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This is a story about a property owner that assumed his building was in pristine condition. He worked hard to keep it that way but the underlying problem was not something he expected or even knew about. He now lives with the motto:

An ounce of prevention is worth a WHOLE YEAR OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT!

‘In June of 2003, I purchased a three-year-old building with 18 units. I was elated and of course, a little challenged at the same time. My building has eight two-bedroom units on each side with large three bedrooms on the top floor. Although I have had my share of problems like anyone owning and renting property would, I have never dealt with a more threatening problem as bed bugs.

I go out of my way to develop good relationships with my tenants, provide the best living environment I can, and address each or any need they have accordingly and swiftly.

I keep my building safe, maintain it impeccable; I do not apply do-it-yourself or “Band-Aid” repairs and remunerate my tenants for helping keep me abreast of any possible looming problems in the building.

Early March 2009, I received a call from my favorite “model tenant” on the sixth floor. She had been living in my property since I first purchased it and always pays her rent on time. Her unit is so tidy and clean. Everything has a place, and is in place, and every window sparkled as if it was brand new.

She stated, she was experiencing a chronic itchy skin rash of some sort. She had already been to the doctor and he ruled out possible allergies, but told her she might want to check into an environmental problem.

We decided to do a little investigating together. I called my maintenance person Jim and had him go in and make an assessment. Jim is an old timer and has an extensive background as a builder. He checked for radon, the quality of the water, air filters, smoke alarms and for any possible mold. It came up clear of any hazards that he could find.

Despite our efforts, for the next three months her rash continued.

While sipping on a cup of coffee one morning I read an article online talking about bed bugs in a hotel in New York. My eyes grew the size of my face and I immediately put in a call to my pest control company. I asked Mike what he knew about bed bugs. He explained to me that he had just gone to training on them and that they were a tough bug to deal with. I asked him to come and see what he could find.

Although my tenant told me she had not seen bugs of any kind, low and behold, he found what he just learned, was evidence of bed bugs. He first entered the room and pointed his flashlight to the corners of the room where the wall meets the ceiling.

There were small, what he called fecal traces, around the ceiling fan, curtain rods as well as a small amount of cast skins between the baseboard and carpet. All of this was on the east window side of her room where her headboard was up against the wall. He continued his investigation all along telling me that he was not very sure but is giving it his best.

Personally, Mike had never actually seen a live bed bug, only magnified pictures and slides. From what he remembered, he was sure bed bugs were the problem. He took scrapings from around the fan, cast skins from between the carpet and headed back to his office to do further investigation on what he found.

The next day he called me and explained, it was in fact, bed bugs. We set up an appointment to start treatment right away. My tenant felt immediate relief yet we knew he would be back for a second treatment in 12 more days.

Meanwhile, when he returned for the second treatment, she explained that she did not have much relief and had more rashes on her neck and shoulder. He assured her he would get her complete relief soon.

Two and half more weeks went by and there still was no relief in sight. She woke daily with new breakouts and was not sleeping. I called Mike once again and he said he would be back out to do yet another treatment but wanted to check up the stairs unit.

I explained to him the person from that unit moved out about two month ago, was really dirty and I was in the process of renovating it so expect painting supplies and many other things going on. We entered the unit together.

We immediately went into the bedroom that was just above the bedroom below. They had already painted that room and it looked good. Mike turned to me and said, “I want to take this baseboard off”. Shocked but accommodating, I agreed. He pulled out a large flathead screwdriver and drove it into the baseboard across the wall. When he pulled it away from the wall, he exposed a heavily infested baseboard and wall. Bugs were everywhere! Black smelly fecal stains peppered the length of the board every two to three inches. There were piles of empty cast skins and bed bugs in all sizes of development.

He turned to me and said, “Here is where your problem is”. This bed bug infestation had been going on for a very long time, maybe a year or more. When the person moved out, the bed bugs had to go and look for food and started to move through the walls and found their way into your woman’s unit down stairs. He said he was concerned with how many other adjoining apartments this has made its way into as well.’

To make a long story short, we found four more units with bed bugs. The “source” apartment was literally, eviscerated and by the time we got it handled, it cost me close to a whole years’ worth of my return on investment. A serious financial lesson well learned.

This scenario is becoming more common. Most property owners and management only enter their units for repairs and never suspect or check for bed bugs. The smart thing to do is have regular inspections, at least twice a year using a bed bug detection dog in all units.

Doing this will do a couple of things:

  • Find any sign of bed bugs (especially for those who are not allergic to bites)
  • Find them early (keeping infestation from spreading to adjoining units)

Mike told me to call the IBBRA or one of their members. They were so kind to help me and educate all of my tenants with a great book. They gave me bed bug posters to place in the common areas and laundry room. We now have everyone working together and have regular inspections performed by scent detection dogs over all the building twice a year.

To put this program in place for my eighteen units costs me less than 2 months rent from one of my units.

An ounce of prevention is worth a WHOLE YEAR OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT!

This situation can be financially devastating for property owners. Call Dominique for a comprehensive bed bug education and regular inspections of your units!

Call MassBedBugBusters

By Denise Donovan Founder/Director IBBRA


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Milano Hemstitch

Milano has long been a staple in our sheeting collection for styles like Lowell and Mirasol. Now this 100% percale sheeting is available in its purest form with a subtle, sophisticated hemstitch detail.

Shop the look

Shop the Look

Milano Hemstitch Flat Sheet

Full/Queen 94 W x 112 L

Milano Hemstitch Sham

Euro 27 x 27 Square

Milano Hemstitch Pillowcase

Standard 21 W x 32 L

Milano Fitted Sheet

Queen 17 Pocket

Milano Hemstitch Duvet Cover

Full/Queen 86 W x 92 L, plus 3 in. flange

Costa Sham

Euro 27 x 27 Square

Chatham Blanket

Full/Queen 96 W x 99 L

Free Fabric swatches

Please select samples from the corresponding swatches. There is no fee or shipping charge for swatch requests. You can expect to receive your swatches within 7 - 10 business days. Swatches are limited to 10 per order and are available for domestic shipping only.

About Milano Hemstitch

Color Palette

Choose from two sophisticated hues that perfectly express your style.

Fabric Detail

Crafted from the finest Egyptian cotton, Milano is the ultimate refinement for your bed. Crisp, cool and soft.

Our iconic Egyptian cotton percale accented with a subtle, sophisticated hemstitch.

Related Styles

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January 26, 2017

Rave In The Redwoods Coming To Call of Duty

When the Sabotage DLC pack drops for Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, players will also get the next chapter in the Zombies experience, Rave in the Redwoods.

After escaping the terrifying Zombies in Spaceland, our heroes are transported to an abandoned campground... the perfect site for Willard Wyler’s next horror masterpiece. Set in the ‘90s, the four actors find themselves in brand new roles, along with some fresh new threads.

Together, they’ll team up to take on endless hordes of raver zombies and the mysterious Slasher, who’s on the prowl to add more “trophies” to his collection. With the help of some brutal new weapons and even director Kevin Smith (!), our heroes just might be able to put an end to the madness in the Redwoods.

You can watch the intro video below, if you desire, but if you want, you can just wait for the Sabotage DLC to release later this week.

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General Manager

John Thomas

John Thomas was just 20 years old when he first started working at the Max Restaurant Group back in 1999. He began his career making “stone pie” pizzas at Max a Mia in Avon, CT, but soon moved up to Sous Chef. He learned the back of the house operations inside and out before setting his sights on becoming a manager. Working with Managing Partner Brad Karsky, John learned a great deal from Brad in a short period of time as a manager before taking a job at Max Amore, working with Mark Conley. Soaking up knowledge at each location, John soon became the “rounds man” of MRG, working at Max’s Oyster Bar in W. Hartford, Max Downtown in Hartford, and eventually was promoted to General Manager of Max's Tavern. John has been a tremendous asset to the Max Restaurant Group and has helped turn the company’s first location out of Connecticut into a great success.

The Max Restaurant Group is always looking to expand our team. We offer competitive wages, a generous benefits package, flexible hours and the opportunity to grow with the company. Join the most respected restaurant group in Southern New England and you will have the opportunity to experience and learn the hospitality industry from visionary Chefs and seasoned Restaurant Managers. The Max Restaurant Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to us at


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Join us on the ground

We are currently expanding our facilities in East Africa so that we can welcome committed and motivated individuals to join us on the ground and work side by side with our staff. When ready, we will offer volunteer positions ranging from two weeks to six months in length. Follow our social media channels to learn when these opportunities are available and let us know about your interest by telling us a little bit about yourself using the form below.

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Did you ever watch people on science fiction shows talk to each other on a big video screen – at the mere touch of a button – and think it would be cool to communicate with your friends that way, too?

Well, it’s possible now, and it’s surprisingly easy to do right from the comfort of your own living room, thanks to a McKinney-based company.

Just as video calling is possible on a computer, video chat is also available in full-screen on your HDTV.

A new product called Biscotti (named as such because it’s about the same shape and size as the biscuit that goes with your latte) is becoming one of the most popular ways to turn an HDTV into a personal video call system.

A  2012 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Honoree, the Biscotti connects to HDTV units in just moments with a single cable. Once connected to Wi-Fi, users can make and receive phone calls from their TV sets.

The company made Biscotti simple and easy to navigate, an added plus for grandparents or other computer users who would rather not set up a PC to video chat. There aren’t many pieces to the Biscotti system – just the small HD video phone (which, in most cases, sits atop the TV), the easy-to-use remote control, the AC adaptor and some mounting supplies.

The appeal of the Biscotti is obvious: It has been designed with a focus on extreme simplicity in both setup and use; calls can be made on a big screen; and chat between two users with Biscottis or a Google Talk account is free – which also means Biscotti users can communicate with other devices beyond HDTV, including smartphones and tablets.

Earlier this year, Biscotti Inc. set up its offices in the Valliance Bank building at the intersection of State Highway 121 and Lake Forest Drive in McKinney. The firm has about a dozen employees working there, and it continues to grow.

Biscotti came to McKinney thanks to the efforts of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Biscotti Inc. met the MEDC’s technology targets and other criteria needed for relocation assistance. The company was welcomed as part of the Emerging Technology Program, which seeks to expand high-tech industries and job growth in McKinney.

John Valencia, MEDC Director of Business Retention and Emerging Technology, says, “We are very pleased to have Biscotti here. They were looking to expand their offices and wanted to be in an excellent environment with a convenient location, and it all fit very well.”

Biscotti Inc. was founded in 2008 by Matthew B. Shoemake with the goal of making personal video calling in the home possible on a big screen while ensuring that calls were easy and accessible for everyone.

As Shoemake said on WFAA’s “Good Morning Texas” last December, “We really felt that video calls were tethered to the notebook computer. … It didn’t feel like the ideal solution. We said, ‘Why can’t I have a big screen and cover the whole room?’”

Dave Dettman, who appears on TV and radio progams as “Dr. Gadget” and introduces new products to his audiences, appeared on the popular ABC talk show “The View” in March, and began his introduction of the Biscotti with these words: “This is a game changer.”

Dettman’s enthusiasm for the product has been echoed by many other reviewers and media outlets, and 2012 looks to be the big jumping-off point for the Biscotti.

It’s an idea whose time is here at last.

About the author: Christopher Foster is a writer and photographer living in McKinney. He still watches TV on a now-antique cathode ray set – boxlike and very heavy – but marvels at what has become of TV.


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Joint Commission Guidance on Use of Medical Scribes / Documentation Assistants

PUBLISHED: Aug 28, 2018
Relevant to: Ambulatory Care, Critical Access Hospitals, Hospitals, Medical Office

The Joint Commission (TJC) recently released an FAQ describing considerations for the use of documentation assistants, more commonly referred to as scribes. TJC defines a documentation assistant or scribe as “…an unlicensed, certified, (MA, ophthalmic tech) or licensed person (RN, LPN, PA) who provides documentation assistance to a physician or other licensed independent practitioner (such as a nursing practitioner) consistent with the roles and responsibilities defined in the job description, and within the scope of his or her certification or licensure…”

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not provide official guidance on the use of documentation assistance/scribes. Further, the Joint Commission does not support or prohibit the use of documentation assistants. There are no specific TJC standards that regulate the use of scribes.

However, TJC recognizes the increasing use of electronic medical records, and that the time-burdens associated with use of EMRs has increased the use of scribes in various health care settings.

According to TJC, the following should be considered when using scribes:

  • Minimum competency requirements including education and training in:
  • Medical
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
  • Principles of billing, coding, and reimbursement
  • Electronic medical record (EMR) navigation and functionality, as appropriate based on job description
  • Computerized order entry, clinical decision support and reminders, and proper methods for pending orders for authentication and submission
  • Note: The specific amount of training required in the above areas will vary depending upon the person’s past training and experience.
  • Defined, documented role and responsibilities
  • Documented policies and procedures for the use of scribes including but not limited to:
  • Proper log-in procedures (such as prohibition of documentation assistants from using the physician or LIP’s log-in)
  • Scope of documentation that may be entered
  • Requirements for physician review of information and orders entered by the documentation assistant
  • Order entry and submission process
  • Any organizations using documentation assistance/scribes must have job descriptions that define the minimum qualifications to perform this function and the allowable scope of activities that can be performed. Job descriptions should also include:
  • Competency and performance assessment processes
  • Orientation, training and on-going education requirements
    • Note: If an organization contracts for the services of a documentation assistant/scribe the organization must ensure that the quality of the service is the same regardless of whether it is provided directly or through a contractual agreement.
  • Order Entry: According to TJC, “…all types of personnel performing documentation assistance may, at the direction of a physician or another LIP, enter orders into an EMR.”
  • The use of repeat-back of the order by the documentation assistant is encouraged, especially for new medication orders.
  • Documentation assistants who are not authorized to submit orders should leave the order as pending for a certified or licensed personnel to activate or submit the orders after verification.
    • Note: transcribing orders into the EMR while providing documentation assistance is not considered a verbal order. Verbal orders are different because they are expected to be acted upon immediately by individuals who are practicing within the scope of their licensure, certification, or practice in accordance with law and regulation as well as with organizational policy.

TJC is continuing to monitor this topic and the evolving use of documentation assistants/scribes. StayAlert! is monitoring this topic and will publish additional information as guidance evolves.

Included with today’s notice is an example policy as well as a sample job description, age and competency assessment.

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