How to educate your child in an interactive manner

Interactive child education and disciplinary methods start to pale in front of the lack of interest by children and the surrender of the parents in front of the technological invasion. Now the little ones are the prisoners to other form of studying and development: video games, TV, computers and other gadgets make interactivity gradually pale in the parents attempts to impose education and to develop a strong and active child.

Interactivity is essential in the growing of children and takes to the development of inter-human relations as well as self-confidence growth. But, by the principle "one nail drives out another", it is essential as a parent to actively intervene in controlling the way your child "relationships" with the TV or the computer. The TV, computer and video games invaded the childhood of many and they radically changed the children's way to learn and the concept of play and games. Here is how you must set rules and to create your own policy about using electronics and choosing the games for them.

Limit the time spent by children in front of the TV or computer !
The first step, according to the experts, is to draw a plan in which you exactly establish the recommended time frames for spending time in front of the electronics according to the child's age. It is essential to respect the plan exactly with the child from early age.
Small children are not allowed more than 1 hour/day.
School children are allowed about 2 hours every day.
Teenagers should not exceed more than 3 hours/day.

Rules for using the TV or computer by children:
When we talk about the effective time spent by the little one in front of the electronics, monitoring and supervision must come to mind. It doesn't matter the amount of time the child spends in front of them, it is important to always know what he's doing in this time and to take all precautions not to let him get exposed to forbidden stuff.
Remove the TV channels inappropriate for his/her age.
You can buy a special device that blocks certain TV channels that you don't want him/her to be exposed, both for TV and for the computer.
Be a role model for the little one – don't spend too much time in front of the TV or the computer, not to give a bad example to the child.
Don't choose TV or video games when there you can chose from many more outdoor time spending activities; look for healthier alternatives that can help the children interact.
As time permits, watch TV with your child and stay next to him when he surfs the Internet. If you stumble across inappropriate TV Channels or Web sites, change the channel, but explain to the child why is it important for him/her not to see something like that.
Talk to your child as he/her is growing up and try to explain the main rules about using the Internet as he/she gets more freedom in using it (about copyrights, software piracy, pornography, child pornography etc.) – teach him/her to responsibly use the online environment assuring him/her that could be repercussions (legal or not) of his/hers actions.
Periodically check his/hers e-mail account and chat archives that he/her had with other children or persons (it is not a violation of privacy rights, but a security precaution in an environment that could turn him vulnerable or naive.

Rules applied to video games played by children:
The most important and sad in the same time secondary effect of playing video games by children is obesity. The statistics show that more and more children spend many hours in front of the TV or computer, playing unending series of games, without moving one inch. Plus, most eat as they play and the food options are disappointing (mainly junk food and harmful snacks).
Make sure you agree on each game the child picks (most of the games encourage violence and there are full of cruelty acts that harm the mental health and the harmonious development of the child.
Set time frames allocate to playing on the computer that must be strictly obeyed (not even 5 minutes more), or else you will end up granting him/her hours of play without even realizing it.
Encourage him/her to pick video games that involve more players, interactive, to reduce the child's social isolation.
Pick smart gadgets (like Wii) that imply a minimum of physical activity, thus the child is more active.
Pay attention to the online video games involving real players and the chat your child has with strangers (teach him/her not to give out important details to the strangers as the home address, name of phone numbers etc.)

Hot to educate your child in an interactive way?
Limit the child's access to TV and computer (two sources of passivity and sedentariness);
Always offer your child more active and interactive play activities, that imply movement and mind and creativity stimulation, communication and competitive spirit;
Encourage him/her to play with other children;
Buy interactive video games;
Sing the child up so courses and various activities that involve interactivity and interaction among children.


By: Catalin Ionescu 

Educational Requirements for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

A medical billing and coding specialist must wear many hats and be able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-demand work environment. If you want to become a medical billing and coding specialist, then you must meet certain educational requirements. This is what you can expect when it comes to training to be a medical billing and coding specialist:

Required Coursework. The functions of a medical billing and coding specialist are far-reaching, and require a knowledge of both medical terminology and office procedure. Therefore, a training program in medical billing and coding must include a broad range of subjects, and each subject will include some coverage of medical terminology:

• Health Insurance and Managed Care Systems. There are many different types of medical insurance programs, and a medical billing and coding specialist needs to be familiar with all of them, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). You must know how to interpret patient charts and physician’s notes in order to use coding that correctly corresponds to the appropriate insurance program.
• Government Programs. These include Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.
• Computer Claims Systems. This encompasses processing electronic data interchange through an outside data clearinghouse, and using a variety of different computer claims programs.
• Medical Documentation. This course teaches you how to evaluate and manage medical documentation, from invoicing to collections.
  Claim forms. You must have a thorough knowledge of the different types of insurance claims forms, including how to fill them out, submit them, and follow-up on them.
• Hands-On Experience. Any good medical billing and coding program should offer extensive hands-on training, in the form of either externships or internships. An externship or internship is also a way to gain valuable work experience while still training, and also to build some contacts in the field in order to gain a one-up when it comes to finding a job after you’ve completed your coursework.

School Options. You have a few choices when it comes to finding a program to train to be a medical billing and coding specialist. Just make sure that whatever program you choose is recognized by a legitimate accrediting body. If you do not complete training through an accredited program, then you will not be able to sit for a certification examination, and having a professional certification is your key to finding employment as a medical billing and coding specialist. Research the following schooling options, and remember to ask about accreditation:

• Colleges. Many community colleges and universities offer two-year, associate degree programs that prepare you to take the certification examinations.
• Online training programs. Online, or distance learning, programs are a great way to pursue your education while also maintaining a current job. Some online institutions specialize in medical billing and coding training, and deliver a certificate upon completion of the coursework. Other online schools are actually colleges that can provide you with a degree. Not all online programs are created equal, so be sure to do your research before committing.
• Technical/Vocational Schools. You may choose to get a diploma or certificate from a technical or vocational school that offers training in medical billing and coding.

Certification. Once you complete an accredited medical billing and coding training program, you will need to sit for a certification examination in order to receive a designation as a certified medical billing and coding specialist. There are several different accrediting bodies and each offers its own professional designation. Any designation from an accredited certifying body, however, will be recognized by potential employers as proof of your knowledge and aptitude as a medical billing and coding specialist. Here are some certifications to look for:

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC), offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
• Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS), offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

As you can see, the proper training is of utmost importance when it comes to pursuing your dream of becoming a medical billing and coding specialist. You can expect to spend anywhere from nine months to two years in training, depending on the type of program you choose, but if you put the time and hard work into getting your certification, you will reap the benefits. You can look forward to a high salary, flexible hours, and job security when you become a medical billing and coding specialist. So crack open those books and good luck!


By: Ceete Sheekels