The Fashion Faves of 2020 – To Be Continued Next Year

Though the year 2020 did not get the chance to fully unleash its fashion wonders for all the fashion lovers out there – due to obvious reasons – however, it still provided us immense inspiration in terms of dressing up and facing the unprecedented times in style.

Multiple fashion trends were discovered and adopted by those who crave change whereas the nostalgics also managed to walk down memory lane and bring back the most loved fashion staples of their era. Needless to state, this fashion year was nothing short of a fashion roller coaster and the ride was undeniably enjoyable with all its craziness intact.

Let’s have a look at the 2020 fashion legacy and trends – including clothes, shoes, and accessories – that have the potential to liven up our wardrobe in 2021, also.

Bandanas & Neck Gaiters

Back in the ’90s, bandanas and neck gaiters used to rule the streets and rockstar concerts but with the end of the decade, people bid farewell to these amazingly chic fabric accessories for good. Little did they know that these multi-faceted and versatile pieces will be missed and ultimately make a strong come-back in the fashion world. Brands like 4inbandana deserve a lot of praise for bringing these all-time favorite, quality accessories to us.

Bandanas and custom printed neck gaiters proved to be a gift of 2020 to all the retro-lovers and fashion enthusiasts. They kept us warm, made us look cool, were a pro at accenting personal quarantine style, and have also contributed to protecting the masses against the novel disease when folded into a face mask.  

Geometric Patterns, Checks & Plaids

The bold geometric patterns and plaids were a notable trend this year. These patterns when paired with bright and vibrant colors allowed the world to stay cheerfully colorful in the gloomy lockdown months. We observed these patterns not just in typical plaid button-down shirts but also in oversized cardigans, sweaters, scarves, and jackets.

Dramatic Sleeves

These sleeves allowed the fashionistas to introduce some drama of their own and spice up the already dramatic year. From ruffles and frills to slits and patches the sleeves were the highlight of outfits and dresses and made them edgy and avant-garde. We saw not just on-camera celebs but also off-camera mortals transform their look with the 80’s inspired puff sleeves.

Embellished Heels

These heels have successfully matched the dramatic mood of the year. These heels promote the “more is more” fashion statement with extra pearls, flashy colors, big stones, glass embellishments at the front and back, and chunky heels.

Sneakers

A classic pair of sneakers never fails to make a bold fashion statement and this one thing will continue to be in style as we enter the next decade. Sneakers were initially introduced as a sporty footwear but over the years they have become essential that can take any outfit to the next level. With its funky colors, floral prints and chunky soles you can never go wrong with this enduring footwear.

Leather

Just like clothing pieces, fabrics, and clothing material come and go; but never leather. From leather pants to jackets, leather boots to leather dresses this year has witnessed a myriad of every-day leather apparel. Needless to say that leather will be accompanying us in 2021!

Tips For Renters: Things You Need To Prepare For Your New-Home Move

Moving into your new home can be daunting, especially if you’ve been hard at work in scouting for the best homes for rent. As you narrow down your search, here are things you need to prepare in advance to get you ready for your new home. 

1. Complete Your Paperwork 

...and have them with you. Always. Landlords tend to be more inclined to rent out spaces to potential tenants who seem the most serious about keeping said space. And having the necessary paperwork intact is a step towards that. 

Take note of the following: 

*Rental Application Form (duly completed and signed) 

*Proof Of Income and/or Pay Stubs (if you are employed) 

*Bank Statements 

*Credit Card Statements and/or Credit History 

*Personal Legal Identification (i.e. driver’s license, passport, national I.D., etc.) 

* Recommendations (from previous landlords and/or property managers)

*References (from supervisors, managers in your current workplace, as well as that of your current one, as a backup) 

*Lease Guarantor Documentation (if applicable)

*Proof Of Financial Support (if you are a student but are being funded by persons who are)

Should there be other documentation your landlord will require from you, as long as they’re related to the leasing contract, bring them with you as well. Additionally, landlords don’t usually ask for all of the abovementioned documentation. Having said that, it’s wisest to be prepared in case they ask for it. 

2. No Word-Of-Mouth Contracts 

When it comes to leasing engagements, remember to treat it how you would any other professional business agreement. With that in mind, contracts are, therefore, only binding if they are on paper, and have been signed and witnessed by reliable personnel.

Doing so is a form of Tenant Protection. Your insurance, if we may say so. By putting the contract into writing, you can be assured that your landlord will follow through with any pledges and agreements they’ve vouched for via conversation. 

Now, you have proof of security of said agreement. And if they fail to uphold their end of the bargain, whether intentionally or not, you can hold them accountable for the misdoing. 

At the same time, a written contract will keep you on your toes, too. It’s a two-way street. You will also be expected to remain a responsible renter and abide by the rules as listed in your Renter’s Agreement. 

P.S. If there isn’t one such agreement, you can ask your landlord to provide you with a copy you can refer to. 

3. Renter Privacy And Rental Repairs 

Although your landlord is the owner of the place, you as a renter have your right to privacy. It should be understood (and again, clearly stated in the contract) that they cannot simply enter your space whenever they wish to. 

And if they do schedule visits with you, it should only be for reasons such as inspecting the home for repairs or in response to your request for said repairs. 

Each state has varying regulations regarding the details of Renter Privacy. Nonetheless, they generally revolve around the same thing--- it’s imperative that your landlord asks you for your permission to set a schedule for entering your rented abode. And that they are to do so only for purposes of upkeep inspection, renovations, and/or amenity restorations. 

5 Advantages Of Hiring Pet-Friendly Motorhomes

You’ve dreamt of growing your family and it’s finally happening! Apart from your wonderful children, more new members have been added to the clan--- your furry lovies! Your dogs have always been, and will continue to have permanent spots in the family picture. Now, they get to have permanent seats in your dog friendly motorhome hire.

Wondering what the benefits of dog-friendly motorhomes are? Check them out below. 

Why Choose Dog-Friendly Motorhomes?

1. No More Leaving Them At Home 

It’s difficult to push through with a family road adventure knowing that your dogs will be left behind. Even if you entrust them in the care of family-friends, there’s that tug in your heartstrings that keeps you and the party worried about them nonetheless. 

Not anymore. Let them tag along and enjoy the excursion with you, too! Not only will you be able to skip over the inconvenience of asking other people to watch over them while you’re gone, but you’ll also get to enjoy the journey without fretting over them minute by minute. 

2. Comfort Like Home 

People aren’t the only passengers that deserve travel comfort on the road. Your pawed buddies do, too. Unfortunately, most caravans aren’t suited for them. A number of caravan frames and facilities aren’t made to accommodate your loveable pets. 

This is where dog-friendly motorhomes take the spotlight. An innovation in motorhome interior design and structure, the amenities of such houses-on-wheels have been customized so that both people and pets can cruise on highways stress-free. 

There are spaces reserved for your dog’s bed from home. In fact, it’s recommended that you bring it along with you for your pet to feel all the more comfy and secure. Expert pet carers say that letting them rest on familiar beddings can ease their anxieties during trips. 

Then again, if they’re okay with the motorhome’s designated pet sleeping quarters, that’s fine, too.

3. Food Storage On-The-Go 

Preparing your pets’ meals and snacks when you’re on the move isn’t exactly simple. When dogs are used to eating from their favourite doggy bowls AND in their favorite corner of your abode, feeding them in a new and moving vehicle tends to be messy. 

Well, you’ll absolutely appreciate how there are separate dog food corners in pet-friendly caravans. And your furry buddy will love them, just as much! Simply place their own doggy bowls on any of the pet-designated areas of the vehicle (which is virtually every corner), and have them munch away at their yummy treats. 

Afterwards, said treats can be neatly set aside in built-in food cabinets, to create more space for them to leisure-and-lazy about.

4. Pet-Friendly Wash Area 

Several dog-friendly campers include dog-friendly toilets and wash areas. But fear not if yours doesn’t have this extra amenity. Most campers are still equipped with pet-washing gadgets. We’re talking about water storage facilities complete with hoses and showerheads, and the like, to ensure that cleaning up after your pets will be a breeze. 

5. Safe, Sound, And Secure 

If your cute doggies are the constantly-running-about playful type, there are options for caravans that come with their own dog-dens. You can safely secure them in these barred pet enclosures. And these enclosures can be customized according to your dogs’ overall build and height to further provide them with the relief of head and legroom throughout the voyage. 

Once the caravan is stationary and everyone’s ready to stretch their legs, you can open said enclosure to let your dog skedaddle around where you decide to park your motorhome.

How To Check If Your Water Is Safe Enough For Consumption

Clean and pure drinking water is a basic necessity that everybody needs. With the rising levels of pollutants and contaminants in water, this natural resource is gradually depleting. Though 70 percent of the Earth is made up of water, accessibility to clean drinking water is decreasing. Unsafe and contaminated drinking water leads to the poor health of the people consuming it. There are many ways in which you can check if the water you are drinking is safe for consumption or not. We have compiled a list of ways in which you can test the safety of your drinking water. 

Professional Lab Testing

If you get your water from a utility company or a city treatment plant, you are safe. It is mandatory for suppliers to test their water at least once a year. Most of them do it more often to pinpoint any problems before they occur. In case you get your water from a private source, you need to have it professionally tested at least once a year. Your local health department can provide you with a list of labs where you can send your water samples for testing. When ordering a professional test, you will be asked the reason why you want your water tested. Based on the reason, you will be given a set of instructions that need to be diligently followed if you want accurate results. Many labs send a technician to your house for the sample so you don’t have to bother with the instructions. To guarantee accuracy, use a sterilized container obtained from the lab. 

Check for Impurities

A simple way to check your water for impurities is by filling a glass three-quarters full with water after letting it run for a minute. If the water is safe, it will be crystal clear and you will be able to see your hand through it. If the water is cloudy with some particles floating in it, it is obviously not safe to drink. The calcium, magnesium, and other minerals present in hard water can make it appear cloudy. This water is usually safe for drinking but can be treated with a water softener to prevent any plumbing damage. 

Even if the water is not cloudy, it might be discolored. Brown water means dirt and other sediments. Rusty pipes result in red and orange colors in the water. Lead, which is a very toxic metal, gives a black color to your water. If there are algae in your water, it will have a green discoloration. 

There are many health departments that provide water consultation. If you happen to live in Tucson or the nearby areas, you can benefit from a free water consultation. Availing this opportunity can help prevent many diseases caused by water contamination. 

The smell is another indication of water purity. If there are bacteria in the water, it can have a distinct rotten egg or sulfur smell. A nail polish or varnish smell means some chemical may have leaked into your water. 

Even if the water is not cloudy or discolored, you should taste it too. Any bitter taste indicates the presence of metal in water which calls for a more complete test. Clean water should be tasteless. 

Use a Strip Kit for Testing

Water purity testing kits with reactive strips are easily found. The paper strips will change color based on the contaminants present in water. A readily available testing kit will take care of hardness, water pH, and levels. There are separate strips for different tests. A glass should be three-quarters filled with water. The strip must then be dropped in the water. After allowing it to absorb the water, keep it on a paper towel. Once the strip is dry, check the color with the color chart that comes with the instruction booklet. You can compare these results with the results obtained from testing safe water. If the water quality is not up to the mark, you can consider a more accurate and thorough test. 

Use a TDS Meter

A TDS meter (total dissolved solids) can be used to detect the presence of any dissolved solids in water. A clean glass should be filled three-quarters with water. Switch on the meter and then insert half an inch of it into the glass. A TDS meter will measure water in ppm or parts per million. If you get a reading of anything above 900, your water is not safe for drinking. Even a low TDS reading can indicate the absence of minerals. 

Unsafe, unhygienic, and contaminated water is the cause of many diseases. If the purity of water is maintained, it is a major step towards good health. Just following these steps can help you maintain the health of you and your family. So be vigilant and get the water you drink regularly tested. It goes a long way towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle.   

3 Digital Health Services We Should All Embrace

The way that medical facilities deliver healthcare has changed a lot over the last few years. Although many medical businesses were reluctant to move with the times, the recent pandemic has seen a big move towards digital health services.

If you want to stay fit and healthy, it’s important that you understand these innovations and how they can help you. Unless you change your approach to your health and embrace new technology, you are missing out on a lot of opportunities to prevent health problems. These are some of the ways that digital health services can benefit you. 

Artificial Intelligence Check-Ups 

As a general rule, it’s not a good idea to diagnose yourself after looking up symptoms online. However, there are some amazing artificial intelligence tools being developed, which can help you to diagnose problems from the comfort of your own home. You can use these online platforms to input your symptoms and answer some basic questions and it will then advise about possible causes and tell you what your next steps will be. They are not always accurate, but they can tell you whether you need to seek further advice from a doctor or not. This is so useful because there are a lot of health checkups people miss because they don’t have time to get to the doctor or they keep forgetting to book an appointment. But using an online tool to check your symptoms will let you know if you need to be concerned and encourage you to book an appointment. 

Virtual Appointments 

Seeing your doctor is easier than ever thanks to digital health tech. So many people neglect their health because they struggle to find time in their busy schedules to visit the doctor. But there are some great platforms, like VeeKast, which allow doctors to conduct virtual appointments from their own homes. So, you don’t need to worry about getting to the practice, you can have your appointment wherever suits you best. 

This technology also allows doctors to speak with patients in different medical facilities without having to worry about geographical restrictions. That means that patients always have access to the best possible medical advice, wherever they are. These virtual appointments have been so useful during the pandemic, but they will continue to be important in the years to come. 

Online Prescription Services 

Managing prescriptions can be quite inconvenient, but if you take medication on a regular basis, running out before you can fill your prescription again can be dangerous. Often, people struggle to get an appointment in time or they are traveling and forgot to fill their prescription before they left. The good news is, there are some great online prescription services where you can connect with a doctor and get your prescription there and then, and have the medication sent to your local pharmacy. 

Healthcare staffing platforms

Okay, this one is really for the healthcare professionals: finding a job in the healthcare industry can be challenging, and feeling like you're fitting in within the business you're working at is even more complicated, which is why nowadays there are numerous healthcare staffing companies which can give you a hand with this search. Whether you're a nurse, farmacist or a physician looking for a job, these platforms do not only offer ""classic"" full-time positions but they can also help placing you in locum tenens assignments, so get an account set up and find your next job quickly and easily.

The healthcare industry is changing a lot, which means that there are new opportunities for you to look after your health. If you want to stay healthy as you get older, it’s important that you embrace digital health services.

Why are Reliable AR Recovery Services Important for Your Medical Lab?

Are you feeling frustrated with the constant revenue leakage in your laboratory practice? Or, your accounts receivable system is not working properly? If yes, then you must analyze the performance of your ar recovery services. If the performance is not satisfactory, you should adopt innovative solutions to streamline your recovery process. 

The success of a lab practice is in the hands of the accounts receivable team. Because they are responsible for tracking the complete journey of a medical claim, e.g. from its preparation to submission. They closely monitor the entire revenue cycle process to make sure that there are no coding errors, documentation mistakes, or incomplete or incorrect information. And, in this context, a laboratory information system can play a crucial role by efficiently managing data and ensuring accurate information is provided for claims submissions. When these factors are in line, it can prevent claim denials and allow laboratory practitioners to maintain a steady cash flow.

The accounts receivable process undoubtedly has a significant role in the financial stability of a lab business. But still many healthcare providers ignore its importance and may handover this process to untrained employees or those who are already doing other administrative tasks. In such a situation, they can’t concentrate on the overall billing and recovery process and end up with a slow revenue cycle. 

No doubt, the accounts receivable process is time-consuming and complicated, but it can not be taken for granted. Moreover, the laboratory technician will never want to leave their hard-earned revenue uncollected. Therefore it is crucial for them to pay attention to optimizing the medical account receivable collections. 

For this purpose, the step they can take is outsourcing accounts receivable services. Because the off-shore team will eliminate your administrative burden and you will get enough time to enhance your patients’ experience. Which also improves the reputation of your lab practice. In addition to this, by outsourcing claims recovery services you can also save money on operational costs. 

Because it offers many benefits. Here’s how a reliable ar recovery team make it easier for lab practitioners to optimize their earnings. 

 1. Quick and Transparent Collections

Uncollected payments are one of the major challenges that healthcare providers have to face. Because it affects the revenue cycle management drastically. However,   you can overcome this issue. You just need to invest in a dedicated as well as well-experienced ar recovery team and resourceful technology.  

The responsible employees automate your accounts receivables that are overdue by a month or two or even a year.  They adopt innovative account receivable solutions to recover those thousands of millions of uncollected dollars.   They also offer flexible payment options. So patients can pay their dues without facing any complications.

One of the best aspects of ar recovery services is transparency.  It should be the prime concern of all laboratory practitioners.  The highly-trained recovery team provides analytical reports to keep healthcare providers updated with the ongoing progress in the accounts receivable collections.  

They also use innovative tools to ensure smooth information flow between the patients and laboratory technicians. Moreover, ar recovery employees undergo constant training to stay informed with the latest trends in the healthcare industry. So with the blend of intensive industry experience and knowledge, the recovery team streamlines the payment collections in a timely manner. 

 2. Effective Denial Management

The submission of erroneous claims is the main factor that hinders the streamlined cash flow. Because the optimization of revenue cycle management depends on the submission of clean claims. But due to the complications in the lab billing process, the rate of denied claims has been increased.     

However, well-experienced accounts receivable recovery employees come up with effective strategies to keep the denial rate at its lower end. They have access to advanced tracking software, that keeps them updated with the current status of the submitted claim.

If a claim is rejected or denied, the recovery team identifies the root causes behind claim denial and appeals the claim after complete rectification. It’s pertinent to mention here that the most common reasons behind claim denial are including incorrect or incomplete patient information, submission of duplicated claims, coding errors, and wrong information about insurance policies. 

As a result, they successfully streamline the medical accounts receivable system and help lab practitioners to achieve their financial goals. Moreover, the medical accounts receivable experts not only manage the denied claims effectively but also build possible strategies to prevent such occurrences in the future. 

 3. Streamlines Cash Flow 

A laboratory practice cannot survive for a long time period without achieving optimization of the revenue cycle. And with the help of reliable claims recovery services, you can minimize claim denials, maximize reimbursements, and can collect the overdue payments timely. All these factors collectively play a crucial role in streamlining the cash flow. 

Laboratory Billing is an industry-leading lab billing company in the United States. Which provides custom-tailored ar recovery services to improve the revenue cycle of your lab practice.