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Why are hardwood floors so expensive?
Why should I fit wood floors?
Why are wood floors healthier?
How long will my wood floor last?
Are 'laminated' floors made of real wood?
But aren't laminated floors cheaper than real wood?
What are oiled, brushed & oiled, and lacquered finishes? Which should I choose?
Is an oiled floor harder work than a lacquered floor to maintain?
What types of wood floors are best for kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories?
Will my wood floor change colour after it is laid?
Can I still have under floor heating with an Oak floor?
How do I maintain my wood floor?
What about maintaining an oiled floor?
When will my lacquered floor need attention?
How do I repair a scratch?
How much oak do I need?
How do I fix my Oak floor down?
Can I join the floor to my skirting board?
Is your Oak Chinese? Ive been told that its not as good as European or American.
I want long length Solid Oak and yours is only 300mm to 1800mm. Why?
How long do I need to store the flooring in the room before I install it?
How long does it take for you to deliver my new flooring?
Why cant you guarantee your Engineered flooring over Underfloor Heating?
I want a darker Brushed & Oiled board than your Natural Oiled but not as dark as your Double Brushed & Dark Oiled?
Why dont you supply Solid Oak wider than 150mm?
What does Brushed mean?
Why are your Engineered boards plywood backed? Ive seen some other samples that have a softwood backing. Whats the difference?
Which installation method is best?
What type of wood floor is best with radiant heating systems (UFH)?
Is it cost effective to choose oak flooring over less costly floor coverings available?
I'm concerned about the environment and feel I shouldn't be buying an oak floor.
My floor is cracking and splitting - why?
Your website says that I must monitor and control the humidity in my home - why should I do this and why do I need to?
How can I measure the humidity within my home?
Does 'mixed grade' mean that not all your products are good quality?
Why do you advise that I control the humidity within my rooms that surrounds my flooring?
Why are hardwood floors so expensive?
If taken care of, hardwood floors can last a lifetime with proper cleaning, felt pads on furniture, and recoats every so often when required. Hardwood floors also help you add equity and value to your home whilst providing the wow factor wherever fitted. A high quality oak floor should be considered as an investment not just a purchase.
Why should I fit wood floors?
Since you are reading this, you probably dont need to be reminded how beautiful wood is - with its warm colours, richness of grain, healthy sheen.
But wood floors are not only beautiful; theyre healthy, hardwearing and warm (wood is a natural insulator), whilst being simple to keep clean. This is obviously an advantage for people who suffer from allergies.
A wood floor can make a room seem bigger, lighter and more impressive - all factors that can give a house character and, according to estate agents, make it more valuable and saleable.
Why are wood floors healthier?
Wood is a natural material and wood oils often have strong anti-bacterial properties. Wood floors, unlike carpets, do not trap and accumulate concentrations of harmful chemicals and fumes, nor do they become homes for unpleasant parasites and dust-mites.
Some environmental bodies recommend that in the interests of family health, consumers should seriously consider switching from carpet to wood floors because all carpets harbour microscopic dust-mites, whose dung when breathed in has been shown to aggravate asthma and to trigger allergies.
Estimates place the number of dust mites in one square metre of typical British household carpet at between 10,000 to 100,000. It may not be nice to imagine but carpets also contain pet allergens, faeces and urine, flea and lice eggs, traces of excreta trodden in from the garden, and high concentrations of toxic dust.
A house with wooden floors and rugs will contain only a tenth as much dust as a carpeted house.
How long will my wood floor last?
Correctly fitted and maintained a solid or engineered oak floor will last a lifetime, but correct fitting and adequate maintenance is crucial.
That said, be careful when buying engineered oak flooring because some companies promote a board with a very thin wear layer of oak, so reducing its lifespan.
If your budget allows, try to buy a product with at least 4mm of oak as a wear layer.
Are 'laminated' floors made of real wood?
Most floors calling themselves 'laminated' are just photographs of wood grain on plastic, mounted on MDF. Confusion can sometimes arise with real wood Engineered floors, which have a top layer of real hardwood - a method of construction sometimes called laminated because it is constructed in layers. If you want a real wood floor, be careful that you're not just buying a photograph of one. The difference isn't always obvious, but it can be a costly mistake.
But aren't laminated floors cheaper than real wood?
Laminate floors (not to be confused with Engineered flooring) may cost less initially than real wood floors, but they will not last anywhere near as long and can be easily damaged. A laminate floor has a top layer that is not of real wood, but of plastic imprinted with a photographic image of wood grain. It will fade in the light and whereas it has quite a strong scratch resistance, it is non-repairable if a scratch does happen. A real wood floor, whether solid or engineered, can be sanded and sealed.
Plastic laminates are mounted on MDF and/or HDF board made of compressed wood fibres. No glue is applied. If exposed to humidity, fibreboard will expand and will not revert to its original flatness once it dries out (which a wood floor will do in most situations). Also, please realise that buying a real hardwood floor may only cost you as little as 20-25% more than a laminate floor.
What are oiled, brushed & oiled, and lacquered finishes? Which should I choose?
Most wood floors sold in Britain either have a lacquered finish or an oiled finish. Lacquer gives the floor a shiny, glossy finish, which is smooth, hard-wearing and easy to keep clean.
Oiled floors are becoming very popular here in the UK, most being sealed with a mixture of wood-oil and wax (waxoil). The effect is a more subtle sheen than the high gloss of lacquered or varnished floors, whilst being easier to maintain because the oil does not 'sit on' the surface in the same way.
Please refer to our Finishes Available section within the page links for more details.
Is an oiled floor harder work than a lacquered floor to maintain?
Although oiled floors will not attract dirt and are easy to clean in the same way as a lacquered floor, they will need to be re-oiled occasionally, and a waxed floor will need to be waxed. This however does not take long and need not be done more than once a year under normal use and wear.
The big advantage with oiled floors is it can look like a new floor forever. If you have a scratch you can sand it away with a small piece of sandpaper and apply new oil. With a lacquered floor you would need to sand and lacquer the whole floor.
What types of wood floors are best for kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories?
We will always recommend engineered oak flooring for these areas because it 'behaves itself' a lot more than solid oak.
Having said that, most situations like these do still require ongoing maintenance to ensure your floor's stability and performance.
Will my wood floor change colour after it is laid?
Most woods will darken as they age; becoming deeper and richer as they react to natural light. The extent of the contrast within the boards will be determined by the grade of floor chosen, with rustic floors developing the greatest contrast.
It must always be remembered that a real wood floor is a natural product and it will react/respond to varying conditions as should be expected.
Can I still have under floor heating with an Oak floor?
The answer is yes, but if a room has under floor heating, it is vitally important that it be properly acclimatised and installed to allow for the extreme heat variations.
We always recommend that our Engineered Oak board is used and never advise for the use of solid. Please refer to our UFH Fitting Guidelines for correct procedures.
We recommend our Self Regulating UFH system for use with Oak Flooring because it can never overheat.
How do I maintain my wood floor?
Please see our Care & Maintenance section.
The best maintenance is prevention, so make sure you protect your new floor from furniture scratches by applying our self-adhesive felt pads immediately after installation, or preferably before!
What about maintaining an oiled floor?
Oiled floors will need to be re-oiled, about once every 12-18 months, depending on the wear it receives. Even though this sounds like a lot of hassle to go through, its a very simple process and you can do it yourself if youre worried about cost.
Our prefinished oiled flooring is finished with multiple coats of Waxoil, applied in varying thicknesses, so as long as a compatible oil is used again for any maintenance or repairs, the finish will blend in fine.
When will my lacquered floor need attention?
It depends totally on the amount of wear it gets. With normal wear a lacquered Oak floor should maintain its brilliant gloss for several years. All Oak hardwood floors, including Engineered floors, have sufficient thickness of real wood to permit re-sanding and re-lacquering several times in the lifetime of the floor. Not meaning to be rude but the liklihood is that it will outlast you.
How do I repair a scratch?
With an oiled floor, just take a bit of sandpaper and gently rub away the scratch until it has disappeared. Then apply oil and allow it to sink in. Buff it gently and thats it.
A lacquered floor will need to be completely sanded and re-lacquered, as it cannot be done in small patches. Some say that scratches and normal wear add to the character of the floor over time anyway.
How much oak do I need?
Most oak is sold in M2 quantities, so simply measure your room in metres and multiply the length by the width to get the area in M2. If your room is not square add up the area in square sections as best you can and then total them up.
Once you have your overall amount add 6-8% for wastage and cutting in the fitting process (depending on shape and amount of cutting required).
You can then convert your quantity to the nearest number of full cartons by checking the sizes on this website or by simply entering them into our pack calculator.
Please be warned that if your wood is not end matched like ours (tongue and groove on all four sides) your fitters wastage will be considerably higher.
How do I fix my Oak floor down?
Please refer to our full Fitting Guidelines for the various ways of installation suitable for each type of Oak floor.
We are not in a position to advise you as accurately as your fitter can, so you should take his or her advice on this important matter.
Can I join the floor to my skirting board?
Please refer to our full Fitting Guidelines for the various ways of installation suitable for each type of Oak floor.
An oak floor is an organic product and your floor will move and expand when subjected to temperature and humidity changes, so when its fitted there should be an expansion gap left around the floor edge, preferably covered with skirting board.
In a renovation, the old skirting will ideally be removed before being replaced to cover the gap. If you dont want to remove it you can cover the expansion gap with a decorative bead like our oak scotia.
Is your Oak Chinese? Ive been told that its not as good as European or American.
No, it is manufactured in China but the Oak comes from sustainable sources from various different countries, including Russia, Germany, Holland and France.
We are proud of the quality we supply, so much so that were the only company in the UK to offer a full Lifetime Quality Guarantee.
Before becoming an importer, we visited 34 different factories before settling with the one we did, and the whole reason was their quality control standards, which are much better than ours in the UK!
Yes there are some Chinese companies that supply poor quality flooring to UK companies who then simply shovel it out the door to any unsuspecting customer but thats not us. We would not last long in business with that attitude would we?
Obviously we would prefer to manufacture everything within the UK but thats just not feasible within our marketplace to make us as competitive as we are.
I want long length Solid Oak and yours is only 300mm to 1800mm. Why?
We have no control over how an oak tree grows and the features/grain pattern/knots that appear within it, which means that to supply the high quality we do, we must select and grade everything before machining and producing our stock.
Youll notice that the vast majority of other oak flooring suppliers that offer long length oak either supply what they call Rustic or Character oak (this usually means anything goes with regards the grade and selection process). Or the flooring they supply is only T&G on the sides and not the ends.
We supply a 25% mix of each grade (A, B, C, and D) to achieve a natural appearance of oak when your floor is installed, and were open and honest about that rather than trying to hide behind a name that weve made up ourselves.
We could supply longer lengths but your floor would be either full of massive knots and vastly different shades with lots of sapwood content, or it would cost twice as much.
Next time you pass an oak tree, take a look at it in some detail and imagine trying to cut long length planks from it. That will explain things more easily.
NB We can supply longer length oak flooring machined from American White Oak up to 4.8m but it will be supplied as unfinished only and only have T&G sides as mentioned above. If this interests you, please contact us for more details.
How long do I need to store the flooring in the room before I install it?
This is difficult to answer because every situation is different. All we can advise is that the room where the flooring is to be installed needs to be dry before the flooring is even introduced into it (as dry as it will be when lived in).
Then the flooring should be stored in that room until it reached equilibrium with it (in other words, until the flooring and the room have equal and consistent moisture content, so that the flooring does not start drying out or taking on more moisture after installation).
Many fitters will say 7-10 days is sufficient but thats not always the case. A moisture meter should be used to confirm levels of moisture and humidity before any installation commences.
See the 'Acclimatisation' page on this website for more info.
How long does it take for you to deliver my new flooring?
Normal delivery is 4-5 days from order and cleared payment. We can also offer Next Day delivery in some situations but if you are a fitter, or youre working with a tight schedule, always check availability before committing.
Why cant you guarantee your Engineered flooring over Underfloor Heating?
The reason is because if anything goes wrong due to incorrect installation or acclimatisation, we cannot prove that the floor wasnt fitted as our recommendations. What that means is that because flooring thats fitted over UFH is subjected to extreme variances in heat, there are special guidelines for preparation and installation, as well as ongoing maintenance of the surrounding conditions. This involves having the UFH system running for at least 7 days prior to the flooring being stored in that room, the flooring then being stored for at least another 7 days, and then the heating being turned off before installation begins. After installation, the heating should then be turned back on and increased by 2 degree increments up to 26 degrees, and then back down again. As you can imagine, not only is it difficult for us to convince fitters to do this during their hectic work schedule but its also impossible to prove that they didnt do it if the floor starts to defect after a few weeks or months.
Rather than risk facing claims for floors that were not fitted properly in the first place, we prefer to be honest and up-front about the situation.
Having said all that, as long as the guidelines are followed, your floor will perform properly with no problems whatsoever.
We recommend our Self-Regulating UFH system for use with oak flooring, so please contact us for more details or go to the UFH Page on this website.
I want a darker Brushed & Oiled board than your Natural Oiled but not as dark as your Double Brushed & Dark Oiled?
There are literally hundreds of different finishes and colours available, which is one of the reasons we stock the Natural Oiled only. This finish enables you to have a high quality pre-finished board that you can then apply another coat of Waxoil on to, to achieve your desired colour and shade.
Its like starting with a blank canvas because the Natural Oil does not colour the oak at all, so any colour waxoil can be applied onto it to achieve whatever shade you want.
Its always best to check that the new oil is compatible first by testing on a small area before committing to covering the whole floor.
Why dont you supply Solid Oak wider than 150mm?
In our opinion, anything wider than 150mm in Solid is more likely to cup or distort after installation. After all, it is a natural product and always wants to move or soak up any excess moisture. Not only that but anything wider than 150mm we advise face-fixing, which involves much more work and becomes more expensive and time-consuming to fit.
If you want a wider board, just look at our Engineered Oak. It looks like Solid when fitted but behaves itself a lot better! The 21mm Engineered will also give you as much lifespan as an 18mm solid oak.
What does Brushed mean?
When you have a Brushed product, the surface will be textured because the brushing process takes out the softer fibres on the face of the oak before being finished. This enhances the grain and shows off the character and features of natural oak, whilst reducing the appearance of any scratches on the surface that happen over time.
Why are your Engineered boards plywood backed? Ive seen some other samples that have a softwood backing. Whats the difference?
In our opinion, and that of many experts too, the plywood backed boards are much stronger. They provide much more stability and strength after installation than the softwood core product because of the many layers of ply that all run in an opposite direction to the next.
Our 21mm is of structural grade and so can be fixed directly to floor joists at 400 centres, whereas the softwood or MDF backed boards cannot.
The plywood backed boards are also suitable for secret nailing (15mm & 21mm) because of that extra strength.
When you secret nail a softwood core board youll see the difference, if not immediately, some months after, when the floor begins to creak because the softwood has allowed the fixings to work lose.
Which installation method is best?
The best method of installation for your new floor will depend on the type of product you have chosen, where the flooring is going to be fitted, and the type of subfloor you have. Rather than us try to advise you over the telephone, it's much better to take the advice of your fitter who can assess the situation more accurately.
What type of wood floor is best with radiant heating systems (UFH)?
The best flooring for installation above radiant heat systems is the plywood backed engineered plank flooring. Being manufactured with a laminated construction (not to be confused with laminate!) makes them more dimensionally stable and less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. Having said that, the fact is that it's still a natural product and it must be appreciated as being one and expected to react/respond as one.
Correct acclimatisation, installation, and ongoing maintenance is very important to successful performance of any floor above a heat system.
Is it cost effective to choose oak flooring over less costly floor coverings available?
A resounding YES! Not only does oak flooring add to the value of your home and make it more saleable should you ever want to move, but it is extremely durable and long-lasting. When the lifespan of oak flooring is compared with other floor covering products, the value for money becoames more obvious. Also, should you ever want to change the decor of your home, oak flooring will compliment any style or colour you may choose.
I'm concerned about the environment and feel I shouldn't be buying an oak floor.
Please understand that wood is the only naturally renewable building material and far less energy is consumed in timber production, processing and disposal than for any other construction material. (It takes 5 times more energy to produce 1 tonne of cement!)
Not only that but young trees absorb more carbon dioxide than mature ones, so harvesting and replacing them with new trees actually improves the environment.
My floor is cracking and splitting - why?
In simple terms; it's drying out too much. The only reason for any natural hygroscopic (water absorbent) material to change in structure or dimensions, is that it's either losing or gaining moisture.
If you floor is starting to split then it needs to 'take on' moisture, so the use of a humidifier unit is needed to bring the relative humidity up to at least 40%.
Your website says that I must monitor and control the humidity in my home - why should I do this and why do I need to?
The size and dimensions of any piece of timber (oak or otherwise) is determined and directly propotional to the moisture content of that piece of timber, so if the relative humidity surrounding your floor is allowed to become too low, that will force your flooring to lose moisture and shrink.
When it shrinks, it will either crack, split or fail in some other way. This is not a product fault but a fault of the floor owner for not controlling the conditions.
A simple analogy; if you bought a Ferrari car and didn't maintain the oil level in the engine... when the engine seized up would you blame the Ferrari garage?
How can I measure the humidity within my home?
You need to buy a Thermo-Hygrometer, which will provide you with the temperature and the relative humidity at all times, so that when either become too high or low, you can implement the necessary changes to keep your floor at a constant moisture level.
Does 'mixed grade' mean that not all your products are good quality?
Certainly not. Grade should not be confused with quality.
You can have a very high quality finished floor that's made up of different grades; let me explain...
Grade defines how many natural features are allowed; A Grade having very few features and 'defects', so being clear and consistent, whilst the lower Grades allow more and more natural variances such as knots, grain and colour variance.
Quality is what controls the quality of the products and the machining process during production, which ultimately defines how well the flooring is made.
So remember;
Grade is what controls the finished appearance
Quality is what controls production
Why do you advise that I control the humidity within my rooms that surrounds my flooring?
We advise this because if you allow the surrounding conditions to change too much from what they were during installation, the flooring will be forced to either absorb or lose moisture, thus changing its moisture content and so its dimensions (remember that the dimensions of any piece of timber are directly proportional to its moisture content).
If at all possible, we want to avoid dimensional changes within our finished floors after installation.
Just wanted to let you know how delighted we are with the engineered oak flooring you have supplied to us, the quality of which is outstanding. Our carpenters have stated what a delight it was to work with and it certainly looks superb. We have ordered another 4 square meters via ...
Jeff (Company Director) - Herts
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West Virginia is bound for the Bronx.
Just one season removed from the Big East Conference, the Mountaineers will face a former league foe when they take on Syracuse in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
WVU finished its first season in the Big 12 with a 7-5 record, going 4-5 again conference opponents.
The matchup will be played on Dec. 29th at 3:15 p.m. from Yankee Stadium.
"We finished the season strong with two straight wins, and I am glad our players get the reward of playing in a bowl game," West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said in a statement. "This will be West Virginia's 11th straight bowl appearance and one more chance for our fans to see the 2012 Mountaineers. Playing in New York City will provide a national stage and Yankee Stadium will be a great venue for our seniors to finish their careers."
WVU has lost its last two games against Syracuse in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, a series that had been played every year since 1955. The Orange hold a 32-27 advantage in the history of the season.
Prior to losing in 2010, West Virginia had gotten eight-straight wins over Syracuse dating back to the 2002 season.
The teams play for the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy, named after the former WVU football player and Syracuse football coach. The trophy was first introduced in the 1993 season, when WVU came away with a 43-0 victory.
"I am pleased that our football team will get the reward of playing in a bowl game. Changing conferences has been an adjustment, and I am proud of how our players have handled themselves and prepared," Director of Athletics Oliver Luck said. "I am also excited for our fans, who will get the chance to visit a great city in close proximity to the state of West Virginia. I am looking forward to seeing Yankee Stadium filled with Gold and Blue."
In WVU quarterback Geno Smith's two seasons starting in the Big East, Syracuse was the only team he did not beat.
The Big 12 is expected to officially announce each of its bowl game matchups later Sunday.


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Rumors continue to swirl about Lamar Odom's crack addiction after he has been missing for several days. Sources reveal Khloe Kardashian has separated from her husband as the reality star takes to Twitter to lash out in a profane rant about rumors. There are reports Khloe and Lamar are now living apart after the reality …
Copyright – Weld AM FM Gossip 2013. If you see this content on any other website, it has been stolen. Please report.
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Tag: Greece TravelView All Tags
Airport News / Athens Travel / Greece Travel / Airports / → All Tags
Will Athens' Old Airport Get a Second Chance at Life?
For years and years the major hub in and out of Greece was Ellinikon International Airport, but in 2001 the airport shut its doors and it has kind of been just hanging out ever since. Ideas for repurposing the space have been tossed around now and then, but it finally looks as though one group is planning some true upgrades and improvements in the form of turning it into a resort area.
After signing a long-term lease for almost a billion euro the Lamda Development group has some big plans and ideas for the former runways and airport land. Their dreams include making it a true international destination once more, but by somehow creating a resort within the city—something that they claim would be the first of its kind. Expect hotels, a marina, and a park larger than London's Hyde Park. Rounding things out would be at least a kilometer of new beachfront.
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Follow the Greece Getaway of Jessica Seinfeld
It's only been a few days since Jessica Seinfeld left Greece and she's already longing to go back.
The Seinfelds spent their summer vacation touring Santorini with their besties, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. Tourists as they are, the power couples rode in cable cars, hit the beach, and ate and drank - a lot.
Monday Five Thirty / Drinking Travel / Europe Travel / Greece Travel / Macedonia Travel / Bulgaria Travel / Mastika / → All Tags
Monday, Five Thirty: This Potent European Sipper is Made of 'Gum Drops'
In celebration of the most needed happy hour of the week, we're launching a new column called "Monday, Five Thirty" that will take a look at different vices from around the world, specifically boozes and beers unique to a destination. Last week, it was a novelty shot that might make you lose your lunch. This week, we head back to Europe for a look at a potent after-dinner drink.
Originally made on the island of Chios, this Greek after-dinner drink will put you under the table if you're not careful. Typically distilled to be between 40-50% alcohol, Mastika will not only help with digestion, it will certainly help you sleep.
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Street Food Friday: If You Don't Eat This in Athens, Let Athena Strike You Down
In a new weekly Friday column, we'll explore street food and other culinary specialties from around the world. Last week, it was the surprising taco trunk scene in Columbus. This week, we head to Athens, Greece, to see what's cooking.
This one might be as obvious as deep dish in Chicago or cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, but you absolutely must try a gyro in Greece. We say that not because you've never heard of one before, rather because, like the cheesesteak in Philly, you've never had one this good.
Valentine's Day Travel / Valentine's Day / Sex Travel / Lists / China Travel / Greece Travel / Argentina Travel / Bora Bora Travel / Paris Travel / → All Tags
Which 5 World Cities are Best for Getting Busy?
Earlier this week, we ran down our picks of destinations within the US that prove most romantic, thus making them perfect Valentine's Day spots. Now we're busting out the passport to highlight some similarly amorous locations farther afield.
We're firm believers that crossing borders builds relationships. If your plans involve whisking your better half away on an airplane, here are our picks for making the most of international travel this Valentine's Day:
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Find Inspiration for a Trip to Greece in 'The Legend of Hercules'
The Legend of Hercules follows the action-packed life of the mythical Greek hero, but it might provide some travel inspiration for theatergoers, too.
Even though the movie wasn't actually filmed in Greece (most of the location shoots actually took place in Bulgaria), The Legend of Hercules does trace his journey to sites across the ancient Greek countryside that are still popular with travelers today.
Architecture Travel / Design Travel / Open House Worldwide / OHNY / Chicago Travel / Barcelona Travel / Greece Travel / Tel Aviv Travel / Israel Travel / Spain Travel / Melbourne Travel / Australia Travel / London Travel / Events / → All Tags
Missed Open House New York? Peek Inside Private Places in Six Other Cities
If you didn't make it to this past weekend's Open House New York festival and are salivating over your friends' (or our own) cool shots of some hidden gems, don't fret. All is not lost. NYC is not the only city to swing open its doors and invite the public into spaces that usually never see the light of day, or at least the flash of cameras.
Open House Worldwide is a project that started in London in 1992 by Open-City to profile the effect that excellent design, planning and regeneration of the contemporary city can have on the quality of people's lives. Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, the program has expanded toyou've guessed it21 cities across the globe.
Here's what Open House events are coming up next:
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Visiting the Birthplace of Modern Medicine on the Greek Island of Kos
We gave you five reasons why you should suck it up and go on a Greek Islands cruise, and now allow us to add a sixth: You can actually visit the birthplace of modern medicine, where Hippocrates performed his infamous research at the Askleipion on Kos.
Today, there is a bit of doubt about whether Hippocrates actually wrote the medical pledge that is referred to as the Hippocratic Oath. In fact, there's a lot of skepticism surrounding the sixty or so medical writings that have survived and bear his name. But regardless of whether the documents were written by he or one of his students, it is certain that he was the lead medical researcher of the 5th century B.C., and that his life's work had a great effect on the practice of medicine, both then and now.
One of the first things you'll notice upon your arrival is that, while Hippocrates might have been the first to discover that diseases were natural and not caused by the Gods, he truly believed that morale was a huge part of the recovery and healing process. Why? Well, just look at the photos above and below, taken from the top of the ruins. You'd feel better, too, if all hospitals had that kind of scenery!
Cruise Travel / Lists / Greece Travel / Mediterranean Travel / Island Travel / Azamara Club Cruises / Greek Islands / Turkey Travel / → All Tags
Five Reasons You Should Suck It Up and Go On a Greek Islands Cruise
We know, we know. The word "cruise" doesn't always evoke the best images in the minds of travelers. And we totally get it, because the clichéd imageryoverweight, aged travelers sitting around a pool between trips to the buffetis not exactly unwarranted. Then there are those potentially boring days at sea, the underwhelming onboard nightlife, and the plethora of problems (read: disasters) the industry has seen lately. With that, we acknowledge your skepticism and hesitation when it comes to the idea of cruising.
All that said, allow us to present a silver lining. Turns out, cruising doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of ships out there to choose from, ships that focus more on the destinations, carry less passengers and stay late into the night at port (eliminating your reliance upon on-board entertainment).
And it just might make sense for exploring certain parts of the world. We recently sailed on the Azamara Journey on its Greek Islands and Turkey itinerary. Consider us convinced that, when approached appropriately, a cruise can satisfy the needs of young, active travelers, helping them see more places than they could on their own at a price that, while more expensive than backpacking, is not at all unreasonable for what you get.
Greece Travel / Political Travel / Tourism / Travel News / → All Tags
Smile, You're in Greece!
It's not exactly a time to party over in Greece—at least for the country's residents—due to the ongoing financial problems, bailouts, and other money misery. We're hardly experts when it comes to the economic situation in the region, but we do know they're going to get an influx of cash sooner than later. That's because the tourists are getting ready to arrive, as the weather gets warmer and those Greek islands become more and more appealing.
Obviously buying up some souvenir t-shirts isn't going to save the economy, but a little extra cash from a few tourists certainly won't hurt. That's just one of the reasons that the country's prime minister is asking residents to pitch in, and to show a smiling face to greet those coming to visit Greece.
Travel Cat / Rhodes Travel / Animals / Greece Travel / → All Tags
The Adventures of Travel Cat: Rhodes, Greece
Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new featureTravel Catfocuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).
Travel Cat spotted at: Rhodes, Greece.
This week's Travel Cat is from Instagrammer @aksakosha, who spotted this puss doing what any other cat would naturally do in the same situation: pop a squat on a perch perfectly sized just for him.
Greece Travel / Strikes / Athens Travel / Europe Travel / Tourism / Politics Travel / Travel Politics / Travel News / Tourism Industry / → All Tags
Major Strike (Intentionally) Grinds Greece Travel to a Halt
We hate getting involved in travel politics labor issues. We say things like 'hey, if your company or your country is in financial or economic trouble, maybe you should go to work,' which seems reasonable to us. You guys respond by yelling at us for - actual quote - "undermin[ing] the intrinsic and sacramental right for unions to strike or engage in collective bargaining." That's no fun for anyone.
That said, we'd be remiss if we didn't at least suggest the possibility that the 24 hour strike currently crippling Greecewhich is specifically designed in part to disrupt travel and includes that country's civil aviation authorityis probably not going to help Greece's troubled economy.


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GreatSchools Rating
Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
Put your child in any school but this one! It is terrible!! SO glad that we moved away from this school!!!
Fillmore has made changes for the better over the last few years. The staff has improved thier efforts in parent involvement as well as made signficant efforts to increase student achievement.
I live 2 blocks from this school in a 'quieter' part of the neighborhood, I would not feel safe letting any of my kids walk to school, over the past 13 years the neighborhood has really taken a turn for the worse. The school itself is awesome, there are some language barriers between parents, but the teachers are awesome!My oldest went from pre-k to 5th and went on to a Charter school no problems for middle school.The teachers are concerned, and keep you up to date and they do care about the children.(now only if all the parents were the same way).I have 2 children still in Fillmore and I don't plan on them leaving the school.The principal listens to concerns and is really involved.I do agree with the person that says they need MORE activities.. I have to drive to another another city to let my my daughter do cheer.
My granddaughter went to this school from K-2nd grade. She was put in English as Second Language Program even though no one in her home spoke anything but English. She did not learn to read and had to repeat the 2nd grade. Fortunately she moved and transferred to Wiley Post in Putnam City. She showed immediate improvement. I've been working with her every opportunity from the beginning and just as she's ready for 3rd grade she has finally overcome the obstacles produced by this school. She can now sound out words and read with confidence. I'm not entirely saying the school is bad; but they certainly failed her. I think the inordinate amount of Hispanic students from Spanish speaking homes contributed to teacher overload. Her mother also played a part. If I had been in control this would not have been allowed to escalate.
We had a horrible year. My child had the most angry, unorganized teacher & we were really discouraged by this. I brought some issues to light & called the desk staff, & I was hung up on. Little parent involvement, you have to BEG to be involved in this school. Too many stories to list.
forgot to add the rating... I give it a full 5 stars for cleanliness, parent/teacher involvement, extra activities and programs for the kids to participate in and above all an AWESOME principal... thanks Ms. Martin.
All 3 of my children attend/have attended this school. It is a wonderful school. The teachers are great especially kindergarten.
Outstanding school! Constantly doing things for the kids and the Principal is more involved than any other I've ever seen. The kids absolutely adore and respect her, the parents do too. This school went the extra mile to sign up for 'Save the music' and won a hefty sum for the program itself and instruments too. Academically they are above other OKC schools and if things aren't challenging enough for you child, just talk with them and they will do what it takes to make you and your child happy. Mrs. Martin I believe wants to see every child excell, at least this was our experience and we are more than happy to return this upcoming year.
I have four children that attend this school, my sister and I attended and also my parents attended this school. I feel for the neighborhood it is in there is a great group of teachers and staff. Although I feel that more parking is needed and the outside of the school could use a coat of paint or two. I go to all of the award ceremonies to support my children and I think it is sad how few parents are their. It only takes two hours at the most to support your children. Ms Martin, the principal is great and understanding and truely enjoys being there with the children and always has time for the parents too. I also think we need cheerleading or football or baseball.
I am writing about the post that was made about parents not being more involved in awards ceromonies.I would like to say i attend the awards usally but my husband doesnt get to because awards and things like the christmas programs are during the day and he cannot take off work and he would love to attend. Maybe the attendance would be better if you hold them in the evenings. I would also like to add that i love Fillmore and mrs martin she is great.She is the sweetest person and is great with the children both my boys love her. I was also wanting to say about that post that the bathrooms at fillmore are not dirty or do not stink as she said. Keep up the good job fillmore staff. she also mentioned we should have sports or something for children to perticipate in. That would be great.
I was vice-president of P.T.A. in the school year 04-05. I feel that we need more parent involvement with the children. Not enough parents come to school functions and awards ceremonies that involve their own children. Need more extracurricular activities like football and cheerleading. Custodians need to clean the bathrooms more thoroughly because I have walked down the halls many times and the bathrooms smelled really bad and unsanatized.
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school's average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
5200 South Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73119
Phone: (405) 587-4800
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Product Name: F14T8 / CW - 15 in. - 14 Watt - T8 Linear Fluorescent Tube - Cool White 4200K - Osram Sylvania 21486
Product Code: 21486
Catalog Code: F-14T08CW
In order to help customers provide the accurate information about what product they are looking for , if we have the comparable LED product replacement, our product code (for external usage) might be similar as following.
Product Number:EV_RP_SYLVANIA_F-14T08CW
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Samples of Our LED Applications
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5W LED ambient light, a 45W incandescent bulb replacement, used in the elevators.


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Many architects enter the profession with hopes of creating something that outlives them, something that is bigger than themselves, that can advocate for a better world. Oscar Niemeyer was such an architect, one who fought for designs that would serve everyone. The master of Brazilian architecture passed away one year ago after complications from a previous kidney condition. In honor of what would have been his birthday today, we've rounded up a few of his masterpieces, from his elegant and curvy Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, his collaboration on the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the traditional spectacle space of his Sambadrome, the spiraling Niemeyer Center in Aviles, and the powerful parabolic expression in his Cathedral of Brasilia. Enjoy!
Remembering Neimeyer: The Works of a Master
4 comments
The correct name is "Niemeyer". Neymar ia a soccer player ;)+1
No one in Brasilia actually likes Brasilia.
because its Lucio Costa´s urban planning project0
its my pleasure to see arch daily and the house look more and beauty so i love to see it and have it
Share your thoughts


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Join us on September 16th at 1PM ET for a Virtual Field Trip to the state-of-the-art Chobani Greek yogurt factory in Twin Falls, Idaho, where we'll explore some key ingredients – like innovation and technology. Middle school classrooms will go behind the scenes to uncover the innovative technology used to make Greek yogurt and hear from real-world food scientists. Turn this live, online (and fun!) tour into a learning experience using its curriculum connections to science and technology to reinforce core STEM concepts and take your students beyond the classroom walls. Tuesday, September 16th at 1PM ET/10AM PTRegister Today
Discovery Education accelerates school districts' digital transition through comprehensive standards-based content, professional development, formative assessment, and community engagement proven to positively impact student achievement.
A digital textbook series, built from scratch for today's learners and current standards, engages students with dynamic, multimodal content and an inquiry approach. Employing the latest techniques in formative learning, data, and motivation, Techbook includes robust professional development to ensure success with digital transition.
A ground-breaking cross-curricular resource designed to simultaneously engage students and provide educators with instructional support to implement the Common Core State Standards. Thousands of learning objects, tools, and assessment activities encourage student content creation, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Teacher approved, research-based professional development that supports educators in utilizing digital resources and proven instructional practices to enhance student learning.
A global community of education professionals that are passionate about transforming the learning experience with digital media, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across town and around the world through social media, virtual conferences and in-person events.Explore Video Join the DEN
Discovery Education partners with like-minded organizations around the world to create a broad range of free classroom and family learning resources that complement and extend learning beyond the bell.
Discovery Education's Engagement Programs deliver dynamic tools and experiences in traditionally under-funded areas such as STEM, financial literacy, environmental education, health & wellness, life skills, and college & workforce readiness.Programs Hot Now


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Jessie A. Woods Way. Read up on the south side native who dedicated her life to educating and enriching the lives of young people through the arts here.
George W. Maher Way. Read up on the accomplished architect here.
Rev. M. E. Alexander Way. Almost nothing on him or his church, Union Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, online but trust, they're there.
Dr. Charles G. Hayes Dr. Read up on the Woodlawn pastor and founder of Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer here.
Lee F. Flaherty Way. Find out more about the marathoner and much celebrated business man here.
Of course! What's the intersection it's at?
Lil Bobby Huges Ave. A tribute to a young victim of Chicago's gun/gang violence. See the details here.
Frank Parker Way. Read up on the unlikely tennis champion here.
Richard X.G. Irwin Pl. Co-founder of SOAR, the Streeterville organization created 1975 to ensure the growth and well-being of residents and businesses in the area.
Phillip A. Lontoc St. Read up on the Filipino immigrant and the role he played in the formation of Chicago's Filipino community after World War II here.
Leon M. Despres Way. Read up on the fame politician that got his start as the Alderman of Hyde Park the same day the first Daley was elected Mayor here.
Mother York Dr. Read up on the small woman that brought huge healing and redemptive gift to those in her south side community here.
Philip M. Klutznick Pl. & Allen M. Turner Pl. Read up on the long time real estate developer and partner of The Pritzker Organization here and here, respectively.
Bill Bartholomy Dr. Also the name of a foundation here in Chicago that I can find NO INFO on. Seriously, your guess is as good as mine with this one folks. Got a little knowledge? Leave me a comment!
Mario DiPaolo's Italian Lemonade St. Listen to Mario himself give the extensive history of how this iconic lemonade stand came to be.


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By Lynette M. Fraga, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Child Care Aware® of America
June 16 is Father's Day. It's a day to recognize your father, but also reflect on the important roles fathers, and father figures, play in children's lives.
Did you know? Dads, by the numbers
More than 560,000 children in the United States live in father-only families. And in families with a mother and a father in the home, fathers are taking increasing primary care responsibilities, according to 2011 Census data.
Consider this:
- 21 percent of fathers are primary care providers for children under the age of 5
- In families with an employed wife, 34 percent of fathers were the primary care providers for their preschoolers in 2011. In 2005 that number was 29 percent.
- The number of single fathers increased fivefold between 1970 and 2000 (Fatherneed)
Fathers' roles continue to change
It's clear – fathers are doing more of the care and that is critical progress, because a father's impact lasts a lifetime.
"Success in everything else is unfulfilling if we fail at family," President Obama said to the men graduating from Morehouse college last month.
Engaging the whole family
Fathers, we must do right by you as well. We must learn how to better ensure the entire family is engaged in their children's early learning.
One place to start is the Office of Head Start Father's Day Webinar "Father Engagement is Everybody's Business" tomorrow, June 4.
Father figures
Fathers take many forms. They are made by biology and by choice. Every man who cares for a niece or nephew, grandchild or cousin, stepchild or neighbor is a father. To you I say your impact is immeasurable.
Child Care Aware® of America thanks the dads, grandfathers and friends for the important role they play in children, families and communities.
Tell us. Is there a special man in your life who is a dad or a father figure? How do you celebrate Fathers Day?
Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start
Fatherneed by Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. p. 111


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Suddenly Slowing Spin Of Distant Neutron Star Puzzles Astronomers
May 30, 2013 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
GREENBELT, Md. (UPI) — Astronomers say a NASA space telescope has observed a spinning neutron star suddenly slowing down, offering clues to understanding such extremely dense objects.
A neutron star is what is left after a massive star runs out of fuel, collapses under its own weight and explodes as a supernova.
Neutron star 1E 2259+586 is located about 10,000 light-years from Earth and is one of about two dozen neutron stars called magnetars, possessing very powerful magnetic fields and occasionally producing high-energy explosions or pulses.
Observations by NASA's Swift X-ray telescope of pulses from July 2011 through mid-April 2012 indicated the magnetar's rotation was gradually slowing from once every 7 seconds, or about eight revolutions per minute.
On April 28, 2012, data showed the spin rate had decreased abruptly and the magnetar was slowing down at a faster rate, the space agency reported Wednesday.
"Astronomers have witnessed hundreds of events, called glitches, associated with sudden increases in the spin of neutron stars, but this sudden spin-down caught us off guard," Victoria Kaspi, a professor of physics at McGill University in Montreal, said.
Kaspi heads a team that uses Swift to routinely monitor magnetars.
Astronomers have dubbed the unexpected event an "anti-glitch."
"It affected the magnetar in exactly the opposite manner of every other clearly identified glitch seen in neutron stars," Neil Gehrels, principal investigator of the Swift mission at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., said.
Just a week before Swift observed the anti-glitch, 1E 2259+586 produced a brief but intense X-ray burst, an eruption of high-energy light scientists say they believe possibly was a symptom of the changes that drove the magnetar's slowdown.
Processes that lead to a sudden rotational slowdown constitute a new theoretical challenge, the researchers said.
"What is really remarkable about this event is the combination of the magnetar's abrupt slowdown, the X-ray outburst, and the fact we now observe the star spinning down at a faster rate than before," lead author Robert Archibald, a graduate student at McGill, said.


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Creator Spirit, by whose aid
|Creator Spirit, by whose aid
by , translated by John Dryden
Creator Spirit, by whoſe aid
The world's foundations firſt were laid,
Come viſit every pious mind,
Come pour Thy joys on human kind;
From ſin and ſorrow ſet us free,
And make Thy temples worthy Thee.
O source of uncreated light,
The Father's promiſed Paraclete!
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inſpire;
Come, and Thy ſacred unction bring,
To ſanctify us while we ſing.
Plenteous of grace, deſcend from high,
Rich in Thy ſevenfold energy!
Thou ſtrength of His almighty hand,
Whoſe power does heaven and earth command.
Proceeding Spirit, our defence,
Who doſt the gifts of tongues diſpenſe,
And crown'ſt Thy gift with eloquence!
Refine and purge our earthly parts;
But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!
Our frailties help, our vice control,
Submit the ſenſes to the ſoul;
And when rebellious they are grown,
Then lay Thy hand and hold 'em down.
Chase from our minds th' infernal foe,
And peace the fruit of love beſtow;
And left our feet ſhould ſtep aſtray,
Protect and guide us on the way.
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practiſe all that we believe;
Give us Thyſelf, that we may fee
The Father and the Son by Thee.
Immortal honor, endleſs fame,
Attend the Almighty Father's name:
The Saviour Son be glorified,
Who for loft man's redemption died;
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Paraclete, to Thee.
This work was published before January 1, 1923, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.


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Professor John Jacobi In NJ BIZ & NJ Spotlight on New Jersey Health Reform
Filed under: Health Law
Professor John Jacobi took part in the Council on State Public Affairs' "New Jersey State of Health" symposium, covered by NJ BIZ and NJ Spotlight. The symposium brought together the state's leading health policy experts to discuss and formulate responses to the challenges wrought by the implementation of the ACA.
NJ Spotlight reports that:
The discussion on the future of long-term future of healthcare followed panel discussions on the implementation of the health benefit exchange and Medicaid eligibility expansion, key features of the 2010 Affordable Care Act that are both scheduled to beginning covering more New Jersey residents on January 1, 2014.
Seton Hall health law professor John V. Jacobi noted the challenge involved in informing uninsured residents about the new options. The exchange will be an online marketplace in which uninsured people can buy coverage and learn whether they are eligible for federal subsidies.
NJ Biz notes that:
Seton Hall Law School Professor John V. Jacobi said that between Medicaid expansion and the subsidized health plans to be sold on the exchange, "there will certainly be hundreds of thousands of people covered," among New Jersey's nearly 1 million uninsured.
"There are several barriers to getting those people covered, and one is the information deficit," Jacobi said. "People who are uninsured are typically very busy people who struggle to make their rent and put food on the table, and they are not engaged in the rollout of the ACA. So getting navigators and health educators and information to those people is going to be very important."
The federal Department of Health and Human Services has allocated $1.5 million to fund navigators in New Jersey, which health care experts have said won't be adequate.
[Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr. (D-Delran), chair of the Assembly health committee] said outreach to the public will be crucial. The state Department of Banking and Insurance still has an unspent federal grant of nearly $7.6 million it received to help plan a state-run exchange; the state opted instead for HHS to build the exchange for New Jersey. DOBI is talking to HHS about how that money can be used, and Conaway said it's key that navigators get that money.
"It's really going to be those community-based organizations that know how to reach and communicate with (the uninsured) that are going to be so important for reaching the people who need to be in the exchange," he said. "That certainly would be an appropriate use for that money."
Jacobi said the uninsured in New Jersey, "are mostly people associated with the workplace. Most are in families with workers, full-time or part-time workers, and dependents of workers," who either can't afford to buy insurance at their workplace, or their employer doesn't offer it.
Read the NJ BIZ article, "Health panel reveals concerns about Obamacare rollout, future"
Read the NJ Spotlight article, "Healthcare Leaders Envision a Shared Future"
PPACA's Expansion of ERISA: External Review Processes
Filed under: Health Law
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has, in large part, overhauled the American health care system— and the national dialogue that has resulted from PPACA's enactment is seemingly infinite. The focus of this post, however, is one particular topic that has not often been a part of the national dialogue. It addresses PPACA's expansion of the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act (ERISA) by requiring that external reviews be incorporated into employee benefits plans claim procedures.[1]
First, it is important to understand ERISA's requirements prior to PPACA's expansion of the statute. The purpose of ERISA is to protect the rights of individuals participating in employee benefit plans.[2] Among the types of employee benefit plans that ERISA regulates are group health plans.[3] To effectuate its purpose, ERISA mandates that if an employer chooses to establish an employee benefits plan, such a plan will fulfill certain requirements.[4] One requirement is that plan participants who receive an adverse determination of benefits are afforded the opportunity to have such a determination reviewed:
In accordance with regulations of the Secretary, every employee benefit plan shall—
(1) provide adequate notice in writing to any participant or beneficiary whose claim for benefits under the plan has been denied, setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the participant, and
(2) afford a reasonable opportunity to any participant whose claim for benefits has been denied for a full and fair review by the appropriate named fiduciary of the decision denying the claim.
ERISA § 503, 29 U.S.C § 1133.[5] Essentially, Section 503 requires that an employee benefits plan make available to plan participants claim procedures that enable a challenge to an adverse benefit determination.[6] Pre-PPACA, the review of adverse benefit determinations was an internal process, without any independent, external review of the determination.[7]
As previously mentioned, the enactment of PPACA expanded upon ERISA's claim procedures requirement. [8] PPACA's addition of external review processes aligns ERISA with the spirit of health care reform, which is to provide access to affordable health care to as many Americans possible. Since only an internal review process of an adverse benefit determination was formerly required for purposes of ERISA, the concern was that many Americans were, and would be, denied essential medical coverage.[9] Under the new requirement, the external review process provides that an independent review organization will make a final determination of the plan participant's determination upon the exhaustion of the employee benefits plan internal claims process.[10] Thus, the external review process serves as a check on internal review processes and is the final, binding determination regarding health care coverage.[11] But it is important to note that in keeping with PPACA's goal to cut health care costs, such an external review process may also result in the denial of health care coverage where the independent review organization deems medical treatment unnecessary.[12] In addition, PPACA's modifications of ERISA do not extend to grandfathered health plans, which are plans instituted on or before March 23, 2010.[13]
[2] Kennedy, Kathryn J., and Paul T. Schultz, III. Employee Benefits Law: Qualifications and ERISA Requirements. 2nd Ed. New York: LexisNexis, 2012.
[4] Kennedy, Kathryn J., and Paul T. Schultz, III. Employee Benefits Law: Qualifications and ERISA Requirements. 2nd Ed. New York: LexisNexis, 2012.
[6] http://www.proskauer.com/files/News/9ed295c7-94e3-46dc-bb13-1972e2f4cd30/Presentation/NewsAttachment/f235091e-bdfd-4189-8e90-b5cd99fb89bd/erisa-litigation-newsletter-november-2012.pdf
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
TIM JOST INTERVIEWS ANDY KOPPELMAN ABOUT KOPPELMAN'S NEW BOOK, THE TOUGH LUCK CONSTITUTION (Oxford University Press 2013).
Filed under: Health Law, Health Reform
Q. (Tim Jost) Your book explains, for the general reader, what was at stake in the health care fight and what the Supreme Court did. Why should the general reader care? All this is old news.
A. (Andy Koppleman) If you're sitting on a hill, and a large boulder rolls past you, it's a good idea to look uphill to see if any more boulders are coming. The history matters because it shows that there are real dangers.
Last spring, the Supreme Court came within one vote of taking health insurance away from more than 30 million people. Chief Justice John Roberts declined to join the four judges who wanted to do that, but he embraced all their principles. Those principles are nasty. All five judges think that universal health care would be unconstitutional. All are suspicious of a law that asks the healthy and rich to support medical care for the sick and poor. All of them are still on the Supreme Court. They continue to exercise political power over the rest of us. Americans need to understand what happened.
Q. So what do you tell us that we don't already know from the news stories?
A. My book explains why Obama decided to include the unpopular provision requiring everyone to have insurance. I also show that the Republicans, who originally proposed that idea, turned against it just because they wanted to deny Obama a victory. Most importantly, I show where they got the idea that the mandate was somehow a violation of an important liberty.
Q. Why did the constitutional case take the form it did?
A. The Republicans' objection to the Act was a combination of politics and substance. Some of them honestly thought it was bad policy. But you can't challenge a law in court because you don't like the policy. You need to make a constitutional objection. The constitutional objection was invented, in sketchy form, just as the bill neared passage and almost instantly became Republican Party orthodoxy. It relied on an extreme libertarian philosophy, which holds that, if you get sick and can't pay for it, that's your tough luck. The challengers' arguments would have struck down the Act even if the alternative was a huge population of uninsured. The dark heart of the case against the ACA is the notion that the law's trivial burden on individuals was an outrageous invasion of liberty, even when the alternative was a regime in which millions were needlessly denied decent medical care.
Q. What about the legal arguments?
A. These are less complex than many people think. Insurance is part of commerce among the several states. Congress can regulate it. Therefore, Congress can prohibit health insurers from discriminating on the basis of preexisting conditions. Under the Necessary and Proper Clause, it gets to decide what means it may employ to make that regulation effective. I explain how the challengers tried, and failed, to get around this simple argument.
Q. Much of your book deals with the history of these constitutional provisions that formed the basis for the ACA litigation. Why should we care about this history?
There are two reasons. One is that, in interpreting any law, it is helpful to know the reasons why the law was passed. The second is that the framers of the Constitution were very bright people, and their insights are useful in addressing today's problems.
The Constitution was adopted specifically in order to give Congress power adequate to address the nation's problems. That is its fundamental and overriding purpose. The health care issue is one that the states had tried and failed to address: only Massachusetts did it, and its circumstances were very unusual. A situation in which neither the states nor the federal government could solve the country's problems was what we had under the Articles of Confederation. It is precisely what the Constitution was intended to prevent.
Q. What are the boulders that you suggest may still be coming down the hill?
A. The real moral force behind the challenge to the ACA wasn't any technical legal argument. It was most clearly stated at the oral argument, by Justice Antonin Scalia. The counsel for the United States argued that the state legitimately could compel Americans to purchase health insurance, because the country is obligated to pay for the uninsured when they get sick. Scalia responded: "Well, don't obligate yourself to that."
Q. Does Justice Scalia really think that there's no obligation to care for sick people? Why was he saying this?
A. The answer has to do with the structure of constitutional law. If you want to trash the ACA –- and Scalia did –- you have to assert constitutional limits that would exist even if there were no other way to deliver medical care to everyone.
This is why so many people (including, in the end, a near-majority of the Court) who were not Tough Luck Libertarians at all, who would find that philosophy repellent, nonetheless found themselves saying Tough Luck Libertarian things, and making claims based on a Tough Luck Constitution –- a constitution in which there is no realistic path to universal health care. That Constitution won't be attractive unless Tough Luck Libertarianism is right that it is acceptable to deny people the medical care they need. The challengers to the ACA talked a lot about slippery slopes – at the bottom of this one was a law requiring you to buy broccoli – but there's a slope in the other direction as well. Once you decide that it's acceptable to hold your nose and make this kind of argument, it will be easier next time.
Q. The NFIB case which the Supreme Court decided was only one of dozens of cases that have been brought challenging the Affordable Care Act. One of those cases brought by Liberty University challenged that provision of the ACA requiring large employers to offer health insurance to their employees or pay a tax penalty. Liberty University lost that case in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court remanded it for reconsideration. Is there any possibility the courts will find that Congress lacks the power to require large employers to offer health insurance? Would Tough Luck Libertarianism go this far?
A. It's hard to see how. The employer mandate is described as a tax in the statute. The individual mandate isn't, but the Court upheld it as a tax. Chief Justice Roberts also objected to the mandate because you don't have to do anything to be subject to it. To be subject to the employer mandate, you have to decide to employ people. Congress has had the power to regulate economic transactions for nearly a century. Even the Roberts Court isn't going to change that.
Q. Several states are refusing to implement the insurance market reforms imposed by the ACA and one state is considering legislation that would prohibit the licensure of an insurance plan that would participate in an ACA exchange. Does the Supreme Court's decision give any hope to states that are still refusing to assist in implementing the ACA?
A. If states won't participate in the health exchanges, then the Federal government can and will do it for them. That has already been happening. It has been well settled for years that state laws designed to disrupt the operation of a federal law are unconstitutional.
The one part of the Court's decision that empowers the states to stay out of the federal scheme is Chief Justice Roberts's decision that states could refuse to provide Medicaid to their poorest citizens. The Court ruled that the states could turn down the Medicaid expansion while continuing to participate in the old Medicaid program. One might have expected that no state would turn down such a good deal: the federal government will pick up 100% of the costs until 2016, with its contribution gradually declining to 90% in 2020 and thereafter. And there is added pressure to take the money, because previous forms of federal aid were cut off. Hospital associations agreed to accept cuts to their reimbursement rates, expecting that this would be more than made up by money from patients newly insured through Medicaid. States refusing the money would not only be hurting their own working poor. They'd be rejecting a huge infusion of cash into their economies, creating many, many jobs –- good jobs, for doctors and well-paid medical technicians. That money has a powerful multiplier effect, creating jobs outside the health sector as well.
Many Republican governors have now turned down the money, but that number is shrinking. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, for instance, recently changed his mind. The big question mark is Texas. One in four Texans is uninsured. The ACA would insure almost two million of them. The expansion would give Texas an additional $52.5 billion from 2014-2019, which is more than half of the state's annual budget. Gov. Rick Perry has insisted that he won't take the money. If you are a hospital executive in Texas, you probably have a fiduciary duty to do all you can to defeat Rick Perry. Meanwhile, the Court has succeeded in hurting millions of people. Four days before Perry announced his decision, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ranked Texas as having the worst health care in the nation. This is the Court's notion of "liberty."
Timothy S. Jost holds the Robert L. Willett Family Professorship of Law at the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is a co-author of the casebook, Health Law, used widely throughout the United States in teaching health law, and of a treatise and hornbook by the same name. His other publications are simply to numerous to list.
Andrew Koppelman is John Paul Stevens Professor of Law, Northwestern University. He has written extensively about the legal debate surrounding the Affordable Care Act for Salon. His latest book, The Tough Luck Constitution and the Assault on Healthcare Reform, will be published by Oxford University Press on March 22, 2013 and available online and through bookstores everywhere.
"Andrew Koppelman has magnificently captured the current legal, political and policy-related lay of the land in Washington. His insightful analysis here should be mandatory reading for anyone concerned about the future of health care in America."
–Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader
Tara Ragone in Modern Healthcare on potential impact of U.S. Supreme Court hospital antitrust decision
Filed under: Antitrust, Health Law
Research Fellow & Lecturer in Law Tara Ragone appeared in Modern Healthcare on the potential impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which found a hospital not exempt from antitrust scrutiny, despite its claim to be protected from such through "state action immunity doctrine," which, according to Modern Healthcare, "gives states wide latitude to regulate competition."
The Court's decision was unanimous, citing the fact that although the hospital system in question, Phoebe Putney Health System, "operates public hospitals under a $1-a-year lease from the Albany-Dougherty Hospital Authority," it did not dispute that its latest hospital acquisition would give it "control of 86% of a six county market after the sale." The Court, according to Modern Healthcare, ruled that Phoebe Putney's financial relationship with the state was not sufficient to render its state action immunity defense tenable, and that "states must expressly grant antitrust immunity to local entities."
The Modern Healthcare article notes, however, that the decision may also have impact on Medicaid ACOs under the ACA.
Modern Healthcare writes:
And it also could affect Medicaid ACOs. "The state action doctrine has been expanded, expanded, expanded to essentially immunize them," [Matthew] Cantor said. "The Supreme Court is going to look a bit wary about stark anti-competitive behavior."
But Tara Adams Ragone, a research fellow and lecturer at Seton Hall University School of Law who has written about how to structure Medicaid ACOs to avoid antitrust scrutiny, noted that the laws in New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington do state that they intend to authorize anti-competitive behavior.
"It doesn't change things from my analysis," she said about the Phoebe Putney decision. Yet she added that states may have to review statutes that don't contain that explicit language.
The Phoebe Putney decision also doesn't address the second prong of the state action doctrine, which requires states to actively oversee the anti-competitive behavior. "That's where there's a lot of work to be done," she said.
Ragone and Cantor pointed out that it's still unclear whether the FTC and U.S. Justice Department even intend to challenge ACOs as anti-competitive. A classic antitrust case involves entities colluding to fix prices—but the whole goal of an ACO is to reduce costs.
Read the full Modern Healthcare article, "Phoebe Putney dealt legal blow by Supreme Court."
Professor John Jacobi in The Record on 'How Medicaid expansion will help New Jerseyans'
Filed under: Health Law, Health Reform, Medicaid
Professor John Jacobi published a feature Op-ed in The Record, New Jersey's most awarded newspaper, on the impact Governor Chris Christie's decision to expand Medicaid under the ACA will have.
Professor Jacobi writes:
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'S decision to expand Medicaid coverage to more residents will improve the health of many low-income New Jerseyans, and save the lives of some. In addition, the expansion dovetails with other reform efforts in the state, furthering implementation of innovative programs for the poor and vulnerable.
The governor's announcement is great news for low-income individuals. The Rutgers Center for State Health Policy estimates that the expansion will lead to an enrollment increase of about 234,000 in NJ FamilyCare, which combines New Jersey's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program.
The expansion addresses gaps in the current Medicaid system, under which many poor people were ineligible even if they had absolutely no income or assets.
The expansion will plug those gaps, allowing people to enroll so long as they are lawful residents with an income of no more than about $15,414 per year, which is about the gross income of a full-time minimum wage worker.
Health insurance coverage is important to personal health, and it is simply not true that all Americans have meaningful access to health care. As the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has found, people who have health insurance — including Medicaid — have better access to a regular source of health care. Those with no coverage, in contrast, are more likely to do without medically necessary care, particularly for chronic conditions, and to not fill prescriptions due to cost.
As a consequence, the uninsured are more likely to be in "fair" or "poor" health — and to die before their time. Medicaid expansion will keep people healthy and even save lives.
Read the full feature, "How Medicaid expansion will help New Jerseyans"


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Late 1900's autochromes
My mind cannot comprehend the thought of playing dress up in a real 18th century gown.
A Good Polychromed Wood Mannequin Head and Torso, 18th century, the female form with glass eyes and long blonde curled tresses, wearing antique stomacher.
Portrait of a Lady in Turkish Fancy Dress, circa 1790, by Jean-Baptiste Greuze
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Design by Simon Fletcher. Powered by Tumblr.
© Copyright 2010


text:
Klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie.
Less cellulite and firmer skin: it doesn't take long to get my attention with two promises like that. Yes, I am pretty skinny, but most women know that you don't have to weigh 100 kilos to get cellulite. And firmer skin? I'm sure that's something we all want, especially with summer approaching. So! Less cellulite, more firmness, that's the idea! And I'm going to try to turn that idea into reality with two new products by Le Petit Marseillais: the Huile Anti-Cellulite Tonifiante (in English: Firming Anti-Cellulite Oil) and the Lait Fermeté Hydratant (Firming Hydrating Milk).
Le Petit Marseillais: Huile Anti-Cellulite Tonifiante
The Huile Anti-Cellulite Tonifiante is a firming anti-cellulite oil with star anise and essential lemon oil that makes the skin supple and soft. And according to Le Petit Marseillais it will also significantly reduce cellulite. For the best results you need to massage the oil into your skin twice a day. The whole idea is based on the beauty ritual of Mediterranean women. Apparently these women are all in some secret cellulite-free club and go through life totally firm and toned. Okay, where can I request membership??
Le Petit Marseillais: Lait Fermeté Hydratante
This hydrating body milk with sesame oil, green tea and star anise will not only nourish the skin but, says Le Petit Marseillais, will also make it firmer. Again the idea is to apply this product both AM and PM for softer, firmer skin with more elasticity. I can't wait to see the results. Normally I only use body lotion after showering, and I am kind of annoyed at the idea of having to apply two products twice a day, but hey, beauty doesn't come cheap! :-)
I am going to get started with my two new Le Petit Marseillais products and I will report back to you in a few weeks with a full review of both products! Hopefully by then written by a super-toned and completely cellulite-free me ;-)
Have you heard about Le Petit Marseillais' new firming body products yet? How do you prep your body for summer?


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Tranylcypromine in depression resistant to cyclic antidepressions.
Nolen WA Department of Biological Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Bloemendaal, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1989;13(1-2):155-8Non-responders to cyclic antidepressants were treated with the MAO-inhibitor tranylcypromine in two studies: the first study in an open comparison with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5HTP), the second study in a double blind comparison with nomifensine. 2. While both L-5HTP and nomifensine appeared to be ineffective, tranylcypromine was effective in 26 out of 45 patients. 3.It is concluded that besides ECT also MAO-inhibitors such as tranylcypromine are an effective alternative for depressed patients not responding to cyclic antidepressants.
L-5-hydroxytryptophan alone and in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor in the treatment of depression.
Zmilacher K, Battegay R, Gastpar M Psychiatric University Outpatient Department, Basel, Switzerland.
Neuropsychobiology 1988;20(1):28-35In an open study 25 depressed patients were treated with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) either alone or in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor. The therapeutic efficacy of L-5-HTP was considered as equal to that of traditional antidepressants. There was no difference in efficacy between the two treatments. Best results were obtained in patients with an anxious-agitated depressive syndrome and in patients with an endogenous depression if the illness had been acute. The onset of action was rapid (within 3 or 5 days). Gastrointestinal side effects proved to be dose-dependent and occurred more frequently in patients receiving L-5-HTP alone, whereas psychopathological side effects (especially acute anxiety states) have mainly been reported in patients receiving L-5-HTP in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor.
The relationship of serotonin to depression in Parkinson's disease.
Mayeux R, Stern Y, Sano M, Williams JB, Cote LJ Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
Mov Disord 1988;3(3):237-44We have previously reported a correlation between depression in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and decreased concentrations of the cerebrospinal fluid content of the serotonin metabolite, 5-HIAA. To further examine this relationship, we repeated the study in a new cohort of patients while they remained on dopaminergic medications, conducted follow-up interviews and examinations in our original cohort, and conducted an open trial of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan in a group of new patients with depression. We were again able to demonstrate a significant reduction in cerebrospinal 5-HIAA in depressed patients in comparison to controls and patients without depression. Demented patients with Parkinson's disease, particularly those with concurrent depression, had the lowest values of 5-HIAA. No new cases of depression occurred in our original cohort after 2 1/2 years of follow-up, and depression remitted following conventional or experimental treatment in four patients. Depression improved in six of the seven new patients following oral 5-hydroxytryptophan. Three of these patients allowed a repeat lumbar puncture, and the concentration of 5-HIAA increased following 5-hydroxytryptophan. These three studies support our hypothesis that depression in idiopathic Parkinson's disease is associated with a reduction in brain serotonin. However, it also suggests that other factors, biological or environmental, may be causal factors.
Fibromyalgia and the serotonin pathway.
Juhl JH
Altern Med Rev 1998 Oct;3(5):367-75Fibromyalgia syndrome is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder manifested by diffuse myalgia, localized areas of tenderness, fatigue, lowered pain thresholds, and nonrestorative sleep. Evidence from multiple sources support the concept of decreased flux through the serotonin pathway in fibromyalgia patients. Serotonin substrate supplementation, via L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and somatic pains in a variety of patient cohorts. Identification of low serum tryptophan and serotonin levels may be a simple way to identify persons who will respond well to this approach.
5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor.
Birdsall TC email@example.com
Altern Med Rev 1998 Aug;3(4):271-805-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the intermediate metabolite of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (LT) in the biosynthesis of serotonin. Intestinal absorption of 5-HTP does not require the presence of a transport molecule, and is not affected by the presence of other amino acids; therefore it may be taken with meals without reducing its effectiveness. Unlike LT, 5-HTP cannot be shunted into niacin or protein production. Therapeutic use of 5-HTP bypasses the conversion of LT into 5-HTP by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, which is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of serotonin. 5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central nervous system (CNS) synthesis of serotonin. In the CNS, serotonin levels have been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behaviour, and pain sensation. Therapeutic administration of 5-HTP has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches, and insomnia.
Neuroendocrine response to 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in prepubertal children at high risk of major depressive disorder.
Birmaher B, Kaufman J, Brent DA, Dahl RE, Perel JM, al-Shabbout M, Nelson B, Stull S, Rao U, Waterman GS, Williamson DE, Ryan ND University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pa., USA.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997 Dec;54(12):1113-9BACKGROUND: Altered serotonergic function has been observed in prepubertal children and adults with an acute episode of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is not known whether these alterations are present prior to the onset of MDD. METHODS: A serotonergic precursor, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (L-5HTP) (oxitriptan) (0.8 mg/kg), was administered through an indwelling catheter to 36 children at high risk of MDD (with high family loading for MDD), 31 children with MDD, and 23 low-risk normal controls (with low family loading for mood disorders and no history of psychopathology). Blood samples for cortisol, prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone were obtained every 15 minutes for 180 minutes, beginning 30 minutes before L-5HTP infusion. RESULTS: Children at high risk of MDD and children with MDD had similar hormonal responses following L-5HTP infusion. After controlling for baseline values, both groups secreted significantly less cortisol and more PRL than did the low-risk normal controls, with the PRL finding being limited to girls. There were no between-group differences in baseline cortisol, PRL, or growth hormone secretion measures. CONCLUSIONS: Before the onset of affective illness, high-risk children had the same pattern of neuroendocrine response to the L-5HTP challenge as did children with MDD. These results extend earlier findings of altered serotonergic regulation in association with early-onset depression and indicate that these alterations may represent a trait marker for depression in children.
Low brain uptake of L-[11C]5-hydroxytryptophan in major depression: a positron emission tomography study on patients and healthy volunteers.
Agren H, Reibring L, Hartvig P, Tedroff J, Bjurling P, Hornfeldt K, Andersson Y, Lundqvist H, Langstrom B Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Acta Psychiatr Scand 1991 Jun;83(6):449-55The precursor of serotonin, L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP), was radiolabelled with 11C in the beta-position, yielding [beta-11C]serotonin after decarboxylation, allowing positron emission tomography studies of L-5-HTP uptake across the blood-brain barrier. We studied 8 healthy volunteers and 6 patients with histories of DSM-III major depression, 2 with repeated examinations after clinically successful treatment. We report a significantly lower uptake of [11C]5-HTP across the blood-brain barrier in depressed patients, irrespective of phase of illness. The findings emphasize that serotonin is involved in depressive pathophysiology and support earlier suggestions that the transport of 5-HTP across the blood-brain barrier is compromised in major depression.
Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome.
Caruso I, Sarzi Puttini P, Cazzola M, Azzolini V Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
J Int Med Res 1990 May-Jun;18(3):201-9A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) was conducted in 50 patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome. All the clinical parameters studied were significantly improved by treatment with 5-HTP and only mild and transient side-effects were reported. Further controlled studies are required to define properly the value of 5-HTP in patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome.
Neuroendocrine perturbations in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Neeck G, Crofford LJ Department of Rheumatology, University of Giessen, Bad Nauheim, Germany. firstname.lastname@example.com
Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2000 Nov;26(4):989-1002A large body of data from a number of different laboratories worldwide has demonstrated a general tendency for reduced adrenocortical responsiveness in CFS. It is still not clear if this is secondary to CNS abnormalities leading to decreased activity of CRH- or AVP-producing hypothalamic neurons. Primary hypofunction of the CRH neurons has been described on the basis of genetic and environmental influences. Other pathways could secondarily influence HPA axis activity, however. For example, serotonergic and noradrenergic input acts to stimulate HPA axis activity. Deficient serotonergic activity in CFS has been suggested by some of the studies as reviewed here. In addition, hypofunction of sympathetic nervous system function has been described and could contribute to abnormalities of central components of the HPA axis. One could interpret the clinical trial of glucocorticoid replacement in patients with CFS as confirmation of adrenal insufficiency if one were convinced of a positive therapeutic effect. If patient symptoms were related to impaired activation of central components of the axis, replacing glucocorticoids would merely exacerbate symptoms caused by enhanced negative feedback. Further study of specific components of the HPA axis should ultimately clarify the reproducible abnormalities associated with a clinical picture of CFS. In contrast to CFS, the results of the different hormonal axes in FMS support the assumption that the distortion of the hormonal pattern observed can be attributed to hyperactivity of CRH neurons. This hyperactivity may be driven and sustained by stress exerted by chronic pain originating in the musculoskeletal system or by an alteration of the CNS mechanism of nociception. The elevated activity of CRH neurons also seems to cause alteration of the set point of other hormonal axes. In addition to its control of the adrenal hormones, CRH stimulates somatostatin secretion at the hypothalamic level, which, in turn, causes inhibition of growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone at the pituitary level. The suppression of gonadal function may also be attributed to elevated CRH because of its ability to inhibit hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release; however, a remote effect on the ovary by the inhibition of follicle-stimulating hormone-stimulated estrogen production must also be considered. Serotonin (5-HT) precursors such as tryptophan (5-HTP), drugs that release 5-HT, or drugs that act directly on 5-HT receptors stimulate the HPA axis, indicating a stimulatory effect of serotonergic input on HPA axis function. Hyperfunction of the HPA axis could also reflect an elevated serotonergic tonus in the CNS of FMS patients. The authors conclude that the observed pattern of hormonal deviations in patients with FMS is a CNS adjustment to chronic pain and stress, constitutes a specific entity of FMS, and is primarily evoked by activated CRH neurons.


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Dr. Roger A. MacDuff, DO
Obstetrics & Gynecology, Elmhurst Clinic
- 172 E Schiller St
Elmhurst, IL 60126
- Within miles of
- 3 Office Locations
- Email a Friend
- (630) 834-1120
Dr. Roger A. MacDuff has been practicing medicine for 25 years. Dr. MacDuff graduated from the Midwestern University/ Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1989. He practices medicine in Elmhurst, IL and 2 other locations and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. MacDuff is affiliated with West Suburban Medical Center, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and Central Dupage Hospital. He speaks English and Spanish.
Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 25 Years
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Medical School: Midwestern University/ Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduation Date: 1989
Hospital Affiliations: West Suburban Medical Center, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Central Dupage Hospital
Specialties: Obstetrics & Gynecology
*This physician has multiple office locations. See Appointments for details.
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WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.