The Ultimate Country Christmas

There is nothing better than the sights, tastes and excitement of the holiday season. If you can’t wait to get the good times rolling, a short stroll up Interstate 24 will get you in the holiday spirit. With more square footage than any other resort on the planet (possibly the galaxy), Gaylord Opryland Resort makes it possible to bring in the holidays without going bankrupt. Unless you’re set on it. Then there’s enough shopping around to put you well into the hole.

Wondering what it offers for you and yours? Read on to find out.

Food
He says: Amazing. Simply amazing. From the buffet breakfast with more options than could possibly be taken advantage of to the incredible dinner entrées, every meal is A) exciting and B) memorable. With their team of renowned chefs, cheese and wine pros and pastry creators, finding a bad meal inside the confines of the resort is as likely as looking up and not seeing a Christmas ornament.

She says: If you’re in the mood for a family style dinner consisting of a variety of Christmas season comfort foods, then get your tickets to The Louise Mandrell Joy to the World Christmas Dinner and Show. The menu was designed by Gaylord Opryland Executive Chef Michael Swann, who worked with Mandrell to create a delicious meal made of Mandrell’s holiday favorites. And what better after-dinner entertainment can you find than the talented Christian country singer and performer Louise Mandrell and her band as they lead you on a joyful Christmas journey around the world. By the time it’s all said and done, you feel like part of Mandrell’s family. And it’s a pretty good family to belong to.

He says: And we can’t forget the green eggs and ham. That’s right. If you visit on a weekend, ask about having breakfast with the Grinch and chowing down on green eggs and ham. The idea of green eggs wasn’t too appealing to me, but plenty of other people dug in.

ICE!
He says: Any time there are 1.5 million pounds of ice to look at, it’s going to be impressive. If the ice is colored and carved into various characters from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it’s magical. That is exactly what ICE! is. Before entering, you’re given a parka, which seemed like little more than a thick raincoat. Granted, you’re walking through a nine-degree ice sculpture exhibit, so even the thickest coat will only cut the cold so much.

There’s also an ice slide to slide down. While the exhibit is a bit short for the price, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so take it while you can. As this marks the final year for the Grinch to be found in ICE!, this is also your last time to chill with the Grinch.

She says: I have never seen anything like ICE! in my life. It is definitely a one-of-a-kind exhibit. It was fascinating to see the animated creatures from Dr. Seuss’ beloved Christmas story intricately carved out of colorful blocks of solid ice! It is a sight both kids and adults can enjoy for sure. Just when you think the exhibit of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is over, you’re in for a nice surprise in the last section. It is a dazzling, sparkling, larger-than-life Nativity scene made out of solid clear ice. It was easily my favorite part of the exhibit.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
She says: It was exciting to see the world-famous Rockettes in their holiday show, which has been entertaining captive audiences for the past 76 years! It was a non-stop production filled with dancing, singing, beautiful costumes and amazing scenery. The Rockettes were extremely talented, with every move synchronized with each other. After seeing former Rockettes perform on movies like Annie, it was fun to see them in person.

He says: They kick, they dance, they sing – and they do it all flawlessly. ‘Tis a rare event to see so many people move as a single unit, and the Rockettes did it from start to finish. I didn’t think I’d enjoy the show too much, but once it started, I couldn’t wipe the goofy grin off my face. If you’ve seen the Rockettes, you realize there’s nothing like them. If you’ve never seen them or it’s been a few years, they’ll be on stage through the holidays in Nashville. Don’t miss your chance.

Gingerbread Houses
He says: One of the cool things Gaylord Opryland offers this year are classes to learn how to make awesome gingerbread houses. No, mine wasn’t awesome, but at least it didn’t fall apart.

She says: That’s not nice.

He says: Sorry. But it didn’t. And I didn’t say yours did. For anyone planning to attend the gingerbread class or make a gingerbread house at home, a word of advice: Don’t weigh your roof down with heavy candies or Frosted Mini-Wheats. More than likely, the rest of your house won’t be able to handle the weight. But if you go to Opryland, the fine folks there will be kind enough to help you rebuild time and again.

Spa

She says: What better way to pamper yourself this holiday season than to relax at Tennessee’s largest spa located at the Gaylord Opryland Resort? Relâche offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a time of peace and renewal during this stressful time of year. This full-service spa was definitely a haven of relaxation for me. I highly recommend the organic cranberry pomegranate facial.

He says: After spending a while attempting to pronounce the spa (we figured it was a hip way to spell “relax”), we got down to business. This holiday season, they’re offering a holiday special, which includes a facial, body scrub and pedicure. If you’re like me and tend to kick if your feet are touched, skip the pedicure.

Fuse

He says: All my life, I’ve avoided dance clubs, and now I know why. I can’t dance. But it was fun watching people bust a move. Gaylord Opryland recently opened Fuse, and the club is marketed as a Las Vegas club experience. Never been to Vegas, so I can’t compare, but I was uncomfortable enough to know I was in a dance environment. However, everyone else seemed comfortable moving and grooving in public – including the guy with his leg hiked up on a handrail to stretch before hitting the dance floor – so I had plenty of entertainment.

She says: If you love music and dancing, Fuse is a great place to go. So grab your friends, a drink and an appetizer and dance the night away!

Get more about Gaylord Opryland Resort’s Country Christmas at GaylordHotels.com. Special thanks to the fine folks at Gaylord Opryland who treated us to the finest weekend of dining, wining, entertaining and lodging we have ever experienced during the Christmas season.

Published at Chattanoogan.com.

Comic Creations

Donning a burly beard and a hooded sweatshirt, the 6-foot, 4-inch, 230-pound Skottie Young looks like one of his own creations. From the day he came to Bristol, Young was known as the kid who carried a sketchbook in his hand, creating new superheroes and villains, or recreating classic ones with the stroke of a pencil.

Five years ago, Young turned his passion into a full-time job and began penciling, inking and coloring for comics giant Marvel. A 1996 Tennessee High graduate, Young took his first job and a sizable step into the art world when he was only 15. That’s when his art teacher recommended him for a job drawing advertisement signs for 13 area Big Lots stores. With his own office and a nonstop supply of markers, Young drew copies of the same sign, over and over, for all 13 Big Lots – a task he enjoyed immensely at the time.

“I was a slave,” Young said laughing. “I look back and say, ‘Why didn’t they tell me to draw it once and then take it to Kinko’s or something?’”

Following high school graduation, Young began working a second job. During the day, he waited tables at Chaco’s and at night, he penned signs at Big Lots. Little more than a year later, Young packed his art supplies and returned to his native Chicago. While readjusting to life in the windy city, Young bought his first computer. He got connected to the Internet and started a Web site with other artists to promote all of their art.

Then, Young’s big break came. Attending his first comic book convention, Young put his portfolio in front of the right person. The rest, as they say, is history.

“Sometimes I tell people I wish the story was more romantic,” he said. “I drew a lot – I did that part, but as far as really knocking on the door of the comic book industry? I didn’t even know where the door was to go knocking. I feel like I had a little bit of luck mixed with a little bit of skill, and over the years I’ve tried to get better at the skill part.”

Since starting with Marvel, his skill has indeed increased. He’s drawn Spider-Man, Venom and his favorite project, a reincarnated version of New Warriors. Unfortunately, Bristol’s favorite comic artist has a hard time making his way back to visit due to the demands of his job. Every time he makes it to town, he insists it’s a breath of fresh air.

“When you’re living in Bristol, you don’t ever think it’s pretty,” he said. “Going back there to visit, with the roaming hills and mountains, you realize it’s actually kind of beautiful.”

A TIP FROM THE PRO
As he makes his way through various comic conventions, Tennessee High graduate Skottie Young comes in contact with hundreds of aspiring artists who want to find out how to become the next big thing in comics. When asked how to tell whether a young artist has what it takes, Young said, “The best ones that I see understand anatomy, they understand structure of the body, they understand perspective, they understand depth of field and they understand storytelling.”

In other words, if you want to find yourself in Young’s shoes, pay attention in art class and practice.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: To find out more about Skottie Young or to contact him, visit www.skottieyoung.com. Young’s work is on stands at Mountain Empire Comics in Bristol and Johnson City, and other shops.

Published in the Bristol Herald-Courier.

Colour Revolt: Rock Stars in Schoolboy Clothing

Forget Jack Black and his elementary School of Rock. This is the real deal. Welcome to Lessons in Musical Success, presented by the five guys who make up the Oxford, MS, sensation known as Colour Revolt. So grab a seat and keep a pen and plenty of paper handy. Class is in session.

Lesson One: Musical Voice
If you had met the boys of Colour Revolt during high school, you would have never guessed they’d find their way into their current mold. At the time, they were called Fletcher, played “math rock with melody” and listened to a lot of Foo Fighters and Nirvana. Soon after, they hit the music store with a mission.

There, they bulked up their musical knowledge and record collections with old Dylan, Neutral Milk Motel and other far-ranging musical acts. The only limitation to their expanding horizons was their local record stores’ offerings. As a result, their musical tastes changed, and it became apparent that it was time to move to new ground with their own creativity.

“The whole musical world opened up to us,” explains guitarist Jimmy Cajoleas, when asked about their self-directed musical education, “and we wanted to write music that reflected more of who we are.”

That reflection is more difficult to define than their early material as Fletcher. Colour Revolt is slower and doesn’t change tempo as erratically as Fletcher. There is also a newfound darkness that seeps through Colour Revolt. Pinning them down into one genre is nearly impossible. Hence why they describe their sound as “rock,” and let everyone else make judgment calls.

Lesson Two: Hit the Books and Move On
Currently, the majority of Colour Revolt’s schooling takes place in the classroom. All but one member are seniors at the University of Mississippi (drummer Len Clark has already graduated), and each member’s goals are basically the same. Following graduation, Cajoleas, Clark, Jesse Coppenbarger (vocals and guitar), Sean Kirkpatrick (guitar) and Drew Mellon (bass) plan to put their various degrees on the shelf. They’ll then do what every college graduate wants to do.

“I’m an English major. I read books and go talk about them,” Cajoleas explains. “It’s pretty fun, but I’m looking forward to making the band a full-time thing, and it should happen soon.”

Lesson Three: Keep the Balls in the Air
Soon is Spring 2007. At that time, they’ll all be finished hitting the books and will start hitting the road. Until then, they’ve got a lot to balance. Like full loads at school. Cooking and cleaning for a sorority house on campus. Girlfriends for some. And the band. They toured with Brand New during the summer, had their debut EP redistributed by Tiny Evil and placed in numerous Hot Topic stores, practice three times every week for four hours at a time and play shows every chance they get.

As unlikely as it may seem, the balance hasn’t proven too tough.

“We play shows all weekend and I have three papers due next week. You know, I’ll get them done. It’s not that bad,” Cajoleas says over a laugh. And then adds, “I don’t sleep.”

Lesson Four: Depend on Friends
The Colour Revolt boys are quick to admit they’re not solely responsible for maintaining the balance. They give much of the credit to their manager and long-time friend, Palmer Houchins.

“Palmer just takes things over, and he kind of took over booking for our band and did a great job. He turned out to be really competent. He’s one year older than me,” the 21-year old Cajoleas says. “He has no real idea what he’s doing, but he’s doing a fantastic job. I have so much respect for that.”

For Colour Revolt, Houchins was the ideal pick for a manager. He got his start in the music world in high school. His efforts in putting on successful all-ages shows in Jackson, MS, made it clear that he and Cajoleas were “kindred spirits.” After a few years of friendship with everyone in the band, Houchins gradually (or suddenly – no one is quite sure how it happened) took over booking.

According to Cajoleas, it was a natural development. Because the relationship began as friendship, there was no need for a written contract or job description. Houchins simply does what needs to be done. He bleeds Colour Revolt, loves the guys in the band and wants to help out. He works for nearly nothing and as the band picks up steam, he grows in expertise, taking on added responsibilities. During his tenure, Houchins has booked shows, talked to press people and haggled with representatives at Tiny Evil over the details concerning the redistribution of the band’s self-titled EP. If it weren’t for Houchins, it’s doubtful that the self-admitted poor communicators in Colour Revolt would be gaining national attention and playing venues as far away as Portland, Oregon.

Lesson Five: Get a Technique
However, as most bands know, being creative can be trying. Regarding their writing process, Cajoleas is blunt. “[Songwriting] is one of the most irritating things in the world.”

Irritating? They spend hours on end jamming on a single riff. For a non-jam band, it doesn’t get much more painful. But it’s how Colour Revolt has always operated as a unit. One member (typically Coppenbarger or Kirkpatrick) brings a part to practice. It may be a string of notes; it’s occasionally only two. The band then tinkers with different keys and time signatures until it “feels right.” Once that point has been reached, they move on to the next part. Thanks to this painstaking process, it’s not easy for a Colour Revolt song to come to complete fruition. No wonder Cajoleas won’t say when they expect to have enough material for a full-length album.

Lesson Six: Smell the Flowers
Despite the frustrations of penning songs at a slow pace, Colour Revolt is careful to enjoy the scenery in all circumstances. They love Mississippi, live for the next show and shake their head in disbelief when they talk about working with sought-after producers Matt Goldman and Clay Jones.

Beyond their undying admiration for the ordinary and extraordinary, the band has a unique perspective and understanding of their position as musicians. They don’t expect everyone to get – or like – what they’re doing. When someone does happen to pay attention and seem interested in the music they produce, they’re thrilled.

“You write a song. It’s your heart, what you sincerely think and feel,” Cajoleas says. “To expect people to love that? It’s beyond arrogant. It’s always an act of faith and courtesy for your listener to give you the time of day. No one ever deserves that. You don’t ever want to forget that if people listen to you, it’s a blessing.”

Lesson Seven: Avoid the Celebrity Slump
Sure, getting a record deal would be great. A solid one would make it unnecessary for the members of Colour Revolt to look for real jobs when they’re done with school. However, moderate success that pays the bills and allows for an occasional splurge would be enough to content Cajoleas. For those seeking limelight and fame, Cajoleas offers these final words of wisdom.

“I want to do Colour Revolt for a living, but I don’t want to hobnob with celebrities,” Cajoleas admits. “It just makes you weird and affected and makes you write bad pop songs. It’s what history has shown. People who hang out with celebrities always write bad songs.”

Class dismissed.

Published in Southeast Performer.

Into the Underground Scene?

Caving may not be the most popular sport around, but caving enthusiasts are fine with that. To be frank, they’re quite glad about the relative anonymity of their sport, which protects their beloved hidden places from damage.

Taking his first caving trip accidentally in 1960 at the age of 12, Bruce Smith was immediately hooked. Now the proud owner of On Rope 1, Inc., in Harrison, Tenn., Smith is consulted by practically everyone making a movie or writing a book concerning caving.

“I joined an Explorer Group because I wanted to get into sailing. The first meeting we put the boats away, and I was told they go caving in the winter. My first reaction was, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’” he recalls with a laugh nearly 40 years later. “But I never did go sailing.”

Heather Garland’s story is similar. A biologist working for the Tennessee chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Garland began her career surveying her first loves—frogs, toads, and salamanders. However, when a grant was received to hire someone to study caves full time, she jumped at the chance.

“I was at the right place at the right time,” she says, while gathering rocks on the side of a highway in Rutherford County, Tenn. “I began learning as much as I could about caves—what lives in them and how the ecosystem of caves works. It was learning by necessity, but I was already interested in caves, so learning more about them was fun.”

DISCOVERING CAVES
Caving almost every weekend since the early 1980s, Alan Cressler, technician with the U.S. Geological Survey, has been in more than 3,500 caves across the globe. From warm Puerto Rican caves to the deepest cave in the world located near the Black Sea, Cressler caves for personal satisfaction and regularly as an assistant for a National Geographic photographer.

Despite having traveled the globe to crawl and rappel into caves, Cressler’s work with the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Department in Knoxville still gets him excited.

“One of my passions is cave archaeology. As we’re learning, prehistoric humans used caves a lot in the Southeast, so there are always new discoveries to be made,” he explains. “These people walked for miles into caves and used them for shelter, to perform ceremonies, to draw images on the walls, to remove resources, and sometimes just to look around. It’s truly fascinating.”

On Rope 1, Inc., employee Wm Shrewsbury makes his way to a cave two or three times a month. For Shrewsbury, who has traveled as far as Borneo to find a good cave, the most exciting part of caving isn’t discovering why other people used caves. Rather, his biggest thrill is going where no man has gone before.

“When you’re caving, you can feel like you’re completely separated from the rest of the world, but it’s not meant to be a solitary sport,” Shrewsbury says. “Some enjoy mountain biking, others like to climb. For me, I like to cave. It’s just a fun thing to do, and caving with other people makes the experience safer and more fun.”

Garland couldn’t agree more with Cressler and Shrewsbury.

“You think you know it all,” she says, “and then something new pops up.”

The things that have popped up for Garland include nearly a dozen newly discovered species of invertebrates such as millipeds. And no, that’s not a misspelling.

“Cave biologists spell millipede without the final ‘e’. I don’t know why they do it,” Garland admits. “I’ve just been told to spell it that way.”

CAVERS TO THE RESCUE
Along with being avid cavers, Smith, Shrewsbury, and Alison Falinski are all part of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Service Cave/Cliff Rescue Unit. Most people on the team caved for years, were part of an unorganized cave rescue effort, and wanted the satisfaction of being part of an organization dedicated to helping injured or lost cavers escape the certain death that awaits those trapped underground.

Falinski, however, had never gone caving before being asked to join the Cave/Cliff Rescue Unit eight years ago.

“My husband and I used to whitewater canoe a lot. Beth Elliott, a friend in our Paddling Club, said the Cave/Cliff Rescue Unit needed a medic. Since I was a physician’s assistant, Beth said I would be perfect,” Falinski recalls. “I told Beth I had never been caving, but she didn’t care. She said she would change that.”

And she did. After only one trip, Falinski was in love with caving. Over the years, Falinski has assisted in a number of rescues. And while being called out on a rescue is exciting, everyone on the team is glad the rescue business is slowing down. Much of this is due to cavers being more educated and using higher-quality equipment.

Here are a few reasons the Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue Service Cave/Cliff Rescue Unit may need to perform a rescue and how potential cavers can avoid needing rescue:
• inability to communicate with others due to loud waterfalls or other natural phenomena, which can be remedied by communicating with hand signals or walkie talkies
• not knowing the way around a cave and getting lost, which can be remedied by becoming familiar with the layout of the cave before entering and referring to a map frequently
• slipping into a pit due to improper footwear, which can be remedied with a good pair of boots and constant precaution
• having poor communication, which can be remedied with clear words such as “stop” and “go” instead of “oh, wait a second, hey, ho,” etc.

SAVING THE CAVES
“Our nation’s caves are very much at risk, because they’re affected by all that happens to the surface above them,” Garland says.

Since caves are practically everywhere you turn in the xRegion (there are more than 8,000 documented in Tennessee alone, more than any other state), you can never let your guard down. Caves get damaged in a variety of ways. Careless cavers may leave trash in a cave or disrupt a cave’s walls, potentially creating a domino effect that will cause increased erosion over time. Small holes that lead into caves may get closed up, causing creatures to be unable to enter caves. As cave-dwelling creatures depend on these holes for food, this can be devastating.

To help preserve caves, a group called the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi), was created. Governed by an elected group of board members, the SCCi’s sole purpose is to buy and conserve caves. If a private landowner wants to keep a cave in his or her own possession, the SCCi will lease the cave from the landowner. By leasing the cave, the SCCi assumes responsibility for protection of the cave and works with landowners who don’t want to sell or donate their caves to the SCCi on liability issues.

Thanks to the SCCi, caves, cavers, and landowners are protected.

What can you do to help save caves? Be responsible.

“Very little water travels through the xRegion without passing through a cave at some time,” emphasizes Garland. “Therefore, everything you do that may tamper with the water supply in your area may ultimately affect cave life. Pollution such as pesticides and sediment can find its way into water traveling through caves, so be very careful what you toss out your window and sprinkle on your grass.”

For more information on the SCCi’s efforts, visit www.SCCi.org or call (615) 585-5277. To learn more about all aspects of caving, visit the National Speleological Society at www.caves.org or call (256) 852-1300.

Published in xplor.

Overcoming the Odds

Born on April 10, 2000, Sebastian Alonso seemed to be in good shape. He was 19.5 inches long, weighed 3.5 pounds and spent only four hours on a ventilator—pretty impressive for a baby born 11 weeks premature. But that was only the first test for young Sebastian.

Before their son’s inaugural homecoming, new parents Esther Rivera and Carlos Alonso were told Sebastian needed to see a neurologist. During their visit, Sebastian was diagnosed with a severe case of cerebral palsy, a condition that causes difficulty with muscle control. In Sebastian’s case, it would make it nearly impossible to pass key milestones like chewing solid foods and walking.

“A specialist in the community said my son would never be normal,” Esther recalls, “so I never went to him again.”

Instead, the Hialeah resident took Sebastian to a rehabilitation center in Miami, where she eventually learned of a procedure offered at Miami Children’s Hospital that would change Sebastian’s life forever.

MOVING FORWARD
Only a little later than his peers, Sebastian learned to walk using a walker. As he walked, Sebastian’s legs moved in a scissor-like motion, causing his body to droop close to the floor. After a lot of research, encouragement from Sebastian’s physical therapist, and a meeting with Glenn Morrison, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon on staff at Miami Children’s, Esther decided selective dorsal rhizotomy could benefit her 4-year-old son.

“Before I met Dr. Morrison, I was very nervous about the procedure,” Esther admits. “However, the way the doctor explained it and his calm, friendly manner helped me relax, and I realized Sebastian would be in good hands.”

PROCEEDING TO A BETTER LIFE
During selective dorsal rhizotomy, a one- to two-inch incision is made in the lower back. Through this hole, the surgeon can view the sensory nerve fibers running from the muscles to the spinal cord. Those nerve fibers responsible for creating the muscle tightness are cut, relieving tension in the affected limbs. The incision is then closed with special surgical glue.

“Sebastian was a good candidate to see positive results from the procedure as he didn’t have an excessive amount of spasticity,” says Dr. Morrison. “For maximum benefit, patients have to undergo intense physical therapy afterwards. Sebastian’s mom made sure her son did that, and Sebastian has reaped the benefits as a result.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE
Since undergoing his operation last summer at the ripe age of 4, Sebastian has started walking again—now with proper posture—and has hopes of one day running with his 18-month-old sister, Rebecca, without his walker. He is fluent in Spanish and English, has a love of the arts, attends Miami Springs Elementary and has started eating solid foods.

“There is not a word in the English language to show how grateful I am for the surgery Sebastian underwent,” Esther says. “I want to say ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ to all the staff at Miami Children’s who helped my son. It’s the best thing that could ever have happened to him.

Published in Miami Children's Hospital's Children's Gazette.

The Cost of Consumerism

A well-dressed man steps up to the counter.

“Can I help you, sir?” asks the young clerk.

“Yes,” starts the customer. “I’ll have a knee replacement and a screening colonoscopy.”

“That’ll be $126,972, sir,” the cashier says. The customer pulls out his credit card and fulfills the transaction for medical care at his community hospital.

Seem a bit unrealistic? While health care hasn’t quite gone the way of retail stores, restaurants, or other service-focused industries, it is taking slow steps in that direction. With the growing availability of information on hospital quality and caregiver performance, it was only a matter of time until patients (or potential patients) use this information to make their healthcare decisions.

“With the advent of high-deductible healthcare plans, patients are more involved in their healthcare decisions than they’ve ever been,” says Gregory M. Snow, MPM, vice-president, revenue cycle at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania, who participated in a ground-breaking study, Consumerism in Health Care. “Because of this development, pricing transparency, quality of care, and service will all grow in importance over the next few years.”

QUALITY IN EFFECT
Gone are the days when a hospital could be marketed without mentioning JCAHO. Now, if you’re going to claim your hospital offers unparalleled cardiac care or makes sure every patient is 100-percent satisfied, you better have the research to prove it. With online resources and the array of accreditation and evaluation agencies, potential patients can scope out your hospital’s track record well before setting foot inside of the physical facility.

To entice patients to take advantage of this new power, the information is free and can be accessed in the comfort of their own homes. While quality information is currently more readily available than pricing, the two will have to merge for a complete picture of all aspects of a patient’s care. As you may have suspected, that day is today.

AVOIDING STICKER SHOCK
Ask any patient in the hospital if he wants to know how much a CT scan costs. He may raise an eyebrow at your question, but he’ll likely say yes. Soon, that same patient won’t only want to know how much a medical procedure costs; he’ll demand it. Of course, you don’t have to disclose the cost—but he also doesn’t have to choose your hospital. That’s the price transparency that consumerism in health care is bringing about.

Consider this if the idea of price transparency makes you a bit queasy. When you walk into a grocery store or outlet mall or log onto an online music service, you know how much your tomatoes, new outfit, and Jennifer Lopez single is going to cost. By making medical costs known upfront, patients are treated as customers, and they’re given the same information they would have access to at any retail store.

“You can sit there and say you’re not going to tell people what procedures cost, but you don’t really have a choice,” warns Snow. “This is going to be implemented in hospitals across the nation within the next two years, and if you’re not onboard, you’re going to lose patients and possibly be unable to keep your hospital financially sound.”

DRAWING THE LINE
The contrast is stark between the old days of medicine and the new ones. Now, patients often do their own research and don’t rely on their caregivers as their only link to medical knowledge. Soon, more hospitals, like those in Geisinger Health System, will begin coupling access to quality information with immediate and relevant pricing information. This leaves healthcare marketers with three aspects to promote: quality, service, and price.

“As consumerism continues to spread and gradually be the norm in the medical world, quality—not price—will rule the equation for consumers,” says Eric Silberman, business development professional at True North Custom Publishing. “When it comes to having blood work done, price may wholly drive the decision. However, when something like vascular surgery enters the picture, my expectation is that consumers won’t care what it costs. It will be the quality of care that is top of mind.”

Published in Custom Publishing Review: Healthcare.

Drugs: An Inside Look

Sitting off of Hiwassee Street, the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force complex is a rather unassuming structure. There are no signs or fanfare to let visitors know where they are. No rough and tough guards standing watch outside. Just a fabricated building of no consequence with enough parking for about 25 cars. Surprising for an agency celebrating its 20-year anniversary.

Inside is much the same. Beyond the entry room is a waiting area that doubles as a break room for Drug Task Force agents. Piled in front of a medium-sized television are cases of water and caffeinated drinks—Mountain Dew, Diet Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola. Against the opposite wall is a large leather couch. In the corner, a small table is surrounded by child-sized chairs painted in primary colors.

In Comes Mike
Everything was typical of a normal office until 6-foot 9-inch Director Mike Hall walked in the room. He’s an imposing figure, and while he considers himself the “softest” cop anyone will ever meet, his size keeps people from knowing it.

“I don’t get many people that try to resist me—especially when I’m in tactical clothing. I’m only 230, 240 pounds.” He said, “I’m not huge when it comes to mass, but when you put all the stuff together and somebody comes up to your chest... It’s funny because it comes with respect. The other way, when you’ve got victims, it makes them feel secure. Being big for me has been a blessing my entire life.”

Unfortunately, having to be intimidating has had its toll. Hall—who is also the praise and worship leader at Mt. Olive Church of God—says working on the Drug Task Force has given him a new perspective on people—one he doesn’t necessarily like. For one, he’s become painfully aware of his surroundings. One could argue he is on the border of paranoia, never sitting with his back to a door, frequently looking over his shoulder and being afraid of being in large crowds when not on duty.

When Hall speaks, one sentence says it all: “I don’t trust people.” It’s how many law enforcement professionals end up. However, Hall says he works hard to try and maintain a sense of humanity and compassion for those around him. He does this by avoiding socialization with fellow law enforcement professionals when he’s not on duty and not dwelling on his work when he’s at home. Hall also finds strength and peace at church.

But maintaining balance isn’t always possible.

Preventing Future Queens
The stress of being on the Drug Task Force recently manifested itself in the actions of now suspended agent Bobby Queen. Hall knew Queen had some serious issues in his personal life, so Hall did what he would do for any of his agents. He told Queen to take some time off. Shortly after Queen’s return, Hall took him for some training in the warm state of Florida. Between training sessions, the two went fishing and relaxed.

Queen told Hall it was the best few days he’d had in a long time.

Then they got home. And Queen took his wife hostage.

“When Queen came home, one more thing mounted above all the other stuff and all that stuff piled together and it was just the perfect storm,” Hall recalled. “He flipped his wig. He lost it. If there’s any case of temporary insanity, he fit it at that point. Talking to him on the phone at that time, he was not the same person I just got back with on a great trip. It happened that fast. No warning, just boom! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this is happening.”

Despite missing Queen on the Drug Task Force, Hall has realized he has to move forward—for his own good and for the good of those under his charge. “It is what it is. I hate it for him. I hate it for the Task Force,” Hall said. “I didn’t see this one coming down. I hope I don’t see another one coming down. [Queen] didn’t really produce any triggers for that to happen. At the same time, his conscious was so shocked that, who knows? If he wasn’t in law enforcement, if he was just Joe Blow on the street, he could have done the same thing.”

In an effort to help other agents avoid a downfall like Queen, Drug Task Force agents rotate from one team to another. Some work the streets, others Interstate trafficking and still others fight illegal prescription drug use. Hall also keeps an eye on his guys to make sure they’re not showing signs of potential problems. The Task Force doesn’t have an on-call psychologist or counselor, but most agents wouldn’t want to talk with one anyway. But Hall is excited about a new hire to the Interstate section of the Drug Task Force who has a degree in counseling. Hall expects the other agents will trust the new agent and will feel comfortable talking with him.

As strange as it may seem, agents don’t always need to talk about their jobs. In fact, dealing with the roughage of the 10th District isn’t the worst stress of being a member of the Drug Task Force. It’s everything else.

“When you get home, your wife’s like, ‘I thought you were going to be home at dinner.’ You’re like, ‘Well, something came up, I couldn’t be home at dinner.’ And your kids are like, ‘Hey daddy, are you ever going to come home again?’ Then every time a case comes up that you know this is the only time you’re going to be able to do it, you call home and are like, ‘Hey, I’m not going to be able to make it home again.’ You dread the call,” Hall said. “The stress of that phone call for not going home—that’s worse than anything.”

Time To Break
As with any stressful job, joining the Drug Task Force is not a lifetime commitment. According to Hall, it’s not even something people would want to do for more than a few years. It’s too hard on a person.

“You can’t work this job 20 years. Who’d want to?” he asked. “When you’re dealing with drugs, you’re not just dealing with drugs and drug addicts. You’re dealing with everything they deal with. The biggest is pornography. Man, who wants to see that every day? You go into a house and it’s nothing but pornography. It’s just the grime of life. Everything has its toll, but you’re dealing with some of the lowest people in society. [After] 20 years, it affects you. You go home with images in your mind that you can’t get out. Things you didn’t think you’d ever see. Situations you see children in and there’s not that much you can do about it.”

Despite the frustrations of the job, agents of the built-for-stress Drug Task Force carry on to ensure the safety and well-being of every resident of Bradley County, Cleveland and the rest of the 10th Judicial District. Here’s to another successful 20 years.

Published in Bradley News Weekly.

Tased!

Tasing. An electric shock that debilitates men, women and an occasional dog of all sizes, giving law enforcement officials the opportunity to get out-of-control people under control in just a few seconds. It’s also one of the tools of the trade that seems to garner media attention every time it’s used. Hop online and videos of people getting tased are all over the place. Most of them are for shock value, encouraging communities to show outrage. But are they really all that bad?

“With a taser, the goal is control—not punishment,” explained Lt. Tim Winder of the Cleveland Police Department.

Tased: Optional
By using the X-26 taser, the electric current lasts no more than five seconds. In order to give a longer shock, the officer must hit the trigger a second time. So there is no possibility of accidentally tasing someone for prolonged periods. To make use of a taser even safer, today’s tasers have computer memories. Every time a taser is fired, the taser logs the date, time and duration of the tase. If someone complains of being tased by an officer for prolonged periods, a supervisor can plug the taser into a computer and check when the officer’s taser was shot and for how long.

In order to help officers use their tasers only when necessary and with control, officers have the opportunity to get tased. According to Lt. Winder, approximately 50 percent of CPD officers go for it. Lt. Winder said getting tased helps officers understand the pain that a taser puts suspects through. New recruit Roger Smith, a 20-year Army veteran who decided to be tased, agreed.

“The way I see it, if I’ve got to carry it and administer it—something non-lethal—I want to see what it feels like to me,” he said. “I want to see if it truly immobilizes the muscles and what it does to the body.”

Tased: Bring It
Following a lengthy Power Point presentation on the mechanics and proper use of tasers, Smith stood up and walked to the front of the training room at the Police Services Center. He has experienced pain in the military, but suspected he’d not suffered anything like the pain of getting hit by a taser. Though he initially wanted to get hit for one second, Smith beefed it up to the full five when a handful of officers came to the room to watch.

While Lt. Winder placed a couple of alligator clips on Smith’s clothes, the attending officers chatted and smiled at each other. They all knew what Smith was about to find out. With an officer on either side of Smith to keep him from falling, it was time for the tase.

“You ready, Roger?” Lt. Winder asked, taser in hand.

“Bring it.”

Suddenly, the tase began. The taser sounded like an entire city of people jumping rapid fire on bubble wrap. But the sound of Smith overpowered the taser. It was a single sound—a moan that lasted two seconds before breaking. Then it picked up at a higher pitch for two short spurts.

After five seconds, Smith’s eyes were popping out of his head.

“Sweet Jesus!” he screamed.

“The man took it,” someone laughed, “and didn’t go down.”

Someone else encouraged him to do it again.

“That’s powerful,” Smith said. “That’s something else!”

A moment after being tased, Smith said he had no effects. He could even hear everyone around him and was aware of his surroundings during the tase. He had no tingling anywhere, but did remember the pain.

“It just locks you up and it’s painful, but there’s nothing you can do. You can’t stop the pain,” Smith said. “It just keeps coming and coming.”

That’s why few opt for a second voluntary tase. It’s also why it’s such a great tool for law enforcement when dealing with unruly suspects.

Published in Bradley News Weekly.