Medical Billing and Practice Management Consulting

Washington, DC (Vocus) October 22, 2009

With Healthcare Reform just around the corner and all the new regulations already placed on physicians in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Capture Billing & Consulting, Inc., a medical billing and practice management company, is helping doctors and medical billers wade thorough and sort out information with its new Medical Billing Minute videos. The one minute long videos will cover a multitude of topics relevant for today’s physicians to help them through the maze of coding, billing and compliance regulations. The first video walks physicians through how to properly bill for the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine.

“Physicians, managers and medical billers don’t have a lot of time but need healthcare information,” says Manny Oliverez, Director of Operations of Capture Billing. “We are hoping that via Twitter, Facebook and blogging we can reach healthcare professionals and get them the information they need via a short one to two minute video. That really has not been done before.”

Capture will produce videos to help doctors code and document properly and tell them of governmental regulations that will affect their practice. Some episodes will give tips to medical billers on how to deal with insurance companies that stall or deny coverage for patients and how to overcome the obstacles they put up. The company plans to produce ove 60 Medical Billing Minute videos.

Healthcare professionals can subscribe to the Medical Billing Minute by going to the Capture Billing website or blog, to YouTube.com or finding Capture on Twitter.

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Related Swine Flu Press Releases

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) March 21, 2007

With the flu virus infecting up to 20 percent of Americans and causing 36,000 deaths every year, CareerSchoolDirectory.com, an online resource for career education and training, addresses how students interested in a career in pharmacy can help fight the flu in its latest article, “Pharmacy School: Start a Successful Career in Medicine.” For those 65 years and older, influenza is the fifth most common cause of death.The growing elderly population is in large part responsible for the increasing demand for pharmaceuticals. This growing demand is fueling new jobs, and CareerSchoolDirectory.com helps provide students with needed information to embark on pharmacy careers (http://www.careerschooldirectory.com).

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta reported that for the week ending March 3, 2007, 6.8 percent of all deaths reported were due to pneumonia or influenza and the percentage of patient visits due to flu virus symptoms was above the national baseline. The CDC recommends that anyone under the age of 5, over the age of 50, and anyone interested in decreasing their chances of contracting the flu virus should get vaccinated. This recommendation, as well as other factors, is helping to fuel careers in pharmacy — and the U.S. Dept. of Labor reports that jobs in this field are expected to grow faster than average through the year 2014.

HealthDay News recently reported on a U.S. study of the flu vaccine that indicated that children’s chance of infection could be reduced by 49 percent through vaccination. Says Pascal James Imperato, chairman of the Department of Preventative Medicine at the New York Downstate Medical Center, “If you want to find out if there’s flu epidemic, you first look at children.” As a result of concerns over a flu epidemic, pharmacy careers are hotter than ever, and CareerSchoolDirectory.com helps students find their way into the right schools. For more information visit: http://www.careerschooldirectory.com.

CareerSchoolDirectory.com lists many schools dedicated to career education and training. Students and professionals can easily find the schools, colleges, professional training programs and career development resources necessary for their career and personal fulfillment.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Find More Flu Press Releases

Georgetown,TX (PRWEB) December 7, 2006

Each year, millions of people suffer from the flu and pneumonia. According to the Center for Disease Control, flu complications cause an average of 114,000 hospitalizations and up to 36,000 deaths every year.

Since there are no known cures for the flu, prevention must be your goal and RXInformation.org provides some steps you can take to reduce your chance of getting the flu or other serious infections:

    Wash your hands often.    

    Use disposable plates, forks and spoons if someone in your family has the flu.

    Door knobs, keyboards and telephones can harbor viruses-clean them often.

    A daily supplement helps provide the essential nutrients your body needs.

    Avoid sugar and fatty foods that help lower your body’s immunity.

    Use paper towels in the kitchen and bathroom instead of cloth towels.    

    Open public restroom and other doors with disposable paper towels.

Use our free in-home self-examination at http://www.rxinformation.org/coldflu

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Find More Flu Press Releases

Chief Medical Officer

Scottsdale, AZ (Vocus) May 12, 2009

Asantae, (http://www.asantae.com) a neutracuetical manufacturer and distribution company, announced the release of its latest product, Agrisept-L. Agrisept-L is an all natural, citrus seed extract, supplying the body with bioflavonoids (natural bacteria agent), and assisting in the maintenance of healthy flora and fungus levels in the body.

Agrisept-L assists the body’s ability to rid itself of harmful bacteria naturally and counteracts the overuse of antibiotics, which kill the good bacteria as well as the bad in the body and therefore increases vulnerability to disease.

Dr. Dwight Lundell, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Asantae and author of the best selling book, The Cure for Heart Disease (http://www.thecureforheartdisease.net) stated, “With swine flu in the news and fear of an epidemic, it is more important than ever to take care of your health and strengthen your immune system. Here are a few facts about swine flu people need to know:

    Swine flu is spread in the same way as seasonal flu- exposure to airborne contaminants from people sneezing and coughing. It could also be spread from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face or mouth.
    Symptoms are like the seasonal flu and include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue and sometimes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
    Eating pork products does not cause swine flu.
And take care of your health by eating right, exercising, getting plenty of sleep and drinking plenty of water.”

For more information about swine flu, visit the CDC swine flu website.

Dr. Lundell’s no-nonsense approach to science and medicine, and his caring attitude toward patients, has helped guide his career transformation from surgeon to formulator, author, lecturer, and founder of the Healthy Humans Foundation.

Asantae also makes and distributes other all-natural neutracuetical products for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Asantae (http://www.asantae.com ) is a distributor based company for individuals interested in building a business for long term residual income in the health and wellness industry, a multi-billion dollar industry and growing. The company supports its distributor base with numerous marketing and sales materials, making it easy and inexpensive for a person to start their own home based business.

Persons wanting more information should go to the company’s website at http://www.asantae.com .

Dr. Lundell is available for media interviews and speaking engagements nationally either on his book “The Cure for Heart Disease” or Asantae.

Contact:

Lee Taylor

Director of Communications

310-707-1601

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Oak Brook, IL (Vocus) March 23, 2010

A new study published in the April issue of Radiology suggests that chest x-rays may play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 influenza by predicting which patients are likely to become sicker.

“Working in the emergency room is very stressful and physicians need information fast,” said lead author Galit Aviram, M.D., head of cardiothoracic imaging in the Department of Radiology at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. “Our study provides significant findings that will help clinicians triage patients presenting with clinically suspected H1N1 influenza.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the H1N1 virus is the predominant influenza virus in circulation during the 2009-2010 flu season. The CDC estimates that between April 2009 and January 2010 there have been approximately 57 million cases of H1N1 in the U.S., resulting in 257,300 hospitalizations and 11,686 deaths.

As in past pandemics, the virus can occur in waves. It is possible that the U.S. could experience additional waves of the virus throughout 2010.

In the study, Dr. Aviram’s research team analyzed the chest x-rays of 97 consecutive patients with flu-like symptoms and laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of H1N1, admitted to the emergency department of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between May and September 2009. The researchers then correlated the x-ray findings with adverse patient outcomes.

“To our knowledge, this is the largest series describing the presentation of chest x-ray findings in patients diagnosed with H1N1 influenza,” Dr. Aviram said.

The chest x-rays revealed abnormal findings for 39 of the patients, five (12.8 percent) of whom experienced adverse outcomes, including death or the need for mechanical ventilation. For the other 58 patients, chest x-ray findings were normal, although two (3.4 percent) of the patients experienced adverse outcomes. The mean age of patients in the study, which included 53 men and 44 women, was 40.4 years.

“Abnormal findings in the periphery of both lungs and in multiple zones of the lungs were associated with poor clinical outcomes,” Dr. Aviram said.

Although a normal chest x-ray did not exclude the possibility of an adverse outcome, Dr. Aviram said the study’s findings can help physicians better identify high-risk H1N1 patients who require close monitoring.

“In H1N1, as in various types of community-acquired pneumonia, initial chest x-rays may not show abnormalities that develop later in the course of the disease,” Dr. Aviram explained. ”Further x-rays should be performed according to the patient’s clinical course.”

AT A GLANCE

Chest x-rays may help radiologists identify high-risk H1N1 patients who require intense monitoring.
Abnormal findings in the outer areas of both lungs and in multiple sections of the lungs were associated with more serious outcomes.
Approximately 13 percent of patients with abnormal chest x-ray findings experienced adverse outcomes, compared to 3 percent of patients with normal chest x-rays.
”H1N1 Influenza: Initial Chest Radiographic Findings in Helping Predict Patient Outcome.” Collaborating with Dr. Aviram were Amir Bar-Shai, M.D., Jacob Sosna, M.D., Ori Rogowski, M.D., Galia Rosen, M.D., Iuliana Weinstein, M.D., Arie Steinvil, M.D., and Ofer Zimmerman, M.D.

Radiology is edited by Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/)

RSNA is an association of more than 44,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on chest x-rays, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 15, 2007 -

With cold and flu season already affecting many areas of the United States, the not-for-profit National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) announced the launch of its Flu-Fighting Tool Kit for Parents. The tool kit provides comprehensive information and tips for parents on how to curb the spread of seasonal influenza, a serious, yet often underestimated illness that can be particularly harmful for children and the elderly.

Nearly 200,000 Americans who get the flu require hospitalization, and an estimated 36,000 die every year. Certain groups, such as children, the elderly, or those with a chronic disease, are particularly vulnerable to contracting the virus and developing serious complications, including pneumonia and even death.

Children and Influenza: A Perfect Storm

Children are one of the major carriers of flu – close contact in school, home and daycare increases children’s risk of contracting and spreading the virus. Children often bring the virus home, infecting parents, siblings and grandparents. Families with school-age children have more infections than others, with an average of one-third of family members infected with the flu each year.

“Since children tend to bring the flu into the home, NWHRC created the Flu-Fighting Tool Kit as a guide for parents – providing them with simple measures to help stop the flu in its tracks,” said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of the NWHRC. “There is no reason for families to suffer through the flu season and put the brakes on family activities. Vaccination and hand washing are crucial, and parents also need to be aware that there are flu treatments available with a doctor’s prescription.”

Flu-Fighting Tool Kit for Parents

The tool kit includes the following valuable, flu-fighting information for parents:

Flu 101: Understanding the Basics
Symptom Snapshot: Know the Difference Between Cold vs. Flu
Flu Facts: Top 10 Facts to Know about Flu
Crash Course on Flu Prevention and Treatment
10 Questions to Ask Your Health Care Professional
Breaking the Sick Cycle at Home

Although children are particularly vulnerable to the flu, becoming sick with the virus can happen to anyone, at any age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends three steps to keep the flu at bay, which are highlighted in the new tool kit: vaccination (“flu shot”), prescription antiviral medications, and good hygiene practices.

To access the NWHRC Flu-Fighting Tool Kit for Parents, visit http://www.healthywomen.org/flufighting/. The kit was developed with support from Roche.

About NWHRC

The National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is the leading independent health information source for women. The non-profit organization develops and distributes up-to-date and objective women’s health information based on the latest advances in medical research and practice. NWHRC believes all women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health information.

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Ann Arbor, MI (Vocus) April 30, 2009

Concerns regarding a potential swine flu pandemic continue to surface internationally. New cases have been reported in at least ten U.S. states and eight countries. This includes a twenty-three month old toddler in Texas who died yesterday, the first reported fatality outside of Mexico.

“With increasing reports of the swine flu, hand washing is more important than ever,” said Cheryl Luptowski, NSF International Public Information Officer. “By teaching children proper hand washing practices, we can make a difference in preventing the spread of the flu and other serious illnesses.”

The influenza virus is often spread when a person comes in contact with something that has been contaminated with germs, such as people’s hands, doorknobs or countertops, and then touches their eyes, nose and mouth before washing their hands. In fact, an NSF International classroom study in 2005 found that commonly shared items, such as drinking fountains, desks and cafeteria trays typically have more germs than any other surface in a school.

“Our first line of defense against all viruses is hand washing,” said Rob Donofrio, Ph.D. Director of NSF’s Microbiology Laboratory. “Proper hand washing is one of the easiest things that we can all do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness, and our classroom study reinforces this.”

In another study conducted by NSF in 2006, 42 percent of teachers surveyed said it is more difficult to get their students to use soap when they wash their hands than it is to get them to do their homework, and 86 percent of teachers say that parents often send a sick child to school since he/she may be unable to stay at home alone.

With youth at risk, NSF’s Scrub Club® (scrubclub.org) provides an effective way for kids to learn the importance of hand washing to protect them against influenza. NSF International, a not-for-profit public health and safety organization, has developed a Web site that teaches children how to properly wash their hands.

About the Scrub Club®

Each of the Scrub Club® Soaper-Heroes represents one of the six steps in the hand washing process – “Hot Shot” and “Chill” combine to make the warm water essential for proper hand washing; “Squeaks” turns into various forms of soap; “Taki” becomes a clock that counts down the required 20 seconds for proper hand washing; “Scruff” reminds kids to clean around their nails; “Tank” turns into a sink to rinse away the germs and “P.T.” transforms into paper towels. Interactive games, including the one that features the evil villain “Influenza Enzo – Stop Fluin’ Around,” teach children how illnesses are spread and how to prevent them.

The American Red Cross and NSF International have collaborated to help educate communities across the nation about the benefits of hand washing to fight germs and prevent illness. The Partnership for Food Safety Education, another Scrub Club® partner that helped launch the Web site, is also helping with this initiative.

Background on Swine Influenza

Swine influenza is a highly-contagious flu infection in pigs. Symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.” Recently, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 5, indicating sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus.

There are no current vaccines that contain the current swine influenza virus, and it is unknown whether or not existing seasonal influenza vaccines could offer protection to at-risk individuals. WHO says it could take five to six months until a vaccine is available.1

For more information about the Scrub Club® contact Greta Houlahan at houlahan(at)nsf.org or 734.913.5723 or visit scrubclub.org. Educational materials for teachers and parents can be downloaded directly from the Scrub Club® Web site.

About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.

Informational links:

    CDC General Information on Swine Influenza
    American Red Cross Flu Checklist
    World Health Organization’s Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
1 Hartl, Gregory. Press Conference at 17.00hrs. World Health Organization. 27 April 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/swineflu_presstranscript_2009_04_27.pdf

Contact

Greta Houlahan

Phone: +1.734.913.5723

Email: houlahan(at)nsf.org

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Related Influenza Press Releases

Hollywood, FL (PRWEB) April 28, 2009

In a great effort to help stop the spread of the swine flu epidemic, ReStockIt.com, where consumers go to buy Purell hand sanitizer at wholesale prices, today announced that it is further discounting all of its Purell hand sanitizer products.

On April 26, the U.S. government declared the swine flu outbreak a public health emergency.

“The spread of swine flu is of global concern and we want to do our part to help contain it,” said Jennifer DiMotta, VP of marketing. “ReStockIt.com is where consumers can go to buy masks and Purell hand sanitizer at deeply discounted prices. These products really work to help curb the spread of germs and disease,” she added.

To help slow the spread of the swine flu epidemic, the CDC recommends that people stay home if they’re sick, avoid close contact with people who are sick, wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze – alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, cover their mouths or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and keep up with health information in their own community. The use of Purell and other hand sanitizers also really work to stop the spread of germs.

ReStockIt.com is where consumers can buy Purell hand sanitizers at prices between 30%-50% off list price. The company also offers great cleaning products up to 60% off list price and masks and other medical supplies up to 30% off list price to help stop the spread of the swine flu epidemic. The company is also offering free shipping on many of its cleaning products.

The swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu symptoms. They include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, headache, and fatigue. Some patients have also reported nausea and diarrhea. There is no easy way to distinguish swine flu from other types of flu or other germs and a lab test is needed to determine if the illness is the swine flu.

Please visit the CDC website for additional information and updates: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/investigation.htm

About ReStockIt.com

ReStockIt.com, founded in 2004 by entrepreneurs David Redlich and Matt Kuttler, has fast become one of the leading online retailers of cheap office supplies and equipment, wholesale cleaning supplies, and electronics for the small business and consumer markets. Through its website, ReStockIt.com is where to buy Purell hand sanitizer that really work at wholesale price, and find discounts on more than 200,000 products and surplus items, from over 1,500 leading manufacturers such as Energizer, Hewlett Packard, and Purell/Gojo. ReStockIt.com has been honored with many prestigious awards including South Florida Business Journal Business of the Year, Finalists for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and one of the 500 fastest growing companies by industry leading Internet Retailer Magazine.

Visit us online at ReStockIt.com, on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @ReStockIt.

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Eugene, OR (PRWEB) October 18, 2010

Quantum Health, the sponsors of the Buzz Away Extreme Video Challenge, announced the ten finalists who will compete for the ,000 Grand Prize as well as the 0 winner for ‘most viewed’ video. Buzz Away Extreme is the leading all-natural insect repellent.

The Grand Prize winner will be chosen by voters who make their way to the contest’s web site at: http://www.quantumhealth.com/videocontest/vote. Votes must be cast by midnight October 31st.

The ‘Most Viewed’ prize of 0 was awarded to Theresa Golb for her piece entitled “Fifty’s Buzz Away Commercial”. Her video is also in the running for the Grand Prize. Theresa is 19 and lives near Chicago, where she is a Communications major with plans to be a writer/director.

The ten finalists were chosen by a panel of judges including advertising, film, music and performing arts professionals.

Unlike most contests sponsored by product makers, the entrants were not required to show or use the product. “Showing Buzz Away was optional,” explained company CEO, David Shaw. “We wanted entrants to feel free from commercial constraints to foster more creativity,” Shaw added.

About thirty people submitted videos from ages 13 and up. Storylines ranged from apocalyptic science fiction mosquito dominated worlds, to super hero Mosquito Man to clever animation and spoofy commercials.

Buzz Away Extreme is an all-natural, highly effective, chemical-free way to repel mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats and no see ums. Independent clinical and field testing show that Buzz Away Extreme can last for 4 hours and more, and is as effective as many traditional, chemical based formulas. Years of customer satisfaction have made Buzz Away Extreme America’s leading natural mosquito repellent.

Quantum Health – Natural Products That Make a Difference – is a natural over-the-counter (OTC) products company founded in 1981. Key brands include Lip Clear Lysine+ for cold sores, Canker Cover for canker sores, OraMoist for dry mouth, Thera Zinc and Elderberry for cold and flu, Buzz Away natural insect repellents, Quantum Derma for skin rescue and Super Lysine+ for immune support. Based in Eugene, OR, Quantum makes more than 50 products that are available throughout the United States and Canada in food, drug and mass market retailers, as well as health food stores and online. Call toll-free at 1-800-448-1448 or visit http://www.quantumhealth.com.

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Find More Swine Flu Press Releases

Florham Park, NJ (Vocus) August 16, 2010

When Michelle Hernandez organized the first Funky Chicken Coop Tour in Austin last year, she was surprised that almost 600 people turned up to gawk at offbeat backyard coop designs. The idea of raising small flocks of poultry clearly had allure in the quirky Texas city, so how best to build on that communal interest? The answer: create an active Meetup group.

Austin already had an online forum about the challenges of raising chickens in an urban setting, but Hernandez and other poultry enthusiasts were looking for something more.

“Online forums are great, but they’re still much less personal than meeting people face-to-face,” she said.

Meetup, an online network of community groups, is banking that many people feel the same way. The New York dot-com connects people of common interests who live in the same geographic area — and while groups are formed online, the idea is that they will convene regularly in person. Meetup claims 7.2 million members in 77,000 different groups worldwide, from yoga buffs to Star Trek fans to the growing backyard poultry movement.

There has been a spike in interest in raising backyard poultry over the past few years. Only one Meetup group existed on the topic at the end of 2007, and there were only five at the start of 2009. But in the last 18 months, the numbers have soared and there are now 52 groups worldwide with 6,043 members. Members trade information about coop construction, poultry breeds and disease prevention, among other topics.

The Atlanta area has the most participation with 1,105 members. The group hosts as many as five meetings a month, usually neighborhood gatherings in local eateries that draw 30 to 40 people, according to its founder, radio show host Andy “The Chicken Whisperer” Schneider.

“Our meetings usually last two hours,” he said. “Everybody gets along, laughs and learns something. When they walk out the door of the restaurant, their lives are so completely different. They’re conservatives, liberals, gay, straight, black and white. But it’s a whole melting pot of people for two hours.”

Meetup members give several reasons for the increased popularity of backyard poultry, including sustainability concerns, interest in natural bug control and the slow food movement. Not to mention that watching the little critters can be fun. As the L.A. Urban Chicken Enthusiast Meetup Group tells prospective members: “You should join if you like the idea of fresh eggs, local, ethical food and enjoy hilarious hens.”

Hernandez, who oversees the Austin site, agrees on the last point.

“Over and over again in the Meetup group, people find entertainment in these birds,” she said. “It’s easy to understand why people think of them as pets.”

The Austin Backyard Poultry Meetup Group has more than 600 members, some of whom drive more than 90 miles to attend events. In the past month, members have solicited online advice about ridding coops of chicken snakes, the ins-and-outs of city ordinances on backyard poultry and the best kind of feed. A recent face-to-face session featured a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian on poultry health and disease prevention.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has an ongoing public education campaign, Biosecurity for Birds, that is designed to teach backyard poultry and other bird owners how to keep their flocks safe and free from infectious diseases such as avian influenza (AI) and exotic Newcastle disease (END). Meetup groups can play a vital role in teaching members — many of whom are learning about raising chickens for the first time . about how to protect their birds and keep them safe and healthy.

Schneider, a national spokesperson for the Biosecurity For Birds campaign, said learning about disease prevention is part of the responsible ownership of chickens. Meetup groups are a perfect setting for that instruction — and can be a great help in getting the word out if an outbreak does occur.

“Our information network could be a great help in an emergency,” he said.

Hernandez said she’s done her part by passing out APHIS materials during her coop tours and at Meetup events.

“A lot of it is just getting knowledge out there,” she said. “It’s just getting people aware.”

Paul William Brennan, executive vice president of the Indiana State Poultry Association, said he’s seen a jump in the number of backyard poultry owners in both rural and urban settings. His staff has stepped up talks they’ve given on healthy flocks in the past year, and have begun a new program where they ask backyard poultry owners to bring in a dozen eggs that can be screened quickly to identify potentially contagious diseases. That approach could be replicated with community groups in other states, too, including Meetup organizations, he said.

“More people are interested in backyard and small flock poultry raising,’” Brennan noted. “Biosecurity For Birds can be very helpful in communicating standardized messages on how to prevent disease and protect all flocks.”

The Biosecurity for Birds campaign also is encouraging Meetup groups to plan activities and programs for Bird Health Awareness Week, November 1-7, and to share their information with other organizations by posting it on the campaign website: www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/birdbiosecurity/.

Local backyard poultry groups can be found through www.meetup.com.

Where the Bird Owners Are

Here’s a list of the largest “backyard poultry” or “urban chicken” groups on Meetup:

1.     Atlanta Area — 1,105 members

2.     Austin, TX — 620 members

3.     Los Angeles — 272 members

4.     Little Rock, Ark. — 258 members

5.     Raleigh-Durham, NC — 242 members

6.     Santa Cruz, CA. — 175 members

7.     Boston — 172 members

8.     North Georgia — 131 members

9.     Denver — 129 members

10. Phoenix, AZ — 95 members

Healthy Bird Tips

1.    Look for signs – Know the warning signs of infectious poultry diseases such as bird flu Sneezing, diarrhea, lack of energy or appetite, or a drop in egg production could signal a problem.

2.    Report sick birds — If your birds are sick or dying, promptly notify your veterinarian or local cooperative extension office, the state veterinarian or poultry/animal diagnostic laboratory or USDA (toll-free at 866-536-7593).

3.    Protect your birds – Take a few simple steps: Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your birds, and disinfect shoes, clothes and equipment. Make sure coop and feeding areas are clean.

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