DURHAM -- Businesses belonging to the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce possessed better credit scores than the national business average, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives announced recently.
The findings were part of a study conducted by Cortera, a community-driven business credit bureau, on behalf of ACCE, and featured the credit ratings for businesses belonging to 10 chambers of commerce across the United States.
According to the study, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce members possess an average credit score of 612, compared to an average score of 557 for North Carolina businesses, and an average score of 557 for national businesses. The scores play a significant role in attracting lines of credit and securing favorable terms from lenders and suppliers.
A complete copy of the study, which includes scores for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and the other nine local chambers, is available on the Cortera and ACCE sites.
$9.4M grant for kids' health care
RALEIGH -- North Carolina has received a $9.3 million grant to improve the quality of children's health care, Gov. Beverly Perdue's office announced Tuesday.
The funding will be applied over five years toward three initiatives for children who receive health care through N.C. Medicaid or N.C. Health Choice, which serves children whose families' incomes are too high for Medicaid eligibility.
The initiatives will work to improve coordinated care for children with special health care needs, implement electronic health records for children and establish measures to increase the quality of care for children.
"This competitive grant is vital to ensuring that children in our state are healthy and ready to learn," Perdue said. "This will help pediatric offices throughout the state make better use of technology so we can be sure that children, those with special needs in particular, are receiving the care they need."
RTI: Subjects like audio technology
DURHAM -- Researchers collecting health-related data from low-income and minority populations should consider using audio computer-assisted self-interview technology, according to a study by researchers at RTI International.
The study, published online by RTI Press, assessed the acceptability and use of this technology by nearly 3,000 low-income and minority pregnant women in Washington, D.C.
According to the study, participants found that the technology is easy and enjoyable to use and provides a practical level of privacy in busy clinical settings.
The technology features a laptop computer and headphones that allow research participants to respond to sensitive questions displayed on a touch screen monitor and heard through earphones in relative privacy in almost any location.
