Mediation is increasingly being used as an alternative to costly and drawn out trials. People who specialize in mediation use an arbitration process to help two parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement without the use of judges and courts. Besides the huge legal costs involved in court cases, mediation has the main benefit of bringing two parties together in a forum that allows for discussion and agreement rather than hostility. The nature of the trial itself, which pits two parties against each other tends to bring out resentment and divisiveness, and if the trial involves a large company, not only the litigators are affected, but the employees, the shareholders, and the public image of the company and people involved as well. There are a few good ethical guidelines that mediators are required to follow, and there is one especially important legal caveat that must be followed. Mediators primarily help people resolve disputes. They try to foster communication between two parties by facilitating understanding, and they attempt to look for common ground on which to base the parties' agreements. Unlike the legal process, mediation is entirely voluntary, which is one of the reasons why mediation tends to yield better results than trials. First and foremost, a mediator is responsible for making sure that everyone knows what the mediator's role is in the process. A mediator will also ensure that everyone knows exactly how the process will unfold and what the terms of the settlement are for both parties. This keeps the process transparent and ensures that everyone feels they have equal footing in the process and that no one is gaining an unfair advantage by virtue of the fact that a mediation is taking place at all. Mediators will also let both parties know the likely court outcome should the process fail to reach an agreement between both parties. Having gotten the two parties to sit down, it is very important that a mediator work to keep the dynamic of the process focused on the voluntary nature of the proceedings. Sometimes in the case of mediation that is ordered by the courts, one party may feel that it is an involuntary process, and a mediator who is sensitive to this dynamic will explore every way to ensure that all parties feel equally empowered throughout the process. It goes without saying that for any given mediation process a mediator should be prepared. However, this extends to providing all proper documentation and information to both parties at all stages of the process. For the mediator who is physically or mentally unable to meet this requirement, or for the mediator who feels that they cannot prepare adequately, ethically they are required to recuse themselves from the process. Confidentiality is crucial to a mediated dispute. The mediator is required to explain all of the rules, laws, and agreements that are incumbent on the process and that prohibit the sharing outside of the mediation any offer, document, or statement made within the mediation process. The mediator has to maintain the confidences of all parties, and they especially are required to ensure the confidentiality of any third parties that may be involved. This includes using information for personal gain or for leverage in the mediation process. Mediation works far better in most cases as an alternative to trials. It can save a lot of money. It also works well to build personal relationships between disputing parties, and best of all it saves time.
Kara Martin blogs for criminal justice sites. Her most recent blogs cover criminal justice jobs and blogs on how to become a mediator.

Containment: Delivering Cost-Effective Healthcare on a Budget

Few issues are as politically-charged as the ever-rising cost of American healthcare. The average cost of healthcare in the United States is high relative to its developed-nation peers: The World Health Organization reports that total American health spending approached 17 percent of GDP in 2009, the year before the passage of the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Despite assurances from the law's supporters that it would reduce healthcare costs over the long term, many of its provisions won't be implemented for years. Meanwhile, according to another WHO report, the American healthcare as a whole consistently produces mediocre patient outcomes. Many providers and health systems now recognize the urgency of this situation and are fighting to control their costs while improving these outcomes.

The Importance of Affordable Insurance

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, some 45 million Americans lack health insurance. Most of the individuals and families that forgo insurance are either self-employed or work for smaller firms that choose not to provide health insurance for their employees.
While families with very low incomes enjoy access to Medicaid, a government-run insurance program that provides a valuable safety net for vulnerable members of society, higher earners are prohibited from joining its rolls. As the cost of purchasing individual health coverage on the open market is prohibitive for all but the most affluent slice of the American populace, thousands of middle-income families and individuals without access to employer-sponsored coverage must raid their life savings each year to pay "out-of-pocket" for major medical procedures.

Health Insurance Exchanges

Part of the Affordable Care Act, state-level health insurance exchanges aim to decrease the cost of health insurance for individuals by increasing the transparency of a notoriously opaque industry. Exchanges allow healthcare consumers to compare the plans available in their state, weighing their costs against their coverages. They also look to streamline the process of applying for tax credits or enrolling in state-run health programs.

Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

In recent years, folks with "pre-existing" health conditions like diabetes or heart disease have found it increasingly difficult to find affordable insurance coverage. Since these people must regularly consume healthcare services in order to remain healthy, they represent a major piece of the cost-containment puzzle: If the cost of their care can be managed down, increasing the financial strength of their insurance providers, premiums for those without pre-existing conditions should drop as well. The ACA's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP, aims to achieve this goal by factoring pre-existing conditions out of its premium calculations.

Accountable Care Organizations

The primary function of Accountable Care Organizations is to maintain detailed records of care quality and patient outcomes across participating providers. This information is available to public and private insurers, which use it to determine payouts and conduct cost-benefit analyses of various providers. ACOs reinforce success: Providers with better patient outcomes and more favorable quality-of-care ratings are reimbursed at higher rates and ultimately receive more referrals.
It's been obvious for some time that American healthcare costs are growing at an unsustainable rate. Healthcare delivery is complex, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to cutting costs and broadening access. Ultimately, it will take a mixture of public and private initiatives like ACOs, the PCIP, and health insurance exchanges to improve patient outcomes without increasing an already undue burden.
Nathan West is a full-time writer for higher ed blogs and journals nationwide. Several schools offer degrees in the health field, including healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu and www.berkeley.edu.

A solar powered water heating system can be a great addition to a home, especially for someone initially considering adopting solar power. It provides a relatively easy starting point which is long lasting and manageable from a maintenance standpoint. Although there are a number or factors that one should consider before installing a solar powered water heating system, one should understand the basic solar power components and the different options that are available to the consumer. Some of these solar components will need to be matched with the climate of the consumer's location, since factors like sunlight allocation and freezing can have a big impact on the performance of the solar collector.

                  The solar powered water heating system consists of two basic components. The storage unit stores the water either alone or with a backup conventional hot water heater. The other unit, the solar collector, draws its power from the conversion of sunlight into electricity, the power from which in turn is converted into heat energy that heats the water. Depending on the system that the individual has in place, the solar heating system can be a relatively simple addition to an existing water heating system, or it can be a new standalone unit. Either system can be made to use an on demand delivery, which can in turn make the already efficient solar system even more efficient.

                 There are essentially three types of solar collectors that are used for residential applications. They vary somewhat, but there essential difference is their function in relation to freezing conditions. A flat plate collector is a solar collector that consists of an insulated, weather proofed box that contains a dark absorbent plate under one or more glass or polymer covers. These kind of solar collectors are typically glazed. This kind of solar collector is made to be installed outside the home, and consideration should be made for freezing conditions. Freezing conditions can damage the components and make the system less effective at generating heat. An unglazed flat plate collector can also be used, and is better suited for very warm climates.
Batch systems are the second kind of solar collectors used for solar water heating systems. They feature one or more black tanks that are contained in an insulated, glazed box. Also called integral collector storage systems, these systems allow cold water to pass through the solar collector where it is preheated. The heated water then continues to a conventional water heater. These kinds of systems are best used in mid freeze climates since the pipes can freeze and become damaged.

                  Evacuated tube solar collectors are the third kind of solar collectors. They contain parallel rows of transparent glass tubes, and each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorbing tube that is attached to a glazed fin. The fin's coating absorbs solar energy but helps to inhibit radiative heat loss. These kind of systems are used more frequently. Adopting solar power can be a big transformation for the home. If the consumer considers their options carefully, there are plenty of systems to fit their needs.

Sisily West writes for http://www.exclusiv-home.de/#solaranlagen where you can read more about solar collectors.