Terry Bishop

Tucson Heart Hospital, located at 4888 North Stone Avenue, near the intersection of Stone and River Road, is also a part of the Carondelet Network of Hospitals. Tucson Heart is a specialized facility, concentrating on disease management, prevention and information about heart and vascular disease. Public outreach programs are given in nutrition, exercise and stress management.

The 58 bed facility has private rooms which are specifically designed for every stage of "heart" care. The staff is cross trained and a team follows the patient throughtout the stay. The hospital performs both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the state of the art catheterization laboratory including:

Diagnostic:
Aortagram
Cardiac Output
Carotid Angiogram
Coronary Angiogram
Electrophysiological Studies
Left Heart Catheterization
Myocardial Biopsy
Oximetry Recordings
Peripheral Angiogram
Pulmonary Angiogram
Renal Angiogram
Right Heart Catheterization

Therapeutic/Coronary:
Atherectomy (Rotational)
Balloon Angioplasty (Arterial/Venous)
Balloon Angioplasty-Peripheral
Stents
Thrombolysis

Therapeutic/Other:
Ablation (Atria/Ventricular)
Cardioversion
ICD Insertion
IntroAortic Balloon Pump
Percutaneous Vena Cava Filter
Pericardiocentesis
Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
Temporary Pacemaker Insertion

according to the website.

Tucson Heart Hospital also offers the Heartsaver CT to the general public which is a non-invasive, easy procedure that can be done within an hour at the hospital for a cost of $99.00. This procedure images calcium buildup around the heart which can be a precursor to severe heart disease. People often have the procedure as a preventative measure as a "heart healthy" measure.

The hospital employs about 365 full time staff. Employment information can be found at the Carondelet career page listed below. The hospital serves all of Southern Arizona and is dedicated to heart patients.

Resources:
Tucson Heart Hospital Web Page: http://www.tucsonhearthospital.com/

Career Information:

http://www.tucsonhearthospital.com/

Other Resources:

http://www.hospital-data.com/hospitals/TUCSON-HEART-HOSPITAL-TUCSON.html

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/hospital/Arizona/Tucson_Heart_Hospital.html

This is the post to my blog this morning at: http://www.terrybishop.com The blog is in the left column, click to enter.

Introduction:

Some of the discovery of Tucson by people from throughout the United States is tied to Tucson's medical history. With it's clean air and dry climate which bodes wells for "outdoor" living, Tucson was an ideal location for tuberculosis recovery facilities.

In the early 1900's, people came to Tucson to experience the fresh air which aided in healing respiratory illnesses, especially tuberculosis. These facilities, some of which were the foundation of today's hospitals, at the time were situated on the outskirts of town. Today they are in the center of the hub-bub of activity.

As a retirement destination, medical facilities are an important consideration for people thinking about relocating. And for people working within the medical profession, job opportunities abound. The Tucson area has ten acute care hospitals and plans are on the books for several more facilities: one in Rita Ranch, one at Passages of Tucson, and one in Sahuarita.

Tucson is home to the University of Arizona's School of Medicine which has extensive research facilities including world class cancer research. U of A also boasts one of the best Schools of Nursing in the United States as well as a School of Pharmacology. Because of the medical facilities, Tucson is the choice for many biomedical start up firms.

Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is situated in Tucson. "The mission of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is to lead the transformation of healthcare by creating, educating & actively supporting a community of professionals who embody the philosophy & practice of Integrative Medicine," according to the website. Spurred by Dr. Andrew Weil, the Center combines the best of western medicine with eastern medicine and concentrates on healing rather than treating disease.

Over the next few days, I will highlight the various medical facilities which include the Carondolet network of hospitals: St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, and Tucson Heart Hospital; University Medical Center; Northwest Hospital Oro Valley and Northwest Hospital Tucson; Tucson Medical Center; Southern Arizona VA Health Care System; and University Physicians Healthcare at Kino. There will be links to job opportunities also for readers in the medical field considering relocation to Tucson.

Resources: History

http://www.arizona.edu/home/tucson-history.php

http://www.tucson.va.gov/about/History.asp

University of Arizona School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and School of Pharmacology

http://www.medicine.arizona.edu/college.cfm

http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/

http://www.azcc.arizona.edu/

Unversity of Arizona School of Integrative Medicine

http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/index.html

This is from my blog post this morning at : http://www.terrybishop.com

I was pleased to open my e mail this morning and find a post from a gentleman who refered me to an extensive treatise on the housing bill. There is no way that I can provide a synopsis of what the article contained, so I will reproduce the post from the gentleman along with the link to the articles.

The point was made that the author didn't believe that Congress people read the bill, and when I waded through the nearly 600 pages, that was my sentiment exactly.

His original post said: "Don't know your opinion of Catherin Austin Fitts, but this is one hell of a read. She's one fine detective."

The link is as follows:

http://solari.com/archive/housing_bill/

Much of this bill was written long ago, as far back as 2002, and like much legislation, just waiting for the appropriate time to tuck this legislation into something which seemingly is worthwhile.

Additional comments are more than welcome!

This is my blog post this morning at: http://www.terrybishop.com

Now that you have determined the area in which you think you would like to live, the next step is to determine whether you want to live in a community governed by a Homeowner's Association. Most newer homes are located in subdivisions which require a Homeowner's Association and Association fees. Determine what you are going to get for the fees you are going to pay. Fees go up, hardly ever do they go down!

If you are 55+, you have the option of moving to an Active Adult Community. Ask yourself some hard questions: How do you envision your retirement years? Are you going to be playing golf? Is a golf course community necessary? And if you play golf, do you want to play the same course, or are you the type of golfer who likes to play different courses? If the later is the case, you may be better off living in an area which has good access to several golf courses, but is not on a golf course. Are the classes you think you are going to take similiar to those given by Pima College, the University of Arizona, or the Parks and Recreation Department.

Asking yourself these "tough" questions for you and your family, prior to purchasing a house, can save you both time and money in the long run. Now how many bedrooms? Bathrooms? Great Room or formal living room and formal dining room? Think about your lifestyle and what suits your lifestyle best.

Now that you have determined the area, bedrooms, bathrooms, type of living space, and now number of garages, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Go to my website, http://www.terrybishop.com and SEARCH at: http://terrybishop.com/mls.html. Now you can insert your parameters and see what comes up. This database is constantly updated in real time. You will be looking for ACTIVE listings. Go to the upper right hand corner and click SUBMIT.

The properties will come up in a thumbnail sketch. You will be able to pull up detailed information, a virtual tour if there is one, as well as photographs. You may also be able to access a map which shows the location of the property.

If you have problems trying to located properties, or otherwise need help, contact me at terry@terrybishop.com and I will be delighted to help you.

Meanwhile enjoy this feature brought to you by the Tucson Association of Realtors and by myself.

This is from my blog post this morning on my website http://www,terrybishop.com

The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to foreign currencies, combined with the decrease in prices here in Tucson, Arizona makes real estate a very attractive bargain for people outside of the United States.

Many Canadians are taking advantage of the "bargain hunting" as well as Germans. The weak dollar compared to other currencies offers nearly a 40% reduction in price and that combined with an approximate 10 to 20% decrease in price makes real estate prices for Foreign Nationals 50% to 60% less than in 2005-2006.

With the mortgage debacle also comes some new rules. Formerly, Foreign Nationals could put 30% down on a property with no questions asked and get a loan for the remaining 70% of the purchase price. Today however, the rules have changed.

Countrywide will do conventional financing for a Foreign National with a K1 or K3 Visa if that person has a Social Security number. If there is no Social Security number, Wachovia and Washington Federal require that the buyer put 40% of the purchase price down and document assets and verify employment. There is not verification of income.

Verification of assets is generally providing two months of bank statements to the lender. Potential buyers who have a Green Card or a work Visa would have a social security number and can apply for an FHA or Conventional Loan. Proof that the buyer has applied for US citizenship is also required.

The process is essentially the same for a US citizen obtaining a loan for a home as well as a Foreign National. Foreign Nationals paying cash must show the audit trail of the cash, just like a US citizen. This requirement falls within the money laundering legislation. The cash would be in the form of a certified check or a cashier's check. Actual cash is unacceptable.

When a Foreign National sells a home in the United States the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) applies. A total of 10% of the Gross Sales price is withheld by the Escrow Office for potential taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service if the sales price of the home exceeds $300,000. It is important to note that the responsibility falls to the Buyer to ascertain that the 10% has been withheld.

Many Foreign Nationals work with tax accountants or tax attorneys who may request information from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the maximum amount of tax liability which may be owed by the seller. This may be less than the 10% and documentation would be needed from the Internal Revenue Service.

Persons from outside of the United States do not have to use the lenders mentioned in this article. They can use a mortgage broker or banker who can find the best product for their situation.

Resources: Internal Revenue Service:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=105000,00.html

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/firpta.pdf

http://www.firpta.com/home

http://telestalk.telesproperties.com/2008/08/06/federal-housing-bill-now-law-including-firpta-fix/

http://www.aaronline.com/documents/firpta.aspx

This is the blog post written for my website today, http://www.terrybishop.com