and are sold for by net income bearers. Policies vary in sums harmonizing to the types of specific coverage that they provide. It is besides coverage that provides two types of benefits – disablement income and medical disbursals ( answers.com ) . Managed Care Insurance feature is the inducement for the insured to remain within a specific web of wellness attention suppliers. Managed attention plans fall into 3 basic types: HMO, PPO, and POS. HMOs provide medical intervention on a postpaid footing, which means that HMO members pay a fixed monthly fee, irrespective of how much medical attention is needed in a certain clip period. A PPO is made up of physicians and or infirmaries that provide medical service merely to a specific group and a system where the patient pays no deductible and normally merely a little co-payment when they use a wellness attention supplier within their web ( answers.com ) . Federal Insurance plans. One of the most outstanding characteristics of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program ( FEHBP ) is the picks it allows. There are three types of programs: fee-for-service and preferable supplier organisation ( PPO ) , normally offered combined, HMOs, and high deductible wellness insurance programs and other consumer-driven programs. In the FEHBP, the federal authorities sets minimum criterions and if met by an insurance company, allows it to take part in the plan. The consequence is legion viing insurance programs that are available to federal employees. The FEHBP has frequently been proposed as a theoretical account for national wellness insurance and sometimes as a plan that could straight inscribe the uninsured ( opm.gov ) . Major Payment and Reimbursements A Prospective Payment System ( PPS ) is a method of reimbursement in which Medicare ( CMS ) payment is made based on a predetermined fixed sum. The payment sum for a peculiar service is derived based on the categorization system of that service, such as diagnosis-related groups ( DRG ) for inpatient infirmary services.A DRGs have been used in the US since 1983 to find how much Medicare pays the infirmary, since patients within each class are clinically similar, and will utilize the same degree of hospital resources ( Fordney, 2008 ) . In the prospective payment method, payment rates for health care services are established in progress for a specific clip period. Two types of prospective payment methods are per-diem and case-based payment. In per-diem, the 3rd party remunerator reimburses the supplier with a fixed rate for each twenty-four hours a covered patient is hospitalized. In instance based, 3rd party remunerators reimburse suppliers per instance instead than for each service or per diem ( Casto, Layman, 2006 ) . CMS besides uses separate PPSs for reimbursement to acute inpatient infirmaries, place wellness bureaus, hospice, hospital outpatient, inmate psychiatric installations, inmate rehabilitation installations, long-run attention infirmaries, and skilled nursing installations ( CMS.gov ) . Another state – Spain During the 1980 ‘s alterations came to the Spanish health care plan. First they started with a societal security system that assured wellness attention coverage for merely the working and retired people while a combination of common and private organisations ensured basic attention for the remainder of the population. It was n't until 1997 that DRG coding came into drama for hospital reimbursement. Previously wellness attention was reimbursed harmonizing to a per contact system based on Basic Assistance Units ( Cots, Salvador, Chiarello, Bustins, Castells, ( n.d. ) ) . DRG payment systems were foremost used in Catalonia in 1997. They adopted the CMS DRG coding version. Hospitals received an sum per instance depending on the comparative mean DRG weight of all infirmary discharges. The infirmary comparative ration is multiplied by a fixed sum that is published yearly. Catalonia Health sets the discharge monetary values for each comparative resource strength ( IRR ) and the construction comparative index ( IRE ) every bit good as two burdening per centums. IRE reflects the infirmary ‘s construction degree, while the degree of the infirmary ‘s ingestion of resources ( IRR ) is defined by DRG discharge weights coded with CMS DRGS ( Cots, Salvador, Chiarello, Bustins, Castells, ( n.d. ) ) . Outline Different PPS in the United states Physician attention groups ( PCHs ) PPS method for physician services in ambulatory scenes visit based classified services harmonizing to clinical similarity and scene includes patients from all age groups and from parts of the universe with instance mixes of diseases and differing forms of health care bringing Pediatric Modified Diagnosis Related Groups ( PM-DRGs ) for newborns and paediatric patients developed by National Association of Children ‘s Hospitals and Related Institutions All Patient DRGs ( AP-DRGs ) categorizations for neonatal, paediatric, bad obstetrical, multiple injury, organ graft, and ventilator-dependent patients allows accurate comparings of patients in footings of length of stay, resource ingestion and results International refined DRGs ( IR-DRGs ) inpatient categorization system designed for footing of payment of international health care Clinical hazard groups ( CRGs ) predicts future health care outgos capitated payment system includes all age groups fee for service reimbursement and episode of attention reimbursement based on unit of payment ( Casto, Layman, 2006 ) Acute Inpatient PPS each instance is categorized into a diagnosis-related group ( DRG ) each DRG has a payment weight assigned to it, based on the mean resources used to handle Medicare patients in that DRG basal payment rate is multiplied by the DRG comparative weight. Home Health PPS Medicare pays place wellness bureaus ( HHAs ) a preset base payment adjusted for the wellness status and attention demands of the donee payment is besides adjusted for the geographic differences in rewards for HHAs across the state. instance mix accommodation for the wellness status, or clinical features, and service demands of the donee provide HHAs with payments for each 60-day episode of attention for each benefit Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities PPS paid under the infirmary inmate prospective payment system ( PPS ) certain types of forte infirmaries and units were excluded from PPS because the PPS diagnosing related groups do non accurately history for the resource costs for the types of patients treated in those installations Facilities originally excluded from PPS included rehabilitation, psychiatric, kids ‘s, malignant neoplastic disease, and long term attention infirmaries, rehabilitation and psychiatric infirmary distinguishable portion units, and infirmaries located outside the 50 provinces and Puerto Rico ( BBRA ) ( Pub.L. 106-113 ) , directed the development of a per diem PPS for inmate psychiatric services furnished in infirmaries and exempt units. Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities PPS authorizes the execution of a per discharge prospective payment system ( PPS ) , utilize information from a patient appraisal instrument ( IRF PAI ) to sort patients into distinguishable groups based on clinical features and expected resource demands. Separate payments are calculated for each group, including the application of instance and installation degree accommodations. Long-Term Care Hospital PPS a per discharge system with a diagnosis-related group ( DRG ) based patient categorization system reflects the differences in patient resources and costs the Secretary shall analyze, and may supply for, accommodations payments to DRG weights, country pay accommodations, geographic reclassification, outliers, updates Skilled Nursing Facilities PPS payment rates are adjusted for instance mix and geographic fluctuation in rewards screen all costs of supplying covered SNF services ( everyday, accessory, and capital-related costs ) . Inpatient PPS PC Pricer infirmary is paid a fixed sum for each patient discharged in a Diagnosis Related Group ( DRG ) fixed sum is intended to cover the cost of handling a typical patient for a peculiar DRG. The PPS Pricer package, calculates discharges from October 1 through September 30 for a given financial twelvemonth ( CMS.gov ) . 6.Local Medical Review Local medical reappraisal policies are developed to assist suppliers and providers in subjecting right claims for payment. Local policies outline when and under what conditions a service, point, or supply is considered medically sensible and necessary, every bit good as the methods contractors will utilize to reexamine claims. These policies are the foundation of the reappraisal procedure. They define the service, decides when a service is sensible and necessary, outlines any coverage standards or specific certification demands, provides specific coding or modifier information and provides mentions upon which the policy is based. CMS requires that local policies be consistent with national guidelines, hence utilizing an consultative commission of medical professionals within Medicare and the medical community, LMRPs is developed. Once they are developed and implemented, LMRPs so provides the determination devising standards for any claim reappraisal and payment determinations. With e ach province holding its ain Medicare contractor, A consequences in each province holding its ain LMRP Local Medical Review Policies ( LMPR, 2010 ) . 7.HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule HIPAA privateness regulation applies to protected wellness information ( PHI ) in any signifier or medium while the Security Rule covers merely PHI that is electronically stored or transmitted by covered entities. The Security Rule ( SR ) has a broader enterprise than the confidentiality focal point of the Privacy Rule. This Security Rules aims at guaranting the unity and handiness of electronic PHI excessively. The Security Rule has to turn to issues such as informations backup, catastrophe recovery and exigency operations. SR has to do certain that covered entities that collect, maintain, use or transmit PHI in electronic signifier must build sensible and appropriate administrative, physical and proficient precautions that guarantee unity, handiness and confidentiality. Such processs must supply protection against any moderately awaited menaces or jeopardies. The Security Rule besides includes a criterion for electronic signatures ( Fordney, 2008 ) . 8.Classifications, Taxonomies, Terminologies and Terminologies Taxonomies are defined as the scientific discipline of categorization. These are the numeral and alpha supplier forte 10 figure codifications which are assigned to sort each wellness attention supplier. Taxonomy codifications are necessary because some institutional suppliers may non take to use for a alone national supplier figure for each of its subparts. The type of forte could impact the doctor ‘s wage depending on the contract with the remunerator ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Categorizations are legion in the claims processing. There is the categorization of diseases, and categorization of patients – outpatient, inmate, and ambulatory patients, to call a few. Everything is put into a categorization which if used and understood, helps the claims processor with truth ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Terminologies are footings abbreviated to initials. In claims insurance there are EOB, ERA, HMO, DRG, CPT, APG, AVG, MDC, AMA, CMS, EDI, ED, etc. It ‘s the alone linguistic communication spoken by claim processors. A terminology can hold several significances therefore it is of import to cognize which terminologies are non acceptable to a installation. Besides, when in uncertainty, inquire a physician or other medical professional what the abbreviation means ( Fordney, 2008 ) . In claims treating nomenclatures such as EOBs ( Explanations of Benefits ) , EOMB ( Explanation of Medicare Benefits ) , ERA ( Electronic Remittance Advice ) , RA ( remittal advice ) are illustrations. These are words that are easy understood throughout the profession ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Office of Inspector General OIG undertakes countrywide audits, every bit good as probes and reviews to reexamine the claim entry procedure of suppliers and reimbursement forms of the plans. The presence of an OIG conformity plan can significantly relieve imposed punishments in the event of an OIG audit or other finds of deceitful charge activities. A comprehensive auditing and monitoring plan will assist minimise the hazard of fraud and maltreatment by placing hazard countries ( igo.state.gov ) . Quality Improvement Organization in Michigan MPRO is a non-profit-making organisation and serves as the quality betterment organisation ( QIO ) for Michigan since 1984. It is contracted with the Centers for Medicare & A ; Medicaid Services. Its charge is: Work with Michigan Medicare suppliers to better the quality of attention for its endorsers. Promote all Michigan Medicare suppliers to follow grounds based medical specialty in all scenes. Protect the unity of the Medicare Trust Fund, by doing certain that Medicare pays merely for goods and services that are medically necessary that are performed in a proper medical scene. Protect the endorsers by look intoing their ailments and entreaties. QIO besides provides advisory services, medical and utilization reappraisals, informations analysis to federal bureaus, province Medicaid and public wellness bureaus, health care installations, and private wellness programs and 3rd party remunerators. QIO consists of a mixture of physician referees, clinical quality betterment and patient safety experts and statisticians. QIO serves infirmaries, nursing places, place wellness attention, physician offices and managed attention scenes ( MPRO.org ) . MPRO ‘s wellness attention quality betterment plans include legion preparations and go oning instruction events for Michigan suppliers across all scenes. Many events are free and Continuing Education Creditss are besides available. MPRO assists Michigan Medicare suppliers ( free of charge ) to better the quality and bringing of their wellness attention by the execution of evidence-based medical specialty that improves procedures and results. Areas of coverage include: Beneficiary Protection Patient Safety Prevention To better quality, safety and efficiency, MPRO publishes booklets for Medicare donees, explicating their rights as a donee ( MPRO, org ) . Other countries of service include: Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Control Program ( BCCCP ) Independent Medical Review Informal Dispute Resolution ( IDR ) Long Term Care Remediation Care Compliance Solutions for Long Term Care Providers Medicaid Fee-for-Service Utilization Review Program External Quality Review ( EQR ) MPRO is carry oning a Care Transitions undertaking in the mid Michigan country ( specifically, Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties ) to measurably better the quality of attention of Medicare donees who transition between attention scenes. MPRO focuses on bettering coordination of attention between suppliers and across the continuum of attention by advancing seamless passages from the infirmary to place, skilled nursing attention, place wellness attention or other suppliers to forestall evitable readmission to the infirmary ( MPRO.org ) . The end of the Prevention Theme is to better the quality and frequence of preventative wellness attention services in order to optimise beneficiary quality of life and wellness attention efficiencies ( MPRO.org ) The Prevention Theme focuses on the undermentioned clinical subjects: Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer ( CRC ) showing Influenza Immunizations Pneumococcal Immunizations Professionalism in Health Care Professionalism – Hard to specify, but you know it when you see it. Medical moralss are non Torahs, but criterions of behavior by and large accepted as moral guidelines for behaviour, by which a professional may mensurate the decorousness of his or her behavior in relationship with patients, doctors, colleagues, the authorities, and insurance companies. Acting with ethical behaviour agencies to transporting out duties with unity, decency, honestness, competency, consideration, regard, equity, trust, and bravery. The American Medical Association ( AMA ) adopted a codification of moralss for the benefit of the wellness professional in 1980. The Internet Health Coalition developed an eHealth Code of Ethics to protect patient ‘s information on the Internet ( Fordney, 2008 ) . An person must hold a assortment of features or qualities to work good as an insurance charge or coding specializer. Some of these qualities are: Strong critical thought and comprehensive reading accomplishments Logical and practical mind every bit good as a originative job convergent thinker Good organizational accomplishments Detail oriented One ‘s properties, accomplishments, personal image and behavior all contribute to professionalism ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Webster ‘s Collegiate Dictionary defines professionalism as â€Å" the behavior, aims or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional individual † . All professionals portion common features and a codification to stay by. But it is non what we do as a professional, but how we do it, that defines the medical professionalism. It is the unconditioned lovingness of the patient, irrespective of their ability to pay or their station in life ( Fordney, 2008 ) . Most everyone knows instinctively what is meant when they hear the words â€Å" he ‘s so professional. † This evokes an image of high competency and high moralss ; person commanding regard. All countries of professionalism has a codification of behavior, it is non alone to the medical profession. This codification is the moral compass that keeps us on the consecutive and narrow. It will be our moralss that will separate us as a true professional ( Fordney, 2008 ) .Standards of Ethical CryptographyCoding professionals should: Apply accurate, complete, and consistent cryptography patterns for the production of high-quality health care informations. Report all health care informations elements ( e.g. diagnosing and process codifications, nowadays on admittance index, discharge position ) required for external coverage intents ( e.g. reimbursement and other administrative utilizations, population wellness, quality and patient safety measuring, and research ) wholly and accurately, in conformity with regulative and certification criterions and demands and applicable functionary coding conventions, regulations, and guidelines. Assign and study merely the codifications and informations that are clearly and systematically supported by wellness record certification in conformity with applicable codification set and abstraction conventions, regulations, and guidelines. Question supplier ( physician or other qualified health care practician ) for elucidation and extra certification prior to code assignment when there is conflicting, uncomplete, or equivocal information in the wellness record sing a important reportable status or process or other reportable informations component dependant on wellness record certification ( e.g. nowadays on admittance index ) . Garbage to alter reported codifications or the narrations of codifications so that significances are misrepresented. Garbage to take part in or back up cryptography or certification patterns intended to unsuitably increase payment, measure up for insurance policy coverage, or skew informations by agencies that do non follow with federal and province legislative acts, ordinances and official regulations and guidelines. Facilitate interdisciplinary coaction in state of affairss back uping proper cryptography patterns. Advance coding cognition and pattern through go oning instruction. Garbage to take part in or hide unethical cryptography or abstraction patterns or processs. Protect the confidentiality of the wellness record at all times and garbage to entree protected wellness information non required for coding-related activities ( illustrations of coding-related activities include completion of codification assignment, other wellness record information abstraction, coding audits, and educational intents ) . Demonstrate behaviour that reflects unity, shows a committedness to ethical and legal cryptography patterns, and Fosters trust in professional activities ( AHIMA.org ) . Revised and approved by the House of Delegates 09/08. All rights reserved. Reprint and cite merely with proper mention to AHIMA ‘s writing. The Federal Register The Federal Register is the day-to-day official diary of the Federal Government of the United States that contains public notices of authorities bureaus. The Federal Register is compiled by the Office of the Federal Register ( within the National Archives and Records Administration ) and is printed by the Government Printing Office. Since it is a publication of the U.S. Government, there are no copyright limitations on the Federal Register. It is in the public sphere and contains proposed new regulations and ordinances, Final regulations, alterations to bing regulations, and notices of meetings and adjudicative proceedings. This is a good mention for alterations in the wellness industry and maintaining abreast of approaching alterations. Example of a concluding regulation: Health Insurance Reform: Alterations to Electronic Data Transaction Standards and Code Sets AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. Action: Concluding regulation. Summary: In this concluding regulation, we respond to public remarks received and finalize commissariats applicable to electronic informations dealing criterions from two related proposed regulations published in the May 31, 2002, Federal Register. We are besides following proposed alterations to implementation specifications for wellness attention entities and others. In add-on, we are following alterations to implementation specifications for several electronic dealing criterions that were omitted from the May 31, 2002, proposed regulations. Effective Dates: These ordinances are effectual on March 24, 2003.A §164.500 [ Amended ]6. A § In 164.500 ( B ) ( 1 ) ( four ) , take the words †including the appellation of wellness attention constituents of a covered entity † .A § 165.501 [ Amended ]7. In A §164.501, the definitions of the undermentioned footings are removed: Covered maps Disclosure, Individual, Organized wellness attention agreement, Plan sponsor Protected wellness information, Required by jurisprudence, and Use.A § 164.504 [ Amended ]8. In A §164.504, the undermentioned alterations are made: a. The definitions of the undermentioned footings are removed: Common control, Common ownership, Health attention constituent, and Hybrid entity. B. Paragraphs ( B ) through ( vitamin D ) are removed and reserved. Authority: Sections 1173 and 1175 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1329d-2 and 1320-4 ) . Dated: January 13, 2003.Tommy G. Thompson,Secretary. [ FR Doc. 03-3877 Filed 2-13-03 ; 8:45 am

Analyze the Role of Religion in American Culture and Politics Since the Beginning of the 20th Century Essay

The first amendment of the constitution of the United States of America states â€Å"Congress shall make no law, respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof†. This law has given the United States of America the status of a secular state since 1791, meaning that its states have to be official neutral in matters of religion. However, many factors strongly contradict its values; Especially in the 20th century, where there have been many cases where citizens weren’t treated equally regardless of religion. In effect, Jefferson’s â€Å"wall of separation† as a metaphor for the separation of church and state promotes free exercise of religion yet its concept has proven to be difficult because the USA governs with a Federal system and today, there is 900 different denominations in the country. The establishment clause hasn’t been equally respected within the states of the country; for example, the constitution of Arkansas states â€Å" No person who denies the being of God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this state, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court†, this heavily contradicts the USA’s secularity. It has always been a very difficult task for the country to separate religion and government; how has religion played a major role in American culture and politics since the beginning of the 20th century? From the colonial period through the current day, European visitors to the United States have commented on the powerful current of religiousness that appears to affect all aspects of American life. Surveys of American opinion document that religious belief is widespread: nearly all Americans profess a belief in God, anticipate an afterlife, and report that religion is important in their lives. In 2010, the Pew Research Center published a pie-graph illustrating religious denominations among people in the United States of America. The graph gives us a clear understanding of the religious pluralism of the country. Among the many religious belief systems co-existing in the American society, we can see a domination of the Christian religion, with an average of 80 % of the people living in America. Also, there are many other religious beliefs in the country such as Buddhism, Judaism etc. This document shows that religion is a very important factor of the image on the United States of America. Effectively, the American Dollar, the world’s currency, proudly states â€Å"In God we trust†. This is one of the many factors contradicting the establishment of religion clause. The constitution of the United States of America clearly states that religion should not interfere with the government because if it does, it will show a clear preference of the government, eventually contradicting free exercise. However religious beliefs have always had an impact politically on the country. Absence of state religion does not guarantee that a state is secular state; many people believe that the USA is a Christian State. This belief is understanding because many elements contradict the secularity of the country, for example, the congress and state congresses, one of the main institutions in the heart of American politics, have to begin with a prayer, children in publics schools begin the day by swearing allegiance to â€Å"One nation under God† and most importantly, elected officials have to swear an oath on a Christian Bible. Also, the recent presidential candidate Mitt Romney attracted many of his voters because he himself is a deeply religious man, an alleged Mormon. Consequently, electoral statistics of 2012 demonstrated an interesting pattern: most religious states, usually situated in inner America, voted for candidate Mitt Romney. These aspects among many others show that religion does have an impact culturally and politically in the United States of America. The extract for Time Magazine titled â€Å"Are we sliding backward on teaching evolution? published in April 2012 shows that the Scopes trial is still a hot topic even 87 years after the controversy. Effectively, in July 1925, the state of Tennessee passed the butler law, which forbade teachers in public schools from denying the biblical account of creation, therefore forbidding them to teach Darwin’s theory of Evolution. John T. Scopes, a young science teacher and football coach thought evolution in his class and got arrested for disob eying the Butler Law. Due to catholic pressure, this was the 1st case to be broadcasted by the media all over the world, giving the â€Å"monkey trial† immense proportions. This case strongly opposed the fundamentalist opinion of William J. Bryan who was completely against the ideas of evolution and Clarence Darrow, an evolutionist who wanted to â€Å"put Bryan in his place as a bigot†. During a fiery debate, Bryan admitted that some parts of the bible were not to be taken literally, completely overthrowing his beliefs. Many thought Darrow would win the case, yet the court assessed that Scopes was guilty of violating a state law. However, after the Scopes Trial, a 1958 Act stressed the importance of evolution as the unifying principle of biology. Nevertheless, the Time Magazine article demonstrates that anti-evolution forces have prevailed in Tennessee and a new law was enacted in 2012 giving school teachers the right to question the validity of evolution and to teach students creationism. This article helps realize that religion strongly influences human actions. It states that â€Å"13% of biology teachers across the country are currently teaching creationism†. This is an alarming situation because it shows that there hasn’t been much progress even more than three quarters of a century after the Scopes trial and that religion is at the heart of American culture and politics. However, us readers will not have full knowledge of the situation; since it is impossible to report everything, selectivity is inevitable. Usually a journalist gives us a widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article. In all, the article shows its readers that we are taking a step backward on teaching evolution, demonstrating that religion, still today, plays a major role in American culture and politics. In the 20th century, other controversies gathering the ideas of separation of state and church existed. Effectively, many political crises were linked with the role of Religion in the United States of America. The Ku Klux Klan movement that first started after the American civil war in 1865 and continues marginally today. The members of the clan preferred the antebellum period where blacks were not free men and were slaves to whites and strongly opposed the passage of the three Reconstruction-era amendments. The 13th Amendment (1865) that banned slavery. The 14th Amendment (1868) that guaranteed equal rights of citizenship to all Americans, with the special intention of protecting the rights of former slaves. The 15th Amendment (1870) provided that voting rights of citizens â€Å"shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Theses acts brought fire to a racist fraternity that attempted to intimidate the black freedmen during nightly activities dressed as ghosts and posing a flamed cross where they stood. Progressively, they became more inclined to the idea that they are superior to all people of other colors and religions. They believe in a philosophy of exclusion and claim that whites must maintain control of the United States and keep all people of other races and religions from gaining power. As so called â€Å"defenders of white American Protestantism†, they heavily target African–Americans, Catholics, Jews and Immigrants. Today there are only minorities of the Ku Klux Klan yet the right of freedom of speech in the United States of America allows them to demonstrate their beliefs freely. Hundreds of individuals were lynched and murdered by the clan because of their religious beliefs and origins. The belief of white supremacy was strongly suggested by the Bible according to the KKK. They believed that the bible supports separatism, in effect, many extracts prove that god favored the whites and avoided miscegenation. For example, the bible once says, â€Å"God forbad intermarriage between Israel and other nations†, showing that the mixity of races should be forbidden. This shows how Religion can affect the country; many were condemned to suffer because they did not conform to what the church believed. In addition, another crisis began in 1969 when a woman named Norma McCorvey found herself pregnant without wanting to infant this child her whole life. She wanted an abortion but Texas law would only allow one if her life was in danger. She used the name of Jane Roe and brought her story to court. She declared that the laws prohibiting abortion violated a woman’s constitutional right to privacy implied in the Bill of Rights. Her case was brought to the Supreme Court and it finally agreed that the Texas law was unconstitutional. However, in March 1970, Henry B. Wade, a district attorney in Texas went against the court and stated that the state has a duty to protect prenatal life, most religious individuals believe that life begins at conception. There was an evident split in the USA between the â€Å"Pro-life† and the â€Å"Pro-choice†; Religion is again the main source of the conflict. On January 1973, the Supreme Court gave women the rights of abortion. However abortion is conditional: during the first trimester of pregnancy women can abort without interference of state, during the second trimester states can regulation an abortion only according to circumstances and during the third trimester state can regulate or forbid abortion usually if the mother’s life is at stake. This crisis has involved the United States of America politically because electoral candidates have to choose wisely about their opinions on pro-life and pro-choice. For example, 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney was pro-choice as the former governor of Massachusetts but became pro-life while running for president. In addition, the states of Wyoming and Georgia both regard women as live stock meaning they have to carry their child, even if dead, until it comes out of her. Although this crisis in mainly about the right of privacy under due process clause in the 14th amendment, religion has been a major factor of the debate since religious believers usually tend to believe that only god can choose when you die, therefore an abortion goes against this ideology. These many crises have shown that religion plays a major role in American culture and politics. In conclusion, Religion has always been an important factor in the United States of America showing that the country has difficulties holding its secular status. The 20th century has demonstrated many conflicts between the church and the state. Effectively, the country being a federal republic does not ease the complication, as many states prefer to base their values on religion. USA is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a â€Å"very important† role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed nations. Consequently, religion does play a major role in American Culture and Politics; however, in August 2010, 67% of Americans said religion is losing influence.

Biogenta plc and Outback Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Biogenta plc and Outback Inc - Essay Example onalities are calm, relaxed and secure; agreeable individuals are cooperative, tolerant, trusting; conscientiousness persons are dependable, responsible, achievers while openness includes intelligence and creativity among others. The management can thus assess individuals and classify them based on these traits and offer them varied experiences to elicit productivity and good performance. For example, conscientious individuals can be given leadership roles since they are responsible and dependable while those who portray openness can be entrusted with projects due to their creativity. The problem with trait theories is that they are unable to explain individual differences in personality. Another problem is that an individual may not behave in a similar manner in a different situation thus personality assessment during recruitment or selection based on traits may be unreliable. The person may not be able to produce results when placed in a different situation hence the theory is not a good predictor of behaviour (Ewen, 2003). The behavioural theorists emphasize the interaction of individuals and the environment. Theorists like Skinner and Watson believe behaviour is learnt through operant and classical conditioning (Ewen, 2003).The stimulus in the environment forces individuals to act in certain ways and behaviour is reinforced through rewards or discouraged through punishment. They believe that people are born empty and gain personality through a processes of association (Engler, 2009). The management can thus change people’s personality by providing them with a proper working environment and by reinforcing behaviour through reward system. The management has to decide the kind of behaviour required in the organization and reinforce it. The psychoanalytic theory by... This research is the best example of comparison of Biogenta plc and Outback Inc. Biogenta plc is a multinational company with manufacturing facilities in over 10 countries and a span of 15, 000 employees in over 80 countries. It is a world leading business dealing with crop protection products such as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Its mission is to be the most trusted provider of crop-protection products in the world and has a set of values embedded in its culture to foster performance. It encourages diversity and corporate social responsibility and has innovation as its strength. Outback Inc on the other hand, is a family managed organization operating in Sydney, Australia. It is an adventure based tour company established in 1990s and has grown from a small size to moderately sized company offering a variety of services such as guided tours, accommodation and meals. The company has no clear vision or strategy to guide its actions and depends on Japanese clients. A lot of problems such as declining profits, high turnover and loss of clients are being experienced in the company due to poor management and organizational culture. Both organizations operate in a turbulent environment but Biogenta operates in several countries hence it may be affected more by diverse cultures. Outback has also to deal with individuals from different cultural backgrounds in its service provision but mostly deals with Japanese nationals and does not have to deal with complex management issues associated with international human resource management.

Critically appraise the changing role(s) of management accountants Essay

Critically appraise the changing role(s) of management accountants - Essay Example It is obvious that as over the years business and corporate world has evolved and gone through many changes thus management accountants being part of this system would also face transformation in their roles. It is the versatility that is being demanded today therefore a professional cannot limit or restrict itself to its particular job. It is a fact that today management accountants face many challenges especially competition from other managers as they are performing multiple jobs. Therefore the aim of this report is to highlight how the corporate world has evolved over the years; how it demands changes in the role of management accountant and what are the factors that have contributed to these changed roles. As the business world changes so have the roles of professionals that are involved in it however some are the factors that have necessitated the changes in the roles of management accountant they are discussed as follows: A very rapid technological development is witnessed, use of computers and accounting and analytical software allows the management to keep record, provide information, issue reports and even perform analysis. These advanced software and ease in access to the internet management accountant to perform more sophisticated analysis and decision support activities. These software are often automated they just require data entry and have made accounting departments more of an information providers rather participators in the decision making. Therefore this advancement in technology requires the management accountant to modify their roles and gain some extra skills. Business world has seen exceptional rise in competition different strategies and steps are taken to respond and sustain in the market. The major focus of the organizations has been on increasing the production and quality of the products and services that they provide. This shift in priorities

Reading response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Reading response - Essay Example Pointing out what is wrong always with people or the work they perform will lead to people taking you for an unkind and unreliable individual. It is, therefore, expedient to understand that it people are not always necessarily wrong and a better look at things may reveal that you are the one on wrong. Understanding this possibility calls for intuitive desire to understand the other person’s point of view which gives us the cue of why the individual acted as s/he did. Such a mere action can go a long way into giving significant understanding of the other person. It is always a challenge for most people to see both their point of view and that one of the other party. A basic human need is the feeling of importance. Making someone feel important is a desirable way to start any communication. The person usually will be grateful for such acknowledgement establishing a good ground to get something in return for appreciation. That becomes a key strategy in business especially in marketing. Making the customer feel important to the business will foster a feeling of ownership and belongingness and increased confidence of the customer. Participation is encouraged when the party involved feels that they are considered intelligent or important. Someone will tend to like you the more for a positive complement. Continuous and constant acknowledgement and compliments will have a tremendous desirable outcome of the other party or even customer behavior. A business venture should strive to make customers feel important rather than insisting their importance to the customer. Such an act attracts respect from customers and automatically awards influence to the b argaining chips. Failure to appreciate others can provoke them to venture into extremes of behavior, become criminals and even insane. They will tend to live in their imagined worlds where they feel important rather than facing the rearing reality of

Relationships between primates and their environments Research Paper

Relationships between primates and their environments - Research Paper Example The sexual dimorphism between females and males is quite small in body size. In contrast to other species of apes, pair bonding is displayed by gibbons and they tend to live in small family groups comprising of one monogamous pair of adults along with their offspring. They are diurnal, however, in contrary to great apes, gibbons don’t form nests and instead they lean on tree branches during night. Gibbons feed on ripe fruits but they also eat insects, birds and leaves. The most prominent aspect of gibbons is their singing conduct used for mate attraction as well as territorial defense, and their style of arborous locomotion termed as â€Å"brachiation†. However, on ground they walk on two feet (Hohmann, Robbins and Boesch, 2006). Amongst the entire great apes genus, only Orangutans are found in Asia. Their average adult height is 1.5m while mean adult weight is 110 kg. However, the sexual dimorphism is quite significant in weight amongst males and females. The female adults have 1.25m average height and 45kg average weight. Orangutans are extensively solitary while strong social linkages exist exclusively amongst female orangutans and their offspring. Both female and male Orangutans either reside as individuals in a determined home territory or as transitory individuals, and within determined ranges there is only one dominant male that breeds primarily and safeguards the female population within his territorial dominion from coerced copulations. They are diurnal but spend most of their time on trees. They also exhibit â€Å"brachiation† and quadrupedal fist-walking. Every night a nest is being built on tree by Orangutans for sleeping. They mainly feed on leaves, bark and shoots and rarely on bird†™s eggs, insects or small vertebrates (Stanford, Allen and Antà ³n,

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Art history - Essay Example Condottiere was the name given to the captain or leader who commanded a mercenary in the 14th and 15th century in Italy. The leader together with his mercenary engaged in fights in the Italian city-states on behalf of the contracting Papacy and the city-states. Thus, the word condottiere originated from condottiero meaning contractor. The mercenary worked with states directly fighting for them, and a fighting contract was signed with the highest bidder. Nevertheless, the contract bound them to a certain city or state with whom the contract was signed, but they moved from one lord or city to another, a game that was fatal for both parties. Additionally, some condottiere had their own small towns acquired through inheritance of conquer, for example, Attendolos who founded the Sforza family. In the Renaissance society, military skill was very expensive, but a wealthy city such as Venice was in a position to afford the services of a condottiere and his mercenary. Therefore, such wealthy cities hired military services only when needed, and this provided a way for them to spare its citizens from the horror and the rigors of war, and save on the cost of maintaining a standing military. Furthermore, the condottiere played a significant role in influencing the field of art as some of the greatest statues of all time in Italy were of the condottiere. An example of work of art that demonstrates the role of condottiere is Denatello’s Equestrian Statue of Erasmo da Narni, referred to as Gattamelata.

How Alexander the Great Influenced Current History Essay

How Alexander the Great Influenced Current History - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  he was a great leader and a perfect general, he had an awe-inspiring personality and great metal ability that allowed him to conquer successfully through the Victory of Persia. Ancient Egyptian people used to worship him as a god. The way he managed through all the hardships and campaigned and lead his kingdom has great many examples that has affected today’s people in many ways. Alexander also inspired many other famous leaders such as Napoleon and Caesar.As the paper highlights  Alexander spread out the Greek culture throughout the world and in this way he influenced the global cultural variety. He changed the lives and living styles of people around him and made tremendous efforts for the dominance of Western culture which successfully prevailed in many areas and its effects can still be seen today. Before him the Greek culture was just some other culture of the world, but with Alexander and his conquests, â€Å"The culture of Gre ece was the broadcast throughout the entire Middle East†.   Alexander also realized the importance of flourishing economy through development of trade and commerce. He, therefore, was devoted to building ports and his fresh conquests proved to be his new trading partners. Therefore, he played a great role in developing international trade and commerce and set a good example for the leaders in today’s world.  Alexander was interested in trade and commerce, so he became a pioneer in urban planning and development. This opened up another way for Alexander to influence the culture through his city planning and development techniques. He established towns that corresponded each other and looked alike and each town was added on with a central school, market, areas for recreational activities and gyms. During his era people started to relocate from rual area to more central city locations (Chapter 12: Alexander Changes the World). These ideas and patterns of urban developm ent are still widely observed in different parts of the world. Another way in which he changed the life style of people was through improving the education standards by establishing many elementary schools throughout his empire where young children learnt not only basic reading, writing, and math skills but also about their own culture and civics. Alexander also introduced the idea of free participation in government which meant that the government was for all, not just the wealthy and the mighty. This led to the fast development of his own empire and also inspired other countries around his empire to follow the same system of government for their betterment. Through his good leadership, planning and thinking abilities Alexander expanded his influence even beyond the expectations of

How has HSBC Chosen to Improve its Knowledge of Customers and Case Study

How has HSBC Chosen to Improve its Knowledge of Customers and Therefore its Decision Making - Case Study Example From this paper it is clear that by implementing a DSS the management will be more easy as all the information will be stored at one central database. The organization will be quite effective as data will be stored in a proper manner with not much redundant information. Last but not the least implementing a DSS in the organization will give HSBC an edge and will improve future decision making processes. The solution chosen by HSBC was quite optimal i.e. learning from its past experienced of Subprime mortgage crisis the availability and classification of vital data and information in a timely manner was necessary. Going for the implementation of a DSS will prove quite vital as it will help the managers in the future and provide them with information in concise and to the point manner with relation to the strategic goals of the company hence making the decision making process easier and more reliable. Does this Web site provide opportunities for HSBC to gather data about its customers? Describe the customer data collected at the Web site and explain how that data can be used to improve its business performance. Would you redesign the Web site to increase interactions with customers? The website can prove as a vital source for collecting data of HSBC customers. Firstly from the main website we can collect data that which customers prefer internet banking over conventional banking. Next customers of which country visit the main website in majority. Which specialist service of HSBC attracts most score of visitors. Average amount of time a user spends on the website to get his task done. Which news was found most interesting by the customers.

John Paul Jones Essay Example for Free

John Paul Jones Essay John Paul Jones was an officer of the infant Continental Navy who took the War of Independence all the way to British soil and carried out surprise raids. Responding to Britains looting and burning of Colonial America, John Paul Jones damaged or destroyed strongholds and absconded with needed supplies. He is regarded as America’s greatest Revolutionary naval commander and the founder of America’s naval traditions. John Paul Jones was born in 1747 to an estate gardener in Scotland. His maritime career began at the early age of 13 when he started work as an apprentice to a ship owner. He was initially into the slaving trade that happened between England, America, West Indies and Africa. But soon, he started to hate the slaving trade. At the age of 21, he received his first chance to captain the brig when the captain and first mate succumbed to a fever. He soon became a successful merchant sailor (Blythe, 2006). In 1773 on the island of Tobago, he was forced to counter mutinous sailors fighting for more pay. In the act of defending himself, he killed one of sailors. Scared of legal punishment, he escaped to America and took the name John Paul Jones. This was the period when America was at odds with Britain over taxes and a revolution was brewing. Empathizing with the Americans, due to his familiarity with the highhandedness of the British at Scotland, Jones joined Americas quest for liberty. When the war broke out in 1775, Jones volunteered for service in the brand-new Continental Navy. America did not have any kind of naval power during the initial stages of the Revolutionary War. But soon, the Congress decided to convert merchant ships to ships of war and also began to build new naval ships. Jones was able to contribute his knowledge of ships and his naval experience towards the building of the American navy (Blythe, 2006). During the four years of his service in the navy during the American Revolution, he gave repeated and brilliant examples of naval warfare that was best suited to the forces of the colonies. He found that he was the only officer in the service who was capable of formulating effective plans for the improvement of the navy. He immediately began to shape his ideas into practical suggestions calculated to bring order out of the utterly chaotic conditions which existed in the government at Philadelphia. His knowledge of the rules and standards of the British navy helped him formulate the rules and standards for the American navy with due regard for the differing conditions in the colonies (Russell, 1927). The Congress, on November the 2d, voted one hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of four ships, and empowered the naval committee to engage officers and seamen. John Paul Jones first took over as second in command of the Alfred (Russell, 1927). In January, 1776, Commodore Ezek. Hopkins arrived in Philadelphia, and escorted by an eager throng of citizens, went down to the Delaware where lay eight ships of the new fleet. On his boarding the Alfred, Captain Saltonstall gave the signal and Lieutenant Jones pulled up to the masthead the first American naval flag. This was not the banner with thirteen stripes, but a rectangle of yellow silk bearing a picture of a rattlesnake and the legend â€Å"Don’t Tread on Me†. Thus Jones came to be known widely as the â€Å"Founder of the American Navy† (Koven, 1913). John Paul Jones was later put in charge of Providence, with 21 mounted guns. Jones soon captured 16 British vessels on a single cruise. While on Providence, Jones was ordered to do convoy duty for ships carrying supplies for the defense of New York. To do this, he had to pass through the widespread fleet of Lord Howe, which was blockading the Northern ports. He got himself chased several times, beat off the British frigate Cerberus which attacked him near Block Island, and saved the supply ship Hispaniola from threatened capture (Russell, 1927). Here it is important to note that John Paul Jones enjoyed being chased. He liked to linger until almost overhauled, and then tack and be off before the wind before the enemy had waked up. He was never overtaken and never boarded. For two reasons: he knew what to do, both by training and instinct; and he never took a ship which was not fast. He returned to Philadelphia from his successful convoy voyage three weeks after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Joseph Hewes who recruited him into the American Navy was satisfied that his find was a talented genius (Koven, 1913). According to Jones’ Journal, he suggested to Hewes that he be sent to the west coast of Africa, to intercept and harass British trading ships. He desired an offensive naval war. Hewes gave Jones an unlimited order to Jones for a free-lance cruise to last six weeks or two or three months. Jones loaded stores at once and on August 21, 1776, aboard the little Providence, carrying only twelve long-four guns and seventy men, sailed for the Bermudas on the first extensive open-sea cruise ever undertaken by a lone American warship. He met with many saucy adventures. He had to escape from the British frigate Solebay with twenty guns. The next saucy incident occurred off Sable Island, after the Providence had turned northward. The British frigate Milford surprised him while his crew was fishing. Jones permitted the frigate to chase him for eight hours, the latter meantime wasting valuable shot and shell and then made his escape. The adventure aboard the Providence lasted six weeks and five days, and during this period, he took six brigantines, one ship, and one sloop and destroyed six schooners, one ship and one brigantine. Jones also demolished the fishing at the islands of Canso and Madame. He returned to Newport, Rhode Island, on October 7, laden with spoils and glory (Koven, 1913). On November 2 Jones again sailed for Newfoundland in the Alfred, it was with the hardy crew transferred from the Providence. However, he had to give this treasured ship to Captain Hacker and take the latter along. He faced trouble because of Captain Hacker who slipped back stealthily to Rhode Island just in time to be taken by the British. During this voyage, John Paul Jones faced a lot of treachery and disobedience. Even John Adams, who reflected the New England viewpoint, viewed Jones with suspicion as he was a British man. In the Alfred, when he sailed up to Isle Royale, Jones found that his plan to free the imprisoned Americans had been balked by the winter ice. But he also had some luck. He captured a sixteen gun privateer from Liverpool. On November 12, 1776 in American waters, the Alfred captured the H. M. S. Mellish, a 350-ton armed ship that was carrying a cargo of winter uniforms and other British supplies, along with 60 British soldiers, to Quebec for His Majestys army. Jones was elated to later learn that some of the clothing reached General George Washingtons army before the Battle of Trenton. He also had to face the British frigate Milford during his voyage. The frigate came up about nightfall. Jones lured the Milford to the chase and he tacked. The enemy followed his light, thus permitting his prizes to escape. The next morning he had to decide whether to fight the Milford. He accordingly signaled Lieutenant Saunders, in charge of the captured Liverpool ship, to drop back until he could discover the enemys force. Saunders obeyed, but stupidly dropped so far back that the frigate overtook and captured him. Jones, after exchanging a few shots with the Milford, made sail for Boston, where he arrived with only two days water and provisions left. Jones felt most hurt when he was superseded in the command of the Alfred by a man who had been his junior officer by eight numbers. In May, 1777, the Marine Committee sent Captain Jones to New Hampshire to take command of the French ship Amphitrite. Jones was to sail direct to France and report to Commissioners Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, who would purchase a fine frigate for him and give him orders. But the French Captain was not informed of the command and hence he was willing to take Jones as a passenger but not as the commander. Jones returned to Boston to await a new suggestion as to what he should do. After a few more days of deliberation the marine committee gave Jones command of the Ranger. On the 14th of June Congress passed two notable resolutions: the first, adopted the stars and stripes as the national banner of the United States; the second appointed Paul Jones to the command of the Ranger. Benjamin Franklin, had been taken to France by Captain Lambert Wickes so Franklin could serve as Americas first foreign diplomat to seek desperately needed help from France. John Paul Jones met with Franklin and began a fruitful relationship with the diplomat, who had been impressed with Jones exploits aboard the Providence. Jones became the first American to attack a British port, although a number of his restless crew members, preferred to attack merchant ships for the loot and avoid attacking settlements or strongholds on shore. The Ranger brought the war to Whitehaven, the very place Jones had been when he first went to sea. Jones ordered some of his men to go ashore and destroy dozens of ships in the harbor and take weapons from them. But his men were not all obedient. Some of these men became insubordinate by helping themselves to distilled spirits in a nearby pub. Despite the failure to totally destruct, this was the first surprise attack on a British seaport since 1667. Jones had sent a clear message to the British authorities: the Americans fighting for independence were not to be trifled with and were willing to bring the battle to Britain. This was truly a turning point in the American Revolution. Jones had with him Lieutenant Wallingford, Midshipmen Arthur Green and Charles Hill, and twenty-nine men. The alarm caused by this raid was absurdly out of proportion to its actual accomplishments; but beneath the hysteria was a very real fear born of the realization that Englands long untouched shores had been violated by a daring enemy who might soon strike again. Whig newspapers attacked the government for having brought this upon the people. The raid had another serious effect. It enormously increased the insurance rates on British shipping, thereby adding another burden to the growing expense of the war. After the Whitehaven raid, Jones headed toward his birthplace of Kirkcudbright to locate Selkirk Castle, the home of the Earl of Selkirk. Jones believed by capturing the earl he could use him as a bargaining chip to gain release of American prisoners. This plan did not work out as the earl was away and his crew was keen on looting the castle. Upon meeting the dignified Lady Selkirk, Jones disallowed any violence and permitted his men to take only the family silver. Some time later, Jones wrote Lady Selkirk a long letter of apology, promising to buy back the silver and return it. After the war Jones did indeed return the silver as promised at considerable personal expense, which the earl announced in Edinburgh newspapers. The next day Jones crossed the Channel and came abreast of the Irish port of Carrickfergus. There some fishermen, whom he took on board, told him that the British war sloop, the Drake, which had been at anchor in the roadstead as a guardship, was coming out to look for him. This was welcome news to Jones. He had been itching for a fight with the English in their own waters, and here was an opportunity laid in his hand. Though already informed of the Whitehaven raid, the Drakes captain had no suspicion of Joness presence, but on sighting the Ranger, he sent out a boat to reconnoitre. The midshipman in charge could not make her out because Jones kept his ships stern toward the boat, and he finally boarded her. He was astounded when informed he was the prisoner of the dreadful John Paul Jones. Instead of sinking the English ship, Jones decided to take her and carry her into a French port. Instantly he ordered his gunners to cease firing at the enemys hull and to aim instead at her sails and rigging. This was a favorite French tactic of the period, of which John Paul had doubtless been advised by the French officers back at Brest. The gunners took the hint and as their muzzles rose at the swell of the sea, they brought down the Drakes fore and main topsail yards in a heap. In a moment the ship was as helpless as a log. Jones boarded the enemy after a fight lasting an hour and four minutes. Jones lost only two killed and seven wounded. Raising the stars and stripes, he lured the Drake into deeper waters and bested her in a one-hour battle. The captured British ship, with its flag flying upside down beneath an American flag, was sailed into Brest, France, with 200 British prisoners aboard. While in France, Jones was given a ship for his personal use the Duc de Duras a merchant ship that Jones upgraded and renamed the Bonhomme Richard, which was Jones way of honoring Franklin and his famous Poor Richards Almanac. The battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis was to become among the most famous sea battles of all time. The seasoned skipper of the Serapis, Richard Pearson, knew his American enemy was close and was on the lookout. Just after 6:30 p. m. , the American commander, who had displayed a British Union Jack to cause confusion, suddenly took it down and sent up the Stars and Stripes before engaging the Serapis. Soon the two ships were locked in point-blank combat in what became known as the Battle of Flamborough Head. Hundreds of people gathered on the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head to watch the battle, which lasted for nearly four hours with unremitting fury and was later regarded as one of the most desperate and sanguinary fights in naval history. Cannon fire boomed in both directions, ripping the ships apart piece by piece. As the citizens looked on, the two frigates became entangled together so tightly that the muzzles of the cannons from both ships at times were touching each other. Jones purposely positioned the Richard close to the swifter, copper-bottomed Serapis to deny the larger ship the advantage of its larger and more numerous cannons. Meanwhile, the Alliance, which was sailing with Jones and commanded by a Frenchman, engaged the Countess of Scarborough. Jones won that battle even though the other ships in his fleet were only marginally helpful. During the battle, Jones wisely ordered the release of all British prisoners in the Richards hold so they could man the pumps. This tactic freed his men to return to battle, where they emerged triumphant in a seemingly hopeless situation. This was the first time an American vessel had taken so powerful a British warship. Jones went back to France and was showered with honors. King Louis presented him with an inscribed sword that credited him for defending The Freedom of the Seas. Jones also was invested with the Order of Military Merit, allowing him to use the title Chevalier. King Louis even requested that a noted French sculptor cast a beautiful marble bust of Jones (Russell, 1927). The open French support garnered by John Paul Jones for the American Revolution was one of the main reasons that the American Revolution ended successfully on the side of the colonists. Jones returned to America in 1781, where he accounted for his actions at sea. His answers were so thorough that Congress approved a formal resolution thanking him for service to the cause. He was also cleared of any charges from his pre-war days in Tobago. Although Congress awarded him command of a new ship, the America, the war was ending and enthusiasm for an American navy was beginning to wane. But, even with the war over and the America out of his reach, Jones strongly urged Congress to establish a formal navy and create schools where junior officers could be taught. The principles he established provided the basis for todays U. S. Naval Academy. Bibliography: Blythe, Bob (2006). John Paul Jones (1747-1792). http://www. nps. gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/jp_jones. html Koven, De Reginald (1913). The Life and Letters of John Paul Jones Vol. 1. C. Scribners Sons, 1913 Russell, Phillips (1927). John Paul Jones: Man of Action. Brentanos, 1927.

Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common

Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common (Dartford Warbler). Overall Summary of management plan: Policy statement and Background Preamble: Padworth common nature reserve was previously owned by the west Berkshire county council. But in 2005 the land manamgement was acquired by the Buckinghamshire, and Oxford Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) in 2005 (Fort, 2013). The Main overall policy for this land is â€Å"to Ensure these sites continue to thrive both in terms of their significant wildlife interest and for the many local people who regularly use and enjoy them†. This was a statement given by the west Berkshire executive member for the environment Councillor Hilary Cole (Fort, 2013). Description Pathworth common is located between Aldermaston and Burghfield Common about 9 miles outside the city of reading (Jeffery, 2004). The land is currently owned by The West Berkshire County Council, as said before it is now managed but BBOWT since 2005 (Jeffery, 2004). The land is 30ha of open wet, dry and humid lowland heath with small sections of oak woodland, there is also a few large seasonal ponds and one that is permanently filled (Wallington, 2013). The Boundaries of Padworth common are to the south a privately owned field that and a sand and gravel quarry. And to the north east and the boundaries are defined by Old warren and Hatch farm. The western boundry is defined the small hamlet of Padworth Common. Management and infrastructure For the management for a lowland heath area like padworth common, there needs to be a set of objectives crucial to the infrastructure of the scheme to manage the whole area and the all the individual features in it. The first is a very generalised objective and covers as many of the features benefits in one goal this is to encourage the restoration and health of lowland heathland to retain the ecological value of Padworth heath (Westcombe, n.d.). The other three objectives are more constrained in the features that they benefit. The first is the have grazing at the site to monitor and manage the growth of the heath, This will majorly benefit the ground nesting birds like the nightjar. The second plan is to have regulations and management for the public and the nightjar population to reduce disturbance, this is primarily aimed and nightjars and nesting birds to minimise disturbance and help promote nest production (Westcombe, n.d.). Finally the 3rd management project is the control the spread and removing strands of bracken, this is to reduce competition with the local heathland plants and improve the biodiversity of the plant life in the area. The legal constraints for this area is that Lowland heathland areas all over Britain are under the protection of the wildlife and countryside act of 1981 and is notified as SSSI (Westcombe, n.d.). Compartments or zones The area of Padworth common is divided into 3 different zones; Open heathland, oak forest and seasonal/permanent ponds; Open heathland are open landscapes commonly dominated by heathers, gorse and has a few sliver birch tress spaced in the area. There are 3 different types of heath dependent on their soil moisture content wet heath occur on high water tables, dry heath is abundant in free draining soils. Heath is important for over 5000 invertebrates that are crucial to the food chain of this ecosystem (Countryside Info, n.d.). Oak woodland is a broad leaf woodland highly occupied by English oak, sessile oak or hybrids between the two. The oak woodland is highly established woodland as a resource basis for building and fuel. The oak woodland is also a representation of the climax vegetation in the southwest of Britain where Padworth common is located (North Dervon Government, n.d.). The seasonal pounds can support a vital ecosystem for many specialised pond species. This coupled with that a large number of rare species has been linked with the seasonal pond which makes these one of the highest management aims of Padworth common (The Ponds Conservation Trust, n.d.). Enviromental information The physical aspects of the heath are that it is a mosaic of wet damp and dry habitats. The type of habitat is found on poor acidic soils in wet mild climates below 300m of altitude. Th biological features of this site are the many species that the heathland can accomidate from the greyling butterfly to the rare great crested newt (English Nature, 2002). This is due to the many niches available for the animals to occupy; the seasonal pounds are a rich source of nuitrients and support many rare species. The open heath which is occupied by many ground nesting birds such as the nightjar. The gorse bushes are used by the Dartford warbler to build nest and protect themselves from predation (English Nature, 2002). Culturally lowland heath has been an important part to human agriculture for thousands of years. The Mesolithic played a great part in the expansion of the lowland heath habitat by cutting down great swathes of the woodland landscape for building material and fuels. This mass cut ting of woodland had impoverished the soil but this has and a positive effect on heather ground and promotes the growth of lowland heathland (English Nature, 2002). Up until the 20th century heathland has been used in a wide range of agricultural processes such as fodder and fuel (English Nature, 2002). Vision Description of site The Padworth common nature reserve is split into two half’s divied by Bowughugrst Road. The heathland is located in the centre of each area while the Oakland is defines the boundaries of the nature reserve. The pounds are locates towards the south west corner of the southern half of the reserve. Conformation and evaluation of features Pathworth has many features and species that make this a site of National importance. Species such as the nightjar, the Dartford warbler and the Grayling butterflies (Wallington, 2013). Each of these will have a certain factors that can affect the species success and survival such as; the road that passes through the reserve, the seasonal ponds, and the growth of bracken. This plan focuses on the Dartford warbler and the key features that effect these are gorse coverage and heathland health (RSPB, 2014). The management of this species is desperately needed due to the harsh winters that have been occurring recently and that there are only1-2 breeding pairs in pad worth (Defra, n.d.). for this species to thrive and stabilise and even increase in population size drastic action is needed to preserve this native bird species. The Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) Factors Effecting the Dartford warbler There at many factors that affects the breeding success and survival rates of the Dartford warbler. The main 2 factors are the amount of gorse in an area, disturbance and Availability of food. Gorse has a huge effect on the Dartford warbler; this is due to the warbler uses the gorse as nesting material. This is because the benefits it has as protection from predators by being a heavy dense shrub and makes its hard from predators to access (RSPB, 2012). Disturbance has been shown in recent study to majorly effect warbler fecundity. A study has shown that if 13-16 people walk through a heathland area within an hour this can seriously disrupt the breeding patterns of birds and will prevent multiple broods of warblers (Murison, et al., 2007). Objectives for the feature: The objectives laid out for this management plan are in priority order; The main objective for this animal is to maintain the already stable population in the management site of Padworth common. If at all possible our secondary objective is to even increase the number of breeding pairs in Padworth common from 2 breeding pairs to 4. The thirds and least priority objective is that if we can get successful breeding pairs to Padworth we could then export the juveniles into other areas to increase the number of breeding pairs in other heathland habitats. Current condition of feature: The current condition of the Dartford warbler in Europe is that there are 2,025,546-3,635,791 breeding pairs. 75% of the breeding pairs are thought to be breeding in spain. The population is general stable in Europe (Defra, n.d.). There are certain areas of Spain where the Dartford warbler has been seen in a sustained decline since the 1970’s. Fluctuations are not uncommon in this bird (Defra, n.d.). The current condition of the bird internationally is near threatened according to the IUCN red list. (IUCN, 2012) Nationally this bird has been awarded an amber status under the RSPB classification system (RSPB, 2014). The main population of the warbler are in the south and south west of Britain, with a small population in the south east of Britain (RSPB, 2014). The last estimated minimum of breeding pairs in the UK is 1,600-1,890 (Defra, n.d.). Monitoring projects: To monitor the bird populations there are two ways in which this can be done; The first is to let the public and volunteers are able to monitor the birds this can be accomplished through education and a growing interest in the local bird populations. The main disadvantage to this method is that this may increase disturbance of the birds. Key sites can be pinpointed which can be monitored by the park wardens and wildlife trust employee’s this will reduce the amount of disturbance to the breeding birds and still achieve rewarding results. The only flaw with this method is if the bird numbers become higher it may be hard to identify all the birds. Management projects: These are the four management project that will be used to help increase and stabilise the population of the Dartford warbler. Introducing grazing, this is active grazing of livestock on the heathland areas to stop the overgrowth of a particular plant species. Coppicing, this is the cutting of the old parts of gorse to promote new regrowth promoting healthier and denser shrubs. Tree felling, this is done by hand (chainsaw) and the roots dug up to stop the regrowth of the trees. The logs will then be burnt or sold to companies. Bracken removal, this can be done by spraying herbicide on the infected areas thus eradicating of the plant. This is typically done in the summer months due to the plant being at maximum growth. A timetable showing the priority and timescale of projects; Justification of project: The Justification of these methods is as follows; Introduced grazing, this helps promote and uneven ages (mosaic) of the heathland. This maximises the biodiversity of the area due to many species requiring different ages of bracken to survive. This is ideal for the Dartford warbler for its food supply of invertebrates which need the heather for their survival (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Coppicing, this promoted regrowth of the older gorse. Typically the Dartford warbler prefers younger gorse, this is because it is much denser and provide more camouflage and protection of the nest site from predators. Therefore the coppicing of older dead parts of the plant promotes these parts to grow back into thick Bracken which the Dartford warbler needs for nesting (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Tree felling, the felling of trees such as birch helps the regrowth of the open heathland which is advantageous to many species such as the Dartford warbler. The warbler needs these open spaces of heath to be able to catch the invertebrates and feed (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Bracken removal, this is crucial in the survival of any woodland. The dense mate cause by this plant will shade out any other plants. So in vast numbers this is very detrimental to the whole heathland ecosystem. With control and management this increases the biodiversity of the area allowing other plant life to thrive (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Works Cited Berkshire Heathland, 1998. Berkshire Heathland Biodiversity Action Plan, s.l.: s.n. Countryside Info, n.d. What Is Heathland?. [Online] Available at: http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/whatis.htm [Accessed 10 3 2014]. English Nature, 2002. Lowland Heathland A Cultural And Endangerd Landscape, Peterborough: English Nature. Fort, L., 2013. Get Reading. [Online] Available at: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/wildlife-trust-set-run-west-4189279 [Accessed 10 3 2014]. IUCN, 2012. IUCN redlist (Dartford Warbler). [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22716984/0 [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Jeffery, O., 2004. Padworth Common Proposed Local Nature Reserve. s.l., s.n. Murison, G. et al., 2007. Habitat type determines the effects of disturbance on the breeding productivity of the dartford warbler Sylvia undata. Ibis, Volume 149, pp. 16-26. North Dervon Government, n.d. Oak Woodland. [Online] Available at: http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/oak_woodland.pdf [Accessed 10 3 2014]. RSPB, 2012. RSPB (Gorse). [Online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/advice/gorse/index.aspx [Accessed 10 3 2014]. RSPB, 2014. RSPB (Dartford Warbler). [Online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dartfordwarbler/ [Accessed 10 3 2014]. The Ponds Conservation Trust, n.d. Good Wilflife Ponds. [Online] Available at: http://www.sussexotters.org/pdf/Good wildlife ponds.pdf [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Wallington, A., 2013. Natural England. [Online] [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Westcombe, n.d. Management Of Environmental Features Specific Options, Prescriptions And Indicators Of Success, s.l.: s.n. Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction: Nigeria Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction: Nigeria Introduction Background to the Study This study attempt to examine the impact of the Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria using with a case study of Ado-Odo Ota, local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria. The issue of poverty in Nigeria has remained a major threat to the nation’s social, political and economic development. Every nation whether it is developed or less developed country contains elements that are poor. Nigeria has a population of more than 160 million – the largest in Africa – and a fast-growing economy. Despite Nigeria’s plentiful agricultural resources and oil wealth, poverty is widespread in the country and has increased since the late 1990s. Some 70 per cent of Nigerians live on less than US$1.25 a day. Poverty has become a feature of the living conditions and life situation of the vast majority of Nigerians. According to Babatunde et al (2008), Poverty has been viewed to be a global phenomenon but the level of this dilemma in developing countries has gotten to an alarming proportion. Internationally, about 1.2 billion people are living in extreme poverty less than one dollar per day and therefore due to the high predominance of poverty, reducing it has been of grave concern to many countries in the past few decades. Though, there have been a lot of improvements in the developed world, such cannot be said of developing ones especially in the Sub-Sahara Africa where poverty is prevalent due to many factors such as corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor programme implementation, poor governance and political instability, poor economic management and lack of purposive leadership. According to Ukpong (1996), (cited in Obadan, 1996) explained that poverty has earned identification in the extent of its ravaging society and the affairs of humanity at the international, national and local levels. The need exists now for urgent actions towards its reduction and control. Therefore, poverty is a snare and it is dehumanizing. In other words, judging from what Ukpong explained poverty to be, it will be ideal if poverty can be eradicated. According to Anyanwu (1997), Poverty has become a major cause of concern to academic, analysts, governmental, non-governmental organizations and international agencies. Poverty is multidimensional; it includes various alienations and deprivations such as: lack of human capabilities, poor life expectancy, poor maternal health, illiteracy, poor nutritional levels, poor access to safe drinking water and perceptions of well-being However, the (World Bank Report, 1999), has described that issues in Poverty now include: physiological and social deprivations, vulnerability, inequality, violation of basic human rights. (Zupi, 2007), also added that the observable disadvantage in relation to the local community or the wider society or nation to which a deprived individual, family, household or group belongs is an issue in poverty. In an attempt to salvage the situation, in September 2000, 189 World leaders millennium summit and committed themselves and their countries to 8 goals known as The Millennium Development goals (MDG’s) aimed at meeting the needs of the World’s poorest people. The Millennium Development goals have been regarded as the universal remedy of issues of underdevelopment. These goals were created under the leadership of Ban Ki-Moon (the Secretary General of the United Nations) through the UN to tackle issues seen to be holding back developing nations. It was adopted by 189 countries and signed by 174 heads of state and government. (UNDP, 2005) Ban Ki-Moon (2009), laid more emphasis on this in his report entitled, â€Å"A road map towards the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration†. In the words of Ban Ki-Moon, The world leaders set far sighted goals to free a major portion of humanity from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. They established targets for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, environmental stability and a global partnership for development. In short, they adopted a blue print for a better world and pledged to spare no effort in fulfilling that vision (Ki-Moon, 2009). The MDG’s are listed plans by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) committee on how the underdeveloped or developing countries can enhance their level of development in different socio-economic areas. The MDG’s are: Goal 1- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2- Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 3- Achieve a Universal primary education Goal 4- Reduce child mortality Goal 5-Improve Maternal Health Goal 6-Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7-Ensure environmental stability Goal 8- Develop a global partnership The first goal of the United Nations Millennium development Goals is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger with Target 1 being to halve, between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 per day: and Target 2 being to halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger (Sachs, 2005:72) Since, poverty as the number 1 goal of the MDG’s shows an alarm in both national and the global world. According to Yinka (2003), the UN Development Programme Human development report scored the Nigerian government low on its efforts to combat poverty and pursue meaningful growth in the human development index. The report states Nigeria is among fifty countries with the lowest human development index and the 54th among 94 other developing countries where human income poverty level remains the highest. Odeyale (2005) explained that in Nigeria, about 36% or 44.3 million of the total 160 million populations are found in the major cities. The rapid growth of the Nigerians cities is characterized by ever increasing population (due to rural urban migration) over stressed infrastructure (such as dilapidated roads, frequent power outage, poor water supply), sub-standard living condition (in ghettos, slum and over-crowded houses), high crime rate. Put differently, it can be described that the growth of population in Nigeria is always on the increase and the availability of defaulted infrastructures and low standard of living which in turn lead to low crime rate. To this end, this study becomes inevitable so as to access the impact of millennium development goals to poverty reduction in Nigeria. Statement of the Problem Different scholars have argued about the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 particularly in Nigeria. While some scholars have argued that it can be achieved before the set target date of 2015, some have argued against the possibility of its achievement. The Millennium Development Goals were goals structured and formulated by the United Nations in the year 2000 to help bridge the gap between the Global North and the Global South. These goals however, were supposed to be of a positive influence to the less developed countries especially in the area of eradicating poverty. However, it has been observed that some of the developing countries are still lagging behind especially in the area of poverty reduction; Nigeria has been observed to be a country of plenty yet is still beset with the problem of poverty. What therefore can be said of other underdeveloped countries in Africa? The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is of the view that the Millennium Development Goals embody basic human rights such as the right of each person to health, education, shelter and security. The Goals are ambitious but feasible and jointly with the comprehensive United Nation development agenda set the course for the world’s effort to alleviate poverty by 2015. According to Ban Ki-Moon (2009), the Millennium Development Goals would bring about a change and to a large extent, a real difference in the lives of people. With strong Leadership and accountability; this progress can be expanded in most of the world’s countries by the target date of 2015. However, some scholars are not in agreement to the view of Ki-Moon that the MDG’s would bring about a change in the lives of people. According to Deneulin and Shahani (2009) argued that the Millennium Development Goals lack a focus on local participation and empowerment (Excluding women empowerment). The Millennium Development Goals also lack an emphasis on sustainability, making their future after 2015 questionable. Thus, while the MDGs are a tool for tracking progress toward basic poverty reduction and provide a very basic policy road map to achieving these goals, they however do not capture all the elements needed to achieve the ideals set out in the Millennium Declaration. The inability to reach a valid conclusion as to the actualization of the Millennium goals by 2015 has resulted to the Millennium development Goals remaining a problem. Therefore the essence of the Millennium Development Goals comes into play in the context of Nigeria in the sense over 53.6% million Nigerians which is nearly 45% of the total population go to bed hungry every night, around 70% of the total 160 million citizens live below the globally acceptable survival line of $1 Dollar which is equivalent to 160naira per day. Also, over 5million of our youths are not employed, therefore Nigeria according to the National Poverty Eradication Programme (2003) is quoted to be among the poorest country in the world. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria, how far the Nigerian government have gone for the realization of these goals, and how the Nigerian Government and the society at large intend on making the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria, a reality by 2015. Research Questions The research seeks to answer the following questions: What is the impact of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria? Can it be agreed upon that Extreme Poverty and Hunger in the Nigerian state would minimized by 2015? What can be done for Millennium Development Goals to influence the Poverty reduction in Nigeria? Objectives of the Study To examine the impact of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria. To evaluate if the extreme poverty and hunger rate in Nigeria can be minimized by 2015. To examine the role of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria. Research Hypotheses The Hypothesis to be used for this study would be drawn from the objective of this study. There are: H0: Millennium Development Goals has not impacted in poverty in Nigeria. H1: Millennium Development Goals has impacted in poverty in Nigeria H0: The extreme hunger and poverty in the Nigerian state cannot be minimized by 2015. H2:. The extreme hunger and poverty in the Nigerian state can be by 2015. H0: Millennium development goals has not influenced Poverty reduction in Nigeria H3: Millennium development goals has influenced Poverty reduction in Nigeria Significance of the Study Over the years, this study has been examined by various scholars. The study of the Millennium Development Goals has remained of great importance as it addresses issues on development which Nigeria needs at this very time. The issues of poverty and the bid to alleviate it has been a key issue which governments have attempted to deal with. This attempt has manifested in the various past poverty reduction programmes carried out by the government all aimed at improving the quality of the lives of the populace. The essence of this study is to expose the rate of poverty reduction since its inception of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000. This study will bring forward the various methods or means that the government has embarked on towards the achievement of Poverty reduction especially in Ado-odo ota local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria as a case study, and the impact of millennium development goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria in particular. The importance of this work is to view how poverty reduction can be achieved alongside United Nations Millennium development Goals in Nigeria and the impact of the government towards poverty reduction. And also study at the possibility of the attainment of this goal by 2015 with the use of relevant structures. This study will form a secondary data to other researchers who will research in this area. 1.7 Scope of the study This study examines Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction with particular reference to Ado-odo local government area in Nigeria will be used as a case study. The period covered for this study will be from 2000-2015. This time duration becomes necessary since Millennium Development Goals was formulated in 2000 and to elapse in 2015. It should be noted that 2015 is just some months away. This study also focuses on the possibility of attaining the Poverty Eradication goal by 2015. Research Methodology This segment would discuss the methods to be used in this study. Research methodology can be described as a path through which the objectives of the study can becomes actualized Source of Data The study would engage both primary and secondary sources of data. By primary data sources, required data and information will be collected directly through interviews with Academicians and Government officials in different fields of study in Ado-Odo, Ota Local Government Area, Ogun state. Questionnaires will also be administered to a wider range for information to be extracted from the general public. Secondary sources of data refers to the information gathered from already published or unpublished materials such as magazines, journal articles, newspapers, internet and online materials, lecture notes, conference materials, relevant books and other materials relevant to the subject matter. Secondary sources of data will be employed in this study. Population of the Study The population to be used for this study would include non-governmental bodies, political actors, academicians, and the society at large. The reason for this population range is not only because of their level of knowledge, but also for their importance as key players in the political system. Sample Size A total of 100 questionnaires would be administered during the course of this research. A sum of 5 persons will also be interviewed for vital information to the study. Instrument of data Collection The conduct of direct interviews and the use of questionnaires will be designed as research instrument to collect data on how the Millennium Development Goals have helped attainment of Poverty Reduction in Nigeria. Both Quantitative and Qualitative research methods would be applied. Data Analysis Technique The analysis technique used in this study would be Correlation/Regression Analysis. This analysis would be engaged to study the relationship between the variables used in this research work. Outline Of The Study Chapter One introduces the topic and the MDG’s itself by providing a background to the study. It clarifies the concept of development and how important it is to the nation. It goes on to the statement of problem, the objectives of the study, questions the research seeks to answer, methodology of the study, research significance and hypotheses, and the scope and limitations of the study. Chapter Two covers the review of literatures relevant to this research and the theoretical framework that best explains the subject matter of this study. This includes the conceptualization of key terms, and the theoretical framework which provides a better grasp of the relationship between the millennium development goals and poverty reduction in Nigeria Chapter Three is an overview and assessment of the millennium development goals and poverty reduction in Nigeria. This chapter also examines the causes of Poverty in Nigeria. It moves on to examining the various poverty reduction programmes and policies, the challenges faced in the achievement of these programmes and the current problems of Poverty and hunger in Nigeria. It also outlined the roles of the Nigerian government and the Ogun state Government in attaining poverty reduction in Nigeria; it also would examine the various poverty reduction programmes carried out by the Ogun state Government from 1999 to 2015. Chapter Four is the presentation of data, analysis and interpretation. Data gotten from the field work through interviews and questionnaires will be analyzed using secondary data to support the data analysis. Chapter five summarizes the work, makes recommendations and concludes the study.